Seth’s POV“Seth, people are watching,” Camilla said softly. Even though I tried to brush it off, the tension twisted in my gut.“It’s your son’s birthday,” she added before walking away. I wanted to follow her, but tiny hands tugged at mine. I looked down to see Jorge’s beaming eyes staring up at me.“Daddy, it’s time for cake,” he said, pulling me toward the crowd.Tracey appeared at my side as people gathered around us, singing the birthday song for Jorge. I scooped him into my arms, and when Tracey placed her hand on my shoulder, the knot in my chest tightened.“You couldn’t wait until after our son’s birthday to suck your mate’s face?” she hissed in my ear. My grip on Jorge tightened, but I forced a smile as he bounced in my arms.“Not now, Tracey,” I muttered through clenched teeth, trying to keep up appearances as the song ended.“Yeah, you should have thought of that,” she shot back as the crowd erupted into applause and the cake was cut.“Happy birthday, Jorgy!” Luna Ava cooe
Camilla's POVMy whole body felt like it was freezing. I wrapped my arms around myself as I looked around the empty, white, endless space."Diana?" I called, spotting the back of white hair, and quickly ran around until I was facing her. "Diana?" I called again while she continued to stare mindlessly into the white space."I'm so happy you're alive," I choked out, grabbing her hand.The moment I touched her, a scream tore from my lips as a deep cut appeared on her neck, blood spilling across the floor."No!" I cried, dropping to the ground. Her violet eyes flicked down to me, her gaze sharp and accusing."You left me to die, Nia," she said softly, her head tilting slightly, unnervingly.I shook my head, trembling. "There was nothing I could do," I whispered.Diana knelt beside me, her blood seeping onto my legs. Her hand pressed against my stomach, her smile dark."Stage three has been completed."---The rhythmic beeping of machines filled my ears. I heard distant voices moving aroun
Seth’s POV Camilla had finally been discharged from the hospital. She sat in the front seat next to me, cradling Lucien in her arms. As we neared the house, I felt her shift in her seat and clear her throat. “Uh… Tracey,” she began, and I instinctively gripped the wheel tighter. “She left,” I said quietly, the words heavy in the air. I remembered the horrible things I said to her, things I could never take back. Before Camilla could speak again, I continued. “That afternoon when I found you on the kitchen floor, there were crumbs of the chocolate cake Tracey had brought in. I panicked. When I went to talk to her, to tell her I love you and that I—” I sighed as I pulled up to the house, parked, and killed the engine. “That I needed to end things, she started talking about Ben, her dead mate, and how the mate bond doesn’t matter. I thought—” I shook my head. “I thought she did something to you, Cam, and I said some terrible things to her.” Camilla rested her head on my bicep, and I
Seth’s POV“What the fuck.”It was like being pulled out of a haze. My mind raced as I looked around in confusion. What the—My gaze dropped, and I saw her—Tracey, on her knees, her lips still wrapped around the base of my cock. And there, standing just outside the kitchen door, was Camilla."Shit. Cam—" I called out, panic surging through me, but she bolted before I could say another word.I shoved Tracey away, yanking my sweatpants up, my heart pounding in my chest."What the hell is this?" I demanded, still disoriented, my thoughts scrambled. How had this even happened?I wanted to chase after Camilla, to explain... but even I couldn't make sense of what was going on. My own mind was a blur, and guilt began to claw at me.A hand landed on my bicep, and Tracey’s lips came closer to my ear. “Have you truly forgotten, Seth? We’ve been doing this for the past two weeks.”At her words, my breath hitched, and I felt memories begin to flood into my head.---Two weeks ago from Tracey’s PO
Camilla’s POVIt was late—far too late for a visit like this, but here I was anyway, standing on Alpha Zane’s doorstep with Lucien pressed to my chest. The tears had finally stopped, though the ache in my heart lingered like a deep bruise. I just couldn’t be there anymore. I couldn’t face them.I rang the doorbell, and within moments, the door opened to reveal Alpha Zane, his brow furrowed in confusion. His gaze flickered between me and Lucien before he stepped aside silently, allowing me inside.“Camilla?” His voice was a mixture of concern and surprise as he guided me in.I offered him a weak smile and an apology, trying to steady my breath. "I—I’m sorry, Alpha. I didn’t know where else to go. I couldn’t go back to the pack house. Not now..." The pack house had become a cage of whispers, judgment, and glaring looks that only made my pain worse.My eyes shifted to the left, and there was Ava with her daughter, Fiona, resting peacefully in her arms. As soon as she saw me, I could feel
Camilla's POVWhen I got home with my son, I was happy to see Tracey wasn't at home. She had taken Jorge to school, and Seth—since the meeting that Alpha Zane had set with other packs was happening today—had also left to make sure everything went smoothly.I took a deep breath, glanced around one last time, and pushed open the door to Tracey's room. The moment I stepped inside, a rush of determination washed over me. I wasn't even sure what I was looking for, but after what Seth said this morning—how he couldn't remember and how it all felt like a dream—I believed him.And I knew the only person who would benefit from this haze was Tracey. I remembered her smug words from a while back."As long as he loves me or has his cock in me, the mark stays."I started searching, feeling a little desperate. Under the bed, in the wardrobe—nothing. I moved to the nightstand, opening each drawer, my frustration growing as they too came out clean."Shit!" I hissed, slamming the last drawer closed.
