****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 air was thick with tension, charged with an electricity that sparked every inch of my skin. Our bodies were impossibly close, the space between us nothing but a memory. His breath came in ragged, desperate gasps, trembling against my neck, as his hands moved over me, shaking with need. Each touch of his fingers felt like a demand, a silent plea for more.“Xavier...” His voice cracked, raw and needy, sending a shiver down my spine. His mouth hovered just above mine, lips trembling with hunger and desperation. The heat between us was unbearable, a storm of desire neither of us could escape. I could feel the pulse of his heartbeat against my chest, fast, frantic, matching mine in its urgency.My hands moved, yanking at his clothes with a ferocity that matched the hunger surging through me. There was no hesitation now. I didn’t wait for permission for the lingering doubts. I needed him. I wanted him, and I wasn’t going to stop until he was mine. His body quivered beneath my
Xavier***Henry’s breath came in short, ragged gasps, his forehead pressed to mine as if grounding himself. His body trembled against me, heat rolling off him in waves, caught in the torturous pull between restraint and the desperate hunger written in his storm-gray eyes."Xavier..." he breathed, my name a fevered plea against my lips. His fingers curled into my shirt, knuckles white as if holding onto me was the only thing keeping him from unraveling. His heat burned through the fabric, his body trembling with unspoken need, every inch of him drawn taut with longing.I cupped his face, tilting his head up, forcing his gaze to lock with mine. "You don’t get to be afraid," I murmured, my thumb pressing against his cheekbone, firm, unyielding. "You’re mine, Henry. Every breath, every shudder—you belong to me."His lips parted, uncertainty flickering in his eyes, but beneath it, the hunger pulsed stronger. For a moment, I thought he would retreat, but then—he lunged. His mouth crashed ag
Xavier****Alone in the room, away from the chaos of the world outside, I watched Henry take a deep breath and close his eyes. He seemed to seek solace in the quiet stillness, a brief moment of peace amidst the storm raging within him.A small smile on my lips looking at him, I couldn't help but feel a sense of calm wash over me as well. It was as if his serenity was contagious, bringing a sense of tranquility to the room. The threat is lurking in the shadows, but for now, we found solace in each other's presence, finding comfort in the shared silence. The darkness outside seemed less daunting with Henry by my side, a flicker of hope amidst the looming uncertainty.The tension in the room hung thick, suffocating in its intensity. Henry’s storm-gray eyes, darkened with fear and uncertainty, searched mine, and my heart pounded in response. His words had rattled me, leaving a crack in the carefully built walls I’d maintained. I could feel it, the weight of the darkness he carried, a shad
Xavier***The silence after Dean’s departure was suffocating, a void swallowing the room whole. It loomed between us, heavy and oppressive, daring us to speak, to breathe, to resist its pull. Henry’s breaths came in sharp, uneven gasps, his shoulders trembling under the crushing weight of a truth too monstrous to ignore. The flickering candlelight carved harsh shadows across his face, each flicker a glimpse into the turmoil twisting inside him—a war waged in silence, one he wasn’t sure he had the strength to win.Fiona stepped forward, hesitant, her fingers trembling as they reached for Henry, but she stopped just short of touching him. A flicker of doubt crossed her face, her shoulders tightening as if weighed down by the unspoken fears clawing at her. Her lips parted, but no words came—just a silent plea swimming in her eyes, a mother’s love battling the terror that threatened to consume her. Diego, ever the pillar of strength, stood rigidly beside her, his jaw clenched so tightly I
