Selena’s pov The poison swirled into the orange drink, disappearing seamlessly into the liquid. I stirred it a little longer, ensuring there were no traces. Once Julia drinks this, she’ll be out of my life for good. I turned to the trembling maid, who stood before me, fear radiating off her like a weak scent of desperation."Go, give this to Julia before Penelope gets to her," I commanded coldly. "If you fail... well, you’ll be the one savoring every drop of that cup." My voice remained steady, but the menace was unmistakable. She nodded, eyes wide, and quickly scurried off with the tray.I leaned back in my seat, feeling a twisted sense of satisfaction settled over me as I watched her retreat. Everything was falling into place.---FLASHBACKThe swing in the pack house garden creaked as I pushed lightly with my feet. Fiona sat beside me, her eyes filled with concern as she tried to soothe the anger bubbling beneath my skin. We had just returned from an encounter with that girl."So,
Kane's povI stood outside Julia’s door, my hand raised, ready to knock, but something inside me wouldn’t let me. My fingers hovered in the air, shaking as I fought against the impulse that was screaming at me to turn around and leave. It wasn’t just hesitation—it was fear. Not of her, but of myself. Every time I came here, the same thing happened. I’d get too close, feel too much, and the wolf inside me would start pushing its way to the surface, urging me to do things I wasn’t ready for.Last time, I almost lost it. I’d come so close to letting him take over, pushing her further than either of us was ready for. The memory of it made my stomach tighten. How long could I keep fighting this? How long until I finally lost control?I let out a sharp breath, my chest tight with frustration, and dropped my hand. There was no point in standing here any longer. This was a mistake. I turned to leave, but just as I did, a maid came around the corner, heading straight for Julia’s room. She froz
Julia's pov As Kane collapsed, it felt like a large part of my chest had been ripped away. My hands trembled, and tears filled my eyes; my wolf wailed in my head, and I had to sulk in tears to breathe. “Alpha Kane!” I screamed my lungs out, my legs subconsciously moved me towards him. I knelt by his side and pulled him to face me; his eyes were shot, and black blood emitted from his mouth and nostrils. “Stay with me! Stay with me please.” I sniffed his mouth, and the familiar scent rang a bell in my head. “Cyanide.” I groaned. The door burst open, and Penelope ran in accompanied by the queen's mother and Selena; their eyes widened seeing the position Alpha Kane lay. The queen's mother slumped to the ground in grave shock as all life drained from her eyes. Selena clung to her, but I wasn't worried about them. I needed to save him, his breath was becoming faint. There was no immediate antidote, but at least there had to be something, processed food containing Sodium ni
Julia's povThe dungeon felt like it had swallowed me whole. Darkness wrapped around me like a suffocating blanket, and every breath was heavy with despair. I had been crying for what felt like hours—maybe even days. My heart ached, not just for myself, but for Alpha Kane, too. I had known this would happen. Whether or not it happened in my room, I will be out to blame. I was the hated one, the evil one. I felt the weight of blame settle on my shoulders. They would throw me into this hell and forget about me.I hadn’t said a word to defend myself. Why? I still couldn’t wrap my mind around it. Maybe I was paralyzed by shock or perhaps it was just hopelessness, but I shouldn't have let them drag me away without a fight. I had to stay strong, though. I had to live long enough to prove my innocence—if I could even manage that.I thought about my mom and Alex; how would they be fairing knowing I was here, locked up in this dungeon and being blamed for Alpha Kane's death?I gulped the la
was going down, and fast. My throat felt like it was straight fire, burned to a crisp from the inside out. And what's worse was I couldn't feel anything.I was just numb at all ends.Something nasty was coursing through my veins, making my limbs heavy and unresponsive. It wasn't blood; it was something suffocating. I struggled to move, but my body was straight crippled, paralyzed and unable to function. I was low-key freaking out, realizing I was completely at the mercy of whatever was happening.As I lay there unsure if I was truly still alive or not when I suddenly picked up on a faint humming noise, like my ears were rebooting. The fog began to clear, and I heard a gentle voice.“ He's coming through, ” someone said, probably the nurse. “ You can stop crying now, ma'am. ”A sharp intake of breath followed, and a distraught voice shot back, “ Stop telling me to stop crying! This is my son we're talking about. Look at him! Does he even look alive to you? ”I definitely recognized
Kane's pov The moment I lifted Julia into my arms, I felt like I was carrying glass. Fragile, cold, barely there. It terrified me in a way I hadn’t felt in… maybe ever. My heart was racing so hard it felt like it would burst out of my chest. She couldn’t die. She couldn’t leave me. Not like this. Not now. Not ever.I barely registered the drive to the hospital. Everything blurred into one chaotic rush of panic. When I burst through the doors, the only word I could manage was, “Help her!” My voice was more of a growl than a shout. The desperation in it shocked even me.The doctors moved fast, pulling her from my arms before I could blink. I was left standing there, suddenly empty, like a piece of me had just been ripped away. They tried to stop me from following, but I wasn’t having it. No way. I pushed past them and followed her through the sterile, cold corridors. No one argued.I watched, feeling helpless, as they hooked her up to machines, tubes, wires. I’d seen it before, been in
