“Damian’s losing it.” I froze mid-step, the low murmur of voices halting me outside the doorway of the council hall. They hadn’t heard me yet, but my heart pounded at the conversation trickling through the barely cracked door. “He’s made too many enemies,” the voice continued, sharper now. “We can’t keep following him blindly, not after the mess with Elijah.” A cold ripple of satisfaction coursed through me, but I bit down the feeling, leaning in closer to catch more of the exchange. This was what I had been waiting for—cracks. Little fractures in the trust that once bound the pack to Damian’s leadership. “Annabel’s got a point,” another voice chimed in, quieter, but laced with conviction. “She’s been steady, even when everything else is falling apart.” My breath hitched. So, they were starting to see it. I wasn’t just Damian’s weak mate anymore. But before I could make a move, the door swung open, revealing Zane, one of the more influential wolves in the pack. His eyes widened
"Damian won't see it coming."Elijah’s voice was as smooth as ever, but there was a hardness beneath it that sent a chill down my spine. He stood close—too close—and I had to fight the urge to step away. I couldn't afford to show fear, not now, not when everything was on the line.“He’s not as blind as you think,” I whispered, keeping my gaze steady despite the storm inside me. “Damian’s reckless, but he’s not stupid.”Elijah’s lips curved into a slow, calculating smile. “He won’t expect a move from you. His attention is scattered. You can use that.”I swallowed hard, the weight of his words pressing down on me. Elijah was right—Damian’s paranoia had made him unpredictable, erratic. But what Elijah didn’t understand was the chaos it had stirred inside of me. How could I bring myself to choose between them? I had once loved Damian, despite everything. And now... Elijah's presence was something I couldn’t escape.“I don’t want this,” I muttered, turning away from Elijah's piercing gaze.
“Elijah’s been planning this for weeks.” Zane’s voice cut through the low murmur of the council room, but it was the way his eyes fixed on me that made my pulse quicken. Everyone else around the table was locked in their own discussions, whispering plans and doubts, but Zane... Zane was looking for something. A confirmation, an ally, or maybe just an answer to a question none of us were ready to ask. My hands clenched into fists beneath the table, hidden from view, as I forced my voice to remain steady. “What are you trying to say?” Zane’s gaze flickered, a flash of something—fear, maybe—but he didn’t back down. “You know exactly what I’m saying. He’s using you, Annabel. He’s been using you since the moment he came back.” I looked away, my heart pounding harder. I didn’t need to hear this. Not now. Not when everything was spiraling out of control. But Zane was relentless. “Elijah’s dangerous, but you already know that,” he pressed, his voice low but firm. “Damian’s not stable eit
“You’re running out of time, Annabel.” Elijah’s voice sliced through the silence, his words sharper than the blade in his hand. I stood just inside the doorway, the tension between us a thick, suffocating force. He didn’t need to say more—I could feel the pressure building, the choice looming over me like a storm cloud ready to break. I clenched my fists. “I know.” His eyes flicked to mine, dark and predatory, yet calm. Always so calm. “Do you?” He took a step forward, his gaze never leaving me. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re still hoping for a way out that doesn’t exist.” I forced myself to hold his gaze, to ignore the pull he always had on me, the way his presence made me question everything. “And from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re trying too hard to convince me.” A flicker of amusement crossed his face, and he let out a low, dangerous chuckle. “You’re sharp, Annabel, but that’s not enough. Sharpness won’t save you when Damian falls.” His eyes
“You were supposed to be loyal to me.”Damian’s voice cracked like a whip, his eyes wild with disbelief. The fury in them cut through me, sharper than any weapon ever could. I hadn’t planned to confront him so soon, but there was no other way now.The moment Elijah set his plan in motion, it had all started to unravel. There was no more waiting, no more pretending.“I didn’t betray you,” I said, but even as the words left my mouth, I knew how hollow they sounded. The truth was tangled between us, heavy and unspoken. His paranoia had drawn the lines long before I even knew they existed.Damian stepped closer, his fists clenched at his sides. “Didn’t you? You think I don’t see it? You think I don’t know you’ve been working with him?”I flinched at the venom in his words, but I held my ground. “I’m trying to save the pack, Damian. You’re losing control.”His laugh was harsh, broken. “Losing control? You’re the one who’s playing both sides, Annabel. You think you can dance between us like
“Damian knows,” Zane’s voice was tight, his eyes scanning the empty hall with suspicion. “Elijah made his move too soon.”My chest tightened. “How bad is it?”“Bad enough,” Zane replied, his jaw clenched. “Damian’s already gathering his loyalists. He’s not waiting to be attacked.”The words settled heavily between us, the finality of what was coming pressing down on me like a weight I couldn’t escape. Elijah had promised control, but now, all I saw was chaos.“How long do we have?”Zane met my gaze, his face grim. “Hours, if we’re lucky.”I nodded, feeling the tremor in my hands as I clenched them into fists. It was happening. The battle I had been avoiding, the choice I had been running from—it was all coming to a head. Damian would fall, and I had helped push him over the edge.I turned toward the door, my heart pounding as I took a step forward. “I have to find Elijah.”Zane grabbed my arm, his grip tight, his voice low. “Annabel, are you sure about this? You can still back out. Da
