EvaI’m sitting on the edge of my bed, staring out the window as the moonlight filters through the trees. The house is quiet, and Sophia is finally asleep after what felt like hours of her tossing and turning. My heart is still racing from earlier, from the tension and fear I’ve been trying to keep at bay.Darius. He’s not going to give up, and the thought of him lurking out there, waiting, makes my skin crawl.I’m startled out of my thoughts when I hear a soft knock on the door. My heart skips a beat, and I sit up a little straighter.“Eva?” Osiris’ deep voice comes from the other side, gentle but laced with something heavier.I stand, smoothing down my shirt and walk over to the door, opening it slowly. “Hey,” I say, offering him a small smile even though the worry is still etched across my face. “Come in.”Osiris steps inside, his broad shoulders taking up most of the doorway before he closes it behind him. His expression is hard, but his eyes soften when they meet mine. I can tell
OsirisThe night is perfect—clear sky, a soft breeze, and the moon shining bright overhead. I’ve been planning this for days now, trying to create the perfect evening for Eva.She deserves a break, a few hours to forget everything that’s been going on. After everything with Darius, I want her to have something that feels normal, something beautiful.A small picnic blanket is spread out on the floor with some food and wine. It’s simple, nothing too over the top. Eva doesn’t seem like the kind of person who needs grand gestures; she just needs someone who’ll take the time to be with her, to make her feel like she’s worth the world.I rub the back of my neck, glancing over everything one last time. I don’t want to mess this up. She’s been through hell, and I know she’s not ready to jump into anything heavy, but I want her to see she’s got more than just Darius’ bullshit. She deserves to feel safe, to feel cherished.I pull a few strings with Nero to set up the observatory for tonight. He
OsirisThe morning starts off with a strange tension I can’t quite shake. When Nero called me into the war room, I thought we’d be discussing strategy regarding Darius or maybe something to do with the Vega pack. But when I walk in, it’s not the usual meeting at all.Orion is sitting at the long table, arms crossed, his jaw set tight. He’s staring straight ahead, but there’s something off about his posture. It’s too rigid, too controlled, like he’s trying to keep something bottled up. Aeron is next to him, but my heart drops when I see him. He doesn’t look like the brother I knew. He’s thinner, paler, his eyes hollow. There’s no spark in them, no sign of the witty, sharp kid we all grew up with. He’s just … blank. Empty. He stares down at the table, not acknowledging me as I walk in, and I feel a stab of guilt. I’ve been so caught up in my own shit with Eva and Darius that I haven’t been here for him. But it’s not just that. There’s something more.Nero stands at the head of the tab
OsirisThe word “bait” hits me like a fucking truck, and for a second, I can’t even breathe. My younger brother, the one we all looked after and who never wanted to be part of the pack drama, was used as bait. For what, I can only imagine, but nothing good ever comes out of that word.Bait in the shifter world means one thing — you’re prey. Something to be hunted, tortured, used.“They used you in a fighting ring,” I growl, my voice coming out harsher than I intend, but I can’t help it. The idea of my baby brother being used as fucking bait for a wolf fight makes my blood boil.Aeron’s eyes are glassy, lost in whatever hell he’s been through, and his hands tremble on the table. His voice is barely a whisper when he speaks again. He nods, tears spilling over his cheeks as he tries to keep it together. “I was tied in chains and shot with silver bullets if I… If I fought back and — I... I couldn’t shift back. They did something to me, something that kept me trapped in wolf form, but I w
EvaCamellia sits across from me in the sunlit kitchen, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her mug. Her eyes, warm and kind, are focused on me, waiting for me to speak. I’ve been trying to say something for the past five minutes, but every time I open my mouth, nothing comes out. Instead, my mind races with all the doubts, the fears, the feelings I’ve been burying deep inside for weeks.“You don’t have to say anything if you’re not ready,” Camellia says softly, her voice steady but reassuring.I shake my head, taking a deep breath. I need to talk about this. I need to get it out, even if every word feels like it’s a weight on my chest. “It’s not that I don’t want to talk,” I finally say, my voice a little hoarse. “It’s that I don’t know how to explain how I feel. It’s … it’s all just a mess.”Camellia gives me a small, patient smile. “Life tends to be messy, Eva. Trust me, I get that.”I nod, chewing on my bottom lip. “I just don’t know if I belong here. With Osiris… with this pack
OsirisOrion was never one to show weakness, not to me, not to anyone. But before he left for Vegas, something was different. His usual armor, the one he wore so well, was cracked. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t do a damn thing to help him. The look in his eyes—the weight he was carrying—haunts me even now as I sit in the war room, running my hands through my hair.I think back to that conversation we had before he left.“Are you sure you’re good to do this?” I asked him, watching him shove clothes into his duffel bag, his movements mechanical, almost lifeless.Orion didn’t meet my eyes. “I don’t have a choice. Creed and Arkyn need me to get this shit sorted since I know Zane better. Besides, it’s not like I can sit here doing nothing while Zane’s out there.” His voice was tight, like he was trying to keep everything from spilling out.I leaned against the doorframe, my arms crossed. “You’ve been off ever since you saw him, and now you’re heading straight into his territo
