The air in the infirmary grew thick with tension as Darius pushed open the door and stepped into the room. The sterile scent of disinfectants hung in the air as Darius entered, the familiar surroundings doing little to soothe the uneasy knot in his stomach. His eyes immediately sought out Michael, his third-in - command, a silent inquiry etched in the furrow of his brows. The atmosphere intensified as Michael held up a picture, and a sudden exclamation from Prius, who had just walked in, filled the room."What the fuck," Prius exclaimed loudly, his eyes zeroing in on the image in Michael's hands.Darius's hand shot forward, taking hold of the photograph, his fingers tracing the outline of the mysterious figure. His brow furrowed, a storm of conflicting emotions playing across his face. "What's the meaning of this, Alpha?" Sera's voice, tinged with nervousness, cut through the charged atmosphere.Darius tore his gaze from the picture to meet Sera's eyes."This person," he said, snatching
Sera took a deep breath, preparing to reveal a crucial detail. "Jasper isn't born an ordinary lynx," she disclosed. "He's a hybrid—a mix of Warlock and lynx. Fearing he might be discovered and kidnapped, Blaine cast a spell on his own son, concealing Jasper's true nature and giving him the appearance of an ordinary human. The spell is designed to automatically lift during the Black Moon coinciding with his 18th birthday. By then, he should have been found by his mate, even if Jasper doesn't recognize them yet."She paused, eyes on the ceiling as if bracing herself for what was to come next. "Alpha, you mentioned he had shifted already, and the only reason for that is because he was in grave danger."Silence engulfed the room; Darius started pacing, both hands buried in his hair. Sensing his distress, Prius walked up to the Alpha, pulling him to a stop by his shoulder and facing him. "We will find him, Darius," the Beta reassured.Noticing Darius's agitation, Sera stepped closer, lockin
In just over a week, John's life underwent a significant transformation when he crossed paths with Carla and reunited with his childhood friend, Luke, in the vibrant atmosphere of "The Howler"—a place now feeling like the home he had always sought. Thriving in his role as a waiter, the hustle and bustle, combined with the genuine satisfaction of serving customers, made the job more than just a source of income.For the first time, John had a place to call his own. Although old, it wasn't just any accommodation; it was a gift from Carla, a testament to her generosity. Inside the cozy trailer at the back of The Howler, the modest furniture exuded warmth, turning the place into a true home. A well-worn recliner, strategically positioned near a small window, served as John's favorite reading nook. Fairy lights adorned the edges, casting a gentle evening ambiance. The scent of a vanilla-scented candle often wafted through the air, creating comfort after a long day at the bar.Shelves showca
The music pulsed through the club, the bass reverberating in sync with the lively energy of the crowd. Carla, orchestrating the night from their corner table, kept the drinks flowing with abandon. Suddenly, she jumped up, pulling John to his feet with a mischievous grin. "Let's hit the floor, you loser. I need to get laid!" she declared with unabashed audacity. Luke and Carla burst into laughter, leaving John looking around, thoroughly embarrassed.Following Carla onto the dance floor, John found himself at the centre of Carla's exuberant antics. She playfully rubbed herself all over him, reveling in the embarrassment etched on the young man's face. "You are too easy, John!" she exclaimed between laughs, her contagious joy spreading to those around them. "More drinks!" she shouted, leaving the two men on the dance floor as she manoeuvred through the crowded club to the bar.John shook his head, watching Carla disappear into the pulsating crowd. He turned to find Luke, only to feel a h
Darius wandered through the empty room, the bed untouched like the day John had entered. John's once-familiar scent, a comforting blend of warmth and familiarity, had dissipated, leaving the room smelling of furniture and lingering dust.Despite numerous returns, each visit emphasized the harsh reality of John's absence. The T-shirt Darius had lent him lay abandoned in the adjacent bathroom, devoid of any lingering scent, and the room echoed with a silent void.Darius's bear, frustrated with the futility of the search within the enclosed space, guided him back to where they first encountered John. Yet even there, John's presence had entirely vanished.Leaning against the closed bedroom door, Darius, eyes closed, grappled with the inherent struggles of his failure; to date, they hadn't located John. Although they knew he had escaped Lex’s men, neither Michael nor Fez had found any trace of him. The Alpha bear clutched at his shirt just above his heart, questioning how he could have been
Prius’ head shot to the side in surprise, leaving him breathless as he gazed at the man standing before him. 'Jasper!' he shouted, momentarily forgetting about Luke as he swiftly moved to grab John, pulling him into a tight hug.Pushing the young man back to ensure it was really him, Prius exclaimed, 'We searched far and wide for you. Come.' He turned around, starting to pull John along.'Hold on a sec,' Carla interjected, placing a hand on her brother's chest. 'Not so fast. What's the meaning of all this, brother? And why did you just call him Jasper?' she questioned.'Oh, Carla, I don’t have time for this. We have to go see Darius. It is important,' Prius insisted, continuing to step around his sister and pulling John with him. 'We'll explain everything once we're in his office.'John suddenly pulled his hand away from Prius' grip, noticing Luke's pained expression at Prius' actions. Observing the anguish on his friend's face, John's anger surged. "How could Prius do this to his ow
