Sophia’s POV
Jackson’s expression twisted with contempt. “Friends? What kind of friendship
could you possibly have? She’s just an orphan from Shadow
Clock”
“And you’re just an opportunistic snake,” I shot back.
“Olivia, you’re the daughter of the Morgan family,” he sneered, gesturing
dismissively all this. “Is she worthy of being your friend? Without me, do you think
she would truly care about you? she’s just using you to get to them?”
Something inside me snapped. All the memories of Ava and me before Jackson--
training together, surviving this kidnapping,ughing over midnight snacks--
rushed back with crystal rity.
“Jackson Hayes,” I said, voice steady despite my racing heart, “I release you from
your engagement.”
His face went nk for a half-second before hardening with rage. “You’re not
thinking clearly.”
“I’ve never thought more clearly in my life.” I unlinked the ring off my finger and
tossed it at his feet. “We’re done.”
Jackson stared at the silver wolf ring on the floor, his eyes dark with contempt.
With deliberate slowness, he raised his foot and stomped down hard, grinding
the ring beneath his heel. The sickening crunch of metal echoed through the room
as the sacred symbol meant to represent internal pack bonds were destroyed
beneath his boot.
That’s when he lost controlpletely.
His eyes flooded with pure wolf taking over, and a sound rose-an animal, human
humane roar from his throat. “You dare destroy everything I’ve built? No one can
enjoy me, no one!”
His body began to tremble, the first signs of an impending shift. ws rasped as
his muscles expanded, bones cracking as they realigned.
Ava showed me behind her, “back up, he’s shifting.”
We retreated toward the door, but Jackson-now half-transformed-lunged
forward, blocking our escape. His face elongated, teeth sharpening into fangs as
gray-brown fur ripped across his skin.
“Shit,” Ava hissed at me, already tearing off her outeryers, “together, now!”
I didn’t ever shifted so fast in my life. The change burned through me like liquid fire-
bones breaking and reforming, muscles stretching, skin tearing so far pushed
through pores. Pain crashed over me in waves, but necessarily drove me forward. I
weed the agony, letting it fuel my determination.
My vision blurred, then sharpened to crystal rity. Scents exploded around me--
Jackson’s rage, Ava’s determination, my own fear, all boiling in a cocktail of
emotions that painted the room in invisible colors.
Where I’d stood seconds before, a light golden she-wolf now crouched, muscles
coiled and ready.
Beside me, Avapleted her transformation a sleek silver-gray she-wolf with
deep green eyes that held both intelligence and deadly focus. Her fur caught the
stance.
Across the room, Jackson finished his massive gray-brown wolf with
blood-filled silver eyes. His fur bristled along his spine, making him look more
He attacked without warning.
His massive bodyunched through the air, jaws snapping straight for Ava’s throat.
Hended as thest second, his smaller size and
inspired saving her from those snarling jaws. ws shattered as they solved
against a table, sending crystal demons flying. The sound of spilled splinters
filled the air, mixing with the copper sing of blood.
I flinched, looking for an opening. When Jacksonnded hard after missing Ava, I
stared in, teeth shing across his fangs before dancing away. Filled sealed my
tongue, hot and metallic, sparking something primal in my soul.
He roared in fury, spitting to hurt me. That split-second distraction was all Ava
needed-she leapt onto his back, w digging deep, forcing a howl of pain from
his throat.
We moved with unexpected synchronicity, a strange bond forming between us as
in the heat of battle, when I looked left, Ava somehow knew to attack right, when
she drew his attention forward, I instinctively stuck their behind. It was as if we
shared one mind, one purpose--survive this together.
But Jackson was still stronger, his massive body absorbing punishment that would
have felled lesser wolves. With a violent kick, he dislodged Ava,nding not
crashing into Mom’s antique side table. The sound of splintering wood mixed with
her period yelp, driving a spike of fear through my heart.
I ced myself between then as Jackson regrouped, fangs raised and teeth
bared. Blood coated his fur, but his eyes burned with murderous rage.
He charged again, this time aiming for me. I braced for impact, knowing I couldn’t
match his raw strength.
