Katrina's POVThe shadows let go of Mira, and she gasped, her body twitching. Shaking and breathing in sharp, irregular breaths, she fell into my arms. I grounded her by holding her tightly with my fingers on her shoulders. The shadows had parted. However, I was aware. It remained. Not quite yet. A few feet away, Shaun stood with his muscles taut and his sword drawn. Suspicion burned beneath his eyes as they flitted between Mira and me. He still didn’t trust her. Maybe he never would. Mira’s voice was hoarse. “Katrina…” I pulled back slightly, scanning her face. "I'm present." Her eyes welled with tears. “I didn’t want to. I promise, I didn’t want to.” Shaun laughed. "What did you not want to do?" Mira winced. “Obey.” Quiet. The word hung between us, heavy, laden with significance I didn’t understand yet. Shaun gripped his sword tighter. "So you acknowledge it." Mira balled her hands into fists. "I had no other option." I took a deep breath. "Why?" Her voice cracked. "Be
Katrina’s POVBefore us, the mountains loomed, quiet, and unending. I ascended higher, each step heavier than the previous, the chilly air burning my lungs. Steep and twisting through dense forests and sharp rocks, the trail was designed to keep people out. Perhaps that was the idea.Shaun strolled next to me, his eyes keen, his shoulders stiff. This was not a place he trusted. I didn't either.With her arms around her body and her breath coming in short gasps, Mira followed. Since our departure, she had not spoken much. Her thoughts were elsewhere. her relatives. With each stride she took, the burden of their destiny continued to pound down on her shoulders.Above us, ominous clouds rolled in, laden with the threat of a storm. A caution. Through the woods, the wind howled and whispered mysteries that I couldn't comprehend.I drew my coat closer to me. "How far is it?"Shaun looked over the cliffs in front of him. "Not too far. whether the tales are accurate.Mira let ou
Katrina's POVDarkness. Cold. Silence.The might of the Elders has engulfed the world around me. My chest burned and my breathing was shallow and tight, but my body felt weightless, as if it were floating in an unending emptiness. Nothing was there for me to grasp when I reached out. Just the whispers, swirling like smoke around me."You are not ready."Soft and eerie, the words reverberated in my head, tinged with an unidentified substance. A caution. A pledge.Then—light.blinding. fierce.I gasped as I smacked against solid ground and the abyss broke. My muscles ached like if I had fallen from the sky, and my eyesight swam as I forced myself to stand.In an instant, Shaun was by my side, his hands on my arms. "Katrina?"I blinked vigorously as the final traces of the vision left my brain. "I'm here."Mira pushed herself up a few steps away and coughed. Her fingers were digging into the soil under her, and she appeared pale and scared. "What was that?"The Elders were in
Katrina's POVThe air was different.Colder. Heavier.I clenched my fingers into fists and inhaled slowly. I had been cautioned by the Elders that The Forgotten Realms was not a place for the weak. That I might not come out again after I got in. However, I didn't think twice. I was unable to.Shaun was standing next to me, nervous. "This is not necessary for you to do."I looked him in the eye. "Yes, I do."Mira spoke softly. "What if you don't return?"I made an effort to grin. "Then let my son know that I made an effort."She nodded and swallowed hard.The cloaks moved in the gloom as the Elders moved forward. One held out his hand. "Enter through the curtain."The air twisted and bent, and the area in front of me rippled. I could sense it, but it was like staring through water. a strong pull that pushes me ahead and pulls at my spirit.I inhaled.After that, I entered.In an instant, the world disappeared and the cold enveloped me.I was no longer in the mountains.I w
Katrina’s POVI stood in the middle of it all, my breath sharp, my fingers curled into fists. The shadows weren’t just around me anymore. They were inside me, whispering, creeping into the edges of my mind, trying to take root."You are no different from them."I flinched. The voice wasn’t a stranger’s. It was my.I turned—and came face to face with myself.She stood there, eyeing me with icy, dark eyes. She looked like me, but something was wrong. Her lips twisted in a nasty sneer, her stance relaxed, confident. But there was no kindness in her face. No warmth. Only something sharp and unyielding.The villainous version of me.She tilted her head. “Did you think you were the hero in this story?”I took a deep breath. “You’re not real.”She laughed. "Am I not?"More individuals appeared as the shadows behind her changed.Davos. Lucy.Their smiles were mocking, and their eyes were glowing red.I stepped back. "This isn't real."I smirked as the other me. "It's sufficient
My hands ached with exhaustion as I scrubbed and scrubbed the heavy clothes in the cold, unforgiving weather.I could have used the washing machine inside the house but Amanda had said No! She said a disgusting wolf-less Omega like me didn’t deserve to use washing machines.That wasn’t all, Amanda, the Alpha's girlfriend, had forced more massive bags of laundry on me, claiming it was my new duty as an omega slave to wash everyone's clothes.I silently sighed and endured the pain, because arguing with Amanda was like throwing rocks in the air…. they only all fall back to hit you.The icy water made my fingers numb like they were about to break off, and my back protested with every bend. But I pushed on.Then, a sudden, sharp voice pierced the air, calling my name with a tone that made my freeze into my throat."Katrina!" Amanda's voice called out, in such a loud shrieking voice that made me pretty sure that every pack member nearby could hear. "Stupid bitch! Get over here!"I slowly dr
