Rachel’s voice echoed through the dim war room with her fingers running through the pages of a tattered spell book.“It’s called a convergence ritual,” Rachel said. “Gloria isn’t just trying to win a war—she’s trying to amplify her power to unimaginable levels. If this ritual succeeds, she could become something far worse than we’ve ever faced.”I sat at the edge of the table, staring down at the sketch she had drawn of the ritual circle. The intricate lines, symbols, and blood markings on the parchment gave off menace. I didn’t have to understand witchcraft to feel its dark purpose.“How does it work?” I asked with my voice quieter than I intended.Rachel pushed her glasses higher on her nose and looked at me. “The convergence ritual draws magic from various sources—rogues, witches, and any magical being tied to them. It channels their collective power into one vessel, elevating the witch who performs it to a level of control over everyone connected to the magic. That’s why Gloria’s
The rogue leader struggled to move in the chains we had him in. He growled for his release but I knew neither Zone nor Ardan were willing to let him go, at least until we got our answer. He sweated along his eyebrows, and his eyes darted around as if searching for any way to escape. His wrists were bound tightly with silver chains, making the room scent of burning flesh.Ardan stood over him and spoke with a cold tone. “We don’t have time for games. Speak.”The rogue spat blood onto the ground and then glared up at Ardan defiantly. “I won’t tell you anything.”“You will,” I said, stepping forward to meet his eyes. I crouched so we were eye level. “Because I know how this works. You follow orders. You’re not a leader—you’re a pawn. And I don’t think you want to die for someone else’s game.”The rogue’s jaw tightened, but his confidence faltered. I could see it&m
Very quickly, we got to the pack house. I feared for Gilly. She had been through enough.“What happened, Rachel?” I asked Rachel as we descended the stairs to the medical wing.Rachel looked at me nervously and unsettled. “I found her talking in her sleep again. But this time… it was different. She was muttering strange words, phrases I didn’t recognise. I wrote some of them down. They sound like witch incantations.”“Witchcraft?” I whispered.Rachel nodded. “It’s not normal, Serena. She’s burning up too, as if something inside her is trying to fight its way out.”We reached Gilly’s room, and I hesitated just a moment before entering. Gilly lay on a small bed, drenched in sweat and her hair plastered to her forehead as she tossed restlessly. Every so often, her lips would move and faint whispers would escape from her mouth like a chant.I moved closer. The sound of her mutterings sent a shiver down my spine. Rachel wasn’t lying—the words were not her own. I didn’t understand them, but
The sky was filled with grey clouds when I first saw him. A lone figure approached the gates of Ardan’s pack with his dark cloak whipping in the wind. There was something unsettling about his presence. The guards at the gate were already on edge and their hands hovered near their weapons.“Who is that?” I muttered, standing beside Ardan as we watched from the pack house steps.Ardan’s eyes narrowed. “Someone who doesn’t belong here.”We descended toward the gates just as the guards stopped the stranger. He raised his hands calmly with a small, disarming smile playing on his lips. “I come in peace,” he said smoothly. “I’ve heard whispers of a girl - witch touched by magic - and I think I can help.”Ardan growled softly. “And who exactly are you?”The stranger lowered his hood, revealing his face. He had a pale skin that was marked by faint scars which ran along his jaw. His hair was a mix of dark and silver strands which gave him an ageless quality. His eyes were green.“My name is Dra
Ardan stood at one end of the war table with crossed arms and a dark face with suspicion written all over it. Zone paced near the fireplace, pacing up and down, clearly frustrated. Across from me, Roman leaned casually against the wall, with his usual composed expression giving away nothing, but I could see it—Ardan and Zone’s distrust was starting to chip away at his calm exterior.“Something’s not right,” Zone muttered for the third time, shooting Roman another glare. “We’re chasing leads, scrambling to keep Gilly safe, and every time something goes wrong, he’s around.”Roman let out a quiet sigh and rolled his eyes as he pushed himself off the wall. “You know, Zone, if you’re going to keep accusing me, you might as well bring some proof. I’ve done nothing but help you all since I arrived.”“You mean since you conveniently appeared,” Zone shot back. “No one knows where you came from. You don’t belong here.”“Enough!” I snapped, standing up from my seat and placing my hands on the ta
The sound of Zone’s boots echoed down the hallway as he stormed into the war room. I could see anger in his eyes. Ardan, Rachel, and I were huddled over maps and scouting reports, discussing strategies to secure the territory.“We have a problem,” Zone said as he tossed a worn scrap of fabric onto the table.I picked it up, frowning. The material was torn and dirty, reeking faintly of magic and rogue wolves.“What is this?” Ardan asked coldly as he straightened his back to face Zone.“I found it near the south border,” Zone replied, crossing his arms. “Tracks leading in and out of the pack’s territory. Someone’s sneaking around.”Rachel furrowed her brow as she leaned closer, inspecting the fabric. “It’s rogue,” she muttered, then paused. “But there’s something else here. A faint magical trace.”Ardan’s eyes turned to me. “Roman.”I sighed heavily, already knowing where this was going. “You can’t keep blaming Roman for every problem we have, Ardan. It’s starting to feel personal. I me
