ZARA POVThe icy night air nipped at my exposed skin, jolting me awake. An unexpected shiver ran through me as I pulled my arms tighter around myself, my teeth chattering uncontrollably. A faint rustling sound from the cage caught my attention, and I slowly turned around. To my surprise, I was alone, except for Katrina, the other female in the group. She was staring at me intently, her gaze fixed on my face. I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease creeping over me.“Zara, the woman who'd been nothing more than a fleeting encounter, a one-night stand Hero despises so much.” she uttered and a wave of shame washed over me, a crimson tide staining my cheeks at her statement.She grinned, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You've got a real knack for taking a joke," she remarked, her tone light and playful. "That's a huge weight off my shoulders.”“I appreciate your sense of humor, but I’d prefer if we kept our conversation focused. I’m not sure jokes would be appropriate in this situati
HERO POV"Humans?" I echoed, my gaze fixed on Kristina. "You think people are actually living in the heart of a Brute rogue mountain?""Yes, we believe so!" Zara snapped beside her. "And since I was the one who smelled them, I don't think you should be directing your questions at her. I realize it's a bit odd, but they're not wolves. They smell... different, I guess. I don't spend a lot of time around humans, so I'm not the best judge of normal."Growling, I spun around and glared at her. She didn't flinch. "And you thought it was the smartest thing to do? You thought tracking that smell on your own was the best decision?"“Yes, Hero. I thought it might be prudent to see why I was having such strange smell. I mean, you don't want to tell me why you are here in an unknown environment searching for… what on earth are you even searching for?” She questioned. Jeremy, sensing the tension in the air, let out a low growl from his spot beside her.But we had discussed it that they stopped ca
ZARA POVHero's face wasn't the only one frozen in shock. We all stood there, our mouths agape, our eyes wide with surprise. The tension in the air was palpable, and my inner wolf stirred, eager to react. But I held her back, reminding myself that we didn't need to resort to violence just yet... I was about to say something, ask questions that wouldn't stop dangling in my head."H—" I began, but the petite blonde woman raised an eyebrow, cutting me off. "Obviously, the witches here knew you were coming," she said, her tone matter-of-fact. "They have names, but they couldn't see why you were here. They just knew you needed a little guidance. You all can shift into your wolf form if that makes you feel safer around us.”Hero shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. "You have seers among you? I've heard tales of such gifted individuals, but I've never had the privilege of meeting one.”"I suspect that you will be meeting this one, but not today and perhaps not on this particular
ZARA POV"I don't care what went down out here," Olga grumbled, his eyes narrowing. "But my rules are simple: don't touch a single thing or break a single thing. My work is fragile, understand?”.” Olga pointed grumpily.The wolf healers I knew were known for their gentle touch, their soothing words, and their calming presence. They worked with a delicate precision, their hands moving with a quiet grace. But Olga was different. There was nothing gentle about him. His gruff voice and heavy footsteps echoed through the room as he stormed back inside, leaving us to wonder what had upset him so.Jason winked at me before speaking. "He's a big teddy bear deep down," he assured me. "You'll be fine. Just don't take anything he says too seriously." He paused for a moment, then asked, "Do you think you can find your way back on your own, or would you rather I stick around and wait?”"We don't need a bodyguard," Hero said, his voice sharp. But Jason, with a stubborn glint in his eyes, continued
HERO POV"Hero, you're full of surprises," she said, her voice flat and emotionless. "I thought my father and Weston had already filled you in on everything you needed to know about me. But now you only care because Olga thinks you hurt me. Don't you dare pretend to care, because you don't.”“I do care. I am your__” I cut off before I said the king part. “I do care about you.”"No," she insisted, her voice a fragile whisper. "You don't care. Everybody knows that I'm Zara. Your most despised one-night stand." Her voice cracked, a contrast to the bravado she'd tried to muster.Olga returned before I could press on the issue. I paid close attention to the instructions on both the salve and the morning sickness medication. Watching him rub the stuff on her leg made my wolf howl with fury, but I just clenched my fist into a tight ball and stood still.I knew I couldn't do anything. Not now. Not yet. I had to wait for the right moment, the perfect opportunity. I had to be patient, to bide m
HERO POVWhen we got there, we saw Boston and Tarrant arguing over where to sleep. There were two places to stay: one for the wolves and one for the humans. Kristina seemed to be in charge of making the final decision, and I thought she was right to have picked this particular spot for us.The cabins were much easier to protect than the wolf dens. They were sturdier and had fewer entrances. Inside each cabin, there were two beds, so we had to pair up. Tarrant and I shared one cabin, Boston and Jeremy shared another, and the three women shared the last one.Afterward, we returned to the main house for dinner, where Olga awaited us. With a humble bow, he apologized for any inconvenience his earlier actions might have caused. "I neglected to remove the charms before your arrival," he explained. "I've taken care of that now and will keep them away throughout your stay."After a moment, I bowed my head and accepted his apology. It seemed plausible enough, and as far as I could tell, the on
