GABRIEL The tension in the room didn’t dissipate even after the Wolf Committee filed out of the packhouse. The moment the heavy doors shut behind them, a low murmur rippled through the gathered pack members. Eyes darted toward me, filled with curiosity, concern, and—among some—doubt.I ignored them. I had bigger things to deal with.Priscilla was still stiff beside me, her hands curled into fists at her sides. I could feel the anger radiating off her, her chest rising and falling with barely contained frustration. She was holding back, biting her tongue, but I knew it wouldn’t last.“Alpha,” Evelyn said in a low voice, stepping closer. “We need to talk.”I exhaled through my nose and turned to her. “Later.”She hesitated, glancing between Priscilla and me before nodding and retreating a few steps. I knew what she wanted to say. The same thing that was already circling in my mind—Priscilla was a problem. A complication. And if I didn’t figure out how to handle this, the Committee woul
GABRIEL The air felt heavy as the rogues pushed against the gates. Their howls grew louder, echoing through the night, and sending a chill down my spine. The pack was fighting hard to keep them out, but it was clear the gates wouldn’t hold much longer. I could feel the power of the rogues pressing against the wood, their numbers overwhelming.Then, with a loud crash, the gates gave way, splintering apart as the rogues poured in. I didn’t hesitate. I barked the order to my pack. “Charge.” My pack responded instantly and the battle had begun.I mind-linked the rest of my warriors. Guard every entrance. Do not let a single rogue inside.Without a word, they spread out, fighting to hold their ground. I shifted into my wolf form, claws and teeth ready. I tore into the first rogue that came too close, ripping through it with a growl. The battle around me was chaotic—my pack members fighting fiercely, but the rogues kept coming. There were so many of them.The smell of rotting flesh made i
PRISCILLA My heart pounded like a war drum in my chest, each step I took making it worse. I could still taste him. Still feel him. What the hell was I thinking? I growled low under my breath, the sound nearly shocking me. I kissed him. I actually kissed him.“Stupid… so stupid,” I muttered, curling my fists at my sides as I tried to shake the memory away. But no matter how many turns we took, it stayed. Etched in my skin. Burned in my mind. That smirk... that scent... I nearly groaned again.How could I let my guard down like that? Especially with him. Another turn, then another. My mind spiralled so deep I didn’t even realize Evelyn had stopped until I nearly crashed right into her. "Shit!" I gasped, stumbling back as Evelyn turned with an arched brow. "Careful," she muttered. "You keep walking like that, you’ll break your neck before you even meet your friend." I forced a shaky breath, managing the barest smile. "Sorry... just... lost in my head." "Yeah, I can tell." Evel
PRISCILLA A sudden laugh burst out of Davina, catching me off guard.I blinked and sat upright, narrowing my eyes at her. "What the hell is so funny?"Davina wiped at her eyes, grinning. "It’s ridiculous, Pris... I might never see my family again... or my boyfriend, shit..." She shook her head, letting out another small laugh. "But I just can’t stop thinking about your asshole boss. I mean — Joel, crying like a baby with a broken arm... that image is stuck in my head, and it’s weirdly satisfying."She turned to me fully, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You must’ve felt good... watching that happen, huh?"That pulled a laugh from me too — a real one — loud and unfiltered. I leaned back on my hands, shaking my head. "God... it was," I admitted, grinning. "It was satisfying as hell, but... I couldn’t even enjoy it, Davina. Right there in that moment... I was too shocked. Scared, honestly."Davina snorted. "When are you ever scared of anything, Priscilla?"I smiled, letting out a shaky
PRISCILLA'S POVI’ve always been afraid of flying.It’s an irrational fear, I know. Statistics say I’m more likely to die in a car crash than in a plane falling out of the sky, but tell that to my palms currently slick with sweat. The cabin’s thin air doesn’t help; every breath feels shallow, too light, like it’s not enough to keep me grounded. I grip the armrests a little tighter, ignoring the irritated glance from the man sitting beside me.“Sorry,” I mumbled.He doesn’t reply, which is fine. I’m not in the mood to chat anyway. I’m too busy trying to keep my anxiety under control—and not just about the plane.New York to Oregon. That’s a big leap for someone who’s spent her entire life surrounded by the steel and hum of the city. I’m leaving behind my overpriced studio apartment, the loud streets, the aroma of fresh bagels on every corner—all for an obscure forest town no one’s ever heard of.Shadow Pine. Sounds like the title of a cheap horror flick, right? But for the last few mo
PRISCILLA The motel room was quiet. Too quiet. I set my duffle bag on the creaky mattress and sighed, the springs groaning in protest beneath its weight. Everything about this place screamed "forgotten"—from the peeling wallpaper to the flickering fluorescent bulb dangling like a noose from the ceiling. It wasn’t exactly a five-star getaway, but it had been the closest thing to civilization after landing in Oregon’s nowhere-ville. Pulling the blinds apart just a fraction, I peered out. My window overlooked nothing but endless pine trees, their silhouettes dark against the dimming grey sky. The wind outside made them sway, their branches scratching one another like whispers in the gloom. I shivered despite myself and let the blinds snap shut. I didn’t know what I had expected—Oregon was forests and mountains, but there was something off about this particular town. The air felt heavier here, thick with the scent of pine needles and damp earth, but there was something else too—so
