Asher I never imagined that a day would come when I could feel this complete again. With Malia in my arms, her warmth grounding me, I felt like I had been living in a fog for too long—a fog that only lifted when she was near. The kiss I pressed to her lips was born from desperation, from relief, from the overwhelming need to make up for every second we’d lost. The world around us disappeared as I poured everything I felt for her into that moment. I broke the kiss, my forehead resting against hers as I whispered, “I swear to you, Malia, I will never leave your side again. No matter what happens, I won’t walk away.” She nodded, her fingers threading through my hair as she held me close. “I know, Asher. I know.” The sound of footsteps broke the stillness, and we both turned to see Jude and the others entering the room. Their presence reminded me of what we were about to do—what we had to do. “We’ve got work to do,” Jude said, his voice calm but serious. I gave a quick
Malia The moment I woke, a sharp gasp escaped my lips, as though my lungs were desperate to remind me they still worked. My vision blurred momentarily, but the first thing I saw when it cleared was Asher’s face, his expression torn between relief and disbelief. His arms were around me before I could make sense of anything, holding me so tightly I could feel the tremor in his body. “You’re here,” he whispered hoarsely, his voice thick with emotion. “You’re here, and that’s all that matters.” I blinked, dazed. My neck throbbed with a dull ache, and fragments of what had happened flashed in my mind—the pinch on my neck, the searing pain, the blood… the overwhelming feeling that I was slipping away. “I thought I—” I began, but Asher cut me off. “No,” he said firmly, pulling back just enough to look me in the eye. His gaze was intense, desperate, as though he needed to make me believe the truth. “You’re here, Malia. That’s all that matters now.” I nodded, though my mind still felt
Malia Sitting on the bed in Jude’s lair, I stared at the faint cracks in the wooden ceiling, my mind reeling from what Corey had just told me. I’d died. Not metaphorically or as a dramatic exaggeration—actually died. And Asher had brought me back with magic. The words were too surreal to grasp. Jamie cleared his throat, leaning back against the wall. “You’re probably wondering how Asher even managed to do it, right?” “Wondering?” I snapped my gaze to him. “That doesn’t even begin to cover it.” Jamie shrugged, his nonchalant demeanor contrasting the gravity of the conversation. “Look, I don’t know for sure, but if I had to guess, it’s because of his bloodline. Hybrids are a mix of werewolves and witches, right? That kind of power doesn’t just vanish into thin air, even if both of Asher’s parents were hybrids. He probably inherited some magical aptitude from a grandparent. Or maybe even further back in his lineage.” “That doesn’t explain why magic isn’t common among us,” I said,
MaliaThe door closed softly behind the others, leaving me alone with Asher. I could hear his footsteps before I saw him, the sound deliberate yet hesitant, like he was deciding how to approach. When he entered, his eyes scanned the room briefly before landing on me. He looked... different. Not just tired, though I could tell he hadn’t slept much, but weighed down by something far heavier than exhaustion. I smiled at him, trying to offer a piece of comfort, but his expression didn’t change. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice softer than usual. I nodded quickly, the corners of my lips curling up a little higher as I tried to reassure him. “I’m fine.” It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t entirely the truth either. Jamie’s words from earlier lingered in my mind like a stubborn echo: 'Asher used magic to bring you back.' I wasn’t sure what to believe, but one thing I knew for certain was this—I couldn’t hate Asher, no matter what. Magic or no magic, he’d saved my life. And I loved him
AsherThe morning air was crisp as I stepped outside, leading Malia and the others to where Jude’s men were waiting. The sun was barely above the horizon, casting long shadows over the camp, but the urgency in the air made it feel much later. Everyone was on edge, their movements rushed and jittery. I turned to Malia, who was already frowning at me. I knew what she would say before she opened her mouth. "You’re not coming with us, are you?" she asked, her voice trembling as she looked into my eyes. I shook my head, swallowing the lump in my throat. “No, Malia. I have to stay. Jude and I…we need to make sure the others get out safely. I need you to go with them, though. Please.” Her eyes widened, and she grabbed my arm, her fingers digging into my skin. “Asher, no. You can’t stay here. Come with us. We can figure out another way—together.” The desperation in her voice cut through me like a blade. I cupped her face in my hands, pressing my forehead to hers. “I’ll come back to
AsherThe camp was quiet, almost unnaturally so, as the last rays of sunlight bled into the horizon. I stood at the edge of the clearing, staring out into the woods, where shadows seemed to twist and shift with each passing moment. The trial was coming. The intensity of it pressed down on my shoulders like chains, and no amount of deep breathing could shake the tension coiled in my chest. I clenched my fists, feeling the pull of the tattoos etched into my skin, a constant reminder of who I was—or, more accurately, who I wasn’t. A Lycan king? A hybrid? A mistake? The lines blurred too much, and my identity felt like sand slipping through my fingers. The faces of Malia, and the others flashed in my mind. Their trust, their belief in me—it should’ve felt empowering, but all it did was add to the pressure. What if I failed? What if the Moon Goddess herself decreed that I wasn’t worthy of this fight? I exhaled sharply and turned back toward the center of Lykon, where preparations fo