ZARA POV‘And the baby.’ His last words echoed in my head refusing to fade. Instantly, my hand went down to my stomach and I closed my eyes. Of course he knew just what to say to make me go with exactly what he wanted. Wolves of great strength could take power, but it took intelligence and manipulation to keep it. “I already told you, my wolf and I don't have a connection. I've tried everything, but my wolf and I aren't compatible by any means. It's like we're from different worlds.”“I don't understand. Can you break that down for me?" he asked."It's pretty simple, really. People say you can talk to your wolf form when you're human. But I can't do that. I can't talk to her when I'm a wolf, either. She can't reach out to me. I try my best to control her, to speak to her but she won't even respond.”Hero's reaction to the revelation was unexpected. Instead of confusion or horror, he simply studied me with a thoughtful expression. His lips pursed as he pondered the implications. "Boo
ZARA POVThe sun's harsh light sliced through the grimy window, rudely announcing the start of another day. I stirred, my eyes slowly adjusting to the brightness. A familiar pang of loneliness washed over me as I realized I couldn't feel Hero's presence in the room.I rolled over, my heart pounding with so much dread. There, sprawled across Hero's bed, was Kristina. A menacing glint caught my eye - she was sharpening a long, wicked blade. The fear that had begun to creep in intensified. Any lingering jealousy I might have felt about her presence in Hero's bed vanished instantly.“Do we have a problem, Kristina?” I asked warily as I sat up."It's just that you're female," she sighed, her breath misting in the cold air as she continued to hone the blade in her hand. "I'm next in line after Jeremy. I should be out there with the others, tracking prey, and proving my worth. But instead, I'm stuck here, babysitting you because he doesn't trust any of the other male wolves to be alone with
ZARA POVAnger surged through Hero, his eyes flashing with a dangerous light. But the witch remained defiant, showing no fear. I quickly placed my hand on his arm, stopping him before he could act. “You didn't come here just to seek vengeance,' I reminded him calmly. "You wanted answers – to understand why this terrible thing happened to them.”"I do not have the sight," she said, a hint of bitterness in her voice. "But one thing's certain – no one ventures into these mountains without a purpose. Maybe you can still find a way to get your revenge, or perhaps you'll discover something even more valuable. I can only offer you safe passage to your next destination.”"I've been injured a few times on our journey, even inside their camp. I think my blood might still be there. If you take some of my blood, could you use it to track where I've been?”Before I could say another word, she grabbed my arm. Suddenly, a knife flashed in her hand. “Just so you know,” she hissed, “It's an incredibly
HERO POV"I think the route we're taking is probably the best option. We have already reached the highest point, but I believe we should veer more towards the east than the west. Paxton Marcua is closer than Stephen's location.”The pull to the west was strong, an undeniable force tugging at every bone in my body. Yet, a nagging doubt lingered, a puzzle piece refusing to fit. Zara's voice cut through my thoughts, "Is everyone aware of these packs?”“Sure. They have been around for ages. You can't really explore the mountain without having to deal with them, why?”“What about the humans who aren't humans?” They have been awfully vague about going to see Paxton. If everyone knew of the packs, then so should they. Why didn't they give us directions straight to Stephen?The amulet suddenly glowed intensely white, and I immediately stopped. “Oh no,” Cyrus whispered under his breath. “There's a powerful surge of magic ahead and to our left.”“And to the right?” I questioned.“Still magic, b
ZARA POVMy wolf, usually not confident, shivered at the mournful sound. Fear, cold and sharp, began to prickle my skin. I knew I had to take control, and quickly. My body began to change, muscles flexing and bones shifting. Everyone else instinctively stepped back, giving me the space I needed. Cyrus, however, seemed lost in his own fear and pain. For a moment, the strange, uncomfortable feeling of my body transforming seemed to distract him from his own distress."Listen, we can't go this way," Cyrus said firmly. "Wolves come through this area, and they never come back. It's too dangerous.”"We have two things that will help us here," Hero said, his voice serious. "First, we have the amulet. Second, we have you. You can feel magic, and that's a powerful skill. Together, we can find our way through this place.”"No way," Cyrus declared. "I'm not going into that place and risk angering some angry wolf spirit.”The ground shook violently, and I squeezed my eyes shut. It wasn't just an
