Rayne POV "Rayne, stop!" Mateo’s voice sounded distant, muffled by the relentless pounding of my heartbeat in my ears. My chest tightened as I watched him struggle to his feet, his eyes wide with fear and anxiety. Fear of me. The realization sent a jolt of panic through my body at once. I had never wanted this to happen at this time. I didn’t ask for this power, this darkness that seemed to have taken root inside me, but now... now I had no idea how to contain it and how to control everything bit of it. The ground beneath us trembled again, the cracks widening as the energy inside me grew, pulsing with raw power. I could feel it slipping from my grasp, a storm on the verge of breaking free, threatening to swallow everything in its path. The air around me crackled with electricity, my skin burning with the force of whatever it was that I had awakened. "Rayne, listen to me," Mateo shouted, his voice more strained this time. "You need to get control of yourself before it’s too
Rayne POVMateo stepped back a bit, his gaze flickering between me and the stranger, a mixture of fear and fury visible in his eyes. I could see the calculations racing through his mind—every instinct screaming at him to run, yet something held him rooted in place, watching as the darkness crept closer."Rayne," he whispered, almost pleading to me. "You don’t have to do all of this. You don’t have to let him control you and have full access towards you."I tore my eyes from Mateo and looked at the stranger who stood, with his eyes hitting mine. His shadowed figure radiated power, something dark, dangerous, and utterly mesmerizing. His smile was smug, almost daring me to take the plunge."What did you give me?" My voice was already shaking, not from fear but from the uncontrollable surge of power churning inside of my inner self."A gift you would always need" he said, stepping forward with his hands raised in mock surrender. "A gift I knew you’d appreciate once you tasted it and ha
Rayne POV“Don’t think for a second you’re safe, Rayne,” the stranger’s voice echoed in my mind, dark and taunting, lingering long after he’d disappeared into the dark night. I could still feel the weight of his grip, the lingering pull of his power tugging at me like a chain around my neck, even though he was nowhere to be seen.Mateo stood beside me, his breaths heavy, his face drawn and tense as he scanned the darkened forest, while my heart racing with thoughts of different kind. “Rayne,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, “are you… are you alright?”I pulled my gaze from the shadows where the stranger had disappeared and turned to him, shaking slightly as the adrenaline began to fade up . “I don’t know. He… he did something to me that I can just know. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s like he… branded me, somehow.”Mateo’s jaw tightened, anger flashing in his eyes at almost same time. “He marked you with his darkness. It’s a twisted claim—a threat to remind you
Rayne POVThe darkness pressed in around us as I stood frozen on a spot, my heartbeat echoing in my ears like the drum of the full moon night. The stranger’s voice lingered in the air like dark smoke, chilling me to my core.Mateo’s hand tightened around mine, his grip grounding me, but I could feel the tension in him, his unease thick and palpable. His words still echoed in my mind, like the promise of my late mother"This power… it’s consuming you."But as I looked out into the trees, I knew one thing for sure. I couldn’t let this stranger take everything from me, even my weakness.A deep, gravelly voice interrupted my thoughts. “Enjoying the gift, little wolf?”I whipped around, and there he was. The stranger stepped out of the shadows, his eyes gleaming with a sick sort of pleasure. My blood ran cold as he took a step forward to my own standing spot, his presence casting an unnatural silence over the forest.“What do you want from me, this time?” I asked, trying to keep my voice
Rayne POVThe stranger’s hand hovered in the air between us, and my whole body felt like it was on a burning fire. I barely knew this man who claimed to be my new mate but, this supposed second chance mate—but something in me pulled toward him, a bond that was undeniable and completely different from what I had with Mateo on the Rejection night.“Rayne…” Mateo’s voice was soft, yet filled with a raw desperation and regret. “You don’t have to go with him.”I took a deep breath, the weight of both their gazes on me, with my heart racing so hard with multiple thoughts that I can't even control. The intensity was fully suffocating, like being trapped between two waves, each one threatening to drown me. I turned to Mateo, my heart twisting at the pain in his eyes, and then to the stranger, who radiated a fierce energy that both excited and terrified me.The stranger stepped closer, his voice low but commanding. “You feel it deep within you, don’t you, Rayne? You’re drawn to me because f
Rayne POV“Rayne! Stop!”Mateo’s shout barely registered over the roaring in my head, a low hum of power that surged with each sound of my heartbeat. I felt it vibrating through me, stronger than any physical force, consuming every thought that i have within myself. I wasn’t Rayne anymore at this point; I was something darker, something unrestrained, something fierce.I took a step forward, and the rogue leader flinched, fear flashing in his eyes for the first time ever. His pack stood behind him, their usual bloodlust replaced with nervous glances. They were visibly scared, and it thrilled me, a sharp, intoxicating feeling that dulled everything else that was inside of me.Kael’s voice broke through, low and calm. “Rayne, this isn’t you. Don’t let it take over who you are.”But the power didn’t want calm down; it wanted chaos and fight. With a flick of my hand, I sent another pulse of energy ripping through the air. Trees cracked, leaves exploded into the night, and the ground tr
