ZARA POVThe shadows around the giant oak tree danced and shifted, teasing our eyes. A moment later, the mystery behind our curiosity was solved. Delilah and another woman emerged from behind the tree's massive trunk. They circled the oak, their gazes fixed on its towering branches. Spotting us, Delilah's face lit up in a warm smile. She waved us over. "Kristina, Zara," she introduced, "I'd like you to meet Jenny, our very own tree experts.”"Tree expert?" I repeated, my eyebrows raising in surprise. "You're a doctor for trees?" I shook the young blonde's hand, my grip firm. "That's...quite an unusual profession.”“That’s exactly right,” she laughs. “I keep an eye on them and help out when I can. It’s a shame, really. This old oak tree probably won’t be around much longer. You see those new shoots growing out of the trunk? That’s a sign that it’s not doing well. And all those leaves on the ground? That’s another clue. It’s likely to be attacked by beetles.”"Is there anything you can
HERO POVWe were back from the hunt, laden with two elk, a deer, and a bounty of fish from the river. The townsfolk lined up to meet us, eager to receive this small gift we offered.Kristina, ever cheerful, walked beside me, her face lit up with a bright smile. Zara, however, kept her distance, her expression somber as she clung to Delilah's side."This is absolutely incredible!" Jason exclaimed, his eyes wide with excitement. "We can't thank you enough for this generous gift. It's more than we could have ever hoped for.”I didn't just want to say thank you. I was curious. I wanted to explore the edge of the village, to see what really lay beyond the boundary. Maybe there were hidden dangers, like wolves. But we didn't see a single one. It was almost like magic.While the carcasses were carried away, Zara stared at me stonily but I ignored her before turning to Delilah’s direction. “I would like to speak to your resident before we leave. See if he or she has some foresight into this j
ZARA POVWe spent eleven long hours climbing the mountain, but we didn't see a single wolf. As soon as we reached the top and stopped, I changed back into human form and shivered from the cold. My wolf self was enjoying her freedom a little too much, and I was struggling to keep her under control.Tabitha shifted with me as we got dressed. Pulling the cream from my backpack, she pointed at my knees. "I think your knee is starting to hurt again, isn't it? You should have let him just dislocate it so it could heal properly.”I plopped down on the worn wooden log, the rough bark biting into my skin. As I settled in, I took the cool cream and rubbed it into my sore, aching knees. "Said by a woman who's never been under the hands of a man," I muttered, a wry smile playing on my lips. The warmth of the cream began to seep into my joints, easing the tension. A sigh escaped my lips as the pain started to subside. "I can't imagine willingly letting another man break a bone in my body," I added
ZARA POV"Watch your back, Tabitha warned, her voice low and urgent. "The wolves are coming." I huddled closer to the dying embers of the campfire, my heart pounding in my chest. Through the dense fog, I could just make out the trees swaying and parting, a dark, ominous shape emerging from the mist.Suddenly, a wolf burst through the flames, landing with a loud thud in the middle of the fire. "Boston!" I yelled, shocked and scared. I rushed over and grabbed his paws, pulling him out of the fiery pit. I frantically tried to beat out the flames licking at his fur. Boston groaned in pain, his eyes squeezed shut."He's not dead yet," I rasped to Tabitha, my voice barely audible over the roaring inferno. My palms throbbed with pain as the flames licked at them. With a grunt, I ripped off my shirt and used it to smother the fire. The crashing sound outside grew louder, echoing through the smoke-filled room.The silence stretched out, a heavy blanket settling over the clearing. No other wolv
HERO POVI stood frozen, my mind a whirlwind of confusion. Tabitha and I were the only wolves left standing, the rest either injured or fallen unconscious. A split-second decision hung in the air: pursue after Zara, who the creature had captive or stay with Tabitha and the wounded group. I knew I couldn't abandon them, their lives hanging by a thread. It was a decision that weighed heavily on my conscience.Though, I couldn't bear the thought of that creature taking Zara away.“I will try to get them conscious. You need to go.” Tabitha said, her voice filled with urgency. "You need to leave now. We'll follow your lead."I hesitated, rooted to the spot."Dammit, Hero!" Tabitha exclaimed, frustration evident in her tone. "You have to go. If that creature meant to harm her, it would have done it already. Don't let it take her away. Bring her back. I'll protect everyone here.”Letting my wolf take over, I turned and raced after Zara. The thing that took her was fucking bigger than it shou
HERO POVElliot gave me a strange look. “Wait,” he said, “are you two actually together?'”I hesitated on what to say before I finally shook my head, and then he gave me another curious glance. “We don't have a leader around here,” he explained. “I mean, we're not a big enough group to be called a pack, and I wouldn't want to be in charge of one anyway. I prefer it this way. We're more like a community. We all look out for each other.”My wolf was restless, pacing back and forth in my head like a caged animal. Elliot's earlier confession had him all riled up. I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong, even as we approached the building, all I wanted to do is to punch something really bad.Elliot opened the door and stepped inside, and I followed close behind. My eyes were drawn to Zara, watching the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. I felt a strange sense of unease, a primal instinct warning me that something wasn't right.The cut she sustained was still oozi
