CHAPTER 9: Bravery Amid ChaosHana had just stepped into the garden when the alarm bells began to ring throughout the SeaHowl pack’s territory. The shrill, desperate sounds signaled an attack. Her heart pounded in her chest as memories of her own pack’s fall flooded her mind, the horror of that night still vivid and fresh.She saw panic spreading among the pack members, their faces twisted in fear and determination. Children were being herded into safe areas, and warriors were rushing to the front lines. Hana’s eyes fell on a small boy, no older than six, standing frozen in the middle of the chaos. His wide, terrified eyes searched for his mother, who was nowhere in sight.As she watched, a rogue wolf, large and menacing, broke through the defenses and charged toward the boy. Hana’s breath caught in her throat. She was paralyzed by indecision. The image of Jarrel’s ruthless assault on her pack flashed before her eyes—men and women slaughtered, children dragged into slavery. These we
CHAPTER 10: The Alpha's DilemmaThe rumble of Jarrel's car echoed through the trees as he approached the SeaHowl pack’s compound. His absence had lasted barely a couple of days while he was busy mediating differences and restoring peace around. With every stride that brought him near, it felt as if an electric current flowed through the atmosphere, making him restless.Dismounting, he stormed through the pack house’s main door. His eyes scanned the room, taking in the frantic movements of his pack members. His Beta, Magnus, approached with a grim expression.“Alpha, there’s been an attack.”Jarrel’s eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint in them. “Who attacked us?”“Rogue wolves. They managed to breach the perimeter and get close to the main house. My Lady... she was attacked.”The blood drained from Jarrel’s face, replaced swiftly by a seething fury. “Where is she?”“In the infirmary. She’s hurt but... she saved one of the pack’s pups.”Without another word, Jarrel pushed past Magnus and
CHAPTER 11: Nightmare Hana gasped as she thrashed about on her bed, with her mind caught up in the labyrinthine corridors of her memory.Hana was back home where it was safe and sound; a small but sturdy wooden cabin located right at the heart of her pack’s territory. The smell of pine and soil filled Hana’s nostrils; the forest itself seemed to be whispering to her. Her mother would be humming softly as she cooked dinner with the rhythmical chopping of vegetables. Around that time, Hana remembers her father’s deep voice booming from inside their meeting room during a talk with other elders.The air suddenly turned cold and Hana felt an uncomfortable shiver run down her back. She went outside and looked around, scanning all along the tree line. There was an eerie silence that fell over the serene forest which now seemed to hold its breath for some reason. Her heartbeat pounded in her chest when she heard a low growl from amongst the shadows.Without any response chaos broke out. Sh
CHAPTER 12: Fear and courage The following morning, Hana felt as though her chest was heavy and she was having trouble breathing. She was confused and dejected after what had happened the day before. She was physically and emotionally stuck, unable to escape the sensation. She could feel her circumstances suffocating her more with each breath. She made the decision to get outside and stroll since she didn't know where she was going and thought the change of scenery would help her think more clearly. The territory of the pack was covered in long shadows by the early morning light. Hana was lost in contemplation, a whirlwind of rage, anxiety, and melancholy. She was so focused on her morning routine that she hardly saw the other pack members. Their voices and movements seemed distant as if she were observing them through a thick fog. Hana’s steps eventually took her to a far corner of the SeaHowl pack’s territory. She had never ventured this far before, and the unfamiliar
CHAPTER 13: Unwavering Determination Jarrel was a monster in every sense of the word, a man with no compass in his heart who loved to cause people pain just for the sake of it. She wanted to know what really happened to him to become like this but she rejected the negative train of thought. The details of how they turned him into a monster did not matter and all that mattered was that he had inflicted a lot of pain. She tried to think of the Moon Goddess and why she had let such suffering happen in the world. Had the Goddess sent Jarrel to inflict pain on people, to suffer? Will Hana ever find it? Or is there a bigger picture that is hidden in her eyes? The questions ran through her mind and the set of them raised her increasingly uneasy feelings. Hana started to think about her own position now too. She found herself living in this kind of hell where she was a mate to a man who was known to be a brute and a cruel one at that. Nothing would change the fact that she needed to sur
CHAPTER 14: Jarrel's expressionHana was at her window, sitting in her own room, looking out into the darkness of the trees beyond the pack lands. The moon was almost touching the trees and the whole area was dimly lit by the silvery moonlight. Her thoughts were stormy waters churning in her head like an ocean. She was mated to Jarrel, the man she despised most in the entire world. And yet, there were moments when the relationship with him tugged at her emotions, leaving her conflicted, hating herself for how she felt. She folded her hands into fists and felt the nails’ tips dig into her flesh. How, in heaven’s name, could she cherish any affection but have hatred for him? He was the cause of her family’s death and the cause of her pack’s decimation. She had witnessed him slaughtering people with no concern for their fate and had even felt his hand on her neck, a sign of the horror she had endured. But sometimes his skin touching her naked skin made her feel an unexpected unspeaka
CHAPTER 15: Shadows of VengeanceHana woke up hearing the terrible shuffling sounds of metals against stones that were reverberating through the dark hallway of her room. She sprang up in an upright posture, with an intuition for disaster hammering heavily in her heart. In no time at all, there was a loud bang at her door and Mia, stepped in looking so frightened or as though she had seen something alarming."My lady," Mia whispered urgently, "the Alpha commands your presence in the hall immediately."Hana's blood ran cold. She had learned to dread Jarrel's summons, each one more cruel than the last. She quickly dressed and followed Mia through the dimly lit hallways, her mind racing with terrible possibilities.The tremors in the low murmurs of the pack members inside the hall grew louder as Hana got closer. The big doors snapped open, and an almost audible gasp escaped her lips as she stared at the grand hall in front of her.The nanny who had been a motherly figure to her since ch
Chapter 16: Ernest Expression The next day, Hana got up early from her bed and went out to meet Mia."My lady, it’s shocking to see you out of your room so early," Mia said, her surprise evident."Well, I took your advice yesterday. There was no need to continue wallowing in pity and depression over the past," Hana responded, giving a smile that seemed so pure. Yet within her, she harbored deep hatred for the SeaHowl pack she was standing on.She had decided to be good for a few days, to get closer to Jarrel and give herself enough chance to execute her plans. First, she would relate with pack members, then treat Jarrel like she ought to treat her mate, making him believe in her so she could gain enough money and freedom to go anywhere.She needed money to get information on where to buy wolfsbane and who could get it for her. Staying inside that luxurious room, which felt more like a cage, wasn't going to work if she was to succeed in her plans to poison Jarrel with wolfsbane."Whe