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
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
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
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
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
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 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
Elena’s povThe aroma of herbs hung heavy in the air, a stark contrast to the tension coiling in my gut. I led Beauty through the familiar comfort of the safe house tea room. Sam took Nate’s hand and showed him different colouring books on the shelves.Everything felt… fragile. Like the peace could shatter at any moment.I sank into one of the mismatched chairs, the worn velvet yielding beneath me. Beauty didn’t take the offered seat. Instead, she dropped to her knees, her eyes brimming with a desperate kind of sincerity.“Elena, I… I’m so sorry,” she choked out, her voice thick with unshed tears. “I know saying sorry isn't enough, not after what I did. It was a mistake, a terrible, awful mistake. I betrayed you all, I betrayed the pack. Please, believe me, I didn’t want to.”The raw emotion in her voice was almost painful to witness. I watched her, my face carefully neutral, as she launched into a tearful explanation. She spoke of her sister, Sam, held hostage by the Blue Moon Pack,
Beauty’s povI trembled, the thin cotton of my dress doing little to ward off the chill of fear. The sounds of battle were deafening now, the sounds of howls, snarls, and the brutal thud of bodies colliding. The Full Moon pack, my pack, was under attack. I squeezed my eyes shut, whispering a frantic prayer to the Moon Goddess, begging for our victory.I felt useless sitting in my room doing nothing. Every other person was out there making a difference in the pack and here I was, sitting on my bed and biting my nails.A sharp knock on my door startled me. I jumped back, my heart hammering against my ribs. The door creaked open, and a soldier I vaguely recognized, his face grim and dusted with dirt, stood in the doorway. He was panting heavily and for a second, I wondered if we had lost the war."Beauty," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Come with me."Confusion clouded my fear. "What? Where are we going?""Elena requested that you be taken to the safe house," he explained. "It's fo
Lucas’s povThe wood felt rough against my knuckles as I knocked on Chloe's door. After a few seconds, I pushed the door open.Chloe was sitting on the edge of her bed, her shoulders trembling slightly. She looked up, her eyes widening when she saw me. Recognition flickered across her face, quickly replaced by a cold, hard look. She narrowed her eyes."Lucas," she said, her voice tight. “What are you doing here?” "Chloe," I replied, keeping my voice even. "Why? Why are you doing this? Betraying the pack… betraying Oliver?"She scoffed, turning her head away. "I don't want advice from you."I took a step closer. "You need to talk to Oliver. Ask him for forgiveness.""Forgiveness?" She laughed, a harsh, brittle sound. "What's the point? He'll have me imprisoned. Or worse."A knot formed in my stomach. This was worse than I thought. She truly believed she was past the point of redemption.She turned back to me, a smug look on her face. "He's smart, I'll give him that. Predicting those s
Oliver’s povA soldier ran up to me, breathless. “Alpha Oliver! Elena… she’s safe. She’s with Nate and Sam in the safe house.”Relief washed over me. The safe house was relatively safe and far from the village but it was the best place to be instead of here, right in the middle of the fighting. "Lucas!" I called, "Go to Chloe. Make sure she doesn't leave her room. No matter what she says, no matter what she does. Understand?"Chloe. She was part of the reason we were at war with the Blue Moon pack in the first place, heck, she was the only reason this whole thing started.I didn’t know what she was capable of yet so I couldn’t risk her being out of the pack house. The worse possibility was her informing the Blue Moon pack that we were aware of their attack.Lucas nodded, his jaw tight. "Right away, Oliver."Next, I needed to secure our borders. This attack had to end here, now. “Every soldier to the borders! No one in, no one out. I want eyes on every tree, every shadow. We don’t nee
