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
SophiaThree years.Three long years since the old naive Sophia died.Three long years since this new Sophia was born who refuses to forgive and show mercy to people who don't deserve it.Each scar on my body tells a story of survival, and each memory is a lesson learned the hard way. I am no longer the girl who trusted blindly... who believed in the inherent goodness of people. That girl died three years ago, replaced by someone far more resilient and ruthless.Pressing the blade against the hunter's neck, I run it across his neck and push him forward as blood gushes out of his neck. Blankly, I watch his pathetic struggles as life slowly leaves his body.Turning my head, I give Jake a curt nod before I walk back towards the main house.Each step reminds me of the journey and transformation I've undergone.I hear the distant crackle of burning wood and know that the "trash" has been disposed of. In these past few years, Jake, Caleb, and Lucas have become my biggest support. They help
SophiaIt was a very difficult phase of my life because a lot of unexpected things happened during that time. But now, when I look back at all those things, I wouldn't change anything for the world. These three strangers walked into my life and stayed with me and never left my side, even when things took an unexpected turn. Instead, they helped me navigate through the challenges and never let me lose my confidence in myself.It is true that when you lose something that is precious, in return, life gives you something that makes you feel that every pain and hurt is worth it because you gained so much more than you had lost.These are the people whom I have gained every losing everything. I gained a family that I know will never let me down or leave me when times gets tough. Caleb finishes his beer and looks at me with a playful grin. "Soph, you should try this new training routine I came up with. It's supposed to enhance our reflexes and endurance."I nod, a small smile tugging at the
MikhailThree years have gone.And in this three years the only purpose that wakes me up after every night is to wipe off the existence of these hunters. People behind my back says I have gone crazy, but me and my wolf just wants revenge.Revenge of the sufferings that my mate had gone through at the hands of these hunters. I want the hunters to payback for every wrongdoing that they committed against innocent people and my Sophia.Sophia.The name that has still keeps me connected to my humanity. She still manages to bring peace to my cold heart whenever I hear her name. Nothing has been the same since she left and I don't think it will ever be. I am a man driven by vengeance and pain.My pack is thriving, and we are the strongest packs in the north; people fear and respect us, and I have made sure that nobody even dares to attack us.But still all this means nothing to me, because she is not with me.Everytime I have been attacked, I hoped that this time I will be free of my miser
MikhailI have scraf down the food like I have been hungry for ages. But the truth is that I do feel like I have been starving. Once I am done with the breakfast, I carefully stand and put the tray on the table near the door. I am already feeling much better than I have woken up, so instead of going back to bed, I decided to check outside and try to find out more about these people.Opening the door, I step outside, and from the large open space in the center of the house, I can see outside where a group of people are busy in training. There are two men looking over the training, and one of them seems more observant than the other. The observant one seems like he is the Alpha of them because of the energy he is giving off.His eyes land on me even before I walk outside. He is measuring each step with a calculative gaze but doesn't make any moves. Once I am near, breaking away from the group, he walks to me after barking some orders to start practicing hand-to-hand combat."I am Jake.
Mikhail Even if I want, I can't tear my gaze away from her... something about her draws me to her. Even my wolf peeks up at her sight, feeling curious. There is something about this girl that's captivating my attention. My heart jumps into my throat as the little girl darts between the two fighting wolves. Instinctively, I reach out, but I freeze as I witness the scene unfolding before my eyes. "Stop!" Her tiny voice rings with authority, and to my amazement, the growling immediately ceases. The wolves lower their heads near her, their fierce eyes softening. She pats them with a squeal of delight. "Look!" she exclaims, her hands gently stroking their fur. Lucas quickly intervenes, scooping her up in his arms. "Let's get away from these stinky wolves and watch the fight," he says, tickling her sides, causing her to giggle and squirm in his arms. As Lucas brings her over to where Jake and I are standing, Jake's stern expression returns. "What did I tell you about running into
AnastasiaCaleb’s whole body changes as we move through the trees. His shoulders are tense, every step calculated. There’s this no-nonsense vibe rolling off him that feels totally different from the usual sarcasm and eye-rolls I get from him. It’s weird seeing him like this. Focused. Sharp. Like a soldier in the middle of a mission. And I hate to admit it, even to myself, but right now, he feels… reliable.Jake still hasn’t shown up, but I know he’s close. I can feel it, the way the air shifts just enough to tell me that he is here.Suddenly, Caleb throws an arm out in front of me, stopping me in my tracks. I glance at him, confused, but don’t say anything.His head lifts, nose slightly tilted as he sniffs the air. His jaw tightens, and for a second, I swear I see something like concern flicker in his eyes before he looks at me.I lift an eyebrow, silently asking what’s up, but then I hear it too.Footsteps. Not just one or two. Multiple. The crunch of boots on leaves, and somewhere b
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.