Reyna's POVAs I stood there watching Jake walk away, his words kept ringing in my ears, but I couldn't help feeling grateful that he had saved me. He was harsh, but maybe he had a point—what would have happened if he hadn't shown up?John approached with concern in his eyes. “What happened here, Reyna? You look shaken.”I hesitated, unsure how to explain the events. "There was a Lycan, and Jake... he saved me."John’s eyes darkened at the mention of a Lycan. "A Lycan? Here, within the pack’s grounds?"I nodded. “It looked hungry, and it was about to attack. I didn’t know what to do. I—I thought you’d be here sooner.”He stepped closer and gently placed his hand on my shoulder, his touch calming my nerves instantly. “I’m sorry, Reyna. Something urgent came up.""What's that?" I asked, seeing the looks of seriousness in his eyes."Let's not talk about it. Hope you weren't hurt in any way?" The way he showed concern was just so different. It was nothing like how Jake did.“Jake arrived
Jake's POV “You weren't in your chamber when I checked on you, where were you? Seth asked, walking into my chambers."I was out in the training ground.""Training ground? What were you doing there?" I knew Seth wouldn't just look for me unless it had to do with something very important which he wanted to tell me."Go straight to the point, Seth. Is there something I need to know?""Well, yes," He sighed. He must have felt I was rude in the way I replied him. But if there was something about Seth which made him always command my respect, it was in the fact that he really understood me.He was the only person who really had the patience to overlook even my rudeness."I'm listening Seth. Sorry I'm a bit stressed out," I apologised, just so he wouldn't feel like I was taking him for granted. Seth was enough to be my father, and had really stood by me while growing up."Flynn is injured," Seth reported, causing me to jump up on my feet."How come? By whom?" I asked. Flynn was one of the s
Stephanie's POV“Who do we have here?” I heard someone say from behind me, startling me. I turned around to find who it was and it was Sally."What are you doing here?" I asked, surprised. "How did you find me?""What were you thinking, Steph? That I'll never find you?" Sally walked towards me, causing me to move backwards. "You really think you can get away from Marcus didn't you?"I moved backwards, not knowing what exactly to do. I knew screaming for help was out of it because it would raise concerns. I didn't want anybody to find out about my involvement with the Lycans that were attacking the pack.“Why are you running away, Steph? Why?” He asked."Where's Sarah? What have you done to her? We trusted you Sally. You were father's most trusted Beta, but you betrayed all of us." "Quiet!" He yelled at me. "You have no idea what I have been through. You've got no idea what I lost while serving your father.""It was Diane, right? On the night of annunciation, it was all part of the pl
Marcus' POVRyan walked into my office, his face a shadow of the rough day he had. “What's wrong? Any news from Sally?” I asked, arching my back. “Yes, Alpha. He's found her her finally." That was the exact news I wanted to hear, as I just couldn't hide the smile that tugged at the corners of my lips."What do we do about Sally? We can't trust him. If he betrayed his pack to join forces with you, then it's possible he could snitch on you too." Ryan was beginning to think like me, and I was proud of him for that. If there was something the rest of my pack members knew me for, it was the fact that I don't work on the basis of trust. I consider anyone a potential enemy and will only team up with you when we have a common enemy, like what I was doing with Jacob.Being a Lycan had taught me that it's better to be feared than to be loved. "Keep an eye on him," my smile widened. "What about Sarah? Do we still have use for her?" Ryan probed."Of course we do," I stood to my feet. "She's g
Marcus' POVI walked out of his office with Ryan following behind. We marched straight to where Sarah had been tied, to break the news to her that we finally found Stephanie.Immediately, we entered into the place, I sensed that something was wrong. Some of the sentinels were standing in a circle, and it wasn't looking just ordinary.“What's going on here?” I asked.“We found her unconscious, lying in the ground." One of the Sentinels replied.I took the first few seconds trying to make sense of what had just happened. How on earth did Sarah untie herself and how did she end up on the ground unconscious?I stepped forward, pushing past the sentinels to see Sarah lying motionless on the ground. My mind raced as I knelt beside her. She was still breathing, but barely. How had this happened? There was no way Sarah could have broken lose from the ropes which were used to tie her. Something about her lying unconscious in the ground, wasn't just adding up and I needed answers."Who was gua
Sarah's POV "Sally! You?" My eyes almost popped out of their sockets. I never expected him to be there, to be the one telling me that I wouldn't make it out in one piece."Surprised?" Sally chuckled. "How come everyone seems so surprised to see me?"I was already seething with anger, seeing someone I had shared all my life's secrets with standing as a leader among my enemies.I had succeeded in pulling the sentinel to the gate and I was already close to getting away."Open the gates!" I yelled, pressing the dagger tighter on the sentinels neck."Don't do it!" Sally countered my warning. "You and I both know you don't have the guts to kill him," Sally let out a wild laughter.Sally was right. I wasn't the type who would just go about killing innocent people. I bit gritted my teeth, unable to accept the fact that my perfect escape plan had been ruined by Sally.I was still there at the gate with the sentinel still within my grip when Marcus and Ryan arrived. "Well, well, well," Marcus
