Akira's POVWhen I stepped out of Hunter's study, a guard was already there, waiting for me. Without a word, he took my arm, his grip firm but not rough, and began escorting me back to the dungeon.I walked in silence, my mind replaying the scene over and over again. I couldn’t shake the memory of Hunter’s eyes—how they suddenly turned blood-red when I attacked him. The intensity, the raw power behind that gaze... it terrified and intrigued me at the same time.The guard opened the heavy iron door to the dungeon and motioned for me to go inside. Brielle and Lisa rushed to me the moment they saw me, their eyes filled with concern.“Akira, are you okay?” Brielle asked, her voice trembling slightly.“What did he do to you?” Lisa added, her hands gripping my shoulders as if to steady me.I tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. My throat felt tight, my heart heavy. All I could do was shake my head, signalling that I couldn’t talk about it—at least not yet.I moved past them and sat
Akira’s POVI held my breath, my heart pounding in my chest as I waited for the guard to take another turn. The cold floor pressed against my palms and knees as I crouched, ready to move at any moment. The dungeon had been dark and suffocating, but this—crawling our way through the faintly lit corridors—felt even more dangerous. Every sound, every flicker of a shadow made my nerves spike.“Akira, what if he sees us?” Brielle whispered, her voice trembling with fear. She was right beside me, her eyes wide with terror as she clutched my arm.“He won’t,” I whispered back, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “Just stay close and keep quiet. We’re almost there.”Behind us, Lisa was creeping along, her face set in a determined expression. Despite the fear in her eyes, she was trying to stay strong, trying to believe in the plan I had put together. But I could sense her doubt, and I couldn’t blame her. This was risky—too risky. If we were caught, the consequences would be deadly.
Akira’s POVFor a brief moment, I believed we had made it when we went outside the front door. The darkness of the night seemed like a cloak that would shield us from prying eyes. We moved quickly but quietly, our footsteps barely making a sound on the gravel path that led to the gate. My heart raced with the thrill of potential freedom, and I could feel the same hope radiating from Lisa and Brielle as they walked close to me.Just as we were about to turn the corner and make our final dash for the gate, the sharp crack of a gunshot pierced the air, echoing through the night. The sound was followed by two more shots, each one making my heart jump into my throat.Brielle screamed in terror and clung to me, her small body trembling against mine.The fear in her eyes and her painful scream ignited something deep within me—a fierce, primal rage that I couldn’t control. I was done running. I was done being hunted.Like a mother protecting her child, without thinking, I felt the transform
Akira’s POVWhen Hunter entered the living room, his presence was commanding, his eyes immediately narrowing as he called out, "August!". There was something in Hunter’s voice that brooked no defiance.The unknown man, who I now found out his name was August, who had been far too close to me, instantly withdrew his touch from my arm and stepped back, burned by Hunter's command.Hunter's gaze then shifted to me. He walked closer, his eyes darkening as he took in the sorry state of my clothes—tattered, half-exposed.Then his eyes moved to the cuts on my neck and arms. His eyes turned a deep shade of red, anger radiating off him in waves. Before I could even process what was happening, he moved with lightning speed, his speed almost a blur, approaching the guard I had fought.In an instant, Hunter delivered a swift, powerful blow to the guard's stomach, sending him staggering backwards.The swiftness and the intensity of the blow sent a quick chill down my spine. If I could react this wa
Hunter’s POVAs I dragged Akira into the library, I could feel my anger boiling beneath the surface. The fact that she had the audacity to attempt an escape—it infuriated me. The moment we crossed the threshold, I tossed her forward with a rough shove, slamming the door behind us with a force that echoed through the room. She staggered but managed to regain her balance, her defiance evident in the way she straightened her posture.I stepped closer to her, my gaze fixed on her as I spoke, my voice low and threatening. "The only reason you're still breathing is because you've already taken enough of a beating from that guard. If I were to do anything more, you'd be useless to me dead." My words were harsh, each one meant to instil fear, but I could see that fear was the last thing on her mind.Akira met my gaze with fierce determination, her eyes practically glowing with defiance. "I'd rather die fighting than rot in a dungeon as your slave," she spat back at me, her voice laced wit
Akira’s POVImmediately as the door to Hunter’s library slammed shut behind me, I felt a strange mix of relief and exhaustion. My body ached, and the adrenaline from the earlier fight was finally wearing off, leaving me feeling drained. The female servant who had been quietly trailing behind me gestured towards a small bathroom attached to the guest room she’d led me to. The same room I had used before.“Do you want me to help with your bath, miss,” she asked softly, her eyes not quite meeting mine. “I can if you permit me.”I shook my head, not really in the mood for conversation. The warm water felt soothing against my battered skin, but even as the grime and blood washed away, the dull throb of my injuries remained. I winced as I carefully scrubbed around the deeper cuts, trying not to think too much about the fight with the guard. I had underestimated the strength of an opponent, and that had given me such a good beating. My first ever beating.Aside from being my first werewo
