It had been almost a week since Jeremy and Ashley had perfected their deadly creation: weapons laced with wolfbane. Jeremy had been pushing for a solution that would allow him to use the poison effectively, without risking himself or his pack. Ashley, the mastermind behind the formula, had gone further than anyone could have imagined. She didn’t just lace bullets with wolfbane; she infused it into every weaponThey had at their disposal—guns, blades, grenades. What were once harmless human-made weapons to werewolves had now become lethal tools capable of killing them like poison taking down a predator.In the dimly lit room, Jeremy leaned against a wooden table, examining the arsenal laid out before him. Knives gleamed, bullets shimmered with a faint green hue, and grenades sat in neat rows. The air was thick with aSense of impending violence, the silence occasionally broken by the clinking of metal as Ashley finalized her preparations.Ashley approached him with a cold smile, a pist
Cana sat in the living room, surrounded by Zane, Raquel, Lionel, and Mia. There was a tense silence in the air, the weight of recent events pressing down on them. Everyone in the pack had been on edge since the attack and the revelation of the wolfbane, and Zane, their Alpha, knew that something had to be done.Zane crossed his arms, his expression grim as he leaned back against the couch. "We can't be telling the pack everything right now. I suspect that someone within our pack is feeding Axel information."Lionel immediately shook his head, his expression one of disbelief. "That's not possible, Zane. Everyone in this pack is loyal. None of them would betray us like that."Zane's jaw tightened as he considered Lionel’s response. "I don’t want to believe it either, but I don’t have evidence yet. All I know is that Axel has been too informed about our movements, and we need to be cautious about what we say and who we trust moving forward."Raquel leaned forward, her gaze serious as she
The tension in the room was palpable, stretching thin like a taut wire ready to snap at any moment. After Axel’s departure, the pack remained in a state of uneasy silence. Though Zane had made the call to bring Axel into their plans, none of the others seemed convinced it was the right move.Cana stood near the window, watching the clouds roll over the horizon. The sky mirrored her conflicted emotions, heavy and brooding. Despite her trust in Zane, something about Axel’s involvement left a sour taste in her mouth. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Axel had ulterior motives, especially given his lingering glances and unsettling admiration for her powers. His words echoed in her mind, “You are truly special.” They unsettled her, making her skin crawl with unease.She turned back to the group, where Zane was locked in a quiet discussion with Raquel about the spellwork. Lionel sat to the side, his brow furrowed in deep thought, while Mia paced back and forth, her nerves getting the bett
The first night of the ritual passed without much consequence. Raquel and Cana had worked tirelessly, weaving their energies together, ancient words flowing from their lips in unison. Each word strengthened the spell, pulling the antidote against the wolfbane closer into reality. But unknown to them, something else stirred deep within the magic. Something that had been sealed long ago.The air in the room felt heavy, and Raquel noticed it, though she said nothing. She had learned over the years not to question every twinge of magic. But this time, something was different. She felt a ripple in the spell’s structure, a dark presence trying to claw its way to the surface, but she dismissed it as exhaustion. They were only on the first night, and the toll of the coming days would undoubtedly weigh on all of them.The others didn’t notice the energy shift. Axel stood by the door, arms crossed, his eyes scanning the room as if he expected an attack at any moment. Lionel, Mia, and Zane were
The forest was eerily silent, the only sound coming from the crunch of boots on dried leaves as Jeremy’s pack moved into position. Rifles gleamed in the pale light of the moon, their barrels pointed directly at Zane, Axel, Cana, and the others, leaving no room for escape. The tension was suffocating, thick enough to choke on. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath, watching as Jeremy stood at the center of it all, a wicked smirk playing on his lips.“Round them up,” Jeremy commanded, his voice cold and authoritative.Without hesitation, his pack spread out, rifles at the ready, and marched toward the house. They moved with deadly precision, like well-trained soldiers, forcing their way inside. Zane’s pack, along with Axel’s, were pulled out one by one, their faces pale with fear and confusion. None dared resist, not with the threat of bullets hanging over their heads. The once proud wolves were now herded like cattle, dragged into the clearing where they were forced to kneel in the d
Zane stared up at Jeremy, who had his finger on the trigger, ready to end it all. Jeremy’s lips curled into a sadistic smile as he aimed the gun squarely at Zane’s forehead. Desperation and helplessness consumed Zane as he wondered if this was truly the end for him. He could feel the cold metal of the ground beneath his knees, the weight of the situation pressing on his shoulders. He had been in countless fights and faced death before, but never like this—never so defenseless.Cana’s voice broke the silence, her pleas raw and desperate. “Please, Jeremy, don’t do this! Please don’t kill him! I beg you!”Her words only seemed to fuel Jeremy’s sadistic pleasure. He tightened his grip on the gun, giving her a mocking glance. “Oh, I’m going to kill him, Cana. And I want you to watch every second of it.”Tears streamed down Cana’s face, her heart hammering against her chest. Zane’s bloodshot eyes locked with hers for what he feared might be the last time. The tension in the air was unbearab
