I stumbled through the forest-my legs shaking underneath me, my body weak from hunger and thirst, from exhaustion. The darkness seemed to close in around me, the clouds above growing thicker by the minute. I could smell the rain coming-heavy and relentless-and I knew I needed to find shelter.I stumbled and fell, scraping my knees on the rough earth. I struggled to my feet and felt the weight of my despair crushing me.What was the point of it? Why even try to survive in the first place? The pack had cast me out, Ryker had rejected me, and now I was completely and truly alone, lost in a hostile world. I thought of my mother, of Cormac, and a sob rose in my throat."Mother, Cormac, help me," I cried low, my voice no louder than a whisper. "I don't want to be alone anymore. I don't want to live this way."But there was no answer; only the snapping of twigs behind me and some type of low, evil growling. I spun around, heart racing, and that's when I saw them: a pair of glowing red eyes s
ZEPHYRINE's POV.As I slowly opened my eyes, the wave of pain coursing through my body made me wince.I came upon a soft plush bed where I had been lying, under a lavishly designed bedroom."Alpha Terran, the young lady is up," a feminine voice spoke beside me from her on.A handsome youth, attended by a retinue of doctors, entered the room. "Good morning," he said in a deep melodious voice. "I am Alpha Terran. I am glad to see that you are awake and in good health.""Th-thank you," I stuttered, struggling to raise myself on my elbows.Alpha Terran quickly came to my bedside, helping me sit up and adjusting the pillows behind my back. "Easy, don't try to move too much. You have been through a lot."The doctors began checking me out, examining my wounds and taking my vitals. I winced in pain as they poked and prodded, but Alpha Terran kept calm and gentle."How are you feeling?" one of the doctors asked."I.I'm in a lot of pain," I said, catching my breath.The doctor nodded and jotted
ZEPHYRINE's POV.I sat in my room enjoying the quiet morning to myself when the knock came to the door. "Zephyrine, Alpha Terran wants to see you," the maid said with a curtsy.I nodded and followed her into the conference room, wondering what could have been the reason for Terran to want to talk with me. As soon as I arrived, I was quite shocked to find him surrounded by a pack of alpha werewolves that now turned in my direction."Ah, Zephyrine, perfect timing," Terran said with a smile, turning to me. "I'd like you to meet some of my fellow alphas. This is Alpha Ryder, Alpha Riley, and Alpha Kaida."I nodded politely, trying not to act too surprised by the sudden introduction. The alphas smiled and welcomed me while continuing with Terran, "I'd also like to introduce Zephyrine as my friend, and my plus one to the upcoming ball."My body had registered a shock, but I cooled it with a smile and mumbled a thank you for the alphas' welcome. We were seated to lunch where the conversation
The soft rustle of fabric filled the room as the servants worked around me, their hands tugging and smoothing the gown into place. I stood still, allowing them to finish their craft, though my fingers itched to fidget. The dress they had chosen for me felt like something out of a dream.I glanced down, taking in the deep emerald green fabric, shimmering faintly in the candlelight. Silver embroidery wove intricate ivy-like patterns along the bodice, trailing delicately onto the sleeves and down the sides of the skirt. The fabric hugged my frame perfectly, cinched at the waist by a silver belt that accentuated my athletic build, while the flowing skirt swept the floor, its slit teasing a glimpse of my leg with every step. It was stunning, but it made me feel exposed in a way I wasn’t used to.My hair had been swept over one shoulder, its long, silver-blonde curls cascading down my back like a river of moonlight. The servants had pinned a few strands back, revealing my face, and the emer
Everything turned to a frenzy. People were running in different directions, their scared screaming blending into the air. The once-elegant ballroom became an area of disarray as the crowd soared, crashing over tables, chairs, and each other in their desperate efforts to flee.I tried to move with them, but the crush of bodies was overwhelming. Someone pushed me, causing me to stagger backward, and I shrieked. My stomach turned over when the strong, metallic smell of blood filled my airways.More cries. They were coming from all sides, each one cutting like a sword through the commotion. I turned, desperate to find Terran, but the sea of panicked faces made it not possible."Terran!" I called, but the commotion drowned out my voice.I fell to the ground with a hard, abrupt shove. As I attempted to support myself, pain shot up my arms as my palms scratched across the marble floor. I gasped and struggled to raise myself against the swarm of feet surrounding me as my hair fell over my fac
I saw myself floating in some kind of endless void. The vast surroundings were just made of blended white and pink in an ethereal light. I could see no edges, just an infinite space.How did I get here? Where am I?Suddenly, I heard a voice from the void, its presence felt calm.“Zephyrine”That voice sounds familiar…I turned, and a figure materialized in front of me. It was the gentle face of my mother, Astrid. I felt so overjoyed seeing her again and reached out to hug her, but my arms passed through her as if she was to smoke.I was so confused.“Mom…what’s going on?”“I am sorry to have left you so soon, my child. But your journey has begun.”My what?“Mom…what are you talking about?”“Be cautious, trust no one easily. Your powers will wreck the world if you’re not careful.”Powers? What powers? Is this some kind of hallucination I am suffering from?“Mom, you know I don’t have powers, I don’t understand what you’re saying.” But her form began to fade. I was desperate. I reached
