“We look amazing!” Cathy squealed, striking a few exaggerated poses in front of the mirror. Her excitement was infectious, and despite everything, I found myself nodding in agreement as I ran my fingers through my bouncy, thick curls. Stephanie, however, was still busy applying yet another layer of lipstick, oblivious to our antics.It was already seven o'clock, and I had expected the Alpha—Jake—to be the one to pick me up, or at the very least make an appearance. But no, of course not. He was too important for that, apparently. For reasons unknown to me, he couldn’t make it, so he sent a car instead. I was mildly disappointed, though I wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was the idea of showing up at this grand event alone that made me feel a little off.The dinner party was being held at the pack’s main Grand Hall, a few miles away from the pack house. Stephanie had mentioned earlier that it would take exactly fifteen minutes to get there, which was enough to make me realize just how enormous
Alpha Jake caught my gaze across the room, and I quickly looked away, but I could still feel his piercing stare. Why should I even care if he’s with that blonde anyway? I tried convincing myself that it didn’t matter—that it was just my wolf, messing with my head again. Yeah, that’s it. It’s just the wolf. I took a deep breath, trying to settle the storm of emotions that kept bubbling inside me, but I wasn’t fooling myself. Seeing Jake with Rebecca, his hand a little too comfortably placed on her waist, gnawed at me in ways I didn’t want to admit.“Hello... Earth to Prisca!” Cathy’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She waved her hand in front of my face, her expression somewhere between amused and annoyed.I glared at her, but she just scoffed. “It’s okay to be jealous, you know. I won’t judge. If my man were holding another chick’s waist like that, I’d snap her head off so fast no one would have time to even scream the Lord’s name.”“I’m not jealous,” I said, scrunching my eyebro
“Drinking that much is not good for your health, you know. If you’re trying to commit suicide by alcohol poisoning, please don’t do it in my presence. And try not to make it too obvious—it’s embarrassing, especially for you,” Alpha Jake said bluntly, glaring at me as usual.I scoffed. “Why would I commit suicide? I’d rather just kill the source of all my depression instead. And drinking a couple of glasses of wine never killed anyone.”He rolled his eyes, and I almost laughed at the sight. It was actually adorable. “You might be the first,” he muttered.“That’s ridiculous, and you know it,” I replied, feeling my annoyance growing.“What’s ridiculous is your stubbornness,” he shot back.I widened my eyes and carefully placed my glass of wine on the table in front of us. “I am not stubborn—you just think you know it all. What are you, a doctor or something? You can’t tell me what to do. And I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I’ll drink as much as I want,” I whisper-yelled at him,
I went outside and found a dark corner where I could cry without anyone seeing me in my miserable state. I never imagined I would cry like this, but I couldn’t help myself. It felt like I was a magnet for bad luck, with everything collapsing around me. I sat on what I thought was a large rock—it was too dark to be sure—but it didn’t matter. Nothing did at that moment.Minutes passed, but I couldn’t bring myself to go back into the hall. My mind was swirling with emotions, too chaotic to even think clearly. The fresh air was doing little to calm me down, and every time I thought about going back inside, I felt a new wave of tears threatening to spill. So, I stayed out, hoping the darkness would somehow swallow me whole.But then I felt a presence. I wasn’t afraid—I knew instinctively who it was. My mate. I sighed, clenching my fists. I was angry, no, furious, and I didn’t have the energy for another one of his games.“What do you want?” I snapped, not even bothering to look at him. “I
Rebecca's POVI watched them from a distance, hidden in the shadows like a ghost. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat filled with rage, pain, and betrayal. I saw him as he stood there, telling her he never "fucked" me last night. The words cut through me like a knife. We didn’t do anything last night because he rejected me again. Ever since she arrived, he has been pushing me away, time and time again. Every rejection stings deeper than the last.I always believed that whenever we were together, it was more than just sex. I thought it was love. How could he stand there, so casually dismissing everything we had shared, calling it nothing but "fucking"? My heart twisted with a cruel combination of pain, betrayal, and humiliation.How could he do this to me?Pain. Betrayal. Rejection. Humiliation. And finally… Anger.That overwhelming anger simmered in the pit of my stomach, threatening to consume me whole. He had promised me. He said she was nothing. Nothing! He hadn’t been lyi
PRISCAThe drive back home was quiet, but not in an awkward way. It was a comfortable silence, the kind that wraps around you like a warm blanket. My mind, however, wasn’t quiet at all. I couldn’t stop replaying our kiss from earlier—the way Jake’s lips moved against mine, the heat that surged between us. It was as if the moment had imprinted itself on me, and I replayed it over and over like some lovestruck fool. I was so lost in my thoughts, I didn’t even realize we had arrived.Jake got out of the car first, and like a true gentleman, he came around to my side, opening the door of his sleek black Range Rover Evoque. His hand gently held my waist as he helped me out of the car, and I blushed, feeling the warmth of his touch spread through me. For a fleeting moment, I wished he could stay like this forever—kind, attentive, and close. But I didn’t let myself get too carried away. Knowing Jake, this sweetness wouldn’t last long. He’d probably go back to being cold and distant by mornin
