Xanden POV
The warmth of the morning kitchen against my skin reminded me it was just another day. Yet, I stared at my cup of coffee for what felt like an eternity, unable to shake my thoughts. What would my brother do in this situation?
Kyle, my brother, was missing a sense of control. His obsession with the poor girl had spiraled into something dangerous, his hunger for her death palpable. Stephan, on the other hand, had his own unsettling schemes.
"That redhead," Kyle growled through gritted teeth, his claws digging into the wooden table. "If I get my hands on her…"
I let out a heavy sigh, lifting my gaze to meet his. "Not yet, Kyle. We have to be patient," I reminded him, my tone firm but measured.
From across the room, Stephan chimed in, his voice calm yet unnerving. "Patience for what? She's at school—a vulnerable place and an easy grab."
Arguing with these two was a fruitless endeavor. My mind drifted to our youngest siblings, JC and Melody. I hadn't seen them around lately, and that absence gnawed at me. What could those two be up to?
"Enough of this," I said sharply, my voice cutting through the tension.
Both Kyle and Stephan looked at me, startled. Straightening my posture, I pushed back my chair and stood. "If there's anything worth your attention, it's finding Melody and JC. They've been too quiet, and I don't like it."
Kyle and Stephan exchanged glances before standing as well.
"You know Melody," Stephan said with a casual shrug. "She's always off on her own little missions."
I raked a frustrated hand through my hair, the gesture doing little to ease my agitation. "Figure out what she's up to. And JC—he's been too quiet for my liking. I don't trust it."
Kyle and Stephan nodded, their expressions hardening with resolve. If nothing else, they understood the value of keeping an eye on family, especially in times like these.
Liam POV
After school ended, I told Haylie I'd meet her later because I had football practice. With a big game coming up, the team needed to be prepared, and as the team captain, it was my responsibility to ensure we were ready.
The afternoon sun hung high in the sky as we gathered on the field, going through our usual warm-up drills. Our coach paced behind us, shouting instructions to keep us on track and pushing us to work harder.
During moments like this, my wolf retreated to the far recesses of my mind, silent and distant.
He despised football practice, especially on days when the drills were grueling. He wouldn't reappear until I was back home, away from the field.
When we finished warm-ups, Coach handed us the blocking sled to push across the field—a drill designed to build strength and prepare us for the intensity of the game. By the time we completed that drill, I realized nearly two hours had flown by.
Coach finally called for a short break, giving everyone a few moments to catch their breath.
I pulled off my helmet, wiping the sweat from my forehead, when I spotted Haylie standing by the wooden bench at the side of the field. She held out a bottle of water, her smile as bright as the sun overhead.
A grin tugged at the corners of my lips as I jogged toward her. When I reached her, I wiped the sweat from my face with my forearm and said, still catching my breath, "I thought you were out with Claudine."
She laughed softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "I was, but I thought you might need this," she replied, nodding toward the water bottle.
I took it from her gratefully, twisting off the cap and gulping down the cool water. "You're a lifesaver," I said with a wink, feeling the refreshing relief as the water eased my thirst.
I downed nearly the entire bottle of water before realizing just how thirsty I was.
"You look tired," Haylie said, her voice soft but concerned.
"I am," I admitted, placing the empty bottle on the bench. "But we have to be ready for the game."
I noticed her biting her bottom lip, and an unexpected heat surged through me. The simple gesture, so unintentional yet alluring, stirred thoughts I shouldn't be entertaining right now.
The urge to pull her close, to kiss her senseless, and let the world fade away was overwhelming. I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to focus, and cleared my throat.
"We're almost finished," I said, trying to steady my thoughts. "Then we can head home."
"If it's okay, I'll wait for you," Haylie replied, her emerald-green eyes lighting up with a smile that made my heart skip a beat.
I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, the coach's sharp whistle cut through the moment. "Back on the field!" he barked.
Time with Haylie was over for now. I leaned in, brushing my lips against hers in a quick, soft kiss. "I'll see you later," I said, my voice low, meant just for her. "I love you."
Before leaving, I kissed her once more, savoring the warmth of her lips, then turned and jogged back onto the field. My heart still raced—not from practice, but from her.
Melody POV
Seeing Liam in his football gear made my insides churn with an inexplicable heat. Why did men look so irresistible in football uniforms, dripping with sweat from the exertion? It was like his athletic body had been sculpted to perfection, and I couldn't tear my eyes away.
Even Titan, his best friend, looked like he belonged on the cover of a magazine. If Titan were single, I wouldn't mind stealing a bite of that forbidden fruit.
