Archer’s POV“Find the wolf, gotta find the wolf,” I repeat over and over as I search like a crazed animal. My beautiful Leah had told me how urgently we must rid our home of this wolf, how he is there to hurt her and pull us apart. “I’ll never let that happen,” a growl rumbled up my throat and threatened to spill from my lips. There was nothing in this world I wouldn’t do for my Leah. She was my life, the very air I breathed. I would be lost without her.Slowing my pace, creeping through the forest. I know he’s here; I just can’t see him. The leaves had fallen still, and the breeze was holding its breath. Not a sound could be heard, but nothing would get past me. I could feel him in a way, know that he was near, sense his presence.My footsteps were so loud in my ears as I crept along, the leaves crunching and giving me away. I needed to sneak up on the wolf before he heard me, but the world was against me. Every breath I took sounded like the wind howling, and my heart would beat fa
Aiden’s POVAnger, fear, rage, despair. All the emotions I had to deal with as I watched my girl sprawled on the floor, unable to reach her, even though she was mere feet away. I could feel Axel was struggling too. Knowing your mate could be in danger and you couldn’t help was the worst feeling in the world. I wanted to scrub my skin from my body. Everything just felt wrong.“I know what you’re thinking, and you know we can’t do it, so shut up and stop pacing”, Axel growled in my mind. I didn’t even bother dignifying him with an answer.Aleena had left us to watch over Ayla; she said she needed to collect a few more supplies she needed to maintain the spell. Michael had left a few minutes after, stating he needed to check in with Laura. I wished him luck, knowing she was in a foul mood; I was sure his face had lost some of its colour; I couldn’t blame him; the woman unnerved me to no end.“Aiden, watch that bloody candle, mate! You know any change will fuck things up for Ayla,” Axel s
Ayla’s POVThe silence was my best friend right now; if I didn’t move or hardly breathed, then I may just get out of this alive. Sitting in the dark on my own at least gave me time to form a plan. I may not have Alune on my side right now or Bria to guide me. But I was still the girl from the prophecy. And I had some wicked powers of my own. Ones I never really got to showcase before, as hiding was the aim of the game.Every time I sat and thought about that voice, the one claiming my mate as hers, rage kicked in, and my power stirred inside me. I knew I was a force to be reckoned with; I just never truly let myself show the world the things I could do. To be honest, I didn’t really know what I could do, but I sure as hell felt it bubbling away deep inside me.Time was slipping by, and yet I sat hiding in a store room. Hoping the beast that screeched had disappeared. Regardless if she had or not, didn’t really matter. I had to find Archer and get the hell out of here as fast as I coul
Aleena’s POVThe feeling of blood on my hands will never be okay to me; having someone’s life on the line and I’m the one set to save them that’s just too much pressure. It’s why I wanted out of the roles bestowed upon me back home.Blood pooled around Ayla’s body. Her mates were frantic and in the way. I had no choice but to take command of the room. Once the brothers were out of my way, I could at least see what I was dealing with, which was bad. Three very long, deep, diagonal gouges crossed the entirety of Ayla’s back. Black sludge oozed from the wounds mixed with her blood, and the smell of sulphur was getting stronger.“Aleena, please help her”, Michael pleaded, but in all honesty, I wasn’t sure I knew what to do.Dropping to my knees, I placed my hands in the centre of her back; blood and the black substance coated my fingers in seconds. I recited every healing spell I knew, all the restorative chants I could think of, but nothing stopped the ebb and flow of blood leaving her b
Michael’s POVI was burning everywhere. What the hell was happening to me?“Make it stop!” I scream, shaking uncontrollably on the floor. One minute I was fine, reaching out to help Aleena, then the next, the burning started and spread all over my body. It just kept getting hotter, and it never seemed to end.“Michael!” Aleena’s beautiful voice fills my head, causing the pain to intensify. All I want to do is reach for her, lose myself in her, but I can’t, I can’t move, I can’t breathe, I can’t even see straight anymore.“That’s some messed up magic right there, " Alune Laughs through my daughter's mouth.“What do you mean? Just help him, Alune, please.” Aleena begged, still clinging to any part of me she could get a hold of. I could hear the fear in her voice, and all I wanted to do was wipe it away for her, but every time I thought about her or even heard her voice, the pain intensified.“Gee, I don’t know” Alune looked at her nails like she was bored. “I could, but it will cost you
Aiden’s POVWas no one in this whole goddess damn pack capable of doing anything? Or was everything left up to my brothers and me? I knew precisely why Alune would suggest I fix this problem for the Alpha, and it wasn’t something I particularly wanted to do. I could feel the rage building, the darkness clouding my judgement. I wasn’t blind to it; I just didn’t have much control over it any longer. The more I used my gift, the more it consumed me. If I had known this was the repercussion I would get for pissing around with the shadows; then I would never have done it so many times before.Alune was right; I was the only one capable of getting in there and getting the job done quickly. Anyone else would probably be seen and end up caught up in the same twisted shit they were casting on the Alpha. I swear to the goddess, it has been nothing but drama and hassle since we arrived. If it weren’t for Ayla, it would be safe to say all three of us would have up and tail-ended it as soon as we
Stacy’s POVWalking out of Mason’s room and leaving the pack house like I did, felt fantastic, liberating in a way. My car was parked around the corner, and I couldn’t get to it fast enough.“Get the fuck off of me”, a rough voice roared across the grounds. Turning my head, I saw the three overly sexy Chase brothers in some scrap. Usually, I would stop to watch, what with all the sex appeal they have going on, and right now, they were practically bursting out of their clothes. Goddess knows why Ayla; the attention-grabbing whore was able to bag all three of them. They were the kind of guys you would get wet over just looking at them for too long, and she was nothing.“Maybe I will make them mine once I rule this place”, I muttered as I turned towards my car. Jacob was waiting for me; frankly, I couldn’t wait to get over there.Nerves were kicking in as I rounded the corner to Jacob’s street. I had been here so many times before, but this time felt like the first time all over again.
