Kayla's POV The Oracle reached out and took something from a hidden pocket within her robe. It was a necklace — a delicate chain with a stone that glowed faintly in the light. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before, carved with intricate runes I couldn’t recognize. “This will help you,” she said, handing it to me. “It will regulate your power, help you control it when it surges too much or refuses to be called up on, But you must be careful. The more you channel through it, the more it will feed into you.” I took the necklace, my fingers brushing against the cool stone. It felt alive, pulsing with an energy of its own. “What do you mean? What do you mean by ‘feed into me’?” “The necklace is only a tool,” the Oracle warned, her voice grave. “It will help you control the power, but if you rely on it too much, it will start to control you. This is not just a necklace, it is a sentient being that craves power. When you use it, you must not over use it up to the point that it
Hector's POV I couldn’t stop thinking about what Kayla had said to me at the waterfall. Her words kept echoing in my mind so sharply and so painfully, like a blade that refused to dull. It hurt, and as much as I wanted to push it away, I couldn’t because deep down, I knew she was right. I had royally fucked up. I knew it the moment my lips met hers, even though it wasn’t something I had planned.It had happened in a split second, I glanced down at her and It was like everything inside me had snapped. I had watched her being so vulnerable, her tears soaking into my shirt as she leaned on me. I could feel her brokenness, and for a moment, I thought—maybe this was it. Maybe she finally needed me, maybe she would finally see that I was there for her, that I would always be there unlike Adrian. And then I kissed her. She pulled away in disgust, her face twisted in anger, and I immediately realized I had just done everything wrong. I had taken advantage of a moment when she was
Hector's POVAs much as it stung, as much as it hurt to face the truth, I knew what I had to do. I had to stop fighting Adrian. I had to fix the broken relationship between us, because Kayla clearly loved him, and I loved her. But I couldn’t keep pretending that there was a chance for us when I knew she would never choose me. But the best I could do was to stop causing her pain. I wasn’t going to stand in the way of her happiness. I would stand by her, even if it meant watching her choose Adrian over me. I would help them too, because that’s what mattered now. I had no idea what the future held, but I knew I couldn’t keep living in the shadow of my father’s legacy or my jealousy. I had to be better, for myself and for the Southern Pack. Maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something better. -- As the journey back to the Southern Pack started, I couldn’t shake the unease in my chest. Kayla’s mind was elsewhere, focused solely on getting back to Adrian. I couldn’t b
Adrian's POV I stay at Adrian’s bedside all day, barely blinking. His skin is was ashen—more gray than the pale it usually turns when he’s sick—and I can’t keep the guilt from twisting in my chest every time I look at him. My own problems and issues him here; if I hadn’t been such a liability, none of this would be happening. The head doctor, which was the name sake of my former doctor.... Dr Marcus came to help. Dr. Marcus paced at the foot of the bed with his arms folded. I caught him whispering to his nurse, then he cleared his throat and met my eyes. “Luna,” he says gently, “we’ve run every test we can on the Alpha. His body just doesn’t have the reserves to fight this poison. Normally a healthy Alpha would burn it out on his own, but right now… we need something else.” I shake my head, my hair falling into my eyes. “There must be something. Some antidote—” He offers me a sad smile. “I’m sorry, Luna. I wish there was. We’ll keep treating him, but unless his cells
Kayla's POV The night passes in a fevered haze. I drift in and out of sleep beside Adrian’s bed, listening to each steady breath. By the third watch, I’m so exhausted I’m not sure what’s dream and what’s waking life. But then I smell it—smoke, simmering wood. My eyes snap open. My heart hammers in my ears. Adrian is quiet, as if he’s sleeping peacefully, unaware of the danger. I slip quietly from the sheets and pad across the cold floor to the window. Outside, the palace gardens are shrouded in moonlight and shadow. Movement—too many shapes. Rogues. My chest twists in fear. They’re back. Their abnormal forms slinking between hedges, circling the building. They’ve come for Adrian. For me. For both of us. Despite every aching muscle, despite the fog in my mind, I know I can’t just sit here. I have to protect him. I pull the necklace from beneath my tunic and wrap it around my neck, feeling the surge of power it brings. A low hum fills my ears, and the runes glimmer brighter. Th
Kayla's POV I blinked awake to the soft, steady rhythm of Adrian’s breathing, warm and reassuring, and for a moment I couldn’t place where I was. My head felt heavy, weighted by exhaustion and something else that I realized was lingering sorrow, guilt, a dull ache that pulsed beneath my skin. I turned my head slowly, expecting to see a sick looking Adrian, but instead I found myself staring at the familiar lines of Adrian’s very healthy looking face.His face was even curved in that sleep-soft smile I’d missed more than I could say. My heart jumped so hard it felt like it would burst. He was no longer dying and he was recovering!I dared to hope that it wasn’t some trick of my tired mind. “Adrian?” I whispered, barely louder than my own heartbeat. His eyes fluttered open, and for a moment he looked right through me, as if he was still drifting between dreams and reality. Then his gaze sharpened, taking me in: the pale light dancing on the walls, the frayed edge of the blanket ba
