Tesla pov I took a shaky step forward, my legs trembling as the weight of Marcus’s words pressed down on me. Every fiber of my being screamed at me not to do this, but the sight of Henry lying helpless beneath Marcus’s paw made the decision for me. “Stop,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I swallowed hard and tried again. “I’ll go with you. Just let him go.” Kael’s head snapped up, his eyes blazing with anger and desperation. “Tesla, no! You don’t have to do this.” Marcus tilted his head slightly, his lips curling into a cold smile. “A wise decision.” “I said, let him go!” I shouted, forcing strength into my voice. “Now.” Marcus stared at me for a moment, then lifted his paw from Henry’s chest, the pressure easing but the threat still lingering in his gaze. Henry coughed weakly, his sides heaving as he tried to recover. Kael staggered to his feet, his body swaying as he fought to stay upright. “Tesla, this isn’t the answer. We can still fight.” “Fight?” I snapped, my v
I turned to look at Henry, but he wasn’t much better off. Blood stained the earth beneath him, his body limp, his breath shallow and labored. I wanted to go to him, to try and stop the bleeding, but the way Marcus had taken him down with ease was still fresh in my mind. Henry wasn’t just injured; he was broken. And it was my fault too. I should’ve been faster. I should’ve—“Kael,” a voice broke through my thoughts, and I looked up, realizing it was Henry’s weak whisper. He was looking at me, his face pale, his eyes barely open.“You’re still breathing,” I rasped, my voice hoarse from everything I was holding in. I bent down beside him, but I couldn’t offer him any comfort. I couldn’t even lift him.“I’m not… not for long,” Henry said, grimacing. “Marcus—”“I know,” I interrupted, my voice tight. “I’ll make it right. I swear, Henry. I’ll get her back.”Henry’s eyes fluttered. “Don’t make promises… you can’t keep.”I opened my mouth to argue, but nothing came out. I couldn’t promise him
“ You are destined to restore balance.” I stared at him, the words hanging in the air between us like a cold gust of wind. “Restore balance? What are you talking about?” My voice was louder now, frustration creeping in. “I’m just a—just a girl! I don’t know anything about any balance.” A heavy silence hung in the air, almost suffocating as the council stared at me, waiting. I barely heard their words over the frantic beating of my heart. The weight of the situation settled deeper with every passing second. My legs felt like lead as I stood there, waiting for them to explain what this all meant. "Restore balance," I repeated, my voice shaky, "What does that even mean?" The silver-eyed leader looked at me, his gaze unwavering. "You are destined to prevent a great catastrophe, Tesla. The child you carry has a purpose. It will either bring salvation or destruction. Only you can decide which path it takes." The words hit me like a physical blow. A child? I was carrying a child? How?
Tesla POVI woke up in the middle of the night, my mind restless. My thoughts raced, circling around the council’s cryptic words about the child I was carrying. Part of a prophecy? The idea was absurd, but the conviction in their voices had been unsettling. I turned on the narrow bed, trying to force myself to sleep, but it was impossible.The room felt suffocating, and the shadows seemed alive, whispering my doubts back to me. Every creak of the floorboards, every rustle of the wind, felt like a warning.Then, a knock at the door shattered the silence. My body froze.Who would be knocking at this hour? Slowly, I stood and walked to the door, hesitating for a moment before opening it.Marcus stood there, leaning casually against the frame, his expression unreadable.“You’re awake,” he said, stepping inside uninvited.I frowned. “What are you doing here? It’s the middle of the night.”He smirked, that same unsettling grin that made my skin crawl. “I could ask you the same thing. Why ar
Henry POVI stood by the window, staring at the moon hanging low in the night sky. Its light seemed cold, distant—mocking. The memory of my defeat replayed in my mind, each moment sharper than the last. Marcus had beaten me, humiliated me in front of everyone. That was all anyone could talk about now—the Alpha who fell.I clenched my fists, the anger at myself burning hot. I’d failed as a leader. Failed as a protector. And with Serena carrying our child, that failure weighed heavier than ever. How could I keep them safe when I couldn’t even defend myself?Kael’s words echoed in my mind from our earlier conversation: “People change, Henry. You’re not the same man you were.” He was right, damn him. I wasn’t the man I used to be. The strength, the confidence—they were gone, replaced by doubt and weakness. But maybe... maybe I could change again.If I was going to reclaim what I’d lost, I needed to face Marcus. But not like last time, blindly charging in and hoping for the best. No, I nee
Tesla POVThe sound of my name being called repeatedly cut through the fog of my restless sleep, dragging me back to reality. My mind still reeling from the conversation with Marcus hours ago, I had barely managed to drift off when the pounding on the door started.“Tesla! Open the door!” came Marcus's voice, sharp and insistent.I groaned, pulling the blanket over my head and trying to ignore it, but the constant banging was impossible to block out. Grumbling, I finally threw off the covers and stumbled to my feet, my body stiff from lack of proper rest. I was already irritated, but when I saw the time on the clock—too early, too damn early—I was beyond pissed.I opened the door, half-expecting Marcus to be standing there with that annoying smirk of his. Instead, his face was drawn tight, eyes narrowed, and his jaw clenched. The usual unsettling grin was gone. He looked… tense. Serious. Definitely not in the mood for small talk.“You need to take a bath,” he said without preamble. “W
