The morning air was crisp, the sun just peeking over the treetops as I stepped out into the training yard. I could feel the energy of the pack around me, the weight of generations and legacy pressing down like a soft but constant hum. Today was the start of something new—a chance to train and truly prove myself, not just to my family, but to myself.Hadzen stood in the center of the clearing, his arms crossed as he watched me approach. His gaze was assessing, calculating, but there was a glint of something else—something almost encouraging."Ready?" he asked, his tone neutral but somehow warmer than usual.I nodded, feeling a strange mix of anticipation and nervousness fluttering in my chest. “I think so.”Our parents were nearby, standing on the edge of the clearing. Mom looked calm but attentive, her gaze flicking between Hadzen and me. Dad, however, wore a small smile, the kind of look that was both reassuring and a little intimidating. I could tell he was silently judging every mo
Morning crept in gently and golden, shining through the tall windows of the pack's main hall where breakfast had been laid out. I found myself drawn to the lively chatter of the dining area, my thoughts already drifting to the training I would share with Hadzen. He had grown distant lately—especially since Dylan had begun spending more time with me. I take a glance across at him, arms folded, yet his eyes are sharp and focused, but not meeting mine. His usual calm exterior seems colder and more distant. It looks like there is an invisible barrier that has once again gone up between us.I just felt him weighing his gaze upon me and then heard the familiar voice by my side. "'Hannah!' I beamed at the warm, easy smile as Dylan slumped into the seat beside me. 'You game to do some training later? I just can't wait to get it all to you that I picked up while you were off gallivanting in the human world.'"I laughed in response, appreciative of his light-heartedness. "I'm kinda wondering n
It was a fairly sharp morning air, and the thin veiling of mist had yet to rise from the borders of the forest when I walked toward the clearing wherein Dylan had requested me meet him. The yesterday's intense training with Hadzen, and the since distance he'd kept, were surely stirring within my breast a mix of tension and apprehension, but this small escape seemed much needed. Maybe I needed space; maybe I needed room to breathe, to take a step away from everything and then exhale slowly. Or maybe, if I was being honest with myself, I just wanted to be around someone who made things simple.As I drew closer to the clearing, Dylan was leaning against a tree with a goofy grin playing across his lips and his arms crossed. "Thought you might bail on me," he teased, pushing off from the tree and standing upright.Not a chance, I said, trying to catch his light-hearted mood. 'I could use a break from everything.'.He laughed, pulling us into the woods, deeper into the area, away from the w
As we walked back from the clearing, I couldn't help sneaking these sideways glances at Hadzen, studying his face. His expression was still as guarded as ever, a mask of calm that only touched his eyes occasionally. That tension between him and Dylan had hung in the air, an almost material presence. I did not know what was going on, but it felt keenly in my chest-an unease I couldn't shake.Finally, as we came closer to the main path, I said, "Hadzen… are you and Dylan okay?"He didn't answer me. His eyes straight forward. "We're fine."There was finality to the sentence, like that was said. Still, something in his voice doesn't seem right to me, and I knew he wasn't truthful with me. I went forward, hesitant but determined."Are you sure? Because it feels like there's something between you two… something unresolved."Hadzen's jaw tensed, and for a second, I thought he might shut down completely. Then he exhaled softly and cast me a glance from the corner of his eye. "Dylan and I have
### Chapter 23Hadzen and Hannah trained in a clearing, the morning sun filtering down through the tree canopy to light up their sparring practice at every slight shift of light: challenge, mistrust, and something unspoken now hanging in the air.Hadzen circled Hannah, his eyes fixed, almost unfocusing. Every move he made seemed deliberate, calculated, as he sized her up, his gaze unyielding. "Your balance," he said in a tone that brooked no argument, "is everything. Without it, any opponent will find an opening.".Her footing shifted, serious concentration etched into her features as she attempted to replicate his shape. She settled down, her eyes snapping with a flicker of determination as she strained on every word, each lesson. Her muscles burned from the exertions, each repetition building on the last, but she held her ground, refused to allow the gnawing exhaustion upon her limbs show.He just watched, arms crossed, his face unreadable. Although she was improving, he remained al
There, in the hallways of Hampton University, the first bell rang through the crowded walkways as the day sprang to life. Hannah pushed through throngs of students with her bag slung over one shoulder. Her mind was already running over the details of her schedule. She had managed to settle into the rhythm of classes, but there was always this lingering feeling that she was somehow out of place. Here, among the crowds of people who would lunch upon her if they knew she was here; here, where she had to hide every shred of her true self, every strength, every instinct particular to herself.The whispering in her belly today made today no different, except for it. Hadzen would always tell her to listen for the whispers, the tightening wound in her chest she tried to push away."Hey, Hannah!" a familiar voice called out from behind her.Hannah turned to see Dylan hurrying through the hallway toward her, his face brightening at the sight of her. She couldn't help but smile; he had become a
