Kael’s POVThe second I got outside, the cold night air smacked me in the face, like a warning shot. It smelled like rain mixed with something way worse—blood. A storm was coming, and it wasn't just the weather kind. There was a war brewing, but we were almost out of time. If I didn't hurry, a lot of people would get hurt.I was moving fast through the trees. The wolf inside me was growling, like it wanted to get out and fight. My heart was pounding super hard. The vision of Magnus's last move kept repeating in my mind. He'd made it clear what he wanted, but I figured something else was going on. I couldn't put my finger on it. He didn't just want to be in control; I think he was setting a trap, and I can't figure out how to stop him.The sky flashed with lightning, lighting up the path. My group of fighters was already spread out, and their eyes were lit up with excitement for a fight. You could cut the tension in the air with a knife. I don't understand why everyone wants to fight a
Kael’s heart pounded like a war drum as he locked eyes with Magnus. The knife in the Alpha’s hand gleamed in the dim torchlight, its curved blade dripping with something darker than blood—something unnatural. The rune on Amara’s wrist pulsed, its glow intensifying with each passing second. She stood motionless, her body rigid, her eyes empty. It was as if she wasn’t there at all. “Let her go,” Kael growled, his voice low, dangerous. Magnus merely chuckled. “You still don’t understand, do you?” He dragged the tip of the blade along Amara’s wrist, making her shudder. “She belongs to me now.” A snarl ripped from Kael’s throat as he lunged forward, but before he could reach them, Amara suddenly moved. Not of her own free will—but by Magnus’s command. She stepped between them, raising her hands as if to shield Magnus. Kael’s breath caught. “Amara.” She didn’t respond. Instead, she turned to him with vacant, glassy eyes. A stranger wearing her face. Magnus smirked. “You see, Alp
Kael was caught off guard. Magnus's knife flashed, aimed right at his heart. But then, Amara moved quicker than anyone expected. She cried out, a sound ripped from her, throwing herself in the path of the blade; an instinct that Magnus clearly hadn't counted on. The knife went into her side, not Kael's chest.No! Kael yelled, grabbing her as she fell. He pressed his hands against the wound, her blood soaking his fingers. Hot.Magnus stumbled, shocked. That wasn't the plan at all.Amara gasped, shaking. It wasn't just because of the stab wound; something else was going on. The mark on her wrist pulsed weirdly, the light flickering between red and bright white. A strange sound came from her, part pain, but also something deeper.Kael held her tight as a weird feeling passed between them, making his skin rigid . A burning heat seared him. He felt his wolf howl, but not from hurt as such, more like knowing something big.Kael... Amara whispered, her eyes meeting his with a focus not seen
Kael’s POVA jolt of pain shot through my chest as Magnus’s blade came at me. I managed to turn just in time, so instead of going straight through my heart, the cold metal just grazed my ribs. My whole body hurt like crazy, but I kept going. I had to.Amara was standing there like a statue, her eyes totally blank. Her body was stiff from the dark magic controlling her. Magnus grinned, stepping back and twisting the bloody knife in his hand.“Not bad, you’re pretty fast,” he said, checking out the cut he’d made. “But you’re bleeding now. And blood makes people weak.”I clenched my teeth, trying to ignore the burning pain in my side. “Think a little blood is going to stop me?”Magnus chuckled and raised an eyebrow. “Not really. But she will.”Before I could even think, Amara moved again. Super-fast. Way too fast. Her arm shot out, her fingers like claws and went for me. I barely dodged, and her nails scratched the side of my neck. She didn’t stop, she spun around and went at me with a w
Kael's POVA scream echoed in the room, and it was me yelling, not Amara.The instant her glowing eyes locked onto mine, something deep inside me just broke. It felt like everything that made her *her* had been ripped away, and what was left was just an empty copy controlled by Magnus. I couldn't believe it. I just wouldn't.Amara, I croaked, pushing myself up even with the magic pressing down on me like crazy. I know you're still in there. You gotta fight him.Her lips parted, and for a split second, I swear I saw a hint of her come back. But then her face twisted into this cold, totally different look.She came at me fast.I barely had time to react before she grabbed my throat. She was way quicker than before, and strong too, like she had some kind of weird boost. I slammed into the wall, sending dust and bits of stone flying.Magnus laughed. She doesn't need saving, Kael. She's better.I tried to pull her fingers off, but she wouldn't budge. My inner wolf was going wild, super ang
Amara's POVThe knife went right into Kael's shoulder.My hands shook like crazy as I gripped the handle. My whole body was trembling, like a hurricane was going off inside me. This dark stuff was wrapping around my brain, holding on super tight. I couldn't even breathe.I hurt him.No, I was made to hurt him.Atta girl, Magnus said, his voice all slippery and gross. His magic was going wild through that mark on my wrist, felt like it was burning my blood, making me do what he wanted. Now, finish the job.A jolt of power ripped through me. I squeezed the knife harder, and the magic inside me was trying to force the blade in deeper.Kael grunted, his face all tight from the pain, but he didn't even try to grab the knife. He just held on to me—like I wasn't some kind of monster.Amara, he whispered, his voice shaky but like he still believed in me. I know you're in there. Don't let him take you.I gasped, and this sharp pain shot through my head. My heart was pounding so hard I couldn't
