The afternoon passed in a twinkle of an eye, of clinking metal and beads of sweats poured around my face. Ezra had a way of making even the dullest tasks feel bearable, his humor and easygoing nature contagious. Maya occasionally chimed in with her sharp wit, and the three of us fell into a comfortable rhythm. "Okay," Ezra said, holding up a particularly wicked-looking dagger. "What’s the story behind this one? It looks like something out of a horror tale." Maya peered over his shoulder. "That’s one of the older ones. Probably belonged to one of the pack's scouts back in the day. Dominique loves keeping relics around—says they’re good reminders of our history." Ezra raised an eyebrow, flipping the blade in his hand. "A reminder that they didn’t have proper weapon care back then? This thing’s duller than a training blade." I laughed despite myself, setting down a spear. "Careful, Dominique might hear you and decide to make you the ‘reminder.’" Ezra grinned, sliding the dagger back
The days passed with a strange rhythm, each one marked by training sessions, strategy meetings, and whispers of escalating rogue attacks. I kept myself busy, avoiding Kael’s absence as best I could. His duties had consumed him, and despite my earlier resolve not to let his silence bother me, I found myself glancing toward the door every now and then, hoping to see his figure step inside. Instead, it was Sophia who always seemed to be there. Her air of authority and unshakable confidence was almost suffocating. She didn’t need to bark orders like Kael or charm others like Dominique. Alice simply existed in a way that demanded respect—and, more often than not, irritation. The tension between us had been simmering ever since the attack, but it boiled over one afternoon while I was helping Dominique organize the equipment in the training hall. "Careful with that," Sophia said, her voice cutting through the air like a blade as I reached for a stack of newly forged daggers. She stood i
“Astrid, tell me you didn’t drink from that cup?” He asked, his eyes widening. “How did you know about that?” I asked in return, “you haven’t been here for that long, how did you know about the ritual?” Ezra’s gaze faltered, he looked back at the table avoiding my face, his hands trembled on the table as he snatched it up placing it on his thighs under the table. “Ezra?” I called. “What’s wrong?” The usual smirk and confidence in his eyes was long gone and replaced with a cold, angry male. “My sister,” he began. “She was once brought here for kael to take as his bride. This was an agreement between him and my father. I knew kael was ruthless and I didn’t want my sister to suffer in the hands of people like him.” He paused, taking a deep breath. “That night we tried to escape together, we were almost outside the village border when Elijah caught up with us under the command of kael. She was his mate.” I gasped. “What do you mean mate? What about Vivian?” “Vivian is hi
Astrid," she said, her voice clipped. "The Alpha has summoned you." Ezra tensed, his posture shifting into something more protective as he glanced at me. "Why?" he asked, his tone laced with suspicion. Sophia arched a brow, her lips curling into a disdainful smile. "That’s not your concern, rogue. The Alpha doesn’t answer to you." Ezra took a step forward, his shoulders squared. "She’s not going anywhere unless you tell us what this is about." Sophia’s expression hardened, and the air seemed to hum with restrained energy. "Careful, Ezra," she said, her voice a warning. "You might’ve earned some leniency, but don’t think for a second you’re untouchable." "Enough," I said quickly, stepping between them. The last thing I needed was for the tension in the room to erupt into something physical. "I’ll go. Just... don’t make this worse." Ezra shot me a look, his jaw tight, but he stepped back. "Fine. But if anything happens to her—" "Save your threats," Sophia interrupted coldly. "The
I sank into the chair, my pulse still racing as Kael returned to his desk. He watched me for a moment, his dark eyes assessing, calculating, like he was trying to decide his next move. Kael’s voice was a deep rumble as he spoke, his gaze fixed on me like a hawk sizing up its prey. "Little mouse" he said, leaning back in his chair. "Do you know why I asked you here?" I shook my head, my throat tightening. His intensity always left me feeling like the ground beneath me wasn’t entirely solid. "No," I said quietly. His lips pressed into a thin line, and he exhaled slowly, his eyes narrowing. "You’ve been careless." My brows furrowed in confusion. "Careless? What are you talking about?" He stood, his imposing figure making the space feel smaller, and began to pace. "The border is under constant threat, rogues are pushing closer every day, and in the middle of all this chaos, you’re wandering around with Ezra like it’s some carefree stroll through the woods." I felt a spa
Kael's scoff echoed in the air, sharp and biting. He crossed his arms, his broad frame radiating tension. "Friendship seems to be a dangerous thing for you, little mouse. Tell me, does this *friend* know more about your loyalty than I do?" Ezra growled low, his jaw clenching. "Don’t twist her words to fit your narrative, Kael. Unlike you, I don’t demand loyalty through fear or force." Kael's gaze snapped to Ezra, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Careful, Ezra. You’ve already overstayed your welcome. Don’t push your luck further." "Or what?" Ezra challenged, taking a step closer. "You’ll exile me? Kill me? Like you’ve done to so many others who dared to defy you?" The tension crackled like a storm about to break, and I felt myself caught in the middle, powerless to stop it. "Enough!" I shouted, stepping between them. My voice sounded smaller than I wanted, but it was enough to make both men pause. Kael's gaze softened ever so slightly as he looked down at me. "Astrid—" "No
