Beauty’s povThe rose bushes, usually a source of comfort, felt suffocating. Their sweet fragrance, once a medicine to my troubled soul, now seemed to mock me with its beauty. I wandered through the garden, each step heavy with the weight of my betrayal. My fingers brushed against the petals, but I felt nothing but a hollow ache in my chest. I finally sat on the stone bench in the garden, close to the flowing lake.Elena. My best friend. The only person that ever noticed me in the entire pack. A stranger that turned to my sister. And I had betrayed her. The memories clawed at me, sharp and relentless. Elena’s face when she first saw the custom white wedding dress, her eyes sparkling with a joy that only Oliver could ignite. She and Oliver had their ups and downs but they still found each other. They were perfect, a love story whispered in the wind. And I, driven by fear and desperation, had shattered their happiness.Not only did I ruin her dress but I had also tattled about her lo
Elena’s povI walked to the garden with a goal in mind. After the last meeting with Oliver and Lucas, I decided to test Beauty one last time. Something in me still wished that it was all a coincidence.I saw her sitting on a stone bench by the lake. I pretended not to see her, choosing a wrought-iron bench at the far end of the garden. The cool metal bit into my skin through the thin fabric of my dress. I inhaled deeply, the fragrant lavender momentarily calming the storm inside me. It didn't last."Elena?" Her voice was a fragile tremor. I didn't turn."Elena, please." The desperation was more pronounced this time. I finally relented, slowly turning to face her. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her face pale. Guilt, or a clever imitation of it, shone in her gaze."What is it, Beauty?" My voice was flat, devoid of any warmth.She rushed forward, her hands clasped together, pleading. "I... I need to talk to you. Please, just... just let me explain."I raised an eyebrow, a silent invitation to
Elena’s povThe morning sun, a bleary-eyed witness to my sleepless night, cast long shadows across the wooden floorboards of my room. It was finally the day I get to see the Sage Oliver had recommended. I wondered if I was finally going to get the answers I desperately needed.I had so many questions about the visions I got, how I could detect the magical runes and how I could save the pack.I hoped this Sage will be clear and concise and not make me go in circles.Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself and walked towards Beauty's room. This was something else that made me nervous. I was going to confirm if she was for or against the pack. She had confessed to ruining the dress but not to the other betrayal. Yet I was ready to forgive her. Whatever her actions will be today will guarantee if she was repentant or not.I knocked softly on the door, and Beauty's voice, light and lilting, bid me to enter. She sat at her in front of her mirror, brushing her hair, her reflection mirroring h
Beauty’s povThe jolting of my horse was doing little to calm the tremor that wracked my body. Each clop of its hooves against the rough track echoed the frantic beat of my heart. How had I let myself get into this mess? Elena had asked me to follow her carriage, a simple request that now felt like a death sentence.Days ago, I overheard a hushed conversation between Elena and Oliver. I knew I shouldn’t have followed Elena after we talked in the garden but I had wanted to ask her out to the mall. It was supposed to be our bonding time but I overheard an important piece of informationThey spoke of a journey to see a Sage, someone with the power to… well, I wasn't entirely sure what, but it sounded important.I quickly left the area before Elena would catch me and the newly found forgiveness would be gone. But as I entered my room, I saw an all too familiar man seated on my bed. His hand deep in the saving box I had been keeping all my life.“W..what do you want?” I stuttered and he sm
Oliver’s povThe air was filled with the strong smell of blood. The ambush had left a terrible scene of dead horses, overturned carriages, and wounded enemies. I felt a rush of excitement and alertness. It turned out to be a trap, and Beauty was caught in the middle.I had wanted to believe in her. Elena too wanted to believe her. But now, the evidence was undeniable. Lucas, Elena and I had concocted a false plan, a ruse designed to catch Beauty in the very act of betraying us. Only Beauty had been privy to the details. And now, here we were, fighting for our lives against an enemy who knew exactly what to expect.My gaze landed on her. Beauty stood amidst my guards, her face pale, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and…what? Regret? It didn't matter. I couldn't afford to be swayed by emotion. Not now. Not when the safety of the Full Moon pack hung in the balance."Arrest her," I commanded, my voice clipped and devoid of any warmth. The shift in the air was palpable. The guards, who
Elena’s povThe houses of the village square were worn smooth with age, the scent of baking bread and blooming flowers thick in the air. This place, nestled far from the werewolves, felt a world away from the shadowed corners of my own life. Even the light seemed softer here, filtered through the leaves of ancient trees that canopied the lanes.Lucas adjusted the satchel at his shoulder, his gaze sweeping the jovial elves bustling around us. “Beauty, betraying us…it stings, doesn't it?" He said, his voice low.I sighed, the weight of Beauty's supposed betrayal pressing down on me. "It does. I just... I wish she’d trusted us enough to tell us if she was being threatened. A warning would have been enough. We wouldn't have left her to face it alone."Lucas laid a hand on my arm, his touch reassuring. "She might have been under pressure and not considered the consequences of her actions. Fear does strange things to people."I knew he was right, but the sting remained. Beauty, my friend, r
Elena’s povThe weight of my impending conversation with Willow, the powerful magician, sat heavy in my stomach like a stone. How was I supposed to talk to a statue? It seemed like a fool's errand, a desperate grasp at straws in my fight to get answers. Still, the hope that flickered within me refused to be extinguished.Lucas stood beside me as we approached the ancient elven temple. The air here hummed with a power I could almost taste, a tangible residue of forgotten magic. The little girl, thankfully, guided us into the temple."Are you sure this is the right way?" Lucas asked, his voice echoing slightly in the vast chamber."Willow is in there," the girl replied, her voice a melodic whisper. "That’s where she stays."We reached the entrance to the inner chamber, the air growing noticeably colder. This was where Willow resided, frozen in time, trapped in stone. As Lucas stepped forward, a strange resistance seemed to grip his legs. He stumbled, his brow furrowed in confusion."
