Steven's POVThe night was thick with silence, the kind that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. The forest surrounded us like a black castle wall, its tall trees stretching up towards the heavens as far as the eye could see. Williams and I moved cautiously ahead, our footsteps muffled by the damp ground beneath our feet. Pine and moss floated in the air, but beneath that, I could still detect the faintest trace of residual blood somewhere in the area. The house loomed before us, its darkened windows not hinting at whatever horror lay within. Here was where my sister and Roy had been brought by Liam. Here is where I was to extract them.As we crept closer, Williams glanced at me, his voice barely above a whisper. "What's the plan, Alpha?"I never removed my eyes from the mansion as I answered, my tone stern. "The first thing is to rescue Roy and Freya and get them out of there alive. As soon as you find them, you extract them and move as quickly as possible away from h
Steven's POV"No, don't… don't do this… You can't die, you hear me? You can't leave me like this, I can't lose you too, Williams!" I bellowed, my throat dry from emotion as I stood there and watched him fall at my feet, his body limp, his blood soaking into the earth around him. My hands trembled, my entire body shaking with the force of my emotions, but no matter how I struggled to get myself to move, I was paralyzed, trapped by Ivan's magic.Liam laughed, the sound cruel and unkind, full of only amusement at my suffering. He tilted his head to one side, watching me like some predator savoring the moment before the kill. "Oops," he said mockingly. "Oh well, too bad he died and not you. But I suppose it doesn't matter, really. You're still going to die, right here, right now, in front of everyone."No! Liam, I implore you!" Freya cried out in desperation, her voice breaking as she strained against the chains binding her wrists. Her face ran with tears, body shaking with horror and des
Ashley's POVThe field was a chaos. The circle of blades, the snarling and baring of teeth as wolves tore at each other, and the cries of the wounded hung in the air as I made my way through the fight. Mabel stayed with me, never far more than a few feet away, and the pack battled fiercely around us, killing off Liam's wolves individually. My chest was pounding wildly as my breathing was heavy and I swung my sword, hacking at any enemy who came near. I knew that despite all the training Steven had taught me, I was not as good as the others.My swings were slower and less controlled, relying mainly on reflex. If not for the wolves and Mabel, who continued to put themselves between me and harm, deflecting blows intended to kill, I would have been dead a while ago. They were fighting to defend the pack, but first and foremost, fighting for me, their Luna, and I couldn't risk being weak too. I needed to keep fighting. And then an icy voice rang out above the crowd, cutting through the cac
Ashley's POVSteven's large, warm body pressed against mine as he nuzzled my face with his dense, soft fur. His was not a physical touch—it was soothing, reassuring, and replete with unexpressed emotion. In that moment, amidst the chaos of combat swirling about us, he was telling me that he was there, that I was not alone, and that no ill would come to me as long as he remained by my side.Then, with a determined huff, he drew back and confronted James, Roy, and Freya, who remained gagged in thick, rusty metal chains. Their bodies were battered and bruised, their faces smeared with dirt and blood, but amidst all the pain, in their eyes was hope the instant Steven approached them.Without hesitation, he bared his razor-like fangs and sank them into the heavy metal chains. His huge jaws snapped shut on the iron links as if they were fragile sticks. The chains yielded one by one and fell to the ground, freeing them.The instant he was dismissed, Steven lifted his face and let forth a low
Steven's POVLiam coughed with a ferocity that rattled his entire body, blood spewing from his lips as he stared at me with wide, horrified eyes. His body shook, his gasps ragged and shallow."Ste. Steven," he struggled to get out, trying to force the words past his tightened throat.I stepped forward, my gaze unflinching as I looked down at him. The battle was over. He had lost. And now, he would pay for all the lives that had been taken because of him."For Freja, for Williams, for Maya, and for every single person who died because of you," I hissed, my voice steady, but with the passion of my rage. "You are going to die today, Liam. And don't worry, just as you had wished to do to me, I will behead you and show you for all to see. Let them all witness what became of the lone wolf who underestimated himself."I let him go, seeing him fall lifelessly on the ground with a heavy, dead thud. The wolves that had pledged their allegiance to him stood there in shock, their eyes wide with f
Steven's POVI fixed my gaze on the large screen with intense scrutiny, a wave of disappointment churning in my stomach like a twisted vine. I scoffed, unable to conceal my disdain."Is something wrong, Sir?" Mr. David, my fashion director and the presenter to the board, inquired, his voice trembling slightly under my intense stare."Actually, yes, something is wrong," I responded, causing the room to fall silent, all eyes now focused on me, their faces expressing a blend of curiosity and fear."Is this really the grand end-of-the-month plan you've been going on about?" I questioned, my tone laced with disbelief."Yes, Sir," he answered, his assurance clearly faltering."Well, it doesn't seem so impressive; your—""But, Sir..."I slammed my palm on the table, the noise reverberating through the room, and I noticed everyone flinch, their eyes wide with surprise."Don’t you dare cut me off when I’m speaking!" I yelled, my anger boiling over."I apologize, Sir," he mumbled, his voice sha
