KARA
Nine months had passed since my exile, nine long, unrelenting months in the wilderness alone, save for haunting memories that clung to me. I had hoped, at first, that the pain would subside, but it didnt.
My body had endured the change, the slow progression of time and nature was it prepared for the arrival of a new life.
“I think it’s time to give birth,” I muttered through gritted teeth, clutching the mossy ground beneath me. My hands were slick with sweat and blood, but there was a strange calm that had settled over me, even in the face of the pain. I wasn’t sure whether it was the quiet of the forest or the anticipation of meeting my son that soothed me. Either way, there was no going back now.
I had prepared myself, as best I could. I gathered soft leaves to lie on, feeling the coolness of the forest floor against my skin. There was no doctor, no healer. Just me and the raw wilderness that had taken me in when I had nowhere left to go.
The pain came in waves, but I breathed through it, determined. And then, as though summoned by fate itself, a figure appeared from the shadows.
An old woman.
She hobbled toward me, her slow steps deliberate as she leaned heavily on her walking stick. Her face was weathered, her features sharp with age, but her eyes—those eyes were sharp. She must’ve been living in the woods for years, alone, with only the trees for company.
When she saw me, her movements stilled. She paused, her gaze taking in the scene with a certain understanding. The woman did not speak at first, but there was a certain recognition in her stare.
“You’re in labor,” she finally said, her voice thin but steady.
I nodded, too weak to respond fully.
Without another word, she knelt beside me, her hands surprisingly firm despite her age. She worked with practiced ease, helping me through the agony, offering words of quiet encouragement as I gave everything to bring my son into the world. I didn’t know who this woman was, or why she had appeared when she did, but I was grateful. So, so grateful.
Minutes felt like hours. And then, finally, the sharp cry of my child filled the air, piercing the stillness of the forest.
“He’s here,” I whispered, tears stinging my eyes as I looked down at my son. His small, delicate face was scrunched up in that perfect, new-baby way, his fists clenching and unclenching. I cradled him gently, my hands slick with blood.
The woman, who had remained quiet until now, watched me with an almost maternal softness in her gaze.
“What name would you give him?” she asked, her voice faint.
I looked down at my son, his tiny body wrapped in my arms. A name had been waiting for him since before he was born, but now that he was here, it felt more real than ever.
“Rylan,” I said softly, the name tasting right on my tongue. “His name is Rylan.”
The old woman chuckled, a sound that was both frail and comforting.
“Rylan is a nice name,” she said, her voice weak, but there was a strange warmth behind it.
I nodded, cradling my son against my chest. The forest around us seemed to close in, the trees standing sentinel in the twilight.
The woman sighed, her breath coming in shallow gasps.
“I’ve been in these woods for years,” she said suddenly, as if the words had been building inside her for a long time.
I frowned, looking up at her. “Why are you in the woods? You are too old to be in here” I asked, my voice still trembling from the labor.
She tilted her head slightly, as if weighing her answer.
“I was banished, just like you,” she said, her voice steady but laden with an old sorrow.
Banished. I nodded slowly, my mind wandering back to the life I had left behind. The pack that had once been my home, the betrayal of the Alpha I had loved, the lies, the heartache.
“What did you do?” I asked, curious, though the question felt strange, as if I were asking about a life long gone, one that didn’t matter anymore.
The woman smirked, but there was something cold in it, something laced with bitterness.
“I was once a Luna in that pack where you came from,” she said, her words slow, deliberate.
“A Luna?” I echoed, my voice faint. “You were the Luna?”
She nodded slowly, her gaze distant.
“Many years ago, yes. I was a Luna… until I, too, was implicated.”
My mind spun as the realization struck me. I had been banished, yes, but this woman had been the Luna before me. What had happened to her? How had she fallen from such a high station?
“Or did you… perhaps know my son?” she asked.
The woman’s eyes flickered with something—something ancient, something deep—before she spoke again.
“Who is your son?” i asked softly, my voice tinged with sadness.
“Kieran…” she said “Kieran is my son.”
My eyes widened ever so slightly, her breath catching.
“Kieran,” she whispered, as if testing the name on her tongue. “He is my only son.”
The words hit me like a bolt of lightning. Kieran’s mother. This frail, strange woman who had appeared at the very moment I gave birth—she was Kieran’s mother. My mind reeled. The betrayal I had suffered, the pain I had endured, the endless years of exile—none of it had prepared me for this revelation.
