Isla’s hands trembled as she reached for her phone, her heart racing with urgency. She scrolled through her contacts until she found the name that felt both familiar and distant—Maximilian Lockwood. Taking a deep breath, she pressed the call button, her mind racing with thoughts of Liam and the danger he was in.The phone rang, each tone echoing her anxiety. When the call connected, she could hear the calm, authoritative voice of Liam’s father on the other end. “Maximilian Lockwood.”“Mr. Lockwood,” Isla said, her voice shaking as she struggled to keep her composure. “It’s Isla. I… I need your help. Liam has been captured.”There was a brief silence on the other end, and Isla could almost hear the gears turning in Maximilian’s mind. “What do you mean, captured?” he asked, his tone shifting to one of concern.Isla swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. “A group of mutts attacked us. They overpowered him, and I couldn’t do anything to stop it. They took him away, and I don’t k
Isla sat in the plush leather seat of Maximilian’s private plane, the hum of the engines a constant reminder of the distance they were putting between themselves and the chaos that had unfolded. The cabin was luxurious, but the opulence did little to ease the turmoil in her heart. She gazed out the window, watching the clouds drift by, her mind racing with thoughts of Liam and the uncertainty of their future.Maximilian sat across from her, his expression serious as he reviewed documents on a tablet. The weight of leadership hung heavily on his shoulders, and Isla could sense the tension radiating from him. After a moment, he looked up, meeting her gaze with a steady intensity.“Isla,” he began, his voice calm yet firm, “we’re almost back in New York. You need to prepare yourself for what’s ahead.”Isla turned to him, her heart sinking. “I really don’t think I can do this,” she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. “Without Liam, I feel lost. I’m still wolfless. I can’t take charge
The next few days were a blur for Isla. Each morning, she woke up in the grand Lockwood mansion, the sunlight streaming through the tall windows, illuminating the opulence that surrounded her. But the beauty of her surroundings felt hollow without Liam by her side. The weight of his absence pressed heavily on her heart, and every moment was a reminder of the uncertainty that loomed over them.With Liam captured, Isla had taken on the mantle of responsibility for the mansion and the pack. Miranda and her mate, Andy, stepped in to manage the pack duties, but Isla felt the burden of leadership resting squarely on her shoulders. She knew that soon she would be introduced as the Luna of the pack, a title that felt both empowering and terrifying. Despite not having a wolf of her own, she was expected to lead, to inspire, and to unite the pack in Liam’s absence.As the days passed, Isla found herself retreating to her room more often, seeking solace in the quiet. She would sit at the ornate
Isla felt a surge of frustration mixed with fear. She had been carrying the burden of Liam’s secret alone, and the thought of sharing it made her stomach churn. But as she looked into their earnest faces, she realized that they were right. They deserved the truth, but revealing it was against the promise she made for her father-in-law.“Isla, we know you’re hiding something,” Miranda said again, her voice steady but laced with concern. “You’ve been acting strange ever since Liam was taken. We need to know what’s going on.”Taylor crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. “You can’t keep this to yourself. We’re your friends, and we want to help you. But we can’t do that if you won’t let us in.”“I can’t,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. “You don’t understand what’s at stake.”Miranda stepped closer, her expression softening. “Then help us understand. We’re worried about you, Isla. You’re not just Liam’s mate; you’re the Luna of the Lockwood pack. You have to be strong fo
As the hall filled with anticipation, Isla stood at the podium, her heart racing with a mix of excitement and nerves. The atmosphere was charged with energy, and she could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on her. The priest, an elder of the pack, stood beside her, holding the Moon Goddess’s holy book, its pages worn and filled with wisdom passed down through generations. The flickering candlelight cast soft shadows on the walls, creating an almost ethereal ambiance that heightened the significance of the occasion.“Today, we gather to witness the oath of our new Luna,” the priest announced, his voice resonating through the hall. “Isla, daughter of the Lockwood legacy, will take her place as the leader of our pack, standing alongside her mate, Liam.”Isla took a deep breath, her heart swelling with pride and determination. This was the moment she had been preparing for, yet it felt surreal. The weight of her responsibilities loomed large, but she was ready to embrace them. T
The days that followed Liam’s escape were filled with a sense of relief and anticipation for Isla. She felt lighter, buoyed by the knowledge that he was out there, fighting for their future. The pack had rallied around her, and she continued to navigate her duties as Luna with growing confidence. However, the tranquility was abruptly shattered one fateful afternoon.Isla was in her study, reviewing some pack documents, when Miranda burst through the door, her face pale and eyes wide with urgency. “Isla! We have a situation,” she said, breathless.“What’s wrong?” Isla asked, her heart racing as she set the papers aside.“Some rogues have broken into the mansion. Andy, Ken, and Taylor are handling it, but it’s getting intense. You need to stay safe in your room,” Miranda urged, her voice laced with concern.Isla’s stomach dropped at the news. “Rogues? Here? What do you mean?” she asked, panic rising within her. The thought of intruders in her home sent a chill down her spine.“There’s n
