LOGINASH“The spell is complete.”That was all the witch said before dragging her body back to the chair woven with vines. She picked up a cloth calmly wiping off the blood and saliva.Kade frowned.Annalise was perplexed. What I felt didn’t have a name. Conflict maybe?“Well,” the witch pressed with irritation. “Shift.”Kade only hesitated for half a second, wondering what the hell just happened before ultimately deciding it was none of his business.He rolled his shoulders, then slowly, the sound of bones snapping filled the air. Relief flodded in as his skin began breaking into fur and finally, his wolf stood tall and proud… and snarling at the witch.I guess his wolf still held a grudge.Kade managed to hold him back from tearing her head off. “And the information?” I asked. She sighed exhausted, massaging her head. “You can kill then by ripping their heart out or burning them alive. There are a couple of conduits that can point you towards one. The twin stones are one of them. Alon
ASHThe journey served as a countdown.To whether or not we survived this whole ordeal. Kade hadn’t spoken much since we left meadow grove. Not when we stopped over the pickup spots for the herbs Annalise needed. Not when we camped in the woods.He stayed silent. Like he had taken a vow of silence, refusing to eat or drink anything. It was starting to get to me.“I wonder how you intend on facing the witch when you look like you’re about to roll over and die.”Kade barely spared me a glance, hauling the body of the hybrid over the wall of trees that seperated the woods from the enchanted forest before climbing over it. The air grew thicker, the surroundings darker, like they were warning us to stay out. “I’ll eat when I get my life back.” He mumbled low, taking the lead.Annalise glanced at me with a knowing look. She waited until he was out of earshot before whispering. “He’s spiraling.”My jaw ticked. “I know.”“Will he be a problem?”I paused. “I hope not.”“I can hear you guys.”
ASH“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I said tightly, hating how aware my body felt.Annalise only smiled, almost like she had expected that answer.I shuffled on my feet, gaze flicking away from her. Normally she would poke until I spilled whatever was on my mind, her silence only made my unease grow. A wolf staggered toward us, brushing past me with the faint smell of alcohol before disappearing into Tenski’s shed.Drunkness and despair. Safe to say this place hadn’t changed in the last decade. But the thought was swallowed up by the silence. It was becoming unbearable.“Say what’s on your mind.” I gritted.Her lip tipped up. “And why would you think I have something to say?”I forced a breath through my nose. “Because you’re not saying anything.”Her brows furrowed in amusement. “Maybe I don’t have anything to say.”“I know that look.”“What look?”“The one that says you’re itching to ask who she is.”I froze. Her smile grew wider.Great.“So there is someone?”I hated whe
IRISRunning through the woods helped. Not by a lot. But enough to ease that weight that pressed against my chest, making it impossible to breathe.Something was wrong.I could feel it. And yet, Ryker was convinced it was all in my head. I let my eyes flutter shut, feeling the night breeze on my skin. A shiver rolled through me as I sank into the grass. I inhaled deeply, relishing that scent. Pine. Wet soil. Clean air. A shuffle made my eyes snap open. I held my breath, waiting and sure enough, it came again, from my right, behind the bushes of wild flowers.My eyes narrowed, senses sharpening as I stood slowly. The shuffling stopped suddenly, my pulse froze. Then something lunged at me, black, fast. “Ahhhh!!!!” I screamed, shielding my face from the attack.I expected blood. Pain. But all I got was a light prickle on my arms. I peeled my eyes open slowly. Then froze, tilting my head to the side.A black cat perched on a tree stump, staring down at me like I was an inconvenience.
IRISThe Blossom Spring festival was two days away.And no sign of Ash or Kade.I was starting to get worried.Kade was very particular about this festival. Every year, without fail, he honored his parents beneath the blossom trees. It was the one day he allowed himself to grieve openly.He never missed it.Never.The pack members shared my unease, whispering different theories. I turned to face Timothy who was stacking the baskets I needed for the floral arrangement. “Where is he?”He didn’t look up. “I don’t know Iris, I’m just following orders. “His hands paused. “Like the foot soldier that I am.”Guilt flickered in my chest.He was still mad at me for the hierarchy stunt I pulled weeks ago. I wasn’t about to apologize for telling the truth. But I was going to try and get answers.I pushed off the wall, walking toward the door.“Where are you going now?” Timothy asked, irritation coating his voice.“To find out why they’re still not back.” I answered without looking back or waitin
My own thoughts taunted me.Her round eyes flashed behind my eyelids.I tore them open, a small frown already tugging at my lip. Annalise finally caught up, wheezing like she had just lifted a mountain.“You’re getting old, Scat.” I said under my breath, trying to push that feeling away.But she caught it.I hated that.“What’s going on in that head of yours?”My jaw ticked. “What happened to minding our business?”Her gaze flicked around us. “She’s definitely taking her precious time to get here. Might as well unburden yourself. Just like before.”The thought that had flooded my mind ever since I laid eyes on her. The unsure but fiery look in her eyes. The way she pushed through even when surrounded by people that saw her as an outcast. I knew something was wrong. I just didn’t know what and if I was being honest? I didn’t want to find out.I let out a sharp breath. “I just can’t wait to be done with this mess.”Her lips twitched. “Whatever it is, I’m sure you’ll get through it. You
IRISI accepted Selene’s offer.Of course I did. I didn’t exactly have a line of options waiting for me. So what if I agreed to team up with an ancient being who I knew absolutely nothing about? That was how steep my choices were.And besides, I had a gnawing feeling that whatever was going on in
ASH“Do you genuinely expect me to believe that you have no idea where you came from?”Kade’s shed was smaller than I remembered… or maybe it had shrunken over the years we used to sneak here when we were younger. Unease rolled off me in waves, the familiar scent of fresh soil mixed with pine hangi
IRISA low growl vibrated through the air, making the hairs on my skin stand straight. My pulse hammered against my chest, my wolf growling, unease doubling.“Ash!”The sound of my voice echoed but no response. I stumbled back when I caught a branch snapping beyond the tree line. Loose rocks fell o
KADEMy wolf growled, agitated but I kept my expression calm, turning to Ash. The smell of smoke was already starting to curl into the air, mixing with the panic of my subjects.Rage flooded my veins.First Sussie now this?“Go to the gates,” I said tightly, rolling my shoulders. “I’ll check the bo







