Tamara's POV Morning came too quickly, dragging with it a heavy sense of unease. As I paced the room, my thoughts circled like vultures around one persistent worry: how was I supposed to serve Lady Regina? She wasn’t just Dante’s mother—she was a woman of power, experience, and sharp wit. One wrong move, one misstep, and she’d see right through me. I sighed, pulling my hair back into a loose braid as Violet sat on the couch, watching me with a bemused expression. “You’re going to wear a hole in the floor,” she teased. “Maybe I’ll disappear into the hole and save myself from whatever disaster today holds,” I muttered, earning a small chuckle from her. “You’re overthinking it. Sophie always knew how to handle these kinds of situations. She was raised with all the proper etiquette,” Violet said offhandedly. I froze mid-step. “Sophie. Why hasn’t she returned yet?” Violet’s smile faltered. “I don’t know. She’s not answering my calls.” “Have you spoken to anyone else who’s seen her?
Tamara's POV The moment Lady Regina uttered the words “in front of noblewomen of the north,” my stomach plummeted. My mind raced with the implications. This wasn’t just a game—it was a spectacle, a test designed to humiliate me. Lucy’s smug grin confirmed my fears. I could already imagine her scheming ways to make me look like a fool. As soon as I excused myself from Lady Regina’s presence, I rushed to find Dante. My heart pounded with urgency, and my feet barely touched the ground as I navigated the corridors of the palace. When I burst into his office, I didn’t even bother with pleasantries. “Dante, Dante! you have to help me,” I blurted, barely catching my breath. “Lady Regina wants me to participate in some... ridiculous game in front of the noblewomen of the north. And Lucy’s involved! You know she’ll do everything to humiliate me! help me get out of it” Dante looked up from his paperwork, his expression amused. “Oh, that. Mother and Lucy tricked you into agreeing, didn’t
Tamara's POV I looked between them, my concern growing. “Sophie, is he… is he hurting you?” “No!” Sophie said quickly, though her voice wavered. “He’s just… frustrated. I don’t blame him. I should’ve communicated better.” I wasn’t convinced, I knew signs of abuse from my experience with Jack and Sophie was clearly being abused and manipulated. “Sophie, you don’t have to defend him. If he’s treating you badly, we’ll protect you.” She shook her head again, her tears starting anew. “It’s not that simple, Tamara. He’s my husband. I made a vow to be with him through thick and thin, I can't just let it go because he has some flaws.” "Flaws?" Casper gaped. "Flaws could be him forgetting to say I love you, not telling you that you're a piece of shit that is better off dead!" Casper yelled and my eyes widened. "He said that to her?" I asked and Casper nodded, "that was one of the nicer things actually, I can't repeat the rest or I might go back there and kill him." Sophie sobb
Tamara's POV Sophie finally sobered slightly, though her eyes still sparkled with amusement. “Tamara, do you know why all the northern Lunas learn archery?” I blinked at her, thrown off by the sudden change in topic. “Uh… no?” “It’s because there might come a time when we can’t rely on our wolves in battle. Archery is a skill that doesn’t require shifting—it’s about precision, patience, and focus. Every Luna in the north usually learns it as part of her training.” I groaned and buried my face in my hands. “Well, I liked to skip those lessons back in my pack. Now I’m doomed.” “You’re not doomed,” Sophie said firmly. "The point of my story is this, A Luna must know how to win her challenge or defeat her enemy despite not having her preferred weapons, so the key isn't being great at archery, the key is finding a way to win."I arched my brows at that.Sophie smiled. “I’ll teach you. We still have time, and I’ll make sure you’re ready.” I peeked at her through my fingers. “You
Tamara's POV Morning came far too quickly, and I woke with my heart pounding in my chest. Anxiety wrapped around me like a suffocating blanket as the sunlight streamed through the windows. My mind replayed every possible scenario of failure, each more mortifying than the last. Before I could spiral any further, a warm hand slid over my waist, and I turned to see Dante’s sleepy but concerned expression. “Tamara,” he murmured, his voice still husky from sleep. “You’re trembling. What’s wrong?” “What’s wrong?” I whispered incredulously. “The game, Dante! Today’s the day I make a complete fool of myself in front of every noblewoman in the North. That’s what’s wrong.” He chuckled softly and leaned in to kiss me, his lips lingering on mine until I momentarily forgot how to breathe. When he pulled back, his golden eyes were calm and reassuring. “You won’t embarrass yourself. You’re Tamara, my Luna. You’re stronger than you think.” “Dante,” I mumbled, my voice shaky. “You’re biased.” “
Tamara's POV The second game was a test of agility, speed, and strategy—a kind of obstacle course where we had to navigate various challenges to retrieve a flag and bring it back to the starting point. I wasn’t thrilled about it at first, but as the game went on, I found myself surprising even myself. I dodged swinging logs, climbed walls with more ease than I expected, and managed to stay ahead of most of the women, including Lucy and Miriam. When I crossed the finish line with the flag in hand, a wave of cheers erupted from the crowd. I turned to see Lucy stomping across the line moments later, her face red with fury. “You think you’re so clever, don’t you?” she snapped, storming up to me. I raised an eyebrow, still catching my breath. “No, I think I’m just faster than you. Or is that what’s bothering you?” Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “You got lucky.” “Maybe,” I said with a shrug. “But luck counts too, doesn’t it?” Before Lucy could say anything else, Lady Regina’s voice