Akira POVJust as I was about to finally drift off to sleep, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed down the dungeon corridor. My heart sank. It wasn’t even fully morning yet, and Hunter was already coming to make good on his promise. I forced myself to sit up, feeling the cold stone floor beneath me, every muscle in my body protesting the movement.The door to the dungeon flew open with a loud bang, and there he was, towering over me like a dark storm. "Get up," Hunter ordered, his voice cold and commanding. "This isn’t your father’s mansion where you get to sleep until late in the afternoon."His words hit me like a slap, and before I could stop myself, I spat back,"Don’t you dare mention my father again, especially not with that vile mouth of yours!"Hunter’s lips curled into a cruel smile. He chuckled, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. "It seems you haven’t learned your lesson yet, Doll. Your mouth still runs like an uncontrolled tap water."I clenched my fists, resisting
Akira’s POVThe pain in my back was unbearable as I knelt on the cold, hard floor, mopping the seemingly endless hallway with that tiny hand towel. I could feel every muscle screaming in protest, but I forced myself to keep going. Hunter could have made this easier, he could have given me a proper mop, but that wasn’t the point. He wanted to see me suffer. And he was succeeding.I didn’t realise how long this hallway was until now. The night we tried to escape, everything happened so fast that I didn’t have time to notice the distance. But now, with every inch I cleaned, it felt like the hallway stretched on forever. Lisa had been right. I’d never done this kind of work in my life. I was an overpampered princess, always surrounded by luxury, always having everything within my reach. Or, more realistically, within the reach of a servant.In my parents’ house, all I had to do was ring a bell, and a servant would appear. I remembered how my mother would instruct the maids to mop the
August’s POVMy hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as I sat in the car outside Hunter's estate. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of my chest. Hunter's words replayed in my mind like a haunting melody. The cold, calculated way he described Kestrel's death—the poison eating her from within, leaving nothing but a husk of flesh and bone—sent shivers down my spine. And then his chilling remark: "If she hadn’t died from the poison, I would’ve done far worse."Monster. That’s what Hunter was. A cold-blooded, ruthless monster.No wonder every Alpha trembled at the mere mention of his name. Who wouldn’t fear someone like him? Hunter was the embodiment of terror, and yet, he carried himself with the charm of a king. But I wasn’t fooled. Beneath the surface was nothing but darkness, the kind that could consume anyone who dared cross him.I released a shaky breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. I had gone to the estate thinking I could play my part—show c
August’s POVI took a deep breath, standing outside the door to Akira’s chamber. My hands clenched into fists before I forced myself to relax. Calm, August. Fake calm. You’ve done this before. Just put on a smile, say the right words, and leave as quickly as you can, I told myself for what seems to be like the tenth times.The thought of facing her—and Hunter—made my skin crawl. I didn’t want to be here, but as Commander to the pack, I had a duty to perform. She was our Luna, no matter how much I despised her.Despised her and feared her.Why wouldn’t she just die? I kept asking myself this same question for weeks.Her enemies seemed to fall like leaves in a storm while she remained untouched. First, it was Jackson's guards. Then Jackson himself. The servant Kestrel manipulated. And now Kestrel herself. All are dead with Kestrel probably nearing her death too, while Akira sat comfortably in her position, unscathed.Whatever she did to the moon goddess to keep protecting her, she was r
Hunter’s POVI stood by Akira’s bedside, my arms crossed tightly over my chest as I watched the doctor move around her, performing his final examinations. Even though I trusted his skill, I couldn’t relax. Every time his hands moved to check her pulse or adjust the machines monitoring her vitals, my heart clenched.Akira looked so small and fragile lying there, yet her spirit remained unbroken. Whatever made her wake up from coma so quickly, he will have to keep thanking the moon goddess. And to think that I had already failed her once by trusting Kestrel. That mistake would haunt me forever.The doctor’s calm demeanor only irritated me. I needed to hear the words—needed to know she was going to be okay. “Well?” I growled, unable to keep the tension from my voice.The doctor looked up, meeting my gaze. “She’s fine now,” he said, nodding. “The poison is completely out of her system, but she still needs rest and attentive care. I recommend you personally oversee her recovery to avoid
