****Xavier****“Reject me….” Henry’s voice echoes in my mind as I struggle to comprehend the pain in his words. His eyes, filled with hurt and disappointment, pierce through me, leaving me with a sense of regret and longing. And the bruises on his body who could have hurt him so badly? And the bloodstains on his shirt, evidence of the physical violence he endured. My heart aches at the thought of someone causing him such harm, and I vow to punish whoever is responsible for hurting him in such a cruel way.But even so, why do I care if he rejects me or not? Why does it matter so much? Was it because we are mates or because, deep down, I know he is the one who truly understands me like no one else ever could? His rejection feels like a betrayal of the bond we share, making me question everything I thought I knew about our connection.“You looked stressed...” Dean’s voice broke through the silence in the car, bringing me back to reality.“It’s nothing serious,” I replied, forcing a smil
*****Henry****A whole day has passed since the last time we spoke. And his words still echo in my mind: “I will make you feel rejected and unwanted every day if that’s what you truly desire.” What does he mean by that?And why is he soon keen about the mate bond? He hates me more than anyone else. But he still wants me, his stepbrother, to be his mate, even though the thought of it digs me.It’s not like I don’t feel any bond with him; I do, and my world is jumping and howling when he smells our mate bond. But the idea of being with Xavier in that way is unsettling. It’s a confusing and complicated situation that I’m not sure how to navigate.If there was anything that I wanted more than anything, it was someone to love me, a mate who would cherish me and make me feel complete. But the thought of being with Xavier in that way makes my stomach turn. I’m torn between my desire for love and my discomfort with the idea of him as a mate. I don’t even know why he is back in my life after f
****Henry*****The wolf’s eyes glowed in the darkness, its snarl revealing sharp teeth that glistened in the moonlight. Cody and I exchanged a look of silent understanding before slowly backing away, knowing that our chances of survival had just become even slimmer.“Rogues...” I mumbled under my breath, recognizing the dangerous predator in front of us. Cody’s grip on my arm tightened as we continued to retreat, hoping to escape without triggering an attack.“We don’t know how many they are or where they might be hiding,” Cody whispered, his voice barely audible over the rustling of leaves. “Let’s stick together and stay alert,” I replied, my heart pounding with fear as we navigated through the moonlit forest.I nodded my head. No matter how much Cody bullied me or hurt me, I knew that he was a warrior, and trusting him right now was best for our survival. Letting go of my fear and placing my trust in Cody’s instincts, we pressed on, determined to make it out of the forest safely.“S
****Henry****I shook my head, not understanding how he could have come to such a conclusion. His accusations were baseless, but the look in his eyes made me realize that convincing him otherwise would be nearly impossible. But why does Cody think of me this way? What could I have possibly done to make him believe such things about me?“Now shut up and stay here,” he growled, his grip on my arm tightening even more. “While I go,” he trailed off, leaving me with a sinking feeling in my stomach. I knew that whatever he was planning would not end well for me.I nodded my head in defeat, knowing I had no choice but to comply. I watch as Cody moves quickly and decisively away from our hiding spot behind the tree, disappearing from sight. I could feel my heart racing with fear and uncertainty, wondering what his next move would be and how I could escape this dangerous situation.I turn my head here and there to see if there are any rogue wolves lurking nearby, ready to pounce at any moment.
*****Henry******“Cody…” I stood frozen, and the wolf jumped again and again toward Cody, but I didn’t know what got me as I stood in front of the wolf, shielding Cody from the attack. The wolf hesitated, its playful demeanor disappearing as it locked eyes with me, unsure of what to do next. My heart raced as I braced myself for whatever might come next.“What are you doing, fool?” Cody shouted, trying to pull me away from Rogue Wolf, but before he could do so, the wolf launched itself on me and sank its teeth into my shoulder. A sharp pain shot through my body as I struggled to push the wolf off of me.Cody’s panicked screams filled the air as the wolf sank his fangs into my skin, sucking on my blood.“Ahhhhh…..,” A loud cry broke out from my lips as I felt my strength fading. I fell on my knee and struggled to push the wolf off of me. With my vision blurring, I knew that this might be the end.But a loud growl broke out, and to my surprise, Cody turned himself into his wolf form, re
*****Henry****It’s over now. I am done.I thought to myself as I prepared for what seemed like an inevitable attack. I closed my eyes tightly, waiting for the worst of the pain to come, but instead, I heard a loud growl followed by the sound of the wolves retreating. Opening my eyes, a group of wolves stood protectively in front of me, their fierce eyes daring anyone to come closer.Xavier, the alpha male, stepped forward and nudged me gently with his nose, as if to say, “You’re safe now.” And see the pack of wolves as if my body went limp, as if the strength that had carried me through the fear suddenly dissipated. I fell on my knees as I felt my vision blur and tears streamed down my face, overwhelmed by seeing death so close yet being saved by Xavier coming to my rescue.