The morning sun was low in the sky, casting a golden hue across the tranquil beach. The waves lapped softly against the shore, their rhythmic sound soothing to the ears. Maxine found herself walking beside Sarah, the sand shifting warmly beneath their feet. It was a rare moment of peace, one that had not been hers in what felt like ages. No Coreen, no bullies, no stress—just the two of them, the sea, and the sky.Maxine breathed a sigh of relief as the weight of her usual worries seemed to lighten for the moment. She had thrown on her favorite oversized hoodie, which hung loosely over her frame, shielding her from the cool breeze. Sarah, on the other hand, wore a tank suit, her carefree attitude mirrored in her choice of attire.“Maxine, aren’t you hot?” Sarah asked, turning to her friend with a teasing smile. “I mean, you could wear shorts and a shirt, you know? We’re not at school, and it’s a beautiful day.”Maxine tugged at the sleeves of her hoodie, casting a sideways glance at Sa
The night had fallen softly upon the beach, waves lapping at it in a soothing rhythm that joined with the crackling campfire. The warmth of the fire presented an agreeable contrast to the cool evening breeze; its dancing light fluttered across the faces around it. The air was thick with scents of grilled meat and the faraway salty tang of the sea.Sarah had gone off a lot sooner than she normally did, a spring in her legs as she hastened to get back to the beach house. Her mum was going into labor with her second child, and Sarah wanted to be among the first to welcome her little brother to the world. Maxine had decided to stay behind, irresistibly called by the peacefulness of the night. She found herself sitting on the wooden stairs at the beach house and stared at the fire, crackling, popping.She could see her mom and Alph's dad talking animatedly by the fire—getting along real well. They laughed a lot, and the stories sounded good. The smile came softly to Maxine's lips. It was n
Maxine had barely slept since the events of the previous night. Every time she shut her eyes, the image of that big wolf, its claws outstretched and fangs bared, flashed in her mind. The voice that had whispered to her in the woods now echoed in her thoughts, soft yet insistent: *"Release me. It's time."* But who was that voice? And why was the wolf so bent on killing her?More than anything, she couldn't shake the unease she felt about Alph. He was always there at the right place and right time, saving her from dangers she didn’t even know existed. It was comforting and terrifying all at once. Why did he care so much? And how did he always seem to know when she was in trouble?She sat on the edge of her bed, staring out at the balcony of her room. The moon—full and unchanging yellow—hung in the sky unblinking, like an eye. It had been nearly twenty-four hours since the attack in the forest, and Maxine was wide awake, her mind too restless to allow her any peace. She wanted to shake t
“Maxine… it’s time…” “Release me…” A loud cry kept echoing in Maxine’s head. The world was hazy to Maxine, a blur of color and sound. Her vision swam, her body was wracked with chills, and the pain from the previous night’s ordeal still lingered. “We need to wake the darkness within you” seemed to ring in her ears, but the hazy words got jumbled up in her brain. Her eyes struggled to focus, and she could only make out some general shapes moving around her; everything else was a muddled blur. She heard her mother’s and stepfather’s voices through the fog, but their words were just a murmur. Maxine opened her eyes to blurred vision and a body covered in sweat. Her head pounded within her skull, and she could swear her fever-ridden skin was aflame. She remembered one thing: the man with the burned face and what he had said. Now, she lay in bed surrounded by the comforting yet disorienting sound of her mother’s and stepfather’s voices. “Maxine, are you okay?” her mother asked, her con
After a month, the summer ended. Maxine stepped into the university courtyard and lit up at the sight of her best friend, Sarah, who waved frantically from across the plaza. Maxine quickened her pace towards her, while a big smile spread across her face. "Hey! How are you?" Maxine exclaimed with ringing warmth in her tone. Sarah grinned back. "Good! I'm not missing the university, but sure do miss you, Maxine. Let's get something to eat later?" Maxine nodded enthusiastically. "Oui! How about trying the best croissant at that new bakery I had heard of?" Sarah's eyes widened with astonishment. "Gee! I hadn't heard of that yet. That sounds delicious! "Great," said Maxine, as they started walking towards the university discussing all their plans. As they came closer to the university campus, Maxine could see a lot of tarpaulins hanging from the buildings and the lampposts. Her eyes were immediately arrested by the biggest one, because in gaudy colors was a picture of Coreen's fac
There were no emotions within Maxine's eyes, only an eerie, vast void. Her heart thundered within her chest with a savagery that threatened to rip her limb from limb, while her brain was a maelstrom of raw, uncontrollable rage. It was the need for vengeance that drove her onward, some bestial urge that had to be appeased. She spotted Coreen in the ladies' room, her gaze nailed to her target. Coreen was changing her top, totally oblivious to the storm brewing just outside the door. As each second ticked by, Maxine's anger coursed higher. One of Coreen's friends, Nikki, was the first to notice the intense stare coming from Maxine and chimed in with a snide remark, "Look, it's Maxine. What's with you, creep? Why are you staring like that?” Seeing Maxine, Coreen hastened to change into the clothes. "What's up, fatty? You look so angry?" she sneered, grinning. Maxine's eyes were vacant, but it would seem that the anger inside her was palpable. Coreen's words served only to whet her ange
