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
MikhailMy claws are still out, stained with the remnants of blood and flesh, but my focus sharpens when Alexei runs up to me, his face grim.“I can’t reach Merope,” Alexis voice is strained. “She’s in the middle of the ritual, and Jake, Caleb, Atlas, and Artemis are all part of it. Lucas is with Sophia now."I nod, processing his words. A part of me feels a small wave of relief. At least Lucas is with Sophia. She isn’t completely alone. But that doesn’t ease the knot in my chest. Lucas may be with her, but that doesn’t mean they’re safe. They both are still out there somewhere we don't know... Somewhere where I can't reach my Sophia.My heart aches because she is still not with me.Pushing that thought aside, I focus back on the situation at hand.Destroying Selena's body.Sophia entrusted me with a task, and I have to see it through. I turn back to Alexei, meeting his gaze. “I need you to lead the warriors from here on out.”His brows furrow and I can see the flicker of worry in his
MikhailThe cave is like a pitch-black void that seems to swallow the faint light from outside. The darkness doesn’t faze me, though.It can try to intimidate me all it wants, but I am not someone who is going to be scared.The air shifts as if something unseen stirs, carrying a faint metallic scent that prickles at my senses.I stand at the mouth of the cave, and the energy inside brushes against me. It’s intense, almost tangible, swirling just beyond the entrance like a warning.My wolf is restless, pacing just beneath the surface, not from unease but from readiness. He knows, just like I do, that this place isn’t ordinary. It’s soaked in Selena’s magic, her dark influence tainting the air. It presses against me like a challenge, daring me to turn back.But I don’t turn back. I don’t hesitate. I’ve faced worse than this, walked through fire and blood to protect what matters.This darkness might be strong enough to crush someone else, but not me.My mark hums steadily against my ches
MikhailMy wolf howls inside me, a fierce, guttural sound that cuts through the haze of pain. It’s like he’s trying to fight the agony with every ounce of strength he’s got. I feel him, clawing and pushing, refusing to let me give in.My whole body feels like it’s being ripped apart, every nerve on fire, but I grit my teeth and force myself to stay calm. The pain is brutal and relentless, but it’s not the first time I’ve faced something that’s tried to break me.I know I’m stronger than this. I’ve faced worse. I’ve clawed my way out of hell before, and this? This won’t break me.My hands curl into fists, nails digging into my palms as I focus on the burn inside me.The light pulses again, sending a fresh wave of pain through me, but I push back with everything I’ve got. My wolf’s rage fuels me, his defiance merging with mine. We’re in this together, and there’s no way we’re backing down.My legs feel like lead, but I keep moving. My wolf roars inside me, pushing me to keep going. I
MikhailI lean against the jagged wall of the cave, my body screaming in protest. Every breath feels like dragging shards of glass through my lungs. Then it hits me.Sophia.She told me to burn Selena’s body. That has to be the way to end this.I push against the wall, forcing myself to stand. My broken leg buckles, and pain shoots up my spine, but I grit my teeth and hold on. The wall is rough under my fingers, a small mercy to keep me upright.I glance around the cave, searching for anything—anything—that could help me set her body on fire. My eyes dart to the ground, the corners, the shadows. There’s nothing. Not a single thing I can use.Frustration boils in my chest, mixing with the pain. My fists clench, and I let out a furious growl that echoes through the cavern. The sound is raw, animalistic, but it’s not enough to release the rage building inside me.Then, out of nowhere, my mark starts to burn. The heat is sudden, sharp, and impossible to ignore. I clutch my shoulder, gaspi
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