ViviThe morning sun stretched long shadows across the compound, casting an eerie calm over our frantic preparations. The air was thick with tension, a palpable reminder of the High Council's looming threat. The Starfire within me surged unpredictably, its energy pulsing through my veins like a restless beast, demanding attention and control.Xander and I stood side by side, overseeing the placement of new wards and barriers. His presence was a comforting anchor amidst the chaos. "How are you holding up?" he asked, his voice a gentle caress that cut through the tension.I took a deep breath, feeling the power within me threaten to spill over. "It's getting harder to control," I admitted, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "But I'm managing."He reached out, his hand enveloping mine, fingers interlacing with a reassurance that grounded me. In that moment, the world narrowed to just the two of us. His golden eyes locked onto mine, filled with a fierce passion that mirrored my o
ViviThe compound was abuzz with activity, the impending arrival of the High Council's forces casting an ominous shadow over us. Despite the palpable tension, there was a sense of unity, a collective resolve that was both inspiring and reassuring.Xander was at my side, his protective presence a comforting balm against the chaos around us. His hand was a constant on my back, his touch grounding me as I felt another surge of the Starfire energy roiling within me. It was more intense this time, like a wild beast struggling to break free.Kelda was there, guiding me through a series of exercises designed to harness the unruly energy. The surge subsided gradually, replaced by a sense of calm control. I opened my eyes to find Xander watching me, his expression a mixture of awe and concern."We need to prepare," I told him, my voice steady. "The High Council won't wait for us to be ready."Before anyone could respond to the alarming news, a scout, breathless and wide-eyed, burst into the co
ViviWith my mates surrounding me, the strength of our bond enveloping me in an embrace of warmth and safety, I plunged into the depths of the connection, determined to find the other Starfire, to forge an alliance that could reshape our fate.The collective power surged as I opened my eyes, meeting the determined gazes of my mates. "I'm ready. Let's find them."Together, we ventured out into the forest, the cool air tingling with the promise of what lay ahead. The scent of damp earth and pine filled my lungs, grounding me as we moved deeper into the dense woodland. Fallen leaves crunched softly beneath our boots, their brittle edges whispering secrets of the past with every step. The towering trees stretched high above, their thick canopies filtering the moonlight into scattered, silvery beams that danced across the forest floor. A faint mist curled around the undergrowth, clinging to our legs as if reluctant to let us pass. The distant hoot of an owl echoed through the stillness, b
The forest blurred around us as we fled, branches whipping past our faces, the sounds of pursuit gradually fading behind us. My lungs burned with exertion, but adrenaline kept me moving forward, my hand still firmly clasped around the other Starfire's wrist. Her silver eyes were wide with a mixture of fear and determination, her power crackling around her like static electricity.When we finally reached the edge of our territory, where our wards would offer some protection, I slowed to a stop, gasping for breath. My mates formed a protective circle around us, their senses still alert for any sign of pursuit."I think we lost them," Kane said, his voice low as he scanned the treeline.Xander nodded, his golden eyes never leaving the silver-eyed woman beside me. "For now."The other Starfire pulled her hand from my grasp, taking a step back as she assessed each of us warily. Her gaze lingered on Ronan, distrust evident in the tightening of her jaw."You're safe here," I told her gently.
Morning light streamed through the windows, casting golden patterns across the floor as I made my way to the east wing. Sleep had come fitfully, my dreams filled with silver eyes and shadowy pursuers. The weight of responsibility settled heavily on my shoulders—not just for my pack, my mates, but now for Eowyn too.I found her where Kelda had left her, in a small but comfortable room overlooking the forest. She stood by the window, her posture rigid, alert, like a wild animal ready to flee at the slightest provocation. Her dark hair fell in waves down her back, and her silver eyes reflected the morning light like polished mirrors."Did you sleep?" I asked, keeping my voice gentle.She turned, acknowledging my presence with a slight nod. "A little."I stepped into the room, noting how she subtly shifted her stance—not retreating, but preparing. Always preparing. The Council had trained her well."Are you hungry? We have breakfast ready downstairs."A flicker of something—surprise, perh
