XAVIER'S POVMy fingers dug into the injured witch's arm, her pained gasps echoing through the moonlit forest. Colby, Cameron, and Devon accompanied me with determined expressions along with our trained warriors from the werewolf army. I couldn't take the chance of going without any preparation. We were a band of shadows moving through the tangled woods, chasing the elusive promise of Scarlet's hiding place. If Panton was really telling the truth, then there was no doubt that Scarlet would be the one to lead them to Cyrus. And once I get my hands on him, he will be done for. The air was thick with tension, the rustling leaves conspiring with the shadows to conceal our pursuit. Despite the witch's injuries, fear kept her moving forward. Her every stumble and wince ignited the burning memory of her deceit. The pain she inflicted on Athena fueled my determination, the vivid recollection of how Scarlet had treated her churning anger within me. If it weren't for Panton revealing the harsh
ATHENA'S POVAlone in the quiet refuge of my room, I cradled the delicate locket in my hands, a link to my mother whose absence left an indelible void within me. The last gift she bestowed before being claimed by an unforgiving fate, this treasure had weathered the storms, both literal and metaphorical, of my life.I let my fingers trace the intricate patterns on the locket's surface, a dance of memory and longing. I remembered the day I thought I lost it in the river, the torrent threatening to carry away not just a piece of jewelry, but a piece of my mother's memory. It was Maggie who handed it back to me. That moment etched in my mind, I decided to stop wearing it daily, to shield it from potential loss.This enchanting stone, a marvel of icy brilliance, held within its heart swirling shades—sky blue and turquoise interwoven in hues that never failed to captivate me. Its strength was palpable, as though my mother's spirit lingered within, whispering tales of love and resilience. It
ATHENA'S POVThe rain fell relentlessly, a somber backdrop to the mournful occasion that unfolded before my watchful eyes. The pack, gathered in a circle around the freshly filled grave, bore the weight of sorrow evident in their drooping shoulders and bowed heads. The rest of the Elders of the pack stood as silent witnesses, shock and sadness marked on their faces as a clear representation of what they were feeling. Sorrow for losing their beloved companion. Elder Panton had succumbed to the inevitable cycle of life, leaving behind a void that seemed to seep into the very air we breathed. Whispers of curiosity mingled with the raindrops, questioning glances exchanged among the pack, seeking understanding in the face of an unexpected departure. I heard some whispers of the pack members, wanting to know how it turned out to be like this. I particularly felt nothing. I was never close to him anyways. It was quite the opposite actually. From the first day I had stepped foot in this pac
XAVIER'S POV My office welcomed the soft glow of the light, casting a warm ambiance amid the seriousness of the paperwork that lay strewn across my desk. As Alpha, the weight of leadership demanded attention to the intricate details that governed our pack. Tonight was no exception, as I delved into the piles of reports and documents that demanded my scrutiny.A gentle knock echoed through the room, and I looked up to find Cameron at the doorway. His presence was expected, and with a nod, I granted him permission to enter. Cameron stepped in, the subtle tension in his shoulders indicative of the news he bore."Alpha Xavier," he began, a respectful tone laced with a hint of excitement. "Alpha Malcolm from the neighboring Blue Moon Pack, they recently welcomed their first pup, and in honor of this joyous occasion, they've announced a formal celebration."A flicker of interest sparked in my eyes, and I leaned back in my chair, inviting Cameron to elaborate. He handed over an intricately
ATHENA'S POVI felt the luxurious fabric of my evening gown against my skin as Xavier and I entered the grand ballroom, arm in arm. Soft music and murmured conversations created an ambiance of sophistication. Xavier smiled at me, and for a moment, everything seemed perfect. We exchanged our pleasantries with Alpha Malcolm and his mate. As we gracefully moved through the crowd, my eyes caught a familiar figure approaching—the source of my heartbreak and betrayal. My gaze sharpened, and my pulse quickened. The room seemed to fade away as he drew nearer, accompanied by none other— the woman I despised. Seriously, what was he doing here? And he had the nerve to have her stuck to him like a leech? After everything he did? I stood paralyzed in my tracks as my gaze settled upon him, the atmosphere turning heavy with tension. Nate and the woman he had cheated on me with walked toward us, their laughter echoing in my ears. My shock turned into a silent rage, my fists clenching involuntarily
ATHENA'S POVXavier's hand entwined with mine, and without a word, he pulled me onto the dance floor, where the soft strains of a slow melody caressed the air. Dim lights cast a romantic glow, enveloping us in an intimate atmosphere that heightened the anticipation simmering between us. There were other couples who were already present on the dance floor, including Alpha Malcolm and his Mate. As we stepped into the dance, Xavier's grip subtly tightened, drawing our bodies into a seamless connection that resonated with the gentle rhythm. The world receded into the background, leaving only the two of us in a dance of shared breaths and unspoken promises.His intense gaze locked onto mine, a silent invitation to dive into the magic of the moment. Xavier's commanding yet tender touch guided me through the dance, creating an unspoken language between us. With each step, he effortlessly molded me into the dance, his body leading mine with a familiarity that transcended words. I was surpri
