AsherThe first thing I noticed was the sky, a pale, soft blue, the kind of hue that only comes after the moon has surrendered to the sun. My body ached, not from pain, but from the strange heaviness that clings to you after a nightmare. My breath was ragged, uneven, as I blinked against the light filtering through the trees. I was alive. Unhurt. And then I saw her. Malia was beside me, lying on her side, her chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. She looked peaceful, her face relaxed, her hair slightly damp, clinging to her skin. The faintest hint of moonlight still lingered in the air, giving her a kind of glow. For a moment, I couldn’t move, couldn’t think. The nightmare came rushing back—her red eyes, the silver blade plunging into my side, the cold, hollow expression on her face. My hand instinctively went to my ribs, expecting to find a wound, blood, pain. But there was nothing. Just smooth, unbroken skin. It was a dream. But it didn’t feel like one. It h
Malia I woke up feeling lighter than I had in weeks. My body still hummed with the memories of last night, a warmth spreading across my chest as I recalled how Asher had held me. His touch had been tender yet possessive, his presence grounding me in a way I’d never experienced before. For the first time, I had let someone see every part of me—raw, vulnerable, completely unguarded. And it had been him. Even in sleep, my mind had conjured a future that felt almost too sweet to believe: Asher and me, standing beneath the glow of the full moon, vowing ourselves to each other. The pack surrounded us, their cheers echoing into the night. Then, as if the universe had fast-forwarded our happiness, a baby appeared in my arms, with Asher’s dark hair and my bright eyes. The dream had been so vivid I could almost hear the child’s laughter. The thought made me giddy, and I smiled to myself, feeling my cheeks heat. This was what I wanted—a life with Asher, a family, peace. I stirred
Malia“Avan?” I whispered, disbelief coloring my voice.He leaned casually against the doorframe, his sharp green eyes scanning my tear-streaked face. A faint smirk tugged at his lips, though there was a flicker of something softer in his expression—concern, maybe?“Well,” he said, his voice calm and teasing, “this is quite the sight. Didn’t expect to find you crying behind a locked door.”I blinked, my mind reeling. What was he doing here? How had he gotten past Asher’s guards? And most importantly—why?But before I could form a coherent thought, let alone a question, Avan stepped inside, closing the door behind him. The room spun as Avan’s smirk spread wider, his unsettling presence filling the space. I stepped back instinctively, my mind racing. “Why are you here?” I demanded, my voice sharper than I expected. “And how did you open that door?” Avan tilted his head, his expression one of mock pity. “Oh, Malia. You’ve always been so naïve. Did you really think I’d sit by while As
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,
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.
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 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
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
Malia Rayna’s voice was smooth, almost amused. “What's this I hear about someone stealing my glory? Don't act so surprised. You all chanted 'WITCH!!!' Now I'm here.” Jamie’s eyes darkened. “A witch?” Rayna chuckled. “You don’t even know what you’re dealing with.” “Neither do you,” Jamie snapped. He turned back toward me, his grip tightening on flaming torch in his hand. My heart nearly stopped. He was about to set me ablaze! Was he really going to go through with it? Rayna took a step forward. “Oh don't be so uptight. If you kill her you'll ruin the surprise—” CRACK. The sharp sound cut through the air like a whip, followed by a rush of icy wind. And then, just like that, the world stopped. Every muscle in my body froze as he stepped forward. The torches flickered wildly, casting jagged shadows over his face. The mob fell silent, their fury evaporating in an instant. I could hear the sharp intake of breath from the wolves around me, their bodies stiff with shock. Jamie’s k
AsherJust as I thought I’d won—just as I convinced myself there was still time to save Malia—a chill swept through the room, colder than anything I’d ever felt. The air grew heavy again, thick with magic, but this time it was different. Older. More dangerous. And then… he appeared. A figure stepped out of the shadows, draped in a hooded robe as black as midnight. My heart slammed against my ribs as he lowered the hood. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think.It was Corey. His hair was now as pale as snow, almost glowing under the dim light. His skin was just as ghostly, drained of warmth and life.I knew it was him—but something inside me screamed that it wasn’t. Not really. He stood there, silent and still, watching me with that frozen gaze. “Corey…” I whispered, my voice barely audible. He didn’t answer. He didn’t move, neither could I. Not because of any magic—at least, I didn’t think so. It was something else. Something deeper. The hooded figures that had
AsherI ended the call with the harp twins and slipped my phone into my pocket, my mind spinning. Every instinct in me screamed that something wasn’t right. This wasn’t just some twisted revenge from Jamie. I couldn’t explain it, but I knew that the girl Jamie had wasn’t some imposter. It was Malia. The real Malia. And she was running out of time. I had to get to her. Now. I turned toward the door, already planning the fastest route to Storm Pack territory, when a cold shiver ran down my spine. My steps slowed. The air grew heavy—thick, charged with something unnatural. Magic. I spun just as the lights in the hallway dimmed and the temperature dropped. A gust of wind howled through the room, shattering the calm. The shadows stretched unnaturally long, curling across the walls like living things. And then—they appeared. Three hooded figures emerged from the darkness, dressed in heavy black robes embroidered with silver runes. Their faces were hidden beneath the hoods, but their pr
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