PRESENT DAYI sighed as my father drove me to school it felt like I was being dragged to hell. Just a few weeks ago, I was living comfortably with my mom, Emily McHawlin, my world as normal as it could get. Now, I was living with a man I barely knew. A man I had believed was dead my entire life. My father, Daniel, who had suddenly emerged from the shadows, insisting he was back for my own good. Life has a funny way of slapping you in the face when you least expect it, twisting fate in ways that leave you breathless.I shook my head, still unable to fully process the turn my life had taken. A new father, a new home, and now, a new school.I pulled my cross-body bag off the shelf and stuffed a few notebooks inside, trying to focus on the mundane task. My thoughts raced as I questioned how I even agreed to this. Me, Prisca McHawlin, starting a new life on someone else’s terms. Daniel had convinced me it was “healthy” to get back into a routine, but there was nothing healthy about this si
The cold air from the classroom made my skin prickle. I stepped inside, my eyes scanning the room, and for a moment, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. It wasn’t just the chill, but a creeping sensation, like invisible eyes were on me, watching my every move. The walls seemed to close in, dark shadows stretching across the floor, the corners of the room cloaked in dim light. I blinked, trying to shake the sensation, convincing myself it was just my nerves. Bryan nudged me gently. “You okay?” “Yeah,” I whispered, forcing a smile, though my insides churned with unease. “Just... the cold air.” Bryan looked around the room and shrugged. “Yeah, this place has a weird vibe sometimes. It’s always freezing in here. You’ll get used to it.” He smiled warmly and gestured for me to follow him to a pair of empty seats toward the back. I slipped into the chair next to him, placing my bag on the floor, still hyperaware of my surroundings. The classroom wasn’t particularly la
Three days had passed so quickly, I could hardly believe it. High school was turning out to be survivable, and living with Daniel was slowly becoming less awkward. My friendship with Bryan had also grown closer, and I was grateful for that. He was easy to talk to, and I found comfort in his presence. But everyone at school had made up their minds that Bryan was my boyfriend. The rumors didn’t bother me, and Bryan didn’t seem to care either. We actually laughed about it.The weather here in Zimbabwe was usually blistering, the kind that made my skin feel like it was roasting under the sun’s relentless rays. Days like today, when the world felt hushed under the weight of the clouds, were a rare blessing.I decided to call Bryan it was a good day for a hot cheesy pizza anyways.---The pizza place was buzzing with the usual lunchtime crowd, a mix of students and families crowding around the red-checkered tables. Bryan and I snagged a booth by the window, and I tried to focus on our conver
Bryan nodded. “Okay.”When I went to collect the pizza, one of the girls from the group reached out and held my hand. “The new moon awaits,” she said.I looked at her, confused. “What do you mean?” I asked, almost whispering. She stared at me as if she was seeing straight into my soul.“The new moon will open your eyes, the new moon will be your light. Trust the new—” Before she could finish, a blond guy grabbed her hand, and she snapped out of whatever trance she was in, suddenly looking terrified.“Sorry about that,” the guy said, his green eyes focused on the girl. “Sophie gets a bit weird sometimes and starts saying things that don’t make sense.”Sophie blinked a couple of times, then forced a nervous smile. She looked like she was still too scared to meet my eyes. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Please excuse us,” she said, clinging to the guy’s hand as they walked away.I just nodded, still trying to process what had just happened. My thoughts were interrupted by the piz
I woke up the next Sunday morning feeling extremely sick and overheated. Beads of sweat trickled down my forehead, and I felt as if I were wrapped in a heavy blanket even though I wasn’t covered by anything. I didn’t even want to get out of bed. Struggling to sit up straight, I glanced at the small clock on the table beside my bed. Damn! It was already 10:00 a.m.! Why hadn’t Daniel woken me up like he usually did? Sunlight filtered through my curtains, casting patterns of light on the floor, but even that seemed blinding. I tried to get out of bed, but as soon as I stood up, I almost fell over. My legs felt numb, and I could feel heat rising from my feet, spreading through my entire body in waves, like fire snaking up my veins. “Oh my God,” I muttered, feeling unbearably hot. I grabbed the table to steady myself and looked at the picture of my mother, her eyes seeming to look back at me with concern. “Give me strength,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “What’s happening to me?” The s
Bryan arrived at my house about an hour after I had called him. I explained everything to him in a hurried, breathless stream of words. He sat at the edge of my bed, staring at me with a blank expression. Did he actually think I was insane? “Please, earth to Bryan! Say something, at least,” I snapped, waving my fingers in front of his face, hoping to snap him out of it.“I… I don’t know what to say,” he finally muttered, running a hand through his hair. “This all sounds so crazy and unreal. You’re telling me you burned that table without even touching it, without a matchstick or a lighter?” He shook his head, trying to process everything, then stood up and began pacing the room.“I know it sounds insane, Bryan! But do you really think I’d burn my own table—and my mother’s picture—on purpose? Risking burning down the whole house? Come on, I’m not crazy, okay!” I replied, my voice rising in frustration as I struggled to keep my emotions in check. Exhausted, I sat down heavily, feeling t
