Kailey’s POVI was pacing in the room, left, right, and center. My thoughts were a chaotic mess, spiraling out of control as my emotions battled for dominance. Restless, angry, and scared—I was a whirlwind of all three, with no outlet for relief. My hands balled into fists as my chest heaved with each labored breath. At that moment, I even started wishing I had remained in the woods with Elyra.“Shut up,” I muttered to myself, disgusted by the thought. “How could you even think that? How could you wish something like that?”My voice cracked as tears spilled over. Punching the wall beside me, I ignored the sharp jolt of pain that shot up my arm. It was nothing compared to the ache in my chest. My son was missing. My precious Aurnen was gone, and I didn’t know if I’d ever see him again.The door burst open, and Elyra rushed in, her face etched with worry. “Kailey! I came as fast as I could when I heard the news. What happened?”I collapsed into her arms, sobbing uncontrollably. “Someone t
Kailey’s POV“Stop,” Elyra said firmly. “We can’t think like that. Aurnen needs you to be strong. Ezekiel needs you to be strong.”“Ezekiel?” I scoffed. “Do you think he’s ever truly cared about me? About Aurnen?”Elyra’s eyes softened. “I know you’ve had your doubts about him, but he’s doing everything he can to bring Aurnen back. You have to trust him.”Before I could respond, another guard entered the room, his face pale. “Luna Kailey, we’ve found something.”“What is it?” I demanded, my heart pounding.He held out a small, silver bracelet. “This was found in the woods near the border. It belongs to the prince.”I snatched the bracelet from his hand, my fingers trembling. “Where exactly did you find it?”“Near the riverbank,” he replied. “But there’s something else. We found tracks leading deeper into the forest. They were faint, but they’re fresh.”“Then what are we waiting for?” I said, already moving toward the door. “We need to follow them!”“Kailey,” Elyra called, stopping me in my tra
Ezekiel’s POV“Keep an eye on Kailey and my son,” I ordered the guards stationed outside her room. My voice was like steel, cutting through the air with authority. My glare bore into each of them, leaving no room for error. They immediately straightened, gripping their swords tightly.“Yes, Your Highness,” they replied in unison.Without another word, I turned on my heel and strode down the corridor. My blood was boiling, anger pumping through my veins like fire. Someone had dared to kidnap my son. My son! The audacity was maddening.As I entered the garden, the crisp night air failed to cool my fury. My fists were clenched at my sides, my jaw tight as I replayed the events in my head. Who would dare challenge me like this? And why?Lost in thought, I didn’t notice the maid rounding the corner until she bumped into me. The collision jolted me from my thoughts, and I snapped.“Watch where you’re going!” My voice was sharp, louder than I intended.The maid’s face turned pale, and she stumbl
Kailey’s POV"Pass me the bowl of warm water," I said quietly to the maid beside me. Though I spoke calmly, inside I felt a storm of fear and anger. The maid handed over the bowl, her hands trembling. I dipped a soft towel into the water, gently dabbing it on Aurnen's arm. His deep cut looked angry and red, but the bleeding had stopped."Poor boy," I murmured, brushing his dark hair away from his forehead. Aurnen finally seemed at peace, his breathing steady. Earlier, his fever had been dangerously high, but now it was subsiding. "Thank the goddess," I whispered, checking his temperature again.The maid fidgeted nervously. "I'm sorry, Your Highness," she began, her voice shaky. "I should have been more alert. I—"I raised my hand to silence her, focusing on Aurnen with a commanding presence. "Enough. What's done is done. Apologies won't change anything now." My tone was firm but not harsh, my attention solely on my son.Aurnen stirred slightly, whimpering softly. My heart ached, and I whi
Kailey’s POVFor the past three days, I hadn’t left Aurnen’s side. He had been in and out of consciousness, his small body wracked with the aftereffects of shock. I’d barely eaten or slept, my world revolving around the fragile state of my son. I couldn’t shake the feeling that this place, this pack, wasn’t safe for us.As I sat beside Aurnen, gently stroking his hair, Elyra entered the room. Her concerned eyes softened as she saw the worry etched across my face.“Kailey,” she began, her voice gentle yet firm. “You’ve been through so much, but you’re stronger than this. Aurnen needs you to be strong.”I looked up at her, the fear in my heart almost suffocating. “I can’t do this, Elyra. This place isn’t right for me or my son. I was telling you before that we should leave, and I still believe it. I don’t feel safe here.”Elyra sat beside me, placing a comforting hand on mine. “Kailey, this is your birthright. You’re the rightful Luna of this pack. You shouldn’t have to live in fear. The pa
