Rylan's POVLyra didn't ask for me to keep Damian away from the babies. Later when she said she was calm enough, she asked for Damian to come take a proper look at the babies.But I wasn't sure she'd completely gotten over her anger like she said she had.Standing near the door, I watched Lyra’s body tense, her anger sharp and clear as she confronted Damian again. The same thing she'd said she would not do. She looked so strong, but I knew the pain behind her cold words. I took a deep breath and walked to her side.“Lyra,” I said softly, draping my arm over her shoulders. “You don’t need to do this. Forget that terrible night. Forget what he did. You’re in a better place now.”Her body relaxed against me, just slightly. It wasn’t much, but it was enough for me to feel her leaning into me. I kept my hand there, steady and firm, silently reminding her that she wasn’t alone.Damian turned then, his eyes catching the way we stood together. His jaw tightened, and a frown spread across his
Damian’s POVAs I left the nursery, I couldn’t help the anger simmering beneath my skin. My fists clenched at my sides as I stomped down the hallway, my chest tight with frustration. The image of Lyra leaning into Rylan, her trust in him so clear, replayed in my mind like a taunt. It stung more than I wanted to admit.It wasn't just a knowledge that he was in love with her. I could see it now. It didn't make it hurt less. If anything, the more I thought of it, the more exasperated I got over the knowledge of it.The way he looked at her, the way he hovered protectively—it was obvious. But seeing Lyra respond to him like that, seeing her find comfort in his presence, was a slap in the face. I’d hoped, prayed even, that she hadn’t fallen for him. Yet, what I saw in that room spoke volumes.They were already a pair, weren’t they? A couple.They are running the pack together after all. What did I expect?The thought tore at my heart, and I felt a pang of jealousy so sharp it almost brough
Lyra's POVThe room was silent except for the soft rustling of the bedding and the quiet hum of Olivia and Mildred as they worked, moving about the room with the same gentle care they always gave the babies. I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands resting in my lap, fingers nervously twisting the fabric of my dress as I stared at the floor. My mind wouldn’t settle.Damian was on my mind."No," I whispered to myself, shaking my head in frustration. "It’s not true. You don’t feel anything for him anymore.""It is true," Snow, my wolf, replied in a calm but insistent voice inside my mind. "You’re still drawn to him. Stop trying to deny it."I bit my lip, trying to hold back the flood of emotions threatening to spill over. "I don’t," I muttered, more to myself than to Snow. "It’s only because he’s the father of my babies. And my former husband. That’s it.""Lyra," Snow said, her voice soft but firm. "You know that’s not the whole truth. You still have feelings for him. You’re still attract
Rylan’s POVI stepped out into the cool evening air, grateful for the quiet outside the camp. The guards at the edge of the perimeter nodded as I passed. They were alert, their eyes scanning the surrounding woods for any sign of trouble. The tension since Damian's arrival hadn’t eased. Everyone felt it, and I was no exception.Ahead, near the training grounds, I spotted Caspian and Finn standing by the wooden post where they often met to talk. Caspian was sharpening a dagger, the scrape of metal on stone loud in the stillness. Finn leaned against the post, arms crossed, his face serious.“Alpha Rylan,” Caspian called out as I approached. “We were wondering when you’d show up.”I gave a small nod and stopped in front of them. “I needed a moment,” I said simply. “It’s been a long day.”Finn frowned. “A long day, and it’s only going to get harder. Damian’s presence here changes everything.”“I know that,” I replied, keeping my voice steady. “I didn’t want him here, but I couldn’t stop hi
Rylan’s POVI walked through the camp toward Lyra’s quarters, my mind focused on what I had found earlier in the woods. It wasn’t just a simple discovery; it felt significant, like a piece of history meant for her to see. I wondered how she would react.When I reached her door, I took a breath and knocked twice. It didn’t take long for her to answer. She opened the door, her eyes bright but curious.“Rylan?” she said, her voice soft. “What’s going on?”“I found something in the woods,” I told her. “You need to see it.”Her brows furrowed slightly. “What did you find?”I shook my head, not wanting to spoil the surprise. “You’ll understand when you see it. Can you come with me?”Lyra looked hesitant for a moment, glancing back into her room. Then she nodded, grabbing a shawl from a nearby chair. “Alright, lead the way.”We walked through the camp together. The evening air was cool, and the sounds of the pack settling for the night filled the space around us. I could feel her glance at m
Lyra’s povThe sun was warm as I walked with Olivia and Mildred toward the old tub house. It had been cleaned the day before, and I wanted to see it again. The smooth, precious stones had glimmered faintly under the grime, but now they were polished and bright. Olivia, with her curious smile, asked about the history of the tub.“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “But it feels like it belongs to this pack, part of its past.”Mildred nodded. “It’s a treasure, Luna. Something to be proud of.”We arrived at the small house where the tub was kept. The door stood ajar, and the air around it smelled fresh from the cleaning oils the workers had used. I turned to the two women and stopped walking.“I need to go in alone,” I said firmly. “The tub is only for the Alpha and Luna. It’s written on it clearly. You might have to get back and wait for me.”They hesitated for a moment but nodded. Olivia stepped back with a small bow. “We’ll wait.”I smiled, grateful for their respect. “Thank you. I won’t be l
