Dante’s POV I stood on one side of the room, fuming, while Reuben sat across from me, his eyes still burning with that same arrogant glare. He had always been like this, stubborn, competitive —testing my patience, pushing buttons he knew would set me off. But this time, it wasn’t just about him getting under my skin. It was about Tamara. And no one dares disrespects her in my presence, not even my own brother.“Enough!” Our mother’s sharp voice cut through the tension like a knife. “You two are acting like rotten children! Is this how an Alpha and a nobleman behave? Even your sister Ciri is more matured than both of you knuckle heads!”I glanced at her. My mother, Lady Regina was standing tall, her eyes narrowed with disappointment, the regal air around her commanding attention. Even Reuben’s glare faltered under her gaze. She never had to raise her voice, but when she was angry, you felt it deep in your bones.“Reuben,” she said sharply, turning her attention to him, “how dare y
Tamara’s POV I walked out of the hospital with Violet by my side, the annoying confusion from Dr. Laura’s was words still bugging me. She said the person who could help me understand all these was My anchor. Now Who could that be? The thought ate at me, making my steps feel heavier.“Don’t overthink it,” Violet said, her voice soft, sensing my inner turmoil. “You’ll find out who your anchor is soon. Dr. Laura said you’ll definitely meet them.”I sighed, running my fingers through my hair in frustration. “No, she said I should have already met them, But who is it then? Jack, Kate, Richard? It can’t be them. If they knew I was reborn and I remembered their plans to kill me, they’d have already tried something. They’re still acting out the same old routines from before... like they haven’t changed at all.”Violet frowned. “That’s a good point. If one of them were your anchor, they wouldn’t be playing the same roles they did last time.”I let out a frustrated breath. “Darn it! I h
Tamara's POV After the delicious, knee curling, intimate night with Dante, I lay cuddled against him, listening to the slow rhythm of his heartbeat. His warm muscular body pressed against me, his strong arm pulling me closer as I rested my head on his chest. A sweet feeling of peace settled over me, something I really hadn’t felt in a long time. It was like being in his arms could chase away all the uncertainties I had swirling in my mind.I looked up at him, smiling softly. "How did your meeting with your mom go?"Dante shifted slightly, the faintest shadow crossing his face before he replied. “It went well enough, I suppose. My mother is always one for lectures, but we came to an understanding. She’s just... concerned about the future.”I raised an eyebrow, catching the subtle way he danced around something. There was always more to the story with Dante, but I didn’t push. “I can imagine. I’m a little nervous to meet her,” I admitted.His expression softened. “You’ll be fine. She’
Tamara's POV I could feel his tension still lingering in the air from the words I knew he was holding back. I wanted to ignore but I couldn't when It ate at me, like this.Why was distance and silence the first defense he tried to put between us when I mentioned his brother?I pressed my lips to his bare shoulder before sitting up, turning to face him with a serious look."We promised to always tell each other the truth," I reminded him, my voice soft but firm. "No secrets, remember? We’re strong enough to handle anything as long as we’re honest."Dante sighed heavily, his eyes flickering with conflict. He brushed his fingers through his hair, the muscles in his jaw tightening as if he was struggling with what to say. Finally, he looked at me, his gaze filled with both love and something darker—guilt, maybe."Tamara... my brother, Reuben... he hates you. He wants you punished for what your parents did. That’s why I didn’t bring him up earlier."I froze, the weight of his words sinki
We walked into the dining room, the warm scent of breakfast filling the air. Casper and Violet were already there, seated comfortably at the long oak table. They seemed lost in conversation, but as soon as we entered, Violet’s eyes lit up mischievously. ”Wow, you and Dante really took your precious time this morning, I wonder what made you so late,” Violet mind-linked me, her teasing tone making me blush immediately. I could feel my cheeks heat up as I glanced at her. ”Well what can I say, Dante... is very fond of me,” I replied, trying to keep my thoughts calm and composed, but it was hard when Violet was grinning like a cat who just caught a mouse. ”Fond of you? That’s one way to put it,” she teased, her grin widening as she raised an eyebrow suggestively. ”You’re glowing, Tamara.” I bit my lip, trying to suppress a giggle as I took my seat next to Dante. I couldn’t deny it—I was glowing, and it was all thanks to him. But I wasn’t about to admit that to Violet, at least not n
