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
Ezekiel’s POV“This is why people fear us,” Auren’s mother said. “Because they don’t understand. They see power and assume the worst.”“But you’re not hurting anyone,” I said.“That doesn’t matter to most,” the older woman said. “Fear makes people dangerous.”I nodded slowly, trying to process everything. “So you stay hidden. To protect yourselves.”“And to protect others,”ELyra said. “Power like ours can be dangerous if not controlled.”“I see,” I said. “But Auren… he’s just a kid. Doesn’t he deserve a chance to live a normal life?”“This is normal for us,” the older woman said firmly. “It may not be what you know, but it’s what we have.”“And you don’t think the world could ever accept yoThe room fell silent. Finally, Auren’s mother spoke. “Perhaps one day. But not today.”I nodded, understanding their caution. But a part of me couldn’t help but hope that they were wrong. That maybe, just maybe, the world could change.For now, though, I knew better than to push. “Thank you for trusting me e
Kailey’s POVI couldn’t believe what Auren had done. My heart pounded as I stood in the small, dimly lit room, glaring at him.“What were you thinking, Auren?” I shouted, my voice echoing against the wooden walls. “You brought a stranger to our home! To our sanctuary! Do you understand how dangerous that is?”He stood before me, head bowed, his small hands fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. “I’m sorry, Mum,” he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.“Sorry?” I snapped, pacing back and forth. “Sorry doesn’t cut it, Auren! You saw people in the woods—strangers! And instead of staying away like you’ve been told a thousand times, you went right up to them. What were you thinking?”“I… I didn’t mean to,” he stammered. “He… he seemed nice, Mum. He didn’t seem like he wanted to hurt us.”“And how exactly would you know that?” I demanded, throwing my hands up in frustration. “Do you have some magical ability to see into people’s hearts now? Do you?”Elyra stepped into the room, her prese
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