"So the girl will be staying with me, especially considering the fact that she is my mate, unfortunately," Jake said bluntly, taking a seat opposite me and my dad. 'What does he mean, unfortunately?' I felt really hurt somehow, though I didn't know why. It's not like I wanted to be his mate either... right?My dad balled his hands into fists. "She will stay here for a while, but that won't be long. She is my daughter, and she belongs with me... Alpha," he said, emphasizing the last word with a hint of disgust.The atmosphere grew tense, and I could feel it. Nina was whimpering, wanting to disagree with my dad. I was guessing she really liked Jake, which was bad news for me."What's wrong, Nina?""We belong with our mate. Your dad is making him angry, and I don't like it," she said. I rolled my eyes."Nina, our mate—so you say—doesn't want us, okay? Calm down. Besides, he was making out with that blonde, remember?"She didn't reply.There was a loud, angry growl from Jake. He stood up
"So, you are my brother's lucky mate. I totally knew it," she stated with a glint of excitement.I looked at her, trying to study her. What’s lucky about having that arrogant jerk as a mate? I would have asked if I wasn't so nice. "Yes, I guess so, and you are his sister." I mentally face-palmed—of course, she’s his sister, but I thought her name was Mila.I felt my wolf roll her eyes as she sat on her paws. "Remind me again, why the hell are we stating the obvious?"I sighed. "I have no idea.""Well, I'm basically his cousin, but we grew up like siblings. My name is Stephanie, but you can call me Sophie—most people do. Anyway, I'm so glad you're his mate!" Sophie said excitedly. "From the moment I met you, I knew you were special. We need to celebrate!"'Wait, what?'Sophie stood up and grabbed my hand. "Where are we going?" I asked her, confused. What were we even celebrating? I just wanted to crawl into my blankets and dread the day my father walked into my life with all this garba
Fear, constant, blood-draining fear. That’s what I was feeling—the kind of fear that makes your heart sink, your stomach twist, and your body shake violently. Right now, I was wishing for death itself, and trust me, anyone would too in this situation. Maybe defying the Alpha wasn’t such a good idea after all. I was incredibly ashamed.After last night’s episode, the Alpha practically threw me onto the bed in my new room and stormed out, slamming the door so hard on his way out that it almost broke off its hinges. It was all a blur, but also very clear to me that he had looked scary as hell.Thankfully, I managed to fall asleep despite everything, but unfortunately, today was another day. I woke up feeling like shit, and sadly, I remembered everything that happened, including the fact that I had gotten myself into deep trouble. I regretted waking up at all. Why did he even save me if he was going to kill me anyway? I brushed my hair off my face with my hand. I still remember the look o
It has been three long days since that dreadful day when Jake put me under house arrest. I haven't seen anyone—not even Cathy or Sophie. I kind of missed them, and it's crazy that I also missed Jake, really badly. Maybe it's the mate pull. I’ve been stuck in my room, Googling about wolves, werewolves, and witches. I learned quite a lot, actually. I learned about mates, the bond, and that the Alpha is the leader of a pack. He has a Beta, who is second in command, and a Gamma, who is third in command. The pack also has higher-ranked wolves like the Delta, Zeta, Eta, Theta, Epsilon, and the Luna, who is the Alpha’s mate. Unfortunately, I also learned that packs have lower-ranked werewolves known as omegas. Throughout history, omegas have been mistreated and abused because of their inability to shift into a werewolf or because their wolf is premature, too small, or weak.Right now, I looked like a caveman with my hair in a messy, huge onion bun—no makeup—wearing only a large baseball T-sh
"What!" Oh no. "You're my trainer... what's going on here?" I asked, frozen in place, my mind spinning. I was staring at Bryan, hoping he would tell me that what I was thinking was wrong—that this was all a misunderstanding, that maybe he was just a dog trainer or something harmless. But the look on his face, his apologetic expression, confirmed my worst fears.He didn't say anything, just stood there looking guilty, and that guilt only fueled the anger boiling inside me. Before I could control myself, I felt my hand fly up and slap him hard across the face. The sound echoed in the kitchen. He barely flinched at the slap, though, his eyes still fixed on me, full of regret."Prisca... I'm so sorry," he began softly, trying to explain, but I wasn’t in the mood to hear any excuses. "I wanted to tell you, but I couldn’t..."I cut him off, my voice rising, trembling with rage. "You what? You couldn't tell me? Let me tell you what you did, Bryan! You lied to me! How could you? I trusted you
Instead of being angry, the crazy prick just smirked. "You're breathing, aren't you?" His voice was casual, as if we weren’t in the middle of one of the most humiliating moments of my life.I blinked at him, my eyebrows drawing together in confusion. And then, it hit me. He knew exactly what he was doing. He kissed me not to be an arrogant, overbearing Alpha but to stop my panic attack. The kiss was a distraction—a calculated move to snap me out of my spiraling. Of course, he would think of something like that. His ego probably couldn’t stand me not breathing without his permission.I could feel my face heating up, the blush spreading across my cheeks. "Uh... well, yeah," I mumbled, avoiding his eyes like they were a spotlight shining right on my embarrassment. My gaze darted anywhere but to the smirk that played on his lips, the one that told me he knew how flustered I was. It made me want to disappear into the floor. Why did this man always have the ability to make me feel vulnerabl