Aiden’s POVI was sure I was dead. I had no energy to force myself up off the floor where I had landed, running from the Luna and her unsavoury friend. My body hurt, my legs felt like they were made of led, and I had been thrown into the sea and sinking fast. I was sure I’d never wake up again if I just gave in.Shadows constantly sang to me, trying to drag me back under, calling me back to their dark embrace.“No, I’m needed here; she needs me”, I mumbled in my sleepy haze. Then, finally, I had to force myself up. I don’t know how long I had lain here in the dark, my back pressed against the cold wooden door. But I didn’t care.“Aiden, where are you” Ayla’s voice tickles my mind. But could it really be her, now that Alune had control of her body? Could she still reach me if she wanted to?“Ayla, babe, is that you” I call out desperately to her, needing to know if she was there, if she was okay and how I could help.“Aiden, she’s sleeping; it’s the only time I can reach you,” she told
Laura’s POVIn an already clean house, one can only do so much cleaning. My world was all over the place. My mother might have been pleased with me for once, but I couldn’t find my husband. I hadn’t seen him since that morning. I had only just been able to wangle him back under my control this time; there was no guarantee I’ll be able to do it again. He is so strong-willed; it was kind of scary. If he found out I lied, that I had spelled him into loving me, being with me and protecting me, I don’t even want to think what he would consider doing.No one had approached me all day, not since Mason earlier this morning. He had left in such a mood, but that was nothing new. I had to focus on gaining control of Michael and Mason. When he struck me, it only proved I was slipping majorly. If I didn’t gather my family back in and get back to the level of control I had before, I would surely lose it all.Frantically pacing the kitchen, trying to keep my mind busy, was when my phone rang, and it
Stacy’s POV“Mason keeps ringing; what do I do,” I asked wide-eyed, cross-legged on Jacob’s bed; I hadn’t left yet; I had been with him all day and all last night. He was the same Jacob I knew but, at the same time, different. He was strong, confident and possessive; I loved it.“Next time, let me answer; I’ll sort this out”, He answered. Storm stared at me from behind his eyes.“It will only infuriate him, Jake; you know it will, he will go nuts; I don’t want you to get hurt”, I admitted, but Jacob just laughed, a full belly laugh.“Babe, please, have you seen me?” he laughed again “Do you honestly think he could hurt me.”“He is the Alpha’s son though” I was quiet as I didn’t know what to do.“Pfft, who cares? No one hurts my girl and gets away with it,” he declared, reaching over and kissing my jawline, sending tingles all over my body.“Look, don’t worry about Mason; I’ll handle him. It would be best if you worked out what to say to your crazy mother and her friends,” he said poin
Archer’s POVAxel spoke with Ayla; I sat silently, doing nothing. I didn’t begrudge him that; it’s just that I missed her too, and it’s my fault she is in the state she is in. I lost my wolf and my mate both at the same time. I felt less than useless right now. I couldn’t shift or mind link, I couldn’t shadow walk, and I had lost part of my strength; I was no longer a werewolf until Titan was found.“Arch, stop it; you’re not useless; I can hear you, you know”, Axel grumbled from across the room.“Great, at least you can hear me; it makes me feel so much better”, I moaned back.“I didn’t mean it like that; you know I didn’t. We will sort this; it just won’t happen overnight” he tried his best to reassure me, but he failed miserably.Ignoring my brother as I didn’t have anything to say in response, I decided to flick through my phone, looking at crap on social media from my old life. I felt so disconnected from the person I used to be. It was like looking through someone else’s memorie
Aleena’s POVThe wind howled outside as I waited for Aiden to return. He said he would track Michael down, just in case my presence still hurt him. I was a bag of nerves. I was actually going to do this; I was going to claim the man destined for me. That and saving everyone else in such a small space of time, but who’s counting?Dressed in my Michael hoody, I waited. Minutes felt like hours, which led to the discovery of me not being a patient person. I needed to distract myself so I didn’t go crazy, so braiding my floor-length hair seemed like a good idea until it wasn’t. I was so anxious that I couldn’t make my fingers do the work I needed them to do. I swear I looked like a child who had never braided before.“You need to calm the heck down, don’t be so stupid,”, I told myself sternly; I had never imagined I would find love, seeing as I no longer lived with my people. But I guess the goddess has other plans for me after all.Taking a few deep, calming breaths, I started again. I ha
