Chapter 17The Price Of LoyaltyQuinton’s POVThe moon hung low in the sky, casting an ethereal glow over the forest. My paws thudded against the damp earth as I ran, my thoughts racing faster than my legs could carry me. The conversation with Selene and the mysterious man still echoed in my mind—Fiona born of the shadows? A war between light and darkness? None of it made sense, and yet every word had burrowed itself deep into my soul.As I pushed forward through the underbrush, my wolf growled in frustration. The trail was fading, Fiona's scent dissipating like mist before the dawn. It was getting harder to track her, harder to feel the connection that had once been so strong. The bond that had tied us together was fraying, unraveling as though something—or someone—was deliberately cutting the threads.I needed answers. I needed to find her.Selene had led me to this portal, hidden deep within the forest. The creatures that had attacked us—those things with their glowing blue eyes an
Chapter 18Echoes Of DesperationQuinton’s POVI hit the ground hard, the impact forcing the air from my lungs. The swirling shadows dissipated around me, leaving me gasping and disoriented. The forest that had surrounded me mere seconds ago was gone, replaced by a vast, barren wasteland. The sickly gray sky stretched endlessly above me, and the ground beneath my hands was cracked and dry, much like the place I had seen earlier.Fiona’s words—her cold, emotionless voice—still echoed in my mind, cutting deeper than any physical wound ever could. She had told me to leave, to let her go. But how could I? How could I abandon the woman who was supposed to be my mate, my other half?I pushed myself to my feet, my muscles trembling with the effort. The memory of her standing next to that silver-haired man burned in my mind. He had looked at me with a smugness that I wanted to tear off his face, but Fiona… She had looked at me like I was a stranger.No, this wasn’t over. It couldn’t be. I wou
Chapter 19Descent Into ShadowsQuinton’s POVThe icy grip of fear clutched my heart as Fiona lunged at me, her eyes glowing with that unnatural light. This was not the woman I knew, the mate I had fought so hard to protect. Whatever had taken over her was something dark, something I could barely comprehend, let alone defeat. But I couldn’t give up—not on her, not on us.My wolf snarled inside me, ready to tear apart whatever dark force was controlling her. But as Fiona’s hands reached for me, crackling with dark energy, I knew that brute strength wouldn’t be enough. I had to find another way to save her, to pull her back from the abyss she was slipping into.I dodged her attack, barely escaping the searing pain of her energy. The air between us crackled with tension, and I could feel the power radiating off her in waves, each pulse more intense than the last. This wasn’t just a battle of strength; it was a battle for her soul, and I was losing ground fast.“Fiona, please,” I pleaded,
Chapter 20The AwakeningFiona’s POVThe first thing I became aware of was the silence—an all-encompassing, heavy silence that pressed down on me like a suffocating blanket. It was the kind of silence that made you question whether you were truly alive, or if you had slipped into some unknown void where nothing existed except your thoughts.I tried to open my eyes, but my body felt sluggish, as though a great weight was pinning me down. Panic began to bubble up inside me as I struggled to move, to break free of whatever was holding me captive. I could feel my wolf stirring within me, but even she seemed weakened, as if the same force keeping me bound had drained her of her strength.Slowly, painfully, I managed to pry my eyes open, squinting against the dim light that surrounded me. The air smelled faintly of damp stone and something acrid—something that made my stomach churn with unease. I forced myself to sit up, every muscle in my body protesting the movement.Where am I?My though
Chapter 21Tangled FatesQuinton’s POVI stared at the shattered remnants of our lives, pieces of the past scattered around me like debris after a storm. Everything had spiraled out of control, faster than I ever could have predicted. The tension in the air was almost suffocating, like the calm before a violent storm. There was no denying it—the darkness that had haunted us had returned. But now, it wasn’t just lurking in the shadows. It was a part of us, wrapped tightly around Fiona and me, pulling us deeper into its sinister web.I could still feel the echo of the shadow's attack, its cold grip tightening around my mind. It hadn’t just been an external force—no, something had reached deep into both of us, leaving a scar that wouldn’t fade. And while Fiona had been the primary target, I felt every bit of it. I had failed to protect her. The thought gnawed at me, feeding the anger that simmered just below the surface.Fiona was safe for now. At least, physically. But her mental state
Chapter 22Wolves Of The DarkQuinton’s POVThe room exploded into chaos as the shadowed figure lunged at us. Instinct kicked in, and I dove to the side, narrowly avoiding its outstretched claws. Fiona was right beside me, moving with the grace and speed of a seasoned wolf. For a second, our eyes met, and I could see the determination and fear flashing in hers. We were in this together, but this wasn’t just about survival anymore—it was about understanding the new threat that loomed over us.The shadow-wolf’s presence was unlike anything I’d ever felt before. Its energy was oppressive, suffocating, as if the air around it was being drained of life. It was both a wolf and something more, something ancient and malevolent.Caleb stood unmoved, watching us with an unsettling calm. He didn’t seem to be fazed by the creature’s sudden attack, and I couldn’t help but wonder how deep his involvement with this “shadow pack” went.“Quinton, stay sharp!” Fiona’s voice snapped me back to reality,
Chapter 23Rising StormFiona's POVThe night was darker than usual, the weight of the sky pressing down as if even the stars were afraid to shine. The tension in the air clung to my skin, thick and suffocating. My wolf paced restlessly inside me, unsettled, sensing the danger lurking just beneath the surface. Tonight, something was going to happen—I could feel it in my bones.Quinton was close by, his presence a steady hum against the crackling energy around us. I had grown used to the comfort his nearness brought, the way his strength grounded me. But tonight, even he couldn’t calm the storm brewing inside me.The packhouse was alive with whispers. Everyone felt it—the shift, the unease. It had started with the arrival of Dorian, a threat we couldn’t fully comprehend yet, but one that was becoming harder to ignore. His appearance had cracked something open, revealing a world of danger we weren’t ready for.I stood near the edge of the clearing, my eyes scanning the treeline. The for
Chapter 24Shadow Of The BeastFiona's POVThe wind roared in my ears as the monstrous wolf lunged at us, its jaws snapping shut with a sickening sound. Quinton’s body collided with mine, pushing me out of its path just in time. We tumbled to the ground, his warmth engulfing me, but the adrenaline surging through my veins left no time for comfort. We had to move.I scrambled to my feet, my heart hammering wildly against my ribs. The massive creature stood before us, its glowing red eyes locked on me, its breath hot and rancid as it snarled. I had never seen anything like it before—it was ancient, primal, radiating a power that sent chills down my spine.My wolf howled within me, ready to fight, but there was a hesitation, a sliver of doubt that wasn’t usually there. I glanced at Quinton, who had shifted back into his human form, his chest heaving with exertion. Blood smeared his skin, and I knew he was barely holding it together, but his eyes—those deep, burning eyes—were focused, det