Tesla POVWe arrived at a place that didn’t look anything like I expected. It was an old building, the kind that had probably seen better days, maybe decades ago. The walls were cracked, the windows boarded up, and the air around it smelled damp, like it hadn’t been disturbed for a long time. There was no sign of life, nothing that gave me any reassurance about what we were doing here. I glanced around, feeling the weight of the unknown pressing against my chest.Marcus had stayed close, not speaking a word as we walked through the small group of people. His eyes were sharp, scanning the surroundings. I wanted to ask him a thousand questions, but the way he moved—so precise, so focused—told me he wasn’t in the mood to answer them. We were in this together, and yet, it felt like I was being pulled in one direction while he was being dragged somewhere else.As we stepped through the door, I was immediately hit by the darkness inside. It smelled musty, like old books and forgotten memori
Kael POVNine months had passed since everything changed. Nine months of living in a place that wasn’t home, not truly. I had learned things, seen things that I wished I could forget, but that’s not how life works. When you’re tied to something bigger than yourself, you don’t get to walk away unscathed.And now, here I was, staring at Alpha Henry, the man who had done everything in his power to break me. But now he was handing me a key. A small, simple thing. Heavy in my hand, heavier in my chest.“This is for the deal,” Henry said, his voice as cold as I remembered. His eyes, sharp and calculating, watched me carefully, like he was waiting for something.I didn’t know what he expected me to say. Gratitude? A thank you for the freedom I was about to have? No. I wasn’t about to make that mistake. Not after everything that had happened between us.I looked at the key in my hand, turning it over and over, trying to decide if I could even trust it. Trust him.“You’re letting me go,” I sai
The old man’s smirk widened at Kael’s accusation. His sharp, calculating eyes gleamed in the dim firelight, reflecting the carnage around them. His hands, still clasped behind his back, twitched slightly—just enough for Kael to notice. Tesla’s trembling grew more violent. “You…” Kael’s voice was low, almost a whisper, but filled with restrained fury. “You did this to her.” The old man inclined his head, as if entertained by Kael’s discovery. “Indeed.” Kael clenched his fists. His body ached from the battle, but rage burned through him stronger than pain. “You turned her into… *this*.” A slow, amused chuckle rumbled from the old man’s throat. “Turned her?” He shook his head. “No, no, boy. I simply *unleashed* what was already there.” Tesla snarled, her body still locked in place, trembling, fighting something unseen. Her silver eyes flickered between recognition and complete void—between her and the monster clawing for control inside her. Henry gritted his teeth. “We’re s
The battlefield was still. Only the crackling of burning trees and the heavy breaths of wounded wolves filled the night. Scar, now in his monstrous wolf form, towered over Tesla, his golden eyes gleaming with malice. He took slow, deliberate steps toward her, his massive paws sinking into the bloodstained ground. Kael and Henry stood at a distance, watching tensely, their bodies aching from battle. “This isn’t good,” Kael muttered. Henry growled lowly. “She’s strong… but Scar is something else.” Tesla’s white wolf didn’t move. Her silver eyes burned with something primal, something ancient. She stood firm, shoulders squared, her fur bristling as the wind swept through the clearing. Scar bared his fangs. “You think because you unlocked some hidden power, you can stand against me?” His voice was deep, laced with arrogance. “I am your end, little wolf.” Tesla didn’t respond. She lunged. The force of her attack sent shockwaves through the ground. She was fast—unnaturally
The air grew tense. The moment Henry and Kael heard the snapping of branches behind them, they knew—Scar had caught up. A low, guttural growl rumbled through the darkness. Kael barely had time to shift before something massive slammed into him, knocking him sideways. Henry roared, his body already shifting mid-motion. Bones snapped, muscles expanded, fur sprouted along his skin. By the time he landed on all fours, his white fur gleamed under the moonlight. Scar’s men came like a storm, their snarls ripping through the night. Shadows moved fast, fangs flashing, claws striking. Kael barely had time to dodge the first attack before another wolf lunged. He twisted, kicking off a tree trunk, launching himself into his enemy with deadly force. His jaw clamped down on the wolf’s shoulder, his claws raking down its side. A yelp. A thud. But there was no time to breathe. Another came at him—then another. Henry was already deep in battle, his powerful form tearing through en