Rayne POVKael’s hand brushed mine, his touch grounding yet possessive, as if silently claiming something neither of us had acknowledged. It was totally strange, this feeling of comfort around him, like a tether that held me steady against the storm of emotions and power surging through me. But across the clearing, I caught Mateo’s gaze, his expression sharp and watchful over my every foot step, as if he were trying to decipher a puzzle no one else could see apart from him.“Rayne,” Kael’s voice brought me back from my thoughts, his tone low and reassuring at same time. “We should keep moving. Staying here only invites more danger and harm.”I nodded, feeling the weight of his words. My heart was still pounding from the encounter with the mysterious figure in the woods, and Kael had insisted we get as far from the rogues as possible. But Mateo’s presence was an anchor I couldn’t just ignore or walk away from, his silent suspicion clinging to every step Kael took.“Mateo,” I said,
Rayne POVThe forest was totally silent as Kael and Mateo’s gazes clashed, tension crackling up in the air like lightning ready to strike already. My heart pounded, each beat echoing louder in the deep silence as I stood between them, torn apart by conflicting emotions."Rayne," Kael said, voice low and raw, his eyes pleading, with him looking totally geuine. “I know it looks bad. I never wanted you to be in danger. But you need to trust me. Please."Mateo scoffed, stepping forward with a fierce determination that almost made me want to take a step back away from me. "Trust you? After everything you caused her? You show up out of nowhere, claiming to protect her, and now rogues are hunting us because of you." He turned his gaze to me, softer yet filled with an urgency I hadn’t seen before in his look. "Rayne, please, see through his lies. I know you feel it too."I looked between them both, Kael with his steady gaze at me, Mateo with his desperate plea to leave the guy who accepte
Chapter Twelve: Shadows of the PastCrystal point of viewI barely slept that night, my mind racing with everything that had happened. Orin’s attack had left a scar—not just on my body but on my soul. Every time I closed my eyes, I could feel the shard’s darkness lingering, a shadow waiting to consume me. It was a chilling reminder of how close I had come to losing control.As the first light of dawn filtered through the trees, I forced myself to get up. The pack was already stirring, preparing for the day ahead. I could hear the low murmur of voices, the shuffle of feet as they moved about the camp. They were watching me now, but it was different. There was a new tension in the air, a mix of respect and fear that hadn’t been there before.I walked outside, the cool morning breeze brushing against my skin. Dante, Ezra, and Ryan were already awake, talking quietly near the edge of the camp. They looked up as I approached, their expressions unreadable.“Morning,” I said, trying to sound
Chapter Eleven: AwakeningCrystal point of viewThe darkness was suffocating, a heavy weight pressing down on me, pinning me to the ground, making me feel pressured. My mind and body struggled to fight through it, but it felt endless and meaningless—cold, empty, and filled with whispers I couldn’t understand. Somewhere, deep in the void, I could hear voices calling my name, but they were distant, muffled by the shadows swirling around me.Then, suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my chest, jolting me back to reality. My eyes flew open, and I gasped for air, my lungs burning as I choked on the cold night air. I was on the ground, lying in the clearing where the battle had taken place. Everything was a blur, but slowly, I began to focus. The pain in my chest was intense, and I instinctively reached for it, only to find the dark shard that Orin had stabbed me with still embedded there, pulsing with an unnatural energy.I tried to pull it out, but the moment I touched it, a searing pain s
Chapter Ten: Betrayal in the Shadows.The howl rang out, cutting through the night like a blade. My blood ran cold as I recognized it—Cole’s rallying cry.“Cole’s coming back,” Dante said, his voice low and dangerous as his wolf senses sharpened. His posture was tense, ready for battle.I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. My heart raced, not from fear but from the anticipation of what I knew was coming. Cole wasn’t going to accept my ascension quietly. He’d rally whoever he could and challenge me head-on. But what unnerved me wasn’t just his impending attack. It was that haunting howl, the unmistakable call for war.“Crystal, stay close to us,” Ryan said, his eyes scanning the treeline. Ezra stepped forward, positioning himself in front of me.“He’s not alone,” Dante muttered, his voice grim.I could feel the tension ripple through the pack as they all turned their attention to the trees. Shadows flickered, and suddenly, from the forest’s edge, Cole emerged, flanked by a do
