MaliaNina’s words lingered, heavy and insistent, but Jamie wasn’t one to be pushed into rash decisions. His expression hardened as he raised a hand to stop her mid-argument. “Before we do anything,” he said firmly, “we need to discuss this properly. Let’s find a quiet place first. I’m not making any moves until we know what we’re dealing with.” Nina threw her hands up in frustration. “You can’t be serious! Every second we waste gives Aaliyah more time to tighten her grip on Asher. How is this even a question?” Jamie didn’t flinch. “Then let’s make it official,” he replied. “We vote. Either we go to Asher’s mom now or we sit down and talk first. Majority wins.” Nina glared at him but didn’t argue. When the votes were counted, to her clear annoyance, everyone except her agreed on talking first. She let out a dramatic sigh and muttered something about “idiots” under her breath, but she followed us anyway as we left to find a quiet spot. The theater hall we chose was dimly l
Malia My heart raced as Asher's claws glinted dangerously close to my face, the sharp tips mere inches from my skin. His low growl reverberated through the room, vibrating in my chest and sending chills down my spine. Every instinct screamed at me to retreat, to abandon the reckless idea of tearing off the necklace, but I couldn't. I wouldn't. This was Asher. The man I loved. And I wasn't going to lose him to Aaliyah's twisted games. His glowing eyes locked on mine, a fierce, predatorial rage burning in their depths. He was fighting me—no, he was fighting the spell. I could feel it, the way his claws trembled mid-air, the way his breathing hitched, like he was battling an invisible force to stop himself. "You won't hurt me, Asher," I said, my voice steady despite the tears stinging my eyes. "I know you won't." For a fleeting second, doubt flickered across his face. That was all I needed. My hand shot up, grabbing the enchanted necklace. The cold metal burned against my
AsherI couldn’t believe it—my own mother, siding with the girl who had me spelled and rendered me a pawn in her twisted game. How could she take Aaliyah’s word over mine? She even ordered the arrest of my friends. People she knew meant everything to me - all for what? Because she valued Aaliyah more than anyone else?I watched as the guards advanced towards them, but before anyone dared touch Malia, I caught the guard’s wrist in an iron grip, looking him up and down before I said, “Who is your Alpha? Me or her?” “Y-you, Alpha Asher,” he stuttered, trembling under my glare. “Then how dare you try to carry out an order I didn’t approve of?” “I’m sorry, please forgive me. We just thought—” “—You are not wrong,” my mother interjected sharply, rising from her seat. Her usually perfectly styled dark hair was in a messy bun—a state I had never seen her in before. The sight sent a chill through me. She was unraveling, and it dawned on me that Aaliyah might have my mother under a s
AsherWe all stood frozen in the narrow passage, the silence around us was suffocating, every sound amplified in the dark passage. I felt Malia trembling next to me, her fear practically bleeding into the air. But beyond her, I could sense something else—someone was about to screw up.“Corey, don’t,” I said, linking minds with him, my tone sharp enough to cut through the silence. “You turn on that flashlight, and you’ll alert my mother.” There was a scoff, followed by the faint rustling of Corey shoving his phone back into his pocket. Good. At least he had the sense to listen for once. This passage wasn’t unfamiliar to me. I’d used it more times than I cared to admit, slipping away to escape my father’s wrath. The first time I stumbled in here, I spent days lost, thinking I’d die in this suffocating darkness. But those endless hours taught me something valuable: the way out wasn’t about sight. It was about listening. Every creak, every whisper of air, every subtle shift could guid
CoreyYou know that moment when the rug gets yanked out from under you and you’re left face-planting into reality? Yeah, that's what it felt like standing in the middle of the forest knowing that chaos was probably already unleashed on our school. “Asher, they need help,” Amara said, her voice sharp but not quite yelling. She was trying to keep it together, but the cracks were showing. Asher’s eyes blazed, that Alpha energy radiating off him like heat from a furnace. “You think I don’t know that?” His voice snapped like a whip. Then, his gaze turned on Avan and Savannah, pinning them in place. “You two. Take Malia to Miss Banks for treatment at the safe hub. If the hybrids are attacking, then most of the students must've gathered there. Don’t screw this up, or so help me—” He let the threat hang in the air, but we all got the message loud and clear. Avan’s smirk was still plastered on his face, but I caught the flicker of fear in his eyes. “And if we don’t?” he asked, just to be
MaliaIt had been a week since Asher turned his back on everything we’d fought for, aligning himself with his mother and announcing his intention to marry Aaliyah. I couldn’t believe it at first—refused to, really. Even though I’d spent days recovering from my injuries at the school hub, the news of his decision hurt far worse than the excruciating pain of being shot with an arrow. Amara’s family had invited me to stay with them for the holidays, which turned out to be a blessing. I couldn’t face the halls of the academy, the whispers and judgment. The combat showdown, which I’d prepared for relentlessly, had been postponed indefinitely and eventually canceled in favor of a holiday break. So here I was, lounging by Amara’s pool, trying to piece together the wreckage of my thoughts. Amara, of course, had her theories. She always did. “It’s duty over love,” she said, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Asher’s chosen his mother over everything else. You know what that means, right
