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
NATHAN'S POVThey were words that had stayed with me my entire life. I guess I had lost sight of them in light of recent events, but they were words I had vowed to live by regardless. And hearing Elder Jesper say something similar really struck a chord within me.“Yeah. Thanks, Elder Jesper. I needed to hear that.” I really did.“Anytime, Nathan.” He squeezed my shoulders reassuringly, then sat back. “So now, what else happened?”I narrated how Malachi had been involved and how he had never actually slept with her. I explained how it had all just been a plot for Victoria to mate with me and be the Luna of this pack.“Wait. So she found her mate and rejected him because of you?”I nodded in answer, then verbally affirmed too. “Yes. Or so she says. I don't know how true it is or if I want to believe it.”“I understand what you're getting at. She's broken your trust.”“Beyond repair. And not only that, but her mate could also be out there, rejected and thinking it's all my fault. When I
NATHAN'S POVHe stared at me, trying to assess my level of commitment to this. I faced him head-on, letting him know that I'm ready for whatever challenge is thrown my way.He nodded, like he found something he was looking for. “Good. Because Malachi is not going to let you have it that easily. He's going to be back. This is not the last we've seen of him.”“I'm afraid so.” My voice was grave as the possible ways of retaliation from Malachi ran through my head. I knew what he did to Elder Jesper was just one of them.“And you may have gained enemies from this tactic of yours. Like I said earlier, people from both sides are not going to like this. You're telling them to set aside a rivalry almost as old as the packs themselves to work together. There will be bloodshed. Are you prepared for that?”“I don't have a choice. Leaving the pack without a leader and without ties to a strong pack is basically setting them up for failure and up for grabs to whoever finds them vulnerable first. An
NATHAN'S POVElder Jesper’s words snapped me out of my own head. “What did you say?”“Nathan. Let me ask you this. What's stopping you from going to meet her?”“Who? Sophia?” I inquired, the confusion apparent. He only nodded, not giving me a verbal response.“Well, that's because…” I paused, my words trailing off. What was stopping me?What could I say that would actively justify me not going after her?“Where would I start from?” I finally settled on it.“Where? The world is your stepping stone. Begin your journey there. No journey ever began without that first step. And the first step cannot be taken without you making that decision.”“So what are you saying?”“I'm saying, Nathan, that you need to do whatever you can to get Sophia back.”Get her back?The thought seemed almost incomprehensible as it swirled around in my head. Get my mate back?“There is a chance?” I asked, the question coming on in a breath.He nodded. “Although slow, the chance does exist. Listen to me, Nathan. Lo
SOPHIA'S POVThe rain was coming down in sheets, a relentless torrent that had transformed the usually vibrant backyard into a muddy swamp. The rainbow that had been there earlier had disappeared beneath the dark clouds. Inside, the twins, Alex and Alexia, were bouncing off the walls, their energy levels threatening to shatter the windows."Mom," Alex whined, "We're bored!”"I know, darlings." I sighed, peering out the window at the dismal weather. "But it's pouring outside. We can't go anywhere."Alexia, ever the dramatic one, flopped onto the sofa with a theatrical groan. "This is the worst day ever!"After having pancakes for breakfast, I knew having any other thing with too much sugar would be abysmal for the kids, hyping up their energy levels, but I was counting on their werewolf metabolism to solve the problem.I smiled. "Well, let's make it a little less bad." I rummaged through the pantry, pulling out a large bag of flour and a bowl. "How about we bake some cookies?"The twin
SOPHIA'S POVThe aroma of freshly brewed coffee and freshly baked and cooked meals filled the air as I unlocked the door to "Sophia’s heart," my little haven, my pride and joy.Having dropped my kids off at school, it was time to begin the day. I entered my car to begin the drive to work.But after settling in my seat, I had taken a moment for myself. Watching them enter the school gates and waving them goodbye had filled my heart with a sense of accomplishment that could not be rivaled. They had grown up to be such amazing children."Five years ago, I wouldn't have thought this possible. In fact, I would have told myself it wasn't. That I wasn't fit to be a mother or to own a restaurant. It had seemed like such a daunting task, but if there's anything I've learned, it's that with every new thing in life, you have to carry yourself with the determination and poise you hope to project to it. Having an open mind, and not limiting yourself to any construct or standard, helped in more way
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