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 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 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 POVThe cool morning air streamed through the windows, but instead of feeling refreshed, I felt trapped.Adrian still had his arms wrapped around me, holding me against him as if he was trying to physically keep me from leaving. I hadn’t even tried to get up yet, but judging by the way his grip tightened every time I moved, I knew he was still dreading today.“Adrian,” I murmured, tilting my head up to look at him. His jaw was clenched, his dark eyes stormy with emotions he hadn’t voiced yet. “You’re holding me hostage.”“Good,” he muttered, his voice rough with sleep. “Then stay.”I sighed, lifting a hand to run my fingers through his hair. “You know I can’t. You promised Hector to let us spend the day together.”“You don’t have to go,” he countered, shifting to hover over me slightly. “Just say the word, and I’ll make up some excuse for you.”I smiled at his stubbornness, even if it was a little ridiculous. “You can't be the Alpha who goes back on his words. You know that’s
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
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 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,
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
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