Malia I stormed out of Asher’s office, the sting of regret biting harder with every step. My mind raced, a whirlwind of self-reproach. How could I have let that happen? I scolded myself, fists clenched at my sides. He locked me up, didn’t trust me enough to stand by his side, and then had the audacity to give me the cold shoulder for days because he couldn’t handle the fact that he killed his mother to protect me. And yet, I still gave in to him. I felt cheap. Weak. Like I’d betrayed myself. All I wanted was for him to trust me, just once, to treat me like his equal, to open up about what was going on in his head instead of pushing me away whenever things got tough. But no—he kept everything locked up behind those icy walls of his. And I let him walk all over me. Again. The cool air outside the building hit me, a sharp contrast to the suffocating heat of my frustration. I needed space, distance—anything to clear my mind. But as I took another step, I felt a firm grip wrap aroun
Malia The area was quiet now, with only a few pack members passing through, their curious gazes flickering toward us. I had barely taken a few steps when Asher’s hand caught my wrist. Not harshly—this time, his touch was softer, almost pleading. “Malia,” he said, his voice raw, almost hoarse. “Please, don’t walk away.” I turned to face him, my arms crossed tightly over my chest. The fire of frustration still burned in me, but seeing him like this—so open, so vulnerable—made it flicker. For a moment. “What, Asher?” I asked, my tone sharper than I intended. “What could you possibly say that you haven’t already shown me through your actions?” “I need you to understand why I did it,” he said, stepping closer, his grip tightening ever so slightly. “Why I locked you up before the fight.” I scoffed. “Because you don’t trust me. You don’t believe in me, in my strength—” “No,” he interrupted, his voice rising slightly before softening again. “That’s not it. It was never about trus
MaliaJude stood there with his arms crossed, his sharp eyes assessing the situation. He seemed reluctant, almost as though he wanted to speak but wasn’t sure how to start. After a beat of silence, he finally cleared his throat. “I didn’t come here to meddle in your personal life,” he said, his tone dry. “I actually came to let you know I’ll be leaving for a while.” Asher straightened, his brows drawing together. “Leaving? Where are you going?” “There’s an important meeting I need to attend in another state,” Jude replied, adjusting his jacket as though trying to deflect attention from the gravity of his words. “For how long?” Asher asked, his voice dipping with concern. “A few weeks. Maybe more... or I might not come back for months. It depends.” Jude said. Asher’s brow furrowed, his initial surprise giving way to something softer, almost pained. “Months?” he echoed. “I thought… I thought we’d have some time. To finally—” He cut himself off, glancing away as if the vulnera
Malia“What?” Jude asked, turning around, his eyes widening with surprise upon hearing Asher’s request. “Yes, don't go yet. You came to me and helped me defeat my mother. I should honor you before you go,” Asher said, still holding my hand as he moved closer to his father. “Asher…”“I know you have somewhere to be, but can't it wait one more day? I'll throw a party tonight and then tomorrow first thing in the morning you can be on your way.” I glanced at Jude, expecting him to brush it off, but something in his face shifted. He looked at Asher like he was seeing him in a way he hadn’t before. “I don’t need a party,” Jude said gruffly. “It’s not about what you need,” Asher pushed. “It’s about what you deserve.” For a moment, I thought Jude would argue, but then he let out a long, tired sigh. “Fine,” he said, his voice heavy with reluctance. “But don’t expect me to make a speech or anything.” Asher nodded, his lips curving into a small, rare smile. “Deal.” Asher smiled and w
MaliaThe second Asher’s eyes scanned the note, his entire demeanor changed. He stiffened, crumpling the paper slightly in his grip before grabbing his car keys from the table with a sharp, determined motion. “I want everyone in my office in thirty minutes,” he said, his voice clipped, each word laced with urgency. I watched him pull out his phone and send a quick group message to Jamie, Corey, Amara, and Nina. I didn’t miss the fire in his eyes or the tension in his jaw. Whatever the note said had struck a nerve deep enough to ignite this reaction. “Asher,” I started, taking a cautious step toward him, “what’s going on?” He turned to me, his expression unreadable, though there was an edge of impatience in his voice. “What are you waiting for, Malia? Get ready.” I froze. He never called for me the way he did the others. Not like this. Usually, I had to fight for a place in his plans, for him to see me as more than someone to protect. Hearing him include me so decisively left
MaliaWe were just about to leave when the front door creaked open. The faint scent of pine and tobacco drifted in, announcing someone’s arrival before I even saw who it was. I turned my head toward the door, and there he was—Alpha Reid Glenn. “Ah! What a surprise!” Reid’s booming voice filled the hallway. His broad smile was warm, but his timing couldn’t have been worse. Asher, standing at the front, visibly stiffened. “Alpha Reid,” Asher greeted, his tone polite but clipped. It was clear he wasn’t in the mood for small talk. Reid strode in, his arms wide as if we’d all been eagerly waiting for his arrival. “Asher! Finally! Do you know how hard it’s been to get a moment of your time these past few days? You’re like a shadow—here one moment, gone the next. Lucky for me, I caught you this morning!” Asher subtly stepped back, clearly trying to inch toward the door. The rest of us exchanged weary glances. Jamie and Corey, standing off to the side, looked absolutely mortified. “
MaliaThe ride back to the house was suffocating. No one spoke; even Corey, usually quick to fill silence with some ill-timed joke, sat quietly, staring out the window. Asher was behind the wheel, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles had gone white. The lines of his jaw were sharp with tension, and his hazel eyes—eyes that now carried the weight of betrayal—remained fixed on the road ahead. I wanted to say something, to reach for his hand or whisper a word of comfort, but the atmosphere was so fragile, I feared any attempt might shatter it. So I stayed quiet, watching him out of the corner of my eye, feeling my own heart break for the man who had been betrayed by his father, of all people. When we finally pulled up to the house, Asher didn’t wait for anyone. He stepped out of the car and strode toward the front door, his shoulders rigid with unspoken turmoil. The rest of us lingered for a moment, exchanging uncertain glances. Jamie was the first to
MaliaAsher finally emerged from his room that morning, and I swear the entire house seemed to exhale in relief. Seeing him now, walking toward the kitchen freshly showered, his hair damp and face set in that familiar stern expression, it felt like a small victory. I stayed in the hallway, peeking around the corner as he grabbed a plate and served himself a proper meal for the first time in what felt like forever. The scrape of the fork against the plate broke the silence that had hung in the house, and it was strange how something so mundane—eating breakfast—could feel so monumental. Asher didn’t rush. He sat there, eating slowly, deliberately, like a man who had made up his mind about something. His shoulders were straighter, his movements measured. Whatever wall he had hit in those days of isolation, he had finally broken through it. But the man who sat at that table didn’t look like the same Asher I’d known before. I turned away before he could catch me staring. Moments late
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
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