Camilla’s POVThe emergency bunker was suffocating with fear. Mothers clung to their children, hushing cries with trembling hands. Only six guards stood at the double doors, their faces as tense as the rest of us. Ava was at my side, a beacon of calm amidst the chaos.The flickering yellow lights above us did little to ease the dread coiled in my chest. I tightened my grip on Lucien, pressing his tiny body closer to mine, as if I could shield him from the world.A woman broke through the huddled masses, desperation etched into her tear-streaked face. She grabbed Ava's hand, her voice a ragged whisper. “Luna, please help! My son… he’s still out there.”Ava’s gaze darted to the door, then back to the woman. “Please,” the woman begged again, her eyes wide with terror. “He’s only a little boy.”Ava hesitated for only a heartbeat before she stood, determination hardening her features. “What’s his name?”“Christian,” the woman choked out, hope flickering in her voice.Ava gave a firm nod. S
Camilla’s POVThe air was heavy in the bunker. Every breath felt thick, like the dust was trying to choke me, scraping the back of my throat raw. I could hear the distant hum of the emergency generators struggling to keep the bunker lit, their weak flicker casting long, eerie shadows on the walls. Both Lucien and Fiona’s cries sounded in my ears, a stark difference from the empty silence in my mind, but I couldn’t move. I was paralyzed, rooted to the spot as I realized I’d just done.“I…” I trailed off, not really knowing what to say.My hands shook uncontrollably, the gun still warm in my palm, smoke trailing lazily from the barrel. It slipped from my fingers and hit the ground with a heavy thud, the sound bouncing through the bunker like an echo. It seemed louder than anything else—louder than the sobs of frightened mothers, louder than the cries of terrified children. Louder than my own ragged breathing.I looked down at Kyle’s body, his eyes open but glassy, the life gone from the
Camilla’s POVIt had been three days since they found Seth. Three long, unbearable days. The moment they dragged his unconscious body from the rubble, something inside me snapped. I stood frozen, watching as the paramedics worked to keep him alive, my heart throbbing hard against my chest. They said he was lucky to have survived the explosion. But lying there in that hospital bed, tubes and wires surrounding him, he didn’t look lucky. He looked like a ghost.Tracey had been by his side since they brought him in. She hadn’t left. And neither had Jorge, their four-year-old son. The sight of them together only twisted the knife deeper into my chest. I couldn’t be in the same room. I couldn’t stand the way she looked at me through the glass like I was the intruder, like I didn’t belong. But I knew the truth. And so did she.I was sitting just outside the hospital room, gripping the armrests of the uncomfortable plastic chair. The steady hum of the machines from Seth’s room blended with t
Camilla's POVAlpha had called for us—me, Seth, and… Tracey.It had been three weeks since Seth’s accident, three weeks since we defeated the Blue Moon Pack. By law, it now belonged to Green Hill Pack.I was seated next to Seth, with Lucien sleeping peacefully in my arms, while Tracey sat on a single-seater couch. Jorge was by Ava’s side, staring at her as she held their baby.“I know this is an uncomfortable time to have called you all here,” Alpha Zane began, looking at each of us closely.The atmosphere was tense, and Landon cleared his throat. “I’m sure you’re wondering why I’ve gathered you all here today,” he muttered, visibly uncomfortable, much like the others in the room.“Well, ever since we took over the Blue Moon Pack, it’s been challenging to control them from here. So, I will be sending you, Seth, to oversee things there for me,” Zane said.I frowned. “Uh, that’s fine, Alpha, but what about the threat of Aron? He is still alive, and he fled the battle scene,” Seth asked,
Camilla’s POVIt was finally the day we were moving to Blue Moon Pack, and I had my things packed. Seth had mentioned that only thirty of his men would be traveling with us today, while the rest—over seventy of them—had already left yesterday.We stood in front of the pack house, waiting to pick up Tracey, even though I would’ve much preferred to leave without her. The thought of spending another moment in her presence made me bite back a groan.I spotted her emerging through the double doors, Jorge perched on her hip, his thick hair tied into a small bun and a bag hung from her shoulder. She looked as calm as ever, while my nerves were fraying.I turned away, glancing back at Lucien in his infant car seat. As soon as his eyes met mine, his face lit up with a wide, toothless smile. I couldn’t help but smile back, his innocence soothing the frustration that had been bubbling beneath the surface.““It’s so nice to see you waited for me, Seth,” Tracey said sweetly, almost leaning in to
Seth’s POVI leaned back in the Alpha’s chair—my chair, at least for now—and rubbed my hand over my jaw, feeling the tension gathered in my muscles. I barely heard what one of the soldiers was saying, my focus slipping between the stack of reports on my desk and the memory of Camilla’s lingering scent that always calmed me, even when the world around us was crumbling.“Some of the pack members have started causing trouble,” the soldier continued. His voice cut through my thoughts, forcing me to pay attention. “Riots. Fights. They say they want a leader who’s actually from Blue Moon.”I bit back a growl, my fingers tapping against the wooden desk, a low hum building in my chest. They didn’t trust me. No surprise there. I wasn’t their Alpha; I was the outsider, taking over their pack after we defeated them. They wanted someone like Marcus their Alpha or Alan even—someone familiar, even if he’d nearly destroyed them. My lip curled slightly at the thought of that those men, and Aron still
The night had fallen, blanketing the packhouse in a quiet kind of stillness. We were settling in, trying to make this place feel like home, though it was hard when everything felt so… unfamiliar. The fifth floor had four bedrooms, an open living area, and a kitchen that I had yet to really touch. It was luxurious, but cold—more like a polished cage than a home.Lucien was nestled against me, his tiny lips latched to my breast, drinking sleepily. The soft rhythm of his breathing soothed the knot that had been tightening in my chest since we arrived. I stroked the top of his head, my body relaxing into the couch.The door creaked open, and I looked up to see Seth step inside. He looked drained—his shoulders tense, his hand rubbing the back of his neck in a way that screamed exhaustion.“Hey,” he whispered, his voice rough. Our eyes met, and I could see the weight of his day reflected in them.“Hi,” I whispered back, my gaze drifting down to Lucien. He was dozing off, still latched to me
Camilla’s POVThe letters had been coming for weeks now. Each one slipped under the door like a phantom’s calling card, each threat more unsettling than the last. At first, I thought it was just some cruel prank—maybe some disgruntled pack member who hadn’t fully accepted me, hadn’t accepted us. But now… now, it was more than that. It was like a vice, tightening around my chest with every note that arrived. I glanced at the last letter, still crumpled in my hand. “You are mine,” it said again. Always those same words. Always that same dark promise. I tucked it under a stack of blankets in Lucien’s crib. He was asleep now, soft breaths in the cradle of his lips. I wouldn’t tell Seth. Not yet. His training with the soldiers was taking up all his time, and he’d been so distant, distracted. He didn’t need to worry about this, not when the pack was still figuring out what they wanted. No, I would handle this on my own.So tonight, I made a decision. When Seth was out with the others, I’d
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