There were sounds of jingling chains coming from the medical wing as I approached it. I had managed to talk Ardan out of keeping Gilly chained up in the dungeon. Gilly sat slumped on the small cot with her wrists bound tightly chains. When her eyes went up to meet mine, the despair in them almost shattered me.“Serena…” she whispered.I moved toward the door slowly, swallowing my saliva. “Gilly, you’re awake.”She gave out a humourless chuckle, and wiped her tears with the back of her hand that was free. “Awake? I wish I wasn’t.” She looked at her swollen pupils in the mirror and also looked at her hands as they continued to shake as though they were still stained with blood. “I killed him, didn’t I?”I dropped to my knees beside the bed and grasped her hand through the iron bracelets. “No, Gilly. It wasn’t you. Gloria did this. She’s manipulating you, using you. This isn’t your fault.”She jerked at my words, shaking her head vehemently. “Serena, you don’t understand. As long as I’m
SERENA’S POVMoans, a pleasure driven cry echoing in a secret room. I was with him, Derek, my mate. But these sounds weren’t coming from me.He groaned from satisfaction, but I wasn’t touching him either. No, his pleasure came from Cora, his prostitute wolf. And I was forced to watch them.I was bound to a chair in the corner, watching them mate. Every thrust, every pleasured gasp from Derek, ached me. It was a violation, a reminder of my inability to do nothing, except watch.I watched as Cora sucked him out, deep throating him until she turned red. I watched how roughly Derek handled her. Pulling and grabbing her hair like she was a still object.I was unable to bear the pain of watching my mate mate with Cora, so I squeezed my eyes shut. Suddenly, the sounds ceased, replaced by a satisfied grunt from Derek.My heart raced as I scented Derek slowly approach me. He forcefully took me by the jaw and demanded that I opened my eyes.“Look at me, Omega," he sneered.I forced my eyes open
There were sounds of jingling chains coming from the medical wing as I approached it. I had managed to talk Ardan out of keeping Gilly chained up in the dungeon. Gilly sat slumped on the small cot with her wrists bound tightly chains. When her eyes went up to meet mine, the despair in them almost shattered me.“Serena…” she whispered.I moved toward the door slowly, swallowing my saliva. “Gilly, you’re awake.”She gave out a humourless chuckle, and wiped her tears with the back of her hand that was free. “Awake? I wish I wasn’t.” She looked at her swollen pupils in the mirror and also looked at her hands as they continued to shake as though they were still stained with blood. “I killed him, didn’t I?”I dropped to my knees beside the bed and grasped her hand through the iron bracelets. “No, Gilly. It wasn’t you. Gloria did this. She’s manipulating you, using you. This isn’t your fault.”She jerked at my words, shaking her head vehemently. “Serena, you don’t understand. As long as I’m
The sound of Zone’s boots echoed down the hallway as he stormed into the war room. I could see anger in his eyes. Ardan, Rachel, and I were huddled over maps and scouting reports, discussing strategies to secure the territory.“We have a problem,” Zone said as he tossed a worn scrap of fabric onto the table.I picked it up, frowning. The material was torn and dirty, reeking faintly of magic and rogue wolves.“What is this?” Ardan asked coldly as he straightened his back to face Zone.“I found it near the south border,” Zone replied, crossing his arms. “Tracks leading in and out of the pack’s territory. Someone’s sneaking around.”Rachel furrowed her brow as she leaned closer, inspecting the fabric. “It’s rogue,” she muttered, then paused. “But there’s something else here. A faint magical trace.”Ardan’s eyes turned to me. “Roman.”I sighed heavily, already knowing where this was going. “You can’t keep blaming Roman for every problem we have, Ardan. It’s starting to feel personal. I me
Ardan stood at one end of the war table with crossed arms and a dark face with suspicion written all over it. Zone paced near the fireplace, pacing up and down, clearly frustrated. Across from me, Roman leaned casually against the wall, with his usual composed expression giving away nothing, but I could see it—Ardan and Zone’s distrust was starting to chip away at his calm exterior.“Something’s not right,” Zone muttered for the third time, shooting Roman another glare. “We’re chasing leads, scrambling to keep Gilly safe, and every time something goes wrong, he’s around.”Roman let out a quiet sigh and rolled his eyes as he pushed himself off the wall. “You know, Zone, if you’re going to keep accusing me, you might as well bring some proof. I’ve done nothing but help you all since I arrived.”“You mean since you conveniently appeared,” Zone shot back. “No one knows where you came from. You don’t belong here.”“Enough!” I snapped, standing up from my seat and placing my hands on the ta
