SophiaSelena keeps stroking my hair, her fingers moving slow, almost tender, like she’s comforting me. But her eyes give her away. There’s no kindness there, only malice. It’s sharp and cold, the kind of look that causes a shiver to run down my spine.With her other hand, she dips her fingers into the blood pooling around me—my blood—and starts drawing on the floor. At first, I think it’s random, just messy streaks, but the longer I watch, the clearer it becomes that it’s anything but random. The lines twist and curve, forming jagged, alien symbols that I don’t recognize.She’s so precise, like every mark has some deep, dark purpose. Circles overlap in ways that feel too perfect or too intentional. Inside them, symbols appear that almost look like letters, but they’re from no language I’ve ever seen. The air around her gets heavier and darker with each stroke. It feels wrong and unnatural, like the symbols are alive, feeding off something they shouldn’t be.A strange, low sound comes
SophiaStaring at myself on the floor, broken and helpless. The sight of me like that twists something deep inside, but then I feel it—something behind me. A presence that sends a chill down my spine, raising goosebumps on my arms.“You’re smarter than I thought,” a familiar voice purrs right in my ear.Selena.Turning my head, I look at her. She smirks, her eyes gleaming with that same malice I’ve come to know too well. “Finally figured out my little secret, huh? Took you long enough.”Ignoring her, I shift my gaze back to myself.Every other emotion drains out of me, leaving just fury in its place. It rises like fire, burning hotter with every word she says.She laughs, the sound sharp and mocking, and then she steps closer, her hand reaching out. She runs her fingers through my hair, just like she did when I was lying there, vulnerable, beaten, barely conscious.I don’t flinch, don’t move. My eyes stay locked on the version of me on the ground, beaten and defeated. The anger inside
MikhailI’ve ordered Alexei to take Emily back to the packhouse. The poor kid is completely shaken up, clinging to Alexei like he is the only one she trusts at this moment.I don’t blame her. After everything she’s been through, I wouldn’t trust anyone else either, and honestly, Alexei looks just as protective of her as she is desperate for him.“Take her back,” I tell him again, my voice steady, even though I feel anything but calm inside. “She needs rest, and we need to make sure she’s safe.”Alexei hesitates, his arms still wrapped around Emily like he’s afraid she might crumble if he lets go. He looks at me, his jaw tight, and I can see the conflict in his eyes.I can tell he is torn between wanting to stay and fight along with me and the need to protect Emily."Go, it is an order of your Alpha." I relieve him from this inner conflict.Clenching his jaws, he looks at me and curtly nods his head.“I’ll take care of her,” he says, his voice low but firm, like he’s making a promise.
MikhailThe sounds of the fight surround me.Growls, snapping jaws, and the sickening crunch of bones echo as we cut through the Redwood wolves, leaving them behind in a mangled mess. We’re a blur of fur and fury, tearing through them with no hesitation. I barely register the fight anymore. Blood stains the ground, soaking into the dirt as my warriors and I move deeper into the pack.My claws are slick with it, my wolf howling with satisfaction as we tear through the Redwood wolves like they’re nothing more than obstacles in our path.They fight hard, but it doesn’t matter. None of it matters. Not the blood, not the screams, not even the bodies piling up around us.They’re all just obstacles in the way of what I really want. Selena.There’s no hesitation, no mercy. Anyone who comes at us dies, plain and simple.Everything in here reeks of death and fear, but there’s no sign of her.A wolf lunges at me, teeth bared, aiming for my throat. I sidestep and bring my claws down hard, ripping
LucasThe moment Sophia told me to step back into the shadows, I felt it—something shifted.I don’t know what she did, but whatever it was, it’s hiding me, keeping me out of sight.Sophia's back is straight, her shoulders squared, but I know her well enough to spot the tension running through her.That’s when she shows up.She doesn't walk or anything shifted... she just appears.One second, there’s nothing and the next, she’s standing there in front of Sophia.Even from where I’m standing, the smell hits me. It’s vile. Like rotting meat left out in the sun, mixed with something else I can’t even describe. My stomach turns, and I have to clench my jaw to keep from gagging.But it’s not just the smell. There’s something so wrong about her. Her movements and the way she stands all feel unnatural. Like the world itself is rejecting her presence. The moment I laid eyes on her, I knew. She’s not just bad news. She’s walking evil, plain and simple.Her eyes are black and bottomless, like t
LucasIt’s like a fog’s lifting in my head, and everything about Sophia starts to click into place. Her blessing as a protector, the way she heals—it’s not just some random gift.It’s tied to something bigger, something deeper. She doesn’t just take pain because she’s selfless, even though she is.It’s because she’s an empath.I watch her now, standing there with that impossible calm, and it hits me. She’s not just feeling the world around her. She’s absorbing it. The energy, the emotions, even the power swirling in the air—it’s all drawn to her like a moth to a flame.I’ve seen glimpses of it before. The way she takes other people’s pain, how she carries it like it’s her own. But now I’m seeing the full picture. It’s not just about healing. When she takes other's pain on herself and heals them, she always pays the price for it. A sacrifice that she needs to make. But this never stops her from healing the people who are in pain. She heals not just physical wounds, but she even tries
