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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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