POV: TaliaTalia's body is still in Misfit Town.She lies motionless in her bunk, one hand still faintly glowing with the pulse of the stone. Bran is the first to find her. He had followed the ripple of magic that burst through the trees when she touched the stone. Now, he kneels beside her, his face pale with fear, trying not to panic.But this isn't about her body. It's about where her spirit has gone.Talia opens her eyes to skyless light. She's no longer in the woods or her room or anything that feels familiar. Everything around her is soft and glowing, like the space between stars had taken shape.This place isn't real in the way real places are. It feels more like memory and meaning stitched together. There's no ground, but she doesn't fall. No air, but she can breathe.In front of her, a tall stone arch rises out of nothing. Symbols glow along its edges-the same ones that had appeared on her arms. The same rhythm and same pull.A voice echoes across the space.Talia, Keeper of
POV: The New Seer of the Dark Council (Council of the East)I see her.Even before the stars split.Even before the Moon Goddess lays her hand on her heart.I see the girl awakening.Not with my eyes or with the cursed black things that smoulder in my head and glow when they shouldn't. But deeper. The way roots see water underground. The way wolves hear a storm coming before the first drop falls.Talia.Her name echoes inside me like it's written behind my teeth.She stands in that dream-space, her spirit wide open, and I'm there-barely, briefly. A shadow just outside the light.I wasn't supposed to see her that clearly.But I did.And now I can't unsee her.Her light. Her fear. Her power.The Moonstone has chosen her, and the trials have begun.I sit motionless in the far end of the council chamber, body still as bone, even as the fire in the center crackles and spits dark orange sparks.I don't speak until I must.Until I feel them watching me. The Council of the East-seven old clo
Talia's POV"No, This is a mistake! A wolfless, overweight werewolf can't be my mate."His words hit me hard; Whispers erupt from the crowd, murmurs of disbelief and judgement that swirls me like a storm. But I don't let them see how much it hurts. I don't give him the satisfaction.I square my shoulders, forcing a smile that feels like it's going to crack my face. "Well, Bran, I guess the Moon Goddess has a sense of humour after all," I say, despite the pain running through me. "Too bad she didn't give you one."Everywhere is silent now, shocked by my words. Bran's eyes are turning red from anger. But I hold my ground, refusing to let him see how much I'm breaking inside."Talia," he begins, but I cut him off before he can say more. He was going to reject me anyway."Don't worry, Bran," I say, sarcastically. "I'm sure there's some loophole you can find to get out of this. After all, you can't have someone like me ruining your perfect reputation, right?"The tension in the air is suff
I sigh, poking at the pancakes with my fork. "Why do I even care?" I mumble. "It's not like their opinions matter." But the truth is that no matter how much I try to convince myself otherwise, their words always stick to me like glue, making it hard to stop the feeling that I will always be an outsider in my pack, no matter how hard I try to fit in.My last bite of the pancake, I can say, is bitter and, at the same time, sweet. The reason is that it reminds me that breakfast can't last forever. I push the plate away, lean back in my chair, and take a long breath. I returned to my room, looking at myself again through the mirror. This is what I always do, but the mirror never seems to work in my favour. My reflection always stares back at me, showing me a combination of resistance and acceptance. My figure and my curves are fuller than the sleek, toned-bodied of the others. My hair is stubborn and refuses to be tamed, no matter how much I brush or smooth it down. And to make matters w
Talia's POV"Yes, Alpha?" I say, quieter than I intend.He steps closer, narrowing his eyes as he looks me up and down. "I've noticed how you present yourself these days Talia. The way you dress, eat, and carry yourself is not appropriate for someone in our Pack, especially not with the gathering tonight."My throat tightened, and I swallowed hard after hearing his words. Of course, it's about how I look. That has always been everyone's headache."The dignitaries from the neighbouring Packs will be there," he continues, firmly and unkind. "We can't afford any embarrassment, Talia. You need to cushion yourself, understand? Dress properly and eat with restraint. Don't draw any unwanted attention to yourself."If he has a baton, I would prefer he hit me to those words. I knew the pack didn't think much of me, but hearing it plainly from the Alpha himself stings more than I expected. I grip the edge of my plate, and my knuckles turn white."I... I understand," I manage to say, though the
Talia's POVBut it's hard. So dmn hard. And as much as I try to convince myself that I don't care what they think, a part of me does. A part of me wants to be accepted. A part of me wants to have what they have - a place in the Pack, a sense of purpose, and, most of all, a wolf to call my own.But that's not my reality. Eventually, I force myself to get up, brushing the dirt from my jeans. I can't stay out here forever, much as I'd like to. The day is only just beginning, and there are still preparations for tonight - a gathering I'd much rather avoid but one I know I have no choice but to attend.With one last look at the trees, I head back toward the pack, straight to the grocery store, pick some and go back home.On my return, I see the house is already busy with activity. My mother is in full-on preparation mode, flitting about the kitchen as she oversees the final touches for tonight's feast. My father is polishing his boots by the fireplace, while Jackson lays out on the couch,
