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
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 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
Elena’s povI paced my room, the woven rug under my foot dealt like hot coals. It was a restlessness unlike any I'd experienced before, a frantic energy that gnawed at my insides. I pressed my palms against the wall, trying to keep myself still, but the feeling only intensified.Then, it hit.A bunch of images, a hundred sounds and voices, a storm of emotions. I couldn't make sense of it, couldn't grasp the specific details, but the weight of it crushed me. Something was terribly wrong. Terribly, terribly wrong.I stumbled out of my room, driven by a force I couldn't control, and practically slammed into Oliver's door. I heard the muffled echo of his voice, deeper and more authoritative than I usually heard. I pushed the door open without knocking.Oliver was standing with three guards, his back to me. The air crackled with an unspoken tension. He turned as the door crashed open, his expression softening from stern command to guarded concern as he saw me."Elena? What is it?"My brea
Lucas’s pov The trees blurred past as Daniel and I finally cleared the Blue Moon pack's territory. A collective sigh of relief escaped our lips. We’d managed the impossible, slipped through their heavily guarded borders and gotten the information we needed without alerting a single soul. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat accompanying the adrenaline still coursing through my veins.The conversation I had with Helen still clouded my mind but I tried to shake it off. Nate.. my father.."Think we're in the clear?" Daniel asked, wiping sweat from his brow. His voice was a hushed whisper, as if afraid the forest itself held ears."Almost," I replied, "Just need to put some distance between us and their patrol routes."We were just about to pick up our pace, ready to finally head back to the Full Moon pack, when the ground seemed to vibrate beneath our feet. Dark figures materialized from the shadows, encircling us with unsettling speed."Blue Moon wolves?" Daniel mutter
Elena’s povAfter getting the last vision. I had finally mustered the courage to make the trek to the Old woman’s cabin. I couldn’t keep waiting for the coast to be clear or for Oliver to keep me safe. I needed answers.It was a small, unassuming structure nestled deep within the woods bordering the Full Moon pack lands, but it was the only place I felt even a sliver of hope. She was the only one that knew I had something going on. I knew she held secrets, secrets I desperately needed to unlock.As I approached, I saw her, her silhouette framed against the fading light. Even in her advanced years, she moved with a surprising agility, her back straight as she gathered firewood. Hesitantly, I stepped forward. "Hello? Can I help?"She turned, her eyes, the color of aged wood, crinkling at the corners as she smiled. "Elena. I've been expecting you."The words hung in the air, sending a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with the cold. I had only met her once when I was new to t
Third person povEdgar carefully tilted Elena's head back. His movements were precise, honed by years of experience. He gently pried her mouth open, the action delicate despite the urgency that permeated the room. A shimmering, transparent liquid flowed from the cup into her unresisting throat. The resurrection potion, a concoction of rare herbs and forgotten magic, was their last hope.He straightened, a weariness etched on his face. He turned to Oliver and Lucas, their faces pale with grief and worry. "I have done all I can," he said, his voice raspy. "The potion is powerful, but it is Elena who must fight now. She must choose to return." He offered a small, sad smile. "I will leave you with her."The healer shuffled out of the room, leaving Oliver and Lucas to their wait. The weight of the moment settled heavily upon them. The perspective shifted, the darkness giving way to a strange, ethereal light.Elena found herself standing in a vast, open space. To her left stood a group of e
Oliver’s povThe scent of blood and herbs hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of my unconscious mate beside me. My stomach churned. Elena lay still on our bed, her usually vibrant face pale and marred with cuts. Another healer, a young woman from our pack, dabbed at a gash on Elena’s arm. But it was no use. Elena was still unresponsive. Unconscious. My heart hammered against my ribs.I had been sitting vigil by her side for what felt like an eternity, whispering reassurances I tried to believe in myself. Every so often, I reached out to brush a strand of dark hair from her face, my fingers trembling.The door creaked open, and I shot up, my muscles tensing. Lucas stood there, his face etched with exhaustion but his eyes holding a flicker of hope.“Lucas! Did you find anything?” I demanded, my voice hoarse.He nodded, stepping inside. “I think… I think I found something. In the old woman’s cabin. It was still… vacant.”“What? What did you find?” The healer glanced up, her brow fu
Lucas’s povI gripped the worn leather of the book tighter as I hurried across the training grounds. The Full Moon pack house loomed in the distance, a welcome sight after my run through the dense woods. My heart pounded, a mixture of hope and anxiety churning in my gut. This book, this fragile collection of ancient knowledge I’d found in the old woman’s cabin, could be the key to everything.I passed the bustling pack house and headed straight for the medical center, a small building on the edge of the village. The air inside smelled of herbs and antiseptic, a stark contrast to the earthy scent of the forest. I found Edgar, our oldest and most respected healer, hunched over a mortar and pestle, grinding something that smells vaguely of lavender.“Edgar,” I said, my voice rough from disuse.He looked up, his wrinkled face crinkling into a smile. “Lucas. You need treatment. I should get my assistant.”“It’s not important. I need you to look at something.” I said instead.“And what’s th