Amara’s POVThe floor beneath my knees felt ice-cold and unforgiving, much like the life I lived. I crouched low, scrubbing away the grime that had built up overnight. My fingers ached, raw from the coarse bristles of the mop, but I didn’t dare slow down. There was no room for imperfections here, not in Alpha Derrick’s pack.A creak behind me made me freeze mid-scrub. My heart leaped, fearing that my sluggish pace had already caught someone’s attention. When I glanced over my shoulder, it was only Tara, another maid, standing in the doorway.“Alpha’s asking for you,” she said curtly, her tone a mixture of pity and warning.The mop slipped from my hands, clattering to the floor. My stomach churned. Alpha Derrick rarely summoned me unless he had a reason to make my life even more unbearable.“Did he say why?” I stammered, standing on shaky legs.Tara shook her head, avoiding my gaze. “You’d better not keep him waiting.”I didn’t need her reminder. Hastily wiping my hands on my ragged ap
Amara’s POVThe world outside the car blurred as the tires creaked against the uneven road. Trees whipped past, their dark silhouettes a stark contrast against the pale glow of the moon. My fingers twisted into the thin fabric of my dress as I fought the urge to cry.This was it.The ride out of Blue Moon felt surreal, like I was suspended between two nightmares. I couldn’t decide which was worse, being under Alpha Derrick’s control or being traded off like cattle to Alpha Magnus.I clenched my fists tighter and lowered my head, murmuring a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess. “Please,” I begged. “Let this be the beginning of something better. Let me survive.”But survival wasn’t a guarantee.The car came to a jerking halt, nearly sending me tumbling from my seat. My heart leaped into my throat as the driver climbed down and threw the door open. “We’re here,” he grunted.I hesitated, my legs feeling like lead. The towering gates of the mansion loomed ahead, their iron bars twisted into
Amara's POVThe knife went right into Kael's shoulder.My hands shook like crazy as I gripped the handle. My whole body was trembling, like a hurricane was going off inside me. This dark stuff was wrapping around my brain, holding on super tight. I couldn't even breathe.I hurt him.No, I was made to hurt him.Atta girl, Magnus said, his voice all slippery and gross. His magic was going wild through that mark on my wrist, felt like it was burning my blood, making me do what he wanted. Now, finish the job.A jolt of power ripped through me. I squeezed the knife harder, and the magic inside me was trying to force the blade in deeper.Kael grunted, his face all tight from the pain, but he didn't even try to grab the knife. He just held on to me—like I wasn't some kind of monster.Amara, he whispered, his voice shaky but like he still believed in me. I know you're in there. Don't let him take you.I gasped, and this sharp pain shot through my head. My heart was pounding so hard I couldn't
Kael's POVA scream echoed in the room, and it was me yelling, not Amara.The instant her glowing eyes locked onto mine, something deep inside me just broke. It felt like everything that made her *her* had been ripped away, and what was left was just an empty copy controlled by Magnus. I couldn't believe it. I just wouldn't.Amara, I croaked, pushing myself up even with the magic pressing down on me like crazy. I know you're still in there. You gotta fight him.Her lips parted, and for a split second, I swear I saw a hint of her come back. But then her face twisted into this cold, totally different look.She came at me fast.I barely had time to react before she grabbed my throat. She was way quicker than before, and strong too, like she had some kind of weird boost. I slammed into the wall, sending dust and bits of stone flying.Magnus laughed. She doesn't need saving, Kael. She's better.I tried to pull her fingers off, but she wouldn't budge. My inner wolf was going wild, super ang
Kael’s POVA jolt of pain shot through my chest as Magnus’s blade came at me. I managed to turn just in time, so instead of going straight through my heart, the cold metal just grazed my ribs. My whole body hurt like crazy, but I kept going. I had to.Amara was standing there like a statue, her eyes totally blank. Her body was stiff from the dark magic controlling her. Magnus grinned, stepping back and twisting the bloody knife in his hand.“Not bad, you’re pretty fast,” he said, checking out the cut he’d made. “But you’re bleeding now. And blood makes people weak.”I clenched my teeth, trying to ignore the burning pain in my side. “Think a little blood is going to stop me?”Magnus chuckled and raised an eyebrow. “Not really. But she will.”Before I could even think, Amara moved again. Super-fast. Way too fast. Her arm shot out, her fingers like claws and went for me. I barely dodged, and her nails scratched the side of my neck. She didn’t stop, she spun around and went at me with a w