I couldn't believe how he had the guts act so casually after what had happened. I knew Amanda was jealous of me, but seeing Shaun here, in my room, was a stark reminder of why she hated and bullied me so relentlessly. He still kept me as his concubine, even after rejecting me as his mate.I gave him the coldest of shoulders, my voice trembling with a mixture of pain and anger. "What are you doing here, Shaun?"He chuckled, his tone infuriatingly nonchalant. "I came to see how you were doing, my dear. You seemed quite upset earlier."Upset? That was the understatement of the century. My body was battered and broken, and the man who had once held my heart was now acting as though nothing had happened."You sent those guards to whip me!" I finally accused, my voice shaking with rage and betrayal.Shaun's expression remained maddeningly composed. "Oh, that? I only did it to please Amanda. You understand, right? She's my mate now, and I have to keep her happy."His words cut through me lik
I was so close to escaping the pack's oppressive grasp when suddenly, as if the moon itself had conspired against me, the door to my room swung open, and there stood Alpha Shaun. My heart pounded in my chest, and I froze in fear. Every other time I had tried to leave or begged him to let me go, it had ended with his temper exploding, and I was left battered and bruised.His eyes bore into mine, and his voice was a thunderous growl. "What do you think you're doing, Katrina?"I couldn't hide the fear in my voice as I shouted back, "I'm tired of this miserable life you and Amanda are forcing me to live through!" My voice cracked with anger and desperation. "Amanda almost killed me this time!"Shaun's rage was palpable, but it was tempered by a hint of concern. "Amanda did what?" He stormed closer, his fists clenched.I raised my voice, tears streaming down my face. "Yes! She attacked me because she thought I was trying to take you from her, just like you did when you whipped me!"Shaun's
Katrina’s POVI stood in the middle of it all, my breath sharp, my fingers curled into fists. The shadows weren’t just around me anymore. They were inside me, whispering, creeping into the edges of my mind, trying to take root."You are no different from them."I flinched. The voice wasn’t a stranger’s. It was my.I turned—and came face to face with myself.She stood there, eyeing me with icy, dark eyes. She looked like me, but something was wrong. Her lips twisted in a nasty sneer, her stance relaxed, confident. But there was no kindness in her face. No warmth. Only something sharp and unyielding.The villainous version of me.She tilted her head. “Did you think you were the hero in this story?”I took a deep breath. “You’re not real.”She laughed. "Am I not?"More individuals appeared as the shadows behind her changed.Davos. Lucy.Their smiles were mocking, and their eyes were glowing red.I stepped back. "This isn't real."I smirked as the other me. "It's sufficient
Katrina's POVThe air was different.Colder. Heavier.I clenched my fingers into fists and inhaled slowly. I had been cautioned by the Elders that The Forgotten Realms was not a place for the weak. That I might not come out again after I got in. However, I didn't think twice. I was unable to.Shaun was standing next to me, nervous. "This is not necessary for you to do."I looked him in the eye. "Yes, I do."Mira spoke softly. "What if you don't return?"I made an effort to grin. "Then let my son know that I made an effort."She nodded and swallowed hard.The cloaks moved in the gloom as the Elders moved forward. One held out his hand. "Enter through the curtain."The air twisted and bent, and the area in front of me rippled. I could sense it, but it was like staring through water. a strong pull that pushes me ahead and pulls at my spirit.I inhaled.After that, I entered.In an instant, the world disappeared and the cold enveloped me.I was no longer in the mountains.I w
Katrina's POVDarkness. Cold. Silence.The might of the Elders has engulfed the world around me. My chest burned and my breathing was shallow and tight, but my body felt weightless, as if it were floating in an unending emptiness. Nothing was there for me to grasp when I reached out. Just the whispers, swirling like smoke around me."You are not ready."Soft and eerie, the words reverberated in my head, tinged with an unidentified substance. A caution. A pledge.Then—light.blinding. fierce.I gasped as I smacked against solid ground and the abyss broke. My muscles ached like if I had fallen from the sky, and my eyesight swam as I forced myself to stand.In an instant, Shaun was by my side, his hands on my arms. "Katrina?"I blinked vigorously as the final traces of the vision left my brain. "I'm here."Mira pushed herself up a few steps away and coughed. Her fingers were digging into the soil under her, and she appeared pale and scared. "What was that?"The Elders were in
