Hunter’s POVI froze, disbelief washing over me. It couldn’t be.But there she was, lying on the ground beneath me, her clothes slightly torn. Her breathing was ragged, her eyes wide with fear and pain.I dropped my claw. I turned to my human form. stepping back in shock. What the hell had I done?I stared down at her, my mind racing to make sense of what had just happened.Why was she out here? Why was she running? The questions bombarded me, but none of them mattered now.My chest tightened as I watched her struggle to breathe, her face contorted in pain.Then, she passed out.As I sat in my study, my mind churned with a storm of emotions, none of them was good. Akira lay unconscious on the couch, her chest rising and falling with each breath. I’d checked her pulse the moment I brought her in, and it was steady, but that didn’t do much to ease the anger boiling inside me.I was angry at her for trying to escape—again.I was angry at myself for almost hitting her, a woman, something
Akira’s POVWhen I quietly pushed open the door to our room that early morning, I saw the surprise flash across Lisa’s face. She probably thought I’d be long gone by now, far away from this mansion and the hellish grip of Hunter.Yesterday morning, when I told her I was planning to escape again, I could tell she wasn’t comfortable with the idea. But I assured her that I would leave alone by using my werewolf abilities to speed my escape and when I get help, I will come back for them. She didn’t even have to say much then; the worry in her eyes was enough to know what’s om her mind.“Akira,” Lisa whispered as I stepped into the room, her voice thick with concern. “What happened? You were supposed to be gone by now.”I sighed, closing the door behind me as I leaned back against it. “I got caught,” I said flatly, not wanting to relive the humiliation of being tackled by Hunter in the woods.Lisa’s eyes widened. “Caught? By who? Hunter?”I nodded, feeling the anger bubbling up inside me a
Akira POVHunter rang the bell again, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes in frustration. That was the fifth time in the last thirty minutes. Each time, it’s been some petty errand designed to wear me out, and I was getting sick of it.I walked into his study, half-expecting another pointless task, but instead, he looked up at me and said, “Prepare yourself. This evening, I want you to dress and be at your best. We’re hosting a little party.”I stood there, silent, not even bothering to hide my irritation. What business did I have with his party? He already had a woman glued to his side—Kestrel.He looked up at me from his desk, with those questioning eyes, clearly expecting a response, so I finally spoke up.“What does your party have to do with me?” I snapped. “Since you already have a woman, why else would you want me to dress up and play your mate?”His lips curled into that devilish smile that I despised. “Am I truly preserving jealousy from me, doll?” he asked, clearly enjoying
Akira’s POVI wasn't surprised when Kestrel followed me into the bathroom. The moment I excused myself from Hunter’s side, I could sense her predatory eyes on me. It was as if she had been waiting for a moment like this, a moment when I was away from Hunter, to confront me and put me in my place.Inside the restroom, when I felt her presence, I intentionally ignored her.I went about my business, refusing to acknowledge her standing there with that smug look on her face. I knew she was expecting me to say something, but I wasn’t going to give her the gratification. I washed my hands, taking my time, hoping she’d get bored and leave, but of course, she didn’t.Just as I was about to exit the restroom, Kestrel stepped in front of me, blocking my way. I looked up at her, my eyes narrowing. Those eyes were filled with spite, and I could see the barely contained wrath simmering beneath the surface.“So, you think you’ve started growing wings just because the Moon Goddess made you Hunter’s
Hunter POVI kept glancing at the door Akira had walked through when she excused herself to use the restroom. It had been an hour now, and still no sign of her. I knew something was off. This wasn’t like her—she was stubborn and rebellious, but she wouldn’t risk disobeying me openly like this. Not unless she had a plan.I excused myself from the group of guests I was talking to and made my way towards the restroom. I pushed the door open and checked inside. Empty.The faint scent of her wolf scent still lingered in the air, confirming she had been here, but where was she now? My irritation grew into anger. Where could she have gone?I walked back to the living room, scanning the crowd, looking for that familiar figure. She wasn't anywhere in sight. I knew she wasn’t mingling with the guests—Akira wouldn’t do that unless forced. My mind raced with possibilities. Could she have slipped away to the servant quarters? Was she hiding somewhere in the mansion because I forced her into pla
Akira’s POVThe truck had been moving for what seems to be hours. I had no idea where this truck was headed, but one thing was certain: I would jump out the minute it stopped. The further away I was from Hunter’s mansion, the better. Lying there beneath the filthy rug, I could feel every bump and jolt as the truck barreled down the road. I silently prayed to the moon goddess, even though I knew she wouldn’t be too pleased with me right now.All I wanted was for the driver not to check the back of his truck when he made his next stop.As I lay there, my mind raced with thoughts of what to do next. I didn’t have any money or belongings with me, and I was headed to a place I didn’t even know. But none of that mattered as much as getting away from Hunter and his suffocating control.I thought about Lisa and Brielle, the two girls who had become my friends in the midst of all this chaos. I hadn’t told them I was going to escape tonight. How could I? Even I didn’t know I was going to do
Akira POVI finally slowed down after running for what felt like hours. My lungs burned, and my legs felt like jelly, but I kept pushing forward, only stopping when I was sure I had put enough distance between me and the truck. I leaned against a tree, catching my breath, and took a moment to look around. I had no idea if I was going in the right direction.Panic bubbled up inside me. What if I was still in Hunter’s territory?I walked a bit further and saw a road sign that said "Bellcaster." Relief and confusion washed over me. I knew I was in Bellcaster town, but I wasn’t sure if it was still part of the territory of the Silver Moon Pack, which is Hunter's pack. The only clear plan I had was to get to Alpha Jackson's territory; the Night Walker Pack which I know was in Holtsville. But how far was that from here?I stood by the side of the road, hesitant to flag down a car. I had never done this before. Back when things were normal, before Hunter, I had a personal chauffeur who dr
