Malia Around the third period, Amara and Jamie flanked me as we walked down the hall. The school buzzed with its usual chaos—students pouring out of classrooms, shuffling to their next class, filling the hallways with laughter, chatter, and the clang of lockers slamming shut. As we reached the row of lockers near mine, my attention snagged on a familiar voice. Across the hall, Asher was leaning against the wall with Aaliyah. He was dressed in a navy blue suit, like he had some official work at the school. It was odd seeing him being the Lycan King yet coming to the academia for classes. He was whispering to Aaliyah, his voice low and almost... affectionate. She was laughing—the soft, tinkling kind of laugh that filled me with anger. She looked at him with shining eyes, like he was the most brilliant, charming man in the world. And the worst part? He looked right back, his face completely open and fond. I scoffed, gripping the handle of my locker hard before slamming it shut.
MaliaCorey and I had combed through every corner of the school, every hallway, to tell Jamie what Aaliyah was plotting, but he was nowhere to be found. I tried calling him, my phone pressed to my ear as it rang and rang, but all I got was voicemail. The static on the other end felt colder every time.Corey’s brow was furrowed with worry, his jaw clenched tightly as he pulled out his own phone. “Jamie’s not the type to just vanish,” he muttered, a hint of irritation in his voice. “Not unless he’s avoiding something.”“Well, do you have any idea where he might be?” I asked, already feeling the frustration gnawing at me.He let out a heavy sigh. “Yeah, he’s probably sulking in one of his usual spots. Let’s check a few places where he might be hiding out.”The first place we tried was a diner a few blocks away. It was bustling with students, the scent of fries and burgers heavy in the air. Corey scanned the booths and tables, but Jamie was nowhere in sight. With each empty seat we passed
Malia"How could you do this, Amara?" I demanded, disbelief and hurt thickening my voice. "To Corey? To both of them? I thought you cared about them."Amara’s face flushed, her gaze darting to the floor. "It’s… not that simple, Malia. You don’t understand the whole story.""Really?" I cut her off, a bitter edge in my tone as my anger hardened into resolve. "Because it looks exactly like what happened with Avan and Savannah. The only difference here, Amara, is that you’re messing with twin brothers. Do you know how messed up that is?"She flinched, her lips parting as if to argue, but I didn’t let her. Not this time. "You of all people should know why I can’t be friends with you anymore, Amara. You’ve triggered memories I was trying to move on from. And I can't pretend like it’s okay."For a moment, Amara’s expression softened, but then a flicker of resentment flashed in her eyes. "You’re being judgmental, Malia. You don’t even know the truth behind this. It’s unfair."The way she sai
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
MaliaSeveral weeks had passed since I've been planning my revenge against Aaliyah, but during those weeks, Aaliyah was adding to my rage for her, bullying me every chance she got. Every tick of the clock felt like a taunt as I meticulously mapped out my plan for getting back at Aaliyah. She thought she could humiliate me at school, smear my name, and walk around like she owned the place. Not anymore. One Monday morning, my plan was ready—brilliant, elaborate, and perfect. I’d spent hours piecing it together, making sure no detail was left unchecked. Aaliyah wouldn’t see it coming, and when it was done, everyone would know she wasn’t as untouchable as she pretended to be. I stood in the hallway, casually leaning against my locker, pretending to scroll through my phone. The first part of my plan required timing, precision, and a little bit of misdirection. I was ready, my heart racing in anticipation. But then I heard his voice. “Don’t even think about it.” I glanced up to s
Malia. My encounter with Asher at the Russo twins’ party the week before was still on my mind. The look in his eyes—pale, disoriented, and detached—played over and over in my head. Something was wrong with him, but no one seemed to care. Not Amara, not Jamie, not Corey. They all insisted I let it go. Initially, I couldn't imagine not doing anything, but now… it's just so obvious that there's very little I can do. He isn't under a spell anymore, so this time it's all in Asher's hand. Only he can put an end to this. Soon, it was Monday, and the holiday reprieve was over. Back to the academy, back to the whispers, and back to pretending everything wasn’t falling apart. The academy halls were alive with murmurs, their sharp edges cutting through the quiet resolve I tried to build up on the walk-in. Everyone had something to say about Asher. About me. The whispers followed me like a shadow. “She’s still here? Brave, I’ll give her that.” “I heard she tried to talk to him at the