Tamara's POV I just stared at Dante, frozen, with my heart pounding in my chest. I wasn’t sure I’d heard him right. “What... what did you just say?”My voice came out shaky and barely louder than a whisper but he heard me.I watched Dante look hesitant, his jaw tightening as if he really didn’t want to repeat the words. But after a moment, he exhaled deeply, locking his eyes with mine. “Tamara... Your pack members were attacked last night. Some of them were killed.”I froze, the words sinking in like ice water. “What? No...” I gasped, feeling my body go cold with disbelief. My mind immediately raced to my loved ones, my friends, everyone I had left behind. “Who?” I stammered. “Who was attacked? Who—who died?”Dante reached for his phone, pulling up the article before handing it to me. I snatched it quickly, scanning the screen with trembling hands. My breath hitched in my throat as I read the headline: Unknown Invaders Attack Winter-Pack, Several Casualties Reported. The article didn
Tamara's POV “So,” George said, his voice sharp as he stared right at me. “You’re the woman causing all of these problems.”'What?'I blinked in Surprise, caught off guard by his words and the accusatory tone in his voice. Problems? What was he talking about? My eyes met George’s, and the coldness in his gaze made me uncomfortable. I shifted in place, not understanding why he was coming at me like this. I hadn’t caused any trouble. If anything, Dante and I had been trying to fix things.Before I could respond, a low warning growl cut through the room, sending shivers down our. It was from Dante. I could see that his warning tone even sent a chill through his best friend who had now stiffened.“George, watch your tone” Dante growled, his voice dark and it was clear that his temper was rising.I really didn’t want this to get worse to the point that they fought over me, so I quickly stepped forward with an appeasing smile.“George, I'm not sure what you heard,but I didn’t mean to cau
Tamara's POV The next morning, Dante let me sleep in while he left to start his day.I used the opportunity to start getting ready for the trip the next morning, I'll admit that despite Dante's assurances, i was still feeling a bit anxious.I mean can you blame me? Meeting Dante’s family was huge deal, because if it went wrong and his mother refused to support us, Violet and I would be banished back to my pack where Jack would most definitely not hesitate to kill us this time, and no matter how much confidence I tried to muster, the butterflies in my stomach refused to die!I got dressed for the day, put on a blue dress that i knew Dante liked because it matched my eyes, then I headed downstairs for breakfast.On my way there, I noticed Lucy glaring at me from across the hall. Her sharp green eyes followed my every step, and I could practically feel the heat of her jealousy trying to burn a hole in my back. I back a smirk, and my wolf Maya whispered in my mind, 'She’s just jealous,
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
Adrian's POV I stared at the council letter on my desk, barely reading the damn thing before I tossed it aside. Same message as before—. “We urge you to reconsider. Candice is the suitable choice,” “the pack’s stability depends on your union,” “Lady Kayla is an unnecessary liability.” Liability, my ass. I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes, trying to push the pressure out of my head before it split me in two. But a knock at the door shattered the quiet. “Come in,” I growled. The door opened and my mother stepped in. Regal. Cold. Dressed like she hadn’t aged a day since she last manipulated me into something I didn’t want. “I assume you’ve read the council’s latest suggestion?” she said coolly, shutting the door behind her. “You mean their latest threat?” I snapped. “Yeah. I read it.” She moved further in, clasping her hands. “Adrian, don’t make this harder than it needs to be. Marry Candice, have a child, stabilize the power dynamic, and all of this goes away.” I lau
