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
MaliaThat 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 glasses, 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 hesi
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
Asher I couldn't believe it. Aaliyah bit Malia even before I started to fight her—how she managed that speed is beyond me. How I missed it was beyond me. It was then I realized what Aaliyah’s special trait was. She was super fast. It's the same way with how she nearly bit Amara, and no one noticed. Only this time, with Malia, she didn't miss. Malia was unresponsive. All attempts to get her to respond—to give me some kind of hope that she was alive were futile. Aaliyah—that monster, she took Malia from me. All that I felt afterwards was a torrent of rage. “You—” The words caught in my throat, swallowed by the tidal wave of rage that crashed over me. My vision blurred, everything around me fading into a haze of red. The hybrid instincts I’d fought so hard to suppress surged to the surface, and I felt my body shift. Claws extended. Fangs bared. My breathing grew ragged, each exhale a guttural growl. Aaliyah, my mother—no, Brooke, and all her allies, they’d taken everythin
Asher I never imagined that a day would come when I could feel this complete again. With Malia in my arms, her warmth grounding me, I felt like I had been living in a fog for too long—a fog that only lifted when she was near. The kiss I pressed to her lips was born from desperation, from relief, from the overwhelming need to make up for every second we’d lost. The world around us disappeared as I poured everything I felt for her into that moment. I broke the kiss, my forehead resting against hers as I whispered, “I swear to you, Malia, I will never leave your side again. No matter what happens, I won’t walk away.” She nodded, her fingers threading through my hair as she held me close. “I know, Asher. I know.” The sound of footsteps broke the stillness, and we both turned to see Jude and the others entering the room. Their presence reminded me of what we were about to do—what we had to do. “We’ve got work to do,” Jude said, his voice calm but serious. I gave a quick
Malia The moment I woke, a sharp gasp escaped my lips, as though my lungs were desperate to remind me they still worked. My vision blurred momentarily, but the first thing I saw when it cleared was Asher’s face, his expression torn between relief and disbelief. His arms were around me before I could make sense of anything, holding me so tightly I could feel the tremor in his body. “You’re here,” he whispered hoarsely, his voice thick with emotion. “You’re here, and that’s all that matters.” I blinked, dazed. My neck throbbed with a dull ache, and fragments of what had happened flashed in my mind—the pinch on my neck, the searing pain, the blood… the overwhelming feeling that I was slipping away. “I thought I—” I began, but Asher cut me off. “No,” he said firmly, pulling back just enough to look me in the eye. His gaze was intense, desperate, as though he needed to make me believe the truth. “You’re here, Malia. That’s all that matters now.” I nodded, though my mind still felt
AsherThe lake was even more beautiful than I remembered, a still mirror reflecting the soft glow of the moon. It was almost full, casting a silver path across the water that felt otherworldly. Everything about this place felt calm, untouched by the chaos waiting for us tomorrow. But it wasn’t the lake that held my attention. It was Malia, standing at the water’s edge, her silhouette bathed in moonlight. Her hair shimmered as the breeze teased it, her dress clinging to her in all the right ways. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. She turned at the sound of my footsteps, her lips curving into a small smile that felt like a balm to every wound I’d ever carried. “You came,” she said softly, her voice almost swallowed by the night. “Of course,” I replied, walking closer. “You said you wanted to talk.” She nodded but didn’t say anything right away. Her gaze drifted back to the water, and I couldn’t help but follow it. The stillness of the lake matched the tension in the air
AsherThe water in the bowl shimmered ominously, reflecting the crowd's expectant faces. I stared down at it, my resolve unshaken but my heart was pounding like a war drum. Wolfsbane water. Its potency alone could bring even the strongest wolf to their knees. Now, I was about to test not just my strength but the worthiness of my very existence as their king. I took a breath, steadying myself as Alpha Trent stood across from me, watching with a smug sense of satisfaction. “Are you ready, Asher?” Jude’s voice was low but steady at my side. “I’ve been ready my whole life,” I replied, keeping my gaze locked on the bowl. Without another word, I plunged my hand into the shimmering liquid. The pain hit instantly, like fire coursing through my veins, eating away at my skin and sinking into my bones. My breath caught, and for a moment, my vision blurred from the sheer intensity. But I gritted my teeth, locking my jaw as I focused on the faces in the crowd. Their judgment. Their doubt
AsherThe crowd buzzed with murmurs, their eyes locked on me as I stood in the center of their circle. Avan’s challenge had been thrown, and I had accepted. There wasn’t any hesitation in my mind—if they wanted proof, I’d give it to them. But just as I was about to speak, a voice cut through the tension like a blade. “No.”The crowd shifted, parting to reveal the source of the voice. My heart clenched when I saw him: Jude.“You won’t do it, Asher,” he said, his voice calm but unyielding as he stepped into the circle. “Jude,” I began, but he silenced me with a raised hand. “I’ll take your place,” he said, his gaze never wavering. The crowd murmured louder, confusion and skepticism rippling through them. “And who are you to make that decision?” Avan asked, his tone sharp and filled with suspicion. Jude’s expression didn’t falter. “I am Asher’s father,” he said simply, the words ringing out clearly. The crowd froze. A man scoffed loudly. “His father? You mean to say you’
