Elara's POVI couldn't get the confrontation with Andrew out of my brain. In a weird way, he'd cut me open and left all my insecurities bleeding, but there was still more, hints of something unsaid, of something in his eyes. I couldn't tell if it was pity or frustration, but it was a ghost, following me as I stepped through the pack house.I tried to keep my head down, avoiding the prying eyes of the others. My status as the outsider, the cursed wolf, stayed with me like a scar. Even breathing wrong around these wolves could spell disaster. But Andrew’s words stuck with me: “You’re not strong enough.”Much as I hated to admit, maybe he was right. Perhaps I was too weak for this world. But what was the alternative? Grimshade pack had taken everything I had before I came here. All I had left was to survive, and I wasn't going to let anyone take that, too.I got lost in thought, and almost didn't catch the low murmurings from one of the meeting rooms. The door was ajar, the voices in the
Elara's POVThe room smelled of old paper and dust-a quiet place, far away from the continuous buzz of pack activity. I did not have any business being here. And yet, here I was, thumbing through brittle pages of ledgers and records.I had told myself it was curiosity, but inside, I knew it was desperation. Answers had to be somewhere, didn't they?What I overheard between Andrew and Michael didn't sit too well. They referred to me -like some scapegoat, a chess piece to be moved at every whim. But there was something beneath that, something left unsaid but very pronounced. And I was going to find it.My fingers brushed against an old leather-bound journal tucked between thick volumes of pack history. I opened it, feeling the spine creak, and revealed spidery handwriting that was decades old. These pages spoke of some "Blood Moon curse" with a very unclear origin and of some kind of artifact called Owlshard.My fingers stroked the word "Owlshard," as though touching it would somehow dr
Elara's POVStumbling out of the records room, my head reeled from the after-effect of Andrew's kiss. The tips of my fingers were touching my lips involuntarily as a result of that shared moment, which remained a blur even after. What the hell happened? I felt my racing heartbeat. And now, his words: You're trouble, Elara.Trouble, which barely described it.I shook my head, trying to clear the haze, and made my way toward the pack house's back exit. I needed fresh air. The cold night welcomed me with open arms, and I inhaled deeply, letting the crispness sting my lungs. The moon hung low, casting long shadows across the clearing.It wasn't until I was halfway across the yard that I noticed something was off. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I froze, scanning the darkness. A rustle to my left. A faint growl to my right.I wasn't alone.They materialized, it seemed, out of nowhere; four wolves in huge masses, the light of moonshine showing the menace they held in their eyes
Elara's POVThe pack house loomed ahead. With every step, my heart still hammered in my chest, the adrenaline refusing to seep away however far Mara and her wolves had retreated. I should have felt safe, should have felt relieved, but all I could think of was her.Rhea.The way she stood beside Andrew, the unspoken connection between them, made my skin crawl. She bothered me far more than the wolves snarling in preparation for an attack did. And I hated it.I gritted my teeth and made myself focus ahead. The tension had sucked all the energy from my body, yet I couldn't let myself stop, not until I could shut out the world and at least try to reason out this crazy life of mine.The sound of footsteps in a rush stopped me. Voices behind me, raised before I could turn."You can't keep covering for her, Andrew," one said. There was accusation obvious in the tone of this man.I turned round slowly, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. A little crowd had collected, their faces li
Elara's POVMy heart hammered in my chest, not from fear, but from something rawer, sharper—jealousy and anger. It pushed at me, threatening to spill out like a dam about to burst. She was beautiful in the effortless way that made you hate her just a little—dark hair cascading in perfect waves, eyes that sparkled with mischief, and a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.She pouted, but there was a look of satisfaction in her eyes, like she’d achieved exactly what she wanted.“I was just joking,” she said innocently.Andrew’s jaw tightened, and he turned to me, a look of frustration crossing his face. “Elara, go inside.”Inside. Away from the prying eyes of the pack and the smug smirk plastered across Rhea’s face. But I wasn’t ready to leave just yet.“Why?” I demanded, my voice steady but low, carrying the weight of the storm that was inside me. “So your friend here can keep throwing jabs at me while I’m not around?”Rhea gasped, feigning shock. “I didn’t mean to offend you. I thought y
Andrew's POVAnger snapped through the air like a live wire-hot, dangerous. I was pacing my study, my fists firmly at my sides. It was claustrophobic in here; the walls were closing in while my thoughts spiraled inside my brain. Michael stood leaning against the door frame in the corner, his expression unreadable. It was the casual way he stood that finally set my anger ablaze.“How the hell did this happen?" I exploded, sharply turning myself back around to face him.Michael's brow rose, and his lips quivered with what I suspected, to be amusement. "You'll have to be more specific, Andrew. What do you think?”"Elara!" I said, my voice a little higher than I had intended. "How could the pack rally in an attack against her when you're supposed to be there keeping an eye on them?"He shrugged-a maddeningly indifferent motion. "Perhaps because she does not belong here, and they know it.".It led to an uncomfortable silence in the room, my chest heaving as I fought to control my breath.I