ZARA POV"Zara, you need to stay down. Don't make me kill you," Katrina said loudly.I desperately tried to yell, 'No, I'm not trying to hurt you!' but the words caught in my throat, swallowed by the suffocating fear that gripped me. I was trapped. An invisible cage surrounded me, my own panic a suffocating weight. I couldn't reach my wolf, couldn't control her. Helpless, I watched in horror as she lunged at Kristina again. There was a sickening crunch, a spray of blood, and Kristina's shriek echoed through the room. She slammed into the wall, like a limp doll.“Enough!”Hero's voice boomed through the cabin, making my wolf whimper and shrink to the ground. This was my opportunity. I had to act fast. With a burst of excitement, I lunged towards the chasm. But it was like running into an invisible barrier. I couldn't get through.Painfully, I bounced back. Hero leaned closer, his voice a hushed whisper, “Can you walk?” He asked Katrina, his eyes, intense and unwavering, held mine capt
ZARA POVHe wasn't expecting me to answer that question. I would not admit to what I had desperately been trying to hide since the first time he touched me, and I certainly wouldn't be admitting it because my fuvking wolf boxed me in. It didn't really matter anymore. My body was speaking for itself, loud and clear. I had finally gained some control over my physical being, but it was a strange, unfamiliar kind of control. I couldn't easily direct it, or make it do exactly what I wanted because___It was his. I was his. When the wolf-looking monster had snatched me away, fear was all I felt. I'd faced many torturers before, but they'd always been somewhat restrained by my father. He couldn't have a dead daughter in his hands. The scandal would be unbearableThe moment the monster had thrown me to the ground. As I lay there, I thought I would never wake up again. He was unlike me. I had limits, I had responsibilities now, I had a life to return to. But the monster? He had none of that.
HERO POV"You've been quiet," I murmured, my gaze locked on hers. I reached out and gently brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. "Something on your mind?"She met my eyes, a flicker of something I noticed like – shyness? anticipation? – crossing her features before she offered a soft smile. "You're very confident," she replied, a playful glint in her eyes. "You think you can just… make me… you know…”I chuckled, a low rumble in my chest. "Is that a challenge?" I teased, my fingers tracing the line of her jaw. "Because I'm more than happy to accept. I'm not just going to make you come, darling. I'm going to make you moan my name. I'm going to make you tremble. I'm going to make you forget everything but the moment. Like I always do," I added, a slight hint of playful arrogance in my voice.Cupping her face in my hands, I leaned in, my breath ghosting over her lips. "But tonight," I whispered, "tonight is going to be different. Tonight, I want to show you… I want to show you wha
HERO POVThe weight of the last four hours pressed down on me. Four long hours of so many question, of whispered confessions, of horrified gasps. Talking to everyone who had lived under Elliott's rule had been… draining. Most of them genuinely hadn't known what he was doing. They were shocked, horrified, some even physically ill at the revelations. Their faces, that of disbelief and disgust, while we explained what Elliot had been doing.Others… Well, others tried the "I didn't know" routine. But a wolf can't lie. Their inner animal betrayed them, the tell-tale flick of an ear, a nervous shift of weight, giving away their deception. And then there were those who admitted they knew, their eyes filled with a weary resignation. "What could we do?" they’d asked, their voices barely above a whisper. "He was too powerful.”A burning rage flickered inside me. I wanted to expose some of them who worked hand in hand with him, and punish every single one of them who had turned a blind eye. But
HERO POVWater splattered on the floor between Finna’s legs, and she stared at me in horror. “What am I going to do? Paxton isn't even here. He should be here for this._” she yelled in pain with a groan escaping her lips. “What the fuck, Finna. Paxton is definitely not my concern right now. I thought you were still a month out from your due date?” I would never had fucking agreed for her to come along if I thought she was going to give birth in the middle of all this.“I am,” she responded, her breathing coming out in gasp.I winced at her pain. "Easy, Finna. Breathe. This isn't the time to panic."“But it's happening! I can feel it!” she groaned, her voice trembling.She moaned, her voice trembling. "It hurts! It hurts so much!”I roared again, and everyone came running. Glinda took one look at Finna, paled, and disappeared. Sabrina and Hana coax a stressed Finna out of the kitchen into the living room while Zara raced around getting supplies she was told to get. "She's going to be