Steven's POV"Steven, it's time. The pack has arrived," Liam announced, his voice a mix of urgency and excitement, peeking into my room."I'll come," I responded, attempting to conceal the mix of anticipation and anxiety swirling in my stomach.He nodded and departed, the door clicking closed behind him. I stood in front of the mirror, staring at the Oakwood Moon mark on my shoulder, feeling a mix of pride and pressure. This mark was not just a symbol; it was a reminder of my responsibilities, of who I was meant to be."It's time," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper, as I took a deep breath to steady myself before leaving my room.As I stepped outside, the sight of the Oakwood Moon pack gathered below the mansion struck me like a wave of energy. The air was thick with their eager chatter, the excitement palpable. "Pay your respects to the Alpha of the Oakwood Moon pack!" Liam yelled, and they all bowed, a show of loyalty that warmed my heart. It felt good to know they looked
Steven's POV"Hey! Who are you?" I turned back to see a blonde girl staring at me from behind."Well, I'm a boy," I said, unsure of the right response to her question."I can see that. I mean, who are you? Tell me your identity," she said boldly."I don't know; I can't remember," I admitted sadly."You can't remember? How?" "I'm not sure. This morning, I found myself by the lake, and all I can recall is my mom instructing me to wait for her here, saying she would return to fetch me," I described."Are you still waiting for her?" she inquired, and I nodded.After a brief pause, she joined me and sat down."I'm Ashley," she introduced herself with a smile.""""""""""'''''''"There's no way I'll ever listen to that fanatic goddess's sayings!" I yelled, frustration boiling inside me."You have to, Steven. She is our Matchmaker; you cannot disobey our goddess," Liam insisted, trying to reason with me."But how? How am I not your destined mate when we are so obviously perfect for each othe
Steven's POVLiam coughed with a ferocity that rattled his entire body, blood spewing from his lips as he stared at me with wide, horrified eyes. His body shook, his gasps ragged and shallow."Ste. Steven," he struggled to get out, trying to force the words past his tightened throat.I stepped forward, my gaze unflinching as I looked down at him. The battle was over. He had lost. And now, he would pay for all the lives that had been taken because of him."For Freja, for Williams, for Maya, and for every single person who died because of you," I hissed, my voice steady, but with the passion of my rage. "You are going to die today, Liam. And don't worry, just as you had wished to do to me, I will behead you and show you for all to see. Let them all witness what became of the lone wolf who underestimated himself."I let him go, seeing him fall lifelessly on the ground with a heavy, dead thud. The wolves that had pledged their allegiance to him stood there in shock, their eyes wide with f
Ashley's POVSteven's large, warm body pressed against mine as he nuzzled my face with his dense, soft fur. His was not a physical touch—it was soothing, reassuring, and replete with unexpressed emotion. In that moment, amidst the chaos of combat swirling about us, he was telling me that he was there, that I was not alone, and that no ill would come to me as long as he remained by my side.Then, with a determined huff, he drew back and confronted James, Roy, and Freya, who remained gagged in thick, rusty metal chains. Their bodies were battered and bruised, their faces smeared with dirt and blood, but amidst all the pain, in their eyes was hope the instant Steven approached them.Without hesitation, he bared his razor-like fangs and sank them into the heavy metal chains. His huge jaws snapped shut on the iron links as if they were fragile sticks. The chains yielded one by one and fell to the ground, freeing them.The instant he was dismissed, Steven lifted his face and let forth a low
Ashley's POVThe field was a chaos. The circle of blades, the snarling and baring of teeth as wolves tore at each other, and the cries of the wounded hung in the air as I made my way through the fight. Mabel stayed with me, never far more than a few feet away, and the pack battled fiercely around us, killing off Liam's wolves individually. My chest was pounding wildly as my breathing was heavy and I swung my sword, hacking at any enemy who came near. I knew that despite all the training Steven had taught me, I was not as good as the others.My swings were slower and less controlled, relying mainly on reflex. If not for the wolves and Mabel, who continued to put themselves between me and harm, deflecting blows intended to kill, I would have been dead a while ago. They were fighting to defend the pack, but first and foremost, fighting for me, their Luna, and I couldn't risk being weak too. I needed to keep fighting. And then an icy voice rang out above the crowd, cutting through the cac
