Tamara's POV The man who handed me my handkerchief stood beside me with a lazy smile playing on his lips. His gaze was warm but mischievous, like he knew more than he was letting on. I couldn’t help but feel a pull toward him, as there was something familiar about him, though I was certain I’d never met him before. He was undeniably handsome, tall with dark, slightly tousled hair, and his scent—God, his scent. It was intoxicating, like a heady mix of cedarwood and something darker, more primal. “You’re enjoying the festival, I hope?” His voice was smooth, like velvet. “I am,” I replied, tilting my head slightly. “Though I have to admit, it’s rare to meet someone I don’t know at events like this.” I gave him a curious look, hoping to uncover more about this mystery man. “And I don’t think we’ve met before, have we?” He chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Not directly, no. But we have more in common than you think.” My brow furrowed in confusion. His scent was familiar,
TAMARA'S POV Adrian led me through the hall, past the murmuring guests and their curious stares, until we reached a beautiful balcony. The air was crisp, and a soft breeze danced around us, carrying the faint scent of jasmine. The moonlight bathed the scene in a soft glow, casting everything in a romantic light. It was the kind of balcony you’d see in an old romance novel—flowers creeping up the stone railing, the stars twinkling above us. I couldn’t deny how perfect it all felt, even though there was a storm of emotions brewing inside me. He leaned against the railing, looking out at the night sky before turning his gaze back to me. His eyes were still filled with that same mix of mischief and something darker, something deeper. “So, how did you find yourself here tonight?” he asked, his tone light but filled with curiosity. I sighed, leaning on the balcony next to him. “I was supposed to meet Alpha Dante here tonight. He sent me an invitation to be his date.” Adrian’s relax
Tamara's POV I stormed into my pack house, slamming the door behind me so hard that the walls shook. My anger coursed through me like wildfire, every thought of Jack claiming me in front of everyone making my blood boil. After everything I was doing to establish myself as the sole leader, the true Luna of the Winter pack, he had the audacity to pull a stunt like that—kissing me in front of all those alphas, declaring me as his like I was some kind of trophy. Not only did it make me look weak, but it undid all the work I had done tonight. They were supposed to see me as the leader, not as some silly mate Jack could claim whenever he felt like it. I paced the living room, the heels of my shoes clicking against the wooden floor. How dare he?! The door opened, and I spun around to see Jack walking in, his face set with a mixture of frustration and concern. “Tamara,” he started, his voice pleading, “we need to talk.” I glared at him, crossing my arms over my chest. “What’s there
Jack's POV "Ah" Tamara gasped in surprise when I pull her closer to me, enjoying the way her soft body fit perfectly against mine. Her breasts pressing into me, her scent—something floral and sweet—flooded my senses. For years, I had tried to ignore how good she felt in my arms, brushing it off as a distraction from what really mattered. But tonight was the first time I really let myself indulge in it, maybe because I’d seen how easily Alpha Adrian could’ve been the one enjoying her touch earlier. That bastard had no fucking right, but seeing him with her had stirred something deep inside me, something I hadn’t allowed myself to feel in a long time. She shifted slightly in her sleep, her head nestling against my chest. A small smile tugged at my lips as I admired her peaceful face. How could I have been so blind to this? A voice cut through my thoughts—Kate, reaching out through the mind link. "Jack? Where are you? You’re supposed to be in my room." I ignored her. Tonight, I w
Jack's POV Tamara stood at the head of the table, her back straight and her voice clear as she carried on the meeting. The warriors and other leaders listened intently to her, their eyes fixed on her as she confidently discussed the latest patrol reports. I leaned back in my seat, watching her closely, admiring how she’d grown into this role over the last few weeks. There was a time when she wouldn’t have been able to control a room like this, but now… now, she freaking owned it! Suddenly, the door swung open, and Kate barged in, looking flustered. “Sorry I’m late!” she said, glancing around at everyone. “I didn’t know there was a meeting scheduled.” Oh, I felt a sharp pang of realization—Tamara intentionally hadn’t told us about the meeting. She must have intentionally left me and Kate out! What the fuck?! My jaw clenched as I wondered why. Was she trying to get back at me for not informing her about the last meeting? This felt personal. Before I could say anything, Tamar
I left the meeting, my mind swirling with confusion. Jack had been acting strange ever since we started. He was being...clingy. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. He hadn’t even defended Kate when I shut her down. He used to stand by her without a second thought, but now? He was silent, just watching me like he couldn’t take his eyes off me.This was not like him.Was Jack actually changing in this timeline? Could it be that the events of this life were altering him too? My mind raced with the possibilities, but then I shook my head, clearing the thought. No, I reminded myself, he’s still the same. Even though his behavior had softened toward me, he still suggested attacking Alpha Dante. That alone meant he was still trying to start a war, and I couldn’t let that happen.I sighed, feeling the weight of it all pressing down on me. If there was one thing I knew, it was that Jack could never be trusted. He was clever, manipulative, and always thinking ten steps ahead. I had to make sure h
Tamara's POV “Promise me you won’t attack Alpha Dante.” My voice was firm, leaving no room for negotiation. I crossed my arms over my chest, waiting for his response. His face tightened, and I could see the immediate resistance in his eyes. He wanted to protest. “Tamara, you don’t understand. Dante is dangerous. If we don’t act now—” I took a step back, pretending to pull away from him completely. His eyes widened, panic flashing across his face as he realized what was happening. He didn't want to lose control over me, not now. “Okay, okay,” he said quickly, his hands coming up in surrender. “I won’t attack Dante. I promise.” I studied him for a moment, surprised by how easily he’d given in. Jack never gave in this easily. He always fought for what he wanted. Was he really changing, or was this just another trick? Either way, I couldn’t help but feel a small sense of satisfaction. “Good,” I said, stepping closer to him again. Relief washed over his face, and before I cou
Tamara's POV The last two weeks had been nothing short of confusing for me. Jack had been acting so... different. He’d been spending less time with Kate and more time with me. It wasn’t just the time we spent together; it was the way he behaved. I couldn’t help but notice the subtle shift in him. It was like he was avoiding Kate on purpose, deliberately pulling away from her. In our past life, this would have been unthinkable. Jack had never hesitated to be with Kate, flaunting their relationship in front of everyone, including me. Back then, he never cared about how much it hurt me. So why was he acting like this now? I sighed, walking through the dense woods toward Violet’s house. If Jack was truly changing, did that mean there was no need for revenge? I’d spent so much time planning and preparing for the day I’d take him down, but now… now I wasn’t sure what I wanted. I needed advice, and I hadn’t seen Violet since the festival. Violet’s house was at the far end of the pack
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