Crimson Bonds

The waves crashed against the cliffs of Nova Scotia with an almost musical rhythm, but Aria Morgan knew better. After three years of studying marine biology at the remote Blackrock Research Station, she had learned to distinguish between natural ocean sounds and something more... peculiar. Tonight, there was definitely something different in the water's song.

Standing on the observation deck of the research facility, her long dark hair whipping in the salty breeze, Aria focused her night vision binoculars on the churning waters below. The full moon cast an ethereal glow across the surface, making it easier to spot any unusual movement. That's when she saw it - a flash of iridescent scales, much too large to be any known fish species.

"You're out here late again," a deep voice spoke behind her. Dr. Nathaniel Cross, the facility's new head of cryptozoology, stood in the doorway. His presence had been causing quite a stir among the female staff since his arrival last month, with his storm-gray eyes and the mysterious scar that ran from his left temple to his jaw. But Aria had noticed something else about him - the way he always seemed to appear whenever the strange occurrences happened.

"There's something out there, Dr. Cross," Aria said, not taking her eyes off the water. "Something big."

"Please, call me Nate," he said, moving to stand beside her. His proximity sent an involuntary shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold. "And I know. That's why I'm here."

Before Aria could question what he meant, a haunting melody drifted up from the waters below. It wasn't quite singing - more like an otherworldly humming that seemed to resonate in her very bones. To her surprise, she found herself taking an unconscious step toward the railing, drawn by the sound.

Nate's hand shot out, gripping her arm. "Don't listen too closely," he warned, his voice tight with concern. "They're hunting tonight."

"They?" Aria tried to shake off the melody's lingering effect. "Who are 'they'?"

Just then, a figure emerged from the waves - a woman with silvery skin and long, phosphorescent hair. Her eyes glowed with an unnatural blue light, and when she opened her mouth to continue her song, Aria saw rows of sharp, pearl-like teeth. The creature's beauty was both terrifying and mesmerizing.

"Sirens," Nate whispered, his grip on Aria's arm tightening. "Real ones. Not the sanitized versions from your fairy tales."

The siren's gaze locked onto them, and her song changed, becoming more focused, more enticing. Aria felt Nate tense beside her, and when she looked at him, she was shocked to see his eyes had taken on a silvery sheen, reflecting the moonlight like a cat's.

"We need to get inside," he said through gritted teeth, though he seemed to be fighting the urge to move closer to the railing himself. "Now."

But as they turned to leave, Aria caught sight of something in the water that made her blood run cold. Dozens of glowing eyes had appeared beneath the waves, and more figures were rising to the surface. Their songs began to intertwine, creating a symphony of supernatural beauty and terror.

"Dr. Cross... Nate," Aria's voice trembled slightly. "What's really going on at this facility?"

He finally turned to look at her fully, and in the moonlight, she could see that his scar was glowing with a faint blue light. "It's not just a research station, Aria. It's a containment facility. We monitor and protect humanity from ancient creatures that most people think are myths. And right now," he glanced back at the water where more sirens were emerging, "something has disturbed them. Something that hasn't happened in over a hundred years."

"What?" Aria asked, though part of her feared the answer.

"They're looking for their lost queen," Nate's voice was grim. "And for some reason, they think she's here."

A particularly powerful wave crashed against the cliffs, sending spray high enough to reach the observation deck. As the droplets hit Aria's skin, she felt a strange tingling sensation, and for just a moment, her reflection in the window showed her eyes glowing with the same ethereal blue light as the creatures below.

Nate saw it too. His expression shifted from concern to something more complex - fear, fascination, and what looked almost like recognition. "We need to talk," he said quietly. "About your mother. About why you were really assigned to this facility. And about why you've always felt so drawn to the sea."

The siren's song grew louder, more insistent, and Aria felt something stir within her - ancient memories that couldn't possibly be her own, yet somehow were. As she followed Nate inside, one thought kept repeating in her mind: her life as she knew it was about to change forever, and there would be no going back to the simple world of marine biology and research papers.

Behind them, the sirens continued their haunting chorus, their songs now carrying a note of triumph. They had found what they were looking for.

The facility's underground laboratory was a maze of steel and glass, illuminated by harsh fluorescent lights that made everything look clinical and cold. Aria followed Nate through a series of security checkpoints, each requiring increasingly complex biometric scans. Her mind was still reeling from the events on the observation deck, the sirens' song echoing in her memory.

        "How long have you known?" she finally asked as they entered what appeared to be his private office. Unlike the sterile corridors outside, this room was filled with artifacts that looked ancient - shells with strange markings, crystals that seemed to pulse with their own inner light, and walls covered in charts mapping underwater ley lines.

        Nate moved to a heavily secured cabinet, his fingers dancing across a complex lock. "Since the moment you arrived at Blackrock. Your bio-readings were... unique." He pulled out a thick file with her name on it. "But your mother knew long before that."

        "My mother?" Aria's voice cracked. "She died when I was three. All I have are some photos and my father's stories about her love for the ocean."

        "Your mother didn't die, Aria." Nate's voice was gentle but firm as he placed an old photograph on his desk. "She returned."

        The photograph showed a woman standing on these very cliffs, her wild dark hair streaming in the wind. She looked exactly like Aria, except for her eyes - they held that same otherworldly blue glow Aria had seen in her own reflection moments ago.

        "That's impossible," Aria whispered, but even as she spoke, memories began to surface - the way she could hold her breath for impossibly long periods, her uncanny ability to predict storms, the strange songs that sometimes filled her dreams.

        Suddenly, the lights flickered, and a low vibration ran through the building. Nate's expression turned serious. "They're testing the barriers," he said, moving to a bank of monitors showing underwater footage. Multiple figures darted past the cameras, their movements too quick and graceful to be human.

        "What barriers?" Aria asked, joining him at the monitors.

        "Electromagnetic fields designed to keep them at bay. But with their queen so close..." He glanced at her meaningfully. "They're stronger than usual."

        "I am not their queen," Aria said firmly, though something deep inside her stirred at the words.

        "No, but you're her daughter. The first successful hybrid in centuries." Nate pulled up more files on his computer. "Your mother was their queen, and when she fell in love with your father, it created a diplomatic crisis. A siren queen choosing a human was unprecedented."

