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
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
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,
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