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
SophiaI’ve been staring at the same four walls for too long.My legs itch to move, and my body feels heavy with the kind of stiffness that comes from lying in bed for far too long. Normally, I am busy with running after Rose and doing things for her. But Rose is with Lucas and he is looking after her until I am fully recovered. I don't sit idle neither lying all day and doing nothing is not cup of my tea. I need to do something before I lose my sanity.A shower. That’s what I need—a shower, something to refresh me and clear my mind. Maybe that will help me to feel like myself again.I glance over at Mikhail, who has been sitting quietly beside me, his eyes flicking over me.Slowly, I push the blankets off and swing my legs over the edge of the bed. The cold floor bites at my bare feet, but it’s a welcome sensation. I grit my teeth and start to rise, my body protesting the movement as though it has forgotten what it’s like to stand on its own.I steady myself for a moment, testing
SophiaIt’s been a few days since the attack, and even though life is slowly returning to normal, the lingering tension is hard to shake. Everyone is still on edge, senses heightened, and every movement feels sharper, more deliberate—like we’re all waiting for the other shoe to drop.It feels anything can happen at any moment.Mikhail is in touch with Alexei, but nothing helpful has been found. I don't know whether Mikhail has told Alexei that he has found me or not, because Mikhail never talked about anything related to pack with me. However, I have sensed he seems a bit agitated whenever he talks to Alexei. I didn't ask him what is happening back at the pack because I don't know where I stand when it comes to pack matters.I sit outside on the porch, bundled in a light blanket despite the mild chill in the air, watching the others train. Jake is leading the session, his voice carrying across the field as he barks orders, pushing everyone to their limits. Who can say these people are
MikhailI burst into a sprint, the bond's silence tearing through me like a jagged blade.Each step pounds against the earth, my wolf's restlessness and my desperation driving me faster.The world blurs around me, trees and buildings nothing more than streaks of color as I push myself harder."Sophia!" I mindlink again, hoping to get a response from her.But the void answers me. Hollow. Dead.The absence feels like a gaping wound, a suffocating emptiness that claws at my chest.My lungs burn, not from exertion but from the sheer panic constricting my breath.The mate bond is supposed to be the unbreakable connection between us, an eternal thread that binds us, no matter the distance.So why can't I feel her?I push harder, my claws digging into the earth as I leap over a low wall."Sophia! Answer me!"Nothing.I snarl, the sound ripping from my throat as I surge forward again.My wolf's fury roars in my ears, a wild, unrelenting force demanding to find her. Demanding to protect her.T
MikhailFrom the beginning, there's been nothing to hide.I've never felt shame or regret for the things I've done to claim my revenge. They were choices I made with clarity, knowing the full weight of the consequences of my actions. But telling Sophia, peeling back the layers of who I am, admitting to the blood I've spilled and the darkness I've carried... feels different. It doesn't feel like a confession. It feels like freedom.It's as if I've ripped open a part of myself I've kept locked away. And instead of flinching, she listened... and in her gaze steady, there was understanding.My kindhearted mate didn't judge me for my actions but understood me.It feels as though a veil has been lifted between us, one I hadn't realized was there until this moment. Now, we are both truly bare in front of each other.Her acceptance isn't blind; it's deliberate. She knows my flaws and my sins, and still, she chose me.I am definitely Moon Goddess's favorite; that is why she gave me Sophia.I
SophiaThe soft glow of evening filters through my window as I finish tying a delicate bow on the basket I’ve been working on. The woven basket is filled to the brim with goodies, a homemade vegetable and chicken stew to nourish the new mother, some soft blankets for the pup, and a few herbal teas to help with her recovery, along with some other baby essentials like diapers, warm clothes, and beanies. I’ve tucked in a small stuffed duck for the pup too, because I remember how much Rose loved grasping her soft toy with her tiny fingers.It feels right to do this, to bring something personal, something thoughtful. Being Luna means more than holding a title. It means being there for the pack, celebrating their joys, and comforting their sorrows. Mikhail told me that it is a tradition in their pack that Luna welcomes the newest members of the pack and is one of the first guests to visit the new mom and the pup. So, here I am prepared to welcome our new member.As I step outside, the cr
