Elara’s POVThe dining hall was alive with the sounds of the pack—laughter, chatter, and the occasional clinking of plates. It was an odd sort of connection, one that always made me feel like an outsider. Sitting at a corner table farthest from the others, I kept my head low, tracing idle patterns on the wooden surface with my fingertip.The hall was warm from the large hearth near the center, but I felt cold. I always did.A harsh smile tugged at my lips as I imagined the scene playing out in my head—Andrew and his pack members seated at their table, eating heartily without a care in the world. And then all of a sudden, the food turns to poison in their mouths, their smug smiles changing into expressions of agony as one by one they fell. Andrew would fall last, his golden eyes wide with shock and helplessness.For a moment, the thought brought a cruel satisfaction. A cursed wolf like me had no place here. They’d made that abundantly clear from the start. So why should I care what hap
Elara’s POVThe room was loud again, chatter and the scraping of chairs filling the room as everyone prepared for the meal, but my mind was anything but calm. My hands trembled under the table, and I clenched them into fists to stop the tremor.This couldn’t be happening.The word “mine” echoed in my head like a haunting reminder of it meant. My wolf’s voice—the voice I thought I’d never hear again—had claimed Andrew, of all people. The Alpha I had spent weeks resenting. The man I had plotted against.It was almost hilarious, but there was nothing funny about it. It was crazy. A sick game played by fate.Why now? I demanded to myself hoping for an answer from my wolf. Why him?But there was only silence. The same maddening silence that had been my companion for such long I sometimes forgot I was a werewolf. My wolf had stirred just long enough to wreck my plans and then gone quiet again, leaving me to face the implications alone.I glanced up, my eyes following Andrew as he moved with
Andrew’s POVAfter Elara's words, the silence that followed was stifling. No one spoke, no one moved. Everyone was too shock to do anything.Elara stood at the far side of the hall, her chest heaving as if she’d ran a mile. All eyes were on her now, the pack’s full attention pressing down on her as they tried to digest what she had just said. All of a sudden, the room erupted. Voices rose in outrage, disbelief rippling through the crowd.My jaw tightened as I studied her, my initial confusion quickly giving way to irritation.“Silence!” I commanded making everyone go quiet in an instant.“What’s the meaning of this?” I asked, my tone cold as I turned back towards Elara.This had to end. Everything was gradually going into chaos because she had said the food we were about to eat was poisoned. Now, I needed answers.She didn’t answer immediately, her wide eyes locked on mine. Something in her expression—panic, fear, determination—made my wolf stir uneasily. The bond I’d felt earlier, f
Andrew’s POVThe commotion that followed Elara's fall in the dining hall was deafening. Plates clattered to the floor as my pack abandoned their meals, horror-stricken murmurs and panicked gasps filling the air. My heart thundered in my chest as I knelt beside Elara’s lifeless form. Her pale face, slack and devoid of emotion was burned into my mind.The memory of the other night we were attacked at the pack’s border flashed before me. She had taken a bullet meant for me then, her body collapsing to the ground as I tried fighting off the rogue wolves, hoping she doesn't die.And now, here she was again, lying on the cold stone floor of the dining hall, and the fear that I might lose her was clawing at me with as much ferocity as I couldn’t ignore.“Elara,” I whispered, my voice breaking.My wolf growled low in my chest, restless and angry. The bond between us, faint before, was now stronger with undeniable clarity. She wasn’t just another pack member. She was my mate.“Alpha, what do w
Andrew’s POVMirabel's outburst sent a chill of panic coursing through me. My muscles tightened, and my wolf stirred with agitation, growling softly in my mind. The atmosphere in the room felt heavy, the walls pressing in as I waited for her to clarify."What’s going on?" I asked sharply, moving closer to the table where Elara lay still.Mirabel hesitated, her hands pausing above Elara's arm. She shot me a look filled with disbelief and awe.“It’s not… an issue, Alpha,” she finally responded, her voice wavering.“Then what is it?” I snapped, my patience wearing thin. “Speak up, Mirabel.”She took a deep breath, as if she were gathering her thoughts before meeting my gaze once more. “Her body… It's healing itself. At an alarming rate. I’ve never witnessed anything like it.”I looked at her, struggling to comprehend what she had just said. “Healing itself?”“Exactly, it is.” Mirabel nodded, indicating Elara. “Most of the poison has already been removed from her system. Her body is worki
Elara’s POVThe only thing I could perceive was darkness. It enveloped me like a choking shroud, drawing me further into the abyss. I felt both weightless and confined, my senses numbed and my thoughts hazy. A remote voice echoed in the void, deep and authoritative, sending a chill through my body.Then I glimpsed the source. The spirit.It emerged from the shadows, its figure cloaked in darkness, its eyes glowing with a fierce intensity. The sight ignited a blend of fear and rage within me.“Not you again,” I said, fixing my gaze on the figure before me.“That's not how you should greet a friend,” he answered, tilting his head slightly.“We are not friends.”“That is out of point. You lost,” the spirit spat, its voice slicing through the air like a whip. “Once more.”I clenched my fists, though I wasn’t certain if I even possessed a body in this bizarre, otherworldly realm. “I didn’t fail,” I shot back, my voice steely.I refused to let a strange entity, who expected me to murder som
