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 POVBy the time the train pulled into the last station in Holtsville, the sun had dipped, casting long shadows over the train station platform. The weather was chilly, and I shivered. I hugged myself, rubbing my arms to keep warm. I wishing I had a jacket over the thin red dress I had been wearing since the night before.The crowd poured out of the train, moving quickly toward their destinations, leaving me standing alone on the platform, unsure of which way to go.I felt lost, my heart hammering in my chest as I tried to remember anything that might guide me to Alpha Jackson’s house. All I could recall was that he had an avenue named after his pack, Night Walker Pack Avenue. I had been to Holtsville before, about three times, with my parents when we visited Alpha Jackson. But back then, I had been a carefree child, uninterested in directions or landmarks. All I had to do was sit in the back of the car and let our family chauffeur take us wherever we needed to go.Now I regret
Akira POVAs I pushed open the large gate to the estate, the gate groaned on its hinges, echoing through the quiet evening air.The path in front of me stretched out long and winding, lined with tall trees whose branches seemed to reach out like fingers, blocking out what little light the moon offered. I wasn’t surprised at how beautiful the estate was or how it sprawled across acres of land which probably cost millions. Alpha Jackson had always been a very rich man. He had always been in the same business as my father. I never knew exactly what that business was, but I knew it was lucrative enough to make them both billionaires.I begin to walk. The gravel floor crunched under my shoes, the only sound that sounded in the still night. Finally, I saw another gate emerge ahead, this one was closer to the main mansion. From a distance, I could see guards stationed there, their silhouettes sharp and menacing against the dim light. My stomach twisted with nerves, but I tried to keep my
Akira’s POVI was still sited at the same spot where I had sat. I kept glancing around, as if glancing around will give men the answers that I needed. It was maybe fifteen minutes had passed when the heavy metal door creaked open again.A man walked in, accompanied by one of the guards who had dragged me into this strange place. The man was of average height and had an air of authority about him. His eyes were cold and calculating as he scanned the room. “Which one of them did you say was trying to escape?” he asked in a gruff voice.The guard immediately pointed towards me, and before I could react, he walked to me and grabbed my arm and roughly yanked me to my feet. I stumbled forward, and my heart skipped, even though I knew I did nothing wrong. As I looked up, my breath caught in my throat. I recognized the man standing before me. It was Leon, Alpha Jackson’s right-hand man. He had been Jackson's personal assistant for years, someone I had seen countless times during my visits w
Akira’s POVAlpha Jackson’s expression shifted slightly, a shadow crossing his face. Of course, he wasn’t expecting me to ask him that question.“Those women…” he began slowly, “are here under unfortunate circumstances. Some of them were taken in after being abandoned or mistreated by their packs. Others came to us for protection. We keep them there to make sure they’re safe.”There is no way that place looks like a place for protectionHis words didn’t quite sit right with me. “In a place like that?” I pressed; my voice tinged with disbelief. He narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at me for a minute, the he looked away and walked away from me as if he was trying to prevent me from monitoring his eyes as he speaks.“Sometimes safety comes at a price and different ways, Akira. This world isn’t as kind as it used to be. And not everyone can afford the luxuries you and I are accustomed to.”My mind was reeling. The uneasy feeling in my stomach only grew stronger as I tried to make sen
Hunter’s POVThe overnight journey from Northcaster, Akira’s father’s house, to Holtsville, where Alpha Jackson’s home was located, was long, but I didn’t mind.I was too damned determined to get to Alpha Jackson’s house because my every instinct, and beast senses told me that Akira had run there. The thought of her being under Jackson's protection was infuriating, and I knew I had to act fast. The sooner I arrived, the better my chances were of intercepting any plans Jackson might be making to hide Akira from me or protect her in some other way.Even though I was furious of her escaping, I hate the fact that she had to run to him of all people.When we finally arrived at Night Walker Pack Avenue, I didn’t bother with any pretense. I marched straight into the estate with Seth by my side, also accompanied by three of my men. The moment Alpha Jackson’s guards spotted us, I could see the fear in their eyes, plain as day. One of the guards turned on his heel and bolted inside the main m
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
Akira’s POVAs soon as the older Alphas walked out of the sitting room, I turned to Hunter. “Did you see the look Jackson gave me?” I asked, my voice low but tense.Hunter leaned back slightly in his seat, his eyes narrowing as he replayed the scene in his mind. “Of course, I saw it,” he replied. “The man’s full of spite. He hates you because he thinks you’re not being the spy he expected you to be.”My mind wondered in so many thoughts.Jackson’s gaze wasn’t just hateful; it was accusing, as though he’d been wronged. And the way his eyes lingered on me—it sent a chill down my spine. “I’ll go talk to him,” I said, standing up abruptly.However, before I could take a step, Hunter grabbed my wrist. His grip was firm, almost protective. “No,” he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. “With the way things went here, he might unleash his anger on you. I won’t let that happen.”I looked into Hunter’s eyes, seeing both his worry and his resolve. But I also knew Jackson well enough to
Seth’s POVThe estate felt colder tonight, or maybe it was just the weight of the task ahead pressing on my chest. Hunter had always expected loyalty from me, but tonight, I could feel the edges of doubt creeping into my thoughts. I couldn’t afford hesitation. Not now. Not when everything was on the line. The double agent had to be dealt with before Jackson made his move. Hunter had given me a simple task: find the traitor, and eliminate him quietly. I wasn’t blind. I knew that even the smallest mistake could unravel everything we’d worked for, so I was meticulous. I followed the usual routes— checked in with the informants I trusted, observed the pack’s movements— but something felt off. There was a flicker of something different, something I couldn’t quite place. My instincts itched at the back of my mind, telling me there was more going on beneath the surface.The first clue came when I noticed Aric’s nervous behavior. Normally, he was sharp, confident, but lately, his movements
Kestrel’s POVI stood in front of Hunter’s door, ready to knock, but noticed it was already half-open.Curiosity got the better of me, so I peeked inside. My heart sank as I saw them—Hunter and Akira—wrapped up in each other. She was sitting on his lap, his arms possessively around her, and they were kissing, laughing, and talking softly. The way they looked at each other made my stomach turn. It wasn’t just physical; it was deeper than that. They were now connected. The kind of connection I had always wanted with him but never had when I was literally gracing his bed. I sighed. My hands clenched at my sides as I watched them. They looked like a power couple—two people who were not only lovers but friends. That was the part that hurt the most. Hunter and I had never had that kind of relationship. Even when I tried to start something he was always distant with me, now he ended up being cold. But with Akira, he was soft, playful, and affectionate. I could feel my anger boiling insid