Asher Two weeks had passed since the four students who had been bitten died. The school had shut down in mourning, and a somber funeral was held for the lost students. It was a dark time. Grief and fear hung thick in the air as parents were worried for their children’s safety at the academy. This evening, an emergency meeting at the school was called to address these growing concerns. Every seat was occupied, with representatives from each pack present. All eyes were fixed on Beta Banes, who had been sent to speak on behalf of my father. A handful of us Lycans had been invited, so I sat among them, watching as Banes took the stage with his usual stern demeanor, which somehow sharpened to an even more intense edge. “First and foremost,” Banes began, his voice cutting through the silence, “our priority is the safety of everyone within these walls. The recent hybrid attack demands that we tighten security, enforce stricter rules, and take every possible measure to prevent further b
Malia After the hybrid attack, my parents were unexpectedly invited to an emergency meeting at school. I suspected it was because I was the only student the hybrid targeted - and failed to kill. Fear still crawled over my skin within the school walls, so I decided to skip the meeting. Instead, I tried to piece together who the hybrid could be and why they’d chosen me. I didn’t have stellar detective skills, but the urge to uncover the truth gnawed at me. Maybe if I walked the empty hallways, something would stand out - some clue everyone else had missed. After a while, exhaustion weighed me down, and I slumped against a locker in defeat. I had no way of knowing who’d attacked me or why, but as I sat there alone, Avan’s voice broke the silence. He was walking toward me, his steps light but his gaze intense. “Hey,” he greeted, leaning beside me. I said nothing, too wrapped up in my own thoughts. “Look, I heard what happened. I’m glad you survived.” “I only survived beca
Malia I watched Asher as he sat on my bed, his gaze drifting over my room with a quiet curiosity. His eyes lingered on the pale blue walls, softened by the amber glow of the bedside lamp, and he gave a slight nod. “I like the color,” he murmured. “Thanks,” I replied, sitting down beside him, aware of the closeness that made the air between us feel charged. For a moment, I was lost, studying him in the warm light. He looked tired with faint bruises tracing shadows on his skin. But it didn’t make him any less striking. If anything, the exhaustion gave him a realness I rarely saw, as if all the guarded layers he kept around him had finally slipped away. When his eyes found mine, he tilted his mouth in a small, lopsided smile. “Nice view, huh?” he teased, his voice soft but teasing. “Jerk.” I looked away, feeling a blush rise to my cheeks. Clearing my throat, I steadied my breathing. “I, um… I heard about your father’s attack. Is he… okay?” The teasing glint in Asher’s eyes fad
Asher I sprinted toward the house, my heart pounding heavily. The air felt thick as I burst through the door and into my father’s office, where I found my mother crouched behind him, sobbing as she held him close. Every vein seemed to stand out against her skin, grief pouring through her as she clung to him. I couldn’t believe it. The scene before me was impossible to process. How could this have happened? He was supposed to be highly protected. My mind raced with a jumble of unanswered questions. Why weren’t there enough guards with him? How could anyone even get close enough to bite him? Even now, I noticed that the house felt empty. It was barely staffed with the Lycans meant to protect my mother. The thought struck me cold—what if another hybrid attacked her? I knelt beside my mother, staring at my father’s face. His eyes were open, but he was completely still, his skin cold. My chest felt tight, but no tears came. I’d been raised never to show weakness, and crying was the
Malia The past two weeks drifted by in a haze. It felt surreal, as though I were floating in someone else’s life. Asher had been away, hunting the hybrid that had taken his father’s life, throwing himself into the pursuit with relentless ferocity. I knew this because I had been talking with Amara a lot. In a short period, we became pretty close, so I told her the truth about Asher and me. She was surprisingly very mature about it and gave me a lot of helpful advice. Amara also told me bits and pieces of Asher’s absence—how he barely slept, barely ate, how his entire focus had been on the hunt. She knew this because her mother was close to one of Brooke's personal aids. Thankfully, just a few days ago, I heard that Asher and his men finally killed the hybrid, putting an end to the terror that had lingered over us all. In a way, life had returned to normal, but nothing really felt the same. Asher was different. I hadn’t seen him yet, but from what Amara told me, it was as thoug
Malia I stirred my spoon absently, letting the broth swirl in slow circles as I sat across from Amara in the cafeteria. The noise around us felt muffled, like I was hearing it through water.No matter how hard I tried, Asher’s cold words kept playing over in my mind, relentless and sharp. He hadn’t just dismissed me—he’d looked at me as if I were a stranger, like the months we’d spent together hadn’t meant anything. The ache in my chest tightened, and I realized I’d stopped eating entirely. I forced myself to look up, only to see Amara watching me, concern softening her gaze. Her usual mysterious vibes always came off whenever she was around me. “Hey, cheer up. At least Banes backed off,” she said, her voice low and comforting. She kept her tone casual, but her eyes betrayed a deeper concern. “I could tell he was going to give you a hard time, but it's a good thing I got him to ease up.” A small smile tugged at my lips despite everything. “Thank you. Honestly, I don’t know what I