ZephJust as the fabric was about to rip, someone shoved her away. She gasped, glaring at the figure who stood beside me. He was tall, his dark hair gleaming under the sunlight, and he had a smirk on his lips. His eyes looked mischievous, and his presence commanded attention.“I see you’re still as rotten as ever.” He said dryly, his tone dripping with mockery.“Trying to tear the clothes off her back? Classy”The woman’s face flushed with anger, her mouth opening and closing as if searching for a retort but failing to find one.“Vixxen,” she hissed through her gritted teeth, “this isn’t your business.”Vixxen, he has a nice name.He crossed his arms, cocking his head as he looked her up and down with a very bored expression.“It became my business the moment you decided to act like a jealous pup as usual in public. Run along before you embarrass yourself further.”Oh my. The woman was so full of anger, but she didn’t push her luck. With one last venomous glare at me, she turned her h
Zeph’s POVAfter Vixxen showed me around the pack’s space, and not forgetting to crack some jokes and make me blush, he led me to the training ground. The clearing was very wide, surrounded by dense trees. The ground was marked with faint scuffs and dents, evidence of countless sparring in the area.“Let’s begin now. Shall we?” he gestured to the open area.“Firstly, we need to know the kind of powers you possess. The one you displayed at the ball is telekinesis. I would like you to try it again.”“I tried it this morning, it made a lot of effort trying to carry a cup of water by mere inches, you know.”“It’s progress either way. Now you see those rocks over there, try and move them.”I took in a deep breath and stretched out my hands, focusing on the small rocks a few feet away. It wobbled slightly but didn’t lift from the ground.I tried again and again, trying to replicate the same thing I did in the morning, but nothing happened. My brows furrowed as frustration crept in.“Ugh. Th
In the meeting room, the elders sat in their usual seats, looking serious and unhappy. Some looked angry, while others seemed pleased with themselves. The room buzzed with quiet complaints as they talked about what happened the day before. “This was bound to happen,” one elder said, sounding dismissive. “I knew keeping that girl here would bring nothing but trouble.”“She’s dangerous,” another agreed. “We should never have let her stay in the first place." And now, look—our pack was attacked because of her.The room was filled with quiet agreement. Some people nodded, looking pleased, while others looked serious. Then, an elder said, "Let's vote on it. For the safety of the pack, Zeph must be sent away. This isn’t up for debate, and even Terran cannot overrule us on this.”Terran sat at the head of the table, tapping his fingers at a steady beat on the table, and his face gave away nothing. Just as he was about to talk, the doors burst open.Zeph strode in.The murmurs stopped instan
When Zeph, Vixxen, Ashral, and the others arrived in the Terran's territory, they felt very upset. What they saw was terrible. Buildings were broken, a strong smell of blood filled the air, and many injured warriors were on the ground. Some were getting help, but others were too weak to move. The battlefield was quiet and still, which was scary.Zeph barely took in the destruction. Her mind was on one person."Where's Terran?" Zeph yelled, running past the hurt warriors. "Where is he?" Some of them shook their heads, showing their pain. "We don't know," one of them finally said.“He fought their leader—someone powerful. "And then…” He winced, gripping his side. Then the enemy just… stopped fighting. They left.”Left? Just like that?Zeph’s heart pounded. That didn’t make sense. If their goal was destruction, they would have fought to the last man.Unless… unless they had already gotten what they wanted.Her stomach twisted."Help the injured," she told Vixxen and Ashral."I'm going to
Zeph raised her hand again, and the air around them felt darker and more threatening. The shadows grew longer and twisted in weird ways. Everything became quiet and still. An unseen power came from her and hit Ryker like a strong blast of air. His smug smile faltered, and his eyes went wide. At first, nothing seemed to happen. Then, he gasped. He stumbled back, his body becoming stiff as if invisible chains were wrapping around his mind. His vision blurred, and everything looked strange. The battlefield disappeared, replaced by a heavy darkness. A soft, whispery voice echoed in his ears.Then he heard it."You're worthless," a voice sneered. Ryker turned, gasping for breath. His own face looked back at him, twisted in disgust and disappointment. "You have all this power, but what do you have to show for it?" Ryker clenched his fists. "This isn't real." The other Ryker smirked. “Oh, it’s real enough, isn’t it? Real enough for you to feel how worthless you truly are.” Breathing became
The two wolves crashed into each other with a loud crash. They growled loudly. Ryker's big wolf tried to use his size to win, but Vixxen was faster. He dodged Ryker's attacks with quick moves. Vixxen jumped forward and bit Ryker's shoulder, tearing his fur and skin. Ryker growled angrily and swiped his claws, cutting deep scratches into Vixxen's side. Vixxen clenched his teeth and twisted away, using his speed to stay ahead.Then, Ryker used his Alpha’s authority. Vixxen staggered. His body went rigid, his movements slowed as if invisible chains had wrapped around him. His instincts screamed at him to submit, but he fought against it. Ryker took advantage, slamming into him with full force. Vixxen yelped as he was sent crashing into the ground. Before he could get up, Ryker was on top of him, his big paw pressing down on his chest, his teeth bared in a winning snarl. When Ryker saw that he had won, he stepped back and transformed back into a human. His injuries were already healing
FlashbackThe moment the servant slipped out of the dungeon, Ashral exhaled and leaned against the cold stone wall."He’s gone," she murmured.Zeph arched a brow. "Are you sure?"Ashral smirked. "Positive."“How did you know someone was there?”“He didn’t mask his scent properly. I bet it was Ryker’s mate that sent him. I saw the way she looked at me earlier.”Zeph exhaled sharply, pacing through the small space of the cell. “Great. So now we’re officially running out of time.”Ashral pushed off the wall. “Which is why we need to move forward with our real plan. We’ll let them believe they know what we’re up to while we work on the real escape.”Zeph crossed her arms. “Okay. Which is?”Ashral tapped her temple. “You need to fully unlock your illusion ability. If you can perfect it before tomorrow, we’ll have a shot at getting you out of here.”Zeph frowned. “How am I supposed to master an ability I barely understand in one night?”“You practice. "And fast,” Ashral gestured to herself.
