Lauren’s POVThe she-wolf who was so arrogant a second ago was now instantly timid, saluting respectfully to both Dean and Jacob as she apologized.I was already surprised by Jacob’s appearance at the doorway that when I noticed Dean, I remained frozen. Thoughts came flooding through. Adam’s words kept ringing through my ears, and I also wondered why Dean was back again. He seemed to just show up out of the blue all the time. Does Adam know Dean is here? And speaking of Adam, I wonder where he is???As if reading my mind, Dean raised a bushy eyebrow at me. He said nothing, but it was as if his intense stare could see straight through me. “Not saluting?” Interrupted Jacob coldly, snapping me out of my thoughts and frozen position. At this point, I couldn’t afford to offend either of these people. “Apologies, Beta Jacob,” I quickly said, imitating the she-wolf’s salute, not wanting to upset any apple carts. “I didn’t see you enter, please forgive my bad manners.” “Hmm,” mocked the
Lauren’s POVFollowing Dean nervously, I tried deciphering what he had just said. It was beginning to annoy me how everyone, including Adam, kept referring to me as Adam’s possession; his toy. I was nobody’s to keep but my own. We moved past the row of thatched houses, past the communal compound, and further out to the training field. Everyone who passed by us kept whispering, even as we passed by the river. At first, I thought they were gossiping about why I was with Dean. However, suddenly something dropped over my shoulders. Dean had thrown his gown over me, which at first, I thought was odd. Does he also not want anyone to see us together? My instinctive reaction was to refuse, and I gently half-shrugged the coat off of him. But he simply tucked it tighter around me. Perhaps there’s another reason why he’s covering me? I know I have to be very careful with every step I take, and I can't trust anyone completely. This time, I left the cape hanging around me. “You need my co
Lauren’s POVPropelling Dean away from me, I wasn’t about to get in the way of these two again. It’s not because I was guilty, but because I didn’t want to have anything to do with Dean. Mine and Adam’s deal was risky enough. Things would just get more complicated if Dean was involved. It was also clear to me that he was trying to involve himself. I wasn’t a fool. “Want to fight again?” Dean said defiantly. He didn’t revere Adam’s status, especially since they were evenly matched. Even if they did fight for the succession of Alpha King one day, Dean would be Adam’s most formidable opponent. “Even if Father thinks highly of you, your bloodline won’t change, Dean,” Adam retorted. It was a warning sign, his glaring eyes now the color of scarlet. I noticed how Adam refused to call Dean brother. “I won’t fight you. You better go straight to Father and talk about the Marital Alliance, if you want to replace me to be the next Alpha King. We both know that’s the quickest way.” Without
Lauren’s POV“What are you thinking? It’s your turn,” the werewolf nudged me, tearing me from my thoughts, once again. Coming to my senses, I warned myself not to easily empathize with others. Adam still had a family and status, but I had lost everything. At least he still had that, and the same for Dean. He still had a father. Focus on your training, Lauren. You need to take every single chance to become stronger. Remember why you’re here. Standing up, I shook the sand off my clothes. Gathering myself, it was time to put everything aside and prepare for my new match of the day. Strangely, my new partner was in a tremendous state of excitement. I could tell she wanted to kill me and wondered if she had witnessed the battle between the she-wolf and myself yesterday. Her breathing became heavier with every movement, and from the onset, she bared her fangs. There wasn’t a moment when they weren’t out on display. She was out of control! Dodging her attack again and again, her wolf c
Lauren’s POV“Adam! Have you forgotten who you are?! How dare you speak to me like that!” Alpha King bellowed. It was as if I could feel the Earth shaking as the Alpha King spoke to his son. Teresa wasn’t expecting to mess things up, at least not in this way. She probably never expected Adam to defend my honor like this. “Adam, don’t be a fool! Don’t fall into her trap and her selfish ways,” pleaded Teresa. But no one listened to her and Adam simply ignored her. “I will never allow anyone to bully my mate. If she is guilty, I am willing to be punished alongside her. We are one. We will face whatever it is you have in store for us, together,” Adam informed his father and those standing nearby. He burned all his bridges at this point. Despite the turmoil it caused between the werewolves, and most importantly, Alpha King, my heart couldn’t help but soar as Adam defended me. It spoke volumes of his character. Naturally, Alpha King was livid and was not expecting his son’s reaction.