Kael was caught off guard. Magnus's knife flashed, aimed right at his heart. But then, Amara moved quicker than anyone expected. She cried out, a sound ripped from her, throwing herself in the path of the blade; an instinct that Magnus clearly hadn't counted on. The knife went into her side, not Kael's chest.No! Kael yelled, grabbing her as she fell. He pressed his hands against the wound, her blood soaking his fingers. Hot.Magnus stumbled, shocked. That wasn't the plan at all.Amara gasped, shaking. It wasn't just because of the stab wound; something else was going on. The mark on her wrist pulsed weirdly, the light flickering between red and bright white. A strange sound came from her, part pain, but also something deeper.Kael held her tight as a weird feeling passed between them, making his skin rigid . A burning heat seared him. He felt his wolf howl, but not from hurt as such, more like knowing something big.Kael... Amara whispered, her eyes meeting his with a focus not seen
Kael’s heart pounded like a war drum as he locked eyes with Magnus. The knife in the Alpha’s hand gleamed in the dim torchlight, its curved blade dripping with something darker than blood—something unnatural. The rune on Amara’s wrist pulsed, its glow intensifying with each passing second. She stood motionless, her body rigid, her eyes empty. It was as if she wasn’t there at all. “Let her go,” Kael growled, his voice low, dangerous. Magnus merely chuckled. “You still don’t understand, do you?” He dragged the tip of the blade along Amara’s wrist, making her shudder. “She belongs to me now.” A snarl ripped from Kael’s throat as he lunged forward, but before he could reach them, Amara suddenly moved. Not of her own free will—but by Magnus’s command. She stepped between them, raising her hands as if to shield Magnus. Kael’s breath caught. “Amara.” She didn’t respond. Instead, she turned to him with vacant, glassy eyes. A stranger wearing her face. Magnus smirked. “You see, Alp
Kael’s POVThe second I got outside, the cold night air smacked me in the face, like a warning shot. It smelled like rain mixed with something way worse—blood. A storm was coming, and it wasn't just the weather kind. There was a war brewing, but we were almost out of time. If I didn't hurry, a lot of people would get hurt.I was moving fast through the trees. The wolf inside me was growling, like it wanted to get out and fight. My heart was pounding super hard. The vision of Magnus's last move kept repeating in my mind. He'd made it clear what he wanted, but I figured something else was going on. I couldn't put my finger on it. He didn't just want to be in control; I think he was setting a trap, and I can't figure out how to stop him.The sky flashed with lightning, lighting up the path. My group of fighters was already spread out, and their eyes were lit up with excitement for a fight. You could cut the tension in the air with a knife. I don't understand why everyone wants to fight a
Kael's POVThe night felt thick, like you could cut it with a knife. I felt the weight of what was coming pressing down. The torches around the yard flickered, throwing weird shadows on the stones. It felt like we were on a battlefield right before the fight started. I knew Magnus wouldn't let things slide after what went down in the throne room, not after I stood up to him.And now Amara was stuck in the middle of it.The sound of boots echoed as warriors moved into position, building a wall between me and whatever evil idea Magnus had cooked up. I was wound up tight, my body ready for the fight. But I didn't want to act without thinking. I couldn't mess this up.Then I heard it—a voice, smooth and slick like a knife.Kael.I turned and saw Magnus standing at the yard entrance, his dark cloak swirling around him. I couldn't read his face, but his eyes held a spark of fun, of challenge. He loved moments like these, where he could mess with his enemies like a cat playing with a mouse.
Kael's POVThorne didn't even get a chance to grin smugly before I was all over him, slamming into him with every ounce of strength I could find. We both went down hard, and you could hear the thud echo through the stone room. My fists just started flying, like I didn't even have to think about it. It was pure anger, desperation, and something even deeper, something animal taking over.Even with me hitting him so hard, Thorne managed to twist out from under me like a snake. He was back on his feet in a second, grinning like it was all a joke. Kael, he said, rolling his shoulders like he was just brushing off some dust. So predictable, really.I didn't bother wasting my breath talking. I just went for him again, claws out, aiming for his throat. But man, he was quick – too quick. He dodged to the side, and my claws barely scratched him before he hit back, slamming a fist into my ribs. My side exploded with pain, but I wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of seeing me stumble.I co
Kael's POVEverything blurred. Magnus had his hand on Amara’s throat, squeezing. She gasped for air. The sweaty, bloody smell was strong. The ground was rough and cold under me. My heart went wild , but I stayed put, trying to think straight.Pick, Magnus said, sounding calm, like he knew what I’d do. Like I was just a piece in his game.Amara looked right at me, hard and clear. She didn’t beg or cry. But her eyes screamed: Don’t do it.I squeezed my hands, shaking with anger. I wanted to charge, tear Magnus apart, end this mess. But I knew he wasn’t bluffing. If I fought, he’d hurt her in ways I couldn't even imagine.He wanted to break me, to make me break myself.I took a deep breath. Let her go.Magnus smirked. So, what’s your answer?I tried to keep my voice steady. You want me gone, I said, picking each word carefully. But come on, Magnus. You want to control me.”His smirk faded a little.I kept going. If I leave, what’s stopping me from coming back? What if I Come back stronge