Tamara's POV The moment the furious looking man spotted Sophie, his expression shifted into something that was dangerously wild and possessive. He stormed toward her, his voice booming. “Sophie, you stupid woman! Come here, now!” Sophie flinched, shrinking behind me like a frightened child. Without thinking, I stepped in front of her. I wasn't about to let this asshole abuse her in front of me. “Stay where you are,” I said firmly, my voice steady despite the nervous flutter in my stomach. The man's gaze snapped to me, dark and full of rage. “Who the hell do you think you are?” he growled. “This is between me and my wife. Move.” “I’m her friend, and your future Luna” I shot back. “Plus she doesn’t look like she wants to go with you so I suggest you get lost immediately.” “Tamara, don’t,” Sophie whispered behind me, tugging on my arm. “Please, just let me handle this.” “Handle what? You’re terrified of him, Sophie,” I said, not breaking eye contact with the man. Sop
Tamara's povHoly shit! I could hear Nathan's thoughts and the bastard wasn't sorry at all, in fact, he planned to hurt Sophie even more, I had to save her. “Tamara, what’s wrong?” Dante demanded, his eyes narrowing at Nathan. I steadied myself and looked at Dante, then back at Nathan. “Don’t let him go, I think you need to punish him,” I said, my voice firm. “What?” Sophie gasped I shock, "Luna please." she begged but I ignored her. “He’s lying,” I said, meeting Dante’s gaze. “He’s not sorry, and he’s not going to change. He’s dangerous to Sophie and he isn't loyal to his Alpha.” “Excuse me?” Nathan snapped, his tone defensive. “Woman! You don’t know anything about me, I already said I was sorry, I love Sophie and I'm forever loyal to our Alpha, what more do you want me to say?!” “You don't have to say anything," I snapped. "I already know enough,” I retorted. “Guards!” Two pack warriors stepped forward, their expressions serious and blood thirsty. “Escort him off
Kayla’s POVAdrian’s entire body was tense as we stepped out of the room. His grip on my hand was firm, his usual confident posture stiff with barely concealed irritation. I knew him well enough to recognize that he was already prepared for a fight.Hector stood at the end of the hallway, arms crossed, wearing a smirk that immediately set Adrian on edge. He was too relaxed, too amused, like he was waiting to provoke a reaction.“Kayla,” Hector greeted smoothly, his eyes flickering to me before shifting to Adrian with a knowing glint. “You’re looking lovely tonight.”Adrian’s grip on my waist tightened instantly, and I swore I could feel the heat of his glare. “Watch it Hector,” he snapped, voice low and full of warning. "She's Lady Kayla to you."Hector chuckled. “Relax, brother. It was just a greeting.”“That’s not how you greet her when I’m standing right here,” Adrian growled.I sighed, placing a calming hand on Adrian’s chest before this spiraled into another heated argument. “A
Kayla’s POVAfter my conversation with Candice, I felt a strange mix of emotions. A part of me was still frustrated with her, but another part couldn’t shake off the pity I felt. Her father treated her like she was nothing more than a disposable pawn, and I couldn’t imagine how that must have shaped her into the person she had become.I sighed, pushing the thoughts aside as I made my way to Adrian’s quarters. I didn't know if he was back but I needed to see him. Not just because he had a way of grounding me, but because I wanted to be near him after such a long, exhausting day.When I reached the door and opened it, I froze in surprise.The room was bathed in soft, golden light from several candles placed strategically around. A small dining table sat in the center, elegantly set for two, with a delicious-looking meal arranged neatly on the plates. A bottle of wine rested beside the dishes, and the scent of roasted meat, herbs, and something sweet filled the air.Adrian was waiting
Kayla’s POV I blinked, trying to process what she had just said. She took my funds? On purpose? Candice was the first to react, gasping loudly. “But why?” Lady Catherine didn’t look the least bit guilty. If anything, she seemed pleased with herself. “I needed to see how Kayla would handle a crisis. Unlike you, I already knew she had the skills to manage the funds well, given her past experience as Luna. So, I upped the challenge.” My mouth opened slightly in shock. “You knew about my work in my former Pack?” Lady Catherine smirked. “Of course. You think I wouldn’t do my research? I needed to test whether you could handle unexpected setbacks. And you outperformed my expectations. A test is not just about what you can accomplish with plenty of resources—but how you handle things when they are taken away." I swallowed, still processing what she had done. I had been thrown into that situation with no resources, and instead of crumbling, I found a way to help the orphanage. My frust
