Tamara's POV It had been a week since the twins' scare, and Dante had barely looked at me. I tried to tell myself that it was because he was just being a protective father, but there was something more to it—something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. He seemed distant, even more so than usual. And every time I caught him staring off into space, I felt this gnawing ache in my chest. Was it me? Was he regretting this—us? It was hard to deny the tension between us. The bond we had once shared felt fragile, like a thread stretched too thin. Dante had been avoiding me, and I had been walking on eggshells, unsure if I was making the right move or if I was simply overthinking it all. The only thing I knew for sure was that something needed to change. One night, as I sat in the study, the silence between us was deafening. Dante sat on the couch, his eyes glued to his phone, the same way he had been for hours. I could hear his breath, steady but distant. He wasn’t even looking at me, w
Tamara's POV I stood in front of the large mirror, my hands slowly smoothing down the fabric of the dark green dress that clung to my body. I had to look the part; this wasn’t a casual trip, not for someone like me. I was the Luna of the North, but I was also a daughter of the Winter Pack. It was time to return home and take what was mine. “Are you sure you want to go alone?” Violet’s voice came from the doorway, her expression somber, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. I turned to her, a lump forming in my throat. “I don’t have a choice, Vi. Jack and Kate are destroying everything, and I’m the only one who can fix it.” Violet stepped into the room and pulled me into a tight hug. “I know, but it hurts. You’re my best friend, and I can’t imagine being apart from you. I’ve always had you by my side. I know this is what you need to do, but I’m going to miss you so much.” I closed my eyes, letting out a shaky breath. “I’m going to miss you too, Violet. But you have Casper, and yo
As I stepped into the Winter Pack house, the weight of everything I’d been carrying seemed to crash down on me. The air was thick with the tension that always accompanied Jack and Kate, and yet, there was something different this time. Jack’s usual cold indifference, his usual arrogance, was replaced by something else—something almost... eager. It took me off guard. “Tamara,” Jack said, his voice warmer than I ever expected. He stepped forward, his arms slightly outstretched, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “It’s good to have you back.” I froze. The way he was acting—so… welcoming—completely threw me off balance. I didn’t know how to respond at first. The last time I saw him, he was barely able to look at me without contempt. But Kate, standing behind him, wasn’t as pleased. Her lips curled into a sneer, her cold eyes scanning me as though I was some kind of threat. “I don’t know why you’re so eager to be here, Tamara,” she said, her tone dripping with disdain. “Y
Tamara's POV I wandered through the packhouse, my footsteps heavy on the cold stone floor. The weight of everything that had happened, everything I had to do, pressed down on me, but as I walked past the rooms and halls, I started to see things differently. It was as if the Winter Pack, the pack that had once been my home, had changed in the months I’d been gone. There were new faces, more children, more life. It wasn’t the cold, sterile place I remembered; it had a warmth now, a sense of community. I stopped in front of the kitchen, watching as some of the pack members worked together to prepare the evening meal. The younger wolves were helping with the chores, and it struck me how calm everything felt, how coordinated it seemed. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of surprise. Jack had always been the type to keep the pack running under strict, harsh control, but now? It was different. The pack seemed well taken care of. Their needs were met, and they seemed content. It wasn’t the so
Tamara's POV It had been a few days since I returned to the Winter Pack, and Jack’s persistence was starting to wear on my nerves. He seemed to think that if he tried hard enough, I’d forget everything he’d done and fall back into his arms. But I wasn’t that naive anymore. I’d been burned by him before, and I wasn’t about to let him charm me again. I was walking through the packhouse when I saw him again, leaning against the wall just outside the training room, his eyes lighting up when he spotted me. I sighed inwardly, trying to keep my face neutral. "Tamara," Jack said, his voice soft and almost pleading. "We need to talk." I didn’t stop walking. "No, we really don’t," I muttered, my voice firm. "Please," he persisted, stepping into my path. "Just give me a chance to explain. I’m trying to be better. I want to make things right between us." I stopped, looking up at him, my eyes narrowing. "Jack, I’m married. To the most powerful alpha in the region." I stressed the last part,
Tamara's POV I had spent the better part of the day avoiding Jack, but no matter how hard I tried to ignore him, he kept showing up in the most unexpected places. It was as if he couldn’t leave me alone, couldn’t stop trying to make amends for something that had already torn us apart. I had been walking through the training grounds when I saw him again—standing by the fence, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, his posture tense. "Tamara," he called softly as I walked past, his voice still carrying that familiar tone that I had once found comforting but now only stirred up painful feelings. "Please, just hear me out." I didn’t stop, but I did slow down, my feet dragging on the ground as I debated whether to face him or just keep walking. Part of me still wanted to shut him out. But another part—the part that couldn’t ignore the changes I had been seeing in him—told me to at least listen. I turned to face him. "What now, Jack?" I asked, keeping my voice even. "Haven’t
Tamara's POV The ride back to the pack house was silent, the weight of the truth still hanging heavy in the air. Jack was sitting beside me, his face pale, his eyes unfocused, as if he were trying to process everything that had just been revealed. I could feel the tension between us, the mixture of anger, sorrow, and disbelief. It was hard to believe how much had been built on lies, how much of his life had been shaped by things that weren’t true. “Tamara,” he whispered after a while, his voice cracking. “How could I have been so blind? All these years, I’ve been fighting the wrong battles. Fighting you, my family hating everyone... You didn’t deserve any of it.” I felt a pang of sympathy for him, despite everything. He had been a pawn in someone else’s game, manipulated into believing that I, and my mother, were the enemy. I’d never wanted this for him. I knew he had his own demons to deal with, but to find out that his whole life had been a lie—it made me feel bad for him.