Malia I sat in her office, too stunned to speak, my mind swirling with confusion and dread. Part of me was numb and detached, while another part was filled with the relentless pounding of my heartbeat. Maybe it would be easier if she did expel me. At least that would mean freedom from this constant, never-ending drama. “Are you deaf?” she barked, snapping me out of my thoughts. The cold edge to her voice made me tremble. “Um… I shouldn’t be expelled because the public eye is on Asher now more than ever,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. I’d practiced this line in my head, but it didn’t come out as confidently as I’d hoped. The Luna’s eyes narrowed, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. “So? What makes you think the public will care about what happens to you?” She was baiting me, but I took a breath and kept going. “Well… because if I’m expelled, people will think Asher is being protected while I’m being punished. Besides, I just lost a baby.” I fiddled with my fingers, try
Malia I turned my head, unwilling to watch as Asher wrapped his arm around Aaliyah, leaning in to whisper something that made her laugh. My heart twisted painfully, threatening to collapse in the hallway. The warm feeling I had just moments ago shattered into fragments, leaving behind a chilling void. I walked away from Asher and Aaliyah, the chatter of students around me blurring into a dull hum. Betrayal simmered in my chest, mixing with anger and a raw emptiness that refused to fade.Aaliyah. Until now, I hadn’t even known her name, and yet, here she was, taking everything I’d thought I had with Asher and crushing it in front of me. It didn’t feel real—how quickly everything had shifted. “Did you see that? Malia got dumped,” a voice interrupted my thoughts, pulling me back to reality. It was Avan, leaning against a vending machine, an insufferable smirk plastered across his face. Savannah stood beside him, her expression equally smug. “And the girl looks absolutely stunning. Gue
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
AsherThe room felt like it was shrinking. The walls pressed in, the air thick and suffocating. I gripped the edge of my desk, fingers digging into the wood as I struggled to steady my breathing. My vision blurred at the edges, the faint flicker of candlelight casting long, trembling shadows across the walls. My heart was racing—pounding against my ribs with a force so violent that it hurt. I couldn’t stop the tremors in my hands. The weight in my chest was unbearable, and for the first time in a long time, I felt something I had convinced myself I was immune to. Panic. Not the kind I felt in battle—not the sharp, fleeting rush of adrenaline that kept me moving, kept me fighting. No, this was different. It was cold and heavy, sinking into my bones and coiling around my throat like a vice. Because for two weeks, I had believed—no, I had known—that I was right. I had done what needed to be done. Corey had to die. His death wasn’t just necessary; it was justice.He had hu
MaliaEverything was slipping away.Black spots flickered in my vision, and my limbs felt heavy, useless. Jamie's grip was unrelenting, his hand a vice around my throat, cutting off my air, my thoughts—everything.I thrashed, kicking weakly, but it didn’t matter. He wasn’t letting go. Everything around me was a confusing blur. I saw flames and angry faces, but nothing made sense. I clawed at his hand, my nails scraping against his skin, but his hold remained unshakeable. Panic clawed at my throat, a cold fist squeezing the last vestiges of air from my lungs. I thought this was it.Just as darkness threatened to swallow me whole, his grip loosened, and I collapsed like a ragdoll. My knees hit the hard ground, pain shooting up my legs, but I barely felt it. I sucked in a desperate, ragged breath, my throat burning, my lungs aching. Air flooded into my lungs, feeling painful and intense. I coughed violently, gasping, my hands shaking as I reached for my bruised neck. Jamie had let
Malia*Present day*The air was thick with smoke and the raw scent of sweat and fury. I stood off to the side, partially hidden by the jagged remains of a collapsed wall, watching as Jamie faced down the Lycan guards. His hair, once a shade lighter, had darkened in the past two weeks, as if grief had stripped the warmth from him. But it was his eyes that unsettled me the most. Behind the familiar glasses, his irises glowed an unnatural green—a sign of a vengeful Alpha. A warning to all who dared to stand in his way. "Give me my brother’s body." His voice rang through the tense silence like a blade being unsheathed. The crowd of wolves behind him—Storm Pack, rogue allies, and furious onlookers—rumbled in agreement, their anger a living, breathing thing. The Lycan guards, their silver-plated armor catching the flickering firelight, held their ground. Shields locked, weapons drawn, their stances unyielding. "You are not permitted entry into Lycone," one of the guards stated, hi
Jamie The woods were quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. I sat on a fallen log near the lake, staring at the water’s calm surface. It was an eerie contrast to the chaos inside me. The world around me was serene, but my thoughts were a raging storm I couldn't silence. Two days. Two days since I received that damned video from Amara. Two days since the truth shattered everything I thought I knew. Corey was gone—killed by Asher’s hand. And now I knew it was for nothing. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms until pain cut through the numbness. The image of Malia's face as she told her story played on a loop in my mind, but now it was warped by Amara’s proof. Proof that Malia had lied. Corey hadn’t forced himself on her. He hadn’t done any of the things she claimed. And Asher? He hadn’t even bothered to investigate. A sharp, bitter laugh escaped me, sounding foreign in the stillness of the woods. Asher, the mighty Lycan King, the lea