Craig's POV “We will make them pay. I can promise you that." I meant every word. Cady blinked, her conflict evident on her face, tearing between loyalty to her ambitions and the burgeoning realisation of the betrayal we were both experiencing. “You... you think we can take on Zane and the entire pack?” she questioned, scepticism lacing her voice. I took a moment to assess her, the fire flickering back into her amber eyes. “With the right information and allies—yes, we can. The rogues are already mounting outside our borders. They want a chance to rise against Zane. We can leverage their chaos to our advantage if we reach out to them. Zane hasn’t fully secured his territory, and the pack is not as loyal as he believes.” “You think the rogues will listen to us?” she shot back, defensively crossing her arms over her chest. “Desperation speaks louder than fear. Right now, they’re outside our walls, looking for a chance to strike. If we position ourselves as a new option—a chance
Craig's POV “Is there a problem?” my father demanded fo know but I shook my head not wanting him to meddle any further. I could already sense that Cady and Carolina were exhausted and scared. But the way Cady looked at him made my heart race. I was certain I saw a hint of recognition in her eyes. “No, there is no problem.” I quickly said, not wanting to provoke the situation any further. “Hmm, well that is good to know at least. Might be nice if you’d join me instead of hiding in the shadows, son,” he called out, a predatory grin spreading across his face. “Bring your friends with you.” I felt the tension as I reluctantly stepped forward, Cady and Carolina trailing behind me like shadows, still on edge. My father’s charisma was palpable, but so was a deeper threat lurking beneath his smile. The way he spoke, the authoritative tone mixed with that twisted amusement—it was a dangerous combination. “Come enjoy the evening, it’s a beautiful night for conversation,” he continued, g
Avery's POVThe words hung in the air like a heavy fog, suffocating in their implications. They know about me. A cold dread settled over me, and I could see Zane’s jaw tighten, a storm brewing in the depths of his gaze.“What do you mean they know about her?” Zane’s voice was low, but it carried the undeniable weight of his authority. I could taste the tension crackling between us all, an unsaid urgency propelling the moment forward.The rogue shifted uneasily on his feet, the subtle tremor in his limbs contrasting sharply with the fierce glint in his eyes. “I’ve heard whispers from the nearest clan. They’re hunting her,” he said, his voice gravelly yet urgent, like he was dredging up deep-seated fears. “They believe she holds the key to something that could shift the balance of power.”“Avery does not hold anything of the sort,” Zane interjected sharply, positioning himself protectively before me. “You’re mistaken. There must be some misunderstanding.”The rogue shook his head, dismi
Avery's POV The rogue’s expression flickered a mix of surprise and guarded recognition crossing his features. “You’re sharper than you look, Luna,” he replied, his tone shifting from tense to slightly amused as he studied me. “But don’t let your intuition lead you astray. The past is full of shadows we can’t forget.” Zane’s grip tightened on my arm, a warning punctuating the tension in the air. “What do you mean you were chasing her?” he growled, his protective instincts roaring to the surface once again. “What do you know?” The rogue held up a hand to pacify Zane. “I was not after her in the way you might think. I was merely trying to uncover what’s so uniquely beneficial about her that others want to exploit. She has a value bigger than you realise.” His gaze shifted back to me, his eyes narrowing almost conspiratorially. “You might not realise what you're capable of, but others do.” “I’ve had enough of your cryptic nonsense!” Zane spat, his patience fraying. “Tell us what you k
Avery's POV Zane took a step back, clearly taken aback by my outburst. His eyes softened, a mix of concern and determination etched across his features. “I understand you’re scared, Avery. I am too. But chasing after him could put you in even greater danger. He might have intentions we don’t fully comprehend.” “Danger?” I shot back, my voice rising. “He already said I’m a target! Are we supposed to cower in a corner while people are after me? I won’t sit idly when someone out there knows something—perhaps something that could change the course of everything!” Zane’s jaw clenched, and I could see the battle of emotions warring within him. “I’m trying to protect you. I just—” “Protect me?” I interrupted, my chest tightening with a mixture of anger and desperation. “You don’t even know what you’re protecting me from! We need to understand this threat together, not run from it.” His gaze dropped for a moment, defeated, and I felt a pang of guilt washing over me. I d
