Akira’s POVThe burner phone rang again, and I hesitated before reaching for it. I was glad I was alone in the room, able to pick it up quickly before anyone else could enter. Not that I expected anyone unauthorized, beside, Lisa and Brielle were the only ones usally in my room or else one of the servants came to deliver a message. Still, the ringing made me uneasy, especially when I saw Jackson’s usally number on the screen. I didn’t want to answer his call. I wasn’t in the mood to hear another lecture about avenging my parents' death, as if I had forgotten. Of course, I hadn’t, wasn’t it the reason why I was in this house.Sometimes, though, I felt like Jackson was using me. He acted like he was helping me fulfill my parents' revenge, but it felt like he had his own agenda. There were things he wasn’t telling me—like the fact that he had another informant. That knowledge stung. It meant he didn’t trust me enough; didn’t believe I could do the job. And then there was the raid.He
Akira’s POVI waited for a few minutes after Hunter left. I needed to be sure he wasn’t coming back, so I stood there, listening for any signs of his return. When I was certain the coast was clear, I rushed to the door and locked the bolt, my hands trembling slightly. I couldn’t afford any more surprises tonight.Immediately, I pulled the burner phone from its hiding place and dialed Alpha Jackson’s number. The phone felt heavy in my hand now, like it carried the weight of every lie I had to tell. As the line connected, I forced myself to calm down.I didn’t want to snap at Jackson, but it was hard to keep my frustration in check.Jackson’s voice came through before I could say anything. “I figured someone interrupted you, which is why I didn’t call back,” he said, his tone smooth, almost patronizing.I rolled my eyes. “Yes, well, Hunter was here. I could’ve gotten caught,” I replied, irritation creeping into my voice. “Can you try not to call me until I call you? It’s risky.”There w
Akira’s POVI was excited as I prepared for my date with Hunter. It wasn’t just because this date felt different from the forced, pretend ones he had made me do in the past. I was simply curious—curious to see what kind of taste he had when it came to taking care of a woman. Knowing Hunter’s brutal side, my expectations for the night weren’t high, but still, there was a flutter of excitement in my chest.I chose a simple short red dress and flat shoes. Lisa had tried to convince me to wear the heels I had worn on my date with August, but I stood my ground. It wasn’t that I couldn’t walk in heels—after all, I’d been getting used to them. But I didn’t want Hunter to think I was overdressed or trying too hard for him.The simple red dress and flats felt just right. Besides, I had no idea what Hunter had planned for the evening. His behaviors are usually unpredictable, and if he ended up stressing me out, I needed to be comfortable. At least comfortable enough to walk home in barefoot.I
Akira’s POVWhen we reached home, Hunter held my hand as we walked through the hallway. For a moment, I wondered if he had forgotten we were already back at the house. His grip was warm, firm, and I found myself savoring the feel of his hand in mine, as if he was reluctant to let go. He walked me to my room door before gently releasing my hand."I really had a great time tonight," I told him, smiling softly."Me too," he replied, his own smile warm and genuine. "Goodnight," he said, but just as I was about to turn, he moved closer, surprising me. His hands gently slid around my waist, pulling me against him, and before I could catch my breath, his lips found mine.The kiss was soft at first, exploratory, but it quickly deepened as I parted my lips, allowing him in. His lips moved against mine with a hunger that sent a rush of heat through me. We stood there, kissing for what felt like an eternity, wrapped up in each other. When he finally pulled back, I felt dazed, breathless, and
Seth POVI walked into the bar, my eyes scanning the crowd for Adolf. The place was packed, and the noise of conversations, laughter, and clinking glasses filled the air. The short, mischievous werewolf was always a headache to deal with. Most people mistook him for a dwarf, and for good reason. His size and antics often led people to underestimate him, but I knew better; my years with me had tell me how clever he actually is.Adolf loved to drain my energy with pointless chatter before he will finally give me the information I needed, despite the fact I always paid him for his services.I sighed and looked around again, growing more frustrated by the second. He had to be here somewhere, probably flirting with some woman and drowning himself in alcohol. Women and drinks were his weak points, and this bar was his preferred meeting spot, even though I had told him numerous times it was my least favorite place. Adolf, of course, mocked me for it, telling me to “grow some balls” and “man
Akira’s POVI was bent over, feeding the chickens in the poultry house, when I felt a firm grip on my waist. Someone pressed against me from behind, and I didn’t even need to turn around to know who it was. His scent gave him away immediately—it was Hunter. My wolf had already started that little jiggle it did lately whenever he was around, and I knew why. Ever since I her given her a taste of what it felt like to be close to her mate, she had been craving more.“Hunter,” I murmured with a smile, turning to face him. His mischievous grin matched mine. I hadn’t seen him since the night of our outing as I woke up the next morning to see him gone, but here he was. Remembering that night alone made my chest flatter.“I was starting to think you didn’t recognize me,” Hunter teased, his eyes gleaming with humor.I laughed softly. “How could I not? I can smell you from miles away.”He chuckled, leaning closer. “Really? I thought your wolf wasn’t that sharp, considering how you struggle to c
Hunter’s POVI was sitting at my desk, going through some files when soft music played in the background, helping me concentrate. I had always found a certain calmness in moments like these, but today, my mind kept wandering back to Akira. The thought of her made me smile as I worked. The intense feeling we share lately was surprising but and it was hard to keep my mind off of her. As I hummed softly to the music, suddenly, the door to my room burst open.Seth stormed in, his face twisted in fury. I was taken aback by the sheer rage radiating off him. He looked like he was ready to tear something apart.“Whoa, Seth, what’s wrong? You look like you’re about to murder someone,” I asked, half-joking but concerned. It wasn’t often I saw him like this.Seth wasn’t in the mood for humor, judging that he didn’t laugh at my joke. His eyes were blazing, and his fists clenched tightly by his sides. “I told you, Hunter. I told you my gut was right, but you didn’t want to believe me. What’s the
Akira’s POVThe heat of the afternoon clung to me like a second skin as I stepped into my room, as I wiped the sweat from my forehead. I had just finished working in the garden with the other servants, and all I wanted was a quick shower and some time to cool off. My shirt clung to my body, and I was halfway through undressing my shirt when the door burst open.Startled, I spun around to see Seth storming in, his face twisted with anger. Behind him, Hunter entered slowly, his expression more controlled but no less tense. My heart jumped into my throat.“What’s going on?” I asked, confused and trying to keep my voice steady.Seth didn’t answer right away. He stood just a few feet in front of me, his fists clenched like he was holding back the urge to snap. Hunter walked past him, his eyes locking with mine. He didn’t say a word, just reached out and gently pulled my shirt back over my shoulder, covering my half-exposed body.His hands lingered there for a moment, resting on my shoul
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