PRISCILLA I woke up to the sound of tapping. Soft. Rhythmic. Like fingernails against glass. My eyes snapped open, and for a moment, I was disoriented, the strange motel room coming back into focus under the faint glow of the lamp I’d left on overnight. I sat up, my heartbeat thudding in my chest as I strained to listen. Tap. Tap. Tap. I turned my head toward the window. The blinds were still drawn, but something about the sound sent a chill crawling up my spine. Slowly, I swung my legs off the bed and stood. My boots were still on from last night, and my jacket draped haphazardly across the chair. I’d been too tired to change after trudging back from the gas station. I moved toward the window, every step careful, deliberate. For a fleeting moment, I imagined the guy from the gas station standing out there, grinning. Or maybe a raccoon? Please let it be a raccoon. I reached for the blinds and yanked them open. Nothing. The forest sat there, dark and motionless acros
PRISCILLA My foot hovered over the gas pedal, indecision knotting in my chest like a vice. The man was gone, swallowed by the mist like he’d never been there at all. The road ahead stretched into darkness, the headlights cutting through only a few feet before being devoured by the night. What the hell just happened? My hands trembled against the steering wheel. I glanced at the rearview mirror, half-expecting to see him standing right behind the car, but it was empty—just the faint red glow of my tail lights against the fog. Every rational part of me screamed to keep driving. To get the hell out of this creepy, clearly haunted town and not look back. But that primal instinct—the one that had pulled me into journalism and kept me chasing stories I had no business chasing—itched beneath my skin. Who was he? What was he doing out here? And why did his eyes… glow? I shook my head, exhaling hard. “Okay, Priscilla. This is how horror movies start.” My voice sounded hollow i
PRISCILLA A sudden laugh burst out of Davina, catching me off guard.I blinked and sat upright, narrowing my eyes at her. "What the hell is so funny?"Davina wiped at her eyes, grinning. "It’s ridiculous, Pris... I might never see my family again... or my boyfriend, shit..." She shook her head, letting out another small laugh. "But I just can’t stop thinking about your asshole boss. I mean — Joel, crying like a baby with a broken arm... that image is stuck in my head, and it’s weirdly satisfying."She turned to me fully, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You must’ve felt good... watching that happen, huh?"That pulled a laugh from me too — a real one — loud and unfiltered. I leaned back on my hands, shaking my head. "God... it was," I admitted, grinning. "It was satisfying as hell, but... I couldn’t even enjoy it, Davina. Right there in that moment... I was too shocked. Scared, honestly."Davina snorted. "When are you ever scared of anything, Priscilla?"I smiled, letting out a shaky
PRISCILLA My heart pounded like a war drum in my chest, each step I took making it worse. I could still taste him. Still feel him. What the hell was I thinking? I growled low under my breath, the sound nearly shocking me. I kissed him. I actually kissed him.“Stupid… so stupid,” I muttered, curling my fists at my sides as I tried to shake the memory away. But no matter how many turns we took, it stayed. Etched in my skin. Burned in my mind. That smirk... that scent... I nearly groaned again.How could I let my guard down like that? Especially with him. Another turn, then another. My mind spiralled so deep I didn’t even realize Evelyn had stopped until I nearly crashed right into her. "Shit!" I gasped, stumbling back as Evelyn turned with an arched brow. "Careful," she muttered. "You keep walking like that, you’ll break your neck before you even meet your friend." I forced a shaky breath, managing the barest smile. "Sorry... just... lost in my head." "Yeah, I can tell." Evel
GABRIEL The air felt heavy as the rogues pushed against the gates. Their howls grew louder, echoing through the night, and sending a chill down my spine. The pack was fighting hard to keep them out, but it was clear the gates wouldn’t hold much longer. I could feel the power of the rogues pressing against the wood, their numbers overwhelming.Then, with a loud crash, the gates gave way, splintering apart as the rogues poured in. I didn’t hesitate. I barked the order to my pack. “Charge.” My pack responded instantly and the battle had begun.I mind-linked the rest of my warriors. Guard every entrance. Do not let a single rogue inside.Without a word, they spread out, fighting to hold their ground. I shifted into my wolf form, claws and teeth ready. I tore into the first rogue that came too close, ripping through it with a growl. The battle around me was chaotic—my pack members fighting fiercely, but the rogues kept coming. There were so many of them.The smell of rotting flesh made i
