(SKY POV)We entered the decrepit building, the structure a haunting relic left untouched since the last hurricane's wrath. Kael was naked, suspended from the ceiling. He was bound by heavy chains that wrapped tightly around his chest, neck, arms, and waist, securing him cruelly in midair. IV lines ran from each arm, one dripping with the distinct, pungent scent of wolfsbane, while the contents of the other remained a mystery. His body was covered in wounds, bruises, and gashes. Blood ran in rivulets down his body, dripping steadily from his foot into a puddle on the floor. His face was swollen and distorted, his eyes almost swollen shut. His lip was split open badly, and an entire eyebrow was split open and bleeding, causing blood to flow down that side of his face and to his neck. His beautiful blonde hair had been ripped out in several places and was now a haunting red tint from all the blood. There was so much blood. So much blood. The sight was so shocking, so brutally v

(CASSY POV)I was clutching Teddy's shirt in the tent when the radio crackled with updates. My heart stopped when I heard Teddy was missing and he wasn't breathing.My entire body felt like it was about to ignite with a blazing fire. Panic surged, and I screamed as my body twisted and contorted. The pain was excruciating, every bone breaking and reshaping. My skin felt like it was being ripped apart, and I sobbed uncontrollably as the agony intensified.It felt like an eternity before the pain subsided. I stood on four legs, my new senses overwhelming me. The world was sharper, more vibrant. I could smell Teddy's scent strongly on the shirt I had clutched moments ago. I only thought I liked the way he smelled as a human. Smelling him as my wolf was intoxicating. Instinctively, I knew I had to find him. Without thinking, I ran, hoping my instincts would lead me in the right direction.I wish we hadn't been fighting and that I had paid more attention to the maps and overall plan. B

I woke up in the middle of the night from the remnants of intense dreams. They had all taken place deep in what I guessed was the Bayou.My dreams had always been vivid, but lately, they had taken on a new level of clarity. It felt like I was really there, in places I'd never seen before. Were they even dreams? Maybe they were his memories, or glimpses of the future? I didn't know. I did know Leila, usually a constant presence in my mind, was strangely silent now.Leila had always been there, a guiding force. As I grew older, I often wondered if I was hearing Leila or my wolf. Now that I had my wolf, I realized Leila's voice was always more like my intuition. As this thought crossed my mind, Leila giggled softly, making me smile.This had always been my reality. Not many people knew about it because I felt strange living with our Goddess in my head. Others would beg to speak to her for weeks and never get a response. I always wondered why I was so special, why she chose me. Kae

(TEDDY POV)I opened my eyes in the weirdest place I've ever been, me. It was stepping into a bottle of champagne, all bubbly and glowing. A beautiful lady was swimming in a pond in front of me, her laughter echoing through the space. She looked up at me and giggled. "You shouldn't be here yet." In a split second, she was beside me, whispering, "Open your eyes."When I opened them again, I was in a mansion. The marble and stone walls around me were confusing... Was I dead or something? But then I noticed Cassy beside me, sobbing, and everything started to come back into focus. We were at the Monroe mansion, if I had to guess.Cassy showed me that she marked me. Holy shit. I'd walked away from her because I knew how serious she was when she made that comment. I had already decided that, as hard as it was going to be, after we got Kael back, I would restrict us to video chats and telephone calls only until she was closer to 18. So the Moon Goddess must have laughed at that plan