Lyra's POVDamian didn't leave when I asked him to leave so I turned around and stomped out of the small room.The walk back to the pack house felt longer than I expected. The air seemed thicker as if something was weighing down on me. Olivia and Mildred walked behind me, their footsteps light, but their conversation persistent, like a soft murmur in the background that I couldn’t fully block out. I wanted to focus on my thoughts, to clear my mind of everything that had just happened. But Damian’s sudden appearance and his words had rattled me more than I cared to admit. His plea for me to return to the Blood Nest Pack, to take my place as his Luna again, echoed in my mind.Olivia’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Luna,” she said, her tone gentle but curious. “You didn’t take your bath in the tub. What happened? Was it not as you wanted?”I didn’t respond right away. I had to push the image of Damian’s face from my mind. I needed to focus, to keep my composure. I glanced over my sho
Rylan's POVAs I approached the room, I pushed the door open. The air inside smelled of fresh wood and the faint scent of the herbs they used for cleaning the tub. It was calm, peaceful. Yet something about the space felt wrong.I stepped inside, eyes scanning the room. At first, I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Then my gaze landed on Damian.He was standing near the tub, as if he had been waiting. His back was to me, but I knew he must have heard the door open.“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice steady but with a sharp edge to it.Damian turned slowly, a smug look on his face. “I came to speak with Lyra,” he said, his voice cool, almost casual.I felt a flash of anger. It wasn’t just because he was here; it was the way he said it, as if he had some right to be in this place, as if he had some claim to her. The thought of him being near her, of him thinking he could just walk in and talk to her whenever he wanted, made my blood boil.“Speak with her?” I repeated, t
Rylan’s POVThe sky was darkening when Damian and his men arrived at the WhiteMoon pack. I was already waiting by the gates, watching them walk toward me. There was no fanfare, no noise, just the solid sound of their boots hitting the dirt. Damian moved with purpose, as he always did since I'd grown familiar with him. His eyes scanned the surroundings, taking everything in like he had to make sure everything was in place. He had been gone for some time. Now, he was back.He stopped in front of me, his gaze steady as always. “It’s done,” he said.I nodded. I knew what that meant. “Kaius?”“Dead,” Damian said without hesitation. “Ilena poisoned him. She tried to take control of the Blood Nest. She failed.”I didn’t need to ask what had happened to her. I already knew. It wasn’t hard to figure out. “And the pack?” I asked.“Secured,” Damian replied. “The traitors are gone. The loyal ones remain.”I took a breath and glanced around. The WhiteMoon pack was in better shape than I thought it
Lyra’s POVThe WhiteMoon pack was only just beginning to get past the chaos of war. The battle was over, but the scars it left behind still lingered. The dead had been buried, the wounded tended to, and the pack was trying to move forward, but the unease was still there. A shadow of what had been lost.And yet, there was one thing left unfinished—one loose end that needed to be dealt with.Eloisa.I didn't think I wanted to have her executed, despite all she'd done to me and what she'd tried to do to my babies. She was someone I'd loved but who had also turned around to hate me with all her might. Damian wanted her dead so she would not cause any more harm, Rylan said it was completely up to me to do whatever I wanted to do with her since I was the one who had defeated her anyway. My softness was getting the best of me. I didn't want to hurt Eloisa, the knowledge of what she'd tried to do to me didn't change this either. The moment I could, I made my way to the pack dungeons. The g
Damian's POVThe journey back to the Blood Nest pack felt like it took forever. My mind was clouded with thoughts of everything that had transpired. The battle at WhiteMoon had been brutal, but we had won. Lyra had proven herself time and time again, and the victory was ours. Still, there was a gnawing feeling in my gut, the knowledge that things were not yet over. The fight for power and control had only just begun.When we finally arrived at the Blood Nest pack, I felt the tension in the air. There was a heaviness in the atmosphere, a thick sense of uncertainty hanging over everything. My pack had been through so much in the last few days, and now, with me back at the helm, there was no time to rest. I needed to find out what had happened in my absence, and I needed answers, fast.I had no idea what I was about to walk into.As soon as I entered the pack house, I was met by one of my most trusted men. His face was grim, his posture stiff with the weight of the news he had to deliver