“Tha...” I want to say, but my voice catches in my throat, unable to form the words. The wolves surrounding me let out a collective howl, a sound that echoed through the forest, warning whoever may be listening th
*****Henry*****Tears ran from my face uncontrollably as I saw Mom and Dad’s bodies placed in a casket surrounded by flowers and candles. All pack members gathered around, their faces filled with grief and disbelief at the loss of our beloved parents.I hold my brother’s pants tight as he is too tall for me to hold his hand, feeling the weight of our new reality sinking in. The sound of muffled sobs and whispered condolences filled the air, a sad reminder of the pain we all shared at that moment.“Brother…,” I looked up and saw my brother's face dry; he was not weak like me and was not crying but was staring at his parent's casket with a determined expression. But my tears continued to flow freely, a physical manifestation of the deep ache in my heart that would not be soothed easily.I wiped my tears, but new ones began to fall as I realized the immense void that had been left in our lives with the loss of our parents.One pack member stepped forward to close the caskets, but I ran f
****Henry*****“Henry… I am sorry for all the pain I have caused you,” I heard a familiar voice say, breaking me from my nightmare. I opened my eyes to see the person I least accepted brushing my hair with so much care and tenderness. But why?“Cody,” my voice cracked as tears filled my eyes. “Why are you here?”Cody stared at me with eyes filled with regret and sorrow, his voice barely above a whisper as he replied, “I needed to make things right, apologize for my mistakes, and try to earn your forgiveness.” The vulnerability in his expression made me think otherwise.I tried to sit up on the bed, but Cody stooped down to gently push me back, his touch sending a wave of warmth through me. “Please don’t move; your shoulder has been dislocated,” he said softly, his eyes showing genuine concern.I look at my left arm, and yes, it has been wrapped in a sling, making it impossible for me to move it. But I still tried to push myself up, determined to show him that I was strong enough to ha
Xavier****The words hung between us like a death sentence—heavy and unyielding. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a painful reminder of the choice I faced. Diego stood before me, his jaw clenched, eyes burning with determination, but I could see the flicker of pain beneath his resolve. It mirrored my own, twisting in my gut, tightening my throat.Lyra’s gaze flicked between us, her expression unreadable. "One soul," she said softly, her voice almost lost in the deafening rush of blood in my ears. "Only one of you can make the sacrifice."A bitter laugh escaped before I could stop it. "So, we fight over who gets to die?" The absurdity of it all made my head spin. I had spent so long trying to save Henry, and now... now it came down to this.Diego exhaled sharply. "It won’t be you, Xavier." His voice was unwavering, the finality in it leaving no room for argument. "I won't let you."My throat tightened, words threatening to choke me. "You can’t ask me to stand by and watch you do
Xavier****The grip around my neck tightened, and panic surged through me like wildfire. Henry’s hands, once a source of warmth and protection, had become a vice, his fingers pressing into my skin with an unnatural strength. His eyes—golden and wild—held no trace of the mate I had fought for, the mate I had desperately tried to save. The demons that plagued his mind had claimed him completely, twisting him into something unrecognizable.I gasped for breath, my heart hammering against my chest as I struggled to free myself. "Henry, stop!" I croaked, my voice hoarse from the pressure in my throat. But the man in front of me—if it could even be called that—did not respond. He only smirked, his lips curling into a grotesque smile that sent an icy chill down my spine."You always think you can save everyone, Xavier," he whispered, his voice low and laced with venomous sweetness. "But you can't even save yourself."His grip tightened further, cutting off my air supply. I could feel my stren
Xavier****A week had passed since that day, yet the weight of everything that had transpired still pressed down on us like a suffocating fog. Henry remained unconscious, his body pale and still. The darkness had retreated, but it left scars deep enough to haunt us all. And I could do nothing but wait and watch, praying for a sign that he would wake up, praying that this nightmare would end.The cage was silent now, save for the occasional drip of water from the far corner. But that silence was a lie—a facade hiding the chaos that raged inside. Dean was there, shackled and bruised, his eyes vacant as he slumped against the cold bars. The light was dim in the corner of the room, but it did nothing to ease the sharp lines of agony on his face.I approached the cage slowly, the sound of my boots against the floor echoing in the stillness. His eyes flickered up at me, but there was no recognition, no defiance—just a hollow emptiness that made my blood run cold. My once-loyal beta, or so I