Seth’s POV It was finally the day of the meeting—the gathering of seventeen packs. Alphas, Betas, high-ranking wolves—all assembled under one roof. My job was clear: ensure no one from Blue Moon Pack got past our borders. We suspected they were responsible for the missing wolves, for turning them into experiments to create that cursed Alphalurian drug. I stood close to Alpha Zane, earpiece snug in place as I kept tabs on my men patrolling the borders. My focus was razor-sharp, until a voice pulled me back. “Alpha Zane, a pleasure,” an older man greeted. His ash-colored suit clung to his broad frame. Beside him stood a younger man—blonde, sharp-eyed, and far too familiar. Alpha Zane shook the man’s hand, offering a tight smile. “Alpha Adams, I’m glad you could make it.” Adams’ face darkened, brows knitting together as he glanced at the Luna, who stood at Zane’s side. “How could I not? That bastard killed my first son.” His words landed like a stone, heavy with anger. Blue Moon Pac
Camilla’s POV-I felt hands wrap around my waist, and a smile tugged at my lips. “You’re home,” I whispered as Seth came around to sit on the stool next to me.“Late,” he said, his gaze falling on the cup of coffee on the island. “Did you wait up for me? Where’s Tracey?” His question made my jaw tighten at the mention of her.“She left,” I replied, clearing my throat. From the look on Seth’s face, I knew he wanted to ask more questions, but before he could, I changed the subject.“So, what happened today?” I asked, sensing that he recognized the shift but chose to go along with it.“The meeting was a success, but something happened.” His words made me lean in closer, noticing how he frowned and rubbed the stubble growing on his chin.“It’s been confirmed that the Blue Moon pack is responsible for the attacks and experiments. One of their pack members—the son of their Alpha—came for Luna Ava himself,” Seth explained, and I slapped a hand over my lips.“Is Ava okay?” I asked, my heart p
Camilla’s POVThe day I left the hospital, everything felt different—brighter, sharper, as if the world had come into focus for the first time in weeks. Maybe it was the absence of pain, or maybe it was because I hadn’t been outside in so long. Either way, something had shifted, both inside and out.Seth drove in silence, his fingers drumming on the wheel like they always did when something was on his mind. The space between us was heavy, thick with all the things we hadn’t said. Ever since the fight with Tracey at the cliff where he had revealed what he did, I had been there—we hadn’t spoken about it but it was lurking just beneath the surface. I knew we’d get to it eventually. We always did.When we pulled into the driveway, the house was quiet. Jorge had passed out on the couch, his book still open, while Lucien was curled up in his crib, breathing softly. Seeing them like that, touched by everything we’d been through, made my chest ache. How could they look so peaceful when our wo
Camilla’s POVBeep. Beep. Beep.I wanted to block it out, but the sound grew louder, drilling into my mind.Beep. Beep. Beep.I wished it would stop.Beep. Beep—My eyes fluttered open, and the sudden brightness hit me hard. The light was too harsh, too familiar, pulling me back to memories of the first time. The first time I had met my mate."Camilla?"That voice. I knew that voice. The first time he'd said my name, I’d been here, in a hospital bed, just like now. A hand slipped into mine, warm and steady. Sparks danced up my skin, and I turned my head toward him, blinking to clear the haze. Seth’s face came into focus, his eyes wide, hollow, like he’d seen a ghost. Maybe he had. My brain was sluggish, working overtime to piece together why I was here.“Oh goddess... you’re awake... you’re really awake,” he whispered, his hand squeezing mine before he pulled away. I heard him talking, probably calling the doctors, but I couldn’t focus on his words. I wanted answers.When he came ba
Dear readers, in this chapter, you’ll experience flashbacks moving between the past and present. The point of view will also shift between Seth and Tracey throughout, so keep an eye on who’s narrating as the story unfolds.Seth’s POV- The pastSeven years ago.It was on the night when Zane was going to be appointed the new Alpha of the pack and my father would be handing over his role as Delta to me. That was when I first laid my eyes on her.She was beautiful… breathtaking. I was just twenty three years when I met her and we had ran together… I felt connected to her almost like she was my mate.I couldn’t find her after the run that night and it felt like my heart had been shattered. I didn’t even get her name.“Hey!” A female voice snapped as I bummed into her as I rushed to Alpha Zane’s office to inform him of the visitors we were having.My eyes met with who it was and my breath hitched. It was her… the female that I had ran with. The female I couldn’t stop thinking about.“It’s
Tracey’s POVWe were in the old wrecked cottage where Lucius had once chained Camilla, a place that still reeked of mildew and memories of the past. Dust clung to every surface, and the broken windows let in the cold autumn air, making the walls groan as if they, too, could sense the danger. I stood at the threshold, watching them—my child, Jorge, and that… that filthy woman’s boy. Lucien. I could see the way Jorge had wrapped himself around the brat, shielding him from me as though I was the monster here.As if that little parasite deserved his protection.Jorge’s eyes met mine for a brief moment before he turned his face away, his lips trembling. His hands tightened around Lucien, and the sight only made my blood boil. That was supposed to be us. Jorge, me and Seth, a family. But she had taken everything from me.“What is it, Jorge? Don’t you want to be with me again?” I took a step forward, my voice soft yet dangerous.He shook his head, his brown curls bouncing slightly, and I cou
