Elijah.I cross my arms, leaning against the heavy oak desk. “Your woman, Serena—where did you bring her from?”His grip tightens on the glass, but his voice remains level.“What do you mean? She’s your mother. Show some respect.”I roll my eyes. “My mother is dead. Don’t insult her memory." His jaw clenches, but he doesn’t argue. We’ve had this fight too many times before.“Now, answer my question. Serena isn’t from the pack she claims to be from,” I continue, watching him closely. "Her documents are fake. I want to know where you actually found her."For the first time, my father turns to face me. His dark eyes are sharp, assessing—but there’s no warmth in them. There never is.“You investigated her?” he asks, his voice unreadable.“Yes,” I say, my patience running thin. “And I need to know where you picked her up from so I can continue my investigation.”He exhales heavily, rubbing a hand down his face. “And what exactly did she do to make you so suspicious? Because as far as I kno
PiperI push open the door to Elijah’s room, a grin stretching across my lips as Zoe’s exasperated groan follows me inside. Butterflies dance in my stomach as I step in, half-expecting to see him lounging on the bed, waiting for me.But the room is empty.I sigh, rolling my eyes. Of course, he’s making me wait.Typical.Still, I’m not surprised. He probably took my warning seriously and wants to avoid drawing suspicion from those nosy court ladies. Smart move. I shrug, deciding to take advantage of the extra time. A quick shower will do wonders—I want to feel fresh, soft, and irresistible when he finally gets here.I head to his bathroom, stripping down and stepping under the hot spray. The second his scent hits me, I smile. His shampoo. I lather it into my hair, letting the familiar smell soak into my skin. By the time I step out, I’m practically buzzing with anticipation.Wrapping a robe around my damp body, I run a hand through my wet hair. My reflection smirks back at me in the mi
Piper"It's all my fault—""Ryder, this isn't the time to blame yourself—""But it is my fault," Ryder repeats, his voice breaking as he falls to his knees, gripping the doorframe like it’s the only thing keeping him upright. His chest heaves with ragged breaths.I stare at him, speechless. Seeing someone as strong as Ryder—Elijah’s second-in-command, the fearless Beta—reduced to this shattered, terrified man is unnerving. But I know exactly what he’s feeling.Fear. Pure, gut-wrenching fear.Because if it were Elijah missing, I’d be losing my goddamn mind."If only I had stopped the search and returned to the Luna Court immediately after Elijah warned me," Ryder chokes out, shaking his head. "His message came urgently—he told me to go back, to stay close to you both. He knew something wasn’t right. He said it wasn’t safe. I should have listened immediately."A harsh, broken sob escapes him, and it’s painful to watch but we don’t have time for this.I push aside my own emotions and cro
PiperFuck. Fuck. Fuck.If Serena truly was the same creature I saw in the woods, feasting on that poor human’s heart like it was nothing…And now she had Zoe in her captivity.That meant Zoe was next. She would eat her heart too—No. I refuse to believe it.Zoe and her babies were in serious danger.I clench my fists and lift my chin, meeting Serena’s unreadable gaze. "I know what you are." My voice drips with pure disgust.Her expression doesn't shift, but something flickers in her eyes—something dark and amused."Don't you dare lay a single finger on Zoe," I growl, stepping closer despite the instinct screaming at me to run. "Or I swear, I will kill you myself."She scoffs, her lips curling. "Kill me? You can’t even save yourself, little girl."My nails dig into my palms. “You think you’ll get away with this? If you harm me, Elijah will tear you apart. And if you touch Zoe, Ryder sure as hell will. But guess what? I won’t wait for them. I’ll kill you first.”Serena's smirk deepens,
"You lied, didn't you?" Anna rasps, her voice weak but laced with accusation.I arch a brow, tilting my head. "What?""You knew," she gasps, blinking rapidly as tears mix with the blood staining her face. "You knew that since Elijah marked you, you’d possess his strength and power. You knew you weren’t just human anymore. You tricked me into fighting you alone, knowing you would win." Her voice cracks, betrayal shining in her wide eyes.I roll my eyes, unimpressed. "Right now, Anna, I don’t think you have the right to be asking questions," I hiss, tightening my grip on her bloodied chin. "I’m the one asking questions here, dear, worthless Anna."She tries to push herself up, but her body fails her. With a whimper, she collapses back onto the bloodstained ground, her desperation evident as she turns her head, lips parting. "Help me," she croaks, weakly reaching out as if expecting someone—anyone—to save her."You think someone’s going to help you?" I seethe, stepping back. "Can’t you s
The wind howls as I race through the forest, my paws barely skimming the ground, but no matter how fast I run, the unease in my chest refuses to subside.I try again to reach Piper through the mind link. Piper? Silence. Damn it, answer me! But there’s nothing—just an empty void where our connection should be.The mate bond is all over the place—one moment warm and steady, the next, flickering like a candle about to be snuffed out. It sends conflicting emotions surging through me—fear, urgency.I push myself harder, muscles burning, the trees blurring past me in streaks of green and brown. I need to get back to her. NowThen I see them.Dark figures moving in the distance, slinking between the trees. They aren’t wolves—aren’t anything I’ve seen before. Their forms shift in the moonlight—tall, grotesque creatures with elongated limbs and glowing red eyes that burn like embers. A low growl rumbles from my chest as I slow my pace, my muscles coiled, ready for a fight.One of them steps fo
