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
The question echoed loudly in my mind, insistent and relentless in its search for an answer. The kiss felt faint like the leftovers of a dream slipping through my grasp. I hoped for a face, a voice—anything to make some sense out of it but came up with nothing. Was it Higan? No… it didn’t feel like him. The kiss in my memory was raw and consuming, driven by something more profound than desire—a connection that transcended reason. Higan and I did not posses that. Did I dream of it? Was it another dream like the one I had with the white wolf tearing my gut out? Frustrated, I rubbed my temples and let out a groan. My pulse still raced from the phantom sensation. Was this another trick of my scrambled mind, or something real I have long forgotten? The afternoon dragged on, and despite my best efforts to stay awake, exhaustion eventually claimed me. My eyes grew heavier with each passing second until I finally surrendered to sleep. I knew what was coming and it did come.
“I’m not an omega,” the words left my mouth in a weak whisper. Though, the haze of my dream was fading fast. Everything around me turned dark as the rustling trees dissolved into the sharp, rhythmic beeping of my heart monitor. “No, you’re not,” a woman’s voice danced through my thoughts. I tried opening my eyes, but the effort only made my eyelids feel heavier. Panic bubbled in my chest, seeping into every nerve as my body refused to move. "Relax, darling. Just keep dreaming. It’s better that way," the lady cackled softly. Her voice slithered through my mind like a taunt, doing little to comfort me. What kind of sick nurse would play tricks like that? Summoning every ounce of strength, I croaked out, "Nurse?" The word barely escaped my lips before my body betrayed me again, and exhaustion dragged me back down. For a few long, suffocating moments, there was nothing but silence. Then I heard it—a wet, choking sound followed by a heavy thud. My breath caught in my throat a
I turned, startled, as Khalid approached us in hurried strides. My stomach tightened, confusion flaring hot in my chest. "What is he doing here?" The question spilled from my lips before I could stop it. “I’ll explain on the plane Harlyn, but you have to come with me now,” He grabbed a bag from my mother I hadn’t realized she was holding. “Here are some of her things, I trust you can get her more when she needs them,” My mother stated. “My things?” I shrieked in disbelief. “Harlyn, this is serious,” my dad stepped in. I turned to look at him, but his face, illuminated under the moonlight, revealed injuries I hadn’t noticed before. “You’re hurt?” I reached to glaze over the bruise on his nose. Who hurt him? What was happening? I was starting to feel my panic rise at the sudden events, my eyes tearing up. This must be some continuation of that silly dream. They’re just trying to emphasize how my life’s in danger, this couldn’t be real. “Harlyn, you need to go!” My dad or
The road stretched endlessly before us, a ribbon of asphalt snaking through the darkened countryside. The headlights from the van lit the occasional tree or sign, casting passing shadows along the path. The van was silent. It was a chilling sort of silence that only comes after something major has happened and nobody knows what's left yet. I sat there, staring at the floor, my mind replaying the things that happened mere moments ago, most especially, the Melbringer. I heard they rarely came into contact with land owned by werewolves, so why was she there? A warm feeling still crept around in my chest when I thought about her and the image of her gaze searing through me. My heart felt hollow in a way as if it had stopped beating in that instant, yet I was still alive. I wondered if I was overthinking it—her eyes and the pain in my chest. Was it a coincidence or truly an attempt on my life like I felt? But why would she want to kill me? I'm not particularly anyone inte
I absorbed what she had said, trying to grasp the enormity of it all. A part of me wanted to ask more, but something in Abigail’s expression told me this wasn’t the time for a deep dive. The van finally came to a stop, and we reached the small, secluded airport. The reality of what was happening started to settle in. A sudden unease spread through me. I hadn’t imagined in all my years that I'd be lunged into this strange world of Melbringerand unspoken secrets. But now, it was clear that I was being pulled deeper into something I wasn’t sure I understood. Abigail, Khalid, and I climbed out of the van, and I followed them to step closer to the large black plane waiting for us. I didn't want to wonder whose plane it was and why it was being used to smuggle me out of the country against my will. I had enough questions to ask. The air felt cool against the skin of my exposed legs. I looked down at my sandals. I remembered then that I'd barely been able to change. My cheeks
Silence fell like a heavyweight after my question. The tension in the air seemed to shift as all eyes turned to rest on me. Abigail’s dark gaze flashed with surprise and a bit of irritation, while Caleb and his twin stared at me as though I’d grown a second head. Khalid on the other hand was nowhere to be found. But it was Ethan’s reaction that hit me hardest. His perforate green eyes locked onto mine, unreadable but persistent in their intensity. It felt like he was searching for something beneath my defiance. His jaw tightened for a brief moment before he finally spoke. “You don’t have a choice.” The bluntness of his words flared a spark of anger in my chest. “Excuse you!” I retorted. “Of course, I have a choice. I didn’t ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be dragged out here, to be tossed around like someone else’s problem. If I don’t want to go, I simply won’t go.” Ethan stepped closer, his footsteps measured, almost seemingly in a manner that suggested he was approac
I whirled around just in time to see Ethan step into the room, his tall frame casting a commanding presence. My pulse was still hammering at the sudden intrusion. His eyes closed onto me instantly, narrowing as though he could sense the fluttering in my gut. I clenched my fists, feeling the heat rush to my cheeks. “Do you mind knocking?” I snapped, immediately hating how breathless I sounded. He didn’t flinch. “We’re taking off soon,” he said evenly, his gaze fixed. “I came to check if you were ready.” “I’m almost done,” I bit out, tugging the hoodie over my head to hide my flustered expression. The kiss... the memory remained, making my chest hurt in the strangest softest way. For a heartbeat, neither of us moved. The space between us seemed charged, like something unsaid was hanging there, heavy and unresolved. I waited for him to say something as I had nothing to say. Ethan’s eyes softened just a fraction, his voice dipping lower. “You looked... distracted.” “I’m fin