The blow never came.
“Don’t hurt my mom and sister.”
My heart nearly stopped. I turned to see my baby brother standing in the doorway,
his little face a mixture of terror and determination that no seven-year-old should
ever have in mine. His small hands balled into fists, trembling slightly but
refusing to back down.
Jackson paused-mid- charge, momentarily confused by this unexpected
devastation.
It’s a beautiful thing. A beautiful thing, our love. I couldn’t ask for more than
Mom, you being my brother.
Dad’s irritation was all my little love needed. Lucas’s eyes in ss gold
just like Dad’s-and his small hands transformed partially. Fingers extending into
deadly ws while the rest of his remained human.
“Leave them alone,” he shouted, his high voice cracking with emotion.
Jackson narrowed, apparently deciding a child posed no real threat. If only he
knew how fierce my baby brother could be. He turned back toward me, only to howl in
shock when Lucas darted forward with startling speed, his tiny ws shing at
the tendons in Jackson’s leg.
My heart nearly stopped. Pride and terror warred inside me as I watched my little
brother-my sweet, precious Lucas-put himself in harm’s way to protect us. Where
had he learned such precision? Such courage?
Ava recovered in that moment, leaping back into the fray. Together, the three of us
whisked Jackson into a corner, his movements growing increasingly desperate as
he realized he was outmatched.
***
One final, coordinated attack, we brought him down. Ava’s teeth at his throat,
my weight joining his body, and my brave little brother standing guard with those
deadly little ws still extended. My heart couldn’t decide whether to burst with
pride or copse seeing Lucas in such danger.
The main doors crashed open, and Tyler strode in with a dozen silver peak
warriors.
“Jackson Hayes,” Tyler announced formally, for treason, murder, and
maniption, I arrest you in the name of the Alpha King.”
***
Steph’s POV
Jackson’s silver eyes bled with impotent fury as specialized warriors streamed
around his wounded limbs, forcing him back into human
form.
Half-naked and bleeding, he looked nothing like the polished politician who’d
charmed his way through my defenses. This was the real Jackson Hayes--
desperate, cruel, and utterly defeated.
“This isn’t possible!” he screamed, spit flying from his lips. “I am the future
Alpha of Shadow Creek! You have no right to do this to me!”
Ava let out a coldugh that raised goosebumps on my arms. “Future Alpha? You
don’t even qualify as a man. A real Alpha unlocks the people they love, not uses
them.”
I stepped forward, looking down at the pathetic figure he’d be. “Jackson, I
finally understand what real love is. It’s not control, it’s not possession--it’s
mutual respect. Too bad you’ll never understand that.”
His eyes field on me, wild and frantic. “Sophia, you’ll regret this! Without me,
you’re nothing!”
My little brother stepped forward, his face scrunched up with righteous anger.
“You big meanie! You made my mom and sister cry! Dad says men should
protect girls, not hurt them!”
Even in this moment, my heart melted at his innocent defense.
“What do you know, kid?” Jackson snarled at Lucas. “The world is more
Ava moved protectively in front of Lucas. “We understand more than you do as
an adult. At least he knows right from wrong.”
I gently stroked my brother’s dark hair. “Lucas is right. Real men protect us, not
use like you.”
“My father won’t let this stand!” Jackson roared against his restraints. “The
Hayes family won’t just ept this!”
Tyler’s voice remained perfectly calm. “Richard Hayes has already been arrested
your entire conspiracy has been exposed.”
“No---” the fight drained from Jackson’s body, his voice dropping to a terrified
whisper. “That’s impossible... our n was perfect...”
As they dragged him away, I shifted back to human form, gratefully epting the
coat a female guard offered me. Every muscle in my body screamed in protest.
Despite our werewolf healing, bruises bloomed across my skin in purple-blue
flowers. Beside me, Ava did the same, wincing as she straightened. Blood matted
her hair where she’d struck the table, but her eyes were clear and victorious.
Lucas ran to her first, flinging his small arms around her waist. “Mom! Are you
okay?”