PiperZoe’s tear-filled eyes plead with me to run, but I shake my head, swallowing down the fear clawing at my throat. I won’t leave her—not to this monster.I turn slowly, facing Serena. She still carries the commanding grace of a Luna, but I see her for what she truly is now—a dark witch who feeds on humans.But it’s the blood-red necklace around her throat that draws my attention. Anna’s warning echoes in my mind. That necklace could be her weakness. But how the hell do I get close enough to take it?I take a deep breath, forcing my anger into a bitter laugh. "So, the whole story about the curse was fake?" My voice drips with disbelief. “All that talk about needing me to awaken my wolf, training me to be strong enough to bear twelve pups—it was all just part of your twisted plans?”Serena’s lips curl into a smirk, but something flickers in her eyes—just for a moment. Guilt? It vanishes almost as quickly as it appeared.“I see your friend has told you everything,” she tuts, shaking
Her scream reverberates through the walls, sending my heart into a frenzied rhythm. But I stay pressed against the cold surface, keeping up the act.Serena glares, her chest rising and falling. “I have lived a thousand years,” she hisses. “And I am so close to becoming truly immortal. If I have to destroy all of you a thousand times to get there, then so be it.”She gestures toward Zoe with a flick of her wrist. “Your friend and her unborn children? They’ll give me, what? A hundred years at most? But you, Piper…”She steps closer, her cold breath ghosting against my skin.“The baby growing inside of you… your soul…” She smirks, her voice dropping to a whisper, laced with something dark and triumphant. “That will unlock my immortality.”My entire body goes still.Did she just say…?I have a baby growing inside me?I’m pregnant? Right now?Fuck.A lump rises in my throat as I lift my gaze to Zoe. She meets my eyes with a tired, sad smile—a silent congratulations, though she looks like s
Elijah’s POV I arrive at the location, my jaw tightening the moment I recognize it. Of course, it had to be here—our father’s mansion. The man barely sets foot in the human world anymore, but this place still reeks of memories I’d rather bury six feet under. I should’ve known Nicholas would run straight to the only man who ever indulged his darkness. I don’t bother knocking. The front door is unlocked, swinging open with an eerie creak. The house is silent, unnaturally so, like no one’s lived here in years. But I know better. The stench of death lingers in the air, unmistakable, leading me like a beacon. Nicholas. I follow the scent, step after step, down the long, dimly lit hallway. My fingers itch to unsheath my claws, but I force them to stay human. I don’t need my wolf for this—I just need to end it. Then, I see the door slightly ajar at the end of the hall. My heartbeat slows, steady and controlled, as I push it open. Nicholas sits slumped in a chair, his head hanging low,
Elijah stands at the head of the dining table, looking effortlessly handsome. My parents pause for a moment, taking him in, and I don’t miss the way my mother’s breath hitches, or the way Paige’s eyes widen slightly.I smirk, stepping forward. “Mum, Dad, meet my mate—”I catch my slip and quickly correct myself. “I mean, my husband.”Elijah’s lips twitch with amusement as he extends a hand. “Elijah,” he introduces himself smoothly, his deep voice like silk. His gaze is sharp yet undeniably charming. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”My mother stares at him like he’s a god. “He’s so… handsome.” She exhales shakily. “I’ve never seen anyone with such deep blue eyes…”I flick my gaze to Paige, whose jaw is slightly slack as she drinks in Elijah’s presence. A slow smirk spreads across my face as I lean back. “What about Greg?” I ask innocently. “Didn’t invite him for dinner? Oh, I bet he’s too busy running away with Mum and Dad’s fortune.” I laugh, a sharp, hollow sound, wiping an imagina
The bar is dimly lit, filled with the stale scent of alcohol and desperation. I weave through the crowd, my sharp gaze scanning every face, every shadowed corner.Then I hear it.A sharp, sickening slap.My ears perk up, my werewolf senses sharpening, and the unmistakable sound of a man's leering voice cuts through the noisy bar.“Come on, sweetheart. Just be nice to me.”“No—let go of me!” a familiar voice protests, laced with exhaustion and humiliation.I snap my head in the direction of the voice and my breath catches in my throat when I see her.Paige.But she’s unrecognizable. Her once-bright blonde hair is dull and faded, her face hollow and tired, her once-proud stance reduced to something small and beaten down. She looks like a ghost of herself.A filthy man with a bulging stomach and greasy hands grips her arm, his fingers digging into her skin as he smirks down at her. His other hand lifts again, about to strike—I move.Before his hand makes contact, I shoot forward with in
Elijah takes my hands, his thumb running slowly over my knuckles."Are you ready?"We stand before his massive black wolf painting, the creature’s eyes glowing faintly, watching us—as if aware, as if waiting. This journey is different. This time we are leaving Zoe and Ryder in charge of the pack until we return.I swallow, my gaze flickering to the new painting beside it—my wolf. My own portal to the human world. It still feels surreal knowing I now have access to both worlds. No longer just a human. No longer powerless."Yeah… just nervous," I admit.Elijah’s lips curl into a soft smile. "You’ll be fine, my Luna."His voice drops to a low, melodic hum as he begins to chant, the ancient words rolling off his tongue like a song only wolves understand."Na'vethar ka vethril, se'reythar ka mor'zhil dharani."(Open the gate, reveal the path to the mortal realm.)The moment the words leave his lips, the painting in front of us trembles, the canvas rippling like water disturbed by a stone.
