Sera"So you heard about the eclipse," Madison said as I approached her. I nodded, hugging the backpack containing my parents book to my chest. Since I'd picked it up at the alley, I'd been wary of losing it again. The mystery of how it had burned iny house but still somehow been delivered back to me still haunted me. Too many mysteries haunted me at this point. I couldn't think about them now though. Even though every part of me rebelled at the thought of wasting another day in a damned cafe while Rose was getting farther and farther away from me, I knew that I'd be no use to her tonight. "The answers you seek are on this ground," I muttered under my breath, staring around the zoo. I didn't even know the questions I was supposed to be asking anymore, not to talk of the answers. I shook my head, shutting down that line of reasoning. Madison and I made our way to the cage in relative silence. The two times I'd come to this zoo in search of answers, it had only ended with more ques
Sera"Wake up," a voice whispered urgently in my head.I came to with a gasp, jerking upright and gasping for air. I stared around, trying to determine where I was. It was barely dawn, the skies still a little bit dark, and the moon starting to sink below the horizon.I tried to climb to my feet, but ended up stumbling to the ground, feeling too weak and drained. What the hell was going on?My memories were foggy at best, but I could remember going to the zoo, and then_Oh goddess.I jumped to my feet, sudden energized. I needed to figure out where I was and how I'd gotten here. I had a feeling I knew how I had gotten here though, the main question was how much damage had I done."The beast went this way!" I heard someone cry, "I can see it's footprints."I held my breath as I heard the sound of boots crunching against dried leaves and twigs. And then I saw flash lights waving around. People
Sera"Wake up," a voice whispered urgently in my head. I came to with a gasp, jerking upright and gasping for air. I stared around, trying to determine where I was. It was barely dawn, the skies still a little bit dark, and the moon starting to sink below the horizon. I tried to climb to my feet, but ended up stumbling to the ground, feeling too weak and drained. What the hell was going on? My memories were foggy at best, but I could remember going to the zoo, and then_Oh goddess. I jumped to my feet, sudden energized. I needed to figure out where I was and how I'd gotten here. I had a feeling I knew how I had gotten here though, the main question was how much damage had I done. "The beast went this way!" I heard someone cry, "I can see it's footprints." I held my breath as I heard the sound of boots crunching against dried leaves and twigs. And then I saw flash lights waving around. People were coming this way and apparently, they were in search of a beast. There was no need t
"Wake up," a voice whispered urgently in my head. I came to with a gasp, jerking upright and gasping for air. I stared around, trying to determine where I was. It was barely dawn, the skies still a little bit dark, and the moon starting to sink below the horizon. I tried to climb to my feet, but ended up stumbling to the ground, feeling too weak and drained. What the hell was going on? My memories were foggy at best, but I could remember going to the zoo, and then_ Oh goddess. I jumped to my feet, sudden energized. I needed to figure out where I was and how I'd gotten here. I had a feeling I knew how I had gotten here though, the main question was how much damage had I done. "The beast went this way!" I heard someone cry, "I can see it's footprints." I held my breath as I heard the sound of boots crunching against dried leaves and twigs. And then I saw flash lights waving around. People were coming this way and apparently, they were in search of a beast. There was no nee
Sera"So you heard about the eclipse," Madison said as I approached her. I nodded, hugging the backpack containing my parents book to my chest. Since I'd picked it up at the alley, I'd been wary of losing it again. The mystery of how it had burned iny house but still somehow been delivered back to me still haunted me. Too many mysteries haunted me at this point. I couldn't think about them now though. Even though every part of me rebelled at the thought of wasting another day in a damned cafe while Rose was getting farther and farther away from me, I knew that I'd be no use to her tonight. "The answers you seek are on this ground," I muttered under my breath, staring around the zoo. I didn't even know the questions I was supposed to be asking anymore, not to talk of the answers. I shook my head, shutting down that line of reasoning. Madison and I made our way to the cage in relative silence. The two times I'd come to this zoo in search of answers, it had only ended with more que
Sera "So you heard about the eclipse," Madison said as I approached her. I nodded, hugging the backpack containing my parents book to my chest. Since I'd picked it up at the alley, I'd been wary of losing it again. The mystery of how it had burned iny house but still somehow been delivered back to me still haunted me. Too many mysteries haunted me at this point. I couldn't think about them now though. Even though every part of me rebelled at the thought of wasting another day in a damned cafe while Rose was getting farther and farther away from me, I knew that I'd be no use to her tonight. "The answers you seek are on this ground," I muttered under my breath, staring around the zoo. I didn't even know the questions I was supposed to be asking anymore, not to talk of the answers. I shook my head, shutting down that line of reasoning. Madison and I made our way to the cage in relative silence. The two times I'd come to this zoo in search of answers, it had only ended with m
