KaleI felt the tension in the air before I heard the footsteps. Something was wrong, very wrong.I pushed through the late-night crowd, heart hammering, eyes scanning the narrow city street. Elvira was supposed to be right ahead of me, heading toward the gala’s afterparty with Celina and the others. I had stayed behind, dealing with some damn security issue at event.Bad f*cking move. A scream tore through the night, sharp and chilling."Elvira!" I roared, shoving through the wall of people.Ahead, down a dark alley lit only by a broken streetlamp, I saw them. Five figures, all masked, all wearing the Bloodmoon crest somewhere on their black clothes. Surrounding her like jackals, their claws glinted under the flickering light.Elvira was holding her ground, but she was outnumbered, backed against the filthy brick wall. Her wild green eyes locked onto mine, relief flashing through them for a heartbeat, before she shifted into a defensive stance, baring her teeth."Stay back!" she s
Celina I could feel his eyes on me again. Even across the crowded conference room at Pack Tower, Cassian's gaze kept moving toward me, lingering just a little too long. I knew it wasn’t innocent. Not after everything.I shoved the reports harder into my briefcase, pretending I didn’t notice. Pretending my heart wasn’t a live wire under my skin. When the meeting ended and the alphas and their advisors began filing out, Cassian made his move. "Celina," he said, voice low and far too familiar.I didn't turn around."What?" I said coldly."We need to talk."I laughed bitterly, finally facing him. "Now you want to talk? After months of skulking around behind Jaxon's leash?"His jaw clenched. "It’s not like that.""Isn't it?" I snapped. "Tell me, Cassian, when did you decide betraying your own people was easier than using that big brain of yours?"For a second, I saw a flicker of hurt in his dark eyes. But it passed too quickly, buried under the cool scholar's mask he wore so well.Ca
Jaxon I stood on the rooftop balcony of Pack Tower, staring out over the city I was about to light on fire.Below me, the Grand Square was packed shoulder-to-shoulder, witches, shifters, council members, rival packs, all buzzing with barely contained chaos.Tonight, I wasn't just claiming Elvira. I was declaring war."You're insane," Ronan muttered behind me, adjusting the ceremonial sword at his belt."Maybe," I said, sliding my jacket over my shoulders. "But if we don't move first, Bloodmoon will come for us”He didn’t argue, he knew I was right.Since moving back into the city, we had been surrounded on all sides by enemies dressed as politicians and businessmen. Alphas who once groveled at my father’s feet now shared alliances behind closed doors. Bloodmoon, Rivershade, even the lesser packs, they were all waiting for me to fall.They thought bringing a "wild country Luna" into the heart of Morrien territory would weaken me. Idiots. They hadn't met Elvira yet."It's time," said
DericIf there’s one thing I learned growing up with Jaxon, it’s this: You don’t trust easily.Especially not people who smile too sweet. Especially not people who hide too much.I leaned against the second-floor balcony, arms crossed over my chest, watching the secret training ring below. Officially, I was there to secretly “observe” the sessions. Unofficially? I was watching them. Kale and Elyra.Wait! They know each other? And from my angle, Elyra didn’t seem uncomfortable too.Kale moved like a fighter bred for war, quick, ruthless, precise. Every strike was sharp. Every dodge, a sign of violence barely contained.Elyra was just as dangerous. Not because she was stronger. Because she made you forget she was. Her movements were almost lazy, fluid, deceptive, until she snapped out like a whip and nearly caught Kale off guard. Nearly.Kale grinned, feral, and ducked low, sweeping her legs out from under her. She went down hard onto the mats, a grunt escaping her lips. I expected
JaxonThe city had turned into a ticking bomb. Every day, Elvira’s life was hanging by a thinner thread. And if I didn’t act fast, the whole damn Tower would come down on top of us.That's why I called the meeting. In secret. No council, no scribes, no pretty speeches.Just Alphas. The real rulers of this city.The ones who knew what it cost to keep a pack alive when enemies circled and your own people sharpened knives behind your back.We gathered in an abandoned steelworks on the west side of Morrien territory. A building too broken to eavesdrop through, too isolated to stumble on by accident.The other Alphas arrived one by one, cloaked in shadows.Laric of Blackthorn. Ilaria of Crescent Hollow. Malik of Ironfang. Even Cael of Hollowstone dragged his aging carcass out of retirement to see what the hell was going on.They eyed me warily as I stood at the center of the room, arms folded, voice low and lethal."You all know why you're here," I said.They said nothing. Means they und
Elvira I gasped for air, my throat burning as if I’d been screaming for hours. My wrists ached, the sharp bite of metal digging into my skin. I tried to move, but the clinking of chains told me I was trapped. Where am I? It was dark, cold and suffocating. The air smelled damp, like decay. My heartbeat pounded in my ears as I struggled to piece together my last memory. Wolfbane…..I had been sent to Elder Marwen’s hut to retrieve the sacred vial that would seal my mate bond with Alpha Deric of Shadowfang Pack. I remembered the excitement thrumming in my veins, Deric and I had exchanged letters for months, planning this day. My eighteenth birthday. The day I would finally meet my mate. But I never made it back. I clenched my fists, wincing at the sting of cuts and bruises. My body ached, throbbing with pain I couldn’t remember earning. Something wasn’t right, how did i end up here? Suddenly, I heard muffled voices above me. The steady sound of a crowd. A ceremony. My blo
ElviraThe footsteps continued, then I heard voices, mocking and familiar. They held a torch light, and I was able to make out of their shadows first—two figures standing tall and confident. Then they step in, the light illuminating the environment. I was in the dungeon leading to the forest. Their golden eyes glint with amusement as they look down at me, shackled and broken at their feet. “E-l-v-i-r-a,” Beta Elijah says, stepping closer, his boots stopping just inches from my trembling hands. "You’re a mess, Elvira." I flinch when he crouches, his fingers brushing a strand of damp hair from my face. His touch is light, almost gentle, but it makes my skin crawl. I don’t want them near me. I force down my revulsion, swallowing back the bile rising in my throat. “Beta Elijah… Beta Eric… please…” Eric snorts. "Please?" He tilts his head, feigning curiosity. "Please what? You think we’ll let you go?" I lift my gaze to him, just to see him smiling. I hated the look on his face.
