Everest I won’t lie, it had been rough. Finn’s dismissal of the mate bond had crushed me. I had barely begun to feel the bond when it was ripped away from me. I’d questioned everything with him before, for sure…but when I felt that bond snap into place... Seeing him walk away had been agony of the deepest level. I’d spent a week curled up in bed, too “sick” to go to training. My parents knew something was up, but they didn’t question it. They had no idea. Kali and Cas on the other hand had been by my side throughout the whole ordeal. They had searched for me the morning after to wish me a happy birthday and found me buried in the guest bed that Finn had stayed in, tear stained and exhausted. I didn’t have to say what happened, they both knew, and they didn’t make me re-live it. They’d taken turns bringing me food and water, keeping me company, bringing over movies…real sister stuff. After a week of mourning, I was tired of it. I was tired of missing him and I was tired of being tired.
Finn Caleb had left yesterday afternoon for Aurora moon, but I’d buried myself in my office all week since I let it slip to Lupin that I’d found my mate. She hadn’t been able to let it go. Each time she’d seen me, she had pestered me with a million questions about who, what, where etc. I hadn’t elaborated on anything, instead ignoring her completely every time the subject was brought up, which, to my annoyance, was every time she saw me. I’d refused to go back to Aurora moon. I had good reasons with the attacks happening, but the truth was that I couldn't face Everest. I needed more space from her to get myself prepared for the rejection. The memory of her sweet vanilla and rose scent, and her liquid gold eyes was still too fresh; it still brought up an insatiable hunger for her. I wanted to see her, but I knew how dangerous that would be. The mate bond was strongest between an alpha and his luna, and I couldn’t risk it. The door to my office suddenly swung open and bounced off the
EverestI went to bed that night with my mind racing. How would he feel when he found out I was coming? Would he be mad at his sister for talking to Caleb? Probably…the man seemed to be able to find anything to get angry about. I curled up in a ball and tossed and turned until I finally feel asleep.My dreams were filled with faces of Wendigos and Rougarou’s and other nameless monsters. I ran from witches and would catch glimpses of my golden wolf dead on the ground, a pale, winged beast chewing on my flesh. I fled from one nightmare to the next, calling out for help, calling out for anyone…but the darkness was swallowing me, and I couldn’t breathe. I was gasping for air but there was no air to breathe. Black smoke was choking me, and I couldn’t move. I was paralyzed, gagging on thick tar when a pair of icy hands grasped either side of my head. I tried to scream but I couldn’t. I felt 10 spear-like claws pierce my skull and then I woke up.I was gasping for air and my heart was racing
Finn My paws thundered against the forest floor as I ran point on a security patrol. So far nothing out of the ordinary had caught my eye, but I was determined to be thorough. I slowed to a stop, feeling my breath heavy in my chest. The sun was shining on Onyx today. It broke through the canopy in a spatter of dappled light that lit up patches of the soft green moss. The old growth forest was peacefully silent aside from a few birds chirping here and there. I inhaled deeply, breathing in the clean, damp air. Life was simpler in this form…more legs, less problems. ‘Finn?’ Lupins voice cut across the mind link.‘What?’ I replied, annoyed at the intrusion.‘Just wondering what time you’ll be back from patrol?’ she asked sharply. We hadn’t really spoken since the whole mate bond discussion. It was clear that we were not back on regular speaking terms quite yet…‘Probably an hour, why?’ I quipped back.‘Just curious.’ She shut the link off. She was probably planning to ambush me about Eve
Finn I set the table for three and poured some wine. I had prepared to eat in the smaller dining room so that we were less likely to be overheard should the conversation turn to Everest. It was light sandy wood, with a black table and six black plush chairs. It had a view of the forest out of the floor to ceiling windows, which slid open to allow fresh air in. I’d changed into a fresh light blue shirt, since I’d spilled on the white one while cooking. I’d made a slow-cooked braised beef with roast potatoes and carrots with Yorkshire puddings and a caprese salad to start. I was no iron chef, but cooking was something mom and I used to do together, and it always calmed me down. It was an escape for me and something I’d hoped to do with Lupin as she grew up…however, the girl could burn water, so it didn’t exactly pan out. But she loved what I’d made, so we would sit in the kitchen together while I cooked, and she would eat her body weight in food. Food was a ritual for both of us, me mak
Finn It was messy now…no doubt about it. I mean, it was messy before…but now it was worse. I couldn’t deny my feelings for her. Everything about her drew me in, and everything in me needed to resist it. I would have to figure out some way to stay away from her until she was ready to reject me. I knew it was what had to happen, but every time I looked into those molten gold eyes, I just couldn’t say no to her. I didn’t want to hurt her, and I knew that every minute we delayed, the mate bond grew stronger. I’d gone there with the intention to tell her to reject the bond and she had pulled me back in with just her simple touch. I was pissed off at the whole situation. But she was right, she did have the right to decide for herself. She was young, and she deserved the chance to get to know her own feelings. Who knows, maybe we could be friends one day? Walking back to my room I was getting angrier and angrier. At the end of the day, it wasn’t Everests fault at all. This was entirely one p
