The moment I step into the hallway, I see him. Octavius moves with the same power and confidence he always has, his shoulders squared, steps purposeful as he walks away from me. I hate how natural it looks on him. Like he owns every space he walks into. The way his back muscles flex with every moves leaves me gulping as my heart suddenly drops. Get it together damn it. "Octavius," I call, my voice sharp enough to stop him mid-step just as I walk after him. He slowly turns, his icy blue eyes meeting mine, and for a split second, I swear they flicker with something else. Something darker as his gaze sweeps over me—my fitted jacket, my combat pants, my dark, glossy hair falling in waves down my back. His jaw tightens just slightly, almost imperceptibly, but I catch it… "What is it, Kaida?" he asks, his voice calm, but I can tell he’s on edge for some reason, and part of me wants to figure out why. I walk up to him slowly and the closer I get, the more I notice the way his eyes t
Inside the Tyro Packhouse, the tension doesn't ease. If anything, it feels heavier, the walls of the main building closing in as we're guided into a large meeting hall. My mind can't stop replaying what just happened... Octavius defending me in front of not just the Tyro Wolves, but his pack members as well. He was protective, possessive, and from the way he spoke, he sounded like he wasn't going to let anything happen to me.It leaves me confused and frustrated with him. I feel conflicted about how he's making me feel. I can't deny the strange attraction I feel towards him, no matter how much I try to fight it, and I don't know how long I can go on like this... I bring my attention back to what's happening around me. The Tyro wolves lead us forward, alpha Darian at the head front with what I assume is his Beta and Gamma, a few other wolves walking beside them.Alpha Octavius follows after them just as I remain close to him, with Samson, Miyuki, Lucas, Akando and Rafe close by as wel
The moment I step out of that conversation with Darian, my body feels like it's wound tighter than a spring. His words linger in my mind, not because of their hostility—he was surprisingly... nice, almost too nice—but because of the subtle undertone I caught. Like he knew something about me that he wasn't saying. And then there was Octavius, walking in at the end, looking like he wanted to tear the world apart. What the hell was that about? I exhale sharply as I rejoin the others in the pack's common room. We have lunch which is surprisingly pleasant despite the lingering tension. The Tyro wolves move about the space, mingling and chatting, but I can feel their gazes still shifting toward me now and then. Judging. Weighing. The air feels heavy, and I can't stop glancing toward Darian and Octavius, who are now huddled together near the back of the room, deep in conversation. Miyuki appears at my side just as I turn my attention to her, her arms crossed as she leans against the wal
I shake my head firmly, my jaw tightening as I think of my family, how they were slaughtered in front of me. "We weren't all killed," I say, my voice sharper now. "I survived..."Darian tilts his head, studying me with an intensity that makes my skin prickle. "If you're the last surviving member of the Xarano pack," he says slowly, "then you have Alpha blood running through your veins. The other packs need to know you're alive."My stomach twists, and I step back, shaking my head. "No," I say firmly. "I'm not interested in anyone knowing. And I sure as hell don't want anyone deciding what that means for me."Darian frowns slightly, but there's no malice in his expression. "It's not about what you want, Kaida," he says carefully. "It's about what you represent. The Xarano name is still respected and has power, whether you like it or not. The other packs—""I don't care about the other packs!" I snap, my voice rising. I turn to Octavius, my anger boiling over as I direct it to him for e
After leaving the woods, Octavius doesn't follow me. The rest of our visit at the Tyro pack goes well and they once again reaffirm their support in finding Lucien. This should be a good thing, finally being one step closer to finding the man responsible for killing my family, but my mind is nothing but a sea of confusion...All because of Octavius.I kissed him...And the worst part is, I absolutely loved it...The drive back to the pack is awkward and filled with tension between him and I. The car is filled with chatter with Lucas, Miyuki, Akando and Rafe conversing casually with each other, but Octavius and I are the only ones silent...Once we get back the pack, the tension doesn't cease.The moment we arrive, I bolt. Not literally, but close enough. I practically power-walk my way to my room, keeping my head down and refusing to meet Octavius's gaze. If he even looked my way, I didn't notice—or rather, I forced myself not to notice.I slam the door behind me and lean against it, l
The hallway is eerily quiet as I step into it, my footsteps echoing against the polished wooden floors. My chest tightens with every step I take, and for a moment, I question what the hell I'm even doing.What am I going to say to him? What can I say to him?I stop walking, letting out a frustrated breath as my mind races. I don’t even know where his room is and what if he’s not even there? I’m probably just in over my head…But before I can turn back, his scent hits me—clean, sharp, cool, and distinctly Octavius. It's stronger than it's ever been, intoxicating, and it pulls me forward like some invisible tether.I glance down the hallway, my eyes landing on the large double doors at the very end. The ones Miyuki told me not to worry about…Of course.That must be where his room is.As if to confirm it, his voice cuts through my mind, smooth and commanding: "Come to me… Now."I freeze, my breath catching in my throat.My eyes dart around the hallway, half expecting to see him standing
