Aiden's POV I trudged towards the front of the school, my heart heavy. I couldn't believe Julie had betrayed me like this. I couldn't believe he had said all those things to me.As I reached the front of the school, I saw Isadora waiting for me. She looked pale and anxious."Aiden," she said, her voice trembling. "We have to go. Now."I frowned. "What's wrong?" I asked."There's no time to explain," she said, grabbing my hand. "We have to leave. Your Grandfather wants to see you."I didn't want to go. I wanted to stay here, at least until I could figure out how to fix things with Julie. But Isadora was pulling me towards the car, and I knew I couldn't argue with her.We drove in silence, my anxiety growing with every mile. Isadora kept glancing at me, her eyes filled with fear.Finally, we reached the estate. I dreaded spending even one more day in that house.But as we pulled up to the gates, something strange happened. A black car pulled up behind us, blocking our path.A tall ma
Tobias’s POVThe city air still clung to my clothes, a greasy film of exhaust and hurried footsteps. I’d spent the afternoon weaving through crowded streets, trying to finalize the last-minute details for the wedding.Naya deserved the best, and I was determined to give it to her, even if it meant battling grumpy florists and haggling with caterers who thought they were serving ambrosia instead of fried chicken. My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me from my mental checklist of seating arrangements and cake flavors. It was a message from the Elder.My stomach clenched as I read the words. They were laced with a thinly veiled threat, a demand for allegiance. He wanted me to join him, to fall in line with his plans, or he would… well, he didn’t explicitly say what he’d do, but the implication was clear: he'd make my life, Naya’s life, Aiden’s life, a living hell."Don't blame me when everything falls into pieces," the message concluded.I scoffed, a bitter sound in the busy street
Naya's pov I woke up with a gasp, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird. The last thing I remembered was Julian saying something about Aiden being in danger, and then… nothing. Just blackness. I pushed the blanket off my lap and sat up, my head throbbing. It felt like a giant was using my skull as a drum.“Ugh,” I groaned, pressing my hand to my forehead. The cottage was silent, eerily so. Where was everyone?I stumbled off the couch, my legs wobbly. “Tobias? Aiden?” I called out, my voice trembling. No answer.Panic clawed at my throat. Everything was a mess. The cushions were askew, a half-finished drawing lay abandoned on the coffee table, and the air was thick with a sense of… dread.I ran to the window, peering out into the fading light. The car was gone. My breath hitched in my throat. He’d left. He’d taken the others and left me behind.Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. I felt abandoned, useless. But I couldn’t afford to fall apart. Aiden w
Naya's POV Tobias stepped forward, his face set in a hard line. “Back off, you Old bastard,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “You’ve got the wrong kid.”The Elder chuckled. “Oh, I don’t think so, Tobias,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “I know exactly who I have. That’s why I waited for the star of the show to arrive.”One of the Elder’s men stepped forward, dragging someone behind him. My heart skipped a beat.It was Julian.Isadora screamed, her face contorting with anguish. “Julian!” she cried, her voice cracking. “What did you do to him?”The Elder smiled coldly. “Don’t worry, my dear,” he said, his voice smooth as silk. “We haven’t harmed him… yet.”Isadora turned to her father, her eyes pleading. “Please, Father,” she begged. “I don’t want to be a part of this anymore. Not if it means hurting Julian. He’s the only family I have left.”The Elder’s smile vanished, replaced by a look of cold fury. “Silence, Isadora,” he snapped. “You will do as you’re told.”He turned back to
Naya's Point of ViewThe clock’s slow ticking was pure torture for me, each minute stretching like eternity. I sat on my chair, my grip tightening on the desk. Sweat trickled down my forehead, my fingers trembling as I fought hard to retain my composure. I could hear my wolf cry out in my brain… Let me out!This shouldn't be happening. The lecture hall was filled with the hum of the air conditioner, which did little to reduce the heat my body was currently generating. My wolf wasn't ready to back down. She wanted to take over and run wild, but it's forbidden. I couldn't focus. My mind was stuck within this inner battle, and I hated it. My depressant shot wasn't due for another week, but my body didn't care about the schedule. Neither did my wolf... The strong scent of my pheromones wafted through the air, mingling with the sweat that trickled down every student close to me. It might be not so noticeable to human students but when it came to werewolves like me, that was another
Sweat trickled down my temples as I slammed the locker shut. I felt like I was going to pass out in a matter of seconds. “Who would take it?” I whispered, my voice trembling. “There isn’t anyone else who I know has my locker combination but me and Clara, which is my birthday.”Her wolf scolded her in her mind: Wrong choice, girl. It would be easy to open your locker if they knew you well enough… Shut up, Xienna, you’re not helping! I irritably snapped back.I turned to my friend in slight panic, “Clara, can you do me a favor?”Her reply was immediate, “Anything for you, bestie.”“Can you get any kind of pain medicine from the school clinic?” I requested in an agitated tone as I took out my mobile from my dress’ deep pocket. “Anything strong will do. Just tell them that I’m in too much pain to get to the clinic myself.”“But those meds are for humans. Will those work for you?”“Not sure but they will have to do for now.”“Okay, Naya. Just text me where you’ll be when I get those pa