GABRIEL The tension in the room didn’t dissipate even after the Wolf Committee filed out of the packhouse. The moment the heavy doors shut behind them, a low murmur rippled through the gathered pack members. Eyes darted toward me, filled with curiosity, concern, and—among some—doubt.I ignored them. I had bigger things to deal with.Priscilla was still stiff beside me, her hands curled into fists at her sides. I could feel the anger radiating off her, her chest rising and falling with barely contained frustration. She was holding back, biting her tongue, but I knew it wouldn’t last.“Alpha,” Evelyn said in a low voice, stepping closer. “We need to talk.”I exhaled through my nose and turned to her. “Later.”She hesitated, glancing between Priscilla and me before nodding and retreating a few steps. I knew what she wanted to say. The same thing that was already circling in my mind—Priscilla was a problem. A complication. And if I didn’t figure out how to handle this, the Committee woul
GABRIEL A Luna wasn’t just a title—it was a role that carried with it a thousand expectations. She would be my equal, the heart of the pack, someone I was supposed to trust with everything. Her fate would be tied to mine in ways I couldn’t even fathom, and every alpha knew that was a heavy, almost suffocating burden. It wasn’t just about loyalty or power. It was about sacrifice. For me, for the pack, for her. And if she wasn’t a wolf? That made it even harder. A non-wolf mate, my wolf rumbled, would never truly understand the weight of our world. The politics. The dangers.Priscilla was no ordinary woman. I could feel it, even when she didn’t speak. She was strong, fierce, and stubborn—everything that an alpha would need in a mate. But there was something else in her, something that kept me from reaching out, from claiming her the way I should. Something I wasn’t ready to face.She wasn’t just some human to be moulded into this life. No. She was too… too much. Too wild, too unpred
GABRIEL The moment we boarded the private jet back to Oregon, I took the farthest seat, away from everyone. I needed space. Peace. A moment where I wasn’t being questioned or irritated by a certain woman who never seemed to know when to keep her mouth shut.Priscilla was seated with Evelyn, our pack lawyer, and for once, she was someone else’s problem. I exhaled, leaning back against the leather seat, stretching my legs out as I tried to ease the tension thrumming through my body.But the burning sensation on my wrists wouldn’t let me forget.My eyes dropped to them. The silver cuffs may have been removed, but the damage was done. The raw, reddened skin felt like it was still smouldering, the pain a deep, relentless throb. It pissed me off more than it should have. Damn, humans and their silver restraints. They were supposed to be immune to me, yet here I was, feeling every damn sting.I closed my eyes, willing the ache away. Instead, my mind drifted back to that pathetic excuse of
PRISCILLA "Hands up! Nobody moves!"The wolfman stiffened, his body tense, but his expression remained unreadable. His glowing eyes flicked toward me, then to the officers, assessing the situation in seconds."Step away from him!" an officer shouted, his gun aimed directly at the wolfman.Joel was still on the floor, groaning in pain, his broken arm twisted. The guards he had thrown aside were just starting to sit up, wincing. Outside the office, employees peeked around the corner, whispering and recording on their phones.My heart pounded. I kept my hands on the wolfman’s chest, silently pleading for him not to do anything reckless. His muscles were tight beneath my touch, vibrating with barely restrained anger.“I said, put your hands where we can see them!” The lead officer, a broad-shouldered man with a stern face, took a step forward. His finger hovered over the trigger.The wolfman exhaled slowly. Then, in one smooth motion, he raised his hands.Silence filled the room.“Get on
PRISCILLA A man I didn’t recognize sat at my desk, his back to me, casually flipping through some of my files. My pulse spiked. My fingers twitched at my sides, but I forced myself to remain calm.The wolfman stepped up behind me, his presence an anchor that only made my stomach tighten further. I could feel his gaze burning into the side of my face, waiting to see how I would react.Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward. “Excuse me,” I said, my voice steady but firm. “You’re in my seat.”The man slowly turned around, and the moment our eyes met, my stomach dropped. He wasn’t just some random person. I recognized him. Samuel. The investigative journalist known for digging into the darkest secrets and exposing them for the world to see. I had admired his work from afar, but never in a million years did I expect him to be sitting at my desk.His sharp gaze swept over me before flicking to the wolfman standing beside me. A slow, knowing smirk curled at the corner of his lips. “Priscil
PRISCILLA The moment Davina's scream echoed through the apartment, everything seemed to stop. My breath hitched, my pulse hammering like a war drum in my chest. The wolfman didn’t flinch. He just stood there, his massive frame blocking the only exit, his piercing eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my stomach churn.Davina gripped my arm so tight it hurt, her nails digging into my skin. "Priscilla," she whispered harshly, "he—he’s looking at us like we’re his next meal."I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe. "Davina shut up," I muttered through clenched teeth, trying not to provoke him. But I couldn’t look away from him. There was something different about him now—an unreadable expression, something dangerous lingering beneath the surface.He took a slow step forward.Davina yanked me back instinctively. "Oh, hell no! If you take another step, I will throw Priscilla at you and run for my life!" she blurted out.I snapped my head toward her. "What?!”His deep, ser