The sound of my name sent another wave of strange warmth down my body. I forced myself to nod before hurrying past Abigail and out into the living room. “Be careful of what? I already have things to be careful of,” I said to myself, the exhaustion of the day growing heavy on my shoulders. I wasn't paying attention before but the mansion was truly impressive. The study was just as extravagant with dark wood furniture and towering shelves filled with books I couldn’t imagine anyone reading. Khalid was lounging sideways in a chair by the window, his expression lighting up when he saw me. He's way too friendly for someone I just met hours ago. “There you are,” he said, motioning for me to sit. “How was your chat with Ethan?” I hesitated, unsure how to answer, settling to lean against a desk. “We didn’t talk about much.” Khalid raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but he didn’t press the issue. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his playful grin returning. “Who would, se
The peculiar sight of Ethan on the bedroom floor was jarring. His face was twisted in agony as he lay against the wall, his body shaking with visible pain. But his eyes confessed the worst as it glowed an eerie, unnatural gold."I’m fine," Ethan muttered through gritted teeth, but it was clear to me he wasn’t. The glow in his eyes flickered as he locked gazes with me, and his voice faltered. "You need to leave."It was a command, not a request, but my feet felt like they were stuck in place. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from him. I had a growing desire to help, to ease whatever agony he was in.I stepped close despite his protest but to my dismay, another wave of pain seemed to tear through him."Ethan?" I asked softly, stepping forward slowly. I wasn’t sure why but I needed to make sure he was okay.His eyes snapped to mine, wearing his pain and frustration in a look that sent a chill down my spine. "Please," he whispered, his breath shallow. "Get out."Behind me, Khalid’s voice cut
A damp, foggy forest loomed before me once again, its oppressive silence weighing heavily on my chest. This time, the cold was sharper, biting into my skin.I glanced down and gasped. Blood soaked through my torn white shirt, smearing my chest in dark streaks. My breath hitched as I touched the ragged fabric, the pain searing. It was as though claws had raked through me.This again.I took a shaky step forward, my heart racing as fragments of my last dream surfaced—the white wolf, its piercing gaze, its claws tearing through me as it snarled for me to wake up. My knees trembled at the memory. Knowing it was a dream did little to comfort me. It felt real, too real.A low howl shattered the stillness, mournful and filled with pain. I spun around, my pulse pounding in my ears. My voice cracked as I whispered to myself, “Why is this happening? I am here again. This isn't just a dream.”Another set of new questions. Exhaustion overwhelmed me, and I collapsed to the damp ground, clutching m
Ethan’s golden eyes burned through the darkness, and my breath faltered as his hand slowly slipped away from my mouth.His scent caressed my nose. He smelt heavily of the forest like he ran to come here. It was alarming, the way his heat pulled me closer the longer he sat in front of me.“May I know why you're in my room telling me not to scream your name out to everyone on this street?“ I harshly whispered as I tried to push my instincts aside to ask.Every nerve in my body was on edge, screaming for answers, for action—but the way he was looking at me, so raw and gentle, left me unguarded. His eyes were not in their usual green either and the gold was pulling me in.“I couldn’t stay away,” Ethan admitted, his voice low and gravelly. His confession hung heavy in the air. “Being so close to you—it’s not helping.” He clenched his jaw.My cheeks flushed at his words, and my mouth dried up as I gaped. He broke into my room to tell me that.I caught his gaze dropped to my lips, and I felt
“Wait, no—this isn’t supposed to happen yet.” She continued, panic evident in her tone.I stared at her, the pain clouding my thoughts. Did she know him? “What?” I managed to croak, but the agony twisted my words into a strangled gasp.“She’s in pain,” my mother snapped, her calm unraveling. “The seal—it’s breaking, isn’t it?” Her face crumpled, tears welling in her eyes. “It’s too soon,” she murmured, shaking her head. “She’s not ready for this.”“I know, but she doesn’t have a choice,” Ethan replied, his voice steady. “If I don’t do it now, the pain will only get worse. She could—” He stopped, his jaw tightening. “She could lose her mind if it tries to unlock itself.”My mother’s gaze softened, sorrow settling in her eyes. “Harlyn… I’m so sorry,” she whispered, her voice trembling. She turned back to Ethan and nodded, though her reluctance was clear. “Do it. Please.”Ethan moved closer, his steps deliberate, and met my gaze. “Harlyn,” he said quietly, his voice unwavering amid the c
The white ceiling tiles blurred as I stared at them. My body was too weak to do much else. The more I thought about things, the more difficult it was to come to terms with the idea that I’d really been in a coma for a month. My memories remained a patchwork of confusion with loose fragments that refused to align. My mom holding me as I broke down in her arms was the clearest image. I could still recall the dream, but everything after that felt hazy, heavily drowned with fog I couldn’t seem to walk past. A soft knock broke through the silence. I turned my head, catching the moment Becca slipped into the room. Her usually cold eyes widened slightly when she saw me, and she let out a breath. Relief flickered across her face—genuine relief. I blinked in surprise. “Harlyn,” she said, stepping closer to my bed. “You’re awake.” I shifted against the pillows, my body protesting the movement with a subtle sting of pain. “Barely.” My voice was hoarse, shaken in tone by her demeanor.