The air crackled with tension as we gathered at the northern border of our territory. Dawn had barely broken, casting long shadows across the frost-covered ground. Our scouts had confirmed what we already knew in our hearts—the High Council's forces were approaching, and they weren't coming to negotiate.Eowyn stood beside me, her silver eyes scanning the treeline with predatory focus. The training session yesterday had unlocked something in her—not just greater control over her abilities, but a sense of purpose that straightened her spine and hardened her resolve."They'll come from the east," she said quietly. "It's their preferred strategy—attack where the sun blinds the defenders."Xander nodded, taking her intelligence seriously. "Kane, reinforce the eastern perimeter. Double the guards and set the traps we prepared."Kane moved immediately, gathering a group of our strongest fighters. His tactical mind was already working, adapting our defense plans to incorporate Eowyn's insigh
Vivi"Fuck it all to hell!" I cursed as I grabbed the ticket from the windshield of my old Jeep Wrangler. It was the third one in the last two weeks! "What happened to brotherhood of the badge shit?" Two little white-headed ladies walking by on the sidewalk gave me the stink eye for my outburst. "Sorry," I mumbled, but I wasn't really. How could a town that had literally one main road have so many fucking parking laws? I felt like I had broken most of them in the short time I'd been here and apparently there was no love lost between the game wardens and the traffic cops here.As I crumpled up the ticket and climbed into my Jeep, I thought about what had brought me across the country. The memory of my last day in Florida came flooding back, bringing with it a mix of emotions I was still trying to sort through.I remembered the suffocating heat as I'd loaded the last of my boxes into the U-Haul. Aria had been there, helping me, her eyes red-rimmed from crying."You sure you don't want
XanderI stood on the ridge with Kane, my Beta, my closest advisor, and surveyed the landscape. I could breathe when up high over my pack lands watching the sun sinking toward the trees in the valley below, the stress of leadership melted away, if only for a few minutes."There, Dax's truck," Kane pointed to the small road at the head of the valley that led into our compound set deep into the National Forest. When we had arrived in the late 1800s, Bridger had been just acres and acres of wilderness. We had slowly purchased as much as we could, working as loggers and opening one of the few sawmills in the back country. When the government had bought up the land to create the National Forest, I had refused to sell, and we had been grandfathered in. Now we were surrounded by government forest. The forest service kept the area pristine, and left us alone for the most part, so I couldn't complain. It gave us plenty of room and privacy to run - two of the main things I required to keep my p
The air crackled with tension as we gathered at the northern border of our territory. Dawn had barely broken, casting long shadows across the frost-covered ground. Our scouts had confirmed what we already knew in our hearts—the High Council's forces were approaching, and they weren't coming to negotiate.Eowyn stood beside me, her silver eyes scanning the treeline with predatory focus. The training session yesterday had unlocked something in her—not just greater control over her abilities, but a sense of purpose that straightened her spine and hardened her resolve."They'll come from the east," she said quietly. "It's their preferred strategy—attack where the sun blinds the defenders."Xander nodded, taking her intelligence seriously. "Kane, reinforce the eastern perimeter. Double the guards and set the traps we prepared."Kane moved immediately, gathering a group of our strongest fighters. His tactical mind was already working, adapting our defense plans to incorporate Eowyn's insigh
Morning light streamed through the windows, casting golden patterns across the floor as I made my way to the east wing. Sleep had come fitfully, my dreams filled with silver eyes and shadowy pursuers. The weight of responsibility settled heavily on my shoulders—not just for my pack, my mates, but now for Eowyn too.I found her where Kelda had left her, in a small but comfortable room overlooking the forest. She stood by the window, her posture rigid, alert, like a wild animal ready to flee at the slightest provocation. Her dark hair fell in waves down her back, and her silver eyes reflected the morning light like polished mirrors."Did you sleep?" I asked, keeping my voice gentle.She turned, acknowledging my presence with a slight nod. "A little."I stepped into the room, noting how she subtly shifted her stance—not retreating, but preparing. Always preparing. The Council had trained her well."Are you hungry? We have breakfast ready downstairs."A flicker of something—surprise, perh
The forest blurred around us as we fled, branches whipping past our faces, the sounds of pursuit gradually fading behind us. My lungs burned with exertion, but adrenaline kept me moving forward, my hand still firmly clasped around the other Starfire's wrist. Her silver eyes were wide with a mixture of fear and determination, her power crackling around her like static electricity.When we finally reached the edge of our territory, where our wards would offer some protection, I slowed to a stop, gasping for breath. My mates formed a protective circle around us, their senses still alert for any sign of pursuit."I think we lost them," Kane said, his voice low as he scanned the treeline.Xander nodded, his golden eyes never leaving the silver-eyed woman beside me. "For now."The other Starfire pulled her hand from my grasp, taking a step back as she assessed each of us warily. Her gaze lingered on Ronan, distrust evident in the tightening of her jaw."You're safe here," I told her gently.