**Later That Night** The pack house had quieted by the time I climbed into bed, but my mind was far from calm. Thoughts of Kael, Ezra, the Moon Ball, and the possibility of reuniting with Ruby and Aria spun in endless circles. The idea of seeing my old friends again filled me with equal parts hope and dread. What if they weren’t the same? What if *I* wasn’t the same? I rolled onto my side, staring at the silver light of the moon streaming through my window. The events of the day replayed in my head like a film stuck on a loop. Kael’s fiery declaration echoed the loudest, his words burrowing under my skin. *"She is my fucking mate!"* The raw intensity in his voice had shaken me to my core. Mate. The word felt heavy, foreign. I didn’t fully understand what it meant in Kael’s world, but I knew it bound me to him in ways I wasn’t sure I wanted—or could handle. And then there was Ezra. His strong determination to protect me against kael was becoming unsettling, his defiance in
Kael’s gaze locked onto mine, his intense, molten eyes searching for something unspoken. His presence felt overwhelming, like a storm pressing down on me. I could barely breathe under the weight of his attention, and yet, I didn’t want him to look away. “Little mouse,” he murmured, his voice a dark caress. He took a slow step closer, his hand brushing against my cheek, his thumb gently tracing the curve of my jaw. “Do you even understand what you mean to me? What you do to me, whenever you are close?” I shook my head, unable to find my voice. The space between us felt too charged, too intimate. Every nerve in my body was on edge as his warmth seeped into me. “You’re mine,” he said, the words a soft growl. “And I need you to understand what that means.” Kael’s fingers slid down to my chin, tilting my face up to his. His touch was both commanding and careful, as if he feared I might break under his hands. My heart raced, every beat echoing in my ears. “Kael…” I whispered, my v
The cabin was silent except for the crackling of the fire, a weak and inconsistent sound that seemed to mirror the shattered state of everyone gathered. The room felt suffocating, weighed down by grief so thick it was almost tangible. Megan stood by the window, her back to the group as silent tears ran down her cheeks. Maya knelt on the floor, cradling Ruby’s lifeless body in her arms. Her usually sharp eyes were dulled by sorrow, and her hands trembled as she gently smoothed Ruby’s hair, whispering words of comfort that no longer mattered. Ezra sat in the far corner of the room, his face buried in his hands. His broad shoulders shook, his anguish raw and unrestrained. The sound of his muffled sobs tore through the silence, each one a painful reminder of what had been lost. Alice sat at the edge of the bed, her gaze fixed on the floor. Her hands were clasped tightly in her lap, as though she were trying to ground herself. But even she, the ever-resilient mage, couldn’t mask the
Kael shifted back into his human form, panting, his face streaked with dirt and blood. “We can’t keep this up,” he said urgently. “Astrid, you need to unleash it all. But not here. We have to get you higher—away from the cabin, where you can focus without destroying everything around us.”Alice nodded in agreement, her face pale but determined. “There’s a ridge just above the clearing,” she said quickly. “It’ll give her the vantage point she needs. But we have to hurry—Lavinia’s army is still pressing in.”Kael scooped me into his arms without hesitation, his strength steadying me despite the fire still flickering at my fingertips. “Hold on, little mouse,” he murmured, his tone equal parts fierce and tender. “I’ll get you there.”Ezra and Alice formed a protective barrier around us as Kael sprinted toward the ridge, his steps sure and unrelenting. The sounds of the battle below faded into the background, replaced by the roaring in my ears and the heat coursing through my veins. I coul
Lavinia stepped into the cabin, her presence radiating a cold, suffocating power that seemed to sap the warmth from the room. Her dark gown flowed like liquid shadow, and her smile was as cruel as the blade she carried at her side. Ezra growled, stepping in front of me with his claws extended, blood dripping from his wounds. “You’ll die before you lay a finger on her,” he snarled. Lavinia chuckled, the sound sending chills down my spine. “Oh, Ezra. Still playing the dutiful protector, are we? How quaint.” Her gaze swept over the room, landing briefly on Alice, who was struggling to steady herself, and Maya, who stood ready with her blade drawn. Finally, Lavinia’s eyes found me, cradling my children. Her smile widened. “And there she is. The mother of the hour. How are the little ones? I hope they’re not too fragile—babies rarely survive the chaos I bring.” My grip on my children tightened, a surge of anger cutting through my fear. “You won’t touch them,” I said, my voice tremb