Elena’s povI turned to look at Nate, Lucas’s brother. He had a look of suspicion as he stared at me.“Hi, I’m Elena.” I said and he shuffled closer to Sam instead. He didn’t trust me and I couldn’t blame the child.He was just like Lucas.I knelt down, trying to meet Nate's shy gaze. He was a miniature version of Lucas, with the same dark hair and serious eyes. "Hey, Nate," I said softly. "How are you doing?"He mumbled something and ducked his head, his fingers the small bag he was holding."It's okay," I reassured him. "You don't have to talk if you don't want to. I just wanted to see if you needed anything."Silence stretched between us. Then, in a voice so quiet I almost missed it, Nate said, "Lucas is really strong."My heart clenched. Of course he admired his older brother. He hadn’t known Lucas for long but he had seen how great of a warrior he was.“He is," I agreed, smiling gently. "He's one of the strongest werewolves I know."Nate looked up, his eyes widening slightly. "He
Elena’s povMy head throbbed painfully. I blinked, trying to focus on the room around me. It was my bedroom in the pack house, familiar and safe, yet… different. The air hung heavy with a sense of unease.Then, the memory of the vision slammed into me.I was on a battlefield. Mud and blood painted the ground. The air reeked of fear and death. Oliver, his usually bright eyes dimmed with pain, lay sprawled near a burning wagon. And Lucas… Lucas was cradling my body in his arms, his face etched with anguish. The image was so vivid, so real, that I could almost feel the cold seep into my bones.Then, a jolt – like being yanked back through time – and the battlefield dissolved. I was seeing something else now, something even more terrifying.Blue Moon soldiers. Dozens of them, sneaking into our territory. They were moving silently, efficiently, like shadows in the night. And the place they were coming in through… an underground tunnel. The tunnel was hidden, partially obscured by roots an
Beauty’s povThe chaos erupted like a storm, a furious tempest brewing just beyond my locked door. I was still under room arrest, a strong cage of my own making, for the foolish choices I’d made. Thankfully Oliver was merciful enough not to let me rot in the dungeon. Rather he kept me here and I was being fed well. The only thing was that I’ve not left the four walls of the room.But the shouting, the frantic calls, the pounding of boots – it was impossible to ignore. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drummer urging me to action.I crept to the door, the heavy oak a tangible barrier between me and whatever madness reigned outside. The two guards stationed there were gone, their duty seemingly forgotten in the face of something more pressing. Impulsively, I reached for the handle, testing it. Unlocked. They were simply gone.I slipped out, a ghost in a place I once called my own home, and caught a glimpse of one of the soldiers sprinting towards the village. "What's happe
Chloe’s pov My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drummer trapped in a cage. I slammed the door shut and twisted the lock, the flimsy click echoing in the otherwise silent room. Oliver knew. He actually knew about the spies. How could I have been so blind? So calm? The long hours of intricate planning, of subtle manipulation, all on the edge of collapse because I’d failed to notice my own brother sniffing around.Sweat slicked my palms as I paced, my mind a whirlwind of panicked calculations. My brother, Oliver, Alpha of the Full Moon Pack, was not a fool. He was perceptive, sharp, and fiercely loyal to his pack, the pack I was actively trying to undermine.A soft scratching at the window startled me. Jax. He moved with a silent grace that belied his formidable strength, sliding the window open and slipping into the room like a shadow. His eyes, the color of a stormy sea, met mine with an unnerving intensity."What's the next move, Chloe?" he asked, his voice a low rumble t
Oliver’s povThe air in the village hung thick with confusion and fear. My nostrils flared, picking up the sharp scent of panic mixed with the metallic tang of blood. Sprawled across the cobblestones, slumped against market stalls, were the spies. Elena’s spell had done its work.My soldiers, their eyes glowing with controlled fury, were efficient and brutal. Each spy, still unconscious under the lingering effects of the magic, was hauled up, their limbs dangling like puppets with cut strings, and dragged towards the prison grounds. A grim satisfaction settled in my gut. At least this threat was contained, for now.Elena… my heart clenched. Casting that kind of spell, especially for the first time, was incredibly draining. I hoped she was fine. The thought of her going through all of this just to protect the pack made me love her even more. Heavens, I loved her. She was the only missing link in my life, the only one I needed.For a second, my mind shifted to Lucas who I had left Elena