"Don't look back, Lily," Brandy urged urgently. She knew they needed to get as far away as possible. Her father would stop at nothing to possess Lily, and she had to find a way to hide her until things calmed down. The chaos from the packhouse faded into the distance as Lily and Brandy sprinted through the woods. Lily's breath came ragged and panicked, and her once-pristine white gown now fluttered behind her, tattered and dirtied by the forest. "Let's shift," Lily suggested as she tried to catch her breath. "We can move much faster that way." "We don't have time. We can't pause. They will catch up to us," Brandy replied. She continued to pull Lily forward. Brandy could hear chuckling in Brandy's mind. 'You idiotic girl. Do you really think you can escape me?' The voice mocked her. Brandy knew the voice and didn't want to believe that this person was following them. She didn't want to face them if she didn't have to. The forest seemed to swallow them whole, with towering
Werewolves clashed with Lycans and werecats in a mad rush to tear enemy throats out and rip out hearts. Trees splintered under vicious blows traded between combatants who cared nothing for their fellow packmates or pride members. Claws dug into flesh as werecreatures battled on all sides. Blood spilled across the ground, and the amount was destined to become crimson pools that would mark this place for a long time. Amid the chaos, Garrett searched for his target. Blue Creek Pack territory was littered with bodies. Some from warriors, some from pack members who decided to fight instead of submitting. The stench of blood, piss, and shit wafted through the air. Garrett's nostrils flared in disgust. None of this should have happened, but this was the only way to bring Kenneth to justice. Garrett could not let him escape the consequences of his actions. With a wolfish grace, Garrett moved through the fray, a lithe and powerful figure of the Grey Blood Pack. His father, Jack, the Alpha
Mandy slammed Dina into the ground. Her fangs sink into her shoulder, causing Dina to yelp in pain. Dina used her back legs to kick Mandy off her, but she only had a moment to recover before Mandy was on her again. 'She's too fast. How is she this fast?' Dina thought. 'Calm down. Remember what we did with Garrett? When we can't fight our opponent, we need to run,' Lily answered. 'I refuse to run away from her!' Dina exclaimed. 'No, we won't run, but we can focus on dodging,' Lily recommended. The memory of Garrett's sparring resurfaced in Dina's mind. He emphasized the importance of staying on the defensive, striking only when there was a proper opening. Dina adjusted her tactics accordingly, hoping to tire Mandy out. Mandy, growing increasingly frustrated by Dina's defensive approach, lunged forward with a powerful attack. Dina evaded, causing Mandy to stumble and briefly lose her balance. In that moment of vulnerability, Dina seized her opportunity and delivered a well-
"Cowards. All of them," Ethan growled as he snapped the neck of the last loyal warrior to Kenneth. He slung his body to the ground in disgust and rubbed the blood off his hands onto his torn pants. Ethan's lycans were tending to the injured as quickly as they could to prevent further loss of life. He wanted to see Kenneth's blood spill for what he had done, but Ethan had to be patient. He would make sure to hunt him down like the rabid dog he was. "Are you hurt, my King?" one of the lycans asked him. "It was reckless for you to step out of cover." "Nothing that a day's worth of sleep won't fix. What type of Alpha King would I be if I didn't shed my own blood for my people?" Ethan answered. The decision to engage Kenneth's warriors was not taken lightly, but it was necessary to put an end to the chaos once and for all. Silver bullets, while harmful to lycans, were not as devastating as they were to werewolves, allowing him to minimize the damage. "How many did we lose in th
"Are you insane, Kasia? You can't go there on your own." "Am I supposed to sit around and do nothing now that I know that she's alive?" "Yes, that's exactly what you should do." "Are you serious right now, Austin? She's all I have left." "She made her decision by going with the unit to bomb the Moonlight Sanctum. She knew the risks," Austin responded. "You need to stop talking right now," Kasia warned. "You're going to throw away everything you worked for. Your rank, the respect," "That means nothing to me," "I won't come and help you. I'll let the captain know if you leave," Austin threatened. Kasia looked at the man that she had grown to love, and now it seemed all the love she had for him had evaporated. By snitching on her, it would declare her a traitor to the Hunters. She could potentially be hunted down and killed to make sure she didn't reveal secrets. "Fine," Kasia said. She turned and continued walking to her car. Kasia pulled out of the parking lot, not
"Wait, Kasia. You don't understand," Lana said, but Kasia didn't hear her. Kasia's heart was racing as a high level of adrenaline was rushing through her veins. Her senses were heightened. She could hear a mouse rustling in the grass right outside the dungeon. 'Focus,' Kasia told herself. This was not her first time taking one of these pills, but each time she felt as if the effects were stronger and stronger. "Kasia," Lana said, grabbing Kasia's arm. Kasia whipped around to face Lana, but Lana jumped back after seeing her eyes. "Your eyes—you're losing yourself." "I can worry about that later. I'm getting you out of here," Kasia growled, turning her attention back to the entrance of the cell. She could hear and smell them coming. As soon as Kasia saw a figure around the corner entering the cell, she lunged forward with inhuman speed. 'My King, we are having trouble in the dungeon,' one of the warriors connected with Ethan. His voice was frantic, which concerned Ethan. How
