Harry's POV.I stepped outside with Kane, the crisp evening air brushing past us like a warning. The moon wasn’t full, but it felt heavy, hanging there like a quiet observer, and Kane? He wasn’t saying much either. We were heading out for some alliance convention thing—a small party the allied packs had put together. Invitations had been sent out to all the alphas and their betas. Kane and I both fit the bill, him being the alpha, me being his beta.Just as we reached the gravel driveway, the sound of tires crunching stones pulled our attention. Dylan's black Jeep rolled into the pack house yard.“Perfect,” I muttered under my breath, sarcasm thick enough to cut with a knife. Kane glanced at me but didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to. We both knew the weight of this. Dylan had been Missing in action for days, and now he decided to show his face? Bold move, considering what he’d done.The Jeep door creaked open, and out came Dylan, casual as hell, like he didn’t know he was about to w
Julia's pov I was at the library with Casey, of all places. Yeah, she finally figured out a way to drag me out of the house. I don’t know how she does it, but here I am. Staring at dusty bookshelves, inhaling that strange mix of old paper and coffee. If I’m honest, I’m not even paying attention to the books. I just need to move around, get some air, try to push back the constant nausea that’s been threatening to take over my life ever since… well, you know. Pregnant life.But she doesn’t know that. Casey thinks I’ve just been laying low, playing hermit, but it’s more than that. I’m not exactly ready to spill the news. And besides, she’s a talker. I swear, if I tell her one thing, she’d shout it out to the world before the words even left my mouth. And with Dylan already in the picture—her on-again, off-again mess of a relationship—I’m not sure I want to deal with that just yet. I don’t need her running her mouth, and I definitely don’t need Dylan’s temper throwing a wrench in my plan
Julia's pov Casey squinted at me like she was deciding whether to say something snarky, but instead, she just said, “I’m gonna leave you two to do your thing, alright?” Her voice was light, teasing.Before I could even throw her a glare or a “what the hell does that mean,” she spun on her heel and waltzed off, her boots clacking softly on the pavement. She didn’t look back, didn’t pause—just headed straight for the library like she had zero intention of being roped into this mess. Typical Casey.I stood there, arms crossed, staring after her like she’d just abandoned me on a sinking ship. “What the fuck,” I muttered under my breath.And then there was Dylan. Of course.He walked up, that lazy, deliberate stride of his, hands shoved deep into his jeans pockets like he had all the time in the world. His hair was a little messy, like he’d been running his hands through it—or maybe he’d just rolled out of bed. I couldn’t tell. His jaw was tight, though, his lips pressed in that way that
Julia's pov The cab rattled to a stop in a quiet, almost eerie neighborhood. The kind of place where the trees look like they’re plotting something, casting shadows that stretched too long for comfort. I leaned forward, my stomach doing this weird flip as I caught sight of Dylan’s car slipping into a driveway at the far corner of the block.It wasn’t an apartment building—too clean for that. Nah, this was a full-on house. Like, a proper one with a white porch and a stupidly perfect lawn that screamed, I mow twice a week. Not exactly where I pictured Dylan hanging out, but okay, here we are. I threw the driver a twenty, mumbled something that sounded like thanks, and slid out, the pavement under my sneakers hotter than I expected. Winter was practically waving goodbye, and the sun had decided to make a dramatic comeback. Typical.I stuffed my hands into my jacket pockets, squinting down the street, and decided to follow. Subtle as hell, right? The alley beside the house was shady enou
Julia's POV.I wasn’t asleep—not really. This wasn't a rest. This was being knocked the hell out, and I was recovering. Yeah, recovering. That’s the word. My face still throbbed, right under my nose where that punch landed.The ache dragged me back to consciousness, like swimming up from some dark pit. My eyelids were heavy, my head felt like it weighed a thousand pounds, but I could hear voices—low, hushed, but clear enough to make my chest tighten.“She’s heard too much. We need to get rid of her,” one of them said, his voice sharp, like he’d already made up his mind.Another voice answered—calm, but with a bite that made my skin crawl. “Keep that idea to yourself. I’ll deal with her my way.”And just like that, my stomach dropped. That voice. Dylan’s voice.I tried to sit up, but my body screamed in protest. My stomach cramped, and that only made the fear worse. The baby. God, the pain shot straight down my spine, but I forced myself upright, even though my arms were shaky.“Well,
Dylan's POV She was crying. Of course, she was. Julia always had a way of making her tears look like the end of the damn world, and normally, I’d care—hell, maybe even console her—but I wasn’t built for that kind of thing. Not now. Not when my whole world was hanging in the balance, and her sobbing was just another problem on the already overflowing pile.I leaned back against the cold brick wall of the alley, running a hand through my hair as I stared at her. Pathetic. Not her, but me—for still caring enough to notice how the moonlight caught the tears running down her flushed cheeks. I had no time for this. None. But here we were, stuck in this mess of her making.“Julia,” I started, trying to keep my voice steady, “I need your help with something.”She sniffed, crossing her arms like she was trying to hug herself together. “You need my help?” Her voice cracked, and she looked at me like I’d just ripped her heart out and tossed it onto the pavement. “After everything, Dylan?”“Yeah
Kane's POVWas she really pregnant?That’s the question I’ve been asking myself for a week now, like some broken record stuck on repeat. And the real kicker? I don’t even have an answer because I haven’t asked the one person who could tell me the truth. Julia.Yeah, Julia. The one person I should’ve never let go of. The one I keep dreaming about—when I actually manage to sleep, that is. Which, for the record, hasn’t been much. Every night since I cut ties with her, my dreams have been nothing but twisted nightmares. The kind that leaves you breathless and sweating when you wake up, staring at the ceiling like it holds all the answers. Spoiler: it doesn’t.Maybe she’s moved on. Hell, maybe she’s with Dylan now, laughing at how easily I let her slip away. Or maybe she hasn’t. Maybe she’s still haunted by the same ghosts I am. Who knows? Not me, that’s for damn sure. And honestly, I’m too scared to put a pin in any one possibility. It feels like no matter what, I’d be wrong.The morning
Kane's POV Alex unlocked the door, his movements sharp, almost impatient, but he didn’t say anything as he pushed it open and stepped inside. He glanced over his shoulder at me, his face tight, before gesturing for me to follow. I did, stepping into the familiar house that somehow felt heavier than it used to. Like it was carrying the same weight we were.He didn’t bother with small talk or pleasantries, just motioned for me to sit in the living room. The furniture hadn’t changed—same old couch, same coffee table, same mismatched rug that Julia had always hated but never replaced.I sat down, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees, my foot tapping against the floor. I couldn’t sit still if I tried. Alex disappeared into the kitchen, his footsteps fading into the background as my mind raced.When he came back, he was carrying a bottle of water and a glass. He didn’t even offer me any, just poured himself a drink, sat down across from me, and took a long, slow sip. It felt like he
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