Jax’s povThe air in Chloe’s room hung thick with the scent of herbs and worry. I sat on the edge of her bed, my wolf restless beneath my skin. The healer, an older woman with knowing eyes, was just finishing wrapping the last of the bandages around Chloe’s arm. Crimson had seeped through the linen earlier, a testament to how hurt Chloe had been and he couldn’t even protect her“She’ll be alright, you know,” the healer said, her voice low and soothing. “She’s a strong girl. Always has been. She'll wake up soon.” She gathered her things, giving me a knowing look. “Best not to overwhelm her when she does.”Then she was gone, and it was just me and Chloe.I leaned closer, my hand hovering over her scarred skin. Even asleep, the tension lines were etched into her face. My heart clenched. These scars were my fault, in a way. Not directly inflicted by me, but I could’ve insisted on fighting alongside her. I could’ve insisted on staying with her.My loyalty lay with her. Not even my pack but
Lucas’s povThe scent of pine needles and damp earth filled my lungs as I stumbled back towards the cabin. Desperation gnawed at me, a constant, throbbing ache. Elena lay unconscious, her pulse almost fading. She was barely breathing and the fear of losing her wrecked me. Her condition was a testament to the brutal battle with Reed. She had won, she had finally defeated him, but the victory felt empty in the face of her stillness.It ate me up that I swore to protect her with my life yet she did it for us without thinking twice. Risked her life without considering hers.The old woman. She was my only hope. She knew things, secrets tucked away in her mind like she is the only one who had all the answers in the world. At this rate, she did. She had helped her before, guided Elena when she was lost and confused about the visions she was getting. Now, I needed her guidance more than ever.The cabin stood silent and empty, exactly as I had left it previously. Dust danced in the faint sunli
Third person povBeauty paced back and forth, her worry etched on her face. Daniel stood beside her, his own anxiety was thick in the air. They waited outside Chloe’s room, the heavy wooden door a barrier between them and the unknown. The healer, a woman known for being quick with detecting injuries and healing them, had been inside for what felt like an eternity. It was long enough for them to be worried."Who is Jax?" Daniel asked, his voice low. He'd seen the way Jax looked at Chloe, the way Jax was extremely protective of her. Like she was a part of him. There was an intimacy there that bothered him, a closeness he couldn't quite place.Beauty stopped pacing, a shiver running down her spine. "I... I have a bad feeling about him, Daniel. A really bad feeling."Daniel frowned. "What do you mean?""He reminds me of... of the man who threatened me, who forced me to betray Elena and kidnapped Sam." The words were barely a whisper, laced with fear and a familiar self-reproach. "I can’t
Third person pov Reed’s eyes burned with a mixture of fear and resentment. The hate that burned his heart brought him to the realization that this was a lost battle.. His limbs were mangled and he was in so much pain than he could ever realize. He knew Elena had power now, a power strong enough to end him. Her eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and he could practically feel magic radiating from her. He had to act, and act fast. He couldn't let her destroy everything he had built.He couldn’t afford to lose it all.His mind raced, settling on a desperate plan. He began chanting, his voice a low, guttural growl. The words were ancient, dark, and flowed from him like venom. It was a death spell, a last resort he had hoped never to use. But it wasn’t aimed at Elena. Not directly.Oliver and Lucas, still recovering from the earlier fight, stood nearby, their bodies bruised and battered. They were unaware of the danger about to descend upon them. Reed, in his twisted logic, decided that
Jax's POV"Now," Oliver snapped, cutting me off. "I don't care if you're a member of the Blue Moon pack or not, Jax. My sister needs help. Get her to the pack house immediately and this time, try not to return with her even if she insists."He didn’t need to tell me again what to do. His command showed that he truly cared about his sister even after everything.The metallic tang of blood filled my nostrils. Not just any blood, but Chloe's. A low growl rumbled in my chest, a primal protectiveness surging through me. Carefully, gently, I scooped her up and steadied her on my arms. Her body was limp, but her arms instinctively wrapped around my neck, her head finding a resting place against my chest. Each shallow breath she took sent a jolt of fear through me. I hope she was fine.Chloe. Beautiful, fierce Chloe. Even now, covered in grime and blood, she was breathtaking. I risked a glance, admiring the curve of her jaw, the way her blonde hair fell across her face. She acted like she di
Oliver’s povMy ribs screamed with every breath. Lucas wasn’t in much better shape, favoring his left arm and sporting a rapidly swelling eye. Chloe looked like she was in a worse state because she fought in her full wolf form and she hadn’t been in a battle ground in a while. We all watched, battered and bruised, as Elena turned Reed into a human punching bag. It was insane. Just hours ago, Reed was the one with all the power, tossing spells around like they were candy. Beating up all of us like it was nothing. Now? Elena was practically glowing, a whirlwind of raw magic that Reed couldn't even touch.Then I saw him. Jax.He was standing at the edge of the clearing, his face a mask of worry. He was supposed to take Elena back to the pack safely and not bring her back to the very place I asked her not to be in. Now, he was here."Jax!" I croaked, my voice rough and thick. He turned, his eyes landing on me. “What the hell is going on? What happened to Elena? Where did she get all tha