Moonlight filtered through the broken windows of the old warehouse, casting fractured patterns on the dusty floor. I returned to the last place I'd caught Kenny's scent—a point where all the dark threads of my life seemed to converge. Oddly, I wasn't alone on this journey; a strange new scent lingered here as well, something neither human nor wolf—something entirely alien.I stood in the middle of the empty expanse, tension singing through my veins. The warehouse was silent, filled with the phantom echoes of past atrocities, a place where fear had its own scent. I was certain Kenny had been here, that his relentless chase for power left fragments in places even he could not erase.But there was more lurking than just Kenny's touch—another presence that defied definition. The scent was unsettling, steadily gnawing at the edges of my instincts. Whatever it was, it held embedded markings of magic far older and stronger than I imagined.Suddenly, the grinding sound of the warehouse door r
I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside my window. To most people, it would have been a beautiful way to wake up, but for me, it was not. My head was pounding from the night. I snuck out again with my friends and went to a party. My family never let me do anything. They always say that princesses should be seen outside of their role I had to act perfect all the time, and I hated it. I knew that if they had found out that I had been out all night with my friends Lillie and Elena, they would be even made. Our friendship was forbidden. Our kinds were not allowed to mix unless it was for something that benefited us. I rolled over, looking at the time, letting out a loud, angry growl as I did because I knew my parents would be so upset that I had missed breakfast with them. They made it clear yesterday that I had to be there because they had important news to tell me. As I quickly got dressed and tried to piece together the events of the night before, my mind was filled with wo
I headed straight for my room once I was back home. I locked my door behind me. I had to be so careful with what I did so I wouldn't get caught.As I sat on my bed, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. I had made it back home safely, without anyone suspecting a thing.But I knew that I couldn't let my guard down. I had to be careful every step of the way. One wrong move and everything could come crashing down, and it wasn't only me that would be punished. It would be Lillie and Elena, too, and the last thing I wanted was for them to get into trouble because of me. I started making a mental list of all the things that I would need to take with me. I needed to pack light, but there was also so much that I would need. After all, I would never be able to turn home again. Once my family had worked out what I had done, they would disown me. Werewolves are meant to be pack animals, only ever doing things that benefit their pack. I have always tried my hardest to be a good pack member, but
I stayed in my room the whole day, ignoring the knocks on my door from maids coming to bring me food and father coming to check up on me. I even ignored my brother I didn't want to face any of them. It was easier to just stay away from them. It would make leaving so much easier, and I wouldn't let my emotions get the better of me. That's one thing I hate about being a wolf. Your emotions are so strong, and they control nearly everything that you do. One of the first things you start to learn in wolf school is how to control your emotions so you don't snap one day and let your wolf take over and kill someone. It's one thing I have never been very good at. I have anger problems, and I've spent most of my life trying my hardest to keep them at bay. Because of this, I ended up getting my wolf really early in life. Most wolves only get there when they turn 16, some even later than that, but I was 6, and it was on my first day of school when one of the other kids started to pick on me becau
We walked along, hardly talking at the start, too scared to in case someone heard us, but as we got further and further from our homes, we began to talk and enjoy ourselves as we walked through the forest."what do you think humans are like?" Elena asked as she turned to walk backwards to look at us, which was not a good idea for someone as clumsy as her. She is always falling over her own feet. "Who cares? It's not like we have to hang out with them or anything," Lillie answered as she tried to open the pack of flower chips she had been trying to open for the past twenty minutes."They can't be any worse than our own kinds," I said, knowing that I was dampening the whole thing but not really caring because I was overwalking and just wanted to hurry up and get there."you haven't said much this whole time, winter. is everything okay?" Elena asked.But before I could answer, Lilly let out an angry scream, throwing the pack of flower chips as she did. I stood walking, and Elena did, bo
The waitress returned with our food, but as she sat my plate in front of me, I lost all interest in eating. There was too much going on inside my head right now. I could feel her standing there staring at me, making me look away from my plate of food. Her brown eyes looked at me with so much sympathy . "is everything okay, honey?" she said warmly as she reached out touching my arm.I wanted to pull away from her—I hate being touched by anyone—but I stopped myself from pulling away, not wanting to hurt her feelings. "Yes, I'm okay," I lied. "Do you know somewhere we could go to possibly get a ride out of here?"She removed her hand from me, which I was thankful for. "there's a bus stop about six blocks down, but you won't get very far without any money." when I stayed silent, she went on. "there a prawn shop right near the bus shop if you have anything worth selling go in there and see dave tell him sally sent you and he'll give you a good price." I went to answer her, but Elena inter