Isla gripped the silver gun tightly in her hand, her heart racing as she faced the chaos of the garden. The adrenaline coursed through her veins, and she felt a fierce determination to protect her pack. She had never imagined herself in a situation like this, but the instinct to fight for those she loved surged within her.“Get away from him!” she shouted, her voice ringing with urgency as she aimed the gun at the nearest rogue. The wolf snarled, its eyes glinting with malice as it lunged toward her. Isla squeezed the trigger, the sharp crack of the gun echoing in the air. The bullet struck the rogue, causing it to yelp in pain, but it was only momentarily distracted.Just as she thought she might have a chance, another rogue came barreling toward her from the side. Isla barely had time to react before the wolf slammed into her, knocking her off her feet. She fell hard to the ground, the breath knocked out of her lungs. For a moment, everything went dark as she struggled to regain her
The chaos of the battle had finally subsided, and the garden was now a scene of quiet aftermath. The air was thick with the scent of earth and adrenaline, but Isla’s heart raced for an entirely different reason. She had witnessed Liam’s strength and prowess as he fought off the rogues, and now, all she wanted was to be close to him.After the pack had regrouped and ensured the area was secure, Isla found herself drawn to Liam’s room in the mansion. She needed to see him, to feel the warmth of his presence after the harrowing events of the day. As she approached the door, her heart fluttered with anticipation and relief. She knocked softly, and the door swung open to reveal Liam, still in his wolf form, his fur glistening under the soft light of the room.The moment their eyes met, a wave of emotion washed over Isla. She stepped inside, and before she could say a word, Liam shifted back to his human form, his expression a mix of exhaustion and relief. He looked at her, and in that inst
The dawn broke over the private island, illuminating a landscape transformed by battle. The pristine white sands were now marked with the evidence of war—scorched earth, scattered debris, and the lingering scent of mystic energy that hung in the air like an invisible fog. Pack members moved about with purpose, tending to the wounded, accounting for their numbers, and beginning the process of rebuilding what had been broken.Isla stood at the shoreline, her toes digging into the cool sand as she watched the waves wash away traces of blood. The sea seemed determined to cleanse the beach, to restore it to its former beauty. Nature healing itself—a fitting metaphor for what was happening among the pack."Twenty-seven wounded," Miranda reported, appearing at Isla's side. Her usual playful character was subdued, but there was a glint of relief in her eyes. "Eight critical, but they'll make it.""And the fallen?" Isla asked quietly, bracing herself for the answer.Miranda's expression tight
Liam was the first to transform back to human form, standing tall. The others followed suit, the transformation allowing them to handle the artifacts with greater precision."It's over, Darius," Liam said, his voice carrying the authority of generations of Alpha blood. "Your projections are failing. Your army is being decimated. And now we have the means to end your reign of terror once and for all."Isla stepped forward, her hand clutching the Moonstone Dagger. The transformation had left her feeling strangely invigorated rather than drained as it once had. Selena's presence within her was strong, unified with her own consciousness in a way that felt more complete than even before their separation.They moved with practiced precision, each knowing their role without needing instruction. Ken placed the Binding Stones in a circle around Darius, who found himself suddenly unable to step beyond their perimeter. Miranda held up the Verity Mirror, which shimmered with an inner light as it
"It's time," Isla said, clutching the artifacts close to her chest. Their weight seemed to increase with each passing moment, as if they recognized their impending purpose.Miranda nodded, her usually playful demeanor replaced by steely determination. "You sure you're ready for this? First transformation since..." She didn't need to finish the sentence."Since I lost her," Isla completed, a small smile playing on her lips. "I'm more than ready."Ken and Taylor moved to flank the doorway, their senses heightened for any approaching danger. Ken's muscular frame tensed as he sniffed the air. "Their numbers are growing. Liam and Maximilian are holding the eastern perimeter, but they need those artifacts now."Isla closed her eyes, feeling the familiar yet long-forgotten sensation of her wolf stirring within. For years, that space had been empty—a hollow cavern where Selena had once resided. Now, the warmth of her presence flooded Isla's veins once more."Selena," she whispered, not as a s