Maxine's eyes fluttered open to a world of confusion. She lay on the forest floor, rough ground pressed against her bare skin. The dirt felt clinging to her body, and when she raised her quivering hands to her face, she saw they were stained with blood. Her breath caught in her throat as memories of the night before returned. No. no, this isn't me, she had whispered quivering, while her eyes had welled up with tears. I'm not like that. I didn't mean to. But the images were too vivid to deny. She remembered the way her body had contorted, the way her wolf was surging forth from deep inside her-a monstrous force she could neither understand nor control. And she remembered faces-Drake's face, twisted in pain as she tore into him. Guilt and horror twisted her stomach as she struggled to her feet, attempting to wipe off the blood and dirt clinging to her. The forest around her was still, silent, as if it held its breath while it waited to see what she would do next. Maxine shuddered
It was morning, and the sun had just started to rise high over the busy garden, casting a warm, golden glow. Miranda, her mother, was tending to her flowers, trimming the bushes that were overgrown and clearing the dead leaves. She had always found solace in her garden, away from the complications of the world by simply being amidst nature. She worked in a haze, her hands on autopilot as she pruned the rose bush very carefully. The events of the past few days weighed heavy on her mind, although she tried to be strong for Maxine. Her daughter had always been special-different in a way that Miranda couldn't fully comprehend-but the changes in Maxine of late shook her to her core. Suddenly, Miranda's thoughts were invaded by the faint rustling of someone, or something, that seemed to emanate from the flower beds. She frowned, her brow furrowing in concern as she turned toward the source of the noise. It sounded like something-or someone-was moving through the flowers. "Hello?" Miran
Thirteen Years Later…."Maxine, your daughter was found in the woods," the messenger said his voice quivering in shock and disbelief. "It's not confirmed yet, but the healer said her blood matches yours. It is … from your bloodline."Maxine froze, the aching ache of longing in her chest now replaced by the flicker of hope that she hadn't felt for years. She had scoured the earth for Hannah, year after year, refusing to let go of hope. The pack continued to move forward, living and thriving, but for Maxine, her heart was suspended in time. Since Hannah was taken from her by Leo, nothing in her life had held the promise of joy ever again.Rededicating herself, Maxine sped off to the healer's chambers. As she entered, her breath caught in her throat. There lay, on the bed, a young woman who resembled she had been taken from the very pages of Maxine's memory—a young Hadzen, her son, at the age that had passed since his own existence. This young woman was carrying his features that so clos
Hannah P.O.V.It was going to be perfect. Tonight. I wore my white dress. Wildflowers clutched in my hand. The heartbeats in my chest are not from fear but with excitement. It's going to be the beginning of our new life. Now he stood before me at the altar, his face alight with a radiant smile as he looked out at me as if I were his entire world, the small circle of his family smiling warmly to engulf me in a feeling of belonging that, up to now, I had never known."Victor," I panted, barely above a whisper. This was it. We were here finally, about to promise our lives to each other. Away from the craziness, away from the world of packs and politics, we had found a haven within the humans. We could just. exist. Love. Grow.But I could take only one step in his direction when a sound pierced the stillness, like a knife. A heavy thud of paws on earth. My body tensed, my instincts screaming at me. I knew that sound. Wolves.They descended upon us before I even had time to react.The cere
Days slipped by, going to waste and slipping past one another in that little village where Lenor and her family dwelled. Hannah could see reason in her new life; she curled up in their little house in the warm spots and clutched a blanket she had spotted the first night there - light in scent with a fragrant smell of lavender - which Lenor brought home those aspects of comfort after years of love and care.In those early days, her quiet sobs filled the home, breaking the silence every morning and night. Only Victor, the ten-year-old boy who found her by the riverbank, could sometimes pull her out of her sadness." Hadzen…," she would whisper the name of her brother, softly, as if a fragile yet determined voice; as if saying it may somehow bring him closer: "Hadzen… "Victor would sit there, looking at her with a tearful light of sadness and determination in his eyes. He didn't understand the depth of her pain but could see how much she was hurting, and he wanted to help. After digging
