NinaAsher had always had a soft spot for the normal wolves. That was why he grew closer to Jamie and Corey instead of me. Back then, I stuck around them because of him. I never thought they deserved our time, and they figured out how I felt soon enough. After that, they started pulling away from me. Coincidentally, Asher stopped talking to all of us around the same time. Watching him drift away was painful, but eventually I accepted it. And then Malia came along. I couldn’t believe it. After everything that happened with Aaliyah, Asher was getting involved with another wolf—a normal one, not even a Lycan. It felt like a betrayal, like he was stooping beneath himself. I thought she was manipulating him somehow, and I wanted to make her pay. So no, it’s no surprise I bullied her. There were so many times I wanted to do it again, if I’m being honest. But then, Asher started talking to me again—for the first time in what felt like forever. Even though he made it crystal clear he di
MaliaThe first thing I remember after Aaliyah’s assault wasn’t the pain—though it had been there, sharp and throbbing. It wasn’t the blood that still clung to my hair or the dizziness that muddled my mind. It was the cold. The cold ground beneath me, the coldness in my chest, and the coldness of realizing how utterly powerless I’d been. When I first opened my eyes, everything was blurry. The bright light overhead stabbed at my vision, making me groan softly. My body felt heavy, like it wasn’t my own, and my head pounded with a dull, persistent ache. It took a moment before the shapes around me became clear. I blinked hard and saw Nina sitting at my bedside. Of all people, I hadn’t expected her to be there. She wasn’t looking at me; her gaze was fixed out the window, her expression unreadable. “Nina?” My voice came out weak, barely audible. She turned abruptly, her eyes widening in surprise. “You’re awake?” I nodded—or at least, I tried to. Even that small movement sent a s
CoreyThe sky was a dull, overcast grey, the kind of weather that seemed to mirror the dark feelings brewing inside me. It wasn’t that late yet, but there was a slight chill in the air, signalling the end of the afternoon. I liked the quiet. The peace before everything went to hell. I leaned against a tree just outside the school’s east wing, kicking a stray rock repeatedly until it skittered into the bushes. My hands were stuffed in my hoodie pockets, and for once, I wasn’t looking for trouble—or at least not the usual kind. I was waiting for Jamie. He'd sent me a message asking to wait for him after his last class. The fact that parents still allowed their children to attend this school after what happened was beyond me. The school should've been shut down with Aaliyah, Asher and his mother tried for this! Anyway, I had a free period, so it wasn't a big deal to wait for Jamie until then. Things have been... a lot lately. Too much, actually. First, there was Malia, beaten to a
JamieThe door creaked as we stepped into Asher’s office. The first thing I noticed was how quiet it was. Too quiet. The faint scent of cologne mixed with the musty air of old books, making the whole room feel stifling, like it was holding its breath. Asher didn’t look surprised to see us—he probably sensed us the second we walked down the hall—but his eyes narrowed the moment Corey kicked the door open. He was sitting behind that giant desk of his, still dressed in his suit, like he was ready for some big meeting he didn’t want to attend.“Jamie. Corey,” Asher’s voice was cool, but the way he said it made it sound like he was already preparing for a fight. “What’s this about?”Corey didn’t wait for me to take the lead. “We need to talk,” he said, voice clipped, and marched right in, acting like this was his office. Meanwhile, I stayed back for a second, trying to shake off the tension in my shoulders before stepping inside. I could already feel the weight of everything hanging in th
AsherThe hallway stretched out before me, a silent, dimly lit path leading toward my mother's office. It felt oddly quiet, almost too quiet, like something was hanging in the air, waiting for me to take the first step. I tried to focus, but the heaviness in my chest kept pulling me down, weighing me like I was walking underwater. Then I saw them.Bodies.Littered across the floor. Blood pooling. The unmistakable stench of death curling in my nose. I froze, every muscle locking in place. The bodies were familiar—the same twisted figures I had seen earlier this year when I was with Malia. But this time, there was something different. Aaliyah.She stood beside one of the bodies, her hands covered in blood, her face twisted into that same indifferent expression. My heart slammed against my ribs, my breath shallow, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.How? Why?A sharp pain cut through my temple, a wave of nausea rolling in, but before I could react, memories came crashing through
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
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
MaliaEverything was slipping away.Black spots flickered in my vision, and my limbs felt heavy, useless. Jamie's grip was unrelenting, his hand a vice around my throat, cutting off my air, my thoughts—everything.I thrashed, kicking weakly, but it didn’t matter. He wasn’t letting go. Everything around me was a confusing blur. I saw flames and angry faces, but nothing made sense. I clawed at his hand, my nails scraping against his skin, but his hold remained unshakeable. Panic clawed at my throat, a cold fist squeezing the last vestiges of air from my lungs. I thought this was it.Just as darkness threatened to swallow me whole, his grip loosened, and I collapsed like a ragdoll. My knees hit the hard ground, pain shooting up my legs, but I barely felt it. I sucked in a desperate, ragged breath, my throat burning, my lungs aching. Air flooded into my lungs, feeling painful and intense. I coughed violently, gasping, my hands shaking as I reached for my bruised neck. Jamie had let
Malia*Present day*The air was thick with smoke and the raw scent of sweat and fury. I stood off to the side, partially hidden by the jagged remains of a collapsed wall, watching as Jamie faced down the Lycan guards. His hair, once a shade lighter, had darkened in the past two weeks, as if grief had stripped the warmth from him. But it was his eyes that unsettled me the most. Behind the familiar glasses, his irises glowed an unnatural green—a sign of a vengeful Alpha. A warning to all who dared to stand in his way. "Give me my brother’s body." His voice rang through the tense silence like a blade being unsheathed. The crowd of wolves behind him—Storm Pack, rogue allies, and furious onlookers—rumbled in agreement, their anger a living, breathing thing. The Lycan guards, their silver-plated armor catching the flickering firelight, held their ground. Shields locked, weapons drawn, their stances unyielding. "You are not permitted entry into Lycone," one of the guards stated, hi
Jamie The woods were quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. I sat on a fallen log near the lake, staring at the water’s calm surface. It was an eerie contrast to the chaos inside me. The world around me was serene, but my thoughts were a raging storm I couldn't silence. Two days. Two days since I received that damned video from Amara. Two days since the truth shattered everything I thought I knew. Corey was gone—killed by Asher’s hand. And now I knew it was for nothing. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms until pain cut through the numbness. The image of Malia's face as she told her story played on a loop in my mind, but now it was warped by Amara’s proof. Proof that Malia had lied. Corey hadn’t forced himself on her. He hadn’t done any of the things she claimed. And Asher? He hadn’t even bothered to investigate. A sharp, bitter laugh escaped me, sounding foreign in the stillness of the woods. Asher, the mighty Lycan King, the lea