Akira’s POVI quietly pushed the door open, revealing the familiar dark tunnel that led underground. The tunnel was almost pitch black, and as I stepped inside, I hesitated. I had completely forgotten about the torch the guards used when they dragged me down here before. How could I have been so unprepared?“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, frustration bubbling up inside me. I could feel the eyes of Hunter’s men on my back. Great, I was already making a fool of myself.Suddenly, a soft click came from behind me, and the tunnel lit up slightly. I turned to see Hunter holding a small flashlight, the beam casting a vivid glow on his face. He winked at me, a smile playing on his lips. “I came prepared,” he whispered.Relief flooded through me, and I couldn’t help but smile back at him. He was always one step ahead, always looking out for me. ‘This man is just a darling,’ I thought to myself, and he must have sensed my thoughts because his smile widened even more.With the flashli
Seth’s POVThe evening was still, but something didn’t sit right with me. My instincts were going wild. I couldn’t shake off this strange feeling—a pull in my gut that told me we needed to leave for the ambush earlier than planned. Without wasting any time, I gathered my men and ordered them to get ready. Their surprised faces met mine, but none of them questioned me. They knew better. They could feel and see the seriousness in my face, the kind that only comes when something big is about to go down.When my men came out of the building, ready and equipped, I stood there watching them. They were all solid warriors, but one face stood out—August. His eyes were on me, questioning. I knew those look, his inquisitive side was probably questioning why we are leaving early then planned. He was a man who always like to speak up.As I approached the truck, August walked right into me, colliding with my shoulder. I shot him an annoyed glance.“I thought I was supposed to follow Hunter,” he s
Hunter’s POVThe early morning air was crisp as I stepped out of the truck, the first rays of sunlight slowly creeping over the horizon. Akira, my men, and I had just returned from the mission to rescue the women, and everything had gone better than expected. As I took in a deep breath, the tension from the night’s events slowly melted away. It felt good to be back home, back at the estate, back to my pack; it’s not every time we have such a successful operation especially when things had been chaos lately. I turned to my men, who were still unloading the trucks and helping the rescued women.“You all did well today,” I said with a proud smile, patting one of the men on the back. “I’m proud of you all.”They grinned at me, their faces showing both exhaustion and relief. “Thanks, Alpha,” they said in unison before getting back to work, guiding the women into the worker’s estate where they could rest.Akira appeared by my side, her soft hand resting on my shoulder as she smiled up at
Hunter’s POV“You can’t be serious,” I snapped at Seth again, this time with even more anger. The frustration boiled in my chest as I stared him down. “You can’t keep accusing her every time something goes wrong with our mission.”Seth’s face was hard, but he didn’t back down. “Just hear me out, Alpha,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “What if, when we sent her to Jackson to deliver the false information, she made a deal with him instead? What if she decided to align and work with him?”“That’s absurd!” I practically spat the words, disgusted by his suggestion. “You’re overthinking this, Seth. You have always seen her as a mole, and it’s clouding your judgment.”“Hear me out,” Seth pleaded, his tone now more desperate. “We can’t ignore the possibility that the enemy is closer than we think, just because she’s close to us.”I could feel my blood simmering beneath my skin. “You need to stop,” I warned him, my voice dangerously low. “I’m sick of this. This accusation is getting sick.”
Jackson’s POVI sat back in my wine bar, feeling the satisfying burn of blood wine slide down my throat. The smile on my face was wide and smug—Hunter and his men should be dead by now. They were probably ambushed right where I’d planned. It was all too easy. They had set a location for me, and like fools, they’d walked right into it. I could already imagine their surprise when they were met with my men, disguised as me, ready to strike.I chuckled as I sip down another of the wine.Yet, something gnawed at me. What was taking them so long? My men.It had been over a day now, and I hadn’t heard anything. I glanced at my watch, frowning. I’d sent my best men, the ones who knew how to handle an ambush. They should’ve returned by now with news of Hunter’s demise. Instead, silence. I shrugged; the fools probably went for merriment of triumph after the ambush; it was their way.“Alpha! Alpha!” A voice pierced my thoughts, frantic and loud. I turned, irritation aerated in my chest. One o
Hunter’s POVI sat there, staring at my pack men seated around me, my eyes scanning each one. Someone in this room was a traitor. It had to be one of them. Rages was gently rolling my chest as I scrutinized their faces. Some of them looked scared, others wore expressions of forced calm, but I knew better. There was fear lurking beneath those tough exteriors.Seth sat beside me, watching me closely. I knew he was concerned, but right now but I ignired him, I had bigger problems. "I’ll say this one more time," I growled, my voice low but deadly serious. "If you’re the one working for Alpha Jackson, now is your chance to come forward. I promise you—by the Moon Goddess—your punishment will be lighter. Hell, I might even forgive you, who knows?" My words were deliberate, giving them a sense of false hope. "But if I find out on my own who you are, that has been betraying this pack, I swear I’ll burn you alive."My voice echoed through the hall, my threat hanging heavy in the air. I watch
