Roman POV

Glass crunches under my boots as I lunge toward Leera, my wolf snarling, senses razor-sharp. The dorm room is a mess of moonlight and shadows, the shattered window letting in a cold gust. Leera’s scream echoes in my ears, her icy eyes wide with panic. Zoey’s frozen by the door, her mouth open. The figure outside moves fast too fast for humans darting into the darkness before I can get a clear look. My wolf howls, demanding blood, but I force it down. Leera’s safety comes first.

“Get behind me,” I growl, pulling Lira to her feet. Her small frame trembles, but she grips my arm, her moonstone ring glinting.

“What the hell was that?” Zoey snaps, her voice shaking as she edges toward us. “Roman, what’s going on?”

“No time,” I say, scanning the window. The scent of pine and something sharp wolfsbane lingers. My stomach twists. Only a wolf would use that, and only one with a grudge. India. “Leera, grab your jacket. We’re leaving.”

“Leaving?” Leera’s voice is sharp, defiant despite her fear. “I don’t even know you!”

“You know enough,” I say, meeting her gaze. Her eyes spark, and that pull the mate bond hums between us, undeniable. “You felt it. The growl. You’re not safe here.”

She hesitates, then yanks her jacket from a chair. “Fine. But you’re explaining everything.”

“Deal,” I say, already moving toward the door. “Zoey, are you coming or staying?”

Zoey grabs her phone, her curls bouncing. “I’m not leaving her with you alone, hockey boy. Let’s go.”

I don’t argue. The hallway quiet, the fluorescent lights flickering. My phone buzzes Benny again: *Found India at the rink. She’s pissed. Something’s up.* I curse under my breath, leading Leera and Zoey down the stairs. The lobby’s empty, the security guard gone. Bad sign. My wolf’s on edge, every shadow a threat.

Outside, the campus is dark, the moon casting long shadows across the quad. My truck’s parked nearby, and I hustle them toward it, my senses straining for any sign of the intruder. Leera’s scent sugar and honeysuckles grounds me, but the wolfsbane stink lingers, faint but close.

“Roman, talk,” Leera demands as we reach the truck. She climbs into the passenger seat, Zoey sliding in the back. “What was that thing? And why do you keep saying I’m a wolf?”

I start the engine, the roar cutting through the night. “You’re a werewolf, Leera. Like me. That growl? It’s your wolf waking up.”

She laughs, sharp and nervous. “Werewolf? You’re insane. I’m just… me.”

“You’re not,” I say, pulling onto the road. The forest looms ahead, Shawnee State’s trees swallowing the moonlight. “Your scent, your growl it’s not human. Someone suppressed it. Maybe your parents.”

Her face pales, her fingers twisting her necklace. “My parents? They were photographers, not… monsters.”

“Not monsters,” I say softly, glancing at her. “Wolves. Like us. They might’ve hidden it to protect you.”

“Protect me from what?” she snaps, her voice breaking. “From people throwing bricks through my window?”

“From worse,” I say, my grip tightening on the wheel. “Someone wants you gone, Leera. I think it’s India.”

“India?” Zoey leans forward, her voice skeptical. “Your fiancée? She’s a bitch, sure, but breaking windows?”

“She’s more than that,” I mutter, my jaw tight. “She’s a wolf, too. And she wants something I can’t give her.”

Leera’s eyes narrow. “What’s that?”

I hesitate, the weight of the truth heavy. “The throne. Our pack’s tied to the werewolf king. India’s father arranged our engagement to secure it. But you—you’re my mate. My true mate.”

Her breath catches, and Zoey whistles low. “Mate? Like, soulmate? This is some Twilight-level crap.”

“It’s real,” I say, my voice firm. “Leera, you felt it at the arena. The pull. It’s the Moon Goddess’s bond.”

Leera shakes her head, her silver hair catching the moonlight. “This is too much. I just wanted to pass my class.”

I want to reach for her, to ease the fear in her eyes, but a shadow moves in the rearview mirror. A vehicle black, sleek tails us, too close for coincidence. My wolf growls, claws itching. “Hold on,” I say, flooring the gas.

The truck lurches, tires squealing as I take a sharp turn onto a forest road. Leera grips the dashboard, her eyes wide. “Roman, what”

“We’re being followed,” I say, glancing back. The black car keeps pace, its headlights glaring. “Zoey, call Benny. Tell him we’re heading to the pack house. Now.”