Lauren’s POVMy body froze, unable to move from its spot, and I felt a chill run down my spine. I never expected Adam to be so perceptive. Had I given him any clues? No, it couldn’t be.What would happen if he knew my real identity? Is he going to hand me over to Uncle or Teresa if he knows the real truth?“I…” As I hesitated to find the words, the door opened. “You, come with us,” one of the soldiers unkindly instructed, signaling to another standing with him to tie me and take me away. “Stop! Who allowed you to do this? Did you not hear me, I said STOP! That is a command!” Adam flung the soldiers out of the cell as he spoke, and let out a powerful roar of Alpha. The two soldiers were now writhing on the ground in pain, clutching at their bodies. While this was happening, Jacob suddenly walked in, entering the cell. Surprisingly, he rebuked the two soldiers’ actions and then proceeded to salute Adam respectfully. “I’ve been ordered by Alpha King to take the she-wolf away for int
Lauren’s POVThe inside world was very luxurious, even more so than the exterior appearance of the palace. Many soldiers stood guarding every corner, extending from the entrance to the interiors, showing the majesty of nobility. Statues depicting werewolves and half-humans lined the stone walls, alongside other motifs, and a massive chandelier hung from the middle of the ceremonial room’s ceiling, dripping in hundreds of lit candles. Lines of long wooden tables extended from one side of the room to the other, where banquets were often held among the Tribe. Alpha King sat on his embellished throne, looking at me condescendingly. He wore a thick fur coat, dangling on the stone floor beneath his throne. To my surprise, Dean was there, too. He stood beside Alpha King and smiled at me as I neared Alpha’s throne. At this time, he bent down and whispered to Alpha King. Watching their every move in a bid to figure out what the situation meant, I noticed Alpha King’s face soften slightly,
Lauren’s POVAlpha King was irritated by Adam’s behavior — the look upon his face filled with disappointment and scorn. After all, his son had sided with me over him. He ordered his soldiers to capture him as punishment without saying anything to Adam. “Take him away now!” At Alpha King’s command, the magnificent palace instantly became chaotic, and the King’s soldiers took their position, ready to obey their Alpha’s command. The guards surrounding Alpha King all took two steps forward. The soldiers on the outskirts started edging closer, creating a half-moon shape in front of Adam. Enclosing in on him, the last two soldiers on either side pulled out a set of chains. All the while, Adam still kept his wolf form. As soon as he realized the seriousness of his father’s orders, his wolf immediately went into fight mode. Snarling at the crowd, Adam’s wolf stepped backward. In a flash, he encircled one of the soldiers on the outer perimeters and whacked him to the ground with one swe
Lauren’s POVComplete and utter joy washed over Adam, and it seemed that he could hardly believe it himself. “I love you, too, Lauren!” He eagerly asked me if I could stay, expressing his willingness to protect me and my people.“We could merge,” he offered, “we could become one, and in that way, I can protect both Packs and you always!” He delighted. “You know that’s not possible, Adam. Think of the people. Who would move over to who’s turf? We need to have the people’s best interests at heart, not our own. We want to be different from our parents; pave our own way. Not put our own interests at heart, but do what is best for the Tribe…” I rebutted. It’s not what Adam wanted to hear, but deep down, he knew I was right. Adam was a kind and just leader. The heat of the moment had caught him, but he knew the reality of our situation. We had already come to an agreement with the best of an outcome for both Tribes as possible. “Furthermore, you know better than anyone that returning h
Lauren’s POVNow that the Ironclaw Tribe and the Crimson Moon Tribe were both leaderless, Adam rightfully became the new Alpha King of his Father’s pack. At the same time, we made a joint announcement to everyone: that I was his only Luna whilst also being the leader of the Crimson Moon Tribe. The two Packs would become the closest of allies. It wasn’t the norm, but in this way, both our Tribes would be aligned. During this time, Dean had gone missing. At first, I thought Dean had retreated to his cave, the one he brought me to on the day of the battle. Both Adam and I went together to search for him there, but when we got there, the cave was empty. All of his possessions were gone, too. We sent men out to look for him in the nearby woods, but no one could find a trace of him, not even a scent. That was two weeks ago, and we had come to terms with the fact that he had left on his own accord. It’s unfortunate. If all the past conflicts hadn’t occurred, Dean would have been Adam’s
Lauren’s POVMother’s funeral was my final goodbye. As is custom for fallen heroes, her right into the afterlife was held in the exact spot in which she took her last breath. Adam and Dean had helped me dig a hole where her body was to be buried. Word was sent to the Crimson Moon Tribe, who had immediately retracted back to their camp soon after Jed was killed during the battle. My mother was a woman of honor, despite her shortcomings with Father, and she deserved a proper Rite of Death. I waited until tribes folk from the Crimson Moon Tribe were here to begin. White magnolias — her favorite — were laid around her body, and I covered in her a thick fox’s coat. One by one, packmates, friends, and allies smeared a small drop of blood onto Mother. Sending her off into her final passage of the afterlife, the head healer of the Crimson Moon Tribe knelt back on his haunches and took a final howl at the moon, long and loud, so that even the birds in nearby trees fluttered away, the leaves
