(Jasper) My heart pounded as Iris and I sprinted through the dense forest, branches whipping against our faces. I tried to ask questions, but Iris’s urgent grip on my arm silenced my protests. Her breath was ragged, matching the rhythm of our hurried steps over uneven ground. “What are you doing?” I finally managed to tell over the cacophony of our flight. “Shut up! Just run! He wants you dead!” Iris shot back, her voice strained with fear. We pushed on until the trees thinned, revealing the yawning mouth of a cave hidden beneath an overhang of rocks. Without hesitation, Iris pulled me inside, her urgency echoing in her grip and eyes. Inside, the cave exuded a musty, earthy scent that mingled with the dampness of the walls. The faint glow of twilight filtered through the entrance, casting long shadows that danced eerily across the uneven floor. Small, delicate stalactites hung from the ceiling like teeth waiting to bite. “We can’t stay here for long. They will catch up to
(Iris) I didn’t say anything, just kept looking at the walls of the cave. The jagged edges of the rocks seemed to mirror the turmoil in my mind. The musty scent of the cave filled my nostrils, grounding me in the present, even as my thoughts raced. “I am sorry, you know that, right? I didn’t know you were pregnant at the time, I really didn’t. I would never otherwise…” Jasper trailed off, his voice breaking. His words hung in the air, heavy and painful. I didn’t want to acknowledge them, didn’t want to open that old wound. In the darkness, I felt him move closer to me, his presence a warm and familiar intrusion. He reached out and touched my hair. The gesture was gentle, almost tender, but it made my skin crawl. I pushed him away, the movement sharp and final. “Don’t,” I said, my voice a low warning. Jasper pulled back, and I could see him looking at me intensely under the faint moonlight that filtered through the cave entrance. His eyes were searching, trying to read the
(Iris) The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the dense forest, dappling the ground with specks of light that barely penetrated the thick canopy above. I crept forward cautiously, my breath shallow and heart racing. Jasper moved silently beside me, his eyes darting nervously at every rustle of leaves. The forest was eerily silent, as if holding its breath. Suddenly a voice cut through the stillness, deep and commanding. “Spread out! They couldn't have gotten far!” My blood ran cold as I recognized the man leading the search party: Xander. He was a tall, imposing figure with sharp features and a reputation for being relentless. Panic surged through me and I grabbed Jasper’s arm, pulling him towards a bush nearby. The bush had very smelly berries and the pungent odor made my nose wrinkle, but it was our best chance to hide from the keen noses of the search dogs. We crouched low, the foliage barely concealing us as Xander’s voice grew louder. My heart pounded in my ears, an
(Elias) I opened my eyes slowly, the dim light filtering through the room causing me to squint. Seraphina’s concerned face hovered above me, her eyes flickering with relief as she noticed I was finally awake. Her expression brightened momentarily before clouding over with something akin to disappointment when she realized I was more lucid. “Where is Iris?” I asked urgently, my voice hoarse from days of battling wolfsbane poisoning and infection. Seraphina’s reaction was not what I expected. She stiffened, her features tightening with suppressed emotion. After a tense moment, she spoke, her voice clipped. “She ran away with Jasper. She chose him over you.” Her words made my stomach drop. Iris, my mate, my love, had chosen another. The pain and confusion welled up inside me, threatening to overwhelm my senses. I struggled to make sense of it all, the betrayal cutting deeper than any physical wound I had endured. Images of Iris flooded my mind - her laughter, her touch, the wa
(Naomi) “Hello, Lucas, or should I call you Elias?” I met Elias’s gaze squarely, my voice laced with a hint of vindictiveness. He lay in the bed, his eyes darkening briefly in response. At that moment, I regretted my choice of words. Elias had changed. I couldn’t afford to provoke him; I had no allies here anymore. “Who told you?” Elias’s voice was calm, but I sensed an undercurrent of tension. I had to tread carefully. My father was imprisoned, Jasper and Iris were still at large, and Alpha Caden’s motives remained murky. Elias glanced over at Caden, who stood by silently with a smirk playing on his lips. They were clearly more than just acquaintances. “A lucky guess is all,” I replied evasively, trying to gauge Elias’s reaction. He didn’t press further, instead dismissing everyone else from the room until only the three of us remained. “Am I under investigation?” I asked, trying to maintain a semblance of composure despite the turmoil swirling within me. “You’re detained
(Iris) “Are you thinking about my brother again?” Jasper’s voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of him made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. “What if I was?” I asked flippantly. Jasper’s jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. “Iris,” he growled. “You should know better.” Elias, his brother and rightful heir to the pack, had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their father’s sudden death. In addition to the Alpha position, he took mor
(Iris)Jasper’s words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldn’t have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadn’t rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, the former girlfriend of the rightful heir, wouldn’t have looked good. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated.I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldn’t feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldn’t feel anything at all. He was a killer. I should hate him. I really shouldn’t have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the sex, he didn’t want me. There was someo
(Iris)The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomi’s lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldn’t help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. “Hey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!” Naomi’s voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly,