Kailey’s POVThe last few days had been a whirlwind. Painful, yes, but also so refreshing. Every ache, every sleepless moment was worth it for this tiny life cradled in my arms. My son, Auren, with eyes so much like his father’s, had become my whole world. I still couldn’t believe I had delivered him safely. If it weren’t for Elyra, I didn’t even want to imagine what could have happened to us.I was lost in thought, stroking Auren’s soft cheek as he suckled, when Elyra burst into the room with her usual energy.“Latest mother in town!” she declared, grinning from ear to ear. “Look at you, Kailey! And look at him! Your baby is loving your company so much.” She leaned over, tickling Auren’s tiny foot. “But don’t you think you’re overfeeding him? At this rate, he’ll be so fat, and I, as his godmother, will have to carry all that extra weight!”I laughed, shaking my head. “Elyra, he’s a newborn! He needs all the milk he can get. Besides, if he gets too heavy, you’re still going to carry him.
Kailey’s POVI woke up feeling feverish, my body shaking uncontrollably. My head throbbed, and my muscles ached as if I had run a marathon in my sleep. I tried to sit up, but every movement made me feel worse. Elyra walked in just then, balancing a glass of water and what looked like a plate of fruits. She froze the moment she saw me. “Kailey!” Her voice was sharp, laced with concern. She rushed to my side, placing the tray down on the bedside table. “What’s wrong? You look terrible!” “Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence,” I muttered, trying to smile, though it probably looked more like a grimace. “I’m serious,” she said, pressing a hand against my forehead. Her eyes widened. “Kailey, you’re burning up! Why didn’t you call me earlier?” “I didn’t want to bother you,” I whispered, wincing as I leaned back against the pillows. “I thought it would pass.” “Bother me? I’m your best friend and your baby’s godmother!” Elyra practically growled. “You *better* bother me next time. Now,
Kailey’s POV“Auren, go and give this bowl of food to your mother,” I heard Elyra call out from outside the hut. A few seconds later, my little boy came rushing in, balancing the bowl with his tiny hands. His steps were wobbly but determined, and his bright eyes lit up when he saw me.“Mum, Godmother Elyra said I should give this to you,” he announced proudly, holding the bowl up high.I smiled, taking it from him. “Thank you, sweetheart. You’re such a big helper.”He grinned, puffing out his small chest. “I’m a big boy now!”“You are,” I agreed, brushing a stray curl from his forehead. “Why don’t you go back and tell Godmother Elyra I’ll eat it soon?”He nodded eagerly, then spun around and toddled back outside, calling out as he went, “Godmother Elyra! Mum said she’ll eat it soon!”Elyra’s laugh drifted in through the door. “Good job, Auren! You’re my favorite little helper!”Over a year had passed since Auren was born, and he’d grown so much. Gone was the fragile newborn I cradled in my a
Kailey’s POVI was outside the hut one hot afternoon, chopping vegetables on a wooden board. The sun was high, and the air shimmered with heat, but it didn’t bother me. I liked the quiet moments like these when life felt simple—just me, my work, and the sound of the forest in the background.Auren came running up to me, his small face flushed with excitement. “Mum, can I go hunting today? Please?” He asked, his little hands clasped together as if he was praying.I sighed, wiping my hands on my apron. “Auren, how many times have I told you? Hunting is dangerous. You’re not old enough yet.”“But Mum, I’m big now! Godmother Elyra even said I’m a brave warrior,” he argued, puffing out his chest like he always did when he wanted to prove a point.“Auren,” I said, trying to keep my voice firm but kind, “being brave doesn’t mean you’re ready for everything. Hunting isn’t just a game. It’s serious.”He let out a dramatic sigh and plopped down on the ground, crossing his arms. “But I’ve been practi
Kailey’s POVThe tension in the room was unbearable. The air was thick with frustration, anger, and the suffocating weight of expectations. The elders were seated around the long wooden table, their expressions a mix of concern and fury. My head throbbed as their voices echoed off the stone walls of the council hall."This is a serious matter!" Elder Sia slammed her fist on the table, her sharp eyes piercing through me. "The crops are dying, humans are dying, everyone is dying. Alpha Ezekiel, this has to stop!""And what would you have me do?" I retorted, my voice steady, though my insides churned. "I have tried everything! The hunters have doubled their efforts. The healers are working day and night. I've prayed to the Moon Goddess more times than I can count! What more do you expect from me?""Results!" Elder Harren barked, his wrinkled face flushed with anger. "You’ve been Alpha for a year, Ezekiel, and in that time, this pack has only seen death and despair.""Do you think I don’t see
Ezekiel’s POV The first rays of dawn painted the sky as we gathered at the edge of the forest. The air was cool, and the atmosphere was tense. Brax stood by my side, his expression serious as always, while Liora adjusted the strap of her satchel filled with herbs and scrolls. Two of my strongest warriors, Dax and Kieran, flanked us, their presence reassuring but not enough to ease the knot in my stomach.“This is it,” I said, looking at each of them. “Once we leave, there’s no turning back. Are we ready?”“Ready as we’ll ever be,” Brax replied, gripping the hilt of his sword.Liora nodded, her face calm but her eyes alert. “The pack is counting on us. Let’s not waste any more time.”“Let’s move out,” I said, leading the way into the dense forest.The trees closed around us, their shadows long and imposing. The only sounds were the rustling of leaves and the soft crunch of our boots on the ground. No one spoke; the weight of our mission hung heavily in the air.After a while, Brax broke the