EvaAs I walk into the council building, every step feels like my heart is going to beat right out of my chest. My palms are slick with sweat, and I can feel the tremble in my hands as I grip Sophia’s tiny one tightly. She clutches her teddy bear to her chest, wide-eyed, but calm. I’m anything but calm.I’m terrified.The thought of seeing Darius again—of standing in front of the council and having to plead my case—makes my stomach churn. I can still feel the weight of his threats hanging over me, even though Osiris and Nero have assured me they won’t let anything happen.But what if they can’t stop him? What if the council sides with him?I squeeze Sophia’s hand a little tighter, trying to ground myself. I can’t afford to think like that right now. I have to do this for her. For us. There’s no going back.“Mommy?” Sophia’s voice pulls me out of my spiral. She looks up at me, eyes full of trust. “Are we going to be okay?”I force a smile, nodding even though I’m not sure if I’m convin
OsirisI follow Nero into the council’s chamber, trying to steady my breathing. My fists are clenched, knuckles white, and the anger boiling inside me is barely contained. Every time I think about Darius, about what he’s done to Eva, I want to tear him apart. But now isn’t the time for bloodshed. We need to make our case here, in front of the council, and ensure they understand just what kind of monster we’re dealing with.Nero’s beside me, his usual brooding expression firmly in place. He’s calm, at least outwardly, but I know he’s just as pissed as I am. He’s already warned me to keep my cool, but fuck, it’s hard when I think about that bastard crossing into our territory to try and take Eva back like she was his goddamn property.The council members are seated in their high-backed chairs, their faces cold and unreadable. I hate these meetings—the politics, the bullshit—but they’re necessary. If we want to keep Eva and Sophia safe, we need the council on our side.We approach the
OrionNero’s office has the kind of quiet tension you can feel in your bones, the kind that comes after months of chasing shadows and uprooting every twisted part of that ring. Osiris and I are settled across from him, listening intently as he wraps up the conference call with Arkyn and Creed. My brother’s voice is steady as he discusses the last few details. It’s taken months to dismantle, but here we are, finally piecing everything back together.“Look,” Creed’s voice crackles over the line, blunt as ever, “everyone’s been dealt with. But Legacy’s name hasn’t come up in any interrogation or confession, not even once. He’s protected. Everyone’s too fucking scared to name him.”Nero sighs, fingers rubbing at his temples. “He’s the one wild card. Every single person higher up has been captured, but Legacy? Silence. And we all know silence from someone that powerful isn’t accidental.”“Leave Legacy to me,” Arkyn’s voice cuts in, dark and simmering with barely contained fury. “He’s still
OrionThe cool earth beneath us grounds me as I lay there, my arm draped over Zane, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest. His scent—apples and something inherently him—fills the air around us, mingling with the sharp, raw scent of our freshly marked bond. The ache of his mark on my nape throbs in time with my heartbeat, a constant reminder that he’s real, that he’s here.I trail my fingers down his arm, feeling the warmth of his skin, the familiar shape of him that I thought I’d lost forever. Everything about this feels surreal, like I’ve stepped into a dream I can’t bear to wake from.“We should probably… head back,” I murmur, though the thought of leaving this spot, leaving him even for a second, feels impossible. But there’s a part of me that knows we can’t hide here forever, that we owe it to my family, to everyone who believed Zane was gone, to know the truth. “They’ll want to know what happened.”Zane chuckles, a low, familiar sound that makes something tighten in my c
OrionI hold him, my arms wrapped so tightly around him I’m half-worried I’ll break him. But I can’t let go. My mind’s struggling to process this, and I keep expecting to blink and find the empty forest around me, cold and alone again. But he’s here, solid and warm in my arms, and his scent fills the air—apples, fresh and grounding, just like it always was. Just like home.“Ri,” he murmurs, his hand moving to rest against my chest, fingers splayed over my heart like he’s memorizing the feel of me. “You look like you’re seeing a ghost.”“Maybe I am,” I admit, my voice low, rough. “I don’t know if I’m going to wake up any second and realize this is all just… wishful thinking.”I pull back slightly, my eyes searching his face, taking in every detail, every line and scar I’d memorized so long ago. My fingers tremble as they brush over his jaw, his cheek, his lips, as if I’m trying to convince myself this isn’t some twisted trick. “You’re… you’re really here,” I murmur, my voice catching
ZaneMy eyes flutter open, and I find myself surrounded by mirrors, an endless maze of reflections that stretch in every direction. I blink, disoriented, confusion settling in as I try to make sense of where I am. The last thing I remember is Orion’s hand tightening around my neck, the darkness closing in as everything faded away. So why am I here? Why am I … still here?A soft voice, melodic and soothing, echoes behind me. “Welcome, Zane.”I turn slowly, my eyes widening as I see her. She’s walking toward me, an ethereal glow surrounding her, golden light radiating from every step. Her long, flowing blonde hair cascades over her shoulders, and a beautiful gown drapes around her in waves, moving as if it’s part of the light itself. Her eyes are a shade of gold that feels ancient, otherworldly, yet warm. A black teardrop pendant hangs from her neck, glinting softly in the glow that envelops her.My heart skips a beat as realization dawns, and my knees buckle, pulling me to the floor.