The atmosphere in the banquet hall was electric, a stark contrast to the tense exchange I had just had with Roy and Shayla. As Jax led me through the opulent space, I couldn’t help but marvel at the elegant décor—crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, casting a warm glow over the gathered guests. The scent of gourmet food wafted through the air, mingling with the soft hum of laughter and conversation. It was like stepping into a different world. “Do you see that table?” Jax pointed to a long table adorned with an impressive spread of delicacies and surrounded by the elite members of the pack. “That’s where the Alphas and their betas are seated. I want you to meet them.” My heart raced. Would they see me as an outsider? Just moments ago, I had been nothing more than a target for ridicule. Now, I was stepping into a world filled with power and prestige, all thanks to Jax. I swallowed hard, my stomach fluttering with nerves. “I’m not sure I’m ready for this,” I confessed,
The first thing I noticed was the cold. It wrapped around me, heavy and unforgiving. The air smelled damp, thick with dust and something metallic. My body ached, my head pounding like a hammer was inside it. When I tried to move, my arms wouldn’t even budge. Panic crawled up my throat. I forced my eyes open. Darkness. A single dim light flickered above, its glow barely reaching the corners of the room. The walls were made of concrete, cracked and stained with things I didn’t want to think about. My breath came out in short, shallow gasps, fogging up the cold air. I tried to move again, but something tugged at my wrists. Tied. My arms were pulled behind me, thick ropes digging into my skin. My ankles were bound too, tight enough that I could feel the circulation slowing. I swallowed hard. My mouth was dry, my throat sore. The last thing I remembered was answering Sebastian’s call. Then the door had swung open -figures moving fast - hands grabbing me - something covering my mo
The first thing I noticed was the cold. It wrapped around me, heavy and unforgiving. The air smelled damp, thick with dust and something metallic. My body ached, my head pounding like a hammer was inside it. When I tried to move, my arms wouldn’t even budge. Panic crawled up my throat. I forced my eyes open. Darkness. A single dim light flickered above, its glow barely reaching the corners of the room. The walls were made of concrete, cracked and stained with things I didn’t want to think about. My breath came out in short, shallow gasps, fogging up the cold air. I tried to move again, but something tugged at my wrists. Tied. My arms were pulled behind me, thick ropes digging into my skin. My ankles were bound too, tight enough that I could feel the circulation slowing. I swallowed hard. My mouth was dry, my throat sore. The last thing I remembered was answering Sebastian’s call. Then the door had swung open -figures moving fast - hands grabbing me - something cove
The first thing I noticed was the cold. It wrapped around me, heavy and unforgiving. The air smelled damp, thick with dust and something metallic. My body ached, my head pounding like a hammer was inside it. When I tried to move, my arms wouldn’t even budge. Panic crawled up my throat. I forced my eyes open. Darkness. A single dim light flickered above, its glow barely reaching the corners of the room. The walls were made of concrete, cracked and stained with things I didn’t want to think about. My breath came out in short, shallow gasps, fogging up the cold air. I tried to move again, but something tugged at my wrists. Tied. My arms were pulled behind me, thick ropes digging into my skin. My ankles were bound too, tight enough that I could feel the circulation slowing. I swallowed hard. My mouth was dry, my throat sore. The last thing I remembered was answering Sebastian’s call. Then the door had swung open -figures moving fast - hands grabbing me - something covering my mo
The atmosphere in the banquet hall was electric, a stark contrast to the tense exchange I had just had with Roy and Shayla. As Jax led me through the opulent space, I couldn’t help but marvel at the elegant décor—crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, casting a warm glow over the gathered guests. The scent of gourmet food wafted through the air, mingling with the soft hum of laughter and conversation. It was like stepping into a different world. “Do you see that table?” Jax pointed to a long table adorned with an impressive spread of delicacies and surrounded by the elite members of the pack. “That’s where the Alphas and their betas are seated. I want you to meet them.” My heart raced. Would they see me as an outsider? Just moments ago, I had been nothing more than a target for ridicule. Now, I was stepping into a world filled with power and prestige, all thanks to Jax. I swallowed hard, my stomach fluttering with nerves. “I’m not sure I’m ready for this,” I confessed,
