INGRID“Ingrid, look out!” My father, Silas Blackwood, yells, and I duck, barely avoiding my brother's fist. Logan’s knuckles slice through the air where my face had been a second ago, and he trips, almost hitting the ground."Come on, Dad, you could’ve let me punch her," Logan hisses, his smirk widening like he enjoys the idea of bruising me."Why do I have to train today?" I grumble, straightening up and dusting off my sleeves. "Why am I even going with you guys?"My father’s expression darkens, and he stares at me with his sharp, calculating eyes."Ingrid, your time to sit back and watch is over. You’re joining the hunt tonight."I stiffen. "But Dad, I haven’t opened my bakery in two days! My customers—"."Don’t make me tear down that little place of yours." He interrupts before I can finish, his voice low and dangerous."We had a deal. Train. Hunt. And I’ll let you keep that little bakery. Do you want me to reconsider our arrangement?" He asks tilting his head, daring me to push h
"Dad, I think this is a trap," I blurt, my voice barely audible.Logan hears me first, and his body stiffens as he carefully turns in my direction. My father follows his gaze.Before either of them can respond, the night erupts."Attack!" my father roars.Gunshots explode in the darkness. Grenades detonate with deafening booms, sending shockwaves through the trees. The acrid scent of gunpowder fills the air, mingling with the unmistakable stench of blood.I try to aim my arrow, but I can’t see through the chaos. Shadows dart between trees. Growls rip through the night, and bodies collide. The sound of tearing flesh and agonized screams sends ice through my veins.Having no clear shot, I am left with only one option. To run.I turn and sprint, letting my legs pound against the earth as I race back the way we came. I don’t look back for even a second.Branches whip against my face, my heart pounding so loudly I can barely hear the screams behind me.I stumble and crash to the ground wit
It’s been three days since I last saw the Alpha.After threatening to make an example of me, he simply stared at me like I was a piece of meat, then left.He hadn’t come back since. They kept me chained and starved, only offering me water twice a day.At first, I held on, refusing to break. But my body has limits. Exhaustion had now settled deep into my bones. I could hear people moving around me, but I was too weak to open my eyes.I now understood why my father despised their kind. They are cruel and Inhumane.If they want me dead, they should have just killed me instead of keeping me locked up like an animal.At some point, I started dreaming of Logan and my father bursting through the doors to rescue me. But then I wake up, and the cold, unyielding chains remind me that I am still captured."Help her sit up," I hear a familiar voice command.I feel hands grabbing me and lifting me until my back presses against the rough wall. My muscles protest, and my head lolls forward from she
"How is she?" a voice I know too well asks as I slowly open my eyes.I blink a few times as the blurry faces come into focus. I turn my head slightly and find Logan sitting beside me, his eyes filled with concern. I dart my eyes around, trying to familiarize myself with the surroundings and realize I am in my room.I see my father standing near the door with his arms crossed, and standing next to him is the family doctor."What happened?" I manage to ask, my voice low and hoarse."We found you lying by the side of the road," Logan responds quickly, adjusting my pillow. "We think you were able to get away from the werewolves." He adds, a proud smile spreading across his face.My father steps closer, his expression softer than usual. "We are all very proud of you, Ingrid. We thought they had killed you to teach us a lesson."The doctor moves to check my vitals, pressing a hand to my wrist."She’s a bit dehydrated, but with enough water, food, and rest, she’ll be fine by tomorrow." He i
This little bakery was my heaven.Whenever I was here, I was the happiest. It was right in the middle of town, and since it was the only bakery around, the place was always packed from the minute I opened until late at night. There wasn’t a single free moment—and that’s why I loved it. It was my escape.And today, it was an escape from him. The Alpha, who is haunting my mind even in my dreams. The incredibly inappropriate, too-real dream I had about him.I could still feel his touch and how his lips felt on my skin. It felt so real, like he had actually been there.I shudder and force the thoughts away, focusing on work. I bury myself in mixing the dough, making the fillings, and doing all the things to distract myself.But suddenly, something feels off.My heart starts pounding violently against my chest for no reason. My skin starts burning as if I am standing under the scorching sun, and my hands begin to tremble.I stagger back, and grip the counter, desperate to get some air.I s
I feel the wind against my face as I slowly struggle to open my eyes. My body is aching in ways I can't begin to comprehend. The ground beneath me is damp, and as I shift, I realize I'm covered in mud. Completely naked. I panic and sit up quickly, hugging my arms around my chest."What happened?" I whisper to myself, my voice hoarse. The last clear memory I have is of the alpha telling me I’m turning into a werewolf. But after that? Nothing. Just darkness.I hear a rustling sound in the bushes nearby, and my breath catches. The alpha steps out, carrying a bundle of clothes, and without a word, he tosses them at my feet."What happened to me? I don’t remember anything," I mutter, my hands trembling as I reach for the pants."You turned. That’s what happened," he replies, his voice calm and dismissive, crossing his hands over his chest. "You’ve been running through these woods in your wolf form for two days."“Two days?” I gasp, my heart pounding as I struggle to process his words. I w