Talia's POV "Talia, are you ready?" My mother asks through the door, snapping me from my thoughts."Yes, I'm coming," I respond though I hesitate before opening the door. My mind is a blur of thoughts as I walk down the stairs. I can hear the Packs hum and murmur from a distance; the gathering is already starting outside. The air is cooler now, the sun setting, casting shadows across the pack's territory.Jackson is waiting by the door, tapping his foot impatiently. "Took you long enough," he says.I ignore him, keeping my breathing steady as I step outside. The atmosphere is heavy with tension, or maybe that's just me. The pack is already gathered near the large clearing, where lanterns hang from the trees, casting a warm glow over the scene. The sound of laughter and music fills the air, and everyone seems to be in high spirits.But I'm not like everyone else."Stay close, Talia," my father says calmly as he leads toward the gathering. My mother walks beside me, her hand resting on
Talia's POV A warm sensation arises from the back of my neck and flows down my spine. My vision blurs for some time, and when it clears, everywhere becomes clearer. The voices around me fade, and all I can feel is his presence, his energy as if an invisible thread is pulling me toward him.A series of thoughts on my mind. I'm at a point of confusion, but something suddenly stops my confusion, and then I realize I am feeling the mate bond. It's overwhelming as I am feeling a sudden connection to someone I never expected, someone I barely know outside his role as Alpha. My breath seizes, and I struggle to keep my emotions in check as the realization of my feelings becomes clearer. Alpha Bran is my mate.I freeze. This can't be happening. Not now and definitely not with him. My thoughts are bouncing between disbelief and the undeniable bond, about how it's supposed to feel, but nothing could have prepared me for this. I feel dizzy.Jackson's voice snaps me back to reality "Talia, are yo
POV: The New Seer of the Dark Council (Council of the East)I see her.Even before the stars split.Even before the Moon Goddess lays her hand on her heart.I see the girl awakening.Not with my eyes or with the cursed black things that smoulder in my head and glow when they shouldn't. But deeper. The way roots see water underground. The way wolves hear a storm coming before the first drop falls.Talia.Her name echoes inside me like it's written behind my teeth.She stands in that dream-space, her spirit wide open, and I'm there-barely, briefly. A shadow just outside the light.I wasn't supposed to see her that clearly.But I did.And now I can't unsee her.Her light. Her fear. Her power.The Moonstone has chosen her, and the trials have begun.I sit motionless in the far end of the council chamber, body still as bone, even as the fire in the center crackles and spits dark orange sparks.I don't speak until I must.Until I feel them watching me. The Council of the East-seven old clo
POV: TaliaTalia's body is still in Misfit Town.She lies motionless in her bunk, one hand still faintly glowing with the pulse of the stone. Bran is the first to find her. He had followed the ripple of magic that burst through the trees when she touched the stone. Now, he kneels beside her, his face pale with fear, trying not to panic.But this isn't about her body. It's about where her spirit has gone.Talia opens her eyes to skyless light. She's no longer in the woods or her room or anything that feels familiar. Everything around her is soft and glowing, like the space between stars had taken shape.This place isn't real in the way real places are. It feels more like memory and meaning stitched together. There's no ground, but she doesn't fall. No air, but she can breathe.In front of her, a tall stone arch rises out of nothing. Symbols glow along its edges-the same ones that had appeared on her arms. The same rhythm and same pull.A voice echoes across the space.Talia, Keeper of
Aunt MerleComing back to Misfit Town without being seen was never simple. But this time, it was more than just secrecy-I couldn't let anyone see me carrying the stone. Only the one meant to carry its power should lay eyes on me right now.That's why I used the bone ash spell. Just enough to hide myself from the senses of others. The magic made sound slip away from me and light bent around me. It wasn't perfect. But it was enough.I moved quietly past the outer trees of the town just before sunrise, the stone wrapped tightly in moon cloth and held close to my chest. It wasn't heavy, not in the usual way, but it throbbed with heat and energy-like it had its heartbeat. It didn't feel human. It didn't feel alive. But it was something old. Ancient.With each step closer to the heart of the town, the air changed. It started to hum softly. Like the ground and the trees could sense what I was bringing. Like the town itself was deciding if I should be allowed in.The streets and homes hadn't
