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
Sophia"Cousin?" I narrow my eyes at them with suspicion. "I don't know you guys, and I definitely am not your cousin. And what if you give me this mark."It is possible they all are lying, even though my heart is telling me to believe them.Caleb steps forward, his expression turning serious. "We didn't give you that mark, Sophia. It's something you're born with. A mark of our lineage.""Our lineage?" I echo, still trying to wrap my mind around everything.Jake, who has been quiet up until now, finally speaks. "Yes, our lineage. We come from a long line of werewolves, and those marks signify our heritage. They appear when we first shift.""But, it wasn't there when I shifted for the first time... and that was the only time I shifted until now," I protest weakly. "I thought my wolf was... gone.""She was never gone," Lucas says gently. "Just dormant. Something must have triggered her awakening.""Triggered her awakening?" I mutter, thinking back to the intense anger and the voice that
MikhailEach moment that goes by increases my restlessness.We have searched every possible looking for the signs of hunters, but still, we are unsuccessful. Losing Sophia has devastated my wolf to the point that he has completely shut me off. He only reacts when he hears anything related to Sophia; other than that, he remains silent.I am practically functioning on zero sleep because whenever I close my eyes, my thoughts are only focused on Sophia. Even though the smell on my sheets has started to fade, I can still feel her presence in my room.It is like she has imprinted her touch on each and everything.Being in this room, which is filled with her presence, is nothing but torture. It reminds me of all the moments that I have shared with her while deepening the hollowness that has been left in her wake.Sighing, I run my hand over my face, exhaustion and helplessness weighing down on me."Alpha," a voice interrupts my thoughts. I look up to see Victor, one of my most trusted pack me
MikhailMy wolf howls in anguish, the sound echoing through the dark chamber. My mind is consumed by Sophia, imagining the pain and suffering she must have endured in this place. The scent of her blood is overwhelming, like a slap on my face for failing to protect the one person whom I was destined to protect.Unconsciously, I find myself trying to reach out to Sophia through our bond... trying to feel any sign of her presence that might reignite the hope that has died within me. But there is just nothing. All it feels like I am banging myself on the wall because of the warmth... the presence that I used to feel earlier whenever I thought about her is gone.What an irony. The person who is the reason for my vision is the person whose face I have never seen.,, and now I probably might never see.I must be really unfortunate because I have been too late to realize that she was the one whom I wanted and needed the most. I was too blind to see there was a reason why Moon Goddess had paire
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,
MikhailThe ticking of the clock is louder than it should be.Gregor’s words loop in my head, each one sinking its claws deeper into my thoughts. He said I can’t protect her, that I’ve already lost.He’s wrong.He has to be wrong. I grip the edge of my desk, the wood solid under my hands, grounding me.Losing Sophia is not an option. Whatever it takes, whatever the cost, I will find a way to save her. I’ll tear the world apart if I have to, but I will save her.Leaning back in my chair, I stare at the map on the wall as if it holds the answers I need.Every possible lead is marked in red, but none of it feels like enough. I press my fingers to my temples, trying to focus, to think of what I’m missing. There has to be a way to get ahead of Gregor and figure out what he’s planning.He is working alone. Someone is with him, but who are they?The door opens, and Alexei steps inside. His expression is serious, the set of his shoulders tense. He closes the door behind him and strides acro
SophiaThe darkness surrounds me, heavy and oppressive. I don’t know where I am. The air feels cold and damp, and the silence is suffocating, broken only by the echo of my own footsteps. Each step I take feels like it leads me deeper into a place I don’t understand.I try to focus, to find some clue, but everything looks the same. Shadows stretch and shift, playing tricks on my eyes. The walls, if they are walls, ripple as if alive. I move forward, but it feels like I am going in circles. No matter where I turn, there is no end, no exit. Just endless darkness.I stop for a moment and press my hand against what feels like a cold, smooth surface. It pulses under my palm, faint and rhythmic, as if it has a heartbeat of its own. I pull back sharply, my breath hitching.This place is wrong.“Where am I?” I whisper, more to myself than to anyone.My voice echoes, sounding small and fragile against the vast emptiness. There is no response, just the faint whisper of something I can’t quite h
MikhailThe corridor leading to the cells is dark, the faint scent of blood and damp stone filling the air. My steps echo as I descend into the basement.As I approach the row of cells, the dim light reveals Alexei leaning casually against the bars of one. His knuckles are smeared with blood, and a cocky grin spreads across his face when he sees me.“Ah, finally,” he says, straightening up. “I was starting to think you’d keep me waiting all night.”My eyes flick to Gregor, slumped in the corner of the cell behind Alexei. His face is battered, one eye swollen shut, and blood drips from a split lip onto his shirt. He doesn’t look so smug now, his breathing labored and his body trembling.“What happened?” I ask, my voice low and even, though the sight of Gregor like this doesn’t bother me in the slightest. If anything, it satisfies a small part of the beast inside me.Alexei shrugs, flexing his fingers as if shaking off the last remnants of tension. “He was irritating me. Something about
MikhailThe rage inside me hasn’t settled. It simmers, threatening to boil over, and I feel like I’m seconds away from ripping Gregor apart for everything he’s done to Sophia. My hands clench into fists, and I grit my teeth, fighting the pull of the darkness clawing at me. I need Sophia. I need her to calm me before I lose control.I’m about to slide into the car when Artemis and Atlas walk up. Atlas steps closer, his expression unreadable, while Artemis lingers just behind him. My gaze flickers to her, and I pause.She looks fine, as if she wasn’t injured at all.We have fast healing, but she has healed even more quickly than us. The only sign of what happened is the blood staining her shirt, stark against the fabric.“How are you?” I ask, my voice low but steady, masking the storm raging inside me.She smirks, crossing her arms. “I’m not so weak that a pathetic person like Gregor could hurt me,” she says, her tone dripping with mockery.I study her for a moment, noting the confiden