HERO POVFour days. Four endless days of trudging through thick mud, swatting away swarms of insects, and enduring the gnawing hunger that constantly threatened to consume us after we exhausted most of our food. It was a journey that tested our resolve and pushed us to our limits. I couldn't help but wonder why Glinda, with her incredible magic, hadn't simply whisked us away to her den. After all, she had done so effortlessly the first time. My question, however, was met with a chorus of disapproving glares. Now, as we finally stumbled upon her den, hidden deep within the heart of the woods, I understood.Glinda hadn't been expecting any of us at all.“What in the blaze is happening here, Finna? Did you all drive here because you can all just drive right back.” Glinda snarled, and tried to slam the door shut, but Walker stuck his foot in at the last minute, and opened it up. Walker, his grin as wide as the Texas plains, stepped in first. "Howdy, Glinda! Long time no see!”The witch dr
HERO POV"Quknquk quk..." A strange sound came from the window. At first, I was startled, but then I realized it was just a bird."We showered and joined the others downstairs. Sabrina and Hana were deep in conversation, their voices hushed as they flipped through a stack of books spread out on the coffee table. Zara, ever curious, tried to appear nonchalant about what they were discussing, but I saw the way her eyes kept darting towards the books. My wolves, seemed restless from the lingering magic in the air, paced around the room, mirroring Walker's own unease. Zara, seemingly aimless and tired of trying to understand what Sabrina and Hana were discussing, wandered towards the bookshelves, her fingers tracing the spines as if searching for something.”In the room next door, Finna and Glinda were having a heated argument. It was difficult to understand what they were saying because they were both speaking very loudly and quickly."Okay, so tell me about Finna and Glinda," I began, c
ZARA POV"Hey..." Sabrina began, tilting her head slightly, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. She hesitated, then pointed a finger vaguely towards my head. "Uhmmm, you still have some blood in your hair."I blinked, a little confused. Sabrina wasn't usually one for subtle hints. "Blood?" I echoed, reaching up a hand to instinctively touch my scalp. My fingers brushed against something gritty and… yeah, definitely dried blood. "Oh, wow. Thanks."Sabrina's expression shifted, a hint of amusement spreading across her face. "Almost looks like you've been having fun," she teased, but her tone was light.I chuckled, a wry sound. "Fun? You could say that. It wasn't exactly a picnic." My mind flashed back to the night before. The group of rogue wolves, bold as brass, had actually breached the witches' territory. It was a chaotic mess, fur flying, snarls echoing through the night. We'd managed to drive them back, eventually, but not without a few scrapes and bruises."I showered,
ZARA POV"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh," Sabrina breathed, her hand fluttering to her chest. "You scared us half to death! You were crying so hard, and nothing we did seemed to help. We tried everything! I was so worried. And then," she paused, taking a deep breath, "I've been trying to get you to just sit up for a few minutes now. Honestly, I was starting to panic. I was afraid, I mean really afraid, that the magic...that it was hurting you." Her voice trailed off, her eyes searching yours. "Are you okay? Can you tell me what happened?”I reached up and wiped my face with the back of my hand, but it came away wet. "Oh gosh," I mumbled, my voice still a little shaky. "I'm so sorry. I... I don't usually..." I trailed off, searching for the right words. "I've never really talked to my wolf like that before. I mean, really talked. And honestly," I admitted, a small, nervous laugh escaping my lips, "I don't think I've ever talked to anyone like that before."I took a deep breath, trying to comp
ZARA POVMy heart hasn't stopped thumping since Finna dropped that bombshell. Sabrina, bless her, didn't waste a second. She immediately summoned Glinda. We left Finna and Hana back at the den, and even though Glinda had grumbled a bit about being able to help, she still transported us instantly to where Tristan's body was.The clearing by the river was peaceful, almost restful, which made seeing him there even more jarring. He was lying so still, so unnaturally quiet. I bit back a sob, trying to be as quiet as possible, and ran to him. The crimson stains on his clothes, on the ground… it was everywhere. My breath hitched. There was just so much blood. And... and he wasn't breathing. I couldn't feel a pulse. Panic clawed at my throat. "Tristan?" I whispered, my voice trembling. "Tristan, can you hear me?" I reached out a hand, hovering over his arm, afraid to touch him, afraid of what I would find. "Please," I begged, my voice cracking. "Please, Tristan, wake up."“Tristan…” I whisper