Kayla’s POV The sun dipped below the horizon as Ingrid and I left the orphanage.But the cool evening air doing little to clear the fog in my mind because The old woman’s insistent voice still rang in my ears. "I'm sure I remember you. You stayed at my orphanage once, didn’t you?" I had been too stunned to respond properly at the time. Now, as I replayed the conversation in my head, it still didn’t make sense. I had never lived in an orphanage. I knew that for a fact. After my parents died, I was taken in by Alpha Xavier’s family—not lovingly, not as one of their own, but as a maid. There certainly had been no orphanage. No kind old woman watching over me. So why had she been so sure? Maybe she was just mistaken. I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away. The woman was old, and memories could blur with time. That had to be it. "Lady Kayla?" Ingrid’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. "Hm?" I turned to her, realizing she was staring out the window with a frown. She po
Kayla’s POVMy money was stolen.Only my money.I stood there, my mind racing, my hands shaking as the weight of it settled in. The test had barely started, and someone had already made sure I failed.I looked at the guard, my throat tightening. "It was only mine?"He nodded. "Yeas ma'am. Lady Candice’s money is still safely locked away, plus she has guards safeguarding it."A cold wave of realization hit me. Candice planned this. And now I was furious at myself for not expecting something like this."That snake," I hissed, clenching my fists.Ingrid crossed her arms. "It’s obvious she’s behind this. Who else would want to sabotage you like this?"I barely let her finish before storming off to get my money back.I found her in one of the palace meeting rooms, standing with a few of her followers. She looked up just in time for me to march straight up to her."Where is it?" I demanded.Candice smirked. "Where’s what?""My money!" I snapped. "Don’t play dumb."She tilted her head, feig
Kayla’s POVI woke up before sunrise, my nerves already getting the best of me.Today was the first day of training and The first test.I had no idea what to expect, and the thought of failing in front of Lady Catherine— and worse, having my bad report sent to the council—made my stomach twist uncomfortably.I sat up, rubbing my face, when I felt the bed shift beside me.Strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me back into the warmth of Adrian’s chest."You’re up too early," he murmured, his voice still thick with sleep.I sighed. "I have to be. I don’t exactly want to start my first day with your mother by being late."Adrian hummed, his lips brushing against my shoulder. "You’ll be fine, Kayla."I wasn’t so sure. "What if I mess up?""You won’t," he said, confident as ever. "And I’ll even check in on you later to show my support."That made me pause. "Really?"He nodded. "I want to see how you’re doing."Something warm settled in my chest at that.Adrian kissed my temple before
Kayla’s POVLady Catherine's gaze was sharp, cold, and unwavering.Even without her saying another word, I could already tell—this conversation wasn’t going to be a pleasant one.She wasn’t here for pleasantries.She was here to tackle something that had to do with me."You may have manipulated your way into getting engaged to the Alpha of the South," she said evenly, "but that does not make you an acceptable Luna of my pack yet, so don't go around town parading yourself as one."I swallowed. She must have heard about our outing.Beside me, Adrian’s body tensed. "Mother—"She raised a hand, silencing him effortlessly.I had never seen anyone talk to Adrian in that tone before. He must have a lot of respect for her.Lady Catherine turned back to me, her sharp eyes raking over my form as if she were already judging every flaw I had."Custom demands that all women who wish to become one of the Alpha's wives must undergo training," she continued. "You and Candice will both be instructed,
Kayla’s POVA slow warmth curled around me, pulling me from sleep. The bed was too comfortable, the scent surrounding me too delicious.It was Adrian, cuddling me without shame, and I was letting him.I could feel his gaze before I even opened my eyes."Are you awake, or are you pretending?"His voice was teasing, husky with amusement.I blinked my eyes open, only to be met with his smug expression.Adrian was close—leaning over me, his smoldering eyes full of mischief."You’re staring," I mumbled sleepily.He grinned. "Can you blame me? you're free to stare back."I scoffed and turned my face into the pillow. "You’re annoying.""And yet, you were seeking my touch in your sleep."I froze.My eyes snapped back open, and Adrian’s grin widened as he leaned even closer."Not like that," he added, his voice wicked. "Yet."I smacked his chest, my face burning. "You’re impossible!"Adrian laughed.Then, before I could retaliate, he sat back and stretched. "Come on. Get up. I have plans for u
Kayla’s POVI couldn’t stop thinking about it.Leo’s words echoed in my head like a haunting melody I couldn’t shake."I know your secret.""You’ll go missing, just like all those wolfless girls before you."My stomach twisted.How did he know?Who else knew?How long had they known?And worst of all—how much danger was I really in?I kept my face blank as Adrian led me out of the council hall, but my thoughts were anything but calm.I needed to figure out what to do.Fast.I barely noticed the drive back to the palace. My mind was still tangled in a mess of worry when Adrian’s voice suddenly cut through the haze."You’ve been quiet," he said, his golden eyes flicking to me with a hint of concern.I forced a small smile. "Just thinking about somethings. It's nothing to worry about."Adrian didn’t look convinced. "About what?"I hesitated.Should I tell him?Should I tell him that Leo knew everything—that he had practically threatened to make me disappear?The words were on the tip of