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
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 My life changed when I found out my mate was Avan Sinclair, the man I’d secretly loved for years. He was the Alpha heir of our pack, and he was everything a girl could dream of. He was handsome, had blond hair, striking blue eyes, and a kind, easygoing personality that made him adored by all. Unlike many cold Alpha heirs, Avan was different, and I thought I was lucky to be paired with him by the moon goddess. However, things weren’t as perfect as I’d hoped. Though Avan and I were fated mates, he hadn’t claimed me publicly. Instead, he asked me to keep our relationship a secret, saying he needed time to convince his parents I was right for him.Three months had passed, and my doubts were growing, but I convinced myself that everything would eventually work out. Now, with Avan’s birthday approaching, I planned to give him a special gift—myself. I was ready to sleep with him for the first time. But before going through with it, I wanted my best friend’s opinion. Savannah knew ab
Malia The world seemed to spin as I stood in front of Avan's room. I didn't know what to do, I was just frozen in place, my heart heavy with the sight of his betrayal. “Whoa! Savannah, giving Avan a BJ?! Who knew friends could roll like this?” Someone said behind me, startling me. I turned around to meet the shocked eyes of a few students watching while Avan and Savannah finally realized that they were being watched. “What the fuck Malia! Close the door!” Savannah said as she covered up herself. I hadn't even realized that she was naked! I closed the door, but just as I was about to leave, the door opened again, and it was Avan. “Everyone put your fucking phones down this instant!” He barked and they all obeyed. I stood there stunned because I had never heard him use this tone before. “What the hell, Malia! You led these people here for what?” He accused. “W-what? I didn't lead anyone anywhere. I came here to look for you after you and Savannah conveniently left me out
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
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