Nathan's POV“You're right. We shouldn't.”My ears heard the words, and I breathed a sigh of relief. But it was short-lived.“Only because it's so right, Nathan. Don't you want this, Nathan? Don't you want me?”She grabbed my hand where it was in the water, raising it and resting it on her tits. Her nipples were taut already, puckered and ready. The primal urge in me rose without any prompting, and I could feel myself harden—an involuntary reaction to her. And she could feel it too.“Nathan, you want this. You want me. Do you like it when I do this?” She leaned in, her mouth planting open-mouthed kisses on my neck, trailing all the way to my ear. She whispered in them, murmuring nonsensical words. I stayed immobile, my hold on my control stretched to its limit. It was all I could do to not move. I held myself together, knowing if I let go, I would snap.“Let go, Nathan. I'm here. Just, let go.” She started to stroke me, and that was all it took to cut the thin thread that was my contr
NATHAN'S POVShe flinched, her hands dropping at her sides. I was equal parts confused and angry. I could barely contain my anger, my body visibly shaking from the effort of it.“Why, Victoria? Why would you do that?”I couldn't understand it. We've been friends for so long. How didn't I even get a hint of this?“I've been telling you to get rid of it for years now! I couldn't help myself. I've been telling you to reject her too, but I bet you haven't.”Something in my expression must have betrayed the answer because she scoffed at me. “I was right. You still haven't.”“That is none of your business, Victoria. You crossed a line.”“What makes her so special, Nathan? She cheated on you, for goddess' sake!”“That doesn't matter, Victoria. She's still my mate. And she would never do something like this!” I yelled at her, needing her to see what she did. “And, Victoria, you don't rub on sage—the ones only I have in my garden—if it was a spur-of-the-moment thing.”I could see the minute th
NATHAN'S POV“Victoria, tell me you wouldn't have.”She shrugged, no response from her. The sun had begun to stir behind her, making the birds chirp in the enclave of trees. The light intensified, chasing away the remaining darkness, the sliver of golden growing brighter until the sun burst forth, casting its golden rays along the landscape, making the water shimmer. It was a sunrise that would have been beautiful under normal circumstances.And this conversation was far from normal.“Victoria, answer me.”Despite everything, I still held out hope, praying that this was all some cruel joke, willing to accept it all as a mistake.“Nathan, I did it so that we could be together.”“So you did it. I don't care why you did it. You did it regardless. How could you?”The weight of what was being revealed almost made me crumble, but I still stood. I didn't even know what to process. What else could I have missed? What else happened right under my nose? What else didn't I know?Victoria walked
NATHAN'S POVThe magnitude of the situation was ever so present as I considered what to do. While my emotions were all over the place and rage blinded me, I decided that I also had a decision to make as the Alpha of this pack.“You know the punishment for betraying your Alpha.” I stood over her, towering over the figure that used to be one of my closest friends.“So what? You're just going to throw away everything we have together?”Although, as much as it would be satisfying to, she was my Beta’s daughter, and I had known her all my life. Lewis… He was going to be so heartbroken when he found out.“Victoria. You know what you did was wrong. You cost me my mate, you cost me my wolf, and you cost my trust.”“You can't be serious.”“Out of respect for your father and all you've done for this pack over the years, I will not banish you.”I waited for a moment for her reaction. She began to laugh, low at first, then developed into something more sinister. “So what? This is your mercy? Out
NATHAN'S POVIt was a long time before the clouds let up, reducing the downpour to a drizzle. What had started as a shower had turned into a storm, the wind howling through the trees. I stayed in it, drenched from head to toe. It was a storm that had been unforeseen, much like the recent events of my life.Another drop of rain fell on my face, quickly lost with the lone tear making its way down my face. I wiped it, trying to erase all trace from my face, but another had simply taken its place—another lone tear, no partner for it. It was like my body was mocking me, letting me know that I'd always be alone. That no matter what I did, it would never be enough.Victoria was long gone, and I prayed to the goddess that I never saw her again because Luna knows what I'd do if I did.Just how far did this treachery of hers go? I didn't even know who to trust. Who else had been in on it? Who else had been in on the plan to wreck my life?The betrayal hit me like a physical blow, the force of i
NATHAN'S POVThe betrayal had left me adrift, a shipwrecked sailor clinging to a piece of debris in a tempestuous sea. It had completely turned everything I knew on its head—nothing made sense. The initial shock had subsided, replaced by a dull ache, a constant reminder of the shattered trust and the shattered dreams.Every decision felt like walking on thin ice, the fear of making the wrong move, of further exacerbating the situation, keeping me frozen in a state of inaction. I was paralyzed by uncertainty, each step forward met with the chilling realization that I might be walking into an abyss.The world around me seemed to have shifted on its axis. Familiar places that we shared now held the ghosts of shared memories, each corner a poignant reminder of what was lost. The laughter, the easy camaraderie, the comfortable silence—all replaced by a haunting emptiness.I was haunted by a relentless barrage of "what ifs." What if I had seen the signs? What if I had trusted my gut instinc