SophiaSelena’s face twists, her lips pulling back in a snarl that quickly morphs into something unhinged. Her eyes dart wildly, unfocused as if she’s seeing something no one else can. Her movements become erratic and jerky, like she’s trying to fight off something invisible.I feel it—a strong, steady presence pushing against my mind. It’s Lucas. His energy hums through the air, sharp and precise, wrapping around Selena like an iron grip. Whatever she’s seeing, whatever is driving her insane, it’s because of him.He is the smartest of us, his mind sharper than a blade. But now, watching Selena unravel, I realize he’s more than that. He’s not just intelligent; he’s got power over the mind itself. Because I can feel he is in her head, twisting her reality, and breaking her from the inside out.He is making her taste her own medicine.Selena lets out a guttural scream, clutching her head as if she can rip Lucas out of her mind. Her magic flares wildly, chaotic and untamed, but it’s not e
JakeLucas’s pain hits me straight in my chest, raw and sharp, and I can’t tell if it’s his panic or my own tearing through me. We’re all feeling it, this crushing under some invisible burden like something vital is slipping through our fingers.The bond we share with Sophia, even if it’s distant, hums with a growing ache.However, the truth is, we’re powerless. Lucas is the only one with any kind of connection to her right now, and even that feels like it’s hanging by a thread.My wolf is losing it. He’s pacing, snarling, clawing to get out. Every part of me is screaming to run, to tear through whatever’s keeping us from her. But we can’t. There’s this barrier, this suffocating wall between her and us, and no amount of strength or will can break it.I glance around at the others. Their faces mirror my own—a mix of fear and frustration. Their wolves are restless too, practically howling inside them, desperate to get to Sophia.But it doesn’t matter how much we want to help her. It doe
AnastasiaThe ride back is silent. The guy who is definitely a wolf doesn't say a word, and I’m grateful for it. My head is a mess, and I wouldn’t even know what to say if he tried to talk. Too much has happened, too much to process. The weight of it sits heavy on my chest, making it hard to breathe.When we reach my place, he stops, gives me a short nod, and leaves. No questions, no small talk. Just gone. I stand there for a moment, staring at nothing, then finally step inside.I sink onto the couch, rubbing my temples. Ralph’s face flashes in my mind, the way he looked at me—like I was a stranger, like I was worse than that. I had never seen that kind of hatred in his eyes before. It was like the guy I thought I knew had vanished, replaced by someone I couldn’t recognize.I think back to what he was about to do. Not in my worst nightmares could I ever imagine hurting a child, no matter who they belong to. And yet, he stood there, ready to take Rose’s life without hesitation, without
JakeEvery step I take away from her, I feel like I am leaving a piece of myself behind. It is like something is pulling at me, keeping me from walking away completely. That is what the mate bond does. It ties you to someone in a way nothing else can. No matter how much I want to shut it off, no matter how much I want to pretend it does not exist, I feel the absence of her like a dull ache inside me.But then I see it again. Ralph’s hand holding the dagger against Rose’s throat.The image burns in my mind, refuses to leave. And all I can think about is how none of this would have happened if it weren’t for Anastasia. If I had not let my own selfishness cloud my judgment. If I had not wanted to keep her close to me, wanted to believe that we could somehow make this work. I should have told Sophia. I should have told them all who Anastasia really was. But I did not. My wolf is restless, pacing inside me. He is hurt, angry, betrayed. But more than anything, he is desperate. Desperate to
AnastasiaSwallowing the pain clawing at my chest, I force it down where it can’t distract me. This isn’t the time to think about all this, I need to stop Ralph before he does something he can’t take back."Ralph, put the dagger away," I say, louder this time. "Leave the girl... you don't want to do this. You came her for me, then let's just go from here."My hands are curl into fists, my voice firm, but when I take a step forward, he moves back.Damn it.A growl rips through the air, sharp and chilling enough to freeze hell itself. Turning around, I witness another growl errupting through Sophia.She doesn’t look like the woman I met.. the one who took care of me... the one whom I have shared laughter with. There’s something terrifying in her eyes, something primal. Her entire presence darkens, and before I can even process what’s happening, she catches Ralph’s blade. With her bare hand.Smoke curls up from her palm where the silver sears her skin, but she doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t eve
