Chapter 92 โ The Walls Bleed Again The voice hit Jessica like a thunderclap, jolting her to her core. It wasnโt just the sound of her motherโs voice that startled herโit was the clarity, the raw emotion behind it. She sounded as real as if she were standing beside her, her breath warm against her ear. But that was impossible. Her mother had been dead for years. She had mourned her, buried her in her heart alongside Bryan, and carried their memories through every trial since. Yet here she was, speaking to her as though no time had passed at all. โRemember who you are, Jessica. Donโt let them change you.โ Her knees buckled, and she stumbled back, clutching her head. Around her, the group froze, their expressions shifting from confusion to alarm as the fortress walls began to bleed once moreโcrimson rivulets seeping from cracks in the stone, pooling on the floor and spreading outward like tendrils of ivy. The scent of iron filled the air, sharp and metallic, making her stomach ch
Chapter 1: The Last AnniversaryMy hands trembled as I stared at the third pregnancy test, the two pink lines unmistakable against the white plastic. Just like the other two tests scattered across my marble bathroom counter. After five years of trying, of monthly disappointments and tearful nights, our miracle was finally happening.I pressed my palm against my still-flat stomach, fighting back tears. *Our pup.* The wolf inside me purred with contentment, already fiercely protective of the tiny life growing within. "Alpha Female Jessica?" Maria's voice carried through the door. "The ceremonial preparations are complete."I quickly swept the tests into my drawer. "Coming!" The anniversary celebration could wait. Tonight, after the pack gathering, I'd tell Bryan everything. I imagined his golden eyes lighting up, his strong arms lifting me in joy. Five years of trying had strained our bond, but this would make everything perfect again.The great hall buzzed with activity as pack member
Chapter 2: Shattered PiecesThe steady beep of hospital monitors pulled me from darkness. Everything hurt โ my body, my pride, my heart. But my first conscious thought went straight to my stomach.*Please*, I prayed, trying to move my hands. They felt like lead. *Please let my baby be okay.*"Don't move." A nurse's firm grip on my shoulder. "You've been in and out for three days. The pups are stable."Pups. Plural.My eyes flew open, vision blurry but focusing on the nurse's sympathetic face. "What did you say?""Twins," she said softly. "We almost lost all three of you, but your wolf... well, I've never seen maternal instincts that strong. You transformed while unconscious, created a protective cocoon around your stomach. Saved their lives."Twins. Bryan's twins. The irony almost made me laugh, but it came out as a sob instead. He'd thrown away not just me, but three lives. All for his precious pack status.The door opened, and Adam slipped in, looking like he hadn't slept in days. H
Chapter 3: Blood TiesSandra's hand never made it to my IV line. The syringe clattered to the floor as both of us froze at the sound of shattering glass. Through the broken window, a massive white wolf landed in my hospital room, fangs bared."Step away from my daughter."The words didn't come from the wolf, but from the doorway where a woman stood โ elegant, powerful, with eyes exactly like mine. My birth mother. The Rivera Pack Alpha.But Sandra just smiled."Right on time, Elena." She pulled out her phone, showing a live video feed. "Your rescue plan was so predictable. That's why Bryan's already at the council meeting... with your son."My... what?"I have a brother?" The monitors spiked with my shock.Elena's face went ash-white. "How did youโ""Find your precious heir-in-hiding?" Sandra's laugh was bitter. "Let's just say Bryan's not the only one who's good at keeping secrets. Speaking of secrets..." She turned to me. "Did you know your precious advisor Adam has been working for
Chapter 4: New Heartbeats"I need a gurney at the emergency entrance! Multiple premature delivery!" Through the haze of pain and exhaustion, I registered unfamiliar voices as EMTs rushed me into Saint Mary's Hospital. Three hours of white-knuckled ambulance ride had left me drained, but my babies were fighters. They'd held on."BP's dropping," someone called out. "Get Dr. Mitchell!""No," I managed to gasp. "Dr. Carter. I need Dr. Carter."The EMT squeezed my hand. "Dr. Carter's the best NICU specialist in the city, but he's not on call tonightโ""I'm here." A deep voice cut through the chaos. "Move aside, please."Even through my pain-clouded vision, the man who stepped up to my gurney took my breath away. Tall, with kind eyes and surgical scrubs that did nothing to hide his athletic build. But it was his scent that made my wolf stir โ pine needles and rain and something wildly familiar.His hands stilled on my chart. I knew he'd caught my scent too.*Mate.*"I'm Dr. Ethan Carter,"
Chapter 5: Fight or FlightIn the darkness, my twins' cries pierced through every maternal instinct I had. My body screamed in post-delivery pain, but my wolf was ready to fight. Twenty minutes old, and I was already failing to keep them safe."Give them to me," Ethan whispered, his warmth close in the pitch black. "You can barely stand.""I can'tโ" My voice broke. "I can't let them go.""Jessica." His hand found mine. "You're hemorrhaging. I can smell it. Let me help."The emergency lights flickered on, casting everything in an eerie red glow. I saw myself in the window's reflection โ pale, sweating, hospital gown soaked with blood. Some protector I was turning out to be.A crash echoed from the hallway. Getting closer."Doc!" The wolf from earlier โ Mark, according to his badge โ slipped in. "They're using human police now. Claiming child endangerment. They've got custody papers with Bryan's signature."Of course they did. Trust Bryan to use the human legal system when pack law fail
