Winter’s P.O.V. Did I just win? The thought echoed in my mind as I walked toward my locker, still buzzing from the announcement. I had been crowned Miss Eastwood 2024—me, Winter, the new girl who had only transferred here a few months ago. The reality of it hadn’t fully sunk in yet. I did it. I beat Marah, I thought, a smile tugging at my lips. The look on her face when they placed that crown on my head was priceless. Every snide comment and cold shoulder she had thrown my way was wiped clean in that one moment. But it wasn’t until I reached my locker that I felt the need to pinch myself. Eastwood University was a new world—new people, new struggles, and of course, Marah, the queen bee. From the moment I stepped onto this campus, she saw me as a threat. And now, I had proven her right. I wasn’t just another girl to be pushed aside. It was Winter, and I was here to stay. Ever since I was little, my mom always e
Winter P.O.V It was heavy and thick, alive with eerie silence, as if night swallowed up my desperate cries. The throat was burning from screaming, yet I couldn't stop. The ropes cut into my wrists, bringing unbearable pain with each heartbeat. I fought, what felt like hours, but could do no more. Rough tree bark scraped my back, each slight movement sending waves of fresh agony through my body. "Help! Does anybody hear me? Please!" My voice was hoarse, catching in my throat with fear and exhaustion. The woods around me were oppressively still, as if the trees were mocking my helplessness. The silence smothered me, weighing upon my chest like some physical weight, and I felt the creeping dread that nobody was coming. I tried again, turning my wrists to get free, but the ropes only dug deeper. My fingers were numb and a deep ache had found a home in my shoulders. And then the cold, pitiless thought began to seep into my mind that I might just truly be alone out h
Early morning rays struggled through the trees as Alpha Alph, along with his friends, emerged from a thick forest, carrying Winter's unconscious form toward their pack's territory. The pack members in the clearing fell silent at the sight of their Alpha approaching them with the injured woman. Whispers of concern and curiosity rippled through the crowd while their eyes followed the procession in a mixture of awe and apprehension. Alph's face was set in a determined mold as he carefully carried Winter towards the pack's main dwelling-a huge, rustic structure built with the traditional craftsmanship of their kind. The air was heavy with fresh pine and earth, comforting compared to the dark woods they had left. The pack's healer, an elderly woman with sharp eyes and a kind face, was already waiting. "Trevor, fetch the healer," Alph instructed an undercurrent of urgency threaded in his tone. Trevor responded quickly, all but running as he ye
Hadzen P.O.V The cool evening breeze caressed my face as I walked onto the balcony. My mother, Maxine, was standing there, her arms crossed, her body tense with impatience. Her eyes were on me, a constant reminder of the pressure that she placed upon my shoulders. It had become an obsession for her this search for my sister and I knew all too well the weight of her expectations. I walked with a premeditated elegance, every step a carefully balanced expression of restraint. I was my father's son eyes cut from glass, face chiseled from rock. Where my father's gaze was warm, mine was cold: a shield against the world, and more important, against my mother's relentless demands. "Where did you go?" Her voice cut through the air, sharp, pointedly accusatory. It was a familiar tone, one which had almost become a backdrop to my life. "Training," I said with an even voice, a hint of not caring slithering in, trying to sound emotionless. I knew
Hannah P.O.V Tonight was supposed to be the beginning: of my new life. I wore a simple white dress and stood clutching the smallest bouquet, with the weight of the moment settling over me. "Victor," I breathed low, my voice mere nothing as I gazed at the minuscule gathering before me. His family was all there, his mom, dad, and uncle. My heart leaped with the excitement of finally marrying the man I love. We had chosen a quiet, way out from the packs ruling within Hampton's door. It was supposed to be safe here, safe from that world's dangers, living among humans where we could just. Exist. As I looked up, a smile crept onto my lips as I saw Victor stand up at the altar, waiting for me. He seemed so perfect, full of surety regarding everything. For the first time in a long while, I could see peace hold any chances. Our ceremony was simple yet stunningly beautiful: no politics, no wars—just us, and love. But the thump of heavy paws in the distance made my spine ting
Hannah's P.O.VThe pounding music filled the lavish hall, making me warm like a blanket, but inside, I was far from comfortable. It was some sort of celebration, a reunion, but the bright lights and laughter only forced the swirling confusion that marred my mind further. After all those lost years, I had at last been found, but happiness that everyone expected made me feel that it was hiding in a distant corner of my dreams. I could not even remember their names. Neither could I recall my name.I stood there, with what looked like a gown draped over my body. I could feel the pride coming from Maxine, who stood beside me."Everyone, this is Hannah!" Maxine declared brightly and in control. My heart was running because of the attention; it was anxiety and excitement all over my senses. She said she is my mother. Can't lie, she is kind and a goddess.And then, out of the blue, there was Hadzen. He stepped into the room with an air of ice in every step; his gaze cut across to me and stopp
Hannah's P.O.V ---- I gasped letting in the cool night air, stepping out of the mansion. The celebration was over; the grandeur faded away into the quiet hum of the crickets and the distant sound of the sea. I rested my weight on the marble railing and looked out to the yellow moon glowing above. Everything felt surreal, like a dream I couldn't wake up from. My eyes drifted back toward the mansion-the place I was meant to call home. How could it feel like home when I barely recognize myself anymore? The laughter and chatter that had pervaded the earlier moments seemed now just echoes in my mind. The questions swarmed in my mind like bees: Who was that girl before all of this? What kind of girl was she? And why were my memories of those pieces stuck in the past, locked away, unwilling to reveal? Every time I saw Hadzen, something inside me stirred. This was a mixture of fear and curiosity and something else that I could not understand. He is my brother; yet somehow,