ViviWith my mates surrounding me, the strength of our bond enveloping me in an embrace of warmth and safety, I plunged into the depths of the connection, determined to find the other Starfire, to forge an alliance that could reshape our fate.The collective power surged as I opened my eyes, meeting the determined gazes of my mates. "I'm ready. Let's find them."Together, we ventured out into the forest, the cool air tingling with the promise of what lay ahead. The scent of damp earth and pine filled my lungs, grounding me as we moved deeper into the dense woodland. Fallen leaves crunched softly beneath our boots, their brittle edges whispering secrets of the past with every step. The towering trees stretched high above, their thick canopies filtering the moonlight into scattered, silvery beams that danced across the forest floor. A faint mist curled around the undergrowth, clinging to our legs as if reluctant to let us pass. The distant hoot of an owl echoed through the stillness, b
ViviThe compound was abuzz with activity, the impending arrival of the High Council's forces casting an ominous shadow over us. Despite the palpable tension, there was a sense of unity, a collective resolve that was both inspiring and reassuring.Xander was at my side, his protective presence a comforting balm against the chaos around us. His hand was a constant on my back, his touch grounding me as I felt another surge of the Starfire energy roiling within me. It was more intense this time, like a wild beast struggling to break free.Kelda was there, guiding me through a series of exercises designed to harness the unruly energy. The surge subsided gradually, replaced by a sense of calm control. I opened my eyes to find Xander watching me, his expression a mixture of awe and concern."We need to prepare," I told him, my voice steady. "The High Council won't wait for us to be ready."Before anyone could respond to the alarming news, a scout, breathless and wide-eyed, burst into the co
ViviThe morning sun stretched long shadows across the compound, casting an eerie calm over our frantic preparations. The air was thick with tension, a palpable reminder of the High Council's looming threat. The Starfire within me surged unpredictably, its energy pulsing through my veins like a restless beast, demanding attention and control.Xander and I stood side by side, overseeing the placement of new wards and barriers. His presence was a comforting anchor amidst the chaos. "How are you holding up?" he asked, his voice a gentle caress that cut through the tension.I took a deep breath, feeling the power within me threaten to spill over. "It's getting harder to control," I admitted, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "But I'm managing."He reached out, his hand enveloping mine, fingers interlacing with a reassurance that grounded me. In that moment, the world narrowed to just the two of us. His golden eyes locked onto mine, filled with a fierce passion that mirrored my o
ViviThe silence that followed Ronan's revelation hung heavy in the air, the weight of his words pressing down on us like a physical force. My mates and I exchanged glances, the shock and disbelief etched clearly on their faces mirroring my own turmoil. The idea of another Starfire, let alone one allied with the High Council, was almost too much to fathom.Xander's voice broke through the quiet, low and controlled, but the tension in his jaw betrayed his inner turmoil. "We need to discuss this. Now."We moved to a more secluded area of the compound, away from prying eyes and ears. The small room was dimly lit, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows on the walls, adding to the gravity of the situation. The air was thick with the scent of burning wax and the unspoken fears that lingered between us.Dax leaned against the wall, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, his usual bravado replaced by a simmering anger. "So, let me get this straight. The High Council has another Sta
Vivi exhaled slowly, willing her body to relax despite the simmering frustration coiled inside her. The training ring was quiet except for the sound of Kelda’s measured footsteps circling her. The elder witch’s sharp gaze tracked every movement, every subtle tremor of hesitation. “Again,” Kelda instructed, voice steady and unrelenting. Vivi swallowed, muscles aching with the effort of holding back—no, not holding back, containing. The fire that lived within her was there, waiting, but it wasn’t bending to her will the way she needed. It churned beneath her skin like a restless tide, too volatile, too uncertain. “I don’t have control over this,” Vivi finally admitted through clenched teeth, her breath coming fast. Kelda arched a brow, unimpressed. “Then you’ll die.” The bluntness of the statement landed like a slap. Vivi’s fingers twitched. She knew Kelda wasn’t saying it to be cruel—only to be truthful. She couldn’t afford to fail. Vivi drew in a slow, steadying breath a
The fire flickered, casting restless shadows as the weight of the revelation settled over them. Another Starfire. Trained. Conditioned. And wielded as a weapon by the High Council.Vivi clenched her hands into fists, the burn of her own power simmering beneath her skin. A cold knot of fear curled in her stomach, but she forced herself to stay calm. This was no time for hesitation. Across from her, Xander stood locked in a silent battle of wills with Ronan, his golden eyes smoldering with fury and disbelief. His jaw flexed, his muscles tight as if he were restraining himself from lashing out.No one spoke at first, the weight of what they were facing settling heavily over them. The crackling fire in the hearth was the only sound breaking the suffocating silence.Then Kane exhaled, rolling his shoulders as though shaking off the tension pressing down on them. “We can’t afford to stand here in shock,” he said, his voice steady, unshaken. “If they have a weapon trained against us, time is