We had no plan as to where we were going when we went and brought our tickets. We just booked it for the last stop and thought that we would just wing it. If we saw a city or town that we liked, that would be where we would get off. But after three hours of driving, we all drifted off to sleep, the tiredness from last night finally catching up to us. I was awakened by a gentle hand on my shoulder and the sound of the bus driver's voice telling us that we needed to get off the bus. Opening my eyes, I looked around and saw that the bus was empty Except for the three of us. I rubbed my eyes and stretched, feeling mixer of feelings as I realized we had arrived at our final destination.As we stepped off the bus, the cool air hit me, and I took a deep breath. Looking around, I saw that we were in a large city—bigger than anything I had ever seen before. I stood there, taking it all in for a second. The sound of cars driving and blasting their horns filled my ears, and the smell was like no
Opening my eyes, I noticed that I was back in our dirty hotel room, which left me feeling confused I don't remember anything after the bartender helped me out of the club. Sitting up, I look around, seeing Lillie and Elena both sitting on the other bed, staring at me. "it's about time you awake," Lillie remarked, her voice laced with annoyance. "We've been worried sick about you."I rubbed my temples, trying to piece together last night's events. "What happened? How did I end up back here?"Elena spoke up next, her expression filled with concern. "after your knight in shinning arm came along and save you from that creepy guy who clearly put something in your drink. He helped us get you home, but you were on another plant.""on the plus side, the sexy bartender left your number. He wants you to call him so he can make sure you're okay", Lillie said teasingly while waving a piece of paper in the air. "Can you please call him?" Elena begged, getting on her knees and holding her hands u
Moonlight filtered through the broken windows of the old warehouse, casting fractured patterns on the dusty floor. I returned to the last place I'd caught Kenny's scent—a point where all the dark threads of my life seemed to converge. Oddly, I wasn't alone on this journey; a strange new scent lingered here as well, something neither human nor wolf—something entirely alien.I stood in the middle of the empty expanse, tension singing through my veins. The warehouse was silent, filled with the phantom echoes of past atrocities, a place where fear had its own scent. I was certain Kenny had been here, that his relentless chase for power left fragments in places even he could not erase.But there was more lurking than just Kenny's touch—another presence that defied definition. The scent was unsettling, steadily gnawing at the edges of my instincts. Whatever it was, it held embedded markings of magic far older and stronger than I imagined.Suddenly, the grinding sound of the warehouse door r
Enzo pov as i walked away i heard someone coming after me, i didnt slow my pace i couldnt process the chaos unfolding around me. Instead, I pushed onward, driven by the realization that there was more at stake than just Winter's memory. The trees blurred past me, their branches clawing at my thoughts like the doubts that had taken root since Winter's death."Enzo, wait!" a voice called from behind, urgent and pleading.I stopped, my mind knowing the voice even before I turned. Sariah appeared before me, breathless and desperate in the orange glow of the setting sun. Her presence held an air of determination that matched the turmoil in my heart."Sariah now's not the time," I began, willing my voice to be stronger than the uncertainty gnawing at me. The ache of Winter's loss hung around my neck like a yoke, growing heavier at every reminder of her absence."No, you need to hear this." Sariah's voice was firm, cutting through my defences with an edge of certainty I couldn't easily dism
The air held its breath as the tension in the clearing coiled tighter. I turned slowly, my heart hammering against the shroud of uncertainty that had settled around us. There, emerging from the tree line, was Sariah. "I said," she repeated, her voice a quiet command that transcended the chaos, "this is not the work of a witch."Winter's father, his face etched with suspicion and despair, glared at her. "What do you know of this, witch?" he spat, brandishing the word like a curse, his grief turning him into a wary adversary."No witch would ever be stupid enough to use a spell on the dead. The things it causes are something that we as witches wish to forget." Sariah's voice was steady, exuding calm as she stepped forward, placing herself between Lily and the simmering storm of accusation. Her presence was like a cool breeze, offering clarity amidst the turmoil. "This grave wasn't dug up. Someone, or something, has dug their way out. Are you sure it was Winter that you buried here?"My