Zoey fumbles her phone, dialing. “Benny? It’s Zoey. Roman’s with us, and some creep’s tailing us. Yeah, the pack house. Hurry.”

Leera’s staring at me, her voice low. “Pack house? Roman, where are you taking us?”

“Somewhere safe,” I say, weaving through the trees. The pack house is deep in Shawnee State Forest, hidden from human eyes. “My pack will protect you.”

“Your pack?” Her tone’s sharp, but there’s a tremor in it. “I don’t even know what I am!”

“You’re one of us,” I say, my wolf’s certainty bleeding through. “I’ll prove it.”

The car behind us speeds up, its engine roaring. I curse, pushing the truck harder. The road narrows, branches scraping the sides. Leera’s breathing fast, her hand brushing mine on the gearshift. The mate bond flares, warm and electric, and my wolf steadies. I’ll die before I let them touch her.

“Roman, they’re gaining!” Zoey yells, twisting to look back.

I glance at the side mirror two figures in the car, their faces shadowed. The scent of wolfsbane grows stronger, stinging my nose. “Leera, when we stop, run for the house. Don’t look back.”

“I’m not leaving Zoey,” she says, her voice fierce.

“I’ll handle Zoey,” I say, meeting Zoey’s eyes in the mirror. She nods, pale but determined.

The pack house comes into view, a sprawling log cabin lit by lanterns. Benny’s waiting outside, his athletic frame tense, Andrei and Slate at his side. I slam on the brakes, the truck skidding to a stop. “Go!” I shout, shoving the door open.

Leera and Zoey scramble out, sprinting for the house. The black car screeches to a halt behind us, and two figures leap out wolves, their eyes glowing in the dark. One’s tall, lean, with green eyes I know too well. India.

“Roman!” she calls, her voice dripping venom. “You can’t run from this!”

I step forward, my wolf snarling, ready to shift. “Stay away from her, India.”

She laughs, her boots crunching on the gravel. “She’s nothing. A mistake. You’re mine.”

“She’s my mate,” I growl, my voice shaking with rage. Leera’s scent is behind me, safe with Benny. I can feel her through the bond, her fear sharp but her strength growing.

India’s eyes flash, and the second figure Khas, the Vultures’ captain steps forward, his slicked-back hair gleaming. “You sure about that, Roman?” he says, his grey eyes cold. “Because she smells like family to me.”

My blood runs cold. Family? Lee's connection to Khas Imogen’s brother hits like a punch. Before I can respond, India lunges, a blade glinting in her hand. I dodge, my wolf taking over, but a sharp pain sears my side. Wolfsbane. My vision blurs, and Leera’s scream cuts through the night as I stumble, the world tilting. India’s laughter echoes, and Khan's voice is a low murmur, too faint to catch. The last thing I see is Leera running toward me, her silver hair glowing under the moon, before darkness swallows me whole.

Roman POV

The wolfsbane burns through my veins, a fire that dulls my wolf’s roar to a whimper. I’m on the ground, gravel biting into my palms, the pack house’s lanterns casting jagged shadows. Leera’s scream cuts through the haze, her silver hair a beacon as she runs toward me. India’s laughter grates, sharp and cruel, while Khas’s grey eyes glint with something unreadable curiosity, maybe, or recognition. My vision swims, but my mate bond pulses, tethering me to Leera. I have to stay conscious. For her.

“Roman!” Leera’s voice is raw, her hands grabbing my shoulders. Her scent spun sugar, honeysuckles floods my senses, grounding me. “What did she do to you?”

“Wolfsbane,” I rasp, forcing myself to my knees. My side throbs where India’s blade grazed me, the wound shallow but laced with poison. “Stay back, Leera.”

“No way,” she snaps, her icy eyes blazing. She’s trembling, but her grip is fierce. “You’re hurt.”

“Touching,” India sneers, twirling the blade. Her green eyes lock on Leera, predatory. “But he’s not yours, freshman. Back off.”

“Enough, India!” Benny’s voice booms as he steps forward, Andrei and Slate flanking him. Their wolves are close to the surface, eyes glowing in the moonlight. The pack house looms behind them, its wooden walls a fortress against the night.