“You are Kieran’s mother?” I asked, almost in disbelief.
She nodded weakly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “I am. And you…” Her voice wavered. “You are the mother of his child.”
I felt a strange knot in my stomach as I gazed at her. This woman—this broken, ancient figure before me—was my son’s grandmother.
“Mother…” I murmured, a strange word that felt foreign on my tongue. I had never known my own mother. But here, in the heart of the wilderness, I was forced to call this woman by a title that had eluded me for years.
The woman’s expression faltered for a moment, but then she stared at me, her eyes glistening. I reached out, taking Rylan into my arms and placing him gently in her hands.
“This is your grandchild,” I said quietly, my voice catching in my throat.
The woman’s eyes softened as she held Rylan, her frail hands trembling as she gazed down at the child. Her tears fell freely now, her long years of isolation and pain breaking in that one moment.
“I never thought I’d see him,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. “I never thought I’d be given the chance to see my grandchild.”
I watched in silence, knowing that the weight of the moment was more than words could express. I wanted to reach out, to comfort her, but my own grief was too much to bear.
“Does Kieran know you are here?” I asked softly, though I already knew the answer.
She shook her head, her lips curling into a bitter smile.
“No. I was banished when he was still a baby,” she said, her voice softening.
The words hung in the air, like the last breath of a forgotten dream.
“I have been forgotten,” she added softly. “But you—you must never go back to that pack again. They will only hurt you, my dear child.”
I nodded, feeling the weight of her warning settle over me like a shroud. “How do I escape?” I asked, feeling the need to leave this cursed place, this land that had seen me suffer so much.
She nodded slowly, a glint of something in her eyes.
“I will tell you how to escape. When it's daylight, you will leave this place.”
But fate, it seemed, had other plans.
It was a few hours later when the first sound of terror pierced the night.
The cry of my son echoed through the woods, sharp and strident. I rushed back, my heart pounding in my chest, only to find the woman lying motionless on the ground.
I tapped her, frantic.
“Please, no,” I whispered, my voice breaking.
But she didn’t move.
“She’s dead!” I gasped, my hands trembling as I covered my mouth in horror. The woman, my unexpected guide, my son’s grandmother, had passed in the night.
Back at Stormclaw PackThe atmosphere in the room was thick with tension. Izzy stood by the large oak desk, her back straight and eyes blazing. She crossed her arms tightly across her chest, trying to steady her breathing. The unease gnawing at her insides wouldn’t let her relax. The weight of the pack’s expectations was bearing down on her, pressing harder with every passing day.Her eyes fixed on Aria, who stood across the room, her hands clasped in front of her. Aria had been loyal to Kara, and Izzy could feel the loyalty hanging between them like a blade ready to fall.“Am I barren? Why can't I even get pregnant?” Izzy’s voice was soft, but the venom in her tone made the question sting. She didn’t want to hear the answer. She didn’t want to hear it, but she couldn’t stop herself from asking. The uncertainty, the dread, every inch of it ate away at her.Aria didn't flinch. Her gaze remained neutral, but Izzy could see the tiny quiver in her eyes.Izzy exhaled sharply and glared at
“That’s enough, Izzy, Aria is only a maid here, she works for every Luna, she doesn’t have the right to peep into their private matters, even if Kara was pregnant even though I as his Mate doesn’t know about it, so let the innocent girl be at peace” Kieran said.“Former mate” Izzy sneered back, her arms crossing as she glared at him.Kieran’s jaw tightened. The subtle twitch of his fingers betrayed the storm brewing beneath his calm exterior.. “Keep pushing, Izzy, and see what happens.”Izzy scoffed, a bitter laugh, her gaze icy as she eyed him.. “Oh, I’m terrified.” She turned to Aria, who stood frozen, her hands clutching the hem of her uniform. “And you—”“That’s enough, let her be” Kieran cut in sharply. His tone held finality, but Izzy wasn’t one to back down easily.“Enough?” Izzy laughed dryly. “Tell me something, Kieran. Kara isn’t your mate anymore and you still care if she has a child with you? Even if she has a child with you, are you supposed to care? She is banished from