Malia. My encounter with Asher at the Russo twins’ party the week before was still on my mind. The look in his eyes—pale, disoriented, and detached—played over and over in my head. Something was wrong with him, but no one seemed to care. Not Amara, not Jamie, not Corey. They all insisted I let it go. Initially, I couldn't imagine not doing anything, but now… it's just so obvious that there's very little I can do. He isn't under a spell anymore, so this time it's all in Asher's hand. Only he can put an end to this. Soon, it was Monday, and the holiday reprieve was over. Back to the academy, back to the whispers, and back to pretending everything wasn’t falling apart. The academy halls were alive with murmurs, their sharp edges cutting through the quiet resolve I tried to build up on the walk-in. Everyone had something to say about Asher. About me. The whispers followed me like a shadow. “She’s still here? Brave, I’ll give her that.” “I heard she tried to talk to him at the
MaliaSeveral weeks had passed since I've been planning my revenge against Aaliyah, but during those weeks, Aaliyah was adding to my rage for her, bullying me every chance she got. Every tick of the clock felt like a taunt as I meticulously mapped out my plan for getting back at Aaliyah. She thought she could humiliate me at school, smear my name, and walk around like she owned the place. Not anymore. One Monday morning, my plan was ready—brilliant, elaborate, and perfect. I’d spent hours piecing it together, making sure no detail was left unchecked. Aaliyah wouldn’t see it coming, and when it was done, everyone would know she wasn’t as untouchable as she pretended to be. I stood in the hallway, casually leaning against my locker, pretending to scroll through my phone. The first part of my plan required timing, precision, and a little bit of misdirection. I was ready, my heart racing in anticipation. But then I heard his voice. “Don’t even think about it.” I glanced up to s
MaliaI closed the window as silently as possible, careful not to make a sound. My hands were still trembling from my encounter with Ronin, my pulse thrumming in my ears. I had to get back inside before Jude noticed I was gone.With slow, deliberate movements, I turned toward the bed, hoping to slide under the covers and pretend none of this had happened.But the moment I took a step forward, I froze.Jude was already inside my room.Sitting in the chair by the window, his arms were crossed, and his gaze was sharp and unforgiving.I inhaled sharply, my stomach twisting into knots. How long had he been sitting there?"Did you have a good chat?" His voice was calm, almost too calm.I stayed rooted to the spot, trying to school my expression."What are you talking about?" I asked, forcing my tone to be casual.Jude let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. A slow, disappointed shake."Malia," he sighed, rubbing his temple as if I had given him a headache. "You think I wouldn’t notice? Y
Malia’s PerspectiveThe moment I stepped into Lycone, I knew I had made a mistake.The air smelled different. Heavier. Almost suffocating.It wasn’t the bustling streets, the grand buildings, or the constant eyes trailing my every move. It was him.Jude—no, Derrick now—walked beside me, the perfect image of a man who belonged here. He had taken everything from the real Derrick—his face, his voice, his identity.And his home.I swallowed hard as I realized exactly where that home was.A quarter inside Asher’s house.Of all the places in Lycone, it had to be here.I wanted to scream. To grab Jude and demand that we go somewhere else, anywhere else. But I knew better. He wasn’t the kind of man to be reasoned with, and I had already lost too much control over my own life.So I kept quiet. I followed him inside, pretending that everything was fine as servants led us to our new residence.But everything was not fine.That evening, as I sat on the bed of my unfamiliar room, I could still hea
Jamie The morning light did little to chase away the unease curling in my gut. My nightmare clung to me like a second skin, leaving behind a ghostly chill that refused to fade. Even as I sat at the edge of my bed, rubbing my face with my hands, I could still hear Corey’s voice in my head—cold, filled with something off.I exhaled sharply, forcing myself to shake it off. It was just a dream. Nothing more.A knock at the door snapped me out of my thoughts. One of the pack’s healers, a woman named Elena, peeked inside.“You should go see Corey,” she said, her voice softer than usual.I looked up at her, hesitating. “Why?”She sighed, stepping fully into the room. “He’s awake. And… well, you should see for yourself.”Something about the way she said it made my chest tighten.I pushed myself up, my body still sore from everything that had happened. Without another word, I left my room and made my way down the quiet halls of the healer’s ward.Each step felt heavier than the last.I wasn’t
