Xander’s Point Of ViewI was trapped, sinking deeper into the pit, my claws scraping against the unyielding walls as my wolf snarled within me, desperate for release. The darkness around me felt alive, constricting, pulling me under. My voice was raw from screaming, but I couldn’t stop. “Help me!” I yelled, the sound echoing back like a cruel taunt.Then I saw someone, a figure at the top of the hole. “Please,” I begged, my voice trembling. “Help me out of here.”The figure moved closer, and as the light hit their face, my stomach dropped. Priya.Her once-familiar features were distorted, unrecognizable. Her eyes glowed blood-red, her lips twisted in a venomous grin. Hate radiated from her, suffocating me.“You’ll never escape my clutch,” she hissed, her voice a guttural growl that reverberated in my chest.“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “You’re dead. You’re gone!”Her laughter was sharp, cutting through my protests. The air grew heavier, my wolf thrashing violently insid
Alison’s POVThe room smelled of old paper and burning sage. Simone sat cross-legged on the rug, her sharp gaze focused on the map stretched out between us. I leaned over, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air as I tried to make sense of what she was saying."This," Simone said, her finger tapping the center of the map, "is the Valley of Skulls."I swallowed hard, my eyes following the lines of the map that led to a jagged cluster of markings. The name alone was ominous, but the energy emanating from the map made my stomach churn.Simone continued, her voice steady but laced with urgency. “It’s the ancient home of witches. Deep in its caves lives a powerful ancestral witch, bound to eternity and said to hold the answers we need.”My breath caught. “How do you know this witch even exists? And how do you know she has the answers?”Simone looked up, her expression unreadable for a moment before she said, “I had a vision. It was clear as day. I saw the Valley of Skulls
Alison’s POV The morning sun streamed through my window, casting a golden glow across the room. It felt deceptive, too peaceful for the storm brewing within me. As I shoved a few water bottles and protein bars into my backpack, Simone paced behind me, her anxiety palpable. “Are you sure about this, Alison?” she asked, her voice hushed but urgent. “Your father was pretty clear.” I zipped up the bag with more force than necessary, the sound breaking the heavy silence. “Clear or not, we’re going. Xander’s running out of time, and I won’t sit here while there’s still hope.” Simone didn’t argue. She knew better than to try. Instead, she grabbed her own bag and nodded. “Let’s get this over with.” We slipped out of my room and down the hallway, the familiar creak of the wooden floorboards beneath my feet grounding me for a moment. As we reached the front door, I allowed myself a brief flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, we’d make it out without any more obstacles. But fate, as us
Alison’s POV“What do you mean by ‘take me back’?” I asked again this time with furySlowly, he exhaled, sinking back into his chair as though the weight of his own secrets had finally crushed him.I watched him clap his hands over his head, his fingers threading through his hair, and I realized with a jolt that he looked… defeated. My father, the unshakable Alpha of the Crimson Pack, was utterly lost. But I wasn’t about to let his silence fill the room like a suffocating fog.“Are you going to say something,” I snapped, my voice rising, “or do I have to go seek answers for myself on this too?”His head jerked up, his eyes meeting mine. They were no longer cold and unyielding but filled with something I hadn’t seen in a while, guilt.“Alison…” he began, his voice raw, as if the words were being torn from him. “I didn’t mean for you to find out like this.”I folded my arms, anger boiling beneath my skin. “Well, too late for that. Spill it, Father. What aren’t you telling me?”
