Malia I couldn’t sleep. After the chaos of last night, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, trying to piece together how everything had gone so wrong. My plan was simple: make Avan jealous, get my revenge, and move on. But now… now my life was spiraling out of control, and I couldn’t stop it. The more I thought about what happened last night, the more I asked myself why Asher didn't tell me that he was a Lycan. He could've prevented this by just telling me who he was! I would've understood! Now it's over for me. I basically sealed my fate the moment I kissed Asher. My plan to hurt Avan had backfired spectacularly, and now I was the one who would pay the price. Lycans were practically royalty among our kind, and being entangled with one - especially while being a werewolf - was nothing short of scandalous. I couldn’t face it. I turned over in bed, pulling the covers over my head as if that would somehow block out the nightmare that awaited me soon. Maybe if I stayed here long enou
Malia Luna Brooke’s face flushed a dangerous red, her gaze narrowing in on me and Asher. She looked like she might lunge at me, and rip me apart with her fury alone. Her sharp eyes flicked from me to Asher, brimming with accusation. “Is this some kind of sick joke?” Her voice, usually cool and composed, now sliced through the air like a blade. “You’re telling me that this girl—this werewolf—is carrying your child?” I stood there, frozen, my thoughts a jumbled mess. I wasn’t pregnant. I wasn’t anything with Asher. How could he have said something so absurd, so reckless? “Yes,” he replied smoothly as if stating a simple fact. For a moment, I thought his mother might lunge at him. Luna Brooke’s expression twisted with fury. The other board members exchanged uneasy glances, but none dared to interrupt. Even my parents were stunned into silence, their expressions caught somewhere between disbelief and horror. Luna Brooke’s eyes bore into me with thinly veiled disgust, and I brac
Malia ”Shut up! All of you!” Nina barked, her eyes locking onto mine with disbelief. Her grip on my collar tightened for a moment before she hesitated, glancing at Asher standing like a barrier between us. Finally, she released me. My knees buckled, but Asher caught me before I hit the floor. His touch was steady, more comforting than expected. I didn't want to lean into him, but his firm arm held me up. His scent surrounded me, making it harder to stay angry. He set me upright, his grip lingering as our eyes briefly met, his hazel gaze softening. “Everyone get out!” Asher's voice cut through the room, and within seconds, it cleared, leaving just the three of us. Nina crossed her arms and glared at Asher. "You can’t be serious about her, Asher. A beta like her? You think this is funny, humiliating me like this when we were supposed to have a future together?!” I froze. What future was she talking about? “My parents mean well, but I can’t have you as my Luna. You’re a friend, not
Malia “Fine. Let's do it,” I said, locking eyes with Asher. His expression remained calm, almost cold, despite the urgency of his plan. For someone who supposedly wanted this badly, he didn’t seem particularly invested in the outcome. But deep down, I knew I wasn’t just doing this for him—I was doing it for me. For my chance at revenge. “Great, Malia. So… want me to drive you home?” he asked, sliding his hands into his pockets. I scoffed. “Oh, fantastic idea, Asher. Just drop me off at my parents’ house after getting their daughter ‘pregnant’—I’m sure they’ll love that.” He sighed, undeterred by my sarcasm. “I know how it looks. But think about the bigger picture. What does it say about me if I just let the ‘mother of my child’ walk home alone? And what if someone else tries to hurt you?” He had a point, much as I hated to admit it. “Fine. Just drop me a few blocks away, okay?” I said, avoiding his gaze. “Works for me,” he said with a shrug. We started walking out of the Academ
Asher I trusted the effectiveness of the seed. Jamie even had the ones that could cause fever symptoms and he used it a few times back in school. As the Lycan King’s son, I couldn’t afford to show any weakness, so it was never necessary for me. Convincing Malia to use it was surprisingly easy since I knew it was both effective and harmless. But the entire charade still felt surreal. If anyone had told me that I’d be plotting with a beta, faking pregnancies, and even kissing her so openly in front of everyone, I’d have laughed. But here I was, risking it all in this bizarre partnership with Malia. This was my rebellion. All my life, I’d done everything expected of me. My father, especially, had pushed me to the edge, demanding a strict, calculated path. He was ruthless, and he expected me to be the same, steering clear of people like Jamie and Corey - the Glenn twins. They were my best friends. But to him, they were merely Alpha heirs, not Lycans. The only person they allowed arou
Malia The antidote Asher gave me tasted unexpectedly sweet this time, unlike the bitterness the first one carried. When we kissed, I lingered for a moment—only because of the taste, but I couldn’t ignore the fact that Asher seemed to linger too. It was strange. He had said this was all just an act, but why did that kiss feel like something more? “What are you two doing here? Get to your next class,” a tall man said, his gaze hard and disapproving. “Yes, Mr. Kim,” I replied, glancing at his name tag as he scoffed. “What’s our next class?” Asher asked as we walked off. I shrugged, searching through my bag. “I left my schedule in my locker. I have to go get it.” Without another word, Asher turned and walked off, avoiding eye contact. Soon, I got to my locker and grabbed the schedule, relieved to find it quickly, but when I closed the door, I found myself face-to-face with a pair of cold, piercing blue eyes. “Avan,” I greeted coldly. “What are YOU doing here?” He smirked. “What e
