As soon as Miss Anne leaves the room, I feel the silence close in around me. The fire crackles quietly in the corner, casting flickering shadows on the walls, but the warmth does nothing to ease the tension simmering under my skin. I glance at the door, my mind racing.This is my chance.I don't care how many guards they have outside or what twisted reasoning that Alpha thinks justifies keeping me here. I'm not about to sit around waiting for them to decide my fate. My fingers itch with impatience, just as I look at them. The pain has gone completely, making me raise my eyebrows in surprise, having no idea that it would heal me completely. I sigh to myself, being glad that I don’t have to worry about the pain anymore and press forward, tiptoeing toward the door as silently as I can manage.Opening the door with my elbow since I have no where to clean this paste off my hands, I peer in the hallway. It is beyond is empty, the soft murmur of voices filtering through from somewhere in the
The steam has barely cleared from the mirror when I step out of the shower, wrapping the white towel around myself as I take a deep breath, feeling at ease after the shower. The fresh scent of soap clings to me, washing away the dirt and sweat, but I know the relief is temporary. In the end, a clean face won’t change the fact that I’m still trapped here, a rogue at the mercy of the Raven Moon Pack...I step into the small room I had been secluded in and glance down at the pile of clothes Miss Anne left for me—a basic top and black sweatpants, simple and practical, with a pair of underwear and a free-sized bra. At least they'll be able to fit my d-cup, usually that could be a problem but I'm glad Miss Anne was considerate enough to bring something that would fit me... I sigh to myself and slip into the clothes, being struck by how strange it feels to be… comfortable. This isn't usually my style. After so long on the run, I’ve grown used to discomfort. I’ve learned to ignore the ache of
I blink at him a few times, letting his words reiterate in my mind. And once they do, I can’t help the reaction I give him. I burst out into laughter, the sound sharp and unrestrained in the otherwise heavy silence of the room. But as I look back at him, I meet his cold, furious glare, immediately making my smile slowly die down.“Wait, you’re serious...” I ask, still chuckling but less humourlessly now, and as my eyes meet his, I realize he is serious. His expression remains the same—unflinching, carved in cold stone.“In the few years I’ve been Alpha... I have not come across a single female capable of angering me yet intriguing me at the same time,” Alpha Octavius explains, his voice low and measured, each word like a calculated strike as he tilts his head at me.The amusement drains from my face as his icy gaze stays locked on mine. My body tenses, bracing for the impact of whatever else he has to say. His presence is oppressive, like a storm closing in, and I can feel every nerve
I'm running.The wind rushes against my face, cool and sharp as I sprint through the woods, my bare feet barely skimming the ground. My wolf stirs, not fully awake but lingering just beneath the surface, her restlessness pushing me forward. The afternoon light filters through the trees, its warm glow dancing and twisting through the leaves and branches, but I don't stop. I can't.He let me go.I can't believe it. It makes no sense. But as the scent of pine and earth fills my lungs, I force myself to focus. I don't care why Octavius let me leave. I don't care if it was some twisted mind game, some strange test of will. All I care about is putting as much distance as possible between me and that packhouse…Branches snag at my clothes, scraping against my arms, but I ignore the sting, my eyes scanning the forest for an opening, a path, anything. I push myself harder, faster, letting my instincts guide me.But then, something shifts.It's subtle at first—a faint tug, a pull in the pit of
I’m hauled back into the pack house, my wrists aching from the grip of the three men dragging me like a sack of meat. Their laughter grates on my nerves, smug and full of condescension, as if they’ve won some great battle. I thrash, jerking my arms in an attempt to break free, but their grip only tightens.“Let go of me!” I snap, my voice echoing in the hallways of the house.Akande doesn’t even flinch. “Keep fighting, rogue, you're only tiring yourself out.” he says, his voice dripping with sarcasm.Lucas chuckles. “Yeah, do yourself a favour and save your energy. You’re not going anywhere.”I snarl at him, baring my teeth like the wild animal they seem to think I am. “You’d better hope these hands don’t heal too fast, or I’ll show you exactly where you went wrong...”“Oh, I’m terrified,” Lucas shoots back, smirking as they finally stop in front of a heavy wooden door. “You’re all bark, rogue.”I thrash harder, planting my feet as best I can, but Rafe seemingly tired of all my fighti
The night air hits me like a slap as Miyuki leads me out of the pack house and toward the gathering grounds. The moon hangs heavy in the sky, its silvery light illuminating the crowd assembled ahead. I can hear the low murmur of voices, the restless shuffling of feet, and the occasional growl cutting through the stillness.They’re waiting for me.Miyuki walks a step ahead, her movements stiff as she walks with her back straightened. She doesn’t say a word, but the occasional side-eye she throws my way says enough. She hates this as much as I do, though for entirely different reasons.As we walk through the ground, I notice how people bow their heads out of respect for her, acknowledging that she is the Gamma. She has authority, I'll give her that, and though I'm starting to hate her, she somehow reminds me of my sister, and what she could've been when she became an Alpha, what I could've been as well if I was ever in a position of authority...I shake the thoughts of her away, not wan