POV: TaliaI got up before dawn because something stirred me awake. Dead silence. I don't feel anything at all. It's only a switch. It felt like the air just ditched the world I was familiar with.I sat upright in bed, my breath hanging somewhere between snoozing and shouting. My room still sat in darkness, with the curtains hardly moving. My arms were on fire.I rolled up my shirt sleeves and took a look.Marks. Faint and glowing. It feels like starlight veins running from my wrists to the bend of my elbows. They beat along with my heart-actually, not my heart. Something that goes deeper. Something older.The stone. I haven't laid a finger on it or even seen it, but I can feel its pull. It's like a tune I haven't listened to, but it feels familiar. It's transforming me. I'm not sure how long this will last. Or who I'll turn into by the time it's over.I run my fingers over the glowing trails. They're cozy. Full of life. Not painful. Not yet."Bran?" I whisper, even though I know he's
Aunt Merle's POVIt moved the moment I did.Like it had been waiting for me.The corrupted guardian stepped forward, limbs wrong in all the ways that make your bones ache just looking. It's fur peeling like bark in the sun, muscles twitching under pale, half-dead skin. Its eyes glowed green-brighter now-flickering like candlelight trapped in rot.I didn't move at first. I let my breath settle. Let my pulse slow. Fear is a clever liar. It whispers things like you can't, you're too old, you failed once and you'll do it again.But I'm not here to win. I'm here to protect what needs to be protected.I reach into my bag, my fingers finding the vial of ashroot tincture. My sister made this once, back when she still believed we could hold the line against everything coming for us. I never liked the way it smelled-burnt leaves and regret-but it helps in moments like this. I dab a bit under my nose. It clears the air and sharpens me."Let's get this over with," I whisper, more to myself than t
Talia's POV Strange things are beginning to happen to me after our search for the cookbook in the archives. The first time it happens, I'm brushing dirt off a silver spoon half-buried beneath a pine root, and the second I touch it, the world turns upside down.Not like in the dramatic way people say, but like gravity forgets her job. My knees give, my vision fuzzes, and a weightless heat rushes behind my eyes, burning. A voice I don't recognize, and not mine-whispers something sharp and slanted. The spoon clatters to the ground."Hey!" Bran's voice cuts through the dizziness. "Talia-hey, look at me. Stay with me."I blink. His face is so close, framed by leaves and worry lines. His hands hover just inches from my shoulders, unsure whether to touch me or watch.I grab his sleeve. Just to make sure I'm here. Now. Not wherever that flash dragged me."I'm fine," I say, but it sounds like a lie even to me. My voice is raspy, too breathy."Liar. That's your lying face. Also your 'don't tel
Aunt Merle's POVThis night is way colder than I anticipated.Canada may be known for its brutal winds and icy cold, but there's something uniquely cold about the forests near Misfit town. It murmurs hidden truths. The old ones. Some that remember me, and some I'd rather forget.I stomp through the frozen ground, my boots crunching as I head down the winding trail into the thick woods, my satchel bouncing at my side with each brave step I take. In my bag, I've got some sage, nightroot, a couple of white candles blessed during a blood moon, and a solar power bank that I almost forgot until I felt like I should take it with me.I recognize this path. Even after so many years. Even after grief tried to bury it under layers of avoidance. There was a time when my sister and I carved our initials into one of these trees, laughing like we were still children, despite being mothers by then. My fingers brush against the bark of that same tree as I pass. It no longer laughs. Me neither.This jo
Talia's POVAs we near the exit, an unseen force pulls at my chest. I gasp. I can't move my feet.Then-a pull.Not physical, not something I can fight. It goes deeper, touching my core. An air ripple, a time shift.Flames from the candle sway unpredictably, as if stirred by an unseen wind. The edges of the room fade away. My vision tunnels. My heartbeat slows, and then-Darkness.Then, light appeared.A vision.I'm out of the archives now.I stand in a moonlit clearing, surrounded by the smell of wet earth and pine. The trees whisper familiar voices, pulling me toward the sound.A figure kneels in the clearing, shaking with silent sobs. She is young, with a dirty and tear-streaked face, and her long dark hair is tangled in leaves.She looks at me with luminous, regretful eyes."Forgive me," she whispers, her voice breaking. "I never wanted this."A group of shadowy figures appears from the trees before I can move. They wear black, yet I sense their overwhelming power bearing down on m
Talia's POVThe air in the palace feels oppressive as if my aunt's words are pushing against me. I run my fingers along the wooden table in my study, my mind racing to find answers amid Aunt's revelations.The book was bound to me.My blood is needed to unleash its magic. Does that explain the figures I have been seeing lurking in the shadows? Are they out on a mission to take me?Thoughts swirl within me, weaving through unclear memories. My grandmother sacrificed herself for it, and now someone is ready to spill my blood for its power. This is just too much of a problem than I can imagine.Bran rests on his desk's edge, observing me intently. He crosses his arms, candlelight creating shadows on his face. Since my aunt's words, he remains quiet, yet I feel his discomfort swirling around us."What are you thinking?" He asks, at last, his tone calm.I slowly exhale, placing my hand on my forehead. "That I don't know nearly enough."His eyes show an unclear emotion. "Then let's change t