Alison’s POV"So this is it," I whispered to myself as the pieces clicked into place. My powers, my inability to transform, the whispers of destiny that had always haunted me, it all made sense now.I wasn’t just another wolf. I was something… other. Something created to fulfill a purpose I didn’t choose, a sacrifice waiting to be claimed.The weight of realization pressed down on me, suffocating yet igniting a fire in my chest. I paced my room, my mind spinning like a tornado, tearing through everything I thought I knew.This curse, the one that had plagued our kind existed because the coven wanted me back. And now, if I didn’t go, it wouldn’t just destroy me. It would destroy everyone.Xander’s face flashed in my mind. His agonizing struggles, the pain etched into his every movement, the way his life seemed to drain more every day. If I stayed, I’d be choosing myself over him, over my people. I’d be dooming them all.But could I do it? Could I walk into the Valley of Skulls k
Xander’s POVIt started as a haze, a swirl of colors blending into a landscape I didn’t recognize. But then it sharpened, clear as day, into a scene so vivid it could’ve been real. I stood on the edge of a vast cliff, my heart pounding as I watched Alison locked in battle with an old woman.The woman’s wrists glowed with an unnatural light, pulsating with power that made the air crackle around her. Alison, fierce and unrelenting, fought back with everything she had. Her movements were swift, her determination etched into every line of her face. But no matter how hard she tried alongside the strength of her wolf, it felt like the woman was toying with her, holding back just enough to show her dominance.I screamed her name, my voice hoarse with desperation. “Alison! Get out of there!”But my feet were rooted to the ground. I couldn’t move, couldn’t help her. All I could do was watch in helpless agony as the battle raged on.“You cannot escape your destiny,” the old woman’s voice
Alison's POVThe car came to a halt with a jarring lurch, shaking me out of my thoughts. The driver’s voice broke the heavy silence. “Here we are, Luna.”I stared out the window at the desolate expanse before us. The Valley of Skulls. Its name alone sent shivers down my spine, and now, seeing it in person, it felt even worse. The place was barren, lifeless, as though even the wind had abandoned it.Simone and I stepped out of the car, the crunch of gravel beneath our boots the only sound. The driver stayed put, his fingers drumming nervously on the steering wheel. I turned to him, my voice steady despite the rising dread in my chest. “Wait here. We’ll be back.”He nodded but didn’t look me in the eye. His tension only added to the weight pressing down on me.“Where do we even begin?” I muttered, turning to Simone as she rummaged through her bag.She pulled out a worn map, its edges frayed from use. After studying it for a moment, she pointed toward a narrow, overgrown path. “Th
Alison's POV“Who are you?” My voice wavered despite my best effort to sound confident. The fear gripping my heart was like a vice, squeezing tighter with every passing second. I clenched my fists at my sides, willing myself to hold my ground.The woman standing before me, her dark eyes sharp and unrelenting, finally spoke. “I am Hayley,” she said, her voice calm yet laced with authority. “And this is Maliya.” She gestured to the woman behind us, who seemed even more formidable, her piercing gaze cutting through me like a blade.Maliya took a step closer, and the air around her felt heavy, suffocating. “We are the guardians of the cave,” she said, her tone icy. “The enchantment that kept you wandering in circles? That was our doing. Now, who are you, and why are you here?”Simone shifted beside me, her expression resolute despite the tension crackling in the air. She stepped forward and spoke firmly, “I am Simone, guardian of the Crimson Pack.”The two women exchanged a glance,
Alison's POVThe morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine through the open window. I lay still, cocooned in the warmth of Xander’s arms, my body aching in the most satisfying way. Last night, he had loved me with a desperation that spoke of his fears, his need to reassure himself that I was still here, still his. He had traced his mark on my neck with his lips, whispering promises of forever even as we lost ourselves in the fire that always burned between us.But now, reality has come crashing back.I turned slightly in his embrace, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. For a moment, I let myself imagine a different life, one where we weren’t constantly fighting, where we could wake up tangled in each other every morning without the weight of war on our shoulders. But I knew better than to entertain such fantasies. Our reality was far from peaceful. And today, we were walking straight into the heart of darkness.Xander stirred, pressing his lips to my
Alison's POVThe room was bathed in the soft glow of early morning light filtering through the curtains. For the first time in weeks, I had no training, no battle to prepare for, no prophecy to decipher. It was just me and Xander, tangled in the sheets, cocooned in the warmth of each other’s embrace. His arm was wrapped tightly around my waist, his breath a steady rhythm against my neck.“I can’t wait for this to be over,” Xander murmured against my skin, his voice husky with sleep. “So we can finally have our lives back.”I turned in his arms, trailing my fingers over his jawline. “I miss you,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “I miss your scent. Your touch. Your kisses.”A deep growl rumbled in his chest, his dark eyes blazing as he pulled me flush against him. “Then let me remind you.”His lips crashed into mine, hungry and demanding, igniting a fire deep within me. The kiss was rough, desperate, an unspoken promise of what was to come. His hands roamed my body, fingers
Xander's POVThe training grounds came clearly into view as I stood by the edge of the gates. I watched Alison move with an eerie grace, her body a blur as she dodged and countered, each motion precise, calculated. But I knew she was pushing herself too hard. The Alison I had brought to Night Fang was calm, quiet and could barely defend herself. Not to sound horrible but I love that she could stand for herself but this burden? It was too much on her and my heart bled looking at her pushing herself beyond limits. Then I saw her lose grip and stumble back. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay still. My wolf raged within me, demanding that I intervene, that I catch her before she hit the ground again. It felt the pain I felt at the sight before meWhen she hit the ground I growled inwardly. The impact sent a tremor through the earth, but Alison was up before the dust settled, her breathing ragged yet determined. She was relentless. The prophecy had made sure of that. The fate o