India scoffs, her boots crunching on the gravel. “You think your little pack scares me, Benny? Roman’s mine. The throne’s mine.”

“He’s not a prize,” Leera says, her voice steady despite the fear I feel through our bond. “And I’m not backing off.”

Khas tilts his head, studying Leera. “Bold for a pup who doesn’t know her own claws.” His voice is smooth, but there’s an edge to it. “You smell like her, you know. Imogen.”

My wolf snarls at her name, the pain of her loss colliding with the present. “Don’t, Khas,” I growl, staggering to my feet. Leera’s hand steadies me, her touch electric. “What do you know about her?”

“More than you think,” Khas says, his grey eyes flicking to Leera. “She’s not just your mate, Roman. She’s tied to us. To me.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Leera demands, stepping closer to me. Her warmth battles the wolfsbane’s chill, and my wolf clings to it.

“Enough games,” India cuts in, her blade glinting. “Khas, you promised me the girl. Hand her over.”

“Promised?” I snarl, my vision clearing as rage surges. “You’re working together?”

Khas shrugs, his slicked-back hair catching the lantern light. “India wants her throne. I want answers. Leera’s the key.”

“Key to what?” Leera’s voice shakes, but she squares her shoulders. “I’m nobody. Just a college kid.”

“You’re not,” I say, my hand finding hers. The mate bond hums, strong despite the poison. “You’re a wolf. My wolf knows it.”

India laughs, cold and sharp. “A wolf? Her? She’s weak, Roman. A mistake.”

“Shut up,” Leera snaps, her eyes flashing. I feel it then a faint growl rumbling in her chest, her wolf stirring. My heart lurches. She’s waking up.

“Benny, get Leera inside,” I order, my voice low but firm. “Now.”

Benny moves, but Leera digs in her heels. “I’m not leaving you!”

“You have to,” I say, meeting her gaze. Her fear, her fire it’s all there, pulling me in. “I’ll handle this.”

“Handle it?” India steps closer, her blade raised. “You can barely stand, Roman.”

Andrei growls, his massive frame tensing. “Try it, India. I dare you.”

Slate, quieter but just as deadly, pulls a knife from his belt. “We outnumber you. Walk away.”

India hesitates, her eyes darting between us. Khas remains still, watching Leera like she’s a puzzle. The air crackles with tension, the forest around us silent except for the rustle of leaves.

“Roman,” Zoey’s voice breaks through, sharp and urgent. She’s by the pack house door, phone in hand. “Benny said to call Jeanine. She’s on her way.”

“Jeanine?” Leera glances at me, confused. “Who’s that?”

“Healer,” I say, wincing as the wolfsbane burns deeper. “She’ll help. Both of us.”

Khas steps forward, his expression unreadable. “You’re wasting time, Roman. Let me take her. I won’t hurt her.”

“Like hell,” I growl, my wolf clawing to the surface. My vision sharpens, my claws itching to extend. “She stays with me.”

“Roman, please,” Leera whispers, her hand tightening on mine. “I don’t understand any of this, but… I trust you.”

Her words hit like a spark, igniting the bond. My wolf steadies, and I force myself upright, ignoring the pain. “Khas, back off. India, this ends now.”

India’s lips curl. “Ends? Oh, Roman, it’s just beginning.” She lunges, faster than I expect, her blade aiming for Leera.

I shove Leera behind me, taking the hit. The blade slices my arm, wolfsbane searing my skin. I roar, my wolf breaking free, fur rippling as I half-shift. India stumbles back, her eyes wide.

“Roman!” Leera screams, grabbing my jacket. Her touch anchors me, keeping me from fully shifting.

“Get her inside!” I shout to Benny. He grabs Leera, dragging her toward the pack house despite her protests. Zoey follows, yelling something I can’t hear over the blood pounding in my ears.

Khas moves, his own wolf surfacing, eyes glowing. “You’re making a mistake, Roman. She’s not just yours.”

“Enough!” I roar, lunging at him. My claws rake his shoulder, drawing blood. He snarls, dodging, but doesn’t strike back. Why?

India’s voice cuts through. “Khas, now!”

