AsherThe crowd buzzed with murmurs, their eyes locked on me as I stood in the center of their circle. Avan’s challenge had been thrown, and I had accepted. There wasn’t any hesitation in my mind—if they wanted proof, I’d give it to them. But just as I was about to speak, a voice cut through the tension like a blade. “No.”The crowd shifted, parting to reveal the source of the voice. My heart clenched when I saw him: Jude.“You won’t do it, Asher,” he said, his voice calm but unyielding as he stepped into the circle. “Jude,” I began, but he silenced me with a raised hand. “I’ll take your place,” he said, his gaze never wavering. The crowd murmured louder, confusion and skepticism rippling through them. “And who are you to make that decision?” Avan asked, his tone sharp and filled with suspicion. Jude’s expression didn’t falter. “I am Asher’s father,” he said simply, the words ringing out clearly. The crowd froze. A man scoffed loudly. “His father? You mean to say you’
AsherThe water in the bowl shimmered ominously, reflecting the crowd's expectant faces. I stared down at it, my resolve unshaken but my heart was pounding like a war drum. Wolfsbane water. Its potency alone could bring even the strongest wolf to their knees. Now, I was about to test not just my strength but the worthiness of my very existence as their king. I took a breath, steadying myself as Alpha Trent stood across from me, watching with a smug sense of satisfaction. “Are you ready, Asher?” Jude’s voice was low but steady at my side. “I’ve been ready my whole life,” I replied, keeping my gaze locked on the bowl. Without another word, I plunged my hand into the shimmering liquid. The pain hit instantly, like fire coursing through my veins, eating away at my skin and sinking into my bones. My breath caught, and for a moment, my vision blurred from the sheer intensity. But I gritted my teeth, locking my jaw as I focused on the faces in the crowd. Their judgment. Their doubt
Asher The lake was even more beautiful than I remembered, a still mirror reflecting the soft glow of the moon. It was almost full, casting a silver path across the water that felt otherworldly. Everything about this place felt calm, untouched by the chaos waiting for us tomorrow. But it wasn’t the lake that held my attention. It was Malia, standing at the water’s edge, her silhouette bathed in moonlight. Her hair shimmered as the breeze teased it, her dress clinging to her in all the right ways. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. She turned at the sound of my footsteps, her lips curving into a small smile that felt like a balm to every wound I’d ever carried. “You came,” she said softly, her voice almost swallowed by the night. “Of course,” I replied, walking closer. “You said you wanted to talk.” She nodded but didn’t say anything right away. Her gaze drifted back to the water, and I couldn’t help but follow it. The stillness of the lake matched the tension in
AsherThe first thing I noticed was the sky, a pale, soft blue, the kind of hue that only comes after the moon has surrendered to the sun. My body ached, not from pain, but from the strange heaviness that clings to you after a nightmare. My breath was ragged, uneven, as I blinked against the light filtering through the trees. I was alive. Unhurt. And then I saw her. Malia was beside me, lying on her side, her chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. She looked peaceful, her face relaxed, her hair slightly damp, clinging to her skin. The faintest hint of moonlight still lingered in the air, giving her a kind of glow. For a moment, I couldn’t move, couldn’t think. The nightmare came rushing back—her red eyes, the silver blade plunging into my side, the cold, hollow expression on her face. My hand instinctively went to my ribs, expecting to find a wound, blood, pain. But there was nothing. Just smooth, unbroken skin. It was a dream. But it didn’t feel like one. It h
Malia I woke up feeling lighter than I had in weeks. My body still hummed with the memories of last night, a warmth spreading across my chest as I recalled how Asher had held me. His touch had been tender yet possessive, his presence grounding me in a way I’d never experienced before. For the first time, I had let someone see every part of me—raw, vulnerable, completely unguarded. And it had been him. Even in sleep, my mind had conjured a future that felt almost too sweet to believe: Asher and me, standing beneath the glow of the full moon, vowing ourselves to each other. The pack surrounded us, their cheers echoing into the night. Then, as if the universe had fast-forwarded our happiness, a baby appeared in my arms, with Asher’s dark hair and my bright eyes. The dream had been so vivid I could almost hear the child’s laughter. The thought made me giddy, and I smiled to myself, feeling my cheeks heat. This was what I wanted—a life with Asher, a family, peace. I stirred
Malia“Avan?” I whispered, disbelief coloring my voice.He leaned casually against the doorframe, his sharp green eyes scanning my tear-streaked face. A faint smirk tugged at his lips, though there was a flicker of something softer in his expression—concern, maybe?“Well,” he said, his voice calm and teasing, “this is quite the sight. Didn’t expect to find you crying behind a locked door.”I blinked, my mind reeling. What was he doing here? How had he gotten past Asher’s guards? And most importantly—why?But before I could form a coherent thought, let alone a question, Avan stepped inside, closing the door behind him. The room spun as Avan’s smirk spread wider, his unsettling presence filling the space. I stepped back instinctively, my mind racing. “Why are you here?” I demanded, my voice sharper than I expected. “And how did you open that door?” Avan tilted his head, his expression one of mock pity. “Oh, Malia. You’ve always been so naïve. Did you really think I’d sit by while As
AsherI locked the door to Malia’s cell, my chest heaving with every breath I took. The sound of the key turning in the lock felt like a nail being hammered into my soul. She would hate me for this. I knew it. I could almost hear her voice, sharp and cutting, accusing me of betrayal. But Jude’s words had rooted themselves in my mind. *What if she’s the one they use? What if she betrays you, Asher?* I couldn’t shake the image of her eyes clouded, under someone else’s control, feeding my mother everything she needed to destroy me. The thought made my stomach churn. Malia would never willingly betray me—of that, I was certain—but unwilling betrayal was just as dangerous. And then there was the dream. That damned dream. The one where Malia stood over me, a knife in her hand, her face a mask of cold indifference as she drove the blade into my chest. I had woken up gasping, drenched in sweat, her name on my lips. I couldn’t let that dream become a reality. I leaned against the door,
Asher The battlefield was cloaked in an unnatural stillness as the fog thinned, revealing the grim aftermath of the fight. The bodies of Brooke’s fallen hybrids littered the ground, but she and the remnants of her forces were nowhere to be seen. I scanned the area, my pulse pounding in my ears. No Brooke. No sorcerer. No explanation. For a moment, I just stood there, staring at the empty space where she had stood mere moments ago. Then the realization hit me like a punch to the gut. “She’s gone,” I muttered, my voice barely audible over the sound of my own racing heartbeat. “She escaped,” Corey confirmed grimly, his tone as heavy as the weight settling in my chest. I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms, drawing blood. My vision blurred with rage, and my body trembled as I fought the urge to lash out. This wasn’t just another failure—this was THE failure, the one thing I had sworn wouldn’t happen again. “She escapes,” I said through gritted teeth.
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,