ZARA POV"I honestly... I'm sorry, but..." I began, the words catching in my throat. I was about to explain why I couldn't continue with the breaking of the curse to get back my bonds, but the sound of Hero's voice stopped me."Zara," his voice boomed from behind me, deep with worry. I closed my eyes, the weight of his concern pressing down on me. He was terrified for our child, and rightly so. If I passed this curse or not having bonds on to them... I couldn't bear the thought. I had to try everything, no matter the cost to myself. Even if it meant facing certain doom, I had to try."Alright," I finally said to the witches, my voice trembling. "One last try.”“Hey, we are not doing it today. I think it's going to take a lot of energy, and we don't want you too weak. So I would like you to have the day to rest, and I still have some ingredients to prepare properly. And, frankly, I think we are going to need Glinda. I would advise that no one brings up anything that has to deal with Ba
ZARA POV"I told you no, Sabrina," Glinda's voice echoed through the house, firm and steady.Sabrina sighed dramatically. "But why? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! It'll be huge, I promise. Bigger than anything we've ever done."Glinda scoffed, "Bigger? You mean more danger? More of my life on the line? I've already sacrificed enough to protect this mountain. I'm done playing hero for your thrill-seeking escapades.”"But Glinda," Sabrina whined, "you know how much I need this. It's a career-defining moment for me if you agree to go...""My own career is protecting this place," Glinda retorted, "not being your personal stunt double. And frankly, I'm starting to think you only call me when you need a chauffeur to help you in your little games. Forgetting how you drive off in a blaze of glory, leaving me to clean up the mess."Sabrina bristled. "That's not fair! You know I appreciate you. You're the best.”"The best at what?" Glinda asked, her voice rising. "The best at risking
HERO POVWhen I walked back into the room, I could smell Zara all over the place but she was nowhere to be found. “Zara,” I called out, while keeping my voice very gentle. “Hey, you can come out… it's fine, our pup is fine.” I uttered as calmly as possible. Silence. Then, a rustle under the bed. Her wolf emerged slowly, tail tucked, head low. Fear still clung to her. I sat on the floor, extending a leg towards her. She hesitated, then crept closer, her fur bristling.I reached out, my touch gentle. "There you are," I murmured, stroking her head. "It's okay, good girl.”She relaxed slowly, leaning into my hand. I closed my eyes, inhaling the scent of her fur, the woodsmoke, the lingering fear.I further stroked her fur and her head softly until I could feel her relax. "Sabrina's upset with me," I confessed, my voice a low rumble. "She thinks I'm ungrateful. That I don't appreciate you rescuing us. But that's not true at all. Back in that cage… I realized how much I wanted to live. To
HERO POV"What do you mean by she's not breathing?" I yelled, my voice cracking. "She has to breathe! Check her again! Use your magic, do something, anything!" Frustration swelled inside me, hot and suffocating. "Please, I don't want to lose Zara," I spluttered, tears I didn't know I was holding back streamed down my cheeks.Sabrina looked at me, her face etched with worry. "Calm down, Hero. I know you're scared, but you need to stay calm. It's crucial." She gently placed a hand on my shoulder, her touch surprisingly soothing. "Thank goodness she was already shifted in her wolf when it happened. Her wolf form is incredibly resilient. Her magic is protecting her, shielding her core. Her heart is still beating, and she's still breathing, though shallowly. The problem is that the excess energy of the electricity within her is building up, threatening to burn her from the inside out.”I wiped furiously at my face, the tears blurring my vision. "Burn her? What do you mean 'burn her'?"Sabr
HERO POV"I want you to kill Georgia," Elliot said, his voice low and dangerously even. "Right now. And I mean right now. I want you to film the entire thing. Every. Single. Fucking. Second. I want that stupid little brat, Cyrus, to see exactly what happens when someone betrays me. Make sure he understands the consequences when he watches it."He clicked the radio off, then on again immediately, his eyes carefully fixed on the small speaker as if he could force a response through sheer willpower."Kerry, can you hear me," he barked, the controlled anger starting to fray at the edges of each second.The only sound was the continued static, a mocking hiss in the tense air.He tried again, his voice rising. "Rendell? Wesley? Santos? Someone fucking answer me!" He slammed the radio down on the table, the plastic casing groaning under the impact. His breath came in ragged gasps, the frustration boiling over. He paced the room, like a caged animal, the silence from the other end of th
HERO POV"Fuck… fuck," I muttered, annoyance bubbling up inside me. I winced as I tried to shift, the chains biting into my wrists. The sight of Jeremy, bleeding heavily on the cobblestones, was a sickening reminder of our predicament, Kristina was strung up to the wall in chains on both hands. Beside me, Walker's cage stood empty, a chilling giveaway to their brutality. They'd dragged him away, unconscious, leaving me alone with the buzzing electricity that crackled through the bars."Tristan?" I whispered, my voice hoarse. My bond with him, though weakened, still throbbed with life. He was alive. But Walker… I felt nothing. No connection, no reassurance. Panic clawed at the edges of my fear. Was he…"We have been betrayed," I breathed, the word tasting like ash in my mouth. It was the only explanation for how we all ended up. They'd been waiting for us by the river, their ambush perfectly timed. Even through the haze of the drug that had washed over me, I'd overheard fragments of th