Seth’s POVMy whole body was humming with anger, anxiety, and fear. Damn it, I had thought she’d come for me, that Tracey’s obsession would be aimed solely at making me pay. But no, she hadn’t gone after me directly—she’d gone after our children. She had taken the boys to lure both Camilla and me into her twisted trap.I kept clenching and unclenching my fists, trying to focus on anything other than the gnawing pit in my stomach. The fear was crawling through me like a sickness. And right now, the worst part was the waiting. We were still stuck here at the hospital, waiting to hear from the doctors about Ava. We couldn’t even leave to start looking for Jorge and Lucien. Every minute felt like a lifetime.Camilla sat next to me, staring at the wall. Her legs bounced on the floor, Ava’s daughter, Fiona sleeping on her lap, her eyes were wide, and they were bloodshot. She hadn’t said a word since we’d arrived at the hospital. Hell, I hadn’t known what to say either. What could I even say
Camilla’s POV“Where’s the piñata?” I yelled over the loud music blasting from the speakers. The air was filled with the scent of sugar and sunscreen, and the laughter of children echoed all around. I had a juice box in one hand and a crying Lucien in the other. My eyes darted around, scanning the crowd for any sign of Seth, who was supposed to bring the piñata about fifteen minutes ago.The juice box slipped from my fingers, splattering onto the ground, and I muttered a curse under my breath. I barely managed to avoid colliding with a guest, offering a hurried apology before continuing my search for Seth. Lucien started to wriggle in my arms, his tiny fists pounding against my chest, clearly wanting to get down. The music, the heat, and the noise were all starting to overwhelm me.“Oh goodness… Ava!” I called out, spotting her across the yard. She was chatting with some of the other moms, her hand resting protectively on her baby bump. Another baby cooking inside of her. She looked
Camilla’s POVI could hear the soft creak of the door opening, and I turned around just in time to see Seth walking in. His shoulders slumped down in a way that sent a chill through me. Something was off, something was wrong.My stomach twisted as I frowned, hurriedly turning off the stove before pulling the apron from around my neck. I tossed it aside, my movements slower than usual as I approached him. My eyes scanned his face, taking in the exhaustion etched into every line. His eyes... they were red—bloodshot, almost like he’d been crying. But when I looked deeper, it wasn’t tears. No, it was something worse. He had been thinking, too much.“Oh, no,” I whispered, feeling my breath hitch in my chest. I reached him and cradled his face between my hands, my thumbs brushing softly over the stubble on his jaw. “Seth, what’s wrong?”His forehead met mine, and his eyes closed for just a moment, as if gathering whatever strength he had left. “We might want to sit down for this,” he mutter
Seth’s POVI couldn’t tell Camilla the truth. I couldn’t tell her that I’d seen someone that night.No, something.I wasn’t imagining it. I wasn’t going crazy. That much I knew for sure. Whatever it was, it had to be real.“We can’t keep doing this, Seth.” Landon’s voice broke through the silence. I hadn’t even heard him coming out of the woods, but there he was, joining me at the cliff’s edge. The same cliff where it had happened—where Tracey and Lucius had fallen.“I know.” The words felt hollow. What else could I say?“It’s been months,” Landon reminded me as he came up beside me, his eyes tracing the same path mine had followed a thousand times—down to the waterfall that disappeared into nothingness below. “They couldn’t have survived that.” His voice dropped to almost a whisper.I stared down, my chest tightening. “No, Landon. I saw something. The eyes of a wolf.” I began pacing, unable to stand still, my thoughts chasing each other like prey. “It’s been haunting me. Every day, e
Camilla’s POVNothing in this world could take away my smile or happiness. All my problems had been washed down the river—literally.I pointed to a long, flowery wedding dress, its soft lace catching the light just right in the picture book. “Oh, look at this one! It’s perfect,” I said, unable to hide the excitement bubbling up inside me.Caroline, sitting beside me, gave a soft smile, nodding. “Yeah, it’s beautiful, Luna,” she said in her usual respectful tone.I waved her off, leaning back into the couch behind me, a playful smile creeping across my face. “Please, drop the ‘Luna’ already,” I teased. I knew it was second nature to her by now, but it still felt strange sometimes.She smiled back, a bit awkwardly, not quite sure what to say. Even though we were close, she couldn’t fully shake the formalities.The wedding date had been set, and it was coming fast. Two weeks after the boys’ birthday, which meant I had only three weeks to prepare for the ceremony. Three short weeks to pla