Elijah Two weeks have passed, and yet, I still replay that moment in my head—Piper standing in front of my pack members, fierce and unyielding, defending me with every ounce of fire in her. My mate. My Luna.I should have forced them all to their knees, made them submit with my Alpha command, or cast them out into the streets for their disrespect. But I didn’t. Because I understand their frustration. I know why they acted the way they did. And that’s the difference between a tyrant and a true leader.That doesn’t mean my patience isn’t wearing thin.Right now, I’m sitting at the head of the long council table, my fingers drumming against the polished wood, as the elders argue amongst themselves like a bunch of squabbling hens. My jaw tightens. They’ve been pushing me, testing me, thinking I’ll break under their bullshit.Elder Marcus, the smug bastard, leans forward with a smirk. "Alpha Elijah, the two weeks are up. There has been no announcement of a pregnancy, which means—""Which
PiperThe crowd erupts into laughter—not just a few chuckles or scattered snickers, but a full-blown roar of amusement, as if I’ve just told the most ridiculous joke of the century.The elderly woman who spoke first sneers, her wrinkled face twisting with disdain. “Respect?” she repeats mockingly. “Alpha Elijah doesn’t deserve our respect anymore. He abandoned us for five years—five years while the curse took hold of our people. And now, he waltzes back in as if nothing happened?" Her gaze shifts to Elijah, her expression a mix of contempt and sorrow. "Where was he when we needed him?"The hostility in the air is suffocating.Elijah’s jaw clenches, but he remains silent. Beside him, Ryder looks ready to pounce, his hands curled into tight fists at the blatant disrespect toward his Alpha.Another elder, a man with a hunched back and eyes clouded with age but still burning with resentment, raises his voice. "We suffered. How many years have passed without us seeing our children and gran
Piper’s POVLast night was hell.Even with the walls separating us, I could hear Zoe crying. The sound of it seeped into my bones, and no matter how much I tried to shut it out, it clung to me, thick and heavy. Her pain was suffocating. My heart ached for her, and I cried too—maybe it was the pregnancy hormones, or maybe it was just because I couldn’t stand hearing her break like that.When I woke up, my eyes were swollen, and my head pounding from the lack of sleep. Elijah had told me Ryder finally broke the news to Zoe about her babies, and since then, she hadn’t stopped crying. At one point, I even wished I wasn’t a werewolf, that I was still human—because then I wouldn’t have to hear every gut-wrenching sob.Now, as I step out into the cold morning air, I wipe my swollen eyes and make my way toward the entrance of the Luna Court. Elijah had told me we’d be leaving today, that I didn’t need to pack—not that I had much to begin with. Honestly, I was relieved to leave this place behi
Piper’s POVI sprint down the hallway, my breaths coming in sharp, panicked bursts. The walls blur past me, the thick scent of antiseptic and blood clinging to the air, but I don’t stop. I can’t stop.Please, let Zoe be okay. Let the babies survive.The thought of her lifeless, her babies lost forever to Serena’s dark magic, squeezes my heart, making it harder to breathe.I push through the clinic doors, and the sight before me makes my stomach drop.Zoe lies on the hospital bed, pale and fragile, her body covered in wires and IV drips. Ryder is sitting beside her, his large hand cradling hers, his thumb gently stroking her skin as if his touch alone could keep her anchored to this world.A sob escapes my lips before I can stop it.Ryder’s head snaps up, his tired eyes meeting mine. His face is etched with grief, exhaustion lining every sharp angle of his jaw. He bows his head slightly in acknowledgement before pressing a lingering kiss to Zoe’s knuckles. Then, he carefully places her
Her scream reverberates through the walls, sending my heart into a frenzied rhythm. But I stay pressed against the cold surface, keeping up the act.Serena glares, her chest rising and falling. “I have lived a thousand years,” she hisses. “And I am so close to becoming truly immortal. If I have to destroy all of you a thousand times to get there, then so be it.”She gestures toward Zoe with a flick of her wrist. “Your friend and her unborn children? They’ll give me, what? A hundred years at most? But you, Piper…”She steps closer, her cold breath ghosting against my skin.“The baby growing inside of you… your soul…” She smirks, her voice dropping to a whisper, laced with something dark and triumphant. “That will unlock my immortality.”My entire body goes still.Did she just say…?I have a baby growing inside me?I’m pregnant? Right now?Fuck.A lump rises in my throat as I lift my gaze to Zoe. She meets my eyes with a tired, sad smile—a silent congratulations, though she looks like s