HERO POVWe left a few hours later. Cyrus had spent the night as a wolf, and we were hoping that being a wolf would help his body get rid of the serum. Unfortunately, it seemed like the drug had also affected him as a wolf.I began to doubt my initial assessment of his wolf. Perhaps I had overestimated its strength. But such thoughts were pointless now. The damage was done. Elliot had made it unmistakably clear that we had pushed him too far by making decisions he had nothing to say about. He wanted us gone by morning, and there was no turning back.Boston was walking on his own with a limp but he wasn't at full strength. Zara’s wolf was right at the surface, but she wasn't taking full control. Kristina was still pissed. In the end, we were all a fucking mess, but we kept a tight formation and didn't run into any trouble as we worked ourbway towatds the mountain. At noon, we had shaken off the wolves that Elliot had sent to watch us, until we had reached the river. I was truly reliev
HERO POVMy eyes narrowed, but before I could speak, a loud shout erupted from the cabin next door. I quickly ran towards the sound and flung open the cabin door. As I did, I saw Jeremy and Tristan standing there, both looking flustered. They were pulling a young teenage boy along with them, who seemed scared and confused.I was completely confused and yelled, “What's happening?” But instead of answering, Jeremy threw the boy at my feet.“We caught him breaking into our cabin.” Jeremy responded.“Why don't you fuvk off and suck some dicks. It's my cabin not yours.” The boy murmured, his words slurred. I knelt down, gently grasping his chin. I looked into his eyes, which were dilated and wide."Elliot!" I yelled, my voice booming through the air.The boy instantly flinched, his hands shooting up in a gesture of surrender. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! No need to call him. We're fine here, really.“Then I demand to know what you were sneaking around doing in our cabin.” My voice was sharp, and the
ZARA POVHe pressed his lips to mine, a forceful kiss that demanded a response. As he did, the length of his arousal pressed insistently between our bodies. I couldn't resist. My body softened, yielding to his. My breasts flattened against his chest as he moved against me, a primal dance of desire."I want you to know," he whispered, his voice low and intense, "that when you're like this, when you're so wet and eager for me, you're mine. You're my good girl. Don't hold back, Zara. Let it all out. Scream. Let everyone here hear you. Let them know that you belong to me. That I'm taking you with me. You're mine. And oh Goodness, you're so tight. Keep squeezing me like that. Don't stop.”With trembling legs, I struggled to remain standing. Hero strong arms pulled me close. I leaned heavily against him, grateful for his support as he guided me towards the bed. My knees gave way, and I collapsed forward, a sharp cry escaping my lips as his weight bore down on me. He paused, a low growl rumb
ZARA POVHis lips smashed against mine in a bruising kiss.My heart pounded in my chest like a drumbeat as he leaned in, his breath warm against my skin. My toes curled, and I instinctively reached up, my fingers tangling in his hair. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to stop, to pull away. I knew this was a terrible idea, a reckless move that could only lead to heartbreak. Yet, I was frozen, unable to move or think. The tension in my body was unbearable, as if I were about to shatter into a million pieces. I couldn't escape the fear, the pain, the overwhelming confusion that consumed me.But at this moment, I craved his touch.“Did you think of this when he asked you to stay?” Hero snarled, breaking the kiss and tearing my shirt open. “Did you wonder if he could touch you the way I do?”His fingers dug into my side, a painful reminder of his presence. My breasts were naked to him, begging for his touch. All I could think about was the way his lips felt on my skin, the way they m
HERO POV"She said what?" I muttered to myself, my mind racing. ‘He's not fit to be a father?’ What the hell does that even mean? I couldn't help it as her words kept replaying in my head. I frowned, my gaze following her retreating figure. The way Elliot looked at her wasn't just lust or desire; it was something deeper, something almost reverent. It was the kind of look a starstruck fan gives their idol, the kind a lovesick puppy gives its owner. It was adoration, pure and simple.Zara was a beautiful woman. Here, she would be something new and exciting. The news that she was pregnant clearly didn't bother him. I thought he would get pissed about it and reject her but judging from the children running around in the camp, he was ready to welcome a baby. He was ready to be with her and father the pup. “You're growling again,” Jeremy sighed, his voice laced with weariness. "Tristan is not thrilled about being dragged all the way from Boston to track down Zara, either.”“Nobody should
ZARA POV"Oh, I apologize for startling you like that," the young man said, his voice laced with a hint of amusement. "We haven't had the pleasure of meeting. I'm Elliot." He offered a friendly smile, his eyes twinkling with warmth.“Hey, I'm Zara, I just wanted to say thanks a bunch for saving me out there. I heard all about what you did, and I really appreciate it.”"That was a joint effort," he said, his gaze sweeping across the cabin. "I gave Hero a radio, only to realize I'd given him the one with a dead battery. Luckily, I was able to get back quickly. Does your healer need anything? Mine's back, so she could lend a hand if needed.”He hunched his shoulders and ducked his head, making a conscious effort to appear smaller and less imposing. He stopped a safe distance away, his hands tucked into his pockets. It was a gesture of respect I'd never witnessed from another man. Even Hero, when he'd mistaken me for a vulnerable soul hurt by Weston's rejection, hadn't gone to such length