HARLEYWithout a word, Shane leaned forward, his eyes locking onto mine, searching for any trace of doubt. But I held his gaze, my heart pounding with anticipation, a strange calm washing over me as I accepted what was unfolding between us.Slowly, he lifted his hand, his fingers brushing softly along my cheek, a touch that sent a shiver down my spine. His face moved closer, his warm breath mingling with mine, and in that instant, the world narrowed to just us. Without another pause, he closed the distance, his lips pressing against mine, gentle at first, as if testing the boundaries of our newfound bond.But then something shifted—something deeper, more powerful—and the kiss grew urgent, both of us drawn into an instinct we didn’t fully understand. I felt warmth bloom in my chest, spreading out, connecting us like an unbreakable thread. My hands found their way to his shoulders, gripping him as though he were the only anchor in a swirling sea. I could feel his heart pounding in time
ROYThe throne room was dim, lit only by the flickering light of the torches lining the walls. Shadows twisted and danced across the cold stone, reflecting the brutality that had taken root in what was once Shane’s domain. I, Roy, now stood where he once had, a reminder of the throne I’d claimed through cunning and strength, traits Shane had clearly lacked.I let out a low, mocking laugh, savoring the sight of Shane’s former loyalists kneeling before me, their heads bowed in forced submission. Most wore expressions of defiance, their bodies tense as they glared up at me, their hatred like a smoldering fire, simmering but not yet dangerous. I was here to remind them who held the power now, who they owed their allegiance to.One of them, a younger wolf with fierce eyes, met my gaze without flinching. His voice, though strained, carried the fire of rebellion. “You can taunt us all you want, Roy,” he spat, venom coating every word. “But our alpha will return, and when he does, you’ll be n
SHANEThe early morning light poured through the car windows as I drove, casting warm patterns over Harley’s face. I couldn’t help but glance at her every few moments, my heart swelling each time. She had accepted me, truly accepted me, and now she sat beside me, our bond humming quietly between us, like an invisible thread tying us together. My wolf, Caspian, was content, a rare feeling for him, and he settled in the back of my mind, watching her with a soft protectiveness I’d never felt before.Yet, under the happiness, a small worry gnawed at me. Harley had accepted me without a second thought, her mother’s words ringing in her ears. I wondered exactly what her mother had said—how much she had told her, what warnings or reassurances she had given. Whatever it was, Harley had accepted my bond in a heartbeat, almost as if she’d been waiting for it. It left me wondering how much she truly understood about what she was stepping into. But as I looked at her, her hand resting in mine,
HARLEYThe next morning, I arrived at school feeling like I was carrying a secret too big for words, one that pulsed in my mind and heart with every step I took. Everything felt surreal—the school’s familiar hallways, the voices around me, the way people moved as if nothing monumental had shifted. But for me, everything had changed.I spotted Lauren by our lockers, her eyes bright with curiosity as she waved me over. I could tell she was dying to know where I’d disappeared to the day before and, more importantly, what was going on between me and Shane.“Hey!” she greeted, her tone casual, but her eyes betrayed her intrigue. “So… what happened yesterday? You just vanished with Shane. And, um, is he really your brother?”I let out a small, nervous laugh. “I was going to ask you that, actually. He kept saying you were his sister or something.”Lauren rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. “Shane’s… well, Shane’s got a lot going on in his head,” she said with a smirk. “He says all kinds of t
HARLEYAs I walked up the path to my house, the weight of the day pressed down on me. My conversation with Shane lingered in my mind—his words about reclaiming his throne and wanting me by his side as his mate. It all felt like a whirlwind that had swept me off my feet, leaving me struggling to catch my breath. I needed time to process it, to understand what I really wanted. But as soon as I stepped inside the house, I was yanked back into my reality.Susan was standing in the entryway, her arms crossed and her eyes narrowed in that familiar way that always made my stomach clench. She scanned me from head to toe with a look of disdain. “You’re late,” she snapped, her voice as cold as ever. “Did you think you could just waltz in here whenever you pleased?”I sighed, already exhausted but knowing better than to argue. “Sorry, Susan. I didn’t realize I was taking too long.”She scoffed, clearly unimpressed with my apology. “Well, I’ve got news for you, Harley. This house doesn’t clean i
HARLEYAs Shane and I stepped back into the house, my father turned to Susan, a hint of pride in his voice. “Susan,” he said, “we’ll need to clear the guest room for Shane. He’ll be staying the night.”Susan’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, clearly taken aback by the sudden arrangement. She glanced at me with a suspicious glint, her lips pressing into a tight line before she nodded. “Of course,” she replied coolly, hiding her irritation beneath a veneer of politeness. “I’ll make sure it’s ready.”Without another word, she turned and headed down the hallway, gesturing for me to follow her. I shot Shane a small, reassuring smile before hurrying after her. Once we reached the guest room, Susan turned to me, her expression sharp and cold.“Well, I hope you know what you’re doing, Harley,” she hissed under her breath. “Bringing strangers into this house—honestly, the last thing we need is another mouth to feed.”I bit back a sigh, nodding as I started tidying up the guest room, fluffing the