Xavier****The weight of Dean’s words pressed down on me like a boulder, suffocating, unrelenting, crushing the very air from my lungs. The revelation didn’t just linger—it invaded, seeping into my bones, wrapping around my heart like an iron chain. The room felt smaller, the walls closing in, as if the universe itself recoiled from the truth, holding its breath, waiting for me to grasp the sheer gravity of what had just been spoken.Henry and I weren’t just mates. We were bound by something deeper, something that defied explanation, something that sent a cold shiver crawling down my spine.We were something beyond mortal comprehension. Something tethered to the abyss itself, lurking in the shadows of fate, waiting to consume us whole.Kin, bound by blood and destiny. A fate intertwined not just by love or the pull of the mate bond, but by something ancient, something dark—something that whispered in the marrow of my bones, waiting, watching, lurking just beyond the veil of my underst
Xavier****The silence that followed Dean’s words was suffocating, thick with the weight of revelation and dread. My grip on Henry tightened, his body unnervingly still in my arms. His eyes—those eyes—held something I had never seen before. Not just fear. Not just pain. But understanding.He knew.Diego exhaled sharply, his fists clenched, knuckles whitening as barely restrained fury coiled beneath his skin like a caged beast. Fiona stood rigid beside him, her posture a picture of composed defiance, but her eyes—those fractured pools of maternal love—betrayed her. A flicker of horror, the silent war of a mother trapped between denial and the suffocating weight of an inevitable truth, trembled in their depths.“What do you mean?” I growled, forcing my voice to remain steady, though the ground beneath me felt as if it were crumbling. My pulse thundered in my ears, my breath shallow, uneven. “What the hell are you saying, Dean?”Dean’s smirk deepened, his ember-like eyes flickering with
Xavier****The storm had not passed. It lingered, restless, as if it too sensed the battle was far from over. Thunder rumbled in the distance, a fading echo of the chaos that had unfolded below. The sky churned with swollen clouds, heavy with the weight of the battle’s aftermath. Rain had thinned to a whisper, yet the battlefield remained drenched—soaked in blood, in loss, in the echoes of war that refused to be silenced.Henry lay motionless in my arms, his breaths shallow but steady—each fragile inhale a reminder of how close we had come to losing him. The weight of his body against mine grounded me, an anchor against the storm of blood and ruin surrounding us. He had fought harder than any of us, given everything to keep us standing. And now, his body bore the cost of that sacrifice. My fingers trembled as I brushed damp hair from his forehead, caught between the relief that he was alive and the gnawing dread of what lay ahead. The abyss had not just claimed Dean—it had opened a do
Xavier***The storm does not yield.But neither do we.The battlefield is a wasteland of shadows and ruin, the echoes of our struggle still vibrating in the air like the last notes of a funeral dirge. Rain seeps into the fractured earth, pooling in the craters left by our war. The scent of damp soil and blood lingers, thick and inescapable.I hold Henry against me, my arm wrapped around his trembling form, feeling the erratic rhythm of his breath against my chest. His body is wracked with exhaustion, his strength nearly spent, but he is here. He is free. And yet, the weight of what has been lost—what has been taken—clings to us like a specter, whispering reminders of those who will never stand beside us again.Dean stands before us, changed beyond recognition. The abyss clings to him, winding its tendrils through his soul, weaving into the fabric of his being. His presence is wrong, a distortion of something that was once human. The light in his eyes has been devoured, leaving behind
Henry***The storm does not yield.Lightning splits the sky, illuminating the battlefield of destruction I have created. The shadows coil tighter around my body, venomous whispers growing more insistent, more cruel. The abyss does not wish to let me go. It does not fear Xavier's words or his unwavering belief. It only craves ruin.But Xavier does not move from where he kneels, battered and bleeding, his body trembling under the force of my blows. His breath comes in ragged gasps, but his gaze remains locked onto mine. There is no hatred in his eyes, no fear. Only that same unbearable resolve."Henry," he murmurs again, voice hoarse yet firm. "I know you're still in there. I know you can fight this."The shadows recoil, thrashing at the edges of my mind, furious at his audacity. A pulse of agony surges through me, sharp and unrelenting, as the abyss fights to reclaim me.I clutch my head, stumbling backward, my breaths coming in desperate pants. "Stop—stop talking, Xavier. You don’t un