Kane's povToday was the day.The day everything between me and Julia would end.No more "what-ifs." No more lingering glances or sleepless nights drowning in guilt. Today, I’d make the cut. Clean. Final. It was going to hurt, like a blade straight to the gut, but there was no way around it.The elders were already assembling in the meeting room downstairs—three of them, handpicked. Small group, no fuss, just the decision-makers. They didn’t need the full pack council breathing down my neck for this. Selena was out of the house; I made damn sure of that. Sent her on a wild goose chase for groceries she didn’t need, all under the pretense of keeping her busy. The servants had strict instructions to keep her out of my hair until the dust settled.This wasn’t something she needed to see.I was in my study, pacing like a damn caged wolf, every second dragging me closer to the moment I was dreading. A knock snapped me out of it, and Harry strolled in, his usual swagger making my irritation
Julia's pov As the guards yanked me away from the pack house, I didn’t even try to hold back the tears. They spilled over, hot and messy, while I thrashed and clawed like my life depended on it. And maybe it did. My heart felt like someone had ripped it out and tossed it into the dirt. Kane stood there watching, his expression unreadable. Not angry, not sad—just… blank."Let me go!" My voice cracked, raw from screaming. I tried to twist out of their grip, but these guys were like freaking statues. Unmoving, unbothered, like I wasn’t even human.Oh wait, right—I'm not.“Stop fighting,” one of the guards muttered, like I was some kid throwing a tantrum at Walmart. I wanted to scream at him, You don’t get it! You don’t know what this is like!But I couldn’t even form the words. All I could do was kick and cry until my muscles burned and my throat felt shredded.By the time they shoved me into the car, I was a sobbing, gasping mess. My mom climbed in next to me, her face a mix of concern
Dylan's povI wasn’t expecting her to look at me like that—like I’d just rolled around in a dumpster and showed up at her door. Julia stood there, wrapped in some ratty oversized sweater, her hair a mess, face blotchy, eyes rimmed red. It wasn’t a good look, but she wore it like armor. She sniffed, wiping her nose on the back of her hand.“Why are you here?” Her voice came out raw, half a croak, half a growl.I leaned on the doorframe, trying to keep my voice casual. “You don’t look great. Been crying?”That earned me a glare sharp enough to cut through steel. “Say why you’re here, Dylan, or I’m shutting this door in your face.”“Okay, okay, relax.” I held my hands up in mock surrender, but she wasn’t buying it. I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “I heard about… Kane.”Her whole body stiffened like I’d yanked a cord. Yeah, she definitely didn’t want to talk about it, but I wasn’t here to make her comfortable. Not after what I’d heard. “Thought I’d check on you,” I added, my tone s
Julia's povMom's grip on my arm was tight—like she thought I'd disappear if she let go. I stumbled as we got to the top of the stairs, my stomach twisting itself into knots again. I tried to warn her, tried to say something, but all that came out was this awful gagging sound before I doubled over and threw up. Right there. On the carpet. My knees hit the ground hard, and for a second, the dizziness was so bad I thought I might pass out."Julia!" Mom’s voice cracked. She knelt next to me, one arm wrapping around my shoulder like she could somehow keep me together. But her hands were shaking. I could feel it."Alex!" she screamed, and her voice echoed down the hall. "Alex, get up here! Something’s wrong with your sister!"I tried to push myself up, but everything felt off. My arms were too weak, and my head spun like I’d been on some awful carnival ride for way too long. I couldn’t even catch my breath. My thoughts were spiraling—crashing into each other in this horrible mess of panic.
Alex’s pov The RoomEveryone was crowded in the room, tension thick enough to cut through. Julia sat propped up against the pillows, pale but still glowing in that way only pregnancy could explain. Mom looked like she was two seconds away from crying out of sheer joy—her excitement practically bursting out of her, though the deep lines of worry around her eyes betrayed her. She kept hovering, trying to hug Julia every other second, like that’d somehow make everything okay.Meanwhile, Julia just lay there like she was in a trance, eyes wide, her face a mix of shock and something else I couldn’t quite place. Confusion? Panic? Maybe both. Honestly, the same. I was still trying to process everything myself.Mom caught sight of me frozen in the doorway and snapped at me, her voice sharp enough to cut through my fog.“Alex, stop standing there like something’s broken. Come give your sister a hug. She needs you.”I felt my jaw tighten, but I moved anyway, steps heavy like my legs didn’t qui
Harry's povThis was going to be a serious problem. Like, not just one of those minor inconveniences you sweep under the rug until it’s too late—no, this was big. Julia being pregnant? For some reason, it didn’t sit right with me. Maybe it was because of who she was, or maybe it was the baggage tied to her. Either way, the fact that she was carrying a child, and his child at that, made the air around me feel heavier.Kane had to know. No one else needed to hear it first. The alpha might’ve been distant lately, but this was his mess, like it or not. And if I didn’t tell him now, things would spiral even further out of control.I climbed the stairs to his chambers, my boots echoing against the old wood, the sound bouncing in the quiet halls. Outside his room, I paused. His low voice carried through the door—he was mid-discussion with the elders. Great. I’d have to wait.I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, counting the seconds as they ticked by. The full moon was creeping closer, th
Dylan's POVI wasn't happy. Of course, I wasn't happy. Does this face look like someone happy? Yeah, I didn't think so. I sat under a sun-bleached canopy at this little corner café, my phone lying face-up on the table like a damn taunt.I'd dialed her number so many times my thumb was practically numb, but Julia wasn't picking up. Again. No surprise there, right? I tossed the phone aside, letting it skid across the table, and went back to my tea.The day was warm, too warm, the kind that makes your skin stick to cheap plastic chairs. A few minutes passed, and the waiter brought over my donuts. She was this petite blonde with a lopsided smile and a twang in her voice, and when she asked if I needed anything else, I mumbled something about water. She nodded, smiled-probably out of pity-then wandered off.I tried not to sulk, but my mood was hanging as heavy as the heat. Then my phone buzzed on the table. My heart jumped, and I grabbed it so fast I nearly knocked over the tea. Julia. It
Dylan’s povIn about a minute and a half, I was pulling up to Grant’s so-called mansion. It’s funny calling it that because, yeah, it’s big, but “mansion” implies some level of class, right? This place? It was like a crime scene trying to pass as a palace. And don’t even get me started on the guards. Those guys don’t understand the concept of personal space. Breathing down your neck, hands always twitching toward their guns like they’re auditioning for a gangster movie.I hated coming here. Always did.I rolled up the gravel driveway, my tires crunching loud enough to announce my arrival. And there he was, waiting for me on the front steps like some kind of wannabe kingpin. Grant.The fat slob had a cigar clamped between his teeth, puffing away like he didn’t care that his breath could probably kill a small animal. He was waving one of his chubby hands around, swatting at flies that seemed to love him almost as much as he loved himself.Don’t get me wrong—Grant was a good-looking guy,
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