I know some of you might find these chapters frustrating, especially with how Sophia acts, but remember, she's not perfect. One of her biggest flaws is her difficulty in forgiving, what you might even call a toxic trait. The last chapter was actually a reflection of all her fears. It made her realize that she’s not ready to endure that kind of pain and, more importantly, she can't give up on Mikhail. If this story isn’t for you, I completely understand, and I apologize for any disappointment. But please know how grateful I am that you've chosen to spend your precious time on this journey with me. Your support means the world to me. Love you all for sticking around!
MikhailI feel the exhaustion in every muscle as I finally make it back to Sophia’s house in the afternoon. My body is aching, heavy with fatigue, and as I shift back into human form, the toll of the last week hits me hard. For days now, I’ve been making this routine—running back to my pack at night, taking care of the duties that can’t wait, and then returning to Sophia and Rose.Being an Alpha isn’t something I can put on hold, even if my heart is here, with Sophia and Rose.I walk over to the car parked behind the thick trees, hidden away from everyone's eyes, my skin prickling with the leftover remnants of the shift. Digging out a fresh pair of clothes from the backseat, I catch my reflection in the window—dark circles under my eyes, the exhaustion clear in every line of my face. I can feel the strain of sleepless nights settling deeper into my bones. It’s getting harder to ignore. The pack needs me, and I can’t afford to neglect my responsibilities, but I don’t want to force Sop
MikhailI sit in my office, fingers drumming on the polished wood of my desk, eyes scanning over yet another report.Useless.It’s all useless.Every lead I've followed on the rogue attack has come up empty, and it's wearing my patience thin. I flip through the files, searching for something—anything—that could point me in the right direction, but every scrap of information is either dead ends or vague rumors that won’t get us anywhere.My jaw tightens, frustration coursing through me as I toss the file aside. Every instinct in me is screaming to find them, to tear them apart for daring to come near my family. But I can’t do that without knowing who they are and where they’re hiding.The latest breaches at the border, all from the Redwood Pack, are piling on the pressure. Gregor has already been warned—several times—but he seems to be ignoring every one of them. A low growl escapes my throat as I clench my fists, anger simmering just beneath the surface.Tensions between the packs ha
Sophia Sometimes I struggle to put into words what Mikhail and I share. Once, our relationship had a name—a bond, a title that was supposed to define us. Yet back then, it felt hollow, as if it meant nothing. Now, though, when it’s everything, when it consumes my thoughts, I don’t even know what to call it.We’re bound in ways that don’t need a label, but without one, I feel lost sometimes. Is it love? Is it fate? Or is it something far deeper, something primal that goes beyond words? I’ve never known a connection like this before, and it frightens me just as much as it comforts me.When Mikhail broke me, I was afraid to allow myself to trust anyone, especially him. But now trusting him seems as easy as breathing. No doubt or fear lingers in my heart anymore... the only thing fear that I have is losing him when I have truly found him again. I love what we have in this moment. But deep down, I know it can’t last forever. He can't keep juggling between me and his responsbility towards
Mikhail Sophia glares at me, her eyes blazing with anger. I can practically see smoke coming off her ears. Damn, I have never seen her this much angry before. And is it crazy that I find it hot? But I will keep that thought to myself because I don't think she will appreciate it. Not at least at this moment. However, at the same time, my patience is worn thin, and fury courses through my veins, hot and unrelenting. This isn’t just about us anymore... it’s about her safety. She keeps glaring like she’s daring me to challenge her, but I can’t let her win this fight. Not when their lives are at risk. Finally, she storms off, her footsteps heavy as she leaves me standing there. I turn my attention back to Jake, Caleb, and Lucas. Jake’s brows are furrowed slightly, the subtle crease between them indicating he’s deep in thought. Caleb and Lucas, on the other hand, have this strange mix of expressions on their faces. Amusement. Fear. Like they find the interaction between me a
Sophia The moon hangs high in the sky, full and luminous, bathing everything in silver light. The pull is even stronger out here, like a magnet drawing me toward him. Through the trees, over the grass, my heart pounding in time with my steps. The pull is unbearable now, and my wolf moving forward, faster, faster. Toward him. I break through the clearing, and there he is. He’s on edge, pacing, his eyes wild and searching. The moment he sees me, our eyes lock, and the intensity of his gaze hit me like a wave. It’s raw, untamed—full of the emotions we’ve both been trying to contain. And I realize... there is no fighting this. There never was. He is mine... mine second chance. Second chance at life... and second chance at happiness. I move toward him slowly, my wolf finally calming in his presence, knowing that this is where we belong... this is where our search ends. The pull that I fought so hard against now feels like a lifeline, a connection I can’t survive without. I nuzzle