I was beyond frustrated today, and I knew being at school wasn’t going to help my situation in any way. All I could think about were the answers I desperately needed. There were only two explanations for what was happening to me: either I was going insane, or I was turning into some cliché version of an alien.I dragged myself into my fourth class of the day, which was Literature. The moment I stepped into the room, I nearly choked when I spotted one of the seniors Bryan and I had seen last Saturday at the restaurant.It was Jake ....I groaned remembering ur last encounter. 'What is he doing in my class?' I thought, wide-eyed, as I made my way to my desk in the middle of the room. Damn, the guy was hot—seriously, why did he have to be so attractive?I could literally feel his gaze burning holes into the back of my skull, and it made my entire body feel warm, almost uncomfortably so. Thank God, Mr. Huggins, our teacher, walked in before I could embarrass myself further.“Good morning, s
"Jake, tell me what the hell is going on here!" I demanded as soon as we stepped out of the dark corridor, but he still didn’t answer. My anger flared. "Jake!" I repeated, louder this time.Without a word, he grabbed my arm, pulling me into the school basement before closing the door behind us with a sharp click.“Just shut up for a second… okay?” he growled, his voice low and dangerous as he jammed a chair under the doorknob. I blinked at him in disbelief. Did he just… growl? Who does that?"Did you just growl at me?" I asked, incredulous.He sighed, his expression hard. "You need to stop asking questions!"That only fueled my frustration. "You need to stop telling me what to do and start answering those questions!" I whisper-yelled, trying to keep my voice low but failing as my temper rose. Seriously, I could be the next Nancy Drew with how many questions I had lined up, and I wasn’t about to stop now.What he did next nearly caused me to jump out of my skin. Without warning, Jake t
The moon hung low in the sky, its soft light spilling into the room as I sat curled up on the couch. The events of the day swirled in my mind like a storm, leaving me drained yet restless. Jake was somewhere in the packhouse, likely dealing with more fallout from the council’s accusations.Good. I needed space from him. His words still echoed in my head. “If you did it... I’d still stand by you.”The thought alone made my stomach churn. How could he even entertain the idea that I would kill someone, let alone a council member? A cold, hollow feeling settled in my chest.A soft knock at the door broke through my thoughts. Before I could answer, Fatima peeked her head in, her sharp eyes scanning the room until they landed on me.“Prisca,” she said softly, slipping inside and shutting the door behind her. “How are you holding up?”I let out a bitter laugh. “Oh, you know. Just your average day of being framed for murder and having everyone in the pack hate you. Fantastic, really.”Fatima
The room was thick with tension, the kind that clung to your skin like humidity in a summer storm. Jake’s family council members were seated around the long oak table in the pack’s meeting hall. Their eyes, cold and calculating, bore into me with an intensity that made my stomach churn. I stood by Jake’s side, my hand clasped tightly in his. The warmth of his grip was my only comfort in this sea of judgment. Despite his silent reassurance, the knot in my chest tightened with every passing moment. “This,” began Elder Marston, his voice sharp and cutting, “is unacceptable.” The murmurs of agreement from the others rippled through the room like a tide. “You’ve crossed a line, Jake,” added Elder Helena, her eyes narrowing at me as though I were some sort of wild animal she’d found in her home. “Marrying her wasn’t just impulsive—it was reckless.” I swallowed hard, my voice lodged somewhere in my throat. “She’s my mate,” Jake said, his voice calm but firm. “The Moon Goddess cho
The moment I stepped into our room, I felt the energy shift. The air grew thicker, charged with an electric current that sent a shiver down my spine. Jake stood by the window, his broad back to me, the dim light from the moon outlining the powerful contours of his body. He turned at the sound of the door clicking shut, his eyes locking onto mine. Those dark, intense eyes held a heat that made my breath hitch, my heart hammering in my chest. “You’ve been running from me all day, Prisca,” he said, his voice low, predatory. “I haven’t—” “You have,” he interrupted, taking a slow, deliberate step toward me. His gaze raked over me, and I felt it like a physical touch, setting every nerve alight. “And now I’ve caught you.” My back pressed against the door as he closed the distance between us, his presence overwhelming. His scent—earthy, musky, uniquely Jake—wrapped around me, clouding my thoughts. He was so close now that I could feel the heat radiating off his body, the raw power