The cold wind brushed against her face as she felt the ropes dig into her wrists. Hannah struggled to breathe, every gasp sharp with pain. She glanced at the girls surrounding her, their eyes glinting with malice. “We shall see whether the rumors about Hampton are true,” one of the girls sneered. Her voice was high and mocking, the kind that made Hannah’s stomach churn. “See you tomorrow.” “Or maybe we’ll just see your corpse,” another one laughed, sending chills down her spine. The world around her dimmed, the dark shadows swallowing her whole. A whirl of images flashed before her eyes—pain, desperation, and then, abruptly, a different scene. “Will you marry me?” a man’s voice echoed, warm and hopeful. He held a ring, its diamond gleaming in the sunlight, while the woman in front of him knelt amidst the flowers, dirt smudging her cheeks. “Yes! I do!” she cried, joy overflowing in her voice. “Victor!” Hannah woke with a start, sweat beading on her forehead. She sat up, c
The glow of the ancient door receded into the darkness, and the power left it was like a protective shield over those gathered in the clearing. The door swung all the way open and a voice thundered through the silence. "Hannah!" Maxine's voice stabbed with worry; her silhouette on the dim light of the doorway.Hannah spun, and tears streamed down her face as she saw her mother step into the clearing, flanked by Alpha Alph and several members of the Hampton pack. Their presence intimidated her: strength pulsed out in waves."Mom!" Hannah called out, her voice breaking as she stumbled toward Maxine.The smirk vanished off Ronald's face the moment he laid eyes on them. He slid back one step and his boldness crumbled at the sight of a pack. His eyes darted between Maxine and Alph, the ferocious leaders who made even the sturdiest foes bend over their knees."Dammit," he cursed under his breath. With no hesitation, he ordered to the few wolves left, "Retreat!The wolves scattered like shad
The night cast an eerie stillness in the forest, but the crimson glow of the full moon was radiant as it hung low in the blood-stained sky. Its wide face cast creepy shadows on the forest floor, and the air was heavy with an impending sense of doom that neither Hadzen nor Hannah could ignore."Let's just wait here," Hadzen muttered, breaking the tense silence. His voice was gruff, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon. "We don't want to go back to that crazy woman." Hannah glanced at her brother, perplexed. "What are you talking about?"Hadzen's jaw clenched as he let out a frustrated huff. "Amara," he said begrudgingly, his mind flashing all too briefly back to her earlier antics. Her sudden kiss had caught him off guard and made him annoyed and more than a little flustered. "You know what she did earlier… never mind. It's not important."She gazed at him questioningly, then decided not to inquire any further. There was something in Hadzen's stance and the far-off look in his eyes t
The dimly lit room in the Hampton mansion was full of solemnity. Ancient artifacts in the pack's history surrounded Alpha Alph as he stood before the pedestal that housed the key. It was no ordinary key—the design was intricate, engraved with symbols of unity and strength, and it radiated a faint, mystical glow.Alph stared at it, feeling the weight of the decision crushing down on him. This was the key that could open the gates of Hampton - they had been the gates securing their territory for generations. Once opened, though, they could never be closed again: the magic that bound the gates was total; the decision was irrevocable.His hand floated over the key. **Was it the right decision?** He knew what the consequences of opening the gates meant: to let the world come in, making his pack vulnerable to enemies such as Leo. But the eclipse essence was close to awakening; Maxine needed every advantage to safeguard it.Alph's mind swirled. He could not fail her. He could not fail the fa
The moon was heavy in the sky, its silvery radiance pouring across the scorched land where Hannah and Hadzen waited. Charged air imponderable held its breath. Hadzen stood against jagged rock, his sharp eyes ranging across the ground, every muscle in his body tense. He didn't trust silence. Silence was dangerous-a precursor to chaos. Hannah sat beside him, her arms wrapped tight around her knees, eyes pinned on the door to Hampton. She could see it looming there, ancient and unyielding, its runes faintly glowing in the darkness. Hours had passed, yet no sign of the barrier opening showed in the distance. Her chest was tightening with frustration and helplessness. Hadzen's impatience she could feel like a storm, brewing up beside her. Hadzen finally broke the silence, his voice sharp and cold. "How long are we supposed to sit here? This isn't going to open itself, Hannah gazed at him but said nothing. She really had nothing to say. How would she know? That she didn't know? That she
The quiet streets of Hampton slumbered in a soft, golden light as sunset fell, old cobblestones painted with shadows. Sonia stood in the front yard of her small house, twisting the hem of her dress round and round with her fingers as her heart thudded in her chest. Across from her stood Dylan, his presence commanding and steady as always, except tonight his warmth seemed absent."You told Hannah about the human world, didn't you?" His voice wasn't loud, but the disappointment in it struck harder than any shout.Sonia looked away, guilt pooling in her chest. Her words felt small as she spoke. "I… I didn't mean to make things worse."Dylan's brow furrowed, and for a moment, he said nothing. That silence made her fidget, her fingers twisting harder at the fabric of her dress. "You do realize what you've done?" he asked finally, breaking the quiet. "Hannah already questions everything: her memories, her identity. The human world is just another baffling addition."I know!" Sonia's voice c
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