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
The car slowed to stop before a grand mansion; stone façade drenched in golden light by the ornate fixtures that ran along the length of the driveway. Amara stepped out first, heels clicking confidently against the marble steps. She looked round at Hadzen and Hannah, who emerged from the car with a fatigue embrace around them both.Get yourselves comfortable," Amara said, sweeping her hand wide as she ushered them through the enormous double doors. Inside, it was lavishly appointed, high ceilings being set off with sparkling crystal chandeliers, marble floors under the lighting gleaming to perfection. Portraits of Amara's family dotted the walls, and the house gave off airs of money that bordered on ostentation.The maid bustled around preparing a grand dining table, full of all manners of dishes: roasted meats, steaming bowls of soup, crunchy salads, and freshly baked bread. The smell rose high, making Hannah's stomach growl loud, despite the previous steamed buns meal. She caught Am
It was a pale gray sky, with the last suggestions of dawn barely beginning to paint the horizon. Hadzen and Hannah emerged from the grand entrance of the mansion, their footsteps echoing across the marble steps. Amara followed behind him, an unreadable expression on her face, curving her lips into a practiced smile."You know," Amara called out, trailing behind them as they made their way across the expansive front lawn, "you can stay here as long as you want. My parents are away for the week, so it's no trouble."Hadzen didn't spare her a glance. His grip on Hannah's hand tightened, and he quickened his pace, practically dragging his sister along. "We're out," he said coldly. "Thank you, but we're leaving."Hannah glanced back at Amara, her mismatched eyes wide and sincere. "Thanks, Amara," she said, waving with her free hand. "See you soon!" There was real gratitude in her voice, but she had to hurry to catch up with her brother, who was already marching toward the edge of the prope
Leo's eyes came alight with dark amusement at the sight of Hadzen and Hannah standing guardatively before him, their anger and fear pouring out of every pore in their bodies. His smile warped into something that was almost gleeful-a predator savoring the fear and anger radiating from his prey."I won't hurt you two," he said, his voice a silky promise of dread. "Not yet, anyway. But them." He let his gaze drift to the two humans who had been stupid enough to follow him. "They are not excluded."One moment Leo was there; the next he had disappeared, his form dissolving into shadowy mist. The next instant found Ralph letting out a terrified, strangled cry as he yanked off the ground. He was flung through the air, his limbs flailing wildly, before crashing into the sprawling boughs of a towering tree. Leaves and twigs rained down around him as he tumbled to the forest floor, groaning in pain.She never had time to scream before Leo materialized beside her, one hand clamping around her th
Quiet streets of Hampton slumbered in a soft, golden light as sunset fell, old cobblestones sketched with shadows. **Sonia** stood in the front yard of her small house with its ivy bed. She worriedly twisted the hem of her dress in her fingertips as her heart thumped in her chest at the uninvited visitor before her: **Dylan**.She'd always been that way, with the shaggy hair, warm brown eyes, and that easy smile that seemed to make the world feel lighter. He was, secretly, everything she kind of admired. Today, however, there had been no smile. Instead, his eyes were all tangled up in worry and disappointment, twisting something inside her."You told Hannah about the human world, didn't you?" Dylan's voice was low, but there was a note of reproach that cut deeper than she had expected.Sonia's shoulders slumped, and she swallowed hard, a guilty feeling creeping over her. She'd thought that surely no one would hear, that she could keep this slip of the tongue to herself. But here stood
Storm clouds hung over Hampton, heavy and thick with an ominous darkness, as if nature herself had paused for breath at what was to come. The night approaching had a heavy smell of wetness; Alpha Alph stood before the entrance of his stronghold with hands clenched at his sides. His look, normally unremitting, was marred with worry as tension strangled the air.Beside him, **Maxine** was as disturbed. She stood tall, but a trembling in her hands belied the fear that she was fighting to keep at bay. Her eyes, golden like the rising sun, were fixed on the horizon, where the moon began to rise. The light that filtered through the clouds had a reddish tint-an ominous sign of the coming Eclipse.They're not back yet," she said, breaking the silence. Her voice was tight and raw with worry. "Hadzen and Hannah… they're still out there and the Eclipse is coming. If we can't bring them back in time…With a sharp exhalation, Alpha Alph's jaw worked: he was fighting to keep his own voices back. "T
### Chapter 59: Fragments of the PastThe darkness of night was making the forest grow darker, shadows stretching long and thin across the mossy ground. Hannah breathed softly. The mist of her breath was visible in the cold air. Every rustle of the leaves or crack of the twig went through Hannah like a shiver of anticipation. Her senses felt heightened, her nerves raw, as though the very forest was holding its breath.They had walked for what felt like hours, the silence between them heavy but not uncomfortable. Hannah's thoughts churned- replaying it all: The argument, the kiss she'd witnessed, and just how Hadzen had reached out and pulled her away from it all. His grip still gentle, even now, though he'd released her once they were far enough to have perhaps avoided the whole debacle.Hannah swallowed, staring at the back of Hadzen's head. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes were focused forward, but his brows creased across his face in concern. It was as if he could feel the tempes
The faint light in the luxurious mansion thrown by Amara made long shadows on the walls, and the room spun a little as she entered the **sala** stumbling under the grip of half an empty bottle of the expensive whiskey. The earlier argument with Ralph was still echoing in her mind. The sorrow and frustration of hurt played in her mind as a broken record that would not let her sleep. She had made him go home, needing to be left alone, needing to douse herself in the numbing abuace of alcohol.Amara crashed onto the plush velvet couch, her designer dress rumpled and makeup slightly smudged. She forced a laugh, took another swig, this time savoring the burn as it chased the ache in her chest away. "Screw it," she muttered under her breath, then fell back on the couch and closed her eyes.The muffled footfalls made her crack an eye open. It took a moment in her haze to process what she was seeing. **Hannah** and **Hadzen** were moving almost silently towards the front door, their movements
It was a sky shrouded in thick, rolling clouds that seemed to darken the shadows over Hampton Pack's territory. It was oppressive-the air heavy, as if all of the forest were holding its breath in anticipation of something calamitous. The ancient trees, once a beacon of protection and strength, now stood silently as sentinels, testifying to the storm brewing within.Inside the stone-built Alpha Hall, in the heart of Hampton, **Maxine** paced back and forth. The always-composed one was upset by the tremendous weight of her worry. Her golden eyes, so vibrant an inheritance of her bloodline, were feral with anxiety as she gripped her fists at her sides. She did look up, however, toward **Alpha Alph**, her husband and the steady leader of their pack."Alph, the door is still not open," she said, her voice stiff with fear. "We have to do something. Hannah and Hadzen are still in the human world, and Leo—Leo is there! We can't let them see each other!" Her voice rose, carrying the desperate
Sunbeams filtering through the windows did little to thaw the chill that had settled in the corridors of Amara's mansion. Hannah—most people knew her as Winter—paused in the hallway, her breath catching on the muffled voices drifting from the kitchen. The raised tones were unmistakable, sharp and brimming with tension, though the words themselves were indistinct. Whatever it was, the anger behind those words was clear, and a shiver ran down her spine.Hannah stood there, fists clenched in her sides, breathing, if one could call it breathing, almost as though her heart were trying to break free within the walls of her ribcage. For the first time that Hannah could remember, the kitchen-the apparent heartbeat of any home-pulsated with discord; warmth and comfort took the place of unrest in this otherwise beloved space. She could feel the weight of the argument, the frustration and hurt that hung thick in the air. Amara and Ralph fought for dominance of voice, their feelings rushing like
The sun rose gradually, casting streaks of gold throughout the woods surrounding Amara's mansion, but this had done little to lighten the tension clinging to the atmosphere like a storm cloud. Everyone was held within one of the mansion's lavishly decorated sitting rooms, and the gilded mirrors with velvet drapes seemed to insist upon the amplification of each whispered argument into a prison, entombing words and reflecting them back to the room's occupants.Ralph stood in the middle of the room, his fists clenched by his sides, frustration festering but not quite bubbling to the surface. He watched Amara pace the floor in her designer boots, their taps on the polished marble tiles like a restless rhythm of someone practicing to believe. She kept her voice down, but her anger bubbled up between them like some live wire.Why not just send them home? Ralph demanded, his voice low but heated. You don't need to keep them here, Amara. What the hell are you doing?Amara shifted toward him,
The evening was filled with a silent tension, one that seemed to cling to the air and press down on everyone. Shadows stretched long across the rooms of Amara's mansion, and the flickering glow of the lanterns served little in putting to flight the unease that had settled in after the events of the forest.Hannah was dog tired, but sleep didn't come easily. She tossed and turned on the couch in one of the guest rooms, her mind replaying the confrontation with the dark figure over and over. Finally, she drifted into a fitful slumber, and soon was consumed by bright, disturbing dreams.She stood suddenly on her balcony. The air felt thick and painfully cold, imposed upon her skin like a tense, clammy caress. From darkness, one shape separated and took form: the man they had seen earlier in her dream. His eyes glittered with secrets only he knew and promises only he could ever keep."Why run from what's inevitable?" he whispered, and his voice sent shivers down her spine."I don't unders
The wind carried scent of pine needles and earth over the aftermath of fear and adrenaline. Hadzen cradled an injured Hannah in his arms, his eyes holding onto Amara's. Ralph groaned, clutching his ribs as he tried to find his balance, with Amara's heart pounding hard in her chest.What was with that creep?" Amara demanded, her voice cutting but laced with fear. "Do you know them?Hadzen's face was a mask of impassivity, no flicker of emotion dancing there to betray his thoughts. His eyes, cool and detached, looked at Ralph for a moment before he replied, "We do not know him." His voice was calm, almost indifferent, as if the chaos and danger they'd just faced were nothing more than a mild inconvenience.Her eyes softened as she viewed Hannah, almost unconscious. "Come on," Amara sighed, turning to lead the way. "You all can stay at my place. It's safer there.".Hadzen neither thanked her nor gave her any reassurance. He simply carried Hannah in his arms, his face unreadable, and trai