Xanden POV
Not far from the cress moon town, hidden deep within the dense pine forest, stood an old wooden house that belonged to four rogue brothers and their wicked sister, a witch. The house was built from ancient oak, its rough-hewn boards blending seamlessly with the shadows of the forest, making it nearly impossible for any passerby to spot.
Xanden, the oldest of the siblings, had become the leader of their pack after Olivia killed Kilian, the previous head.
Wise and authoritative, Xanden was distinct from his brothers, the only one without a single tattoo on his body. His brothers, however, were covered in ink, each tattoo telling a story of their exploits, misdeeds, and lives as rogue wolves.
Even their youngest sister, Melody, bore marks of her own, symbols of her magical journey. Despite their wild and chaotic nature, the family was close-knit, and they always shared supper together.
The dining room was large, aged, and dusty, with a rough wooden table dominating the center and heavy oak chairs surrounding it.
Stephan, the second oldest and the most cold-hearted of the brothers, set out the metal plates on the table while Melody, with a wave of her hand, magically filled each cup with a rich, dark red wine.
"You know you could just use the bottle like a normal person," Stephan commented dryly as he arranged the plates.
Melody rolled her eyes, her fingers flicking with casual power. "I'm anything but normal, and where's the fun in that?" she replied with a smirk. A young witch, Melody practiced dark magic, and her powers had strengthened her brothers, enhancing their speed and strength as wolves.
As they readied for the meal, the two youngest brothers, Kyle and JC, entered the room.
Kyle, covered in tattoos that reached up to his neck, had dark black hair and piercing blue eyes, with a lip piercing that added to his notorious reputation. Known for his violent temper and cruel tendencies, he was as dangerous as he looked.
JC, the youngest of them all, had striking blond hair, inherited from their mother, and captivating blue eyes. His tattoos were fewer, decorating only his upper arms.
The family's resident charmer, JC was known for his cursed bite, which he delighted in using to turn humans into wolves against their will.
When they were all seated, Xanden entered, carrying a massive plate loaded with thick, juicy steaks. "Who's hungry?" he called, placing the platter at the center of the table.
In seconds, the brothers grabbed their steaks, tearing into the meal with ravenous appetite. Meanwhile, Melody slipped back into the kitchen to prepare her special dish—a mac and cheese she made to suit her vegetarian taste, and one of the few things she truly enjoyed besides her magic.
Together, in the shadowed, dusty dining room, the siblings devoured their meal, a twisted yet tightly bound family reveling in the darkness that defined them.
The brothers tore into their steaks, hands dripping with juices as they ate without bothering with utensils.
Melody, however, sat primly at the table, the only one using a fork and knife. Since Kilian's death, the rogue siblings had grown closer, bound by the memory of their oldest brother, who had essentially raised them after their parents died.
With Kilian gone, they had no one but each other, and so they clung to their twisted family bond.
As they ate, Kyle broke the silence. "I was at that house," he grunted, "but there was no sign of that witch or the redhead."
Xanden shifted in his seat, taking a thoughtful bite of his steak before responding. "They were smart. Probably moved back to town to lay low," he said, then took another bite, chewing slowly as he considered his words.
Across the table, JC dropped his steak, grinning slyly. "Who is this redhead anyway? If you want, I could investigate. I'll make her fall for me, and then we'll have her exactly where we want her."
Stephan let out a low chuckle. "That's typical of you, JC—make every girl swoon just so you can take a bite." He leaned back in his chair, eyeing his youngest brother with amusement. "But this one's different. She's special."
Melody cleared her throat, the sound cutting through the conversation. Instantly, the brothers turned to her, curiosity piqued.
With all their attention on her, she began. "You seem to forget," she said smoothly, "I'm still in school. The redhead, Haylie, is there too. And so is Liam—the one you wanted."
The room fell silent, a mixture of interest and intrigue in the brothers' eyes.
