"Oh my gosh, can you believe it?" Lani's face lit up as she talked about her friend Mathew. "They've been best friends since they were little kids, and now – boom! The Moon Goddess says they're meant to be together!""That's really nice," I said quietly, trying to sound happy. But inside, my stomach felt like it was tied in knots."Hey, maybe we'll find our special someone soon too!" Lani nudged me with her elbow.I wanted to believe her, but the mean voices in my head wouldn't stop. Everyone kept saying I wasn't good enough. Too big, too plain, too weak – even my own brother Michael thought so. Our pack leader just walked past me like I wasn't even there."Come on!" Lani grabbed my hand. "Let's get some lunch. I'm starving!"Just as we stepped into the lunch room, something amazing happened. The most wonderful smell hit me – like fresh cookies and flowers all mixed together.My wolf, Slade, started jumping around in my head. 'That's him! That's our mate! Can you smell him?'I looked
Angel's POVThe large meeting room buzzed with hushed conversations as everyone waited. The dark wooden walls seemed to absorb our whispers, making the space feel even more solemn. I fidgeted in my chair, excitement bubbling up inside me. Alpha Mark never called meetings without good reason."What do you think it's about?" Lea whispered from beside me, her green eyes sparkling with curiosity.I shrugged, remembering our last mission. "Maybe another rogue situation? Like that time we helped the Silver Moon Pack?" The memory of that fight still made my blood sing - the thrill of the chase, the satisfaction of protecting the innocent.'Mark?' I reached out through our mind link, unable to wait any longer.His deep voice echoed in my head, amused. 'Patience, kid. I'm right here.' The heavy doors swung open, and Mark strode in. Even after five years, his presence still commanded respect. His salt-and-pepper hair and battle scars told stories of experience that we could only imagine.The r
The morning air was crisp as we gathered, ready to leave. Kayden and the others were loading up into the car while I swung my leg over my motorbike—a gift from Mark last year on my birthday. It was sleek, powerful, and my favorite way to travel."Angel, all of you be careful," Mark said, his voice firm yet laced with concern. "If anything goes wrong, call me immediately. Keep me updated on the training once you arrive."I smirked. ‘Mark included me in this mission, so maybe he doesn’t really want to send me away,’ I mused."Yes, Daddy!" I teased, revving my engine before giving him a playful salute. He rolled his eyes, but I saw the ghost of a smile on his lips. I motioned for Kayden to follow as I led the way.‘You’re such a handful, Angel,’ Mark said through our pack link.‘Love you, Mark. Don’t miss me too much!’ I replied with a chuckle.---By noon, we stopped at a roadside burger joint next to a gas station. As soon as we walked in, heads turned. It was nothing new—humans and we
‘We’re entering Moon Crescent Pack territory now,’ I informed my team through the mind link.Thirty minutes later, we arrived at the Pack house.The first to greet us was their Beta—and my older brother. Michael Clinn. My heartbeat quickened at the sight of him. Brother."You must be the Wolf Fang Pack members," Michael said, his tone formal and unreadable.Kayden stepped forward, extending a hand. "We are. I’m Kayden, Beta of the Wolf Fang Pack. Are you the Alpha?"Michael shook his hand, offering a polite smile. "No, I’m the Beta. Alpha Gabriel will meet us later—he’s busy at the moment."As if on cue, the Pack house doors burst open, and Gabriel strode out. So much for being busy. More likely, he had sensed my presence. "So, you’re back," he said, his sharp gaze locking onto me.Michael frowned. "Who are you referring to, Alpha?"I had almost forgotten—I was still on my motorbike, helmet concealing my face.Gabriel smirked. "You might not recognize her at first, Michael. She look
Before I knew it, the door swung open.Of course, it was him.Gabriel was standing in the doorway, arms crossed, eyes fixed on me. The tension between us was thick enough to cut with a knife.“I don’t remember inviting you in,” I said, propped up against my desk.He didn’t react. Typical. Instead, he entered, closing the door behind him. He took up space in the room, weighing down on me in ways I wouldn’t admit.“You shouldn’t have returned,” he finally said.I laughed, the sound bitter. “Trust me, this wasn’t my ideal vacation either.”Gabriel’s jaw clenched. "Then why are you here?""Work." I crossed my arms like he did. "Your pack needs training. My pack agreed to help. End of story."His golden eyes deepened, flickering for a moment with something I couldn’t name. “I didn’t request you specifically."Good," I said with a smirk. “Would’ve been hella awkward if you had.”At first, he said nothing. Just stared, as if he were trying to read between the lines of my expression. Then, al
Sweat, adrenaline, unspoken words — it was a heady mix that hung in the air in the training grounds between us. Warriors ringed the sparring mat, some whispering, some staring frozen and silent, as I shoved myself off Gabriel, rolling to my feet.He propped himself up on his elbows, his golden eyes following my every move as he raked a hand through his dark hair. He wasn’t used to losing. I could sense the frustration within him, the way his muscles clenched like his wolf was scratching itself just below the surface.Good. Let him stew in it."Alright, show's over!" Kayden clapped his hands, stepping to the edge of the mat. “Unless our dear Alpha wants to try round two?”Gabriel’s jaw tightened. "We’re done."I scoffed. "Figures."His gaze locked onto mine, with a challenge lurking there, but he swallowed it. Instead, he fixed on the warriors and his voice took on that Alpha tone that commanded. "You’ve seen how she fights. Pay attention. If any of you think you’re too good for traini