HARLEYThe soft morning light streamed through the window as I opened my eyes, only to be met with an empty bed beside me. For a brief moment, confusion settled over me, the events of last night flooding back. Shane had been here. We’d talked, shared pieces of his past, his pain. And now… he was gone.I sat up slowly, brushing the sleep from my eyes. That’s when I noticed it—a small, folded note resting on the pillow beside me. I picked it up, heart racing, and unfolded it, recognizing Shane’s handwriting immediately.Harley,I didn’t want to wake you. I’ll see you at school today. Thank you for being here with me. Until then—Shane.A soft smile touched my lips, a warmth spreading through me. He hadn’t left without saying goodbye, after all. Tucking the note into my pocket, I climbed out of bed, stretching and feeling the remnants of the night’s comfort still lingering.But my moment of peace shattered as the door swung open, and Susan appeared, her expression as cold and sharp as eve
SHANEI sat across from Connor in his office, my head pounding as I tried to articulate the frustration twisting in my gut. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness that gnawed at me. The bond with Harley was supposed to fix this, to fill the void and reignite the strength I’d lost. But instead, it seemed to leave me even more vulnerable, more powerless.“I’m not getting stronger, Connor,” I said, my voice low and tense. “If anything, I feel weaker than before. This was a mistake. I should’ve stayed away from her… from Harley.”Connor’s eyes were sympathetic but steady, unwavering. “Shane, that’s the curse talking. Mating with Harley was never a mistake. She’s your mate; she’s part of you. This has to be some interference from Roy or whoever set this curse on you.”“But that’s just it,” I replied, clenching my fists. “If the bond can’t fix it, then what’s the point? She’s human, Connor. What if all I’ve done is pull her into my world only to make her vuln
HARLEYAs the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Mr. Lee gathered his papers and left the room, nodding briefly to us as he exited. The moment the door closed behind him, our class captain, Aaron, jumped up from his seat and strode to the front of the room, a wide grin on his face.“Alright, everyone!” Aaron called out, clapping his hands to get our attention. “Who’s down for a party at my place this weekend? Tomorrow night!”A cheer went up, and a few people started whooping and clapping, clearly thrilled by the idea. Aaron’s parties were legendary, and everyone knew he went all out with music, food, and everything else. I could feel the buzz of excitement spreading through the room as people started making plans, already talking about what they’d wear and who they’d go with.“Everyone’s invited!” Aaron added, holding his arms out. “Bring whoever you want! It’s gonna be epic!”He left the front of the room, grinning as he returned to his seat, and I couldn’t help but smile. It ha
LAURENThe morning air was filled with a quiet tension as I sat near the back of the school courtyard, hidden away from prying eyes. I glanced around to ensure no one was listening, my eyes sharp and focused. The two omega wolves I’d summoned, both tall and wiry with watchful eyes, approached cautiously, glancing around before settling down across from me.One of them, the older wolf with a thin scar across his jaw, leaned forward, his voice low and eager. “You have news for us, Lauren?”I nodded, lowering my voice. “Yes. Shane has finally found a mate… but it’s not what anyone expected.”The younger wolf raised an eyebrow, a slow grin spreading across his face. “Oh, old story. And what poor soul has he bonded with?”“A human,” I replied, my tone laced with disbelief. “A weak human girl. She has no powers, no strength, nothing to offer him. It’s pathetic, really. Shane, the supposed alpha, mated to someone who can barely defend herself, let alone an entire pack.”They exchanged amused
SHANEI sat across from Connor in his office, my head pounding as I tried to articulate the frustration twisting in my gut. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness that gnawed at me. The bond with Harley was supposed to fix this, to fill the void and reignite the strength I’d lost. But instead, it seemed to leave me even more vulnerable, more powerless.“I’m not getting stronger, Connor,” I said, my voice low and tense. “If anything, I feel weaker than before. This was a mistake. I should’ve stayed away from her… from Harley.”Connor’s eyes were sympathetic but steady, unwavering. “Shane, that’s the curse talking. Mating with Harley was never a mistake. She’s your mate; she’s part of you. This has to be some interference from Roy or whoever set this curse on you.”“But that’s just it,” I replied, clenching my fists. “If the bond can’t fix it, then what’s the point? She’s human, Connor. What if all I’ve done is pull her into my world only to make her vuln