Kayla's POV The afternoon light filtered through the curtains in soft beams, and I woke to the muted scent of healing herbs and the low hum of the palace waking around us. Adrian was still asleep, his head turned toward me, chest rising and falling at a peaceful pace. I slipped from the bed, careful not to disturb him. My legs felt shaky, drained from the power I’d poured into him. I rubbed a hand over my eyes and crossed to the window, looking out at the palace gardens. Not far off, I could see the courtyard where I’d fought off the rogues the night before. I swallowed, the memory of that fight still vivid—the screaming, the flashes of energy, the moment I almost let the necklace’s darkness take over. Even now, I could feel its pulse against my throat, as though urging me to use it again. I should have gotten rid of the necklace by now, but something inside me refused to allow me.I kept thinking to myself, what if those deformed rogues came back for Adrian. He was still healing
Xavier's POV The air was thick with tension as I stormed through the dense forest, my boots thudding heavily against the ground with every step. I was fucking furious—pissed off beyond belief, and I wasn’t about to let Desmond think he could get away with this. The promise he made was simple: when Kayla returned, Adrian would be dead and I would get Kayla back. But that didn't happen, in fact, Hector even threatened to hurt me if I did anything to Adrian. What the hell? This wasn't how this was supposed to go.Now, as I approached the meeting spot, my thoughts were clouded with anger and disbelief. He was going to pay for failing me, for messing this up, for wasting time. I barely even registered the branches that scraped my arms and face as I tore through the trees. Desmond had a way of hiding his secret spots well—always tucked at the edges of the border, away from prying eyes. But not today. I was done waiting. I was done with Desmond’s excuses. I reached the clearing, and
Kayla's POV Adrian sighed and my heart dropped, then he looked at me."No,” he said firmly. “I swear to you, Kayla. I would never hurt Adrian. Not even with all this… between us. I didn’t plan anything. I didn’t know anything. I had nothing to do with it.”I looked into his eyes for a long moment, then gave a slow nod. “Okay.”Because I believed him. He’d never lied to me before, and I didn’t think he would now. Not about something like this.The doctor came in shortly after, and I stood aside to let them work. Once Hector was bandaged and checked over, I thanked Connor quietly before slipping out.I didn’t go to Adrian’s room right away.I couldn’t.I felt… awful. For threatening to leave. For not telling him about the kiss. For letting things get this far. I hated what this was turning into—how everything good between us was cracking at the edges.So I avoided our room. I wandered the halls, spent time with Ingrid, helped the healer with some supplies, tried to pretend things were
Kayla's POV I didn’t even realize I’d said it until the words had already left my mouth.“If you banish Hector… I’ll leave with him too.”The room went silent.What the hell was I thinking when I said that? I hadn't even actually meant it. I was just desperate to not let Adrian make such a stupid mistake that he'd regret, so I continued talking until I had said my piece.When I was done, even Hector stopped breathing for a second, his face bruised and bloodied, but stunned all the same. Adrian looked like I’d slapped him—like the floor had just crumbled beneath him. His jaw twitched, and the rage in his eyes flickered into something else—something sharp and painful.Goddess, why did I have to say that? It sounded like Hector was more important than my relationship with Adrian.But I truly didn’t mean it like that. I wasn’t threatening him. I just… I needed him to know that he was crossing a line. Hector was his stepbrother who had occasionally fucked up yesterday, but he didn’t des
Adrian's POV "YOU FUCKING BASTARD!” I roared, lunging at him again. But before I could land the hit, two sets of hands grabbed me. “Alpha stop! Alpha Adrian please stop! —fuck, Adrian, stop it!” Logan’s voice was right in my ear, struggling to pull me back.He had forgotten all courtesy and had began to call me by my real name which he and Connor only did when they were either desperate, pissed, frustrated, worried or scared.He sounded like he was all of the above in this moment but I couldn't give a damn about that right now. “Let go of me!” I growled, thrashing against him. “Calm the hell down Adrian!” Connor snapped, shoving me away from Hector. I threw them both off like they were nothing, shoving Logan into the wall and elbowing Connor in the ribs. They tried again, but I was a storm now. Wild. Unraveled. And then I heard her voice. “ADRIAN!” I froze at the familiar feminine voice."What the hell are you doing?!" she screamed with horror in her voice. Everything insid