Due to the previous disorienting movement, Kasia found herself confused and dazed. Her head throbbed from the collision, and she struggled to focus on her surroundings. It was Lana's voice that eventually penetrated her foggy mind, calling out to her in a frantic plea. "Kasia! Kasia, are you okay? Please, answer me!" Kasia's vision cleared slowly as she realized that she and Lana were still trapped inside the overturned car. Kasia fumbled to unbuckle their seatbelts. Her hands shook as she attempted to free them from the mangled wreckage, her heart pounding in her chest. "Don't panic. I'm… I'm going to get you out," Kasia said as she could now smell gasoline, which meant the car was in danger of exploding. With trembling fingers, Kasia finally managed to release the seatbelts, and she groaned as she struggled to crawl out of the car. Her movements were slow and labored, with pain radiating from her side where she had sustained an injury during the accident. Lana, too, was inj
Lana lay on the sterile infirmary bed, her eyes squinting in pain, as the pack doctor, Brian, probed her stomach wounds as he pulled out more pieces of metal from the car crash. Ethan paced the room, his agitation clear as he stared down at her. "Damn it, Lana, what else are you hiding from me?" Ethan snapped. "I am not hiding anything. I told you everything I know," Lana defended herself, but Ethan wasn't hearing it. "How could you be so reckless?" Ethan continued, his voice laced with anger. "My King, can we refrain from having this conversation now? I need to tend to my patient," Brian interjected, earning a glare from Ethan as if daring Brian to say another word. Brian quickly diverted his gaze and continued to work on stitching Lana's wound. "You put yourself in danger and endangered the whole pack," Ethan growled. "I should throw you back into that dungeon for a few months as punishment for your recklessness." Lana winced at his harsh words, gripping the edge of the
"No, I know who you are," Amdis said firmly. "You are my mate. I would recognize you anywhere." The sincerity in his words made her heart skip a beat. Kasia's heart thundered in her chest, its pulse thudding through her veins as if attempting to escape her very being. The room itself seemed to press in on her from all sides, suffocating her. "What are you talking about?" she asked. The crackle of thunder from outside caused her to jump in surprise. Her mind reeled as she struggled to process his claim. How could this be? Alpha King Ethan was her mate; there was no doubt in her mind about that. Panic bubbled up inside her, and she fought to maintain control over her emotions. "I keep telling you that you're wrong. You have me confused with someone else. I don't know how many times I must tell you this," she said firmly, trying to mask the fear in her voice. "My mate is Alpha King Ethan, not you." The mere mention of Ethan's name caused Amdis' features to contort into a frown
Kasia awoke with a start, her heart pounding. Her body felt cocooned in silk, the fabric clinging to her like an unwelcome lover. As she tried to make sense of her surroundings, memories of Amdis, the vampire who had taken her away, flooded back. She glanced down at herself, noticing for the first time that she wore nothing but a sheer camisole. Anger flared within her, and she clenched her fists, cursing silently. "Who does he think he is?" Kasia muttered under her breath as she threw off the silk sheets and slid out of bed. For a moment, she considered tearing the offensive garment from her body, but practicality won out. She needed to find a way out of this place, and she couldn't do that naked. The room was bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, casting long shadows across the ornate furnishings. Kasia's instincts kicked in, and she moved cautiously towards the window, scanning the room for any potential threats. As her eyes adjusted to the fading light, she realized tha
'Go back there and rip her throat out!' Deva snarled. 'No, he made his decision. We will not fight over him,' Kasia responded as she continued walking away. How could he have done this to her? She should've known better. This was all just part of the plan. He just wanted her close because she is a blessed blood. That's all it was. "Kasia, stop!" Lily said, grabbing her wrist. "Calm down. It's not what you think it is." "I saw what I saw. He was with that b****! I know what I saw," Kasia growled. "That's not what I saw," Lily responded, causing Kasia to squint at her. "What do you mean that's not what you saw? He was humping Aimee," Kasia retorted. "Yes, but when I first saw them, she looked a lot like you," Lily explained. "That…that doesn't make any sense," Kasia said. "How could Aimee have gotten to him so fast? We had just seen her. I don't know. I think something else is going on," Lily argued. "It doesn't matter," Kasia replied, her voice strained. She tried to