Steven's POV"No, don't… don't do this… You can't die, you hear me? You can't leave me like this, I can't lose you too, Williams!" I bellowed, my throat dry from emotion as I stood there and watched him fall at my feet, his body limp, his blood soaking into the earth around him. My hands trembled, my entire body shaking with the force of my emotions, but no matter how I struggled to get myself to move, I was paralyzed, trapped by Ivan's magic.Liam laughed, the sound cruel and unkind, full of only amusement at my suffering. He tilted his head to one side, watching me like some predator savoring the moment before the kill. "Oops," he said mockingly. "Oh well, too bad he died and not you. But I suppose it doesn't matter, really. You're still going to die, right here, right now, in front of everyone."No! Liam, I implore you!" Freya cried out in desperation, her voice breaking as she strained against the chains binding her wrists. Her face ran with tears, body shaking with horror and des
Steven's POVThe night was thick with silence, the kind that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. The forest surrounded us like a black castle wall, its tall trees stretching up towards the heavens as far as the eye could see. Williams and I moved cautiously ahead, our footsteps muffled by the damp ground beneath our feet. Pine and moss floated in the air, but beneath that, I could still detect the faintest trace of residual blood somewhere in the area. The house loomed before us, its darkened windows not hinting at whatever horror lay within. Here was where my sister and Roy had been brought by Liam. Here is where I was to extract them.As we crept closer, Williams glanced at me, his voice barely above a whisper. "What's the plan, Alpha?"I never removed my eyes from the mansion as I answered, my tone stern. "The first thing is to rescue Roy and Freya and get them out of there alive. As soon as you find them, you extract them and move as quickly as possible away from h
Freya's POVThere was a dampness that clung to the air, an intangible shroud of mist that permeated through me as I leaned against the gritty stone wall, my wrists crying out in agony from the tightness of the iron cuffs. The dungeon was cold and unyielding, the chill penetrating deep into the bone. All that was heard was the faint, drum-like sound of dripping water, each drop ringing out within the vacant room like a macabre toll of elapsing time.Liam had built this dungeon beneath his mansion, a hidden room to hold his enemies captive, out of sight and out of mind, and powerless to act. And now, Roy, James, and I were the latest additions to his roll of victims. The walls that held us captive smelled of damp earth and rusty metal, and the flickering torches cast grotesque shadows that danced along the rough stone. The chains that bound us captive were thick and unbreakable, tightly wrapped around our wrists and ankles, holding us fast like captives awaiting their fate. I struggled
Ashley's POV"Steven, no! Please, don't go!" My voice broke as I reached out, my fingers brushing against his arm before he stepped out of my reach. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat hammering out the fear that tightened my throat."I have to go, Luna," he told me, his voice determined, yet I could feel the weight in it—the silent struggle being waged inside him. "I have to save them."I felt a shiver down my spine when those words tumbled from his lips.I did not get a chance to say anything more, to even step closer to him, when everything around me transformed. The world was engulfed in darkness within a split second, thick and suffocating, pulling me into a realm that was unfamiliar. The warmth of the room was gone, and I was surrounded by an eerie, bone-chilling cold.I blinked, disoriented, and was standing in the middle of a thick forest. My nose was filled with the scent of wet earth and rotting leaves, and a thick fog churned around my feet like ghostly fingers. My brea
Liam's POVThe cool night air carried a gentle whisper across the trees, and the leaves trembled as I stood outside the mansion, looking up. The moon, full and brilliant, was gradually emerging from behind a screen of black clouds, casting a gentle sheen over the vast area of land before me. The wind blew gently, but I barely noticed it. My mind was filled with a feverish expectation that gnawed at my patience.Steven was coming. He had to.I shifted position, my boots sinking into the damp earth beneath my feet. Every second that ticked by felt like an eternity, pulled tight with anticipation. The manor behind me loomed over me, its former glory nothing but a short-term war zone now. The war wasn't over, not yet.Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Maya edging a little closer, her arms folded tightly over her chest as she let out a small sigh. She was restless, too. I could hear it in her breathing, feel it in the way she shifted her weight from one foot to the other."I d
Steven's POV"So, let's do this claiming thing then?" Luna questioned, her voice soft but carrying an unmistakable curiosity.The question caught me slightly off guard, but the sparkle in her eyes told me that she was not asking on a sense of obligation. There was something deeper—something deeper than that. I searched her face carefully for any sign of hesitation, any quiver of doubt that would make me freeze."You really want to do that?" I said, my voice low, almost hesitant."Yes," she answered without a second thought. There was something definite in the tone of her response, something calm in her resolve that made my chest tighten. "Show me how it's done," she continued, her lips barely parted as she looked at me. "Make me like it."The weight of her words fell upon me, more than she probably realized. This wasn't about physical closeness—this was about trust. About rewrites the past had imposed on her. And that responsibility… it meant everything to me.I let out a slow breath