Back at Stormclaw Pack
The 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 Aria again, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. “You? Are you still here? Even when Kara had been denounced as the Luna” she repeated, voice thick with resentment.
“I’ve been loyal to every Luna, Luna Kara or you. I’ll always serve,I am born to serve Luna” Aria replied, bowing her head slightly.
Izzy’s lips curled into a twisted smile, a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Kara is no longer Luna, Aria. You will show me my respect and quit calling her that before I rip out your tongue.”
The words hit like a slap. The air grew colder, heavier.
“Apologies, Luna,” Aria said, her voice barely above a whisper. She knew well enough to keep her mouth shut in front of the new Alpha. She didn’t want to become her next target.
Izzy’s rage flared up again, the tension simmering under her skin. “Did you hear what I said the other time?” Her voice was low, dangerous.
Aria didn’t budge, didn't even flinch. She only nodded softly. She’d learned long ago how to stay calm, to hold her tongue in situations like these.
Before Izzy could lash out again, the door opened with a soft creak. Kieran walked in, carrying a small vial of something dark and bitter-smelling. His presence filled the room, calming the charged air just slightly.
“Drink this,” Kieran said, stepping forward, his face a mix of concern and command. “If this goes on much longer, the pack will start to talk. They’ll want me to denounce you as Luna. I’m in need of an heir.”
Izzy's eyes flared with anger, but she kept her voice controlled. “You can’t do that, Kieran. You won’t do that.”
She slammed her palm down onto the table, making the vials rattle with the force of her motion. “I am the Luna, you should care about me and not what the pack thinks.”
Kieran’s expression hardened, but there was no argument in his voice. "I don’t care about what’s ‘right.’ The pack’s loyalty is fragile, Izzy. They need a reason to follow you.”
Izzy took a step back, staring at him as if he were a stranger. She hated this,hated the way he was making decisions without consulting her, the way he spoke to her as if she were just another member of the pack and not its leader.
The silence between them stretched, thick and unbearable.
Then, as if on cue, there was a knock on the door. The healer stepped in, her face calm but with a certain tension in her eyes.
“Can I speak with you in private, Alpha?” the healer asked.
Izzy’s eyes darted toward the healer, and she didn’t hesitate. “You can speak right now. I am his Luna, and I deserve to know everything that’s going on.” She locked her gaze with Kieran, daring him to contradict her.
The healer’s eyes flicked briefly to Kieran, then back to Izzy. “Very well. The prophecy... it says you have a child already.”
Izzy froze, her breath catching in her chest. She felt as though the ground beneath her was crumbling, her mind struggling to process what had just been said.
“A child?” Izzy’s voice wavered as she turned to Kieran. Her hands gripped the edge of the desk to steady herself. “Where? Where is this child?”
Kieran’s face was unreadable. He gave a small shrug, his jaw clenching. “How am I supposed to know? No one told me anything about a child.”
Izzy’s heart pounded in her chest. The healer’s words echoed in her ears. A child. She couldn’t wrap her mind around it. “No, this... this can’t be true. No one has a child for him,” Izzy spat, her voice thick with disbelief.
The healer looked at her with a strange expression, one Izzy couldn’t quite place. "I suggest you think about it, Alpha," the healer said before turning and walking out of the room, leaving behind only silence.
Izzy’s eyes were now locked on Kieran, demanding an answer. "Did you impregnate anyone?" Her voice cut through the quiet like a razor.
Kieran didn’t move, didn’t flinch. He was as cold and distant as ever. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Izzy,” he said, his voice calm. Too calm.
Izzy turned toward Aria, her gaze sharp, accusing. "You. You’re Kara’s beta. You must know something. Tell me what you know."
Aria’s body stiffened, her heart racing in her chest. She could feel the heat of Izzy’s gaze on her like a pressure, pinning her in place. The silence grew thicker as everyone waited for her to speak.
Aria’s mind raced back to the Moonlight Ceremony, the night everything had changed. She saw Kara standing alone, clutching a folded piece of paper in her hands, her eyes shining with something strange—hope, perhaps, or fear. Kara had wanted to tell Kieran something important that night, something about the future.
But Aria hadn’t said anything then, and she hadn’t dared to speak about it now. Because if she did... if she told Izzy about the pregnancy, she might as well sign her own death warrant. Loyalty to Kara meant nothing now, not in Izzy’s eyes. Survival was everything.
