Elowen's POVAlaric stepped out of the car first, his movements smooth and deliberate. My heart pounded as I watched him walk around to my side, pulling the door open with a quiet click. His hand extended toward me, a small, reassuring smile playing on his lips."Come on, Elowen," he said, his voice steady but laced with an undertone of authority.I hesitated for a moment before taking his hand, the warmth of his fingers grounding me. He intertwined them with mine, his grip firm yet gentle, and helped me out of the car. The cool air hit me, but it wasn’t the chill that made me shiver—it was the sight in front of me.The courtyard of the academy was packed. Students lingered by the fountain and along the stone pathways, but all eyes seemed to be on us. Ranon and Theron stood near the entrance, their postures tense, their gazes locked onto us like a hawk tracking its prey. Theron’s jaw tightened, his sharp features carved into a mask of displeasure. Ranon’s lips pressed into a thin lin
Elowen's POVThe tension followed us like a storm cloud as Alaric led me past the crowd and into the academy’s grand halls. The buzz of whispers and hushed conversations trailed behind, the echoes of their disbelief lingering in the air. My face burned, and my pulse raced, but Alaric’s grip on my hand kept me grounded. "Keep your head up," he said, his voice low but firm. "Don’t give them the satisfaction of seeing you doubt yourself." I nodded, swallowing hard, but my gaze instinctively darted toward the reflective marble floors and the intricate carvings along the walls, avoiding the stares I could still feel. The kiss had stirred something in the air, something volatile. I couldn’t shake the sensation that we’d crossed a line, one I wasn’t ready for. "Alaric!" Theron’s voice rang out behind us, sharp and furious. His footsteps echoed as he stormed toward us, his long strides closing the distance quickly. Ranon followed close behind, his expression cold and calculating, the tensi
Theron 's POV My breath came out in sharp gasps as I stormed through the empty corridor, my boots echoing against the marble floors. The rage burned inside me like wildfire, relentless and consuming, tearing through every shred of control I had left. Her hand in his. Her smile directed at him. His kiss on her lips.The images replayed in my mind, each one more unbearable than the last. I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails bit into my palms, the pain doing nothing to calm the storm within me. She’s mine. My wolf snarled, his voice a guttural roar in my mind. He was fighting me, pushing against the walls I’d built to keep him contained. She’s ours, Theron! And you’re just standing there, letting him have her! "I don’t care!" I growled aloud, my voice echoing in the empty hall. Liar, my wolf snapped. I reached the far end of the corridor, stopping only when I could feel the cold stone wall against my hand. Without thinking, I slammed my fist into it. The sharp jolt
Theron 's POV The moment she turned away from me, something inside me snapped. I couldn’t let her walk away—not this time. Before I even realized what I was doing, I ran after her, closing the distance between us in a heartbeat. Grabbing her arm, I spun her around, pulling her close, our bodies pressed together. “Elowen,” I growled, my voice raw with desperation. “Let me go, Theron!” she cried, struggling against my hold. Her small hands shoved at my chest, but I wouldn’t budge. Her tear-filled eyes locked with mine, pleading silently for freedom. “Please,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Let me go.” The sight of her tears tore at something deep inside me, but my wolf was unrelenting, howling for me to claim her, to make her ours. Before I could stop myself, I leaned in, my lips brushing against hers with the intent to claim what was mine. But she shoved me back, her strength surprising me. “No!” she screamed, her voice cracking with fury. I barely had time to proce
Elowen's POV I didn’t know where I was going. My feet moved on their own, dragging me further away from the confrontation with Theron. My vision blurred with tears, and my chest felt tight, like a vice squeezing the air out of me. His words, his actions—they replayed in my mind on a loop, tearing me apart piece by piece. I wiped at my cheeks, but the tears wouldn’t stop. They kept falling, hot and relentless, until my whole body trembled from the weight of it all. I wandered through the academy grounds aimlessly, not caring where I ended up. The ache in my chest was unbearable, and my knees threatened to buckle with every step. Somehow, I found myself on unfamiliar ground. The trees here were taller, denser, casting heavy shadows over the path. I stopped for a moment, glancing around, and my stomach twisted. I was in his territory. Alaric’s. Panic gripped me, my hands shaking as I realized where I was. I shouldn’t be here. I wasn’t supposed to cross into his domain without reaso
Elowen's POVAlaric’s arms remained around me, holding me in a comforting embrace, but even with him here, a part of me couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was slowly slipping away. The calm that had settled between us was fragile, and I knew it wouldn’t last forever.His chest rose and fell beneath me, steady and strong, as if he was trying to ground me, to hold me together. And for a fleeting moment, I let myself believe that maybe he could.But the memories of Theron’s angry words, of his hands on me, came rushing back in flashes. The slap. His rage. My heart felt as though it might break all over again.I pulled back slightly, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand, trying to regain some semblance of composure. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall apart like this,” I said, my voice shaky.Alaric cupped my face again, his touch gentle yet insistent. “Elowen,” he murmured, his voice low, the warmth of his tone wrapping around me like a blanket. “You don’t need to apologize for