Xavier***The silence stretched taut, every breath dragging against the sharp edges of my pounding heart. Henry’s darkened grin wavered as I held him, my grip tightening around his neck despite myself. His body burned with unnatural heat—a sharp, unsettling contrast to the ice in his voice.“What’s wrong, Xavier?” He sneered, his tone a haunting blend of mockery and menace. “You can't hurt the man you love, can you? Can you, sweetheart?"I searched his eyes desperately, looking past the shroud of darkness that clung to him like a second skin. Somewhere beneath that void was the Henry I knew—the man who had laughed with me, fought beside me, and loved me. But that flicker of hope seemed so far away, hidden behind the abyss of black that threatened to swallow us both.“Henry,” I whispered, my voice trembling but resolute. “I know you’re in there. Fight this. Fight for us.”For a moment, something shifted. The cruel grin faltered, and a flicker of pain crossed his features. It was so fle
Xavier****The silence that followed her departure was deafening. The room seemed to exhale, the tension dissipating like smoke in the air. My wolf form shimmered, the shadows clinging to me like a second skin before retreating into nothingness. I stood there, breathing heavily, the weight of her words pressing down on me.Dean remained where he was—a broken figure slumped on the floor. His wolves had scattered, their presence now nothing more than distant echoes in the storm. For the first time, he looked small, mortal—a far cry from the ruthless predator who had tormented me for years."You think this is victory?" His voice was hoarse, his lips curling into a bitter sneer. "You’ve only delayed the inevitable, Xavier. The Dark Moon isn’t a curse you can break. It’s a prison, and you’re still trapped inside."I didn’t respond. His words held no power over me now, not after what I had just witnessed. Instead, I turned and walked past him, my steps steady despite the chaos swirling in m
Xavier***The figure before me stood like a tempest incarnate. Her presence was both fierce and commanding, and I could feel the very air around her hum with an energy I couldn’t begin to comprehend. The storm outside seemed to retreat in her wake, as if it recognized the power she commanded."Who are you?" Dean sneered, his voice full of suspicion and malice, but even he couldn't hide the flicker of fear in his eyes. He took a cautious step back, his pack of rogue wolves shifting uneasily in the shadows.The woman’s gaze swept across the room, cold and calculating, and for a moment, I felt the weight of her eyes on me, as if she could see every secret buried deep within my soul."I am the end of this," she said, her voice rich with authority, each word a hammer striking the very core of this cursed legacy. "The Dark Moon’s reign of terror ends tonight."The storm howled outside once again, but it no longer seemed to be a force of nature. It was no longer a rampaging beast—it was a wh
Xavier***The storm raged outside, but inside the small, dimly lit room, the silence was suffocating. Every word Diego had spoken seemed to echo in my mind like a drumbeat, drowning out everything else. The pages of the journal lay before me, mocking me with their emptiness. My mind raced. Who could have erased the journal? Why? And, most importantly—what did it mean for Henry?Diego pulled me out of my thoughts with a sharp tug on my arm, his face a mask of grim determination. "Come on," he urged, his voice thick with fear. "We have to get to him before it’s too late."I looked at him, the weight of our past hanging between us. The same man who had been the architect of my pain was now the one asking for my help. My emotions were a tangled mess—anger, betrayal, guilt—but I shoved them aside. I couldn’t afford to be distracted. Henry needed me. The Darkmoon pack needed me.We rushed out of the room and down the narrow hallway, the storm’s fury intensifying outside. As we moved, I coul
Xavier***I froze, my mind scrambling to process what Diego had just revealed. I’m the key? My stomach twisted with confusion and growing dread."Explain," I demanded, my voice sharp with urgency.Diego’s eyes locked onto mine, intense and unblinking, as though he were weighing whether to say more. After a long, tense pause, he finally spoke."I can't believe I’m the one saying this..." Diego’s voice faltered as he searched for the right words. "But your bloodline, Xavier. Your father wasn’t just any Alpha. He was the first to bind his soul to the power of the Darkmoon, the only one who could manipulate its dark force. The journal holds the secrets of how he did it—and how it can be undone."A chill ran down my spine. What the hell is he talking about? "What do you mean?" I asked, disbelief creeping into my voice.Diego’s expression grew more somber. "Do you know why your pack is called Dark Moon?" he asked, his gaze unyielding.I shook my head, barely able to process. "Don’t tell me
Xavier***The air was heavy as we left the healer’s den, a tangible reminder of what we’d just faced. Diego walked beside me, his shoulders tense and his gaze fixed straight ahead. The moon hung low in the night sky, casting long, silvery shadows across the courtyard."Do you think Henry will be safe?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Diego hesitated before responding. "I’ve used my powers to seal a protective barrier around him. That might suppress the darkness that was trying to consume him.""But for how long..." I trailed off, my heart weighed down by uncertainty. Diego’s expression was grim as he replied, "We can only hope it will be enough to keep him safe until we find a more permanent solution."“We need answers, Xavier,” Diego said, breaking the silence. “If that entity can control Henry, it could control anyone. We’re fighting blind, and we can’t afford that.”I nodded, my jaw tightening. “We start with the prophecy. There has to be more to it—something we missed.”