I lay beside her on my back, staring up at the ceiling, lost in a storm of emotions I couldn’t quite understand. I wasn’t surprised that my wolf had taken over, marking our mate. Deep down, I knew it was only a matter of time before something like this happened. But what angered me was that I had allowed it, that I couldn’t stop myself from wanting her. And even more terrifying than that, I had enjoyed every second of it. The pleasure I felt when I touched her, kissed her, was dangerously addicting. I wanted more. That thought alone sent a chill down my spine.With a deep sigh, I shifted onto my side, my eyes taking in every curve of her body. She was beautiful—an hourglass figure, soft skin, and thick, silky black hair that spread out across the pillow. I reached out, brushing a lock of it from her face before gently pulling the blanket over her to keep her warm. I couldn't help but feel protective of her. Ever since she arrived, I hadn’t only been losing control of my wolf—I’d been
JAKE'S POV:I woke up still sprawled across the couch, my muscles stiff from the uncomfortable position. I must have passed out here last night. My head throbbed slightly, and I rubbed my temples, trying to gather myself. Exhaustion clung to me like a heavy blanket, but I knew I had important duties to attend to. Being an Alpha was no easy task—it was relentless and draining, but the love I had for my pack kept me going.After a quick shower, I checked the time. It was only 5 a.m. Still wrapped in a towel, I heard my name being screamed from down the hallway, and not in the way that usually excites me. "Shit," I muttered under my breath."You!" Prisca’s voice echoed through the halls, and before I could react, she stormed into my bedroom. She was furious. Dressed in nothing but an oversized black band T-shirt, her legs bare and flushed with rage, she looked ready to kill me. Clearly, she hadn’t bothered putting on pants in her hurry to confront me about last night.I leaned against t
The house loomed ahead, a grand, crumbling mansion shrouded in mist and magic. Its pointed roofs seemed to pierce the low-hanging clouds, and its many windows glinted like eyes in the faint light. The walls were made of dark, weathered stone, ivy creeping up its surface as though nature was trying to reclaim it. As we entered the men we had come with ,Jake's men were stuck outside ."The coven only wants ...us" Althea said Jake signaled for his men to stay put and I didn't like this . That we were going in without back up.“This place feels...wrong,” I said, gripping Jake’s hand tighter. “Wrong? It looks like the Addams family forgot to clean up,” Fatima quipped, her voice cutting through the oppressive silence. “I mean, it’s giving haunted chic.” Despite myself, I chuckled. Leave it to Fatima to find humor in the creepiest of situations. Althea stepped forward, her expression serious as her eyes roamed the house. “This isn’t just a building—it’s enchanted. I can feel it.” J
The forest felt heavier as we moved deeper into its heart. Every step we took seemed to draw us further into a place where time and reality bent under the weight of ancient magic. The air itself felt charged, humming faintly against my skin like a static field waiting to ignite. "Are you sure this is the right way?" Jake’s voice, low and tense, broke through the silence. I glanced back at him, his usual confidence dampened by concern. “It’s here,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “I can feel it.” Althea, walking just ahead, nodded in agreement. “The energy is stronger here. There’s no doubt about it.” Fatima trailed slightly behind us, clutching a silver dagger we had given her for protection. "If it’s so close, why can’t we see it?" she asked, her voice tinged with both curiosity and fear. I didn’t have an answer. The coven was cloaked by layers of enchantments, a veil so powerful it was nearly impenetrable. But I could sense the edges of it now, faint threads of mag
The forest seemed endless. Each tree loomed tall and ancient, their gnarled roots jutting out of the earth like claws trying to pull us down. My legs ached from the constant marching, my boots heavy with mud. Althea walked beside me, her jaw set, while Fatima trailed slightly behind, clutching a makeshift weapon—a sturdy branch she had found earlier. She didn’t complain, but the fatigue in her steps was clear.“We’ve been at this for hours,” Fatima said, her voice tinged with frustration. “Are we even going in the right direction?”I glanced at her, my own doubts gnawing at me. “The energy here is different. Althea says we’re close, and I trust her instincts.”Althea, who had been scanning the area with narrowed eyes, muttered, “There’s something off about this place. It’s like the forest itself is shifting to confuse us.”Great. A shifting forest. Just what we needed.“Do you think Jake’s group is nearby?” Fatima asked, her tone softer this time. My chest tightened at the mention o
Priscilla’s PovThe forest seemed darker than before, the weight of the shadows pressing against me. Each step was careful and measured, the air too still, the silence too loud. Fatima walked just behind me, her breathing steady but strained. Althea moved to my left, her face set with determination. We were all on edge, every rustle of leaves or snap of a branch sending jolts of anxiety through us.“This place doesn’t want us here,” Fatima said softly, clutching her flashlight like a lifeline. She was the only human among us, and her instincts were sharp, even if she lacked magical senses.“I know,” I murmured, gripping the hilt of my dagger. The air was thick with an unnatural energy, every particle alive with menace. “We need to stay together, no matter what.”Althea nodded but didn’t speak. Her focus was on the forest ahead, her hands glowing faintly with the residual magic she’d been using to keep small enchantments active—a protective barrier, a minor light spell. Even with these
JAKE'S POVThe world felt colder without her by my side. Every step I took away from that chasm was like ripping apart a piece of my soul, leaving me raw and exposed. The pack bond that connected Prisca and me hummed faintly, reassuring me that she was still alive, but it wasn’t enough. I needed to see her, to hold her, to know she was safe. "Jake," Sophie said, snapping me out of my thoughts. She stood a few feet ahead, her bow drawn, her sharp gaze scanning the twisted forest around us. "You’ve got to focus. This place isn’t going to give us the luxury of distractions." “I’m fine,” I lied, gripping the hilt of my sword tighter. "Sure you are," she muttered, but she didn’t press further. The forest on our side of the chasm was just as suffocating, maybe worse. The trees were skeletal and clawed at the sky, their bark blackened as if burned. The air smelled of decay, and an eerie mist curled around our feet. Even the shadows here felt alive, shifting unnaturally when we moved.
