Alison's POV The first thing I noticed was the noise. It wasn’t the hum of machinery or the muted sounds of nature outside my window... it was voices. A cacophony of them. They overlapped and twisted together like a symphony gone wrong. Some were angry, others were mournful, and a few were so quiet they seemed to whisper secrets just out of reach. The more I tried to tune them out, the louder they grew, crashing against each other in a storm of unintelligible words and emotions. My body felt heavy as I stirred. I wasn’t fully awake yet, but the voices… they wouldn’t let me slip back into the comforting darkness. “Why did this happen to her?” “I’ll kill anyone who touches her.” “She’ll be fine… won’t she?” Who did these voices belong to? Why did they sound so close yet so far? My heart raced as panic gripped me. My eyelids fluttered, and I forced them open, the brightness of the room blinding me momentarily. I blinked rapidly, and when my vision cleared, I saw them. Xander sat
Alison's POVThe room was quiet, except for the gentle hum of the wind outside. Quiet, but far from calm.I sat cross-legged on the floor, my hands gripping the edges of a woven mat as if holding on to it would somehow anchor me. Simone sat across from me, serene and unbothered, as though my chaos didn’t rattle her in the slightest. Her cane rested beside her, and her unseeing eyes stared past me into the void.“Close your eyes, Ally,” she said, her voice low and steady. “You need to focus on the silence within.”Silence within? It was almost laughable. How could I find silence when a thousand voices still clawed at my sanity? One voice was angry, another mournful, and then there was the constant hum of mundane thoughts that belonged to people I couldn’t even see.“I can’t do this,” I muttered, opening my eyes. My fingers tightened around the mat, and frustration built in my chest like a pressure cooker. “It’s too much. I can’t focus on anything because there’s no silence.”Simone til
Alison's POVThe cool morning air was deceivingly calm, like the deceptive silence before a storm. I stood outside by the car, my fingers tracing the faint edges of the Alpha crest on the vehicle’s door as I waited for my father. My heart was a riot of conflicting emotions, dread, anger, and, strangely enough, a flicker of hope that today would bring closure. The air carried muted whispers of thoughts, scattered like faint echoes in a vast canyon, and I couldn't help but tune in to the mental noise around me. It was second nature now.The guard beside me shuffled uncomfortably. His thoughts were embarrassingly vivid... practically undressing one of the staff members who had just passed by. His internal monologue was a colorful cocktail of infatuation and lust. I couldn't suppress the smirk that spread across my face."You know," I said, my voice cutting through the tension like a blade, "it’d be less creepy if you just told her how you feel instead of stripping her down in your mind."
Alison's POVThe stench of blood lingered in the crisp evening air, heavy and suffocating. My breaths came in shallow gasps as I leaned against the car, my stomach still churning from what I’d just witnessed. Priya’s mangled, lifeless body was a sight I couldn’t erase, no matter how hard I tried. My fingers trembled as they clutched the edge of the car door, grounding myself against the tidal wave of nausea threatening to overwhelm me again.“Alison?”Xander’s voice snapped me out of my daze. I turned to see him striding toward me, his face lined with concern. His clothes were fresh, a stark contrast to the bloodstained ones he had worn during the fight. Yet, the raw ferocity of his wolf still lingered in his eyes.“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice softer now as he stopped inches away. His gaze searched mine, desperate for an answer.I nodded, though I wasn’t sure if I was lying to him or myself. “I’m fine,” I whispered, my voice hoarse.He frowned, not convinced. “Alison, I... ” He
Alison's POV The wind carried a melancholic tune through the castle courtyard, its hum blending with the rustling leaves. I sat on the worn stone bench, fingers tracing the intricate carvings on its edge. The world around me seemed at peace, but my mind was a storm. The hum of the wind was a cruel reminder of how far I had come, and yet how uncertain the path ahead still seemed. I closed my eyes, allowing the memories to wash over me. Once, I had been nothing but a lowly slave, discarded and mistreated by the Silver Moon Pack. Their Alpha, Kendrick, had rejected me without hesitation, casting me aside as though I was worth nothing more than dirt beneath his boots. “You’ll never be good enough for anyone” Priya’s venomous voice echoed in my mind, a ghost that refused to be silenced. “Look at you,” Caitlyn had sneered. “You think Xander would keep a common girl like you for long?.” The words felt like daggers, lodged deep within my soul, wounds that even time couldn’t fully
Alison’s POV The walls of the Crimson archive room loomed around me, their towering shelves packed with ancient tomes that seemed to hold the weight of the world. I leaned back in the creaking chair, my fingers brushing over the worn leather of a centuries-old book. My eyes burned from the strain of scanning text that had faded over time. But I couldn’t stop. I wouldn’t stop. Somewhere in these archives, there had to be a solution.. something, anything to stop the looming threat of war. Xander had called again this morning. His voice, usually a balm to my frayed nerves, had only grated against my current mood. "Alison, you're shutting me out," he'd said, the concern in his tone sharp as a dagger. "I'm not," I’d replied curtly. "I'm just... busy." "You’ve been busy for days. Anything you might like to share with me?." I’d sighed, fighting the guilt that tugged at my chest. "I know you care about me, but it's nothing that should worry you, I just have a lot to finish up."
