Hunter’s POVAs I dragged Akira into the library, I could feel my anger boiling beneath the surface. The fact that she had the audacity to attempt an escape—it infuriated me. The moment we crossed the threshold, I tossed her forward with a rough shove, slamming the door behind us with a force that echoed through the room. She staggered but managed to regain her balance, her defiance evident in the way she straightened her posture.I stepped closer to her, my gaze fixed on her as I spoke, my voice low and threatening. "The only reason you're still breathing is because you've already taken enough of a beating from that guard. If I were to do anything more, you'd be useless to me dead." My words were harsh, each one meant to instil fear, but I could see that fear was the last thing on her mind.Akira met my gaze with fierce determination, her eyes practically glowing with defiance. "I'd rather die fighting than rot in a dungeon as your slave," she spat back at me, her voice laced wit
Akira’s POVImmediately as the door to Hunter’s library slammed shut behind me, I felt a strange mix of relief and exhaustion. My body ached, and the adrenaline from the earlier fight was finally wearing off, leaving me feeling drained. The female servant who had been quietly trailing behind me gestured towards a small bathroom attached to the guest room she’d led me to. The same room I had used before.“Do you want me to help with your bath, miss,” she asked softly, her eyes not quite meeting mine. “I can if you permit me.”I shook my head, not really in the mood for conversation. The warm water felt soothing against my battered skin, but even as the grime and blood washed away, the dull throb of my injuries remained. I winced as I carefully scrubbed around the deeper cuts, trying not to think too much about the fight with the guard. I had underestimated the strength of an opponent, and that had given me such a good beating. My first ever beating.Aside from being my first werewo
Akira POVJust as I was about to finally drift off to sleep, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed down the dungeon corridor. My heart sank. It wasn’t even fully morning yet, and Hunter was already coming to make good on his promise. I forced myself to sit up, feeling the cold stone floor beneath me, every muscle in my body protesting the movement.The door to the dungeon flew open with a loud bang, and there he was, towering over me like a dark storm. "Get up," Hunter ordered, his voice cold and commanding. "This isn’t your father’s mansion where you get to sleep until late in the afternoon."His words hit me like a slap, and before I could stop myself, I spat back,"Don’t you dare mention my father again, especially not with that vile mouth of yours!"Hunter’s lips curled into a cruel smile. He chuckled, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. "It seems you haven’t learned your lesson yet, Doll. Your mouth still runs like an uncontrolled tap water."I clenched my fists, resisting
Akira’s POVThe pain in my back was unbearable as I knelt on the cold, hard floor, mopping the seemingly endless hallway with that tiny hand towel. I could feel every muscle screaming in protest, but I forced myself to keep going. Hunter could have made this easier, he could have given me a proper mop, but that wasn’t the point. He wanted to see me suffer. And he was succeeding.I didn’t realise how long this hallway was until now. The night we tried to escape, everything happened so fast that I didn’t have time to notice the distance. But now, with every inch I cleaned, it felt like the hallway stretched on forever. Lisa had been right. I’d never done this kind of work in my life. I was an overpampered princess, always surrounded by luxury, always having everything within my reach. Or, more realistically, within the reach of a servant.In my parents’ house, all I had to do was ring a bell, and a servant would appear. I remembered how my mother would instruct the maids to mop the
Hunter’s POVI glanced at Akira, sitting stiffly beside me in the car, her every movement betraying the pain she was trying so hard to hide. This was the seventh time she brought her bruised hands up to her face, inspecting the neat white bandages that now covered them. I’d made sure one of the female servants cleaned and dressed those wounds, but not out of concern for her. I couldn’t care less about her injuries. The only reason I had them bandaged was because I didn’t want her showing up at the event, we were heading to looking like she’d been mauled.The party was a gathering of the older Alphas, along with some younger ones, plotting my downfall. It was no surprise they’d resort to such underhanded tactics. I needed to show up strong and unfazed—no sign of weakness. Seeing Akira’s raw, unbandaged wounds would have been a liability, something they could use against me. But aside from that, her injuries were the least of my concerns. If anything, they might teach her a lesson a
Hunter’s POVAs I expected, none of them owned up to say they did. Instead, they glanced at each other’s in silent. “Mark?” I called out in humor knowing fully well he will fling even though he wasn’t the one. And he sure did.He raised his head up suddenly and was shaking it vigorously “I swear, it wasn’t me. Hunter. I only attended….”“Shut up!” I snapped. I wasn’t interested in hearing anything he had to say. “Well, instead of hiding like sewage mouse to plot your next moves on me, you should have asked. And I would have granted your request. Since you’ll are curious why I don’t bring her to meetings or social functions. Here she is. I want you all to be the judge. Don’t you agree, doll?” I said and glanced at Akira and she slowly nodded. Not out of free will but because my eyes sent her warning expression she knew not to refuse. “Yes, you’re right.” Akira said.“Good. Now, let’s me make one thing straight,” I said, my voice calm but deadly. “This little gathering of yours? It