Adrian’s POV My knuckles were bloodied by the time I realized how many times I’d punched him. My chest heaved and my heart was thundering like it was trying to beat its way out of my ribcage, and still Hector just stood there leaning against the wall with his bloody face.He was swaying slightly from the pain but the asshole was still not fighting back and it made me fucking furious! He wasn’t even trying to defend himself like he'd normally do when our father made us wrestle to prove who was better.Hector was often the winner when we were younger and that made me feel like he was just intentionally allowing me to beat him right now. That made it worse. "You love her?" I growled, my voice raw, trembling. "You love my Kayla?" Hector didn’t speak, didn’t meet my eyes—his jaw was bruised, blood trickling from his nose—but he didn’t take it back either. He’d said it. Out loud. Boldly. That he loved her. My fists clenched again. This fucking shameless asshole! It wasn’t just that
Hector's POV I had to keep reminding myself that I truly hadn’t chosen this life. This life of constant competition for love from my father, and now from Kayla too. But I had been thrust into it anyway. Every day, it felt like I had to prove myself that I could be better, stronger, smarter than Adrian for the pack and for Kayla.And what did I get for it? Nothing except being called a Traitor and being imprisoned. Adrian would always get everything without lifting a finger. I see that now Maybe I should just accept it and accept my role as the villain, at least maybe I could get something from it, right?Because the rivalry my father had created between us, made it impossible for Adrian to see me as anything other than his enemy. Even when I tried to help him, tried to offer him something real, he only saw me as a threat.A bang on the door jerked me out of my thoughts.I looked up, my heart sinking as the door opened, and Adrian stormed into the cell, his expression livid."Hec
Hector's POV After Kayla ran after Adrian, I willingly let the guards to put me in chains and shove me in front of themThe chains clinked with every step as I was roughly escorted down the cold stone hallways toward the prison.The guards barely spared me a glance, their eyes hard and judgmental. They treated me like I was already guilty, as if my fate had already been sealed. It stung more than I cared to admit, but I kept my face neutral.I had never felt so disgusted with myself, or with Adrian. Betrayed wasn’t even the word for it. He had accused me—his own brother—of trying to kill him. We were rivals for the position of alpha yes, but we weren't enemies! I didn't hate him. I was a little envious of his life yes, but I would never actually raise my hand against him.Never!So this was my reward for protecting Kayla? For trying to turn over a new leaf? For doing what I thought was right?Adrian was the one who had always preached for us to stop fighting, to stop hating each oth
Kayla's POV I could feel my heart breaking. I couldn’t believe he was accusing me of something so terrible. After everything we’d been through, after everything we’d shared, why was he pushing me away like this? I turned back to Hector, my heart pounding in my chest. "I’m sorry, Hector. I’ll fix this. I swear." Hector gave me a soft, apologetic look. "It’s not your fault, Kayla. We both never wanted this to happen." "I know. But I have to make Adrian understand," I said, my voice shaky. "Can you just go with the guards for now? I’ll talk to him. Please, Hector." Hector hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I’ll go. But make sure you talk to him, Kayla. I'm innocent of all his accusations but he's refusing to see things clearly." I nodded, trying to hold back tears. As Hector followed the guards down the hall, I hurried after Adrian. He couldn’t just do this. He couldn’t throw everything away because of his own insecurities. He had to know I would never leave him. I wasn’
Kayla's POV I stood in the hallway, watching Adrian storm out of the room with his usual intense expression. He was furious—his fists clenched, his jaw set tight, and a fire burning in his eyes that I hadn’t seen in a long time. The moment he’d said the word traitor, my heart dropped into my stomach. I couldn't believe it. Hector, a traitor? No, that wasn’t right. Hector had been nothing but kind to me, helpful to the the wolf less women and then he’d apologized for kissing me and promised me that he’d stop the ridiculous rivalry between him and Adrian. I had just started to thank the goddess for some peace between them, and now Adrian wanted to arrest him? I couldn’t let this happen. I hurried after Adrian, calling his name as I caught up with him in the hallway. "Adrian! Wait please!" I grabbed his arm, trying to slow him down, but he just pulled away from me. "Kayla, stay out of this." His voice was cold, like it always got when he was angry. "I need to deal with this. It’
Adrian's POV I paused and tried to recall the memory of that day. The fight with Xavier was still fresh in my mind, but there was something... something else that happened. “I met someone who said they had information on how to find you,” I said slowly, “we had a fight, but then... something attacked me from behind. I can’t remember much after that.” Kayla looked at me, concern evident in her eyes. “Something attacked you from behind?” “Yeah,” I said, rubbing my temples as I recalled the foggy details. “The memory’s a little unclear. But there was definitely someone else involved. I’m just... not sure who.”I made sure I didn't mention to her that it was probably her ex husband who had intentionally set me up and invited his friends to help him get rid of me.But that didn't make sense. Why would Xavier simply poison me and not just kill me off immediately.How did he even get the audacity to attack me when he knew that I could have defeated him especially when I wake up.Plus