"Why is he taking so long?" I ask myself as I shift uncomfortably on the worn-out leather couch in my dad's study. My body still aches, but the pain is nothing compared to the storm brewing inside me.I stand up, tiptoe to the door, and carefully peek out. I see the hunters wrapping up whatever they’ve been discussing with a few unfamiliar faces. I see my father nodding, his expression unreadable, before he finally turns toward the study.I hurry back to the chair, grab one of his old hunter books from the desk, and flip it open, pretending to read. The door creaks open, and I brace myself.He walks in without looking at me and heads straight to his ridiculously large chair at his desk."What do you need, Ingrid?" he asks, his voice sharp and commanding.I place the book down and adjust myself on the chair. His piercing gaze makes my stomach twist, but I swallow my fear and clear my throat."Something happened to me when I was away," I begin, choosing my words carefully.He squints an
“What is she doing here? Who brought her here?” a deep, hoarse voice asks, making my skin prickle.“It’s me, Alpha Lucian. I saw her passed out next to the river when I was out running. I thought she was dead.” A second voice replies, sounding hesitant, almost cautious.“She’s one of us. I couldn’t leave her out there.”A long sigh follows, and then the voice I now recognize as the alpha’s speaks again.“As soon as she wakes up, send her to me.”I hear footsteps fading, and I finally gather enough courage to open my eyes. The first thing I see is a man standing next to me. I recognize him—he is one of the guards who had been sleeping the day I escaped.Sitting beside me is a woman carefully tending to my wound.“Please don’t sit up. You lost a lot of blood,” she says, gently pushing me back to the bed as I try to sit up.The man beside her narrows his eyes at me and suddenly points a finger.“You! I recognize you. You’re the hunter’s daughter,” he says, his tone laced with suspicion.
LUCIANAs I watch Ingrid sparring with Aiden from my window, it feels like a knife is being twisted deeper into my chest with every passing second.I see her laughing as she blocks one of his attacks, and he grins like she’s the only person in the world.I wanted to believe her about him being her friend, but Aiden’s words kept echoing in my head like a broken record: “She might be your Luna, but only one of us has claimed her.”At first, I didn’t believe him, especially after how he manipulated Ingrid by making her rush to his side like I was the villain in their love story. I knew something was off.So I did the only thing I could. I investigated.I started with Ezra’s former pack members, and luckily, wolves tend to remember everything in detail.They told me stories, too many stories for it all to be coincidence.How Aiden used to have a girlfriend, Audrey, and how everyone in the pack knew that something changed when Ingrid arrived.Later on, Audrey confronted Ingrid in public th
INGRID."What are you doing here, Ingrid?" Lucian growls, his eyes burning a dangerous shade of red."I came to check on Aiden, and it seems I arrived just in time," I snap, rushing toward them."Let him go," I command.Lucian’s grip tightens for a split second before he yanks Aiden away and steps back."Ingrid, he just came in and started attacking me, saying that I'm lying," Aiden pleads, wiping the blood off his mouth with the back of his hand.I stand tall and face Lucian head-on, my hands trembling with fury."Is this what you meant when you said you were going to talk to him?" I ask, my voice sharp and accusing. "What if he’s not lying, Lucian? Have you even considered that he might be telling the truth?"Lucian says nothing. His jaw clenches, his fists tightening at his sides as his gaze darts between Aiden and me."What kind of Alpha attacks an injured pack member without even giving him a chance to defend himself?" I press on, my voice rising.I keep taunting him, pushing him
LUCIAN"Open the door," I order, my voice sharp, cutting through the silence of the dimly lit hallway.The guard in charge of Aiden’s cell obeys and steps aside as the heavy metal door creaks open.Inside, the stench of blood, sweat, and damp stone clings to the air.Aiden is seated against the cold wall, his head resting on his knees. He looks like a man with nothing left to lose.At the sound of the door opening, he lifts his head slowly his dark unreadable eyes meeting mine.I step inside and signal for the guard to give me his chair. He hands it over without a word and I place it directly across from Aiden, the legs scraping loudly against the stone floor as I take my seat.I rest my forearms on my thighs and study him for a bit before beginning my interrogation."I thought it was about time we met," I blurt, keeping my tone neutral.Aiden smirks, sitting upright, his body language too relaxed for a prisoner facing his Alpha."So," I begin, cutting straight to the point, "what exa