Elara’s POVBut the burden of it weighed on me like a truth I could no longer ignore.I shifted awkwardly beneath Andrew’s gaze, his golden eyes boring into mine as if they could break down all my barriers. His unyielding look made me feel almost exposed, vulnerable in a way that felt unfamiliar.Stop looking at me like that, I thought, though I would never say it out loud. Instead, I forced a shy smile, attempting to suppress the startling energy buzzing between us.“Hey,” I stammered, my voice coming out lighter than I had hoped.Andrew didn’t reply right away. He simply continued to stare at me, his jaw tense, his expression now shadowed. For a moment, I feared he might not say anything at all, but then he leaned back slightly, his shoulders easing a bit.“Elara,” he finally said, his voice gravelly and deep, “you terrified me.”I opened my mouth to retort, but my words faltered when I caught sight of the gentle rays of sunlight streaming through the windows.Morning? How could it
Elara's POVThe applause resonated loudly in my ears, nearly overwhelming as it reverberated across the courtyard in front of the health center. The crowd's cheers were a blend of appreciation and joy, their faces lit up with admiration as they focused on me.Standing there frozen and uncertain about how to react, my chest constricted with a confusing mix of emotions. I struggled to decide whether to soak in the warmth of their gratitude or succumb to the chilling sense of guilt that threatened to engulf me.I looked at Andrew, my lips slightly parting as I sought his insight. “Why are they applauding? What have I done to earn this?”Andrew, towering beside me, leaned down a bit so his voice could pierce through the noise and reach me easily. “They’re here for you, Elara,” he said, his golden eyes softening. “To honor your recovery and express their gratitude for saving their lives.”Saving their lives.His words lingered heavily in the atmosphere, crashing into me like a powerful wav
Elara’s POVThe second Lora whispered our names, something inside me snapped.Not like a breaking—more like an unlocking. Like a door swinging open in my chest, one I hadn’t known was there until it burst wide and swallowed everything.Andrew’s hand jerked in mine. I clutched tighter.Heat bloomed between our palms, searing and alive. Not fire, not pain, but raw energy. My breath caught. My pulse pounded in my ears, but I didn’t let go. I couldn’t.Light exploded from our joined hands. It spiraled into the air, coiling around us like a storm of stars. I heard someone—Michael maybe—call out, but the sound was distant, barely a whisper under the rush building in my skull.And then—I wasn’t in the cabin anymore.---I stood in a field of silver grass beneath a sky so dark it shimmered.The stars blinked like fireflies. The moon loomed low, full and watchful. The air smelled like rain and crushed violets.Andrew stood a few feet away, barefoot, shirtless, bathed in moonlight. Not the curs
Michael’s POVThe sound of Andrew’s growl ripped through the cabin like a blade.I shoved the door fully open and charged in, heart thundering. Elara was pressed against the wall, hands up, her eyes wide—not with fear, but with something worse. Desperation. She wasn’t running.Andrew stood in the middle of the room, half-shifted, his shoulders hunched and trembling, eyes glowing that same cursed red. He let out another guttural snarl and lunged again.Greg tackled him before he reached her.They hit the floor hard. Bones crunched, snarls erupted, and for a moment it was a disaster. I grabbed Elara and yanked her out of the way just before Andrew’s claws slashed the wall where she’d been.“Are you insane?” I barked at her. “He’s not himself!”“I know that!” she shouted, struggling against me. “But I saw him—Michael, he looked at me. He knew me for a second.”I held her tighter. “And the next second, he nearly ripped you apart.”“He wouldn’t—”“He did.”Greg grunted from the floor, stil
Elara’s POVI didn’t sleep. Not even for a second.Andrew lay on the cot, drenched in sweat, the veins along his neck pulsing black like ink trapped under skin. His breathing was shallow, ragged, the kind that made my heart skip every time there was a pause between inhales.Every few minutes, he let out a soft groan, like the pain was crawling through him in waves. I held his hand and tried to stay calm, but my grip trembled. I felt useless. Like watching someone drown while your legs were tied to the shore.The fire crackled, low and weak. It was still dark out, and the cabin smelled of blood, herbs, and unease.Lora had done what she could, but even she looked helpless when she stepped away. I kept asking what else could be done, and each time she avoided my eyes.Then Greg came back.He stood in the doorway, dripping with sweat from running, his jaw clenched like it was holding back a something.“What is it?” I asked.He didn’t answer right away. He looked past me, to Andrew. Then