Asher“You shall die for your actions Asher! There is no room for hybrids in my realm or yours!”But that was what I thought she said. Or what I expected her to say. How could I blame myself for thinking such. What she truly said was unbelievable to me. “Asher, you have shown strength by defeating the black wolf—the wild wolf variant that makes hybrids killing machines. You have shown loyalty by refusing to be deceived by the evil spirit that always seeks to distract great leaders from their path, and you have shown compassion by refusing to let your rage kill someone you love,” she said. “But your path is fraught with danger, Asher. Remember this: greatness is forged in fire, but it is destroyed by pride.”She turned to the crowd. “Asher is innocent. He is your Lycan king. Stand with him, or stand aside.”The hybrids erupted into cheers, while the Lycans remained silent, their gazes heavy with judgment.Malia ran to me the moment the crowd dispersed, her arms wrapping tightly around
Asher My fingers brushed through my hair as I rounded a corner. There was silence, but the silence was broken by a faint rustling sound. I froze, my senses sharpening. “Malia?” I called, my voice low. No response. “No... don't tell me that Brooke has gotten to her already,” I thought to myself as I quickened my pace, following the sound until I reached a dimly lit hallway. A piece of paper lay on the floor, its edges curling slightly. My stomach churned as I picked it up. You can’t protect her forever. I’ll take her from you, Asher. Just like I’ve taken everything else.” This was the exact thing I heard in my head! How is this possible? Could it be that she's using magic again? I turned to the note. It was unsigned, but I didn’t need a signature to know who it was from. It was my mother, Brooke. I crushed the paper in my hand, my pulse pounding in my ears. I tried all ways possible to rest that night but I couldn't. something just kept telling me to be on hig
MaliaRonin’s voice was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade.“What the hell is this?”I didn’t answer right away.Because I didn’t know what to say.There were five unconscious men laying around me. There was blood on my hands. And Ronin and Corey were staring at me like I had just walked out of a massacre.There was no way I could explain this away.I tried to think of something—anything—but my mind was blank.A long, agonizing silence stretched between us.Then—I felt a spark. Not in my mind. Not in my chest. But on my tooth.I felt it—a tiny shock against the gem Jude had put there.And suddenly, the words came out.I lied.“I—I saw someone coming down here,” I said, my voice steady in a way that startled even me. “I was curious. I wanted to see what they were doing.”Ronin's eyes narrowed. “And that led to five guards unconscious at your feet?”I nodded. “I went down, but before I could even figure out what was happening, the guards stopped me. They accused me of lett
MaliaI didn’t wait for Nina to say anything else.She had already played enough games, and I wasn’t in the mood for another round of her mind tricks.I turned on my heel and walked away, fuming.Behind me, Nina hesitated for half a second before I heard her footsteps fade.She was smart enough to know that I didn't want to be followed.But just as I stepped into the dimly lit corridor leading out of the basement, I heard a sharp, authoritative voice.“Hey! Stop right there!”I cursed under my breath and spun around.Five men stood between me and freedom, their bodies tense, their hands already moving toward their weapons.Guards.Shit!One of them stepped forward, narrowing his eyes at me.“What are you doing down here?”I forced my expression into one of confusion, schooling my features into something innocent.“I—uh—I got lost?”His eyes darkened. “Lost?”“Yes,” I said quickly, nodding. “I was looking for the storeroom, and I must have taken a wrong turn. I didn’t mean to—”“Bullsh
MaliaI froze.Asher was awake. And he was looking right at me.His dull, golden eyes locked onto mine, flickering with something raw—hope, desperation, disbelief. For a moment, he simply stared, his chest rising and falling with uneven breaths. Then, as if afraid I would disappear if he didn’t move fast enough, he crawled toward me.His frail hands dragged against the cold, filthy floor, scraping against the stone. His once-mighty frame, now nothing but skin and bones, trembled with the effort. He barely spared a glance at the rotting food beside him as he reached for me.His fingers, dirty and trembling, brushed against my hand.I flinched.It was instinctual, but it was enough.Asher stilled, his expression crumbling. His hands dropped to his sides, and his shoulders sagged like the weight of the world had just crashed down on him.“I know,” he whispered, his voice raspy and broken. “I know I’m a monster.”I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple
MaliaI had been so lost in thought that I didn't realise that Nina was still talking to me. I listened to her last words and figured out something to say in response, so I exhaled, trying to steady myself before speaking. "Nina… I heard that the woman who accused Corey of assault wasn’t even real. She was a witch. She used Malia's image to frame him."Nina's breath hitched, and her expression hardened. She nodded slowly. "I know." Her voice was quiet but firm.I hesitated. "I also heard that while that was happening, the real Malia was captured."She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Yeah, I know that too."The silence stretched between us for a moment, filled only by Asher’s slow, shallow breathing from the other side of the bars.Then, Nina exhaled sharply, pressing her fingers against her temples. "Asher was wrong to have killed Corey," she admitted, shaking her head. "So wrong. I mean, I get it—he thought Malia was attacked, and he reacted. But…" She looked away, as if st
MaliaI shook my head. "I don’t think it’s safe."Nina’s brow furrowed, a delicate crease forming between her eyes. "You don’t think what’s safe?" Her voice held a hint of impatience, a flicker of the urgency that had driven us here."Me going in there," I clarified, the words rasping out. I crossed my arms, a defensive posture that mirrored the turmoil churning within me. "I’m not exactly great at sneaking in and out of places, and if I get caught, it could ruin everything. You should go alone." My gaze flickered towards the heavy, iron-bound door at the end of the corridor, a dark maw leading into the depths of the school's underbelly.For a moment, Nina looked like she wanted to argue, her lips tightening into a thin line. I could see the protest forming on her tongue, the logical counterpoints she was about to unleash. But then, she sighed, a long, drawn-out exhale that spoke of reluctant acceptance. She nodded, the motion sharp and decisive. "Fine. I’ll do it myself."That shoul
MaliaAs I stepped out of Ronin’s office, the air outside felt lighter, but my mind was anything but. My thoughts churned, replaying the conversation over and over.Why hadn’t I corrected Jude when he got my age wrong? It should’ve been an easy fix, something I could have said in the moment without any real consequence. And yet, I hadn’t. I guess I was just so overwhelmed and charged up after that kiss with Ronin that I also momentarily forgot that Lia isn't really seventeen. But in my case it's understandable that I would forget, after all, I'm not the mastermind behind the plan. What was Jude's excuse?But then, I came to the realization that Jude wasn’t the type to make mistakes. Not with something as important as that.He sat me down and drilled every possible detail about Lia into my head, making sure I was ready to live as her without suspicion. But despite all of that, he had conveniently made an error about my age?I scoffed under my breath.No. That wasn’t a mistake.Jude mu
MaliaI leaned back in my chair, watching Ronin through narrowed eyes. His hands were still pressed together on the desk, fingers interlocked, but I could see the tension in them—the slight twitch of his thumb, the way his knuckles had turned just a shade paler.He was angry.Fine. So was I.“Why are you acting so reckless?” he asked suddenly, his voice low but sharp.I raised an eyebrow. “Reckless?”“Yes.” He leaned forward slightly, his silver eyes locking onto mine. “I thought you were a gentle girl. That was what I liked most about you.”For a second, I just stared at him. Liked? Past tense?A small, bitter laugh escaped me. “I am gentle, Ronin.” I tilted my head. “But if that was all there was to me, I’d be a boring, one-dimensional person.” I let my lips curl into a smirk. “Which I’m not.”Ronin’s jaw tightened. He exhaled through his nose, as if trying to calm himself, but his fingers flexed against the desk like he was fighting the urge to snap it in half.“The real issue,” I
MaliaI took a deep breath, forcing myself to shake off the unease from my conversation with the so-called spy. There were more important things to focus on—like pretending to be Lia and surviving another school day without slipping up.Pushing the classroom door open, I barely took two steps inside before freezing.Ronin was standing at the front of the room.The entire class turned to look at me, eyes filled with barely concealed amusement. A few students snickered, others whispered behind their hands, and instantly, I knew something was wrong.Swallowing my irritation, I forced my expression into indifference. “Good morning, Alpha Ronin,” I said stiffly, before turning to the teacher. “Good morning, Miss Harper.”Miss Harper gave me a tight-lipped nod, her discomfort clear. But Ronin? He didn’t even glance my way. He stood there, focused on the rest of the class, like I didn’t exist.I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing myself to keep walking. My footsteps felt too loud as I went
MaliaThe boy leaned back against the desk, a smirk playing on his lips. “Alright, let’s see how well you really know Asher and his friends.”I could hear it in his thoughts—he expected me to stumble. He thought I was bluffing, that I was another opportunist trying to use Asher’s downfall for my own gain.I smiled, crossing my arms. “I won’t just answer questions about Asher—I’ll answer anything you want about his friends, too. Amara, Nina, Corey, Jamie… take your pick.”His smirk widened. He thought he had me right where he wanted me. “Alright then,” he said, eyes gleaming. “What’s the relationship status of each of Asher’s friends?”I knew exactly what he was trying to do—trip me up with details only a true insider would know. But if he thought I’d hesitate, he was dead wrong.“Nina,” I started, “was Asher’s childhood friend. They grew up together, always close, though not in a romantic way.” I tilted my head. “She cared for him deeply, but Asher never saw her that way. Eventually,