HARLEYThe soft morning light streamed through the window as I opened my eyes, only to be met with an empty bed beside me. For a brief moment, confusion settled over me, the events of last night flooding back. Shane had been here. We’d talked, shared pieces of his past, his pain. And now… he was gone.I sat up slowly, brushing the sleep from my eyes. That’s when I noticed it—a small, folded note resting on the pillow beside me. I picked it up, heart racing, and unfolded it, recognizing Shane’s handwriting immediately.Harley,I didn’t want to wake you. I’ll see you at school today. Thank you for being here with me. Until then—Shane.A soft smile touched my lips, a warmth spreading through me. He hadn’t left without saying goodbye, after all. Tucking the note into my pocket, I climbed out of bed, stretching and feeling the remnants of the night’s comfort still lingering.But my moment of peace shattered as the door swung open, and Susan appeared, her expression as cold and sharp as eve
HARLEYAs Shane and I stepped back into the house, my father turned to Susan, a hint of pride in his voice. “Susan,” he said, “we’ll need to clear the guest room for Shane. He’ll be staying the night.”Susan’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, clearly taken aback by the sudden arrangement. She glanced at me with a suspicious glint, her lips pressing into a tight line before she nodded. “Of course,” she replied coolly, hiding her irritation beneath a veneer of politeness. “I’ll make sure it’s ready.”Without another word, she turned and headed down the hallway, gesturing for me to follow her. I shot Shane a small, reassuring smile before hurrying after her. Once we reached the guest room, Susan turned to me, her expression sharp and cold.“Well, I hope you know what you’re doing, Harley,” she hissed under her breath. “Bringing strangers into this house—honestly, the last thing we need is another mouth to feed.”I bit back a sigh, nodding as I started tidying up the guest room, fluffing the
HARLEYAs I walked up the path to my house, the weight of the day pressed down on me. My conversation with Shane lingered in my mind—his words about reclaiming his throne and wanting me by his side as his mate. It all felt like a whirlwind that had swept me off my feet, leaving me struggling to catch my breath. I needed time to process it, to understand what I really wanted. But as soon as I stepped inside the house, I was yanked back into my reality.Susan was standing in the entryway, her arms crossed and her eyes narrowed in that familiar way that always made my stomach clench. She scanned me from head to toe with a look of disdain. “You’re late,” she snapped, her voice as cold as ever. “Did you think you could just waltz in here whenever you pleased?”I sighed, already exhausted but knowing better than to argue. “Sorry, Susan. I didn’t realize I was taking too long.”She scoffed, clearly unimpressed with my apology. “Well, I’ve got news for you, Harley. This house doesn’t clean i
HARLEYThe next morning, I arrived at school feeling like I was carrying a secret too big for words, one that pulsed in my mind and heart with every step I took. Everything felt surreal—the school’s familiar hallways, the voices around me, the way people moved as if nothing monumental had shifted. But for me, everything had changed.I spotted Lauren by our lockers, her eyes bright with curiosity as she waved me over. I could tell she was dying to know where I’d disappeared to the day before and, more importantly, what was going on between me and Shane.“Hey!” she greeted, her tone casual, but her eyes betrayed her intrigue. “So… what happened yesterday? You just vanished with Shane. And, um, is he really your brother?”I let out a small, nervous laugh. “I was going to ask you that, actually. He kept saying you were his sister or something.”Lauren rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. “Shane’s… well, Shane’s got a lot going on in his head,” she said with a smirk. “He says all kinds of t
SHANEThe early morning light poured through the car windows as I drove, casting warm patterns over Harley’s face. I couldn’t help but glance at her every few moments, my heart swelling each time. She had accepted me, truly accepted me, and now she sat beside me, our bond humming quietly between us, like an invisible thread tying us together. My wolf, Caspian, was content, a rare feeling for him, and he settled in the back of my mind, watching her with a soft protectiveness I’d never felt before.Yet, under the happiness, a small worry gnawed at me. Harley had accepted me without a second thought, her mother’s words ringing in her ears. I wondered exactly what her mother had said—how much she had told her, what warnings or reassurances she had given. Whatever it was, Harley had accepted my bond in a heartbeat, almost as if she’d been waiting for it. It left me wondering how much she truly understood about what she was stepping into. But as I looked at her, her hand resting in mine,
ROYThe throne room was dim, lit only by the flickering light of the torches lining the walls. Shadows twisted and danced across the cold stone, reflecting the brutality that had taken root in what was once Shane’s domain. I, Roy, now stood where he once had, a reminder of the throne I’d claimed through cunning and strength, traits Shane had clearly lacked.I let out a low, mocking laugh, savoring the sight of Shane’s former loyalists kneeling before me, their heads bowed in forced submission. Most wore expressions of defiance, their bodies tense as they glared up at me, their hatred like a smoldering fire, simmering but not yet dangerous. I was here to remind them who held the power now, who they owed their allegiance to.One of them, a younger wolf with fierce eyes, met my gaze without flinching. His voice, though strained, carried the fire of rebellion. “You can taunt us all you want, Roy,” he spat, venom coating every word. “But our alpha will return, and when he does, you’ll be n