Sarah's POVThe grip on my throat tightened, squeezing the air from my lungs, making my vision blur at the edges. I gasped, clawing at Marcus's hands, but it was useless. His cold eyes stared down at me, void of emotion, as if my pain was a mere inconvenience to him."We already know the location of your sister," Marcus hissed, his voice a cruel whisper. "So, very soon, you'll be reunited with her."A violent cough tore through my chest, and I doubled over, fighting for breath as my lungs screamed in agony. He loosened his grip just enough for me to catch a shallow breath before shoving me backward. I stumbled and crashed onto the bed, the impact jarring my body. Tears sprang to my eyes, more from the hopelessness of the situation than the physical pain.Marcus stood over me, his gaze predatory as he slowly began unbuttoning his shirt. A sickening grin spread across his face as he tossed his clothes to the floor. I trembled, backing away until my back hit the cold wall, but there was
Stephanie's POVI held my breath, pressing my body tightly against the cold stone wall as I peered around the corner. My heart pounded in my chest as I saw the sentinels stepping out of John’s office. Their faces were grim, and their voices were low as they exchanged words I couldn’t make out. Panic clawed at my insides. If they checked the CCTV cameras, it would be over. They’d know the truth. They’d know Sally came for me.I quickly ducked back into the shadows, praying they wouldn’t notice me. My mind raced, trying to think of a solution, but nothing came. The moment they discovered Sally had been here, everything would unravel. My secret will be revealed I needed to talk to her. Now.Without another thought, I sprinted down the hallway, keeping low, my footsteps as quiet as I could manage. My body was trembling with fear as I made my way to Diane’s room. She would know what to do. She had to.When I reached her door, I didn’t bother knocking. I pushed it open and stepped inside,
Reyna's POV Warm sunlight streamed through the room as the sound of soft footsteps pulled me from sleep. My eyelids fluttered open just in time to see Steph yanking the curtains apart, letting the golden glow spill across the walls."Rise and shine, sleepyhead," she teased, turning to face me with a wide grin.I pushed myself up against the pillows, a slow smile spreading across my lips. "Steph," I breathed.She didn't hesitate. In a second, she was beside me, arms wrapped tight around my shoulders. I clung to her just as fiercely, letting the warmth of her presence chase away the last remnants of fear that had clung to me since my return."I'm so glad you're back," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion.I pulled back slightly, searching her eyes. "I'm glad to be back."Her gaze softened. "We were all worried about you, Reyna. I was worried about you."A lump formed in my throat. It was still hard to believe I was safe, back in familiar surroundings, surrounded by people who car
John's POV The night air was crisp as I stepped through the front doors of the estate, the weight of exhaustion settling deep in my bones. Steph had been right beside me just moments ago, but before I could say a word, she vanished into the shadows like she always did. She never liked lingering too long, especially after a mission.I rubbed my temples, barely suppressing a groan. The night had been long, and I wasn’t looking forward to whatever came next.A sentinel approached, his expression unreadable. “The elders request an audience with you, Alpha.”I exhaled sharply, already irritated. “Not tonight. Tell them I’ll meet them tomorrow.”The sentinel hesitated but nodded before turning on his heel and disappearing down the hall. I knew pushing off the meeting wouldn’t go over well, but I didn’t care. For once, I just needed a damn moment to breathe.I moved further inside, my steps slowing as I reached Reyna’s door. My hand hovered over the handle, but I hesitated.What was I suppo
Jake's POV The air in the dungeon was thick with the stench of damp stone and decay, the kind of smell that clung to your skin long after you left. I barely noticed it. My focus was locked on the metal door in front of me, the one separating me from Diane.The guards stepped aside as I approached, their expressions unreadable. They knew better than to question why I was here. Everyone knew what Diane had done, the pain she had caused.I pushed the door open.Diane sat in the corner, shackled to the wall. Her once-perfect appearance was in ruins,her hair tangled, her face streaked with dirt and dried blood. She looked up at me, her eyes narrowing before shifting into something unreadable.“Jake,” she murmured, voice hoarse. “Here to let me go?”I let out a dark chuckle before slamming the door shut behind me. “You think this is a rescue mission?”She smirked, though I could see the flicker of doubt in her gaze. “You’ve always been the reasonable one. The quiet one.” She tilted her hea
