Hannah lay awake and stared up at the ceiling. She just couldn't sleep, her thoughts swirling in her head like leaves on a stormy night. The quiet comfort of her bed, the safe walls of the Hadson pack's territory, suddenly felt restrictive to her. A yearning lay within her, an insistent pull that tugged at her, urging her to go back to the human world. Something had to be understood, something she couldn't quite define.She sat up after tossing and turning for nearly an hour, whispering into the stillness, "I have to see it again… I need to understand."She quietly got out of bed wearing only her hoodie, skinny jeans, and a pair of rubber shoes. She was too discreet to disturb them; hence, she was very silent as she slipped out of the pack grounds and disappeared into the forest.It took some time but soon the dense trees thinned out, and she could view the lights of the city ahead. Hannah filled her lungs with air, and the excitement of embarking into this new world rushed through he
Ralph's hands dropped back to Amara's waist, his lips tracing her neck as he tried to draw her back into the excitement of the moment. But Amara's mind was a far cry from the thrill of their secret tryst. The stark image of Winter's colorless face, the empty look in her mismatched eyes, flashed before her once again and made her shiver involuntarily."Ralph, stop!" She pulled away again, pacing to the other side of the room, her hands clutching her head. "You didn't see her up close like I did. It was her—Winter. I know it was. She looked… changed, but it was her. I'm sure of it."Ralph slumped his head forward onto the back wall, frustration visible on his face as he watched her, rolling his eyes. "Amara you're overthinking things. That girl in that convenience store? She is just some street chick. Winter is gone-she is probably lying in some ditch in that forest if people ever bother looking for her.".Amara shook her head again, trying to keep her voice from shaking with fear. "You
Hadzen sat on his balcony, watching her slip quietly out of her room once again, silhouette barely visible in the moonlight. A nightly ritual it had become, each time, heading in the same direction, to the edge of Hampton grounds where only wolves like them could see the hidden exit."She's up to something," Hadzen murmured, his eyes narrowing. He felt a growing sense of suspicion and curiosity over her nightly excursions. Something about her didn't seem right; not the way it used to be between them. He never entirely trusted her sudden return, and her strange behavior only deepened his doubts.He would, this night, end the mystery. Without a sound, he swiftly and silently out of the room, moving fast in his soundless footfalls to pursue her route. His senses were honed; his glance and keen observation turned razor-sharp as he tracked her - rushing through the darkness like a fox lest he be caught.As they neared the door, Hadzen gritted his teeth. "Does she even know that we're not a
Silver moonlight cut through the silent forest as Hadzen paced, eyes narrowing at the implacable portal that would not yield. He clenched his fists, fighting back the tide of irritation that welled within him."Fuck! I told you not to take your own steps, Balthasar said, edging his voice with icy disdain. "Now look what you've done. We are stuck here."Hannah recoiled at his words, her heart hammering with guilt. She folded her arms around herself as if to keep off the chill of his scorn. "I'm sorry, Hadzen," she whispered quietly and remorsefully. "I just. I wanted to come here and find something important.".Hadzen's cold blue eyes narrowed on her, watching the smallest twitch of her face. His frustration was palpable, an unyielding force that made the air thick. "This is the only door to Hampton, his voice low and bitter. "It doesn't just close on its own. It's not supposed to lock. Do you realize what this means?He strode closer, his form looming over her, his presence as unyield
"Let's go somewhere safer," Hadzen ordered, his voice cold and authoritative, slicing through the tense silence like a blade. "Follow me, and don't do anything stupid.""Y-yes, Hadzen," Hannah replied, her voice hardly above a whisper as she followed close on his heels. It was as if the darkness of the forest were heavy enough to smother, the shadowy branches writhing around them like some sort of living tendrils. Her gaze tracked his back, solid comfort in a world that suddenly seemed far more menacing than she had ever dreamed it would be.Hadzen leapt forward, frustration coursing underneath his protests. His jaw muscles flexed as he muttered to himself, "Dammit. We shouldn't have done this." The portal to Hampton was sealed; and growing unease began to gnaw at him. That wasn't how it was supposed to be, and terribly wrong was definitely all that it was .His mind ran; he tried to think of a way, some way to open the portal. They cannot stay here for much longer; it was too dangero
"Get those clothes," Hadzen told him, pointing a ham-fisted finger at a pair of oversized pants and a baggy shirt that hung loosely over a fence at the back of a small, dilapidated house on the outskirts of the forest. The clothes were too big, were creased badly, and he probably would have hated them if he'd ever had a chance to like anything. His voice was cold, without even a suggestion of patience.She hesitated, her glance jumping between the clothes and her brother. She didn't like sneaking around, though the house seemed quiet enough. She obeyed, pushing the creaking gate open, dashing to grab the clothes, and then hurrying back to hand them to Hadzen, who snatched them wordlessly."Dammit, this place really sucks," Hadzen muttered, shoving his arms into the oversized shirt and pulling the pants on. He fastened them as best he could, though they hung loosely on his lean frame. He looked at himself, scowling.Happy?" he drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. The loose-fitting
The evening air was filled with smells of fried street food and fresh-washed clothes hanging on the clothesline. It was a new world and yet so familiar to Hannah. Her eyes ran over with wonder, and she near bouncy on her toes as she took it all in, the thriving human town as bright as could be with colorful market stalls lining the street, vendors shouting out specials, the sizzle of grilled meat threatening to drown out the sweetness of pastries. She beamed as they walked past the small boutique, her attention caught by the fashionable outfits in the window."Hadzen, look at that!" she exclaimed, pointing at a shimmering dress. "Everything here is so different, but it kind of reminds me of the Hampton. I mean, some of the clothes and foods. the pack used to bring some back, right?"He gave her a cold, sideways glance. His features set in stone, he walked alongside her in silence until he finally sat down on a bench nearby, releasing a deep sigh that indicated he'd had about enough. H
The air grew cold. The distant thrum of traffic and the occasional murmur of people walking by created an atmosphere. Streetlights spilled pools of golden light onto the quiet street where Hadzen and Hannah now stood. Hannah was slowing down, stumbling on a loose cobblestone, catching herself with a wince. She sighed, exhausted, rubbing her throbbing foot."Hadzen," she muttered, her voice barely audible. "My feet. I can't walk anymore."He regarded her, his pale blue eyes narrowing slightly. He did not utter a word but instead glanced at her face; her eyes drooped down with tiredness, her hair clung to the shining forehead that was covered in thin ridges of sweat. His jaw clenched hard, but he did not scold her. Instead, he motioned toward a bench that sat nearby."Sit there and rest," he barked, his voice tough but not ungentle. Hannah nodded happily and shuffled over, dropping down onto the wooden bench. The moment she lay back, her body let go of all tension, and her eyelids close
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