Izzy smirked, her gaze never leaving him. "Just answer my question. Am I?" she asked, her voice light with amusement. "Or are you just realizing you’re not as over me as you claim?"Kieran’s eyes darkened, his jaw tightening. "You’re delusional."Izzy took a step forward, closing the distance between them, her voice dropping to a whisper, almost too quiet to hear. "And yet, here we are."Kieran’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, the tension in the air thickening as Izzy’s words hung like a challenge between them. His eyes flashed with something dangerous, something that made his entire presence feel like a storm ready to break.But then, as if suddenly realizing the futility of it all, Kieran turned on his heel. He strode to the door, his movements rigid, the air around him crackling with anger.Without another word, he slammed the door behind him, the noise reverberating through the empty room like the final strike of a hammer.Izzy stood there for a moment longer, watching th
“It was just tea. Just a cup of tea. That’s what I keep telling myself. But the truth is a sharp blade, and no matter how many times I try to dull it, it cuts me open all the same. Kara lost her pup. And I… I gave her the tea. She never suspected. Kieran never knew. But what if he finds out? What if this secret, the one I buried so deep, finally comes clawing to the surface? He’ll hate me. He’ll tear me apart. And maybe—just maybe—I should keep the secret buried to myself.” Izzy murmured to herself, glaring at the picture opposite her.—-Back at Kieran’s office, he stared at the picture in his hand, his grip tightening.The image showed the former Alpha Zarek holding a child—a baby, small and bundled in cloth.“Why is this picture here? Who owns this? I thought I asked the maid to burn this” Kieran muttered, his eyes locked onto the infant’s face. Something about it unsettled him.Just then, his Beta, Mark, stepped inside.“Alpha,” Mark greeted.Kieran lifted the photo. “Who owns thi
“What border?” Kieran asked the second Izzy left. His eyes were sharp, his posture rigid.Mark exhaled, stepping closer. “No border, Alpha. I lied to make her leave, I do not want Luna to listen to our conversation . I needed to talk to you—alone.”Kieran’s expression didn’t shift, but the air between them thickened. “Now talk, she left already.”Mark hesitated before saying, “Ever since Zarek died, you’ve ruled over both packs.”Kieran didn’t blink. “Of course, I put Jake in charge of everything. Is he not handling things?”Mark’s lips pressed into a thin line. “That’s the problem.”Kieran’s jaw tightened. “What problem?”Mark took a breath. “Jake is dead.”Silence.Then, Kieran chuckled. Low, almost amused. “What?”Mark didn’t flinch. “His body is outside.”“Mark, I am not in for any pranks, you shouldn’t even joke about my brother like that” Kieran said, leaning back on his chair.“I have never said this before and you are right, I am not joking” Mark said.For a second, nothing mo
The room was dead silent. The only sound was the ragged breathing of the witch as she trembled on the floor, her wide, unseeing eyes glowing with an eerie light.Kieran’s fingers curled into fists, his voice sharp. “What the hell are you talking about?”Mark stepped forward cautiously, his jaw tight. “The true queen? What does that mean?”The witch let out a choked gasp, her body convulsing before she slammed her palm against the ground. Her breath came in shallow, rapid gulps. Then, as if something invisible forced the words out of her, she whispered, “The rightful Alpha. The one who was never meant to die.”A chill swept through the room.Kieran’s mind raced. “Who is she?”The witch shook her head violently. “I don’t know! I don’t see faces—only shadows and blood. But she’s coming, and when she does, everything you built will burn.”She let out a strangled cry before her body went limp.Silence.Then—Mark exhaled. “Shit.”Kieran’s stare was cold, calculating. “Take her out of here.