Rylan's POVThe battle was over. The dust had settled, but the air still carried the heavy scent of blood, sweat, and destruction. The WhiteMoon pack was battered and bruised, but they were alive. And that, at least, was something to hold onto. We had won, but at what cost? The warriors were all tired, their faces painted with exhaustion, their wounds still fresh. The camp was in disarray, but we had managed to push the enemy back.I found myself walking along the outskirts of the camp with Caspian and Finn. The battlefield felt quieter now, the distant sounds of the survivors tending to their injured and picking up the pieces of what was left. The weight of the day sat heavy on my shoulders. The fight had been brutal, and while I was glad it was over, it didn’t feel like a victory just yet. The aftermath was always the hardest part.Damian had gone back to the Blood Nest pack to reclaim his position as Alpha. There was no question about it. Kaius had taken control while Damian was go
Damian's POVThe fight had ended, but the air was thick with tension. Blood, sweat, and dirt mixed together, leaving the battlefield in a grim haze. The clashing of weapons had died down, and the warriors around me began to gather, taking stock of what was left. The battle was won, but it wasn’t over yet.Eloisa lay on the ground, her wolf form battered and bruised but not defeated entirely. She wasn’t dead. She wasn’t going to die—not by my hand, not by Lyra’s. But she had lost. Her fortification had crumbled, and her strength had faltered under the weight of Lyra’s relentless defense. Still, she lay there, struggling to breathe, her gaze fixed on us with a defiant hatred.I stood beside Lyra, watching her. She had been the one to bring down Eloisa, the one to push her to the edge. But Lyra had stopped short. She didn’t want to kill Eloisa. As much as Eloisa had tried to destroy us, to destroy her, Lyra had shown mercy."Don’t," Lyra said, her voice steady. "We don’t need to kill her
Lyra’s POVThe battle raged on around me. I could hear the clash of swords, the roar of warriors, and the sounds of werewolves fighting for their lives. But it was all distant noise. I wasn’t focused on the battle around me; my attention was fixed on one thing—the one thing that mattered more than anything right now.Damian.I had sneaked out of the safety of the pack house, determined to be where the fight was. A guard had tried to stop me, insisted that I stay hidden, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t just stand back and wait while the people I cared about fought. I needed to be there.But then, I saw her. Eloisa.The sight of me stopped Eloisa in her tracks.Eloisa was in her wolf form, her body was unusually large and fortified with the power she had gained through her twisted ways. I could see the raw strength emanating from her, and it was clear that she wasn’t just fighting to win. She was fighting to break Damian. Eloisa was more than just a rival. She was a woman bent on destro
Damian’s POVThe battlefield was madness. The air was thick with the scent of blood, sweat, and death. Wolves lunged at each other, claws tearing through flesh, growls and screams blending together. The sound of steel meeting steel rang out as warriors fought with everything they had. The ground beneath us was already stained red, bodies littering the area.I fought my way through the chaos, blade in hand, striking down anyone who dared to stand in my path. My wolf snarled within me, pushing me forward, demanding vengeance. Rylan fought beside me, moving with the same deadly focus. We had battled side by side before, but this time, it was different. We weren’t just fighting an enemy—we were fighting our own.Something was wrong.I could see it in the way some of the WhiteMoon warriors moved. Their attacks were slower than usual, hesitant, as if they weren’t truly trying to kill. Otmes barely lifted their weapons, stepping back instead of forward. And then tmee were the ones who did no
Rylan's POVThe battlefield was a scene of pure chaos. The air smelled thick with blood and smoke. Wolves fought, teeth bared, fur flying. The sound of swords clashing with flesh echoed around me, drowning out all but the screams and roars. The earth was soaked with blood, and bodies littered the ground in every direction. I could hear the growls of shifting wolves, mixed with the clash of steel, the air alive with tension and fury.I moved quickly through the battle, my feet light but my strikes deadly. My blade cut through the enemies with the precision of a wolf on the hunt. My body felt alive with adrenaline, muscles coiling and releasing in perfect rhythm as I fought beside Damian. His movements were just as fluid, just as fast. We were a team, working together like we had done so many times before.But despite the intensity of the battle, something didn’t sit right.I noticed it immediately—the hesitation in the movements of some of the WhiteMoon warriors. They were faltering, t
Eloisa's POV The battlefield was exactly as I had imagined—chaotic, brutal, and perfect for my victory. The scent of blood and sweat filled the air, thick and intoxicating. The ground trembled beneath the weight of charging warriors, their roars mixing with the clash of steel and the growls of shifting wolves. It was a beautiful sight—one I had long waited for.From my position on the hill, I could see everything. My forces, my carefully trained warriors, moved with purpose, cutting down those who stood against me. Their strikes were swift, precise, efficient. Every blade that sank into enemy flesh was a step closer to my rightful place.I had planned this well.I had spent months planting the seeds of doubt, whispering truths and lies into the ears of the weak-minded within the WhiteMoon pack. And now, those whispers bore fruit.The hesitation in the steps of some warriors, the uncertainty in their eyes—I saw it all. Some barely lifted their weapons, while others stepped back from t