Malia I watched Asher as he sat on my bed, his gaze drifting over my room with a quiet curiosity. His eyes lingered on the pale blue walls, softened by the amber glow of the bedside lamp, and he gave a slight nod. “I like the color,” he murmured. “Thanks,” I replied, sitting down beside him, aware of the closeness that made the air between us feel charged. For a moment, I was lost, studying him in the warm light. He looked tired with faint bruises tracing shadows on his skin. But it didn’t make him any less striking. If anything, the exhaustion gave him a realness I rarely saw, as if all the guarded layers he kept around him had finally slipped away. When his eyes found mine, he tilted his mouth in a small, lopsided smile. “Nice view, huh?” he teased, his voice soft but teasing. “Jerk.” I looked away, feeling a blush rise to my cheeks. Clearing my throat, I steadied my breathing. “I, um… I heard about your father’s attack. Is he… okay?” The teasing glint in Asher’s eyes fad
Asher I sprinted toward the house, my heart pounding heavily. The air felt thick as I burst through the door and into my father’s office, where I found my mother crouched behind him, sobbing as she held him close. Every vein seemed to stand out against her skin, grief pouring through her as she clung to him. I couldn’t believe it. The scene before me was impossible to process. How could this have happened? He was supposed to be highly protected. My mind raced with a jumble of unanswered questions. Why weren’t there enough guards with him? How could anyone even get close enough to bite him? Even now, I noticed that the house felt empty. It was barely staffed with the Lycans meant to protect my mother. The thought struck me cold—what if another hybrid attacked her? I knelt beside my mother, staring at my father’s face. His eyes were open, but he was completely still, his skin cold. My chest felt tight, but no tears came. I’d been raised never to show weakness, and crying was
Malia The past two weeks drifted by in a haze. It felt surreal, as though I were floating in someone else’s life. Asher had been away, hunting the hybrid that had taken his father’s life, throwing himself into the pursuit with relentless ferocity. I knew this because I had been talking with Amara a lot. In a short period, we became pretty close, so I told her the truth about Asher and me. She was surprisingly very mature about it and gave me a lot of helpful advice. Amara also told me bits and pieces of Asher’s absence—how he barely slept, barely ate, how his entire focus had been on the hunt. She knew this because her mother was close to one of Brooke's personal aids. Thankfully, just a few days ago, Asher and his men finally killed the hybrid, putting an end to the terror that had lingered over us all. In a way, life had returned to normal, but nothing really felt the same. Asher was different. I hadn’t seen him yet, but from what Amara told me, it was as though he’d sh
MaliaI stirred my spoon absently, letting the broth swirl in slow circles as I sat across from Amara in the cafeteria. The noise around us felt muffled, like I was hearing it through water. No matter how hard I tried, Asher’s cold words kept playing over in my mind, relentless and sharp. He hadn’t just dismissed me—he’d looked at me as if I were a stranger, like the months we’d spent together hadn’t meant anything. The ache in my chest tightened, and I realized I’d stopped eating entirely. I forced myself to look up, only to see Amara watching me, concern softening her gaze. Her usual mysterious vibes always came off whenever she was around me.“At least Banes backed off,” she said, her voice low and comforting. She kept her tone casual, but her eyes betrayed a deeper concern. “I could tell he was going to give you a hard time for it, but it's a good thing I got him to ease up.”A small smile tugged at my lips despite everything. “Thank you. Honestly, I don’t know what I would’ve do
Malia I sat in her office, too stunned to speak, my mind swirling with confusion and dread. Part of me was numb and detached, while another part was filled with the relentless pounding of my heartbeat. Maybe it would be easier if she did expel me. At least that would mean freedom from this constant, never-ending drama. “Are you deaf?” she barked, snapping me out of my thoughts. The cold edge to her voice made me tremble. “Um… I shouldn’t be expelled because the public eye is on Asher now more than ever,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. I’d practiced this line in my head, but it didn’t come out as confidently as I’d hoped. The Luna’s eyes narrowed, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. “So? What makes you think the public will care about what happens to you?” She was baiting me, but I took a breath and kept going. “Well… because if I’m expelled, people will think Asher is being protected while I’m being punished. Besides, I just lost a baby.” I fiddled with my fingers