Izzy’s voice cut through the haze of her thoughts. "Aria, speak! Tell me what you know!"
Aria’s mouth went dry. Her heart was pounding in her chest like a war drum, each beat reminding her of the impossible choice she was facing. Betray Kara now, and Izzy would let her survive. Speak up, and everything would fall apart.
She had always followed Kara—always. But now Kara wasn’t here. Now Izzy was the Luna, and Aria knew where her survival lay.
But could she lie? Could she keep the truth hidden any longer?
Izzy’s eyes were wild now, desperate. Her body tensed, and her hands curled into fists as if she were about to pounce. "Don’t make me wait any longer. Did Kara—did she have a child? Tell me."
Aria's chest tightened. She could feel the words rising in her throat, threatening to spill out, but her mind fought against it. Her loyalty was a twisted, tangled thing now. Kara had been a great Luna, but that was over.
Kieran’s eyes flicked toward Aria, his gaze dark with warning. He knew what was at stake.
And then, just as Aria opened her mouth to speak, the weight of the truth hung in the air.
“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
“He is here, Alpha,” Mark said.Alpha nodded slightly and gestured for them to come in.And then, the old man walked in.“I am glad you came,” Kieran said.“This is an honor, Alpha. A true honor.”The old man’s voice was steady, filled with reverence as he bowed slightly, his gray hair falling over his forehead. His name was Hector—one of the eldest in the pack, a man who had seen countless moons and battles.Across the room, Alpha Kieran stood tall, his gaze cold and unwavering. His presence alone commanded silence, but his words carried weight far heavier than his stance.“I want Elisa.”Hector lifted his head, meeting the Alpha’s piercing gaze. There was no hesitation, no protest—only a slow, knowing smile.“She is yours,all yours Alpha” he said simply.“You didn’t even try to ask me why?” Alpha Kieran said.Hector smirked and leaned back on his chair. “She is destined to become the Alpha’s omega.”“I don’t cherish Omega's,” Alpha Kieran said.“If she could give birth to a son, she
“She wasn’t always like that,” Leo snapped. “You didn’t see the version of her I did.”“I saw enough,” Zarek said. “And I made the call no one else would.”“You made the call,” Leo repeated, voice quiet now. “You didn’t hesitate. You didn’t even try to talk to me.”“What would I have said?” Zarek’s voice rose now, the calm breaking. “That the woman you loved planned to turn half the supernatural world into slaves and the other half into corpses? That she used you as a weapon and you didn’t even realize it?”“I did realize it,” Leo said, fists clenching. “Too late. But I did.”“And what would you have done?”Leo met his eyes. “I would’ve stopped her myself.”Zarek’s breath hitched for half a second.“I loved her,” Leo continued, his voice cracking. “But I loved you too. And I hated you for making me choose between the two.”“I didn’t give you a choice,” Zarek said.“No, you didn’t.” Leo’s voice was calm now, too calm. “You gave the order, then buried me like I was the one who started a
Micah stepped out of the trees slowly, hands at his sides, not threatening. He looked older now, more tired, but the sharp edge of sarcasm hadn’t dulled in his voice.“I’d say I missed you, but that’d be a lie.” Micah gave a half shrug. “You look like hell, by the way.”Leo let out a dry chuckle. “That’s because I’ve been there.”Micah studied him in silence for a moment. “You don’t look like him anymore. The Leo we knew.”Leo finally looked over his shoulder. “That Leo died in a pit and crawled out a vampire.”“You crawled out something, alright,” Micah said. “But I don’t think it’s too late.”“I do,” Leo said. “I should’ve died down there. Would’ve made things easier for everyone.”“But you didn’t.”“Yeah. I didn’t.” Leo turned, his eyes darker now, but no longer glowing. “And now what? You’re here to convince me to come back to the pack? Ask for forgiveness? Be the brother again?”“I’m not here to convince you of anything,” Micah said simply. “I’m here because I wanted to see for m
