Sophia
The room is quiet, save for the sound of my own shallow breathing. I lie in bed, staring up at the ceiling, my mind a whirlwind of emotions.The heat has subsided for now, leaving behind a hollow ache in my chest. My body feels heavy, drained of all strength, but it’s the weight on my heart that truly burdens me.A tear rolls down from the corner of my eye as I lie still, the events of the night before replaying in my mind like a broken record. The morning light filters through the curtains, casting a soft glow on the room.Mikhail is still asleep beside me, his arm draped over my waist, his breath warm against my neck.
I feel a pang of guilt as I gently move his arm and slip out of bed, careful not to wake him. My body is sore, a physical reminder of what transpired between us.
I wrap myself in a robe and head to the bathroom, needing to be alone with my thoughts.The
SophiaRed Moon night is a very special night, especially for mated wolves, as it is the night when the mate bond strengthens. However, this night's significance is not just limited to mated wolves, as our wolves also strengthen during the red moon phase.That's why, in most of the pack, this is the night of celebration, and it is no different here as well.The preparation for Red Moon celebrations is in full swing; each and every pack member is doing their best to complete all the work so they can enjoy the night. The air is filled with happiness and excitement; however, for me, it is just another day.Taking out the white dress that I had worn on the Full Moon ball, I changed into it.How ironic is that this is the same dress that I wore when I found my mate, and this will be the same dress when this mate bond will be broken.Mikhail was with me throughout my heat. Each time my heat intensified, he helped me through it. It wasn't like he was getting nothing out of it; his wolf was
Mikhail Sophia’s rejection hits me like a physical blow, and I stagger, struggling to stay upright. The world shifts beneath my feet as Sophia's words sink in. This is all I ever wanted since the moment I found her... to reject her and this bond. But then why am I feeling this emptiness like someone has squeezed the life out of me? "Sophia, no!" My voice is raw and desperate, but she doesn’t look back. The hunters drag her away. However, a thundering growl erupts from me when someone hits her, nearly causing her to fall. They don't even wait for her to get to her feet as they continue dragging her across the ground. Her white dress is now tainted with dirt and her blood, but still, she doesn't look back. What scares me the most is that she is not fighting at all to free herself from them, as if she has resigned herself to this fate. It's like the fire inside her has been extinguished. I try to stand and reach for her, but my injured leg buckles beneath me, sending a sharp pain s
MikhailMy ears twitch at the sound of whisper yells mixed with the conitnuous beeping sound. My mind feels haze and disoriented, while there is a hollowing ache inside my heart.I frown and try to open my eyes when I hear low growls emitting from somewhere near me. However, my eyelids feel heavy to obey my command.Where am I?What is going on?And what is this annoying sound?My senses start to become sharper as I am feeling more awake by every moment.The sterile scent of antiseptics and the faint beeping of what sounds like a medical machine tell me I’m in the pack’s infirmary.Why am I here?Abruptly, everything comes back to my mind. The attack, those bastards, the broken bond... and Sophia.I wake up with a start. I struggle to sit up, but the sharp pain in my leg makes me gasp.Looking down, I notice an IV places in my right arm while my leg is in a cast. My shoulder is also bandaged.Suddenly, the sounds that I earlier heard dies down, apart from the beeping sound which has b
Mikhail"Alexei, what is the situation of the pack?Different thoughts are running inside my mind, but I need to focus on finding Sophia, and then later, everything can be taken care of."Thankfully, the quantity of the wolfsbane found in the food was less, but still most of the pack members are still recovering from the effects. Elder Merope is helping the members, but first, she helped the warriors so that the pack is secured." Alexei runs his hand through his hair and lets out a frustrated sigh, "I have enforced more patrols on the border, and I have personally made sure that our pack is secured.""I will come with you to the border and check myself if there is any sign that can lead us to the hunters," I remember them ambushing us from the western side of the border, that border is near the neutral territory. "Maybe we can send a search team in the neutral territory to check if they have seen Sophia or hunters there.""Mikhail, you have not recovered. You need to rest." Layla plac
MikhailStaring at the floor, I wait for the answers to all the questions that are swirling inside my mind. Elder Merope sits on the front couch while she looks in some deep thoughts.Alexei's presence beside me is comforting because it carries a hint of familiarity that I have been used to throughout my life. "Mates are known to heal each other." Elder Merope finally looks up, her gaze holding amazement and awe, "But to see something like this is nothing short of a miracle.""But if it was because of mate bond, then his vision should have been restored when he first marked her." Alexei frowns, looking confused, "But why now?"Elder Merope even seems confused because Alexei's question is valid."Maybe it wasn't because we haven't completed the mate bond." Looking up, I glance at them.It still feels surreal to see the faces whose voices and presence have been ingrained in my mind. "What do you mean?" Merope asks, her eyebrows scrunching together in confusion. "Mating and marking wer