I stormed off, wanting nothing more than to retreat to the safety of my room and shut the world out for a moment. My mind was racing, the weight of everything crashing down around me—Bryan, Jake, my entire life being one big secret. I was so lost in thought that I didn’t notice Jake moving until I felt a strong hand grab my arm, pulling me back.I stopped abruptly and glared at his hand on my left arm, trying to yank it free. But of course, it was no use. His grip was firm, his strength overwhelming, and I was just human—or, at least, I used to think I was. Now, I didn’t even know what I was anymore. My frustration flared, and I turned my glare up at him, only to find him staring back with the same intensity.'What the hell is his problem?' I thought bitterly, feeling a strange mix of fear and anger swirling inside me. Jake’s dark eyes were locked on mine, annoyance practically radiating off him. He looked like he was about two seconds away from snapping, and I suddenly felt very smal
After everything that happened yesterday, I couldn’t sleep at all. I lay there on my right side, staring at the glowing digits on my bedside clock: 4:25 a.m. It felt like I’d suddenly developed some kind of insomnia. My mind refused to shut off, thoughts swirling uncontrollably, mostly focused on him. Jake.I hated to admit it, but he scared me now. The memory of his grip on my arm, the dark look in his eyes... it all kept replaying in my mind. The fact that my own father left me in his care infuriated me. Him, my so-called “Alpha.” And don’t get me started on the ridiculous idea that he’s supposed to be my “soulmate.” What a joke.Nothing Jake had done so far indicated anything remotely close to being my soulmate. He treated me like just another burden, like an outsider. It was as if I were an intruder in his world, someone he barely tolerated. He didn’t even seem interested in getting to know me. All he did was order me around, act like he owned me. It was infuriating.I groaned out
The ballroom was alive with music and laughter, a stark contrast to the heaviness that had lingered over the pack these past few weeks. Fatima had outdone herself, organizing this ball to remind everyone that joy still had a place in our lives.Dressed in a flowing emerald-green gown, I swayed gently in Jake’s arms as we moved across the dance floor. The light in his eyes, the way his fingers traced soothing circles on my back, made me forget—if only for a moment—that our world was still in pieces.“See?” he murmured. “A night without doom and gloom. Feels nice, doesn’t it?”I smiled up at him. “It does.”He twirled me, and for a second, I felt weightless. Then it hit me.A sharp, piercing sensation in my skull.I stumbled, the room tilting violently.Jake’s grip tightened. “Prisca?”I couldn’t answer. The pain spread like wildfire, and suddenly, the music and chatter faded into the background. My legs buckled, and I was falling.Darkness swallowed me whole.And then… I wasn’t in the
The weight of what I had just seen clung to me like a second skin. Even as I sat on the edge of the bed, back in the safety of our room, I could still feel the cold presence of that figure. The sound of its voice—my voice—echoed in my head like a haunting melody. Choose. But choose what? I could still feel Jake’s hands on my face from before, the desperate way he had searched my eyes, pleading for an answer I didn’t have. Now, he paced the room, his body tense with unspoken frustration. The others sat nearby, watching me with equal parts concern and curiosity. “You need to tell us everything,” Althea finally said, breaking the heavy silence. I rubbed my arms, trying to rid myself of the chill that had settled in my bones. “I was… alone. You were all gone. And the figure—it wasn’t just some shadow. It was me.” Sophie’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait. You? Like… a doppelgänger situation?” I nodded slowly. “Exactly like that. She—It—told me I had to choose. But I don’t know what t
The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a blade. We had all woken up in a cold sweat, shaken by the fact that we had the exact same dream—no, it wasn’t just a dream. It felt too real. The streets of that town, the heavy feeling of being watched, the way the air had seemed almost alive with something unnatural. I glanced around at the others, my heart still hammering in my chest. Jake sat at the edge of the bed, his muscles tense, his jaw clenched as if trying to process everything at once. Fatima and Sophie had both fallen into a heavy silence, their usual humor nowhere to be seen. And Althea… she was staring blankly at the candle burning on the bedside table, deep in thought, her fingers twitching slightly. “This isn’t over,” I finally said, breaking the silence. “We left that place. We returned here. But somehow, it’s still with us.” Jake turned to me, his expression unreadable. “There has to be a reason why we all saw the same thing.” His voice was low, controlled—b