Alison’s POV"We can't afford to waste time," Simone’s voice crackled through the conference call. "The Blood Moon is coming, and if the prophecy is true, we're already running out of time."I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to suppress the tension building in my chest. "I know," I admitted. "But we can’t go in blind. There has to be a way to stop the witch before she gains full power."Xander sat beside me, his arms crossed, his sharp gaze fixed on the laptop screen where Simone’s worried face stared back at us. His presence was a grounding force, but even he couldn’t deny the heavy uncertainty hanging over us.Simone exhaled deeply. "I've been digging through every ancient text I could find. If she’s trying to sever mate bonds permanently, then she needs a ritual of unprecedented power, something connected to the Blood Moon itself."I felt a chill run down my spine. "You think she plans to tap into the Moon Goddess’s energy?"Simone nodded gravely. "It's the only thing strong
Simone’s POVA shiver traced down my spine before I even opened my eyes.Something was wrong. I felt an unwanted presence.The air felt thick, heavy with something unseen, something ancient. My heart pounded as I forced myself to sit up, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps. I wasn’t in my room anymore. I wasn’t anywhere real.The world around me was shifting violently.. black mist rolling like storm clouds, the sky bleeding into deep, unnatural shades of red. The ground beneath me cracked, jagged like something had torn through it.Then, I saw her.The same cloaked figure Alison had described to me few days ago, standing beneath the looming Blood Moon.The witch lifted her arms, her voice ringing out in a chant that I couldn’t understand, but somehow, felt in my bones. It was dark magic, something twisted and unnatural, seeping into the air like poison.I tried to move. Tried to speak. But my body refused to obey.And then the pain hit the Wolves lurking around under the red moo
Alison’s POVThe dream started like a whisper, a fleeting sensation of something pulling me into a realm between sleep and wakefulness.Then, the darkness gave way to a vision.Mother Eliza stood in her glory before me, her aged figure framed by an eerie silver glow. The old witch had always been mighty to behold… FoFor now she was ither an enemy nor an ally, just a powerful figure that had a hand in my existence in the shadows of fate. But tonight, there was something different in her stance, when I had seen her in her abode she looked calm, calculated and without a fear. But now she looked… in a hurry, like what she had to say was something urgent yet hot to voice out.Her deep-sitted eyes locked onto mine, and when she spoke, her voice was like wind rustling through dead leaves."Alison! This fight isn’t over! You are resting while she plots more evil.!"I felt my stomach drop."The balance between wolves and witches is at stake."The words wrapped around me, suffocating, their wei
Xander’s POVThe first thing I noticed when we stepped back into Crimson Pack territory was the air.It was different. Lighter. Cleaner. Gone was the heavy, suffocating pressure that had lingered like a noose around this place. The sickness, the darkness, the rot.. it was gone.The second thing I noticed was the people.Wolves rushed from their homes, from the infirmaries where they had been bedridden, from the training grounds where they had once been too weak to fight. Their faces, drawn and gaunt from weeks of suffering, now glowed with something I hadn’t seen in a long time. Hope.A murmur rippled through the crowd, then a roar."It’s over!""The curse is broken!""We’re free!"The entire pack erupted. Some fell to their knees in exhausted relief. Others clung to their loved ones, sobbing openly. Warriors lifted their heads to the sky and howled—a deep, guttural sound that echoed through the land.Alison’s fingers tightened around mine, her nails digging into my palm. I turned to
Alison’s POV The ruins of SilverMoon were eerily silent, except for the ragged breaths of the three of us as we staggered toward Kendrick’s crumpled form. The air was thick with the scent of blood, dust, and death. My heart pounded in my chest as I pushed past the shock, my legs carrying me forward on instinct alone. Kendrick lay there, his body broken, his breathing shallow. But his eyes… those piercing green eyes… still held life. Just barely. “No, no, no,” I whispered, my voice cracking as I dropped to my knees beside him. Simone knelt next to me, her hands trembling. Xander, breathless and still staggering from the fight, crouched beside Kendrick, his jaw clenched so tightly I thought it might snap. Kendrick’s lips curved into a weak smile. “We did it,” he rasped, his voice barely a whisper. Tears burned in my eyes. “Don’t do this, Kendrick. You’re going to be fine. We… we can find you a good healer in Xander's pack. There has to be someone who can help.” My voice was franti
Alison’s POVPain. It was sharp, searing, and all-consuming.I barely registered the sound of my own scream as my wolf form collapsed onto the cold, hard ground, my leg pulsing with agony from where Priya’s blade had torn into me. My body trembled violently, the silver of my fur now stained with crimson.“Alison!” Xander’s desperate voice echoed through the ruins, panic laced in every syllable.I forced myself to lift my head, but my vision blurred. Through the haze of pain, I saw Priya, her twisted smile sending a chill down my spine.She wasn’t done.Her lips moved swiftly, chanting, her voice dripping with venom as she sent a surge of dark magic toward me.A force so powerful rushed at me that my breath hitched, this was meant to end me.But before it could, Simone stepped forward.“No, you don’t!” she hissed, raising her hands.A surge of bright light erupted from her fingertips, colliding with Priya’s dark spell mid-air. The impact sent a wave of force rippling through the ruins,