…A few years ago…The ground beneath me is cold, damp, and unforgiving. The leaves overhead shift with the wind, whispering secrets through the forest that I can't bear to hear. I pull my knees closer to my chest, the thin blanket wrapped around me doing little to keep the chill away. My stomach aches, empty and hollow, but I ignore it. Hunger is a constant companion now, one I've learned to live with.The remnants of my old life cling to me like ghosts. The screams of my pack members still echo through my mind, everything is still so vivid, so painfully clear and no matter what I do I can’t seem to shake the feeling. I remember the warmth of the fire in our packhouse, the laughter that used to echo through the halls. I remember my father's strong hands, my mother's kind eyes, the way my sister would steal my hairbrush and laugh when I chased her down to get it back…But those memories feel like another lifetime now.Because that life is gone—burned and buried beneath the ashes of my
The early morning sun gleams softly overhead as Miyuki leads me down a dirt path that opens onto the Raven Moon training grounds. My first impression? Sweat, grunts, and tension hanging through the cool morning air.Rows of pack members are locked in intense drills, their bodies moving in sharp, coordinated bursts. Some spar hand-to-hand, their strikes fast and brutal, while others shift mid-movement, their wolves snarling as they tear into padded dummies designed to withstand claws and teeth.It's all so... rigorous. Precise. As if every move is rehearsed down to the last detail.And yet, I chuckle to myself."Something funny?" Miyuki snaps, her sharp tone breaking through my thoughts.I shrug, a smirk tugging at the corners of my mouth. "It's cute, watching them try so hard. Almost like they think this is life or death…”She stiffens beside me, her jaw tightening as her eyes dart toward me. "They're warriors, rogue. Something you wouldn't understand…”"Warriors?" I repeat, my smirk
The words leave my mouth before I can fully process them."I need to activate my Lycan gene."The moment the sentence hangs in the air, it feels like everything around me stills. The cold wind nips at my exposed skin, and even the distant rustling of the trees seems to fade into silence.Miyuki sucks in a sharp breath beside me, and Lucas' brows shoot up, his usually impassive face betraying the faintest flicker of surprise.But it’s Octavius I watch the most.He doesn’t react the way I expect him to. He doesn’t argue, doesn’t try to tell me I’m insane. He just watches me, his icy blue gaze locked onto mine, studying me in a way that makes my stomach twist."Are you sure?" he finally asks, his voice low and calm.I swallow hard. "Yes..." nodding my head a few times.I expect my voice to waver, but it doesn’t. It’s firm. Steady. Because this isn’t a decision I’m making lightly."If I’m going to find my sister," I continue, "if I’m going to stop Lucien and Lilith, I need to be stronger.
I wake with a start, the morning light streaming through the windows of Octavius’s room. For a moment, I don’t recognize where I am. Till I do. The warmth of the sheets, Octavius’ powerful scent, the soft hum of the packhouse—it’s all so foreign…Then it hits me.Last night. The battle. Victor. Lilith. The chaos that left our pack battered and bloodied.And then Octavius, insisting I move into his room.I sit up slowly, the sheets slipping off my shoulders, and glance around. The bed is massive, far too large for one person, and yet it felt oddly comforting last night. But now, it feels empty, cold even, without him here… Where is he?I reach out through the mindlink. “Octavius?”There’s a brief pause before his voice filters through, calm but clipped. “I’m outside. I didn’t want to wake you. Take your time coming down.”His words are gentle, but I can sense the weight in them, the tension that hasn’t eased since the attack.I swing my legs over the side of the bed and stand, stretch
K A I D AThe air feels heavier than usual as I walk back to my room, exhaustion tugging at every inch of me. The events of the day replay in my mind like an endless loop—the battle, the chaos, Lilith’s power, and Victor’s escape. My body aches, but my mind is worse, spiralling with questions and uncertainties.All I want is to collapse onto my bed, even if sleep feels like a distant dream at this point. But when I push open the door, I stop dead in my tracks.Two pack members are inside my room, rummaging through my things. One is folding my clothes into neat piles while the other packs my books into a crate. My wolf stirs uneasily, her growl low and cautious.“What the hell is going on here?” I demand, my voice sharp as I glance between the two intruders.Both wolves freeze like deer caught in headlights, their eyes snapping at me. One of them—a younger male with sandy hair—clears his throat awkwardly. “Luna Kaida,” he begins hesitantly, “Alpha Octavius instructed us to—”“To pack m
