I knocked softly on the door, straining my enhanced senses for any sign of danger. Nothing seemed amiss—just the normal sounds of a forest morning and Bella's light footsteps approaching the door.It opened a crack, and her surprised face appeared in the gap. "Stella? What are you doing here? We said noon.""We need to talk. Now," I said urgently. "Can I come in?"She glanced past me, spotting Silas at the edge of the clearing. Her eyes widened, but she stepped back, opening the door fully. "Yes, of course."I entered quickly, Silas following moments later. The cabin's interior was simple but cozy—a small living area with worn but clean furniture, a kitchen to one side, and doors leading to what I assumed were a bedroom and bathroom."What's happening?" Bella asked, her hand moving protectively to her swollen belly. "Is something wrong?"I surveyed the cabin, checking for any signs of intrusion or surveillance. "Is there somewhere we can talk privately? Somewhere that can't be overhea
I froze, all senses instantly alert. The wind had shifted, now blowing from behind us, which meant we couldn't catch approaching scents. I tilted my head, listening intently.Another snap, closer this time. And another."Someone's coming," I whispered to Bella, pulling her to her feet. "Multiple someones, circling us."Her eyes widened in fear. I pushed her toward Silas, drawing my hidden knife."Get her out of here," I ordered him. "I'll hold them off."Silas's expression hardened. "I'm not leaving you to face them alone.""This isn't a debate," I snapped. "Bella and her baby are the priority. Go."Before he could argue further, three figures burst into the small clearing—Aaron, Marcus, and Jacob, their faces contorted with rage."Found you," Aaron snarled, eyes fixed on Bella. "What do you think you're doing, wife?"Bella shrank back, instinctively moving behind Silas for protection. I stepped forward, placing myself between her and the three men."She's leaving you," I said clearly
"Well, isn't this touching," she drawled, lowering the weapon to point it at Bella. "A family reunion."Silas shifted slightly, placing himself more firmly between the gun and Bella. "Who are you?" he demanded."A messenger," she replied with a cold smile. "Here to remind you all of the consequences of ignoring warnings."I tensed, readying myself to move if she aimed at Bella again. "Warning delivered. Now leave."Her laugh was brittle. "Oh, it's not that simple. You see, the historian knows too much. Her research has become... inconvenient. And now that she's shared it with you..." She shrugged. "Well, loose ends must be tied.""She hasn't told me anything yet," I said quickly. "Her research is still at the archives. No one's seen it."The hybrid's eyes narrowed skeptically. "Even if that's true, the risk remains. She knows. You suspect. And he—" she nodded toward Silas "—is too traditional to allow the necessary changes.""What changes?" Silas demanded. "What are you talking about?
Silas helped Bella to her feet while Marcus and Jacob carefully lifted Aaron's body. The group split, with the men carrying Aaron back toward the pack house while Silas, Bella, and I took a different route, moving more cautiously now that we knew the hybrid was still in the area."We need to get to the archives," Bella said as we walked. "My research—if they're willing to kill for it, it must be important.""More important than we realized," Silas agreed grimly. "What exactly did you discover, Bella?"She glanced nervously over her shoulder before answering. "I found references to a prophecy in the oldest pack records. A prophecy about a descendant of the Moon Goddess who would be rejected by her mate during a celestial alignment, triggering a curse that would weaken the strongest pack. Sound familiar?""That's oddly specific," I commented, frowning. "And convenient.""It gets more specific," she continued. "The prophecy also says this descendant would have 'hair like blood and eyes l
The moment we stepped into the infirmary, the antiseptic smell hit me—sharp and clinical, a stark contrast to the earthy scents of the forest we'd just left. Dr. Emerson looked up from his patient, his expression carefully neutral as he met Silas's gaze."Alpha," he acknowledged with a nod. "She's stable, but weak."My eyes moved past him to the figure on the bed. Angela lay unnaturally still, her once-glossy dark hair matted and dull against the white pillow. Bruises marked her face and arms, some fresh, others yellowing with age. A bandage wrapped around her left forearm, blood seeping through in spots.Despite everything she'd done to me, something twisted in my chest at the sight of her so broken. This was my sister—the girl who had tormented me growing up, who had helped frame me for a crime I didn't commit, who had married the man who rejected me. Yet seeing her injured stirred old protective instincts I thought I'd buried years ago."Is she conscious?" Silas asked quietly.Dr.