AnastasiaI walk back, trying to push the sting of Jake’s words out of my chest. The sun hangs low, casting long shadows across the clearing.Suddenly, every hair on the back of my neck rises. My heart kicks up, instincts snapping into place before I even realize it. The weight in my chest fades, replaced by something sharper. I stop mid-step, heart slowing as every other thought fades into the background. My pulse beats in my ears. My hunter side kicks in... sharp, instinctive, pushing everything else down.I scan around, eyes flicking over every tree, every shadow, but there’s nothing looks out of place, but that doesn’t mean anything. I know better than to ignore a feeling like this. My body stays tense, every muscle waiting, listening. The woods press in around me, quiet in a way that makes my skin crawl.Birds still chirp, leaves rustle. To anyone else, it would seem normal.But I know better.I’ve learned to trust what I feel, even when there’s no proof. I force myself to move,
JakeI see Sophia waiting for me the second I step onto the porch.Arms crossed, weight shifted just a little to one side, like she’s been standing there long enough to settle in.But her gaze? That’s locked onto me. Like she already knows. Like she can feel it... this mess twisting up inside me. And maybe she does.She doesn’t say anything, doesn’t ask. Just steps forward and wraps her arms around me, pulling me in before I can even think to resist.That’s Sophia. Always giving... always comforting and taking their pain. Never hesitates. Never demands explanations. Just… offers.I let out a breath, slow and shaky, and close my eyes for a second. Just one. Just long enough to lean into the warmth of her.She holds on, and I let her.Neither of us says a word. And somehow, that’s better.But it doesn’t stop the guilt from creeping in, intertwining around my heart like the thick vines, like it belongs there.She’s my sister.She has never once turned her back on me, never doubted me, ne
JakeI watch her leave, and something inside me twists. Regret, maybe. Guilt. I know I hurt her. She won’t admit it, won’t let it show, but I saw the shift in her eyes, the way she went still for just a second before locking it all away.My wolf growls, restless, demanding that I go after her. He doesn’t care about the past, doesn’t care about logic. He just knows I caused her pain, and he wants to make it right. Wants to hold her, reassure her, prove to her that I didn’t mean it like that. That she matters.But it’s pointless.She won’t listen. Not now. Not when my words made it clear that I don’t fully trust her.And maybe that’s the real problem.Because I do trust her, but that doesn’t mean I trust the other hunters. I never will.She is a hunter, but she is the exception. But I still need to be vigilant when it comes to other hunters.My family has suffered at their hands. Their cruelty isn’t something I can forget. It’s not some old nightmare that fades when morning comes.It’s
AnastasiaI frown slightly, confused by Jake’s reaction. He still looks like he’s trying to solve some complicated puzzle in his head, his brows drawn together as if what I just said doesn’t make any sense to him.“Okay… what’s wrong?” I ask, tilting my head.Jake shakes his head slowly, his gaze still locked on me like he’s studying something he can’t quite figure out. “Nothing. Just… what you said surprised me.”I cross my arms. “Why?”He hesitates for a second, then exhales. “Because humans don’t usually have such strong senses.”I study him, trying to read what he isn’t saying. He looks almost… baffled, like I just told him I could hear colors or something. It feels like there’s more to this reaction than he’s letting on, but maybe I’m just overthinking it.I shrug, pushing the weird tension aside. “Well, I’ve always had sharper senses than most people. Ever since I was a baby, actually.” I glance at him. “Especially my nose. I pick up scents super easily. It’s kind of annoying so
AnastasiaThe second Jake’s lips touch mine, something shifts inside me. It is not just a kiss—it is a pull, a force wrapping around my heart and tugging me toward him like I have no choice but to give in. It is overwhelming, like gravity itself has changed, and he is the center of it. The longer he kisses me, the stronger it gets, until I don’t know if I should fight it or let it take me wherever it wants.I have heard and read about kisses before. How they can be full of passion, need, grief, hunger, love. How they can demand or offer, hurt or heal. But nothing could have prepared me for this. This feeling has no name. It is raw, deep, and consuming, wrapping around me like fire and drowning me all at once.I don’t know what to do with it.His lips move against mine, and every part of me feels awake, alive in a way I have never known. It is too much and not enough at the same time. My fingers curl into his shirt, holding onto him without thinking, like I am afraid letting go will br
AnastasiaSophia has let me borrow some of her clothes since we wear the same size. I’m relieved when I go through them and realize her style is pretty close to mine. She picks comfort over everything else, just like I do. No flashy stuff, no weirdly tight outfits that make it hard to breathe... just simple, easy clothes that feel like me.Hurriedly, I tug on the jeans and my hands move fast, my pulse a little too quick, but I ignore it. This isn’t a big deal. I’m just... curious. That’s all.Jake shifting into his wolf shouldn’t be interesting. I’ve seen it before. Plenty of times. And every single time, it meant a fight, blood, and making sure I walked away instead of them. But now? The thought of seeing him shift makes something stir inside me.I tell myself it’s just because I want to see if he’s different. That’s it. Nothing else.Taking a steady breath, I pull open the door and step out, only to freeze when I find him already there, leaning against the opposite wall like he’s be