Ezekiel’s POVThe night was thick with silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. I lay on my makeshift bed, staring up at the canvas roof of my tent. Sleep was a fleeting thing these days, but I must have dozed off because the sound came suddenly, sharp and distinct.Footsteps.They were subtle but unmistakable, crunching softly against the forest floor outside.I sat up immediately, my senses on high alert. In the forest, far from the safety of the pack grounds, danger could come from anywhere. Rogues? A thief? Or something worse?I reached for the knife I kept under my bedroll, its cool handle fitting snugly into my palm. Quietly, I got to my feet, careful not to make any noise that might alert whoever—or whatever—was outside.The others were sleeping, their breathing steady and undisturbed. I moved toward the tent flap, my heart pounding as I peeked outside. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting eerie shadows on the ground.There, near the edge of t
Ezekiel’s POVThe forest was eerily quiet, and I kept following the boy. The faint crunch of leaves underfoot was the only sound as I moved carefully through the shadows. Suddenly, he vanished. One moment he was just ahead of me, and the next, he was gone.I froze, my eyes scanning the dense trees around me. “Where did you go?” I muttered under my breath. The darkness made it hard to see, but I wasn’t going to give up. He had to be here somewhere. My eyes darted upward to the treetops, and I noticed something. One of the trees had its leaves rustling, even though there was no wind.“This is it,” I whispered to myself, stepping closer to the tree. “Hey! I’m not going to hurt you,” I called out, trying to keep my voice calm.No answer.“Who are you?” I asked, my gaze fixed on the rustling branches.Still no response.I sighed and tried again. “Hey, come on. You can talk to me. I’m not here to hurt you.”Silence.Just as I was about to turn away, a small voice broke through the quiet. “My name i
Kailey’s POVHow fucking annoying it is to actually wake up to a text from Ezekiel.Meet me at the eating by 9 a.m. with Auren. Don’t be late! Who the hell does this fool think he’s talking to? I slid my phone onto the table and lay back down. I didn’t even know when I dozed off yesterday. I was so tired and scared that I just crashed, and now I wake up to this buzzing sound? So crazy. “Another crazy morning in this hell of a pack,” I mumbled, looking at the ceiling. I reached for my phone again to check the time. It was almost 8:30 a.m. I groaned, wondering whether I should even bother going to the diner. My wolf stirred, growling lowly, her way of nudging me to get moving. You should go. “Why? So he can piss me off even more?” I asked aloud. You know why. You care. I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, deep down, I still love Ezekiel so much. But what he did in the past? It’s always fresh in my mind. Every damn time I see him, I feel that pain. And it pisses me off so bad. Sometimes, I fe
Ezekiel’s POVJames’s eyes widened slightly, but he didn’t reply. “Alpha,” he said slowly. “I… I think you need to address this head-on. Call a meeting. Confront Remus and the others. Show them you’re still in control.”I scoffed. “Oh, that’ll go well,” I said lightly. “What am I supposed to say? That my house is in shambles but they should still believe me? That my son publicly insulted me, and my Luna and ex-Luna are locked in a power struggle, but I’ve got everything under control?” “You don’t have to say all that,” he answered, his tone calm. “But you do need to remind them of who you are. Of what you’ve done for this pack and the Alliance. They’ve forgotten, Ezekiel. And if you let this continue, they’ll change the story entirely.” I rubbed a hand over my face, tiredness sinking deep in my bones. He’s right, you know, my wolf said, his tone softer this time. You’ve been so focused on keeping the peace that you’ve forgotten how to lead. Maybe it’s time to tell them. And yourse
Ezekiel’s POVAs it stood right now, I was really losing it. Like, I was way too tired of everything. The feast Cecilia told me to plan? A fucking mess. Like, what the fuck? How can a fourteen-year-old boy talk back to me and Cecilia like that? Like, what the fuck?It shocked me to the highest level.You fucking caused all this for yourself.I could hear my wolf’s voice in my head, sharp and cutting, like he was enjoying my misery.“How did I?” I muttered under my breath, dragging my hands through my hair as I paced the room.You let Kailey down years ago, and you think nemesis won’t catch up with you?“You must be joking,” I growled back at him, my anger boiling over. “I have paid for my mistakes. Why the fuck is all this still happening to me?”Paid? Oh, please. You’ve barely scratched the top of what you owe, Ezekiel. And if you’re not careful, Auren is going to become something you’ll regret.“Fuck!” I snapped, striking my hand into the wall. My chest heaved as I tried to calm my