"You called for me?" Aria’s voice was steady, but her heart pounded as she stepped into the dimly lit study.The room smelled of aged wood, leather, and something distinctly him—Alpha Kieran. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting flickering shadows against the walls.Kieran didn’t waste a second. The moment she was inside, he strode past her and locked the door with a quiet click.Aria stiffened. "Why did you lock the door?"Kieran turned, his piercing silver eyes locking onto hers. "Because I am about to say something that should only stay between us."A lump formed in Aria’s throat. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected when he summoned her, but this felt... different."Come here," he said.She hesitated."Now, Aria."Swallowing, she forced her feet to move, stopping a few steps away from him. She kept her hands clasped in front of her, her posture straight, respectful. She was only a maid. Standing this close to the Alpha felt... wrong."Do you know why I called you?" Kiera
"If Izzy isn’t Kieran’s true mate, why are they still together? And what if the banished Luna was his true mate?"The younger witch’s voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried in the heavy silence of the den.Elara didn’t look up from her herbs and then she smirked "I guess they both don’t know. And no one is ready to hear the truth, and lastly the former Luna was never Kieran's true mate."The girl shifted uncomfortably. "But if she isn’t his mate... then she can never give him a pup.""Exactly." Elara crushed a dried root between her fingers, letting the dust fall into the bowl. "No magic in the world can change that, even if she wants to force it, she will end up endangering her life and the pup's life."The younger witch frowned. "Then who is Kieran’s true mate?"A slow, knowing smile spread across Elara’s lips. "Well…..who knows but she had just arrived."—Izzy stormed through the mansion doors, her anger barely contained. She moved fast, ignoring the greetings of the se
KARAI knelt on the cold stone floor, feeling the weight of every breath I took. My body trembled, but it wasn’t from the cold. No, it was something far deeper. A sense of loss, of devastation, surged within me. Zarek was dead. The love of my life, the Lycan King, was gone, and now… I was alone.The wolves outside howled in mourning, their voices echoing through the darkened night. They were lost too, leaderless and broken. The sound shook the very foundation of the packhouse, and I couldn’t breathe through the crushing weight of it all. I couldn’t think.Delilah was dead. My closest friend. My protector. She had died for me, and there was nothing I could do to bring her back. The memory of her frantic attempts to save Zarek, of her rage, of her scream that had shattered my soul, replayed in my mind over and over.And now Leo stood before me, his presence as cold as the grave. He had destroyed everything.“I will take care of her,” Izzy’s voice cut through the silence, sending a chill
KARAI sat in my study, staring at the open book on my desk, but the words blurred together. My hands felt cold, my body oddly light. The exhaustion had been creeping in for days, but today, it was worse.A soft knock came at the door before Linda stepped inside, a small tray in her hands.“You haven’t taken your medicine today,” she said, setting the tray down. Her sharp eyes scanned my face, her brow furrowing. “Kara, why do you look so pale?”I blinked at her, confusion flickering in my mind. “I look pale?”Linda turned to Delilah, who had followed her in. “She looks pale, right?”Delilah crossed her arms, concern etching into her face. “Pale and lean. You don’t look good.”I forced a smile, trying to ease their worry. “Maybe it’s just the pregnancy hormones.”Linda knelt beside me, her fingers pressing against my wrist as she checked my pulse. “Your heartbeat is steady. The baby’s fine.” She looked up at me, eyes narrowing. “Then why aren’t you eating?”I hesitated. I had been eat
KARAAnd we all walked away before Zarek could notice.We reached the mansion, and Liz approached me with a cautious expression.“You have a visitor,” she said.“A visitor?” My voice barely rose above a whisper.Liz nodded.I stepped into the pack hall and settled onto the chair with Linda, Liz, Aria, and Delilah by my side. The moment I looked up, I saw a woman standing at the entrance, dressed in simple robes.A monk.My brows furrowed. “A monk?”The woman stepped forward, her head bowing slightly in respect. “Luna.”I studied her carefully. She was older, her face lined with age and sorrow. Something about her presence unsettled me.“How may I help you?” I asked.She lifted her gaze, eyes filled with something that looked dangerously close to fear. “I came here to tell you a secret, Luna.”A chill ran down my spine. “What secret?”Her voice was steady, but there was an urgency in her tone. “It’s about Izzy, the Lycan King’s sister.”At that, I rose to my feet and took a step closer