Elena’s povMy thoughts were all over the place as I stepped out of the inner chamber where the statue of Willow was. Answers were what I sought, but confusion was all I found.Lucas was still standing at the spot where I left him, his brow furrowed with concern. "Elena?" he asked, his voice soft. "Did you… did you get any answers?"I shook my head, the motion causing a fresh wave of dizziness. "Worse," I admitted. "I'm even more confused than before."His eyes, usually clouded, were shadowed with worry. "We should head back to the Full Moon Pack," he said, placing a comforting hand on my arm. "Rest. Maybe things will be clearer in the morning."“Where’s the little girl?” I suddenly realized she wasn’t there anymore.“She gave me an earful about the goddess and ran off to catch up with her friends.” Lucas said jokingly.The thought of it brought a smile to my face. The face that Lucas was stuck didn’t leave him with a choice to make a run for it when the little girl began her lectur
Lucas’s povHe looked up at me and held up a jelly jar to me.“Mummy can’t open it. Can you do it for me?” His small voice asked. I looked at him, at the innocence in his eyes.I took the jar from him and opened it easily. I smiled a little at the awe in his face.“You’re so strong.” He said taking the jar from me and stuffing his face with the sugar.“Easy there. Your teeth will go bad.” Helen cautioned him playfully.He grinned at her before looking at me. “I want to be tall like you.”“Then don’t eat so much jelly.” Helen said.Something in my heart warmed a little at the interaction. Something I would’ve experienced. I decided to just leave before I got more emotional.As I was about to leave, Helen, my father’s wife and Nate’s mother, stepped out, her face etched with worry. "Lucas, could I have a word? In private?"I nodded, stepping back inside. She led me away from the doorway, her hand trembling as she closed the door. "It's… it's about the pack," she began, her voice barely
Lucas’s povThe cottage was small, barely bigger than the closet room at the Full Moon Pack. A fire crackled merrily in the hearth, casting dancing shadows on the rough-hewn walls. The air was thick with the scent of woodsmoke and something else, something floral and faintly sweet. It was a strangely comforting smell, a stark contrast to the turmoil churning within me.Helen, the woman who’d opened the door, the woman who knew my father, married him even, offered me tea. I shook my head curtly. Tea was for civilized conversations, for pleasantries and polite chit-chat. I wasn’t feeling particularly civilized.She sat down opposite me anyway, her eyes, a shade of brown, fixed on my face. Beside her, the little boy, Nate, fidgeted, his gaze darting between me and his mother. He was a miniature version of myself, down to the stubborn set of his jaw and the way his dark hair refused to stay neatly combed. It was unsettling, this uncanny resemblance."After your father was captured," Helen
Lucas’s povThe man looked at them both with something akin to love. I watched them, frozen in the shadows, my mind reeling. This wasn't what I expected. It wasn't what I had been preparing myself for. What was going on? Who was this man?They were…happy. Living a normal life, oblivious to the turmoil I had carried for so long. I felt a wave of emotions wash over me – confusion, relief, but most of all… betrayal.I wanted to burst through the door, demand answers. But something held me back. A flicker of doubt, a whisper of hope that perhaps… perhaps I had been wrong all along. I was sure I was at the right house. This was the same woman and boy I had seen in the picture but where was my father?I turned and fled from the cottage, my mind spinning, questions swirling within me like a storm. My father wasn’t here? Then where was he? After lurking around the village for a while, I found myself back at the cottage. I didn’t come all the way here for nothing. I didn’t risk my life just t
Daniel’s povThe smell of cheap beer and filthy people filled the tavern's air. Situated in a shadowy corner, I sipped a diluted beverage and attempted to listen in on any discussion that appeared significant. The room was crowded with hunters, gruff-looking guards, and low-level pack members, all boasting, complaining, and making vulgar jokes in a tangled mass of voices. I was searching for any shred of information that may point me in the direction of Beauty's sister Sam.I wondered how the poor girl was. If she was still alive. If anyone has touched her or done any harm to her."Heard they're holding a duel in the arena tonight," a burly guard bellowed, nearly knocking over my table with his enthusiasm. "Biggest one in a while! Everyone's gotta be there. Supposed to be some real blood and guts. A couple of warrior slaves are fighting it out."My ears perked up. A duel meant a crowd, a distraction. Maybe, just maybe, it could offer an opportunity. But before I could consider the co