OrionThe path to Natasha’s hideout is a blur, every step a pulse of barely controlled rage. The air hums with the charge of dark magic, a twisted energy that beckons me, taunting me. My hands tremble with the beast’s fury, simmering just beneath my skin, but I haven’t let it loose yet. Not fully. There’s a strange clarity to my anger—a focus that makes every sense sharper, every movement precise.The moment I reach the edge of the hideout, I don’t stop to think. I kick down the door, wood splintering under the force of my boot, and I step inside, feeling every ounce of anger, every piece of heartbreak, flood through me like a dam breaking. The witches turn, eyes wide with shock, but I don’t give them a chance to scream.The first one goes down without a sound, my hand gripping her neck as I lift her off the ground. She thrashes, her mouth opening in a silent plea, but I don’t hesitate. I twist, the snap echoing through the room, and drop her to the floor like the insignificant piece
OrionI’m trapped, locked inside my own body as I watch my fists swing, my legs move, every calculated hit landing with ruthless precision. But it’s not me—not really. I can’t stop it. Can’t control it. All I can do is watch from somewhere deep inside, helpless as I fight against the people I swore to protect.Nero’s face twists in pain as my fist connects with his ribs. Osiris tries to grab me from the side, but I counter, landing a brutal blow to his shoulder, hearing the sickening crunch. They’re all holding back—I can feel it in their strikes, in the way they hesitate just before their fists meet flesh. They’re trying to save me, trying to fight me without hurting me. But I don’t feel that same mercy. Whoever is controlling my body… they’re enjoying this.Two Alphas should have me on my knees by now, but Natasha planned this perfectly. She knew they wouldn’t give it everything; she counted on it. And the part of me that’s still here, watching, feels every bit of the twisted ple
ZaneThe past three days have been a hell I can barely stomach. I’ve been confined to Nero’s territory, shackled by suspicion, and only allowed out of the locked room to help strategize. And I am trying—I’m trying everything I can think of. But it’s never enough. No matter what I say or how much I beg them to let me help, they’re always watching me, waiting for some slip that proves them right.Today, it’s worse. Nero had used his Alpha Sight on me, sifting through memories and thoughts, and I didn’t fight him. I let him dig, let him see everything, hoping he’d find something that could give us an edge. But there was nothing—nothing useful, anyway. Just more dead ends.Nova’s been working nonstop, her face growing more exhausted with each passing hour, trying spell after spell, looking for anything that could point us to Orion’s location. The tension is mounting, everyone on edge, barely able to look at each other without a fight breaking out.I’m pacing the war room, barely hearing
ZaneThe sound of heavy footsteps echoes in the hallway outside my locked room, and I know it’s Nero before he even steps inside. There’s a weight to his presence, a dark edge that fills the space long before he even opens the door. When the lock clicks and the door swings open, he’s standing there, arms crossed, his expression a storm of anger and something I can’t quite read.He doesn’t say anything at first, just stares at me, and I feel the hostility radiating off him like heat. He’s still angry—hell, probably furious—and I know exactly why. This isn’t just about what’s happening now. It’s about everything I did to Orion, every lie, every betrayal.“Start talking,” he finally says, his voice low and controlled, but I can tell it’s taking every ounce of his restraint not to rip into me right here and now.I take a breath, trying to steady myself, and meet his gaze. There’s no use in holding anything back now. It’s time for him to know the truth—the whole, brutal truth.“She’s goin
ZaneThe jet touches down with a low rumble, and I can already feel the tension in the air as we approach Nero’s territory. This is Leonetti land, and stepping onto it feels like walking into the lion’s den. I know the reception I’m about to get isn’t going to be friendly.As soon as the door opens and I step out, the familiar scent of pine and earth fills my senses. But that sense of home is quickly overshadowed by the heavy tension that hangs in the air like a storm waiting to break. Nero is already waiting for us at the landing site, and the second he lays eyes on me, his expression darkens.Before I can react, he’s moving toward me, his eyes blazing with fury. Every muscle in his body is tensed, ready to tear me apart, and for a second, I wonder if I’ll even survive the next few minutes.“Zane!” he snarls, his voice echoing across the open space. “You’ve got some fucking nerve showing your face here.”I don’t move. I can’t. I’ve expected this, and part of me knows I deserve it. Bu