Sera "So you heard about the eclipse," Madison said as I approached her. I nodded, hugging the backpack containing my parents book to my chest. Since I'd picked it up at the alley, I'd been wary of losing it again. The mystery of how it had burned iny house but still somehow been delivered back to me still haunted me. Too many mysteries haunted me at this point. I couldn't think about them now though. Even though every part of me rebelled at the thought of wasting another day in a damned cafe while Rose was getting farther and farther away from me, I knew that I'd be no use to her tonight. "The answers you seek are on this ground," I muttered under my breath, staring around the zoo. I didn't even know the questions I was supposed to be asking anymore, not to talk of the answers. I shook my head, shutting down that line of reasoning. Madison and I made our way to the cage in relative silence. The two times I'd come to this zoo in search of answers, it had only ended with m
Sera"So you heard about the eclipse," Madison said as I approached her. I nodded, hugging the backpack containing my parents book to my chest. Since I'd picked it up at the alley, I'd been wary of losing it again. The mystery of how it had burned iny house but still somehow been delivered back to me still haunted me. Too many mysteries haunted me at this point. I couldn't think about them now though. Even though every part of me rebelled at the thought of wasting another day in a damned cafe while Rose was getting farther and farther away from me, I knew that I'd be no use to her tonight. "The answers you seek are on this ground," I muttered under my breath, staring around the zoo. I didn't even know the questions I was supposed to be asking anymore, not to talk of the answers. I shook my head, shutting down that line of reasoning. Madison and I made our way to the cage in relative silence. The two times I'd come to this zoo in search of answers, it had only ended with more que
"Wake up," a voice whispered urgently in my head. I came to with a gasp, jerking upright and gasping for air. I stared around, trying to determine where I was. It was barely dawn, the skies still a little bit dark, and the moon starting to sink below the horizon. I tried to climb to my feet, but ended up stumbling to the ground, feeling too weak and drained. What the hell was going on? My memories were foggy at best, but I could remember going to the zoo, and then_ Oh goddess. I jumped to my feet, sudden energized. I needed to figure out where I was and how I'd gotten here. I had a feeling I knew how I had gotten here though, the main question was how much damage had I done. "The beast went this way!" I heard someone cry, "I can see it's footprints." I held my breath as I heard the sound of boots crunching against dried leaves and twigs. And then I saw flash lights waving around. People were coming this way and apparently, they were in search of a beast. There was no nee
Sera"Wake up," a voice whispered urgently in my head. I came to with a gasp, jerking upright and gasping for air. I stared around, trying to determine where I was. It was barely dawn, the skies still a little bit dark, and the moon starting to sink below the horizon. I tried to climb to my feet, but ended up stumbling to the ground, feeling too weak and drained. What the hell was going on? My memories were foggy at best, but I could remember going to the zoo, and then_Oh goddess. I jumped to my feet, sudden energized. I needed to figure out where I was and how I'd gotten here. I had a feeling I knew how I had gotten here though, the main question was how much damage had I done. "The beast went this way!" I heard someone cry, "I can see it's footprints." I held my breath as I heard the sound of boots crunching against dried leaves and twigs. And then I saw flash lights waving around. People were coming this way and apparently, they were in search of a beast. There was no need t
Sera"Wake up," a voice whispered urgently in my head.I came to with a gasp, jerking upright and gasping for air. I stared around, trying to determine where I was. It was barely dawn, the skies still a little bit dark, and the moon starting to sink below the horizon.I tried to climb to my feet, but ended up stumbling to the ground, feeling too weak and drained. What the hell was going on?My memories were foggy at best, but I could remember going to the zoo, and then_Oh goddess.I jumped to my feet, sudden energized. I needed to figure out where I was and how I'd gotten here. I had a feeling I knew how I had gotten here though, the main question was how much damage had I done."The beast went this way!" I heard someone cry, "I can see it's footprints."I held my breath as I heard the sound of boots crunching against dried leaves and twigs. And then I saw flash lights waving around. People
Sera"So you heard about the eclipse," Madison said as I approached her. I nodded, hugging the backpack containing my parents book to my chest. Since I'd picked it up at the alley, I'd been wary of losing it again. The mystery of how it had burned iny house but still somehow been delivered back to me still haunted me. Too many mysteries haunted me at this point. I couldn't think about them now though. Even though every part of me rebelled at the thought of wasting another day in a damned cafe while Rose was getting farther and farther away from me, I knew that I'd be no use to her tonight. "The answers you seek are on this ground," I muttered under my breath, staring around the zoo. I didn't even know the questions I was supposed to be asking anymore, not to talk of the answers. I shook my head, shutting down that line of reasoning. Madison and I made our way to the cage in relative silence. The two times I'd come to this zoo in search of answers, it had only ended with more ques