“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
I adjusted the silver ribbons on the black stair hands before stepping back slightly to assess my work. The mansion’s grand staircase shimmered with strands of warm twinkly lights, and a small tree stood proudly in the foyer waiting to be decorated."Too much, too soon?" I asked with a soft hum, peering at Khalid, who shuffled by the railings hanging garlands in an ugly beige Christmas sweater and denim.He shot me a playful crease of his nose and a smirk. "No such thing. It’s December."My lips quirked up faintly before I exhaled, my fingers lightly tracing the pine needles. The scent of wine and pecan pie wafted through the room with the gentle rhythm of the perky holiday playlist Khalid had insisted on.Boxes of decorations were sprawled across the floor, and tangled vines of mini light bulbs snaked over the furniture like rebellious ivy.It was a heavy contrast from the sight at home when it was just me and my parents. We always made early preparations but none of it rivaled the g
I inhaled deeply, swallowing down the knot growing in my throat. Shaking the lingering tension from my limbs, I shifted my stance and prepared myself.Ethan’s movements remained measured, and deliberate, as if he had all the time in the world to wear me down. And he did. After a while, I was running on fumes, my breaths had grown short and my muscles ached beyond possible redemption. Or so it felt.But I still had enough in me to show I hadn't been playing around in the time that had passed.I pushed forward, my fists tightening as I launched myself at him, aiming for his side. He dodged swiftly, effortless as ever, his body shifting with a frustrating smoothness that made it feel like he was barely trying. Again.I didn't have the energy to dwell on the difference in experience. I simply twisted my heel to strike again. As expected, he caught my wrist mid-swing, his grip firm but not bruising. My pulse lurched, heat and ice warring in my veins.His dark emerald eyes flickered with so
Dressed in the same dark bodysuit as Caleb, Ethan stood in the center of the room with an air of composed authority as he adjusted his digital wristband. His hair had been trimmed shorter and he seemed to have gained mass in some way.What had he been doing? Why was he here in particular? His presence was an instant, unwelcome disruption to the fragile sense of calm I had built over the past weeks.I immediately stiffened, my fingers curled into my palms as I stopped in my tracks and my lips curled in distaste.Caleb, for his part, didn’t seem surprised. He merely gave Ethan a curt nod before turning to me. “I’ll leave you two to it.”He was in on it, of course. I scowled but said nothing, watching as Caleb exited the room, leaving me alone with the one person I least wanted to see.Ethan finally looked up to meet my eyes, my heart pulsed with gentle tremors. It only irritated me further. I hadn't seen him in so long and all he was doing was staring.He seemed to be studying me with a
He studied me for a moment, his tone even. “No offense Harlyn but you're not that formidable to insight much fear in any one of us. We've been around for quite some time, we've dealt with plenty of things, not much counts as scary anymore.”I blinked in surprise. “Okay?“ I flushed from embarrassment, scoffing, “So what's the problem?“From my doppelganger's speculation, they were supposed to be scared of me. Not that I was hoping they would be but that would be the only logical explanation as to their distance.“They don’t think you like them,” he cut straight to the point. “We have played a certain part in your life so far that you've voiced to be infuriating. They believe you dislike them for it and technically you're the one avoiding them.”I had resented them in the heat of my shift but it was for what they had taken part in, keeping me here, hiding things from me, and following Ethan’s orders like my life was something they could dictate. My resentment wasn’t actually for any of
The air carried a subtle scent of pomegranates I suspected was from the new shampoos Khalid bought me two days ago after I got myself a new hairdo. The room was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of pages as I flipped through yet another book on self-control.I wasn’t sure how much good they were doing.Somehow the last conversation I had with Ethan two weeks ago still made a point to play in my mind in unshakable echoes. His explanation about the original werewolf bloodlines, his tales of meeting my apparent mother, Gaiyetre, the mark, and then the warning.'...now that you’re aware of it, you might start waking up parts of yourself that have been dormant this whole time... your real abilities could start manifesting. Things beyond just speed or heightened senses...'To my dismay, he wasn’t wrong. I had been feeling it. Every day since my shift. Some force inside me had been shifting and stirring uncontrolled.The energy in my limbs felt heavier, and denser, like I was carrying a
I dropped my hands to catch what was happening. Out of the corner of my eyes, I picked up the sight of his hands retracting into his pocket, cradling a syringe.“He-he injected me with…” my words slurred, failing to ring out loud enough for anyone to hear over the growing commotion.Before I could try to say more, my legs gave out and I fell.“You'll be fine,” I heard the blue-eyed man whisper to me. It wasn't particularly menacing but I was still terrified.My entire body protested against giving in to whatever liquid was pulsing in my veins at the moment but I couldn't help it, I was fading away.Why wasn't my body countering its effects? That was my last question for the night before I passed out.xxxI was startled right awake sitting atop a soft plushy surface. With a casual feel under my fingers, I quickly realized it was a bed.“Huh?“ I uttered in confusion recognizing the pale green lily lace pattern on the sheets of the bed.It was the same in my room given to me by Ethan. A