Malia I turned my head, unwilling to watch as Asher wrapped his arm around Aaliyah, leaning in to whisper something that made her laugh. My heart twisted painfully, threatening to collapse in the hallway. The warm feeling I had just moments ago shattered into fragments, leaving behind a chilling void. I walked away from Asher and Aaliyah, the chatter of students around me blurring into a dull hum. Betrayal simmered in my chest, mixing with anger and a heavy sense of loss. It felt surreal that just moments ago, I had been caught up in a whirlwind of emotions about Asher, and now I was watching him with another girl, someone I never knew existed. “Did you see that? Malia got dumped,” a voice interrupted my thoughts, pulling me back to reality. It was Avan, leaning against a vending machine, an insufferable smirk plastered across his face. Savannah stood beside him, her expression equally smug. “And the girl looks absolutely stunning. Guess Asher found someone better.” I shot them
Malia “Revenge? That's insane. It was she who hurt him,” I muttered, trying to process what was happening. “Yeah, but being banished is pretty brutal. I guess that's what she wants revenge for,” Amara said with a shrug, and I scoffed at the irony. Aaliyah, seeking revenge? For facing the consequences of cheating on Asher? "So," I started, struggling to steady my voice. "We have to get the necklace off him somehow. But how?" The silence that followed was heavy. We were all standing around, hoping for an idea, anything. “I can’t come up with anything,” Jamie finally admitted, his brow furrowed. “That’s a first,” Amara scoffed. Jamie shot her a dark look. “Maybe we just grab her and interrogate her,” Corey suggested with a shrug. “She’s the one who enchanted him, so let’s just make her talk.” Jamie gave him a hard glare. “And you think Asher won’t notice if we kidnap his fiancée? Plans like this are why I usually make the plans.” “Oh yeah?” Amara challenged, crossing her
MaliaAs I slipped out of the house, my steps quiet but my heart pounding, I couldn't help feeling a tug of doubt. I’d left them without much of a warning, and now here I was, sneaking out in the middle of the night, retracing my steps back to them. But if they were really planning to go through with this insane mission, I couldn't just stay out of it. Not if Asher’s life might depend on what we did tonight.The school loomed up ahead, dark and silent, except for the faint outline of its main gate. That’s when I realized I had one tiny, critical flaw in my plan: the gates were locked. I grimaced, looking up at the metal bars like they were some twisted joke. Should I try to climb over? Go back?I glanced at my phone, debating whether to message Amara or one of the others to let them know I’d changed my mind. But as I tried pulling up Amara’s number, I heard something—a rustling sound, low and eerie—coming from the woods just past the school fence. My thumb froze over the screen.Okay,
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 The drive to my house was suffocatingly quiet, broken only by the sound of Corey’s shallow breathing from the backseat. I kept glancing at him, fear tightening my chest every time I noticed how pale he was. Jamie, sitting behind the wheel, didn’t speak much, his usual snark replaced by a deep worry etched into his face.As we pulled into my driveway, Jamie exhaled sharply. “If Corey doesn’t wake up soon, my parents are going to lose it. And by lose it, I mean full-blown Glenn family meltdown.” I glanced at him, knowing he was right. The last thing we needed was for Jamie’s parents to start asking questions—questions we couldn’t answer. “My parents are out of town,” I said, unlocking the door. “No one’s here to panic, so we’ll keep him here for now.” Jamie nodded, and together we carefully carried Corey inside. Every step felt heavier than the last, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. Once we got Corey to the guest room, Jamie settled into a chair by his bedsi