MaliaIt had been a week since Asher turned his back on everything we’d fought for, aligning himself with his mother and announcing his intention to marry Aaliyah. I couldn’t believe it at first—refused to, really. Even though I’d spent days recovering from my injuries at the school hub, the news of his decision hurt far worse than the excruciating pain of being shot with an arrow. Amara’s family had invited me to stay with them for the holidays, which turned out to be a blessing. I couldn’t face the halls of the academy, the whispers and judgment. The combat showdown, which I’d prepared for relentlessly, had been postponed indefinitely and eventually canceled in favor of a holiday break. So here I was, lounging by Amara’s pool, trying to piece together the wreckage of my thoughts. Amara, of course, had her theories. She always did. “It’s duty over love,” she said, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Asher’s chosen his mother over everything else. You know what that means, right
CoreyYou know that moment when the rug gets yanked out from under you and you’re left face-planting into reality? Yeah, that's what it felt like standing in the middle of the forest knowing that chaos was probably already unleashed on our school. “Asher, they need help,” Amara said, her voice sharp but not quite yelling. She was trying to keep it together, but the cracks were showing. Asher’s eyes blazed, that Alpha energy radiating off him like heat from a furnace. “You think I don’t know that?” His voice snapped like a whip. Then, his gaze turned on Avan and Savannah, pinning them in place. “You two. Take Malia to Miss Banks for treatment at the safe hub. If the hybrids are attacking, then most of the students must've gathered there. Don’t screw this up, or so help me—” He let the threat hang in the air, but we all got the message loud and clear. Avan’s smirk was still plastered on his face, but I caught the flicker of fear in his eyes. “And if we don’t?” he asked, just to be
AsherWe all stood frozen in the narrow passage, the silence around us was suffocating, every sound amplified in the dark passage. I felt Malia trembling next to me, her fear practically bleeding into the air. But beyond her, I could sense something else—someone was about to screw up.“Corey, don’t,” I said, linking minds with him, my tone sharp enough to cut through the silence. “You turn on that flashlight, and you’ll alert my mother.” There was a scoff, followed by the faint rustling of Corey shoving his phone back into his pocket. Good. At least he had the sense to listen for once. This passage wasn’t unfamiliar to me. I’d used it more times than I cared to admit, slipping away to escape my father’s wrath. The first time I stumbled in here, I spent days lost, thinking I’d die in this suffocating darkness. But those endless hours taught me something valuable: the way out wasn’t about sight. It was about listening. Every creak, every whisper of air, every subtle shift could guid
AsherI couldn’t believe it—my own mother, siding with the girl who had me spelled and rendered me a pawn in her twisted game. How could she take Aaliyah’s word over mine? She even ordered the arrest of my friends. People she knew meant everything to me - all for what? Because she valued Aaliyah more than anyone else?I watched as the guards advanced towards them, but before anyone dared touch Malia, I caught the guard’s wrist in an iron grip, looking him up and down before I said, “Who is your Alpha? Me or her?” “Y-you, Alpha Asher,” he stuttered, trembling under my glare. “Then how dare you try to carry out an order I didn’t approve of?” “I’m sorry, please forgive me. We just thought—” “—You are not wrong,” my mother interjected sharply, rising from her seat. Her usually perfectly styled dark hair was in a messy bun—a state I had never seen her in before. The sight sent a chill through me. She was unraveling, and it dawned on me that Aaliyah might have my mother under a s
Malia My heart raced as Asher's claws glinted dangerously close to my face, the sharp tips mere inches from my skin. His low growl reverberated through the room, vibrating in my chest and sending chills down my spine. Every instinct screamed at me to retreat, to abandon the reckless idea of tearing off the necklace, but I couldn't. I wouldn't. This was Asher. The man I loved. And I wasn't going to lose him to Aaliyah's twisted games. His glowing eyes locked on mine, a fierce, predatorial rage burning in their depths. He was fighting me—no, he was fighting the spell. I could feel it, the way his claws trembled mid-air, the way his breathing hitched, like he was battling an invisible force to stop himself. "You won't hurt me, Asher," I said, my voice steady despite the tears stinging my eyes. "I know you won't." For a fleeting second, doubt flickered across his face. That was all I needed. My hand shot up, grabbing the enchanted necklace. The cold metal burned against my
MaliaNina’s words lingered, heavy and insistent, but Jamie wasn’t one to be pushed into rash decisions. His expression hardened as he raised a hand to stop her mid-argument. “Before we do anything,” he said firmly, “we need to discuss this properly. Let’s find a quiet place first. I’m not making any moves until we know what we’re dealing with.” Nina threw her hands up in frustration. “You can’t be serious! Every second we waste gives Aaliyah more time to tighten her grip on Asher. How is this even a question?” Jamie didn’t flinch. “Then let’s make it official,” he replied. “We vote. Either we go to Asher’s mom now or we sit down and talk first. Majority wins.” Nina glared at him but didn’t argue. When the votes were counted, to her clear annoyance, everyone except her agreed on talking first. She let out a dramatic sigh and muttered something about “idiots” under her breath, but she followed us anyway as we left to find a quiet spot. The theater hall we chose was dimly l
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