As the sun slid beneath the horizon, stretching the shadows down upon the earth, Hannah saw Dylan leaning against the school gate, looking relaxed. He looked up and smiled the moment he laid eyes on her.He stepped off the gate and walked beside her, "On your way home?" he asked.Hannah nodded. "Yeah. Well, I just thought I'd cut through to save some time getting home.".Dylan's eyebrows shot up with a telltale twinkle of amusement. "The shortcut? Through the forest?"She shrugged. "It's faster, and I could use a walk after today."A mischievous glint sparked in his eyes as he stretched out his hand toward her. "Come on, then. I'll walk with you. Besides, I've never seen your wolf before. maybe tonight's the night.".Hannah laughed at his outstretched hand, looking just a little hesitant. "I don't know. I haven't seen myself transform yet."Dylan smirked, holding his hand out in a dramatic gesture. "So then what is it that you're waiting for? Let me give you a little tour of your own
That afternoon Hannah spent in the training area, sunlight filtering through the trees to dapple them on the ground. Maxine had scheduled a family training session for that day, eager to help her and Hadzen sharpen their skills in Eclipse abilities. Truth be said, Hannah was still working with wolf transformation; however, all techniques Maxine and Hadzen seemed to master with ease needed to be mastered themselves by Hannah.Hadzen, as always, stood a few feet away, his arms crossed as he regarded her with a calculating, almost distant gaze. It hadn't taken him long to slip back into guarded mode, given the relatively small period of direct experience shared by them both and the raw emotion of the previous night. Hannah tried to ignore the sting, but part of her reached out for the warmth she'd briefly glimpsed before he turned cold once more.Maxine demonstrated the correct posture to them for one of the moves. "Stay focused, Hannah. This position needs precision and balance. Hadzen,
She closed her eyes tight, felt the stab running through her chest by his claws and the warm spreading blood from her across to his ground below. In reality, Winter's line was blurring, though gritted she would let Leo go nowhere. Hadzen's heart stopped. He saw the whole scene. His mind screamed at him to get up and stop Leo. He could not do that, however. He was stuck in his place by the view of Winter's blood seeping from his body to the floor. In him, anger began to well but panic superseded it. "No!" Winter's faint voice barely reached his ears as he snapped out of his paralysis. She coughed, the breath shallow. "Hadzen… get out of here… run…" Hadzen's legs began moving at a force that he couldn't control. He moved forward with a mind screaming desperately, "Winter!" Leo looked up, his cold stare meeting Hadzen's. For a moment, they locked gazes, a silent challenge between them. But Leo didn't back down. His hand remained deep in Winter's chest, drawing out the power of the
The blood moon deepened, casting an eerie glow across the window of Winter. It bathed her room in crimson light. Hadzen stood by the window, his sharp gaze fixed to the sky, his golden eyes reflecting the ominous red hue that the moon was assuming. Something was wrong. This air felt heavy, charged with unease, and his instincts screamed of danger. It felt unnatural to see how the light spread across the land, like a warning he alone could hear. He had felt this sort of dread before—a feeling of knowing tragedy was about to hit. His jaw clenched up as his fists closed up by his sides. He told himself, This isn't right. This is a sign. He could not resist it; the pull was too great, and he needed to return to the only place that held all the answers-the heart of Hampton. Now, he realized that the chaos he dreaded was no longer an eventuality but rather something that was already in process. Hadzen turned his face from the window; he relaxed his eyes because of what he saw-lies on t
As they stood in front of the modest suburban home, which had a calm appeal due to the fading blue paint on the shutters, Winter’s pulse raced. After exchanging anxious looks, one of her two pals, Crisa and Maris, reached out and pressed the doorbell. Winter’s chest constricted as the bell reverberated throughout the home. She had no idea what to anticipate. She could hardly recall her time here, much less the individuals she may encounter. The woman in her late thirties emerged as the door swung open. Her tired eyes grew wide as they met Winter’s, and her dark hair was pulled back in a loose bun. Her palm gripped the doorframe as though to steady herself, and her lips parted in a wordless gasp. “Winter.” With tears in her eyes, the woman’s voice broke. Unsure of what to say or do, Winter stood motionless. It was hard to ignore the intensity emanating from the woman, even though her face was unfamiliar. “Mom?” Winter hesitated, the word unfamiliar to her. The woman sprang for