The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine as I stepped out of the cabin. The town was finally behind us, but a strange unease still lingered in my chest. It wasn’t just the eerie experiences we had—it was something deeper, something clawing at my subconscious, demanding my attention.Jake was already outside, sharpening his dagger with a quiet focus that sent a chill through me. His jaw was tense, his muscles coiled, as if he were ready for another fight. I walked up to him, rubbing my arms against the cold. "You look like you're expecting trouble," I said, trying to sound lighthearted, but he barely acknowledged me at first.Finally, he sighed and set the dagger down. "I don’t like that we had to run from that place. It feels unfinished," he admitted.He wasn’t wrong. We had gotten away, but at what cost? The things we had seen, the presence that still clung to us like an unshakable shadow—I knew deep down that it wasn’t truly over.Sophie came strolling ou
The tension from our near escape still clung to me like a second skin, even as the night stretched into silence. My body was exhausted, my mind running circles around the events that had unfolded. I lay curled against Jake, his arms wrapped securely around me, his breath steady and warm against my hair. But sleep refused to claim me. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw flashes—red eyes in the dark, the twisted town, the feeling of time slipping like sand through my fingers. It had been too easy. Too clean of an escape. And that made my stomach churn. Jake shifted beside me, his grip tightening. “You’re thinking too much,” he murmured against my temple. I exhaled softly. “I can’t help it. Something isn’t right.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead, but there was tension in his touch. “We’ll figure it out in the morning. For now, just rest.” I nodded against his chest, but the uneasy feeling wouldn’t leave. And deep down, I knew—this wasn’t over. ---Morning came far too soon. T
The moment we stepped out of the inn, an eerie silence wrapped around us like a suffocating blanket. The town, which had been brimming with life just hours ago, now felt abandoned. The streets were empty, the lanterns flickering weakly, and the air carried a heavy stillness that made the hairs on my arms rise.Jake was the first to break the silence. "We need to get out of here. Now."His voice was calm but held an undertone of urgency that made my stomach twist. I reached for his hand instinctively, feeling the warmth of his skin grounding me.Althea, Sophie, Fatima, and Chris followed closely behind as we hurried toward the town's exit. But as we neared the main road leading out, a dense fog rolled in from nowhere, thick and unnatural. My breath hitched as the path ahead of us blurred into nothingness."What the hell?" Chris muttered, stepping ahead cautiously. He reached out a hand to push through the fog, but the moment his fingers touched it, a pulse of energy knocked him back on
The road stretched before us, endless and winding, as our SUV rumbled down the cracked pavement. The eerie little town we'd just left was nothing more than a fading memory in the rearview mirror. Or at least, that’s what we thought.Fatima sat in the back, fiddling with the radio, static crackling through the speakers. Sophie drummed her fingers on the dashboard while Althea stared out the window, her fingers twitching like she was trying to grab something unseen. Chris, sitting next to Fatima, was uncharacteristically quiet.“I swear, I’ll never step foot in another weird-ass town again,” Sophie muttered, shifting in her seat. “That place gave me the creeps.”“Agreed,” Jake said, his fingers gripping the wheel tighter. “Let’s just get home and pretend this never happened.”Silence settled over the car for a while, broken only by the hum of the tires against the road. The trees lining the highway were dense, towering over us, their darkened silhouettes illuminated by the occasional f
The idea of taking a break from everything was both ridiculous and desperately needed. The pack had been through hell, and for the first time in weeks, there was no immediate crisis to solve. So, when Sophie suggested a road trip, I had laughed—until I saw the way Jake looked at me, like he knew I needed this more than anyone. And maybe I did.That’s how I found myself crammed in an SUV with Jake, Althea, Sophie, Fatima, and Jake speeding down an open road. The wind blew through my hair as I rolled down the window, feeling something I hadn’t in a long time—freedom.“Alright, we need road trip rules,” Sophie announced from the backseat, pulling out a notepad. “Rule number one: No talking about pack politics.”“Agreed,” Fatima said, munching on a bag of spicy chips. “Rule number two: The driver does not get to pick all the music.”Jake, who was behind the wheel, raised a brow. “Excuse me? Who else would pick?”“Literally anyone else,” Althea said, crossing her arms. “You listen to brood
The morning air was crisp and fresh, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth through the open windows. It was the kind of morning that whispered of new beginnings, of hope gently stretching its fingers through the cracks of sorrow. I stood on the balcony, sipping warm tea, watching the sun rise over the treetops. The pack had been through hell, but today—today felt different. The heaviness that had lingered like an unshakable fog finally seemed to be lifting. Laughter drifted up from below, the sound of children playing near the training grounds. Warriors, who once walked with the weight of grief on their shoulders, were smiling as they sparred in the courtyard. The pack was healing, slowly but surely. I had found a place here. It had taken time, patience, and a lot of self-doubt, but now, watching the people I had come to love rebuild their lives, I felt at home. A pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind, pulling me against a warm chest. “You’re up early,” J