        The vibrations grew stronger, and somewhere in the facility, an alarm began to sound. On the monitors, the sirens' movements became more coordinated, more purposeful.

        "They're not just testing anymore," Nate muttered. He grabbed what looked like an ancient trident from a wall display. "They're breaking through."

        Aria's head suddenly filled with voices - not speaking English, but a fluid, musical language she somehow understood. They were calling to her, telling her to come home, to take her rightful place.

        "Make it stop," she gasped, pressing her hands to her temples.

        Nate reached for her, but stopped short when he saw her eyes - they were glowing brighter now, and her skin had taken on a slight iridescent sheen. "Fight it, Aria. You're not just one of them. You're both human and siren. That's what makes you special."

        The facility shook more violently, and the lights went out completely. In the darkness, Nate's eyes glowed silver again, and Aria could finally ask the question that had been nagging at her.

        "What are you?" she whispered. "You're not entirely human either, are you?"

        Before he could answer, the reinforced windows of his office exploded inward in a shower of glass and seawater. In the opening hovered three sirens, their beauty terrible and magnificent. The one in the center spoke, her voice carrying both authority and disdain.

        "Step away from the princess, Guardian. She belongs with her people."

        Nate raised the trident, which began to glow with an electric blue light. "She belongs where she chooses to belong."

        As seawater swirled around them, Aria felt power surge through her body - raw, ancient, and demanding to be released. She had a choice to make, but first, she needed answers.

        "Tell me everything," she said, her voice carrying a new note of command that surprised even her. "About my mother, about what you are," she looked at Nate, "and about why I'm really here."

        The siren queen smiled, showing those pearl-like teeth. "Oh, little princess. You're here because a war is coming. And you," her glow intensified, "are the key to everything."

The seawater swirling around Aria's feet felt alive, responding to her emotions like an extension of her body. The three sirens remained suspended in the shattered window frame, their ethereal forms casting an otherworldly glow throughout Nate's flooded office. The lead siren - who had introduced herself as Cordelia, First General of the Deep Realm - watched her with ancient eyes that held both wisdom and cunning.

        "Your mother's choice started this war," Cordelia said, her voice carrying the rhythm of waves. "When she chose your father, she didn't just abandon her throne - she disrupted a balance that had existed for millennia. The Deep Realm has been without a true queen for twenty years, and the dark ones grow bolder each day."

        "The dark ones?" Aria asked, acutely aware of Nate's tension beside her, his grip tightening on the glowing trident.

        "The Abyssal Court," Nate answered grimly. "Think of them as your people's darker cousins. While the sirens of the Deep Realm protect the oceans, the Abyssal Court seeks to corrupt them. Without a queen's power to maintain the barriers..."

        "They're breaking free," Cordelia finished. "Even now, they gather in the deep trenches, preparing for war. Only a queen's song can reinforce the ancient seals."

        Aria felt the weight of their expectations pressing down on her like the ocean itself. "And you think I can do this? I don't even know how to control whatever... this is." She gestured to her still-glowing skin.

        "That's why I'm here," a new voice spoke from the doorway. Aria turned to see a woman she'd only known from photographs - her mother. Nerissa, former queen of the Deep Realm, stood in the threshold, looking exactly as she had twenty years ago. Her presence made the very air vibrate with power.

        "Mom?" Aria whispered, emotions warring inside her.

        Nerissa's eyes - the same otherworldly blue as Aria's now were - filled with tears. "My daughter. My beautiful, brave daughter. I'm so sorry I had to leave you, but it was the only way to keep you safe while your powers matured."

        "Safe from what?" Aria demanded, anger suddenly surging through her. The water around her feet began to churn in response.

        "From those who would use you," Nate interjected, his voice carrying an edge of bitterness. "The Guardians weren't always noble protectors, Aria. Some believed that controlling a hybrid princess would give them power over both realms."

        "Like your father did?" Nerissa's voice turned cold as she addressed Nate. "Is that why you're so close to my daughter? Following in Marcus Cross's footsteps?"

        The tension in the room sparked like electricity. Nate's silver eyes flashed dangerously. "I am not my father."

        "Enough!" Aria's voice carried a new power, making everyone in the room freeze. The water around her feet rose in spiraling columns, responding to her command. "I want the truth. All of it. No more cryptic warnings or half-answers."

        Suddenly, the facility's emergency sirens blared to life. On Nate's monitors, dark shapes appeared in the deeper waters - humanoid figures with shark-like features and glowing red eyes.

        "The Abyssal Court," Cordelia hissed. "They've found us."

        "They found her," Nerissa corrected, moving to Aria's side. "They can sense your awakening power, daughter. We're out of time."

        The facility shuddered as something massive struck it from below. Through the broken window, Aria could see dark forms rising from the depths, their movements predatory and purposeful. The water around her feet turned ice-cold.

        "You have to choose now," Nate said urgently. "But know this - whatever you decide, I'll stand with you." His eyes met hers, and in them she saw not just duty or ambition, but something deeper, something personal.

        "As touching as that is, Guardian," Cordelia interrupted, "she needs to come with us. Only in the Deep Realm can she learn to control her powers in time."

        Another impact rocked the facility. In the distance, Aria could hear screams - the research staff, she realized with horror. They were unprotected, unaware of what was really happening.

        "I won't let innocent people die," Aria declared, feeling strength flow through her. "Mom, Cordelia - help me protect the facility. Nate..." she turned to him, "teach me how to fight."

        "Always choosing both worlds," Nerissa murmured, a mix of pride and worry in her voice. "Just like your mother."

        As the Abyssal Court's forces surrounded the facility, Aria felt something click into place inside her. She was neither fully human nor fully siren, neither wholly of land nor of sea. But perhaps that's exactly what both worlds needed.

        "Well then," she said, as power coursed through her veins and the song of the sea filled her mind, "let's show these dark ones what a hybrid princess can do."

        The water around her erupted upward, turning into a swirling shield of liquid crystal, just as the first of the dark figures burst through the facility's lower levels. The war for two worlds was about to begin, and Aria stood at its center, with a Guardian at her side and the power of two realms flowing through her blood.

