Tamara’s POV As I strode away from the crowd, I could hear Jack’s footsteps rushing after me. My heart was pounding from all the adrenaline of almost watching my pack members get slaughtered, so I didn’t even bother to glance back at him. "Tamara!" Jack’s voice was sharp and desperate. "What the hell are you doing?" I ignored him until he grabbed my arm, halting me in my tracks. I whipped around, glaring at him. “What does it look like I’m doing, Jack? I’m handling the mess you created!” Jack’s eyes flared with disbelief. “You’re actually going to marry Alpha Dante? That monster? You can’t be serious.” He exclaimed. “Oh, I’m dead serious,” I snapped, crossing my arms. “He can’t be any worse than you. And Since when do you care anyway? Shouldn’t you be focused on your Kate now? She’s pregnant with your child, after all.” I sneered. "Don’t bring Kate into this, this is about you and me." He stepped closer, his voice lowering as if trying to seduce me. "Or have you
Tamara POV I tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. The day had been way too long, and wayy too chaotic, not to mention that it was filled with way too many emotions to process. The first case was that My mind kept replaying my expected confrontation with Jack, the stares from the pack members, and the weight of everything I had just agreed to. i was Marrying Alpha Dante for goodness sake!. The same man whose name alone sent shivers down the spine of anyone who heard it. How had it come to this? I had spent years dreaming of the moment I would take control of my destiny, and now I was handing my life over to a man I barely knew. Dear goddess! I sighed, staring up at the ceiling, my fingers twisting in the sheets. Sleep was impossible. A sudden knock on the door made my heart leap into my throat. My first thought was that Jack had come to argue with me again, unable to accept that I was marrying Dante. I was not in the mood for another confrontation. I pulled myself o
Jack's POV As I stood there, watching Tamara clasp the diamond necklace around her neck, it felt like something inside me shattered. My heart was crushed, and I could barely breathe. My throat tightened, and my chest felt like it was caving in. I can't believe she's marrying him!Fucking Alpha Dante! Of all people! How could she do this to me? How could she marry him? My worst enemy, the man responsible for so much pain in my life. She didn’t even flinch when she accepted that diamond necklace. Her face was calm, even pleased. How could she be pleased when she was throwing everything we had away?I stormed to my room, away from the scene that was breaking me apart. I couldn’t stay there. I couldn’t stand to see her like that, wearing something sent by that monster. It made my skin crawl.The room I was walking into wasn’t even my own anymore. Yesterday, Tamara had kicked me out of her room and forced Kate and me to move into one of the smaller rooms downstairs. Pure shame and humili
It had been two days since Alpha Dante sent me the diamond ring, and I was set to leave for his territory in just a few hours. Everything was already packed and prepared for my departure. I glanced at the ring on my finger, the large diamond catching the light as I turned it. It symbolized more than just a marriage proposal. It symbolized my future—our future—and the power that was soon to be mine.Jack had been pretending to ignore me since I accepted the ring, his attempts at cold indifference painfully obvious. I still caught him staring at me sometimes when he thought I wasn’t looking. It wasn’t my imagination either. His eyes would burn into me from across the room, only to look away the moment I met his gaze. I knew it still bothered him, this engagement, but I didn’t care. I had made it clear that he had to leave my pack, that he had no place here anymore. Yet, he hadn’t made any effort to go, and I couldn’t help but wonder why.Still, it didn’t bother me much. Soon, when Alpha
Tamara's POV The road stretched out ahead of us, winding through thick woods and rolling hills as the car smoothly glided over the asphalt. The ride was mostly quiet except for the excited chatter of Violet, who sat beside me, practically vibrating with energy. “This is going to be amazing, Tamara!” Violet gushed, leaning toward me with wide eyes. “I mean, think about it. We’re going to Alpha Dante’s pack—his lands are supposed to be incredible! Abundance like you wouldn’t believe. Huge estates, farms that practically grow food by themselves, rivers full of fish. I’ve heard they even have gold mines!” I gave her a sidelong glance but didn’t share her enthusiasm. Her excitement only made the knot in my stomach tighten. “Yeah, I’ve heard those stories too.” “And it’s all true!” Fiona said with a dreamy sigh, looking out the window as we passed another long stretch of forest. “They say his lands are so prosperous that no one there ever goes hungry. That’s why no one ever leaves—t
Tamara’s POV I took a step back and pushed Violet behind me even though my heart was pounding in my chest. My entire body was trembling as the attackers moved toward us with twisted grins. I tried hard to keep her behind me, to shield her from their cold eyes which were gleaming with cruel amusement as they watched us like predators toying with their prey. "Aww Look at the great and powerful Luna shivering in front of us," one of them sneered, he seemed to be the boss here. He was tall but very ugly with rotten looking teeth as he sneered at me. "Look how the proud Luna Tamara and her friends are so helpless and pitiful in front of us, like a couple of scared little girls." He laughed and the others joined. Fucking prick! I gritted my teeth and forced myself to stand up straighter, to project confidence that I didn’t feel. My voice shook a little, but I glared at him and tried to look as cold and intimidating as possible. "Do you have any idea who you’re messing with?’,