Katrina’s POVBefore us, the mountains loomed, quiet, and unending. I ascended higher, each step heavier than the previous, the chilly air burning my lungs. Steep and twisting through dense forests and sharp rocks, the trail was designed to keep people out. Perhaps that was the idea.Shaun strolled next to me, his eyes keen, his shoulders stiff. This was not a place he trusted. I didn't either.With her arms around her body and her breath coming in short gasps, Mira followed. Since our departure, she had not spoken much. Her thoughts were elsewhere. her relatives. With each stride she took, the burden of their destiny continued to pound down on her shoulders.Above us, ominous clouds rolled in, laden with the threat of a storm. A caution. Through the woods, the wind howled and whispered mysteries that I couldn't comprehend.I drew my coat closer to me. "How far is it?"Shaun looked over the cliffs in front of him. "Not too far. whether the tales are accurate.Mira let ou
Katrina's POVThe shadows let go of Mira, and she gasped, her body twitching. Shaking and breathing in sharp, irregular breaths, she fell into my arms. I grounded her by holding her tightly with my fingers on her shoulders. The shadows had parted. However, I was aware. It remained. Not quite yet. A few feet away, Shaun stood with his muscles taut and his sword drawn. Suspicion burned beneath his eyes as they flitted between Mira and me. He still didn’t trust her. Maybe he never would. Mira’s voice was hoarse. “Katrina…” I pulled back slightly, scanning her face. "I'm present." Her eyes welled with tears. “I didn’t want to. I promise, I didn’t want to.” Shaun laughed. "What did you not want to do?" Mira winced. “Obey.” Quiet. The word hung between us, heavy, laden with significance I didn’t understand yet. Shaun gripped his sword tighter. "So you acknowledge it." Mira balled her hands into fists. "I had no other option." I took a deep breath. "Why?" Her voice cracked. "Be
Katrina’s POVMira stood frozen, her face pale, her breath unsteady. The blood on the ground hadn’t even dried, and yet the camp felt quieter than ever. All around us, the warriors watched and waited. They had no faith in her. Nor was I certain that I did.Beside me, Shaun was motionless, his hand clutching his sword's hilt. I could feel the anger leaving him even though he remained silent. In combat, Mira had served as my sister, friend, and second-in-command. Now, however, she was our only link to the enemy.I walked slowly in her direction. "Be honest with me."Mira winced. "Katrina, I—""Now," I said, sounding sharper than I meant to.Her mouth quivered. She looked around, at Shaun, at the warriors, at the dead body between us. Then her eyes met mine, full of something I couldn’t name. Fear? Guilt? Desperation?“I don’t know what’s happening to me,” she whispered.Shaun laughed. "That is insufficient."Mira’s hands curled into fists. “You think I did this?”I inhal
Traitor's ShadowWith her dagger in her fingers, Mira stood motionless and silent. My intellect was yelling at me to make sense of everything as my stomach twisted. My pal Mira. Second in command of me. The person who had battled next to me was bleeding next to me. She refused to turn on me. She refused. The deserted prisoner tents, however, conveyed a different message. The warriors who went missing. The food was stolen. the plans that were leaked. The soldiers of Crimson Alpha were aware of everything we did. The solution was now directly in front of me. Shaun took a step forward, tensed. "Tell me that this isn't true." Mira gripped her dagger more tightly. She remained still. didn't flinch. I took a deep breath. "Mira. Speak up. Her gaze wavered. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Shaun snarled. "She doesn't have to express herself." He grabbed his sword. He was blocked by me. "No." His tone was piercing. "Katrina—" "No." My heart was racing. Gazing into Mira's eye
Katrina's POVIt was a different camp. Uncomfortable. False. Something was wrong, as the scouts patrolled, the warriors exercised, and the weapons were sharpened. People's movements, the way whispers spread, and the way eyes flashed too fast as I passed all gave me a sense of it. Something was going on. Something negative.Mira approached me with a thin line of her lips pressing on mine. "The food is gone."I scowled. "What?"She folded her arms. This morning, we conducted an inventory. Our supplies are missing. Many of them.My stomach turned over. "Would it have been an error?"She gave a headshake. "No. They were taken by someone.I let out a breath and looked around the camp. The soldiers were more tense than normal. It was more than just the cuisine. There was more. I sensed it.Shaun approached with a somber expression. "There's another issue."I looked him in the eye. "Now what?"After a moment of hesitation, he lowered his voice. "The battle plans were lea
Katrina's POVSilently, we strolled. My flesh was burning, even though the night air was cool. Everything else was drowned out by my thoughts, which were too loud. It was the Crimson Alpha. He was still alive. He desired authority. He desired to be in charge. I had to decide what to do about it immediately. With his fists clenched and his jaw taut, Shaun strolled next to me. Mira kept looking back to see if anyone was pursuing us. I didn't anticipate him pursuing us. He didn't have to. He had offered. He was waiting now.At last, Shaun said something. "We cannot rely on him."I gave a nod. "I understand."Mira let out a sigh. "Can we fight him, though?"Quiet.Shaun let out a loud sigh. "We must."That was what I wanted to think. Yes, I did. But I had witnessed his strength. I sensed it. The way the earth shook at his mere presence, the way the air hunched around him. He wasn't your average Alpha. He was unique.Mira spoke softly. "What if he is correct?"I fel