The sky was filled with grey clouds when I first saw him. A lone figure approached the gates of Ardan’s pack with his dark cloak whipping in the wind. There was something unsettling about his presence. The guards at the gate were already on edge and their hands hovered near their weapons.“Who is that?” I muttered, standing beside Ardan as we watched from the pack house steps.Ardan’s eyes narrowed. “Someone who doesn’t belong here.”We descended toward the gates just as the guards stopped the stranger. He raised his hands calmly with a small, disarming smile playing on his lips. “I come in peace,” he said smoothly. “I’ve heard whispers of a girl - witch touched by magic - and I think I can help.”Ardan growled softly. “And who exactly are you?”The stranger lowered his hood, revealing his face. He had a pale skin that was marked by faint scars which ran along his jaw. His hair was a mix of dark and silver strands which gave him an ageless quality. His eyes were green.“My name is Dra
Very quickly, we got to the pack house. I feared for Gilly. She had been through enough.“What happened, Rachel?” I asked Rachel as we descended the stairs to the medical wing.Rachel looked at me nervously and unsettled. “I found her talking in her sleep again. But this time… it was different. She was muttering strange words, phrases I didn’t recognise. I wrote some of them down. They sound like witch incantations.”“Witchcraft?” I whispered.Rachel nodded. “It’s not normal, Serena. She’s burning up too, as if something inside her is trying to fight its way out.”We reached Gilly’s room, and I hesitated just a moment before entering. Gilly lay on a small bed, drenched in sweat and her hair plastered to her forehead as she tossed restlessly. Every so often, her lips would move and faint whispers would escape from her mouth like a chant.I moved closer. The sound of her mutterings sent a shiver down my spine. Rachel wasn’t lying—the words were not her own. I didn’t understand them, but
The rogue leader struggled to move in the chains we had him in. He growled for his release but I knew neither Zone nor Ardan were willing to let him go, at least until we got our answer. He sweated along his eyebrows, and his eyes darted around as if searching for any way to escape. His wrists were bound tightly with silver chains, making the room scent of burning flesh.Ardan stood over him and spoke with a cold tone. “We don’t have time for games. Speak.”The rogue spat blood onto the ground and then glared up at Ardan defiantly. “I won’t tell you anything.”“You will,” I said, stepping forward to meet his eyes. I crouched so we were eye level. “Because I know how this works. You follow orders. You’re not a leader—you’re a pawn. And I don’t think you want to die for someone else’s game.”The rogue’s jaw tightened, but his confidence faltered. I could see it&m
Rachel’s voice echoed through the dim war room with her fingers running through the pages of a tattered spell book.“It’s called a convergence ritual,” Rachel said. “Gloria isn’t just trying to win a war—she’s trying to amplify her power to unimaginable levels. If this ritual succeeds, she could become something far worse than we’ve ever faced.”I sat at the edge of the table, staring down at the sketch she had drawn of the ritual circle. The intricate lines, symbols, and blood markings on the parchment gave off menace. I didn’t have to understand witchcraft to feel its dark purpose.“How does it work?” I asked with my voice quieter than I intended.Rachel pushed her glasses higher on her nose and looked at me. “The convergence ritual draws magic from various sources—rogues, witches, and any magical being tied to them. It channels their collective power into one vessel, elevating the witch who performs it to a level of control over everyone connected to the magic. That’s why Gloria’s
The forest was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that made my wolf tense and restless. I led the scouting party deeper into the dense wilderness with my senses on high alert as we made our way between tall pines and underbrush’s. A faint mist clung to the ground, curling around our boots and shifting unnaturally. It felt wrong. The air emitted this weird energy—one I couldn’t quite place, but I’d learned never to ignore.Ardan walked beside me. His presence reassured me. He insisted on coming, of course. I hadn’t been able to talk him out of it, though I knew his presence here made Rachel nervous back at the camp. We couldn’t afford to lose Ardan, and yet here he was with his sword strapped to his back and his eyes scanning the trees for any sign of trouble.“You feel it too, don’t you?” I asked, leaning in and speaking to him in a low tone so that the rest of the scouts would not overhear us.Ardan nodded. “It’s too quiet. Something’s waiting for us.”I glanced back at the group foll
The atmosphere in the pack had shifted. Gloria may have escaped, but her presence seemed to leave a never- removable stain.It was no challenge identifying the root of the problem because it lied on the surface. This is how wicked and dangerous the witches are: Gloria’s escape from the dungeon as an insult and a threat. Even though Ardan’s warriors patrolled the borders day and night, there was no comfort in their vigilance.The war room had become our second home over the last few days. Maps, silver remnants of broken chains, and scattered parchments cluttered the table as Ardan, Zone, Rachel, and I tried to piece together how Gloria had escaped.“It doesn’t add up,” Rachel muttered, leaning over the table with her brow furrowed. She held one of the broken chains between her fingers, twisting it thoughtfully. “Silver can’t be broken this way—not without a mix of strength and magic.”Zone, pacing in the corner of the room, snorted. “Strength and magic. That narrows it down to werewolv