Before I can react, a sharp prick stabs my neck. My legs buckle, the world spinning. Wolfsbane again, stronger this time. I hit the ground, Leera’s scream fading as darkness creeps in. India’s face looms above me, her green eyes triumphant. “Sleep, Roman. She’s mine now.”

But it’s not her voice that chills me. It’s Khas’s, low and close. “I’m sorry, brother. This is bigger than you.”

My wolf howls, trapped in my fading consciousness. Leera’s scent lingers, her fear pulsing through the bond. She’s close, but I can’t reach her. As my vision blacks out, a new sound pierces the night a guttural snarl, raw and wild. Leera’s wolf. It’s awake. And it’s angry.

Leera’s POV

My scream tears through the night as Roman collapses, his massive frame crumpling to the gravel. India’s smirk burns into me, her green eyes gleaming with victory, while Khas stands back, his grey gaze locked on me like I’m a riddle. The pack house looms behind us, its lanterns flickering, casting shadows that dance across the forest’s edge. Something inside me snaps a raw, burning surge that claws at my chest. It’s not just fear. It’s rage. A growl rumbles low in my throat, louder than before, and my vision sharpens, the world too bright, too vivid.

“Leera, move!” Benny shouts, his hand tight on my arm, pulling me toward the pack house. Zoey’s beside him, her face pale, her curls wild as she stumbles after us.

“No!” I wrench free, my sneakers skidding on the gravel. Roman’s down, blood seeping from his arm, his neck. That smell—sharp, like chemicals and rot—makes my nose burn. Wolfsbane, he said. I don’t know what it means, but it’s killing him. “I’m not leaving him!”

“You don’t have a choice,” Benny snaps, his dark eyes flashing. He’s all muscle, his presence steady, but there’s fear there too. “He’d kill me if I let you get hurt.”

India laughs, twirling her blade. “Smart boy, Benny. Hand her over, and maybe Roman lives.”

“Over my dead body,” I spit, surprising myself. The growl in my chest grows, vibrating my ribs. My hands shake, not from fear now, but something else something alive.

“Leera, what’s happening to you?” Zoey whispers, grabbing my sleeve. Her eyes are wide, darting between me and the figures in the dark.

“I don’t know,” I say, my voice rough. My skin feels too tight, my heart pounding too fast. Roman’s words echo: You’re a wolf. It’s insane, but that snarl inside me feels real, like a beast waking up.

Khas steps forward, his slicked-back hair catching the moonlight. “You feel it, don’t you?” His voice is calm, almost gentle. “Your wolf. She’s strong. Like Imogen’s.”

“Stop saying her name!” I snap, my fingers curling into fists. “Who’s Imogen? Why do you keep looking at me like that?”

“She was my sister,” Khas says, his grey eyes softening for a split second. “And you… you smell like her. Like family.”

My breath catches. Family? My parents are dead a car accident, which happened six months ago. They were photographers, not wolves. But that burning in my chest, the growl it’s not normal. I clutch my moonstone ring, Mom’s gift, and a memory flashes: her giving me “vitamins,” her eyes always worried. Were they hiding something?

“Enough talk,” India cuts in, her boots crunching as she steps over Roman’s body. My stomach lurches, but his chest still rises, shallow but there. “Khas, you said she’s the key. Take her, or I will.”

“Touch her, and you’re dead,” Andrei growls, his massive frame blocking the path to the pack house. Slate’s beside him, knife in hand, his lean form tense.

India smirks. “Big words for pups. You can’t stop me.”

“Try us,” Slate says, his voice low, deadly.

I don’t wait for her to move. That thing inside me the wolf, I guess surges, and I lunge, shoving India back. My strength surprises me, sending her stumbling. Her blade clatters to the ground, and she stares, shocked.

“Leera!” Zoey yells, pulling me back. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t know!” I gasp, my hands burning, tingling. My nails feel sharp, too long. I look down they’re claws, short but real. My heart races. “Roman said… I’m a wolf.”

India recovers, snarling. “A wolf? You’re a freak. A mistake.” She dives for her blade, but Benny’s faster, kicking it into the shadows.

“Back off, India,” he says, his voice steady. “You’re outnumbered.”

Khas hasn’t moved, his eyes still on me. “You don’t know what you are, do you?” he says, almost sad. “They kept it from you. Your parents.”