"Looks like someone's life just got a plot twist worthy of a bestseller!" Carla snickered.Darius grunted in annoyance; his stoic expression made it clear he didn't find the comment amusing. "I'm going after him," he said abruptly, leaving the room before anyone could stop him."Well, that was awkward," Carla chuckled nervously, trying to lighten the mood. As everyone started leaving the room, Luke suggested, "I guess we should see if we can go find him," making a move toward the door. Prius, however, stopped him with a gentle touch on his arm. "Can you actually stay for a sec?" he requested, his tone serious.Carla sat back down, one leg crossing the other, and leaned back on the couch. She looked up at her brother, hearing him clear his throat. Her lips formed an 'O' as she realized she wasn't part of the stay package. Carla bounced up from the sofa. "See you later, loser," she said, waggling her brows at the Beta.As she crossed the threshold, she linked Prius. "You dare hurt him,
Lex leaned in, his eyes narrowing with a sinister gleam. "Where is he, Kali?" he demanded, his voice dripping with malice.Kali, with a wicked smile, leaned back in her dark chair. "In Wildwood Haven, Lex," she purred, relishing the anticipation in Lex's predatory stance. "But we need to act swiftly before the Blackmoon is fully risen. That's when his power will peak."Lex shot forward, his hand closing around the witch's neck. "How did you only find him now?" he growled, his deranged eyes shining red as his wolf came to the surface. "Have you been playing me all this time?"Kali grabbed his wrist with both hands in an attempt to get him to release her as she struggled to form words. "Just... appeared," she wheezed through.A current raised from the witch's hand shocked through Lex's arm, causing him to loosen his grip on her neck and eventually release her. He looked at the map that Kali had unrolled on the table. "You better be telling the truth," he said, a deadly warning in his
Two months after it had served as a battleground, the square-like clearing now buzzed with life and activity. The pack was in high spirits as they prepared for the full moon celebration. Where there had once been quiet and sombre cleanup efforts following the battle, there was now joy and excitement. Members of the pack, young and old, were busy making final preparations for the evening. Large tables were set up under a gazebo on one side of the clearing, creating a communal space for dining. Nearby, some of the warriors were constructing a pile of logs and kindling, destined to become a roaring bonfire after sunset. The air was filled with laughter and chatter, and children’s playful screams echoed through the clearing as they ran around, immersed in games and chasing one another. The village, transformed by a spirit of camaraderie and celebration, was a stark contrast to its recent past. John walked alongside his grandmother, a sense of peace settling over him as he took in the liv
John hovered on the brink of consciousness, the persistent beep piercing through the fog of his mind, drawing him back from the depths of unconsciousness. Battling against heavy eyelids, he struggled to open them, confusion swirling within. With a determined effort, his eyelids fluttered apart, greeted by the glaring brightness of the room. The intense light assaulted his senses, compelling him to squint as he tried to orient himself. The walls gleamed with clinical whiteness, the scent of antiseptic triggering a sense of déjà vu. How did he end up here again? As his vision adjusted, he recognized the familiar sights of the infirmary—the neatly arranged medications on the nearby table, the incessant beeping was coming from the medical equipment attached to his chest. The more he took in his surroundings, the more reality flooded back, hitting him like a tidal wave: the attack, Mason, Darius! Darius was stabbed! Panicking, John attempted to move, urgency to find Darius consuming him
"Ah, my little pet," Mason said, pulling a handcuffed Desmond forward. "Looks like he's been used as entertainment for that werewolf pack," he laughed without emotion. "Too bad he's now my little pet, and I have no intention of returning him." "Darius," the man, Desmond, whispered with a broken voice. He sounded broken. "My family?" he asked, and Darius replied, "Prius and Carla are here, fighting against the scum that is threatening their Luna's life." John's gaze flickered between Darius and the captive, his confusion palpable. He was about to voice his inquiry when Mason's voice cut through, demanding attention once more. "Enough with the sob stuff," Mason sneered, redirecting John's focus back to him. "So, the little lamb thinks he can challenge the big bad 'wolf'," Mason taunted, a smirk playing on his lips. John's eyes narrowed, a glint of defiance shining within them. "I've faced bigger threats than you," he declared, though uncertainty lingered beneath his bravado. Mason
