JAKE’S POV
The incident at last full Blood Moon haunted me everyday. The memory persisted in my mind like a festering wound that would not go away, regardless of how much time had passed. I remembered the heat of it, the way my blood boiled as my wolf, Lucio, struggled for control. The Blood Moon's tug was more powerful than anything I had ever experienced. My entire body shook, my muscles tensing up and my claws sticking out against my will. I had tried to resist it. But it was more powerful. And Alisha paid the price. She had looked at me with such love, even in her final moments. Her dark eyes, wide with fear but unwavering in trust. "Jake, it’s me," she had whispered, hands cradling her stomach, protecting our unborn child. But I hadn’t heard her. Not truly. The beast inside me had drowned out everything—her voice, her scent, her pain. Her body laid lifeless beneath me. My claws buried in her chest. The howl of agony that ripped from my throat when reality snapped back. I had killed her. My mate. My unborn child. A sharp knock on the door of the council chamber yanked me from the past. I exhaled, shoving the memories back into the darkness where they belonged. The doors creaked open, and the council members filed in, their expressions unreadable as they took their seat. Elder Ragnor cleared his throat. "Alpha Jake, before we begin, I would love to address what happened during your mate’s introduction." I stiffened. "As you know, the announcement did not go as planned," He continued. "The hostility toward your mate was… unfortunate." Unfortunate? That was putting it lightly. The moment I introduced Lyra, murmurs turned into outright protest. They saw her as an omega— weak, fragile, not capable of ruling the pack alongside me. Lyra had sat there, silent, refusing to cower. But I saw the pain in her eyes with the way her hands trembled. It had taken every ounce of my restraint not to rip through the crowd and demand their respect. But respect wasn’t given. It was earned. I exhaled sharply. "And what do you propose we do to fix this?" Elder Gregory met my gaze evenly. "The council has decided that tradition must be upheld. Lyra must prove herself. A trial by combat!." My eyes widened as those words rang into my ears. A trial by combat? Against Cloe? It was obviously a death sentence. Lyra could never compete with Cloe’s combat skills. She cannot do the basic shifting into a wolf. I leaned forward, my eyes locked on Elder Gregory’s. “This is ridiculous! A trial by combat?" I repeated, my voice tinged with contempt. “Alisha didn’t have to go through this, so why make Lyra do it?” Gregory’s expression remained unyielding. “Alisha was with child or have you forgotten so soon”. I already knew where this was going. “It’s not about want, Alpha,” He continued. “It is about necessity, It is tradition! You of all people should know better than that. The Luna of ShadowClaw must be strong, feared and respected. And your mate…” He hesitated. “She is not there yet”. A low, sinister growl rumbled inside of me. Lucio, my wolf was agitated prowling at the edges of my control, his rage pulsing through me. “She shouldn’t have to prove herself,” he snarled. “She is our mate and that ought to be enough”. I agreed but however, for obvious reasons, the council has refused. How can I break this curse if I don't have a mate? It has already been prophesied that only my fated mate could do it. As much as I try to agree with my council that Lyra doesn’t possess the qualities I need, something inside of me speaks otherwise. “She is my mate and I am the Alpha! My word is law!” I declared with a stern voice. Gregory shook his head. “Yes she is chosen, but tradition supersedes all!. We cannot risk incurring the wrath of the moon goddess when things go south for disobedience. If she wins, she will be recognized as Luna, If she doesn’t...” I narrowed my eyes. “Then what?” “Then she leaves Shadowclaw!” I leaned back into my seat, lining my fingers into a clenched fist, breathing deeply to keep Lucio from surfacing. My jawline tightened forcing me to swallow hard. “This gathering is dismissed, you can all leave...now!”. I thundered "I said leave!" I snapped, standing abruptly. My chair scraped against the stone floor, the sound echoing through the chamber. A powerful wave of my aura crashed over the room, making even the strongest to flinch. Without another word, they rose from their seats, murmuring among themselves as they filed out of the chamber except Damon. Damon stood near the far end of the table, arms crossed over his broad chest. He hadn’t altered a word since the onset of this meeting, but I know damn well his sharp eyes hadn’t missed a thing. I tried to calm my nerves before slowly turning my eyes towards him. " Please tell me you think this is ridiculous too" "Jake…" He sighed, rubbing a hand over his jaw. "I won’t lie to you. I see why the council is doing this." My stomach twisted. "So you agree