NATHAN'S POV“You really think so?”I stared at the little girl in front of me, and the reassurance had come out of me without me thinking of the words.“I know you are. You can be anything you put your mind to.”“Anything?” she had asked, a little mischievous sparkle in her eyes. She twirled with her hair, the little blond ponytail wrapped around her fingers.“Yes. Anything.” I chuckled, ruffling her hair.“And you promise you'll be there no matter what?”The little kid in front of me looked hopeful like my answer defined something for her—something I didn't know at the time.“Yes, Victoria. I promise,” I solemnly swore, then stretched my hand out to her. “Now, let's get out of here.”She had taken it, dusting the sand from her clothes. “But it's so pretty here. I don't want to ever leave.”I considered it for a second. “Then how about this? This can be our own little place.”“Forever?” she had asked, a toothy grin on her face.“Forever.” My own little face had beamed at her.It was
NATHAN'S POVMy path to Elder Jesper’s home was one that was cut off from the main road, so the chances of me running into other wolves were not one that was high.In my current situation, I do not think I was capable, or rather, willing to carry on mundane conversations. And, if I was being honest, it was also partly to reduce the chances of running into Victoria. Because goddess knew what I would do if I did right now.In my confusion and turmoil, the one thing that made sense was to continue the conversation I had been having with the Elder before I had to go rescue Victoria. Just another thing that has been a lie. I had put my life on hold, and all for what? For all the lies to be revealed. For my perspective to take a dive, as now I didn't even know what to trust.Nothing made sense.But perhaps, this would.The path, a ribbon of faded brown earth, snaked through the emerald tapestry of the forest. Sunlight, although fading, filtered through the dense canopy of leaves, and dapple
SOPHIA'S POV The knock at the door wasn’t just a sound – it was a shift in the air, a weight pressing against my chest. I froze. For a moment, I convinced myself I had imagined it. That my desperation had conjured up something that wasn’t real. But then it came again – firm, deliberate. I glanced at the time on the wall, several hours after I'd called him. Could it finally be him? “Go, child. Open the door.” Elara gently pushed me towards the door. I barely realized I was moving until I was standing in front of the door, hand hovering over the handle. The mate bond was still there, faint but present, like an unsteady heartbeat beneath my skin. It thrummed softly, the connection between us impossible to ignore. I sucked in a sharp breath and pulled the door open. And there he was. Nathan stood on my doorstep, drenched in sweat, his dark shirt clinging to his broad frame. His breathing was uneven, his chest rising and falling with the force of it. His eyes – sharp, gray, pierci
SOPHIA'S POV The moment the bond snapped taut, I gasped, my breath catching in my throat. It was like a thread pulled too tight – painful, urgent, undeniable. The kitchen blurred, the dim glow of the light overhead fading into the background as something else took hold. A presence. Strong. Familiar. Nathan. My knees buckled, and I gripped the counter, my fingers digging into the cool surface as the bond flared to life with a force I hadn’t expected. It pulsed, thrumming like a second heartbeat, and I knew – he heard me. He was listening. The connection flowed through me, raw and overwhelming. But just as quickly as it surged, the exhaustion followed. A crushing weight pressed down on me, the sheer force of it nearly suffocating. Elara had left the room, and I had no idea where she was. I had no idea how long it had taken me to reach him. I had no idea. Period. Would he come? I wasn’t sure I had the right to ask for him. Not after everything. Not after I had pushed him away, r
NATHAN'S POVThe next morning came all too quickly. Sleep had eluded me, like a partner hell-bent on being away from me. I'd spent the night roaming my pack, the one place I'd considered my only home, but now seemed like the farthest thing from it. But I couldn't just bring myself to leave. This was where I'd had the best memories with Sophia, where the good times still shone.But now perhaps, the bad times were starting to outshine the good here. Is this not a sign? That I should find somewhere new?I sighed, almost wishing for the days when the Luna goddess appeared to guide me. But I also knew that if I were to see her now, it would not be without danger following behind. I didn't realize it until I was there, but I was back at the edge of the territory, where Malachi had stabbed me. And had survived. My smile was melancholic when it crossed my face. In many ways, that was the cannon event for everything. “No Nathan. This all started when you banished our love. Our mate.” My wo