Julia's pov I don’t know if I’m dreaming or dead. My body feels weightless, suspended in this strange haze where I can barely hold onto a single thought. Everything is blurry, distant, like it’s happening to someone else, not me. The only thing I’m aware of is this dull ache that throbs somewhere deep in my chest, and the occasional sound that slips through the fog.“Kane…” I think I whisper his name, but I’m not sure if my lips even move.Then I feel it. His arms around me. I can’t tell if it’s real or if my mind is just conjuring the comfort I need, but I’m certain it’s him. The warmth of his body seeps into my cold skin, his heart pounding so hard I swear I can feel it through the layers of fog. For a split second, I feel safe, like nothing can touch me.But it doesn’t last.Everything shifts, and suddenly I’m being torn away. My body is being pulled from his arms, but I can’t protest, can’t move, can’t make a sound. The world spins, lights flashing behind my eyelids as they wheel
Kane's povThe grand hall was tense, the air thick with fear and apprehension. I could feel it pulsing off the gathered employees, maids clustered to one side, guards standing in rigid formation on the other, and the rest of the staff scattered nervously in between. My eyes scanned them, not really seeing faces, just searching. Looking for her. The one maid who had brought the poisoned drink to Julia.My patience was wearing thin, and the anger simmering beneath my skin started to boil. It had been five days since it all happened. Five days of lying in that hospital bed, recovering from whatever hell that poison had dragged me through. I hated the fact that I hadn’t been conscious, hated that I couldn’t stop her before she disappeared.She ran. That much was obvious, and the thought of it made my blood burn. I should have had someone with me. Someone should have been by my side when it happened. But no, she got away, and now I was left playing catch-up."Alpha Kane."Harry’s voice bro
AUTHOR'S POV The night outside the Pack House was quiet, the air heavy with the chill of winter. Inside, however, the atmosphere was anything but calm. Dylan had arrived.He wasn’t early, nor was he particularly late—it didn’t matter. The coronation tomorrow had officially crowned him Alpha, and his presence here was merely to solidify his claim. He strode through the grand halls, his dark hair slightly disheveled but his expression sharp and composed. The entourage behind him moved silently, their loyalty unquestionable.The maids had scrambled at his arrival, wide-eyed as they led him through the labyrinth of corridors. Their hushed whispers followed him like a shadow. “The new Alpha,” they murmured. “He doesn’t even look like he belongs here.” Dylan caught snippets of their chatter but paid it no mind. He’d been underestimated before.His boots clicked softly against the polished floors as they guided him to his chambers—Kane’s chambers. He paused in the doorway, his green eyes sc
AUTHOR’S POVJulia killed the engine, her hands gripping the wheel a moment longer than necessary. The palace rose before them like a ghost in the moonlight—cold, unfeeling, and absolutely massive. The air carried a chill that crept beneath her skin, but it wasn’t the temperature that set her nerves alight.Beside her, Alex adjusted his leather jacket, his movements sharp and impatient. He glanced at her, his jaw tightening like he was holding back a comment. Casey, lounging in the back seat, let out an exaggerated sigh and popped her gum.“So, what’s the grand plan, Jules?” Casey asked, her tone dripping with mockery. “We storm the gates, guns blazing? Or is this a sneak-and-pray situation?”Julia shot her a look over her shoulder, her green eyes sharp. “You’re the distraction, smartass.”Casey grinned, slow and wicked. “Distraction? Oh, honey, that’s my specialty.”“Good,” Alex cut in, his voice low and steady. “Just keep him busy. Jules and I will handle the rest.”Casey slid out o
After Harry had been pushed to the sidelines, the elders wasted no time getting to work. The air around the pack shifted as they dived into the logistics of making Dylan alpha. Paperwork stacked high, rituals were rehearsed, and every detail of the upcoming ceremony was put into motion. For them, this was tradition, structure, order. For Harry, it was betrayal, but no one seemed to care about that.Meanwhile, the world outside spun on. Julia, still in the hospital, was beginning to piece her memory back together. Slowly, but surely. She could barely speak—her words stuck like thorns in her throat—but there was progress. Her body might’ve been healing, but her spirit? That was another story entirely.Grant, Cassius, and Dylan, however, seemed to have no trouble moving forward. They were out at Grant’s mansion, living it up like kings. The finest liquor, the rarest meats, the most exclusive guest list. It was a celebration disguised as camaraderie, and no expense was spared.Among the g