I strolled over to the bench and sat down, letting my gaze wander back to the field. Watching the team practice felt like a scene ripped straight from a movie—synchronized movements, determination etched into their faces, and the afternoon sun casting golden highlights on their sweat-soaked skin.
It was hot today, and I couldn't help but long for something cold to cool my body down. As my eyes roamed the field, a sudden scent hit me—a scent I knew too well.
My heart skipped a beat, and I shot up from the bench. The smell was unmistakable: a wolf's scent, but tinged with the acrid edge of a rogue.
It couldn't be JC; he was still in Greenland, keeping an eye on Haylie.
But as the thought crossed my mind, something caught the corner of my vision. Slowly, I turned my head toward the shadowed hallway leading to the field and froze.
A black wolf stood there, its crimson eyes glowing like embers in the darkness.
What are they doing here?
I glanced around, ensuring no one had noticed, then cautiously approached the hallway. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, but I clenched my fists at my sides, refusing to show fear.
The wolf stared back at me, its gaze sharp and menacing. "What are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me.
As if sensing my lack of fear, the wolf began to shift. Bones cracked and realigned, fur receding as the creature transformed into a man. My heart sank as I recognized him.
Kyle.
"Why do you speak like you know me?" Kyle's voice was low and dangerous, his eyes narrowing. "You should be scared."
I folded my arms across my chest, refusing to back down. "If you think you're here to kill me, you might want to rethink that," I said, my voice laced with defiance.
Kyle smirked, but there was no humor in it—just cold calculation. This wasn't going to end well.
But Kyle was out of luck. I wasn't Haylie—I was Melody, and that was a crucial difference. If he thought I'd crumble into a screaming, terrified mess, he was sorely mistaken. Wolves didn't scare me.
A grin spread across my face as I let out a soft laugh, my amusement catching Kyle off guard. "Well," I said, my voice dripping with challenge, "let's have some fun." I shot him a wink, daring him to test me.
Before he could respond, I made my move. With a flick of my wrist, I sent a sharp cut slicing across the side of his face. The wound wasn't deep, but it was enough to push him over the edge.
Kyle's reaction was immediate. His expression twisted into a snarl, his control slipping as his rage took over. The air filled with the sickening crack of bones as his body shifted back into his wolf form.
I couldn't help but smile at the sound. Watching him lose his composure was exhilarating. I knew Kyle too well—his temper, his pride, his thirst for control. And that knowledge gave me an edge.
"Aaaw, look who wants to be the big bad wolf," I taunted, my stance relaxed yet poised. "Show me what you've got."
The wolf before me growled, low and menacing, but I didn't so much as blink. Fear wasn't in my nature, especially not with Kyle.
His rogue form was as revolting as I remembered—long, veined teeth glistening under the dim light, red-tinted fur blending into his black coat. And the smell… Ugh. The stench of rogues was enough to make my stomach turn.
Before I could revel in the moment any longer, Liam's voice tore through the tension like a thunderclap. "Haylie, run!"
I snapped my head to the right, my heart lurching—not from fear, but from frustration. There he was, sprinting toward us, his panic written all over his face. Just as I was starting to enjoy myself, too.
Great. Now I had to switch gears. Fun time was over. With a resigned sigh, I steeled myself for the act. If Liam thought I was Haylie, I had to sell it.
I turned back to Kyle, letting my face contort into what I hoped passed for terror. My lips parted as if to scream, but I clamped them shut, and with a deliberate stumble, I bolted down the hallway.
My movements felt exaggerated, clumsy even, but it was all part of the performance. To Liam, I had to look like the frightened girl he thought I was. Inside, though, I couldn't help but smirk.
Kyle might have been ready for a fight, but for now, the game had changed—and I intended to play it my way.
Liam POV
Sweat dripped down my face, heat radiating through me as we drilled relentlessly on the field. My focus was on the task at hand—sprinting at full speed, weaving through the cones with precision, pushing my body to its limit.
Each movement was instinctual, honed by repetition and determination.
But as I finished my turn and glanced toward the bench, a frown etched across my face. Haylie was gone.
My heart skipped a beat. I straightened up, scanning the area for any sign of her. A ripple of unease coursed through me when I finally spotted her—standing in the hallway, her silhouette framed by shadows.
That's when I saw it.
A black wolf emerged from the darkness, its red eyes glowing with menacing intent as it prowled toward her.
My stomach twisted violently, fear clamping around my chest. My wolf stirred restlessly, clawing at the edges of my consciousness, but I wasn't ready to release him.
Not yet.