The ride home was suffocating. Each second I spent in there felt like an eternity, with Sabrina bugging me with her lectures. But it wasn’t just Sabrina’s lectures about how careless I was that bothered me… it was the way her mate, Seth, stared at me from the driver’s seat. I could see his green eyes flicker with lust. What the hell?I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, my arms wrapped around myself as if I could shield myself from his gaze. I tried to focus on the words escaping from Sabrina’s lips, but they only made me feel worse.“You have to be more careful, Naya. Leaving your suppressants in your locker like that? What were you thinking?”I could sense frustration in her voice. Which I tried to ignore as usual.“My locker was locked. Besides, I didn’t think anyone would take them,” I murmured weakly from the back seat.“That’s the problem… You didn’t think! Do you have any idea what could’ve happened if you’d fully transformed, near humans at that? The entire pack would’ve been a
The sharp hum of voices filled the air as I stood near the window, gazing out at the soft flakes of snow which fell on the streets.My parents’ words from this morning still echoed in my head. A family meeting was called and I was the topic. Sabrina expressed her disgust and my parents stared at me. Seth on the other hand, had a smug up his lips, unfazed by his actions.“This is your last chance, Naya. The bonding ceremony will set everything right,” my mother had grimly state, her voice a mix of desperation and anger. My father simply nodded in agreement. It was clear that he was disappointed in me. Well, everyone was…I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to stand in a room full of strangers who would sniff at me like I was some prized prey. But did I have a choice? My parents were livid over the incident with Sabrina and Seth, and now they were determined to fix me… Or as they told me, repeatedly fix my life.It wasn’t my fault, I wanted to scream at them. But who would believe me?
Naya's POV Tobias stepped forward, his face set in a hard line. “Back off, you Old bastard,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “You’ve got the wrong kid.”The Elder chuckled. “Oh, I don’t think so, Tobias,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “I know exactly who I have. That’s why I waited for the star of the show to arrive.”One of the Elder’s men stepped forward, dragging someone behind him. My heart skipped a beat.It was Julian.Isadora screamed, her face contorting with anguish. “Julian!” she cried, her voice cracking. “What did you do to him?”The Elder smiled coldly. “Don’t worry, my dear,” he said, his voice smooth as silk. “We haven’t harmed him… yet.”Isadora turned to her father, her eyes pleading. “Please, Father,” she begged. “I don’t want to be a part of this anymore. Not if it means hurting Julian. He’s the only family I have left.”The Elder’s smile vanished, replaced by a look of cold fury. “Silence, Isadora,” he snapped. “You will do as you’re told.”He turned back to
Naya's pov I woke up with a gasp, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird. The last thing I remembered was Julian saying something about Aiden being in danger, and then… nothing. Just blackness. I pushed the blanket off my lap and sat up, my head throbbing. It felt like a giant was using my skull as a drum.“Ugh,” I groaned, pressing my hand to my forehead. The cottage was silent, eerily so. Where was everyone?I stumbled off the couch, my legs wobbly. “Tobias? Aiden?” I called out, my voice trembling. No answer.Panic clawed at my throat. Everything was a mess. The cushions were askew, a half-finished drawing lay abandoned on the coffee table, and the air was thick with a sense of… dread.I ran to the window, peering out into the fading light. The car was gone. My breath hitched in my throat. He’d left. He’d taken the others and left me behind.Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. I felt abandoned, useless. But I couldn’t afford to fall apart. Aiden w
Tobias’s POVThe city air still clung to my clothes, a greasy film of exhaust and hurried footsteps. I’d spent the afternoon weaving through crowded streets, trying to finalize the last-minute details for the wedding.Naya deserved the best, and I was determined to give it to her, even if it meant battling grumpy florists and haggling with caterers who thought they were serving ambrosia instead of fried chicken. My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me from my mental checklist of seating arrangements and cake flavors. It was a message from the Elder.My stomach clenched as I read the words. They were laced with a thinly veiled threat, a demand for allegiance. He wanted me to join him, to fall in line with his plans, or he would… well, he didn’t explicitly say what he’d do, but the implication was clear: he'd make my life, Naya’s life, Aiden’s life, a living hell."Don't blame me when everything falls into pieces," the message concluded.I scoffed, a bitter sound in the busy street