Malia We finally made it to detention. The room was cold and sterile, constructed entirely of metal. A chill seemed to seep through the walls, which were lined with correctional words that seemed to loom over us, a silent jury. Two chairs were the only furniture in the empty, steel-gray room, and the air carried an edge that pressed on my nerves. Asher paced beside me, seething with a barely contained fury. His entire frame was tense, his nostrils flaring like an enraged bull. I knew it was unfair of Mr. Kim to accuse us of the killings, but Asher was taking it to another level. I’d seen him angry before, but not like this. His rage was a tangible thing, crackling in the space between us. I tried to reassure him. “Look, Asher,” I said, my voice soft as I hesitated before placing a hand on his arm. He tensed, his head snapping around to glare at me. His eyes, which had been burning red only moments ago, had faded to their usual hazel hue, though there was still a flicker of anger
Asher The hybrid’s blood-red eyes locked onto Malia, its twisted lips pulling back in a snarl that exposed rows of jagged, yellowed teeth. A vicious growl rumbled from its chest as it crouched, ready to lunge. I barely had time to think - just enough to grab Malia by the arm and yank her out of the way. We stumbled back, her eyes wide with terror, and the creature’s massive claws sliced through the air inches from where her neck had been. “Stay back, Malia!” I shouted, positioning myself between her and the beast. My heart was pounding in my chest, but it wasn’t fear. It was rage. Rage that this monster had targeted her, that it looked at her like prey. That it thought it could just storm in here and tear her apart. The hybrid whipped its head toward me, a sickening grin spreading across its face as if it recognized the challenge. It was massive —easily twice my size—with muscles that rippled beneath a thick coat of matted, pitch-black fur. And those eyes, still locked onto me, were
MaliaHis kiss was fierce, desperate, and overwhelming, his hands gripping my waist as though he couldn’t bear to let go. For a moment, I froze, stunned by the sudden intensity, but then my body betrayed me, and I kissed him back just as passionately.My hands found their way to his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart beneath my fingers. Every ounce of pain and longing I’d carried for the past week seemed to melt away, replaced by a warmth I couldn’t deny.When we finally broke apart, both of us were breathless. He rested his forehead against mine, his voice low and raw. “I couldn’t stay away any longer.”I should’ve pushed him away. I should’ve told him how hurt I’d been by his coldness, but instead, I melted into him. His hands gripped my waist as he pressed me against the wall, his heat overwhelming my senses. Every pent-up emotion—his guilt, my anger, our mutual longing—poured into that kiss. Before I knew it, he was lifting me onto his desk, his mouth never leaving mine.
Malia The days following Brooke's death had been a blur. It had been a week since Asher tore out her heart, ending her reign of terror, and yet the aftermath was far from settled. Her hybrids were gone, their numbers obliterated in the fight, but her influence still lingered like a shadow. News of her death spread quickly, and with it came the fallout. Avan and Savannah, along with the others who had betrayed Asher, were finally captured. They had been dragged back to the manor, their heads low with shame, awaiting whatever judgment Asher deemed fit. But Asher himself was a ghost of the man I had known. He had disappeared into himself, avoiding everyone, especially me. I hadn’t seen or spoken to him since that day on the battlefield. I understood why—killing Brooke, his mother, no matter how twisted she had been, must have left a wound far deeper than any physical scar. Still, the silence weighed on me. Every day that passed without hearing his voice felt like another crack in
Asher The battlefield was chaos incarnate. The snarls of wolves clashing with hybrids, the metallic clang of weapons, and the agonizing cries of the injured filled the air. Blood soaked the ground beneath our feet, mixing with the dirt to form a dark, viscous muck. Brooke’s hybrids came at us like a wave, relentless and deadly, their monstrous forms twisting in the dim light. My men had shifted into their wolf forms, tearing through the enemies with raw ferocity. Beside them, Jude’s hybrids moved with precision, their weapons cutting down foes in efficient, almost clinical strikes. They didn’t shift—not because they couldn’t, but because they refused. They had sworn an oath to never let their wolf forms take over, to never let the monster within consume them again. “Jude!” I roared above the fray, my voice cutting through the chaos. “Take the front line. Protect the wolves—they can’t withstand hybrid bites!” Jude didn’t hesitate. He motioned to his men, who quickly donned t