The peaceful moment shattered like glass, my heart dropping as Ezra’s words pierced the air. My grip tightened around my babies instinctively, their tiny, delicate bodies cradled protectively against my chest. Kael was on his feet in an instant, his powerful presence taking command of the room. “How far?” he demanded, his voice cold and sharp, the calm before the storm. Ezra swayed slightly, blood dripping from a wound on his side. “Not far. Maybe minutes. They’ve got rogues, warriors, and... mages. Lavinia’s not playing games.” Maya moved swiftly to Ezra’s side, inspecting his injuries. “You’re hurt.” “I’m fine,” Ezra growled, pulling away. “They sent a scouting party ahead. I dealt with them, but they know where we are now. She’ll be here soon.” Alice stepped forward, her face pale but composed. “We don’t have time to move Astrid or the babies. Not like this.” Kael’s gaze flicked to me, his eyes narrowing with determination. “We’re not moving them. We’ll hold the line he
The room instantly grew hotter as a surge of power erupted from deep within me. Fire blazed out of my body, licking at the walls and ceiling of the cabin. The once-cozy room was engulfed in a dangerous glow, casting shadows that danced wildly in the chaos. Kael didn’t flinch, even as flames licked dangerously close to his skin. His arms tightened around me, his voice steady and calm despite the rising inferno. “Astrid, listen to me!” he called out, his eyes locking onto mine. “You need to focus. You’re in control—*you* are. Don’t let it take over!” “I can’t!” I screamed, another contraction ripping through me, stealing my breath and sanity. My body felt like it was tearing apart, the raw power within me surging uncontrollably. The flames grew stronger, the heat intensifying until I thought it would consume us all. Alice’s voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding. “Megan, Maya—circle her now! We need to contain this before it destroys the entire cabin!” The two women
The world spun around me, a whirl of colors and sounds that felt distant, like echoes of a life I couldn’t quite grasp. I drifted between the edge of consciousness and darkness, the pain from my labor pulling me back every time I threatened to slip away completely. The next thing I felt was a jolt, a sensation like being pulled through the fabric of reality itself. It was disorienting but oddly calming, as if I were floating through a dream. Then, just as quickly, the sensation ended, and I felt the solid ground beneath me again. “She’s here!” Megan’s voice broke through the haze, urgent and filled with relief. “Get her inside, now!” I blinked, trying to focus, but my vision was blurred. I felt hands on me—familiar, steady hands—lifting me gently and carrying me somewhere warmer, safer. “She’s burning up,” Maya’s voice came next, panicked but controlled. “Get her on the bed. Quickly!” I was placed onto a soft surface, the familiar scent of herbs and wood filling my senses. My
The urgency of the moment settled over us like a suffocating weight. Ezra was still catching his breath, his body trembling with residual anger, but he nodded. We didn’t have time to waste. Ruby was out there, somewhere, and every second we spent standing still could be the one that tipped the scales against us. “Can you shift again?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt. Ezra nodded once, already forcing himself to his feet. “I’ll manage.” I helped him as much as I could, though the pain in my side reminded me just how human I currently was. He gave me a grateful look, then shifted into his wolf form, his golden coat streaked with dirt and blood. He sniffed the air, ears twitching as he picked up on the faintest trace of something. “Do you have her scent?” I asked, desperate hope creeping into my voice. He growled low, a confirmation that made my heart lurch. Without waiting for me, he bolted into the darkness, his movements quick and purposeful. “Wait!” I shouted, hurr
I pushed through the dense trees, my feet barely touching the ground as I ran, the cold night air slicing against my skin. The forest seemed endless, the shadows playing tricks on my mind. But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. The thought of Ruby, alone and terrified, spurred me forward. Ezra’s wolf was ahead of me, a streak of gold and fury weaving through the underbrush. His growls echoed in the night, guiding me toward our quarry. “Ezra!” I shouted, my voice hoarse from running and the lump of panic lodged in my throat. “Do you see them?” A low howl was his only response. It sent a chill through me—not one of despair, but of determination. He was closing in. The trail wasn’t hard to follow. Broken branches and the scent of blood painted a clear path through the forest. But it felt wrong, too easy, as if they wanted us to follow. I slowed for a moment, my senses on high alert. Something was off. The rogues were vicious, but this level of coordination wasn’t their style. They
Ezra and I exchanged a tense glance, the weight of what had just transpired settling heavily on our shoulders. My mind raced, replaying the stranger’s words over and over again. The game has changed. Pieces in place. The board is set. It wasn’t just a cryptic message—it was a warning. “I need to wake Ruby,” I said, stepping toward the bed. Ezra’s hand shot out, gripping my arm gently but firmly. “Astrid, wait. She’s been through enough. Whatever that was, it’s not going to happen tonight. Let her rest while she can.” I hesitated, glancing down at Ruby. Her face was peaceful, completely unaware of the danger that had just loomed so close. Ezra was right—she deserved some respite. But my gut twisted with unease. “If they’re after her…” I began, but Ezra cut me off. “They won’t get her,” he said, his voice steel. “Not while I’m here. Not while any of us are here.” I nodded, forcing myself to trust his words. Ezra wasn’t just saying it—he believed it, and that gave me a sliv