Akira’s POVI rushed to place the last flat plate of food in the basket, mentally calculating how many women had eaten and how many more still needed to be fed.My brain stormed, trying to figure out how much food I’d need to go back and get from the kitchen for the remaining women. This routine had been the same for three days now—checking up on them, making sure everything was going as planned, and trying to help them feel comfortable in their new home.When I looked at these women, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sadness. I knew they had suffered—they had been imprisoned in Alpha Jackson’s dungeon, experiencing horrors that I couldn’t even imagine.Some of the women were starting to recover, especially those who had been taken here from Hunter’s home. They were familiar with the place, and they knew Hunter would protect them. But the ones who were new to this environment—they were struggling.I could see it in their eyes.Many of them flinched at the slightest noise—whether it was
Akira’s POVI rushed into the main building, tears blurring my vision. My heart was heavy, and my chest ached from the weight of everything that had occurred between I and the women. No matter how I tried to suppress the tears, it came flowing down, my mind kept caming back to what that has just happened—how the women, boldly called me names. While I ran inside, I was lost in my thoughts, I didn’t even notice Hunter until I slammed into his hard chest. His hands instantly caught me, steadying me.I tried to turn away, to hide my face, but Hunter wasn’t having any of it. His large hands gently cupped my shoulders, forcing me to look up at him. His dark eyes scanned my face, and I knew I couldn’t hide the tears. His forehead furrowed with deep concern as his eyes shifted between my tear-streaked cheeks and the food-stained clothes I was wearing."Doll, what’s wrong? What happened?" His voice was low, but I could hear the underlying growl of anger. He scrutinized me again, his eyes
Seth’s POVThe sound of my fist pounding against August’s door echoed through the quiet morning. My heart was racing, anticipation coursing through me. This was it— after weeks of chasing shadows, we finally had a lead.The spy who had been working with Jackson was going to be revealed.I had barely caught my breath since receiving August’s early morning call. As soon as he said he had information about the spy meeting Jackson in a hidden location, I had jumped out of bed, thrown on my clothes, and rushed here without a second thought.I couldn’t wait not even thinking of eating my usual large breakfast. I needed to hear it directly from him.I knocked again, harder this time. My urgency must have been clear because, after a few moments, the door creaked open. August stood there, still looking half-asleep, his hair tousled and his eyes heavy.“Seth?” he asked, surprise flashing across his face.I didn’t bother with pleasantries.Pushing past him, I stepped into his living room. “Are y
August’s POV I scanned the garden for what felt like the hundredth time, frustration bubbling under my skin. She wasn’t here. “Where the hell is she?” I muttered under my breath. Akira was usually easy to find. Most days, I would spot her either tending to the garden or visiting the memorial grounds. But today, she seemed to have disappeared. I had been searching for her for nearly forty-five minutes, and I wasn’t leaving until I found her. I needed to see her, to talk to her. A thought crossed my mind, one that made my stomach churn. Was she avoiding me? Did she see me as a traitor now? I rubbed the back of my neck, the heaviness of uncertainty pressing down on me. Ever since that evening with Jackson, I’d been plagued with questions. Did she see me with Jackson? Did she see my face before I ran off in the wood? If Akira had seen me meeting with Jackson, surely, she would have told Hunter. Wouldn’t she? Unless… unless she chose not to because she still considered me a fr
Akira’s POVI entered my room and let the door shut quietly behind me. My legs felt like they couldn’t carry me anymore, and I sank to the ground, sliding into the corner of the room. I drew my knees up to my chest and let the tears flow freely.The sadness in my heart felt unbearable. How long will this continue? How long will they keep hating me? How long will this taunting words continue? I murmured to myself.I knew the answer, and it made the pain even worse. Afterall I had caused this. I couldn’t pretend otherwise. Every harsh word, every cold stare, every whispered insult— I had earned them.I closed my eyes, wishing I could turn back time. If I could just undo that one decision... If I could erase the day I ran away from Hunter’s pack and sought refuge with Jackson, everything would be different.I shook my head, my tears falling harder. Back then, I thought I was escaping a monster. And to think now that I thought Hunter was cruel, heartless, and dangerous. I was really fooli
