AsherI was going to wait for a meeting with the council members, I was not at peace. The thought of Malia being hurt or worse dead kept eating me up so I called the guard back, "What about Malia? Is she okay?" "I don't know if Malia or her parents made it out," he said, sounding nervous.A cold wave washed over me, numbing everything but the fire of panic in my chest. I shot up from my chair, already moving toward the door. "Forget the council meeting. Find Jamie and Corey. I want them ready to leave with me," I ordered as I grabbed my coat. The scout hesitated. "They're not here, Your Majesty." I froze mid-step. "What do you mean they're not here?" "They left for Storm Pack yesterday. I think there's a party there ." I cursed under my breath. "Then get Nina." "She's handling negotiations at the western border," he said nervously. My pulse quickened. "Amara?" "Gone for a patrol check in the southern region." For a moment, the weight of the situation pressed heav
Asher I stormed through the southern training grounds, my rage simmering just beneath the surface. Every Lycan I passed instinctively moved out of my way, sensing the danger in my stride. The Glenn twins were supposed to be some of the most reliable Alphas I had on my side, yet when I needed them most, they were conveniently nowhere to be found. My vision blurred with fury as I spotted them by the sparring circle. Jamie was leaning against a wooden post, arms crossed, while Corey was in the middle of a match, effortlessly dodging the strikes of an opponent twice his size. Both of them looked infuriatingly relaxed. They didn't even notice me approaching until I was right in front of them. "Where the hell were you?" I roared, my voice echoing across the grounds. Jamie blinked in surprise, straightening up. "Asher? What's—" "You were supposed to be here when I called!" I cut him off, my fists clenched. "Do you have any idea what's happened?" Corey stopped his sparring, his o
AsherOrdered to stand down?I narrowed my eyes, heart pounding in my chest. This couldn’t be happening. I didn’t take orders from anyone except for the Moon Goddess, and certainly not from strangers.“Excuse me?” I shot back, fury rising within me. “What do you mean stand down?”“We have our orders,” the man continued, his eyes cold, unreadable. “From the council. You are no longer in charge of this mission. You’re to return to your seat and allow us to take over the search.”My blood boiled at the very thought. I didn’t care who they were, I wasn’t going to let some council men swoop in and take charge of this. Not when Malia was still missing.Another man at the front of the group, his posture rigid and formal, didn’t even flinch under my gaze. “What he is trying to say is that the council voted,” he said, his words clipped, “For your protection, Lycan King Asher. It is for your own safety that we’ve been assigned to ensure you remain inside the palace. Orders have been given for y
MaliaEverything was cold, damp, and disorienting. I woke up with dirt pressed to my skin, my body trembling like I'd just been dropped into an ice bath. My head throbbed, the echoes of something dark and fractured lingering at the edge of my memory—blood, snarling teeth, and shadows closing in. I forced myself to sit up, gritting my teeth against the dizziness. I was naked, completely exposed, and the sharp air stung my skin. My breaths came fast and shallow, panic clawing at my chest as I tried to make sense of where I was or how I’d gotten here. Footsteps pounded through the woods, heavy and purposeful. A voice cut through the night like a blade. “There she is!” Instinct took over. I shot to my feet, my body tense and ready for a fight. A growl tore from my throat as my claws extended. My vision was a blur, but I could see enough—figures moving toward me fast, shadows closing in. I didn't wait. I crouched, ready to strike, every fiber of me pulsing with raw energy. Whoeve
Corey The Harp twins were driving me insane. Leo and Leon had only been with us for less than an hour, and I already wanted to throw them both off a cliff. Their constant bickering, inability to make decisive calls, and overall lack of experience grated on my nerves. They were enthusiastic, sure—but enthusiasm didn’t win battles. Experience did. And that’s where they fell short. I couldn't help but compare them to Jamie and me. Asher was desperate for replacements, and it was painfully obvious that he was trying to mold these two into us. But they weren’t us, and no matter how much potential Asher thought they had, I wasn't convinced. “You sure this is the right way?” Leon asked, his tone doubtful as he scanned the darkened woods. “Yes,” I bit out, keeping my eyes sharp for any sign of Malia. “Doesn’t feel right,” Leo muttered under his breath. “We’ve been circling the same area for—” “Then maybe stop talking and start actually looking,” I snapped, cutting him off. Bo
Corey The hospital waiting room smelled like antiseptic and regret. The walls were a bland beige that probably worked overtime to suppress panic attacks. I was slouched in one of those uncomfortable plastic chairs, tapping my foot on the floor, trying to keep from losing my mind while we waited for the doctor to return with Malia’s scan results. Malia was inside the examination room, still oblivious to the fact that she was supposed to know the grumpy Lycan pacing like a caged wolf a few feet away from me—Asher. He hadn’t sat down once since we got here. Instead, he stalked back and forth, fists clenched, jaw tighter than my aunt’s purse strings. I tried to lighten the tension. “You know, if you wear a hole in the floor, they’ll probably charge you for it.” He shot me a glare so fierce I almost flinched. Almost. “Not now, Corey.” Typical. No sense of humor when things went south. I sighed and leaned back, folding my arms. “Look, I get that you're freaking out, but pacing is