Chapter Nine: A Queen’s CommandThe pack knelt before me, the tension hanging thick in the air. I could hardly believe it. Me? Their Queen?The words sounded foreign in my mind, yet the power still hummed beneath my skin, undeniable.Dante stepped closer, his voice low but firm. “Crystal, you need to speak. Show them who you are.”I swallowed hard, glancing at the wolves who had once mocked and banished me. Now, they were kneeling, their heads lowered in submission. My hands clenched at my sides, unsure of what to say, but Dante’s presence grounded me. This wasn’t about them anymore. This was about me stepping into what I was destined for.I took a deep breath. “Rise,” I commanded, my voice stronger than I expected.The pack hesitated, exchanging nervous glances before they obeyed. Slowly, they stood, keeping their heads low, refusing to meet my gaze. The weight of their submission pressed against me, but I wasn’t going to let it crush me.Cole, still on one knee, finally stood as wel
Chapter Eight: Bonds of BloodCrystal point of viewThe moment the wave of power exploded from me, everything around us seemed to freeze in the thin air. The harsh light from my energy bathed the forest in an eerie glow, and I could hear nothing but the faint crackle of power still coursing through me like a river flowing water. For the first time, the wolves hesitated. Their snarls were replaced with uncertainty, their eyes wide with something I hadn’t seen before or even gotten from them before;fear.They were scared of me already.Alpha Dante, Beta Ezra, and Gamma Ryan stood by my side, their eyes glowing with intensity and low Word's to me. Their whole presence was more than just comforting to me, it was empowering. Dante’s towering frame exuded dominance, his muscles rippling beneath his skin as he prepared for the next attack even if the opposing team isn't ready to do that. Ezra was sharp like sword, his eyes constantly scanning for any movement, calculating the next step
Chapter Seven: The ChaseCrystal point of viewThe night was alive with tension, every shadow stretching long and ominous under the cold moonlight. Alpha’s words echoed in my mind like a bell. "The pack won’t wait long before they strike again.”He was right about those words. There was no time to rest, no time to gather my thoughts together. The pack was out for blood, and I was their target and there pawn in there big game.“We have to leave now,” Alpha said, his voice low but firm and controlling. The other men were already moving, preparing for what was to come up next. “They’ll come in full force, and next time, they’ll be better prepared to fight for themselves.”I nodded, my heart still racing from the confrontation. My mind was spinning unstop, but my body felt much alive, buzzing with the energy I had only just started to understand. I was ready, more than ready than I had ever been. But the fear was still hanging in there, lurking under the surface. This power, this destin
Chapter Six: The First BattleCrystal POVThe howls grew louder, closer, as the pack approached to my standing position. My heart pounded, my grip tightening on the silver dagger. I stood beside Alpha and his brothers, their presence grounding me as the power inside me pulsed up at once, almost eager to be unleashed."Remember, Crystal," Alpha said quietly, his voice low and controlled, distracting me of my Concentration. "You don't need to fear your power. Let it flow. Let it guide you on what to do."I nodded, my breath shallow. It was easier said than done.I had never had power or a wolf, never been in control of anything since my first day on earth. How was I supposed to wield something so raw, so dangerous, when I didn’t even understand how it works.The courtyard was bathed in moonlight, casting eerie shadows on the stone walls on us. The main tension in the air was electric, thick with anticipation. My ears picked up the rustling of footsteps—lots of them—closing in fas
Chapter Five: The AwakeningCrystal POVThe weight of his words hung high in the air, suffocating and impossible to escape. Is still not possible that I was The Lycan Queen.Me, of all whole wolves in the pack.It didn’t make any sense to me. None of it made equal sense to me. I couldn’t be some legendary ruler of the pack that hated me. I was barely surviving in this pack, bullied, ignored, and forgotten.But the look in the man with gray eyes told me he wasn’t joking. He truly believed it. And worse, there was a part of me, deep, deep inside, that wondered if it might be true or just a mere Story.“No,” I whispered, shaking my head, backing away from him, slowly. “I can’t just be.”“You are, Crysta,” he said firmly, his voice unwavering. “It’s in your blood, in your bones,in your flesh. You’ve felt it, haven’t you? The pull, the power? It’s been waiting for you to wake up.”I backed up until I hit the stone wall behind of me. My heart was pounding, my mind spinning with an
Chapter Four: Questions Without AnswersCrystal POVThe threemen’s words haunted me for days. “Afraid of what you might become.” What was I supposed to become in a pack when I am low classed? How could I be someone or something that people would fear? It didn’t make any sense to my own hearing. I was totally nothing in this new pack. Just a nobody wolf that everyone either ignored or despised.But now? Now they looked at me with suspicion, that was totally unreadable. Even more than before. The confrontation in the hallway had been the tipping point. The pack knew something was going on between we four, even if they couldn’t quite figure it out by themselves. And neither couldn't.*****A few days had passed since the incident with Cole and his lackeys, but the tension within the pack was thicker than ever and the tension was there was also high. The whispers had intensified, rumors swirling around me like a dark storm of the day. It just felt as if, everyone was watching me,