Hunter’s POVI swung open the door of Akira’s family house and stepped inside, the memory of that fateful night flooding back into my mind. The same night Seth and I stormed this mansion, leaving destruction in our wake. The night when we ended Alpha Lupin legacy. The same night Akira turned 18, and our wolves recognized each other. I can still remember the way her wolf had called out my wolf. The night I hadn’t expected to find the mate the moon goddess mate had in store for meYet, here I was again, back in this house that had witnessed so much bloodshed and pain. I didn’t want to be here, but Seth insisted we check her family home. Maybe Akira would come back here, he had reasoned. It’s been a day since she escaped my mansion, and even though every part of me knew she wouldn’t have come here, I agreed to check. It was a long shot, but desperation made me consider every possibility.As I walked through the desolate halls, the echo of my footsteps bounced off the walls, reminding
Akira’s POVI stood by the window of my room, dressed in my wedding gown; something I had once thought I might never wear. The white fabric felt cool against my skin, flowing down to the floor in elegant waves. The sun outside was setting, forming warm golden hues over the trees and hills. It was the perfect backdrop for the ceremony Hunter and I had decided on— a wedding in the heart of the estate, surrounded by our pack.I couldn’t stop smiling. The happiness that had been radiating from me since the moment Hunter proposed refused to fade. Everything felt… right. The pack was thriving, and after months of challenges and uncertainty, the members now looked at me as their Luna.When did that happen? Was it when I stood up to Jackson’s men and rescued the kidnapped school children? Or was it the day I killed Jackson myself, ending his trafficking business? Maybe it was when August confessed to the crimes I had been wrongfully accused of. I wasn’t sure exactly when the shift occurred
Hunter’s POVThe flower room was where I always found Akira when she needed a different kind of solace. It was her sanctuary— and, over time, it became mine too. The scent of roses, in full bloom, mixed with the faint traces of her unique floral aroma. This room was more than just a collection of beautiful flowers; it held the memories of us. We had laughed here, fought here, and even shared our most intimate moments. It was the one place where we could be ourselves without interruptions from pack members, guards, or the chaos of leadership.With two glasses of blood wine in my hands, I entered the room, a smile tugging at my lips. Akira was seated on the wooden bench surrounded by cascading vines of red and pink roses. Her eyes were closed as she took in a deep breath of the fragrant air, a small, contented smile curving her lips.I leaned against the doorframe for a moment, just watching her; my mate. How did I get so lucky to have someone like her?“Enjoying yourself?” I teased, s
Akira’s POVHunter and I prepared for the council meeting even though the atmosphere was tensed. It was the first time in years that he and the Council of Older Alphas were in agreement over anything. For once, the council wasn’t against us, and this time, the stakes were higher than ever.They had come to us in desperation, pleading for help to stop Alpha Lupin—my father. According to them, Lupin had grown more dangerous, killing four older alphas who dared to stand against him. They called him a tyrant, a rogue disguised as a leader, but I didn’t need their words to convince me.I had seen it with my own eyes. The memory of my father’s hands around my throat, squeezing the life out of me, still haunted my dreams. The man I had once admired as a little girl had turned into a monster, and now, the entire werewolf community feared him.Hunter, however, was hesitant to get involved. When the council approached us, their desperation clear, Hunter had outright refused. "These are the sa
Akira’s POVThe morning light filtered through my bedroom window as I stared at the message on my phone for the seventh time that day.“Hello baby girl, it’s Dad. Can you please come home? I miss you and wish to see you. Love, Dad.”I sighed, the words blurring as I read them again. It wasn’t the first message I had received from him, but it was the first one I seriously considered answering. The last time I saw my father— alive and breathing— I had frozen in fear. The café where we had met had felt like a dream, a surreal encounter with a ghost from my past.Hunter’s words echoed in my mind from the other night under the oak tree. At least he’s alive. That should bring you peace.Was it peace? I didn’t know anymore. I was glad I hadn’t pulled the trigger that night, but knowing what my father had done, maybe I should have. The lives he ruined, the people he hurt— those memories haunted me. But I wasn’t the one to pass judgment on his life.Still, I had questions. I needed answers— no
Hunter’s POVThe cool evening breeze brushed against my face as I stood in the middle of the memorial grounds. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and pine, mingling with the subtle hint of tension that seemed to pulse from the men standing behind me. They were all here— every pack member I could summon at a moment’s notice.They were confused, of course.Meetings like this were typically held in the hall, not out here among the graves of our fallen brothers and sisters. Some assumed I had gathered them here to honor those we’d lost, but that wasn’t the reason.My eyes scanned the quiet land that has the ashes of each one of the pack member remembering the lives we’d buried. Here was a reminder of the failures that had led us here. But tonight wasn’t about mourning.It was about justice.It had been over an hour since I sent word for August to meet us, and, as usual, he was late. I gritted my teeth.He always made a show of being unreachable, of having something more imp
Hunter’s POVThe night was calm, with a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the old oak tree under which Akira often sat. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silver glow over the pack's territory. The chilly air was soothing, but I doubted it could ease the storm inside me.I hadn’t found Akira in our room earlier, but I knew where she’d be. The oak tree had always been her refuge— a place where she could think. As I walked toward it, my mind replayed the shocking revelations Adolf had shared.I knew tonight’s conversation would be heavy, and I hoped the peaceful night would soften the blow.When I reached the tree, there she was, sitting on the swing attached to one of its sturdy branches. Her dark hair swayed in the breeze, and her hands rested limply on her lap. She was lost in thought, so much so that she didn’t even notice me approach.I stepped closer and sat beside her, the creak of the wooden swing breaking the silence. I turned to look at her, and my chest tensed. Her fa
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