Kieran’s POV Shuddering lightly, I shook my head.I needed to clear my head. The scent of alcohol clung to Naya, mixing with the soft, familiar lavender that always wrapped around me whenever she was near. But there was something stronger tonight—something in the way she looked at me, eyes hazy yet sharp, filled with raw emotion that burned right through my restraint. I exhaled slowly, pressing my palms against the mattress beneath me to ground myself. “What the hell are you doing, Naya?” My voice came out rougher than I intended, my body tense beneath hers. She blinked at me, her brows pulling together in a frown as if trying to process my words. “I—” she started, then paused. A tipsy giggle escaped her lips as she swayed slightly in her position straddling my waist. “Kieran, you—you talk too much.” My jaw clenched. “You’re drunk.” She grinned. “Maybe.” I sighed, gripping the sheets tighter to keep my hands from doing something reckless—like grabbing her and-. “
Naya’s POV I kissed him with everything I had. My lips crushed against his, raw and desperate, pouring every ounce of emotion I had bottled up inside. I didn’t care if I was being reckless. I didn’t care if I was drunk or if I’d regret this in the morning. All I knew was that I loved him. And I needed him to know. Kieran froze for half a second—just long enough for my heart to hammer in fear that he might push me away. Then, he snapped. A deep growl rumbled from his chest as his hands tightened around my waist. He yanked me closer, molding my body against his, and then he kissed me back—hard. I gasped against his lips, my fingers tangling in his dark hair as he devoured me. His mouth was hot, demanding, full of frustration and need. I moaned softly, and the sound seemed to undo him. Kieran’s grip became almost bruising as he pulled me onto his lap, his large hands pressing into my back, keeping me flush against him. His lips moved against mine with growing urge
Naya's PovKieran wasn’t just kissing me. He was claiming me, consuming me, making sure I knew exactly how much he wanted me. A whimper slipped past my lips, and he groaned, his grip tightening. “Tell me to stop,” he rasped against my lips. I exhaled shakily. “I won’t.” A curse left his lips before he devoured me again, his hands sliding lower, exploring, teasing— God I was going to go mad.Kieran hovered over me, his bright eyes dark with something I had never seen before—something wild, unrestrained. His breath came out ragged, his body taut with tension, as if he were fighting an unseen war within himself. I didn’t want him to fight it. I arched up, pressing myself against him, my fingers tracing the sharp lines of his jaw. “Don’t stop.” His muscles tensed beneath my touch. A sharp exhale left his lips before he suddenly grabbed my chin, tilting my head back. His gaze flickered over my face, searching as if looking for hesitation—a reason to stop. I gave him
Naya’s POV A soft sigh left my lips as I stirred awake, my limbs stretching lazily beneath the covers. A delicious ache settled deep in my muscles, a warmth that reminded me of exactly what had happened last night. My eyes blinked open slowly, adjusting to the dim morning light filtering through the large bedroom windows. For a brief moment, I was confused—the heavy weight draped over my waist, the warmth pressed against my back, the faint scent of cedar and musk wrapping around me like a cocoon. Then, his arm tightened. I sucked in a sharp breath as I felt Kieran’s strong arm pull me closer, his bare chest molding perfectly against my back. His steady breathing tickled my ear, sending a wave of shivers down my spine. Oh. A rush of heat flooded my face as memories from the previous night came crashing back. The way he touched me. The way he whispered my name like a prayer. The way he claimed me. I bit my lip, trying to suppress the giddy smile threatening to sprea
Naya's POV I didn’t react. I didn’t let my face show anything but quiet neutrality as I excused myself from Lucien’s presence. A flicker of amusement crossed his expression, as if he expected me to shrink beneath his gaze—to lower my head and submit like the Omega he thought I was. But I did neither. Instead, I turned on my heel and walked away. I could still feel his gaze boring into my back, but I didn’t stop. My heart pounded in my chest, my skin crawling from his lingering presence. As I reached my room, I closed the door behind me and let out a slow breath. I couldn’t let this escalate. Kieran had worked too hard to establish diplomatic relations, and the last thing I wanted was to be the reason it crumbled. So I made a decision. I would avoid Lucien. I would stay out of his way, keep myself occupied, and wait for Kieran to return. Even if it meant biting my tongue, I wouldn’t cause a scene. At least, that was the plan. --- Lucien didn’t make avoida
Naya's POV The first thing I noticed was the cold. It seeped into my skin, chilling me from the inside out. My body felt heavy, my limbs sluggish, my breaths slow and shallow. I tried to move, but a strange numbness held me captive. Something was wrong. I blinked groggily, my vision swimming as I attempted to make sense of my surroundings. I wasn't in the courtyard anymore, rather I had been moved to one of the many indistinguishable guest rooms in the Manor.My hands clenched on the foreign sheets I was laid in.I pushed past the bile that wanted to rise in my throat at the thought of someone moving my unconscious body here.The place was dark, the only source of light coming from the moon filtering through the curtains. The scent of the tea still lingered on my tongue, now bitter, almost metallic. And then I heard it. Footsteps. Slow. Measured. Approaching. A sickening sense of déjà vu coiled in my gut. I felt trapped. Vulnerable. Hunted. Far too familiar