The faint buzz of voices filters up through the floorboards as I tug on the last strap of my gear. My combat jacket fits snug, the leather smooth against my fingertips as I adjust the cuffs. I catch my reflection in the mirror—fierce, ready, yet beneath it all, there’s an ache I can’t ignore.I hate this feeling. This restlessness that has nothing to do with the battle ahead.Octavius.The name alone sends a rush of something through me. Anger, frustration, longing—all twisted together in a way that leaves me completely off balance. Last night’s moment keeps replaying in my head, his voice, his hands, his… everything.I shake my head sharply. Focus. This is not the time.I run my fingers through my freshly tied hair, letting the ling ponytail fall neatly down my back. I take one last look at myself before heading out, determined to bury whatever emotions are bubbling inside.The sound of voices grows louder as I descend the stairs, my boots clicking against the polished wood. The pack
My wolf stirs beneath my skin, restless and unhelpful as ever as I stand right in front of Octavius. Every logical part of me says to stay out of his way, let him focus on the mission, but I can’t. Not when Miyuki’s words are still ringing in my ears. "Octavius has chosen you.”I keep my eyes on him as I try to think of how to respond to question. He remains calm, but his eyes give him away. He’s studying me too closely, like he’s trying to figure out why I haven’t stormed off yet...“Yeah, actually,” I say, crossing my arms. “What the hell is going on? Why is everyone acting… weird around me?” I ask him. Though I pretty much already know the answer, I want to hear it from him.His brow lifts slightly, almost like he’s amused. “Weird?” “You know what I mean.” I snap. “Miyuki said something earlier about them feeling it. About you choosing me...”His lips twitch, a faint smirk breaking through the calm mask he always wears. “She’s not wrong.” “What the hell did you tell them?” I
Miyuki watches him as he paces, his golden eyes clouded with turmoil, and her chest tightens. She’s seen wolves fall apart before; under pressure, under grief... but there’s something about seeing Cole like this, someone who has carried himself with such confidence when they first met, that makes it hit harder. Her instincts scream at her to step in, to do something, anything, to help him. But what could she possibly say to a man whose entire world has just been turned upside down?“Cole, try to calm down,” she says softly, her voice much more stable than she feels. She takes a small step toward him, unsure if she’s even doing the right thing, and it makes him react almost immediately.“How?” he snaps, whirling to face her, his voice cracking with emotion. “How am I supposed to calm down, Miyuki? I worked for the man who killed my family. Who slaughtered my entire pack!” He raises his arm up, pointing it to nothing in particular, as if to signify Lucien is out there, exhaling sharply
For a moment, the world seems to stop.Cole’s eyes snap to hers, wide and unblinking, and for the first time, she sees the cracks in his cocky façade. The smirk is gone, replaced by something raw and vulnerable, something that cuts deeper than she expected. She finds her heart thumping in her chest, anxiety and guilt filling her body... she didn't expect to feel this bad after telling him the truth...“What?” he says, his voice barely audible, bringing her attention back to the present. A small frown slowly forms on his face and his gaze focuses on her.Miyuki hesitates, her chest tightening as she tries to find the right words to say, the best way to say them...“I’m sorry,” Is the first thing she can muster, her voice quiet and steady despite the storm brewing inside her, taking a few careful steps toward Cole. “But it was him. He ordered it...”Cole doesn’t move, doesn’t speak. He just stares at her, his golden eyes searching hers for any hint of a lie. When he finds none, his sho
Miyuki doesn’t trust Cole.She’s not entirely sure if it’s because of his overly casual demeanour, the sly way he talks, or the fact that his golden eyes seem to linger on her longer than necessary. The way they analyse her, taking in every one of her features... It sends warning bells in her mind, and leaves her unable to think clearly. The question is why, especially for someone she just met... an enemy for that matter. Whatever it is, it irritates her to no end.She remains alone in the room with Cole after everyone has left, her heart suddenly racing as she keeps her eyes on him. She keeps her arms forward as she stares back at him, watching as he takes a few curious steps towards her.The faintest smirk plays on his lips when he notices her walking toward him, and Miyuki feels her irritation spike. She squares her shoulders, forcing her steps to remain steady and controlled, though she can feel her wolf stirring in the back of her mind.Cole watches her approach, his golden eyes
