Akira’s POVAs soon as I shut the door to the dining room behind me, I pressed my ear against it immediately, trying to catch any part of the conversation between Hunter and Seth. My heart pounded in my chest, the adrenaline rushing through me as I strained to hear their voices. I had to know what they were saying—what Seth was telling Hunter and most importantly what their next plan of action will be. My only relief was that no guards or servants were lingering around the hallway, giving me the perfect chance to eavesdrop.When I was in the room with them, I could tell they wanted me out to discuss. The air had felt heavy with tension, and neither of them was going to say anything important while I was sitting there.It was as if the silence itself was suffocating. I knew I had to leave if I wanted to get any information. And now, standing here, my ear pressed to the cold door, I could hear Seth’s voice, sharp and direct, questioning Hunter about me.I winced at his words. Seth was
Akira’s POVAs soon as I entered my room, I wasted no time. I rushed to the cupboard where I had hidden the burner phone. I pulled it out quickly, my fingers trembling slightly as I fast-dialed the number for Alpha Jackson. It only took one ring before the call connected."Akira?" Jackson's deep voice came through immediately. I could sense the slight surprise in his tone, of course he hadn’t expected to hear from me so soon."Yes, it's me," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "I have news."There was a brief pause on the other end. "Go on, then," he said, his voice calm but framed with curiosity.I took a deep breath. "Hunter and Seth... they’re planning something in Reidvilla. I overheard them talking about an operation. They didn’t say much, but it’s happening soon.""Reidvilla?" Jackson’s tone changed. I could tell he was interested now. "What kind of operation? Who are they targeting?"I bit my lip, suddenly feeling less confident. "That’s all I managed to overhear. They
Akira’s POVI stood in front of the mirror, turning around for Lisa to examine my outfit. "So what do you say? Do I look pretty enough for any guy to resist?" I asked her, feeling in exictment. I was wearing a short, plain black dress that embraced my body just right, paired with a comfortable pair of flat shoes.Lisa’s expression told me everything I needed to know before she even said a word. She wasn’t satisfied, and I could see her disappointment. "I thought you said you wanted this guy to fall head over heels for you," she said bluntly, crossing her arms. "That dress combination doesn’t command anything."I sighed, rolling my eyes a little."Of course, I do, but it’s not just about making him fall for me," I explained. "I actually like him, Lisa. He’s charming and gentle with me. Besides, I want to feel comfortable tonight."Lisa wasn’t having any of it. She marched over to my closet, rummaging through it until she pulled out a pair of black pump heels that I had barely even no
Akira’s POV“What about you? What’s your stand with Hunter? Do you see him as your true mate?” August’s question threw me completely off guard.I blinked, staring at him in surprise. The last thing I had expected was for him to ask me something so direct, especially when I was still trying to digest the fact that Hunter’s heart belonged to someone else. His question hit me like a slap, pulling me out of my thoughts.I was speechless. How could I answer that? Even though I knew the answer, which was a resounding "no," hearing the question from August, in this setting, felt different. He was staring at me, waiting for an answer, and his seriousness unnerved me.“Don’t you in any way have feelings for him?” he pressed; his voice softer but insistent.It was obvious he wasn’t going to let me brush it off. I looked down at my plate, feeling the awkwardness settle deep in my chest. I didn’t want to talk about this; especially not with him. I shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant.“I’m just p
Hunter’s POVWhen I got home that evening, the first piece of information that hit me was from Seth’s informant. Akira and August were on a date, in some restaurant. I brushed it off initially, planning to ignore it and let them return. But my curiosity is a powerful thing, and it got the better of me. I needed to see it fwor myself, to confirm what was happening.As soon as I walked into the restaurant, my senses picked up her scent. It lingered in the air, unmistakable. I scanned the room but didn’t spot her right away. Then I saw August, sitting across from a woman. My eyes narrowed, focusing. It was her; my mate. The woman sitting there in that skimpy black dress, was looking... too good. Too sexy. Too damn tempting for her own good. Her blonde hair was resting freely on her shoulder and that her look even more beautiful.I fought the urge to walk up to them right then and there, to rip her away from August and drag her back home. But I forced myself to stay back and observe, wa
Hunter’s POVAugust walked into my study after a single knock, his eyes carefully scanning both my face and Seth’s before he quietly said, "Alphas," and took a seat in the room. I had sent for him early that morning, and the way he sat down, composed and calm, told me he already knew why he was here.I watched him closely, unsure how to begin this conversation. It wasn’t something I had planned for. August wasn’t just any soldier in my pack; he had been one of my most dedicated followers. I remember the day he first came to me, eager to join my team. He had said I fascinated him, that my vision for a better werewolf community was something he believed in.He had been loyal ever since, following me into nearly every raid, fighting alongside me. If I hadn’t met Seth, August might have been my second-in-command by now. But recently, his sudden interest in Akira might become a problem. And it was something that could unravel everything we’d built. My relationship with Akira might have b
Kestrel POVI stood by the door, watching Hunter enter the room, his hood covering his face, but I could still see the familiar curve of his lips as he smiled at me. It felt good to have him here, in my space, away from everything else.I pulled him into a hug the moment I shut the door, feeling his warmth and strength as he hugged me back, pressing a quick kiss to my lips. I had been waiting for this moment, wondering if he would actually show up. “I thought you weren’t coming,” I whispered against him.He pulled back slightly, his dark eyes catching mine. “You know damn well I’d never miss it. Have I ever turned you down?” His voice was low and confident, like always, but something felt different tonight. “I don’t know why you want us to meet here, Kestrel? Why not at the villa?”I took a step back, letting him move into the room fully without replying to his words.Hunter pressed another kiss on my lips, but this one felt more like a way to make me talk. “That villa is your home to
Hunter’s POVIt was well past midnight when I finally stepped into the villa, the cool air of the night still clingy on me. Kestrel had wanted me to stay over at the hotel, but I just couldn't. I didn’t feel like it. And to be honest, I didn’t feel like much of anything tonight, not even with her. I could see the shock in her eyes earlier when I told her I wasn’t in the mood for any intimacy. I mean, I had never turned her down before, and I didn’t quite understand why I had tonight. Even though I told her it was because of the upcoming raid, and I half-believed that, but deep down, I knew it wasn’t true.Thinking back at it, it was Seth's suggestion that kept bouncing around my head. Ever since he brought up the idea of marking Akira, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It was a strange idea, one that filled my mind with conflict. Marking her would mean complete control—over her thoughts, her actions, her desires. I will finally know her true intentions, whether she really wanted t
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