I frowned, my eyes flicking between the two of them. What was that about? I was tempted to ask but as the door clicked shut behind Becca, my mom spoke. “The doctor says you’ll be here for two more days,” she said as she moved closer to my bed, her expression softening as she focused on me. I wanted to press her for an answer, but something about the way she avoided my eyes made me hesitate. I hummed. “When do you think I’ll be able to return to school?” I bit her bait, continuing the conversation. Whatever it was, I was sure it wouldn’t be that much of a problem. Blissful Ignorance. “Your dad was thinking, maybe in about a week? Exams are approaching and we don’t want you falling behind,” She reached to adjust my blanket, moving around my bed. I didn’t want to go back. Not just yet. In fact, not at all. I’d gotten a full month break away from Higan and the terrors that came with him and despite not being aware at the moment, I was hoping to enjoy the break a little longer
The mate bond worked in very perplexing ways, but we werewolves as a whole never truly sought to question it. After all, It posed a blessing from our goddess, who sought to give us comfort in a world that would reject us, and you’re not meant to question blessings. One mate existed to be another functioning part of you, a part of your soul molded outside yourself but made of the same thing. The connection between two wolves fated to be with each other was special, and it allowed certain things to exist between them, including the pain of their rejection. I would know that because despite Higan rejecting me, I could still feel the pain of his actions every time he became intimate with another woman, and the same applied to him. He would feel it if I ever got intimate with a man that’s not him. So, reading his messages opened a Pandora's box of fear and panic I never thought could be triggered in me. The most sickening dreadful idea was sinking in and worse, It would make s
Not just in the way that sight naturally adjusted in the dark. It was clearer, too clear. I had somehow stepped closer to the scenes without moving at all.I could make out the faded silver coating of the streetlights, the subtle sway of an old porch swing, the flicker of movement behind curtained windows, the creases on the skin of passing strangers.A dull pressure settled behind my eyes, like a harsh whisper scratching against the inside of my skull and it itched.Then the sounds came.Dampened and muffled at first, like voices heard underwater, indistinct but present. A wooden door creaking open, a burst of obnoxious laughter from a group walking home, a low conversation threading through the air.“...definitely here...““...yellow doesn't go with green...““...Tess is such a bitch you know...“It went on, with names I'd heard before and with unfamiliar voices. A rush of static buzzed in my ears as if I had tuned into too many frequencies at once.I squinted my eyes shut as I trie
What? I flushed from the idea, shuffling my feet before turning away sharply to grab my clothes, putting some space between us.I swallowed, gripping my towel tighter. “I should get dressed,” I murmured before turning to face him with my clothes held against my chest.He blinked, seemingly surprised before he nodded and moved to face the door. He didn’t leave. A small smile grazed my lips.Tension stayed thick in the air between us but my paranoia was long gone. I quickly changed into a pair of large comfortable grey sweats. My fingers trembled all through despite the warmth lingering on my skin.I could feel Ethan, his presence, his awareness of me, even with his back turned. By the time I finished, the air in the room had shifted, but neither of us acknowledged it.Not yet.Ethan remained where he was, his back still facing me. His head tilted slightly, his dark hair tousling. It felt like he was hesitating before he finally spoke. “You expected me to leave entirely, didn’t you?”Hi
I stayed perfectly still, hoping to hear something more. Nothing. After a long pause, I released a slow deep breath and shook my head. Maybe I was being paranoid. Maybe.Still, I reached for the door and made sure it was locked before turning away. “Worrying won’t do anything,” I whispered to myself.My parents would be here soon, and if nothing else, I wanted to look presentable when they arrived.With that thought, I grabbed some fresh clothes from my bag and headed to the bathroom where an ivory bathtub waited. Lined up on the marble counters were countless bathing products and a particular pomegranate-scented bath bomb that caught my eye.The warm water helped ease some of the stiffness in my muscles. I scrubbed away the lingering exhaustion from the trip, letting the steam fill the small space, cocooning me in temporary peace.But it couldn’t wash away the restlessness in my mind.Even as I lathered soap across my arms, Higan’s face resurfaced in my thoughts, his infuriated stare
The plan was to stick around for whatever conversation would be held between Ethan and Alpha Harris, but that plan quickly fell apart as Khalid insisted on escorting me to a bedroom.“You know it won't necessarily stop me from eavesdropping,” I whispered to Khalid as we climbed up the carpeted stairs.“Have you ever wondered how pack members can't really hear what is discussed by their pack leaders in their homes?“ Khalid countered with a sheepish smile as he dragged my suitcases behind him.“I'm guessing there's some magic involved,” I remarked, tugging my duffle bag closer to my shoulders.“Precisely and I promise you, your ears won't like the attempt,” he warned with a clipped tone.I wondered what he meant by that but I yielded anyway. One, I was too tired to discover whatever secret they were guarding right then. Two, there was someone in the house I wasn't comfortable with and I needed to be aware of his every move.Higan. They had left him out of the conversation too and he had