“Stop talking about them!” I shout, the growl louder now, shaking my whole body. My vision blurs, then sharpens again, Khan's face too clear in the dark. “You don’t know anything about me!”

“I know enough,” he says, stepping closer. “You’re tied to Imogen. To me. Let me help you.”

“Help?” I laugh, bitter. “You’re with her.” I jerk my head toward India, who’s circling like a predator.

“Not by choice,” Khas says, his voice low. “There’s more at play here, Leera. You’re not just Roman’s mate.”

Roman groans, stirring on the ground. My heart leaps, and I drop to his side, ignoring Khas. “Roman, wake up!” I shake him, my claws retracting as panic overrides whatever’s happening to me. His mismatched eyes flutter open, foggy but alive.

“Leera,” he rasps, his hand finding mine. The mate bond flares, warm and steady, easing the fire in my chest. “Run. Get to Jeanine.”

“I’m not leaving you,” I say, my voice breaking. “Not again.”

India’s laugh cuts through. “How sweet. But you’re both done.” She pulls another blade from her boot, smaller but glinting with that same chemical Ricci smell. “Say goodbye, little wolf.”

Benny steps in front of me, his stance wide. “Last chance, India. Leave.”

She smirks, tossing her hair. “Or what? You’ll growl me to death?”

Andrei cracks his knuckles, ready to lunge, but Slate holds him back. “Not worth it, man. Jeanine’s almost here.”

“Jeanine?” I ask Roman, my voice shaky. His hand is clammy in mine, his breathing uneven.

“Healer,” he murmurs, wincing. “She’ll… fix this.”

Khas hasn’t moved, his gaze still heavy on me. “Leera, you need answers. Come with me. I’ll tell you about Imogen. About your parents.”

“Shut up!” I snap, my head spinning. Parents, wolves, Imogen it’s too much. The growl in my chest stirs again, but Roman’s touch keeps it quiet. I focus on him, his golden skin pale, his jaw tight with pain.

Headlights flash through the trees, a car pulling up. A woman steps out, older, her white hair tied back, her presence calm but commanding. “Jeanine,” Benny says, relief in his voice. “Roman’s hit with wolfsbane. Bad.”

Jeanine kneels beside Roman, her hands steady as she checks his wounds. “He’ll live,” she says, her voice firm. “But we need to move him. Now.”

“Leera, too,” Roman whispers, his grip tightening. “She’s… like us.”

Jeanine’s eyes flick to me, sharp and assessing. “Is she now?” She pulls a vial from her bag, pouring a dark liquid over Roman’s arm. The wolfsbane smell fades, and he breathes easier.

“Leera,” Khas says, stepping closer. “You can’t stay with them. You’re not just a wolf. You’re”

“Enough!” I shout, standing, my body trembling. The growl surges, louder, and my vision shifts, colors too bright. My claws prick my palms again. “I don’t know you, and I don’t trust you!”

India laughs, her blade raised. “Smart girl. But you’re still mine.” She lunges, faster than before, aiming for me.

I don’t think I will move. My body feels wrong, too strong, too fast. I dodge her blade, my hand swiping out. Claws rake her arm, drawing blood. She screams, stumbling back, and I freeze, staring at my hand. Claws. Real claws.

“Leera!” Zoey grabs me, pulling me toward the pack house. Jeanine and Benny lift Roman, hurrying him inside. Andrei and Slate cover us, their eyes on India and Khas.

Khas doesn’t follow. He just watches, his voice low. “You can’t run from this, Leera. Your wolf’s awake. And so is the truth.”

Inside, the pack house smells of wood and leather, its walls solid, safe. Jeanine lays Roman on a couch, working fast, her hands glowing faintly as she murmurs words I don’t understand. Roman’s eyes find mine, weak but steady. “Stay,” he whispers.

I nod, my heart pounding. But as Jeanine works, a sharp pain stabs my chest, like fire under my ribs. I gasp, doubling over, the growl erupting, wild and unstoppable. My vision blurs, and I feel it my wolf, clawing free. Zoey screams, Benny curses, and Roman reaches for me, his voice faint.

“Leera… hold on…”

But I can’t. The pain’s too much, my body not my own. Something’s breaking loose, and I’m not sure I can stop it or if I want to. Outside, a howl splits the night, close and menacing. India’s still out there. And she’s not alone.