"Good job today, Kailani," Jake called out, signaling the end of our training session. "You're getting stronger every day.""Thanks, Jake," I replied, wiping the sweat from my brow."Make sure you rest, Kailani. Too much training can be bad for you. Remember that," Jake said before leaving to go get breakfast. I remained enjoying the silence as I went through my thoughts. I laughed to myself as I took off my gloves. My lack of wolf form would have barred me from combat training in Iron Claw. But here, alll pack members were trained intensely, no matter if you have a wolf or not. I've built my strength and endurance and honed my reflexes and battle instincts. Now my skills match those of some of the seasoned warriors.As I do my cooldown stretches, my brother Alex approaches and tosses a training knife at my feet. "Come on. Let's see if you've been training. With all that shopping with Mom, I am sure you're rusty now," he challenges with a smirk.I snatch up the blade and fall into a
They say home is where the heart is, but that's not where mine lives.The familiar trees and winding road lull me into a daze as we approach the looming pack house. Even with the windows rolled up, I can hear the lively talking and laughter spilling from the banquet hall, just like it was three years ago. My stomach twists into knots at the unpleasant memories this place brings back.Before I can dwell on it further, the car rolls to a stop. I take a deep breath and step out to see my biological mother already approaching, a surprised look plastered across her face. She quickly composes herself. She greets my foster parents with tight lips and a strained smile."Luna Melanie, Alpha Brandon, what a surprise to see you here. And who is this lovely young lady?" Her words drip with faux courtesy.Melanie squeezes my shoulder reassuringly. "It is a pleasure to see you, Luna Meranda. This is our daughter, Kailani.""I didn't know you had a daughter," Luna Meranda said. Her eyes narrowed for
TerryThe banquet hall glimmered with golden light, laughter, and joy filling the air. I gazed at Kim, radiant in her white gown, and warmth flooded my heart. After everything we endured—all the battles and heartache—she would finally be mine. My Luna, my mate, my Alpha female.Just as I indulged in the sweetness of the moment, a gruff voice jarred me from my thoughts. "She is not our mate and never will be our mate.” It was Theo, my wolf, speaking for the first time in three years. With no explanation, Theo abandoned. He refused to speak to me. He only spoke and took over during battle or when I was in danger. Besides that, it seemed Theo wanted nothing to do with me. I bristled, wanting to ignore him. “Kim is meant to be our mate,” I argued.“You can try to fool yourself, but you and I both know that Kim is not our mate!” Theo snapped angrily. “You don’t have a say in the matter,” I countered. “The hell I don’t! Go to the forest, now!" Theo snarled. "Why should I listen to you
TerryI froze, shocked to my core. The girl who had disappeared years ago now sat mere feet away. Her black hair tumbled over her shoulders in waves, and her eyes were a striking green. She looked healthy, fit, nothing like the scrawny teenager before.Kim glided up beside me, slipping her hand into mine. "What's wrong, my love? You look troubled."I tore my eyes from Kailani to smile weakly at Kim. "It's nothing."Kim kissed my cheek, and the ceremony began. I couldn't focus as my mind kept drifting back to Kailani. Theo's voice rumbled in my mind. "We can’t let her get away this time. We need to protect her or we will regret it."I scowled inwardly at the wolf. Regret letting Kailani go? She made her decision by leaving. Keeping her here would only lead to more trouble.After going through the engagement, everyone cheered. I felt indifferent. The moment I had been looking forward to for years felt like nothing all of a sudden. I found myself getting another glass of wine."Did you k
The sweet scent of gardenia flowers wafted through the air as I stepped out of my room, the ceremony's chaotic energy still lingering in my mind. I didn't realize that seeing my former family would affect me so much. I couldn't sleep without replaying the whole night over and over in my head. My tho
Dr. Mitchell's eyes bore into me, and I felt a shudder run down my spine. She seemed satisfied with just a simple glance, offering no taunts or aggression towards me. Instead, she turned away without another word, leaving the training grounds alongside Alex. Wasn't that how she always was, though? S
Alex I could hear raised voices coming from Dr. Mitchell’s office. I came back to speak with Dr. Mitchell because of Kailani's response to her. I felt that there was something between the two that wasn’t good. Kailani. She wasn’t just a sister to me. She meant more to me than I initially realiz
I tossed and turned in my bed, the doctor's words echoing in my mind. My heart raced as I contemplated the possibility of suddenly dying because I no longer had a wolf. Dr. Mitchell had said with cold certainty, "A werewolf without its wolf is only living a half-existence. You can't live without y
Kailani”If a person is deemed worthy, the path to the wolf den will be revealed to them and they can go to challenge the wolves. If that person wins, they can choose a wolf. If the wolf does not accept that person, even after winning, that person will be killed. But if accepted, in the place blesse
Kailani“Every year, the Dark Brood pack goes to the black market for an exchange event. Other packs go there too to harvest beasts with potential,” Veil explains, her tone brisk as she resumes walking. “Packs will exchange wolves in an auction. Then the selected will go through the wolf exchange pr
KailaniI know my days are numbered. I was failing at convincing Houston to trust me. I was no closer than I was when I first arrived. I force a smile, trying to keep my voice light. “If I died, would you miss your troublesome apprentice?” Veil rolls her eyes and scoffs at me. “That’s a pointless
KailaniI've been living with the Dark Brood pack for almost four months, though it feels like a lifetime. Time here has a way of blurring, each day bleeding into the next until I can't tell where one ends, and another begins. My status within the pack has shifted subtly. I hadn’t noticed until Mad
DamianAbby frowned at Terry and said, “Do you think because we’re here that I care about your attitude? Let’s not forget you almost mated a terrible bitch of woman that abused her own sister, so your decision making skills aren’t that high up there."That‘s my girl!I couldn’t help but smirk at her
DamianEverything was coming together.I was surprised at how easy it was to convince Alpha heir Terry to hear out of my proposition. He must be truly desperate to find whoever this mysterious woman. I had heard about him breaking off his engagement with Kim, the eldest daughter of the Iron Claw pac
Abby“I know,” I responded as I left my room and made my way to my parents’ room. Once Alex had brought me home in a wheelchair, my parents didn’t leave me alone. I was under house arrest for an entire month as I fully recovered.I hesitated at their door before thrusting the door open."Mom, Dad,"
AbbyWater droplets clung to my skin as I stepped out of the shower, steam clouding the glass door behind me. My muscles ached from another rigorous workout session, an attempt to distract myself from the thoughts that plagued me. But as much as I tried, my mind kept returning to Kailani and the gui
Terry“Listen kid, I told you…”I quickly grabbed him by the neck and squeezed hard. My claws digging into his flesh. “I have limited patience. Tell me what you’re hiding or I’ll break your neck right here, right now.”“Okay, okay, okay,” the man choked out and I released him. “The only thing I foun