AsherThe air outside Miss Banks’ house smelled damp, with a faint trace of decay as if the rot of secrets lingered in every corner. Her porch light flickered weakly, casting long shadows across the warped wood steps. My stomach churned, not just from the memories clawing their way to the surface, but from the thought of what I might learn inside.I knocked twice, my knuckles grazing the peeling paint of the door. For a moment, there was no sound, and then I heard the shuffle of feet. The door cracked open, and Miss Banks’ face appeared, pale and gaunt, her eyes bloodshot. Her hair hung in limp, disheveled strands, and the scent of alcohol wafted through the gap.When she saw me, her eyes widened in panic. “I didn’t tell anyone!” she blurted out, her words tumbling over each other in desperation. She clutched the edge of the doorframe like it was the only thing keeping her upright. “I swear, I didn’t say anything. Please, I—”“Relax,” I said, raising my hands to show I wasn’t a threat
MaliaA week after I woke up at the school hospital, I was discharged but I had one last appointment with the doctor, Dr. Lukeman. The stark white walls of his office felt suffocating, sterile. I sat stiffly on the exam table, my neck brace chafing slightly against my skin and the bandages around my head itching like hell. I hated every second of this. Not just the discomfort, but the silence hanging between us. He was methodical, too slow, as he moved his scanner over my head one final time, humming to himself like he didn’t have anything better to do. Finally, he turned to face me, his expression unreadable. “You’ll heal fully,” he said, setting the scanner down. “You haven't lost any memory because your head injury isn’t as severe as it looked, and the brace is just a precaution. You’ll be fine soon.” I nodded, waiting for him to finish so I could leave. But then he stepped closer, his voice dropping into something colder. “But, Malia,” he said, fixing me with a sharp gaze, “
MaliaI stood frozen, my heart pounding as Asher’s monstrous form stalked toward us. His golden eyes burned with an unfocused, animalistic rage, their intensity making my throat tighten. His body was hunched, muscles taut, claws digging into the dirt like he was ready to pounce. The sound of his growl rumbled through the clearing, low and dangerous, raising the hair on the back of my neck.Corey and Jamie immediately moved to shield me, their bodies braced in a futile attempt to protect me from something far beyond their power. Jamie’s hand flexed at his side, his jaw tight, while Corey clenched his fists so hard I could hear his knuckles crack.“Get back, Malia,” Jamie warned, his voice low but trembling. But I couldn’t move. My legs felt like lead, my mind screaming at me to run even as my heart refused to obey. This wasn’t just some wild beast—it was Asher.The guttural snarl that escaped his throat reverberated through the air like a storm. Then, with a terrifying burst of speed
MaliaThe clearing went dead silent again after what Jude just revealed.Asher... his son... How? I mean, he did have the same dark hair and hazel eyes as Asher, but that was it; they didn't exactly look alike. If anything, Asher looked oddly very similar to both his mother and Alpha Ian. There was no way this man was his father. “You’re lying,” Corey said, his voice sharp and accusatory. “I wish I were,” Jude said, his tone grim as he sank to the floor and remained there. “But it’s the truth. Brooke took me as her lover after Ian threatened to replace her with a new mate because she couldn't give him a child. When she became pregnant, we did all we could to keep Asher’s hybrid traits hidden so that Ian would not suspect a thing.”“You're being serious right now?” Nina asked in disbelief while Jude nodded.“Still, why has there been no trace of you EVER?” Corey asked this time, facing Jude.Jude’s hazel eyes darkened as he took a steadying breath, the weight of his next words hang
Malia“What?” Jamie’s voice cracked as he stared at Jude like he’d lost his mind. Jude held his hands up, his expression steady but serious. “She’s alive. Brooke’s holding her somewhere, locked up because she discovered something Brooke didn’t want getting out.” “That’s impossible,” Corey said, though his voice lacked its usual edge. “We saw her body. We—” “You saw what Brooke wanted you to see,” Jude interrupted. “Amara escaped being bitten by Aaliyah, but she saw Aaliyah's hybrid fangs. Aaliyah couldn't allow that to happen, so she brutally wounded Amara so she'd be treated and held hostage from there.” Corey still wasn’t convinced. He crossed his arms, his suspicious nature coming out in full force. “How do you know all of this? You seem to have answers for everything. Doesn’t that strike anyone else as... convenient?” Jude sighed. “Even now, you still don't believe me? All I've said makes perfect sense. Besides, when you've learned how to hide your hybrid side, you also
MaliaThe path to Jude’s lair wound deep through the woods, the air growing cooler and stiller with every step. It wasn’t the suffocating kind of silence, though—it was peaceful, the kind of quiet that felt deliberate, as though this place had been carefully hidden from the chaos of the world. When we finally arrived, I was struck by how different it was from what I expected. The lair wasn’t some foreboding underground fortress or a sinister, shadowy encampment. Instead, it was a small, makeshift village tucked into a sun-dappled clearing. The houses were simple, crafted from salvaged wood and stone, with patches of moss creeping up their sides. The men and women moved about, some working on repairing a roof, others tending to small, scraggly vegetable patches. Children ran barefoot across the clearing, their laughter ringing out like bells as they played tag and tumbled in the grass. No one had that cold, calculating look I’d always associated with hybrids. There were no malici
