Prologue: From a young age, Hallie knew what she wanted: to become the best warrior in the kingdom. She trained tirelessly, day and night, honing her skills and perfecting her craft. She knew that her path would be difficult, but she was determined to succeed. As she grew older, Hallie's ambition only grew stronger. She knew that she would have to make sacrifices along the way, but she was willing to do whatever it took to achieve her dreams. But there was one thing that Hallie never wanted: a mate. She saw the bonds that tied her friends and family together, and she knew that she didn't want that kind of attachment. She wanted to be free to pursue her own path, without anyone tying her down. And then she met Hugh. Hugh was unlike anyone she had ever met before. He was strong, smart, and charming, and he had a way of making her feel things that she had never felt before. Hallie tried to resist him, tried to push him away, but he was relentless. As she trained away from
I groaned as the alarm sounded, pulling me harshly from my cosy dream. Reality. “Hallie. You better wake up, or you're be late again.” My sister's voice echoed through the door, asking if I was awake. Why did she always have to be so perfect? She was always up on time and always going on about how excited she would be to find her mate. “Go away, Veronica,” I yelled as she continued to bang on my bedroom door. I rolled my eyes and headed to the bathroom, turning on the shower to drown out her annoying banging and shouting. Mornings were never my thing, but I knew that if I wanted to be one of the top female warriors, I had to be punctual. Coach Benjamin had already been on my case about my timekeeping; if I kept being late, he would have no choice but to stop my training. No way was I letting that happen, and I wouldn't let him down. My brother, George, was away at alpha training; he would soon become the near alpha when our father stepped down. He had to train tw
It was almost lunchtime before I decided I needed to go for a run and let my wolf roam around. Jax and Kels were far too busy with their tongues down each other's throats, playing their favourite game of tonsil tennis. They were obsessed with each other; it was cute, but being like that with someone made me want to throw up in my hands and clap. I would much rather skip that part of life. My father was adamant that I would soon find my mate, and my mother was excited about throwing a grand ball. The whole thing was just a pointless load of rubbish, in my opinion. I was excited for my brother to come home from alpha training; we had always been close. I suppose that might be because he and he were close in age. Veronica was all right, but she was sometimes so whiny and irritating. For example, when my mother would try to discuss pretty dresses, I would get bored, but Veronica would squeal with excitement and overreact. She liked to be the centre of attention. “Halli
I was at a loss for words. Everyone had their eyes on me, including my mother, who looked disappointed by my lack of enthusiasm. Just moments before, she had dropped the news of a ridiculous mate ball, a place where single she-wolves could find their mates. Suddenly, my brother returned with a mate in tow and a baby on the way. He broke the awkward silence by throwing his arms around me and spewing nonsense about how much he missed me. He didn't miss us much, considering he forgot to mention his mate and child. Now, our parents would be even more pushy for me to follow in his footsteps. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves and gather my thoughts. I knew that I couldn't continue to feel resentful towards my brother, but I couldn't shake the feeling that his return would only add to the pressure I was already feeling. I decided to step back from the situation and focus on what I wanted. I knew I didn't want to be pushed into finding a mate at some silly ball, but I di
I was brimming with confidence as I prepared to showcase my abilities, my wolf eagerly anticipating the challenge. With every passing moment, I could feel the excitement building within me, urging me to push myself to the limit. I took a deep breath, my gaze fixed on the opponent before me, and reminded myself that I was ready for anything that came my way. And then, the buzzer sounded, signaling the start of the challenge, and I sprang into action with all my might. I shifted seamlessly between my human and wolf forms, my every move calculated and precise. I could feel the wind whipping past me as I charged towards my opponent, adrenaline pumping through my veins faster than my feet could move. But I was in my element, and my wolf was right there with me, every step of the way. My opponent was strong, but I was stronger. I dodged and weaved, striking with lightning-fast reflexes that left my opponent reeling. And when I finally emerged victorious, I let out a triumphant roar
When I arrived at the Garson Pack, I was thrilled to see how beautiful it was. Before me stood a magnificent forest with tall trees that seemed to reach for the sky. It was like something out of a fairy tale. When I walked into the center of the pack, I was greeted by Alpha Arnie and his wife, Luna Isabella. Alpha Arnie was a towering figure, with broad shoulders and piercing blue eyes. His wife, Luna Isabella, was breathtakingly beautiful, with long black hair that cascaded down her back in waves. They were both incredibly welcoming and showed me around the pack, introducing me to some of the other wolves. As we walked, I was struck by how friendly and welcoming everyone was. Even the youngest members of the pack, like little Peggy, were eager to say hello and make me feel at home. Peggy was a little doll, with big beautiful green eyes and pigtails tied up with pink bows. She was dressed in a pretty pink dress with white sequins all over it, and her shoes were pink with white d