Aleena’s POVThe morning had arrived by the time I found the Chase brothers. All three were in Aiden’s room, and he looked like shit. I wasn’t surprised after all he had been through. But I didn’t have time to stand here feeling sorry for him. I had to see if I could siphon the Shadows out of his body, so he could function when we needed him. Being unpredictable was not what we needed right now.“There you are, Aiden. You look like hell, but I think I can help if you let me,” I spoke quickly, hoping to get in there before they all tried speaking at once.“Oh, hey Aleena, yeah, thanks for that. I feel like hell, too,” he smiled at me, which I was shocked at. I thought he would be a massive pile of brooding mess by now.“Well, I can help get some of the darkness, if not all, out of your system, which will help in the long run if you want” I shrugged like it was nothing but knew how massive it was. I was doing everything I could to keep my mind on task and not on Michael.“Sure, let’s do
Stacy’s POVI was having the best dream, something I hadn’t been able to do lately. I was with Jacob; it was safe and warm, and I missed him. I wouldn’t admit that out loud, however. I could smell him around me and feel the comfiness of his bed. If I could stay asleep forever, I think I would.I felt something next to me, an arm snaking around my waist and warmth on my back. I froze, had I stayed at Mason’s last night? I couldn’t remember, and then it came rushing back; my eyes flew open, yet I stayed dead still.I was in Jacob’s room, in his bed. I remember coming over now and snuggling into his hoodie like an idiot. I must have fallen asleep before he had gotten out of the shower, but how did I end up in his bed?“Dear goddess, please say we didn’t do anything; Mason would kill me”, I frantically thought.I had only come here to talk; I planned to make Mason want me more, but also, partly because I missed Jacob, and he was so sweet to me. But now I’m in his bed, and I don’t know wha
Aleena’s POVWaiting to hear anything from Michael or the chase brothers was killing me. When did I suddenly become a man-obsessed person? Never before had I been this way about anyone, and not about the Alpha. I knew the Werewolf rules; I knew that once they found their mate, they were done, they wouldn’t even look in the direction of another woman, and Michael had his mate. So why was he constantly looking at me like he felt the same way I did?“What do I feel for him” I questioned myself; I wasn’t ready to face that mountain yet, but deep down, I knew; I didn’t want to say it out loud. But, of course, it’s not unheard of for different races to end up together. But a mated one, now that was unheard of.I had walked in circles around my room. I returned here once I had set Aiden on his task. There was no way I would risk being around Laura; she hated me near her man, and I don’t blame her. Even though Michael would deny that she hates me, I could feel it, and we elves had a knack for
Aiden’s POVI was sure I was dead. I had no energy to force myself up off the floor where I had landed, running from the Luna and her unsavoury friend. My body hurt, my legs felt like they were made of led, and I had been thrown into the sea and sinking fast. I was sure I’d never wake up again if I just gave in.Shadows constantly sang to me, trying to drag me back under, calling me back to their dark embrace.“No, I’m needed here; she needs me”, I mumbled in my sleepy haze. Then, finally, I had to force myself up. I don’t know how long I had lain here in the dark, my back pressed against the cold wooden door. But I didn’t care.“Aiden, where are you” Ayla’s voice tickles my mind. But could it really be her, now that Alune had control of her body? Could she still reach me if she wanted to?“Ayla, babe, is that you” I call out desperately to her, needing to know if she was there, if she was okay and how I could help.“Aiden, she’s sleeping; it’s the only time I can reach you,” she told
Stacy’s POVWalking out of Mason’s room and leaving the pack house like I did, felt fantastic, liberating in a way. My car was parked around the corner, and I couldn’t get to it fast enough.“Get the fuck off of me”, a rough voice roared across the grounds. Turning my head, I saw the three overly sexy Chase brothers in some scrap. Usually, I would stop to watch, what with all the sex appeal they have going on, and right now, they were practically bursting out of their clothes. Goddess knows why Ayla; the attention-grabbing whore was able to bag all three of them. They were the kind of guys you would get wet over just looking at them for too long, and she was nothing.“Maybe I will make them mine once I rule this place”, I muttered as I turned towards my car. Jacob was waiting for me; frankly, I couldn’t wait to get over there.Nerves were kicking in as I rounded the corner to Jacob’s street. I had been here so many times before, but this time felt like the first time all over again.