Chapter 6: No Way OutTheโsteady beeping of the heart monitors matched the rhythm of my pulsing. The air in the hospital room had become thick, chokingโwith tension. The expression on Bryanโs face was a mask of shock, his hands shaking still, hovering just inches awayโfrom the medical chart. Sandra forced her eyes open as if denying the truth that was staring right back at her, but no word hadโleft her lips.Every syllable was tinged with urgency as Markโs voice crackledโacross the thick silence. โJessica, we have to move. Now.โI could hear the commotion outside: the shuffle of hurried feet, the crackle of radios, the unmistakable growl ofโwolves almost held back from attacking. They werenโt waiting. The Rivera enforcerโhad come, and he was not alone. If I didnโt get out of here in the next few minutes, this hospital would be aโbattlefield.Ethan tightened his hold on the wheelchair and the bundle in my arms, his free hand sliding protectively over theโtwins. โSheโs hemorrhaging,โ he
Chapter 7: Into the UnknownEthanโs arms were like iron roped around me, strength and purpose in the way he heftedโme through the darkened corridors. I drew shallow, ragged breaths as the heaviness of myโnewborn twins weighed on my chest. Every muscle in my body howled in pain, but Iโcouldnโt stop now. Not whenโwe were so close to freedom.Mark moved past us,โhis gun still drawn, every step methodical. Shivers clawed at the belief I could survive as pursuit echoed inโthe distance of data October, 2023. Bryanโs enforcersโwerenโt far behind. And felt theirโpresence like a hurricane on the port side, ceaseless, unyielding.โAlmost there,โ Ethan whispered, his toneโlow but comforting. โJust hold on.โI nodded, forcing down the coppery taste ofโexhaustion. My body was nearing collapse, but myโmind sharpened, with each footstep, every exit ricocheting in my head. If we failed here,โmy babies wouldnโt be safe. And I had fought too hard to have the kids beโpawns in a war that I never wanted t
Chapter 92 โ The Walls Bleed Again The voice hit Jessica like a thunderclap, jolting her to her core. It wasnโt just the sound of her motherโs voice that startled herโit was the clarity, the raw emotion behind it. She sounded as real as if she were standing beside her, her breath warm against her ear. But that was impossible. Her mother had been dead for years. She had mourned her, buried her in her heart alongside Bryan, and carried their memories through every trial since. Yet here she was, speaking to her as though no time had passed at all. โRemember who you are, Jessica. Donโt let them change you.โ Her knees buckled, and she stumbled back, clutching her head. Around her, the group froze, their expressions shifting from confusion to alarm as the fortress walls began to bleed once moreโcrimson rivulets seeping from cracks in the stone, pooling on the floor and spreading outward like tendrils of ivy. The scent of iron filled the air, sharp and metallic, making her stomach ch
Chapter 91 โ The Cycle Never Truly Ends The platform dissolved beneath their feet, plunging them into an abyss darker and more infinite than anything theyโd encountered before. There was no ground to catch them, no horizon to anchor their sensesโjust the endless void stretching in every direction, swallowing light and sound alike. Jessicaโs heart pounded wildly as she clutched her children tighter, their small bodies trembling against hers despite their unconscious state. Around her, the others scrambled for footing that didnโt exist, their voices swallowed by the oppressive silence. And then, from the depths of the void, a voice emergedโnot a whisper or a shout, but something in between, layered with echoes that seemed to reverberate through time itself. *โYou have walked far, hybrids and wolves, witches and specters. But your journey has only scratched the surface of what awaits.โ* The words sent chills down Jessicaโs spine, each syllable vibrating through her very bones. S
Chapter 90 โ The Final Trial The descent into darkness was sudden and disorienting, pulling them downward with a force that defied logic. Jessica clutched her children tightly to her chest, shielding them instinctively as the world around her dissolved into chaos. The air grew colder, heavier, pressing against her skin like a suffocating shroud. Whispers echoed in the voidโfragmented, overlapping voices speaking in languages both familiar and alien. โUniteโฆโโBetrayโฆโโSurviveโฆโEach word carried weight, resonating deep within her bones as though they were commands etched into the fabric of reality itself. When they finally landed, it wasnโt on solid ground but on a vast, shimmering platform suspended in an endless expanse of stars. The surface beneath their feet pulsed faintly, glowing with runes similar to those scattered throughout Sanctuary. Above them stretched an infinite sky, dotted not with constellations but with shifting symbols that seemed to form sentences before dis