AsherLycone was burning with chaos. Not from fire or claws, but from people—my people—torn apart by something far more dangerous than battle: hatred.From the moment we crossed into the city, the noise was deafening. Shouts echoed through the streets, a mix of angry roars and impassioned pleas. I could smell the tension, thick and bitter like smoke. Lycans and wolves were fighting—not with fists or fangs just yet, but with words.“It’s worse than I thought,” I muttered under my breath as we paused at the city square.Nina and Amara stood beside me, their eyes sharp as they surveyed the streets.“What do you want us to do?” Nina asked, her voice low but steady.I turned to Jamie and Corey, who were both hovering protectively near Malia. I didn’t need to say it—Jamie was already rolling his eyes.“I know, I know,” he said, throwing up his hands. “Take Malia inside, watch over her like she’s the freaking crown jewels.”“Exactly,” I replied, my tone firm. “Don’t leave her alone for even
Asher“Are you okay?” I asked, gripping Malia's shoulders. She nodded, but her eyes were wide with fear. “Asher… this isn’t going to stop, is it?” I didn’t have an answer for her for her at first, but later I took a deep breath and said, “Malia…I need you to know something.”Her lips parted slightly, but she didn’t speak, waiting for me to continue. “I will always protect you,” I said, my voice steady, a promise etched into every word. “No matter what happens, no matter what she tries, I won’t let any harm come to you.”Her eyes shimmered, but she blinked back the tears, nodding quickly. “I know,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “But what if—”I cut her off, pulling her into my arms. “There are no 'what ifs,' Malia. Not for us. Brooke won’t win. Not while I’m breathing.”She sank into my embrace, her arms wrapping tightly around my waist. For a moment, the world felt still, the chaos muted by the strength of the promise I’d made. Later, I sought out Jude. He was standing n
Asher Two days had passed since Brooke's first attempt at taking Malia's life. The camp was shrouded in an unsettling silence, the air heavy with foreboding, and even the wind seemed reluctant to stir. I stood before the growing crowd, my arms crossed as I scanned the faces before me—wolves, Lycans, and hybrids alike. Allies on paper, maybe, but united in spirit? Not even close. My voice cut through the low murmurs. “People of Lycone, Range pack, Sky Pack and Storm pack, I'm glad that you all are present at this meeting I'm making.” I started. ”You all hated me because you found out the kind of person I was—and my identity. I am grateful that the moon goddess, showed her kindness to me and showed you my innocence.” My statement was met with murmuring but I continued. “Even though Brooke is my mother, we are not the same people. I do not seek to make hybrids the rulers of all.” “But you are a hybrid and you rule us!” someone yelled from the crowd. “And you have set up a meetin
AsherAfter the meeting, the man who attacked Malia was tied to a chair in the middle of the room, his head hanging low, a bruise blooming on his temple from where Amara had struck him. I stood before him, my arms crossed, every muscle in my body wound tight. Malia’s attack replayed in my mind, each frame filling me with a rage I could barely contain. He looked up slowly, his lips curling into a smirk. “Your mate’s alive, isn’t she? Then what are you so angry about, Lycan King?” “Start talking,” I growled, stepping closer. “Who sent you?” “You already know the answer,” he said, his voice low and mocking. I clenched my fists. “I want to hear you say it.” His smirk widened. “Your mother.” The words hit me like a blow. I’d known it, but hearing it confirmed sent a chill down my spine. Brooke wasn’t wasting time. “What does she want?” I demanded. He chuckled, a hollow, humorless sound. “You think she hasn’t planned for this? For you turning against her? She expected your b
MaliaI woke early, the first rays of dawn peeking through the curtains. The air was still, heavy with the remnants of last night's celebration. Asher’s steady breathing filled the room, grounding me for a moment before my restless thoughts took over. It was strange, I had never felt anything like this before, but I got a gut feeling that Brooke was up to something. I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake him, and dressed quietly. If she was going to come after me to hurt Asher, I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. I needed to be ready for whatever was coming. “Where are you going?” he asked, still sounding half asleep. “I want to join Nina and Amara for Training. It's okay. I'll be safe with them, just go back to bed,” I whispered and he closed his eyes. By the time I reached the training grounds, Nina and Amara were already there, sparring in the crisp morning air. Nina’s movements were sharp, calculated, while Amara’s were more fluid, almost like she was dancing. I wat
Asher My fingers brushed through my hair as I rounded a corner. There was silence, but the silence was broken by a faint rustling sound. I froze, my senses sharpening. “Malia?” I called, my voice low. No response. “No... don't tell me that Brooke has gotten to her already,” I thought to myself as I quickened my pace, following the sound until I reached a dimly lit hallway. A piece of paper lay on the floor, its edges curling slightly. My stomach churned as I picked it up. You can’t protect her forever. I’ll take her from you, Asher. Just like I’ve taken everything else.” This was the exact thing I heard in my head! How is this possible? Could it be that she's using magic again? I turned to the note. It was unsigned, but I didn’t need a signature to know who it was from. It was my mother, Brooke. I crushed the paper in my hand, my pulse pounding in my ears. I tried all ways possible to rest that night but I couldn't. something just kept telling me to be on hig