When I wake up again, Alec is nowhere to be seen. In his place, though, is Raven. She was scrolling through her phone and had not noticed that I was awake.I take that time to study her features. She seemed tired and worn out, just like Alec, just like I was. My shoulders drop as I realize that I am
I woke up the next day with the name Xena still bouncing around in my head. I didn’t get it. If Nyx had blocked our emotional connection, then how come I felt that fear? Why did that name affect me the way it did? And why would Nyx be so fearful of her sister if these were really remnants of emotion
“You love being outside, right?” I began and waited for her to nod her head. When she does, I continue. “How would you feel if I locked you inside the house and refused to let you out?”She thought about it for a second, a cute little frown appearing between her brows. “Very bad.”“Would it make you
Alec smiled as Aspen told him about what she had been doing since morning. She gave him every detail, down to what she ate for breakfast.The smile that showed on his face wasn’t fake. It wasn’t one that was forced as he pretended to show interest. It wasn’t one to placate her. It was genuine and re
The moment I left them, my mind switched to work mode. I couldn’t sit around and do nothing. I also couldn’t keep waiting for Nyx to feed me breadcrumbs of information.The first place I decided to make my stop was the library. I don’t know why, but it was the first place my brain urged me to go to.
She’s quiet for a moment, but I do feel her emotions. A bit of sadness, longing, but also anger and resentment.“Did you know that she’s the one making the hybrids?” I pushed. The more I got her talking, the more information I could get to piece things together.“How?”At first, I thought she was in
Nyx’s words keep playing in my mind like a broken record—sharp, bitter, and laced with so much hatred it felt like they cut right through my soul.I’ve tried to make sense of them, but I still can’t. She said so little, yet somehow it felt like she revealed everything. I hated that she couldn’t just
I exhaled deeply, like I’d been holding that breath for days. Then I turned back to my research, steeling myself to return to the books. I was just starting to get into the right headspace when the door creaked open behind me.My entire body tensed as Piper stepped inside, her expression distracted,
I don’t say anything. Just turned back and continued staring at nothing.I pretended that his presence wasn’t affecting me. Pretended that I was okay and that every fiber in my being wasn’t vibrating. I was fighting the pull despite Nyx telling me not to. I was used to fighting it since we learned t
The room was too quiet. Aspen had fallen asleep the moment her head touched the pillow, her monkey and elephant clutched tightly in her little arms. I watched her for a long moment, brushing a few stray strands of hair from her forehead. Her tiny mouth hung open just a little, breath even and soft.
The rest of the visit passed in a blur of giggles and tiny hands pressed to glass enclosures. Aspen’s favorites were the baby goats. She got to feed one, and when it nibbled her fingers, she laughed so hard she had to sit down.Alec was right there beside her, brushing dirt off her knees, and I stoo
We got out of the car. The air smelled like pine and sunshine, and Aspen was practically dragging us toward the enclosures before we’d even paid the entrance f*e.“Looook!” she squealed. “That one’s got a funny tail!”“That’s a lemur,” Alec said, keeping pace with her tiny footsteps. “They live in M
SadieThe next day came sooner than I had expected or prepared for. I was still on cloud nine after shifting into our other state. It felt so good. Like I had unlocked something fierce. Something divine. After Alec left, I practiced more and each time it became easier than the last.My mind occasion
“I didn’t tell anyone,” he replied with a shrug. “I was ashamed. But eventually, I realized I couldn’t fight him forever. So, I stopped trying to control him, and I just… accepted him. I accepted that Knox was a part of me. I embraced the power of an Alpha and I allowed myself to merge with my wolf.
SadieThe wind danced around me, soft but persistent, stirring the tall grass that brushed against my legs. It was cool, yet beads of sweat trailed down my spine, clinging to my shirt as if they were trying to remind me just how much effort I was putting into this. My heart pounded, not from exertio
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. The silence stretched until it felt like it would choke me.“You don’t have to say anything,” he said gently. “I’m not telling you to give him a chance, Sadie. That’s your choice. But I think… I think it’s time to stop hiding.”“Hiding?” I repeated, my voice hollow.“You
Sadie.I’d just come from a run. Sleep had been a distant thought, elusive and half-formed, slipping from my grasp every time I closed my eyes. My mind had been too full of everything and nothing. When day came, and I still couldn’t get any sleep, I decided to go for a run to clear my head before I