The forest canopy above us was dense, blocking out the sun entirely, and the world around us seemed cloaked in endless twilight. Each step I took felt wrong, as if the earth itself was trying to push us back. Jake’s hand brushed against mine as we walked, his touch a fleeting anchor in this madness. I knew he could sense my unease, just as I could feel the tension radiating off him. "We’re close," Althea whispered, her voice trembling. She was studying a map that glowed faintly with magical runes, the only light in the oppressive darkness. "I can feel the coven’s magic. But it’s fractured, like they’re hiding their presence in pieces." "That doesn’t make sense," Jake growled. "Why would they split their magic?" "They’re probably setting traps," Sophie said, her bow at the ready. "They know we’re coming, and they’re ready to pick us off one by one." I glanced at Sophie. Her usual confidence was marred by a shadow of fear, and it unnerved me to see her so shaken. “Stay sharp
The forest seemed darker today, as though the sun itself refused to touch this cursed land. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and something sharper—something metallic, like blood. Each step we took felt more oppressive than the last, as if the weight of the forest itself was pressing down on us. Jake walked ahead, his shoulders tense, his sharp eyes scanning every shadow. Althea stayed close to me, her spellbook clutched tightly in her hands, its pages marked with hastily scrawled notes. Sophie and Fatima flanked us, weapons at the ready. “We’re close,” Jake muttered, his voice low. “I can feel it.” “Close to what?” Sophie asked, her tone wary. “Another trap?” “Maybe,” Althea said, her voice strained. “But if we don’t keep going, we’ll never find them.” I nodded, though my stomach churned with unease. We’d been traveling for hours, every step bringing us deeper into the heart of this cursed forest. The creatures we’d faced so far had been relentless—shadow wolve
The morning air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth as we stepped into the dense forest. The towering trees cast long shadows over our group, their branches intertwined like a living canopy. I tightened the straps of my pack, my heart pounding with a mixture of fear and anticipation. We were finally on the hunt. Jake led the way, his posture tense, every step deliberate. Althea walked beside me, her fingers brushing over the spellbook she clutched like a lifeline. Fatima and Sophie trailed behind, their senses sharp, scanning the woods for any signs of danger. “Everyone ready?” Jake’s deep voice broke the silence, his gaze sweeping over us. “As ready as we’ll ever be,” I replied, trying to inject some confidence into my tone. “Good,” he said, his jaw set. “Stay close. This forest has a reputation.” “A reputation for what?” Fatima asked, her voice wary. “Being alive,” Jake answered grimly. We exchanged uneasy glances but said nothing. The first hour of our
The days felt longer without Jake around. The house was quieter, save for the usual buzz of activity from the workers and the occasional giggles of Lily and Logan. I hadn’t realized how much I’d grown used to Jake’s brooding presence until it wasn’t there anymore.But something else had shifted in the packhouse—Tammy.After her unexpected show of competence and kindness during the pack’s little health scare, she seemed... different. Or maybe it was just that I was seeing a different side of her, one that wasn’t cloaked in sarcasm and thinly veiled malice.That morning, I found her in the kitchen, of all places. She was chopping vegetables, her movements precise and efficient.“Good morning,” I said cautiously, half-expecting a snarky reply.To my surprise, she glanced up and nodded. “Morning.”I hovered near the counter, unsure of what to do. “What are you making?”“Soup,” she said simply. “For the kids. Some of them are still recovering.”“Oh.” I wasn’t sure what else to say.“You’re