Miranda’s eyes sparkled with determination as she leaned forward, her expression shifting to one of earnestness. “I’m Miranda, and I’ve been part of this pack since beginning - as this is my family. I'm cousin to Liam Lockwood. But it hasn’t always been easy for me either,” Miranda continued, her tone growing somber. “I lost my brother in a rogue attack a few years back. He was my best friend, my confidant. Losing him felt like losing a part of myself.”Isla’s heart ached for Miranda, the pain in her voice echoing the struggles she had faced in her own life. “I thought I would never recover from that. But then I met my mate Andy and things changed,” Miranda said, her voice trembling slightly. “And this pack helped me heal. They became my support system, my family. I realized that even in the darkest times, there’s always a light to guide you, and for me, that light was all of them.” She gestured to the group around the table, her eyes shining with gratitude.Isla felt a lump form in
Isla lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling as the afternoon sun streamed through the window. She had the entire afternoon to herself, a rare luxury in this bustling mansion filled with pack members. But instead of feeling relaxed, her mind was racing. She couldn’t shake the memory of Liam’s touch, the way his fingers had brushed against hers during their training session. A shiver ran down her spine, and she cringed at the thought.What was she doing? She shouldn’t be getting this close to him, this tempter who had turned her world upside down. The chemistry between them was undeniable, but it was also dangerous. She had to keep her distance, to remind herself that she was here for a reason, and it wasn’t to get swept away by a handsome Alpha.Just as she was lost in her thoughts, her phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling her from her reverie. She reached for it, her heart skipping a beat when she saw it was a message from Liam.“Come down to the garden for a stroll??” the text rea
In the party, Isla found herself surrounded by a crowd of elegantly dressed individuals. She was already at the event with Miranda, Taylor, and Ken, but she felt out of place. Liam walked beside her, but she maintained a distance, acutely aware of the elite atmosphere that surrounded them.The room was filled with laughter and chatter, the clinking of glasses echoing in the air. Isla’s heart raced as she took in the posh surroundings, the lavish decorations, and the well-dressed guests mingling effortlessly. She felt a wave of self-doubt wash over her.“I shouldn’t have come here,” she thought, her stomach twisting.“Just relax and come with me,” Miranda said, sensing Isla’s discomfort. She took Isla’s hand and led her deeper into the crowd, with Taylor and Ken following closely behind.As they moved through the throng of people, Isla caught glimpses of elite girls chatting animatedly, their laughter ringing like music. Miranda approached a couple of them, and Isla felt a pang of envy
The laughter and chatter of the party faded into a dull roar, and all she could hear was the pounding of her own heart.“Regina, stop it,” Marvi said, his tone suddenly defensive, but it lacked any real conviction. He stood there, a cowardly spectator to the scene unfolding before him.Isla’s hands trembled at her sides, and she fought to keep her composure. “You don’t know anything about me,” she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside. “You don’t get to judge me.”Regina stepped closer, her eyes glinting with malice. “Oh, but I do. You’re the one who’s pathetic, clinging to a past that doesn’t want you. You think you can just waltz into this world and be accepted? You wolf-less bitch.”Isla felt the heat of anger rise within her, but she forced herself to breathe. She wouldn’t let Regina get the best of her. “I’m not clinging to anything,” she shot back, her voice rising. “I’ve moved on. You’re the one who seems obsessed with me.”Regina laughed, a sharp, mocking sound tha
As Isla stood her ground against Regina, her heart racing with a mix of anger and determination. Just as she thought the confrontation couldn’t escalate further, a group of men in black suits appeared, their imposing figures cutting through the crowd like a knife. They moved with purpose, their expressions serious as they approached the scene.“What’s going on here?” one of the men asked, his voice deep and authoritative.Regina, sensing an opportunity to shift the narrative, immediately turned on the charm, her demeanor shifting from aggressive to victimized in an instant. “Thank goodness you’re here! This man,” she pointed at Liam, “has assaulted me! He pushed me, and I demand that you take him away!”Isla’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “Regina, you’re lying!” she shouted, her voice rising in frustration. “You’re the one who started this whole thing!”But Regina wasn’t finished. “And this one,” she gestured toward Isla, “is a dangerous prostitute! She’s been following me and trying to
Isla stared at Liam, her mind racing as she processed his words. “You’ve faced challenges?” she said incredulously, shaking her head in disbelief. “I can’t believe it. Whatever you’ve faced must be far less than what I’ve gone through. You have so much wealth, so much power, and you’re incredibly beautiful. You’re living life on easy mode, Liam. Your struggles must be simple compared to mine.”Miranda shook her head, a knowing look in her eyes, as if she were watching a naive child. Taylor smirked, her plump lips curving into a teasing smile. Isla felt a rush of frustration at their reactions, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was right.Liam’s expression shifted, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. “You are so naive, Isla,” he said, his tone light but firm. He walked around the room, his movements graceful and confident, before settling into a plush armchair like a king taking his throne. “Just imagine, Isla sweetie. I am considered the most influential man in both the
Isla took a moment to breathe in the crisp night air, letting the coolness wash over her and clear her mind. She leaned against the balcony railing, staring out at the sprawling city below, the lights twinkling like stars scattered across a dark canvas. The weight of the moment pressed heavily on her chest, and she closed her eyes, allowing herself to feel the emotions swirling within her.After a few deep breaths, she felt steadier. She had to go back inside and face Liam. He had opened up to her in a way that was both terrifying and exhilarating, and she needed to acknowledge that. She turned and walked back into the room, her heart racing as she stepped inside.Liam was still there, his expression a mix of concern and patience. He stood by the plush armchair, his hands resting on the back as he watched her approach. “Isla,” he said softly, his voice warm and inviting. “I was starting to worry.”“I’m sorry about that,” she said, her voice steadying as she met his gaze. “I just neede
Marvi groaned as he slowly regained consciousness, blinking against the harsh light of the training room. His eyes focused, and confusion washed over his face as he took in his surroundings. When he realized he was tied to a chair, panic set in, and he began to struggle against the restraints.“Isla!” he shouted, his voice hoarse and frantic. “What’s going on?”Isla stood a few feet away, her heart racing as she watched him come to. The sight of him, once so familiar, now filled her with a mix of anger and apprehension. Memories of their past flooded her mind—moments of laughter, shared dreams, and the painful betrayal that had shattered her world. She felt a knot tighten in her stomach as she prepared to confront him.“Isla, please! You have to help me!” Marvi pleaded, his eyes wide with desperation. “I don’t know what’s happening.”Isla felt a surge of anger at his words. “Help you? Why would I help you, Marvi? You abandoned me when I needed you the most!” Her voice trembled with em
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.