Corey Jamie broke the silence with a pointed cough. “So, uh… anyone care to explain what the hell is going on?” I shot him a look, wincing as I shifted my weight to my unbruised side. “I already told you. Malia doesn’t remember Asher.” Jamie crossed his arms, skeptical. “Yeah, I thought you were messing with me.” “Then why are you here if you thought it was a joke?” I countered, raising an eyebrow. Jamie shrugged, ever the picture of casual arrogance. “You’re not known for great punchlines, so I figured I better check it out just in case.” Before I could hit him with a comeback, Jamie turned his attention to Malia, who was still standing by me, her posture guarded. “Hey, Malia. Do you remember me?” She tilted her head, studying him with a frown. Her eyes narrowed like she was trying to solve a particularly annoying puzzle. “You’re the not-so-nice twin, right?” Jamie blinked, clearly not expecting that response. “Not-so-nice? Seriously? I’m delightful.” She shook her h
Corey "Alright, Malia," Jamie began, his voice gentle but probing, "if you don’t think Asher is the right fit for you, then who do you think is?" There was a pause before Malia looked at both of us, her expression a mix of certainty and something softer that I couldn’t quite read. "I had feelings for Corey at one point," she said, her voice steady. "And it's him I want." Jamie and I both stared at Malia, stunned into silence by her unexpected declaration. The air in the room shifted, heavy with tension and disbelief. Even the doctor, who had been calmly scribbling notes on her clipboard, paused mid-sentence. Jamie was the first to break the awkward silence. "Wait—hold on. What?" Malia lifted her chin defiantly, her voice steady. "You heard me. I had feelings for Corey at one point. And right now, I think... he's the right fit for me." I nearly choked on my own breath. "Me?" I blurted, pointing at my chest as if there was another Corey in the room. "You’re talking about me
Malia The moment Corey spoke, the world shifted. The fire that had burned in Jamie’s eyes flickered, his rage replaced by uncertainty. The crowd, still scattered from the earlier chaos, now stood frozen in disbelief. Jamie turned fully to Corey, his voice low and sharp. “How did a witch cause your death when Amara saw Malia accuse you in person?” I felt my breath catch. Amara, standing to the side, nodded vigorously, as if needing Corey to confirm what she believed. “I saw it with my own eyes,” she said, her voice raw from screaming at me earlier. “Malia was right there! She said it herself! That you forced yourself on her. You were there too!” Corey’s pale blue eyes swept across the gathered wolves before settling back on Jamie. “The witch turned into Malia,” Corey said simply. “She pretended to be her.” A collective hush spread through the crowd. Jamie’s jaw tightened. He was watching Corey carefully, trying to process his words, but I could see the doubt in his eyes. “Are
Malia Rayna’s voice was smooth, almost amused. “What's this I hear about someone stealing my glory? Don't act so surprised. You all chanted 'WITCH!!!' Now I'm here.” Jamie’s eyes darkened. “A witch?” Rayna chuckled. “You don’t even know what you’re dealing with.” “Neither do you,” Jamie snapped. He turned back toward me, his grip tightening on flaming torch in his hand. My heart nearly stopped. He was about to set me ablaze! Was he really going to go through with it? Rayna took a step forward. “Oh don't be so uptight. If you kill her you'll ruin the surprise—” CRACK. The sharp sound cut through the air like a whip, followed by a rush of icy wind. And then, just like that, the world stopped. Every muscle in my body froze as he stepped forward. The torches flickered wildly, casting jagged shadows over his face. The mob fell silent, their fury evaporating in an instant. I could hear the sharp intake of breath from the wolves around me, their bodies stiff with shock. Jamie’s k
AsherJust as I thought I’d won—just as I convinced myself there was still time to save Malia—a chill swept through the room, colder than anything I’d ever felt. The air grew heavy again, thick with magic, but this time it was different. Older. More dangerous. And then… he appeared. A figure stepped out of the shadows, draped in a hooded robe as black as midnight. My heart slammed against my ribs as he lowered the hood. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think.It was Corey. His hair was now as pale as snow, almost glowing under the dim light. His skin was just as ghostly, drained of warmth and life.I knew it was him—but something inside me screamed that it wasn’t. Not really. He stood there, silent and still, watching me with that frozen gaze. “Corey…” I whispered, my voice barely audible. He didn’t answer. He didn’t move, neither could I. Not because of any magic—at least, I didn’t think so. It was something else. Something deeper. The hooded figures that had