Lauren’s POVThe air around us turned ice cold as if a recent snowstorm had swept across the land, even though it was the middle of summer. Everyone present struggled to determine whether the Alpha King’s curse would come true or not or if he was capable of actually creating such a curse. Faces were filled with terror. “Don’t worry, everyone!” Adam assured the crowd, his rightful role suiting him already. Suddenly, my mother coughed up blood and collapsed in a heap. I rushed to her side and took her sweating hands in mine. “You know, I don’t truly hate you, Lauren. How could I? I was only blinded by hatred,” she informed me, and her words felt like the best thing that had happened to me all day. “I’m just relieved that I could use my last bit of strength to save you; my last gift to you.” “No, Mother, don’t say that! It’s not a last gift; you cannot leave me!” I cried out to her, tears gushing from my eyes. “It’s okay, I promise you, I know you love me. Please don’t leave me, Mom
Lauren’s POVBut the fight wasn’t over, at least, not mine. Out of the dust, Alpha King appeared, laughing wildly like a possessed hyena. “Weakness. Your bloodline is tainted with weakness, child. You are no fit for my line of power. I only produce the strongest werewolves. This is all very clear to me. Not even Jed could save himself,” he howled viciously, sniggering at me as he spoke. The Alpha King edged closer and closer, and I noticed he hadn’t retracted his claws. I knew enough to know what this signaled, and he was getting ready for one last final kill. Even after regaining my strength, I was still no match for the Alpha King. Alice was strong, but it was the first time we fought together in battle, plus, Hanson was Alpha — his strength was unparalleled for a young wolf like myself, no matter my bloodline. Throughout all of the chaos, Adam and Dean never failed to take their eyes off me and were never far from sight. They had been standing behind me the entire time. But Al
Lauren’s POVThe three of us momentarily set aside our personal conflict, uniting against the common enemy. Dean shifted, his white wolf taking shape in an instant. Adam was still in his wolf form. I remained human. Climbing onto Eric’s back, I felt strong, and the three of us rushed to the battlefield. The wind howled and caressed my hair as it billowed, and the two brothers running side by side looked beautiful. Even in this stage of the outbreak, I couldn’t help but notice their beauty. As we prepared for battle, a sinister voice cut through the tension. Like a dark thundercloud, the Alpha King appeared out of nowhere, his eyes gleaming with malice. “It seems both my precious sons are quite fond of you,” the Alpha King sneered, his tone dripping in contempt. As he spoke, crowds gathered around him. I was still on the back of Adam, and Dean was right at our side. Funny how just a few minutes ago, we were in the cave, ready to go at one another. Yet here we stand, the three o
Lauren’s POVAdam bared his fierce fangs, which glistened like polished metal, ready to tear Dean’s throat out. He must have followed us here, and I was left wondering how much of my and Dean’s conversation he had heard. But that’s irrelevant now, anyway. The main thing is that he’s here! The tension in the cave was electric, and you could cut it with a razor-sharp knife. But I was not going to let either brother destroy the other. That already led to enough destruction the last time. Stepping forward, I placed a hand on Adam’s thick arm, well, in this case, Eric. His coat was warm beneath my skin, and I could feel his rushing anger in the heat of his blood. “Stop, Adam. He didn’t hurt me, and he wouldn’t. No matter what you heard, I know Dean wouldn’t do that,” I assured Adam, trying as best as I could to avoid any conflict between the two. “But if you kill Dean, the Alpha King won’t let you get away with it.” “I don’t care!” Adam bellowed in defiance. His fury was palpable, bu
Lauren’s POVBefore there was time for me to react or try and tear myself from Dean’s grip, we were too far away, and he had brought me miles from the palace hall. When Dean finally transformed back into his human form, I found myself in his arms and no longer strung over his shoulders like a heavy sack. By now, I came to my senses, realizing that Adam was nowhere in sight. I didn’t recognize the landscape around us either, and I could tell we were elsewhere, away from the Ironclaw tribe. Jagged mountains surrounded us, yet I couldn’t hear the sound of water — it was like there wasn’t a stream nearby. Where the hell are we? Struggling to remove myself from his grip, Dean quickly restrained me. It’s weird; he’s never been this forceful with me before. Something has definitely changed in him. He’s usually a little softer…Leading me into a cave, I couldn’t help but notice how strikingly different everything was inside when compared to the harsh environment outside. The interiors o
Lauren’s POVAlpha King left, but as promised, his guards remained at the chamber’s door, blocking us from entering or exiting. The heat season’s physiological effects gradually clouded my mind, fogging up my thoughts like a thick mist. Instinctively, I clung to Adam, afraid to let him go and hoping desperately for someone to save me, to put me out of my misery and take me from this place. I felt trapped, like the weight of a hundred stones lay on top of me. My brain raced, but my body was unable to move, oppressed by the pain emulating from my stomach. Adam kissed my sweaty forehead, trying to console me. “My little wolf, I am so sorry. This is all my fault. I should never have brought you here in the first place,” but I was too delirious to recognize what he was saying, “I didn’t protect you well enough.” I felt myself being laid down on the bed and a pair of cool hands brushing my cheek, easing some of the heat that warped my entire body. But soon, the hands withdrew, and I c