Akira’s POVAs soon as Hunter asked the question, I felt a cold dread wash over me. His voice was dangerously calm, but I could feel the fury simmering just beneath the surface.I have been sitting silently watching the conversation between them and honestly, I don’t have the strength to get involved. Not after the what I had passed through.Hunter’s eyes had turned that terrifying deep red the moment Alpha Jackson accused him of murdering my father and forcing me to lie about it. I knew what that meant—Hunter was on the brink of losing control.The way Hunter rose from his seat and slowly walked over to stand in front of Jackson made my heart pound in my chest. The tension in the room was unbearable, and I could feel every eye on me, waiting for my answer. Hunter stood there, looming over Jackson, his presence overwhelming, his anger palpable. I knew better than to hesitate. The fear gripped me so tightly that my voice almost trembled as I spoke.“No,” I said quickly, trying to soun
Akira’s POVThe car ride back was suffocatingly silent, and my mind was racing, filled with thoughts I couldn’t bring myself to say out loud.The traumatic short play that had unfolded just minutes ago in that event, left me speechless. My stomach churning with nausea.I felt sick; physically, emotionally, in every possible way.This day was nothing like I had expected. Sure, I knew Hunter had something in store for me, some punishment that would make me suffer, but I wasn’t prepared for the sheer brutality of what had just happened.All I wanted now was to crawl into that cold, dark cell that had become my new home and shut my eyes. Maybe if I lay down long enough, I’d wake up from this nightmare that had suddenly become my life.My life. The thought made me feel even more sick. How had it come to this?Nothing had ever been this wild, this dangerous, in the past eighteen years of my life. I’d always lived a boring lifetsyle, mostly filled with being around my parents and attending p
Hunter’s POVI sat in the corner of the faintly lit pub, my hood pulled low over my face. The smell of stale beer and fried food mixed with the faint tang of sweat and spilled liquor in the air. It was noisy, crowded, and the last place anyone would expect to find me—Hunter Silver, Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack.I hated being here. Not just because it was beneath me, but because it was dangerous. Any one of my enemies could be watching, ready to strike. But Adolf had insisted on meeting here, saying he had critical information about the spy in my pack. It wasn’t every day someone dared to exploit me, and I wanted to see if he was bluffing.I checked my watch for what felt like the hundredth time. One hour late. My patience was wearing thin. If Adolf doesn’t show up soon, I’m dragging his sorry ass here myself, I thought, clenching my jaw.The occasional whispers and stolen glances from the people sitting and drinking in the pub annoyed me. Some of the people there had recognized me bu
Akira’s POVI sat cross-legged on my bed, staring blankly at the open book in my lap. The words on the page blurred together, no matter how hard I tried to focus. I must have read the same paragraph ten times, but nothing stuck. I find myself reading the same passage close to ten times. My brain was like an empty cavern, unable to process anything.It wasn’t the book’s fault. My thoughts were consumed by the nightmare I’d had last night. Or was it a dream? I wasn’t sure, but whatever it was, it had shaken me to my core.Hunter had tried to reassure me. “Dreams are just your mind playing tricks, you should pay more attention on it,” he’d said earlier, pulling me close as I recounted the strange experience. But no matter how many times he said it, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the dream meant something. And aside what it truly meant, everything thing in that dream felt real, especially when my father was stabbing those women, those helpless women who did nothing wrong to him. Com
August’s POVThe transformation was startling. I stood by the door, watching Alpha Lupin comb his fingers through his now neatly trimmed hair, gathering it into a bun that gave him a sharp, almost regal look.He had trimmed his once unruly beard, and the wildness that had consumed him in the cave was now masked beneath a calculated exterior. Yet, his eyes—those sharp, piercing eyes—still burned with the same ruthlessness that had once made him the most feared name in our world.It wasn’t his appearance that commanded respect; it was the aura that clung to him, dark and unyielding. He wasn’t just an alpha—he was a force of nature, the kind that toppled hierarchies and sent seasoned wolves cowering.“Looking good,” I said with a sly grin, arms crossed as I leaned against the wall.Lupin turned to me, his lips curling in a faint smirk. “Good enough to reclaim what’s mine?”“More than,” I replied. My chest swelled with pride. Today was the day I proved my loyalty—and my cunning.The counc