Damian’s hand was still tight around my arm, his grip biting into my skin. His breathing was ragged, as if he was holding on to more than just me—like he was clinging to the last pieces of control slipping through his fingers.“I won’t let you leave me.” His voice was low, shaking with something between desperation and anger. His eyes, wild and fractured, bore into mine, but I didn’t look away. Not this time.“You have to,” I whispered, forcing my voice to remain steady even though my heart was pounding. “There’s no way out of this if you keep fighting.”Damian’s grip tightened, and I could see the conflict raging inside him. His face twisted, torn between the man he used to be and the one his paranoia had turned him into. For a moment, I thought he might snap, might drag me down with him. But then, slowly, his fingers loosened, and I pulled free, taking a step back.He didn’t stop me.“You’re making a mistake.” His voice was barely a breath, but the weight of it lingered in the air b
“Elijah doesn’t trust you.”Lila’s words were sharp, cutting through the tension that hung in the air between us. She had cornered me by the edge of the clearing, her eyes narrowed, lips pressed into a thin line. The other wolves were keeping their distance, but I could feel their eyes on me—waiting, watching for any sign of weakness.I crossed my arms, meeting her gaze. “That’s not news.”She stepped closer, her voice lowering, but the edge in her tone didn’t soften. “It should be. Because if you think he’s going to let you walk away from this unscathed, you’re wrong.”My pulse quickened, but I kept my expression steady, refusing to let her see the flicker of doubt creeping into my thoughts. “I know how to handle Elijah.”Lila let out a short, bitter laugh. “Do you? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like he’s playing you just like he played Damian.”Her words hit harder than I wanted them to. She wasn’t wrong—Elijah’s power was growing, and with Damian out of the picture, he h
Damian hit the ground hard, the impact jarring every bone in his body. His wolf surged forward, dulling the pain as he rolled to his side, instinctively shielding Annabel. Dust swirled around them, choking the air.“Damian,” Annabel croaked, gripping his arm.“I’m here,” he said, helping her sit up. She was bruised but alive. Relief flooded him for a fleeting moment before the sound of footsteps—calm, deliberate—drew his attention.Elijah emerged from the shadows, his figure illuminated by a faint glow emanating from strange markings on the cavern walls. His confidence radiated like a predator circling its prey.“You’re persistent,” Elijah said, his voice low and measured. “But persistence without power is just stubbornness.”Damian rose to his feet, his claws already extending. “You talk too much.”Elijah tilted his head, unbothered. “And you’re too impulsive. That’s why you’ll lose.”Annabel struggled to stand, leaning against Damian for support. “You don’t need me to stop him,” she
The sound of Elijah’s laughter echoed through the darkness of the collapsed cave. It taunted Damian as he tried to focus on Annabel’s weak breathing. His wolf senses adjusted to the pitch-black surroundings, honing in on the faint heartbeat that kept him grounded.“Elijah!” Damian’s voice was raw, a command that ricocheted off the rocky walls. “Face me!”The only response was the steady drip of water from somewhere deeper within the cavern.“Damian,” Annabel whispered, her voice a frail thread. “Don’t—”He knelt beside her, carefully loosening the ropes that bound her wrists. “We’re getting out of here,” he said firmly. “Stay with me.”“You don’t understand.” Her eyes fluttered open, dim but focused. “This is what he wanted. He’s not here to fight. He’s here to break you.”Damian stilled, her words striking something deep within him. But before he could respond, the ground beneath them trembled, a reminder of the unstable cavern.“Then he failed,” Damian growled. “Because I’m not givi
The forest stood still in the aftermath of Elijah’s escape, the silence almost mocking. Damian stared at the empty space where Elijah had disappeared with Annabel, his breathing uneven. His claws dug into the dirt, his body trembling with the effort to hold back the wolf clawing for dominance. Kara staggered forward, clutching her injured side, but her gaze never left Damian.“Damian,” she rasped, her voice tight with pain. “We can still track him.”He didn’t answer. The pack around them waited, the weight of his next decision pressing like a storm ready to break.“Track him?” Damian’s voice was low, almost too calm. He turned to Kara, his eyes alight with fury. “Do you think he’s stupid enough to leave a trail we can follow?”“We can try,” she shot back. “Sitting here won’t help her!”Damian’s snarl silenced her, but it wasn’t just anger; it was despair. He ran a hand through his hair, pacing in circles like a predator in a cage. Finally, he turned to his second-in-command, Jacob.“S
