RAFAEL POVRage.That was all I could feel within me as my temperature spiked higher than usual.I knew it wasn't abnormal because I had gone into this phase so many times and could barely remember all that happened whenever I came to, but this time seemed different. I was aware of everything. If anything, my senses seemed heightened more than ever before, and I wondered what the reason was because it had never been like this.My eyes stayed fixed on Winter, who was still watching me like I had gone crazy—or maybe I had—because I didn't move from the spot I was in. Not because I desired not to, but because of Winter. I believed that. Her scent was what was keeping me immobile, and at the moment, the urge to tug her into me and fulfill the current desire within me filled me. But I resisted. At least, I tried to.Gritting my teeth, she stepped closer, peering into my eyes, and frowned. "Are you going to remain that way, or do I need to perform another spell to free you from the possessi

WINTER POVPerhaps I had spoken too soon about him keeping himself alive. Everything went wrong almost immediately.My hunch about the direction I had taken was correct; there were more possessed souls than I had anticipated. As soon as we reached the door, it swung wide open without any effort from me."What the hell?!" Rafael growled, rushing towards me, but I shoved him aside. "Don't fucking get in my way!" I snapped, my eyes fixed on the werewolves and humans walking disorderly toward us."And get yourself killed?!" He gritted.I chanced a glance at him, seeing daggers in his glare before looking back at the possessed souls."I am not getting myself killed," I said, trying to find a solution. "Please let me think."But whether Rafael heard me or not, he didn't care. He continued, "You should have done all your thinking back there. What is the purpose of coming here to start thinking of how to attack them?!"Ignoring him, I placed both my palms on the wall beside me, trying to draw

RAFAEL POV"It's my fault," Naomi sniffed.I paced back and forth, pausing only to glance at Winter's unconscious form before resuming my agitated circuit. And minutes had stretched into eternity since Winter had blacked out. Meanwhile, normalcy had returned. The spell had been too potent, and I knew that pushing her to this extent was a mistake. The blame rested partly on my shoulders; if I hadn't encouraged her to aid Naomi, she wouldn't now be lying on the bed, contorted in pain.If she hadn't acted, Naomi might have perished. That was a fate I wouldn't dare entertain."I am so sorry!" Naomi's voice quivered. "It is my fault, Rafael. Will she live?""You might want to lower your voice," intervened a brunette. Her eyes assessed me critically before settling on Naomi. "This isn't your doing. Winter took every step she could to safeguard us. All we can do now is hope for her swift recovery."She continued attending to Winter, her focus shifting from Naomi, who remained unconvinced.Na

RAFAEL POVAfter attempting to rest for what felt like ages but achieving nothing, I finally emerged from the training center. The night air greeted me with a brisk slap on the cheek. I couldn't help but release a sigh before inhaling deeply, savoring the crispness of the air, and then exhaling slowly. My gaze shifted upwards to the night sky."Just what I needed," I muttered with a roll of my eyes. The full moon hung above, catching me by surprise with its early appearance. I hadn't anticipated its swift arrival. But here it was, unavoidable.As I made my way toward my house, my ears picked up every sound. The absence of Winter's presence made it feel lonelier than usual. She had been gone for a while now, and yet this intense longing for her was new to me. What had changed?It was strange, this overthinking. I was fixating on the last person I should be thinking about. I was adept at controlling my thoughts, and at pushing aside the unwanted ones. Yet, Winter's thoughts slipped thro

RAFAEL's POVThe ominous words continued to echo in my mind: "Then death shall inevitably follow."Even after exiting the infirmary, the seer's words refused to release their grip on my thoughts. I hadn't waited for her to finish her proclamation; the room had felt stiflingly small, suffocating me. I needed air.Though I knew that my hyperventilation had little to do with the infirmary's size—it was spacious enough to accommodate over a thousand werewolves without them breaking a sweat—it was her presence and the grim news she had confirmed that had overwhelmed me.My back tingled as I sensed Naomi's approach. Settling on one of the benches in the garden, the only place I could find solace, I let my gaze drift to the horizon. The sun was in the midst of setting, casting a familiar hue that never failed to soothe me."Is James going to be alright?" I inquired as she joined me."He's going to pull through," she replied before heaving a sigh, her gaze locked onto me.Furrowing her brows,