SophiaI can’t find my voice, the words tangled in my throat. I want to ask him what he means, why he’s saying this now, but the look in his eyes stops me. It’s raw, unguarded, and it holds something I haven’t seen in him for a long time—vulnerability.I glance at Rose, her tiny body curled up on the couch, breathing softly, completely unaware of the chaos swirling inside me. This tension between Mikhail and me isn’t just about us anymore. Rose is in the middle of it, and that thought burns more than anything else.I stand up, needing to move, needing space to think, but Mikhail steps in front of me before I can make it to the door. His expression is unreadable, his eyes searching mine for something I’m not sure I can give.“Sophia, we need to talk. Really talk. This—what we’re doing—it’s not working. We can't avoid our past forever.” He’s right. We can’t keep avoiding the conversation, skirting around the things that need to be said. It’s not just our lives hanging in the balance any
SophiaThe silence between us lingers, but it's no longer as suffocating as it was before. Mikhail's confession—raw, vulnerable, and painfully honest—left me reeling, but also… lighter. It's not forgiveness, not yet, but maybe it's the start of something.A new beginning? I don’t know.He stays quiet beside me as we walk back through the woods, the tension that once hung heavy between us, easing into something softer.Not quite peace, but not war either.The wind has settled, leaving a soft, cool breeze that dances through the trees, rustling the leaves in a way that almost feels like the world is finally exhaling along with me.I glance at him, catching his eyes for just a second before looking away, pretending to focus on the path ahead. I feel his gaze on me, the intensity of it. There’s something different in his expression now—determination, maybe? Or is it hope?Stopping, I bend down to pick up one of the wildflowers I often take whenever I take this path.I look up just in time
MikhailThe scent of them is like a poison cloud, thick and heavy in the air. Hunters, their presence a constant threat, a shadow that lingers in the corners of our world. I crouch lower, my muscles tense, my wolf snarling inside me, a caged beast eager to be unleashed.Jake and Caleb are beside me, their breaths coming in ragged gasps, the weight of the situation pressing down on us. We're outnumbered, but that won't stop me.I can hear their voices now, faint but clear, a chorus of low growls and hushed whispers. They're circling, closing in, their intentions as clear as the moonlit sky above.I raise my head, my eyes scanning the darkness. I can see their shapes, shadowy figures moving through the trees, their weapons glinting in the moonlight. They're hunters, but they're not like the hunters we've faced before. These are different, their eyes filled with a feral hunger, a thirst for blood.They charge, their screams echoing through the forest, a chilling sound that sends a shiver
SophiaMy heart pounds in my chest, adrenaline surging through my veins as I stand over Mikhail. His body lies on the ground, shifting between wolf and human form, his wounds gushing blood with each ragged breath.The pain in my own body is nothing compared to the agony I feel at the sight of him. My fur still bristles with the remnants of battle, but all my focus is on him. I shift back into my human form, my muscles aching and trembling from exhaustion. I kneel beside Mikhail, my hands shaking as I gently move him into a more comfortable position. His body is warm, but his skin is pale, and the blood seeping from his wounds is a dark, ominous pool on the forest floor."Stay with me, Mikhail," I murmur, my voice choked with emotion. My hands work quickly but carefully, applying pressure to the worst of his wounds, trying to stem the flow of blood. The metallic tang of it fills the air, mingling with the earthy scent of the forest.His eyes are closed, his breathing shallow and uneve
MikhailMy body feels heavy, like I’m sinking, my limbs stiff and weighted as though they’re made of lead. I try to open my eyes, but even that feels like an impossible task.A slow, ragged breath escapes my lips, and with it comes the realization that I’m alive. But there’s something wrong. Something off.I can feel the faintest trace of warmth lingering in my chest, the remnants of something that once filled me, but now there’s only a void, an emptiness I can’t quite explain. It gnaws at me, like a hole that’s been ripped wide open, leaving me hollow. It’s an indescribable feeling, one that tightens around my ribs and pulls at my heart.Forcing my eyes open, the world blurs into focus. The light in the room is dim, casting long shadows across the walls. The scent of the place hits me first—familiar, yet distant. My heart tightens at the faint traces of something comforting, something that clings to the air, providing slight relief from the suffocation that I am experiencing.Sophia.