Akira’s POVThe darkness was overwhelming, pressing against me like a heavy weight. I could barely breathe, and my skin prickled with an uneasy chill. I squinted into the void, and far in the distance, I saw it—a faint, flickering light. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to give me hope.I started walking, my steps cautious yet hurried. The light was so far away, and the harder I tried to reach it, the more it seemed to stretch further, teasing me. My frustration grew, and I picked up my pace. Walking turned into running, my bare feet hitting the cold, hard ground with urgency.However, no matter how fast I ran, the light eluded me. It was as though the universe was conspiring to keep me trapped in this oppressive darkness. Panic clawed at my chest, and I screamed, “Help! Is anyone there?!”The silence was deafening. Then, without warning, the ground beneath me gave way, and I was falling.I screamed, the sound echoing as I plunged deeper and deeper into what felt like an endless ab
August’s POVMy hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as I sat in the car outside Hunter's estate. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of my chest. Hunter's words replayed in my mind like a haunting melody. The cold, calculated way he described Kestrel's death—the poison eating her from within, leaving nothing but a husk of flesh and bone—sent shivers down my spine. And then his chilling remark: "If she hadn’t died from the poison, I would’ve done far worse."Monster. That’s what Hunter was. A cold-blooded, ruthless monster.No wonder every Alpha trembled at the mere mention of his name. Who wouldn’t fear someone like him? Hunter was the embodiment of terror, and yet, he carried himself with the charm of a king. But I wasn’t fooled. Beneath the surface was nothing but darkness, the kind that could consume anyone who dared cross him.I released a shaky breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. I had gone to the estate thinking I could play my part—show c
August’s POVI took a deep breath, standing outside the door to Akira’s chamber. My hands clenched into fists before I forced myself to relax. Calm, August. Fake calm. You’ve done this before. Just put on a smile, say the right words, and leave as quickly as you can, I told myself for what seems to be like the tenth times.The thought of facing her—and Hunter—made my skin crawl. I didn’t want to be here, but as Commander to the pack, I had a duty to perform. She was our Luna, no matter how much I despised her.Despised her and feared her.Why wouldn’t she just die? I kept asking myself this same question for weeks.Her enemies seemed to fall like leaves in a storm while she remained untouched. First, it was Jackson's guards. Then Jackson himself. The servant Kestrel manipulated. And now Kestrel herself. All are dead with Kestrel probably nearing her death too, while Akira sat comfortably in her position, unscathed.Whatever she did to the moon goddess to keep protecting her, she was r
Hunter’s POVI stood by Akira’s bedside, my arms crossed tightly over my chest as I watched the doctor move around her, performing his final examinations. Even though I trusted his skill, I couldn’t relax. Every time his hands moved to check her pulse or adjust the machines monitoring her vitals, my heart clenched.Akira looked so small and fragile lying there, yet her spirit remained unbroken. Whatever made her wake up from coma so quickly, he will have to keep thanking the moon goddess. And to think that I had already failed her once by trusting Kestrel. That mistake would haunt me forever.The doctor’s calm demeanor only irritated me. I needed to hear the words—needed to know she was going to be okay. “Well?” I growled, unable to keep the tension from my voice.The doctor looked up, meeting my gaze. “She’s fine now,” he said, nodding. “The poison is completely out of her system, but she still needs rest and attentive care. I recommend you personally oversee her recovery to avoid
Kestrel’s POVI paced back and forth in Akira’s room, my heels clicking against the hardwood floor. Each time my gaze fell on her lifeless form lying on the bed, anger boiled inside me. Even in a coma, Akira had the audacity to look peaceful, as if mocking me. I hate you, I thought bitterly. Even half-dead, you’re still a thorn in my side.The only reason I was here was because I had convinced Hunter I wanted to help look after her. It was the perfect cover, ensuring I stayed in his good graces. If I hadn’t, Hunter might never have left her side. It disgusted me that he could show so much devotion to her, even now.I forced myself to go through the motions: wiping her face, monitoring her temperature, pretending to care. All of it was a performance. Because if Akira didn’t wake up from this coma—if she finally died—then my place at Hunter’s side would be secured.The thought brought a sly smile to my lips, but it faded as quickly as it came. The doctor’s words haunted me: She could
Kestrel’s POVThe air in the sitting room was thick with tension, making it nearly impossible to breathe. I bit my lips hard enough to draw blood as I sat beside Hunter, who radiated a fury I’d never seen before. His face was grim, his jaw clenched, and his hands rested on his knees, ready to spring into action.I couldn’t believe things had spiraled out of control so quickly. My plan seemed so perfect—or at least, it should have been. The poison was supposed to work subtly, spreading through Akira’s system and finishing her off in her sleep. But no, she just had to spend the evening outside with Hunter, delaying the process. Now everything had fallen apart.The doctor’s words earlier haunted me: Poison. That one word had set Hunter off, and now, every servant who worked in the kitchen had been summoned.My heart raced as I watched the guards herd them into the sitting room, one by one. There they were—eight female servants, heads bowed, shuffling in like lambs to the slaughter. I s