Isla could feel the missing piece of her soul slowly sliding back into place, like a puzzle finding its perfect fit after years of searching.Her wolf was back. And nothing would ever be the same again.The moment Selena fully materialized, Isla felt a surge of emotions so intense it threatened to overwhelm her. Years of absence, of feeling incomplete, of living with a gaping spiritual wound - all of it dissolved in an instant. "Selena," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. "I missed you. I missed you so much. You didn't have to do that that day."The memories came flooding back - that fateful day when she was 17, battling rouge wolves in a fight that seemed impossible to survive. She had been severely injured, blood pooling around her, death's cold fingers already beginning to grip her. And then Selena had done the unthinkable.In that moment of near-death, Selena had used every ounce of her spiritual energy, every drop of her essence to keep Isla alive. "Live, Isla. Liv
Ken intruppted Isla and said, "Stay here! I'll deliver the artifacts."Of course! Like they would let Isla to get out of the protected Beach house suit. Ken took the artifacts and tied to get out of the suit's door, but all of a sudden, he came flying back, falling on the floor. The tension was thick in the air as Ken stood trapped, the magical barriers preventing him from leaving Isla's side. The artifacts he was meant to deliver to Liam in his hands. The magic that bound him was intricate and powerful, a web of protection that kept him tethered to Isla, rendering him immobile.Isla paced the room, her mind racing. She understood now that the key to their freedom, to ending the war, lay in awakening her wolf Selena. For years, Selena had been dormant, a spirit locked away since that fateful day when Isla was 17. The wolf's absence had been more than just a physical loss; it was a spiritual wound that had haunted her for years.Miranda watched her carefully, concern etched across h
The battle raged on the beach, a chaotic dance of supernatural violence that seemed to defy logic. Each time Liam or one of the Lockwood alphas appeared to defeat a version of Darius, another would materialize, laughing with that bone-chilling, omnipresent sound that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once."He's not just creating illusions," Liam's thoughts crashed into Isla's mind. "These are fully corporeal duplicates. Each can fight, each can bleed."Isla gripped the balcony edge, watching her mate and his parents fight with increasing desperation. The pack's initial advantage had evaporated, replaced by confusion and mounting exhaustion. Wolves that had been fierce and coordinated were now reactive, constantly shifting to defend against attacks that could come from any direction."We can't win like this," Isla muttered.Taylor and Miranda exchanged a look—the kind of silent communication that spoke of years of shared experience. "We need to find another way," Taylor sa
The first wave of Darius's forces crashed against the Lockwood pack's defenses like a storm surge. From her vantage point, Isla watched in awe as the beach transformed into a battlefield of supernatural fury.Liam moved like living lightning in his wolf form. His strawberry-blonde fur gleamed with an almost metallic sheen as he launched into the attack, a blur of speed and devastating power.Where other wolves might tear and rip, Liam struck with surgical precision—each movement calculated to maximum effect. Rivals fell before him like wheat before a scythe, his massive wolf form cutting through the enemy ranks with terrifying efficiency.*"This is why they call him the most powerful Alpha-to-be,"* Taylor murmured beside Isla, her voice a mixture of pride and reverence.Angelina fought with a completely different style. Where Liam was a thunderstorm, she was a silent predator. Her silver-blonde wolf moved with cat-like grace, almost dancing between opponents. Each strike was elegant,
Isla leaned against the railing again, her attention drawn back to the beach below where a transformation was taking place. Pack members had begun to shift, their human forms dissolving in ripples of magic as wolf forms emerged in their place. The sight still fascinated her—the fluid transition between shapes that seemed both impossible and entirely natural.Her breath caught as she spotted Liam in the front line, his wolf form magnificent and commanding. His fur gleamed strawberry blonde in the strengthening dawn light, thick and lustrous. Even in this form, she would have recognized him anywhere. Beside him padded Maximilian, his wolf a deep, rich red that seemed to burn like living flame against the pale sand. And completing the leadership triad was Angelina, her silver-blonde fur shimmering with an almost ethereal quality.The three of them stood as a united front, facing the eastern horizon where Darius's forces would soon appear. Behind them, arranged in precise formation, were
The first hints of dawn had begun to streak the eastern sky, painting wispy clouds in delicate shades of pink and gold. Isla stood at the open-air balcony of the beach house suite, her hands resting on the silver railing as she watched the hypnotic rhythm of waves washing against the shore. The ocean stretched endlessly before her, its surface glittering with the dying moonlight, deceptively peaceful despite the approaching conflict.From this elevated vantage point, she had a perfect view of the expansive beach below, where the Lockwood pack had assembled in battle formation. The suite itself was nestled into the cliffside overlooking the bay—the pack's most defensible structure on the island and the designated safe house for those who would not participate in the coming fight.The wind carried the scent of salt and tension up to her, along with fragments of commands being issued below. Isla's senses, already heightened from the mating ceremony, seemed even more acute this morning.