Kieran's POV Lies. She said it so calmly, as if she wasn’t nearly on death’s doorstep. Something wasn’t right. I turned to the doctor, my eyes flashing dangerously. "What kind of poison?" The doctor shifted nervously. “It was a—” He stopped abruptly. I caught it. That brief flicker of hesitation. "You were about to say something else," I pressed. His lips parted, but before he could speak, Naya's fingers tugged at my sleeve. I turned back to her. "There's nothing else," she said softly. "I’m fine now." I narrowed my eyes. She was hiding something. The maids were hiding something. Even the doctor was hiding something. I could sense it, feel it in my bones. But I didn’t push. Not yet. Instead, I exhaled through my nose and nodded. "Fine." For now. But I wasn’t done. Naya gave me another small smile, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I just need some rest.” "Then rest," I muttered, brushing my knuckles against her cheek. She leaned into my
Naya’s POVThe sky outside was grey, heavy with the promise of rain. I sat by the window, knees tucked to my chest, watching the first drops hit the glass. It had been days since I last saw Kieran. Since the blood. Since the war drums had begun to beat. No one said it outright, but I wasn’t blind. Kieran’s men moved with urgency. The tension in the air was suffocating. Conversations died when I walked into a room. This was my fault. I had known from the start that an Omega and an Alpha standing together would bring trouble. But I had let myself hope, let myself believe things could be different. And now? Now, Kieran was out there somewhere, dealing with the fallout, while I was kept here, shielded from the chaos. A part of me was grateful. The other part hated it. A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. "Come in," I said, my voice quieter than I intended. The maid, Elise, stepped inside, carrying a tray of food. She hesitated before speaking. "Miss Na
Naya's POVFor a long moment, neither of us speaks.Then Tobias lets out a sharp breath, shoving his gun back into its holster."This is bullshit," he mutters.I agree.But what choice do I have?—Tobias POVSomething is wrong.Naya, after managing to pull herself from the couch, had immediately started packing.She moves like a machine, stuffing clothes into the suitcase without emotion, without hesitation. That’s what makes it so wrong.She should have been resisting, fighting against it.Why is she so obedient?I cross my arms. "What's wrong?" I ask sharply after I can't take it any more.She doesn’t look at me. "Nothing, I'm fine."I narrow my eyes. "That’s a lie."She exhales, pausing for a moment.Then she turns to me, her gaze dull. "Tobias, it doesn’t matter anymore. We’re leaving tonight. That’s final."A muscle in my jaw twitches.I don’t like this.I don’t like how she looks—like she’s already lost.Something happened.And I don’t trust the Elder.I take a slow step forwa
Naya's POVThe house is quiet. Too quiet.I sit near the window, staring at the glow of the city in the far distance. It's already 6pm, and the neighbourhood is serene and quiet with an enthral beauty, but I feel like a ghost in this dimly lit space. Like I don’t belong to that world anymore.My hand rests on my stomach, fingers tracing small circles over the bump. My children shift in response, their tiny movements grounding me.Nearly seeing him today in the hospital had made my wolf sing while my heart sank to the bottom of my stomach. The alpha had been relentlessly trying to pursue me, but thankfully, Tobias had been on the floor below me and had gotten me to the car minutes after he realised what was happening.I had escaped him once more.I should feel more at ease.The war is over. The bloodshed had stopped because of what I did. And Kieran… he’s still okay.That’s all that matters.So why does it still feel like I’m suffocating?A knock breaks the silence.Sharp. Three time
Chapter 28Naya's PovI grip the sheets tightly. "Fuck," I whisper.His face is pale. I see the shock in his eyes.“Twins?” he repeated, looking morbidly curious.I nodded rapidly, tears spilling down my cheeks.“Oh, Goddess,” the bodyguard muttered, running a hand down his face. “Oh, hell. This is—”“Tobias.”I grabbed his sleeve, desperate.“Please,” I whispered. “Don’t tell them. Not yet.”His jaw tightened. “Ma’am—”“Please.”His dark eyes searched mine, hesitation flickering across his face.But then—He sighed.“Fine,” he muttered. “For now.”Relief flooded me.My lips tremble as a single, unsteady breath leaves my lips. And then, before I can stop it—The first tear falls.And then another.And another.Until my shoulders shake.A sob bursts out of me, and I press my hands over my face, trying to stop the flood.It’s useless.I am completely falling apart.I’m happy.I’m overwhelmed.I’m terrified.And for the first time in so long, I don’t have to pretend to be strong.But jus
