The moment stretches long, tension hanging heavy in the air as I stare at the figure standing in the doorway. My heart races, but I keep my face blank, refusing to show any hint of the storm brewing inside me. Cheryl grips my arm tighter from behind, and I can feel her fear through our bond—a sharp, icy pulse that matches the growing unease in my gut.Raina steps into the cabin again, somehow having fled during the previous altercation, her eyes cold and calculating, a stark contrast to the warmth and familiarity they used to hold. She looks almost alien now, a stranger in the skin of someone I once knew. The air between us crackles with unspoken accusations, with the weight of betrayal that neither of us has yet to voice.“You need to leave Raina, not because I care about you anymore but because I know what seeing you will do to Callum” I demand, my voice low and dangerous. I can’t afford to let her see the full extent of my fury, not yet.She closes the door behind her with delibera
The old sawmill looms ahead, a shadowed relic of another time, its rusted metal and decaying wood creaking in the night wind. My heart pounds in my chest, each step forward feeling like I’m walking into a dark abyss. Luke is beside me, his presence a steadying force, but there’s an edge to his calm—an unspoken fear that mirrors my own. Raina leads the way, her figure barely visible in the dim light filtering through the trees. I can sense her unease, the weight of whatever guilt she carries bearing down on her with every step. The tension between the three of us is thick, an unspoken mix of distrust, fear, and desperation.When we finally reach the sawmill, the silence is deafening. I can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong. Luke’s grip on my hand tightens, and I know he feels it too. Raina hesitates at the entrance, her breath coming in quick, shallow bursts. I watch her closely, the way her eyes dart around, scanning the area like she’s expecting something—anything.“This is
The room is thick with tension, the air heavy with everything that’s just been revealed. Raina sits on the floor, her knees drawn up to her chest, trembling. Callum hovers nearby, his face a mask of pain and confusion. I stand by Luke, my heart pounding in my chest as I try to process the whirlwind of emotions swirling around me.Raina’s sobs echo through the room, raw and unrestrained, each one a dagger to the heart. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen,” she chokes out, her voice ragged. “I never wanted to hurt anyone… I swear it.”I glance at Luke, who is as tense as a coiled spring. His jaw is set, his eyes hard, but there’s a flicker of something softer beneath the surface. Understanding, maybe. Or pity. I’m not sure which, and I don’t know if it even matters right now.“Raina,” I say softly, taking a tentative step toward her. “We know you didn’t want this. But we need to know everything—every detail that might help us stop them.”She looks up at me, her eyes bloodshot and h
The night air is crisp and cold as Cheryl and I carefully maneuver Raina through the dense forest. The tension between us is palpable, the weight of recent events hanging heavily over our heads. We’re all acutely aware of the stakes, and every sound seems magnified in the stillness of the woods.The figure steps into the light, and my heart skips a beat as I recognize the face of Donovan—the very person we’ve been trying to outmaneuver.“Didn’t expect to find you here,” Donovan says, his voice dripping with cold amusement. “But it seems I’ve stumbled upon a little family reunion.”Before I can react, Donovan’s gaze sweeps over the room, settling on Raina with a look of twisted satisfaction. “So, the traitor returns to her old friends,” he says, his tone mocking. “And here I was thinking we’d have to go looking for her. It seems you’re all so eager to make this easy for me.”Panic surges through me as I exchange a glance with Cheryl. We’re caught off guard, and Donovan’s presence is a
The day is heavy with an oppressive sense of urgency. The sky outside is overcast, as if the weather itself is mourning our current predicament. In the pack house, the atmosphere is a mix of anxious anticipation and grim determination. Alpha Cillian has called an emergency meeting with the pack leaders of neighboring territories, and the sense of dread is palpable.I sit in the corner of the room, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The recent attacks, the betrayal of Raina, and the increasing threat from Donovan and his hunters have left us all on edge. Luke is pacing nearby, his face etched with worry as he waits for the other alphas to arrive. His frustration is evident, but he’s trying to maintain a facade of calm for the sake of the pack.Cillian stands at the head of the table, his presence commanding respect and attention. His face is a mask of stoic resolve, but I can see the weight of the situation bearing down on him. The pack’s safety is at stake, and the gravity of the situat
The pack house is a whirlwind of activity. The energy in the air is a blend of urgency and determination as wolves of all ranks prepare for potential threats. Training sessions are in full swing, with pack members honing their combat skills and practicing coordinated maneuvers. The atmosphere is tense, but there's an underlying sense of purpose that drives everyone forward. I’ve moved into the pack house for the time being, a decision Luke and I made after weighing the potential risks of me being alone. The reality of the threat from Donovan and his hunters has sunk in, and the pack is taking every precaution to ensure our safety. Even though the pack house feels like home, with its familiar scents and the comforting presence of Luke, the weight of recent events hangs heavily over me.The first few days have been a blur of activity. I’ve been settling into my new space, trying to adapt to the bustling environment, and doing my best to stay out of the way while the pack trains. It’s c
The sterile smell of the hospital is suffocating. Every beep of the machines and whispered conversation in the corridor feels like an intrusion into the fragile bubble of hope I’m trying to maintain. My father’s surgery is over, and the doctors have given us a glimmer of good news—his condition is stable, but it’s still critical. The uncertainty hangs heavy in the air. My mother is seated across from me, her eyes red from crying, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. We haven’t spoken much since the doctor’s update, the tension between us palpable.Finally, the door to the waiting area opens, and the doctor emerges. He looks tired but relieved, his expression a mix of professional detachment and empathy. As he leaves, I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. My mother’s gaze is fixed on the floor, her hands still clutched together. I walk over to her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.“Mom, it’s going to be okay,” I say softly. “Dad’s going to make it through this.”She
The tension in the pack house is palpable. The air is thick with unease as we prepare for what might be another attack. I try to focus on the task at hand, ensuring that our defenses are strengthened and our people are ready. But my mind is preoccupied with Cheryl and the message she received.The pack has been on high alert since the news broke. We’ve increased security measures, setting up additional patrols around the perimeter and reinforcing the cabin’s security. Every member of the pack has been assigned specific duties to ensure we’re prepared for any eventuality. It feels like we’re bracing for a storm that could hit at any moment.In the midst of all this, Raina is being kept hidden from the pack. Callum and I agreed that it’s the best course of action for now, given the volatile situation and the distrust that’s brewing among our people. We’re keeping her in a secure location, away from prying eyes, while we try to make sense of the situation and figure out our next move.I