Andrew's POVCrossing back to the window, I watched through the curtain, my hands clutched on the edge such that some fabric tore off. Below, Elara stood at the center of a circle of my pack members. Her shoulders hunched, her hair stuck to her face as she mopped the muddy training grounds. Voices rose around her, mocking, and laughing."You missed a spot, witch," said one jeeringly.Another kicked water over her clean patch, laughing as the mud splashed her legs.But she didn't say a word.My jaw clenched. This was not the Elara I knew. The Elara I knew would have fought back, her words flying through the air like knives-sharp, cold, deadly-deadmise dancing in her eyes. She didn't take a problem with fighting against me, challenging my authority whenever she got the chance. But now? She said nothing. She just stood there, taking their jeers.Why?The question filled my mind, annoying and unrelenting. My frustration swelled in my chest, mixed with the growing anger toward my pack. Cru
Elara's POVThe silence in my room was deafening; the weight of my thoughts was my only companion. I sat cross-legged on the small cot, my fingers tracing the rough fibers in the blanket, staring at the wall.No different was Andrew's pack from Grimshade, I thought sourly. Cruelty, it would appear, goes wherever I go. The laughter from earlier still rang in my ears, each jeer slicing deeper than I should let it.Part of me wondered where I got the right from, caring in the first place. This wasn't my home, it wasn't my people. Yet their words still got under my skin. The way they looked at me though-like I was something dirty, something less … it was too familiar. It brought me back to Grimshade, to nights spent nursing bruises and swallowing my pride.Was I better off here?My door suddenly flew open, banging backward against the wall, sending me upright; my heart shot up in my throat, as I clenched my fists ready for another attack.Andrew leaned on the doorway, casual in his pose,
Elara's POVAs they rushed towards us, I take my stance to begin the fight when Lora takes my arm and pulls me back.“What the hell are you doing?” I asked struggling against her grip. “We should fight them off.”We were in a narrow path, rocky walls on both sides of us but I thought we could use that to our advantage.“We don't have time for this.” She stated still pulling me as the men began charging towards us. “Let's get out of here.”“We can't just—” I began.“Elara get out of there right now.” Michael called.Turning, I noticed that Michael had already turned back and was running ahead us while I argued with Lora.What's wrong with them? By the sound of the shouts and grunts, I could tell we were close. All we had to do was get past the wall of werewolves.At last, I let Lora drag me along as she began running, dragging me along. What's happening? I thought we were going to face them head on. Craning my head to the side, I could see the men chasing after us. When I turned back
Elara's POVFor a minute, I was sure that Deveruid was going to rip Lora's throat in front of me. The grin he wore on his face and the look of malice he had to match it made my stomach squirm and my heart pound from the threat. I don't remember being this terrified since my last encounter with that ghost.I could still the dampness on my cheek from crying. I tried to convince Deveruid to release Lora using everything I had including tears but he turned out to be a cold hearted monster.As I watched Lora rush into the arms of Michael, I couldn't help but wonder what would've happened if he hadn't shown up in time to avert the disaster.Seeing Micheal return Lora's embrace with as much passion, his hands disappearing into her hair as he shut his eyes, suggested that there was something going on between them.What could it be and how did they even meet in the first place?I was curious but this was no time for questions, I needed to get out of here. Looking down at the limp body of Deve
Lora's POVAs I stood there my back pressed against the chest of Deveruid, I couldn't help but shiver at the fact that this could be the end for me.Some moments ago I was sure he was going to let me go. Now, I knew otherwise.My not so quiet insults really got him angry. I should've known better than to anger him any further.“Oh, so you're trembling now?” Deveruid asked, his breath hot against my ears. “You sounded so fearless some moments ago I thought you could handle a little heat.”For the first time, I had no retort for him. This was no little heat. This was practically a threat to my life. Nothing little about that. I knew he was mocking me because of how confident I sounded earlier and all I wished was to disappear from here. I felt embarrassed despite being in the face of death. It just felt like I was all mouth and no action.“We had an agreement.” I croaked.That was the only thing I could think up. My mind had somehow shut down.“And that agreement is off. Not that we h