Tamara's POV It had been a few days since everything had unraveled—the truth about the war, Jack’s broken ties with Kate, and his newfound loyalty to me. Despite everything that had happened, there was something almost peaceful in knowing that Jack no longer wanted to be my enemy. He was determined to be better, to fix what he had broken. He was, in a strange way, proving himself, and I couldn't deny that I was starting to forgive him. “I swear, Tamara, I’ll never turn my back on you again,” Jack said, his voice thick with sincerity as he looked at me one evening in the training room. His eyes were full of regret, but there was a new fire in them—one I hadn’t seen before. “From now on, I’m loyal to you. I’ll fight by your side.” I nodded slowly, trying to process it all. A part of me wanted to keep holding onto the anger, to punish him for the years of betrayal, for everything he had done to me and my family. But deep down, I knew I couldn’t stay angry forever. He was trying to
Adrian’s POV Kayla was trembling in my arms, her fingers gripping my shirt like she was afraid I’d disappear. I tightened my hold on her, pressing my lips against her temple, trying to ground her. "It’s okay," I whispered. "You’re safe." She didn’t respond. Her breathing was shallow, her entire body stiff. Something was wrong. Very wrong. I pulled back slightly to look at her face. Her pupils were dilated, her skin too pale. "Kayla," I murmured, brushing my thumb across her cheek. "Talk to me." She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, a howl ripped through the night. The pack alarm. Again! Shit. I snapped my head up, my instincts immediately on high alert. The howls multiplied, blending with distant shouts. My wolves were already gathering outside. We were under attack. For real this time. Earlier was just a warning from something that looked like Xavier.. but wasn't quite him. Kayla gasped, grabbing my wrist. "Adrian—" I cupped her face, forcing her to focus on
Kayla’s POV I slammed the bedroom door shut, twisting the lock with trembling fingers. My breath came in ragged gasps as I pressed my back against the door, my chest rising and falling in rapid, uneven bursts. What had I done? I had told Adrian I loved him. And worse—I had meant it. The words had slipped past my lips before I could stop them, before I could shove them back down into the deep, dark place where I kept all the things I couldn’t afford to feel. And then—like a coward—I had run as Adrian was forced to leave. But where could I run to? I belonged to him now. And that was the most terrifying part. I squeezed my eyes shut, my nails digging into the skin of my arms. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t afford to need him. Not when I was changing. Not when I didn’t even know what I was anymore. The mark on my arm burned as if it could hear my thoughts, reminding me of what I was trying so desperately to deny. Lady Elizabeth’s words echoed in my head. "You bear their mark,
Adrian’s POVMy heart still pounded from my situation with Kayla, but I pushed the thought aside as I raced toward the border. Logan ran beside me, his jaw tight with frustration. The moment the border guards had sounded the alarm, I knew it couldn’t be anything good."Who the hell would be bold enough to get this close?" Logan muttered, keeping pace."I don't know," I said, my voice sharp. "But if they think they can just waltz into my territory, they're about to learn a painful lesson."The moment we neared the tree line, I caught sight of a figure standing at the edge of our land. My stomach twisted into a knot.Xavier.Or at least… I thought it was Xavier.The stance, the cocky smirk—it was all the same. But something was off. His face seemed… distorted. For a split second, his features blurred, like I was staring at a reflection in rippling water. My wolf bristled, sensing something unnatural."Adrian," Logan said warily, stepping up beside me. "That—" He hesitated. "That doesn’t
Adrian’s POVI didn’t plan on letting her go.Not tonight. Not ever.I held Kayla’s face between my hands, staring into those stormy eyes that I had come to crave more than anything else in this world. I had meant every word—I wasn’t letting her leave this room until she told me the truth.But deep down, I knew I wasn’t just talking about tonight.A dark part of me, the part that had already lost too much, whispered that I would never let her go at all.And I felt guilty for it.Kayla wasn’t some possession to be kept in a cage. But I couldn’t shake the possessiveness curling in my chest, the absolute refusal to lose her too.Not after what I’d already lost.She was shaking now, her breaths coming out in sharp, uneven gasps. Her hands clenched at her sides as if she was fighting some invisible war within herself.And she looked scared.That’s what threw me off the most.What the hell was she so afraid of?"Kayla," I murmured, my fingers tracing over her cheekbone. "Talk to me."Her li