Damian’s growl echoed through the silent room. His fists slammed against the worn oak table, splintering its edge. "You let him get inside your head?" His glare bore into Annabel, who still looked pale and shaken from fainting. Her silence, far from submissive, was deliberate—a choice to observe before reacting."I didn’t let him do anything," she replied, her voice hoarse but steady. "Elijah’s power isn’t something you simply shut out.""Don’t defend him!" Damian’s voice cracked, a mix of fury and pain. He paced the room, hands clenching and unclenching. His wolf stirred beneath his skin, desperate for release. "Do you even know what you've done? You handed him the one thing he needed—us divided."Annabel winced. She hated that he was right. Elijah’s manipulation had left fractures between her and Damian, widening a rift that already felt unbridgeable. She drew a shaky breath, steadying herself before she spoke again."I made a mistake," she admitted, her gaze meeting his. "But I did
Damian’s claws dug into the quarry floor, his stance protective as he stepped in front of Annabel. The beast roared again, its guttural sound echoing across the rock walls. The figure beside it moved with eerie calm, their smile never wavering as they studied the three.“Annabel,” the figure said smoothly, ignoring Damian and Elijah entirely. “I’ve been waiting to meet you.”Annabel’s heart slammed against her ribs. “Who are you?”The figure chuckled, tilting their head. “I have so many names, but for now, call me the one who holds the leash.” Their hand gestured lazily toward the beast, which snarled, saliva dripping from its jagged teeth.“Doesn’t look like you’ve got much control,” Elijah said, his voice cold. His eyes flicked to the beast’s hulking frame, scanning for weaknesses.The figure’s smile faltered for a moment before sharpening again. “It obeys enough. And when I’m done with it, it will obey her.”Annabel’s blood ran cold. “What do you mean?”The figure ignored her quest
The beast emerged from the shadows behind the hunters, its form larger than any wolf Annabel had ever seen. Its massive shoulders brushed tree trunks as it stalked forward, its yellow eyes glowing with an unnatural light. The hunters froze, their weapons shifting uneasily in their hands.The leader cursed under his breath. “What is that thing?”Damian didn’t respond. He stepped protectively in front of Annabel, his claws extending again. Elijah’s stance mirrored his, though his eyes never left the creature as it growled, low and rumbling, shaking the air around them.“They didn’t bring it,” Elijah said quietly, his voice calm but taut. “That’s not theirs.”The scarred leader gestured sharply to his men, who reluctantly repositioned, their crossbows trained on the beast. “Stand down!” he barked at the wolves they controlled. “Focus on the target!”The controlled wolves whimpered but obeyed, forming a wary line between their masters and the newcomers. Annabel gritted her teeth, gripping
Damian’s eyes locked with Elijah’s, the air between them charged with unspoken challenges. Annabel stood in the middle, her hand raised as though it alone could stop the inevitable.“Elijah,” she said sharply, her voice cutting through their silent exchange. “We can’t do this now. Not here.”But Elijah wasn’t looking at her. His hybrid features were sharp, predatory, and utterly focused on Damian. “He’s afraid to act,” Elijah said with a calmness that made the insult sting harder. “That’s why he hesitates. He knows if he crosses me, he won’t survive.”Damian stepped forward, his tone like steel. “You’ve underestimated me before. How did that work out for you?”Annabel’s frustration boiled over. “Enough!” She turned to Damian, her expression pleading. “This isn’t the fight we need to win right now.”Damian’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t break eye contact with Elijah. “You think he can be trusted to stay in line? Look at him.”“I’m right here,” Elijah interjected, a cold smile spreading
Damian’s shout came too late. The rogue leader’s massive jaws clamped down on empty air as Annabel twisted away at the last second, rolling to the ground. Elijah lunged, his claws slashing in an arc that forced the beast back, buying her a moment to scramble to her feet.Annabel’s breath came in short gasps. Her eyes darted to the pack, holding their line against the remaining rogues. “We can’t hold this forever,” she muttered, gripping the silver dagger she’d taken from Damian.“You don’t have to,” Elijah replied. His voice was eerily calm, but his gaze stayed locked on the rogue leader. “This ends now.”“Care to share the plan?” Damian growled, sidling up beside them. Blood streaked his face, and his sword was slick with gore.Elijah smirked, but there was no humor in it. “Keep it busy.”Damian swore under his breath. “Brilliant. Why didn’t I think of that?”Before Annabel could say anything, the rogue leader let out a guttural snarl and charged again. Damian moved instinctively, ra
Damian barely dodged the blow, the rogue’s claws swiping past his ribs. He twisted, bringing his blade upward in a brutal arc that caught his opponent beneath the jaw. Blood splattered, but there was no time to celebrate the kill. Another rogue was already charging.“Elijah!” Damian yelled, blocking the next attack with a grunt. “A little help would be great!”Elijah stood motionless, his sharp eyes fixed on Annabel. She was kneeling just behind them, her shoulders rising and falling with labored breaths. Her connection to the barrier was gone, but the remnants of her effort left her pale and trembling.“She can’t hold much longer,” Elijah muttered to himself.“Neither can I!” Damian barked, shoving the rogue back with a kick.Elijah’s expression darkened, and with a low snarl, he finally moved. He intercepted the next attacker with blinding speed, slamming the rogue into the ground with a sickening crunch. His hybrid strength was terrifying, even to Damian, but right now, it was the