Silas led me from the infirmary, his hand still on my arm. We walked in silence through the pack house, passing curious pack members who quickly averted their eyes when they noticed Silas's thunderous expression.He didn't stop until we reached a section of the pack house I'd never been allowed to enter—the Alpha's private quarters. He unlocked a heavy wooden door and ushered me inside.The suite was larger than I'd expected—a sitting area with comfortable furniture, a kitchenette, a short hallway leading to what I assumed were bedrooms. The décor was surprisingly minimal, nothing like the opulent showiness I'd expected from an Alpha's quarters."You'll stay here from now on," Silas said, closing and locking the door behind us. "It's the most secure location in the pack house."I raised an eyebrow. "In your quarters? Won't that cause talk?""These aren't my personal rooms," he explained. "This is the Alpha's guest suite. My rooms are nextdoor. There's a connecting door, but it locks f
After he left, I explored the suite more thoroughly. Two bedrooms, both with attached bathrooms, a comfortable living area, and the small but functional kitchenette. My suitcase and the few belongings I'd brought from my life as Ella Stone had been placed in the larger bedroom.I took a long, hot shower, washing away the blood—both Aaron's and my own—and the sweat of battle. As steam filled the bathroom, I examined my injuries in the mirror. The cut on my cheek from Aaron's claws was already healing, faster than a normal werewolf's would. The hybrid's attack had left bruises on my arms and torso, but they too were fading rapidly.'Our blood heals,' Rona observed. 'The Goddess blood.'"We don't know that yet," I muttered, but I couldn't deny the evidence. I'd always healed quickly, even as a child. It was one of the things my father had found suspicious about me, one of the ways I had been "different" that he'd resented.After my shower, I dressed in sleep shorts and a tank top, then c
A silver pendant on a delicate chain caught my eye. It was a stylized "A.L." intertwined in an elaborate design. The craftsmanship was exquisite, the materials expensive. It didn't match the other pieces in the box, which were simpler and more traditional."Silas," I called again. "Do you recognize this?"He took the necklace, examining it with a frown. "No. I've never seen Angela wear it.""The initials," I pointed out. "A.L. Angela's first initial, but the L doesn't fit. Her middle name was Marie, wasn't it?""Yes," he confirmed, still studying the pendant. "And our last name is Morrigan. There's no L anywhere in her name.""Unless," I said slowly, "it's not her initial at all. A.L. Alpha Logan."Silas's head snapped up, his eyes meeting mine. "Silver Claw's Alpha.""Exactly." I took the necklace back, turning it over. On the back, nearly too small to see, was an engraving—a tiny wolf silhouette with what looked like a silver tear falling from its eye. "This is their pack symbol, is
"Blood calls to blood," he continued smoothly. "Bond calls to bond. Did you really think I wouldn't anticipate your approach? The tunnels were the obvious choice once we secured the perimeter."There was no point in continuing the charade. I pushed aside the ceiling panel and dropped into the room, landing in a crouch. My father followed a moment later."Right on schedule," Logan said, unfazed. "Allow me to introduce our investors. They've been most eager to meet you."The three visitors turned, and I realized with shock that they weren't human or wolf—their eyes had the same silver sheen as the hybrids, but their faces were fully human, their movements natural."Successful integrations," Logan explained, noting my surprise. "First-generation hybrids, now fully stabilized. They've been funding our research for years.""You're playing with forces you don't understand," I said, eyes fixed on Silas. His face was bruised, one eye swollen shut, but he was fully conscious, watching me inten
Mason and Liam returned with good news—the old sewage tunnels were intact, partially collapsed in places but navigable. Better yet, they showed no signs of surveillance or recent human activity."There's a junction box here," Mason explained, marking a spot on the blueprint. "From there, maintenance tunnels lead to the main building, the east wing, and the old spa complex. We found signs of recent activity in the east wing tunnel.""That's where they're keeping Silas," I said with certainty. Through our bond, I'd felt him being moved earlier, the disorientation and pain as guards dragged him somewhere.The rescue team assembled at nightfall—myself, my father, Mason, and six other wolves chosen for strength and stealth. Liam had wanted to come, but I'd refused. He was too young, too inexperienced, and had already risked enough."The objective is extraction only," my father reminded everyone as we gathered at the territory's edge. "We locate Silas, neutralize immediate threats, and with
"We can't just storm the place," my father said, pointing to the satellite images spread across the council table. "The Blackwater Resort has one road in, three miles of shoreline, and Logan's people watching every approach."Four hours of sleep hadn't been enough. My body ached, my head throbbed, and the bond with Silas pulsed like an infected wound. I could feel him—alive, in pain, conscious now—but couldn't reach him."Then we don't use the obvious approaches," I countered, leaning over the map. "What about underwater? The east side of the peninsula?"Mason shook his head. "Too many cameras. They've set up a surveillance perimeter extending two hundred yards into the lake."The council room held every high-ranking pack member who could be spared from border patrol. Twelve hours since we'd lost Silas, and tension hung thick in the air. An Alpha in enemy hands was more than a tactical problem—it was a psychological wound."What about the old sewage tunnels?" Bella suggested, pointing
