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
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
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
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
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
At 9 a.m., I sat at the kitchen table, sipping a hot cup of coffee while glaring at Bryan, who seemed determined to babysit me like I was some fragile doll. His intense focus on "keeping an eye" on me was borderline suffocating. It wasn't just that he was hovering—he was staring at me, unblinking, like I was going to disappear into thin air if he so much as looked away for a second.I hadn't had a chance to talk to Jake about this overprotective behavior. Unfortunately, he left early this morning while I was still dead to the world, enjoying what was probably my deepest sleep in weeks. When I finally dragged myself out of bed and took a long, steamy shower, I walked into the kitchen only to find Bryan waiting for me with a weird grin on his face like he'd been planning this ambush for a while."Stop staring at me like that. It’s getting creepy," I said, reaching for the nearest object to throw at him, which just so happened to be a teaspoon. It wasn’t the most dangerous weapon, but it
Jake had told me to wait for him upstairs while he attended to something urgent, but I wasn’t about to sit there idly, waiting for him to come and punish me or whatever. I knew whatever they were discussing downstairs had something to do with the thing I saw earlier, and I was determined to find out what was going on. My curiosity got the better of me, and as quietly as I could, I followed his scent.As his mate, tracking his scent was effortless—it was like second nature, and honestly, he smelled incredible. After what seemed like ages climbing the stairs, his scent led me to two large oak doors, painted a reddish-brown color. I quickly ducked behind a nearby corner and focused on sharpening my hearing like Bryan had taught me. It was part of my werewolf training, though I hadn’t yet started learning how to control my magic. Some woman named Jenner was supposed to teach me, but she still hadn’t shown up.Inside, the conversation was tense, and the first voice I recognized was Bryan’s
PRISCA'S POVPure embarrassment! How did I let that happen? What just happened? Never in my life have I ever let a man touch me like that. I’ve never done anything like that. How was I ever going to face him again? The pleasure, the sparks, and his touch were the most beautiful, addicting feelings in the world. How did it all come to this in such a short amount of time? It only feels like yesterday when we hated each other's guts, but now we’re all over each other. Is that how the mate bond works, or am I the bipolar one now?I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before stepping into the shower. I touched my neck and winced at the sharp, stinging pain. My whole body was still sensitive to his touch, and it was so weird...in a good way. I recalled Catherine’s little speech about how Alphas were so dominant and quick with the whole mating process. Was I ready to lose my virginity to that bipolar jerk? What if we do it and he starts acting up? It’s pretty clear he doesn’t love me. It’s