“Lucien has your sister, Korra,” Cole finally says, and for some reason, a weird sense of relief washes over me. It's the moment I realise he has actually been truthful in everything he's been explaining.I remain still as I look back at him, keeping my arms crossed as I frown at him, taking in his words. Those around the room who had not yet heard the news, all turn to look at me, their expressions filled with shock and surprise.As I remain silent, Cole steps forward cautiously, his golden eyes locking with mine. “It’s not just that,” he continues. “The reason your pack was massacred… it wasn’t random. Lucien believed your pack was hiding Lycans. He believed that you, your parents, and your sister were Lycans...” He explains further and the room falls into an eerie silence as everyone’s eyes shift between Cole and me. Finally, I am able to break my gaze from him and instead turn to the person standing next to me.Octavius’s gaze meets mine, his expression hard yet somehow gentle at
I can’t keep still. Every second feels like torture as I try to get a grip on reality, my racing mind. Thoughts and scenarios collapse over each other. Thoughts of my sister, she has been all this time, how she's been living, how she's being kept, what has Lucien been doing to her...The idea that she is even still alive churns inside me, a volatile mix of hope and dread, causing my heart to thump at an abnormal rate as I struggle to contain my anxiety. Victor’s words haunt me, playing on repeat in my mind, and the necklace he pointed out feels like it’s burning against my chest...Is she really alive? Could he be telling the truth?My fingers twitch at my sides as we walk through the hallways of the packhouse. Octavius strides ahead of me, his steps purposeful and focused as he leads us forward. Samson and Miyuki flank him, their faces calm but focused as they both remain silent. Lucas is behind us, ever the carefree one, though even he seems more serious now.I follow, my gaze shift
“As much as I want justice, and revenge for how they destroyed my family, I want things to be done the right way... I don’t want any lives unnecessarily lost. We have to be careful. We don’t have to play the way they do, where countless innocents die. And that’s what will happen if we rush into this.” He answers me quietly, opening his eyes to finally look at me, his voice calm again as he stares back at me.His words hit me like a wave, and for a moment, the fight drains out of me. I look at him, really look at him, and I see the weight he’s been carrying—the same weight I feel crushing my own chest...“Please,” he says, his voice soft as he looks at me, and listening to him ask me, makes my heart flip, creating a softness in my that I never even knew existed... “I’m asking you to trust me on this. And I promise you, Victor and Lucien will get what they deserve...”I stare at him, my mind racing. His words make sense, but my emotions are too raw, too overwhelming to process it all ri
Octavius tugs me out of there with such speed, I barely have time to react. In a matter of moments, we are out of Victor's cells, our footsteps echoing down the hallway as he continues to pull me forward.“Octavius, wait,” I protest, trying to tug my arm free, but his grip doesn’t falter and instead he continues to move forward with a quickness I can't keep up with.“Not here,” he snaps, his tone brooking no debate as he continues leading me down the dimly lit corridor.My mind races, Victor’s words still swirling like a toxic fog in my head. But all I can do now is follow Octavius, his presence both grounding and unnerving as we leave the cells, and Victor’s taunts, behind us.I barely wait until we’re out of the cells before yanking my arm free from Octavius’s grip. My blood is boiling, my mind spinning with Victor’s words, and my frustration with Octavius hits its breaking point.“Octavius, stop!” I snap, my voice sharp enough to echo down the hallway. He freezes for only a moment,
The words sink in as I stare at him. Victor’s smirk twists something deep inside me as I finally convince myself that what is he is saying is actually true.My sister is alive.The necklace... He’s telling the truth. He has to be. My knees feel weak, and for a moment, I think I might collapse at the weight of this revelation.“Korra…” I whisper her name like a prayer, a plea, a desperate hope that this isn’t some cruel game Victor’s playing.Victor leans back against the wall, his satisfaction practically radiating off him. “Now you’re starting to see it, little Luna,” he drawls, his tone mocking but sharper, more dangerous. “But I can’t tell you everything all at once. Where’s the fun in that?” He ends up laughing and once again, I'm sent over the edge.“Stop playing games!” My voice cracks as I step closer to him, threatening to pick him off the ground just like Octavius did. “Where is she? What have you done with her?” I yell at him, my voice echoing through the hallways of the ce
I feel like at any point now, my feet may no longer be able to support my support. As if the things Victor is telling me couldn't have any more shock factor, he drops the final bomb.My sister...He claims she's alive... and he has her..."Another lie... y-you're lying..." I find my voice cracking as I fail completely at keeping myself together. That seems to give him some sort of satisfaction as his eyes glint with excitement."Am I?" He cocks his head slightly as he maintains his gaze on me."Tell me, Kaida... do you ever remember seeing her body... or did you just assume she was gone like the rest of your family...?" He asks and I fail to answer him. The more I think about that day, the more I remember that I didn't see her die... instead, I did as she told me and ran. I saw my parents, Jace, the rest of my friends and family get slaughtered, but before I could see what happened to Korra, I was out of there..."Octavius, you seem to believe me, don't you, cousin?" Victor asks. My e