"Hadzen!"The hysterical voice echoed through the night as Hadzen leapt out of bed his heart pounding. He could hardly see the figure in the darkness on the balcony but he knew he wouldn't mistake that shriek."Hannah!" he yelled jumping to his feet as his twin sister's body was dragged away by a tall, dark figure.Looking over his shoulder, he flashed Hadzen a derisive smile before leaping over the balcony. "Catch you later, Hadzen."He plunged into darkness with Hannah's screams."HANNAH!" Hadzen shouted, sprinting toward the balcony-but she was already gone."Hadzen! Wake up!" his mother cried in a panic, shaking him out of dazed shock.Hadzen blinked, dazed. To his left was his mom, Maxine, crying, her face streaked with tears, scared. His father, Alph, paced around the room, scanning everywhere, up and down."Where's Hannah?" Hadzen stuttered his words, his voice thick with panic. He looked to the bedside he shared with Hannah; she was gone."M-mom. she was here, right next to me
Five years had passed since then, and the children's laughter was again louder, as Hannah and Hadzen played with their cousin Dylan under the great oak tree in the courtyard of their estate, a warm afternoon spent in sheer energy as the three children ran round the great oak tree in the garden."Hannah! Slow up, wait for me!" he yelled as he chased after her as she plunged toward the tree. He had just been bumped by Tylan, their family friend, and was laughing as he tried to catch up with Hannah who always seemed faster."Catch me if you can, Dylan!" she laughed as her brown curls bounced and she climbed higher into the branches of the tree.Hadzen sat on a nearby bench, with a book in his lap, reading and looked up from his story with a frown. "Hey, don't be so noisy!" he said sternly.Hannah stopped half-way up the tree, looked down to Dylan who stood under, panting. The two looked at each other, their mischievous grins even as they understood each other without words — this was som
Eight months had passed since the arrival of her twins, Hannah and Hadzen, and the house was full of baby laughter and gentle cooing. Sunbeams streamed through the windows as she sat on the floor playing with Hannah cradled in her arms. "Dada, tell him Dada," Maxine said, nodding towards Alph, who was sitting nearby cuddling their son Hadzen.Hannah's look remained steady, directed up at Alph as her mouth worked on the syllables with a visible effort. "Da-ah," she said, her voice unstable but clear enough to send a shiver down Maxine's spine.Maxine opened her eyes widely in amazement. "Oh my gosh! You spoke!" she squealed, hugging Hannah closer. "That is my baby girl, such a rapid learner!Not to be outdone, Alph grinned and held Hadzen aloft in the air, bouncing him lightly. "Okay, little man, let's show your mom what you've got. Can you say 'Ma-ma'?"`Hadzen was shrieking with laughter as Alph twirled him around, his chubby little hands reaching up toward his dad. Though no words
There she lay in the bed, her body now enervated but the spirit of her high and big. She could hear the softly crying sounds of her newborns-the twin babies that she had fought hard to bring into this world. They were perfect, tiny, with so much life within them. One boy, one girl. She already decided on the names: Hannah and Hadzen. And as she looked at them there, all rolled up in their cradles, they all seemed like such ordinary babies. Their innocence filled the room, and it was quite impossible to believe that so much danger still surrounded them.Her heart hurts to love and to worry for them. She was a mother now, and truly, she wanted to be able to protect them. However, at the back of her mind is the warning her mother had given her: the curse of the eclipse essence. It still lingers over her, over her family. She needed to know the truth.Coreen, her stepsister, stood in the same room with her maids. She had come to visit as soon as she heard about the birth, but Maxine could
Miranda paced back and forth in the dimly lit room, her heart racing as she tried to keep her tears from falling. The weight of her decision was suffocating, and her chest tightened with every step she took. She glanced at Erick, her oldest and closest confidant, hoping he might have some way to ease the unbearable pain in her heart. But his face was set, his eyes focused."You know what will happen!" Miranda snapped, her voice breaking under the pressure. "I already told you that! This isn’t just some story or legend. It’s real, Erick."Erick leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "I know, Miranda, I know. But we have to do it anyway. We don’t have many options left.""What options?" Miranda's voice was laced with frustration as she threw her hands into the air. "What way out do you think we have? I don’t want to lose Maxine! She’s the only one I have left." Her voice faltered as her fear took hold. "You know how dangerous it is to have the eclipse essence in one bloodline. I
Maxine poured milk into a glass, watching it swirl before handing it to Coreen. She looked at her sister’s swollen belly, trying to imagine what it would be like to hold her own child in her arms.“So, you and Trevor?” Maxine asked, raising an eyebrow as she leaned against the counter.Coreen grinned, placing a hand on her round stomach. “I didn’t know I’d fall for that jerk, either,” she admitted with a laugh. “But he’s hot, I’ll give him that.”They both burst into laughter, the sound filling the small kitchen. It felt good to share a moment of levity, especially given how serious everything had become lately.“How many months now?” Maxine asked, her gaze flickering to Coreen’s belly as she took a sip from her own glass.“Eight,” Coreen replied, her voice casual despite the significance. “It all started after that one wild night, and well… it just kept going from there.”Maxine shook her head, smiling. “So, you’re about a month ahead of me, huh? You always were a bit ahead of the ga