ATHENA'S POV Lia nonchalantly emerged from the bathroom stall behind me. The lights harshly highlighted the frustration brewing within me.Lia wore a sly smirk, a deliberate move that only fueled my annoyance. Her saunter towards the sink seemed calculated, each step echoing a subtle taunt directed at me. The scowl on my face deepened as Lia couldn't resist a jeer."Huh, look who's here? The pathetic damsel in distress," she mocked, her words an attempt to provoke me. I felt the anger boiling within, but I took a slow, steadying breath, determined not to let my temper explode. I would never give her the satisfaction! Unfazed, Lia continued smirking as she washed her hands. She raised an eyebrow, a silent challenge hanging in the air. The anger pulsated through my veins, but I maintained a composed exterior."Says the desperate whore who ran out of options but to pounce on taken men," I retorted with measured tone, a smirk replacing my scowl. I relished the surprise that momentarily
ATHENA'S POVA cold shiver ran down my spine as I witnessed the scene unfold before my eyes. Lia, with her honeyed words and enchanting smile, seemed to be weaving a web of connection with Xavier. I stood frozen, my heart pounding so loud that I could almost hear it in the silent corridor. One moment, she was leaning in, whispering something in Xavier's ear with a flirty tilt to her lips, and the next, she pounced on him as if claiming her territory.Time seemed to freeze as I watched, disbelief tightening its grip on my chest. My eyes widened, and for a moment, it felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. My mate, the one I thought shared an unbreakable bond with me, was now caught in a compromising situation with another woman.The shock was quickly replaced by a surge of anger that consumed me. How could he let her get so close? Regret clawed at my insides for not intervening sooner, for not slapping Lia when I had the chance to show her the boundaries she dared to cross i
ATHENA'S POV“Is everything ready?” I asked Oneka as I fixed my hair. Honestly, I curse the day I decided to take the matters of planning this whole event myself. Xavier was right, I should have just hired an event planner. “Relax, Athena. You seriously worry too much. Everything is under control.” “I hope so,” I sighed, giving a little twist to the lock of my hair that was framing my forehead before finally giving myself an overview in the mirror. “Here, fix your lipstick a bit.” Oneka handed me the shade I was wearing and I blushed remembering why it needed to be fixed. Of course, Xavier barged in a few minutes ago, as soon as I got my makeup done and kissed the living shit out of me because he said, and I quote ‘You don't expect me to behave when you deprive me of yourself for too long.’ I didn't even take that long to get ready, to be honest. But who can get anything into the thick head of the big bad Alpha. “Are the kids ready?” I sat on the bed to put on my heels. “Yeah. I
ATHENA'S POV“Are you sure you want to do this?” I held Oneka's hand into mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. She had gone through a lot. Suffered a lot. Cameron betrayed each and everyone of us in the worst way. But the impact it left on Oneka, was compared to no one else. The heartbreak, the pain she felt was unlike any other person who was connected to him from the pack. She sighed, her hands shaking ever so slightly that if I wasn't holding them, I would have missed the action. “I'll…” her voice cracked before taking a deep breath. “I'll be fine, Athena. I've known Pi for way longer than I've known Cameron. I think with Cameron, it was just never meant to be. Being with Pi, I think, just comes naturally. It's like I'd never had to try to be myself with him. Looks like I was just in denial or a fool to realize it, when everyone around us literally teased us about being a couple.” She smiled sadly, her eyes holding gratitude for the guy who supported her throughout her life, nonethe
ATHENA'S POV The rain drummed relentlessly against the window pane, each droplet echoing the emptiness within me. I sat perched on the edge of my bed, my gaze fixed on the somber scene outside, where the world seemed to blur into shades of gray under the heavy downpour. It was as if the heavens themselves were mourning alongside me, shedding tears that mirrored the desolation in my heart."Athena?"Oneka's voice pierced through the silence, pulling me back from the abyss of my thoughts. I turned my head slightly, acknowledging her presence without uttering a word. She entered my room with a tenderness that only she possessed, wrapping her arms around me in a sideways embrace."It's time," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the sound of the rain. I felt the weight of her words, the gravity of the moment pressing down on me like an anchor dragging me beneath the surface of an unfathomable sea.Tears traced silent paths down my cheeks, betraying the numbness that had engulfed