Xanden put down his steak, wiping his fingers clean as he looked at Melody with full attention. "What's your point, Melody?" he asked, voice low and intent.
A sly smile spread across her face. "My magic is strong enough to mask my scent, to act like a wolf. I could make Liam believe I'm his fated mate. Once Haylie's hurt and vulnerable… we can strike. She'll be ours to deal with."
The brothers exchanged glances, nodding as Melody's plan unfolded before them.
But then JC frown and speak up " Okay but what if I get the girl while you get Liam , and could any one tell me why we are after that red head "
Xanden let out a heavy sigh, his gaze settling on JC, who often seemed oblivious to the deeper currents in their twisted vendetta. "The redhead is Olivia's daughter," he reminded him. "The same Olivia who killed Kilian. She's the reason our brother is dead, and we won't rest until her daughter pays for it."
Xanden's fingers traced the scars that marred his face, the burns Olivia had left him with that would never heal.
Those scars were a constant reminder of that fateful night, when they sought revenge for the wolves who had slaughtered their parents. They'd encountered the Luna and Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack, and in the ensuing chaos, Olivia had killed Kilian.
Kilian—the brother who had raised them, the one who had been both mother and father to their broken family.
Xanden's heart hardened with the memory, knowing how much Melody and JC, too young back then, had missed out on knowing their family because of Olivia.
JC took a large bite of steak, barely swallowing before speaking up. "You know, this is her mother's sin, not hers. The poor girl is innocent in all this."
A thick silence settled over the table as the brothers processed his words, glancing at each other in surprise.
Across the table, Kyle's face darkened. He suddenly rose, slamming his hand down hard on the heavy wood. "Who cares if she's innocent? That just makes it all the better. She'll pay, along with Alpha Matthew and his son, for everything they did to us," he snarled before storming out of the room.
Xanden sighed again, a mix of frustration and empathy in his expression. Kyle had never truly healed from that night; he had been the youngest there, and Kilian's death had shattered him more than anyone else.
The anger Kyle carried had twisted him over the years, turning him into the most volatile among them.
"I'll check on Kyle," Xanden said, standing up. As the eldest, it was his duty to keep the family together, even if it meant bearing their rage, grief, and endless thirst for vengeance.
Melody POV
I put down my fork and pushed my plate aside. Off everything what happen was I no longer hungry.
It was always the same; looming shadows of my past what was wrapped around me like a thick fog, suffocating me.
The memories of my family—of Kilian, my oldest brother who we all lost; my parents taken too soon—dug deep, gnawing at our heart.
My brothers, Stephan and JC, sat across the table, their faces marred by the weight of a shared sorrow. I did not blame them; I could relate to the pain.
Being the youngest and the only girl and between bounce off wolves was not easy, it felt like I was caught in a storm of conflicting loyalties.
Thank to my magic I make my brothers transformed into the strongest wolves that surpassed even the mightiest Alpha.
But that was a burden I could no longer bear. MY brothers could get out of control and have done some unspoken things what I would never forget of the wickedness and evil.
"Excuse me," I said, my voice quivering with the weight of my thoughts. I rose from the table, the old wooden chair creaking in protest beneath me.
The moment I stepped into the dim hallway; I could feel the dust particles swirl around me like whispers of ghosts. Our house was full of antique furniture, full of memories of laughter and love that had long since faded into distance; now it was just a hollow shell populated by wolfish anger and unfulfilled dreams.
I make my way to my bedroom what was at the end of the dark corridor, its door ajar like a mouth half-closed in a secret.
My room was at the end of the hall, the only sanctuary I could claim for myself. As the only girl, thank full I have my own space, and upon entering, I used my magic in a flick my fingers to light the lamps in my room.
My room illuminated with a warm, eerie glow.
Black blankets covered my bed, and the few items I owned stood out starkly in the dim room: a dusty bookshelf stacked with spell books from my mothers, and a closet filled only with black clothes.
