Malia The early morning light filtered into my room as I stirred, groggily realizing Corey’s side of the bed was empty. I sat up, noticing a note on my bedside table with his distinct handwriting: Thank you for last night. I sighed, relieved that nothing had happened between us. We were going to kiss, but we stopped ourselves at the same time and instead just slept together on my bed. It was only in that quiet moment, alone, that I realized my feelings for Corey had been because I was emotionally exhausted and vulnerable. My heart still belonged to Asher—messy, complicated as it was. Corey's visit had been comforting, but the resemblance to Asher’s own late-night visit was what got me in my feelings. After gathering myself, I headed to school, navigating the day on autopilot. I signed up for extra combat training as I was told to —anything to strengthen myself against the fight that is STILL happening between me, Nina and Jamie. I wasn't yet so sure how the fight would go,
Malia “Fine. But just so you know, it’s probably going to be just you and me in on this plan,” I finally said, settling on my decision. “What? Why?” Nina asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Well, for starters, Jamie, Corey, and Amara just got into a massive fight. None of them are speaking to each other, so there’s no chance they’ll work together.” Nina scoffed. “She’s still messing around with both of them without either knowing?” I blinked. “W-what? Who told you that?” “They were my friends too, you know. Except they started acting weird after I told them Amara was using them,” she said, crossing her arms. I hesitated, shifting uncomfortably. "Oh, well, that’s—whatever. The point is, we can’t involve them. Their emotions would ruin everything.” “Right.” She sighed, looking unimpressed. “So what was the plan before the whole ‘love triangle’ fiasco?” “We were going to raid the library’s restricted section, find something on enchantments,” I replied, bracing for h
JamieTwo weeks. That’s how long it’s been since the blowup between me, Corey, and Amara—the accusations, the tension, and, honestly, a mess I hadn’t known how to fix. Malia, Nina, and I had been practicing with our different coaches in preparation for the combat showdown. But on this particular day, we trained the whole day and were excused from classes. These past weeks I haven't been on speaking terms with Malia. She seemed like she was really bothered by my behavior with Amara, but if she understood the circumstances that led to it all, she wouldn't be so judgmental. I finished my training pretty quickly and watched as the training field stretched out before me. I was trying to reflect on my performance as I sat under a tree, but my focus was split, drifting between Malia and the conversation that I knew we’d eventually have. Mr. Diaz had been pushing her hard, and from the sidelines, I winced as I saw her drop to the ground, covered in mud and drenched with sweat. When trai
MaliaI made my way to the girls' locker room, grateful for a moment to breathe before I had to face Asher. Dirt clung to my arms and legs, the result of being shoved into the mud more times than I cared to count, thanks to Coach Diaz’s relentless drills. I was a mess, inside and out, and I needed a quick shower if I was going to show up in Asher’s office with even a shred of dignity. As I stepped into the locker room, my conversation with Jamie still weighed heavily on me. I hadn’t stopped thinking about it, even as I pulled off my muddy training clothes and turned on the shower. The water cascaded over me, but it didn’t do much to wash away the guilt settling like a stone in my chest. I had jumped to so many conclusions about Jamie and Amara, judging them without even knowing the whole story. Now, it was all I could think about.Jamie had really opened up, trusted me with the truth—their truth—and I’d seen how much pain they’d all been through. If I had just asked, if I’d liste
MaliaAfter leaving Asher's office, the cool air outside did little to settle the churning in my stomach. My hands trembled at my side, and I almost forgot to breathe, nervousness eating me up from within. I was so busy with my own thoughts that I nearly jumped at the sight of Savannah standing before me with my uniform and phone in her hand, looking way too pleased with herself. “You’ve been busy,” Savannah said, swinging the bag lazily. “Still trying to get some special treatment from the Alpha, I see.”I didn’t respond. I wasn’t in the mood for her games, not after the day I’d had. I stepped forward, reaching for my bag, but Savannah pulled it back, holding it just out of reach. “Savannah, I’m not in the mood,” I warned, my voice low and steady.“Not in the mood?” She laughed bitterly. “You think you’re better than me, don’t you? Prancing around like you’re some innocent victim when everyone knows you’re still trying to crawl your way into Asher’s bed till now!”That did it. My
