Zachary’s POV:“Take me to the Alpha.” The words sounded more of a command.And one that stuck to me as my feet suddenly moved on their own accord.It was almost as if her command worked.But how is that possible?I moved to grab her with the intention of putting her in my truck when she immediately, stepped out of reach.I couldn’t help the pained look that’s now probably sealed into my eyes. Perhaps forever. So long as she looks at me with that deep-seated hatred in her eyes.The only time I’m going to get out of this habit is when she finally says she forgives me.After all, she knows just as much as I do that you only get one mate in this lifetime. If you’re lucky, the goddess will provide you with a second chance mate.But no one’s ever heard of receiving a second chance mate since decades ago. So to say, there’s a mere, one percent chance we’ll ever get another mate. It is the goddess that passes judgement on whether you deserve to be given one after rejecting the one she’s give
Evvie’s POV:This is a mistake.As soon as the car made it twenty feet past the damn border, the shivers running up and down my spine splayed across my skin.“Evvi—”Before he could finish, I whipped my head so fast and pinned him with my murderous glare. My aura slipped and leaked from the tip of my fingers to the strand of my hair, but I had no intention on suppressing my wrath underneath a cold stare.Something I learned to unlearn so long ago.“Vi.” He corrected, clearing his throat.I ceased with the murderous gaze and averted my eyes, not wanting to get lost in his for far too long.Or I will lose everything I’ve worked so hard to build all these years. And that includes me. Myself, the person I strived so hard to become.Vana kept to herself all this time, and I have been wondering what she was thinking all this while.If returning to this pack and meeting Duncan after all these years, took a toll on her. I could feel his wolf was trying to link with her. But she’s either too t
Evvie’s POV:The truth.He told me everything.How everything was apparently orchestrated by Gabriel and Brenda from the start. It turns out they were destined mates. A scoff escaped my lips. It’s not surprising that wannabe douchebag of an alpha was mated to that lying, conniving, pretentious bitch. They’re perfect together. It was Gabriel’s plan to blame the pregnancy on him. Hearing that, I wanted to laugh. Still terrified of his father, as always.He told me how it made sense he didn’t remember anything that night. He was drugged, and made a fool of by making him think he slept with her just because she was butt-naked when he woke up lying next to her in bed.I could very well see the way his hands trembled in anger as he recollected the day he found out the truth. It happened over a year ago, and eventually, he moved out. When he finished telling his story, I pulled my teeth over my lower lip, not knowing what to say. Neither opened their mouth to speak, much less bre
Logan's POVABOUT AN HOUR AGO"She called?" I asked as I stared out the window."Yes, Alpha." Ethan, my new Gamma and apparently my runaway luna's brother, answered. "She's finally coming back."A soft smile played on lips."I would very much like to see who this cupcake is in person." Carlos, my loyal beta and right-hand man, commented.I didn't respond but kept a stoic face, despite the headache induced by Tristan jumping up and down in my head.We were headed to the Winter Mist Pack. I had traveled back to my principal Pack, the Shadow Blood Pack, to retrieve some of my belongings and speak to the Alpha-in-charge.Once that was done, I couldn't wait to be back.I waited so long for this moment.Five years ago, I danced with a woman. Raven dark hair, stark silver eyes, and a curvy body I couldn’t forget. She's the whole package.At first, I felt an attraction to her. One I couldn't resist. It didn't feel so strong as to make me think she was my mate, but it was an attraction nonethe
Logan’s POV:STILL IN THE PAST…His eyes scanned me suspiciously. I continued walking, half-expecting him to lurch at me once he realizes I belonged to neither of the packs that gathered here.But he never did as I got back to my room without fail.I know I had no scent. It was the work of a witch that enabled me to enter packs with no ties to the Shadow Blood Pack.I have one mission.Infiltrate the pack, steal their information, then prepare my warriors for ambush.I know I play dirty, but I bet you wouldn’t call it that when you learn all the dirty shit that comes in and out of this pack.The Winter Mist Pack is at the top of my list of packs to ambush and conquer.My name is Logan Reed.I am the Alpha of the Shadow Blood Pack. We are especially known as notorious, ruthless, and vile wolves who move in the shadows before shedding the blood of our enemies. We attack through the darkness the night brought forth, and we always end up gaining the winning hand. Always.
