SophiaAlexei shows me to my room in the pack house. It's a simple room with a bed, a dresser, and a small window that overlooks the pack's ground. It’s not much, but it’s more than I had back home.If I am being honest, this room is nothing but luxury for me.I stand awkwardly in the doorway, unsure of what to do or say.“This is where you’ll stay,” Alexei says, his voice gentle. “If you need anything, just let me know.”I nod, not trusting my voice to speak. My face still stings from the bruise, a constant reminder of my father’s anger. If I had my wolf, then it would have healed by now, but unfortunately, I don't even have my wolf.It will take overnight to heal because my father doesn't hold back when he hits, and neither does any of his warriors.I can’t believe he let me go so easily, but I shouldn’t be surprised. He never cared about me."You don't have to worry about anything; you will be okay." Alexei seems to sense my unease. "I don't know what rumors you have heard about ou
MikhailI make my way towards the outskirts of the pack towards the small cottage where Elder lives. She is an old woman, but she likes to live alone. Some people even believe she is a seer, but I know that she is extremely knowledgeable, and this has given her the ability to predict things that people don't.I raise my hand to feel the cottage door before I can knock.I knock on the door twice and wait for her to answer the door.My wolf and I are both antsy. I don't know what to expect, but I do know that I need to find a solution to my problem before it is too late."Alpha." I hear her voice as soon as she opens the door, "Please come inside." I carefully follow her inside, discreetly keeping my hand extended in front of me, making sure not to stumble into anything."Dominique, I come here to get answers." "I will try my best to be any of your help.""I found my mate." I tell her while my mind fills with the blurry image of Sophia, "My wolf wants to claim her, but I don't want
SophiaI wake up feeling startled and disoriented, and look around to find myself in a strange room. It took me a moment to realize that I am no longer in my pack.I don't know calling that pack mine is the right thing to do. Because Father banished me from the pack, just before I came to Mikhail's pack. I didn't tell this to Mikhail or Alexei because somewhere I was in denial that Father could be so cruel to throw me out of his pack and life, like I was nothing.I didn't felt anything at that moment, but now all I feel is lost. I don't have anyone who I can call mine... anyone but my mate. The mate who hasn't even checked up on me to see how I am doing. I know just like to me, all this must have come to him as shock. But still a part of me feels hurt because I want him to be with me... not as mate but someone who cares about me.Alexei has shown more concern about me than my mate.Suddenly, restlessness grips my chest and I feel suffocated. Something doesn't seem right, I don't know
MikhailLast night, before Layla left my room, I told her what I found out about severing the mate bond. She wasn't happy that I have to mark this girl and claim her, but she knew she had no say in what I did and my decisions. Alexei has told me that the pack is getting curious about this new girl's presence, as they have heard about their Alpha finding a mate. They are even anxious about the pack's future, as they don't know how things will work from now onwards, as now I have found my mate.But they don't have any reason to be worried, because the girl has nothing to do with them. Yes, she is my wolf's mate, but she is not their Luna.Running my hand through my hair, I close my useless eyes and lean my head back on my chair.Letting out a deep sigh, I mindlink Alexei to bring Sophia into my office.Even before I hear the soft knock, her smell reaches me and I feel surprised how it instantly calmed me. Especially, my wolf almost settle down as soon as he felt her presence."Leave."
SophiaYou don't have any right on me or my pack; you are just here because of my wolf.Don't forget you are just someone that my wolf wants because, for some reason, fate tied us together, and stay out of my way.His words keep ringing in my ears as I walk outside his room. When Alexei told me that Mikhail wanted to see me in his office, all I thought was that he was calling to reject me and our mate bond. But he didn't.He didn't reject the bond. Instead, he told me that his wolf wanted me.The pull for the mate bond is stronger for our wolves. They don't care who the person is; if they are their mate, then that's it for them.I don't know what to think about his words. But I can't overlook that for the first time in my life, someone wants me, even if it is his wolf.I will not lie and say that his words didn't hurt me, but I never let any hurt escape through me because I wanted to focus on the positive side. There's a tiny flicker of hope blooming inside me.Mikhail's words were
MikhailI might not see, but the moment I smelled her tears, I knew in my heart that something wasn't right.She is a virgin.And I was about to take her against the wall like the animal I am because my wolf took over the control.My wolf was driving me insane, and I nearly killed Layla because I wasn't able to keep my wolf in check. He demanded Sophia, so I ordered the warrior to bring Sophia to my room.I know I can't complete the mating bond with her until she allows me to mark her. I may be cruel, but marking her without her consent is something that even I can't do.But there is another thing that doesn't sit right with me. The way fear rolled off her in waves as she cowered herself away from me when I lifted my hand seemed strange.I was like she was bracing herself for an attack.Suddenly, realization dawns on me, and I can't stop the growl that rippled through me because my wolf's furious.It is clear that she was being abused in her pack. But what I don't understand is why Gr
SophiaPain courses through me as Mikhail’s teeth sink into my neck, but there’s a strange comfort in it. It’s the pain of the bond being sealed, the pain of finally belonging somewhere. The sharp sting turns into a wave of warmth that spreads through my body.As he holds me close, his teeth retracting and his tongue soothing the wound, I feel the bond snap into place. It’s overwhelming, this rush of energy and connection, but there’s also a deep sense of something that is settling somewhere deep inside my heart.His scent envelops me, grounding me in the present moment, and I find myself leaning into his touch, seeking comfort and solace in his strength.All my life, I have hoped that there would be someone in my life who would want me. For them, I wouldn't be a burden, an unwanted relation that has been forced into their life. It seems unreal that the Moon Goddess has finally answered my prayer and brought Mikhail into my life. For now, even if it is his wolf that wants me, I still
MikhailWhether it is a mate bond or whether it is something about her, she is addicting.It was like my wolf couldn't get enough of her.I had to literally drag myself away from Sophia in the morning before my crazy wolf took her again.Even though she submitted to me, it still had some kind of dominance in it. This underlying challenge should have triggered my wolf, but instead, it made him more attracted to her.Surely, this mate bond makes our wolf do crazy things.I have heard that newly mated wolves have difficulty being away from their mates, especially for the first few days. And with my wolf being an Alpha things are even complicated, as he doesn't want to let his mate out of his sight. He just wants his mate and is being possessive about her.After completing the tasks for today, I am about to leave my office to return to my house when Layla storms inside my office."You claimed her!" She sounds furious as she closes the door behind her.Leaning back in my chair, I sigh.Thi
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