'You didn't have to be so mean,' Kasia scolded Deva. 'And he didn't have to have females all over him like he doesn't have a mate for WEEKS,' Deva growled back. Kasia watched as Ethan walked away and sighed. She regretted being coy with him. Perhaps he would have been able to tell her what he needed to say before he got pulled away. The mood was ruined, and Kasia didn't feel like dancing anymore. She moved away from the stage where the live music was playing. "This is only temporary," Lily said, surprising Kasia as she looped arms with her. "Let's get something to eat. Have you ever had fairy pastries before?" "That's a thing?!" Kasia asked, causing Lily to laugh. Lily and Kasia sampled mouthwatering dishes at one of the many food stalls. The scent of spiced meats and vegetables filled the air, mingling with laughter and chatter from the crowd. Kasia's hazel eyes twinkled with delight as she savored a bite of grilled meat skewer, not caring what she was eating because it was
The sun blazed high in the sky, casting a golden hue over the city as the Summer Solstice festival commenced. Colorful banners and streamers adorned the buildings, while stalls lined the bustling streets, offering food, games, and trinkets to the celebrating crowd. Laughter and lively music filled the air, setting a jovial atmosphere that reached every corner of the city. At the heart of it all, Ethan scanned the festive scene before him. "Relax, Ethan," Garrett encouraged with a knowing smile. "This isn't something you haven't hosted before." Ethan let out a strained chuckle, doing his best to maintain a calm facade. "Easier said than done," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Kasia, who had been avoiding him for days. The uncertainty gnawed at him. "You're still worrying about Kasia, aren't you? Lily says she has been super busy with Kasia to get her prepared for today. She's not avoiding you on purpose," Garrett stated. "She
"Are you sure about telling him now before finding out anything else?" As they neared the door, Lana asked nervously. "We haven't even done any research on the paperwork." "Positive," Janet replied, her voice steady. "We need to tell Alpha Ethan what we found immediately, so we can figure out our next moves." Deanna nodded in agreement as they stopped in front of the heavy wooden door. With a deep breath, Lana knocked firmly, and after a moment, the door creaked open, revealing Ethan seated behind his desk and the pack doctor, Brian, with him. "Come in," Ethan said calmly. "I am happy to see that we didn't have casualties." "Thanks to Lana. She was right about those traps," Deanna said as she entered the room, followed by Janet and Lana. "We have a report on the base we found." "Go on," Ethan prompted. "What did you find out?" "Not much. The base was pretty much destroyed," Deanna answered. "What do you mean?" Ethan asked. "It's not just us that have a problem with th
The moon cast an eerie glow on the ground as Deanna, Janet, Lana, and a few warriors made their way through the dense forest. The air was thick with tension, and Lana led them with quiet determination. Sweat beaded on her brow, but she focused on the task at hand. "Remember," she whispered to the others, "the closer we get to the hunters' base, the more traps there'll be. Stay alert." An impatient warrior, his face contorted in frustration, grumbled under his breath. He'd grown tired of following Lana's slow pace, and he decided to speed forward. Lana's hazel eyes flashed a warning, and she called out to him. "Don't! You don't know where the traps are." But her words fell on deaf ears. Just as the warrior was about to step into a well-hidden pit filled with sharp spikes, Lana lunged at him, pushing him aside. In doing so, her arm grazed one of the silver-tipped spikes, and she winced, silver oozing from the wound. "Idiot!" Lana hissed as she clutched her injured arm. "You could
Milo frowned, confusion etched on his features. "How is that possible? You don't smell like a human anymore." "Long story," Kasia replied, glancing away from him and out the window at the blurred city lights. She felt exposed and vulnerable under his scrutiny. "Hey, I've got time," Milo said, leaning back in his seat with a casual air. He studied Kasia intently for a moment before asking, "Where are you headed?" Lily chimed in, her voice soft and hesitant. "We were going to grab dinner. You're welcome to join us if you'd like." Kasia shook her head, dismissing the suggestion. "That would compromise your cover, Milo. We can't risk it." "About that," Milo began with a smirk. He reached up and removed his contacts, revealing striking gold eyes that burned with intensity. Next, he pulled off his blond wig, displaying his true hair color—black, cropped short, and messy. Kasia blinked in surprise at the transformation. Finally, Milo took a cloth and wiped his face clean of make
"Come on, let's try this store," Lily suggested, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she pulled Kasia into a boutique overflowing with colorful garments. Kasia couldn't help but smile as she browsed the racks, selecting pieces she'd never dreamed of wearing before. The normalcy of the moment brought a sense of comfort, something that had been sorely lacking in her life since her parents' deaths. "I've never really had the chance to do normal things like this, you know?" Kasia confided in Lily as they sat down on a plush bench, laden with clothes to try on. "Ever since my parents died, it's just been... surviving, and then I joined them, but I still felt like I was struggling. I don't know why I am talking about this now." Lily's face softened, her gaze full of understanding. "I'm so sorry, Kasia. What happened to your parents?" Kasia took a deep breath, feeling the familiar ache in her chest. "We were foragers, living off the land. One day, Lana and I went out to gather sup