I stood there, feeling all pairs of eyes on me, as if I were on display. Their gazes bore into me, waiting for my reaction. I was at a loss for words. What the hell was I meant to say? I barely knew them, and now I had just found out their son was my mate. The mate that I never wanted. All I wanted was to train and become the warrior I had always dreamt of. This was my worst nightmare come true. “Well?” My so-called mate grinned at me with his hands in his pockets, as if he knew that I was struggling. I glared at him, feeling a surge of anger and frustration. He must be so arrogant, I thought to myself. I wanted to reject him there and then, but his parents were watching me excitedly. They were obviously pleased their son had found his mate. I, on the other hand, was not pleased. I pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. It all felt so surreal. I had always heard stories about finding your mate, but I never expected it to happen to me. And now that it had, I didn't know
I'm so excited to finally start my warrior training at the Garson pack, but as soon as I wake up, I feel the weight of what happened last night. My mate is the son of the alpha and Luna, and their excitement about our match is almost too much for me to handle. I'm not sure how to feel about the situation, but I know that I can't just reject him. It would be a betrayal to the pack and to his family. I groan and throw my head back onto the pillow, wondering how I got myself into this mess. The knock on the door is loud and insistent, and I know that it's him. My wolf is going crazy, but I can't bring myself to feel the same way. I'm annoyed that he's always around, pestering me about our match. My father would be thrilled that my mate is the son of such a strong pack, and my mother would be ecstatic, but I'm not sure how to deal with these intense emotions. As I get up and get ready for the day, I can't help but feel like I'm stuck in a love triangle. I wish that I could just tal
I turned to Simone, my eyes locked on hers. "Why do they want my sister?" I asked again, my voice barely above a whisper.Simone's expression was grim. "We don't know for sure," she said. "But we need to be careful. Aurora is not someone to be underestimated. George nodded in agreement. "We'll get to the bottom of this," he said. "But first, we need to get everyone to safety. Veronica, you have to go through the portal back to Garson. Luna will be there waiting for you. I promise.” Veronica shook her head profusely. “No, I can't leave you.” she refused. Simone stepped forward, her eyes locked on my sisters. "Veronica, we need to make sure you're safe. You're the only one who can...interface with the portal. We can't risk anything happening to you."With a deep breath, I turned and pushed my sister through the portal. She fell and screamed, leaving everything behind.“I'm sorry,” I whispered and wiped a tear from my face. She would be fine, and I would see her again very soon. For no
"We need to get her back to your parents," Simone said, her voice firm. I nodded, knowing that we had to move quickly. We couldn't let our guard down even a moment, not with the threat of the unknown looming over us.As we returned to the castle, I couldn't shake the feeling we were being watched. I glanced around, my senses on high alert, but I saw nothing unusual.But as we approached the castle gates, I noticed something strange. The air seemed to be charged with an eerie energy, and I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end."Something's wrong," I whispered to Simone, my voice barely audible.Simone's eyes narrowed as she scanned the surrounding area. "I don't see anything," she said, her voice calm and reassuring.But I knew that she was wrong. I could feel it in my bones - something was off, something was wrong.And then, without warning, everything went dark.I felt myself being lifted off the ground and felt my body being pulled away from Simone, Veronica
"Who are you?" Veronica whimpered, cowering behind me as a towering, ominous figure emerged from the shadows. The man's cruel laughter cut through the tense silence like a knife."You don't remember me, little one?" he mocked his voice a sinister rasp that sent chills down my spine. The imposing silhouette stepped into the soft fairy light, revealing a gaunt, twisted face I had hoped never to see again. A sense of dread washed over me like icy tendrils - this was no mere foe but the same evil force that had held Veronica captive, the monster we had fought so desperately to defeat. He was trying to trick us into thinking it was two different people."Don't tell me your pitiful little mind has already forgotten our time together," he sneered, fixing Veronica with a predatory stare that made her tremble violently. "After all the delightful torture I put you through to break your will."White-hot rage surged through my veins. How dare this vile creature show his face here, in our sanctua