ZARA POVI crouched down, my nose practically touching the damp earth, after sniffing for almost an hour, I shifted back to my human form. "Okay," I murmured to Sabrina, who was hovering anxiously behind me. "Let's see what we have found.”I took a deep breath, focusing on the scents I had perceived in my wolf form. Hero's scent was unmistakable, it had pine needles and something uniquely...him. His wolf's scent was there too, musky and strong. I recognized them both instantly. But the others... that was the tricky part. I wrinkled my nose, trying to isolate the different smells. "Ugh," I grunted. "There are at least three other scents here, maybe more. I don't recognize any of them."Sabrina moved closer. "Does that mean...Elliot was with them?”I nodded grimly. "It's highly likely. I can't be sure without recognizing the scents, but it makes sense. He wouldn't miss an opportunity… he is mostly the one who had them captive."This was all a new territory for me. I'd never actually tra
ZARA POV"Walker, you need to shift. I can't just leave you here injured, and we can't leave her either. I'll help you heal faster if you shift. What's her condition?" Sabrina glanced back inside the cage, her brow furrowed with concern."Physically, she should be fine if she shifts. It'll help her heal too. But mentally... She's not good. Really not good." He winced as he tried to shift his weight, groaning softly."What do you mean? Is she scared? Traumatized?” Sabrina questioned."Worse than that. She's... lost. Like a part of her is gone." Walker explained. Sabrina turned back to him, her eyes searching around. "Lost? How? What happened?”“I have no idea either, why don't we go find out from her…”We headed towards the cage stepping inside, and there she was. Curled up in the corner, naked and shivering. Georgia. I recognized her from Elliot Settlement. Bruises, old and new, marred her skin. Cuts criss crossed her arms and legs. Dirt clung to her feet, her fingernails filthy. Whe
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
ALPHA KING GRANTThe big wooden doors of the pack house creaked as I pushed them open. Another trip, another empty feeling. I sighed, a long, heavy sound that seemed to fill the quiet hallway. Since I was fifteen, I've been searching. Fifteen! That's a long, long time. I'm the Alpha King, which means I'm in charge of all the werewolf packs. I got this job really young, and now, well, I'm almost a hundred years old. And still, no mate.Everyone around me has found their special someone. My friends, my warriors, even the cooks in the kitchen! They all have their mates, and it makes me feel... lonely. Really lonely. When I turned fifteen, I took a whole year off. A year! I traveled all over the world, visiting every pack I could find. I was so excited. I imagined finding her, my mate. I wanted to give her everything, make her happy, love her with all my heart. I wanted to spend time with her, not just work all the time.But I didn't find her. Not that year. I told myself, "Maybe she's to
ADRIANA POVThe heavy oak door groaned, resisting the frantic assault of Harold’s shoulder. Finally, it splintered inward, a testament to his desperate strength. He stumbled into the room, the air thick with the stench of metallic blood. His gaze, wild and searching, fell upon his brother, sprawled lifeless on the blood-soaked rug.A strangled cry escaped Harold’s lips. He staggered towards the body, his knees buckling beneath him. "No... no!" he choked, his voice raw with grief. "Henry,"Trisha, her face pale and drawn, followed close behind. She gasped, her eyes widening at the gruesome scene. "Oh Goodness," she whispered, her voice trembling. "What… what happened?"Harold, his hands trembling violently, reached out to touch his brother's cold, lifeless cheek. "Henry," he moaned, the word a guttural sob. "Who did this?”He slowly looked up at me, his eyes blazed with fury. The world seemed to tilt. Then, a burning pain exploded across my cheek when he slapped me. I recoiled, dizzy a
This is the story of Alpha prince Grant and how he found his mate. THE ALPHA'S REJECTED MUTE MATECHAPTER 1ADRIANA POVAfter making breakfast for the Luna of the Diamond Pack this morning, I headed back to my room. A big smile spread across my face as I glanced at the calendar hanging on the wall of the room given to me at the pack house. Each ticked-off day on the April calendar brought me closer to my special day. Today was finally the 28th of April, my eighteenth birthday! I couldn't contain my excitement.Turning eighteen for most wolves is a big deal. It's when we usually shift into our wolf forms for the first time and meet our inner wolves. I'm even more excited than most, because I've been Mute since I was born. I had been like this since I was a baby, wrapped in the arms of my dead mother. She had been killed by a pack of lone wolves. Lone wolf...A lone wolf is a wolf that lives and hunts alone, outside of a pack, they don't belong to any Pack. This can happen for various
ZARA POVGrant finished his meal, a happy little mess of baby food smeared around his mouth. Hero, with a gentle smile, lifted him into his arms. "Okay, little man," Hero said, his voice soft, "tell Daddy all about your day."Grant, in response, let out a series of excited baby noises, a mix of gurgles and happy babbling. He waved his tiny hands, as if trying to tell a grand story that only he understood. Hero chuckled, bouncing him lightly up and down. Grant's laughter filled the room, a sweet, pure sound that made my heart melt.I couldn't help but smile. It was like watching magic happen. Before, Hero had been so unsure, so worried about being a father. But now, seeing them together, it was clear he was a natural. Grant absolutely adored him. His eyes lit up whenever Hero was near, and Hero, in return, spent every free moment with his son.Every time I saw them together, Hero had this big, open smile. It was like he'd found something he never knew he was missing. It was a smile tha