AsherI ended the call with the harp twins and slipped my phone into my pocket, my mind spinning. Every instinct in me screamed that something wasn’t right. This wasn’t just some twisted revenge from Jamie. I couldn’t explain it, but I knew that the girl Jamie had wasn’t some imposter. It was Malia. The real Malia. And she was running out of time. I had to get to her. Now. I turned toward the door, already planning the fastest route to Storm Pack territory, when a cold shiver ran down my spine. My steps slowed. The air grew heavy—thick, charged with something unnatural. Magic. I spun just as the lights in the hallway dimmed and the temperature dropped. A gust of wind howled through the room, shattering the calm. The shadows stretched unnaturally long, curling across the walls like living things. And then—they appeared. Three hooded figures emerged from the darkness, dressed in heavy black robes embroidered with silver runes. Their faces were hidden beneath the hoods, but their pr
MaliaI couldn’t take it anymore—his voice, his accusations, the constant weight of his blame pressing down on me. Every word Jamie spoke was like a knife slicing through what little strength I had left. My body ached, the ropes biting into my wrists and ankles, the gag dry and scratchy against my lips. My throat burned for water, but no one cared. No one would listen. Maybe this was it—maybe I was meant to die here, tied to a post in the woods like some kind of monster. A witch. I let my head fall back against the rough bark behind me, my hair falling wild and tangled over my face. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the sound of Jamie’s voice as he muttered under his breath. He was pacing now, but his anger hadn’t lessened. If anything, it had grown darker, heavier. It didn’t matter what I did. Nothing I said would ever convince him—or anyone—that I wasn’t the person who accused Corey. That I wasn’t the reason his brother was dead. They had already made up their minds.
Malia As the hours dragged on, the mob slowly began to thin out. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows through the trees, but some wolves remained—hovering on the edges, eager to witness my punishment if Asher didn’t come. Their eyes burned with hatred and bloodlust, and no matter how much I tried to avoid their stares, I could still feel their judgment pressing down on me like a crushing weight. My throat burned with thirst. The gag chafed against the corners of my mouth, and every breath felt shallow and strained. My limbs were aching from being tied in the same position for so long, and the rough ropes dug into my wrists with every twitch. I tried to swallow against the dryness in my throat, but it only made the ache worse. I tried to make a sound—something, anything—to get someone’s attention. My voice was weak and muffled beneath the gag, but I hoped someone—anyone—would notice that I needed water. My tongue felt thick and heavy, and I was starting to feel di
MaliaThe ropes cut into my wrists, burning my skin with every slight movement. My arms were stretched above my head, bound tightly to the thick wooden post behind me. I could barely breathe around the filthy cloth stuffed into my mouth. My legs trembled beneath me, but I forced myself to stay upright. If I fell, I didn’t know if I’d have the strength to get back up. The air was thick with the smell of earth and pine, but it did nothing to mask the scent of anger—raw and violent—hanging over the crowd. Dozens of wolves surrounded me, their eyes burning with hatred. Their snarls filled the clearing, echoing through the woods. “Witch!” one of them growled. “Burn her!” another voice shouted from the crowd. A low, rhythmic chant began to rise. “Witch. Witch. Witch.”Tears blurred my vision, sliding down my face as I shook my head. I wanted to scream—to tell them they were wrong—but the gag muffled every sound. My heart pounded so loudly it drowned out their voices, but I couldn’t
Asher I didn’t know how long I’d been unconscious. Time seemed to have slipped away, leaving me adrift in a sea of confusion and dread. The lingering scent of smoke, acrid and sharp, was the only tangible evidence of the terrifying encounter with Rayna. I pushed myself up, my body protesting with a groan. My head pounded, a dull ache that mirrored the turmoil in my mind. Rayna’s words echoed in the silence of the room, each syllable a dagger twisting in my heart. “You will have the whole world against you, Asher.”I stumbled to my feet, my legs shaky, my thoughts a whirlwind of fear and regret. Rayna was gone. Vanished, like a phantom in the night. But the consequences of her presence, of her revelations, were all too real. I looked around the living room, the familiar space now tainted with the memory of her chilling laughter, her fiery display of power. It felt like a different place, a place where my illusions had shattered, leaving behind only the cold, hard reality of
Asher The flames danced in her palms, a mocking display of power that sent a chill deeper than any winter wind through my bones. My mind reeled, trying to reconcile the gentle woman I thought I knew with this…person before me. “Who are you?” I demanded, my voice rough, barely a whisper. “What have you done with Malia?”The laughter that spilled from her lips was like ice on fire, a sound that scraped against my soul. It wasn’t Malia’s laugh. It was sharper, colder, laced with an amusement that bordered on cruelty. “Malia?” she echoed, tilting her head. The fire in her hands crackled, throwing flickering shadows across the room. “Such a quaint notion.”A wave of dizziness washed over me, and I stumbled back, my hand grasping for the edge of the table. “You’re not her,” I breathed, the realization hitting me with the force of a physical blow. “You’re not Malia.”Her smile widened, revealing teeth that seemed just a little too sharp, a little too predatory. “That's right,” she