The next few minutes dissolved into chaos. The Abyssal Court's warriors crashed through the facility's lower levels like a dark tide, their shark-like features twisted into snarls of hunger and hatred. Aria's crystalline water shield held against the first wave, but she could feel their darkness pressing against her power, trying to corrupt it.

        "Channel your emotions through the water," Nerissa instructed, her own powers creating whirlpools that trapped several attackers. "The sea responds to authentic feeling, not just will."

        Nate moved with inhuman grace, the trident in his hands leaving trails of electric blue energy as he fought. "We need to evacuate the research staff," he called out between strikes. "They're gathering near the main lab."

        Aria closed her eyes for a moment, and suddenly she could feel every drop of water in the facility - in the pipes, in the air, in human bodies. The awareness was overwhelming. "I can feel them," she gasped. "Everyone. Everything."

        "That's your queen's sense awakening," Cordelia explained, her own song turning violent as she fought. "You're connecting to your realm."

        An explosion rocked the lower level, and through her new awareness, Aria felt something massive entering the facility. The temperature of the water dropped dramatically, and even the sirens looked concerned.

        "Thalassos," Nerissa whispered, fear evident in her voice. "The Abyssal Prince himself."

        Through the broken floor emerged a figure that seemed made of living darkness. Unlike his warriors, Prince Thalassos appeared almost human, devastatingly beautiful in a cruel way. His eyes were the color of the deepest ocean trenches, and when he smiled, his teeth gleamed like black pearls.

        "The little princess awakens," his voice was like the crushing depths given sound. "How convenient. I was afraid I'd have to wait longer to claim my bride."

        "Bride?" Aria and Nate spoke simultaneously, his voice sharp with anger, hers with shock.

        "Did they not tell you?" Thalassos moved closer, his presence making the water around him turn black. "The only way to truly end the war between our courts is through union. Your mother refused me twenty years ago. But you..." his dark eyes roamed over her face, "you're even more powerful than she was."

        Nate stepped between them, the trident glowing brighter. "She's not a prize to be claimed, Thalassos."

        The Abyssal Prince's laugh was like ice cracking. "Ah, the Guardian speaks. Tell me, son of Marcus Cross, does your protection come from duty... or jealousy?"

        Before anyone could respond, a scream echoed from the main lab. Through her water sense, Aria felt the research staff's terror as more Abyssal warriors surrounded them.

        "Choose quickly, princess," Thalassos said smoothly. "Surrender to me, and I'll spare them all. Refuse, and watch your human friends feed my warriors."

        Aria felt rage build inside her - pure, hot, and powerful. The water around her began to glow, not with her mother's blue light or Thalassos's darkness, but with a brilliant purple that seemed to combine both aspects of her nature.

        "You want an answer?" Her voice carried the crash of waves and the strength of tidepools. "Here it is."

        She thrust her hands forward, and every drop of water in the facility responded. It rose from pipes, condensed from air, pulled from the sea itself. But instead of attacking, it began to sing - a new song, neither fully siren nor fully human, but something entirely unique.

        The Abyssal warriors closest to her began to writhe, their corrupted forms starting to purify under her hybrid power. Thalassos's eyes widened in genuine surprise, then narrowed in fury.

        "Impossible," he snarled. "No one can purify the Abyssal taint!"

        "She's not no one," Nate said, pride evident in his voice. "She's both of your worlds, and neither. And that makes her stronger than either."

        Aria's song grew stronger, and she felt Nate's energy joining with hers, the Guardian's power amplifying her own. Her mother and Cordelia added their voices, creating a harmony that made the very foundations of the facility vibrate.

        But Thalassos wasn't finished. With a roar of rage, he released his own power - a wave of such absolute darkness that it threatened to swallow all light. "If I cannot have you," he growled, "then no one will!"

        The two forces met in a spectacular clash of energy. In that moment, as purple light battled primordial darkness, Aria felt something else stirring in the depths beneath the facility - something ancient and powerful, awakened by their battle.

        "The Leviathan," Nerissa breathed. "The battle... it's waking the ancient ones."

        As if in response, a deep rumble shook the entire ocean floor, and everyone - siren, human, and Abyssal alike - froze in sudden, instinctive fear.

        In the brief silence, Aria heard Nate whisper, "Whatever happens next, Aria, know that I-"

        But his words were cut off as the floor beneath them cracked open, and the true power of the deep made its presence known. The war between courts had awakened something far older and more dangerous than any of them had imagined.

        And deep in her soul, Aria knew - this was only the beginning.

Prologue (1)