Ryker's mean smile grew bigger as he moved closer to Zeph. His fingers touched the bottom of her clothes, ready to lift them up. But Zeph grabbed the fabric tightly, holding it down. "Don’t you think it's weird?" she asked, trying to sound confused and unsure. "Stripping in front of everyone?" Ryker's smile started to fade. He looked at Zeph suspiciously, then slowly turned his head to look at Ashral. “Why is she questioning me?” His voice carried a dangerous edge, his amusement quickly fading. “She’s supposed to obey without hesitation.” His eyes narrowed. “Isn’t that what you were supposed to do?”Ashral remained silent.The lack of response only fueled Ryker’s fury. He snarled and hit Ashral hard. She hits the wall, gasping for air. Zeph felt a wave of fear. "Stop!" she shouted, unable to control herself. Without thinking, she rushed forward, and stood in front of Ashral. The room became silent.Zeph froze. Shit, my cover has been blown.Ryker stared at Zeph with a scary, amused
He hardly had time to recover his breath when he arrived at Camille's quarters before bursting in. Camille didn't move or show surprise when the servant suddenly came in. She just raised an eyebrow and looked at the servant, who was kneeling and breathing heavily. "Well?”“My Lady,” the servant gasped, “Ashral and Zeph—They plan to deceive the Alpha. Ashral will pretend to brainwash her, and Zeph will fake being controlled.”Camille remained quiet before a grin appeared across her face. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs, and tapped her fingers on the armrest. "How cute," she whispered. A smile played on her lips as she thought about what the servant told her. The servant stood on his knees, his head bowed down. "Should I tell the Alpha, My Lady?" he asked."No, let them think their plan is working.” Camille chuckled softly. “It's fun to watch someone think they're in control... only to find out they're not."The servant swallowed hard. “What shall we do in the meantime
Terran sat at his desk, scanning over reports and handling pack affairs, but something gnawed at the back of his mind. The day had nearly passed, and he hadn’t seen Zeph. Not even once.His wolf stirred uneasily.Where is she?It wasn’t unusual for her to disappear for a few hours, but an entire day? That was unlike her. His jaw tightened as he pushed away from his desk, striding out of his office. He needed to check on her.When he arrived at her door, he was surprised to see Vixxen already standing there, arms crossed, his usual smirk replaced with a deep frown.“What are you doing here?”“I should be asking you that “Wait, you haven’t her?”“No. Not once since this morning.”That was all the confirmation he needed. Something was wrong. Without hesitation, he pushed open the door—only to be met with an empty room.A cold wave of dread washed over him. The scent of the space told him everything he needed to know. It was faint, but there.Ryker.A deep growl rumbled in his chest, his
Zeph’s breath hitched as she stared at the identical mark on Ashral’s shoulder. Her mind raced with questions.“You are from the starlight pack,” she finally said, her voice hoarse from the lingering effects of the poison.Ashral nodded. “So are you.” “So, not all were wiped out?”“Not entirely,” Ashral murmured. Some of us survived, scattered across different territories. Hiding.”“From who?”“Our enemies”“Don’t you know who they are?”“I don’t. "How did you end up in this situation where Ryker wanted to brainwash you?”Zeph exhaled, her body still weak but recovering. “It’s a long story.”Ashral gave her a pointed look. “I think we have time.”Zeph let out a breath, her body still heavy and useless against the cold stone beneath her.“Ryker rejected me as his mate because I was a powerless omega with no wolf, and he later found out about my powers, and apparently, he’s really interested in them.”Ashral clicked her tongue, shaking her head. “. Power-hungry fool.”Zeph would’ve shr