Finn It surprised me how intent she was on visiting the attack victim. As young as she was, she was compassionate and caring, but more so, she was strong. Her energy was powerful and bold, and she knew how to command herself with integrity and strength…yet she was sweet and silly. We walked to the hospital, and she talked about her research with an intensity that impressed me. She was determined to figure out what was going on and she wasn’t to be underestimated. “…there’s just so much to go through. It could be from anywhere. If the girl can tell us more about it hopefully, we can narrow it down at least. Thank goodness you arrived there in time though…Its so strange that it doesn’t have a scent.” “I know, I was confused at first when I only smelled the blood…maybe it’s got natural defences against us…if its venom can stop us from healing, maybe it can prevent itself from being smelled? There are so many possibilities, but hopefully Marley will be able to tell us something.” “M
Finn I checked on Everest every few hours throughout the evening. She slept like the dead, barely moving at all. I couldn’t stop thinking about what I’d seen earlier. Did she have magic in her bloodline somewhere? Obviously, there were stories about gifted wolves, but they were extremely rare, and nothing like what I’d seen her do. Even stranger was that she didn’t remember it. She had glowed like the sun. Her whole aura had burned with light and fire. I hadn’t been able to get close to her to help her, and the fear I’d felt at the idea of her getting hurt was nearly unbearable. It was after midnight now, and she’d been asleep for over half the day already. I crept in to check on her again and saw that she’d kicked off her blankets. I walked over and pulled them up, tucking her back in and she stirred and started mumbling. “Finn…” she said softly. My heart leapt thinking she’d woken and caught me there, but she was mumbling in her sleep. I couldn’t help but smile. I liked the idea o
EverestPain. It radiated through every part of me, sharp and unrelenting, dragging me into a cold, suffocating reality. I had a long gash down my forearm that dripped blood steadily. My wrists burned where the ropes dug into my skin, tied so tightly behind me that I could barely feel my fingers. I was no longer in my wolf form…He must’ve soaked the ropes in wolfsbane. My body trembled, human and vulnerable now, as I hung limply from the tree they’d tied me to.Iza’s voice slithered through the air, soft but venomous.“You look so fragile like this,” he purred, crouching in front of me. His black eyes glinted with cruel amusement, the shadows of his magic flickering around him like living things. “Where is your precious glow now, hmm? Where is Selene’s power?”I lifted my head weakly, my glare cutting through the pain. “Go to hell,” I spat, my voice hoarse.Iza chuckled darkly, his pointed teeth gleaming in the dim light of the clearing. “Oh, my dear, I’ve been living in hell for cent
EverestThe forest swallowed me whole, the sounds of the battle fading into muffled chaos behind me. My heart thundered, every step driving me closer to the witches who had orchestrated this nightmare. The bond screamed for me to stop, to turn back and find Finn, but I pushed forward. This ended tonight—no matter the cost.Their energy pulsed like a beacon, sickly and dark, guiding me deeper into the woods. The gifts Selene had given me flared stronger the closer I got to their foul magic. On a night without a moon, my glow was all the light the forest needed. A soft silvery haze bathed the trees, the shadows twisting and curling unnaturally as though they feared my presence. My paws hit the ground in rhythmic thuds, quiet and deliberate as I honed in on my prey.Twax and Iza were close.A few more minutes of running and I saw them. Twax hunched near a crude altar, his single arm fumbling with a vial of dark yellow liquid. A low growl rumbled in my chest as I spotted his maimed should
EverestFinn had barely acknowledged me in days. It was like standing on the edge of a cliff, the bond between us stretched so taut it might snap at any moment. Every glance, every word exchanged felt sharp, strained, and deliberate—like we were both trying to avoid spilling over into an argument we couldn’t come back from.He ate, slept, and lived battle preparations. He didn’t ask if I’d eaten, or if I’d rested, or if I needed anything. He didn’t linger when we crossed paths, didn’t hold my gaze longer than absolutely necessary. Didn't ask to talk, or attempt to mend things. It hurt more than I wanted to admit.It wasn’t anger I felt from him. Not really. It was something quieter, deeper. A kind of grief that twisted and coiled in his aura, pressing against the bond like a thick fog. It seeped into me every time I felt his presence, and I hated it.Ten days passed in a blur of preparation and tension until the new moon had cloaked the world in impenetrable darkness. The pack sat in