ZARA POVONE YEAR LATERThe bright summer sun streamed through the window, making the dust motes dance in the air. A warm breeze carried the scent of freshly cut grass, and the sound of birds chirping filled the garden. Inside, the living room was a cheerful chaos of baby toys and soft blankets.Kristina was sitting on the plush sofa, her eyes wide and sparkling as she cradled Grant in her arms. He was almost a year old now, a chubby little bundle of joy with big, curious eyes. He gurgled happily, reaching out tiny hands to tug at Kristina's bright pink shirt."Oh, he's just the sweetest thing!" Kristina sighed, her voice full of pure adoration. "Look at those eyes! And his little hands! He's absolutely perfect."I smiled, leaning against the doorway. "He is, isn't he? He gets those eyes from Hero.""And that hair! Just like Hero's too," Kristina added, gently stroking Grant's soft, dark curls. "He's a mini-Hero. You're so lucky, Zara. I swear, if I wasn't your best friend right now,
HERO POV"Hero..." Zara's voice, usually so strong, trembled. She clutched her stomach, her face paling. "Hero, I... I think my water broke."My breath hitched. "What? Are you sure?"Her eyes, wide and filled with a raw, primal fear, locked onto mine. "Yes! I'm sure! Oh, it hurts, Hero. It hurts so much!"She swayed, her legs buckling beneath her. I reacted instantly, leaping forward and catching her before she could fall. "Zara! Hold on, hold on.”"Oh, it's coming, Hero. It's really coming!" she gasped, her voice thick with pain. "It's… it’s like a fire inside.""Jeremy! Guys! We need help!" I yelled, my voice cracking with urgency. "Now!"Instead of the swift, coordinated response I expected, they walked towards us. A wave of cheers erupted, and my eyes widened in disbelief. Jeremy and the others stood there, beaming, holding bottles of sparkling wine and brightly colored balloons. "Congratulations, Hero! Congratulations, Zara!”They started clapping, oblivious to the chaos unfoldin
HERO POVMy hands were shaking. I mean, really shaking. I tried to smooth down my shirt, but it didn't help. I was standing right in front of the place. We had put up lights, flowers, everything. It was supposed to look like a dream, the kind of place you see in movies. I had spent all day, every single minute, trying to make it perfect. I wanted it to be just right for Zara.I took a deep breath. It didn't do much. My heart was pounding like a drum. I kept thinking, "What if she doesn't like it? What if it's not good enough?" I looked around again. We had hung little lights everywhere. They twinkled, even though it wasn't dark yet. We had put up her favorite flowers, the bright yellow ones. I had even gotten some special candles that smelled like vanilla, her favorite."Man, you look like you're about to jump out of your skin," Jeremy said. He was standing next to me, trying to look cool. He always looked cool. I wished I could be that calm."I'm nervous," I admitted. "Really nervous
ZARA POVI felt so much better. My body was strong again. Hero had taken care of everything. He made Paul and Alvira tell everyone what they did. The whole squad saw it, even Kira. They told the truth about trying to hurt me. Because of this, my father was going to lose his position as Alpha. He was in big trouble.But we had a big problem. We couldn't tell everyone about the mountain. It had too much magic. If other packs found out, they could use it for bad things. So, we all agreed to keep the mountain a secret.I knew Mascold wasn't happy about us leaving the mountain because they were torn between the fear of letting their secret out. Paxton and his mate tried to talk to us then and we had refused. I felt glad I had turn them down because right now, I was walking back into my old house to confront my father finally. It should have been my home, but it never really felt like it. I walked tall and proud. No one dared to touch me.I wondered why. Maybe they knew Hero was my mate, an
HERO POV"Are you alright?" I asked again, my voice low. I looked at her wrists, at the marks left by the cuffs, and at the rough collar around her neck. A wave of anger washed over me, a hot, burning feeling. Even though Weston was gone, I wanted to hurt him again, just for touching her like this. How could anyone do this to her?She blinked slowly, her eyes looking tired. "Yeah," she whispered, "I'm... I'm okay." She paused, her eyes fluttering. "But... I think I'm going to faint.”And then, just like that, she went limp in my arms. I felt a surge of panic. "Zara!" I called, but she didn't respond. I held her close, carefully lifting her into my arms. She was so light.I walked out of the cabin, the wooden floor creaking under my boots. The night air was cool, and the moon was bright, casting long shadows. I held Zara tightly, my heart pounding.Suddenly, I heard a soft rustling sound from the trees nearby. It was a subtle sound, like leaves moving, but my senses were sharp. I stopp