K A I D AThe aftermath of the battle is like stepping into a nightmare. The ground is littered with debris, splintered wood, broken weapons, blood staining the ground in dark patches. Wolves, both in human form and not, are scattered everywhere. Some are limping, others clutching wounds as pack members do their best to help them. But the silence is the worst part. That suffocating, heavy silence that follows chaos…Ten people. Ten of our own, gone.I stand frozen, my eyes darting over the scene, my wolf whimpering inside me at the sight of the carnage. My gaze flicks to a pair of warriors carrying a lifeless body toward the infirmary, and my throat tightens.They were alive only minutes ago. Fighting beside us.The weight of it all presses down on me, and for a moment, I struggle to breathe. The air feels too thick, my chest too heavy."Kaida," Octavius says sharply, pulling me out of my spiralling thoughts.I glance at him, startled. He’s pacing, his movements jerky and uncharacteri
Kaida blinks awake, her vision swimming as she tries to make sense of the blurry shapes around her. Her body feels heavy, like every muscle has been drained of strength. The scent of blood, ash, and damp earth clings to the air, forcing her to remember the chaos of the fight.Lilith… this was her doing…“Kaida.” Octavius’s voice is the first thing she hears, rough but steady. She feels his hands gently lifting her, his touch both firm and careful. “Hey, look at me. Are you alright?”Her head throbs as she tries to focus on him. His blue eyes are locked on hers, filled with concern, his face streaked with dirt and blood. “I… what happened?” she rasps, her throat dry.“You blacked out,” Octavius replies, helping her sit up slowly. “Lilith hit us with… something….” His jaw tightens as he glances around. “It was like nothing I’ve ever seen before. One minute, we were holding our ground, and the next…” He trails off, frustration etched into his features.Kaida’s mind races as fragments of
The battlefield erupts into chaos once again. Growls and snarls rip through the air as claws clash and bodies collide. The scent of blood and earth fills the battleground, heavy and suffocating.Cole charges at Victor with relentless determination, his golden eyes blazing with fury. Each movement is powerful and precise as he lunges at his opponent. But Victor is quick, effortlessly dodging Cole’s strikes, his mocking laughter cutting through the fight. “Is that all you’ve got?” Victor taunts, dodging another of Cole’s attacks with infuriating ease. His voice carries the same smug arrogance as his smirk.Cole’s jaw clenches, his focus never once shifting. “You won’t be laughing when I’m done with you,” he growls, his fists glowing faintly as his wolf surges forward. Lilith, standing nearby, watches with a predatory gleam in her deadly green eyes. Her white hair flows behind her, an extension of her body and her lips curl into a wicked smile. In one smooth motion, she inserts herself
He walks forward, his steps delayed, his shoes crunching against the ground beneath him as if he owns it. Victor steps into the open with ease, his hands clasped behind his back as if he’s on a leisurely stroll. His shirt, once a crisp white, is now streaked with blood... evidence of his recent handiwork. The faint metallic scent wafts toward us, sharp against the backdrop of burning wood and scorched earth.“Well,” he begins, his voice smooth as silk but carrying the edge of a blade, “isn’t this a lovely gathering?" He lets out. Victor... But how did he get out...?"I warned you my father wouldn’t leave me to rot in some dingy cell. And yet, you still underestimate me... A shame, truly.” He lets out, a sinister smile playing on his lips.There is tense silence that dwells in the atmosphere, sending the remaining pack warriors on edge, their growls low and vibrating through the battlefield. Octavius steps forward, his eyes locked on Victor with a cold fury, his fists clenched at his
The night air bites at my skin as we step outside, the chaos of the attack unfolding before us. Wolves clash in the clearing, snarling and snapping as they fight tooth and claw. The Raven Moon warriors move like a well-oiled machine, their training evident in the way they cover each other’s backs and hold the line.But something feels wrong. Off.Octavius stands beside me, his eyes scanning the battlefield with a sharp, calculating gaze. He’s tense, his shoulders rigid as if bracing for something worse. “This isn’t it..” he mutters under his breath, his voice barely audible over the noise.“What do you mean?” I ask, my own instincts flaring as I try to pick up on what he’s sensing.“They’re holding back,” he says, his jaw tightening. “Lucien wouldn’t send this many wolves just for a distraction. There’s something else...”As if on cue, a figure steps into the clearing, her presence dark, and drawing the attention of everyone around her. The wolves, pull back at the sight of her, each
K A I D AThe next few minutes are a blur of movement and preparation. The packhouse comes alive with activity, warriors rushing to their posts and securing the building. The air is thick with anticipation and it's almost suffocating, but I can't lose focus. They're here. They're here for him. Victor... And I can't let have him.The first place we go to is the cells, where he is being kept. Octavius and I move together, a team of warriors behind us as we make our way through the hallways. Outside the cells, in the distance, I pick up peculiars sounds, sounds that put me on edge, more than I already am. Snarls, growls, and the unmistakable sound of wolves running. They're getting closer. So we need to move, fast.When we reach the cells, Samson and Miyuki are already there, along with several other warriors. Victor sits in his cell, looking far too smug for someone in his position.“Well, this is exciting,” he drawls, leaning back against the wall as if he doesn’t have a care in the wo