Andrew's POVAs I stared out my window at the brightening sky, I couldn't help but feel guilty and helpless at thesame time.I should be out there doing something. I should be with the rescue team to bring back my mate.Yet, here I am, waiting for them to return like some princess trapped in a building waiting for her lover to come rescue her.It's been hours since I sent my men after Elara and they are not yet back. I wondered if they got into some problem.I turned away from the window and continued my pacing, as I thought of the next line of action to take.“You are going to wear a hole on the floor if you keep that up.” Rhea stated as she sat in the extra chair close to the door watching me.What did she know? She didn't have a mate and she was no Alpha.“I don't care, I need my pack back.” I stated trying to control the urge to let my wolf loose. It was as antsy as I am.“You could've just followed the rescue team instead of pacing this floor like an excited dog.” She stated. “Th
Michael’s POVEverywhere I turned was violence. There was blood on the wall and it's thick rusted iron-like scent clogged the air, mixing up with the bad stench of the place.I would've held my breath and ran out of the cave if not for the horde of werewolves we were facing and the reason we were here had yet to be accomplished.It was difficult to fight and keep track of time, but I knew quite some time had passed since Lora disappeared into the shadows.As me and the rest of my pack fought back Deveruid’s men, I noticed that all this while that Lora had been gone, I had yet to see her come out of the path she took to find Elara. How long has she been gone?At that moment, my mind became clouded with worry and it was getting difficult to finish a fight without struggling. All I could think of, was the worst. There was also a slight chance she might have gotten out already. But I needed to be sure.Dammit, I hated being distracted in a fight.As one of Deveruid’s men rushed towards m
Elara's POV“What's the meaning of this?” I asked, shocked by the level he was willing to stoop to get me not to leave.I knew he was a scumbag. A wolf without dignity but this? I felt my wolf raise her head. She too could sense his dark intentions and wanted to face him.Not a chance.This could be considered the height of it. The acrid stench of this place was almost suffocating and what I needed was to get out of here.I clenched my fists and unclenched them. I wanted to use them so badly that I could almost feel my claws trying to penetrate my skin whenever I clenched them.“Exactly what you think.” He snarled. “I will be keeping her hostage till you get back in your sit and if you waste any more time, I'm killing her.”This was getting out of hand and I didn't know what to do to stop it. Lora came to save me and now she is being held captive.If only we had moved any quicker. All this is my fault. Going on about my regrets. I should've waited till we got out of here.A shiver ra
Elara's POVAhhhhh. This is getting really frustrating. How am I supposed to escape this place?I don't know how long I have been here, but I knew it should be over a few hours— judging by how long I've been sitting here lost in my thought—since Deveruid had paid me a visit.From his words, it seemed my only hope for an escape had already been captured. I was sure before another search party will be sent to find us, we would've been long dead.I didn't know his plans for me, but there was no doubt that nothing good was going to come out of it.Deveruid didn't tell me who must have hinted that I had the veiled sight and set him on this path.The only person I'm sure I told was Andrew and no one else. The crazy part is that it was just mere hours ago. Who could've figured that I had this power before I could fully understand what I thought was a curse was actually a gift.It seems like I have a formidable enemy. If I'm able to get out of this place alive, I promise to track whoever is s
Lora's POVWhen I opened the door, the man that stood in front of me that somehow turns out to be my mate, stared at me as if in a daze.What's with him staring at me like I was the most strange object he has ever seen.Amused, I had to ask if he was coming. That was what snapped him out of his mindless stance.Seems I'm not the only one whose wolf has taken a mate. From the way he looked at me, it was as if he wasn't expecting me.So was I.“Right.” He nodded while he turned to his burly friend who seemed to be holding back a smile but failing miserably. “Go, wake the others up while I and the young lady free those in the other cage.”Young lady? He couldn't come up with something more original. I will have to set him straight once he is out of that place.I waited till when we were in front of the opposite cage while his friend busied himself with barking and kicking the sleeping men up.I shook my head. “Is that how behaves? Quite unruly.”“Can't blame him. That's how he behaves wh
Michael’s POVWaking up, my vision was a bit blurry until I sat up. The first thing that assaulted my senses was the stench of the place. It smelt like something had died and was rotting away somewhere close by. The temperature was humid, making it even worse.Where's this place?I looked down sharply feeling something prick me in my hand. It was the dart I caught and it was still loaded with the evil I was shot with.I decided to take it back to pack if we escaped this prison.I looked around wondering how I got here. I noticed that my pack members were still passed out.This place is degrading as hell.The last thing I remembered was being shot while I growled at Deveriud. I shot up, ignoring how the roo… no cage swarm around me.That was a mistake and it cost me. I should've kept my cool but I allowed the emotions of the moment to cloud my senses.Who would've thought that Deveruid would set up that kind of trap for us. I knew he would be prepared for our attack but to cage us in a