with them?" Damon didn’t flinch at my glare. "I understand their reasoning," he corrected. "Lyra is an omega. She’s never fought before. The pack sees that as a weakness." Lucio growled inside me, but I forced myself to listen. Despite my reluctance to hear it, Damon had consistently been my most candid and trusted advisor. "But," Damon continued, his voice firm, "that doesn’t mean she can’t be trained." “A month is a short time, but it’s not impossible," Damon said. “She just needs to hold her ground long enough to prove she isn’t weak. That’s what the pack needs to see”. I inhaled deeply, considering his words. Damon was right. The duel was a month away. It gives her time to learn. I hated that she had to go through this at all. But if this was the only way for her to claim her rightful place beside me… then I would make damn sure she didn’t fail. I met Damon’s gaze, my resolve hardening. “Then we train her.” Damon excused himself from the room. I leaned back in my chair and inhaled deeply. I rubbed my temples swaying slightly in my chair in an attempt to get rid of the irritation in my chest. But I caught a glimpse of movement right before I closed my eyes. There she was, Lyra. The golden light of the setting sun was shining on her. as she strolled through the field. The breeze caused her silver hair to dance, with loose strands swaying across her face. She looked like the god of beauty itself had taken a human form. My breath hitched, I couldn’t look away, not with the mate bond tugging me like an invisible chain. I stood up, my legs moving on their own before my mind could catch up. The evening breeze immediately welcomed me with her soft scent as I made my way towards her. The moment she caught a glimpse of me, a slow smile curved her lips and damn it, my heart stuttered. I narrowed the gap between us, coming to a stop just close enough to touch her if I so desired. “You look worried,” she said tilting her head up slightly. Her gaze right in my face like the answer to her question was right in my eyes. I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. “And you, like a goddess descended onto this field”. A soft blush infused her face, but she rolled her eyes. “Your flattery won't distract me. Now stop kidding and tell me what the problem is”. “Alright, you caught me, “ I admitted. I hated the way the uncertainty crept into her face before I even said the words. I held her hands. “I had a meeting with the pack council pertaining to your stay in the pack and as the future Luna of the pack..” “....and?” She queried. Her lips parted slightly, eyes peering deep into my soul. “And we…I mean they,” I stuttered. “The council members are demanding you prove capability.” I hesitated a bit. “They are demanding a trial by combat”. “What? A fight?. Her eyes widened in shock. “Jake, you’re the leader of this Pack and you can do something about this right…tell me you won’t allow that!” My heart sank into my stomach as those words escaped her lips.LYRA’S POVI stood there in the arena, battered and breathless. Blood dripped from the deep cut on my side and arm. I could barely move. My opponent towered towards me. Her eyes, red, burning with cruel satisfaction.“You failed yet again!” She sneered.Before I could react, it's body contorted into sickening cracks, muscles ripping apart, bones stretching, saliva dripping, bloodshot eyes, slowly transitioning into a ferocious monster.I tried to escape but my body felt frozen. The ground beneath me split open, black twigs sprawled upwards, twisting around my legs, dragging me down into darkness. “No, let me go!” I struggled, trying to break free, but it wouldn't let go. I clawed dirt, trying to get a grip on something but its pull was stronger.“You are mine.” It growled. Its claws sliced through my face with a swipe as it dragged me into the underworld.“NO!!!!”I jolted from my bed, my eyes fluttering as I tried to adjust to the dark surroundings. My breathing was ragged, confusio
LYRA’S POVThe quietness in the room was broken by my alarm buzzing sound. I let out a moan and slammed it shut. For a few seconds, I considered sliding back under the duvet but the constant movement and footsteps around the house succeeded in pulling my mind awake.“Jeezzz…don't y'all sleep?”. I rolled over my pillow, muffling my mouth with it before letting out my frustration in a muffled scream.Today is my first day of training.For a moment, I stared into the ceiling thinking of how best to make this work. I let out a deep sigh before rolling over the bed, forcing myself up, and making my way to the bathroom.I gripped the sink, staring at myself in the mirror. With pale skin and eye bags, I didn't look like someone cut out for a fight. Come to think of it, I had always imagined mate Bond being all rosy and a happily-ever-after union. Not some Vikings show-off. Pushing the thought aside, I grabbed my towel and entered the shower.I quickly dressed up and made my way to the kitche