Zachary’s POV:I waited as the slow, grueling seconds ticked by.It was only when she opened her mouth to speak did I let myself breathe.“I don’t know, Zach.” She’d said.I smiled painfully, giving her a nod.“I understand.”Then I whipped around and locked eyes with her.“But I’m not giving up.”I won’t.The goddess gave me this chance.I’m not about to fuck it up.. . .I jumped out of the truck and made my way quickly to the other side, opening the door for her.She gave me a quizzical look. Her beautiful silver eyes I grew obsessed with sparkled delightfully, my heart stopped.My eyes lowered to her lips, parting slightly.Oh how I missed those lips.Right then and there, I wanted to whisk her off her feet and carry her straight to my bed.I wanted to make love to her, despite knowing she’d made love to someone else that night I ran into her in my hotel.The night she disappeared and took my heart along with her.I’d never forgiven myself for letting that happen.But right now, fa
Logan’s POV:I had an inkling from the start. Something was not right about the man. There was something in him that triggered me. Something that never failed to make me lose control.And there he stood, too damn close to my beautiful mate. It was plain obvious. His affection as he looked at her showed in his eyes. His hand falling down the small of her back, but I was more pre-occupied with the look of pure shock on our mate’s face.I stared at her in awe.She looked exactly as I remembered.I took one step towards her when the beta fucking threw himself to me in wolf form.Instinctively, I shifted into my own.Tristan is seething, eager to sink his teeth and claws into the bastard’s flesh. The fucker thinks he has some claim on my mate, my luna.But he’s fucking wrong.I played the role of defense, careful not to tread lightly.In this pack, he was the only male wolf who actually stood a chance to fight me off.His strength is undeniable, surpassing even that of his runaway alpha an
Evvie’s POV:No.No, no, no, no, fuck no!This is a joke. It has to be.“It is not a joke.” Vana spoke suddenly. “He is our mate.” She confirmed, but I was not about to believe it.I scoffed at her. “Oh look who’s back.”“What the fuck happened to you?” I nearly snapped, “It’s like you just disappeared.” I grind my teeth.Pulling my lip up into a snarl, I growled. “Now this!”When the alpha set his eyes on me and claimed me as his mate, I did any rational girl would do.I ran.I can’t do it. I’ll have Barrak send someone else to investigate for the case. I can’t.God forbid anything happens that would trap me all over again, sealing my fate in this hellhole that was once my pack.One thing. One thing happens and it changes everything.Vana wanted to watch the exchange between Zachary and the alpha slash our so-called mate. But I refused.I didn’t waste a moment and took the opportunity. Taking off, I sprinted into the forest, shifting mid-air into my midnight-black wolf.Running aimle
E P I L O G U E .Casey's POVI fell for it. It's his fault, with those sparkling puppy eyes and cute little stance, I have turned completely vulnerable.But I didn't fall for it because I badly wanted him to apologize but because he looked serious. Like he really wanted to show me something. The reason why he went missing for hours. I tapped my heel, raising an eyebrow at his human state. I look around. There was no one here. Why are we here?“Well? What is it?” I asked, looking at him.He smiled, making me groan. Him and his damn smile makes me both feeling nauseous and weak in the knees.“I want you to meet someone,” he finally said.I furrowed my eyebrows. Meet someone?He pulled my hand, turning me around to face a…“A pile of rocks?” My eyebrow raised higher, staring at him weirdly.He chuckled and shook his head.“This is my dad’s grave. I buried him here.”Shocked, I turn to him with eyes as wide as bowling balls.“You… your dad? Oh Carlos, I’m so sorry.” For the second tim
Casey's POVKnock. Knock.I looked towards the door, my lips pressing into a thin line."Come in!" The door pushed open.As always, Evvie and Pixie walked inside the room. Their eyes widened, bigger than bowling balls, and their jaws dropped, gaping at me.I raised an eyebrow. "What? Is it bad?" I asked, casting a worried look to my dress as I smoothed it down."Are you kidding?" Pixie was the first to speak, as Evvie was still in a trance."You look amazing!" She beamed.I smiled."Absolutely gorgeous." Evvie nodded in agreement, snapping out of her trance.A wide grin spread on my face. "Thank you," I sighed, turning back to the mirror. "Is something wrong?" Pixie steps forward, a worried look on her face.For the nth time, I let out a sigh. "What if...this was a mistake? What if I'm not ready for this? What i--" "You stop that right now, my lady." Pixie marched forward, taking my wrists and gripping them firmly. "You are not going to your wedding with all those ridiculous though
Casey's POVThe Alpha led the way, and I followed closely behind him. Right now, we're back at the dungeons. The cells. How the hell did he get himself locked up back in here? He agreed to do the mission in exchange for freedom. I sighed."Just so you know, I didn't want to do this." The Alpha muttered.I nodded, but didn't speak."I had no choice. He was getting out of control." "But to put him back in that cell?" I snapped. I couldn't close my damn mouth to save my life. The Alpha stopped in his tracks, twirling on his heel to face me. The look in his eyes now is deadly."Listen, girl. This is also out of my control. I can't control him.""Why?"His eyes narrowed at me."You're the alpha." I added.He squinted at me before he sighed. He shook his head. "Not everything is as simple as you think." I tilted my head. I wondered what he meant by that when a guard rushed over to us."Alpha, he's losing it!" The man was panting, his eyes wide."Sedate him." I snapped my eyes to the Al