Lucas’s pov"Does Beauty know what you're planning?" Oliver pressed, his voice softer now.Daniel shook his head. "No. She was desperate to find her sister and I left before she said anything else."Oliver sighed, running a hand through his silver-streaked hair. "Alright. I can't stop you. But you listen to me, Daniel. You be careful. This isn't some love play. The Blue Moon pack is brutal. They won't hesitate to kill you if they suspect anything." He turned to me. "Lucas, I wish you all the best. I hope you find what you’re looking for.""I hope so too," I said. Part of me doubted my decision. I wondered if I was doing the right thing by going to search for a man perceived to be alive.The next morning, we left before dawn, cloaked in ordinary brown shirts and trousers. We looked like any other pair of traveling merchants. We carried a cart filled with old and cheap building materials, all purchased from the villages near our territory. It was a pathetic disguise, but hopefully, it w
Third person povThe dungeon felt tense and morbid as Jax crept his way down the stairs. Shadows danced in the flickering torchlight, He found her huddled in the corner, a fragile figure swallowed by the gloom. Beauty. Her name was a cruel irony in this place.She was sobbing, quiet, desperate gasps that barely disturbed the stillness. Jax paused, examining his surroundings. He needed to be careful to avoid getting caught.Carelessness was a weakness he couldn't afford.He stepped fully into the cell, the scrape of his boots against the stone echoing unnaturally loud. Beauty's head snapped up, her eyes wide with terror. She flinched back, pressing herself further into the corner, a small, trapped animal facing a predator."Shhh," Jax hissed, raising a hand. "Don't make a sound."She froze, obeying instantly. Her fear was all time high, an almost tangible thing that filled the small space. Good. Fear was a tool.He stalked closer, his shadow looming over her. "You're basically useless
Chloe’s povMy room felt too small, the air too thick. Anger simmered beneath my skin, prickling like a thousand tiny needles. It has been ages since Jax went off on his mission to finally eliminate Elena. Beauty had given him the intel again and when I saw the Royal guards escort them earlier today it seemed real.I paced, a caged wolf trapped in human form, the need to shift, to get answers, almost overwhelming. I was yet to get any news.Was she dead yet?A shadow flickered in the doorway. Jax. He moved with his usual lazy arrogance, a smirk playing on his lips that only fueled my fury. I lunged, faster than thought, snatching him by the front of his tunic, the rough fabric bunching in my fist. My wolf snarled in my throat, pushing its way to the surface. My fangs flared, pressing against my lower lip."Where is she?" I growled, my voice a dangerous rasp. "Where is Elena's body?"Jax's eyes widened for a fleeting moment, surprise warring with his usual nonchalance. "Chloe, calm dow
Elena’s povThe cold, damp air of the dungeon clung to my skin, a stark contrast to the anger and fear boiling within me. Oliver, his face grim, stood beside me, his large frame radiating a controlled anger. Lucas was a step behind, his eyes scanning the shadows. Before us, curled into a miserable ball on the cold stone floor, was Beauty.When she saw me, her head snapped up. Her eyes, usually sparkling with mischief, were red-rimmed and swollen. A pathetic sob escaped her lips. "Elena... I'm so sorry. I... I messed everything up."My fists clenched. Sorry wasn't going to cut it. Not this time. Not after everything. The pain of her betrayal, fresh and raw, surged through me. Even though I suspected her initially, something in me partially hoped she proved me wrong.I had prayed that I would come back from the elves’ town and hear that nothing happened but my heart sunk when Oliver had broken the news to me. That Beauty had indeed leaked the secret I told her. "Sorry?" I spat the word
Elena’s povMy thoughts were all over the place as I stepped out of the inner chamber where the statue of Willow was. Answers were what I sought, but confusion was all I found.Lucas was still standing at the spot where I left him, his brow furrowed with concern. "Elena?" he asked, his voice soft. "Did you… did you get any answers?"I shook my head, the motion causing a fresh wave of dizziness. "Worse," I admitted. "I'm even more confused than before."His eyes, usually clouded, were shadowed with worry. "We should head back to the Full Moon Pack," he said, placing a comforting hand on my arm. "Rest. Maybe things will be clearer in the morning."“Where’s the little girl?” I suddenly realized she wasn’t there anymore.“She gave me an earful about the goddess and ran off to catch up with her friends.” Lucas said jokingly.The thought of it brought a smile to my face. The face that Lucas was stuck didn’t leave him with a choice to make a run for it when the little girl began her lectur