Elowen's POVAlaric’s lips lingered against my temple, and I could feel the warmth of his breath, the pulse of his heartbeat steady against my skin. For a moment, everything around us seemed to fade away. The chaos, the confusion, the fear—they all felt distant in the comfort of his arms. I leaned into him, the weight of everything pressing down on me momentarily lifting as his hand gently cupped the back of my head. He tilted my chin up, his gaze meeting mine with an intensity that made my heart skip. His eyes were dark, full of unspoken promises, a silent invitation to something deeper.I felt a tremble in my chest as his thumb brushed against my lower lip, his touch featherlight but enough to send warmth spreading through my entire body. My breath hitched, and I found myself drawn to him, unsure of what I wanted but craving the closeness.“Is this okay?” Alaric’s voice was low, almost a whisper, the question more out of respect than doubt. I nodded, my hands instinctively reachin
Elowen's POV Alaric’s lips moved against mine with a fervent, unrelenting passion, as if he were pouring all of his emotions into this moment. His hands trailed down my sides, slow and deliberate, grounding me with every touch. My body was responding to him in ways I couldn’t control, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it. When he finally pulled back, his breathing was ragged, his forehead pressing against mine as if he were trying to anchor himself. His dark eyes bore into mine, and I felt the depth of his emotions—his protectiveness, his longing, and something more unspoken that lingered in the air between us. “You drive me crazy,” he admitted, his voice hoarse and unsteady. “I’ve tried to keep my distance, to let you figure this out at your own pace, but it’s getting harder every day, Elowen. Harder to hold back. Harder to pretend I don’t feel this…this bond pulling me to you.” I swallowed hard, my hands still resting against his chest. “I feel it too,” I whis
Alaric’s POVElowen's body trembled against mine, her breathing uneven. I could feel the heat of her wound against my skin, the scent of her blood sending my wolf into a frenzy.She was hurt.And she had the audacity to think she could handle this alone.I gritted my teeth, my arms tightening around her as I lifted her effortlessly. “We’re going home,” I said, my voice leaving no room for argument.She stiffened in my hold. “Put me down, Alaric.”I ignored her.“Elowen,” Ranon growled, stepping beside me. “This was reckless. Even for you.”Theron, still in his wolf form, let out a low, dangerous snarl. He was furious. We all were.Her fingers weakly curled into my shirt. “I had to do this. I had to—”I stopped walking and glared down at her. “You had to get yourself killed?” My voice was ice, but beneath it, there was something darker. Fear. The thought of losing her, of watching her slip away, unraveled me.Her lips parted, but she had no answer.She knew I was right.Theron shifted
Elowen's POVThe first rays of dawn barely kissed the horizon when I slipped out of the mansion’s grand entrance. The night’s chaos still lingered in the air, but inside, the house was eerily silent. They were exhausted, too busy recovering from the rogue attack to notice me slipping away.I pulled the hood of my cloak over my head, hiding my face as I moved swiftly through the damp forest. The earth was still soaked from last night’s rain, making my footsteps almost soundless.My body ached from my wounds, but the pain was a reminder—I had no time to waste.I had spent too long trapped in that mansion, caught between Alaric’s possessive nature, Theron’s silent protectiveness, and Ranon’s infuriating smirks. They thought I was fragile. They thought I needed them to keep me safe.They were wrong.I wasn’t running away.I was hunting.Their uncle wanted my blood, and I wasn’t going to sit around and wait for the next attack. If I could track him first, if I could end this before it esca
Elowen’s POV The warm water streamed down my back, easing the stiffness in my muscles, but it did nothing to clear the storm brewing in my mind.I leaned forward, resting my palms against the cool tile, letting the steam swirl around me.Last night had been a mistake.Or had it?The way Theron had held me, his touch both possessive and gentle, had left a mark on me deeper than I wanted to admit. It was dangerous—allowing myself to feel anything for them when the past still bled fresh wounds.I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. Focus, Elowen.The real enemy was still out there. Their uncle. The bastard who sent those rogues after me last time.And he wasn’t done yet.I turned off the shower, stepping onto the cool floor. After drying off and dressing quickly in fitted jeans and a simple black top, I tied my hair up and glanced at my reflection.I needed to be strong.Because war was coming.The moment I stepped into the dining room, three pairs of eyes locked onto me.Alaric sat at th