Harry's POV.Seamless—that’s the word. That’s how it felt watching Levi, cornered like a rat in a burning maze. His pack, the once-feared Black Fang, was already in ruins. Overrun. Overwhelmed. Women, men, children—slaughtered because of his arrogance. Screams echoed through the flames as his mistakes came back to haunt him, clawing at his heels like rabid wolves.Levi. Pathetic Levi. The coward who thought he could stand tall after killing Kane. That arrogant son of a bitch actually believed he could wear his sins like armor, raise his kids, and play alpha after murdering the most revered wolf among us. I couldn’t stomach it. The sight of him—shaking, sweating, eyes darting like a trapped animal—made my stomach churn.I spat on him. Right in his face. “You made your choice,” I said, my voice as cold as the night air. “You chose wrong. Wrong man. Wrong time. Wrong everything.”His lips trembled. His eyes—those damn eyes—tried to plead, but there was nothing left to bargain with. "I—I
Dylan's POV. A man’s dream is always the same—to be the best. To walk into a room and own it without saying a word. And me? I’m this close to becoming the Alpha of the entire pack. Let that sink in. Do you know what that means?I’d own shares in every damn company the pack has its claws in. Lands? All mine. Territories? Mine. I’d have warriors—over a hundred of them—at my beck and call. And the pack house? That place isn’t just some fancy mansion. It’s a fortress. A vault of secrets no one talks about but everyone fears. I’d have the kind of power that makes people stand when I walk in, that gets governments to pick up the phone when I call. And the cherry on top? The psychic connection to my wolves. That’s not just power; it’s omnipresence.This isn’t just a dream—it’s the dream.I sat in my chamber, the air thick with the scent of wood polish and leather, sipping tea that was just shy of boiling. The kind of tea that warms your chest but has enough kick to remind you it’s not playi
Harry's POV The pack was a mess, everyone barking orders, sharpening claws, and gearing up to take down the Black Fang. And while they were busy growling and hyping each other up, I had my own mission. One that didn’t involve fangs or blood.Julia.I didn’t care what she was doing or who she was doing it with. Whether she was wrapped up with Dylan, painting her nails, or binge-watching reality TV, none of it mattered. I needed to see her. Face to face. I had to tell her the guy she swore she loved was gone. Dead. And it had to come from me.It was early as hell when I hit the road. Too early for anything sane, but hey, life doesn’t wait for you to get a good night’s sleep. The air was cold, my car heater barely keeping up, and the roads were so quiet it felt like the world hadn’t woken up yet.Her family house looked exactly how I remembered—clean, calm, and way to put-together. It was the kind of place where the neighbors probably judged each other on lawn care and holiday decoratio
Harry's POV Kane’s remains were brought back to the pack in silence. It wasn’t just quiet—it was heavy. Like the kind of quiet that settles in right before a storm breaks loose. No one said a word, and no one dared to look me in the eye. They all knew better.As for the rogues? Their corpses were nothing but ash by the time we left that warehouse. I made damn sure of it. They didn’t deserve a trace left behind—not even the memory of what they were.When we got to the pack house, I was already on edge. My body was running on fumes, the adrenaline long gone, but the rage? That wasn’t going anywhere. The second I stepped through the front door, I let it out.“Out. All of you. Now.”The servants scattered like leaves in the wind. I didn’t care how late it was or that some of them had probably been sleeping. Their wide eyes and quick feet told me they got the message loud and clear. I needed space. I needed silence.I needed to think.Kane was supposed to come back to us alive. I’d spent
David's POV.Larkmart Warehouse was a few rides away, and yeah, I’d called for backup. Had to. Let’s be real—this whole “spiritual intervention” stuff? It’s not my thing. I like practical things. Tangible. Something I can see, touch, or at least punch if it gets messy.When the spiritual leader—an old guy with robes that looked like he raided a thrift store and a voice like he smoked one too many cigars—did his thing, I wasn’t impressed. I sat there, arms crossed, watching with what I can only describe as professional skepticism. Cassius, though? He was eating it up. Nodding along like the guy was reciting holy scripture.Cassius isn’t just old; he’s ancient. He’s got this air about him, like he’s forgotten more about the supernatural world than the rest of us will ever know. And he’s respected, which is why I put up with his belief in spirits and rituals and all that. I don’t share the belief, but I wasn’t about to say it to his face. Not outright.Because here’s the thing: I might b
Cassius' POV. The road ahead was dark, nothing but the hum of the engine and the faint glow of my headlights cutting through the night. Levi, being Levi, decided he needed to ride with me. He didn’t ask—he just opened the door, slid into the passenger seat, and stretched out like he owned the damn car.“So, what’s the plan?” he asked, leaning back and propping his boots on the dash.I shot him a look. “Get your feet off.”He smirked but obeyed, shifting to sit up straight. “We going back to the pack?”“Not yet,” I said, keeping my eyes on the road. “We need to lay low first.”Levi frowned, leaning toward me like he didn’t hear me right. “Lay low? For what?”I glanced at him like he’d just asked the dumbest question in the world. Which he had. “You seriously think the cops aren’t going to be crawling all over this by morning? We just leveled a warehouse and left bodies in our wake. Heading straight home is asking for trouble.”He scratched his jaw, chewing that over. “Alright, fair. W