CHAPTER FORTY-NINECasey's POV"Hey, hey, sshhhh..." I could hear someone shushing me. I try to move. Try to get up. But my body was killing me. "Argh..." I groan, peeling my eyes open. It was Nita, staring at me right in the face.I knit my brows. "What are you doing here? I mean, what am I doing here?""It's okay. You're safe now." What is she talking about? I winced when a searing pain swept right through me as I tried to move. My mind was in a haze. Blinking, I take in my surroundings. I'm in a white room. Everything was white and the air smelt strongy of disinfectant, alcohol, and... blood?Then it snapped. The witch. Sorcerer or whatever. Lucas. Rogues. The kids. My breath hitched in my throat.Carlos. Oh, my god."Carlos!" I vaguely remember seeing his wolf breathing hard on the ground. Blood oozing off his stomach. I remember him taking the hit, when Lucas tried to pierce me with his magical glowing weapon. And then I remember... a whimper. His wolf, whimpering as he laye
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHTBrother...I didn't hear it wrong, did I? Yet, when his gaze flicked to me I saw the striking resemblance between them. There is no mistaking it.He's the little brother Carlos told me about. But I thought he said he died. Clearly, that was not the case at all.He's here, alive. And it's either he happens to be here or he is one of the rogues. And by the looks of it, he is one of them.Carlos stared at him all the time, and his hands were shaking. I could hear his heartbeat racing. The way he swallowed when he saw him for the first time. Some of the trackers behind me growled, but Carlos held up his hand in warning. Not to take action. That he had this under control.'Get the children to safety. I will deal with this.' He sent the message through the group link. All of us just froze.'Now!' The warning in his voice has become a real threat. It had everyone jolting up to go to move the children to safety. I, however, stayed in my spot unmoving.Something's not righ
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN Carlos’ POV Is it him? Is it really him? I can’t believe it. Even Vato became dead silent. Is it really our little brother? But that’s impossible. He died, years ago. I saw it happen with my own eyes. I stare gobsmacked at the man. His eyes were coral blue, something he’d gotten from our mother. His hair, jet black slicked back just like mine. He even has that same birthmark I remember him having as a child. I tried moving my lips, but they’re frozen as ice. “Lucas?” He smiled at Casey, but something about his expression felt different. Then he whips his gaze to me. Suddenly, he drops it. His eyes darkened, and I felt my blood run cold. TWENTY YEARS AGO… Blood. The air around me is filled with blood. Most belonging to my Dad, who had dropped dead on the ground before me. “Hmm,” I hear a rumbling sound. As I turn my head slowly, I realize I needed to look up to clash eyes with the figure I saw kill my Dad. My eyes raised, and my breath hit
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX Casey’s POVA strong roar ripped from my chest. It was Kaleesa. Pure rage surged through my veins, consuming every rational thought I had. The world blurred, the trees, the warehouse, everything fading as my vision tunneled in on the rogue.I launched forward, claws out, fangs bared. I could hear Carlos yelling my name behind me, but it was drowned out by the blood pounding in my ears. His warning had come too late. Rage had taken over, and I had no plans to stop.I barely felt the ground beneath me as I sprinted toward the rogue who’d kicked the child. He never even saw me coming. My claws tore through his back before he could react, a satisfying crunch of bone under my hands. He crumpled to the floor, and the child scrambled away, eyes wide with terror. The scent of blood filled my nostrils, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted more.Another rogue lunged at me from the side. I spun, grabbing him mid-air, slamming him into the ground with enough force to crack the concre
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVECasey’s POVLast night was horrific. I didn’t sleep at all. I don’t know what has gotten into me last night, but I now know I have gone too far.When Carlos stepped back, shoving me away in the process, shame washed over me like a bucket of ice cold water.He looked at me as if I had grown two heads, all because I tried to kiss him, which I now know was a mistake. I thought he wanted to. It turns out I thought wrong.I went too far, and he was not having it. He didn’t want me. He made that crystal clear from the very beginning, but still, I insisted. I have never felt so embarrassed in my entire life.It’s the third time he rejected me. The third time.How could I have been so stupid?I should have accepted his rejection, if I only knew it would be this painful the third time.Tears rolled down my cheeks as I turned around and ran off. I could hear him calling after me, but I never looked back.Danny tried to get it out of me a thousand times this morning. Each time
CHAPTER FORTY-FOURCasey’s POV“What?” the question falls out of my lips before I could even stop it.Carlos’ eyes remain trained on me, neither of us willing to look away.He lets out a soft chuckle that makes my heart melt. “To be honest, I really don’t know either,”He leans back, shifting all his weight onto his hands as he plants them on the cold ground.Then he turns his head and looks at me in the eye with those damned, beautiful violet eyes. “There’s something about you, something I didn’t want to acknowledge.”My brow raised at him, “And what is that?”He smiled. That goddamn dazzling, devious smile that has me gawking at him in awe.“Sorry, but it’s my little secret, since, I gave you my only one,” he said, and winked at me.Heat immediately rushed to my face, and I feel my chest flush, making me want to cover myself tighter if only I didn’t feel so hot.“But hey, looks like I’m not the only one,” he said, his tone turning serious.I looked up at him and narrowed my eyes.Wh