Aiden's POV I trudged towards the front of the school, my heart heavy. I couldn't believe Julie had betrayed me like this. I couldn't believe he had said all those things to me.As I reached the front of the school, I saw Isadora waiting for me. She looked pale and anxious."Aiden," she said, her voice trembling. "We have to go. Now."I frowned. "What's wrong?" I asked."There's no time to explain," she said, grabbing my hand. "We have to leave. Your Grandfather wants to see you."I didn't want to go. I wanted to stay here, at least until I could figure out how to fix things with Julie. But Isadora was pulling me towards the car, and I knew I couldn't argue with her.We drove in silence, my anxiety growing with every mile. Isadora kept glancing at me, her eyes filled with fear.Finally, we reached the estate. I dreaded spending even one more day in that house.But as we pulled up to the gates, something strange happened. A black car pulled up behind us, blocking our path.A tall ma
Aiden's POV Three days. That's all it was supposed to be. Three days of pretending to be Julian, three days of nasty tutors and cold rooms, three days of holding in all the things that made me… me. I’d counted every minute, every second, just so Julie could have a break. But those three days felt like a lifetime.I tried my best to be Julian. I sat up straight, didn't fidget, and answered all the questions the tutors threw at me, even when my brain felt like it was going to explode till my voice, so unused to talking for long periods went hoarae5. Mistress Thorne still looked at me like I was a bug she wanted to squish, but she didn't hit me again. Maybe because she didn't want to overdo it.I had to hold in a snort of disgust.I hated that it could still happen and the fear it sent through my body whenever I even thought she might pull her hands into her robes with the cane But the worst part was being away from mom and dad. I missed their hugs, their smiles, their silly jokes. I
Julian's POVEven though I was scared, switching with Aiden felt… like breathing after holding my breath for too long. I could almost taste freedom. But as Naya led me towards their little house, my hands trembled. According to what his parents knew,Aiden didn't talk (not that they know he could talk and did so on a semi regular basis now).He used his hands always, signing words I barely knew. What if I messed up? What if Naya saw through my clumsy attempts?Naya squeezed my hand, and I tried to mimic Aiden's bouncy walk, but my legs felt like jelly."You okay, sweetie?" Naya asked, her voice warm. "You're awfully quiet today. More than usual, even for you."My heart hammered. I reached for the small notebook Aiden always carried and scribbled:'Tired. Long day.' I showed it to her, trying to copy Aiden's quick, jerky movements.Naya frowned, her eyes searching mine. "Long day, huh? Did something happen at school? Did someone tease you?"I shook my head, then quickly signed the wor
Aiden's POVLately, Julian hasn’t been the same. I noticed it first at school. He used to sit with me sometimes, even if he pretended not to care. But now, he looks down at the floor a lot, and when I try to talk to him, he just walks away. Not just at school, but even when I visit him with my astral projection. I float into his room, hoping to see that goofy grin or hear him laugh at my silly signs, but he looks through me like I’m not there. Sometimes he doesn’t even answer back.It made my chest hurt. I didn’t know why he was like this. I wanted to help, but Julian wouldn’t let me.One afternoon, I was floating around the house, drifting like a ghost, trying to find him. I peeked into the bathroom, and there he was, standing in front of the mirror—his shirt lifted just a little as he rubbed his arms.I saw it then. The scars. Long, jagged lines running down his arms, hidden beneath his sleeves. They looked red and angry, like wounds that never quite healed. My heart stopped for
Julian's POV I had seen Mom talking to the tall creepy man yesterday. I couldn't hear what they were saying but I could read the low tones of, reverent, “shaman Mhalak's" that fell from her lip.According to my studies, shamans were beings with a great attachment to the spiritual realm and were even said to liaise with the moon goddess!It was honestly cool but the man's aura rubbed the wrong way.The shaman scanned the room, his gaze lingering on me for a moment too long. "Isadora," he said, his voice smooth and oily. "I trust everything is prepared?"Isadora nodded, her face pale. "Yes, Shaman," she said with that reverential tone again. "Everything is ready."The shaman turned his attention back to me, a strange smile spreading across his face. "Julian," he said, "these are your teachers. They will guide you, teach you to be a proper heir."I stared at the two strangers, feeling a knot of fear tighten in my stomach. They looked so serious, so… intense.I gulped, looking back at t
Aiden's pov We talked about everything and nothing, about school and games and the things we liked to eat. It was like a dam had burst inside me, and all the words I had been holding back for so long were finally flooding out.We made a deal that day, a super-secret, extra-special deal. We would learn more about each other, thoroughly. We would switch again, so Julian could experience being with Mom without having to hate her. So he could see her, truly."But… but I can't sign," Julian said, his face falling. "Naya would know.”"You can learn!" I said, my voice full of encouragement. "I can teach you! It's easy!"Julian hesitated. "But… but I'll have to be silent," he said. "And everyone will think I'm weird.""You're already weird, Julie," I teased, poking him in the arm. "But it's okay! I like you weird."Julian grinned. "Okay," he said. "Okay, I'll do it. But you have to teach me everything!"And so, our lessons began. I taught Julian how to sign, showing him the shapes and mo