Chloe Jane My eyelids flutter open, and a mild ache throbs behind them. Sunlight streams through the window, casting a warm glow across the room. How long have I slept? It feels like ages since I— Wait… I sit up and blink again, frowning at what I’m seeing because… I’m blind! I should not be seeing the morning light filtering through the bedroom window! Immediately, I leap out of the bed and look around the room, but then the door slams open and Ruin stands there with wide eyes. He looks at me, his worried expression softening as he smiles at me and it takes my breath away. He starts to speak, “Hey, dove. You had me—” But I don’t let him finish. Overcome with emotion, I dash towards him, a feat that should be impossible for me. His expression shifts from shock to astonishment as I launch myself into his arms. My arms wrap around his neck, my legs around his waist, and he steadies me, his own surprise resonating through the connection we share. “Chloe Jane?” he breathes out my na
RuinWe’re all seated in the living room of the pack house, watching Ryker pacing the floor. He’s just returned from Vegas and filled us in on what happened. The shapeshifter who looked like me had no intention of speaking, but after Fenriz used his Alpha Sight on him, Fenriz could see everything.Alpha Sight is when True Alphas embed their claws into the base of a person’s skull to see their hidden memories. Fenriz found this out when he was having fun with the shifter, who looked like me.The Euro Five are planning to wage war on us, and there are already rats inside each of our packs. And the real reason Ryker is so pissed off? The Creators didn’t show him shit about what’s coming.“I don’t fucking get it,” he growls, pacing. “Why keep silent on a brewing fucking war?”“Why keep silent on the fact that we’re all suddenly getting mates this time around?” I counter, shifting Chloe Jane closer on my lap. “You have to admit that they’ve been awfully quiet about important things during
Chloe Jane Deacon and the rest left three hours ago, and yet I’m sitting here, staring at the door even though I can’t see, waiting for him to walk back. Caleb is somewhere in the pack house but I can’t help feeling like he’s resenting me for needing to stay behind. His ability could have been used to an advantage as well, but he’s here babysitting me. I wish Deacon took me up on the offer to see his fate, but they all refused me. They said it would make them overconfident or get morale down if it goes either way. I should have just done it anyway, I think; if only to ease my own worries. Sitting alone, the silence of the room amplifies my thoughts, each one a tangled mess of worry for Deacon and the others. I can’t shake the feeling of being a burden, a sentiment that’s only grown since Caleb had to stay behind. I’m lost in thought, tracing the lines of the sofa’s armrest, when I hear the door creak open. Caleb steps in, his presence unmistakable. “Hey, Chloe Jane,” Caleb’s voic
RuinThe transformation from man to beast, to a creature of myth and legend, leaves me in awe each time it occurs. As the battlefield stretches out before me, my senses sharpen, heightened by the return of my full power. With a thought, my wings unfurl, vast and dark, each feather absorbing the surrounding light. The power within them is palpable, a force of nature at my command. This power, long restrained, courses through me with a ferocity that’s exhilarating. And fuck me, if it didn’t feel good being in this form after so long.I’m standing in the thick of it, the chaos of battle swirling around me like a damned hurricane. The scent of blood, sweat, and torn earth fills the air, a potent mix that’s almost intoxicating. We’re in a modern-day field turned war zone, the ground beneath our feet churned up from the struggle.Each person I’ve taken down today... I can recall them all. Not with pride, but a grim acceptance of the necessity. Their faces flash before me, a silent testame
Chloe Jane /“Wake up, Chloe Jane! You’re in danger! Please, wake up!”/ I groan, my entire body feeling stiff for some reason. Did I fall asleep on the couch waiting for Deacon? /“Chloe Jane, listen to me! You’re in danger!”/ I immediately sit up straight when I hear Halo’s voice and notice that the air around me seems stale and dusty. I move my arms, only to hear the clanking of chains and feel my wrists burning in protest. Someone’s shackled me with silver chains! Okay, I’m definitely not in the pack house anymore…so what— Flashes of walking back into the living room with Caleb, then we sat down when my vision faded and then… my heart stills when I remember smelling Mason’s intoxicating scent. Did he force me to come with him by scenting me into submission? /“He did and you need to listen to me, Chloe Jane. He’s going to force you to use your Spinner ability to change his fate—”/ /“But that’s not what I do,”/ I say with a frown and shake my head even as I can’t see her. /“I ca
RuinThe moment we burst through the doors of the pack house, a bitter sense of dread wraps around me like a shroud. The silence is wrong, the air too still. My heart hammers against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat signaling bad news.“Chloe Jane!” I call out, my voice echoing through the empty halls, met only by silence. My worst fears start to take shape, each unchecked room amplifying the panic clawing at my insides.The guards, our warriors, lie as scattered, motionless figures that paint a grim picture of what occurred here. Each lifeless form serves as evidence of an unseen struggle, conveying the message that we were too slow. That we’re too late.“Where the fuck is Caleb?” I hear Ryker growling as we check every room, but something propels me toward the wine cellar. My feet move of their own accord, leading me towards it with a single-minded focus.When I crash through the door, the sight that greets me sends my blood boiling. Caleb. He’s there, slumped against the wall with a st
