“Kieran, we can’t take a walk, people are waiting for me inside to attend to them.” Izzy said.The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a blade.Izzy stood at the entrance of the grand hall, her knuckles white as she gripped the edge of the doorway. The chandeliers flickered above, casting eerie shadows against the polished stone floor. The scent of power and dominance filled the space as Alphas from across the regions took their seats.Her son, Ronan, was turning seven today. A day that should have been filled with joy. Yet, dread coiled inside her chest like a viper ready to strike. Kieran’s voice was low, firm. “It won't take long.”She didn’t turn to face him. Instead, she swallowed the knot in her throat. “Kieran, today is our son’s birthday. You have never tried to hold him once—not since the day I gave birth to him. He barely even knows you.”Kieran exhaled slowly, running a hand through his dark hair. “I have been so busy later, I would do better as a father.”“Ou
KARA“I am so sorry I am late,” I said, stepping into the grand hall, my voice smooth and confident.Silence followed.All eyes turned to me—some in shock, others in barely disguised curiosity. The air grew thick with tension, the weight of my presence pressing down on everyone in the room.Luna Anderson, ever observant, turned to Kieran and Izzy. “Is she the former mate of Kieran?”I smiled, a slow, deliberate curve of my lips, before nodding. “Indeed, I am.”Izzy’s face twisted in fury as she pushed back from her seat. “Kara, you are banished from this pack! How dare you show up here?”I kept my expression calm, tilting my head slightly. “The last seat is free, and I am here on behalf of Alpha Zarek, the one you thought was dead.”Gasps rippled across the room.Izzy’s jaw clenched, her lips pressing into a thin line. She couldn’t speak. She couldn’t move.I took my seat gracefully, smoothing the fabric of my dress. “Now, you may begin, Alpha Kieran,” I said, my voice laced with mock
KARA I paused. “I don’t have to say it now, I want her to suffer slowly, not like this, this is not the best way to make her pay.” I muttered to myself.“What were you saying?” Kieran asked.I smirked “Ronan here, looks exactly like his mom.” I said as I turned my gaze back to Izzy.“You were about to say something, why did you stop?” Luna Anderson asked.I smirked and then took a few steps back. “I will talk about it some other time, today is not the time.” I said with a wide smile, Izzy watched as I walked away but there was nothing she could do.“You did a great job over there.” Linda finally admitted, her voice begrudging but firm.I raised an eyebrow, my arms crossed. “Thought you didn’t like me.”“I still don’t,” she replied flatly. “But I’m doing this for Zarek.”Her words stung more than I expected, but I shrugged it off. Whatever. I wasn’t here to make friends.“What were you about to say earlier?” Linda asked.“I wanted to explode Izzy, but that wasn’t the right time to do
KARAThe air in the room shifted. Thickened.Leo moved faster than I could react. In a blur, he was in front of me, gripping my chin between his fingers. Not gentle. Not rough. Just enough to make sure I couldn’t look away.“I will become ruler of all the kingdoms,” he said, his breath warm against my face. “And I will make you my queen.”The laugh that tore from my throat was sharp, jagged. “You’re insane.”His grip tightened slightly. “No, Kara. I have been waiting for this moment for a very long time.”“Where are my friends?” I asked.“I don’t know, maybe they are probably dead.” He said without hesitation.And then, before I could process what was happening, his lips crashed onto mine.It wasn’t a kiss. It was possession. It was a statement.I bit down—hard.Leo pulled back with a curse, wiping the blood from his lower lip. His eyes flashed with something dangerous, something violent.For a moment, I thought he’d hit me.But then, he exhaled through his nose, the tension in his sh
KARA“You’re sure?”Zarek’s voice was low, but there was no mistaking the tension in it. His dark eyes were locked onto the horizon, his jaw set. The weight of what he had just realized pressed into his chest like a vice.Linda crossed her arms. “You marked her without her knowing?”Zarek didn’t move. He didn’t need to. The answer was clear.Linda swore under her breath. “And now you know exactly where she is.”Zarek nodded once. “Leo has her.”Linda, who had been leaning against the training post, straightened. “Then let’s go get her.”Zarek shook his head. “Not you. You’re injured.”Linda scoffed. “Since when do you care about injuries?”“Since I know Leo would tear you apart before you even reached his gates,” Zarek shot back. His tone wasn’t cruel, just factual.Linda clenched her jaw but said nothing. She knew he was right.Delilah stepped forward. “Then I’ll go.”Zarek hesitated. He didn’t trust Delilah, not fully. But she was the only one capable of standing in front of Leo wit
BACK AT STORMCLAW PACK“Izzy,” Kimmelly hissed, eyes darting to where Ronan was still sleeping. “Do you even hear yourself? You can’t just—”“I know what you’re going to say,” Izzy cut her off, voice sharp but hushed. “But shut your mouth. I need to let Ronan sleep so we can talk.”Kimmelly continued but kept her voice low. “This is important, you can’t take it lightly. You should think of new plans. Kara is already here and she is here for revenge, nothing else.”Izzy’s fingers curled into fists. “I am so lost.”Kimmelly scoffed. Izzy exhaled sharply, turning toward the window. The moon cast pale light over the room, but it didn’t soothe the storm raging inside her.“She made mention of something earlier,” Kimmelly continued. “She came to the celebration to replace the Alpha of all Alphas. Alpha Zarek.”Izzy went still.Her nails dug into her palms.“He is my brother,” she said finally, voice barely above a whisper.Kimmelly gasped, stepping back like Izzy had just struck her. “WHAT
“Izzy, after everything you’ve done for Kieran, this is what you get?” Kimmelly’s voice was sharp, laced with disbelief. “You killed for him, you burnt for him. You ruined your life for him. And he’s still choosing her.”“Don’t turn my mind into what I don’t want.” Izzy said.Kimmelly smirked. “But you see, I am not lying, you could feel it, you know Kieran is changing or maybe he used you, he killed your brother Izzy and you are letting him live?”“I was glad he killed my brother back then because my brother isn’t my brother, he is my step brother and he is charge of the pack and I don’t want that, Zarek is bound to be the Alpha king and I don’t want him to be the king, I want to be the one sitting on that, I want the Alpha’s to bow for me.” Izzy said.“Females don't become the king, you can only rule with your mate by your side.” Kimmelly said, her voice barely above a whisper.“If Zarek is alive again, that ruins my plan, Zarek will kill Kieran and my main goal right now is to kill
Kimmelly didn’t hesitate. “I haven’t been feeding him anything.” Her voice was steady, unreadable. “If he asks, I always lie.”Izzy nodded slowly. Then, without warning, she pulled Kimmelly into a hug. Her lips brushed against her ear, her voice a whisper. “You’ve been with me for years. You know exactly what I’m capable of.”Kimmelly stiffened just slightly, but it was enough.Izzy pulled back, her eyes sharp, searching. The way Kimmelly looked away, the way she shifted, something was off.“I wouldn’t dare betray you, Izzy,” Kimmelly said, forcing a smile. “Goodnight.”Izzy didn’t respond. She just watched as Kimmelly turned away, retreating down the hallway toward her room.Only, she didn’t go there.Izzy followed, her steps silent against the floor. Kimmelly moved quickly, glancing over her shoulder once before slipping into a different room.Kieran’s.Izzy’s blood turned ice cold.She moved closer, pressing her ear against the heavy door. At first, there was just the murmur of voi
“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