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
NATHAN'S POVIt was all falling apart.My brain heard the words Theon said, but my mind refused to compute them. No, that's impossible. He'll be fine.Those words were on repeat as I ran to his place. “Alpha. I'm on my way there now. There should be two guards stationed there.”“No need. I'm heading there myself.”There's no way something would happen to Elder Jesper. He had been there all my life. He would be fine.The path that led me to his home narrowed down once more, and I found myself at the entrance to his home.The sight that greeted me made my blood run cold. The cabin, once a haven of peace nestled amongst the ancient oaks, was a scene of chaos. Furniture lay overturned, personal belongings scattered like fallen leaves. A half-finished carving, a testament to countless hours of patient labor, lay shattered on the floor, its intricate details now a grotesque parody of their former beauty.This wasn't just a burglary; it was a violation, a desecration of all that was sacred t
NATHAN'S POVThe implication of his words was one that did not fly over my head. I was still reeling from what he said when he let me know there was still more.“There's a piece of inscription on the ground close to the door in the living room. Bring it in. I fear I have some more bad news.”What else could there possibly be?!Leaving the room, I felt the same push against me that I had felt entering the room, and I realized I still didn't know why I could enter and wasn't affected. It was like Elder Jesper could tell the question in my mind because he answered it. “I'll explain it when you get back.”I nodded to indicate that I heard him and continued on my way into the living room. It was still the same mess I had left it entering, and the guards still were not back. Just how long would it take them to find what he wanted?In the mess, it was hard to tell what was what. I ended up with random pieces of wood more times than I could count. But I found what I was looking for sooner, ra
NATHAN'S POVThe words sounded hoarse coming from my throat. They were a truth I had always known, one that it had taken a betrayal to be wrenched from the depths of my soul. I lowered my head, my hair strands pulled away from my face in a hard grip. Saying the words out to another person made it even more real, the words projecting into reality, as they always should have been.My mate had been innocent, and I banished her.Elder Jesper laid a hand on my shoulder. “You did all you could. It wasn't in any way your fault, Nathan. You have to believe that.”Hearing those words made me regret my actions even more. It made it worse that I had lived with myself despite all that. It would have been better to receive judgment from him than to receive this understanding, the feeling of unwavering support I felt from him.“I let her down, Elder. When she needed me the most, I let her down. I don't deserve her. I never did.” My voice broke, tears threatening to break through. I cleared my throa
SOPHIA'S POVThe house was too quiet.Even with Alex and Alexia upstairs, even with Elara somewhere in the background, the silence pressed in on me like a tangible weight.Nathan’s presence still lingered in the air, thick and suffocating, despite the fact that he’d left a few minutes ago. And Lucas – Lucas had barely said a word before leaving, his jaw tight, his expression unreadable.I let out a slow breath, pressing a hand to my temple.What the hell just happened?I had spent years keeping my past buried, locked away behind carefully constructed walls. And yet, in the span of a single night, it had cracked open, spilling out at my doorstep. Nathan was here. Lucas had confronted him. And in the middle of it all was me – standing between two men, two forces that refused to yield.A bitter laugh escaped me. Perfect.Just what I needed right now. A mate coming back to claim me and Lucas being there. I turned away from the front door, heading upstairs. My body was tense with the weig
NATHAN'S POVThe moment Lucas spoke those words, “He was looking for you,” something inside me snapped into focus.I had spent weeks fighting my instincts, pulling back, restraining myself. I had let go of vengeance when my home was burned down. I had turned the other cheek when my own pack doubted me.But this?Someone dared to come after my mate?I took a slow step forward, my wolf rising to the surface. The low growl rumbled in my chest, barely contained. “Tell me everything you know.”Lucas didn’t move from the steps. He didn’t even flinch. If anything, his stance grew firmer, as if planting himself between me and Sophia. His sharp blue eyes locked onto mine, unwavering.“I’m handling it.”A slow, humorless chuckle left my lips. “You’re handling it?”“Yes.”I took another step forward. “I don’t think you understand what’s happening here.”Lucas scoffed, crossing his arms. “Oh, I understand just fine. Someone attacked my friend, and now you’re looking for an excuse to sink your tee
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