SophiaThe darkness is thick, endless, like I’m floating in a vast, empty void. There’s no pain here, no weight pulling me down, but there’s also no light, no warmth. Just this quiet nothingness that stretches in every direction.For a long time, I drift. My mind is foggy, thoughts slipping through my fingers like water.But something shifts—a feeling, faint at first, like the smallest flicker of a flame. It’s warm and familiar, and it tugs at me, gently pulling me toward the surface.Rose.Her name pushes through the haze, and the weight of everything I’ve done rushes back to me all at once. The pain, the fear, the desperation to save him—to save Mikhail—and then the relief to know that he must not be suffering anymore. I can still feel his wounds, still feel the deep ache in my soul.I fight against the darkness, struggling to break free.I try to reach out, but my body feels so heavy, like it’s made of stone. My limbs refuse to move.Everything is so still, so quiet.But Rose... sh
SophiaEvery part of my body feels heavy, but the ache from yesterday has dulled. I’m still weak, but there’s something about the morning that feels... peaceful.The room is filled with quiet laughter and the sound of familiar voices. I shift slightly, noticing Jake sitting in the corner, his arms crossed, his usual serious expression on his face as he watches Caleb and Lucas.“And I’m telling you,” Lucas is saying, his voice filled with mock exasperation, “there’s no way you could’ve made that jump. You’re not that fast.”Caleb grins, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Oh, really? Because I’m pretty sure I made it before you even saw me leave.”Lucas narrows his eyes at him, shaking his head. “No chance. You got lucky—”“I don’t believe in luck,” Caleb interrupts with a smug smile. “Only skill, Lil Lucas. That you lack.”“Yeah, sure,” Lucas snorts, rolling his eyes. “Next time we’ll find out.”“Find out what?” I croak, my voice raspy and weak, but the words slip out before I can stop
SophiaI try not to squirm under Mikhail’s watchful eyes as he sits beside me, his presence a calming force despite the storm inside my chest. He hasn’t left my side since the others cleared the room, and now, he’s watching me like a hawk, concern etched into every hard line of his face.“Are you hungry?” he asks, his voice soft but filled with that quiet authority that never seems to waver.I shake my head quickly, my cheeks still warm from the teasing earlier. “I’m fine.”Mikhail’s eyes narrow slightly, and without another word, he goes outside and a few moment laters he bring a bowl of soup and some bread. He picks up the bowl of soup from the tray he has brought. The spoon dips into the broth, and I realize with growing horror what he’s about to do.“Mikhail, I can feed myself,” I say quickly, sitting up straighter, trying to regain some sense of control.He doesn’t even acknowledge my protest, just brings the spoon to my lips, his expression calm but determined.“I said, I’m fine
AnastasiaI search his face, trying to understand everything he isn’t saying. But I can't figure it out. His expression gives nothing away, only that same warmth mixed with something deeper. Something I don’t know how to name.Then he smiles, small but real, and gestures for me to follow him. "Your mom and I need to talk to you."Those words have never felt as daunting as they do now. My stomach tightens, my mind racing with possibilities. Whatever this is, it’s serious.But then Dad drapes his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close like he used to when I was little. And just like that, the weight on my chest eases. Whatever this talk is about, as long as I have him, I know I’ll be okay.When we walk into the room, Mom is sitting on the bed, her glasses perched on her nose as she reads one of her favorite novels. The warm light from the bedside lamp casts a soft glow around her. She looks up, her eyes meeting mine, and a gentle smile spreads across her face.She closes the book and
AnastasiaBy the time I get there, the funeral is already packed. Hunters stand in neat rows, their faces grim, their expressions unreadable. The air feels thick, heavy with something more than just grief.Chief stands near the altar, his posture stiff, his hands clasped behind his back. Beside him is the casket, shut tight. I don’t need to see inside to know why. There wouldn’t be a body, just what’s left of Ralph, broken and torn apart.Chief's eyes find mine from across the space. His face doesn’t show much, but his gaze says everything. There’s anger there, buried under layers of control.Other hunters follow his gaze, their eyes flickering toward me. I meet their looks head-on, keeping my expression carefully composed. Sad, respectful. That’s what they expect. And if I want to stay in this, if I want to figure out what’s really going on, I need them to believe I’m still on Chief’s side.Mom and Dad are here too, along with others from our group. Their presence isn’t just about pa
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