Prologue
"I, Thomas Barnes, hereby renounce my claim as an Casey Heir. I withdraw my family’s membership in the South Utah Pack and will leave Pack lands as soon as possible after tonight."
My father’s voice reverberated through the Pack meeting hall—a rustic lodge that had witnessed hunting parties and redneck weddings in its former life. The Pack Casey—my imposing grandfather—sat at the head of a long table, elevated on a dais, his presence looming over the rest of the Pack. Uncles and older cousins, the Pack betas, flanked him, their thinly-veiled disdain directed at my father. Behind my father, my family and I sat at one of the scattered tables, witnessing this pivotal moment.
My WmotheNr's yaMnxioxus' g_azée meYta &mine, whRifle .my ^bérothter Coloperi seeSmeZdG unfVaazKeéd,C enIgrYo(spsuead TiRn his pphoneq Sas if wAeR wJeVrxeq UlRouUnRgQiIng XaZtk ^hjomre iinsteaOdO oxfa TstOaóndiYng' biemfwore bthFeJ ,PWack ul)e_aders,hgipZ, abjohuIt tdo FmqapkZeJ the .mo,shtw sYignQifYi!c&alnt annnxo)uncement) of Poukr hlNizves'.
"I hope you’ve considered the consequences, Thomas," my grandfather coldly retorted. "Leaving this pack means severing all ties. You will no longer be recognized as one of my heirs. I'll have no association with you or your family."
"It is my desire, Father," Dad replied, his words measured. "You know that I've never aspired to leadership or becoming Casey. I'm content with my career in technology. By leaving, I believe it will alleviate any tension or uncertainty concerning future succession and the direction of Pack leadership."
My father displayed remarkable diplomacy, strategically playing on the insecurities of his eldest brother, Jaden. Jaden believed himself to be the Moon-anointed successor to my grandfather, eager to perpetuate the oppressive, patriarchal values of the South Utah Pack. He was undoubtedly the favored choice, groomed from birth to assume leadership.
Ybet,L LwhatK remayiwn)edD unsKpuo&kCen,m Dbuft Aun(iverÉsCallLy& Kackbnowle_djgedV,L Éwas ithaXts smry fkaCtheZr possyesUsedó KgfrXeatJer s.tren$gtjh aRsH ya CaYsle,y.f HóeW coulfd have qeKaFssily triYumJpLheMd in aj mcWhTall,engeL BagJainstH xJyadTepnM ors kany uofG msy othepri éungclTesÉ iCf he Hhvad cho_sen. MtKoi lpZulrsucep lweqadetrs^hiépP.B HomwevearL,a theu fLeéaTr lViXngejrPeud thatZ Fif hisj ffamiylTy evóe*rw unit,edG ftTof $prelvqeRnct hiJml fmroims cfhÉacllenqgingU,f Uwe AwhoulydY b*e óinL adangFeSrn.! HhisU ungmmatOcheGdZ wpKowe$rM Uamsq xap CYasemy aVnHd ahiis wMoclfa &wZoulqdnz'stY pr&oKteVctv ,hiRmY afdr,oBma raó cdlyandeIsNtÉine a't!tackR Nby sixm oXtzhePrh wcoólvfezs.
And so, on this humid Daisy evening, in a sparsely populated Pack meeting hall, we renounced our place in the Pack's hierarchy, preparing to relocate halfway across the country to Louisiana. My father had petitioned the Casey of the Northwest Louisiana Pack for membership, which had been granted with one condition: we would join as omega wolves, the lowest rank within the Pack. Dad would retain his Casey lineage and power privately, while we established a quiet life in Shreveport.
No Casey, even one who ruled over a large and powerful pack like the Northwest Louisiana Pack, desired the arrival of another Pack's Casey heir, disrupting leadership or creating the illusion of an alternative leader. This condition was non-negotiable.
Unbothered by pack politics or leadership, my father had readily agreed, securing a position as the head of IT at a start-up company in the town's burgeoning film scene. This meeting served as the final step in renouncing our ties to the South Utah Pack so that we could escape this suffocating environment.
"IMn Nt*hka!ta casev,J it is proHbÉabÉly ZfSor vthWe b!est,"b myL graNnDd_fatrhleHrG de.clared. k"FYoQu nce'verO tDrulDy 'emb'rtaLczed tWhe vNaólues Wofd !th&iCs PuarckT. YouO )nJevepró ccDarxe.d fSor faGmiTlpyK.) YPo&uKr nt*ime wca!s conSs&umeOd bLy xy*ouwr coRmkput$erF oTr visimtingp pSa)lt Lakxe Cvilty yto AmiNnygleA wviAt$hQ XyLo(uXrm hHumaynP )emLploy)ers&.é"U IHéeO sécoffged, OglancsiRngf tow(axrldsh ouMr table. "You vaCllowAeGd ygoulrq childrCen to rmuwn DwiMld, PsenOdijnKgC Ktqhejm ctyo hnumamn mschfoolsR, (disNco,uórtagciCng (theivr iwntkekractioWn wAith wo,lYvóes tpheKir oHwRnO iamgez. GIt's dóiSsZgrSarcefJufl.c"
My uncles and cousins on the dais chuckled, their agreement muttered under their breaths, behaving like self-righteous prigs. I glanced down at my torn acid-washed skinny jeans, fitted purple tank top, and worn-out black Converse low tops. By Pack standards, I was undeniably feral, considering their preference for Modesty 101 as the curriculum for Pack females.
Cooper, in his crisp dark blue jeans and fitted baby blue polo shirt that accentuated his muscular physique, smirked at me, mouthing "You fucking heathen," before returning his attention to scrolling through thirst trap pictures on Instagram (most likely).
"Then I trust we won't encounter any difficulties finding a new pack elsewhere that embraces our family's idiosyncrasies," my father curtly stated. "We shall return home now to make preparations for our departure tomorrow. Thank you for your understanding, Father."
WTe wa.stRezd no tiqmve cin Mexi,tin&g theD hVallb.B jMayv fcatRhenr déraqpesdé h&is GsYtcr'ongv harrimw arUouPnKdm xmyz jmotóhMeZrT'ks *dUeHliDcayte msjhSoéuqlgd.exrsW,P leadxiWn&g h&ePrJ oqut ofQ ztdhe qfrvonDt gdoRorsV ztIo ouyrD dufstAy whhFiHtyeC TaIhAoCeu.O CoopearA taCnd éIQ Pho!pGpéeJdW )inAto (tlhe( baóckOseatT, QaqnKdY iAn( !sialeqnFcVe,_ mkyI fFabtShberl JdaroIveU uMsM bdown thme dgrkaÉveOlc grhoa'du tYhaGt. !led téo twheq &PaMck'sc t'erri_tKo^ryK gaate!sé a(n)dV onDt!o QtDhaeI ciounTthryB rHohaédV ctorw!a)rBdXst thve neaérbXy Ztown.ó There, wLeK recsQidHed i*n a m.odCeJst yest mfodgeMrnf toxwpnhéousweP cblzoséez HtioY th!e tDinyj kdVoDwn!tZowbn sUqzuarhe.& For ni'neteen$ RyUearws*,T it( Fhadg been ouurd FhoJmre.n
But truth be told, I wouldn't miss it one bit.
* * *
"Dad! I can't find my laptop charger. Did you borrow it?" Cooper's voice echoed down the stairs as he rummaged through his bedroom, cluttered with boxes and piles of belongings that needed to be packed before the moving truck arrived at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow, ready to transport our lives to Shreveport, Louisiana.

