SophiaThe tension in the air is thick as we rush back through the woods toward the house. Lucas and Caleb flank me, their eyes constantly scanning the surroundings for any sign of more rogues. I keep Rose cradled in my arms, her little body still trembling from the fear of the attack. I can feel her tiny heartbeat thudding against my chest, echoing the frantic beat of my own.When we finally reach the house, Jake is already at the door, his face etched with worry. "What happened?" he demands, his eyes widening when he sees Rose’s tear-streaked face and the blood staining my clothes."Rogues," Caleb answers, his voice tight. "Three of them. They attacked us by the lake."Jake’s expression darkens, his jaw clenching. "Are you all okay?""We're fine," I reply quickly, trying to reassure him. "We managed to fight them off, but it was close. Too close."Lucas looks over his shoulder, still on high alert. "We need to check the perimeter. Make sure there aren’t any more of them lurking arou
SophiaThe cool night air hits my face, and I take a moment to steady myself. The woods are quiet now, the only sounds the rustling of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. My footsteps light on the soft earth. My heart pounds in rhythm with my steps; each beat is a reminder of the distance that I am closing between us. Mikhail is staying at Blue Lagoon Pack. I don't know what business he has here, but at this moment, it is a good thing for me because I don't think I could have gone back to his pack, leaving my Rose alone. And there is no way I am taking my daughter there... not until I am certain about his intentions. As I cross the narrow, fast-moving stream on the eastern edge of the territory, the cold water splashes against my legs, sending a chill up my spine. I keep my focus straight ahead, my senses heightened. The trail leading to Blue Lagoon Pack is familiar, yet each step brings a fresh wave of anticipation. This is only the second time I’ve visited this p
SophiaHis body stiffens at my words, and I can see the internal struggle in his eyes. The darkness in them slowly fades, replaced by a flicker of relief and an emotion that is unreadable.He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, his entire frame relaxing just a fraction as he processes what I’ve said."Thank the goddess," he mutters under his breath. When he opens his eyes again, they’re back to their usual intense blue the storm within them momentarily calmed. He looks at me, and there’s a softness there, a vulnerability that I rarely see. "Thank you," he says, his voice barely above a whisper, but I can hear the sincerity in it. "Thank you." He repeats and without even saying I know that he is thanking me for allowing him to be a part of her life.The moment I accepted that she is his daughter... is the moment that I granted him the chance to be part of her life. For me, she will always come first... even before me... even before my feelings.And I can't deprive her of her fath
SophiaWe walk in silence, the sounds of the forest enveloping us. The crunch of leaves beneath our feet, the distant call of an owl, the soft whisper of the wind through the trees—these are the only noises that fill the air between us. Yet, the silence isn’t empty. It’s thick, almost alive, vibrating with all the things left unsaid, all the emotions neither of us is willing to voice.I can feel Mikhail’s presence beside me, a tangible heat that’s both comforting and unnerving. It’s been so long since we’ve been this close since we’ve shared even a moment of calm together. I don’t trust this peace between us, don’t trust the way my heart seems to be steady in his presence, as if it remembers a time when he was my entire world... my everything.You’ve hurt me so much, Mikhail.My thoughts bitter and sharp.How can I ever forgive you?Every step feels heavy like I’m trudging through thick mud, my legs unwilling to carry me forward. My mind drifts back to the past, to the times when ever
Mikhail The silence between us is suffocating, pressing down on me with a weight I didn’t know I could bear. I steal a glance at Sophia walking beside me, her face expresses nothing, calmness. But I can sense the storm beneath her composed exterior, the whirlwind of emotions she’s trying so hard to hide. I know I’m the cause of that storm, and the guilt twists like a knife in my gut.I never meant to hurt her.But I did.I don't know if she will ever forgive me for that.And I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive myself for that.For so long, I fought against this bond, against what the Moon Goddess had chosen for me. I was a fool, too blind and too stubborn to see what was right in front of me. I was too caught up in my own foolishness, my own insecurities, to realize that Sophia was everything I ever needed. That she was the one I’d been searching for, even when I didn’t know it myself.I took her for granted.Took us for granted. I never wanted to accept it—the bond, the love, the co
SophiaThe morning light filters through the curtains, casting a soft, golden hue over the room. I blink awake, momentarily disoriented, before a tiny hand reaches out to touch my face.Pushing back my gloomy feelings, the remnants of last night, I turn on my side to watch Rose, who seems to have just woken up."Mommy," Rose whispers, her big, blue eyes—so much like Mikhail's—wide with curiosity and still a bit sleepy. "Wake up, Mommy!"They both share the same eye color; however, unlike Mikhail's, Rose's blue looks bright and lively.I can't help but smile, the heaviness in my chest lifting a little at the sight of her. "Good morning, my little sunshine," I murmur, pressing a kiss to her forehead. She giggles, her laughter bright and sweet, filling the room with a lightness I desperately need."Mornin'!" she replies with a cheerful bounce, her hair sticking up in all directions. I reach out to smooth it down, but it springs back up stubbornly. She giggles again, swatting at my hand.
MikhailThe restless energy pulses beneath my skin, the wolf inside me pacing back and forth, agitated and anxious. I stare out the window of the room I am currently staying. Even though I should have returned back to my pack now, since I found Sophia, I am not ready to leave yet.I told Russo that I would shift to the nearby motel, but he refused, saying it was better if I stayed here because, in that way, I would be near to her. Luna Leah was also happy to find out that Sophia is alive and I have found her.The rogue attack yesterday… has rattled me.And then Sophia's doubts that those rogues were after my daughter made me see red.I have made so many enemies and could be anyone, but how did they find out about my daughter?But whoever they are... they made the biggest mistake of their lives by trying to hurt my pup. I will give them a slow, painful death once I find out who they are because no one deserves to live when they even think about hurting who is mine.Rose's face comes be
SophiaWatching Mikhail and Rose together stirs a confusing storm of emotions within me. It’s hard to keep my heart from softening at the sight of them playing on the floor, their laughter echoing through the room. I see the way Mikhail looks at her—with a tenderness and protectiveness that makes it clear he’s already in love with our daughter. It’s hard not to be affected by that.I wrap my arms around myself, leaning against the doorway as I watch them. Mikhail has a way with Rose that I didn’t expect. He’s gentle, patient, and he doesn’t seem to mind making a fool of himself for her amusement. I see Rose light up in his presence, and I realize just how much she’s missed having a father figure. It’s something I’ve never been able to give her, something I’ve kept her from—maybe out of fear, maybe out of my own pain.And now… seeing them together like this, I wonder if I made the right choice by keeping them away.Mikhail looks up, catching my eye, and for a moment, everything else fa
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
AnastasiaA wave of shock rolls through the room, settling thick in the air. I can see it in their faces, in the way their eyes widen and dart toward each other, searching for some kind of confirmation that they heard right. This isn’t normal...not something they see every day. But it isn’t unheard of, either.There have been times before when hunters were pushed to do something like this, forced to prove their loyalty in the most brutal way possible. Some survived. Some didn’t.My expression calm, as I hold Alvin and Pete's gaze unflinchingly, before turn my entire attention to Alvin, "Bring me the silver."Pete's face is unreadable, but his jaws tighten while uncertainty seeps into his eyes. Alvin watches me like he’s waiting for me to take it back. Like he expects me to crack, to realize what I just agreed to.Too bad for him.I may not know exactly what will happen when I drink that silver, but I know one thing for sure.I won’t lose. Especially, not to them.A few hunters shift un