Chapter 89 โ The Reckoning Draws Near The runes burned brighter than ever, their crimson glow casting long shadows across the group as they stood in the aftermath of the battle. The message etched into the sky loomed above them like a prophecy carved in fire: **"Destiny Has Been Rewritten. But Beware: The Reckoning Is Near."** Jessica stared at the words, her chest tightening with a mix of dread and resolve. The phrase felt less like a warning and more like a countdownโa ticking clock marking the moments until everything changed forever. โWhat does it mean?โ Lucas asked finally, his voice strained. โRewritten how? And what reckoning are we talking about?โ Selene frowned, her gaze fixed on the glowing runes. โIt means the choices Jessica made have altered the course of fateโbut not without consequence. Every action creates ripples, and those ripples will collide sooner rather than later.โ Kade stepped closer to Jessica, his wolf prowling just beneath his skin. โSo what do w
Chapter 88 โ The Final Choice The staircase spiraled downward into an abyss so profound it seemed to swallow the very concept of light. Each step echoed ominously, reverberating through the group as they descended deeper into uncertainty. The air grew colder with every footfall, pressing against their skin like a tangible weight. Jessica clutched her children closer, drawing strength from their steady breathing even as dread pooled in her stomach. At the bottom, the two doors stood side by side, their surfaces etched with intricate carvings that pulsed faintly with opposing energies. The wolf-marked door radiated warmth and ferocity, its runes glowing a deep amber. The witch-marked door exuded an icy chill, its symbols shimmering with an ethereal blue hue. Between them hovered the sentence: "Power or Sacrifice. Decide Now." Jessica hesitated, her gaze flickering between the options. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to choose wiselyโbecause whatever decision she made wou
Chapter 87 โ Truth Has Teeth The message burned in the sky like a brand, its crimson glow casting long shadows across the group as they stood at the edge of the ridge overlooking Sanctuary. Below them sprawled an ancient city unlike anything theyโd ever seenโits towering spires carved from obsidian and veined with veins of molten gold that pulsed faintly, as though alive. Streets wound through the city like arteries, intersecting at a central plaza where a massive tree grew, its roots cracking the stone beneath it and its branches stretching high into the heavens. The air shimmered with energy, making the hairs on their arms stand on end. But for all its beauty, something about the place feltโฆ wrong. โThis is it,โ Selene murmured, her voice tinged with both awe and unease. โSanctuary.โ โIt doesnโt look very welcoming,โ Lucas muttered, gripping his dagger tightly. Kade scanned the horizon, his wolf prowling just beneath his skin. โLooks can be deceiving. Stay sharp.โ Jessi
Chapter 86 โ The Abyss The ground gave way with a deafening roar, plunging the group into darkness. Jessicaโs scream was swallowed by the void as she tumbled downward, her arms instinctively wrapping around her children to shield them from harm. The sensation of falling seemed endless, each second stretching into eternity as adrenaline surged through her veins. Finally, they landedโhard. Pain exploded through her body as she hit a cold, uneven surface, but it wasnโt enough to dull her senses. Around her, the others groaned and stirred, their voices muffled by the oppressive silence that followed the collapse. โIs everyone okay?โ Kadeโs voice broke through first, strained but steady. Jessica coughed, pushing herself upright despite the ache in her ribs. โIโm fine,โ she managed, though her breath came in ragged gasps. โWhat about you?โ โAlive,โ Lucas grunted, wincing as he checked for injuries. Selene stood slowly, brushing dust off her robes. Her expression was unreadable,
Chapter 85 โ The Prophecy Unveiled The darkness swallowed her whole, suffocating and absolute. Jessica clawed at the void around her, desperate for purchase, but there was nothingโno ground beneath her feet, no air to breathe, no light to guide her. Panic surged through her veins as she realized she wasnโt alone. Somewhere in the blackness, laughter echoedโa sound both familiar and alien, layered with voices that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once. โDid you think running would save you?โ the voice taunted, its tone shifting between mocking amusement and chilling menace. โYou were chosen long before you took your first breath, Jessica. This path? Itโs not yours to chooseโitโs yours to walk.โ Her heart pounded wildly, each beat reverberating like a drum in the oppressive silence. โWho are you?โ she demanded, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to sound strong. There was no immediate answer, only the sensation of being watchedโscrutinizedโfrom every
Chapter 84 โโThe Path to SanctuaryTheโmap drifted in space, shimmers along its fringe, as if it had a pulse. The word โSanctuaryโ glimmered faintlyโat its center, calling to them as if it were sirenโs song. In its midst sprawled aโnetwork of paths and markers etched with arcane symbols, forewarnings of dangers unseen.Jessica gazed at it,โher head churning. All her instincts screamed at her to goโto follow the map, and see what secrets festeredโwithin the so-called refuge. But what gnawed at her insides was the warning underneath it in blood-red letters starkโagainst a parchment-like surface."Trust no one."Sheโlooked about her friends: Kade, Lucas, Seleneโand even the ghost of Bryan, which felt like a specter on the other side of the curtain. Who among them was someone sheโcould really depend on? And who would turnโon her when the stakes were raised too high?โDo we have a choice?โ Kadeโasked finally, shattering the tense silence. His voice was steady, but his eyes were aโwindow to