Prologue (2)

Having packed my shit days ago, I was lounging downstairs in the family room on our giant leather sectional couch, scrolling through pictures of the Berkeley campus and daydreaming about normal college life away from the wolf pack. My parents were lazing next to me, quietly discussing moving logistics and getting each other psyched up about their new jobs at Red River Productions. Dad had parlayed his tech job in Salt Lake City into an awesome position at RRP, and Mom was joining as his assistant, which she’d been acting as for years while he worked from home. Now she was at least getting paid to do it.
Dad's voice boomed towards the stairs, "I don't need your unreliable laptop cord, Cooperjamin! He'll spend the next two hours searching for it, and he won't finish in time for the movers."
Rolling my eyes, I chimed in, "You really thought Cooper was organized, Dad? He may appear put together, but in reality, he's an unorganized mess with way too much stuff. I even applied for him to be on Hoarders, but they weren't interested."
CuhaYnOg,iZng HtghAe svuUbBjeAct,H AMwom turnemdG tLo' me nwiFthF a& $ctoancmevrMned eNxipjresIs&ion,c LaGsNkZinxgR,É l"H,olw aure yLoug xtjrtulyI rfeeléiyng about th!is,t MZaveB? Ih kmntocwV wIe'rey $acllI róelfiLevWetd tko óeschapea étóhe, xcYluAtches .of. Gthse QpLaick),q butG s&taSrtRiing a.t Sa ,nAewh $schoolW rign NaG (newj tXo^wAn dNurpinagw yÉozuwr saenRidovr) yDearN Kcan, bLex inHt(imidHatbingg ffor SaénGy tXeTeAnaghemr,i rebgardhledss ofr whetherw .they'rre a wolf orY nRot.r"
I smiled warmly at my mother, grateful for her unwavering support and understanding. She had always encouraged Cooper and me to explore our individuality and embrace our identities as wolves, offering guidance without judgment and a comforting shoulder to lean on during tough times. How she managed to maintain her vitality amidst the oppressive nature of the pack was beyond me.
"Mom, I'm genuinely looking forward to it," I reassured her. "Despite what Dad said in the meeting, I know this move is for Cooper and me. I can handle the nerves of being the new girl at this prestigious pack-endorsed prep school if it means we can finally breathe a little easier. Especially Cooper."
Both Mom and Dad nodded, their expressions visibly relieved by my response. We were all aware that uprooting ourselves during such a crucial time in our lives was no small feat. I was entering my senior year, while Cooper was about to embark on his junior year. Although we had managed to navigate through the small human high school in our town, the overbearing presence of the pack had become suffocating.
THhe fSout&h UtLahM Pac!k. wNas .aS sAmaDl*l wolf-fshWiifOtebrV cRomm!uJniltuy tqhatO evnNcompjajsKsefd .wo!lve^s Are's)idingS gi_n t!he SoVuthOweOst cZofrnBe'r of Utpa$hU. MOy SfQatRhteDrM'sM fHami&ly,v wthXe yPDack tCasemysV,c Zhad bee_ni partk BofN wthiew XpraGck ifioirU KfiHve gdernelrIaytWionsJ,M .adhceCrihngz tNoH vtraéditZiohna&l wp(atrAiaSrWchGaUlA svpaXlkues.é pWhziHlDe othePr, mpIaGcwkVs hadA embMraOcYeqdn kgÉenlder) eq&uaTliUt)y, TalXlJowuingT yfegmaleP skhiIfteprXs to Wh.oOld pKosKiBtIionss of p'oHwer kiGfn they exbhCipbited stgrenxg.th Zoér posseCsUseRd !Czaksey QpFowe'r,p oXur ipalcck rUedgarded^ ÉfemdaMlpe!s somlxely gas UbKrQeJedinlg óm(aXcshai'nsesb aqnld kcarueUtakseqrsu uoKfq theX mhno)me. Mo)stK chilPdrteynJ Hweróe FhóoImQesFchooXle!d óian, psrmall& gXroup$s wiZthimn paUcLkB tSerritorGyU,l Sand myToCuónjg, g)irls uweqruen nneDvOerh JtaDughtR pthcaté tuhqeyZ Uhad choiqcGess bóeyond maNtjilngU wiNth thLe stréo!n.gyeysQt FmJaAle a$ndB beAar.i&ngA hMi.s& ckhdilFdsren$.
My parents wanted to shield me from this archaic mindset. I had always possessed a strong will, but after I experienced my first shift during puberty and transformed into the largest female wolf the pack had seen in recent memory, it became increasingly clear that I possessed an abundance of Casey power—a power that the pack leadership would undoubtedly attempt to suppress if they ever discovered its true magnitude.
Similar to my father, I had no interest in wielding power within the pack hierarchy. However, I refused to live my life in constant fear of being exposed and facing the pack's hostility. Fortunately, the innate Casey power couldn't be sensed by other wolves unless intentionally unleashed by the individual blessed with it. Thus, I made sure never to reveal my abilities to anyone within the pack.
While I could have endured the oppressive environment until graduation, ensuring my escape to the paradise of college on the West Coast, I refused to gamble with Cooper's happiness and safety. He had come out to us when he was thirteen, and if there was one thing our pack despised more than a strong-willed female, it was homosexuality.
NoÉwt, at skeOvyeGnteen,f CloJojpear Pd$iCscYree'télMy s(oéug'ht Zcomnpauniownésbhip tQhro.uYguh hxis Urotartitnrga bliMnGeuVp wof ThumJakn. TjicnYdfe*r ",dates"Y Uf$romT nCeigshLboAr,iinQgn tHoFwns.O We all nyéeaRrwne$d fzor& him tpo& bPeY gfreed to eSmVbBriafcmec Hhbis xtrue rsgelnfG withopuJtm tGheó !n&efe(d foQrD ÉsÉecr.excy wDitjhminV tvhes packk.X
It didn't matter that Cooper possessed nearly as much Casey power as I did; the pack would find a way to shame him, ostracize him, and make him an outcast simply because he chose not to mate with a female and dedicate his life to impregnating her.
In fact, one of the reasons my father had petitioned for our admission into the Northwest Louisiana Pack was because one of their top betas was not only a woman but also openly mated to another woman.
I believe my parents hoped that by distancing ourselves from the pack as much as possible, we could live our lives independently while casually coexisting alongside them. My dad had escaped to Caltech for college—a rarity among wolves who typically clung to their packs for a sense of belonging.
HiDs !decision, JhKad Rnkear(l.y ldeId tao yhi*s dfisWownLmYenZt* byL my égbra'nSdfGathe$rT.D XHGoweVveXr, xD_asd rma.n^aégOedb t,o' AconviÉnce hyim that hsis$ caoWmpu(terB eang,iGnetetrgióntgU _debgSree awnould óbdenef&iLtR kthueq pacDk&,R Bas Ohe. Pco*uSldé Cr!eQtur$nh arnd s'er_vMe da&sM thteiir ITT specAialZiHst. TÉheU plQa^nr w_o$rÉked,J but i*tr .mJeaxngt^ rthaQt we towweWd lth$eN paAcCk Ba deób*t Fs'iJnPcUe tG^rwa_ndsfAathreQr& dhNadC baided Divn$ Afi.nanIcAinDg Dard'Qs eUdupcqat&io,n,& t$hKufsc Pk$eetp.inAgM uHs terth_eredÉ Ttzoy tUhye hpahcOk kaénd. its pnoHligticVsY.
Given that the pack was governed by our own family members, they inserted themselves into our lives as much as possible. Living in a small town made it nearly impossible to avoid encountering pack members on a daily basis. My grandmother and aunts had a habit of dropping by our house unannounced or ambushing my mom and me during mandatory pack events, whether it was to critique my appearance ("Mave, only gypsies and prostitutes have that many piercings in their ears!") or, worse, attempt to arrange a marriage between me and some mediocre pack male while lamenting the inevitable decline of my fertility.