Settling In as LunaPriscilla's PerspectiveThe first rays of dawn streamed through the window, casting a golden glow over the room. Jake’s arms tightened around me as I stirred, his warmth a comforting cocoon. I turned my head slightly to find him already awake, his dark eyes watching me with an intensity that made my cheeks flush.“Good morning, Luna,” he murmured, his voice husky from sleep.A smile tugged at my lips. “Good morning, Alpha.”Jake chuckled, leaning in to press a soft kiss to my forehead. “I’ll never get tired of hearing that.”I reached up, tracing the line of his jaw with my fingers. “Hearing what?”“Luna,” he whispered, his lips brushing against mine in a kiss that started gentle but quickly deepened. His hands slid down to my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us.For a moment, everything else faded—the worries, the responsibilities, the weight of my new title. All that mattered was the feel of his lips on mine, the steady beat of his h
The sun was just beginning to rise over the forest, casting a warm golden glow across the clearing where the pack had gathered. Today wasn’t just any day—today was 'our' day. My wedding day. I stood in front of a tall mirror in the packhouse, staring at my reflection as my heart pounded in my chest. Butterflies danced in my stomach, but they weren’t from fear. They were from the sheer excitement of what was about to happen.“Prisca, darling,” came a soft voice from behind me. I turned to see Jenna, my aunt, and my last surviving family member. Her face was a mixture of pride and worry. She walked over, placing a hand on my shoulder as she looked at me through the mirror. “Are you sure about this?”I blinked at her, surprised. “What do you mean?”Jenna’s expression softened, but there was still concern in her eyes. “Marriage, especially in our world, is forever. There’s no turning back once you’re bonded. This is for life, Prisca. I just want to make sure you’re truly ready for that ki
1year LaterPerfection, that is all I could say about my life with Jake now. Everything was too perfect as if...it wasn't even real like it was all just a dream that could be snatched away if I dared to blink an eye. Jake was everything I have ever dreamed of, he was too handsome with a body built for a Greek God but he worked for it day and night. Working out was like something werewolves had to do without even thinking about it, they just did it because it's in their nature. Jake cared for me, I couldn't complain really but ever since he found out he was born of royalty he has been...distracted."What are you thinking about so deeply," Jake asked drawing circles on my naked back.I sighed staring at the white fluffy pillow my head was resting on, "Nothing much."Jake growled playfully turning my body around to face him and I laughed."If its nothing then why are you lying?" he asked raising a dark eyebrow."Fine It isn't nothing, I'm worried about a few things. The next full moon is
The sun was just beginning to rise over the forest, casting a warm golden glow across the clearing where the pack had gathered. Today wasn’t just any day—today was our day. My wedding day. I stood in front of a tall mirror in the packhouse, staring at my reflection as my heart pounded in my chest. Butterflies danced in my stomach, but they weren’t from fear. They were from the sheer excitement of what was about to happen.“Prisca, darling,” came a soft voice from behind me. I turned to see Jenna, my aunt, and my last surviving family member. Her face was a mixture of pride and worry. She walked over, placing a hand on my shoulder as she looked at me through the mirror. “Are you sure about this?”I blinked at her, surprised. “What do you mean?”Jenna’s expression softened, but there was still concern in her eyes. “Marriage, especially in our world, is forever. There’s no turning back once you’re bonded. This is for life, Prisca. I just want to make sure you’re truly ready for that kind
The forest was alive with the sounds of peace—the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze, the occasional chirp of night creatures scurrying by, and the soft hum of nature at rest. But amidst all that quiet, my world was centered around one thing: Jake.His strong arms were still wrapped around me, holding me close as if I might disappear at any moment. The smell of smoke and blood lingered in the air, but it didn’t matter. We had survived. The chaos, the fighting, the fear—it was over. And now, all that was left was us."Can we just stay like this forever?" I whispered, burying my face into his chest. I could hear the steady thump of his heartbeat, a reminder that he was alive, that we both were.Jake’s laugh was soft, vibrating through his chest. "Forever sounds good to me." He tilted my chin up, forcing me to look into his eyes. They were back to their usual warm, chocolate brown, the dangerous red glow of his beast long gone. "I’m never letting you go, Prisca. Not now, not ever."
JAKE"Jake!" I cried out, overjoyed to be safe in his arms again, my heart racing from the adrenaline coursing through my veins. His hold was firm, protective, as though he’d never let me go again. He grabbed my face, his lips crashing onto mine in a desperate kiss, filled with emotion. But as he pulled away, his words shattered my fleeting relief.“We need to get you out of here. Now,” he said, his voice grim and commanding.“We? You and who?” I demanded, my heart sinking. I didn't want to leave him, not now.As if on cue, Chris appeared beside me, his presence reassuring but adding to my growing sense of dread. “Get her out of here, now,” Jake ordered, his Alpha tone laced with urgency. His transformation was near complete, his entire body now a terrifying shade of dark grey, black veins bulging across his neck, arms, and forehead. He was on the brink of losing control, and we both knew it.“No! I can’t leave you! What about my dad? And my mom!” I screamed, taking a step back, refu