JAKE'S POVI hurried off with what seemed like the speed of light. I didn’t know where I was going at first but I kept running. Away from Lyra, away from the pack, away from myself!..I burst out to the lakeside. There was something about the scenery that gave me a rather calming effect, so it became my spot when I was troubled.I dropped to my knees by the water bank, digging my claws into the sand before letting out a loud growl. “Ahhhhh… why me? Why always me?” I screamed my lungs out. “ Why have you forsaken me, moon goddess? I never brought this upon myself. Haven't you punished me enough?”. “You took my wife! My son! And when I was beginning to build another life, you were back to steal it too.” I punched hard on the ground, tears streaming down my cheeks.I could still remember the smile on Alisha’s face that night. It was a day to our anniversary and we had organized a pre-anniversary dinner- just the two of us. I knelt in front of her, my ears slightly resting on her baby
LYRA'S POVWhat in the good heavens just happened? I hadn’t expected him to lash out like that or did I do anything to trigger his temper? I kept pondering on what just happened as I walked back to the packhouse clenching my wrist lightly, trying to ease the throbbing pain that stung me as a result of Jake's tight grip. The sight of blood smears on my skin made my stomach twist.“He could’ve killed you,” Tara whispered, her voice finally breaking through the racing thoughts in my mind. “That wasn’t just a slip. Something’s wrong with him.” She kept bellowing loudly but I altered no word.I pushed through the side entrance, avoiding the main hall, but the moment I stepped inside, Abigail’s sharp eyes landed on me.“My goodness! Miss Lyra, what happened?” She exclaimed. Her eyes widened as she rushed forward, her hands already reaching for mine.“I’m fine.” My response was sharp and my body tensed as she tried to inspect the wound. Her flinch made me regret my tone, but I couldn’t brin
LYRA'S POVI held my breath, wincing as one of my maids stumbled, nearly sending my box crashing to the ground. “Please be careful with that,” I called out. I knew what it felt like being an Omega in a pack as big as this- fragile and vulnerable. Just that the moon goddess decided to shine her light in my path by mating me with an Alpha causing me to escape that fate.“I'm sorry Ma'am,” she said, adjusting how she held it.I practically was in dire need of an opportunity to get away from the frenzy of the past few weeks. A day or two of fresh air and freedom sounded like bliss.I had earlier discussed with Lisa who mentioned she had a cousin in Eldrida who could be our perfect tour guide.A vehicle pulled in while I was double-checking my belongings in the trunk. I turned to see Lisa. She stepped out with a wide grin on her face. She wore a glittering black sequin dress with slim, single straps. Her brown curls cascaded over her shoulder.“ There she is..!“I said, walking towards her
LYRA'S POVTWO NIGHTS LATER The room was buzzing with energy as we prepared for the club. It was out last night in Eldrida and we were ready to maximize every bit of the night. Janet had been an amazing host and I was sure going to miss her. “ I can't believe our holiday is almost over”. Lisa said, gesturing like a crybaby as she walked over to pick up a call on her phone. I chuckled. “At least you get to go back to a lovely family”.Lisa sat on the bed giggling into her phone. She was speaking to Damon. A pang of jealousy pricked my chest but I pushed it aside. The truth remains that Jake hadn't reached out to me since I left and I couldn't help but wonder if he still cared about me.I was fastening my shirt in front of the mirror when Janet walked in and suddenly burst into laughter.“What in heaven's sake are you wearing? Janet said, staring at me from head to toe. "Don't tell me this is what you plan to wear for the night”I frowned, looking down at my outfit. It was a long den
LYRA’S POVThe rays of the morning sun peered through the window as Janet drove us to the bus station. The weekend had been a crazy blend of adventure. From having fun to being trailed by freaks. As much as I'd miss Eldrida, I wanted to get back home.Shadowclaw wasn’t just a place anymore—it was home. Even if Jake had been distant lately, there was still a part of me that hoped he missed me.“I can’t believe the weekend is over already,” Lisa said, breaking the silence. She leaned her head against the window, a small smile playing on her lips. “It feels like we just got here.”“I know,” I replied, glancing at her. “But it’s nice to be going back home. I miss the pack. I miss… well, everything.” We all chuckled as we drove to the bus station.The passenger had just begun boarding when we arrived at the bus station. “This is where we say goodbye," Janet said. "Let's do this again,” Janet said, reaching out for an embrace.“Sure!” I responded with a warm smile on my face before moving
