MADELINE'S POV....And Madeline!!!The sound of my name forcefully brought me out of my thoughts.Everyone's face held bouts of surprise.Freya nudged me on the side with her elbow. "She's trying to spite you, Madeline. Refuse it, no offense.""Refuse what!!!" I asked."Does anyone have any objections with the warrior wolves enlisted to go on this border patrol mission," Louisiana's voice echoed.There were murmurs within the crowd, but no one objected."This marks the end of today's training. We are to gather here before dawn to begin our journey.""Why didn't you say anything. You could have objected to going on this mission. This mission is very dangerous. The terrain isn't one to be trifled with. Most times we encounter dangers that cause grievous injuries—worst case scenario, death. You aren't yet qualified to be part of this mission. Most times, we don't know how long we will be gone for."I scoffed."My refusal to go, only gives Louisiana more ammunition against me.""And she's
MADELINE'S POVFreya was right. The terrain was unforgiving as Louisiana herself—jagged rocks that seemed to rise out of nowhere and twisted roots around the paths, gnarled at my boots making every step a challenge.I occasionally looked back at Sera to check if she was keeping up, but it was very obvious she was struggling more than the others. You could notice from her small frame that her breaths came in short, sharp gasps, her face pale and strained. But yet she made tremendous effort to keep up—refusing to fall behind.Freya fell into steps beside me. Her brows furrowed as she too, glanced over Sera. "She's visibly flagging Madeline. Leaving her behind in the pack would have been the best for her and you. I don't think she can last longer than this."I nodded. "I know, I said. There's really no going back. Is there?""Louisiana isn't going to slow down for you or anyone," Freya said as she trudged ahead."Keep up, or you will be left behind!!!" Louisiana called back, her tone lac
MADELINE'S POVAs the night deepened, the air around the camp grew colder. The camp fire crackled, casting shadows on the faces of the warrior wolves present. Sera, sat in a corner and Freya talked to a group of other warrior wolves. I kept glancing back and forth at Sera, and I couldn't help but think that something went wrong when she went to gather firewoods in the woods."Everyone gather up," Louisiana said. Immediately everyone pulled together. When she was sure everyone was together, she divided us into two groups. One group which was headed by Freya, would stay behind to monitor the camp, manning the perimeter to ensure no threats crept up unnoticed. The other group, led by Louisiana, would push forward into the dark, rough terrain to patrol and check for any signs of threat or danger.And guess what, I was in the group led by Louisiana. Honestly, I had expected Louisiana to pick me. It was just the kind of thing she would do, dragging me along to test me, without rest, to see
MADELINE'S POVMy eyes stung as I blinked them open, the dull ache in my head throbbed at every slight beat of my pulse. Darkness hovered around me. The air was thick and stale, carrying the scent of damp earth and rot. My body felt heavy, as if I had been dragged through the forest for miles.And yes, I remembered been dragged before I blanked out.It wasn't until I tried to move that I realized my wrists were bound tightly behind my back. My vision cleared immediately. The more I moved, the more the coarse rope bit deeply into my skin. It weakend me the more and I winced , feeling the painful strain on my shoulders. I perceived a familiar scent coming from the rope. I racked my brain for a while...I had perceived that somewhere. And wolfsbane, the rope was laced with Wolfsbane. It only gave me an insight. Our captors were definitely the same kind as us.Then I realized I wasn't alone. My back pressed against someone else's.Louisiana.The memory came rushing back. The border expedit
MADELINE'S POV"They are coming. Our captors are coming," I whispered loudly."Shit!!" Louisiana huffed in frustration.The poison had seeped deep into our system and transforming to our wolf form could not be attainable. "What are we going to do," I asked softly but loud enough for Louisiana to hear."We have nothing to do than fight them off physically."The surrounding flickered with a faint light from a worn out, old lamp. The faint light exposed three bulky men, thrice our size with hardened expressions. They towered over us, clearly confident in their build. The odds were against us, but that didn't matter."Seems they broke free. Feisty, just the way I love my women to be, the lead captor sneered with his folded arms across his chest. Do you really think you can take us trio on?" he asked, his fingers pointing at the three of them."Why don't you come try," Louisiana dared.Fright overcame me. "Louisiana, I whispered into her ear. We are at odds here, so I suggest we talk it ou
MADELINE'S POVI winced as Freya dabbed the wet antiseptic cloth against the wound on my arm. I could feel Freya's eyes on me, glancing up from time to time to where Louisiana sat at the far end of the camp with someone tending to her wounds."You got something on your mind," I asked Freya."Beat me, she exhaled. There's something different about Louisiana. What happened between you two?""Nothing," I replied her. I didn't want to talk about it or talk about the mission either. "Maybe she's still rattled from the fight," I added.Freya narrowed her eyes. "You are telling me, that Louisiana is rattled because of a fight? The same Louisiana who never misses a chance to remind us that's she's the toughest in the pack? Louisiana behaves like an asshole, but she isn't one to run away or be rattled because of a fight. You know you make a bad liar, don't you?"I didn't answer right away. I knew the words I said to Louisiana had struck a chord of reflection or better still, more intense hatre