I could hardly breathe in the silence my words had left. Gabriel loomed over me, jaw stiff, clenched fists hanging at his sides as if he were forcing himself not to touch me. His golden eyes flickered with an unvoiced ecstasy — a heavy thing.It’s too late for that.The words hung there, like a wall neither of us knew how to climb.He said nothing for a moment. Just stared at me.Then, at last, he breathed out, his voice hoarse. “You don’t mean that.”I chuckled, but that was no laughing matter. “You don’t get to define what I mean, Gabriel.”His eyes darkened. “Then tell me you’re not feeling it.”My throat tightened. “Feel what?”“This,” he motioned back and forth between us. “The pull. The bond. It’s still there, Angel. If you say otherwise, you’re lying.”I wanted to deny it. Wanted to look him in the eye and tell him he was nothing to me now.But the bond was there, an invisible thread drawing me to him even while I struggled to remain in place.“I don’t care about the bond,” I l
Sleep that night was a cruel thing, an elusive thing.Each time I closed my eyes, my mind relived the conversation with Gabriel — the desperation in his voice, the regret in his eyes, the way he had said I lost you already.I tried to shut it all out in bed, tossing and turning. But my body remained static, my emotions wound tightly like a coil.Damn him.I had spent years practicing living without him. And now? He thought he could just come waltzing back into my life and screw everything up all over again?No.I wouldn’t let him.When morning finally arrived, I almost had not slept. But fatigue had never phased me — I had fought battles half-dead on my feet. I could get through one more day of this.I threw on my training gear and secured my hair in a tight ponytail before walking out of my room. The house was already waking up, the pack members bustling around, getting ready for the day.I walked down the hall, and when I got to the staircase—“Angel.”His voice.I cursed quietly t
The hall was a sanctuary of flickering firelight, but it couldn’t warm the chill that had settled in my bones. I lay on a cot near the hearth, the healers’ hands quick and steady as they stitched my leg, bandaged my arm, and pressed a bitter tonic to my lips. Pain throbbed with every heartbeat, but it was distant, drowned out by the storm in my head. The creature was dead, its pendant dark, but the questions it left behind were alive, clawing at me. Who sent it? Why us? And how much worse could this get?Lucian sat beside me, his own wounds patched but ignored, his silver eyes fixed on the pendant in his hand. It looked harmless now, just a carved stone, but the memory of its glow—of the creature it controlled—made my skin crawl. The bond between us hummed, taut with shared unease, tying us tighter than ever. I hated how much I needed it, needed *him*, to keep from spiraling.Killian slumped in a chair nearby, his face bruised but his grin stubborn. “Well, we’re not dead,” he said, hi
The hall was a hive of tension, the air thick with the scent of blood and antiseptic as healers darted between the wounded. My arm burned under the makeshift bandage, my side a constant throb, but I barely noticed. My eyes were glued to the pendant on the table, its spiraling symbols seeming to writhe in the firelight, whispering secrets we couldn’t yet decode. Lucian sat beside me, his shoulder pressed against mine, his silence heavier than the chaos around us. The bond pulsed—urgent, restless—like it knew something we didn’t.Killian paced nearby, his staff tapping the floor, his face a mask of frustration. “We’re sitting ducks,” he muttered, glancing at the pendant. “That thing’s a beacon, and we’re just… what? Waiting for the next monster to knock?”Lucian’s jaw tightened, but before he could answer, a scout burst through the doors, his face ashen, blood streaking his cheek. “Alpha!” he gasped, stumbling forward. “It’s here—another one. Bigger.”My heart stopped. The room went sil
The creature’s roar shook the air, a sound that clawed at my nerves and made my teeth ache. It was massive—bigger than any wolf, its form a grotesque blend of muscle and shadow, with limbs that bent wrong and eyes like burning coals. My heart slammed against my ribs as I gripped my blade, the bond with Lucian screaming in my chest—stay, fight, protect. Running wasn’t an option, not with him facing this thing head-on.Lucian moved first, diving low to slash at its flank, his blade sparking against its hide like it was made of stone. The creature snarled, swiping with a claw that caught his shoulder, tearing through leather and drawing blood. He grunted but didn’t falter, rolling clear as Killian swung his staff, aiming for its head. The hit landed with a crack, but the beast barely flinched, its gaze locking onto me.“Angel, move!” Killian shouted, but I was already dodging as it lunged, its claws gouging the earth where I’d stood. I scrambled back, my side throbbing, blood seeping thr