“A well-known one apparently,” I retorted with optimistic sarcasm.The last time I was at their place in town, I never picked up on this flock of cars. Whose were they? It was Springville after all. However, the more I stepped down, the more I realized I recognized some of those cars in waiting. And, as if called upon by my fears, I watched the boy of my nightmare climb down a black G-wagon.Higan Sinclair.I halted my steps as my heart stilled. I hadn't seen him in so long yet suddenly he was right in front of me. The slithery discomfort coiled in my chest like a snake as I watched Higan step closer.Even after months, my body still betrayed me. My heart stilled, then stuttered, as if caught in a moment it had long since lost the right to care about. I forced my breath to even out, reminding myself that he wasn’t anything to me, that I was stronger than the damage he'd done to me.Whatever claim he had on me was non-existent.But then a question rang loud. Why was he here?More than
Things had settled down in the plane but my mind refused to.The edge of my fingers hovered over an open book in my lap, my eyes skimming the words without really absorbing them. I'd picked it to pass the time as we continued to head for Springville.Control. That’s what I was supposed to be learning. But how could I even begin to grasp control when I wasn’t sure what was real?"Oh, little one, things are about to change for you.“The words still sang in my head, low, guttural, and amused. It was also familiar in a way that sent a shiver down my spine.It sounded like my wolf. I'd heard her many times in my dreamscape but it was the first I'd heard her speak in my mind.But that didn’t provide much of an information. Wolves didn’t just speak in their human mind. That wasn’t how it worked. There were special circumstances, sure like deeply bonded mates shifting, sacred rituals, and moments of absolute desperation. But this? This was something else entirely.The sound of rustling made m
“No.” My voice was hoarse but firm.Ethan's gaze snapped back to mine with a frown. I could feel the tension in the way his body coiled, ready to strike.I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe past the lingering haze of pain. “It wasn’t an external attack,” I whispered.Silence followed once again. I let it linger because how exactly was I supposed to explain that my sorceress side had manifested as an entity in my mind and it was strong enough to harm me physically?Ethan’s grip flexed, his control razor-thin. I could see it in the way his jaw tightened, in the flicker of something unreadable behind his dark eyes. He was anxious.I licked my lips, forcing the words out. “It was me,” I admitted. “It happened in my dream.”The weight of their gazes pressed in on me.“Explain,” Ethan ordered, biting down on his Jaw.“I've been having certain dreams for a while where I sorta talk to my wolf and this girl,” I paused, twiddling my thumbs.“What did she look like?“ Khalid headed toward
The moment my bare feet met the moist grass of the forest in my dreamscape, I felt it.A sentient shift in the atmosphere.The air felt denser and fully charged with something electric and violent. The trees rustled as they trembled and recoiled from a storm brewing. The usual scent of petrichor and pine was tainted with the acrid burn of unnatural.And there they were.My wolf, white fur stained with mud and an onyx liquid, her eyes burning with molten golden fury.And her opposition. Me.Or rather, the version of me I had come to fear. My doppelganger, the Melbringer. The last time I'd encountered her in my dreamscape, she nearly killed me with her wrath. It looked like my wolf had now taken my place.She swung around wreathed in smoke and tresses, flickering between substance and shadow. Her pallid eyes squinted sharp with amusement with lips curled in a delighted smirk. Whatever was happening, she was relishing it.An opaque filmy force coiled around her fingers, twisting through
I rubbed my palms together before holding them to my face. The thrill rushed through me, bubbling up like a spark catching fire. I would see them pretty soon too.I was going home to my parents, to my mom, to my dad, to Becca, and the rest of Springville.A tightening sensation pulled at the tips of my fingers as my body slowly began to run cold. The rest of Springville? My hands dropped to my sides. To Higan, my mate who had rejected me?My gaze fell to the ground as my body ran colder. I had somehow forgotten about a huge chunk of my life in Springville. The bullying, the rejection, the ostracizing.What would happen when I returned? I proposed that my parents let me stay the rest of the school term at home and my mom agreed but what about college after? Summer break? I would still be in town, under The rule of Higan Sinclair as the Alpha.“Harlyn love?“ Tyler shook me lightly by the shoulder, his voice dipping light with concern.I blinked quickly, forcing a smile. “Sorry, I just g