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
Alph tore through the thick woods behind the school, his quickened senses tracking the scent of Maxine. He knew the earthy smell of pine needles and dampened dirt, but beneath it all was something unmistakable-the trace of Maxine. Yet hers was different, stronger, more intense, tinged with a wildness as if the woods themselves were carrying her through the air, drawing him to where she had gone. "Maxine." Alph whispered to himself, his mind racing. He just could not shake off the picture of her earlier-the raw energy coursing through her veins, morphing. The emergence of her wolf was fierce and uncontrollable, like nothing he had ever encountered. He did know that Maxine was strong, but this. This was far beyond his expectations. He fought his way through a thicket of bushes, still reeling from the events that had just unfolded. "Coreen shouldn't have done that," he muttered under his breath, anger bubbling beneath the surface. Coreen had deliberately provoked Maxine into taking th
Maxine stared out the window as the city slowly disappeared into the distance. The hustle and bustle of city living grew quiet, replaced by serene countryside. Tall buildings gave way to vast fields and forests, vibrant shades of green and brown that were somehow soothing, though she hadn't known she needed it. It had been a long journey, but she was relishing every new change of surroundings, however far from ideal the circumstances were.Her mother had insisted she needed to be away from everything-from the chaos, from the overwhelming energy that had surged through her after the incident. Maxine got it, even as it did nothing to make it easier to leave. Finally, the car pulled up in front of a small, old-fashioned house that sat in the middle of a clearing, surrounded by tall trees: her grandmother's house. It was a place she hadn't been since she was little.The car door opened, and Maxine got out, taking a deep breath of the scents around her. The house stood just as she had reme
Chapter 35The sun had barely risen the next morning when the chirping of birds outside her window woke Maxine up. The soft golden light that filtered through thin curtains spread a warm brightness in her room. She stretched, as stiff could be from a journey the day before, and for a moment, forgot where she was. But as her eyes got used to the surroundings, memories of the time of arrival, words of her grandmother, and the responsibility that fell on her shoulders came rushing back.She dressed quickly in the simple clothes laid out for her by her grandmother, making her way downstairs to the scent of breakfast with the sound of her grandmother bustling around the kitchen: loose shirt, sturdy pants, boots meant decidedly for work and not comfort."Good morning, dear," her grandmother greeted her with a warm smile as Maxine entered the kitchen. "Did you sleep well?"Maxine nodded, even though in reality, her sleep had been restless, filled with dreams she couldn't quite remember. "Yes
Alph's P.O.VUniversity felt different now—off-kilter, almost empty. I walked around the grounds with this strange feeling. There was some form of peace since she left; quietness that was never present, I didn't realize how much her presence clogged this place until it was not here anymore. Same campus, same buildings, same roads, same faces, but something essential was deleted.I passed by a group of students on my way to practice. They nodded at me, a few offering half-hearted hellos. I nodded back, but didn't stop to chat. Not that I ever did, but now it was like they didn't expect me to. Everyone had been tiptoeing around me ever since Maxine left, like something had shifted, even if they didn't understand what.Adding to this atmosphere of weirdness, it had been a week since Coreen had gone to school. People talked about her, put in theories of why she had disappeared, but I knew better. Coreen wasn't the kind of person who would keep out of school for no reason at all; whatever
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