Asher My heart felt heavy, as though it carried the weight of all the pain and betrayal that had brought us to this moment. Brooke knelt before me, her face defiant yet tinged with something akin to acceptance—or was it manipulation? I couldn't tell anymore. My claws gleamed in the faint light, my hand poised to strike the final blow. Her death would end this nightmare, this endless cycle of suffering she had unleashed. But just as I prepared to swing, a flash of something deep within me held me back. She wasn’t just Brooke, the villain who had tormented my life. She was Brooke, the woman I had once called "Mother." This memory came unbidden, sharp and vivid. I was no older than six, hiding in the corner of my room, trembling after Alpha Ian's voice had thundered through the pack house. “Asher, get out here now!” my father roared, his heavy footsteps echoing closer. I had accidentally spilled ink on one of his precious ledgers, and he was furious. I cowered, tears streakin
AsherThe battlefield was eerily silent now, the only sounds the occasional rustle of the wind and the faint groans of the dying. Brooke stood at the center of it all, the weight of defeat etched across her face.I moved toward her slowly, my boots crunching against the blood-soaked ground. Her eyes darted to the bodies of her fallen hybrids, then back to me. There was a crack in her usual mask of arrogance, a flicker of realization that she was alone. Vulnerable. I circled her like a predator, my steps deliberate, each one bringing me closer. Her breathing quickened, her composure fraying. For a moment, she looked almost human. Almost weak. “You’re starting to understand, aren’t you?” I said, my voice low and cold. “The inevitability of this. The end of everything you’ve built.” Brooke’s jaw tightened, but she said nothing. Her silence spoke volumes. “Jamie, Corey,” I called over my shoulder, my tone sharp. “Chain her up. Lock her in the cage.” Her head snapped toward me, i
Asher Brooke’s laughter faded into an eerie silence. She stood before us, her lips curled into a mocking smile, her presence as menacing as the blood on Malia’s hands. “Well, isn’t this a touching reunion?” Brooke drawled, her gaze flitting between me and Malia. “The prodigal son and his… freak.” Malia stiffened beside me, but I placed a steadying hand on her arm. This was Brooke’s game—rattle us, bait us into making a mistake. “Say what you want, Brooke,” I said coldly. “You’re only wasting your breath.” Her eyes sparkled with malice. “Wasting my breath? Oh, darling boy, I’m just getting started.” She took a step closer, her tone dropping to something almost intimate. “Do you know how much I sacrificed for you, Asher? How much blood I spilled, how many lives I destroyed, just to make you the strongest of us all?” I said nothing, my silence seeming to unnerve her more than any retort. “I gave you everything!” she hissed, her voice rising. “And what did you do? You turned
Malia***Right after she's attacked by the seven people Brooke sent***Everything came back to me in fragments—blurry, disjointed pieces that didn’t make sense. My body ached, and the coppery tang of blood filled the air. Slowly, I blinked my eyes open, the sunlight piercing and harsh against my vision. I was lying on the ground in front of Asher’s house, the stone pathway rough against my skin. My breath hitched as I pushed myself up, my hands trembling beneath me. The first thing I noticed was the blood—thick, crimson streaks covering my arms, my clothes, my skin. Then I saw them. Seven bodies lay scattered around me, their lifeless forms contorted in unnatural ways. Their black clothing, the ones I remembered them wearing as they advanced on me, was soaked in blood. My heart pounded as I staggered to my feet, my legs weak beneath me. “What... what happened?” I whispered, the words catching in my throat. I tried to piece it together, to remember how I got here. The last th
Asher The battlefield was cloaked in an unnatural stillness as the fog thinned, revealing the grim aftermath of the fight. The bodies of Brooke’s fallen hybrids littered the ground, but she and the remnants of her forces were nowhere to be seen. I scanned the area, my pulse pounding in my ears. No Brooke. No sorcerer. No explanation. For a moment, I just stood there, staring at the empty space where she had stood mere moments ago. Then the realization hit me like a punch to the gut. “She’s gone,” I muttered, my voice barely audible over the sound of my own racing heartbeat. “She escaped,” Corey confirmed grimly, his tone as heavy as the weight settling in my chest. I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms, drawing blood. My vision blurred with rage, and my body trembled as I fought the urge to lash out. This wasn’t just another failure—this was THE failure, the one thing I had sworn wouldn’t happen again. “She escapes,” I said through gritted teeth.
AsherI locked the door to Malia’s cell, my chest heaving with every breath I took. The sound of the key turning in the lock felt like a nail being hammered into my soul. She would hate me for this. I knew it. I could almost hear her voice, sharp and cutting, accusing me of betrayal. But Jude’s words had rooted themselves in my mind. *What if she’s the one they use? What if she betrays you, Asher?* I couldn’t shake the image of her eyes clouded, under someone else’s control, feeding my mother everything she needed to destroy me. The thought made my stomach churn. Malia would never willingly betray me—of that, I was certain—but unwilling betrayal was just as dangerous. And then there was the dream. That damned dream. The one where Malia stood over me, a knife in her hand, her face a mask of cold indifference as she drove the blade into my chest. I had woken up gasping, drenched in sweat, her name on my lips. I couldn’t let that dream become a reality. I leaned against the door,