Jack's POV I stood at the edge of the driveway, my arms crossed, watching the northern warriors drive Tamara away. The luxurious car they arrived in was slick and black, barely making a sound as it pulled away. I scowled, feeling a tight knot of frustration in my chest. Their security detail was laughable—two cars, both with tinted windows, crawling along as if they had all the time in the world. They had no idea what danger they were heading into, and it made me scoff. They wouldn’t make it far.Even though I wasn’t the one who had hired the assassins, I knew Kate had, and I could trust that whoever she picked would get the job done. Kate wanted Tamara gone even more than I did. She hated her. Despised her for standing in the way of everything she thought she deserved.As if on cue, Kate sidled up to me, slipping her arm around my waist and leaning her head against my shoulder. “Finally,” she murmured, “we’re free.”I pushed her off, my body stiff and unyielding. “I’m not in the moo
Tamara's POV I woke up groggily, my head pounding as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. The first thing I noticed was the faint smell of antiseptic in the air, the sterile cleanliness of a clinic. The room was dimly lit, and I blinked several times, trying to shake off the drowsiness clinging to me like a heavy fog.Where the hell am I?The bed I was lying on was firm, not entirely uncomfortable, but foreign. I definitely wasn’t in my own room. My body ached slightly, a dull pain radiating from my side. Slowly, I moved my hand down to the source of the pain, the memory of being stabbed rushing back to me.The attack. The men. The blood.I tried to sit up but felt a wave of dizziness hit me like a brick wall. Just as I managed to push myself up, a young woman in a white nurse’s uniform hurried over, her expression one of concern. She placed her hands gently on my shoulders and urged me to lie back down.“You shouldn’t be getting up,” she said, her voice soft but firm. “You need
Kayla's POV After my fight with Hector, My thoughts became so dark that I ended up pacing the edge of the sanctuary for hours.I just wanted to be alone to sort out my depressing thoughts.Depression, anxiety and despair were a horrible mixture to have. I didn't know what I was supposed to do next. To train or not to train, to go to Adrian or stay away from him.It felt like every option I chose would go horribly wrong. I was now more lost than before I even came here.Later that evening, I had to force myself to return to the camp side of the sanctuary.Ingrid was waiting for me in front of my room with worry in her eyes. She had that look on her face, the one she wore when she knew something was off. “Luna Kayla,” she said softly, standing up as I walked into the camp. “Are you okay?” I gave her a small smile, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “Yeah, I’m fine.” She didn’t seem convinced. “Did something happen? You were gone for a while.” I bit my lip, trying to push away the feeling
Kayla's POV I don’t even know how it happened. One second, I was standing there, sobbing into Hector's shirt while standing beside the water cascading down the rocks, and the next, Hector’s lips were pressed against mine with his tongue in my mouth.It took me completely by surprise and I froze. My pause made it seem like I wanted it to happen, but that was absolutely not true!He wasn’t supposed to do that. He wasn't supposed to take advantage of my vulnerability just because I was opening up to him.My heart was already tangled up in my fears of loving Adrian, and I definitely didn’t need this confusion. His lips lingered for a second too long before I shoved him away with both hands, the force of my push making both of us stumble back a step. I glared at him, barely holding my anger in check. “What the hell, Hector?” I snapped, feeling my pulse race with frustration. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” He blinked a couple of times, as though trying to read my face, tryi
Adrian's POV: I stared at my phone, the message from Xavier glaring at me from the screen. "We need to talk. I have something to tell you about Kayla and the enemy hunting her. Meet me at the old clearing by the edge of the forest. Midnight. Alone." I rolled my eyes, the familiar sense of irritation crawling under my skin. Why would he want to help me now? What the hell does he want? And why the hell did he want me alone? I could feel my anger simmering, but I also knew this could be important. Kayla was all that had been on my mind nonstop lately, and if Xavier thought he could help ... or use her against me… well, I wasn’t about to sit back and do nothing. But the thought of meeting him alone? That didn’t sit well with me. “You want me to go alone?” I muttered under my breath, more to myself than anyone else. I didn’t trust Xavier for a second, and I certainly wasn’t about to walk into a trap with just me and him. My first instinct was to call in my men, get backup, but some
