She pulled out her phone and opened her messages, finding the contact information for Maximilian Lockwood. After a moment's hesitation, she typed out a message:"Hi Maximilian, it's Isla. Just wondering when you and Angelina will be arriving? Liam is really looking forward to seeing you both."The response came quicker than she expected:"Isla, dear. We're planning to arrive exactly on the wedding day. Please keep this a surprise from Liam. We've been gone without information for 5 years, and he'll have a lot of questions. Better to keep it quiet until then. Looking forward to seeing you both. Max."Isla stared at the message, unsure how to feel. On one hand, she understood the desire to make a grand entrance. On the other, she knew how much Liam was missing his parents. Would it be cruel to keep this information from him?After a moment's reflection, she texted back a simple "Okay" and put her phone away. She would respect Maximilian's wishes, even if it felt uncomfortable. After al
The night had grown quiet.Most of the guests had retreated to their accommodations, leaving the island in a state of peaceful slumber. But sleep eluded Isla as she stood on the suite's balcony, her hands gripping the railing as she gazed out at the dark expanse of ocean before her.The moon hung nearly full in the sky, casting a silver pathway across the water. Waves rolled gently toward the shore, their rhythmic sound usually a comfort to her. Tonight, however, not even the ocean's eternal lullaby could soothe the ache in her chest.Her mind kept replaying the moment from the bonfire—the casual way that woman had mentioned being in a hot tub with Liam, the knowing laughter from the others, as if it were just one of many such stories they could have shared. Perhaps it was.Isla had never considered herself the jealous type. She'd always believed that people's pasts were their own, that what mattered was the present and the commitment they made to each other. But theory was one thing
Before she could protest, he was leading her back into the bedroom and toward the door. "Liam, it's the middle of the night," she objected, though she didn't pull her hand away."Exactly," he replied with a grin that caught the moonlight. "The perfect time for this."They moved through the silent house, down the stairs and out onto the terrace. The night air was warm against Isla's skin as Liam continued to lead her down the path toward the beach. The sound of the waves grew louder with each step, calling to them.The beach was deserted, the sand cool beneath their bare feet. The moon, just a day away from being full, cast enough light to see by, transforming the landscape into a monochrome painting of silver and black. Tomorrow night it would be completely full—a full moon on their wedding day, perfect for the traditional mating ceremony.Liam led her to the water's edge, where the waves lapped gently at the shore. "Look," he said, pointing to the moonlit path stretching across the
Morning dawned clear and bright on the day of the wedding. Isla woke early, her eyes opening to the soft golden light filtering through the curtains. For a moment, she simply lay there, savoring the knowledge that by sunset, she would be Liam's wife officially. Outside, the ocean murmured its constant rhythm, a soothing soundtrack to the most important day of her life.Last night's near full moon had been spectacular, hanging heavy and luminous over the island. According to pack tradition, a wedding under a full moon was blessed—a union that would be fruitful and enduring. Isla wasn't usually superstitious, but she couldn't help feeling that the timing was perfect, as if the universe itself approved of their match.A soft knock at the door broke through. It was Miranda, followed by a team of people carrying garment bags, makeup cases, and various styling tools."The glam squad has arrived," Miranda announced with a grin. "Hollywood's finest, at your service."Isla sat up, suddenly f
Isla took a deep breath, steadying herself. This was it. The moment she had been dreaming of, planning for, anticipating with equal parts excitement and nerves.With one last look in the mirror, she followed Miranda out of the beach house. The warm tropical air enveloped her immediately, carrying the scent of flowers and salt water. The path to the ceremony site had been lined with white rose petals, creating a fragrant trail for her to follow.And there, at the beginning of the aisle proper, stood her father. His eyes widened as he caught sight of her, and for a moment, Isla thought he might cry—something she had seen him do only once before, at her sister's college graduation."Isla," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "You look... absolutely beautiful."She smiled, linking her arm through his. "Ready to give me away, Dad?"He patted her hand where it rested on his arm. "Never ready for that," he admitted. "But I couldn't have chosen a better man for you myself."The string quar
Liam's smile was radiant as he gazed at Isla, his blue eyes sparkling with admiration and love. Standing tall at the altar, he looked every inch the prince charming from the fairy tales she had dreamed about as a child. The golden light of the setting sun cast him in an ethereal glow, highlighting the strong lines of his face and the genuine emotion written across his features. His posture was confident yet tender, a man ready to commit his life to the woman he loved beyond measure.When their hands joined, Isla felt that familiar electric current pass between them—the invisible bond that had drawn them together from their very first meeting. In this perfect moment, surrounded by flowers and music and the gentle island breeze, Isla could almost forget the hardships that had brought them here. The struggles seemed distant now, like shadows disappearing in the bright light of their love.A collective gasp rippled through the assembled guests, pulling Isla and Liam from their private mo
Throughout the ceremony, she noticed Liam occasionally glancing toward his parents, as though reassuring himself that they were real, that they were truly present. Each time, his expression would fluctuate between joy and lingering confusion before he would turn back to Isla, his gaze softening with love as it settled on her face.When the time came for their vows, Liam spoke first, his voice strong and clear despite the emotion evident in his eyes."Isla," he began, taking both her hands in his, "before I met you, I thought I understood what strength was. I believed it meant never showing weakness, never admitting fear, never allowing yourself to need anyone else." He paused, swallowing hard. "You taught me that true strength comes from opening yourself to love, from being vulnerable enough to let someone see all of you—the good and the bad, the strong and the weak, the certain and the doubtful."A murmur of appreciation rippled through the audience, and Isla felt tears gathering in
The grand ballroom glittered under the soft glow of a thousand crystal lights, transforming the space into something straight out of a fairy tale. Isla stood at the edge of the dance floor, taking in the scene with wonder-filled eyes. Guests in elegant attire swirled around, champagne glasses clinked in celebration, and laughter filled the air. It was everything she had ever dreamed of and more.Her wedding dress – an intricate creation of lace and silk – whispered against the marble floor as she moved through the crowd. Each step was met with smiles, congratulations, and well-wishes from people she had only just met, yet who welcomed her as family."There's my bride," came a deep voice from behind her. Isla turned to find Liam standing there, devastatingly handsome in his tailored tuxedo. The sight of him still made her breath catch, even after everything they had been through together."Your bride," she repeated, savoring the words on her tongue. "I don't think I'll ever get tired o
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.