Elara’s POVBranches clawed at my arms as we pushed through the forest, the moonlight barely cutting through the thick canopy overhead. My lungs burned. Every breath tasted like smoke and blood.Andrew’s weight leaned heavier and heavier against me, his steps sluggish, and uneven. He hadn’t spoken in minutes. I could feel the fever radiating off him.“Just a little further,” I whispered, mostly to myself. “Come on, stay with me.”It was crazy how our positions switched. The main reason why he was caught in this mess is to help me. Now, I was the one doing the helping.Luckily that stupid beast left after doing it's work leaving me with a very sick Andrew. I didn't know how far Michael and Lora had to go in order to get help.Noticing he hadn’t responded, I looked down as his grip on me loosened.“Andrew?” I stopped and turned, my heart hammering. “Hey. Look at me.”He swayed. His eyes blinked, unfocused. Then he crumpled.“No—no, no, no.” I dropped with him, catching his head before i
Andrew’s POVI didn’t think anything could shake me after everything we’d been through—Elara’s capture, the cult, the blade meant for my heart. But the thing crawling out of that seal wasn’t from this world.It was born from nightmares. A monster made of shadows and dark moon magic.It stretched as it rose, black tendrils spilling off its limbs like smoke, jaws clicking with bone and fangs. Its eyes locked onto us, glowing red-hot—rage, hunger, purpose.It was like it had a personal issue to settle with us.“Elara,” I said, backing up slowly, “we need to move.”She didn’t answer. She looked dazed, one hand clutching her chest like it hurt to breathe.“Elara,” I tried again, louder this time.She blinked hard, snapped back, and turned to me. “I can’t feel it.”“What?”“The bond. It’s gone.” Her voice cracked. “I—I think Jacob finished the ritual.”Shit. That explained the weakness in her posture, the pale cast to her skin. We didn't have time. The last thing I want is to be caught in t
Andrew’s POVElara didn’t stab me.Despite my unwavering trust in her, I could've sworn she wanted to gut me with the knife.She stabbed the cultist to my left—clean through the ribs.The robed bastard choked on his own breath, eyes wide, blood pooling from his mouth as he collapsed.And just like that, everything just seemed to go to shit as commotion broke out around us.Screams rang out in the still air. Chants siezed as every head turned and eyes snapped open towards our direction.Someone shouted, “She’s turned!”I didn’t need more time to think. My chains were half-broken the moment they stopped chanting. It seemed like they were using magic to contain me. The pulse in my chest hadn’t stopped. It was like a second heartbeat, wild and growing louder in my ear.I wrenched my right arm free with a roar, ignoring the tear of metal against skin. The pain meant nothing anymore. The moment Elara turned that blade, I knew—we were going to live or die together.“Elara!” I shouted.She s
Elara’s POVThe blade felt colder than it should have.Slick handle. Sharp edge.They’d placed it in my hand like it belonged there. Like I’d been born to wield it.My fingers closed around it on instinct, but my heart—fates, my heart refused. It pounded hard enough I thought it might split open my chest.Andrew’s eyes locked on mine, blood dripping down the curve of his jaw. He didn’t speak. Didn’t beg. Just looked at me, like he always had—steady, unflinching, and maddeningly full of love.Kieran stood behind him, watching like a predator admiring his own trap as Jacob came around to stand beside him.“This is the moment,” Jacob said, his voice low and coaxing. “Where the universe balances itself. You break the anchor, Elara, and disaster becomes your throne. You hesitate… and it becomes your grave.”I stared at Andrew. His breathing was shallow. His shirt clung to his chest, soaked in sweat and blood. And his mark—it pulsed like it had a heartbeat of its own through his torn shirt.
Andrew’s POVThe chanting started slow.Low. Rhythmic. Like a heartbeat echoing in the belly of a beast.I sat with my back to the cold stone wall, chains digging into my wrists. My blood had dried hours ago, stiff and sticky against my skin, but the real pain wasn’t in the cuts or the bruises.It was inside.The mark on my chest that recently appeared burned like it had just been carved. A deep, pulsing throb that synced perfectly with their damn chants. Every beat made it flare hotter. Sharper.I gritted my teeth, flexing against the restraints. Useless.They’d done their homework.Silver links.Wolfsbane laced through the shackles.But they didn’t know everything. They didn’t understand what the mark meant—not really. Not what it did to a person. To me.To Elara.I shut my eyes, trying to hold her face in my mind. Before the rituals. Before the chaos. Before I let my own pain turn me into something she couldn’t reach.And then I heard his voice.Kieran.“I’d say it’s good to see yo
Lora's POVThe fire wasn’t normal. It wasn’t the kind that crackled in fireplaces or flickered in campfires.It was alive, red, deep and pulsing like blood. It didn’t just burn. It seemed to breathe.I stood at the edge of it, frozen, and unable to do a thing while I watched it wrap around her. Elara. Her skin was streaked with ash, her hair wild and tangled, eyes wide and wet with something too painful to name. She wasn’t screaming.She was whispering.“Lora…”Her voice barely reached me through the heat. But I heard it. Goddess, I felt it.“Please…”The flames swallowed her whole.I woke up screaming.I shot upright, lungs dragging for air like I’d been drowning. Sweat drenched my skin, my nightshirt clinging to me like a second layer of skin. My heart slammed against my ribs, and for a second, I wasn’t even sure where I was.The dream still clung to me like smoke. It was thick, choking, and inescapable.“Elara,” I whispered into the dark.I didn’t bother grabbing a robe. I rushed