Naya's Pov Kieran placed me on lockdown. He posted guards outside my door. He wouldn’t even look at me after what I said. But I wasn’t done fighting. Because one of the maids—Elise—had been watching. And when she slipped into my room that night, she pressed a small vial into my hands. “A sleeping dose,” she whispered. Hope flickered in my chest. I squeezed her hand. “Thank you.” That night, I laced the guards’ drinks with the powder. And when their bodies slumped to the floor, I grabbed my bag and ran. I didn’t stop. Not when the cool night air hit my skin. Not when my heart screamed at me to turn back. Not even when I felt the distant, soul-crushing pull of our bond stretching to its breaking point. I ran. And as I disappeared into the darkness, I whispered— “I’m doing this for you, Kieran.” Even if it kills me. ---Kieran's POV(I couldn’t breathe.The darkness was closing in, thick and suffocating.I saw blood.Naya’s blood.Her body lay lifeles
(Naya's POV)I barely make it out before I feel eyes on me. A figure steps in my path as I round the corner toward the main estate. Sarah. The supposed new fiancée. "Where do you think you're going in such a hurry?" she asks, voice syrupy sweet, but her eyes gleam with malice. "Move," I snap. She tilts her head. "Why? So you can return to Kieran and tattle like a little girl?" I stiffen. She leans in. "Joan and I—" she smirks, "we have a plan. And you're not in it." I hear them before I see them. Heavy boots hitting the ground, fast. Goons. My blood turns to ice. I turn and run. The forest is a blur around me. Twigs snap underfoot, branches whip at my face, but I push forward. Until I don’t. The ground disappears beneath me, and suddenly, I’m at the edge of a steep mountain cliff. A dead end. ---Footsteps slow behind me. I turn, breathing hard. Joan stands in front of the group, and Sarah is beside her. "Such a shame," Joan muses. "I was hoping
Kieran’s POV The room was silent when I woke up. Not the kind of silence that comes with peace—but the heavy, suffocating kind. The kind that screamed something was wrong. I turned over, expecting to pull Naya against me, but she was already awake. She lay on her side, her back to me, curled slightly inward. She hadn’t moved all night. I hadn’t said a single word since what happened between us. I reached out, hesitantly brushing my fingers against the bare skin of her shoulder. She flinched. It was so small that I might have missed it if it weren’t for me. But I didn’t. A sharp, painful weight settled in my chest. "Naya," I said, my voice rough from sleep. She didn't respond. I shifted closer, letting my hand slide down her arm, but she stayed rigid. That’s when I knew— I had broken something last night. Maybe not physically, but something inside her. And for the first time in my life, I regretted it. I opened my mouth to say anything, but a sud
Sarah’s POVThe whispers had been carefully hidden from me.For days, I’d been told I was to be Kieran’s soon-to-be wife, yet no one had spoken about another woman in his life.Not my parents. Not his Beta. Not the council.And most certainly not Kieran himself.So when I heard what Joan said about some omega who held Kieran’s attention, I was furious.Who was she?Some disgraced concubine? A former lover he’d cast aside but refused to let go of?I had every right to know. This was why, despite being explicitly warned to avoid that part of the estate, I was drawn to her like a predator scenting something out of place in its territory.And when I finally laid eyes on her…I realised I hated her immediately.Not because she was beautiful—though she was.Not because she carried herself with grace—though she did.But because she was too calm.Too collected.And it infuriated me that someone of her status—an omega, a supposed discarded woman—could sit there, unshaken, while I stood befor
Kieran’s POV The pressure was relentless. Every day, more messages came in. More demands. More threats. My pack remained untouched, but the tension in the air was suffocating. The other Alphas weren’t backing down, and neither was I. They wanted unity—an alliance through marriage. To them, I was an obstacle standing in the way of peace. I barely got any sleep. Lukas, my Beta, stood across from me in my office, arms crossed as he watched me carefully. “You’re running yourself into the ground, Kieran.” I didn’t respond. I was too busy reviewing the latest reports from my men stationed in the outer territories. Another attack. Another warning. Lukas sighed. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but there is a solution.” I lifted my gaze. “If you tell me to accept their deal, I’ll throw you out of this office myself.” “I’m not saying that.” Lukas held his hands up. “But think about it—if you refuse outright, they’ll turn on you. If you accept, you buy yourself time.” I gr
Kieran's POV I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair. "Naya, you didn't finish your plate." She didn’t move. Didn’t even acknowledge my voice. I clenched my jaw. "You need to eat more Naya. You can't go on like this." She just sighed. " I'm not hungry anymore.”Frustration coiled in my chest. I opened my mouth, but she continued before I could say another word. "Give me a month." I froze. She turned then, her eyes dull yet burning with something desperate. "Give me a month to do my own findings. I know you think it's dangerous, but Kieran, I have to know." I stiffened. "Absolutely not." "Kieran—" "I almost died when I learned about our child, Naya." My voice came out rougher than I intended, but I couldn't stop. "Do you understand that? I have spent every waking moment since then trying to even the score to ensure the people responsible suffer. And you want me to sit back and let you—" "Let me do something!" she cut in. "Let me prove to you that Joan is