My heart melted watching him--my little warrior, so brave and so small at the
same time.
He proudly held up his hands, now back to normal little boy hands. “Mom, look!
Your training really worked! I can control my power now!”
His voice was filled with childlike pride as he wiggled his fingers for Ava to see, his
whole face lit up with excitement. I couldn’t help but smile through my tears,
overwhelmed with love for my precious little brother.
“Our little hero was amazing,” I said, my voice thick with emotion as I stroked his
soft dark hair. “What would have happened if he hadn’t shown up when he did?”
Ava snapped him in a tight embrace. “Baby, you were so brave, but please don’t
put yourself in danger like that again. Mom will protect you, okay?”
***
Then he turned to me with those innocent eyes that could melt the coldest heart.
“You stay too, Sophia?” he asked, reaching for my hand with his small fingers.
Words slitted me as emotions overwhelmed my head. I knelt down to his level and
wrapped my arms around his tiny frame, pulling my baby brother close against
my chest. This little boy who’d just risked everything to protect us deserved all
the love in the world. I pressed a kiss to the top of his head, inhaling his familiar
scent of cookies and sunshine, silently thanking the Moon Goddess that he was safe.
Over his head, my eyes met Ava’s. The woman who’d just risked her life to protect me. Her
face was bruised but exquisite, green eyes holding a warmth I’d forgotten existed
between us.
“We were friends once,” I said softly, my voice catching on the words.
Her green eyes softened, a small smile lifting the corners of her mouth. “We still
are. We just got a little lost for a while.”
My precious little brother looked between us, his face lighting up with pure joy that
only a child could express so openly. His eyes-- so much like Dad’s--sparkled with
happiness. “Mom and sister are friends again! Now we’re really a family, right?”
The simplicity of his statement-- the pure, unfiltered truth that only children seem
capable of-- made tears spill down my cheeks. Leave it to my sweet Lucas to cut
through all the adultplications and see right to the heart of what mattered. I
reached out, and Ava’s hand met mine halfway, our fingers intertwining in a silent
promise while Lucas beamed up at us, his little face radiating the purest joy I’d
ever seen.
“Yes,” I whispered, “We’re family.”
The sound of boots on marble pulled our attention back to reality. Tyler returned
with a cleanup crew, his eyes surveying the destruction with professional
detachment. Broken furniture, shattered ss, and w marks scored into
expensive flooring-- our fight had left the sitting room looking like a war zone.
“You three should get cleared up,” Tyler said, nodding toward the staircase. He
barely even expression softened when he nced at Lucas, who was still
clutching Ava’s hand. He knelt down briefly to my brother’s level. “Good work, little
warrior. Your father would be proud.”
Lucas beamed at the new praise, standing a little taller.
Tyler straightened, turning to me with a more serious expression. “Especially
you,” he said, his voice dropping slightly. “I just got word. Alpha king is bringing
William and Sarah here within the hour. They’ll want to see you, so...” he
gestured vaguely at her blood-matted hair and torn robe, "... whatever this is.”
Ava’s face transformed at those words-hope, disbelief, and pure joy watching over
her features in rapid session. Her hand flew to her mouth, green eyes filling
with tears. “They’reing here? Both of them? You’re sure?”
Tyler nodded, the corner of his mouth lifting in a rare smile. “Positive. Now go get
ready. You’ve got a family reunion to prepare for.”
***
***
UNTIL WE WEREWOLVES
Holy, writing that takedown scene was SO SATISFYING.
After all these chapters of watching Jackson manipte everyone, seeing Sophia
and Ava team up to bring him like down fell elves. I’ve been waiting
FOREVER to write these two working together! And bringing Lucas into the mix? That kid is the
the glue holding this broken family together.
I know some of you were getting frustrated with Sophia (trust me, yourments
were very clear lol), but I always knew she’de around once she saw through
Jackson’s B.S. Sometimes the people closest to us are the hardest to see clearly,
you know?
Anyway, next chapter is the family reunion so we’re all been waiting for. William
finally gets justice, and Ava gets to see her parents again. I know you won’t
want to miss it.
***