Sophia Groaning, I turn on my side as pain shoots up in my body. I don't know how much time has passed... Maybe it has been hours, maybe days, or maybe even months. The small cell in which I have been kept has no window, and it is always dark. There is a small wooden bucket placed in the corner that they told me to use if I need to answer nature's call, as they are not going to allow anyone to leave the cells. This place smells so horrible that I ended up puking a few times when I was first brought here. That ended up in more beating, and that is the only constant thing here. These stupid people think that they can weaken a wolf by beating them. But it is almost the opposite, as their beating will only fuel the revenge that the wolf is planning, and once it gets a chance, it will make sure that these people will regret their every action. However, unfortunately, I don't have a wolf. Grunting, I push myself up and lean against the wall for support as the sound of screams echoes
SophiaThe hours crawl by, each minute stretching into eternity.In the course of time, I have realized they not only make you go through physical torture, these hunters makes you suffer mentally as well.They force you to listen to the agonizing screams for your cell mates, the cries of pain and the sounds of torture that they put these wolves through. Each time when exhaustion takes over me, I drift into the darkness hearing these torturous sounds.I curl up, trying to find some comfort even though I am aware that nothing can safe me from whatever fate is awaiting for me.I don't even know how it is possible, but I find myself drifting off to sleep. Maybe it is a coping mechanism, because once I am asleep then I will no longer be confined in this cell. Sometimes, I wish when I sleep don't ever wake up again, but then when does what I wish for ever comes true?The cell door creaks open again, and I startled awake by a harsh kick on my side.Instinctually, I tense, bracing for another
SophiaI can feel my entire body trembling like a leaf when I slowly start to gain consciousness. Every single bone of my body hurts like they have been broken a thousand times. I can hear the sound of faint voices coming from somewhere around me. My hand flexes and the feel of something sticky and wet makes me internally frown.Forcing my eyes to open, I blink a few times to adjust my vision.My eyes widen at the amount of blood in which I am covered. But what actually shocks me is the brutally ripped bodies of the hunters lying across the room. It seems like some feral animal has attacked them, leaving nothing but the shreds of flesh of them."Oh, this is nothing." My eyes snap to the voice, and now I notice I am not alone, but there are a few guys standing in front of me. "You should see that bastard." He grins, pointing at something to his right.I can sense these all are werewolves, so I relax a bit. Silently, I look in the direction that the guy has pointed, and suddenly, eve
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
AnastasiaWiping away the sweat that clings to my skin, I drag the small towel across my forehead. My muscles burn, my breath still a little uneven from training, but the ache feels good. Tossing the towel over my shoulder, I turn to leave when a water bottle appears in front of my face, stopping me mid-step.Arching an eyebrow, I follow the arm holding it and find a guy nearly my age standing just a step away. Tall and lean, he has the kind of build that favors speed over brute strength. His golden hair is tied back at the nape of his neck, a few strands slipping free to frame sharp features.Glancing from him to the bottle, then back again, I cross my arms. "And you are?"Smirking like he expected the question, he tilts his head slightly. "Ethan," he says, voice calm, unhurried. "Figured you could use this."Studying him, I notice something different. He doesn’t look nervous, which is rare. Most people—especially the ones who don’t know me well—tend to tread carefully around me. But
AnastasiaI push open the heavy wooden door and step into the meeting room adjacent to Pete’s office. The air inside is tainted with the scent of old leather and faint traces of cigarette smoke, probably from whatever hunter was here before me. A few men are already seated around the table, their eyes flicking up as I enter. Some nod in acknowledgment, others barely look at me.Fine by me.I take my seat, setting a folder down in front of me like I belong here—not like I have something to prove. My position in this mission isn’t exactly what I want. I’ve been assigned to oversee things from the base, to strategize and guide from behind the scenes. But that’s not where I need to be. I need to be out there, in the north territory, handling things myself.A slow burn spreads across my chest, a reminder of the silver from yesterday’s training. I force my hands to stay still and breathe through it. It’s not unbearable. I’ve dealt with worse. And if it does kill me… well, it won’t be today.
AnastasiaTurning on the tap, I let the water rush out in a loud stream to cover the sound of my coughing. My hands grip the edge of the sink as I bend forward, my body shaking with each rough, tearing cough. It feels like my insides are burning like acid is eating me alive from the inside out.A sharp, metallic taste fills my mouth, and when I pull back slightly, my eyes widen at the sight of dark red streaking the white porcelain.Blood.Fuck.So, the silver did affect me.But how? It only works on wolves, and I am definitely not one.I grip the edge of the sink, my breath coming out uneven. The taste of metal lingers on my tongue, sharp and bitter. My chest feels like it’s on fire, every breath is a reminder that something isn’t right.I glance down. Blood stains the porcelain, bright and stark against the white. My fingers tremble as I turn on the faucet, watching the water swirl red before it fades down the drain.This shouldn’t be happening.I press a hand against my ribs, hoping