My nails, painted the same inky shade of my rebels, tapped thoughtfully as I reached for my mother's spell book, which contained magic even darker than my own.
Settling onto the bed, I paged through the book, searching for the perfect spell to disguise myself as a wolf and, even more importantly, to make myself appear as Liam's fated mate.
Without that, he'd never fall for her quickly enough, and time was of the essence.
After a few moments, I found something my mother had written years ago—a spell for compelling a mate bond. MY heart quickened as I read through the ritual's instructions.
But the spell required something of Liam's—a personal object or, ideally, a piece of his hair to attract his mate side.
I would need to get close enough to him to pluck a strand, which meant sneaking into his room while he slept.
A sly smile crossed my lips. This would be easy enough; my brothers often acted brashly, but I knew when to be cunning. I slipped the book back onto the shelf and began planning.
Using my magic to track Liam's location, and since he would soon be asleep, I had a perfect plan to obtain a piece of his hair. Closing my eyes, I chanted the ancient words to locate him, and a vivid image of him in his room appeared in my mind.
A smiled cross my lips as I opened my eyes again, determined to carry out my plan tonight.
Using my magic again, I teleported myself to Liam's room, appearing silently in his bathroom to avoid detection. I quickly cast a spell to make myself invisible, ensuring he wouldn't see or hear me.
After all, he was a werewolf—one bite from him could be deadly.
The grandeur of Liam's bathroom took me by surprise. Compared to the one I shared with my brothers, his was lavish, with white marble tiles and even a small waterfall.
Gathering my focus, I slipped into his bedroom and found Liam putting on a shirt. I quickly make myself invincible so that he could not see me, but I couldn't help but admire his appearance; he was far more striking than my previous boyfriends. And I have dated allot of guys.
Sticking to my plan, I moved behind him and gently placed my hand on his head, chanting words to put him into a deep sleep.
His body relaxed, and he fell to the floor, fast asleep.
My plan worked. I smiled, glancing at Liam as he slept, looking so peaceful and unaware. Kneeling beside him, I carefully plucked a strand of his brown hair and sent it back to my room with a flicker of magic.
Before leaving, I whispered a spell to plant a dream of me in his mind—a dream that would linger, making him wake up confused and intrigued by the mystery girl in his dreams.
Using my magic to guide the dream, I placed myself directly in his mind, intertwining our presence within his subconscious. I decided to make the dream steamy, intimate enough that he'd feel my touch as if it were real.
In the dream, we were in his bed, and he was kissing me passionately, our lips so close I could almost taste him.
I sat on his lap, feeling the warmth of his hands as he moved with intensity, tugging off my shirt and tossing it aside. With a gentle yet hungry gaze, he pulled me close, laid me down, and continued kissing me.
The chemistry between us felt electric, heating the air between us as if we were truly together.
The dream deepened as Liam unzipped my skirt, sliding it off along with my remaining clothes, leaving me bare before him. He undressed too, revealing his athletic physique—a sight that made my heart race, and I could feel his heated gaze on me, admiration flickering in his eyes.
In this shared vision, he climbed over me, his body warm against mine. Then, in one smooth motion, I felt the vivid sensation of him joining with me, the intimacy pulsing through us as we moved together. Soft moans escaped my lips as he held me, kissing me with an intensity that echoed the unspoken bond I longed to create.
Every touch felt so real, and as he moved deeper into the dream, he kissed down my jawline, sending shivers through me.
His mouth found my neck, and when he bit down gently, I gasped with pleasure, feeling a wave of connection spark between us. Our eyes met, and with my hand on his face, I whispered, "I love you, Liam."
I released my hand from his head, ending the dream, though I could still feel echoes of our shared intimacy.
Rising from my kneeling position, I looked at my reflection in the mirror and saw it—an intricate tattoo-like mark on my neck, symbolizing the bond. It had worked. Smiling to myself, I realized I was now bound to him as his mate.
The next step was to complete this connection and transform myself to become part of his world fully.