LOGINMark studied Nova for a long moment before letting out a quiet sigh.“I expected this.”Nova raised an eyebrow.“You expected me to agree with you?”“No.”“I expected you to fight me.”He walked over to the fireplace and rested one hand on the mantel.“You’re more like me than you realize.”Nova shook her head.“I don’t think so.”Mark looked back at her.“When you first awakened, what was the first thing you did?”Nova frowned.“I…”“You protected yourself.”“You killed the people trying to kill you.”“You commanded the Hollowfangs without even realizing it.”Nova crossed her arms.“I never wanted any of that.”“But you did it.”“Because you had to.”Mark nodded.“So did I.”Silence filled the room.Nova finally asked the question that had been bothering her.“Why me?”Mark smiled faintly.“Because you’re stronger than I am.”Nova blinked.“What?”“I’ve spent years trying to control the Hollowfangs.”“I can command them…”“…but only to a point.”He looked directly into her eyes.“You
Two days passed.During that time, Kael and Alpha Mason never stopped working.Messages were sent to every Alpha they trusted. Some answered immediately, while others arrived in person after hearing what had happened.By the third morning, Black Hollow’s training grounds were filled with wolves from several different packs.The atmosphere was tense.Everyone had heard the same story.A new enemy had appeared.Someone was controlling Hollowfangs.An Alpha’s mate had been taken.A Beta had been kidnapped and released with no memory of where he had been held.Inside the meeting hall, Kael stood at the front beside a large map.Alpha Mason stood on one side of him while the other Alphas gathered around.Rylan leaned against the wall, still bruised from his capture, refusing to sit despite the doctor’s orders.Kael looked around the room.“Thank you all for coming.”One of the older Alphas crossed his arms.“Tell us everything.”Kael nodded.He explained the ambush, Nova’s transformation,
Nova stepped in front of the cells, her eyes never leaving the stranger.“You have me.”The stranger remained silent.“So let them go.”He studied her for a long moment.“You’d really trade your freedom for theirs?”Nova didn’t hesitate.“Yes.”Rylan gripped the bars.“Nova, don’t.”She ignored him.“You said if I came with you, they’d be released.”“I kept my end of the deal.”“Now keep yours.”The stranger smiled.“I always keep my promises.”He reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys.With a flick of his wrist, he tossed them to one of the guards.“Release them.”Rylan frowned.“Just like that?”The stranger looked at him.“I never wanted you.”“My interest has always been her.”One by one, the cell doors opened.The captured warriors slowly stepped out, confused but relieved.Nova let out a quiet breath.“Thank you.”“Don’t thank me yet,” the stranger replied. “You still belong here.”Nova didn’t answer.She simply watched as Rylan and the others were escorted toward
ChapterKael stood motionless, staring into the trees where Nova had disappeared.The forest felt empty.His chest felt even worse.His wolf let out another mournful howl.Go after her.Kael clenched his fists.“I can’t.”The Hollowfangs had vanished as quickly as they had appeared. The only sounds left were the groans of injured warriors trying to get back on their feet.Alpha Mason walked over, holding his side.“They’re gone.”Kael didn’t answer.“They planned this from the beginning,” Mason continued. “They never wanted to kill us.”“They wanted Nova,” Kael said quietly.Mason nodded.“And they got her.”Kael’s eyes darkened.“For now.”He turned toward his warriors.“Report.”One by one, the patrol leaders stepped forward.“We’ve got seven injured.”“Three with broken bones.”“No fatalities.”Another warrior spoke up.“We searched the area after they left.”“Nothing.”“They covered their tracks.”Kael cursed under his breath.One of Mason’s wolves jogged over.“Alpha!”Mason turn
The stranger lowered his hand.Every Hollowfang charged at once.The forest erupted into chaos.Kael shifted instantly, leading the charge with Alpha Mason close behind. Warriors crashed into Hollowfangs from every direction. Teeth snapped, claws slashed, and growls echoed through the trees.At first, it looked like they were holding their own.Then the stranger moved.He didn’t shift.He simply stepped forward.A Black Hollow warrior lunged at him.The stranger caught him by the throat and threw him several yards into a tree.Another wolf attacked from behind.Without even looking, the stranger drove an elbow into the wolf’s head before sending him tumbling across the ground.Alpha Mason charged next.The stranger sidestepped him with ease and slammed a fist into his ribs, sending the Alpha rolling through the dirt.Kael growled.He’s too fast.His wolf launched.The stranger smiled.“Better.”Kael hit him full force, driving him backward.For a brief second, it looked like Kael had
ChapterThe deeper they moved into the forest, the quieter everything became.It didn’t feel natural.There were no birds.No insects.Nothing.Kael suddenly stopped, causing everyone behind him to do the same.His wolf sniffed the air before letting out a low growl.Nova looked around uneasily.“What is it?”Kael shifted back into his human form.“We’re not alone.”Alpha Mason stepped beside him.“You smell them?”Kael nodded.“They’re close.”Nova frowned.“I don’t see anything.”“You won’t,” Kael replied. “They’re hiding.”A strange feeling settled in Nova’s chest.Her Lycan stirred.They’re watching us.Nova slowly scanned the trees.Then she froze.“There.”Everyone looked where she was pointing.At first, there was nothing.Then a Hollowfang stepped out from behind a tree.Another appeared.Then another.Within seconds, dozens of Hollowfangs surrounded the clearing.Low growls echoed through the forest.Mason cursed under his breath.“That’s a lot more than I was expecting.”Nov
“Hello?” Nova snapped. “I’m sitting right here. Can someone explain to me what the hell is going on?”Both men looked at her Then the big Alpha sighed heavily and dragged a hand down his face.“It’s not good,” he admitted.Nova gave a dry laugh despite the fear twisting in her stomach. “Yeah, I fig
Being killed by those Hollowfangs would have been better than this.The thought repeated over and over in Nova’s head as Kael carried her through the center of the compound Every wolf they passed stared openly.Some looked curious.Others hungry.A few looked outright disgusted.Nova could practic
The Alpha’s silver eyes locked onto Nova in the darkness of the ruined subway car. Rainwater dripped steadily from his massive black coat, pooling beneath his paws as the Hollowfangs whimpered around her. The infected creatures that moments ago had been trying to tear her apart now looked terrified
Rain hammered against the ruined train cars hard enough to make the metal groan. Nova Reyes tightened her grip on the rusted crowbar in her hand as she climbed through the narrow opening between two collapsed seats. Water dripped from the ceiling onto the back of her neck. The flashlight strapped