Kailey’s POV“She’s not my Luna anymore!” he roared, his voice cracking with frustration. “I told you that already. I—”“Oh, really?” I interrupted, stepping closer to him. “Because it sure as hell sounded like you were defending her just now. ‘My Luna this, my Luna that.’ Which is it, Ezekiel? Is she your Luna or not?”He opened his mouth to respond but closed it again, his jaw tightening as he struggled to find the words. I shook my head, laughing bitterly.“That’s what I thought,” I said, my voice cold. “You can’t even make up your mind. And you want to come in here and yell at my son for speaking his truth? For standing up to that conniving bitch?”“Don’t call her that,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous.“Why not?” I challenged, crossing my arms. “That’s exactly what she is. And you know it. You just don’t want to admit it because it’s easier to keep pretending everything is fine. Well, guess what, Ezekiel? It’s not fine. It’s never been fine. And your precious Cecilia? She
Kailey’s POVI wanted to go and check on Ezekiel, but I didn’t dare. I knew right now he was really angry, so ignoring him felt like the best thing to do. Auren was in his room, and I told myself I’d go meet him instead. I guessed he was just frustrated—I know how much all this must weigh on him. As I walked down the hallway, I caught sight of Cecilia coming out of one of the rooms. She looked like she’d eaten something sour, her face all twisted and angry. Seeing her like that made a smile creep onto my face. I was so happy about what happened earlier that I couldn’t help myself. Cecilia turned, her sharp look locking onto mine. She noticed the grin on my face and stopped in her tracks, her eyes sharpening. “What’s funny?” she snapped, her voice cold and sharp. I crossed my arms, leaning slightly against the wall as I tilted my head at her. “What isn’t funny?” I said with a laugh. “You, Cecilia. You are the joke of the night. A self-acclaimed Luna, made to look stupid by a fourte
Kailey’s POVAurene turned to him. “No. I’m done lying. You want me to respect you? Then tell me the truth. Tell me why you let it happen. Tell me why you never protected her. Tell me why you still stand beside her, knowing everything she’s done.”Ezekiel’s jaw clenched.Cecilia, for the first time, looked shaken. She wasn’t in control anymore. The room wasn’t following her plan.I watched it all, my heart racing. My boy. My brave, bold son.I had always wanted to shield him from this, but now, I saw it. He had his own fire. His own fight.And for the first time, Cecilia had nothing to say.Silence stretched. The whole hall held its breath.Then, Aurene took a step back. He sighed, shaking his head. “You can keep your fake words, Cecilia. I don’t need them.”And with that, he turned and walked out of the hall.Leaving everyone stunned.Leaving Cecilia open.And leaving me, his mother, feeling more pride than I had in my entire life.******After a few more hours, the feast finished, a
Kailey’s POVWe all returned to the hall where everyone was. I was not myself. My blood boiled, my hands clenched at my sides. My eyes found Cecilia even as she was smiling, greeting all the guests like she hadn’t just flipped my world upside down.I wanted to grab her by the throat and squeeze until she stopped breathing. I wanted to see the panic in her eyes the way she made me panic all these years. But I couldn’t. Not here. Not now. It would cause more problems than it would solve.A light touch on my back made me tense. I spun around, my body still on edge.Mage Elyra.I blinked. “Wow… you came.”She smiled, her eyes warm but knowing. “Yeah, sure I did. I wouldn’t miss this. After I was done with what I was doing in the woods, I said let me rush down here.”I nodded, my eyes flickering back to Cecilia. “That’s nice. I’m happy you’re here.”Elyra followed my gaze, her expression turning serious. “Where is Aurene?”“He’s in his room,” I said. “He’s still getting prepared to be show
Kailey’s POVEverybody was just so surprised at the turn of events at the feast. Everywhere was quiet. I could see that I had just made a scene.God! I hate myself! I said, putting my hand on my head.I could feel all eyes on me, burning into my skin like hot iron. The weight of their stares made my chest tighten. I had completely lost control. My anger had spilled out for everyone to see, and now, I had given them all something to talk about.Ezekiel shifted beside me, his look heavy. “Kailey, take a deep breath.”I waved him off. “Don’t, Ezekiel. Don’t tell me to breathe, don’t tell me to calm down, and don’t tell me I overreacted.”“That’s not what I was going to say,” he said strongly. “I was going to ask if you’re okay.”I scoffed. “Okay? I just found out my past came knocking on my door, in the middle of a feast no less, and you think I’m okay?”Ezekiel rubbed his jaw but said nothing. I knew he was trying to be gentle with me, but right now, I didn’t have it in me to understand
Kailey’s POVWhile the feast was still going on, a group of people walked up to where Ezekiel and I were sitting. "Greetings, Alpha," a woman from the group spoke, bowing her head slightly.The moment my eyes landed on her, my blood ran cold. My whole body stiffened. Memories—long-buried and unwanted—flooded back so fast they nearly knocked the breath out of me. This was my aunt. The woman who had raised me from childhood. The woman who should have been my guardian, my family. But when Ezekiel’s father banished me all those years ago, she turned her back on me. No letters, no words, not even a single look of sorrow. Just… nothing. And now, she had the nerve to stand here, claiming she didn’t know me? My hands clenched into fists on my lap. I wanted to spring at her, to choke her until she felt every ounce of the pain she had put me through. But this was a feast. Eyes were everywhere. I had to keep my cool. I had to swallow the storm raging inside me. But no matter how hard I tried