Kestrel’s POVI examined the red gown in my hands once more, turning it over to catch the light. This will be perfect, I thought to myself. If Hunter sees me in this, the image of how I look will be seared into his mind. I knew exactly why I’d chosen this dress—it was all to impress Hunter, to make him see me in a way he had never before. Probably, to look at me in the same way he looked at that little wench, Akira, at the party. The image which still burned in my memory.I could recall it vividly: the way Hunter’s eyes never left Akira, how his gaze followed her around the room like she was the only person there. I knew Hunter well enough to recognize that those looks weren’t just for show, weren’t just part of the act they were putting on to fool the werewolves at the gathering. No, there was something more. Something filled with admiration and desire. It pained me to admit that Hunter had never looked at me that way, not once, even after all these years of being by his side.We’
Kestrel’s POVEven though it was just the two of us alone in the study, Hunter’s mind seemed miles away. He was staring at the door with a look on his face I couldn’t quite read—something calculating, something intense. I took a step closer, making sure my movements were slow and deliberate, the way I knew he liked. "Am I interrupting something?" I asked with a playful smile.It wasn’t until then that he looked up and finally seemed to notice I was there. For a moment, I wondered what could have him so deep in thought. He’s usually so focused, so aware of everything going on around him. I’d never seen him this distracted.“You didn’t even know I was here, did you?” I teased, leaning down to press a soft kiss against his lips. He responded, but I could tell his mind was still elsewhere. “What’s going on?” I asked, pulling back just enough to look into his eyes.Hunter shook his head reluctantly, his expression guarded. “It’s nothing,” he said, but I could tell he was lying. I knew h
Akira’s POVAs soon as I left the study room and walked down the long hallway, I let out a huge sigh of relief. The tension inside that room had been unbearable, like a heavy weight pressing down on my chest. My heart was still pounding from the effort of keeping my lies straight and convincing Hunter that I truly wanted to come back and be his mate. Even though I had put her hair in a tight high bun and wore a bold red lipstick to make my appearance look somewhat sophisticated as much as I can and to make me look as if I meant business; yet I almost fooled myself. It was not as if I just rushed into Hunter’s house unprepared. All through my ride from Holtsville to Melford; in Silver Moon Pack, I had gone over those words in my head so many times. Telling myself I will pull it off perfectly when step foot in Hunter’s house, but even with all that practice I did, my words almost failed me.Inside the study, every moment then felt like a time without end. The way Hunter’s curious ga
Akira POVI made my way to the servant quarters, my heart was drumming in my chest. I couldn’t help but wonder if I would find Lisa and Brielle there, safe and sound. I had wanted to ask Hunter if he had done anything to them, but I held back. I couldn’t risk letting him know how much I cared about my friends or hint that my return had anything to do with them. That would only complicate things and potentially put them in more danger.I knew that checking the dungeon first would have been the smarter option since that was Hunter’s favorite place for dumping prisoners. But the fear of what I might find—or not find—down there kept me from going.I couldn’t face the possibility that my friends might be locked away or worse.When I finally reached the room, I hesitated at the door. I took a deep breath and silently prayed to the moon goddess they were inside, or maybe just out working somewhere nearby. Gathering every ounce of courage I had, I slowly opened the door and peeked inside.
Akira’s POVI carried the bag of grain into the kitchen and tossed it into the cabinet with a sigh. This was the tenth bag of grain I’d hauled today, and tomorrow, it might be making large quantities of bread again. I still had no idea where all the bread we normally make in this house went to, but I usually didn’t ask questions.A cloud of grain dust exploded around me, making me cough. I wiped my face with the back of my hand, grimacing as the dust clung to my skin.I had gotten used to doing jobs like this, even though they left my body aching all night. I wasn’t complaining, though—I knew it was all temporary. Besides, one thing I’d learned while working as a servant in Hunter’s home was that chores wouldn’t kill me. As long as I got to eat and rest for a while and at the end of the day, I could manage. And fortunately, in Hunter’s home, there were rest hours for every servant, which was a luxury compared to my parents’ home.It had been three days since I came back to Hunter’s h
Kestrel’s POVI stood in the hallway outside the dining room, my heart racing with anticipation. Tonight was going to be special. I had made sure of it. The red dress I wore gripped to my curves, showing all my endowed right places, it emphasized my figure far better than it ever did on Akira. I knew every well that I will pull this cloth well.I smirked, knowing Hunter wouldn’t be able to resist. I’d seen the way he looked at me before whenever I wear sexy clothes like this, but tonight I wanted more. I needed to see that same look of admiration and desire that I knew he had for Akira.As I waited there, I positioned myself casually yet seductively in the doorway, my back against the frame and one leg crossed over the other. I wanted to make sure that when Hunter walked in, his eyes would be on me immediately. I heard footsteps approaching from down the hallway, and I straightened up, letting my body relax into a sultry pose.Hunter walked in, and as soon as he saw me, he stopped.
Akira’s POVIt was past midnight when I finally made my way back to the main mansion to clear the dining room. It was always the duty of the servant who served dinner to come back or stay around to clear the room. Tonight, I intentionally waited until I was sure everyone was asleep. The last thing I wanted was to bump into Hunter and his mistress; Kestrel. I didn’t want to see the look on Kestrel’s face after their romantic dinner, and I definitely didn’t want to see Hunter with her playing those annoying sexual stuffs they do.When I opened the door to the dining room, the room was quiet. The candles that had been lit earlier were now almost completely melted, with only one still standing. That too was about to be melted and was merely flickering faintly in the darkness. The faint light cast weird shadows on the walls, giving the room a lonely feel. I was sure that Hunter and Kestrel had gone inside for the second part of the night, and I couldn’t help but imagine what they might b
Akira’s POVI loaded the iron bucket with grain, bracing myself for the weight I was about to lift. I had done this a hundred times before, but today, for some reason, the bucket felt heavier than usual. As I bent down and tried to lift it onto my head, I felt a presence behind me. A hand gently took the bucket from my grasp, lifting it easily as if it weighed nothing. I turned around, surprised, and found myself looking into the warm, familiar eyes of August."A beautiful girl like you shouldn’t be carrying something this heavy," he said, flashing me a smile that made my heart flap unexpectedly.“August!” I exclaimed, a grin spreading across my face before I could help it. Even though I didn’t mean to show it, seeing him has successful gradually seemed to lighten my mood. His presence had become a way of calming me, like a gentle breeze on a hot day.He reached out and gently touched my cheek. “Runaway princess,” he teased softly. “I thought I’d never see you again after I heard you
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