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 POVAfter that nightmare, I felt like a prisoner.The palace, once a place that had slowly started to feel like home, now felt like a cage with golden bars.Adrian had doubled security after the bloody warning note, and while I understood why… it didn’t make being constantly watched any easier.Guards followed me everywhere, inside and outside. I couldn’t take a walk without someone tailing me. I couldn’t breathe without Adrian knowing exactly where I was.I wanted to scream.Instead, I forced myself to keep my head down and obey—because that was what was expected of me.---"Adrian, please," I tried again.He didn’t even look up from the map spread across his desk. "No."I let out a frustrated breath. "I just want to go outside for five minutes.""You were outside yesterday," he said. "In the training yard. With three guards."I folded my arms. "That’s not the same thing, and you know it."He finally looked at me, his sharp gaze pinning me in place. "I'm not taking chances wi
Adrian’s POVKayla was keeping her distance again.I noticed it in the small things—the way she tried to leave the room whenever I entered, the way she avoided making eye contact, the hesitation in her voice whenever we spoke.And it pissed me off.I understood she had secrets. I understood that she was struggling with something she didn’t fully comprehend. But after everything that had happened, after all the times I had proven I would protect her, she still didn’t trust me enough to tell me the truth.I should have been furious.But instead, all I felt was frustration laced with something I didn’t want to name.Because despite everything, I still couldn’t bring myself to push her away.So, I focused on what I could control—her safety.---I was in my office, reviewing patrol reports when I heard a soft knock on the door.I already sensed who it was before I looked up.Kayla stood in the doorway, her expression uncertain.I set my pen down and leaned back in my chair. “You’re avoidin
Adrian’s POVI stared at Kayla, my back still pressed against the wall where she had thrown me.That wasn’t possible.I was an Alpha. Stronger than anyone in this pack. No one—not even a Beta—should have been able to push me back like that.And yet, she had.Kayla.The same woman who told me she had no wolf.The same woman who had claimed to be powerless.She was standing in front of me, her hands still trembling, her eyes filled with confusion and regret."I… I didn’t mean to do that," she stammered. "I don’t know how that happened."I didn’t say anything.I couldn’t.My mind was spinning, trying to make sense of it.Had she lied to me? Was she trying to manipulate me?Had she made up that whole story about losing her wolf just to gain my pity?"She tricked us," my wolf growled, angry and betrayed."Did you lie to me?" I asked coldly, my voice barely above a whisper.Kayla’s eyes widened. "What?"I took a step toward her, my fists clenched. "You told me you didn’t have a wolf anymore
Adrian’s POVMy mind couldn't stop racing.Even after leaving Connor and Logan, my anger refused to settle. My wolf was restless, growling in the back of my mind, demanding answers, demanding Kayla."She’s still in love with him.""You don’t know that," I shot back at my wolf."Then why is she avoiding us? Why does she look guilty every time you’re near?"I gritted my teeth, refusing to give in to my own insecurities. It was ridiculous. Kayla was mine. Xavier had abandoned her. Thrown her away. There was no reason for her to still have feelings for him.And yet…The way she had been avoiding me after the kiss, the hesitation in her eyes whenever I got too close—it was driving me insane.I had tried to be patient. Tried to give her space before the attack. But patience wasn’t my strength, especially not when it came to her.I needed answers.I stormed out of my office and headed straight for our room where Kayla had been sleeping since the attack.The guards I had now stationed outside
Adrian’s POV The attack on Kayla wasn’t a coincidence. Someone had planned it. Someone had sent those men after her. And I was going to find out who. I sat in my office with Connor and Logan, my fingers drumming against the wooden desk. The air in the room was thick with tension. Neither of them spoke, waiting for me to say something first. "Any leads?" I finally asked, my voice sharp. Logan leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. "Not much. The men who attacked her didn’t have pack symbols or identifying marks. That means they were either rogues or hired mercenaries." "Rogues don’t usually work in such planned groups unless they’re getting paid well with food or something else," Connor added, his expression dark. I clenched my jaw. "So you're saying someone paid them?" "Exactly." There was silence for a moment as I processed the information. "And the only one who’d want to take Kayla instead of just kill her is—" Logan exchanged a look with Connor before finishing, "Alp
Kayla’s POVThe whole getting pregnant thing was scary, but I had a bigger issue.Avoiding Adrian was getting harder. Every time I saw him, he looked more and more hurt, and it made my chest tighten with guilt. But what was I supposed to do? I didn’t know how to face him after what happened between us. The kiss… the way he held me… the way I ran away like a coward. I knew I shouldn’t keep pushing him away. I knew it wasn’t fair to him. But I didn’t know how to deal with it. So I did the only thing I could—I kept avoiding him. That was until that traumatizing event happened. — I was walking back to our quarters late in the night when I felt it. A prickle at the back of my neck. The unmistakable feeling of being watched. I frowned, glancing around. The hallway was empty, and yet, something felt… off. My instincts were screaming at me that I wasn’t alone. I picked up my pace. I wasn’t supposed to be afraid here. I was in the palace, one of the safest places in the pack. But n
Kayla’s POV I had been avoiding Adrian ever since the kiss. It wasn’t easy since we share a room. Plus even though The palace wasn’t exactly small, Adrian had a way of finding me no matter where I tried to hide. I kept making excuses—suddenly feeling too tired for dinner, claiming I had errands to run, or pretending to be deep in conversation with someone whenever he walked into the room. I knew it wouldn’t last forever, but I needed time. Time to process what was happening between us. Time to figure out what I was supposed to do now that I had let myself get closer to him. But that time ran out when his mother—Lady Catherine—decided that Candice and I needed to go to the hospital for pregnancy vitamins. "You’ll both be wives soon," she said over breakfast, her tone firm but polite. "You need to take care of yourselves, and that starts with making sure you’re healthy enough to conceive." I nearly choked on the juice we were served in her quarters. Candice, sitting beside me,
Adrian’s POVI should have already expected today would be hell the moment Hector showed up at my door with that smug grin on his face.I hadn’t wanted Kayla to go with him. Every part of me had screamed to keep her close, to pull her into my arms and refuse to let her out of my sight. But she had given me those soft, reassuring eyes, promising she’d come back to me.So, against my better judgment, I let her go.And I had hated every second of it.The moment they left, I had stormed back into my room, slamming the door shut like some sulking teenager. Logan and Connor had been waiting for me in the lounge, and of course, they had taken one look at my face and burst into laughter."That bad, huh?" Logan smirked, leaning back on the couch, arms crossed.I shot him a glare. "Shut up."Connor grinned. "You’re sulking.""I am not sulking.""You totally are," Logan added. "It’s hilarious."I scowled, pacing the room. "I just don’t trust Hector. He’s up to something."Logan exchanged a look
Kayla’s POVThe afternoon passed in a blur of laughter and easy conversation.Hector, for all his teasing and flirting, had actually behaved himself for the rest of the day.After our serious conversation, he had lightened the mood by joking about the way I eat strawberries—claiming I looked way too elegant for something so simple. I had thrown one at him in response, which only made him laugh harder.The picnic had been nice. No pressure, no drama. Just two people talking, enjoying the sun, and forgetting, for a little while, that there was a whole world waiting for us beyond the little patch of earth we had claimed.By the time Hector led me back to the palace, I felt warm and content—until I spotted Adrian, glaring at us.He was standing at the entrance, arms crossed over his chest, his dark eyes locked onto me with a storm brewing behind them.I swallowed.Yeah. He was mad.Hector must have noticed too because he let out a low whistle. “Oof. He looks like he’s about to rip my head