MikhailHolding back is never my strength.Especially when it comes to protecting my family.Atlas and Artemis are Sophia's parents, but there is nothing we know about them other than this.They weren't part of most of Jake's life, so there is so much about them that he is even unaware.As of now, they haven't done anything that might raise any doubts, but I am still responsible for the safety of my family and my pack. And I need to know what kind of trouble they might bring to us.Sophia's parents or not, my priority is my family and my pack.Artemis has put Rose down to sleep, and her eyes never leave her face, even for a moment. And there is no doubt that she doesn't love her. She holds our daughter in a way that’s filled with all the love she couldn’t give Sophia as a child. It's beautiful, and it's painful, but I need to know the truth: how did Sophia end up in Redwood pack? Why did Gregor keep her away from them? Even I want to know why they left Jake.All the answers to these q
MikhailSophia's head dips, her jaw tight. I reach over, running my thumb over her knuckles, trying to comfort her as her grip on my arm loosens.Her eyes lift to meet mine, and in that one look, I know her pain is just as raw as it was when she first found out she had been kept from her parents, forced to endure a life built on lies.Rubbing her eyes and face, Artemis lifts her face toward the sky as if she is still pleading for some miracle that heals her pain."I didn't get to hold her properly; my heart was craving to feel her heartbeat against me... but my pup was gone. She took away my baby from me. The person whom I trusted my daughter with me took her away from me. I was protecting that place with my life, there was no chance that I would have let anyone near that place. But she stole my pup from me." Her voice is nothing more than a whisper, but her pain echoes loudly in her words, "My mate didn't even get a chance to see his daughter's face... the same daughter for whom he wa
Mikhail"Motherfucker!" I whistle through my teeth as my eyebrows slightly raise while something clicks in my mind.Gregor, even if he’s one of the people I’d most enjoy tearing apart slowly, yet I have to give to him for the way his mind works.For years, his command over Sophia’s life was ruthless, controlling, abusive… but it had a dark, twisted logic to it.I understand now why he never let her shift, though it doesn’t make me hate him any less; if anything, my hate for him increased.As I put the pieces together, I feel a low growl rumbling in my chest. Gregor knew exactly what he was doing. He knew that if Sophia shifted, she wouldn’t be able to stay hidden. Atlas and Artemis would sense her because they must be trying to reach out to her. So, he kept her caged in her human form, never allowing her to embrace the wolf inside her.It’s clever.Cruel but clever."What happened?" Sophia places her hand on my arm lightly and tries to get my attention.Blinking, I look at her. Sudde
SophiaThe light filters softly through the curtains, warming the room and slowly nudging me awake. I stretch out a hand to the left, reaching for the familiar warmth that I expect to find there. My fingers touch only the coolness of an empty bed.Mikhail's side is cold. He's already gone.My eyes snap open, and I sit up, blinking away the sleep as I glance at the clock on my nightstand.9:30 a.m.I overslept, which isn’t like me. I try to remember the last time I slept this deeply, but it feels like a distant memory. Maybe that’s what peace does—real, settled peace, the kind that sinks into your bones.The bed feels too big and too empty without him here. I reach for the faint scent he’s left behind on his pillow—cedar and rain, the scent that usually lingers in the air long after he’s gone. I close my eyes, breathing it in, as memories of last night return, a series of touches and whispers in the dark. I brush my fingertips over the mark on my neck, where his teeth sank in last nig
MikhailClosing the reports file, I run my hands through my hair.My wolf has been on edge since the moment Alexei informed me that Gregor has been contacting several Alpha. He is calling a summons for Sophia, me, and others to appear before the council. He’s stirring up trouble, claiming that Artemis attacked him and threatened him. The council is going to favor that manipulative bastard because Artemis even attacked the councilmen. Anger pushing through my veins, I never bow down in front of anyone. What does he thinks that I am going to let this council dictate me?Alpha Mikhail, your presence is demanded at the lunch.Sophia mindlinks me, her playful tone cutting through the tension like a knife.In an instant, the anger and frustration that have been churning in my gut ease. Damn it, I love that woman. Her voice is like a balm to my soul, soothing the jagged edges of my thoughts.I can’t help but smile, picturing her in the kitchen, likely humming to herself while swaying her bo
MikhailCrossing my territory, I head toward the construction site where we are helping Jake in building houses for the packless.After gathering information from Sophia, we decided to make different sets of houses for everyone to fulfil their needs. The packless have both mated and unmated wolves, while there are some families, as well. So that they don't have issues settling into their new home, we are trying to keep everyone's requirements in mind while building their house.The sharp, earthy scent of fresh timber and the hum of construction fill the air as I approach the site. My wolves and some of the wolves of the packless are working tirelessly, hauling beams, mixing cement, and stacking bricks to complete the houses as soon as possible.I glance over to where Jake is directing a group, his voice carrying over the sound of hammers and saws. His attention to detail is remarkable, making sure everything is perfect down to the smallest measurement, keeping the comfort and safety o
SophiaI can sense Mikhail’s emotions before I even see him. It’s like a wave crashing over me, a blend of raw anger and frustration simmering beneath the surface. I feel it prickling through our bond, hot and unsettling, making my own pulse quicken.To feel someone else's emotions so intensely feels weird, as if his emotions are my own.My chest tightens as I close my eyes, trying to steady myself, but his rage bleeds into me, unfiltered and sharp.He’s never been one to hold back when he’s furious and it seems like his anger is rubbing on to me.The intensity of his anger begins to fuel mine. And even though it feels foolish suddenly, I feel like killing someone. And I don't even know why. I push aside the book in my lap and stand, my legs already moving, before I make the conscious decision to find him. Dammit, I need to find this crazy wolf because I am seconds away from exploding from this anger.Finally, I reach the edge of the training field, where Mikhail stands alone, fists
MikhailDamn, if I wasn't in love with Sophia, I would be so pissed at almost losing that fight.But I can't bring myself to feel anything but pride.She’s good, and my wolf is pacing in my mind, practically bursting with pride and admiration for our mate.I can feel the thrum of his excitement blending with my own.Sophia is powerful, fierce, and everything that drives me wild.It just strengthened my belief that if there is anyone who could have been my better half, it is her.A part of me is relieved to know that she is capable of protecting herself. She is not vulnerable enough to allow anyone to overpower her.The Alpha blood running in her veins ensures that she never submits to anyone, not even me, her mate.However, the feeling of being seen is something that I have only felt with her, and that makes her even more amazing.As long as I can remember, I have been labeled with so many names... called horrible things... called cruel and ruthless. Some even associated bad luck with
Lucas I can’t see a damn thing. It’s pitch black, like someone just snuffed out the sun, and I’m stumbling through this nothingness with only this weird pull to guide me. It’s like a tug at my chest, faint but steady. It’s all I’ve got to hold onto. But man, this feels like a twisted game, something designed to mess with my head. Every now and then, the pull shifts. Sometimes, it splits, like it’s coming from every direction all at once, trying to yank me one way and then the other. It’s overwhelming, and I can feel the frustration bubbling under my skin. My wolf stirs uneasily, and I grit my teeth to keep from losing it. But I know better. The strongest pulls, the ones that hit me like a punch in the gut, those aren’t her. They can’t be. It’s too obvious, too easy. Somewhere deep down, I just know the faintest pull, the one that feels like a whisper instead of a scream, that’s the one that’ll lead me to her. So I focus. I block out everything else. Every strong tug trying
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,