The night stretched long and cold, the air thick with the scent of blood and damp earth. The battle had ended, but the war was far from over. Scar emerged from the shadows, his towering frame moving with deadly grace. His fur, a deep shade of charcoal, gleamed under the moonlight. Scars littered his body, marks of past battles, proof of his dominance. His golden eyes flickered with something unreadable as he stopped in front of the crumpled figure on the ground. Aldric. He was barely conscious, his breaths ragged, his body sprawled in the dirt, the wooden shard still embedded in his ribs. Blood pooled beneath him, dark and thick. He had lost. Scar tilted his head, a slow, measured movement. Then, without a word, he crouched down, gripping Aldric’s throat with one clawed hand. “Where are the others?” His voice was low, dangerous. Aldric’s lips curled into a weak snarl. He was in no condition to fight, no strength left to even lift his head. But he still had his pride. Sca
The wolves lunged. A blur of furs clashed under the moonlight, fangs bared, claws tearing at the earth as they collided with bone-crushing force. A snarl ripped through the air. Henry struck first, fast and brutal, his jaws snapping dangerously close to Aldric’s throat. But Aldric was faster. He twisted at the last second, his massive paws striking Henry’s side, sending him skidding across the dirt. Lina let out a small cry behind me, but I didn’t turn. I couldn’t. My eyes were locked on the battle unfolding before us. Henry recovered in seconds, his white fur now streaked with dirt and blood, but he didn’t hesitate. He launched himself at Aldric again, jaws snapping— Aldric dodged, but Henry was relentless. He struck again. And again. Each attack more brutal than the last, his fangs sinking into Aldric’s shoulder— Aldric snarled in pain, but it didn’t slow him down. If anything, it only made him angrier. With a vicious growl, he twisted, his claws sl
The blade came down. A sharp gasp lodged in my throat, but before I could make a sound, something clamped over my mouth. A hand. Strong. Unrelenting. I thrashed, my fingers clawing at the grip, but Aldric’s hold was ironclad. "Shh," he whispered against my ear, his breath cool, his voice eerily calm. "You don’t want to wake them just yet." The old man lay still. Unmoving. For a moment, my chest seized with fear, but then I saw it—his shallow, uneven breaths. He wasn’t dead. Not yet. Aldric must’ve realized he didn’t finish the job because his grip on me tightened, his frustration seeping through. I bit down. Hard. He let out a sharp curse, his hand jerking away just enough for me to suck in a deep breath— But I didn’t get the chance to scream. Because before I could, he yanked me backward, dragging me toward the barn doors with inhuman strength. I kicked, elbowed, fought— But he was faster. Stronger. I barely registered the doors swinging open b
The forest had a way of making you feel small. The towering trees, the endless darkness stretching beyond where the eye could see—it swallowed you whole, made you feel like you were nothing but a fleeting presence in a world that had existed long before you and would continue to exist long after. I sat with my back against the rough bark of a tree, Lina curled up beside me, her breathing deep and even as sleep finally claimed her. I wished I could rest as easily. But exhaustion was a weight on my shoulders, pressing down, dragging me toward unconsciousness, yet my mind refused to let go. I wasn’t the only one. Kael sat a few feet away, sharpening a blade absentmindedly, his eyes trained on the trees, as if daring something to step out. Henry was on the other side of the clearing, lying down but not quite asleep, his arm resting over his eyes, lost in thought. Aldric sat against another tree, silent, unmoving. He hadn’t said much since earlier, and I wasn’t sure if I preferred
TeslaOur footsteps were quiet, barely rustling the undergrowth as we moved through the forest, but the silence between us was louder than words. I kept my focus ahead, keeping close to Lina, who clung to my hand. Henry walked on my right, his jaw set in quiet determination, while Kael led the way with an unshaken confidence that made it seem like he always knew exactly where we were going. Aldric was behind me. Not too far. Not too close. Until he moved forward. I tensed. “I know you don’t trust me,” his voice was calm, even. “But you have to believe me—I didn’t do anything.” I didn’t answer. Didn’t even look at him. But he kept walking, his presence drawing closer, his voice lower now, just enough for me to hear. “I don’t expect you to trust me, Tesla,” he murmured, as if reading my mind. “But at least don’t see me as an enemy.” My fingers curled into a fist. “I never said you were my enemy.” Aldric exhaled softly. “But you think I could be.” I didn’t
TeslaScar’s growl echoed in the night as he ran off, his wounded pride as deep as the gash across his chest. His brother limped beside him, their figures disappearing into the darkness like ghosts, leaving behind only the scent of blood and bitterness. I watched them go, my breath still uneven, my muscles aching from the fight. But there was no time to dwell on it. Henry shifted back into his human form beside me, his skin still marked with the traces of battle. Without hesitation, he crouched down, lifting the blind old man onto his back. “We need to move,” Henry said, his voice firm. Aldric gave a small nod, silent as ever. We left without looking back. Kael took the lead, moving through the darkness with his usual quiet precision. Aldric walked beside me, his senses sharp, still wary of another ambush. I kept my eyes ahead, my mind a whirlwind of unanswered questions, lingering doubts, and the weight of everything that had just happened. But the moment we stepped int