The clearing was a graveyard of chaos—torches guttering out, bodies strewn across the blood-soaked ground, the air thick with the metallic tang of death. My side burned where claws had torn through, each breath a sharp reminder of how close I’d come to not making it. Lucian’s arm stayed around me, steadying me as we staggered toward the hall, the pack trailing behind in a ragged, weary line. The bond between us pulsed, raw and insistent, grounding me even as my vision blurred at the edges.Killian limped ahead, barking orders to the trackers—secure the perimeter, check for stragglers. His voice was hoarse but firm, like he was holding himself together through sheer stubbornness. I knew the feeling. The adrenaline was gone, leaving only pain and a nagging sense that this wasn’t over, no matter how dead Veyra was.Inside the hall, the warmth hit like a slap, the fire roaring in the hearth. Pack members who hadn’t fought crowded in, their faces pale, questions tumbling out. Lucian raised
The cheers of the pack still echoed in my ears as Lucian and I stepped off the platform, the cord still binding our hands, the bond thrumming like a live wire between us. The torchlight danced across his face, casting sharp shadows over his jaw, and for a moment, I let myself feel it—the weight of what we’d just done, the wild, unsteady rush of it. The pack pressed in, their voices a roar of celebration, but something gnawed at the edge of my senses, a prickling unease I couldn’t shake.Lucian felt it too. His grip on my hand tightened, his body shifting subtly, like a predator catching a scent. “Stay close,” he murmured, his voice low enough that only I could hear.I nodded, my free hand brushing the hilt of the blade at my hip. The ceremony was over, the mark sealed, but the night felt unfinished—too charged, too fragile. The crowd parted as we moved toward the main hall, Killian falling in beside us, his grin fading as he caught Lucian’s tension.“Trouble?” he asked, his voice casu
The decision hung in the air like smoke after a fire—lingering, heavy, impossible to ignore. I’d said it, and Lucian had accepted it, but as I left his study, my stomach churned with a mix of resolve and dread. Together. It sounded solid, final, but it didn’t erase the questions clawing at me. What did this mean for us—for me? I’d spent so long fighting the pull of him, the pack, this life. Now I was stepping into it, eyes open, and it felt like jumping off a cliff without knowing how deep the drop was.The next morning, the compound buzzed with a different energy. Word had spread—whispers turning into murmurs, then full-on conversations. The ceremony was on, set for tomorrow night under the full moon. I caught the glances as I walked through the hall—some wary, some relieved, a few even warm. It was strange, being seen like this, not as the outsider or the fighter, but as something more. Lucian’s mate. The title still sat uneasy on my shoulders, like a coat that didn’t quite fit.I f
Sleep didn’t come easy. I drifted in and out, caught between the ache in my body and the tangle in my head. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ragnar’s scarred face, heard Killian’s warning, felt Lucian’s hands on me—steady, warm, too real. By the time the first light crept through the window, I gave up, rolling out of bed with a groan. My muscles screamed in protest, but I ignored them, splashing cold water on my face from the basin in the corner. The mirror showed a mess—bruises darkening my arm, a scab forming on my lip—but I looked alive. That was something.Downstairs, the hall was already buzzing. Pack members milled around, voices low but urgent, piecing together what had happened in the night. I caught snippets— Bloodfangs, ambush, Ragnar’s death —and felt their eyes on me as I passed. Not hostile, not anymore, but curious, maybe even respectful. I wasn’t just the outsider now. I’d fought with them, bled with them. It shifted something, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about it.
The aftermath was a haze of exhaustion and adrenaline, the kind that leaves your bones heavy but your mind buzzing. The Bloodfangs’ camp was a wreck—tents torn, fires smoldering, bodies scattered across the clearing. The air stank of blood and smoke, sharp and acrid, clinging to my clothes. I wiped my blade on my pant leg, the motion automatic, my hands still shaky from the fight. My lip throbbed where Ragnar had hit me, and every breath stung, but I was alive. We all were.Lucian stood a few feet away, barking orders to the trackers—secure the perimeter, check for survivors, gather anything useful. His voice was steady, but I caught the tension in his shoulders, the way his fists clenched when he thought no one was looking. He’d killed Ragnar, ended the immediate threat, but I could tell it wasn’t over for him. Not yet.Killian slumped against a tree nearby, wrapping a strip of torn fabric around the gash on his arm. He caught my eye and flashed a tired grin. “You look like you could
The forest was eerily quiet after the Bloodfangs’ retreat, the kind of silence that presses against your ears and makes every rustle feel like a threat. Killian sat propped against the tree, his breathing ragged, his wrists still bound with coarse rope. Lucian loomed over him, a storm of tension radiating from his frame. I stood a few steps back, my blade still in hand, my mind spinning with Killian’s words. *They want you most of all.*“Why me?” I asked, my voice cutting through the stillness. It came out sharper than I meant, but I didn’t care. I needed answers.Killian’s head tilted toward me, his bruised face catching the faint light filtering through the trees. “Because you’re the key,” he said, his voice rough but steady. “The Bloodfangs don’t just want revenge on Lucian. They want control—over this pack, over the region. And you? You’re the leverage.”Lucian’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t interrupt. His eyes stayed locked on Killian, dark and unreadable.“Leverage for what?” I