Chloe JaneI sit up in bed with a smile on my face, excitement coursing through my veins. I did it! An idea popped into my head about visiting Deacon in his dreams, and it just worked! I have no idea how I did it, but just focusing on getting to Deacon helped!“Thank you, Halo,” I whisper into the dimness, acknowledging the pivotal role my familiar has played in all this. “For everything. For guiding me, for giving me the tips on how to reach out to him.”/“It was all you, Chloe Jane. You’re stronger than you realize,”/ Halo responds, her voice a comforting presence in my mind.Encouraged by my success, a new plan begins to take shape. If I could reach Deacon in his dreams, maybe there’s more I can do with Halo’s help. I focus, calling on Halo’s sight once again, and turn my attention to Leianna, curious to see if I can establish a similar connection.To my astonishment, I find Leianna awake, sitting up, her hands moving through the air as if she’s handling something delicate, somethi
Ruin I wake up with a start, my body slick from sweat as I try to grasp what Chloe Jane just told me. A smile splits across my face as I realize that she’s literally just given me more than what we have before. She’s given me a fucking location. /“Ryker, are you up?”/ I ask over the mind link as I throw on a pair of black jeans and a t-shirt. /“Chloe Jane contacted me again. She has a location.”/ /“I’m in the office,”/ he answers, and I don’t even find it weird that he’s still up. According to Blight, he’s only been like this since we returned here. I have a feeling it’s about his supposed mate, but I won’t ask him. I make my way out of the bedroom to his office and see him pouring two glasses of bourbon. He doesn’t look up as she hands me a glass, either. “So, tell me,” he says. I take a sip of the bourbon, savoring the burn as it goes down before I start. “She’s not being held in a cellar, she’s in some sort of attic; so a building with multiple floors. There’s also an open fie
Phoebe The forest always feels like a different world, a place where I can shed the weight of expectations and just be Phoebe. Not Phoebe, the daughter of Horseman Conquest and A Fate, not the leader-in-waiting of the next generation, just... me. Here, I can escape the destiny that’s been mine since before I was born. It’s a heavy crown, one that requires me to be more than I sometimes feel capable of being. My parents, Goddess bless them, they try to understand, but there’s a part of this journey I have to navigate alone. My brothers, too, they’re caught up in their own destinies, each of us a cog in a machine set in motion before we were even born. Today, the forest feels alive, almost buzzing with a silent energy that speaks directly to my soul. I wander, letting my feet guide me, drawn deeper into the heart of this secluded place. There’s a part of me that dreads returning home, to plaster a smile on my face and pretend all is well. It’s exhausting, playing that role when in
Deacon The room’s dimmed to just a whisper of light, casting soft shadows across Chloe Jane and our daughter, both of them sleeping soundly. It’s quiet now. The earlier flurry of visitors with their well-wishes and blessings has ebbed away, leaving just the three of us in a peaceful bubble. I’m sitting in a chair pulled up close to the bed, elbows on my knees, chin on my hands, just watching them. Chloe Jane’s got this peaceful look on her face, the kind of serenity you don’t often find in the waking world. And our daughter, nestled in her little bassinet next to her, is just as tranquil. It’s a picture I wish I could frame, keep safe forever. I lean back; the chair creaking softly under my weight, and let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. It’s moments like these, rare and fleeting, that make you ponder the grand scheme of things. The Creators had a plan for me, a path laid out since the dawn of my existence. Being a Horseman comes with its burdens, its expectatio
Chloe JaneThe world snaps into sharp focus with a jolt, my body tensing as a sharp pain slices through my belly, ripping me from the depths of sleep. My breath catches, a soft whimper escaping as I instinctively reach for my stomach, the realization crashing over me like a wave.Deacon is by my side in an instant, his eyes wide with concern and sleep-fuzzed confusion. “Chloe Jane? What is it? What’s wrong?”“It’s … I think it’s time,” I manage to gasp out, another wave of pain crashing over me.“Bloody hell,” he mutters, more to himself than to me, as he switches on the lamp. The soft light fills the room, casting shadows that dance across the walls, doing little to ease the growing tension.He helps me sit up, his movements gentle but quick, his concern palpable. “Let’s get you comfortable, yeah?” he says, helping me into a robe. His voice is steady, but I can hear the undercurrent of worry, the faintest tremor that betrays his nerves.I nod, leaning heavily on him as another contra