Sophia Mikhail’s eyes darken, his wolf surfacing just beneath the surface as he watches me. The intensity in his gaze sends shivers down my spine. A flicker of raw emotion crosses his face as his grip tightens slightly on my waist.He leans in, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my skin.“Sophia...” he breathes out, his voice rough, almost pleading. I can see the struggle to restrain himself from giving in to his wolf's demand.He’s giving me an out, one final chance to back away.But there’s no hesitation in me now. I nod, my voice steady despite the rapid beat of my heart. “I’ve never been more sure.”“I want this. I need this, Mikhail. I need you.” My hand slips up to his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart beneath my fingers. “We’ve been through too much to be afraid now.”My wolf stirs, urging me forward, craving the connection that only Mikhail can give. I tilt my head slightly, baring my neck, exposing the place where his mark once was, n
Sophia Mikhail’s body is warm against mine, his breath steady as he rests beside me on the cool grass. I can still feel the pulsing heat of the mark he left on my neck, the bond between us glowing like an ember that refuses to burn out. My fingers absentmindedly trace the edge of the mark, a shiver coursing through me as the connection sparks again. I glance over at Mikhail, his eyes half-lidded, watching me with that intense, affectionate gaze that makes my heart skip. He shifts, propping himself up on one elbow, his hand reaching out to brush my hair away from my face. His touch is tender, yet there’s an unspoken hunger in the way his fingers linger on my skin. “Are you okay?” he asks softly, his voice a low rumble that reverberates through me. His eyes trace the mark decorating my neck, and a hint of pride glints in his eyes. I nod and sigh happily, though the intensity of everything we’ve just shared is still coursing through my veins. “I’m more than okay,” I whisper, th
SophiaWe shift back into our human forms as soon as we reach the house. As soon as my shift completes, I watch Mikhail's wolf receding as he shifts back into his human form.My eyes involuntarily travel to Mikhail's neck, and I notice how the new mark slightly differs from the previous mark when we completed the mating bond the first time before the rejection.Even when one of the mates is human, a mark appears on the other when their blood mixes, a subtle sign of the connection. At that time, we completed the mating bond by human and wolf marking. And the mark that appeared on his neck was much smaller, almost like a bruise, but still it was dark enough for other werewolves to see that he is mated. But now, what I'm looking at is far from subtle.The two puncture marks are still there, but now there's a crescent below the marks—a soft, almost ethereal halo surrounding it. My heart pounds in my chest as I step closer, unable to tear my gaze away. My hand moves without thinking, fi
MikhailShe’s clinging to Alexei, her face buried in his chest, but then she pulls back just enough to look up at me. Her eyes are wide, and there’s something in them that makes my stomach drop.“He killed them all,” she whispers, her voice so soft it’s like she’s afraid of the words themselves. “He killed them... and she... she killed them too.”Her whole body starts trembling like she’s remembering something too awful to even say out loud. Alexei’s arms tighten around her, his face a mix of confusion and worry, but he doesn’t interrupt. Neither do I.Emily’s gaze darts between us, and she leans closer to Alexei, like she’s trying to shrink into him. Her voice drops to barely more than a whisper.“She ate them alive,” Her lips trembling as she gets the words out.Emily keeps repeating it, her voice barely above a whisper, like she’s locked in a place of fear.“She ate them alive.” Her body is still trembling, like the words are coming from somewhere deep inside her, something she can’
MikhailI push deeper into Redwood territory, my wolf on high alert and my body still thrumming with the haze of bloodshed.The air is heavy with the scent of battle, the kind that clings to your skin and doesn’t let go.My claws are itching for another fight, my mind barely pulled back from the edge.Then I see a small girl, no older than six, crouched behind a tree.Her big eyes are wide with fear, and she’s clutching something—maybe a stuffed toy—like it’s the only thing keeping her together.I freeze for a second, my instincts warring with the sight in front of me.My wolf growls low, still riding the high of the fight, but I force it back.Slowly, I breathe, dragging myself out of the haze.It takes a few moments, longer than it should, but I manage to push down the anger.My claws retract, and I shift back into my human form. I move toward her, careful to keep my steps slow and non-threatening.The girl flinches but doesn’t run.“Hey,” I say softly, crouching a few feet away. “Y
LucasIt starts with this strange, light feeling, like something’s lifting all the weight off me. My chest, my limbs—everything just feels... free.I feel liberated.Then it hits me, this sudden, wild sensation like I’m being yanked out of my body. It’s not gentle. It’s forceful, almost violent like invisible hands are dragging me toward something huge, something endless.I try to fight it, instinct kicking in, but the pull just gets stronger... like I am drowning underwater... like someone is pulling me inside, and no matter how much I try to break free, I am spiraling downwards.My head’s spinning, my heart’s racing, and panic claws its way through me.That’s when I hear her voice.Merope.It’s faint like she’s speaking from the other side of a canyon, but it’s her. Clear enough to cut through the chaos.“Lucas, calm down,” She speaks in that steady and soothing tone of hers... like her words are laced in some kind of spell and maybe they are because often you would hear this tone f