Cana felt the surge deep within her as Larz stood above her, his eyes glowing a brilliant blue. The grief of losing Raquel, the terror of seeing Zane so close to death, and the helplessness of being unable to protect those she loved swirled inside her, igniting something she had never felt before. Power. It roared within her, pulsing through her veins, ready to erupt.She could feel it—this incredible force, something that had always been there, locked away deep within. Her heart raced, and her mind buzzed with thoughts too fast to hold on to. The air around her trembled, and the very ground beneath her began to quake. Larz stared down at her, unimpressed. His icy smile never wavered, and before Cana could fully harness the power rising in her, he reached down, his fingers cold as death, and pressed them gently against her forehead.The world went black in an instant. Cana’s body slumped, her power dissipating as quickly as it had come, and she fell into a deep, unnatural sleep.Acros
The living room of Zane’s cabin felt tighter than usual, a suffocating weight hanging over them as Zane and Axel argued for the third time that day. It had been two days since the hellhounds Larz and Akam attacked, leaving a trail of death and devastation in their wake. The once formidable pack was a shadow of its former self, struggling to heal physically and emotionally. The gaping wounds inflicted by the twins would have taken humans months to recover from, but thanks to their supernatural abilities, their healing was well underway. Still, even werewolf rapid healing could not soothe the deeper scars — the scars of failure, of betrayal.Zane paced back and forth, his fists clenched as his eyes bore into Axel. “We were both too weak! She needed us, and we couldn’t do anything to save her. What kind of Alphas are we?”Axel shot him a look of equal frustration. “You think I don’t know that? Do you think I don’t regret it every second since they took her? But you keep acting like blami
The soft morning sun filtered through the curtains of their modest home in Ashbrook, painting the walls with warm hues of gold and pink. Cana stirred awake, the sound of tiny footsteps pattering down the hallway pulling her from her dreams. A soft giggle followed—a giggle she could recognize anywhere.Cana smiled and turned toward Zane, who was still fast asleep, his face relaxed and peaceful. She reached over to nudge him.“Your daughter is up,” she whispered.Zane groaned but smiled, keeping his eyes closed. “Our daughter,” he corrected, but he didn’t make any effort to move.Cana chuckled and threw the blanket off. “Fine, I’ll get her. But you’re on pancake duty.”That got him to open one eye. “Deal.”As Cana walked toward the living room, she found Peace sitting in the middle of the floor, surrounded by her stuffed animals. She had one of her birthday presents—a small toy piano—in front of her and was pressing random keys, creating a chaotic but delightful melody.“Good morning, m
EpilogueThe soft hum of laughter and the gentle clinking of glasses filled the air as a warm breeze swept through the backyard. The space was alive with celebration, a reflection of a life rebuilt from the ashes of chaos and pain. Cana adjusted the balloons on the arch for what felt like the tenth time, ensuring they were perfect. She stepped back to admire her handiwork and smiled as her gaze landed on Zane, who had their daughter, Peace, perched high on his shoulders.Peace squealed with uncontainable delight, her tiny hands gripping her father’s thick black hair as he prowled around like a pretend wolf.“Rarrrr! The big bad wolf is coming for you!” Zane growled playfully, eliciting another round of giggles from his daughter.“You’re spoiling her,” Cana teased from across the yard, her tone light and affectionate.Zane looked over, his mischievous grin softening. “She deserves to be spoiled, especially today.”Cana chuckled and shook her head. She loved seeing Zane like this, care
The house was eerily quiet as Cana stood in the middle of the living room, a half-packed box of belongings at her feet. The walls that once bore memories of battles, fleeting moments of laughter, and unshakable grief now felt foreign to her.Her fingers rested there as Zane entered the room, his arms full of folded clothes. He set them down on the couch and studied her face.“You sure about this?” he asked softly, breaking the silence.Cana nodded. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”Zane sighed, leaning back against the couch. “I’ll miss this place, you know. Not everything that happened here, but the good parts. It was home for a while.”“Home isn’t a place, Zane,” Cana replied, her voice steadier now. “It’s us. Wherever we go, that’s home.”Zane smiled at her, but there was a trace of sadness in his expression. He knew leaving the pack was necessary, but it didn’t make saying goodbye any easier.Lionel appeared in the doorway, his ever-present smirk subdued for once. He held a