Kayla’s POVI couldn't stop thinking about last night.The way Adrian had held me. The way his hands had traced my skin, setting every nerve in my body on fire.And the way he had stopped.He had looked at me like I was something precious, something he was too scared to take before I was ready.I had never known a man like him before.Adrian was dangerous, feared, and yet with me, he was patient. Protective.I was falling for him. Hard.The realization terrified me. I had spent so long guarding my heart, convincing myself that love—real love—was a luxury I would never have again. And yet, here I was, aching for him in a way that had nothing to do with the mate bond.I needed a distraction, something to clear my mind.Which was why I was now standing outside Lady Elizabeth’s home again, my heart hammering as I raised my hand to knock.She had asked to see me privately, and though I had agreed, I wasn’t sure I was ready for whatever she had to say.But something told me I needed to hear
Authors note: Thank you to everyone that left a comment, I read each and every one of them, and it was so uplifting. I'll do my best for you too. ,💕Adrian’s POV My training session the next day was brutal, but I barely felt it. My mind was elsewhere. Xavier. That fucking asshole. Logan had reported earlier that the bastard had been snooping around, and then I actually CAUGHT him talking to a certain pack member. That alone was enough to put me on edge. Xavier wasn’t here for resources—he was here to stir up trouble, I knew that, but I didn't know what to do about it yet. As I wiped sweat from my brow, Logan approached. "You’re distracted Sir," he noted. "I’m fine," I muttered, tossing my towel over my shoulder. Logan didn’t look convinced. "I didn't want to bother you, but You should know—Xavier was seen talking to some more of Hector’s former allies." Not again! Did that asshole ever learn? Did I have to break his neck for him to stop? My entire body went rigid with a
Adrian’s POV Logan entered my office with a grim expression, shutting the door behind him. "We have a problem," he said, his tone clipped. I leaned back in my chair, already feeling the tension coil in my muscles. "Wait, I know, Let me guess. it's Xavier." Logan nodded. "He's been snooping around, talking to certain pack members. And not just any members—Hector’s old allies. The ones on the council who didn’t want you as Alpha." My jaw clenched. Of course, Xavier wouldn’t waste time to piss me off. The bastard was here under the pretense of collecting resources, but I knew better. He was testing boundaries, looking for weaknesses. And now, he was making nice with the same men who had fought against my leadership. I stood, grabbing my jacket. "Where the fuck is he now?" Logan sighed. "In the west courtyard. He’s been real friendly with Councilor Marcus and the others. Too friendly." Rage burned in my chest, but I kept my voice even. "Let’s go." --- The moment I stepped into
Kayla’s POVThat evening, I sat on the edge of the bed, still turning Hector's mother's words over in my mind. "Hide this. If the wrong people see it, you’ll be in danger." What did she mean? Who was she afraid of? I traced my fingers over the faint glow of my mark, my mind buzzing with unease. Beside me, Adrian was quiet, lost in his own thoughts. After a long moment, he finally spoke. “You’re thinking about Lady Elizabeth's warning.” I nodded. “It felt serious, Adrian. She genuinely looked scared.” He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. “I don’t think Hector's mother is a threat, if that’s what you’re worried about. She’s always been a good woman. If anything, I sincerely believe she’s just concerned for you.” I bit my lip. “But why? And why did she say she could only tell me in private?” Adrian’s jaw tensed slightly, but he didn’t argue. “I really don’t like that part. I don’t like the idea of you going anywhere alone, but I don't think she'll hurt you.” I rolled
Adrian’s POVXavier arrived exactly when he said he would. His caravan of vehicles rolled up to the packhouse gates like he was some kind of noble returning home, which was laughable considering he had no home here. The moment I saw him step out, dressed in a crisp black shirt and slacks as if he were attending a business meeting instead of setting foot in enemy territory, my mood soured even further.I didn’t trust him. Not even for a second. And I was starting to wonder why I ever gave him the alliance in the first place.Then I remembered that I had done it in exchange of Kayla.I descended the steps of the palace, my posture rigid as I met him in the courtyard. The guards were on high alert, positioned around the perimeter, watching his every move. Logan stood at my side, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable, but I could feel his impatience radiating off him.Xavier took his time surveying his surroundings before his gaze shifted—up, toward the highest tower of the pal