JakeMerope’s voice sounds like it is coming from a distance, and it takes me a few moments to recognize her voice.“Keep your focus on them. Continue strengthening them. Don’t break the circle. The moment you hesitate is the moment everything could fall apart." Her eyes are focused on the flame of the candle that is lit between the circles.There's no room for doubt now. Lucas is in another realm, and I don't even know what that means. But I do know that if we stop, if we let go for even a second, we could lose him.We could lose them both.I squeeze Lucas’s hand harder, willing myself to give him all the strength I have. My wolf’s pacing inside me, growling and scratching at the walls of my control. It wants out, wants to do something, anything. But I hold it back. Now isn’t the time for losing control. Now is the time to hold steady.Caleb’s hand tightens around mine, his pulse steady.He’s focused too, locking into the bond just like Mom said.Together, we keep feeding the circle,
JakeCaleb and I walk toward the clearing where the ritual circle is formed.I swear I can feel the tension buzzing like electricity under my skin. The whole place is eerie—candles flicker, shadows twist, and the damn chanting that Merope is doing won’t stop drilling into my head. But none of that matters.My focus is locked on Lucas and Sophia lying in the center.Merope kneels beside Lucas and slices his throat in one swift motion. An involuntary growl erupts from Caleb while even my wolf comes forward, wanting to go and protect Lucas. Blood spills down his chest, bright and horrifying, and for a second, I can’t breathe. My whole body trembles in fury watching Lucas in this condition because I have never thought I would ever witness a day in my life when my brother has to go through something like this.I am almost on the verge of losing my control... as my eyes are fixed on the blood gushing out of his throat and pooling around his body. But I can’t lose it.Not now.I force mysel
LucasI make my way to the ritual circle.The closer I get, the more it feels like something’s pulling me forward, tugging at some invisible thread buried deep inside me.When I step into the clearing, the circle is right there in the middle, carved into the earth like it’s been waiting for centuries. The lines are sharp and perfect, symbols etched into the dirt that I can’t even pretend to understand. Stones sit at the edges, worn smooth by time, each one marking a point on the outer ring.The grass around it is pressed flat, like something too powerful for words pressed its weight here and left behind its mark.And there, in the center, is Elder Merope.She’s sitting cross-legged, her back straight, hands resting lightly on her knees. Her eyes are closed, and her face is calm, almost too calm. It’s like she’s a part of the circle, part of the energy that’s humming through the air. I can feel it buzzing in my chest, crawling along my skin.I stop at the edge, not wanting to step in w
LucasI step out of my room, and the air outside is cooler than I expected. I make my way to the side of the house, where I know Caleb’s been camping out. Sure enough, there he is, sitting on the steps with his elbows resting on his knees.His energy is all over the place, restless and sharp. He’s been like this since Sophia collapsed, and I know why. He hasn’t let his wolf out. That kind of restraint messes with you. I can see it in the tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw is locked, and the way his foot taps against the ground like he’s barely holding it together.“Caleb,” I call out, stepping closer.He glances up at me, his eyes narrowed. There’s something in his expression that’s hard to read, like he’s fighting himself. He doesn’t say anything, just stares at me for a second before looking away, his fingers running through his hair.“Elder Merope asked me to meet her at the ritual circle in an hour,” I say, keeping my tone steady.Caleb stiffens at that, his hand freezing
Lucas My chest feels tight, like I can’t get a deep enough breath no matter how hard I try. My thoughts are a tangled mess, looping back to one thing... one person.Sophia.She didn’t ask to be my sister, but she stepped into that role like it was the easiest thing in the world. She didn’t just show up when it was convenient; she was always there. Even when I didn’t deserve it.The day when she risked herself to save me, I swore to never take that for granted.She’s tough as hell, but right now, she’s the one who needs someone to be with her... someone who helps her break the cage and free herself. And that someone is me.I rub my hands over my face, trying to push down the weight sitting heavy on my chest. It doesn’t budge.My wolf, though? He’s steady. Unshaken. Not for a second does he think we can’t do this. He knows we can. I feel his trust in me, in us, like an anchor.If anything, he’s itching to make whoever did this to her regret it. And so am I.I stand up, pacing the room,
MikhailThe ticking of the clock is louder than it should be.Gregor’s words loop in my head, each one sinking its claws deeper into my thoughts. He said I can’t protect her, that I’ve already lost.He’s wrong.He has to be wrong. I grip the edge of my desk, the wood solid under my hands, grounding me.Losing Sophia is not an option. Whatever it takes, whatever the cost, I will find a way to save her. I’ll tear the world apart if I have to, but I will save her.Leaning back in my chair, I stare at the map on the wall as if it holds the answers I need.Every possible lead is marked in red, but none of it feels like enough. I press my fingers to my temples, trying to focus, to think of what I’m missing. There has to be a way to get ahead of Gregor and figure out what he’s planning.He is working alone. Someone is with him, but who are they?The door opens, and Alexei steps inside. His expression is serious, the set of his shoulders tense. He closes the door behind him and strides acro