The valley was silent now, the stones dark, their runes extinguished, but the air still felt charged, like the Veil itself was holding its breath. The mark on my chest pulsed faintly, a lingering echo of her—my shadow, my twin—retreated but not gone. The dagger hung at my hip, its hum subdued but alive, a reminder of the power we’d barely contained. The bond with Lucian thrummed—his steady heartbeat, my restless resolve, our shared need to keep moving. We’d stopped her here, but the glimpses of that city beyond the Veil—its glowing spires, its watching figures—clawed at my mind, demanding answers.Lucian stood beside me, his blade sheathed, blood crusted on his arm, his silver eyes scanning the valley for threats. “We can’t stay,” he said, his voice low, rough from the fight. “The pack needs us, but that city—”“It’s where she’s hiding,” I finished, my voice steady despite the churn in my gut. “And where I came from.”The words felt like a confession, raw and heavy. The flashes I’d se
The bridge swayed under our feet, a fragile thread of light stretching across the chaotic void, where stars bled into shadows and the Veil pulsed like a wounded heart. The city’s black spire loomed behind us, its crystal facets drinking in the light, while ahead, she stood on the platform—my shadow, my twin, her smile a cruel mirror of mine. The cloaked figures flanked her, their faces *mine*, their black eyes gleaming, their chants a low, bone-deep hum that synced with the mark on my chest. The dagger in my hand burned, its symbols flaring, and the bond with Lucian roared—his strength, my defiance, our desperate need to end this—but the city itself seemed to tighten around us, its air thick with her power.Lucian gripped his blade, his body a shield between me and her, blood dripping from his untended wounds. “Stay behind me,” he said, his voice low, taut with fury.“No,” I said, stepping beside him, the dagger’s light cutting through the void’s gloom. “This is mine to finish.”Killi
"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
The bridge swayed under our feet, a fragile thread of light stretching across the chaotic void, where stars bled into shadows and the Veil pulsed like a wounded heart. The city’s black spire loomed behind us, its crystal facets drinking in the light, while ahead, she stood on the platform—my shadow, my twin, her smile a cruel mirror of mine. The cloaked figures flanked her, their faces *mine*, their black eyes gleaming, their chants a low, bone-deep hum that synced with the mark on my chest. The dagger in my hand burned, its symbols flaring, and the bond with Lucian roared—his strength, my defiance, our desperate need to end this—but the city itself seemed to tighten around us, its air thick with her power.Lucian gripped his blade, his body a shield between me and her, blood dripping from his untended wounds. “Stay behind me,” he said, his voice low, taut with fury.“No,” I said, stepping beside him, the dagger’s light cutting through the void’s gloom. “This is mine to finish.”Killi
The valley was silent now, the stones dark, their runes extinguished, but the air still felt charged, like the Veil itself was holding its breath. The mark on my chest pulsed faintly, a lingering echo of her—my shadow, my twin—retreated but not gone. The dagger hung at my hip, its hum subdued but alive, a reminder of the power we’d barely contained. The bond with Lucian thrummed—his steady heartbeat, my restless resolve, our shared need to keep moving. We’d stopped her here, but the glimpses of that city beyond the Veil—its glowing spires, its watching figures—clawed at my mind, demanding answers.Lucian stood beside me, his blade sheathed, blood crusted on his arm, his silver eyes scanning the valley for threats. “We can’t stay,” he said, his voice low, rough from the fight. “The pack needs us, but that city—”“It’s where she’s hiding,” I finished, my voice steady despite the churn in my gut. “And where I came from.”The words felt like a confession, raw and heavy. The flashes I’d se
The storm raged on, rain pounding us into the mountainside, lightning cracking like it was tearing the sky apart. I knelt in the mud, the mark on my chest pulsing, a faint but persistent reminder of her—my shadow, my twin, still alive somewhere beyond the shattered mirror. The dagger hung heavy at my hip, its hum quieter now but not silent, like a warning that refused to fade. The bond with Lucian burned—his heartbeat, my resolve, our shared defiance—but it couldn’t erase the image of her hand on his throat, her smile in my face, the city beyond the Veil calling me *home*.Lucian pulled me to my feet, his hands steady despite the blood streaking his face, his silver eyes fierce. “We need to move,” he said, his voice rough over the wind. “This storm’s hers—she’s still playing games.”I nodded, my wounds screaming—leg, arm, side—but the mark’s burn was worse, a cold fire that felt like her fingers digging into me. Killian staggered up, his staff half-buried in the mud, his face pale bu