Kailey’s POVThere was a knock on my door.“Who’s there?” I shouted, my voice laced with agitation.Aurnen was getting better, but every inch of me itched to leave his side and conduct my own investigation. Whoever wanted my son dead wouldn’t get away with it, but being stuck here, waiting for answers, was driving me mad. Every little thing seemed to set me off.The knock came again, louder this time.“Come in!” I shouted.The door opened hesitantly, and a maid stepped inside, her head bowed. “Sorry, Luna, for disturbing you,” she said timidly.“What is it?” I snapped, immediately regretting my tone but too on edge to soften it.“Alpha Ezekiel sent me to inform you,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper, “that you are needed in the courtroom. They’ve found who kidnapped Aurnen.”My heart stopped for a moment before hammering in my chest. “Really?”The maid nodded quickly. “Yes, Luna.”I was on my feet in seconds, practically flying out of the room. My mind raced with possibilities. They
Kailey’s POV I stood before the beaten man, my heart pounding in anger and frustration. He sat slumped in a chair, bruises marring his face, his breathing shallow but steady. His silence infuriated me. No matter what Ezekiel and the others had done, he refused to reveal who had sent him.But I wasn’t done. If he thought he could outlast me, he was wrong.I stepped forward, my voice low but cold as ice. “You think you’re brave, don’t you?”The man didn’t respond. His bloodshot eyes barely flickered in my direction.“Answer her,” Ezekiel barked, his voice echoing through the room.Still, the man said nothing.I folded my arms, circling him slowly. My voice dropped even lower, filled with venom. “Do you know who I am? I’m the mother of the child you tried to harm. The Luna of this pack. And I’m not as patient as Ezekiel.”He gave a weak chuckle, the sound grating on my nerves. “You don’t scare me.”“Oh, you will be scared,” I promised, stopping directly in front of him. “Because I’m not asking a
Kailey’s POVI stormed out of the room, my fists clenched so tightly my nails dug into my palms. My entire body trembled with anger, my chest heaving as I struggled to control my breathing. But the fury within me refused to be contained."Coming here was a mistake," I muttered under my breath. "A huge mistake. I should never have left the woods. I should’ve stayed with Elyra. None of this would’ve happened if I had just listened to my instincts."I paced the dimly lit corridor, my boots slamming against the cold stone floor. The sound echoed around me, matching the chaos in my head."Kailey," a soft, familiar voice called behind me.I ignored it."Kailey, stop," Elyra said, her footsteps growing louder as she approached.I whirled around to face her, my voice sharp and unsteady. "Why should I stop, Elyra? Why? Look at what’s happening! Look at what I’ve done! I walked right into this nightmare, dragging my son into it, and for what?""Kailey, calm down," Elyra said, her voice soothing but fi
Cecilia’s POV“Yeah,” I muttered. “Be careful.”James gave me a smirk. “Cecilia’s dangerous, but she’s not that dangerous.”I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t underestimate her.”James chuckled, heading toward the door. “Noted.”As he walked out, I exhaled, running a hand through my hair.Something was coming.I could feel it.I’ve been watching Cecilia for days now, tracking every move she makes. I don’t know exactly what she’s up to, but one thing is clear—she has a routine. And tonight, she’s sticking to it.Every night, around the same time, she leaves the pack house. Never too early. Never too late. Always slipping out when most of the pack is settling in for the night.Tonight, I’m gonna find out why.I move silently, keeping my distance as she makes her way through the darkened paths of the territory. She’s careful, checking her surroundings every few steps, but I’m better. Years of tracking have trained me to move like a shadow, blending into the night.She walks with purpose, never h
Cecilia’s POVI leaned back in my chair, exhaling slowly. Something felt… off. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it had been clawing at the back of my mind all day. A nagging feeling, a whisper of something wrong.I shook it off and grabbed the radio on my desk, pressing the button.“James, get to my office. Now.”A second of silence, then his steady voice came through. “On my way, Alpha.”I set the radio down, running a hand through my hair. The Moonlight Festival was coming up fast, and I should’ve been focused on finalizing the last details. Instead, my thoughts kept circling back to Auren.Auren was strong for his age—faster than the other pups, sharper. He had the instincts of a warrior, but he was still a child. My child. And I wasn’t about to take any risks, especially not now.A sharp knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts.“Come in,” I called.James stepped inside, closing the door behind him. His expression was calm, focused, like always. That’s why I trusted him.