The air in Hampton was heavy, the weight of decisions and revelations pressing down on Winter as she stood by the edge of the forest. The towering trees, their roots steeped in ancient magic, seemed to whisper warnings. Leaving the wolf’s sanctuary meant venturing into a world she had only glimpsed through distant memories—a world that neither embraced nor understood the Eclipse essence she now unknowingly carried. Hadzen stood beside her, his presence grounding her. His sharp gaze scanned the horizon, his usual stoic demeanor softened as he glanced her way. “Are you sure about this?” he asked, his voice low, laced with both worry and resolve. Winter tightened her grip on the straps of the bag slung over her shoulder. “I have to be. I need answers, Hadzen. About who I am… about what happened that night.” He nodded, his jaw tightening. “Then I’m coming with you. Whatever we face out there, we face it together.” Winter’s heart fluttered at his words, but she kept her emotions in
The only sound in the room was the gentle rustle of the curtains as a refreshing breeze entered through the open window. The mellow brightness of the candles strewn across the room blended with the moonlight, which created delicate silver streaks over the wooden floor. Curled up against Hadzen’s chest, Winter’s fingers traced languid lines across his exposed flesh. Her movements had a sensitivity that made his heart constrict, even though her touch was light and almost timid. At first, neither of them said anything. The silence was thick and heavy with feelings they weren’t yet ready to express, yet it wasn’t uncomfortable. You wanted to enjoy the moment since you knew it might not happen again, and it was the kind of silence. With his fingers stroking in calming circles, Hadzen’s hand lay gently on Winter’s back. For a minute he closed his eyes and breathed her in, the warmth of her body against his, the subtle lavender perfume in her hair. For as long as possible, he wanted to clin
The Hampton estate was oppressively quiet. Winter was standing by her room’s window, staring off into the huge forest beyond. She was struggling to breathe as the weight of the disclosures from the last few days slammed against her chest. She wasn’t Hannah. She wasn’t the ideal, compassionate, and predestined girl that everyone believed her to be. The delicate strands of her identity had been ripped by that fact, and she felt as though she was coming apart. The door behind her squeaked open. Winter did not arrive. She was not required to. The only person who could break through the jumble of her thoughts was someone she knew. Her voice was firm but scratchy as she replied, “I thought I locked the door.” Hadzen entered, his presence reverberating throughout the space. His golden eyes stared at her silhouetted figure against the faint moonlight for a moment before he spoke. At last, he murmured in a low, gravelly voice, “You did.” “I’m not interested.” The sight of him made Winter’
As they strolled in quiet, the group was bathed in dappled light from the morning sun that filtered through the thick forest canopy. Winter followed Hadzen, her mind still jumbled from the night they’d spent together. She couldn’t deny the throbbing warmth in her heart, which was a maelstrom of perplexity and shame. It was difficult to control the feelings that threatened to overtake her because of the constant cadence of Hadzen’s steps in front of her, which was both consoling and agonizing. “Winter.” Her reverie was interrupted by Hadzen’s forceful yet gentle voice. His keen eyes scanned her face as he paused to walk next to her. “You haven’t said anything.” She shrugged, avoiding his eyes. “I have a lot on my mind.” A slight smile twisted Hadzen’s lips. “You’ve never been adept at controlling your feelings.” His sly gaze caused Winter’s cheeks to heat up. “And your ability to read them is obnoxious.” He answered in a firm yet light tone, “I’d call it a skill.” As the
The silence of the Hampton estate was suffocating. Winter stood by the window of her room, her gaze lost in the vast expanse of the forest beyond. The weight of the revelations from the past few days pressed on her chest, leaving her gasping for air. She wasn’t Hannah. She wasn’t the girl everyone thought she was—perfect, kind, destined. That truth had severed the thin threads of her identity, and she felt like she was unraveling. Behind her, the door creaked open softly. Winter didn’t turn. She didn’t have to. She knew who it was—the only person who could cut through the chaos of her thoughts. “I thought I locked the door,” she said, her voice hoarse but steady. Hadzen stepped inside, his presence filling the room like a storm. He didn’t reply at first, his golden eyes locked on her figure silhouetted against the pale moonlight. “You did,” he finally said, his voice low, gravelly. “I don’t care.” Winter turned to face him, her chest tightening at the sight of him. His hair w
As Winter, Hadzen, Sonia, and Ericka stood close to Hampton’s gates, prepared to go, the early morning air hung thick. With a worried expression on her face, Maxine had observed them from the stairs. She had vehemently opposed Winter’s departure, but it had been hard to deny her resolve. As she pulled Winter into an embrace, Maxine’s voice was tight as she whispered, “Promise me you’ll come back.” Winter held her close and said, “I will, Mom.” The group now stepped into the tree shadows, the forest stretching on forever in front of them. Even though they had no idea where they were going, Hadzen guided them with unwavering assurance and his keen intuition. Winter strolled next to him, the dim light filtering through the thick canopy, almost illuminating her pale complexion. As they moved further, Sonia said, her keen eyes darting about, “This place feels… different.” From the back, Ericka murmured quietly and grimly, “It’s because we’re getting close to the Veil. This i