Malia I fumbled through my bag, desperately searching for anything that might help. My fingers brushed against my phone, and for a brief, shining moment, hope sparked. But when I pressed the power button, the screen stayed dark. My stomach twisted with dread. “It’s over,” I whispered shakily to myself, tears stinging my eyes. “I’m never getting out.” The darkness of the trunk pressed down on me, suffocating and relentless. The air felt heavy, each breath harder to draw. Panic clawed at my chest, every nerve in my body screaming for escape. I tugged at the restraints on my wrists again, but the ropes bit into my skin, refusing to budge. Just as the walls of the trunk seemed to close in on me completely, the metallic click of the lock broke through the oppressive silence. My body stiffened, my heart hammering wildly. The lid creaked open, flooding the confined space with blinding light. I flinched, throwing up my hands to shield my eyes as the silhouette of a figure loomed abo
MaliaThe message from Nina glowed on my screen like a beacon of hope: “I have the book that we can use to free Asher.” My heart raced as I reread it, the words almost too good to be true. A smile broke across my face, the first real one in what felt like an eternity. For a moment, I allowed myself to believe that things might finally change. “Why are you grinning like that?” Jamie asked from the driver’s seat, his tone a mix of confusion and suspicion. His eyes flicked to me in the rearview mirror. “Did Corey wake up and crack a joke or something?” “No,” I said, shaking my head. “I just got a text from Nina.” At that, Jamie’s expression soured instantly. “You’re still talking to Nina? Is she your new best friend or something?” “It’s not like that,” I explained quickly, holding up my phone as if the screen could somehow absolve me. “She’s not exactly my best friend, Jamie. Trust me, I’m not thrilled about it either. But she wants the old Asher back too, and she says she has
Malia The drive to my house was suffocatingly quiet, broken only by the sound of Corey’s shallow breathing from the backseat. I kept glancing at him, fear tightening my chest every time I noticed how pale he was. Jamie, sitting behind the wheel, didn’t speak much, his usual snark replaced by a deep worry etched into his face.As we pulled into my driveway, Jamie exhaled sharply. “If Corey doesn’t wake up soon, my parents are going to lose it. And by lose it, I mean full-blown Glenn family meltdown.” I glanced at him, knowing he was right. The last thing we needed was for Jamie’s parents to start asking questions—questions we couldn’t answer. “My parents are out of town,” I said, unlocking the door. “No one’s here to panic, so we’ll keep him here for now.” Jamie nodded, and together we carefully carried Corey inside. Every step felt heavier than the last, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. Once we got Corey to the guest room, Jamie settled into a chair by his bedsi
MaliaIt had been almost a year.A full cycle of moons since I stood before the altar in a dress that felt like a cage and pledged myself to a man I did not love. A year of silent dinners, of shared quarters and unshared sheets. A year of waking up beside someone who looked at me like I was a world he couldn’t touch.Ronin had not once tried.He had kissed my cheek in public, taken my hand at royal events, and always ensured I had a personal guard at my side. He gave me space. Respect. But not once had he laid a single finger on me—not without my permission.And that restraint… it had become unbearable.Tonight, the weight of it collapsed on me.I sat on the edge of our bed, staring at the hearth’s dying flames. My nightgown clung to my skin in the low firelight, and my chest ached with something I hadn’t let myself name in months.“Just accept it, Malia,” Rhedd had told me only hours ago, his voice quiet but final. “He’s not coming back. If Asher was alive, he would’ve come by now.”
AsherThe moon was high the night I met with Nina’s parents. I had to meet them since I now knew the truth. They were the only ones I could trust. We gathered in the ruins of the old Northern chapel, a place sacred enough to keep secrets buried but strong enough to host rebellion. I didn’t ask how they got in contact with me—they always had a way to do things discreetly. Nina’s father, Nathan, regarded me with the tired eyes of a man who had carried the truth for too long.“He told us this day would come,” he said. “Ian prepared. We kept his will safe. And we kept his soldiers even safer.”From the shadows, they stepped forward—silent, deadly, focused. Wolves in human skin. Elite. Trained in secret under Ian’s orders for the day I would reclaim the crown.I couldn't believe my eyes. How did Ian think of this? How was he able to predict that I may not get any support unless he provides one for me?I was relieved that I had been given a head start, but it wasn’t enough. Not for a war.