Rain lashed the mountainside, turning the rocky path to slick mud as we stumbled away from the Rift. Lightning split the sky, illuminating the jagged peaks, and the wind howled, carrying her whisper—it’s just begun. My chest burned where the mark pulsed, a constant reminder of the shadow within me, the Veil’s lock I’d never asked to carry. The dagger, wrapped tightly at my hip, hummed faintly, its weight both anchor and threat. The bond with Lucian thrummed—his strength, my resolve, our shared defiance—but it couldn’t drown out the truth clawing at me: It wasn’t just pack. I was something else, something ancient, and it terrified me.Lucian led, his blade sheathed but his hand never far from it, his silver eyes scanning the storm for threats. Blood crusted his arm, his wounds barely tended, but he moved like nothing could stop him. I matched his pace, my leg aching, the stitches pulling with every step. Killian trudged beside me, his staff sinking into the mud, his face grim, no trace
The stair spiraled into darkness, each step a plunge into the unknown, the air growing colder, heavier, like it was pressing secrets into my skin. The dagger’s faint glow was our only light, its symbols flickering in time with the mark on my chest, a twin pulse that made my stomach churn. The bond with Lucian burned—his resolve a steel thread, my fear a tangled knot—but it held us together as we descended, the shrine’s hum fading above, replaced by a low, rhythmic chant echoing below. Her voice wove through it, not mocking now, but calling, pulling, like a tide I couldn’t resist.Lucian led, his blade drawn, his free hand brushing mine with every step, a silent promise—I’m here. Killian followed, his staff tapping the stone, his breaths sharp in the silence. Mara brought up the rear, her knife glinting, her eyes scanning the shadows that seemed to shift, alive, watching. My wounds ached—leg dragging, side throbbing—but the mark’s burn drowned it out, her presence growing stronger, cl
The mark on my chest burned like a brand, a pulsing reminder of her—of me—as we pushed toward the Rift. The mountains loomed sharper now, their peaks stabbing the bruised sky, clouds churning with a storm that hadn’t broken but felt alive, watching. My wounds screamed—leg, arm, side—but I forced each step, the bond with Lucian a lifeline, his presence a fire against the cold dread creeping through me. The dagger hung heavy at my hip, its hum a faint echo of her whisper, still clawing at the edges of my mind.Lucian led the way, his blade drawn, his silver eyes scanning the narrowing pass. Killian flanked me, staff ready, his usual quips silenced by the weight of what we’d seen—the Keeper, the chasm, my shadow self reaching through me. Mara trailed behind, her knife glinting, her breaths sharp but steady despite her injuries. The air was thin, biting, and every gust carried a faint hum, like the mountain itself was singing her song.“We’re close,” Lucian said, his voice low, barely cut
The elders’ fires cast long shadows across the Hollows, but they couldn’t chase away the cold dread gripping my heart. I sat on a stone bench, the dagger clutched in my trembling hands, its symbols dim but still warm, like a heartbeat. Lucian stood beside me, his hand on my shoulder, the bond a steady pulse—his strength, my fear, our defiance woven tight. But it wasn’t enough to silence the echo of her voice—my voice—claiming me, unraveling me. The mirror, the spiral, the flashes of a ritual I didn’t remember—they weren’t just threats. They were pieces of a truth I couldn’t outrun.Killian paced nearby, his staff tapping restlessly, his bruises stark in the firelight. “So, what—she’s you? Some evil twin? How do we even fight that?” His voice was sharp, frayed, like he was trying to joke but couldn’t find the humor.Mara sat cross-legged, sharpening her knife, her eyes flicking to me. “She’s not her,” she said, quiet but firm. “Not yet.”“Not helping,” I muttered, my throat tight. The
The Hollows glowed under the elders’ fires, their ancient faces carved with shock as we stumbled from the cavern’s mouth, battered and bleeding. My heart pounded, the bond with Lucian a frantic pulse—alive, urgent, but fraying under the weight of what we’d seen. The mirror’s reflection burned in my mind—my face, twisted, marked, hers. The man’s words—the breaking begins with you—clawed at me, a truth I couldn’t unhear. I gripped my blade, its weight the only thing keeping me from unraveling.Lucian’s hand stayed on my arm, his silver eyes searching mine, blood dripping from a fresh cut on his cheek. “You’re okay,” he said, more command than question, but his voice shook, betraying him.“Am I?” I whispered, my voice raw, the bond spiking with my fear. That reflection wasn’t just a trick—it felt real, like a piece of me I didn’t know existed.Killian staggered up, staff in hand, his face pale. “What the hell was that? A cult? Magic? And that mirror—” He cut off, glancing at me, like he
Her words clung to me like damp rot—you’re mine. They echoed as we pushed deeper into the Deadwood, the forest closing around us like a fist. My wounds throbbed—leg, arm, side—but I gritted my teeth, keeping pace with Lucian, the bond a taut thread pulling me forward. The dagger was back in its leather wrap, but its faint hum lingered in my bones, a reminder of the woman’s power, her claim. I didn’t know what she meant, but the way Lucian’s jaw stayed tight, his eyes scanning every shadow, told me he was as shaken as I was.Killian led the way, his staff probing the path, his usual banter replaced by a grim focus. Mara trailed behind, her knife out, her face set despite the bruises darkening her skin. The Deadwood was quieter now, the trees still, but it felt like a held breath, like the forest was waiting for us to slip.“We’re close,” Lucian said, his voice low, breaking the silence. “The Hollows should be just past the ridge.”“Should be,” Killian muttered, glancing back. “This pla