KARAThe moment we stepped out of the woods, Leo vanished. One second he was there—forehead still resting against mine, fingers wrapped around mine like he was afraid of letting go—and the next, gone like smoke in moonlight.I stood there for a second, staring into the trees, not sure if I’d imagined it all. But my heart was still racing. My wrist still bore the shape of his grip. And my mind—my mind was full of things I didn’t know how to say out loud.We returned to the packhouse in silence. Delilah flanked me on one side, her expression carved in steel. Aria moved behind us, not saying a word. I could feel their eyes on me, like they were waiting for me to fall apart. I didn’t.Linda was already waiting on the porch, arms crossed, brows pinched with worry. She didn’t ask questions. She just looked at me—and somehow, she already knew.Inside the packhouse, Zarek was pacing the length of the main hall like a caged animal. The moment he saw us, he stopped. His eyes scanned me, then De
KARALeo didn’t flinch. His eyes locked on mine, feral, glowing faintly gold under the moon. But this was not the Leo we knew. Not anymore. Something inside him was wrong—off. He was supposed to be dead. Buried. Gone.And yet, there he stood. Breathing. Smirking.Delilah edged closer beside me, her voice low. “He shouldn’t be alive. We saw him die.”“Then we buried the wrong body,” I whispered.Leo’s gaze shifted. “Touching reunion. Too bad it won’t last.”I stepped forward. “Let go. Zarek loves you. He did everything to save you.”Leo laughed—harsh, broken. “Save me? He killed the one I loved.”“That girl,” I said, voice firm, “wanted to destroy the world.”“You don’t know what love is,” Leo spat.“And you don’t know what she was planning,” I shot back. “She used you, Leo. You were her puppet.”He flinched. Just for a second.“I don’t care,” he said, voice lower now, bitter. “I would’ve burned everything for her.”“And she would’ve let you.”“I chose her.”“No. You followed her. That
“You heard what?” Kieran asked, turning sharply.Izzy’s hand trembled, the silver wine goblet clinking against the table. “Leo is dead.”The words hung heavy in the hall, louder than the music playing in the background, louder than the laughter echoing from the guests.Mark straightened from where he was tying the last of the birthday banners. “Are you sure?”Izzy nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. “It was her. Kara did it.”Kieran’s jaw tensed. “Of course she did.”“But today is—” Izzy glanced around. “Today is Ronan’s birthday. We don’t need this now.”“Doesn’t matter,” Mark muttered. “If Kara killed Leo, she won’t stop there.”“She's coming, isn't she?” Kieran asked, looking toward the window.Izzy’s silence was the only answer he needed.They didn’t invite the Golden Wolf Pack. Kara wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near their borders. But somehow, deep down, Kieran knew she was already on her way.The music played louder now. Guests were arriving, exchanging gifts, and laughi
KARAMy throat burned from screaming his name.Zarek.For a second, everything went still. The cave. The cold. Even Leo.He tilted his head slightly, like he’d heard it too.“Still clinging to hope?” he asked.I spat at his feet. “You should be afraid.”Leo chuckled, slow and cold. “Your mate’s too late. He always is.”The hooded woman dragged me forward, but I yanked my arm back, digging my heels into the stone floor. “I swear, Leo, if you do this—”He stepped forward and pressed two fingers to my lips. “Shh.”I bit him.Hard.His blood hit my tongue like fire. I spit it out and shoved him with both hands. “Touch me again and I’ll kill you.”He looked stunned for a second… then smiled. “That’s more like it.”I turned to run. Anywhere. Anywhere but toward the altar glowing with red sigils and cursed candles.The woman caught me by the hair.Pain shot down my spine as she yanked me back. “You’ll walk, or I’ll break your legs and drag you.”“I’m not afraid of you,” I hissed.“You should
KARA"I told you, you will be my queen,” Leo said without looking back, his voice cold and indifferent. “But don’t expect mercy.”“Leo, I would never—”My voice caught.Everything around me cracked and warped. The blood, the stone floor, Izzy’s lifeless body—all of it shattered like glass.And I jolted upright, heart hammering.My breaths came in sharp gasps, my hands clutching the bedsheet like it was my only lifeline. My skin was damp with sweat, and the room was dark, except for the pale moonlight pouring in through the window. The scent of cedar and pine filled the air, grounding me. I blinked, trying to make sense of where I was.A warm hand slid across my back.“Kara?” came a deep voice, groggy but concerned.I turned my head slowly. Zarek. He was here. His brows were furrowed, eyes still foggy from sleep. But alive. Breathing. Real.“Oh goddess…” I whispered, voice cracking.Before he could speak, I flung myself into his arms. My body trembled as I clung to him, burying my face
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