We made it to the stairwell without incident, but as we descended toward the ground floor, a voice called out from above."Hey! Where are you taking them?"I turned to see a guard leaning over the railing, suspicious."Safe zone C," I replied, hoping it meant something.His eyes narrowed. "There is no safe zone C."So much for bluffing. "Run!" I shouted, shoving Liam and Eliza ahead of me down the stairs. Silas took up the rear as guards shouted and gave chase.We burst through the ground floor door into chaos—alarms blaring, security personnel rushing about, voices shouting contradictory orders. Perfect cover for our escape, if we could navigate through it."This way," Silas urged, guiding us toward a side exit. We were almost there when a figure stepped into our path.Logan.He looked different from the delivery room—back in his customary suit, composed and coldly amused. Behind him stood two hybrids, their unnatural forms partially concealed by loose clothing."Stella," he greeted
I finished preparing, strapping silver knives to my thighs and slipping a third into my boot. The pendant warmed against my chest, somehow comforting despite my lingering suspicion of my father's motives.We gathered at the eastern edge of pack territory as twilight deepened into night. Silas, Liam, Eliza, and me—a small team, unencumbered by weapons except for the silver blades we each carried. Speed and stealth were our priorities."Lake Carson is fifteen miles east," Silas briefed us. "The resort sits on a peninsula jutting into the water. We'll approach from the forest side, using the trees for cover. Once there, we observe only. We're looking for security patterns, entrance points, and Angela's location within the complex.""What about hybrids?" Liam asked, nervously fingering the silver knife at his belt."Avoid them," Silas said firmly. "We're not there to engage. If spotted, retreat immediately to the rendezvous point." He pointed to a location on the map he'd brought. "Questi
I stood, needing to move, to process what we'd seen. "The Blackwater Resort. You're sure?"Silas nodded. "Positive. My father considered buying it a few years ago. I visited the property with him.""Then we know where they are," I said. "We need to move fast, before they relocate.""We need a plan first," Silas countered. "That place is massive—multiple buildings, underground levels, surrounded by water on three sides and forest on the fourth. And now they know we've found them."He was right, damn him. Rushing in would be suicide, especially against Logan's hybrids and whatever other security they had in place."Reconnaissance," I said reluctantly. "Small team, minimal footprint. Get the lay of the land, assess their numbers and defenses.""I'll lead it," Silas volunteered."No," I said firmly. "You're still recovering from the silver poisoning. I'll go.""Absolutely not," he objected, standing to face me. "You're their primary target. If Logan gets his hands on you again—""I'm not
Sleep didn't come easy. I tossed in my bed, thoughts jumping between Marie's silver-eyed baby and whatever the hell we were planning to do tomorrow. Using our bond to find Angela sounded good when I suggested it—now, in the darkness of my room, it seemed like inviting trouble.I woke before dawn, abandoning the pretense of rest. The quiet hours belonged to me anyway, had ever since New York. I pulled on jeans and a sweater, slipped out of my room, and headed for the training grounds. Physical exertion might clear my head.Frost covered the grass, crunching under my boots. My breath formed clouds in the pre-dawn air. Winter was settling in hard, earlier than usual. The cold felt good against my skin, still too warm from the renewed bond. Like I was running a perpetual low-grade fever.I started with basics—stretches, then push-ups, sit-ups, mountain climbers. The routine felt familiar, grounding. In the human world, I'd discovered discipline through training, building strength when I'd
I woke to the taste of bile in my mouth and the worst headache of my life. My body felt wrong, like my skin had been removed, flipped inside out, and put back on. Every nerve ending screamed. Every muscle ached. And my mind—my mind was the worst. Thoughts that weren't mine flickered at the edges of my consciousness, emotions I didn't recognize washed over me in waves.I barely made it to the edge of the bed before vomiting violently onto the floor. Someone rushed forward with a basin, but it was too late."Easy," a voice said. Zeta Ruth. "The bond shock is normal. It will pass."I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, trying to focus through the pain in my head. "Silas?" My voice was raw, barely a whisper."Next door. Recovering, like you."Relief flooded me, immediately followed by a burst of foreign emotion—confusion, disorientation, concern. His emotions, bleeding through the renewed bond."Make it stop," I gasped, clutching my head. "It's too much."Zeta Ruth handed me a cup of
The elders agreed to my terms, of course. What choice did they have? Silas would die without the ritual, and the pack needed both of us.The ceremony room was deep beneath the pack house, a circular chamber carved from bedrock, walls decorated with ancient symbols of the Moon Goddess. Moonlight filtered in through a shaft in the ceiling, illuminating a raised stone platform in the center. Behind it stood a carved altar bearing ceremonial knives, bowls, and herbs.Zeta Clara, the oldest of the pack elders, supervised the preparations. Pack members laid Silas on the platform, his body covered only by a thin sheet. The black poison lines stood out starkly against his pale skin, like veins of obsidian beneath the surface. I could see how they pulsed with each labored heartbeat."You understand what this ritual entails?" Zeta Clara asked me as I changed into the simple white shift they'd provided."Bella explained it.""Not just physically," she pressed. "Spiritually. Emotionally. You will