MADELINE'S POV Ever since my confrontation with Louisiana, I haven't seen her. But I could feel her anger hovering around like the storm cloud. I could feel the way the others looked at me, quick glances and whispers behind my back. No one spoke anything to me directly. The moment the words left my mouth, I knew there was no going back. I was in for shit and Louisiana would be out for my blood. "You really gave Louisiana a hit, Freya said. You were the only one who had the boldness of a lion to confront Louisiana concerning the rumors in such manner. You are totally different now. You have finally removed the cloak of naivety. Congratulations Madeline!!!, but don't get too comfortable." Just as I had thought to take a rest, a knock was heard at the door. Alpha Novare had summoned me. My heart leapt in terror, but I followed obediently. While on my way, I met madam Apricot. She stared at me squarely and her sharp eyes never missed a detail. She walked past me and I knew she was go
MADELINE'S POV Maybe it was all manipulation sprinkled with his touch of mischievousness. Maybe it was one of his many tactics to drag me to the abyss. Maybe this was my form of punishment for prying into his private affairs. ".....What?" I whispered out in confusion. "Why what? You didn't hear me right?" he asked. "Listen and listen attentively. I will repeat myself again just once." "I like you Madeline." That was it. I wasn't mistaken. I heard right. I sat there, my heart hammering in my chest. My mind went for a spin. He likes me? "Cat got your tongue," alpha Novare asked casually, with a grin evident on his face. The tug of shock and amusement deepened on my face and it was damn obvious. I stared at him, trying so hard to guage his intentions. His expressions began to shift back to the cold authority I was accustomed to. The casual grin he had flashed moments ago had disappeared. It was like watching him reverting to the alpha Novare I knew, but I couldn't help but b
MADELINE’S POVIt was time. Time to return back to Oceanwolf pack. Three years had passed, yet it felt like as if i had spent a lifetime here.Memories of Oceanwolf pack came rushing back, and with them, it was a mix of emotions I couldn’t quite name. Nostalgia. Fear. Anger. Courage. It was all tangled together in such a way that made my heart heavy.But I was no longer the same girl. The same naïve, servant girl that everyone could trample on. I had grown past that. I had changed. I had molded myself into something stronger. But still, the thought of walking back to Oceanwolf pack made me tremble, leaving me with uncertainties, and there was one last chain I needed to break.Alpha Konan.He was my final prison, the one tie to the person I used to be. I don’t know what would happen when I saw him again, but I did know one thing. I wasn’t going back to serve him or anyone.I thought back my time here in Crescent pack. From the first day I came in, to the Stealth and Stalk training, th
MADELINE’S POVToday is Louisiana’s Luna ceremony. I wasn’t surprised when I got a message from her, early in the morning. I wasn’t eager to go, but ignoring her wasn’t an option.Her room was bustling when I arrived. Servants swarmed around her, fixing every detail of her outfit—the rose pink dress that hugged her in the right places, the heavy gold necklace on her neck, even the tiniest strand of her hair. Louisiana stood in front of the full-length mirror, soaking up the attention. She was born for it, anyway.“Everyone out,” she commanded suddenly.The maids stood, unsure if they heard her right, before scurrying out like frightened nice. I stood near the door, watching her, until the last servant left. Finally, she turned to me smirking.“What do you think?” she asked, gesturing to her dress.I glanced at the dress. It was beautiful, no doubt, but there was something about the way she asked that made it feel more than a question.“It looks…nice,” I replied cautiously.Her laug
MADELINE’S POV The room grew eerily quiet. All eyes snapped to Louisiana, her voice cutting through the air with an unexpected force. “Why don’t we let her finish?” she snapped, her words sharp like a whip. “The general pack meeting is about addressing grievances. I, too, have something to air.” I noticed the pack elders exchange quick, uneasy glances, their expressions tense. They hadn’t expected this. Their faces were filled with a mixture of concern and annoyance. Alpha Novare, usually calm and collected, seemed confused, his eyes locked on Louisiana. I could see the questions running through his mind, but he was waiting. Louisiana, however, didn’t flinch. She stood tall, her gaze sharp, as if she were daring anyone to challenge her. “I need to clear the air about something,” she began, her tone cold. “I know what people say about me. You all think I’m a fake, don’t you?” She let the words hang in the air, watching the pack’s reaction. “That I’m not really Alpha Novare’s mat