NATHAN'S POVThe moment I returned, I could feel it. The shift in the air.The crowd had gathered near the ruins of my home, their eyes on me the second I stepped into their sights. But this wasn’t the usual respect, the unwavering loyalty I had once commanded. This was hesitation, doubt.And resentment.Whispers spread through the pack, a quiet murmur of voices laced with frustration and disbelief. I heard bits and pieces – enough to know what they were saying."He let them go?""How could he spare her?""What kind of Alpha does that?"I could see it in their eyes – the ones who had once stood at my side, wolves I had fought for, bled for. Some still believed in me, but others? They wanted blood. They wanted a leader who would avenge, not restrain.Theon stood by my side, his expression dark as he scanned the gathered wolves. He had known this would happen. We both had.But knowing didn’t make it easier.The silence stretched, suffocating. Then, a voice cut through it."Alpha.” An ol
SOPHIA'S POVElara stood in my doorway, the morning light catching in her silver-streaked hair, her piercing gaze locking onto mine. There was something unreadable in her eyes, something weighty – like she already knew the depths of my desperation.I swallowed hard. “I need your help.”Elara’s gaze flickered past me, her face betraying nothing. “I know.” She said simply. “Let me in.”I stepped aside, my heart pounding as she crossed the threshold. She moved with quiet confidence, her presence filling the space in a way that was both grounding and unnerving.She took one look at Alex and let out a slow breath."Tell me everything.” She murmured, kneeling beside him.I didn't hesitate. “I followed the instructions exactly. The herbs, the remedy – I did everything right.” My voice cracked. “And it worked. For a little while. But then he got worse. Worse than before.”Elara pressed the back of her hand to Alex's forehead. His fever had climbed again overnight, his breathing shallow, his s
SOPHIA’S POVAlex's ragged breathing filled the apartment, each shallow inhale like a blade to my chest, hacking away at my heart. His small frame was curled on the couch, with blankets piled over him, but he still shivered. His skin was pale, slick with sweat, and the dark circles under his eyes had deepened.The remedy was supposed to help. Instead, it had made things worse.I ran my fingers through his damp curls, my heart squeezing as he stirred restlessly.“Mom…” His voice was weak, barely above a whisper."I'm here, baby,” I murmured, brushing his cheek. “I'm right here.”But I wasn't enough.I pressed my lips together, trying to suppress the wave of frustration and fear threatening to drown me. I had done everything right – followed the instructions exactly. So why was my son suffering more than before?There was only one person who might have the answers.Elara.But she was nowhere to be found.I had spent the last few days calling in favors, digging through old contacts, and
SOPHIA’S POVThe piece of paper lay on the kitchen counter, its old edges curling slightly, almost as if it had been waiting for me to pick it up again. I traced a finger over the handwritten words, my mind running in circles.Could this really help Alex?I had spent the last few days debating whether to try it. The idea of trusting something left behind by a stranger – even one who seemed to know far too much – should have set off alarms in my head. And yet, every time I looked at Alex, at the way he struggled with something he didn't even understand, I knew I had to do something.I didn't even stop to consider who exactly she was – friend or foe? Werewolf or not. If there's anything I've learned in all my years of living here, it is that things were not always as they seemed. People were not always as they seemed. I mean, take a look at me. Masquerading as a human all these years. Trying to find a way for my son, who looks human enough, a remedy to help with this.I could go on all
SOPHIA'S POVThe signs were getting worse.At first, it was just little things – things I could wave off as coincidences. But now, Alex was struggling. He was irritable, restless, and unable to sit still for long periods. His emotions ran hot, shifting from calm to frustration in an instant. And the worst part? He didn’t understand why.And neither did I. This wasn't typical. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. I thought I'd have more time.I had no idea how to help him. I had no one to talk to. Alexia came in. “Mom, have you seen my pink ribbon?”“Have you checked your backpack sweetie?” “You're right Mommy. Lemme go check now.” She said with a grin before running out. Alex walked in right behind her.“Hey, sweetie. How are we doing today?” I pulled him to me and rubbed his arms in concern.“Mom, I don’t feel right.”That’s what he had told me just this morning, eyes wide with confusion, voice so small it made my heart ache. I felt my heart break. And I had done the only thing I
SOPHIA'S POVI got up and decided that enough was enough and there was no way I was going to let this occupy more space in my head than it already had. “Maybe the kids were up.” Then I looked towards their door and heard no noise coming from within. I frowned. No sound meant trouble. “Alex? Alexia? Are you up yet, my sweet babies?” I called out as I walked to their room. I paused in front of their door before suddenly going in. “Boo!” I said as I entered, meaning to startle them but did not move as I observed the scene in front of me. I watched Alex from the doorway, arms crossed, my chest tight with unease. He was sitting on the couch in the room, fidgeting – his fingers tapping a restless rhythm on his knee. His foot bounced, his jaw clenched, his expression one of intense focus as he stared at the blank television screen.Something was wrong.Lately, I had been noticing little things – things I had told myself were just coincidences, things I had desperately tried to ignore.Th