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
MikhailThe new mark on my neck hums with energy, pulsing with her heartbeat. The Moon Goddess has made our reunion something so much more. The bond isn't just a connection anymore; it feels like our souls have woven together tighter and more complete than ever before like the universe tilted and settled into place.There is a feeling of contentment that is running inside my veins... and this feeling is not just mine, but my wolf's as well.The restlessness he had been experiencing for the last few days has diminished, replaced by this feeling of serenity. Maybe this is what he needed—a connection with his mate to settle the chaos inside him.As we walk, I catch a glimpse of her out of the corner of my eye. She's tense, her fingers unconsciously brushing the crescent on her chest. I hate seeing her like this—worry shadowing her features, her lips pressed together in that way that means she's overthinking.I pull her closer, letting our fingers intertwine, and press a kiss to her foreh
AnastasiaThe front door of the packhouse creaks open, and for a second, everything gets real quiet.A man steps out first. He’s tall and built like someone who doesn’t have to say much to get people moving. There’s this pull around him, like the air shifts when he walks. He starts coming down the stairs, each step calm but sure, like he’s in control of everything around him. His eyes sweep over the pack, then land on me. His expression... well, it's unreadable.Behind him, a woman follows, and she’s... well, wow. There’s grace in the way she moves, like she’s floating more than walking. Her hair’s pulled back, not a strand out of place, and even though she’s not trying to steal attention, she does. She carries herself like she knows exactly who she is, and everyone else does too. Luna. No doubt.He’s the kind of leader who doesn’t need to roar to be heard, and she’s the kind who holds a pack together without ever raising her voice.As they reach the bottom of the stairs, wolves aroun
AnastasiaAlright… so, I’m walking behind this guy with the beard, and I’m doing my best to look calm, like I’ve got everything under control.But inside? It’s chaos. My brain’s jumping from one thought to another, no breaks, no pause button.I don’t know this pack. Don’t know their Alpha. And just 'cause they haven’t tried to rip me apart yet doesn’t mean they won’t once I start talking.These people, when they hear the word Hunter and suddenly that person becomes a threat. And here, I openly announced who I am. Doesn't matter what my reasons are or how much truth I bring to the table some folks just see what they want to see.So I need a plan. First thing? Stay sharp. Everything around me could mean something. How many wolves are hanging nearby, who’s shifting like they’ve got something to prove, who people glance at when Beardy is not saying anything. I keep my eyes moving, not obvious, just enough. Catching voices, tone shifts, the way someone holds their stance too tight or turns
AnastasiaCaleb’s whole body changes as we move through the trees. His shoulders are tense, every step calculated. There’s this no-nonsense vibe rolling off him that feels totally different from the usual sarcasm and eye-rolls I get from him. It’s weird seeing him like this. Focused. Sharp. Like a soldier in the middle of a mission. And I hate to admit it, even to myself, but right now, he feels… reliable.Jake still hasn’t shown up, but I know he’s close. I can feel it, the way the air shifts just enough to tell me that he is here.Suddenly, Caleb throws an arm out in front of me, stopping me in my tracks. I glance at him, confused, but don’t say anything.His head lifts, nose slightly tilted as he sniffs the air. His jaw tightens, and for a second, I swear I see something like concern flicker in his eyes before he looks at me.I lift an eyebrow, silently asking what’s up, but then I hear it too.Footsteps. Not just one or two. Multiple. The crunch of boots on leaves, and somewhere b
AnastasiaI never expected Jake to trust me. Trust is something you earn, not something you demand.I have lost that trust, and I need to earn it back.But the way he said he doesn’t care about me? That hurt the most.He said I was his mate… and isn’t every wolf supposed to care about their mate? Isn’t that supposed to be instinct? Being angry is one thing, but not caring? That’s different. That feels worse.My heart cracks at his words, and I know if I don’t walk away now, he’ll see just how much he hurt me.Tears threaten to spill, and I hate crying. Always have. So, the next thing that follows is anger. It always does. When I get upset, I get angry. Mostly at myself, for letting something, someone, have this much power over me.I don’t want to talk to him. I don’t care what he meant. Not right now.I keep my steps quick, not looking back. My chest feels tight, but I push it aside. I can’t afford to fall apart, not here, not now.The cold air stings against my skin, or maybe that’s