Alison's POVThe silence of the main hall was pretty much deceptive, almost mocking. The weight of my vision still hung heavy in my chest, like a storm cloud waiting to burst. Every step echoed sharply as I approached my father’s study, my resolve strengthening with every beat of my heart.The vision had been vividly clear, too vivid to ignore. I could still hear the voice of the messenger speaking to me, feel the power in the air as it commanded me to find the Crimson Vault. If this vault truly held the key to ending Alpha Cedric’s threats, I had no choice but to pursue it.Still, doubt gnawed at the edges of my determination. Was I chasing shadows? Or was this the very path I was destined to tread?I paused outside the study door, gripping the handle, my knuckles whitening. What if he denies its existence altogether? I swallowed hard, ignoring the tremor in my hand, and pushed the door open.My father looked up from behind his mahogany desk, his piercing eyes narrowing as he saw me
Alison's POVThe air was thick with tension as I paced Simone’s hut, the soft flicker of candlelight casting elongated shadows against the walls. Every creak of the old wooden floor seemed louder than it should have been, each sound feeding my already frayed nerves. Simone sat at the corner table, her milky eyes staring into a void only she could see, her hands delicately tracing the edges of an old, yellowed map.“You’re wearing a hole into the floor,” she finally said, her voice calm but with an edge of amusement.I stopped mid-stride, folding my arms across my chest. “How can you be so calm? The Crimson Vault could be anywhere in this entire territory, and we have no idea where to start.”Simone’s lips curved into a faint smile as she tilted her head in my direction. “Because panicking won’t bring us any closer to finding it. Sit down, Alison. Your restless energy is suffocating.”Reluctantly, I dropped into a chair opposite her, the legs scraping against the wooden floor. Simone r
Xander’s POVThe letter burned in my hands…figuratively, but the weight of it felt heavy enough to leave scorch marks. Kendrick’s insignia glared up at me like a personal challenge, the sharp, black ink practically taunting me to make the first move.“No.”The word cut through the thick silence in the room. Alison stood near the window, sunlight painting golden streaks across her dark hair, but even the soft morning glow couldn’t soften the sharp edge in her eyes.“Xander…” she started, her voice calm but laced with determination.“I said no.” I crumpled the letter in my fist, jaw tight, the rage bubbling just beneath my skin. “It’s a damn trap, Alison. You know it, I know it… hell, Simone knows it.”Simone didn’t argue any further. She sat cross-legged on the armrest of the couch, but her gaze flicked between us, calculating.Alison pushed off the windowsill and stepped toward me, her bare feet nearly silent against the hardwood floor. “It’s not a trap. He wouldn’t have sent a letter
Alison’s POVThe soft morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, wrapping the room in a golden haze. I stirred, warmth still lingering in my chest from the night before. My body ached in the best possible way… a sweet, heavy soreness that made me want to stay tangled in these sheets forever.I shifted slightly, my bare skin brushing against his, and I smiled. Xander’s arm was draped lazily over my waist, his breathing deep and even, his chest rising and falling against my back. I tried to ease away, careful not to wake him, but his grip tightened like steel.“Where do you think you’re sneaking off to?” His voice was husky, low, that perfect mix of groggy and dangerous.I laughed softly, feeling the vibrations of his words against my spine. “I wasn’t sneaking. I was just… ”“Don’t lie to me my love,” he cut in, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “You were absolutely sneaking.”I tilted my head back, still caught in his hold. “Maybe I was. But someone has to be productive ar
Alison’s POVThe cold night air bit into my skin as I stepped outside, the faint scent of pine lingering in the breeze. Each step felt heavier than the last, my body still drained, my muscles aching from the transformation. But none of that compared to the hollow ache in my chest.Xander stood a few feet away, his broad shoulders tense, the moonlight painting silver streaks across his dark hair. He didn’t move. Didn’t turn. Just stood there, staring at the sky as though it held all the answers he couldn’t find.I wanted to say something…anything but the words twisted in my throat.“Xander,” I finally managed, my voice soft and strained.No response.My heart thudded painfully. I took another shaky step forward, my bare feet brushing over the cool grass, and before I could overthink it, I slipped my arms around his waist from behind. His body stiffened under my touch, hard lines of tension locking into place.I laid my cheek against his back, my pulse thudding in my ears.“I’m sorry, m
Xander’s POV"You really think you can just… what? Nearly die and then brush it off like it’s nothing?"The words tear out of me before I can stop them, bouncing off the walls with more force than I intended. I don’t care.Alison’s lying in bed, her skin pale against the dark sheets, shadows clinging beneath her eyes. She looks fragile… too fragile. But even now, with barely enough strength to sit up, she’s staring at me like I’m the one being unreasonable.“Xander, please…” Her voice is soft, strained, but it still digs under my skin.I can’t sit. I can’t even stand still.Instead, I pace the room, each step heavy, the frustration clawing at me like wildfire. My hands are fists at my sides, knuckles white, the air thick with everything I want to say but can’t figure out how to.“Don’t please me, Alison,” I snap, stopping short of the bed. My heart’s racing too fast, chest tight like it’s about to crack open. “You almost died. Do you get that? Do you even realize what the hell you did
Alison’s POV "Don’t move, sweetheart! Just… just breathe." My mom’s voice cut through the heavy fog in my mind, soft but laced with panic. My eyelids fluttered open, and a sharp ache shot through my skull as the room’s dim light hit me. Every inch of my body felt heavy, like I’d been run over, twice. Then the flashbacks slammed into me with full force. The shift. The raw power tearing through my body. Bones snapping and reforming. Silver light. Kendrick’s face twisted in a sneer. The blood. The pain. A groan clawed its way out of my throat as I clutched my head. A wave of pain bloomed behind my eyes. “Maureen!” my mom cried out, her hands catching mine, pulling them gently away from my head. “Don’t move, baby. You’re safe now.” Her face swam into focus, she looked teary, worried, her features creased in panic. My mother. Standing right there. “Mom?” I rasped. My voice felt like it had been dragged across broken glass. “Oh, thank the goddess,” she whispered, cupping my cheek.
Xander’s POVThe acrid scent of blood and burning wood filled the air, a grim reminder of the battle we had just survived. The Ancient Rogue City lay behind us, its silence far more unsettling than the chaos that had erupted just moments ago. The weight of what had happened pressed against my chest, but there was no time to reflect. We had to leave now.Simone stepped forward, her hands glowing faintly as she conjured a shimmering veil of energy around us. “This should keep us hidden long enough to escape the rogue warriors hunting us down,” she murmured, her voice laced with exhaustion. Sweat clung to her brow, but she pushed forward without complaint.Alison, however, was another story. She was barely standing, her body trembling from the aftermath of her first shift. Her silver-white fur shimmered under the moonlight, a sight both mesmerizing and concerning. She had unlocked something ancient, something powerful but right now, she was weak, her strength flickering like a dying
Alison’s POV The world around me exploded in a flash of silver-white light, my senses sharpening to a degree I’d never experienced before. The smell of blood, sweat, and earth filled the air like a tidal wave crashing over me. The ground beneath my paws felt alive, pulsing with energy, every vibration humming through my body. My bones ached as they shifted, but the pain was nothing compared to the power that surged through me. I could feel everything. The weight of the air. The pressure in my lungs. The pulse of the earth beneath me. Every footstep, every breath of Kendrick, every heartbeat in the room, it was like the world had slowed, and I was the center of it all. "Impossible…" Kendrick's voice echoed around the room, laced with disbelief and anger. I didn’t need to look at him to feel the fury radiating from his every cell. He was terrified. But so was I, though I couldn’t fully comprehend why. The connection to Xander flared again.. warmth, light, his energy coursing thr
Xander’s POV"Don’t you dare fucking touch her!" I bellowed, my heart hammering against my chest as I tore through the throng of Kendrick’s warriors. Every step I took felt like a war between my body and my soul. Their stench, sweat, blood, and rogue filth clung to the air, but none of it mattered. Nothing mattered but her.Simone moved beside me, her magic flashing like brilliant streaks of light, incapacitating rogues as we cut a path toward Alison. "I’m holding them off, but we’re running out of time!" she shouted, her eyes flicking toward the throne where Kendrick stood, watching with an evil grin curling on his lips.The scent of her, Alison grew stronger as we moved closer, but it was marred with fear, agony. And something darker. I could feel it, feel her slipping away from me, piece by piece. My chest tightened, the bond between us stretching thinner with each agonizing step.No. No, no, no.I shoved through another rogue who dared to block my way, ignoring the sting of
Alison’s POVThe cold stone beneath my bare feet sent a shiver up my spine as I was dragged through the dimly lit corridors. My wrists ached from the tight grip of Kendrick’s men, their fingers like iron clamps around my skin. No matter how hard I struggled, how much I kicked and twisted, they didn’t loosen their hold."Let go of me, you bastards!" I hissed, my voice raw with defiance.One of them yanked me forward, making me stumble. "Save your energy, girl," he sneered. "You’ll need it for what’s coming."A sharp burst of fear tightened around my chest, but I refused to let it show. I lifted my chin, forcing steel into my voice. "If you think I’m going down without a fight, you don’t know me at all."The rogue to my left let out a low chuckle. "That’s what they all say before they break."They shoved me forward through a set of massive double doors, and my breath hitched as the throne room came into view.It was nothing like Xander’s grand hall, this was a place of nightmare