“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
KARA “Where is Alpha Kieran? I have something important to show him and it could only be tonight to make tonight worthy” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. My heart fluttered with excitement—tonight, I had great news to tell him. It was going to be the highlight of the ceremony.Aria, my most trusted Beta, glanced up from the scroll she was holding. “He could be in his quarters getting ready, Luna, you two have to be ready before the time runs out, go check on him while I wait in the hall for you” she replied, her voice steady and reassuring, though I could see the faint glimmer of concern in her eyes.I nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. It was supposed to be a night of celebration. A night when our pack would come together, marking the beginning of a new era under Alpha Kieran’s leadership and my position as his Luna. But something in my gut twisted, an unease I couldn’t shake off.“Thank you, Aria, help me sort things out in the hall, I will be there soon, I
KARA“Kieran….. how could you do this to me?” I murmured to myself as I stood in the midst of the pack members. My heart pounded in my chest. Unfit to be Luna. Unfit to lead, The words crushed me. He had turned the pack against me, built this lie.The murmurs grew louder, then suddenly a loud voice spoke from the crowd. “Are we to believe this,Alpha?” One of the pack members asked, his voice filled with disbelief. “Is Luna really capable of this?”Kieran didn't hesitate, his voice cold and cutting. “She is. She has betrayed me. I knew of her affair, and I let it go on for too long, but tonight it ends she can't be the Luna anymore”I felt my knees buckle, and I crumpled to the ground. The states, the whispers, the looks all cut through me like a million daggers. But nothing hurt more than seeing the satisfaction in Kieran's eyes as he spoke.Before I could gather my thoughts, the air pierced by a sudden howl. The sound was raw and guttural, filled with dangerous approaching. I stood s
The sun rose on a new day, casting a cold, indifferent light across the pack grounds. The morning's silence was suffocating, as though the world itself was holding its breath.Kieran's voice thundered through the clearing outside of the mansion, commanding the attention of every pack member gathered there. His posture was tall, but the emptiness in his eyes told a different story, one of calculated malice. Beside him stood Izzy, her face a mask of feigned concern.“I called you all here,” Kieran began, his voice low but firm, “To explain what happened last night. To let you all know the truth.” The pack members fell silent, their attention now fixed solely in their Alpha, the leader.“The rogues that attacked us last night didn't come by accident,” Kieran continued, his eyes sweeping across the crowd, “They were sent. They were all sent by Kara”.The words hit like a slap. The room froze. Kara? The Luna? The woman who had fought alongside Kieran for years?Kieran's lips curled into a
KARANine 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
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
“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