Elvira I felt water, cold, relentless waves crashing over my body. My lungs burn. My limbs are heavy. Every inch of me is screaming in agony. I don’t know how long I’ve been here, half-submerged, my body battered and bruised. The wounds on my side throb painfully, and I can feel the sickening warmth of infection spreading through my skin. My clothes are torn, soaked with water and blood. I force my eyes open. The environment around me is blurred, my head spinning. A thick mist hovers over the riverbank, shrouding everything in eerie silence. Where am I? How am I still alive? I clutch my rib, where the arrow pierced me. The pain is sharp, but I grit my teeth and push myself up. My limbs shake, but I manage to stand. I need to move. I don’t know where I am. I don’t know where to go. But I have to keep moving. I step forward, my bare feet sinking into the damp ground. The forest looms ahead, dark and still. I stagger into it, hoping, praying, that I find a way out of this nightmar
JaxonThe city had turned into a ticking bomb. Every day, Elvira’s life was hanging by a thinner thread. And if I didn’t act fast, the whole damn Tower would come down on top of us.That's why I called the meeting. In secret. No council, no scribes, no pretty speeches.Just Alphas. The real rulers of this city.The ones who knew what it cost to keep a pack alive when enemies circled and your own people sharpened knives behind your back.We gathered in an abandoned steelworks on the west side of Morrien territory. A building too broken to eavesdrop through, too isolated to stumble on by accident.The other Alphas arrived one by one, cloaked in shadows.Laric of Blackthorn. Ilaria of Crescent Hollow. Malik of Ironfang. Even Cael of Hollowstone dragged his aging carcass out of retirement to see what the hell was going on.They eyed me warily as I stood at the center of the room, arms folded, voice low and lethal."You all know why you're here," I said.They said nothing. Means they und
DericIf there’s one thing I learned growing up with Jaxon, it’s this: You don’t trust easily.Especially not people who smile too sweet. Especially not people who hide too much.I leaned against the second-floor balcony, arms crossed over my chest, watching the secret training ring below. Officially, I was there to secretly “observe” the sessions. Unofficially? I was watching them. Kale and Elyra.Wait! They know each other? And from my angle, Elyra didn’t seem uncomfortable too.Kale moved like a fighter bred for war, quick, ruthless, precise. Every strike was sharp. Every dodge, a sign of violence barely contained.Elyra was just as dangerous. Not because she was stronger. Because she made you forget she was. Her movements were almost lazy, fluid, deceptive, until she snapped out like a whip and nearly caught Kale off guard. Nearly.Kale grinned, feral, and ducked low, sweeping her legs out from under her. She went down hard onto the mats, a grunt escaping her lips. I expected
Jaxon I stood on the rooftop balcony of Pack Tower, staring out over the city I was about to light on fire.Below me, the Grand Square was packed shoulder-to-shoulder, witches, shifters, council members, rival packs, all buzzing with barely contained chaos.Tonight, I wasn't just claiming Elvira. I was declaring war."You're insane," Ronan muttered behind me, adjusting the ceremonial sword at his belt."Maybe," I said, sliding my jacket over my shoulders. "But if we don't move first, Bloodmoon will come for us”He didn’t argue, he knew I was right.Since moving back into the city, we had been surrounded on all sides by enemies dressed as politicians and businessmen. Alphas who once groveled at my father’s feet now shared alliances behind closed doors. Bloodmoon, Rivershade, even the lesser packs, they were all waiting for me to fall.They thought bringing a "wild country Luna" into the heart of Morrien territory would weaken me. Idiots. They hadn't met Elvira yet."It's time," said
Celina I could feel his eyes on me again. Even across the crowded conference room at Pack Tower, Cassian's gaze kept moving toward me, lingering just a little too long. I knew it wasn’t innocent. Not after everything.I shoved the reports harder into my briefcase, pretending I didn’t notice. Pretending my heart wasn’t a live wire under my skin. When the meeting ended and the alphas and their advisors began filing out, Cassian made his move. "Celina," he said, voice low and far too familiar.I didn't turn around."What?" I said coldly."We need to talk."I laughed bitterly, finally facing him. "Now you want to talk? After months of skulking around behind Jaxon's leash?"His jaw clenched. "It’s not like that.""Isn't it?" I snapped. "Tell me, Cassian, when did you decide betraying your own people was easier than using that big brain of yours?"For a second, I saw a flicker of hurt in his dark eyes. But it passed too quickly, buried under the cool scholar's mask he wore so well.Ca
