My neck throbbed painfully, and my head felt like it was splitting open from the inside. It was as if a thousand drums were pounding all at once, confined to the small space inside my skull. Every time I attempted to open my eyes, they stung so fiercely that I kept them shut, surrendering to the dark. The soft surface beneath me suggested I was lying on something relatively comfortable—a bed, maybe—but that did little to ease the ache radiating through my entire body. I shouldn't have trusted her. I knew it. Rebecca had betrayed me, Jake, and the entire pack. Why? What was driving her to commit such a treacherous act?"So, what are you planning to do with her?" I heard Rebecca’s voice. She was close, her words pulling me out of my disoriented state. I couldn't see her, but her tone was sharp, insistent."That’s none of your business. Your role in this is done." A deep male voice responded, his tone dismissive and laced with authority. I could feel his presence looming over me like a d
PRISCATime seemed to taunt me as it passed painfully slowly, the fading sunlight casting eerie shadows across the room. The hours slipped by too fast, yet felt like eternity, each moment bringing me closer to the inevitable horror awaiting me tonight. Zion, the Demon Lord, had made it clear—he was going to take me, forcefully, and I had no way to stop him. Whatever drug was coursing through my veins kept me weak, helpless, and I had no idea how long it would last. Zion had left earlier, saying he'd be back before sunset for some twisted ceremony. The door creaked open, and a young girl, no older than fourteen or fifteen, entered. She held a glass of water and some pills in her trembling hands. Maybe she could help me."Hey, what's your name?" I asked softly, trying not to sound too desperate, though every fiber of my being screamed for escape.Her brown eyes widened in panic. She glanced around, as if the very walls could betray her. “You must not speak to me,” she whispered harshly
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
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."
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
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 ki
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
JAKE'S POV The morning sun cast long, golden rays over the forest, a deceptive serenity cloaking the air still heavy with the aftermath of the battle. Priscilla walked a few steps ahead of me, her shoulders squared as if to prove she was fine, though I could see the tremor in her movements. “Prisca,” I said, my voice firm but gentle. “Are you okay my love?"She glanced back, her lips twitching in that defiant smile I both loved and hated. “I told you, Jake. I’m fine.” But as the words left her mouth, her knees buckled. I caught her just in time, my arms wrapping around her before she hit the ground. “Prisca!” Panic surged through me as I cradled her limp form. Her skin was pale, her breaths shallow. “She’s overexerted herself,” Althea said, stepping to my side. “Her magic is drained, and she needs to recover.” “She looks—” I swallowed hard, unable to finish the sentence. “She’s not dying, Jake,” Althea assured me. “But she’s teetering close to exhaustion. Let her rest. It
The air inside the coven’s chamber still hummed with residual magic, thick and heavy like a storm waiting to break. My fingers trembled as I clutched the fragile page of the grimoire. The weight of Esther’s warning about the blood spell pressed against my chest. Darkness had a cost—it always did. “Let’s move,” Jake’s voice cut through the silence, steady but tinged with urgency. “Whatever magic is holding this place together won’t last forever. We need to get back to the pack before something else goes wrong.” I nodded, my throat too dry to form words. Althea placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, her grip firm and steady. “We’ll figure this out, Prisca. Together.” Fatima, always the voice of levity, muttered, “Great. More walking through creepy woods while being hunted by god-knows-what. Just my kind of adventure.” The moment we stepped outside, the forest greeted us with an eerie silence. Gone were the rustling leaves and chirping insects that had accompanied us on our way
The chamber shimmered as the doorway disappeared, replaced by a circle of flickering light. The coven revealed itself slowly, stepping out of the shadows like phantoms. Each woman was draped in dark, flowing robes that seemed to absorb the light, their faces partially obscured by intricate masks. But I recognized Esther instantly. She stood at the center of the group, her presence commanding. Her icy gaze swept over us, lingering on me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. “Welcome,” she said, her voice calm but laced with malice. “You’ve proven yourselves worthy to stand before the coven. But to gain the answers you seek, you must pass our final test.” The other women spoke in unison, their voices weaving together like a haunting melody. “Five trials. Five questions. Success grants knowledge. Failure brings consequences.” “Great,” Fatima muttered under her breath. “More games. I should’ve brought popcorn.” I shot her a look, but a small smile tugged at my lips
The air around us crackled with an electric charge as the hidden doorway creaked open, revealing a cavernous chamber bathed in an eerie, flickering light. I barely had time to process the change before the strange pull of magic swept over us again. One blink, and our elegant ball gowns and tuxedos vanished, replaced with heavy, warrior-like armor. Mine was a deep crimson, its intricate patterns glowing faintly as though alive. A matching sword hung at my hip, its hilt adorned with runes that hummed softly when I touched it. “Is it just me, or do these witches really enjoy playing dress-up with us?” Fatima quipped, examining her silver-plated armor with an expression of exaggerated disdain. “And why is mine so heavy? Do they think I’m some medieval knight?” Jake stepped in front of me, his obsidian armor gleaming ominously in the dim light. “Stay close,” he said, his tone clipped. His hand rested on the hilt of his broadsword, his eyes scanning the chamber. The room was massive
The room we stepped into was unlike anything we had seen before. Gone was the crumbling grandeur of the mansion. Instead, we were surrounded by endless mirrors, their reflective surfaces capturing our every movement and multiplying it infinitely. “This isn’t disorienting at all,” Fatima said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She spun in place, her emerald gown flaring around her as her reflection copied the motion dozens of times. “So, what now? Do we play dress-up with our clones?” Jake’s jaw tightened as his eyes darted around the room, searching for any signs of danger. “Stay close,” he said, his voice a low growl. “This place is messing with our senses.” He was right. The air felt thicker here, tinged with a faint, metallic taste. The mirrors seemed to shimmer, their surfaces rippling like water whenever we moved. “Another test,” Althea whispered. Her gaze was fixed on one of the mirrors, her expression tight with unease. “They’re testing our perceptions. Our ability to se
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