AsherMy thumb hovered over the next page for longer than I cared to admit. The leather binding creaked softly beneath my grip, like it too feared what lay ahead. But I couldn’t stop now. I needed to know it all—no matter how much it hurt and no matter how much I wanted to stop, I turned the page.‘Brooke and Renah began their affair not out of love, not truly—not at first. Brooke wanted affection. She wanted to be wanted. Renah… he was a convenient escape. They were discreet. Not for my sake. For hers. Always for hers. She didn't want to ruin her reputation.’I leaned back, jaw tightening.So it was true.I watched them once. They didn’t see me. Her smile was real. His was reverent. That was the moment I knew—Renah loved her more. Brooke? She simply needed to be adored.It painted such a different picture of my mother than the one I’d held growing up. She had always seemed powerful, poised, in control of every room she walked into. I never imagined her desperate. Or fragile. But with
AsherThe journal was old—older than I expected. Bound in cracked leather, the pages yellowed at the edges and laced with a scent of musk and ink. I stared at it for a long time before opening it, the weight of the thing pressing against my palms like it knew its contents would knock the air from my lungs.I didn’t know what I was looking for. Maybe a name. A signature. But the first line stopped my breath.‘This is the truth of Ian Vale.’My father's handwriting. Sharp. Purposeful. Controlled—just like the man himself.Ian had never been warm, never soft. Every memory I had of him came with cold eyes and clipped words. Praise was rare; affection, non-existent. I grew up thinking he saw me as an obligation. A duty. Nothing more.And yet… the diary was written in grief. In longing. In heartbreak. Every page screamed of things he could never say aloud.I turned to the next page.‘The priest told me it was a curse. That no Lycan should ever be mated to another man. He said it must’ve bee
AsherI returned to the only place I could still call mine. Tucked away from the world, surrounded by trees that asked for nothing and wind that didn’t whisper judgments—just solitude. The house hadn’t changed. I hadn’t either. Not really. I moved like a ghost through the front door, letting it shut quietly behind me.Silence greeted me, the kind that didn’t bring peace but didn’t argue either.I didn’t unpack. There was no point. The clothes I left on the couch a week ago were still there. The parcel Katherine handed me before she left sat on the windowsill, untouched. I glanced at it but moved past it like I had every day.I ended up at the bar that night.It wasn’t one of those classy places. It was dingy. Loud. Sticky floors and cheap liquor that burned going down. Perfect for disappearing. I sat in the corner booth, nursing something strong and bitter. My hair had grown out a bit, face scruffy, and I didn’t care. I didn’t want to be seen, yet eyes found me anyway.Women came firs
AsherSix months. That’s how long I’ve been in Reece—six slow, punishing months.At first, I didn’t even know what was real anymore. My memories felt like scattered fragments—some vivid, others hazy and distorted. The truth—the real truth—was a war I fought in my own mind. There were days I screamed until my voice gave out, days I curled into myself wishing I had never been born, and days I tried to hate the people I once loved.But this place… this tribe… they didn’t give up on me.The mages here, all marked by the strange glowing ink of their coven, didn’t treat me like a monster. Not even when I was one. They stripped me down—mentally, emotionally, spiritually—and forced me to sit in silence with my truth until it stopped feeling like poison.Now I can say it.I was enchanted.Jude, my own father, twisted my soul and turned me into something I never wanted to be. And the worst part? For the longest time, I didn’t even know.I’m better now. Or at least, that’s what the Head Mage kee
MaliaI nodded slowly, trying to piece together the strange sadness that had crept into Ronin’s eyes.“When did she die?” I asked quietly, my voice barely holding itself together. “The real Lia… when did she die?”Ronin’s eyes met mine, and his expression twisted with grief, something heavy and old—like it had been rotting in him for a long time.“She died the day I found out she was my mate,” he said. “But I'm not talking about Lia. She isn't my mate. My mate wasn’t from here. She was from my own Lycan pack.”I stared at him, my breath stuck in my chest. I didn’t know what to say to that, especially when his next words came so quickly and so desperately.“Malia,” he stepped closer, “please… just accept to be my Luna. I know you’re not my true mate. I’m not pretending. But since she’s gone, you’re the next best thing.”I flinched at the phrase. The next best thing. Like I was some kind of replacement. Some echo of a dream he’d lost.He kept going, determined. “It wasn’t Lia’s beauty t
MaliaCorey’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. “That being said. Why won’t Rhedd help her grandson?”I glanced up, studying Rhedd’s unreadable expression. She stood by the window, arms crossed, her gaze fixed on something far beyond what any of us could see. She didn’t flinch at the question, didn’t turn to face him. She just answered, coldly.“Asher shouldn’t even exist,” she said. “He was never meant to. That’s why he’s not important to me.”Her words dropped like a stone in my chest. I blinked, unsure I’d heard her right. Beside me, Jamie stiffened, his jaw clenching. Corey looked stunned, like he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. Amara’s brows knit together, confusion clouding her features.“You’re going to have to explain what you mean by that,” Jamie said.But Rhedd didn’t respond. She turned away from the window and faced us, her expression still unreadable. “Don’t do anything against Ronin,” she warned, voice sharp with authority. “He is the rightful ruler of L
Malia“What?” I whispered, backing away from Ronin like he’d just slapped me.He had to be joking. He had to be.“I don’t love you, Ronin,” I said, my voice shaking. “I never said I did. I... I felt something, I won’t lie about that, but it was a moment. Confusion. Desperation. That’s not love.”His jaw clenched.“I only love Asher,” I continued. “And I can only be with Asher.”I turned toward Rhedd, desperate now. “Please. Say something. You know this isn’t right.”But she just stood there, her face unreadable. She didn’t say a word.I turned back to Ronin, fury rising like bile in my throat. “You can’t force this. You can’t just—decide you want me and then take me!”“I’m not forcing anything,” he said, but his voice had a hard edge to it. “I’m doing what’s best. For you. For everyone.”“You think locking me away in your house is best?”“I’m keeping you safe.”“You’re keeping me caged!”He ran a hand through his hair, trying to stay calm. “Asher isn’t stable, Malia.”My heart twisted