JAKE’S POV“Sadly, we’ve lost a total of ten people already, and the majority of them are elderly,” Selene said in a subdued tone. Her shoulders dropped with her lips pressing against each other.I nodded, unable to utter a word. The weight of this misfortune pressed against my chest like a millstone.Damon and I took a walk out of the infirmary and stood at the entrance of the pack house, my arms crossed over my chest, still bothered by the implication of this situation. “How long would it take for Alpha Bradley to get here,” I asked, almost running out of patience.“Soon, Alpha. I informed him of the urgency of the situation. I’m sure he'd be here in no time” Damon assured. “There they are,” Damon exclaimed with a sigh of relief.I watched as Alpha Bradley’s convoy filed in, coming to a halt in front of the pack house. One of his men reached out to open the door, as he stepped out, flanked by over twenty other men. Bradley was tall, with broad shoulders and a scar on the right sid
LYRA’S POV“Pregnant?” I asked, walking back to the bed with shock over my face.“No, I’m not! Why would you think that?” I retorted.I’ve already been through enough, getting pregnant by someone who has practically rejected me will be the last straw that would break the camel’s back. A rejected pregnant Luna? Hell no! That would be a disaster. I don't think I'd be able to stand such a level of jest and shame. I heaved a sigh trying to shake off the thought from my mind.“I wouldn’t be totally wrong asking,” Lisa said, with her brows slightly raised. “As much as there are no physical signs chances yet, we cannot rule out the possibility. Not like Alpha Jake is impotent, plus the day you got out of coma,...”“Yes! The day I got out of coma,” I said, rolling my eyes. I remember throwing up but that should be the side effect of the medications I had gotten.” I retorted, cutting her assumptions off. “Me and Jake were not always in each other's bed except for one time; the day he came to
LYRA’S POV"Lyra, please come on, we've got to go now," Lisa pleaded as she crossed her arm into mine pulling me away from the choking tension.I stood there frozen, and I didn't realize she was pulling me to walk away. My heart at that instant was drowning with emotions. The moment Jake refused to deny Ella’s claim, something inside me cracked—something I wasn’t sure could ever be repaired.I got a hold of myself and decided to listen to Lisa. I walked blindly, letting Lisa lead me while I wished I'd somehow open my eyes to realize it was just a nightmare.Sadly, it wasn't. My mind kept playing back everything that had just taken place, from Jake’s cold response and expressions to Ella’s sneers.I was so lost in my thoughts that I barely noticed when Lisa stopped walking. I looked up to see Tessa standing in front of me. As much as I tried to be calm, none of them was left out in my wrath. From Jake to his mother, down to the council members. They all knew about this.“Lyra…” she sta
LYRA’S POV"Do you know who she is?" I whispered to Lisa still maintaining a firm stance while she walked in, in a chaotic manner. I briefly turned to Tessa, who looked like she expected it but not so soon. I took a few steps forward, meeting up with her halfway into the house. “I don’t know if you have issues with hearing, but I just asked a question a few seconds ago?” My voice came out sharp. “I am going to ask you one more time, what are you doing in my house or do you have the wrong address?” I asked again.She threw her chestnut-colored hair behind her shoulder with a smirk on her face while scanning me with her emerald-colored eyes as if checking if I was worth a response from her or not. She was tall and slim, and her curves were obviously not hidden. She carried herself effortlessly in a way that suggested she was used to luxury. Her shiny designer dress and the glittering accessories made a statement but I care less about those.She arched her perfectly carved brow. "Oh, I
LYRA’S POV“Oh, Thank goodness you’re here!” I overheard Tessa talking to Lisa from behind my door. It’s been three days now since my encounter with Jake and I haven’t stepped out to feel the sunlight. I wasn’t ready to have the eyes of the pack members on me and obviously the crazy gossips that would be flying around. Just yesterday, I overheard some maids talking about me from the laundry cot which was just behind my window. I was clothed in shame. How can I stand the faces of everyone who had thought so highly of me. But on the brighter side, I’m still Luna. I can’t let Jake’s flimsy attitude get the better of me. I should have gotten used to it by now.“Please open the door, Lyra!” Lisa pleaded, followed by her incessant knocks on the door.“Please go away, Lisa. I don’t want to talk to anyone. You all should let me be, Please.” I echoed back to her, sliding down to the hard floor with my back leaning against the door.“Just let me in, please. I promise not to talk. I just want