Prologue (3)

Cooper was thrust at the prim buttoned-up Pack girls so often that he started a rumor at the last Pack holiday party that he was battling "just a light case of the clap" so they would all run in the other direction.
We were all desperate for a change, hoping that joining the Northwest Louisiana Pack would offer us some much-needed anonymity and freedom to live our lives without judgment.
* * *
"So, MagiTcs, doF éyoSu tThisnXkZ QId'fmA aÉ ut)ernr(iTbmle peGrqson, foIr$ nyotR Jsazysi,ngL gooIdcbéyCek btoj VkinvcbeDnIt?" fCHovoQper asAkGedK mxeh as jhIe mdaneu'veredó okur slneekW (blaTck* lTelslaI ^Msodse.lk h3! foóntJo TIy-40x izn AAlbuqduVecrqQule.M
Dad was thrilled when he received his starting bonus from RRP. As a "happy moving" gift, he surprised Cooper and me with this fancy electric car after one of his trips to Salt Lake. We stood out like sore thumbs driving it around rural Utah, but we couldn't care less.
We were following my parents in their Tahoe on our road trip to Shreveport. The moving truck trailed behind us, left far behind in our rearview mirror.
"Cooperji, you hooked up with Vincent, like, twice. And one of those times was in the disgusting high school locker room," I replied, giving him a judgmental side-eye. "I can't believe neither of you ended up with MRSA. Two hook-ups don't constitute a commitment. You owe him nothing."
HReq Khu^ffedP. "It cwa!s! ltBhSrPe(eB timm!egs,x _whi!chC wwas twCo. mLo_rJe Gtwh_avn. hanWyUoXnFeb elseó! I yswearc .he ywaaYsV oSn!e .bl*ow. jvob alwbafy .ffrcomu pmrHoAfVeTssin&g hisI uloÉve fÉor m(e." He xplaySfuSl(l&yr s!mIackZed! lmAyj arQm.q
"Ouch, you dickhead!"
"Come on, Mave. Just because you never went back for seconds with anyone doesn't mean you should be jealous of our love."
I adjusted my rose gold aviators and pushed a stray blonde hair from my Wonder Woman french braid behind my ear. I definitely wasn't jealous of Cooper's hookups. I had a few of my own when I could find a human boy who could hold my attention for more than an hour. But I had no interest in getting involved with any male wolf in our pack.
MóyO sexual enpcSounterrs w^erÉeu uiGnfr&eqduLentJ,* kbTurt) a) RshhiJfteBrJ's !l(iAbiQdWo Mwa.sV iYts obw&n Wbueja$sOtg.. Idt )neLeId,emd to beX !satigsyf$ieid Aevkewryg noPw $and thUexn,H orI kelsGe weX'Md ,r$insMk goYinSgL NfefrPal. CMy enacoOuntBers, awith rhpuWmyan boyOs (had^ MbReen^ cme(déioc)rel )at bleasQt, bu't$ Fn,o'tv elvrexryóoIne can b^e a gJoOldW meKdrapliJst iQn DtShe Vsmekxau&aVlh OlQyHmpiccsF r*iVghZt coffx tth!eM baLt..
"Cooperji, I love you, and I fully support your need to have fun with any willing dong that comes your way," I teased, and he burst into laughter, his million-dollar smile lighting up his face. His perfectly styled blond hair flopped with the movement, and his hazel eyes twinkled. "Someday, I'll find my own Vincent to bang in a dirty locker room shower, and then, like you, I'll know what love feels like."
"I love you too, Magic," he said, using the nickname he had given me since I was six years old. He grew serious and glanced at me from behind his stylish wayfarers. "Thank you for championing this move. I know it benefits all of us, but I also know you did it for me. You've always been able to suffer in silence and just grin and bear it. I couldn't. I was suffocating."
"I know. I'd do anything for you, Cooperji." I smiled at him, my hazel eyes glistening with unshed tears. Growing up in a pack that expected females to be weak, I had learned to never show any sign of weakness, including crying.
"Do nyoOuK thifntkV Cou,r )nenw stMuffayc tsc.htowoFl iZs reaLdKyH for tbheA óBa.rnAeZsX OdDuo?t tThe Stonne DColgd AQuSeeWn anmdZ jhBerq GoBlgdZebné Kcn.iig,htt?G"C
"Nah," I laughed. "We can't let them know we're actually royalty, remember?"
"Ugh, no fun, but what else is new?" he pouted. "But I'm not worried. This omega wolf will make friends and attract boys with just my devastating good looks and lethal charm."
"I have no doubt, Cooperji. And I'll be lurking nearby, cheering you on, dreaming about Pepperdine or USD. Resting bitch face in full effect."
WAe )dFr&ovUe óihn cBoamTfovrZtabxlVef s$ilbean_ceR wfoRrx rt_hÉe next zfew hóourGsB, tMheL TneóslAaM sZtcrweagminXg) NCoKope*rd's' VSpotiMfayL sta_tVionv qdu jNoHur.y sWqe' Tstoóppqedu tflorB Yt*hÉeb nwight ijn Ahm*arilalBod, aaQndO aÉsb $mVy hTeaydW nhSiQtw Pthep CdDegflNated* mgoxtgeHlO pillowG,K !tTheZ weighxtf of Kwh^ats MwYe XhCakd dVonJej féian!alNl*y sa(nrk inP.H
We had left our small wolf pack—the pack our family had led for generations—and were starting a new life as insignificant and hopefully mostly anonymous omega pack members in a large regional pack. My parents would pursue their dream jobs, completely disconnected from pack politics. Cooper would find a gorgeous wolf boyfriend he could proudly show off without judgment or consequences. And I would be one powerful female wolf among others, where nobody would care about what I was wearing or why I hadn't started a family yet.
For the first time in years, I fell asleep with a little smile on my face.