The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the forest that stretched beyond the small town Cana and Zane had called home. The evening breeze rustled through the trees, carrying with it the faint scent of pine and damp earth. Cana sat on the back porch of their cabin, a blanket draped over her shoulders, her hands cradling a steaming mug of tea. Zane leaned against the railing, his arms crossed over his chest, his sharp eyes fixed on the setting sun.Now that Axel is behind bars for the first time in what felt like years, there was silence. No battles, no cries for help, no looming threats. And yet, the quiet carried its weight.“You’ve been quiet,” Cana said, breaking the silence. Her voice was soft but carried a trace of concern.Zane turned to her, his expression unreadable. “Just thinking.”“About?”He hesitated for a moment, then pushed off the railing and sat down beside her. “About us. About what comes next.”Cana frowned, setting her mug down on the smal
Cana stirred awake, her body aching and her mind clouded with fragmented memories. The last thing she recalled was the overwhelming rush of power coursing through her veins, her hands shifting into claws, and her body morphing into something primal. She felt the pull of the wolf—a force so ancient and raw that it left her trembling. The familiar scent of cedar and leather told her she was in Zane’s cabin.Her eyes fluttered open to see Zane sitting beside her bed, his elbows resting on his knees, his face etched with worry. His knuckles were bruised, his clothes torn, but his relief was palpable as their gazes met.“You’re awake,” he said softly, his voice heavy with emotion.“What happened?” Cana croaked, her throat dry. She winced as she tried to sit up, every muscle in her body screaming in protest.Zane reached for a glass of water on the bedside table and handed it to her. “You shifted, Cana. Fully. Into a wolf.”The words hung in the air, and Cana’s heart raced. She clutched the
Seven Months AgoThe cell was dimly lit, the air heavy with the scent of rust and despair. Ashley sat slumped against the cold metal wall, her wrists shackled and her expression weary but defiant. She heard footsteps echoing through the corridor and turned her gaze toward the source. Lionel stepped into view, a sly smile curling his lips.“What do you want now?” Ashley snapped, her voice dripping with disdain.Lionel leaned against the bars of her cell, his posture relaxed but his eyes calculating. “You’re the one who replicated wolfsbane,” he began. “What was your intention?”Ashley snorted. “I had no intention. I was just following Jeremy’s orders.”Lionel tilted his head, his smirk unfaltering. “And now that he’s gone? What’s the plan?”Ashley’s lips twitched in a mock smile. “I’ll think about that part when I’m free of these chains.”Lionel chuckled, a low, almost sinister sound. “You know, we don’t necessarily have to be enemies here.”Ashley narrowed her eyes. “What’s that suppo
Axel stormed into his house, his mind swirling with anger and disbelief. The Elders had banished him, taking everything from him without a second thought. He gritted his teeth, trying to keep his temper in check, but it was impossible. Everything he had worked for, every plan he had carefully laid out, seemed to be crumbling beneath his feet.“Just wait,” he muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing. “I’ll make them all pay. But first, Zane... you will finally pay for always standing in my way.”The next morning, Axel woke to a loud knock on his door. His head was pounding, and his frustration hadn’t waned in the least. He trudged to the door, swinging it open to reveal three figures standing in his doorway: Lionel, Larz, and Akam.They exchanged brief greetings before stepping inside. Axel didn’t bother with pleasantries; his mind was focused solely on one thing.“So, tell us, Axel,” Lionel asked, his voice calm but curious. “Why the rush to kill Zane?”Axel clenched his fists,
The air in the dimly lit room was thick with tension. Five Elders, each radiating authority, sat in a semicircle as Axel stood before them. His expression was calm, almost smug, as he prepared to deliver what he believed was a triumphant announcement."My Elders," Axel began, his voice steady but laced with an undertone of pride. "I bring good news. I will soon have an heir."The room remained silent for a moment, the Elders exchanging glances. Finally, one spoke. "Why tell us this?"Axel straightened, confidence surging through him. "Because I want to lead my pack again. An heir solidifies my claim to the title of Alpha."A scoff broke the silence. Another Elder, his eyes sharp and unforgiving, leaned forward. "Even after killing your kind? One of your pack?"Axel's confidence faltered, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. How did they know? He wondered, his mind racing."How did you find out?" Axel asked, unable to hide the shock in his voice."That doesn't concern you," the Elder snapp
Cana hadn’t expected Axel to find her so quickly. She had chosen this small, nondescript motel for exactly that reason—to be far enough from the chaos of her past life to be safe, to think, and to plan. But the moment she heard the knock on her door, her stomach sank. She didn’t have to look through the peephole to know who it was.The deep, almost predatory knock sounded again, and with it came the familiar sense of dread that always seemed to follow Axel. She’d seen his manipulations, his lies, his promises. She knew what he was capable of—what he was still capable of, and she couldn’t afford to be caught off guard.Cana opened the door, and there he was, standing in the hallway with a smug smile that made her stomach twist with disgust. Axel, the man who had once been everything to her, was now a reminder of all the worst decisions she had made. His eyes gleamed with that same cold, calculating look that always came right before he dropped the hammer. The same look that had broken