Kestrel’s POVI paced back and forth in Akira’s room, my heels clicking against the hardwood floor. Each time my gaze fell on her lifeless form lying on the bed, anger boiled inside me. Even in a coma, Akira had the audacity to look peaceful, as if mocking me. I hate you, I thought bitterly. Even half-dead, you’re still a thorn in my side.The only reason I was here was because I had convinced Hunter I wanted to help look after her. It was the perfect cover, ensuring I stayed in his good graces. If I hadn’t, Hunter might never have left her side. It disgusted me that he could show so much devotion to her, even now.I forced myself to go through the motions: wiping her face, monitoring her temperature, pretending to care. All of it was a performance. Because if Akira didn’t wake up from this coma—if she finally died—then my place at Hunter’s side would be secured.The thought brought a sly smile to my lips, but it faded as quickly as it came. The doctor’s words haunted me: She could
Kestrel’s POVThe air in the sitting room was thick with tension, making it nearly impossible to breathe. I bit my lips hard enough to draw blood as I sat beside Hunter, who radiated a fury I’d never seen before. His face was grim, his jaw clenched, and his hands rested on his knees, ready to spring into action.I couldn’t believe things had spiraled out of control so quickly. My plan seemed so perfect—or at least, it should have been. The poison was supposed to work subtly, spreading through Akira’s system and finishing her off in her sleep. But no, she just had to spend the evening outside with Hunter, delaying the process. Now everything had fallen apart.The doctor’s words earlier haunted me: Poison. That one word had set Hunter off, and now, every servant who worked in the kitchen had been summoned.My heart raced as I watched the guards herd them into the sitting room, one by one. There they were—eight female servants, heads bowed, shuffling in like lambs to the slaughter. I s
Hunter’s POVThe evening air was cool and soothing as I sat under the oak tree with Akira. The moonlight spilled gently through the branches, casting a serene glow over her face. I reached for her hand, but something about her felt...off. She was unusually quiet, her usual fiery spirit dampened.“Are you alright, Doll?” I asked softly, leaning closer to her. I placed a hand on her forehead, and her skin felt warmer than usual, but I told myself it might be nothing. Probably the coolness of the weather was making her warm.Akira gave me a faint smile but didn’t answer. She simply nodded, her gaze distant.“Is something bothering you?” I pressed, my worry growing.She hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. “No,” she whispered and didn’t bother to say more words, her voice was barely audible. I tried to lighten the mood, a playful smile tugging at my lips. “And I didn’t do anything to offend you, did I?” I teased.That earned me a small laugh, but it was brief and didn’t reach
Kestrel’s POVI stood at a distance, watching as the female servant prepared Akira’s breakfast. My heart raced, though I did my best to keep my face calm. She had come to me last night, her face pale but determined, telling me she was ready to take the deal. She asked for the poison, and after drilling her with countless questions to make sure she was serious, I finally handed it over.Still, I couldn’t trust her. Not completely. Servants were unpredictable, and I couldn’t risk her botching the job—or worse, poisoning the wrong person. Sometimes, Hunter, Akira, and I shared breakfast together, and the thought of that poison ending up on my plate—or Hunter’s—sent shivers down my spine.I stayed nearby, my eyes glued to the kitchen’s entrance, waiting for confirmation that the job would be done correctly. My stomach churned, a mixture of nerves and anticipation.Then, I saw her.Akira, walking down the hallway toward the kitchen, her blonde hair flowing behind her, her aura exuding st
Kestrel’s POVI paced the corridor outside the kitchen, my heels clicking softly against the stone floor. The faint scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of spices, but I paid it no attention. For the past hour, I had been standing here, waiting. Normally, I wouldn’t waste my time in a place like this, much less wait so long, but this wasn’t a normal day.Today’s business was important—urgent, even.Several servants bustled past, their chatter and footsteps filling the air. They glanced at me, some with curiosity, others with disbelief. Of course, it was rare for me to be seen in the kitchen, let alone lingering here. I was Kestrel, after all. I didn’t belong in places like this.However, knowing what brought me here, I ignored their stares. I had a mission, and I wasn’t leaving until it was done.My gaze flickered to the door every time someone entered, searching for the one person I was waiting for. That particular servant, she was ju
August’s POVI slammed back another cup of beer, the fifth one tonight, as the frustration roared through me like a wildfire. My throat burned, and the alcohol settled uneasily in my stomach, but it wasn’t enough. Nothing was enough to drown out the anger bubbling inside me. The bar was loud—music blaring, people laughing and dancing, glasses clinking—but none of it mattered. The noise only made the emptiness inside me feel bigger, more oppressive.This was all her fault. Akira. That conniving little bitch parading herself around as Luna. My fists clenched involuntarily at the thought of her. She didn’t just kill Jackson; she destroyed everything I had intend to build with him.Jackson wasn’t just a benefactor—he was my golden ticket. With him, I intend to get wealth, power, and opportunities. Together, in trafficking business we would have been untouchable. But now, thanks to Akira’s so-called heroics, it was all gone. She didn’t just kill him; she humiliated him, fought his men,