AUTHOR'S POVThe witch's heart raced as she sprinted and burst into the clearing where Alpha Xavier stood, a primal fear gripped her soul, her words stumbling over the weight of their significance.Behind her, the haunting echoes of the coven's chants faded, drowned out by the urgency of her mission."Alpha Xavier! Athena. She..." The witch faltered, her voice trembling with the weight of unspoken dread.Xavier's eyes narrowed, his posture tense with a primal instinct to protect his mate at all costs. "What? What happened to Athena?" His voice crackled with raw emotion, the air thick with the palpable fear of impending loss.Her voice of reason, interjected, words laced with desperation. "Your pup is giving Athena a hard time. We need to operate... like right now."Xavier's mind raced with the cruel reality of the situation, his thoughts a whirlwind of despair and determination. "But that's not possible. We don't have any doctors with us, and she is in no condition to be moved. It wil
XAVIER'S POVMy hurt twisted, not being able to fathom the fact that I was so close to losing everything in my life. Let me rephrase that. I was close to losing my life. That's what I felt currently knowing that my mate and my pup were fighting for their damn lives in that closed coven. And all I could do was wait. And stand like a fool, be of absolute no help. “She'll be alright,” A voice broke me out of my thoughts. I turned around to see it was Maggie. “She’s a fighter. I know she will get through this.” I felt a pang in my heart seeing her like this. In one flesh. Unlike my mother. “No one gave you the right to speak to me. Just because you are not dead right now, doesn't mean you can talk to me. I'm the Alpha of my pack.” Instead of getting scared like she was earlier in my choke hold, she had the audacity to smile. It was a sad one. But nonetheless. It was a smile. A one I hated seeing. She doesn't deserve to smile after putting my mother in misery. “You're just like him. You
Author's PovIn a dimly lit chamber illuminated by flickering candlelight, the witch stood over her cauldron, the air heavy with the scent of herbs and incense. The atmosphere was tense, fraught with the weight of impending fate. The witch's gnarled fingers danced with precision as she added ingredients to the bubbling liquid, her movements both fluid and deliberate.Glancing towards the couch where Athena lay, pallid and still, the witch's heart clenched with sympathy and regret. The last Arctic Wolf on earth lay motionless, her breath shallow and pulse weakening with each passing moment. The witch knew the gravity of the situation; if the potion failed, there would be no hope left to preserve this majestic creature, nor to propagate her species for generations to come.With a resolve born of desperation, the witch quickened her pace, the liquid in the cauldron simmering with an otherworldly intensity. Each ingredient added was a whispered plea to the forces of nature, a plea for Ath
XAVIER'S POVShe did it again. The light blinded us all as the wind gushed past our figures, slicing the silence with a heavy rustle forcing us to close our eyes to prevent them from catching dust that was suspended around us. It took a few seconds, maybe even minutes for everything to settle down and return back to normal when I was finally able to see again. My warriors who were not killed by the beasts, stood alive with some scratches and gashes. Oneka was held by the vampire guy who intervened. Scarlet stood out of the picture, sheltering Maggie behind a cover of bushes. She was here all this time? Why didn't she take part in the fight alongside her brother? Cameron lay dead on the ground. Cameron….My heart ached at the thought that he out of all people went against my back.My eyes fell on Cyrus, his body split into two like his other beast army. And then my heart technically bursted out of its ribcage when I saw Athena's wolf passed out on the ground. Not moving an inch. “Fuck
AUTHOR’S POVAs the dust settled and the echoes of Athena's radiant display faded into the ether, Cyrus rose from the ground, his form shrouded in a veil of malevolent fury. Dusting himself off with a disdainful flick of his hand, he surveyed the battlefield with a cold, calculating gaze. Anger churned within him at the sight of his decimated beast army, their once formidable ranks now reduced to a pitiful few, whimpering on the ground in the throes of death. The rest of them, already split into two.The remnants of Xavier's werewolf army, though shaken by the onslaught, stood resolute, their spirits undaunted by the chaos that surrounded them. With steely determination, they rallied to their leader's side, their resolve unbroken by the specter of defeat.Everyone was shaken by the recent events but none had the idea of what it was. Or how it happened. "Enough!" Cyrus's voice thundered across the battlefield, a declaration of defiance amidst the chaos of war. With a swift motion, he
Author's PovThe battlefield seethed with chaos, a maelstrom of clashing, roars of defiance, and the acrid scent of blood and sweat. Athena and Nate surged into the heart of the conflict. Nate, his primal instincts awakening, transformed into his lup wolf, a magnificent and formidable wolf, his muscles rippling with the promise of ferocity.As they charged forward, the clash of armies reached its crescendo. Cyrus directed his gaze toward Athena. With a swift motion, he unleashed a bunch of silver bullets aiming to blind the very hope that rallied her allies. Not before putting a few into Xavier's wolf which lay limp before his feet. He immobilized him, each silver bullet piercing through flesh and bone, shackling Xavier in a web of agony. With a final shot, Cyrus aimed directly at Athena, his malevolent intent a venomous whisper in the tumult of battle. “Let's get this over with.”Time slowed to a languid crawl as Nate, attuned to the impending danger, watched with a primal urgency. W