MADELINE’S POV It was a chilly morning, and I stood at the edge of the pack training grounds, watching my breath turn into visible puffs in the cold air. I pulled my coat tighter around me, my thoughts random as I replayed the conversation I’d had with Louisiana days ago. I had told her about Alpha Novare's ridiculous demands. She had been unusually quiet since then, which wasn’t like her at all. But now, I needed her help. The plan I had in mind was simple but risky. Louisiana despised me, especially where Alpha Novare was concerned. If I could use her hatred to my advantage, I could get Novare off my back and maybe—just maybe—set myself free. As I waited, Louisiana approached, her sharp features set in a scowl. “What do you want from me, Madeline? You want another fight you can’t win?” she snapped, her tone dripping with irritation. “I need your help, Louisiana,” I said qu
"Louisiana of all people!!!" She was the last person I wanted to see showing up at my front door. But here she was, leaning casually against the frame like she had all the time in the world. For a moment, we just stood there, staring at each other in silence, both of us determined to hold our ground. Then, finally, she spoke. "Meet me at the pack training grounds, now!!!" My pulse kicked up a notch, her timing was suspicious. The last thing I wanted was her knowing that her presence made me uneasy. I swallowed back the urge to argue, but I wasn't going to let her get her away easily. "Why? It is late, and there's no reason for this," I replied. Louisiana chuckled dryly." I am your leader and your superior, she said gritting her teeth. Anything involving the warrior wolves is my business. And I will call anyone for training whenever I see fit." "Oh, wow!!!" I whispered under my breath. Arguing with her was pointless. "Fine," I replied with a reluctant shrug. She gave me on
MADELINE'S POV Maybe it was all manipulation sprinkled with his touch of mischievousness. Maybe it was one of his many tactics to drag me to the abyss. Maybe this was my form of punishment for prying into his private affairs. ".....What?" I whispered out in confusion. "Why what? You didn't hear me right?" he asked. "Listen and listen attentively. I will repeat myself again just once." "I like you Madeline." That was it. I wasn't mistaken. I heard right. I sat there, my heart hammering in my chest. My mind went for a spin. He likes me? "Cat got your tongue," alpha Novare asked casually, with a grin evident on his face. The tug of shock and amusement deepened on my face and it was damn obvious. I stared at him, trying so hard to guage his intentions. His expressions began to shift back to the cold authority I was accustomed to. The casual grin he had flashed moments ago had disappeared. It was like watching him reverting to the alpha Novare I knew, but I couldn't help but b
MADELINE'S POV Ever since my confrontation with Louisiana, I haven't seen her. But I could feel her anger hovering around like the storm cloud. I could feel the way the others looked at me, quick glances and whispers behind my back. No one spoke anything to me directly. The moment the words left my mouth, I knew there was no going back. I was in for shit and Louisiana would be out for my blood. "You really gave Louisiana a hit, Freya said. You were the only one who had the boldness of a lion to confront Louisiana concerning the rumors in such manner. You are totally different now. You have finally removed the cloak of naivety. Congratulations Madeline!!!, but don't get too comfortable." Just as I had thought to take a rest, a knock was heard at the door. Alpha Novare had summoned me. My heart leapt in terror, but I followed obediently. While on my way, I met madam Apricot. She stared at me squarely and her sharp eyes never missed a detail. She walked past me and I knew she was go
MADELINE'S POVI winced as Freya dabbed the wet antiseptic cloth against the wound on my arm. I could feel Freya's eyes on me, glancing up from time to time to where Louisiana sat at the far end of the camp with someone tending to her wounds."You got something on your mind," I asked Freya."Beat me, she exhaled. There's something different about Louisiana. What happened between you two?""Nothing," I replied her. I didn't want to talk about it or talk about the mission either. "Maybe she's still rattled from the fight," I added.Freya narrowed her eyes. "You are telling me, that Louisiana is rattled because of a fight? The same Louisiana who never misses a chance to remind us that's she's the toughest in the pack? Louisiana behaves like an asshole, but she isn't one to run away or be rattled because of a fight. You know you make a bad liar, don't you?"I didn't answer right away. I knew the words I said to Louisiana had struck a chord of reflection or better still, more intense hatre
MADELINE'S POV"They are coming. Our captors are coming," I whispered loudly."Shit!!" Louisiana huffed in frustration.The poison had seeped deep into our system and transforming to our wolf form could not be attainable. "What are we going to do," I asked softly but loud enough for Louisiana to hear."We have nothing to do than fight them off physically."The surrounding flickered with a faint light from a worn out, old lamp. The faint light exposed three bulky men, thrice our size with hardened expressions. They towered over us, clearly confident in their build. The odds were against us, but that didn't matter."Seems they broke free. Feisty, just the way I love my women to be, the lead captor sneered with his folded arms across his chest. Do you really think you can take us trio on?" he asked, his fingers pointing at the three of them."Why don't you come try," Louisiana dared.Fright overcame me. "Louisiana, I whispered into her ear. We are at odds here, so I suggest we talk it ou