JakeThe moment my paws touch the earth, everything sharpens. My focus narrows, instincts taking over as I charge straight for the rogue closest to Anastasia. He doesn’t hear me. Doesn’t see me. Not until my weight slams into him.Teeth meet flesh. His howl is cut short as I rip through his throat, hot blood coating my muzzle. He crumples beneath me, lifeless before he even knows what hit him.Caleb crashes into another rogue, bringing him down fast. Snarls and the clash of bodies fill the air.Anastasia freezes for barely half a second, her wide eyes locking onto mine. My chest heaves, blood dripping from my muzzle, but I don’t take my eyes off her. I expect her to tense, to brace for an attack. But instead, her lips part, and in the softest, most surprised whisper, she breathes my name.“Jake.”Something tightens in my chest.How? How does she know it’s me?She has never seen my wolf before. There’s no reason she should recognize me.But she does.For a second, everything else fades
JakeThe scent of home-cooked food lingers in the air, the moment I step into the packhouse. Warmth surrounds me... not just from the crackling fireplace but from the people inside. "Jake, look at you," a voice calls out, full of warmth and nostalgia. "All grown up, young wolf."Before I can turn, arms wrap around me in a firm but familiar hug."Hi, Aunt Crys," I say, hugging her back.Crystal pulls away just enough to look at me properly, her sharp eyes scanning my face. "You look just like your dad did at your age," she muses, shaking her head. "Same build, same eyes… And you got your mother's smile."Raymond, who has been watching quietly, lets out a low chuckle. "But he hasn't smiled yet."Crystal smirks. "Exactly. That’s why I said he got Artemis’s smile. When have you ever seen her smiling often?"That actually makes me snort, because she’s right. My mother is a lot of things, but lighthearted isn’t one of them.Uncle Raymond steps forward, nodding at me in greeting. "Atlas woul
JakeI pull a shirt over my head, barely paying attention to what I’m doing. My hands move on their own, grabbing my jacket, fixing my sleeves, but my mind is somewhere else. Or more like stuck on someone else.Anastasia.It’s been days. Maybe longer. Time doesn’t feel the same anymore. I keep telling myself to let it go, to push it aside, but the restless feeling inside me won’t quit. It sits heavy in my chest, clawing at the edges of my thoughts.I exhale, running a hand through my hair. I should be focused on the bonfire, on the pack, on the people who are still here. But even as I step into my boots, I can feel it... the unease curling in my stomach. My wolf feels it too.He has been quiet since she left. Cold. Shut down. I guess it was his way of handling things, the same way I threw myself into anything that would keep me busy. But now, there’s a shift. It’s subtle, but it’s there. A low hum of agitation under my skin, like my wolf is pacing, restless and alert.I grip the edge o
JakeHas it been ages, decades, or just days? I don’t know anymore. Time feels stuck, looping back to that moment when I gained and lost everything all at once.Anastasia. I trusted her. And then she shattered that trust. But this stupid heart of mine, it still refuses to believe she could do something like this.Even after I told her, after I made it clear how dangerous hunters are to my family, she still led one here. And now, because of that, I’ve lost the trust of someone who has been closer to me than most.Sophia.I never thought there would be a day where things felt different between us, but they do. The shift is subtle, but I feel it. Even through our bond, there’s a distance. Her walls are up, and no matter how much I try to ignore it, I can’t.I miss my sister. I miss the way things used to be. But there’s nothing I can do about it.Because she’s not wrong. Her anger isn’t misplaced. If we hadn’t gotten there in time, if we had been just a little too late… Rose could have—I
AnastasiaEthan has become my shadow, and all I want is to turn the damn lights off so I can kill it.But then again, no one else is bothering to come near me, so maybe it's not the worst thing in the world. As much as I hate having someone tailing me, at least I don’t have to deal with anyone else. It’s kinda bearable.Barely.I can tell he’s been trying to pry things out of me. The way he asks questions, how he keeps his tone light, casual, like he’s just making conversation. But I know better.To someone else, it might seem harmless. Just a guy getting to know his new partner.But I see right through it.He wants to figure me out, to pick apart my words and my reactions. He’s analyzing me, trying to piece together who I am and what he’s dealing with.Good luck with that.The mess hall hums with chatter and the clinking of utensils. People are gathered in small groups, some deep in conversation, others just eating in silence. It’s always the same. Everyone sticks to their circles, t