When it’s over, they lie tangled together, their bodies slick with sweat, their breathing heavy and uneven. The silence that follows is thick with unspoken words, each of them lost in their own thoughts. But for now, at least, the storm has passed.Selena rests her head on Wilson’s chest, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on his skin, scratching to tease him to response. She can feel the steady beat of his heart beneath her touch, a reassuring rhythm that grounds her in the present.“I should go,” she murmurs after a while, though she makes no move to leave. “There’s so much I need to think about.”Wilson tightens his hold on her, his voice a low rumble in the darkness. “Stay with me tonight. I don’t want you to go.”Selena smiles against his chest, her heart swelling with love for the man beside her. “I’ll stay, but I don’t think I can walk… please, carry me to the bedroom, I’m wasted.” she whispers. Wilson didn’t hesitate, carries her and immediately she closes her eyes as she drif
Charmaine stands at the edge of the Hydra Pack's training grounds, her cold eyes scanning the ranks of soldiers assembled before her. One hundred men. That is all Alpha Cortis has given her—a pitiful number considering the task at hand. The Redbone Pack of Clovis City is not just formidable; it is legendary. Wilson, their Alpha, is a force to be reckoned with, his lieutenant Jason a lethal shadow that follows in his wake. But Cortis, in his arrogance, has dismissed this threat. He sees this attack as a mere test, a probe into Redbone's defenses.Charmaine knows better. This is no test; it is a death march. These one hundred men, with their steely eyes and sharpened claws, are marching to their graves. She can see it in their faces, the fear they hide behind bravado, the doubt in their gazes when they think she isn’t looking. They are strong, yes, but strength alone won’t save them. Not against the Redbone Pack. She clenches her fists, nails digging into her palms until blood pools in
As the last of the Hydra soldiers fall, Wilson surveys the carnage, his mind racing. Something still doesn’t sit right with him. He turns to Jason, who is wiping blood from his face, his expression grim."Something’s off," Wilson says, his voice low. "This attack was too sloppy, too poorly coordinated. Charmaine is up to something."Jason frowns, his gaze narrowing as he considers Wilson’s words. "You think this was a diversion?""I don’t know," Wilson admits, his unease growing. "But we need to find out what she’s really after. And fast."********************While the battle rages at the borders, Charmaine slips away unnoticed, following the secret path through the forest that leads directly into the heart of Clovis City. The path is narrow and treacherous, overgrown with thorny vines and twisted roots that threaten to trip her at every turn. But Charmaine moves with a deadly grace, her eyes fixed on the prize that awaits her at the end of the path—Selena.As she approaches the city
The battle at the borders is over, and the Redbone Pack has emerged victorious. But the victory is bittersweet. Only two of their own were lost, but the sense of unease lingers. Wilson and Jason stand at the edge of the battlefield, surveying the carnage."None of them made it out," Jason says, his voice grim. "Not a single one."Wilson nods, his mind elsewhere. "Charmaine wasn’t with them," he says, his voice low. "She was never here."Jason frowns, his gaze narrowing. "Then where the hell is she?"As if on cue, a messenger arrives, breathless and wide-eyed. "Alpha Wilson," he says, his voice trembling. "There’s been an attack in the city—Selena was targeted."Wilson’s heart skips a beat, his mind racing as he processes the news. "Where is she?" he demands, his voice sharp."She’s safe," the messenger replies quickly. "But the attacker—Charmaine—was captured. She’s been imprisoned, awaiting your judgment."Wilson breathes a sigh of relief, but it is short-lived. Charmaine may be impr
The air in the dungeon is thick with the stench of rot and despair, a fetid miasma that clings to the walls and seeps into the bones of those who dare to enter. Chains rattle faintly as Alpha Wilson strides through the darkened corridor, his footsteps echoing like the tolling of a death knell. The torches lining the walls flicker, casting grotesque shadows that dance across his chiseled features. His eyes are cold, merciless, as he approaches the cell where Charmaine, the traitor, awaits her fate.Charmaine, once proud and defiant, now sits shackled in the center of the room. Her clothes are torn, her hair matted with dried blood, but her spirit remains unbroken. She looks up as Wilson enters, a sneer curling her cracked lips."Come to gloat, Wilson?" she spits, her voice dripping with venom. "Or have you finally come to finish what you started?"Wilson's gaze narrows, his jaw tightening as he takes in the sight of the once-formidable she-wolf reduced to this pitiful state. But he kno
Jason stands before Alpha Wilson in the war room, the dim light casting shadows across the maps and battle plans spread out on the table. He recounts everything they learned from Charmaine, detailing the weaknesses in Hydra Pack's defenses and the timing of their next move."Alpha Cortis plans to strike exactly three days after the first assault," Jason says, his voice steady. "He believes we'll be caught off guard, but we can use this to our advantage. If we hit them first, we can turn the tide of battle before they even realize what's happening."Wilson nods, his mind racing as he processes the information. "We need to be swift and decisive. Cortis is a formidable foe, but if we catch him off balance, we can cripple his forces before they have a chance to regroup."Jason's eyes gleam with anticipation. "We'll need to divide our forces—hit them from multiple fronts. I'll lead the assault on their northern flank, while you take the southern. With their defenses spread thin, we can bre
As the night deepens, the fortress is quiet, save for the few guards patrolling the perimeter. Wilson sits alone in his chamber, the weight of leadership pressing down on him like never before. The decision to go to war was necessary, but it haunts him nonetheless. He knows what is at stake—every life in Clovis City, every soul he is sworn to protect.The door creaks open, and Jason steps inside, his face a mask of grim determination. “The preparations are underway. The warriors are ready, and the scouts are gathering intelligence as we speak.”Wilson nods, but his gaze remains distant. “Good. We need every advantage we can get.”Jason hesitates, sensing the turmoil within his Alpha. “You did the right thing, Wilson. The Hydra Pack is a cancer that needs to be cut out before it spreads.”“I know,” Wilson replies, his voice barely above a whisper. “But it doesn’t make it any easier.”Jason steps closer, his tone softening. “This isn’t just about revenge, is it?”Wilson looks up, meetin
Across the city, Demika finds solace in a new friendship that has blossomed unexpectedly. Chloe, with her ethereal beauty and quiet strength, has become a fixture in Demika's life. The vampire's visits to the inn have grown more frequent, and with each encounter, the bond between them deepens.Demika can't quite pinpoint when it happened, but something about Chloe draws her in. Perhaps it's the mystery that surrounds her, or maybe it's the gentle kindness that contrasts so starkly with the darkness of her nature. Whatever it is, Demika finds herself looking forward to Chloe's visits, her heart quickening at the sight of her.Today, Chloe arrives at the inn just as the afternoon sun begins to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets. Demika greets her with a warm smile, her earlier worries forgotten in the presence of her friend."I'm glad you came," Demika says, leading Chloe to a quiet corner of the inn where they can talk without interruption.Chloe