Kestrel’s POVI hurried back to the kitchen as fast as I could. My failed attempt to pry information from Akira still stung, but I wasn’t giving up yet. That servant, the one who had boldly insulted her, was my next target.Surely, she wouldn’t be as difficult as Akira.When I stepped into the kitchen, I was met with silence. The loud commotion from earlier had completely dissipated. A few servants were busy with their tasks—chopping vegetables, stirring pots, and kneading dough—but there was no sign of the one I had come for.I stood there, scanning the room, unsure of what to do next. Should I ask the other servants about the incident? Would they even tell me anything useful?Before I could decide and almost made up my mind to ask the other female servant, the kitchen’s storage room door creaked open, and she stepped out.I smiled to myself. Perfect.The servant looked different now. Her shoulders slumped, and her face carried an air of sadness. It was strange. She had been so fierc
Kestrel’s POVI watched Akira disappear down the hallway, out of the kitchen and the small estate and heading to the main estate. Her steps hurried, almost as though she was trying to escape the harshness of the words hurled at her in the kitchen.My mind swirled with questions about what I had just witnessed. Seeing her humiliated like that, seeing her near the brink of tears— it was oddly satisfying. I couldn’t deny it.A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips. She deserved it, every bit of it.Still, an idea crept into my head, one I couldn’t ignore.What if I went to her now, pretending to care? It would be a perfect opportunity to dig deeper, to find out what was really going on. The mighty Akira brought low was a rare sight, and I wasn’t about to waste it.Without bothering to grab the snack I had originally gone to the kitchen for, I quickly followed her down the hall.“Akira,” I called out, my voice laced with a false sweetness.She didn’t stop. She didn’t even turn around inst
Kestrel’s POV Standing at the desk in sitting room of Hunter home, I tossed the paperwork I had been pretending to work on across the table. My head pounded from staring at the meaningless columns of numbers, my eyes darting repeatedly toward the clock. No matter how hard I tried to focus, my mind always circled back to Hunter— and Akira. I stretched my arms above my head, rolling my shoulders. My muscles were tense, a clear reflection of my frustration. Pretending to support their ridiculous union had been more exhausting than I had anticipated. Coming here to apology weeks ago had been my only way back into the pack’s fold, but every word I’d spoken had burned my tongue. Apologize to that Akira? A mere upstart who had stolen everything from me? I sighed remembering how they had acted when I walked in on them apologizing for the very thing I hated; their union. No matter how it may still sound, Hunter was mine. Or at least, he should have been. Why shouldn’t we be together? W
August’s POVTaking a deep breath, I forced a neutral expression onto my face and opened the door. “Seth,” I said, feigning surprise. “Didn’t expect to see you here. What brings you by?”He didn’t answer immediately, his sharp eyes scanning me from head to toe. “Can I come in?” he finally asked, his tone unreadable.I hesitated for a fraction of a second before stepping aside to let him in. “Sure. Make yourself at home,” I said, trying to keep my voice casual.Seth walked in, his movements slow and deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey, his tall frame casting a shadow across my dimly lit living room. My heart raced, pounding in my chest like a trapped bird, but I forced myself to stay calm. I plastered a neutral expression on my face, hoping it would mask the sheer panic bubbling beneath the surface.Inside, my mind was racing. What was he doing here? Had Akira told him what she saw? Did he suspect me? Did he know? Had Akira seen more than I thought?He didn’t sit down, he ju
August’s POVThe air in my house was stifling, and my shirt stuck to my skin as I leaned against the wall, catching my breath. My heart was pounding like a drum, my lungs struggling to keep up after the frantic sprint through the woods.Damn Akira!If she had caught me sneaking around Hunter’s estate tonight with Jackson, I wouldn’t be standing here. The thought alone made my blood boil.I ripped off my torn shirt which was in pieces as a result of transforming back to human form, letting out a growl of frustration. Turing to werewolf to speed off my running speed was the best decision I had done immediately I had sighed her and I was glad that was swift.I had barely escaped, and now, I had to deal with Jackson and his incessant complaining. Grabbing my phone from the table, I punched his number and pressed it to my ear. The line rang twice before he answered.“August,” his gruff voice barked. “What now?”“What now?” I snapped back, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “What now is that I
Hunter’s POVThat same evening, the evening air felt thick with tension as I stood by the window, staring out into the fading light. Akira had vanished into the shadows not long ago, heading off to confront Jackson. I had did as my instincts had told me and tried to stop her, but she was as stubborn as the day was long. She had insisted she’d be fine, and I had to trust her. Still, the worry gnawed at me.I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that something wasn’t right.Behind me, I heard footsteps entering the living room. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Seth had always moved with a deliberate stride, and he didn’t bother hiding his presence.“That was a quick meeting,” Seth said, coming to stand beside me. His voice was casual, but I knew him too well. He was fishing for answers.“Yeah,” I replied without turning to look at him. My focus remained fixed on the direction Akira had gone. The shadows stretched longer across the compound, and with each passing moment, my