LYRA'S POVA grave of silence spread through the chambers, very thick and suffocating. I knew if I yelled from now till centuries later, it would only take the command from Alpha Jake to make them leave the chambers. How can the heart of man be so wicked, I kept wondering with my heart pounding hard in my chest. I could feel the heat of my anger escaping through my nostrils as I waited for an unfortunate person who would dare speak to me so I could lace them with my venom.The council members moved uncomfortably in their seats, staring at each other without a word. I had stood behind the door listening to them argue before walking in, though it came as faint whispers, I couldn't make out the reason for the argument. Gamma Rhea’s lips parted in shock, while Elder Gregor, who had been the loudest in his opposition earlier, seemed momentarily at a loss for words.Jake’s voice sliced through the tension breaking the silence. “Leave us.” He ordered. His tone was low yet firm as he sat ba
JAKE'S POVMy words hung heavy in the chamber and hearts of everyone seated around the neatly polished conference table. The murmurs and gasps still simmered within. I could feel the disappointed looks and the disbelief etched into their expressions as they tried to suck in my words. Even my most loyal advisors seemed shaken, Damon especially. He still hadn’t lifted his head.I sat patiently waiting for them all to kick against my decision because I knew it was inevitable in this situation. But, what they didn’t understand was, I wasn’t doing this out of cruelty. I'm doing this to keep Lyra safe. I am very sure they do not know what it feels like to have blood in your hands and I'm not willing to go down that lane.I bit down on my inner lip, trying to get myself ready to hear several angry tongues lash out at me."I think you are joking, Your Grace, because you can't be serious," Elder Gregor finally spoke, his voice laced with disbelief. He was the oldest member of the council, his
JAKE'S POV“Do you want to question my authority?” I barked at the maid standing in front of me. My chest heaving as I spat at her.“No..No sir!” the maid responded, her voice trembling as she bowed before me.“I thought as much. Now get out of my sight before I throw your miserable self to the dogs to feed on!” I hissed.“Ye.. yes sir!” She responded before running off from my presence. My heart fell into my stomach immediately when she left my presence. This is obviously the toughest decision I have ever made as an Alpha. Hurting someone I care about without flinching. Not intentionally, but it was necessary to save them. “I hope Lyra gets to understand this hard choice later on,” I muttered to myself.“Jake!” I heard my mum yell my name while storming into the house. Whenever I hear her call me by my name in that manner, I know I'm about to have my head on a plate, but I care less right now. With time they will all understand why I have to do this.“Yes, mum?” I responded casua
LYRA’S POV“I don't know exactly what is wrong with Jake,” I yelled. “One moment he's nice, the next, he treats me like a piece of furniture decorating the house,” I busted out in anger.“You have every right to feel this way, Lyra. But what can I possibly say? I'm facing the same problem with my husband. He has been distant from me and that is so unlike him.” Lisa said. I don't know if those words were meant to comfort me, but they did nothing to calm my mind. If this was how other mates suffer in their union, maybe the moon goddess would have considered making me a loner, other than pairing me with a nut head. I paced up and down the room, sneering in anger.“I overheard my husband talking about a new pack ruled by a vicious Alpha, Leo and he is threatening to take over our territory. I think they are engrossed with handling the threat,” she suggested in a low tone.I flinched at the mention of that name. “Leo?” I asked. My tone was laced with a bit of curiosity.My brother, Leo,
LYRA'S POV "Who are you?" I voiced out, in search of who was talking. "You should know better than hiding behind those trees, you coward! Show yourself!" I barked."The moment is drawing near Lyra..it's time!" I heard the voice whisper into my ear again. This time around, I felt chills forming on my skin and my eyes pushing out of its sockets in fear. I could hear my heart banging in my chest until someone held my arm from behind. My heart immediately sank into my stomach.“Oh my God!” I muttered under my breath, slowly turning around to see who it was. A woman with an eerie figure stood behind me. I couldn't make her face but her eyes glowed from the dark veil across her face.“Who.. who are you?” I stuttered, my body trembling. I waited for a response but got none. I tried to summon courage this time around, “Who are..” I was cut off forcefully.She pulled out my hand with a speed I never expected, making a straight cut on it. “What do you think you're doing?” I asked, groaning a