Kayla's POV The Oracle’s sanctuary was unlike anything I’d ever seen. Nestled between jagged cliffs and fog-kissed forest, it looked like something out of a dream—an ancient village carved into the side of the mountain, hidden by thick trees and magic I could feel in the air. The wind here didn’t just whistle—it whispered.Inside the stone structures, warm fires crackled, glowing crystals lined the walls, and soft voices murmured in languages I didn’t understand. The women—so many women—moved with laughter and freedom. Some were young, barely teenagers. Others carried themselves like warriors, scarred and strong.“These women…” I whispered as I helped one of the girls settle into a room with a cot and thick wool blankets. “They’re like a tribe.”“They are,” Ingrid said softly beside me. “They protect those who can’t protect themselves. Most of them were once like the girls we brought in. Broken. Scared. Hunted.”The girl we tucked in—her name was Lyra—clung to my arm as I tried to
Adrian's POV I jolted awake from the nightmare, heart pounding, drenched in sweat.“Kayla!” I gasped, reaching for her—only to grab empty sheets.The nightmare still clung to me like a second skin. Her voice echoed in my ears, accusing, devastated."You didn’t protect me, Adrian. You left me. you let them take me."Her eyes… they had looked so real. So broken. I sat at the edge of my bed, head in my hands, trying to shake off the chill that settled into my bones. It wasn’t just a dream. It was a warning of the future or guilt of that night, or maybe both.A loud knock came at the door. Logan entered without waiting.“Alpha, They’ve summoned you... Immediately,” he said grimly. “They are at the Council hall and Augustine’s leading.”Of course he is.I stood without a word, already pulling on my shirt. Logan followed behind, tension radiating off him.“What are they charging me with now?” I muttered.Logan hesitated. “They’re saying you're emotionally compromised. That Lady Kayla has m
Kayla's first person POV Suddenly, out of nowhere, There was a strange surge of power, an energy I couldn’t explain, rushing through me. The air crackled with raw force, and suddenly, the ground beneath my feet seemed to pulse. I focused all my energy into a single thought: protect them. Protect my loved ones. A barrier of shimmering light exploded outward from me, knocking the wolves back with a deafening crash. The force of it sent the creatures sprawling, but they began to recover slowly, snarling and trying to get up. My heart pounded in my chest, but I didn’t back down. This energy—it was like I knew how to use it, like it had always been there, waiting for me to tap into it even though I didn't know what it was. Hector and Ingrid stared at me, their eyes wide with disbelief. I couldn’t explain what had just happened, but the sensation of power was overwhelming. “You… You did that?” Hector’s voice was tight, almost fearful. I nodded, still trying to catch my breath. “I d
Kayla's first person POV The journey through the mountains felt like it was never going to end. Ingrid never told me it was going to be this tough, if she did, I wouldn't have been as enthusiastic about coming here as I was last night. Nothing would have stopped me from coming here though. The air grew painfully thinner as we ascended, the crisp wind cutting into my skin like sharp needles. I soon found myself gasping for breath, feeling each step strain my muscles. It was exhausting, but the alternative—staying behind like a coward while Hector, Ingrid, and the others trekked up without me—was unthinkable. Plus I badly needed answers too. So, I pushed through, even though every part of me screamed for rest. “You alright?” Hector’s voice cut through the sharp mountain air, his face creased with concern as he glanced back at me. “I’m fine,” I lied, pushing myself harder, my boots scraping against the rocky ground. But I couldn’t help the way my chest felt tight with each
Kayla's POV I hadn’t realized how empty my heart would feel until the silence settled in.Days had passed—or maybe just hours—I couldn’t tell anymore. Time didn’t move the same without Adrian. Every second felt heavier, like it dragged its feet just to remind me that I was far away from him.I sat curled up on the cold cot in the far corner of the cave, arms wrapped around my knees, heart aching in a way I didn’t think was possible. I hadn’t spoken much since Hector and Ingrid brought me here. The girls were kind, but I was distant. Lost.I missed him.Goddess, I missed him.His scent. His voice. The way his arms wrapped around me like I was something precious. The way he said my name like it was his favorite word.Sleep didn’t come easily, but when it did, I dreamed of him. Always him. His voice in my ears, his lips brushing my skin, his arms holding me while the world fell apart around us.I woke up with tears on my cheeks more often than not.“You’re dreaming of him again, aren’t