LUCIAN.Ezra and Ingrid arrived at my study, their expressions grave as they settled into their seats.I leaned back in my chair, crossing one leg over the other, and listened in silence as Ezra finished recounting Aiden’s story.When he finally concludes, I let the weight of his words settle over the room before exhaling sharply."Do you believe him?" I ask, my gaze locked onto him.He hesitated, his eyes flickering toward Ingrid for a brief moment before he finally nods."I don’t see how he would have lied about all that," he mutters.I turn my attention to Ingrid, who is now sitting there, staring blankly at the floor, her expression distant and haunted. Probably because of the possibility that her brother, Logan, might be dead."Ingrid," I call, but she didn’t respond.I frown, narrowing my eyes. "Ingrid!" I call again, louder.Her head snaps up, and I instantly notice her watery eyes, as if she had been on the verge of tears."Do you believe Aiden?" I ask, wanting to hear her ans
INGRID.The only reason I was there, taking care of Aiden, was purely out of guilt. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.I had avoided the infirmary for days, especially after hearing him whisper that he was sorry.That single word had sent my mind into a spiral, making me question everything.Why was he sorry? Had he told Silas where I was? Had he given up my location, which meant that at any moment, Silas could come for me, and worse, for the pack?The possibilities made my stomach turn. Hence, I kept my distance, and watched from afar, hoping someone else would step in and take care of him.But no one did. Not even Audrey. She must have hated him after he dumped her.So, I stepped up, because no matter what Aiden had done, one thing was undeniable, if it weren’t for him, I would still be out there, alone.A lone wolf, still wandering, and struggling to survive.He had given me a home, a pack and a chance to be something more.So when Ezra and Lucian walked into the infirmar
LUCIANEver since I got back, my mind has been unsettled.Aiden is still unconscious, and that fact alone makes my nerves coil tighter with each passing hour. I need answers.I need to know exactly what happened in Shadow Ridge and, most importantly, how the hell he escaped."Why is he not awake yet?" I demand, my voice sharp as I stare at the nurse standing before me in my office.She shifts uncomfortably, her hands clasped together."He seems to have a head injury," she replies, her voice tinged with concern.I narrow my eyes. "I want him awake," I order coldly. "Go figure out something."The nurse nods quickly, not daring to argue, and scurries toward the door.As soon as she’s gone, my gaze snaps to Ezra, who is seated across from me, his expression tense."What did he say when he was brought in?" I ask, leaning back in my chair.Ezra exhales heavily. "He didn’t say much," he mutters, rubbing his jaw. "Just called for Ingrid, and that was it.My muscles tighten, and I straighten,
INGRID.A week has passed, and people are still talking about my cake.I didn’t expect it to be such a big deal, but now, every time I pass through the compound, someone stops me to ask when I’ll be baking again.It’s almost comical how something so small can bring people so much joy.But to be honest, I don’t mind because it made me feel normal again. Like I still have a piece of my old life left. So, I decided I’ll be baking for them whenever I get the chance.As for Lucian, he hasn’t been around the past week.I overheard Ezra telling some pack members that he was away, handling “personal business,” but I knew that was a lie.I noticed Victoria was gone, too, and it didn’t take a genius to put two and two together to figure out they were together.At first, it bothered me, and I hated that it did.I thought something shifted between us that day on the field and back at that kitchen, but clearly, I was the only one who felt something.Now, I am seated on a bench, watching Ezra play w
LUCIANAs I watched Ingrid storm off the training field and disappear into the house, I felt something heavy in my chest.With a frustrated sigh, I grab my shirt from the ground, slip it back on, and button it up one by one.I feel the weight of the pack’s stares before I even lift my head.Irritation flares in my chest, and I turn. “What the hell are you looking at?” I growl, my voice sharp and heavy.They scramble, diverting their gazes as if they weren’t just openly gawking at me.“Go back to training. Now!” I bark.The murmurs die down, and the clanking of fists against flesh and grunts of exertion fill the space again.I exhale, rolling my shoulders.Should I go after her and make sure I didn’t hurt her? I think to myself, but something inside me pushes the thought away immediately.She’s a fighter. She doesn’t need me running after her like some desperate fool.Instead, I decide to focus on something productive, but after just a few steps, I run into Victoria.I see the anger bef
INGRIDTHUD! I bang the door shut behind me, my breath coming fast, my hands shaking.The air in my room feels heavy, like it’s pressing down on my chest, making it impossible to think straight.With a frustrated sigh, I reach up and untie my hair, letting the strands fall around my face. My fingers thread through it as I try to calm my racing heart, but it’s useless. The memory of what just happened refuses to leave me.“What was that?” I mutter to myself, pacing across the room, my bare feet making soft sounds against the wooden floor.I squeeze my eyes shut, but it only makes the memory stronger. The way our chests collided at one point, his breath against my skin when he whispered in my ear, and the warmth I felt on my skin whenever he touched me. I groan and kick my bed in frustration, which is a big mistake.“Fuck!” I gasp, stumbling as pain shoots up my leg. A tear spills down my cheek, caused by this stupid, self-inflicted injury.I sink to the floor, clutch my foot, and blow