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MikhailThe fire crackles softly, filling the room with a quiet warmth, but it does little to dissipate the tension that hangs in the air. I sit with Jake, Caleb, and Lucas, the remnants of dinner lingering in the kitchen as Sophia takes Rose upstairs to bed.Jake sits across from me, his expression as unreadable as always, though there’s a subtle edge to his demeanor tonight. Caleb is next to him, quieter than usual, but his eyes meet mine every so often—something that didn’t happen before the attack. There’s no animosity in his gaze now, just a sort of grudging acceptance, or maybe understanding.We may not be close, but after what we’ve been through, we’ve reached a kind of truce. We both care deeply about the people around us, even if we show it in different ways.I glance at Lucas, who’s sitting off to the side, his brow furrowed, lost in thought. Out of all of us, he looks the most troubled. His eyes flicker toward the stairs where Sophia and Rose disappeared moments ago, his wor
Sophia I stretch slowly under the blankets, taking a moment to savor the peacefulness of the early hours. For the first time in days, there’s no overwhelming heaviness dragging me down, no sharp ache that makes me want to curl up and stay hidden. I feel… better. Not entirely back to normal—my body is still sore, and my energy isn’t anywhere near what it should be—but the fog of exhaustion has lifted, and the familiar hum of my wolf’s presence is stronger now, steadying me in a way that’s comforting. It’s been so long since I felt her this clearly. For a while, it was like she was barely there, just a faint whisper in the back of my mind, too weak to even respond when I called. But now… I can sense her stirring, her warmth seeping through my veins, though I know she’s not ready to come to the surface yet. Shifting would be too much right now. I can feel it in the way my muscles protest even the slightest movement, the way my bones still feel fragile, as if they haven’t fully mende
Sophia When Mikhail had gone to answer his phone, the idea of picnic suddenly came to me. After everything we’ve been through, a small escape seemed like the perfect way to make new memories. When I shared this idea with him, he instantly agreed because he felt it might be good for Rose to meet his wolf in a place where she is already relaxed. The lake has always been a special place for Rose and me. I have been taking her there since she was a baby. Whenever she used to cry and I couldn't know how to comfort her, I used to take her there. And still now it’s where I’d take her when we needed a quiet moment, just the two of us. A place surrounded by tall trees and the soft shimmer of the water. I always felt connected to nature there, and I could see that same sense of connection in Rose whenever we visited. It became our little special place. Rose and I have made some beautiful memories together and are still making them, and now even Mikhail deserves to make some of his own with
SophiaMy gaze follows Rose as she chases after a fluttering butterfly, her laughter echoing through the trees. She looks so free, so full of life. My heart swells with joy as I watch her. This moment, this peace, feels like a dream I’m afraid to wake from.Beside me, Mikhail is stretched out, his eyes closed, the weight of the world seeming to ease off his shoulders for the first time in a long while. His face, which usually carries a hardened, battle-worn expression, now looks soft and peaceful, but I notice the dark circles under his eyes.I shouldn’t stare, but I can’t help it. Mikhail has been through so much, and seeing him like this—so vulnerable, yet so strong—stirs something inside me. Without even thinking, my hand reaches out, my fingers gently grazing the skin under his eyes, as if I could somehow erase the exhaustion that clings to him.Instantly, his hand shoots up, grabbing my wrist with a firm yet gentle grip. His eyes snap open, alarm flashing in them for a brief mome
Sophia The sun dips lower in the sky, casting a warm, golden light across the field as Rose clings to Mikhail’s neck. She is talking his ears off, but he doesn't seem to mind at all. In fact, he is soaking in all the attention that he is getting from her. Mikhail gently sets her down, but she stays close, her fingers clutching the edge of his shirt. Her eyes are wide, curious, as she gazes up at him with a seriousness that makes her look like a copy of him. I can see Mikhail is trying to fight of the smile that is threatening to appear on his face because she looks so adorable with her serious expression. "Dada," she says, her voice small but determined. Mikhail crouches down, bringing himself to her level. “Yes, Rose?” “I... I want to see it.” Her words come out in a rush, her tiny brow furrowing in concentration. “See what, pup?” Mikhail blinks, clearly not understanding. “Dada,” Rose suddenly murmurs, her voice sleepy as she climbs in my lap and rests against me. “Can I s
SophiaThe coldness that washes over me as Mikhail looks at me with a predator's gaze is like ice water over my skin. All the warmth, all the comfort that fills my heart when he’s near—gone. In that moment, he’s no longer the man I love, the father of my child. He’s a stranger, a threat. And that look in his eyes—the wild, untamed hunger—it’s like I’ve never known him at all.My breath hitches, my muscles locking in place. His growl deepens, a sound so raw and primal it sends a shiver down my spine. My heart races, but I refuse to back down. I refuse to let fear control me.I harden my gaze, every tear that had gathered moments ago drying up as something darker takes over inside me. I lock eyes with him, feeling the shift in the air, the tension, the instinct to survive. A growl rumbles from my chest, low and fierce, something I haven’t felt in years.“I don’t want to hurt you,” I growl back, my voice steady but laced with a warning. “But I won’t hesitate if you push me.”His wolf’s l
SophiaI wake up gasping, the sensation of drowning in cold water making my body jolt violently. My heart is pounding, my breath uneven as I struggle to gather my bearings. It feels like someone has poured ice water over me, the chill sinking into my bones.Disoriented, I blink rapidly, trying to make sense of my surroundings. That’s when I notice him.Mikhail.The first thing I see is Mikhail's worried gaze, his eyes filled with fear and uncertainty as he cradles me in his arms. One arm is wrapped around my back, supporting me gently as though I might break if he holds me too tightly. In his other hand, I notice he's holding an empty water bottle, drops of water sliding down his fingers."You're awake," he breathes, relief flooding his voice as his grip on me tightens for just a moment, as though he's afraid I might slip away again. His thumb brushes against my cheek, sending a spark of warmth through the icy numbness still clinging to my skin."Sophia, are you okay?"My mind is stil
MikhailI feel the exhaustion in every muscle as I finally make it back to Sophia’s house in the afternoon. My body is aching, heavy with fatigue, and as I shift back into human form, the toll of the last week hits me hard. For days now, I’ve been making this routine—running back to my pack at night, taking care of the duties that can’t wait, and then returning to Sophia and Rose.Being an Alpha isn’t something I can put on hold, even if my heart is here, with Sophia and Rose.I walk over to the car parked behind the thick trees, hidden away from everyone's eyes, my skin prickling with the leftover remnants of the shift. Digging out a fresh pair of clothes from the backseat, I catch my reflection in the window—dark circles under my eyes, the exhaustion clear in every line of my face. I can feel the strain of sleepless nights settling deeper into my bones. It’s getting harder to ignore. The pack needs me, and I can’t afford to neglect my responsibilities, but I don’t want to force Sop
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