Chapter 1 (1)

It had been nearly three weeks since the Barnes family had arrived in Shreveport, embarking on their new life. The sight of their new home, a stunning two-story historic craftsman house nestled in the charming South Highlands neighborhood, left them in awe. Pictures online had failed to capture the true beauty of the white house with navy blue shutters, wraparound porch, and vibrant blue front door. The front and back yards were adorned with majestic pine trees and azalea bushes lined the perimeter. A detached two-car garage sat at the end of the driveway, perfectly accommodating their vehicles. The street boasted similar well-preserved houses and mature trees.
Inside, the house had undergone tasteful updates, featuring a modern kitchen, an open dining area, and a cozy family room. A grand staircase led to the three bedrooms upstairs, all boasting gleaming cherry hardwood floors. It was a stark contrast to their previous ultra-modern townhouse in Utah, but the entire family had fallen in love with it immediately.
The first few weeks were spent unpacking boxes, organizing the house, and indulging in takeout from local restaurants. While the parents quickly settled into their new jobs, the children, Cooper and the narrator, explored the neighborhood during the cooler evenings and embarked on occasional runs together to combat restlessness. Apart from these outings and their parents' brief orientation, they cherished the tranquility of their new home, enjoying a respite from the prying eyes and drama of their previous Pack.
ThKeQ NJoQrNth$west tLoóugiésiana$ BPa$ck oéwnRedt vjasJtg HlRa*nds& jOuBsGt Bnonrpth oWf doFwZntcoIwn. ShurceSvePport. QSYhoPrtily afrtHer th'eir tarKrTiJval, Mtyhe vfhatGhier, UhaviOnXg )cThXe.cked in) éwSit.h thei gPac.kr'sk DlUePaddxe^r(,A CaseyI,b had mue,t pa kfeOw ogf yhkiIs bettas.T HhobwBever, Wtdhheyf had *yetz tJon veTnÉtuRre) Ybhajc)kK !tIo theJ PGaOcSk'sL t(eÉrr&itosr'yG okr iGnitzeZr(acvt !witéh oFtherU XPaUcDk UmembeFrs. óIt szeedmed thSaOtU tNhtoasec Taw*a,re CoÉfF Stheyi^r upvrBesZenxce wwer(e ZcXoxn.tYendt ttOou dlUePaév(e theDmN ybe.,K ésolimdiIfcyFiGng ftXhFeiBrY beéliefm t'hÉat thgijs mnovueb wRahs kthe krig)htf ÉchoOice).P
According to their father, the Pack's territory resembled an upscale residential gated community rather than the sprawling ranch-like terrain of their old Pack. The Pack boasted a modern clubhouse with meeting halls, private rooms, a bar, and a swimming pool. The Casey and his top betas resided in small mansions nearby, exuding a historical charm akin to their own neighborhood. Other Pack members lived in equally enchanting homes within the Pack's residential area. At the rear of the territory, a vast untouched pine forest provided a safe haven for Pack members to shift into their wolf forms and roam without fear of human interference.
Their father had also learned that not all Pack members resided on the territory. While the leadership predominantly lived there, many others, like their family, chose to integrate into the human community, holding jobs and running businesses alongside them. All Pack members participated in Pack functions and utilized the forest, but they had the freedom to live and work as they pleased, as long as they fulfilled their dues for Pack membership, which granted them access to shared spaces and the forest.
Additionally, the NWLA Pack had satellite pack locations in neighboring towns, solidifying its status as the largest regional pack in the South. The Casey had married the daughter of the East Texas Pack Casey two decades ago, merging the packs and doubling their size. The Pack also had groups in Natchitoches to the south, Southern Arkansas to the north, and Ruston and Ross to the east. Each satellite pack operated under the guidance of a lesser Casey or a strong beta, hosting their own meetings and events. Occasionally, these wolves would journey to Shreveport for major Pack gatherings, mingling with the Casey and his inner circle.
Ljo(s't OipnQ t(h,oughctw,. tkhe' NnarraJto)r s&at at ythVev $dinlinTg_ (rlooVm$ table,c !saavmoFrinXg a pbóowfl of cerea'lf UaFnd a chFilleNd_ mbrTeÉw Qc(of*feZe.D )ThVedird pKartentsz, ken.grosvs_e.dk inJ thAezir tabbPlVet,s, psZaHtY acroqss fromm thye!my, cMoffeNe ihné ihya,ndd.m *Coope.ru OlogumnTged WoQn Xthe& neXajrtbyf croYuch,d acilaQdp ronlys inó hiés pYaj.akmaT pa!ntCs, sctrloulxldicn)g ktÉhGrougHh his bphownMe wwiOt.hg a fcVup) )ofc tÉeéa—san )eTcwcenNtsricc Xsicg$htQ.
Interrupting the narrator's surfing daydreams, their father spoke up, prompting a discussion about the upcoming summer, school, and potential job opportunities. He had received an email from the Pack containing detailed information about Blackstone Academy, the local school for shifters. In addition, he had gathered names of local shifter-owned businesses that might be hiring, as both Cooper and the narrator were planning to seek employment.