Cecilia’s POVBack in my pack, I knew I needed to figure out the right time to put our plan into motion. Timing was everything. If we moved too soon, we’d blow our cover. Too late, and we’d lose the advantage.The Moonlight Festival was coming up fast, and if there was one thing I knew about Ezekiel, it was that he took festival traditions seriously. That meant he’d have plans—big ones. Plans I needed to know.So, I decided to play nice.I brewed a fresh pot of tea, making sure to add just a little honey—he liked it that way. I carried the tray carefully to his office, keeping my expression soft, sweet. Like I was just a concerned old friend bringing him a warm drink.I knocked lightly.“Come in,” Ezekiel’s deep voice called out.I pushed the door open, stepping inside with a small smile. “Thought you could use a break,” I said, holding up the tray.Ezekiel raised a brow. “You? Bringing me tea?”I chuckled, setting the tray down on his desk. “Don’t sound so shocked. I can be thoughtfu
Cecilia’s POV"You owe me, Cecilia."Kyle’s voice was low, smooth, but there was something dangerous underneath it. Something sharp.I leaned back, crossing my legs as I watched him. "Of course. And you’ll get what’s yours."Kyle smirked, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "I intend to."I raised a brow. "What do you want?"He tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes studying me. "First things first—I want power. Real power. Not just being some Beta sitting on the sidelines of another pack. I want a seat in Ezekiel’s chambers."I exhaled slowly. "You want a place at his table?""I don’t want a place, Cecilia," Kyle corrected, leaning forward. "I want influence. I want a say in decisions. I want control."I tapped my nails against the glass in my hand. "And how do you expect me to make that happen?""You will," he said simply. "Once Kailey is out of the picture, once you are back in Ezekiel’s life, you’ll have the power to put me exactly where I need to be."I considered it.Kyle was sm
Cecilia’s POV"This is how you win."Kyle's voice was calm, steady, but there was something sharp underneath it. A kind of calculated danger that made my stomach tighten.I leaned forward, watching him closely. "Go on."He swirled the whiskey in his glass, smirking. "You already know Kailey's biggest weakness, Cecilia. You're just not looking at the full picture."I crossed my arms. "Auren.""Exactly." He leaned back, stretching his arms across the couch. "Her golden boy. Her pride and joy. The future Alpha." He looked me dead in the eyes. "You take him… and you take everything from her."I exhaled slowly. "It won’t be that simple."Kyle chuckled. "Oh, I never said it was simple. But it's doable. If you really want Ezekiel back, if you want Kailey gone for good, then this is how you do it."I narrowed my eyes. "How does taking Auren bring Ezekiel back to me?"Kyle tilted his head, like he was waiting for me to catch on. When I didn’t say anything, he sighed."Think about it," he said.
Cecilia’s POV"Who's there?" As I knocked, someone spoke up.It was me, Luna Cecilia. I said it in a firm voice.I had to wait for a while. The door did not open. I could hear feet shuffles and then a low laugh coming from inside. Finally, the door creaked open, and there he was—Kyle."Wow, who is living in my small abode? "This is so weird," Kyle said with a smile on his face. His dark eyes looked over at me like I was a surprise guest at his own party. His arms were crossed."Should you tell me to come in, or am I just going to stand outside the door?" I raised a brow.“Oh, my bad… I’m sorry. Come in, Luna,” he said, stepping aside.My guard shifted behind me, ready to follow, but I held up a hand. “Nah. Stay back.”Kyle smirked. “You guys and all your lap dogs…”“Watch your mouth,” I warned, narrowing my eyes at him.He just laughed. “Oh, come on. Relax.” He stepped back further, motioning for me to enter. “Get in already before you start a scandal standing outside my door.”I walk
Cecilia’s POVI was just sitting on the balcony upstairs, sipping wine. I was losing this battle. I won't lie. Like all odds were against me. I'm losing the love of my life, Ezekiel, and Kailey is stealing everything away from me. Like everything.I sighed even as I looked down from the balcony... and I saw Auren and Ezekiel coming down from the car. Fuck. They were bonding. I could see it in their eyes... that yes, they were bonding.I haven’t been able to give a child to Ezekiel. I have always had it in mind that I will soon. But as it stands, this stupid woman... Kailey has come to take all I have. I said to myself in my heart as I poured more wine for myself... in anger."Cecilia..." Loretta, my wolf, spoke in my mind.I sighed. "What, Loretta?""You're doing it again.""Doing what?" I rolled my eyes, taking a long sip."Drinking yourself into frustration. Watching them like a hawk. Getting worked up over what you can’t control."I gritted my teeth. "I should be able to control th
Ezekiel’s POV As I got back to the packhouse with Auren, I was just lost in thought. Yeah, Auren was going to inherit a very strong pack, but my biggest concern as it stood now was Cecilia. I didn’t know why, but I still had that fear that she was going to be a pain in our flesh in the nearest future. I had tried to have her sent away from the palace—she stopped being my Luna when I found Kailey, Auren’s mother. But as it stood, there was no way I could. Traditions bar an Alpha from sending away a Luna unless she has committed the crime of murder. And she hadn’t.I sighed as I walked into my office, rubbing my temples. How could I get rid of her? “Dad?” I turned to see Auren standing at the door. His face was blank, but I could see the interest in his eyes. “What is it, son?” I asked, sitting down behind my desk. “You looked... worried.” I let out a small chuckle. “I’m always worried. It comes with being Alpha.” He walked in, standing before my desk. “Is it about that rogue?”
Ezekiel’s POV"Auren, let’s go check the borders," I said as I walked past him. He was sitting on the sofa, working on a few documents I had given him earlier."But Dad, I’m working on these documents," he mumbled without looking up.I stopped in my tracks. "Don’t worry about them. Just leave them. You can finish them later."He hesitated for a moment, then sighed and set the papers aside. I saw the way he moved, careful, unsure. He had been distant ever since the issues with his mother, my ex-Luna, Cecilia. And I hated that.But today, he actually called me Dad. And for some reason, it made me feel good. Real good."Come on," I said, nodding toward the door. "Let’s go."He followed me out of the packhouse, his small steps quickening to keep up. The moment we stepped outside, the crisp evening air hit us. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the training grounds."Why are we checking the borders?" Auren asked, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "We have warriors for that