Enzo's POVThe moon hung low, its silver glow weaving through the trees as Jake and I returned to the sacred grounds of Winter's pack. The journey had been both a welcome distraction and a solemn reminder of the purpose that stirred my resolve. The soft rustle of leaves underfoot was the only sound accompanying our silent pilgrimage, the night a silent witness to our unsaid resolve.A fog of anticipation enveloped me as we approached the clearing, the towering shadows of the trees mirroring the uncertainty cloaked around us. The pack's territory stood like an ancient guardian, whispering tales embedded within its secrets—tales I feared to unravel yet could not ignore.I caught sight of Lily first, a solitary silhouette against the fading twilight, her expression hidden in shadow and suspicion. Her eyes flicked towards mine, revealing a depth of worry that gnawed at the edges of my focus. Whatever brought us back here held an ominous significance, one that demanded unearthing. Jake wal
Enzo's povThe cityscape blurred past me as I drove, my thoughts tangled in the web Jake's call had spun. What could possibly be important enough to warrant this abrupt meeting? The tyres hugged the turns as I sped towards my club, the streets a buzzing reminder of everything that went on around me, oblivious to the tumult within. Hatred mixed with anticipation, a volatile cocktail that fueled my pursuit of revenge. Each tick of the clock was a swing of the pendulum, time measured by heartbeats filled with simmering rage.The club stood as a lonely monument when I arrived, its façade a ghost of vibrancy it once held. A month or maybe even more had passed since it had seen any life, and the dust that shrouded the windows seemed to weigh heavy, like the grief that lingered in my soul. The once inviting place now felt abandoned—a hollow echo of happier times when Winter's laughter danced in the air, a melody of life that was all too final.My heart lurched at the sight of the front door
Enzos povTwo weeks laterThe house creaked with the weight of silence as I entered, the faint aroma of aged wood mingling with the remnants of smoke on my clothes—a testament to another wasted hunt. The dimness of my refuge offered little comfort now, every shadow a reminder of the darkness lurking within me. I couldn't even bring myself to go into my bedroom because every time I did, all I saw was winter.I threw my keys onto the table, their clatter punctuating the stillness. The primal satisfaction of ending those who followed Kenny clung to me, yet a scalding emptiness pervaded beneath the surface. I was hollow—a predator driven by instincts that provided little satisfaction beyond the fleeting.Striding to the sink, I ran the tap, watching the water swirl and disappear, mirroring my thoughts. My reflection—a stranger with wild eyes and a face marked by untold grief—glared back. Winter's absence was a festering wound, a reminder of my failure to protect her.The shrill ring of my
Elenas povThe evening sun cast long shadows across the clearing as we made our way through the forest, the path more familiar than the lines on my own hand. Each step brought me closer to the sanctuary that had borne witness to countless secrets, whispered hopes, and forbidden friendships. I could feel the presence of those beside me—Lily's nervous energy, Jake's steady warmth, and Rykor's silent strength—as we walked, the world around us both oppressive and comforting in its natural chaos.The memory of Winter's funeral clung like a shroud, a heavy veil we wore even as we tried to celebrate her true self. The gathering earlier had not encapsulated the wild essence of Winter nor the choices that defined her. The fact that she was gone felt both surreal and undeniable, each breath imbued with the pain of her absence.We stopped at the edge of the clearing, the dim light of dusk painting the world in shades of memory. Rykor moved to construct a fire, and each piece of kindling was plac
Enzo's povI hadn't slept much since Winter died. Every time I dared to close my eyes, I saw her pain-filled face. The image of her eyes as she drove the knife into her stomach played over and over in my head like a cruel movie. Her sacrifice to save us from Kenny's dark grip only made me more hungry for revenge.Finding Kenny wouldn't be easy. He was on the run, as slippery as a shadow. But he was just a man, and men make mistakes. I needed to find the clue that would lead me to him and tear apart his lies.Going back to where we last saw him, I entered the tunnels under Elders Wall. They were dark, twisting around me like a snake, ready to squeeze out any hope I had left. These tunnels had a bad reputation for tricking tired minds, but I stayed focused. My need for revenge was stronger than any trick they could play on me.The air was damp and chilled as I stepped into the chamber where Winter's life had ended. Her blood still stained the stone floor, a red reminder of the love and
Enzos povA pall of heartbreaking silence enveloped the great hall as I carefully cradled Winter's body in my arms, feeling her weight like an eternal echo etched into my soul. The world around me fell away, leaving only the overwhelming sensation of her presence—a haunting whisper in the void of my heart.Time seemed to stretch and contract in strange waves, each moment slipping into eternity as I stepped toward the exit. Every hushed breath, every mourning gaze followed me as if Winter's pack was connected through an invisible thread of shared sorrow edging on disbelief.The crackle of distant thunder punctuated the quiet, mirroring the tempest that raged within me. We emerged from the hall, and the wind caught her dark hair, lifting it gently as if the very air grieved her absence. The space between this world and the next seemed to blur, each step toward the grove heavy with the ache of farewell.The garden they had chosen for Winter appeared, a sanctuary bathed in the dappled lig