Chapter 5
Austin stood at the edge of the forest, his pack gathered behind him. Lena tossed a stick into the fire they’d built, her sharp eyes watching him. “You’re distracted, Alpha.” “I’m fine,” he growled. Jax snorted. “You’ve been pacing since dawn. What’s going on?” “Nothing.” “It’s a hybrid, isn’t it?” Lena smirked. “The one from the bar. You’ve been watching her.” Austin’s fists clenched. “Drop it.” Lena raised her hands. “Just saying. If she’s a problem, we can make her leave town.” The words sent a surge of anger through him. “Touch her, and you’ll regret it.” The pack fell silent. Jax and Cole exchanged glances. Lena leaned back, her smile fading. “Understood, Alpha.” Austin turned away, staring into the trees. Seline’s face flashed in his mind her defiance, her tears. She’s better off without me, he told himself. But his wolf howled in protest. --- Back at the bar, Seline scrubbed tables mechanically. Her body ached, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the hole in her chest. Every time the door opened, she tensed, half-hoping Austin would walk in. He never did. At sunset, her landlord arrived. Mr. Krane was a thin, sharp-faced warlock with a permanent sneer. He slapped an eviction notice on the counter. “Time’s up, half-breed. Pay or leave.” Seline stared at the paper. “I need one more day.” “You’ve had weeks.” He smirked. “Maybe ask your wolf friends for help. Oh wait — they don’t want you either.” Her magic flared, rattling the glasses. “Get out.” Krane laughed. “You’ll be on the streets by midnight.” When he left, Seline sank to the floor. No money. No home. No mate. She was truly alone. The bar closed early. Seline packed her few belongings into a duffel bag, clothes, a photo of her mother, and a dried herb pouch for protection. She didn’t know where she’d go. Maybe sleep in the storeroom until Krane sent goons to drag her out. A knock at the door made her jump. Austin stood outside, his face unreadable. “We need to talk.” She crossed her arms. “Why? You made yourself clear.” He stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. “You can’t stay here. It’s not safe.” “Because of the panthers? Or because of you?” His jaw tightened. “I’m trying to help.” “By rejecting me? By telling me I’m not enough?” Her voice cracked. Austin looked away. “My pack… they’d never accept a hybrid. The elders would challenge my leadership. I can’t risk that.” “So you’ll risk us instead?” “There is no us!” His shout echoed in the empty bar. “You’re a liability. A weakness. I can’t be tied to someone like you.” The words crushed what was left of her hope. She picked up her bag. “Then leave. Again.” He grabbed her arm. “Seline, wait—” She yanked free. “No. You don’t get to push me away and then act like you care. You want me gone? Fine. I’ll disappear. But don’t pretend this is for my sake.” Austin’s mask slipped. For a second, she saw pain in his eyes—raw and deep. Then it vanished. “You’re right,” he said coldly. “This is for me. For my pack. You don’t belong in my world.” She laughed bitterly. “Funny. I don’t belong in any world.” He turned to leave but paused at the door. “There’s a safe house north of town. An old cabin. Go there. Krane won’t find you.” “Why tell me this?” He didn’t look back. “Consider it a goodbye gift.” When he was gone, Seline collapsed into a chair. The bond between them stretched thin, a thread about to snap. She pressed a hand to her chest, tears flowing. I hate you, she thought. But her wolf still reached for him. --- The cabin was small and crumbling, hidden deep in the woods. Seline lit a fire, her breath visible in the cold air. She wrapped herself in a blanket, staring at the flames. A howl echoed in the distance. Her wolf perked up, longing in its whine. “Stop,” she whispered. “He doesn’t want us.” But the bond ached, a constant reminder of what could never be. Days passed. Seline avoided town, surviving on berries and canned food she’d stolen from the bar. The silence was suffocating. One night, footsteps approached the cabin. She grabbed a knife, heart racing. “Seline?” Mira stood in the doorway, her wings glittering with frost. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you!” Seline lowered the knife. “How did you find me?” “A wolf told me. Tall, brooding, really bad at expressing feelings?” Seline’s breath caught. Austin.! Mira handed her a bag of groceries. “He’s been watching the cabin. Every night. Making sure you’re safe.” “Why?” “I think you know.” Seline turned away. “It doesn’t matter.” Mira sighed. “He’s an idiot. But you’re both miserable. Fix it.” After Mira left, Seline stood outside. The forest was still. But she felt Austin, hidden in the trees, watching. “I hate you,” she whispered into the dark. The wind carried no answer. But the bond flared, warm and aching. And for the first time, she wondered if he hated himself too.Chapter 1The bar was loud tonight. Glasses clinked, laughter bubbled over the hum of old rock music, and the smell of spilled beer hung thick in the air. Seline wiped down the sticky counter with a rag, her eyes scanning the room. The Howling Chalice wasn’t fancy, but it was hers at least for now. She’d worked here five years, long enough to know which customers were trouble. Like the trio in the corner. Panther shifters, probably. They’d been nursing the same drinks for an hour, their yellow eyes flicking to her every few minutes. Shifters rarely came to the Chalice. Too many witches here, they said. Too many rules. Seline tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear and ignored them. "Another round, Seline!" A gruff voice called from the end of the bar. She turned. Old Tom, a grizzled vampire with a fondness for whiskey, waved his empty glass. His fangs glinted when he smiled. "Keep ’em coming, kid. I’m celebrating." "What’s the occasion?" she asked, pouring his drink. "Ou
Chapter 2:The alley felt colder after the panthers left. Seline hugged herself, trying to stop shaking. Austin stood a few feet away, his broad shoulders blocking the dim streetlight. He watched her silently, his ice-blue eyes sharp. “You didn’t have to do that,” she said, scowling. “I could’ve handled them.” Austin raised an eyebrow. “Handled them? They were seconds from attacking.” “I’ve dealt with worse.” She straightened, forcing her voice steady. “Why are you even here?” “Just passing through.” He crossed his arms, his gaze sweeping the alley. “This town… it’s full of Others. More than I expected. Is that normal?” Seline shrugged. “Hollowbrook a safe zone. No humans, no laws against magic. People come here to hide, or to cause trouble.” She narrowed her eyes. “Why? You planning to stay?” “Maybe.” He stepped closer, his presence like a storm cloud. “Depends on what I find.” She backed up, hitting the wall. Her wolf stirred again, restless. “Stop it,” she told hersel
Chapter 3:The next evening, the bar was quieter. Seline wiped down tables, her mind racing. Rent was due tomorrow, and her paycheck tonight was her last chance. She’d begged the bar owner for an advance, but he’d refused. One more night, she told herself. Just get through tonight.Mira flitted around, restocking bottles. “Hey, Seline. Those wolf shifters are back. The ones from yesterday.” Seline glanced at the corner table. Austin sat with his pack two men and a woman. The woman was the same one she’d seen him laughing with. Her chest tightened. “Ignore them,” Seline said. “The dark-haired guy asked for you,” Mira added. “Said his name is Jax. The woman’s Lena, and the other guy is Cole.” Seline froze. “Why are you telling me this?” Mira shrugged. “Thought you’d want to know.” She didn’t. But her eyes drifted to Austin anyway. He was watching her, his expression unreadable. She looked away, cheeks burning. The night dragged on. Seline served drinks, avoiding the wolves
Chapter 4The storeroom was cold. Seline shivered as Austin pressed a cloth to her bleeding shoulder. His hands were rough, but his touch sent warmth through her. She hated it. “Hold still,” he muttered. “I’m fine,” she lied. Her leg throbbed where the panther’s claws had torn her jeans. Blood soaked the fabric. Austin ripped the cloth into strips. “This’ll hurt.” “Everything hurts,” she snapped. He didn’t answer. He cleaned her wounds in silence, his jaw tight. When his fingers brushed her neck, she flinched. “Stop,” she said. “I’m trying to help.” “I don’t need your help!” He grabbed her wrist, sudden and sharp. “Why are you like this?” “Like what?” “Angry. Defiant. You act like the world owes you something.” She yanked her arm free. “The world owes me nothing. I know that better than anyone.” He stared at her. Then, slowly, his gaze dropped to her wounds. His frown deepened. “Your blood… it’s different.” Her heart skipped. “What?” “It smells like a wol