EverestThe air still smelled of smoke, the acrid scent clinging to the ruins of the village. The distant crackle of burning wood had long since faded, replaced by an oppressive silence that settled over the devastation. Onyx Moon felt like a ghost town—its spirit gutted by the chaos of last night.I picked my way through the streets, boots crunching over glass and debris. Broken walls leaned precariously, the remains of homes and businesses crumbled in on themselves like fragile bones. The east wing of the hospital was little more than a charred skeleton, its shattered windows framing a scene of ruin. The bodies—too many bodies—had already been shrouded in cloth. But the weight of their loss lingered, heavier than the wreckage. Bill and Annie. Gone.One of the forsaken had survived, though just barely—the one who had killed Annie. It was subdued now, locked away in a secure cell with wolfsbane coursing through its veins, but I couldn’t help wondering if there was even a sliver of the
**this chapter contains themes of graphic violence and death**FinnThe mindlink hit like a blade slicing into my skull, Duncan’s voice frantic and cracking with terror."Alpha—monsters—hospital—carnage everywhere—"The connection snapped, leaving nothing but the echo of his panic. I shot out of bed, my wolf snarling in the back of my mind, claws already scraping for control.“What is it?” Everest asked, sitting up, her voice groggy.I didn’t answer. I was already moving for the door. My pulse roared in my ears. Something was wrong—deeply, violently wrong. I could feel it like a storm crawling under my skin.“Finn?” she pushed, her tone sharper now.“Stay here.” The words came out like a growl, harsher than I intended.Everest bristled, but I didn’t wait for an argument. I slammed the door behind me, praying she would listen this once, sprinting down the stairs, my senses locking onto the scent of blood hanging in the night air.Blood. Soaking the air square in its copper tang. Smoke
EverestTheo sat upright in the hospital bed. The sheets had been changed to get rid of the gore that had come off him. He looked straight ahead, not at Kali or I who sat either side of him, his brown eyes vacant and dissociated. He’d awoken a few hours ago but hadn’t said anything. His leg, ribs and arm had all healed nicely. His black hair was still gory, and he needed a shower, but he was alive, thank the gods. The doctors had assessed him and maintained that he was perfectly healthy, that perhaps he just needed time to recover from the trauma within his mind. Sienna had curled up on the sofa on the opposite wall when she’d heard he was okay. Poor thing had barely slept for days and had experienced some gruesome trauma of her own. Kali and I had shown Theo photos of the three of us when we were younger to try and jog his memory, but he had barely looked at them. It was like he was in some sort of daze, and he only seemed to know one word. “Sienna”. He would rasp it anytime his eyes
FinnThe hospital’s fluorescent lights buzzed faintly, a stark contrast to the stillness of the room. Theo lay motionless on the cot, his chest rising and falling in uneven intervals. Sienna sat rigid beside him; her hands clasped so tightly her knuckles were white. She hadn’t moved since they’d brought him in, her eyes darting to the door every time it creaked open, as if expecting someone—or something—to come for them.Finn lingered near the window, his arms crossed, his wolf pacing beneath his skin. He didn’t trust her yet, not fully, but something in the way she held herself, the broken desperation carved into her expression, told him her story was far from over. Kali and Everest sat on a small sofa against the far wall, holding one anothers hands. Everests head rested on Kali’s shoulder, but her eyes were gazing out the window, distant, as though she was listening to voices on the wind. Caleb had gone to sure up the border defences and prepare the arial weapon strike we had plann
FinnThe stench of blood and rot reached me before I saw them. It clawed at my senses, setting my wolf on edge. Caleb and I burst through the trees at the border, my paws digging into the earth as I skidded to a halt.Sienna.She staggered into view, barely upright, her arms wrapped around a man’s half-conscious form. His head lolled against her shoulder, and his legs dragged uselessly behind her. She looked like death warmed over—clothes shredded, face streaked with blood and grime, her movements unsteady as though the ground beneath her feet was giving way.My wolf snarled in my chest. I didn’t trust her. Couldn’t trust her. Not after what she’d done to Everest.But something in her eyes stopped me cold. Panic. Desperation. I shifted, giving her the opportunity to speak.“Sienna,” I growled, standing upright. Caleb stayed in his wolf behind me, his hackles raised as his eyes darted to the shadows of the forest. He was thinking what I was: this could be a trap.She collapsed at the so
EverestThe sharp taste of bile still lingered in the back of my throat as I splashed cold water on my face. My hands trembled against the porcelain sink. Morning sickness had always seemed like a minor inconvenience in the stories I’d heard growing up—a small price to pay for the miracle of life. No one warned me how it would leave me feeling like my body was no longer entirely in my control.Finn’s footsteps echoed outside the door. He was pacing again, no doubt trying to decide whether to knock or give me the space I’d asked for. My chest tightened at the thought of the worry etched across his face.I reached for the glass bottle tucked into the top drawer. The tonic Rowena had given me sat cold and still in its glass. Its promise was simple: delay the inevitable. Buy time. Time to prepare, time to fight, time to heal.I held it up to the light, the golden liquid catching the faint glow of the lamp. Was this what a good mother would do? Was this what my child needed?Finn tapped on