Sophia Mikhail pulls me into his arms, his grip firm yet tender, as though he’s trying to anchor himself to the present and shake off the ghosts of his past. His breath brushes against my neck, warm and steady, and I can feel his body relaxing in my embrace. Wrapping my arms tightly around him, I hold him close. My fingers find their way to his hair, threading through the soft strands as I kiss his cheek. I can feel his emotions, raw and unguarded. There’s a strange lightness in him now, as if the burden he’s carried for so long has finally begun to ease. It’s subtle, but I know him well enough to see it, to feel it. With everything that we shared—our past, our experiences, our feelings—the bond between us felt stronger and more real. Closing my eyes, I take a steady breath and let the familiar warmth of my power flow through me. I send it through the connection that ties us together. I can feel his pain, his hurt... his struggles, and I want to erase them and fill every corner
Sophia“I had just gone through my first shift. Since our healing strengthened when we found our wolves, everyone thought that maybe after my first shift, I would gain my sight or it would improve. But things weren't simple; even in my wolf form, I was blind. Not as blind as I were in my human form, but still blind." He absentmindedly continues to play with the lock of my hair as if it is the thing that's holding him to the present. "My wolf was wild, and lack of vision made him almost feral. My father's training turned even harsher because he had to help my wolf reign his energy. Even now, a part of him is still feral."A small pout forms on my lips because I don't think his wolf is feral. He has that wild energy that surrounds him, but it makes him lethal and powerful. He is magnificent.Mine. A word echoes in my mind as my wolf agrees with me."In front of you, he behaves like a lovestruck crazy beast, but he is still feral." He softly chuckles and taps my lips with his finger as
Sophia I shift slightly, propping myself up on one elbow so I can look at him. He still looks lost in his thoughts, but knowing him, I know he is alert and ready to take down any threat if it appears.His guards are never down... even while sleeping, there is alertness about him. It's like his mind is up and working even when his body is resting.The gentle sway of leaves above us fills the silence, but a question forms on my lips, one I hadn’t thought to ask until now.“Mikhail,” I begin, my voice low but steady, “tell me about yourself."He blinks as if he’s not quite sure he heard me correctly.Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, he turns to face me fully. A mischievous smile curves at the corners of his lips, one I know all too well—one I’ve seen a thousand times, used to distract, to shift focus, to keep things light. But this time, it doesn’t work.I stay quiet, my expression unchanged as I wait for him to acknowledge the question that still lingers in the air between us.H
SophiaThe nagging feeling is still there, but it is not as intense as before. When I considered what I could lose instead of gain if anything went wrong, the decision wasn't that difficult for me.Despite all the threats and dangers surrounding us, I am living my dream. And to ruin to find out something that I will eventually find out one day would be foolish of me. And how would I know that I would find out the truth one day? No matter how much anyone tries, the truth always makes itself known."Still thinking about everything?" Mikhail rubs his thumbs over my knuckles and lightly tugs my hand to get my attention."Yeah." Nodding my head, I pull all my hair to my side."Where are we going?" I ask, finally noticing that this isn't the path that I took from home to Elder Merope's place."Finally, you noticed." Mikhail smirks and teases me, "And here I was, getting worried about how clueless my mate was, that anyone could kidnap her, and she wouldn't even be suspicious.""I am with you
SophiaAbruptly, there is a knock on the door, sharp and insistent.Before I can even blink, the door swings open, and there he is—Mikhail. His tall figure fills the doorway, eyes locked on me with that familiar intensity that makes my pulse race.Mikhail strides in, eyes blazing with urgency. My heart lurches at the sight of him, and the tension that gripped my body eases in an instant."Sophia," he says, his voice low, almost a growl. "Are you okay?" He doesn’t wait for me to answer, his eyes scanning me like he can see right through to whatever’s going on inside me.I don't need to speak, though. He can feel it. I know he can. His wolf is connected to me, just as mine is connected to him, and right now, I’m a storm of emotions thrashing inside. He can feel that, too. The worry, the anxiety, the anger swirling inside me like a tornado, too strong to be ignored."Your emotions," he continues, stepping closer, his gaze tightening, "they’re… they’re driving my wolf crazy with worry. It
Sophia"Sophia." Elder Merope looks at me warmly, "I am sure there was some reason why you came here to visit me today." There is a knowing glint in her gaze."Yes." Sighing, I run my hand through my hair and nod my head. "Something doesn't feel right." She silently gaze at me for a few moments, before she gestures for me to follow her to the back of the room where a wide window overlooks a small, flourishing garden. The space is filled with pots of all sizes, some spilling over with herbs and flowers that I don't recognize, their leaves brushing against one another in a soft rustle. Sunlight streams through the glass, painting everything in golden hues."These plants are special," Merope explains as she picks up a small watering can and hands it to me. "They require care and attention, but they give back much more than they take."I take the can, feeling the cool metal in my palm, and move to the nearest pot—a cluster of deep purple blooms that seem to shimmer when the light catches