Chloe JaneSitting across from Ryker in his office, the seriousness of the moment weighs heavily on me. The room feels too large, his desk a barrier of polished wood, but I’m here with a purpose that fuels my resolve. The shadows cast by the low light seem to dance around him, making him appear both as the formidable Alpha he is and the mentor I need him to be at this moment.“Ryker, I’ve been thinking a lot about what my next steps should be,” I start, my voice steady despite the fluttering in my stomach. “With my father...with what happened, there’s a void in leadership, and I believe I should step in. To lead in his place, as Sovereign.”Ryker leans back in his chair, his expression unreadable. The silence stretches between us, thick and heavy, until he finally nods, his demeanor serious. “It’s a bold move, Chloe Jane. You have the vision and the heart for it, but it’s not going to be easy. Especially not in the current climate.”I nod, expecting no less. “I know it won’t be. But
RuinI never expected to feel the absolute completion that came with seeing Chloe Jane walking down the aisle toward me. I thought I was made of stronger stuff, but apparently not when it comes to the love of my life.As it should be.The moment she steps into my arms for our first dance, it’s like the world shifts under my feet. I’ve faced down monsters, fought battles that would turn a weaker man’s blood to ice, but nothing, absolutely nothing, compares to the weight of her gaze on me, filled with love and trust.I pull her closer, our bodies moving together in rhythm with the music, a soft melody that somehow seems to echo the beat of our hearts. “You’re bloody stunning, love,” I whisper, my voice rough with emotion. “Never thought I’d be the type to get all twisted up inside over a dance.”Chloe Jane laughs, that sound that’s come to mean everything to me. “And yet, here you are,” she says, her hands resting on my shoulders, her eyes sparkling. “Dancing with your wife in front of
Chloe JaneThe air feels charged today, thick with anticipation and the kind of nervous energy that makes my skin prickle. I’m standing in the bridal room, my reflection staring back at me, barely recognizable. My belly is massive now, a constant reminder of the life Deacon and I have created together. It’s hard to believe that in just a few moments, I’ll be walking down the aisle, making everything official in the eyes of our pack and the powerful Alphas gathered here today.Leianna is with me, her presence a calming force amidst the chaos of my thoughts. She’s been my rock through all of this. I couldn’t ask for a better friend or a better person to be here with me today. As I pace back and forth, trying to quell the nausea that’s been my constant companion this evening. I halt my pacing and look at her, desperation clear in my gaze. [“I don’t know if I can do this,”] I sign, my hands shaky. [“Chloe Jane, everything will be perfect,”] she signs, her hands moving with grace. [“Yo
RuinI’m sitting across from Ryker, my hands clenched into fists on my knees. The silence in the office is thick, almost tangible, as I muster the courage to voice what’s been haunting me for years. Ryker’s gaze is steady, patient, waiting for me to speak.“I want to tell Chloe Jane about my past,” I finally say, the words tasting like ash in my mouth.Ryker’s eyebrows shoot up, surprise etching his features for a moment before he leans back in his chair, nodding slowly. “That’s a big step, Ruin. But it’s a good one. Purging yourself of that past... Chloe Jane will understand. She loves you.”I nod, not entirely convinced but appreciating his support. “Yeah, I just... I don’t want there to be secrets between us. Not about something this big; something that shaped me this round of my reincarnation.”“Good man,” Ryker says, his voice warm with approval. “You’re doing the right thing.”Ryker was the one who found me starving and out of my mind on the streets. He’s the one who took me in
Chloe JaneI’m seated in the cozy living room of our cottage, surrounded by wedding planners and notebooks. The idea of planning a wedding in the middle of the War of The Five feels surreal, yet here I am, trying to pick out floral arrangements and seating charts. Ryker had gently insisted that we invite the Alphas of our allied packs, a strategic move given the circumstances of the war. I understand the necessity, though it’s far from the small ceremony I originally wanted. But these are strange times now. We need to show our allies that we appreciate them, even if it’s only a wedding.A knock on the door pulls me from my thoughts. I’m expecting Leianna, and a smile spreads across my face at the thought of spending the afternoon with her. I hurry over and open the door to find her standing there, a tentative smile on her face.[“Hey, come in,”] I sign, stepping aside to let her through. She nods, her smile growing as she steps into the warmth of the cottage.After a light lunch, wh
Ruin “Spent years blind, only for my fiance to blind me again,” I can’t help but chuckle at Chloe Jane’s words as I lead her into the forest behind the pack house. She’s been complaining about the blindfold for the last few minutes, but I want her to have the full effect of the gift I’ve been working on since she’s been gone. “Oh, aren't we overdramatic. Do Fates have zero patience or something? Hold your horses, we’re almost there, dove,” I say as we walk, only for her to pout more. She’s only been back for a day and she’s already more bossy than before, bloody hell. As we step into the clearing, I can’t help but feel nervous at what her reaction might be. Will she like it? Will she say it’s silly? I suppose I’ll find out in a few seconds. I come up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist. “I’ve been working on this for a while now,” I murmur into her ear. “Welcome home, love.” Then I kiss her soft cheek and remove her blind fold from her eyes. She sucks in a sharp breat