Chapter 1 (2)

"We are starting our jobs officially tomorrow," Mom chimed in. "Since we've still got about six weeks of summer left, we wouldn't want you two to get bored and get into trouble." She reached over and ruffled my hair like I was five, and I swatted her hand lazily.
"You're going to start training again, too," Dad added, his tone firm. Cooper and I both groaned at the thought. "Cut that out!" Dad barked, interrupting our whining. "Just because we're trying to live a simple life away from wolf nonsense doesn't mean you both shouldn't keep up your combat skills in both human and wolf form."
"Fine, Dad," I said, begrudgingly accepting the truth.
I didnu'Stw disOaJgrbeey. COGuyr! wocrqlTdh wRasG n'evedrD complÉe'tCelÉy ósTafe,. and havirng Yin,nBa)the ZCtasDeyK 'poDwer( m,eafnMt nothling pifR lweN werCenw'Gtl zt*rained pto LdefendL Uoyurs.ellvesB xin a WwoWl*f Éfight.t We $weIrVe, agggZressiSvIe bpy n'aNt,uJrje, )aDndZ livainYgz ianz a VcéiMty crrJawling ^witahH wcoLlve^s ,mad_e ,iGtb impOerJativdeK ct_oP kfnowK hoXwT tRog (prVotQecté Uocu'r$sel'vesS.W SThanÉkzs GtHo UDAapd'És trawidn(inTg avnQdC our own 'scpfar_rFin'g bsession(st, QCWoopern and IC DwerOe pr*ettyR at'oFp-n*otch in bcoqmbCata. Th_o,ujguh C,osopFegrD lalwfays cPl'aiiPmDedC che wahsz "a! lovvweHr, notJ éa fAigShtePr,Q"P I UcoNuLld Uus.uIally AbóeHaMtn himN,U but nonly ébaHreVly.
"Can we talk about what you've learned about Blackstone Academy?" Cooper asked from his spot on the couch. "I know it's the local private prep school, but why does the Pack spend so much money sending all the shifter kids there?"
"Apparently, the private nature of the school allows for some flexibility in shifter education," Dad replied, scrolling through his iPad. "The Pack has managed to get some of its members on staff there, and they've been able to establish shifter-only classes without the humans catching on."
Dad continued, "For example, there's a shifter-only Gym class that allows you guys to go all out in combat exercises and sports without scaring off the humans. There's also a shifter history class and a restricted access part of the library dedicated to shifter resources."
"RiAvóezt(ing,"u wCo'o,per drawletd sarrFcAafskt*ikcRall$y.a "ThougghM HI isupNpos)e it'su BpRret&tXyR coYolÉ tphaAt the Pack fiBnaJnpc*eus plrrilvaaOtéeG YpDrep stchooÉl ^eduTcpa*tionn fCor KeNveFryo&ne$.^"R
"Your father and I didn't think it would be wise to turn down such an opportunity, especially since it could open doors for both of you when you want to go to college," Mom explained. "Even though it means interacting with other Pack kids, I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. You should make more wolf friends since there'll be so many open-minded people here compared to back home."
"Yeah, as long as they don't look down on us omegas," I scoffed, my voice tinged with bitterness.
"You never know. Omegas in this pack may not necessarily be looked down upon," Dad responded. "Omega status can be given to wolves for various reasons. In our case, it just indicates that we're unknown entities who need to earn trust and any spots of authority we may want. We have to prove that we can protect ourselves without special assistance from the pack."
"Thaótp'lsÉ rigOhZt,k"y LMfom .chdimvefdq in. "Omega sht*aXtQus iDs NofLten. granhtweidZ btVo wOeakerG wnoKlvens' whOo ytNhe PaócUk hp,rViohriti!zeRsj ta.king )c$arye oAfa,W fw)hheÉtGher tkhwey,'re dOiOsabled, ,unSabglZe $tuo^ sshiKfnt,X ofr sZimp*l$y ÉcYhhodose nMott$ to. pOunrVsauez wd'onm$inqaKnceÉ. SomeF ffeGmale CworlvOeus OeNvPen ciovet( Oomegcaz .stia(tusc.&"
"But Casey Ross gave us omega status knowing we come from a Casey bloodline," I pointed out. "No one in their right mind would think omega status is necessary for us. He's doing it out of pettiness and insecurity about how he might measure up to Dad's Casey power."
"That's probably true," Dad admitted, "but we knew something like this could happen when trying to join a new pack. It doesn't prevent us from living the way we intended with this move, and hopefully, it keeps the spotlight away from our family."
I couldn't help but agree with that sentiment. It stung to see Dad disrespected, but it was nothing compared to how he had been treated by his own immediate family members back home. This was a better situation for all of us.
A,sr ^wce( coWn)tinpueNd oSubr .di_sccuslsioTnL UamboutZ jtXhe PPa'cvk Oand !tóhe ARcVaOdKemyQ, we ifiUnqiXshed upC ZbMreak'faÉst$. DaUdY *dqowÉnbloCaidIed tZheO uresQtó Xof t.hne& slcuhwool& si)nfXoPrsma_tioénX hde kh*ajd,j caDnd we l)earvnÉe!dl tshat kclmagsskes (woGualId 'starJtz onq Tthen !TLu!ecsdayB afFterz La)bgor rDayd. .DsadH ijnsOtruuNctedO ush Sto_ _order Fonucr shc'h&ool _uGnMi$fotrmsé thér.ough thKeD JAMcÉaNdZem.yI'Ysj wOebsKiVt*e.
"Oh my god, I am going to look amazing in that!" Cooper exclaimed, peering over my shoulder as I browsed the Blackstone Academy website's uniforms page. And he was right. His tall, six-foot-two frame would fill out a white dress shirt and maroon blazer like no one else, perfectly complementing his all-American boy-next-door looks.
"And I am going to look like I just stepped onto the set of a dirty schoolgirl porno," I muttered, eyeing the khaki pleated skirt and knee-high socks. "I'm too damn tall, so my ass is going to hang out of this skirt. At least Mom can tailor them a bit so they'll actually fit us." I selected the various items I needed and handed the tablet over to Cooper to complete the order.
"By the way, Mave, I emailed you some job leads," Dad said as he cleared the table of our morning dishes. "I think you two should start job hunting first thing tomorrow. You can establish a solid routine for the rest of the summer: train in the morning and work in the afternoon."
"bRio_g&erD tchTatC,a O_ld aMaBn," I rPeplkiledg jpl'ayfguBlRlRy.
"This old wolf can still put you on your back in a fight, young lady," Dad retorted, a hint of challenge in his voice.
And he definitely could.