All Chapters of Between Hate and Fate: Chapter 81 - Chapter 88

Everything happens at once, a chaotic blur of motion and sound that stretches into an eternity. One moment, Marissa’s voice is ringing in my ears, cruel and taunting, her gun aimed at me and Milanya. The next, the window shatters, glass spraying across the room like frozen rain as the Gammas burst in, their growls tearing through the air.Andrei spins toward the sound, his snarl breaking into a roar as Roman lunges at him, his claws slashing through the space between them. The fight begins in an instant—a savage clash of strength and rage—but my focus is elsewhere.Milanya.My daughter’s soft whimper pulls me back, grounding me in the chaos. She’s still in her crib, her tiny face scrunched with fear. I can’t let her stay there, exposed and vulnerable.I move without thinking, my feet propelling me forward as adrenaline takes over. My arms reach out, desperate to scoop her up and hold her close.“Don’t you fucking dare!” Marissa shrieks, lunging toward me, her gun still aimed at my ch

The cabin feels far too quiet without Ruslan’s presence. Milanya is napping in her crib, the soft sound of her tiny breaths the only thing breaking the silence. Normally, I’d find her peacefulness soothing, but today it feels like a cruel reminder of how fragile everything is.I sit by the window, my gaze fixed on the treeline where Ruslan disappeared hours ago. He had to leave to help fortify the border and investigate how Andrei managed to get onto pack lands in the first place. He hadn’t wanted to go, not after everything we’d been through last night, but we both knew he didn’t have a choice.His absence weighs heavily on me, and I can’t stop my thoughts from spiraling. The memory of Andrei in Milanya’s room, his scarred face twisted with obsession and desperation, keeps replaying in my mind. The way he spoke about me, about Milanya, like we were possessions he had lost and deserved to reclaim.I close my eyes, leaning my head against the cool glass of the window. The bond between

The sun is high in the sky, and a soft breeze carries the earthy scent of the forest, mixed with the faint sweetness of wildflowers. Peace. That’s what this is—pure, uninterrupted peace.Milanya toddles ahead, her tiny hand gripping Ruslan’s much larger one. She’s walking more steadily now, her confidence growing with every day. It’s hard to believe she was just a baby clinging to my hip not so long ago. Now, she’s this curious little explorer at fifteen months, her grey eyes wide with wonder as she glances back at me with a giggle.“She’s fast,” I say with a laugh, watching as she tries to tug Ruslan forward.“She’s got my stamina,” Ruslan replies, smirking over his shoulder. “Lucky you.”“Lucky me,” I echo, rolling my eyes but unable to hide my smile.The past year and a half have changed everything. The shadows that once clung to our lives have finally dissipated, leaving room for something brighter. I feel it in the way Ruslan carries himself now—less guarded, more at ease. He’s

5 Years LaterThe crisp mountain air fills my lungs as I stand at the foot of the cabin, the old wood of the porch creaking softly beneath my weight. The familiar scent of pine and damp earth surrounds me, grounding me in the moment as my eyes follow the scene in front of me.Katya’s laugh echoes across the clearing, light and carefree, the kind of sound that still catches me off guard because of how much it softens everything inside me. She’s running, her long dark hair streaming behind her like a banner as she chases Milanya and Mikhail.Milanya shrieks with laughter, her dark curls bouncing as she sprints ahead, her silver eyes gleaming with mischief. She’s fast, so fast for her age, and every time I see her move with that wild, untamed energy, I see pieces of both Katya and me in her.Mikhail isn’t far behind, his silver hair catching the light as he dodges around his sister, trying to outmaneuver her. He’s quieter, more measured in his movements, but there’s no mistaking the spark