Stephanie's POV The silence between us wasn’t heavy. It wasn’t awkward or tense. It simply… was.John and I sat side by side on the fallen log, the cool night air wrapping around us. The moon was high, its light filtering through the trees, casting silver threads over the clearing. I focused on the sound of the wind rustling the leaves, on the distant hoot of an owl. Anything but the way John’s presence made my chest feel tight.I wasn’t used to this.Silence, yes. I had spent years locked inside my own head, drowning in the absence of words. But this wasn’t that kind of silence. This was different. This was… safe.I stole a glance at him.John was watching me, his eyes darker than usual under the soft glow of the moon. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in the way he looked at me that made my skin prickle. Not with fear. Not with unease. But with something I wasn’t ready to name.His lips parted, and for a moment, I thought he might speak. But he didn’t. Instead,
John's POV I caught the scent of her hesitation before she even moved.Stephanie’s hand hovered over the doorknob, her shoulders tense. Her breathing was steady, controlled,but I knew better. She was about to bolt.In a flash, I moved, cutting her off before she could step inside. I wasn’t even sure why I did it,only that letting her slip away didn’t feel like an option.She gasped, her eyes widening in shock. “What the hell, John?”I crossed my arms, blocking the door with my body. “Were you planning on running away?”Her lips parted, then pressed into a thin line. “I wasn’t running.”“Then why did you freeze up when you saw me?”Stephanie huffed, crossing her arms. “I wasn’t expecting you to appear out of nowhere like a damn shadow.”I smirked. “Werewolf speed has its perks.”She rolled her eyes and tried to step around me, but I shifted, keeping her in place.She let out a frustrated sigh. “Move, John.”“No.”Her brows knitted together. “Excuse me?”I leaned against the doorframe,
John's POV The hum of the engine filled the silence between Jake and me as I drove through the dimly lit streets. The city blurred past, a mixture of neon lights and shadows, but my focus was elsewhere. Something in my chest felt… off. Like a weight pressing down, not painful, but present. An awareness I couldn’t shake.Jake sat beside me, lost in his own thoughts, his fingers drumming against his knee. I knew what he was thinking about,Reyna. The need to get back to her, to see her safe with his own eyes. I understood that kind of devotion. Or at least, I thought I did.But something had shifted in me.I gripped the wheel tighter, staring at the road ahead. Reyna. The woman I had fought for, bled for, almost died for. The woman I had sworn to protect.Yet, something was missing.The bond, the pull I used to feel toward her, was dull, faded. Not gone, but distant—like a song played from another room, recognizable but no longer mine to claim.I inhaled sharply, forcing my mind to focu
Reyna's POV I woke up to the soft glow of the bedside lamp, my head still throbbing but lighter than before. The scent of fresh linen and antiseptic filled my nose, and as my vision cleared, I saw Sarah sitting beside me."You're awake," she breathed out, her voice laced with relief.I blinked a few times, my body still sluggish. "Where…where am I?""A safe house," she answered, reaching out to squeeze my hand. "You've been unconscious for two days. We were so worried."Two days? My mind struggled to catch up. The last thing I remembered was pain,Damon, Diane, and chaos. I swallowed, my throat dry."Stephanie?" I croaked.Before Sarah could respond, the door swung open, and there she was."You're finally awake." Stephanie strode into the room with her usual confidence, but her eyes softened as she looked at me."Steph," I whispered.She crossed the room in seconds and wrapped her arms around me. Her embrace was strong, grounding me in the present. For the first time in days, I felt s
Stephanie's POV Jake and John exchanged a look before turning to me."Don't worry," Jake said. "We'll go outside and see what Marcus wants."John nodded in agreement. "You and Sarah get Reyna out of here. We’ll handle things."Sarah scoffed. "We already know what he wants me." Her voice was steady, but I could hear the edge of fear beneath it. She lifted her chin defiantly. "But he’s never getting me back. I left his hold, and I’m never going back."Her determination made me proud, but we didn’t have time to argue about it. We had to move.Without wasting another second, we slipped through the back gate, where a black car was already waiting for us.“Get in,” the driver said in a low voice, his eyes darting toward the front of the building.Sarah climbed in first, pulling me along with her. As soon as the door shut behind us, the car sped off, leaving Jake and John behind to deal with Marcus.The tension in the car was thick. Sarah sat stiffly beside me, her fingers clenched into fis
Stephanie's POV A slow smile spread across my lips as I caught the flicker of fear in Damon’s eyes. He tried to hide it, clenching his jaw, standing tall, but I saw it I felt it.“What’s wrong, Damon?” I taunted, tilting my head. “I thought you were the most fearless werewolf. A rogue with nothing to lose.”His fists curled at his sides. By then, Jake and John had started stirring, groaning as they slowly regained consciousness. Damon’s gaze darted to them before snapping back to me.“You’re a damn psycho,” he spat. “How the hell did you cut off Diane’s hand?”I twirled my blade between my fingers, feigning boredom. “The same way I’ll take something from you if you don’t release my people.” My voice was calm, steady. Deadly.Damon scoffed. “Diane was weak. I don’t really care what happens to her.” His lip curled into a smirk. “And I’ll do whatever I damn well please.”I chuckled. “Good,” I murmured. “Because Reyna is safe now, and that means I get to enjoy this.” I lifted my gun, my