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
Hunter’s POVI was fully dressed in a black ensemble, the usual outfit that give me a perfect disguise during raids. It was midnight already and everywhere was calm, and so was I. I had this same calmness that always came before a raid settled over me. I was about pulling the black mask over my face when Seth entered the room, after one quick knock at the door. His presence quiet but commanding as usual, and from the determined look on his face, I can tell he was ready as I am."Hunter, we are ready," he said.I nodded, knowing tonight would be like the others—a victory. Alpha Sabastian of the Night Raiders Pack of Reidvilla would feel our wrath, just like every other old Alphas before him. These old bastards thought selling hard drugs and trafficking both humans and werewolves was their right, using the wealth they gained from these dirty deeds to build their empires. Disgusting.I pulled down the mask on my face and I walked out of the study while Seth trailed behind. My men wer
Akira’s POVI was standing in a beautiful garden filled with roses of every color imaginable. The air was sweet, the fragrance of the flowers enveloping me, and for a moment, I felt at peace. I leaned in to smell a red rose, its petals soft against my skin.Just then, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see Hunter standing there, smiling at me. But it wasn’t a warm smile—it was cold, almost evil, yet somehow friendly. He was acknowledging me, but I couldn’t bring myself to smile back.Instead, I just stared at him, emotionless.Suddenly, Hunter clutched his chest in pain. My eyes dropped from his face to his chest, and what I saw made my heart stop. Blood. So much blood. It was flowing from him, staining his black shirt, and before I could react, he started to collapse. His hand lifted towards me as if he were reaching out for help, but I didn’t move.I just stood there, frozen, watching him go down in agony. I didn’t feel anything. No panic, no sadness, no fear. I felt... nothin
Akira’s POVIn a few minutes, the doctor arrived, an older man with eyes that spoke of years of experience. He moved swiftly, not wasting any time as he set to work on Hunter. The guards stepped aside to let him through, and I watched, still frozen, as he began the process of treating him. My chest tightened as I realized just how serious this was. My heart raced, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the scene in front of me. Hunter looks pale and covered in blood, his breathing shallow but looks still.The doctor injected him with something. I assumed it was pain medication; and then began to carefully remove the bullets from his chest. I counted them as they came out. One... two... six bullets. All silver. Of course, they were silver. It’s only silver bullets could have done this to him, given how strong and resilient he was. No ordinary bullet would have caused such damage. I felt a wave of nausea wash over me, realizing just how close he was to death.I suspected the doctor was
Akira’s POVWhen Seth stormed out of the room, leaving me alone with Hunter, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of the situation crash down on me. I sat at the edge of the bed, staring at him; this man who had been strong and indestructible only hours ago, now lying there so vulnerable. His wound was perfectly clean and looking much better and the blood wasn’t pumping blood anymore, thanks to the doctor’s efforts, but Hunter was still fighting for his life as his breathing was shabby and instable. My mind was a chaotic mess, flooded with guilt, fear, and confusion. The faces of the four men who I don’t know who they are but had died because of my information haunted me. I didn’t know them personally, but they were Hunter’s men, obviously loyal to him. Did their deaths make me a murderer? I shuddered at the thought.A soft knock pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts. Lisa entered the room, carrying a bucket and a mop to clean the pool of blood that had soaked into the floor. Her
Akira’s POVThe following four days of keeping an eye on Hunter, caring for him, and helping him recover have been far more difficult than I ever expected. It scared the hell out of me, honestly.One minute, he’s lying there and seemed fine, like he was on the mend, and the next, his temperature would skyrocket, as if he were burning from the inside.Thank the Moon Goddess the doctor kept his word, visiting every day to check on Hunter and monitor his progress. But it was the nights that terrified me the most. Every night brought a new crisis. His body would heat up like flames licking his skin, leaving me panicked and helpless. Without Lisa, I wouldn’t have had a clue what to do.The first night it happened, I was frantic. Hunter was burning up so badly I thought he’d melt away. Desperately, I ran to Lisa, she’s the only one I can talk to about this. I ran to her, waking her up in the middle of the night, and begged for her help, even though I don’t know if she could do anything.
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