Chapter 5Austin stood at the edge of the forest, his pack gathered behind him. Lena tossed a stick into the fire they’d built, her sharp eyes watching him. “You’re distracted, Alpha.” “I’m fine,” he growled. Jax snorted. “You’ve been pacing since dawn. What’s going on?” “Nothing.” “It’s a hybrid, isn’t it?” Lena smirked. “The one from the bar. You’ve been watching her.” Austin’s fists clenched. “Drop it.” Lena raised her hands. “Just saying. If she’s a problem, we can make her leave town.” The words sent a surge of anger through him. “Touch her, and you’ll regret it.” The pack fell silent. Jax and Cole exchanged glances. Lena leaned back, her smile fading. “Understood, Alpha.” Austin turned away, staring into the trees. Seline’s face flashed in his mind her defiance, her tears. She’s better off without me, he told himself. But his wolf howled in protest. --- Back at the bar, Seline scrubbed tables mechanically. Her body ached, but the physical pain was nothing c
Chapter 4The storeroom was cold. Seline shivered as Austin pressed a cloth to her bleeding shoulder. His hands were rough, but his touch sent warmth through her. She hated it. “Hold still,” he muttered. “I’m fine,” she lied. Her leg throbbed where the panther’s claws had torn her jeans. Blood soaked the fabric. Austin ripped the cloth into strips. “This’ll hurt.” “Everything hurts,” she snapped. He didn’t answer. He cleaned her wounds in silence, his jaw tight. When his fingers brushed her neck, she flinched. “Stop,” she said. “I’m trying to help.” “I don’t need your help!” He grabbed her wrist, sudden and sharp. “Why are you like this?” “Like what?” “Angry. Defiant. You act like the world owes you something.” She yanked her arm free. “The world owes me nothing. I know that better than anyone.” He stared at her. Then, slowly, his gaze dropped to her wounds. His frown deepened. “Your blood… it’s different.” Her heart skipped. “What?” “It smells like a wol
Chapter 3:The next evening, the bar was quieter. Seline wiped down tables, her mind racing. Rent was due tomorrow, and her paycheck tonight was her last chance. She’d begged the bar owner for an advance, but he’d refused. One more night, she told herself. Just get through tonight.Mira flitted around, restocking bottles. “Hey, Seline. Those wolf shifters are back. The ones from yesterday.” Seline glanced at the corner table. Austin sat with his pack two men and a woman. The woman was the same one she’d seen him laughing with. Her chest tightened. “Ignore them,” Seline said. “The dark-haired guy asked for you,” Mira added. “Said his name is Jax. The woman’s Lena, and the other guy is Cole.” Seline froze. “Why are you telling me this?” Mira shrugged. “Thought you’d want to know.” She didn’t. But her eyes drifted to Austin anyway. He was watching her, his expression unreadable. She looked away, cheeks burning. The night dragged on. Seline served drinks, avoiding the wolves
Chapter 2:The alley felt colder after the panthers left. Seline hugged herself, trying to stop shaking. Austin stood a few feet away, his broad shoulders blocking the dim streetlight. He watched her silently, his ice-blue eyes sharp. “You didn’t have to do that,” she said, scowling. “I could’ve handled them.” Austin raised an eyebrow. “Handled them? They were seconds from attacking.” “I’ve dealt with worse.” She straightened, forcing her voice steady. “Why are you even here?” “Just passing through.” He crossed his arms, his gaze sweeping the alley. “This town… it’s full of Others. More than I expected. Is that normal?” Seline shrugged. “Hollowbrook a safe zone. No humans, no laws against magic. People come here to hide, or to cause trouble.” She narrowed her eyes. “Why? You planning to stay?” “Maybe.” He stepped closer, his presence like a storm cloud. “Depends on what I find.” She backed up, hitting the wall. Her wolf stirred again, restless. “Stop it,” she told hersel
Chapter 1The bar was loud tonight. Glasses clinked, laughter bubbled over the hum of old rock music, and the smell of spilled beer hung thick in the air. Seline wiped down the sticky counter with a rag, her eyes scanning the room. The Howling Chalice wasn’t fancy, but it was hers at least for now. She’d worked here five years, long enough to know which customers were trouble. Like the trio in the corner. Panther shifters, probably. They’d been nursing the same drinks for an hour, their yellow eyes flicking to her every few minutes. Shifters rarely came to the Chalice. Too many witches here, they said. Too many rules. Seline tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear and ignored them. "Another round, Seline!" A gruff voice called from the end of the bar. She turned. Old Tom, a grizzled vampire with a fondness for whiskey, waved his empty glass. His fangs glinted when he smiled. "Keep ’em coming, kid. I’m celebrating." "What’s the occasion?" she asked, pouring his drink. "Ou