Malia That night, the four of us sat around the fire, its warm glow illuminating our faces against the darkened backdrop of Jude’s village. The soft hum of activity from the hybrids winding down their day surrounded us, blending seamlessly with the crackle of flames. Jamie broke the silence first, his voice laced with something like admiration. “You’ve got to admit,” he said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, “Jude pulled off something incredible here. I mean, look at this place. It’s hidden so well, and the people… they seem happy, safe.” He paused, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I don’t think anyone could harm them here, even if they tried.” Corey, who had been the most vocal in his doubts about Jude, was seated across from Jamie, and he was unusually quiet. He stared into the fire, the flames reflecting in his eyes, his usual smirk nowhere to be found. When he finally spoke, his tone was softer than I’d ever heard it. “I never thought…” He h
Asher The wind tore past me as I ran, each stride fueled by the chaos clawing at my mind. Branches snapped underfoot, and the forest blurred into streaks of green and gray. I didn’t have a destination—just an overwhelming need to escape. My body ached from the transformation, my muscles still trembling with leftover energy, but the pain was nothing compared to the disgust curdling in my stomach. When I finally stumbled to a halt, the world seemed to tilt around me. My lungs burned, and the bitter taste of bile rose in my throat. I was at the edge of a stream, its waters shimmering faintly under the moonlight. Kneeling, I cupped the icy water in my hands and splashed it onto my face, hoping to wash away the memories of what I’d almost done. The water was calm, the surface reflecting a version of me I hardly recognized. My jaw was sharper, my cheekbones more pronounced. But it wasn’t just the physical changes that bothered me—it was my eyes. They glowed faintly, an eerie gold that
MaliaRonin’s voice was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade.“What the hell is this?”I didn’t answer right away.Because I didn’t know what to say.There were five unconscious men laying around me. There was blood on my hands. And Ronin and Corey were staring at me like I had just walked out of a massacre.There was no way I could explain this away.I tried to think of something—anything—but my mind was blank.A long, agonizing silence stretched between us.Then—I felt a spark. Not in my mind. Not in my chest. But on my tooth.I felt it—a tiny shock against the gem Jude had put there.And suddenly, the words came out.I lied.“I—I saw someone coming down here,” I said, my voice steady in a way that startled even me. “I was curious. I wanted to see what they were doing.”Ronin's eyes narrowed. “And that led to five guards unconscious at your feet?”I nodded. “I went down, but before I could even figure out what was happening, the guards stopped me. They accused me of lett
MaliaI didn’t wait for Nina to say anything else.She had already played enough games, and I wasn’t in the mood for another round of her mind tricks.I turned on my heel and walked away, fuming.Behind me, Nina hesitated for half a second before I heard her footsteps fade.She was smart enough to know that I didn't want to be followed.But just as I stepped into the dimly lit corridor leading out of the basement, I heard a sharp, authoritative voice.“Hey! Stop right there!”I cursed under my breath and spun around.Five men stood between me and freedom, their bodies tense, their hands already moving toward their weapons.Guards.Shit!One of them stepped forward, narrowing his eyes at me.“What are you doing down here?”I forced my expression into one of confusion, schooling my features into something innocent.“I—uh—I got lost?”His eyes darkened. “Lost?”“Yes,” I said quickly, nodding. “I was looking for the storeroom, and I must have taken a wrong turn. I didn’t mean to—”“Bullsh
MaliaI froze.Asher was awake. And he was looking right at me.His dull, golden eyes locked onto mine, flickering with something raw—hope, desperation, disbelief. For a moment, he simply stared, his chest rising and falling with uneven breaths. Then, as if afraid I would disappear if he didn’t move fast enough, he crawled toward me.His frail hands dragged against the cold, filthy floor, scraping against the stone. His once-mighty frame, now nothing but skin and bones, trembled with the effort. He barely spared a glance at the rotting food beside him as he reached for me.His fingers, dirty and trembling, brushed against my hand.I flinched.It was instinctual, but it was enough.Asher stilled, his expression crumbling. His hands dropped to his sides, and his shoulders sagged like the weight of the world had just crashed down on him.“I know,” he whispered, his voice raspy and broken. “I know I’m a monster.”I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple
MaliaI had been so lost in thought that I didn't realise that Nina was still talking to me. I listened to her last words and figured out something to say in response, so I exhaled, trying to steady myself before speaking. "Nina… I heard that the woman who accused Corey of assault wasn’t even real. She was a witch. She used Malia's image to frame him."Nina's breath hitched, and her expression hardened. She nodded slowly. "I know." Her voice was quiet but firm.I hesitated. "I also heard that while that was happening, the real Malia was captured."She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Yeah, I know that too."The silence stretched between us for a moment, filled only by Asher’s slow, shallow breathing from the other side of the bars.Then, Nina exhaled sharply, pressing her fingers against her temples. "Asher was wrong to have killed Corey," she admitted, shaking her head. "So wrong. I mean, I get it—he thought Malia was attacked, and he reacted. But…" She looked away, as if st
MaliaI shook my head. "I don’t think it’s safe."Nina’s brow furrowed, a delicate crease forming between her eyes. "You don’t think what’s safe?" Her voice held a hint of impatience, a flicker of the urgency that had driven us here."Me going in there," I clarified, the words rasping out. I crossed my arms, a defensive posture that mirrored the turmoil churning within me. "I’m not exactly great at sneaking in and out of places, and if I get caught, it could ruin everything. You should go alone." My gaze flickered towards the heavy, iron-bound door at the end of the corridor, a dark maw leading into the depths of the school's underbelly.For a moment, Nina looked like she wanted to argue, her lips tightening into a thin line. I could see the protest forming on her tongue, the logical counterpoints she was about to unleash. But then, she sighed, a long, drawn-out exhale that spoke of reluctant acceptance. She nodded, the motion sharp and decisive. "Fine. I’ll do it myself."That shoul
MaliaAs I stepped out of Ronin’s office, the air outside felt lighter, but my mind was anything but. My thoughts churned, replaying the conversation over and over.Why hadn’t I corrected Jude when he got my age wrong? It should’ve been an easy fix, something I could have said in the moment without any real consequence. And yet, I hadn’t. I guess I was just so overwhelmed and charged up after that kiss with Ronin that I also momentarily forgot that Lia isn't really seventeen. But in my case it's understandable that I would forget, after all, I'm not the mastermind behind the plan. What was Jude's excuse?But then, I came to the realization that Jude wasn’t the type to make mistakes. Not with something as important as that.He sat me down and drilled every possible detail about Lia into my head, making sure I was ready to live as her without suspicion. But despite all of that, he had conveniently made an error about my age?I scoffed under my breath.No. That wasn’t a mistake.Jude mu
MaliaI leaned back in my chair, watching Ronin through narrowed eyes. His hands were still pressed together on the desk, fingers interlocked, but I could see the tension in them—the slight twitch of his thumb, the way his knuckles had turned just a shade paler.He was angry.Fine. So was I.“Why are you acting so reckless?” he asked suddenly, his voice low but sharp.I raised an eyebrow. “Reckless?”“Yes.” He leaned forward slightly, his silver eyes locking onto mine. “I thought you were a gentle girl. That was what I liked most about you.”For a second, I just stared at him. Liked? Past tense?A small, bitter laugh escaped me. “I am gentle, Ronin.” I tilted my head. “But if that was all there was to me, I’d be a boring, one-dimensional person.” I let my lips curl into a smirk. “Which I’m not.”Ronin’s jaw tightened. He exhaled through his nose, as if trying to calm himself, but his fingers flexed against the desk like he was fighting the urge to snap it in half.“The real issue,” I
MaliaI took a deep breath, forcing myself to shake off the unease from my conversation with the so-called spy. There were more important things to focus on—like pretending to be Lia and surviving another school day without slipping up.Pushing the classroom door open, I barely took two steps inside before freezing.Ronin was standing at the front of the room.The entire class turned to look at me, eyes filled with barely concealed amusement. A few students snickered, others whispered behind their hands, and instantly, I knew something was wrong.Swallowing my irritation, I forced my expression into indifference. “Good morning, Alpha Ronin,” I said stiffly, before turning to the teacher. “Good morning, Miss Harper.”Miss Harper gave me a tight-lipped nod, her discomfort clear. But Ronin? He didn’t even glance my way. He stood there, focused on the rest of the class, like I didn’t exist.I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing myself to keep walking. My footsteps felt too loud as I went
MaliaThe boy leaned back against the desk, a smirk playing on his lips. “Alright, let’s see how well you really know Asher and his friends.”I could hear it in his thoughts—he expected me to stumble. He thought I was bluffing, that I was another opportunist trying to use Asher’s downfall for my own gain.I smiled, crossing my arms. “I won’t just answer questions about Asher—I’ll answer anything you want about his friends, too. Amara, Nina, Corey, Jamie… take your pick.”His smirk widened. He thought he had me right where he wanted me. “Alright then,” he said, eyes gleaming. “What’s the relationship status of each of Asher’s friends?”I knew exactly what he was trying to do—trip me up with details only a true insider would know. But if he thought I’d hesitate, he was dead wrong.“Nina,” I started, “was Asher’s childhood friend. They grew up together, always close, though not in a romantic way.” I tilted my head. “She cared for him deeply, but Asher never saw her that way. Eventually,