Without thinking, I ripped my helmet off and threw it to the side, sprinting toward Haylie with every ounce of strength I had. My voice rang out, urgent and terrified. "Haylie, run!"
She turned at the sound of my voice, her face pale, and bolted down the hallway. Relief mingled with adrenaline as I closed the gap between us. The black wolf snarled, its focus momentarily shifting to me.
The moment I reached the hallway, I let go.
The air cracked with the sound of bones breaking and reforming as I gave myself over to the wolf within.
Pain surged through me briefly, but it was nothing compared to the rage building in my chest. My vision shifted, my senses sharpened, and the world around me came alive in a way only my wolf could perceive.
Now, it was time to protect her.
The black wolf was gaining on Haylie, its claws scraping the tiled floor with each stride. I couldn't let it reach her.
My instincts roared louder than the pounding of my feet as I raced down the school hallway, the sound of my sneakers echoing off the walls. Haylie was just ahead, her figure a blur of motion as she fled.
Ace, my wolf, surged forward with raw determination. His energy fueled my speed, and in moments, I reached my target. With a powerful leap, I planted myself between the rogue wolf and Haylie, blocking his path.
The black wolf skidded to a halt, its red eyes blazing with fury. A low, guttural snarl rumbled from its chest as it crouched, ready to strike. My own growl answered instinctively, reverberating through the hallway like a thunderclap.
The standoff didn't last long. My wolf didn't believe in hesitation.
With an explosive burst of speed, Ace propelled us forward, slamming into the rogue with all the force we could muster.
The impact sent us crashing into the row of lockers lining the hallway. Metal bent and screeched under the force of our collision as we clawed and snapped at each other, locked in a vicious struggle.
The rogue wolf twisted beneath me, trying to gain the upper hand, but Ace wasn't backing down.
My wolf's rage boiled over; his focus razor-sharp. This rogue had threatened what was ours, and that was unforgivable.
Lockers dented and cracked around us as the fight raged on. Teeth bared, claws flashing, we grappled, each of us determined to come out victorious. The rogue wolf snarled and lunged, but I was faster, meeting his attack head-on and driving him back with a forceful blow.
This wasn't just a fight. It was a declaration. No one touched her.
My wolf, Ace, charged at the rogue with a feral growl, sinking his fangs deep into the other wolf's neck. The rogue snarled and thrashed, but Ace held firm, driven by pure rage.
Just as victory seemed within reach, my focus shifted. Haylie. She was standing, hidden behind a stack of debris, but her wide, terrified eyes fixed on something—another black wolf, massive and bearing down on her.
Her fear was palpable, and I couldn't let anything happen to her.
Ace released the rogue wolf with a reluctant snarl and turned, ready to rush to Haylie's aid. But before we could move, a sharp, searing pain shot through my side. Something pierced deep into my ribs, halting us mid-step. Ace let out a pained growl, and the agony rippled through every fiber of my being, forcing my wolf to retreat.
The transformation was excruciating, every inch of my body burning as I shifted back to human form.
Gasping, I regained control and quickly glanced down to see the cause of the pain—a metal pipe, jagged and rusted, lodged deep in my side. My jaw clenched as fury and adrenaline surged through me.
Raising my gaze, I saw the rogue, no longer in wolf form, but standing as a man, his body covered in dark, menacing tattoos that seemed to writhe in the dim light.
"You," I growled through gritted teeth, my fists curling into tight knots.
Before I could act, a terrified scream tore through the chaos. Haylie.
I turned to see her frozen, eyes wide and fixed on the black wolf advancing on her. The sound of her fear ignited something primal within me. Ignoring the pain, I gritted my teeth and forced myself upright.
With one violent motion, I yanked the pipe from my ribs, blood streaming down my side, but I couldn't care. Haylie needed me.
Without hesitation, I sprinted to her, putting myself between her and the beast. The black wolf lunged, its jaws snapping with deadly intent, but I met its charge with a ferocious Alpha punch. My fist connected with its jaw, the impact reverberating up my arm as the wolf was sent skidding across the hallway floor, slamming into the wall with a pained yelp.
Turning quickly, I faced Haylie, my chest heaving. Her luminous eyes were locked on mine, filled with both fear and relief. "Are you okay?" I asked, my voice steady despite the chaos around us.
She nodded, her expression softening as she whispered, "Yes."
Relief flooded me, but I knew this wasn't over. The rogue man was still lurking, and the black wolf wouldn't stay down for long. I squared my shoulders, ready to fight again. No one—man or beast—was going to harm her while I was still breathing.