Alison's Point Of ViewI was surrounded by shadows, the dense woods stretching endlessly around me. The towering trees swayed ominously, their skeletal branches reaching out as though trying to ensnare me. The air was thick, suffocating, and a faint rustling echoed in the distance. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, loud and fast, as if my body instinctively knew something I didn’t.I turned in every direction, but I saw no one. Yet, I could feel the presence, someone or something was watching me. My voice wavered as I called out, "Who’s there?"For a moment, silence answered me. Then, a low, melodic voice, dripping with authority, came from behind. "Look behind you."I froze, every hair on my body standing on end. Slowly, I turned, my breath catching in my throat. Standing before me was a woman unlike anyone I’d ever seen. She was radiant yet terrifying, her white cloak shimmering faintly as though it was made of moonlight itself. The hood rested loosely over her head, but it co
Xander's Point Of ViewThe faint glow of dawn bled through the tall windows of my office, casting long shadows across the room. I sat at the head of the table, gripping the armrest of my chair as the pack elders murmured among themselves. The tension in the air was almost suffocating, their voices tinged with frustration and fear.The clock on the wall ticked relentlessly, a harsh reminder of time slipping away. It was barely 6 a.m., yet the weight of the day already pressed heavily on my shoulders.Elder Arthur, the eldest among them, cleared his throat and leaned forward. “Alpha Xander, with all due respect, has the Luna offered any guidance? It is believed she possesses visions. Surely, she must have seen something by now?”I suppressed a growl at his tone, even though he had a point. Arthur’s distrust of Alison right from the start was as thinly veiled as the morning mist, but he knew better than to openly voice it.I met his gaze, my voice even but firm. “My Luna actually h
Alison's Point Of ViewThe landscape of Crimson Pack stretched before me, but it was nothing like I remembered. As the car bumped along the uneven road, I stared out the window, trying to reconcile the lively place I once came to call home with the desolation that now greeted me. The streets were eerily quiet, the bustling squares I used to love reduced to barren stretches. Shops stood half-empty, and the market stalls sagged under the weight of neglect. The vibrant pulse of life had dimmed, leaving behind a haunting stillness.A knot tightened in my stomach. What the hell had happened here?The driver, one of Xander’s guards, glanced at me in the rearview mirror. His tense expression mirrored my own unease, but neither of us spoke. Words felt inadequate in the face of this oppressive gloom.When we reached the gates of my father’s castle, the guards stepped forward, their eyes narrowing as they scrutinized the car. One of them approached the window, his hand resting on the hilt
Alison’s Point Of ViewThe moment my eyes had landed on Simone, something inside me broke free. Relief, fear, and hope all collided, pushing me to my feet as I rushed toward her. Before I could stop myself, I threw my arms around her, holding her tight as if letting go would mean losing her again.“I missed you,” I whispered, my voice trembling.Simone’s arms wrapped around me, her embrace just as firm. “I missed you too,” she said softly, her voice laced with warmth and exhaustion.When we pulled apart, her sharp eyes searched mine. “You’ve been through alot for you to have returned for me, haven’t you?”I let out a shaky laugh. “You have no idea. But we don’t have time for that now. There’s a bigger problem we need to solve.”Simone’s expression shifted, her smile fading into a look of quiet understanding. “I know, we need to get to it.”Without another word, I turned to my mother “Excuse us mother” she nodded and I took that as permission grantedI led her upstairs to my r
Alison’s Point Of ViewI paced the room like a caged animal, my mind spinning in a thousand directions. My heart pounded relentlessly against my ribs, and I could barely keep my hands from trembling. Every step I took across the wooden floor felt like I was trying to outrun the image of Priya’s monstrous face.She was dead. Priya had been dead for over a year. I’d witnessed her death at the hands of Xander, I saw the council guards take away her body. So, how in the hell was she alive or worse, something more terrifying than alive?Simone sat on the edge of my bed, her brow furrowed in deep thought. Her presence, usually so grounding, only added to the thick fog of unease in the room. “This is obviously dark magic,” she finally said, her voice low and grim.I stopped pacing and turned to face her, the disbelief clear in my expression. “Dark magic? That doesn’t make any sense, Simone. Priya was one of my kind. She had no magic in her blood. How could this happen?”Simone lifted h
Alison’s Point Of ViewThe scenery felt too vivid, too real, to dismiss. I was standing in my room, shrouded in darkness. My heart raced as my eyes landed on Xander lying in his bed across the room. At first, I felt relief seeing him there, whole and alive but that feeling shattered as he began to writhe in agony.“Xander!” I tried to scream, but my voice was nothing more than a muffled whimper. I tried again, louder this time, but it was as if the air itself swallowed my cries. Panic surged through me as I watched him twist and turn, his body contorting unnaturally.His bones cracked loudly, echoing in the silent room like the sound of a tree being split apart by lightning. Shifting was supposed to be effortless for an Alpha, almost second nature. But this… this looked like pure torture. I stood frozen, tears streaming down my face as I watched him fight against some unseen force, his agony painted across his face.I reached out, desperate to touch him, to do anything to stop hi
Alison’s Point Of ViewI didn’t sleep all night long. How could I? Every minute that passed without hearing Xander’s voice or connecting to him from our mate link gnawed at me like a ravenous beast. The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon, painting the room in shades of orange and pink, but the beauty of the dawn was lost on me. My phone sat on the nightstand, mocking me with its silence.I dialed his number again, pressing the phone so hard to my ear it hurt. Ring… voicemail. The robotic voice felt like a slap in the face.“Damn it, Xander!” I shouted, throwing the phone onto the bed. Tears blurred my vision as I paced the room, my mind spiraling. Where was he? Why wasn’t he answering?“Okay, think, Alison,” I whispered to myself, running my hands through my hair. “There has to be someone who knows something.” That’s when it hit me. Katherine. She would know. She always did.I grabbed my phone and dialed her number, my hands trembling. She picked up on the second ri
Alison’s Point Of ViewThe air outside Simone’s house was different today, charged, heavy, as if the universe itself held its breath. I stood frozen on the porch, the hair on my arms prickling. There was a strange energy, like a quiet warning that something unnatural lingered here.I hesitated before calling out, my voice trembling slightly. “Simone?”Silence. Not even the chirping of crickets answered me.A knot of dread tightened in my stomach. “Simone!” I called again, louder this time. Still nothing. My feet moved on their own as I pushed the door open, the creak of the hinges breaking the eerie stillness.Inside, the house was dark, but not just the absence-of-light kind of dark, this was deeper, heavier, as though the shadows were alive and watching me. My heart pounded as I stepped further in, the floorboards groaning under my weight.“Simone, where are you?” I whispered, my voice barely above a breath.The sitting room came into view, and that’s when I saw it. Markings
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