As the world around us shifted once more, the human city dissolved into nothingness, replaced by the familiar surroundings of the enchanted forest. I held on to Veronica tightly, reassuring her that we were safe, that we were going home. She was back with me now, thanks to Simone, and I swore I would never let her out of my sight again. When the swirling sensation finally subsided, we found ourselves in the heart of the enchanted forest, the soft glow of fairy lights surrounding us. Veronica and I collapsed onto the soft forest floor, panting and exhausted from our ordeal. “We did it, Veronica. We're safe now,” I whispered, grateful for the bond between us that had seen us through the darkest of times. Veronica nodded, a small smile of relief gracing her lips. “Thank you, Hallie, for coming to save me and not giving in on me. You are the best big sister. I want to see our family now and everything to be ok.” she said. Just then, Simone appeared beside us, her expression earn
My heart raced with anticipation as I stood beside Simone, deep within the heart of the enchanted forest. She held out a small vial filled with a shimmering potion. The magical elixir thrummed with energy, a potent concoction that would allow us to teleport to the human city. Simone and I locked eyes, and an enchanting aroma filled the air, intermingling with the scents of the forest. My grip on Simone's hand tightened as the world around us began to blur, reality shifting and bending to our will. I could feel a pull, an invisible force drawing me away from the safety of the enchanted forest and into the unknown. Our surroundings melted away, and in the blink of an eye, the forest gave way to the bustling streets of the human city. My senses were momentarily overwhelmed by the sights and sounds surrounding me. The human city towered before us, a sprawling metropolis filled with a vibrant blend of cultures and experiences. I took a moment to collect myself, allowing the adrenalin
I stared at Simone, disbelief and curiosity warring within me. Part of me wanted to dismiss her claims as nonsense, but a small voice inside me pleaded to listen, to consider the possibility that my father may still be alive. "What do you mean by 'forces at play'?" I finally managed to ask, my voice trembling with fear and hope. Simone's gaze intensified, her eyes locked with mine. "Hallie, there are supernatural beings, dark powers, that seek to control and manipulate. Your father stumbled upon a dangerous secret that threatened their hold on this world. He had to go into hiding to protect you and your sister. My family did what they could to help. But we will discuss this in the morning. It’s late now, and you should get some rest. Your mother and Hugh are already resting.” As much as I wanted to push for answers immediately, her suggestion to get some rest resonated with me. I knew that a clear mind would be crucial in the coming days. Nodding reluctantly, I mustered a s
Reluctantly, my mother sank back into her seat, her hands trembling with grief. "Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Just... find her, please." Tears streamed down her face as she reluctantly accepted the harsh reality of the situation.As we drove further away, leaving behind the familiar and venturing into the unknown, I couldn't help but wonder what awaited us at our destination. Would it be a place of safety and solace, or would it be filled with more danger and uncertainty? Either way, I was prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead.“We need to find your sister, Hallie; Veronica is alone. Goddess knows what could’ve happened to her.” My mother said. “Luna Harriet, I will do everything in my power to find Veronica and put things right but for now, your and Hallie's safety is my number one priority, please trust me,” Hugh promised her before I could even think of a response. Soon, we were pulling up outside a small castle that probably looked beautiful once upo
Reluctantly, I climbed into the car, my every muscle tense with defiance. Gritting my teeth, I couldn't help but feel a surge of frustration and anger at being kept at arm's length, robbed of the opportunity to fight for my family and uncover the truth. Thoughts of my father and sister's safety raced through my mind, fueling my determination to find them. As the car accelerated, leaving the chaos behind, I stared out the window, frustration simmering. The faces of our pack, once so familiar, began to fade into the distance. Though they believed they were acting in our best interest, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being denied the chance to play an active role in rescuing my loved ones and unravelling the mystery. Amidst the heavy silence, Jax's voice broke through my thoughts and echoed in my mind as he linked me... "We will find a way to fix this, Hallie," he assured me. "We won't rest until we've brought your father and sister back to safety." I shut off the Mindlink,
"Get off my father, you deranged, psychopathic bitch!" Grace's thunderous roar echoed through the air as she lunged in front of me. However, I deftly seized her and pulled her back. "What on earth are you doing, you reckless fool?" she scowled at me while I firmly restrained her, paying no heed to her furious screams. Jerod, blood dripping from his wounds, struggled against my mother's fierce attack. But she held him down, preventing him from causing any further harm. Her eyes bore into his, filled with anger and disappointment. "Your deceit ends here, Jerod," my mother's voice resonated with authority. "Your actions have put this pack at risk, and you will face the consequences." she shoved him to the wall and quickly shifted back into her human form. “Hallie, I am so sorry that I wasn't here. I will explain everything.” my mother turned to me and said. “Luna Harriet. Your mate is just as much to blame. Silly shewolf.” Jerod chuckled. “Come on. This is not the way.