JamieI couldn’t see.Darkness swallowed me whole, thick and suffocating. My heart pounded in my ears as I struggled to find my footing. The air smelled of blood and damp earth, and the ground beneath me felt uneven, like I was standing in the aftermath of a brutal fight.Then, I heard it.The slow, deliberate crunch of boots against gravel.“Jamie.”My breath hitched.I knew that voice.“Corey?” I called, my voice hoarse.A chuckle echoed around me—low, cold, filled with something wrong.“You don’t look so tough now,” he murmured.I tried to turn toward the sound, but I was met with nothing. I blinked, but the darkness didn’t change.Panic swelled in my chest.I wasn’t just in the dark.I was blind.“Corey,” I rasped, my voice trembling now. “What’s going on? Where are we?”A sharp pain suddenly shot through my skull. I stumbled back, clutching my face.Then, the memory hit me like a sledgehammer.The fight.Corey and I, screaming, throwing punches, fueled by rage neither of us could
JamieCorey lunged.I barely had time to brace myself before his fist connected with my jaw, knocking my head sideways. A sharp sting spread through my cheek, but I’d taken worse.I reacted instantly, shoving him back before swinging at him, landing a solid hit to his ribs. He grunted but didn’t step away—if anything, it only made him angrier. He came at me again, fists flying, and I met him with the same force.The council chamber erupted into chaos.“Enough!” Aieran barked, but neither of us listened.I grabbed Corey by the front of his shirt, pushing him back as his fists collided with my sides. We hit one of the wooden council tables, sending documents scattering to the floor.“Dammit, stop this!“ one of the council members yelled, but their voices were background noise now.I shoved Corey off me, sending him staggering back, but he recovered fast. He wiped his mouth, breathing hard, and his glare was pure hatred.“You always do this,” Corey spat. “You always think you’re the only
JamieI stared at Aieran, my patience hanging by a thread. “Explain to me again why you told me that Corey left for the meeting dressed as me?”Aieran shifted uncomfortably, his silver-streaked hair catching the light as he rubbed the back of his neck. “It was… a mistake.”“A mistake?” I repeated coldly.“Yes.” He nodded, looking between Corey and me as if trying to gauge how much trouble he was in. “I mistook Alpha Corey for you because… he wore glasses.”Silence.I blinked, processing the absolute nonsense I’d just heard.Corey, standing across from me with his arms folded, scoffed. “Seriously?” He turned to Aieran, shaking his head. “That’s your excuse?”Aieran hesitated. “You both look similar—”“We don’t,” Corey and I said at the same time. Then I turned to Corey, “Why did you wear glasses? Seems to me like you did that to confuse him on purpose!” Corey exhaled sharply and turned to me, his expression unreadable. “Look, I just wanted to look serious. I couldn't go before Ronin,
JamieCorey sat there, as smug as ever, but the second he opened his mouth, I knew he was up to something.“I can’t believe you actually went to have a meeting without me, Jamie,” he said, shaking his head in mock disappointment.For a moment, my mind blanked.Then, before I could even think, I lunged.My vision went red, my hands reaching for his throat, but before I could land a hit, a dozen hands yanked me back. Council members, guards—hell, even Aieran—were on me in seconds, dragging me away from my brother.Corey didn’t even flinch.He just sat there, looking at me like I was some wild animal throwing a tantrum.Like he had no idea why I was pissed.“Relax,” Aieran’s voice cut through the chaos. “Jamie, for the love of the Goddess, relax.”“Relax?” I snarled, struggling against the men holding me back. “Are you seriously telling me to relax? Are you even hearing the bullshit coming out of his mouth?”Aieran exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I’m saying listen before you j
JamieThe rest of the drive home was quiet, but I wasn’t about to complain. My body was screaming at me, exhaustion weighing down my limbs like a damn anchor, but I kept my mouth shut and let her take charge. She hadn’t said a word about ignoring my request to be dropped off at a safe house. She simply made the decision herself and did what she wanted.And, oddly enough, I found that… intriguing.It wasn’t often that someone disregarded my orders and got away with it. People listened to me. Obeyed me. But this woman? She wasn’t interested in following my lead. She moved at her own pace, made her own calls. And maybe it was the exhaustion messing with me, but I didn’t hate it.When we pulled up in front of my residence, the guards stationed outside immediately straightened, their eyes locking onto my state. One of them, Leon, was the first to rush forward, his expression darkening as he took in the torn fabric of my bloodied shirt and the fading bruises on my face.“Alpha—”“I’m fine,”
JamieThe silence in the car was thick, but my mind was louder. The wheels in my head turned restlessly, replaying everything I had seen, everything I had just survived. The bodies of the men who had ambushed me, their soulless black eyes, the inscription burned into their flesh—the unmistakable mark of the Storm Pack’s special combat crew. It made no damn sense.I clenched my fists, staring out the window as the unfamiliar woman drove through the darkened roads. She hadn’t said much since saving my ass, and I wasn’t exactly in the mood for small talk, but the moment I saw that mark, my gut twisted with something worse than suspicion.Spelled. That’s what she’d said.And if that was true, then this wasn’t just a case of Corey getting ambitious and deciding to cut me out of the meeting with Ronin. If Corey had turned against me, he wouldn’t have needed magic to control our men. They were trained to follow BOTH of us. To obey BOTH of us. But these men? They were puppets, their strings p