Elowen’s POV The weight of war loomed over us, but for now, the mansion was silent. After the meeting, everyone had gone to their rooms, but sleep wouldn’t come to me.I stepped out onto the balcony, letting the cool night air wash over me. The sky was pitch black, the moon hidden behind thick clouds. A storm was brewing, both in the sky and within me.“You should be resting.”I turned at the deep voice, finding Theron leaning against the doorway. His silver eyes reflected the faint glow of the lanterns.“So should you,” I countered.He stepped closer. “I couldn’t. My mind is a mess.”I sighed, turning back to the horizon. “I know the feeling.”Silence stretched between us, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. There was something about Theron that felt… grounding.After a moment, he spoke again. “Are you afraid?”I exhaled slowly. “Not for myself. But I know what’s coming, Theron. And I know it won’t end without blood.”His jaw tightened. “We won’t let anything happen to you.”I turned to fa
Elowen’s POV The discussion continued long into the night. Maps were spread out across the grand dining table of their mansion, books piled high, and notes scribbled across parchment as we tried to piece together the truth behind their uncle’s obsession with my blood.I leaned forward, elbows resting on the table, scanning the worn-out pages of an ancient book. “It says here that witch blood from a royal lineage has the power to either strengthen a bloodline… or destroy it.”Theron’s gaze darkened. “That means he’s not just after power—he’s afraid of what you can do.”Alaric clenched his jaw. “That bastard always knew. That’s why he sent those rogues after you.”Ranon exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair. “And if he gets his hands on you, he’ll use that blood for a ritual. Either to enhance himself or to wipe us out completely.”A chill ran down my spine. I already knew my blood was a threat to their lineage, but I hadn’t realized just how much power it held over them.I closed
Elowen’s POV The moon hung high in the sky, casting silver light over the grand mansion. The corridors were silent, save for the soft hum of the night breeze drifting through the open balcony doors.I couldn’t sleep.Not with them constantly in my head.Theron. Alaric. Ranon.They were relentless, invading my thoughts, my space, my very existence.After everything, after the rogues, after their uncle’s attack, after the truths and betrayals—I should have left.But I didn’t.And that terrified me.I walked barefoot down the dimly lit hallway, my fingers trailing along the cold marble walls. My wolf stirred, restless and aching, whispering desires I refused to acknowledge."You want them."I ignored her."You crave them."I hated her sometimes.A sudden creak from behind made me stop. My breath hitched as I turned—only to find Ranon leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, watching me with hooded eyes.“Couldn’t sleep?” His voice was smooth, laced with something unreadable.I folded
Elowen’s POVThe tension in the room was suffocating.After my encounter with Ranon on the balcony, I had barely taken a step inside before Theron closed the distance between us. His presence was overwhelming, his golden eyes filled with something unreadable.Something dangerous."You shouldn't let Ranon get too close," Theron murmured, his voice low, almost a growl.I tilted my chin up defiantly. "And why not? Afraid he’ll steal me away?"A muscle in his jaw ticked. "I don’t need to be afraid of something that won’t happen."I scoffed, stepping around him, but he caught my wrist, stopping me. His grip was firm yet careful, like he wasn’t sure whether he wanted to hold on or let go."Let me go, Theron," I said, but my voice betrayed me, coming out softer than I intended.His fingers loosened, but he didn’t release me completely. Instead, he tugged me just enough that I stumbled slightly—right into his chest.I inhaled sharply.His scent wrapped around me, intoxicating, maddening."You
Elowen’s POV I gripped my fork tighter, trying to ignore the way the air had thickened around us. The way they were looking at me. Like I was theirs. Like last night had changed everything.I hated how easily they unraveled me.I hated that a part of me didn’t want to fight it.I cleared my throat, forcing my focus back on my plate. “So, what’s the plan now?”Alaric was the first to respond. “We find our uncle. We end this before he comes for you again.”My stomach twisted. Their uncle—the same bastard who had sent those rogues after me. The one who wanted my witch blood for his own twisted reasons.Theron leaned forward, his eyes sharp. “He won’t stop, Elowen. He sees you as a threat.”Ranon smirked, but there was nothing amused about it. “And he’s right.”I clenched my jaw. “Then we don’t wait. We take the fight to him.”Alaric studied me for a moment before nodding. “Agreed.”Theron crossed his arms, his gaze flicking over me. “But that means you’re staying with us.”I stiffened.
Elowen’s POVThe room was heavy with the aftermath of something I couldn’t quite name. The air was thick, almost suffocating, carrying the scent of sweat, desire, and something darker—something that felt like inevitability. My skin still burned where their hands had been, my lips tender from their kisses. I lay between them, my body pressed against Alaric’s warmth, his arm draped possessively over my waist. Ranon’s fingers traced idle patterns on my arm, his touch light but deliberate, as if he were memorizing the feel of my skin. Theron, ever the brooding enigma, sat at the edge of the bed, his back rigid, his breathing uneven. His silence was louder than any words he could have spoken.Reality crashed over me like a tidal wave, cold and unrelenting.What have I done?This wasn’t supposed to happen. I wasn’t supposed to want them. I wasn’t supposed to let them in. This was supposed to be about revenge, about making them feel the pain they had caused me. But somewhere along the way,