KaleI felt the tension in the air before I heard the footsteps. Something was wrong, very wrong.I pushed through the late-night crowd, heart hammering, eyes scanning the narrow city street. Elvira was supposed to be right ahead of me, heading toward the gala’s afterparty with Celina and the others. I had stayed behind, dealing with some damn security issue at event.Bad f*cking move. A scream tore through the night, sharp and chilling."Elvira!" I roared, shoving through the wall of people.Ahead, down a dark alley lit only by a broken streetlamp, I saw them. Five figures, all masked, all wearing the Bloodmoon crest somewhere on their black clothes. Surrounding her like jackals, their claws glinted under the flickering light.Elvira was holding her ground, but she was outnumbered, backed against the filthy brick wall. Her wild green eyes locked onto mine, relief flashing through them for a heartbeat, before she shifted into a defensive stance, baring her teeth."Stay back!" she s
Jaxon I should have known it wouldn’t be quiet for long. Not when I’m back in this damn city after three exhausting months. The morning after the City Council meeting, I woke up to my phone vibrating off the nightstand. Not one message but hundreds.I growled low in my throat, sitting up in bed. Sunlight broke through the blinds, and in the harsh light of day, I saw the headline screaming across my screen.‘ALPHA JAXON CAUGHT WITH SECRET MISTRESS? RIVERSHADE’S LILA CLAIMS BETRAYAL!’There were pictures. Grainy, zoomed-in shots of me and Elvira on the Pack Tower’s private terrace. Me tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear. Her standing in front of me. To anyone who didn’t know better, it looked... intimate. Lovers’ talk, private smiles. Exactly the kind of trash the city’s hungry for.I cursed violently under my breath. Across the other side of the room, Elvira stirred, groggy and confused. I had told her to stay with me tonight, I would figure out the best room to put her
ElviraI didn’t have time to think, to breathe, to even argue. Jaxon watched me as I struggled to say anything. Few seconds passed, he stared at me one last time before he walked straight the courtyard, and stood at the the center of it, his voice echoing through the freezing morning mist. "Pack up. We're leaving. Now."At first, no one moved. A few jaws dropped. Some of the Betas looked at each other, waiting for someone to call it a bluff. But the sharpness in Jaxon’s tone left no room for questions. Was he running away because of me?Within an hour, the entire pack compound looked like a battlefield. People were scrambling, tossing clothes into duffel bags, yanking pups from their beds, herding the wolves into trucks. That was the moment I found out, Alpha Jaxon catered for orphans pups whom they parents were no more. The great halls and pack house emptied in few minutes, even Brielle hurriedly packed her things and came to the park area were the cars were waiting.And me? I stoo
Jaxon POVThe morning broke slowly. I hadn’t slept, not a wink. Not after dragging Elvira back from the forest, not after watching the way Kairo looked at her, like she was already his. Like he’d won. Like he’d taken something from me I hadn’t even admitted I wanted.I was pacing my office, jaw tight, heart pounding. Every breath I took only made the pressure in my chest worse. It wasn’t just the council summons that had me on edge, it was the look in Elvira’s eyes when I brought her back last night. That shattered look of hurt and betrayal, like I was the last person she wanted to see. Like I'd failed her.Then came the knock on my door.“Come in”Talon entered after. “They know,” he said simply, closing the door behind him.I turned, my fingers curling into fists. “Already?Who?”“The council,” he replied grimly. “Word spread faster this morning, all most everyone is talking about it. They know she’s the girl from Bloodmoon.”I ran my hand through my hair, cursing under my breath. “H
Jaxon POVI’ve faced wars and betrayals, but nothing—nothing—has ever sent dread crawling up my spine like the realization that Elvira was missing.The air was cold that morning, clouded with fog, and yet the emptiness in her room made everything feel ten degrees colder. Her scent still lingered faintly on the sheets, floral and soft, but there was no sign of her. Her bathroom was empty. Her towel lay discarded on the floor like she’d left in a rush.“Elvira?” I called again, louder this time. Silence.I stormed down the hallway, passing the guards without acknowledging their bows. I checked the courtyard, the inner garden, even the training grounds. Nowhere. Not even a footprint.Where the hell was she?A knot formed in my stomach, tightening with every second. I wasn’t even sure how she became this important, when her absence felt like a physical ache, but now that she was gone, all I wanted was to find her.I rounded the corner to Brielle’s quarters and knocked once before swingin