Xavier’s POV The night in the South was cool and dark, the perfect cover for secret meetings. I pressed through the dim corridors of the guest quarters until I reached the far end of the pack's border, where I knew I’d arranged to meet my “partner in crime.” According to the plan, it was to be here—hidden by shadows and far from Adrian's eyes. I waited near the edge of the pack, my fingers drumming on the wall. Finally, a lean figure emerged from the darkness. He moved with the casual air of someone who knew he wasn’t liked and yet didn’t care. I smirked. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite southern traitor,” I called lightly, as he approached. He chuckled low and gave a crooked smile. “i told you to Call me Desmond,” he said, leaning against the stone wall. His tone was casual, as if the meeting were nothing more than a chat at a pub. I snorted. “Desmond? Please. I know that name is as fake as your loyalty.” I crossed my arms, letting my eyes roam over him—dark hair, a few silver st
Kayla's POV 'The burning tree was my fault' that was the thought in my head as I jolted awake. I woke up to the same emptiness that had filled my chest for the past few days. My fingers ran across the cold, stone floor as I sat up in bed. I wasn’t sure why I even bothered getting up today. My body felt heavy, like every breath was a burden. My powers. I couldn’t even think about them without feeling the sharp sting of shame. The accident with the tree felt like it was haunting me every second. That when I accidentally let my emotions take control and set a tree on fire. I could easily have hurt someone, and I didn’t even know how I did it. I was terrified that if I tried to practice again, I might ACTUALLY hurt someone this time. I couldn’t even talk to anyone about it. How could I? They’d all blame me for it. They’d see me as the danger I am. The worst part was, I believed it. I believed I would always bring trouble to everyone I loved. Everyone who cared about me woul
Xavier's POV The walls of this new room were too quiet. The kind of quiet that gnawed at your head after a while. I leaned back in the expensive leather chair the council had set me up with, staring at the ceiling fan as it spun lazy, slow circles above me. I’d always thought the South would feel like freedom — like escape — but instead, it felt like a cage, just padded with better furniture. My phone vibrated on the table. I didn’t need to check the screen. Only one man had the nerve to call me this early. “Councilman Augustine,” I answered, straightening in my chair. “Well, well, Xavier. I trust the new accommodations are acceptable? it's our way of apologizing for Adrian's foolishness in arresting you." His voice practically purred through the line, smug and self-satisfied. “It’s fine.” I rubbed my jaw, the phantom sting of Adrian’s fists still fresh in my muscles even though it had been days since his little torture session. “You pulled me out just in time. Any longer and h
Adrian's POV I didn’t want anyone to know I was hurt, especially not the council and whoever sent If they caught wind of the attack, they’d twist it into another excuse to strip me of authority—or worse, use it to push that damn marriage alliance again. So I let Logan and Connor sneak me into the palace under the cover of night. No fanfare. No guards. Just quiet footsteps and a trail of pain in my side where the wolfsbane still burned under my skin. “Sit sir,” Logan barked the second we stepped inside my private chamber. “You’re losing more blood than I’m comfortable with.” “I’m fine,” I lied. “You’re not,” Connor muttered, grabbing the medkit. “I said I’m fine,” I snapped, more harshly than I meant. But I hated this—being slowed down, vulnerable. I had to get back to Kayla. If Hector was really behind the attack… Just the thought made my blood run colder than the wind outside. Before Logan could reply, the door burst open and Candice came running in. “Adrian!” Her voice
Adrian's POV I barely slept last night. After the poisoning attempt, my instincts were on edge—every creak of the floorboards, every shift in the wind had me reaching for my blade. The healer I called to investigate the poisoned cup said the poison had been subtle—wolfbane laced with something stronger, a paralyzing agent that would’ve made me collapse tonight or mid-travel. I wasn’t dying. Not yet. But the betrayal from knowing that it was one of my pack members that did this burned hotter than the poison ever could. Morning came with an overcast sky. Fitting, really. Connor and Logan were already waiting for me at the courtyard. Logan checked the straps on one of the horses we would need to search the forest quickly while Connor leaned against a stone pillar, eyes flicking to every movement like a hawk. “You sure you’re up for this?” Connor asked, watching me as I walked toward them. “I have worse problems than the thought of being poisoned,” I muttered, strapping on my sw
Kayla's POV I didn’t expect to find comfort in a place made in the mountains and with strange people, but the sanctuary slowly began to feel like something close to peace. The women here— a lot of them were wolfless like me, had built something beautiful in the ruins of everything that had been taken from them. Some had lost their wolves. Others never had one. But none of them were weak. They moved like a tribe, fiercely protective of each other. They trained, they studied, they guarded the younger girls like sacred flame. I found myself lingering near them more often. Helping with meals. Offering quiet words when someone cried in their sleep. It gave me something to do… something other than sit with the ache in my chest. Hector, of course, kept trying to be everywhere I turned. “You need help with those?” he asked, jogging toward me when he saw me carrying a crate of old books the Oracle had asked for. “I’ve got it,” I said, shifting the weight in my arms. He didn’t move awa