John felt a growing unease gnawing at him as he muttered to himself, "What's happening?" while scanning the area with a furrowed brow. Turning to Darius, he sought an update. Seeking information, Darius reached out to Fez. "What's the status?" he asked. Fez's response was swift. "The rogues are holding their position, as if they're waiting for orders. They seem to be alone." As the pack's Luna, John tuned into their mindlink conversation, raising an eyebrow. "How many are we talking about, Fez?" he piped in. "About seven on our side, Luna," Fez reported. "Only seven?" John's concern deepened. "And overall?" "Approximately sixty, as we have estimated," Fez confirmed. Though Fez couldn't see him, John nodded,sharing his feeling of unease and asking the tracker to keep his guard up. John couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something felt amiss. Prius had briefed him on the ruthless nature of the rogues, their disregard for life being well-known. However, this situation didn't
Desmond sat in his usual position, seated on the floor, his back against the cold stonewall of the cell. His arms were folded over his knees, and he rested his head on one of them, the dim light casting faint shadows across the room. It was a small comfort to him as the darkness was no longer as suffocating as it once was, courtesy of what he could only assume was the intervention of his mate. Though he still lacked the “luxuries” of the other cells, such as a bed or amenities, Desmond was no longer shackled like an animal. Instead, he had been granted small reprieves—a daily meal, the absence of chains—that served as a stark reminder of his newfound, albeit uncertain, freedom. Despite the lingering grime and tattered clothing, he felt a glimmer of strength returning to him, his body slowly healing from the wounds inflicted during his captivity. The scars would remain, a testament to his endurance and resilience in the face of adversity, but they no longer bore the weight of despair
Mason paced back and forth, his keen gaze sweeping over the crowd of shifters gathered before him. Low growls filled the air, a testament to the simmering anger and tension that emanated from the group of rogues standing before him. Their red eyes glinted with defiance, their dirty clothes and unkempt appearances serving as a stark contrast to the more polished warriors of the Feral Glen pack. Turning his attention to Arlo, Mason's expression was unreadable as he addressed him. "You are not as useless as I thought," he remarked with a hint of begrudging respect. "How many do we have now?" Arlo gritted his teeth, his patience wearing thin in the presence of the egocentric warlock. "59," he replied tersely, his voice tinged with irritation. "We are still short, but it's all we could do." Mason's lips curled into a smug smile as he dismissed Arlo's concerns with a wave of his hand. "They are more than enough," he declared confidently. "Ruthless and with no care for their pathetic lives
The day of the full moon had arrived, bringing with it a palpable tension that hung heavy in the air. If the predictions held true, Mason and his werewolves would launch their attack today. The uncertainty surrounding the exact timing of the assault only heightened the unease. Moonrise occurred at 21:14, with the peak of the full moon set for 12:48 AM. Would the enemy strike before, during, or after the peak? Without a spy among the enemy pack to help them with such information, there was no way to know for sure. This detail only added to the tension, casting a shadow over their anticipation of what was to come.Darius and John sat in the pack dining hall alongside their comrades. Despite attempts to maintain a façade of normalcy, the tension was evident in the subdued atmosphere. On a typical day when lunch was being served, the room would be bustling with laughter and the playful chaos of children. Darius glanced to his right, where his mate sat. He took in John's profile, his fair
As Darius and John arrived at the packhouse, they found Prius and Luke awaiting them on the front porch. John couldn't miss the subtle sniff Prius gave the air, nor the knowing smirk that crossed his lips. "Glad to see you made it back," Prius said with a wink, his words causing a blush to creep up John's cheeks. Ignoring the Beta's teasing, Darius draped an arm around John's shoulder and turned to Prius, asking, "Where are the rest of the elite?"Prius responded promptly, "We've been awaiting your return, Alpha. Your timelines weren't exactly clear."Darius nodded, his gaze steady as he addressed Prius. "We're here now. Mind-link everyone for a pack meeting; we have a lot to discuss.""Of course, boss," Prius said quietly behind his Alpha's back. John couldn't help but notice the Beta's mocking salute and muttered remark, which caused him to start giggling.Darius turned to John, raising an eyebrow. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly. John simply nodded enthusiastically to avoid furthe
Mason barged into Lex's office without bothering to knock, walking in as if he owned the place. Lex, accustomed to the warlock's brash demeanour, rose from his chair slowly, his movements deliberate and measured.He met Mason's gaze, refusing to be intimidated by the dark aura that surrounded the warlock.Mason's lips curled into a sneer as he addressed Lex, his tone dripping with disdain. "Time to get those losers that you call a pack together and get working," he spat.Lex's jaw clenched at the offensive remark, but he remained composed, his expression unreadable. With a nod, he gestured for Mason to follow him, his silence a subtle acknowledgment of the task at hand.As they walked, a palpable tension hung in the air between them, the nervous energy crackling like electricity between the two. Lex's movements were purposeful, each step a silent declaration of his determination to see their mission through to the end.Mason’s eyes, dark and piercing, bore into Lex's back, a silent re