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
Akira’s POVI woke up suddenly, my eyes snapping open and my heart pounding as if I had just woken from a nightmare; except there hadn’t been one.There was something else, an aura that yanked me straight out of bed.For a moment, I was confused, unsure of where I was, but then I remembered—I was still in the guest room where Alpha Jackson’s house had given me to rest in. I quickly scanned the room, trying to find what could be causing this uneasy feeling.And then I caught a scent—that familiar scent, and it was strong. My heart skipped a beat, and I jumped out of bed, holding my chest like it was about to fall off the floor. Hunter was here.Now that I was fully awake, I could sense him more perfectly, his presence is strong and undeniable. My wolf began to stir inside me, a soft groan escaping its throat, followed by a low, almost pained moan, “Mate.”It repeated the word over and over, the desire was clear in its voice. It could sense its mate nearby and wanted to be set free.“Pl
Akira’s POVI was relieved when a female servant from Jackson's home came to my door, saying that Alpha Jackson wanted to see me. I practically jumped off the bed and rushed out of the room, my heart racing with a mix of hope and anxiety.It had been three days since I arrived at Jackson's estate, and while he had promised to protect me and deal with Hunter, he hadn't said anything specific since then.I didn’t want to pressure him or seem like I was being too pushy, so I’d kept my distance, hoping he would reach out when he was ready.When I hurried into the living room, I expected to see Alpha Jackson waiting for me alone. But I stopped short, surprised to find about seven older Alphas sitting there, their eyes turning towards me as I entered.A movement of unease washed over me. This doesn’t feel like a meeting but an act of summon.Why were all these powerful Alphas gathered here? My heart started to pound faster. I glanced around the room, trying to gauge their expressions, but t
Hunter’s POVI stared at the plan Seth had sketched out on the paper, a rough map of Alpha Jackson's house with red lines and circles showing how we could break in. When I first mentioned to Seth that I planned on invading Jackson’s home to take back Akira, he had wasted no time in drawing up a strategy. According to his plan, it would be best to strike at midnight when the house would be quieter, with fewer of Jackson’s pack members around. The attack would need to be silent and swift.I studied the plan carefully, still not sure if I wanted to go along with it. If it were up to me, I’d march into Jackson’s territory in broad daylight, letting everyone see. After all they were all used to admitting how cruel I was and how bloody I am, ‘a cursed blood sucking monster’ they had said. I equally don’t mind. It would have been good to use Alpha Jackson as a scapegoat to my called cruelty.However, I knew I had to be careful. I had to maintain my composure and not do anything that would
Hunter’s POVHer presence like a shockwave that caused an overexcitement through me.My wolf groaned, its frustration and longing echoing in my mind as I watched Akira walk into my study. I wasn’t sure what surprised me more—seeing her here or the fact that Seth, who had trained himself to be stoic and rarely showed any emotion, shot up from his seat the instant she entered. This was the same Akira we were planning to reclaim, the one I had just been discussing with Seth, yet here she was, standing before us like some ghost returned from the grave.I scanned her from head to toe. She looked different somehow—more vibrant, more alive unlike how tiring she had always looked when she was here.Does been with him really weigh her down that much? Probably it was because of all the hate she had for him that she had concealed.Her blonde hair was tied in a high bun with a little extra hair laid out by the sides of her ears. Her lips were covered in a more vibrant red lipstick; I have never
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