KARAThe Lycan King was carried in, his body limp, a pool of blood staining the floor beneath him. His death had shaken everyone in the room to the core, but the show must go on. The celebration continued, albeit with heavy hearts.Zarek stood by the throne, eyes blank, as the pack members murmured amongst themselves. “Zarek,” one of them said, “You should stay. You’re next in line now.”I watched him for a moment, but he didn’t show any sign of grief, only cold determination.“I’ll help,” I said quietly, stepping toward him.He didn’t respond. Instead, he just nodded, his gaze distant.Later, after the body had been bathed and the mansion was in disarray, we all gathered in the main hall for the next phase. The air was thick with anticipation.Linda glanced at Zarek, her voice quiet but curious. “Never knew your father was the king.”Zarek forced a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “This mansion, everything here… it’s all yours now.”No one smiled back. His words felt hollow, and
KARAIzzy’s voice was raw with rage, her eyes burning with fury as she stood at the gates of the Golden Wolf Pack.Delilah didn’t move, her posture relaxed, almost bored. “And?” she said flatly.Izzy’s hands curled into fists. “Let me in,” she demanded, her voice shaking.“No,” Delilah replied simply.Izzy let out a sharp breath and moved to shove past her—only to be met with a firm grip. Delilah caught her wrist effortlessly, twisting it just enough to make Izzy stumble. And then, without hesitation, she shoved Izzy back.Hard.Izzy hit the ground, her palms scraping against the dirt. Her head snapped up, her expression livid.“How dare you!” she shouted.Delilah smirked. “How dare you come here and make demands?”And then I stepped out.Izzy’s eyes locked onto me, hatred pouring from her gaze like venom. Without thinking, she lunged.I didn’t flinch.Delilah moved first. She caught Izzy’s wrist mid-air before the slap could land, her grip like steel. With one sharp motion, she wrenc
Delilah stepped out of Zarek’s room and walked straight to the balcony, where she saw me.Her eyes, once filled with contempt, held something else now. Something unfamiliar.“I used to hate you,” she said suddenly. “But now, I like you.”Before I could respond, she grabbed my shoulders and gave me a firm shake. Then, just as quickly, she turned on her heel and walked away.Linda spotted her at the gate. “Where are you going?”Delilah didn’t stop. Her voice was calm, yet laced with cold determination. “To kill Kimmelly. Let me start from there.”Linda’s eyes widened. She stepped forward to block her path. “Delilah, wait—”Delilah’s head snapped up. Her brown eyes darkened, glowing like molten gold. “Don’t try to stop me.” Her voice was low, threatening.Linda hesitated.Delilah didn’t.She pulled out her phone and dialed Kimmelly’s number.“I know how to kill Kara,” she said when Kimmelly answered. “Meet me in the woods. Far from the pack. Alone.”A pause. Then Kimmelly’s eager voice.
KARA“You think I forgot? The way you controlled fire back there,” Aria said, stepping into the infirmary where I was checking on the wounded warriors.I smirked but didn’t respond.“So you’ve been hiding it for years,” she continued, crossing her arms.I nodded and then turned my gaze to her, my smirk fading. “Something is wrong with Zarek.” My voice was firm, steady.Aria frowned. “How?”“There’s this pill he always takes. I need to find out what it does.”Aria hesitated, her brows knitting together in thought. “The day Zarek slept in your room, I saw Izzy walk into his office with a bottle of pills. We crossed paths, and she dropped it. I didn’t think much of it then, but now…”My stomach twisted. “What color was the bottle?”“A white bottle,” she said immediately.We both froze. I turned to her, my heart hammering. “Was Zarek’s pill changed?”Neither of us needed to answer that.I spun on my heel and rushed back to Zarek’s quarters, my pulse pounding in my ears. I didn’t barge in—
KARA“You can’t come with me,” Zarek said, his voice final as he turned to leave.My blood simmered. What does he mean I can’t?I stepped forward, grabbing his wrist. “Zarek, watch me.”His golden eyes snapped to mine, irritation flashing across his face. “Kara, don’t be stubborn. This isn’t your fight, it’s my responsibility. I am the Alpha.”I scoffed. “Not my fight? The pack is under attack. My pack. My new home and it’s attacked by your sister and Kieran, anything that involves Kieran,count me in, I can’t wait to destroy him. So please don’t tell me to stay behind like some helpless Luna.”He exhaled sharply, jaw tightening. “You—”The study doors burst open again. Aria and Liz rushed inside, their faces tense.“This is bad,” Aria panted. “The northern border is drenched in blood. Our warriors are falling.”My heart pounded. “Then we need to go now.” I said heading forward but then Liz dragged me back.Liz shook her head. “No, Kara. You can’t go.”I shot her a sharp glare. “And wh
KARAI sat behind the large oak desk, the scent of fresh paper and ink filling my Luna office. My fingers traced the grain of the wood absently as I stared at the documents in front of me, but my mind was elsewhere.The door swung open without a knock.Izzy.She strolled in like she owned the place, her movements smooth, confident. She stopped in front of my desk, her sharp eyes scanning my face.“You actually lost your memories?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.I smiled, keeping my expression neutral. “I’m sorry I had to trouble you like that, sister-in-law. My apologies.”Izzy’s lips twitched upward, but the smile never reached her eyes. Without a word, she placed a small black box in front of me.“A gift,” she said.I hesitated before reaching for it. The moment my fingers brushed the lid, something cold and unsettling crawled up my spine.I opened it.Inside, nestled in dark velvet, was a pendant—a silver wolf encased in a delicate frame.At first glance, it was beautiful. T