Craig's POV A stunned silence followed his declaration, a chasm of disbelief between my father’s words and the reality I assumed was actual. My heart dropped as I felt the weight of everything Cady hadn’t said, the fragments of her past swirling like unformed ghosts. Cady blinked rapidly, processing the implications of his words. “Uncle?” she echoed, her voice shaky as if testing its resonance against the walls of the terrace. “That can’t be right. I have no—” “Ah, but here’s the thing, Cady,” my father interrupted smoothly, a predatory gleam in his eye. “You do have family, whether you know it or not. Fascinating, isn’t it, how well-hidden truths can be? Secrets buried beneath the surface, waiting to bubble to the top?” I felt a rising anger surge through my veins, a heat fueled by the desperation to protect Cady from this vile game. “Stop it,” I snapped, stepping closer to her, my presence a barricade between her and my father’s manipulations. I could see a flicker of fear danc
Craig's POV The weight of my father’s words hung in the air like a thick fog, heavy and suffocating. The mention of Cady’s father, George, sent a jolt through me, reminding me of what we were facing. With Cady clinging to my side, I fiercely desired to protect her at all costs. And then there was Carolina, her presence a persistent reminder that we weren't alone. She stood close, her eyes filled with fear and determined understanding as she tried to process everything unfolding. “Terrance,” I said, forcing the name through clenched teeth, “you can’t manipulate us with your lies. We don't want to hear whatever you want to say to Cady, whatever truths you think you can reveal.” My father leaned forward slightly, the predatory gleam in his dark eyes intensifying, a twisted smile stretching his lips. “Oh, it's Terrance now, is it? Craig. You don’t know how deep this rabbit hole goes, do you? Do you think you can walk away from this? Deny your connection to your family? Carolina sh
Craig’s POV “Craig, maybe we should call it a day and just go back home. To the pack?” my eyes snapped to Carolina’s in dismay. Had i heard her correctly? She wanted to return to the one place that I was running from. “You think I am stupid enough to go back to that place?” I shook my head as we walked together. My fathers shouts still echoed in my head. Carolina's expression hardened, the resolute fire in her gaze clashing with the anxiety gnawing at my insides. “I know, but we can’t stay here with Terrance lurking around. He knows how to get to us now. We need protection, and Alpha Zane can offer that.” Cady was silent, her eyes darting between us as she seemed to process everything. The weight of Terrance's revelation hung heavily over us, and I realized how unprepared we truly were for the storm looming ahead. “Protection?” I echoed, disbelief coloring my voice. “You really think Zane would provide that? He believes I’m dead, and he won’t take kindly to what’s essentiall
Avery’s POV Alpha Zane? Luna Avery?” a gentle knock on the door brought us back from our own little world and I could feel Zane’s irritation as he curled his tongue and tutted. “And what is the problem now?” he wrenched open the door to reveal Dominic standing the other side looking hot and flustered from running. I frowned wondering what was going on. Pulling myself up from the bed, I sauntered over to the door and gently touched my mate on the arm soothing his anger almost instantly. “What is the problem?” I looked up at the mighty warrior with kind eyes. He bowed to me and looked slightly more relaxed. Zane sighed and rolled his eyes, I knew he wanted me to himself but something was going on otherwise we would not have been interrupted. “Its Carolina.” he finally uttered. “Carolina?” I exclaimed, a shiver ran down my spine. “What about her? Have you found her?” Zane demanded to know but Dominic shook his head. “Unfortunately not. But, we found this and if sends us into the d
Avery's pov The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow through our shared living space. Shadows danced across the walls as Zane and I sat on the couch, a pile of name suggestion lists and baby books precariously stacked on the coffee table. The excitement from our earlier conversation still buzzed in the air.“Alright,” Zane said, flipping through a book filled with names. “What do you think of these?” He pointed to a few options, reading them aloud dramatically, “How about ‘Gideon’ or ‘Ariana’?” I rolled my eyes playfully. “You know, I have to veto ‘Gideon’ right off the bat. It sounds like a character in a bad sci-fi movie.”“Alright, alright. No Gideon,” he chuckled, jotting it down as a no-go. “What about ‘Zara’? It’s strong, like you.”My heart warmed at his compliment, but a small part of me hesitated. “Zara is pretty, but it feels almost… too trendy? I’d want something with a bit of history.”“Fair point,” he replied, his pencil tapping thoughtfully against
Avery's Pov The warmth of his embrace eased the flutter of nerves in my stomach. With Zane's arms around me, I felt a mix of safety and excitement. It was like standing on the edge of a cliff, peering into the unknown—terrifying but exhilarating all at once. "Have you thought about names?" he asked, pulling back just enough to look into my eyes, a spark of playful curiosity igniting his features. I laughed, the sound bubbling up like a burst of sunshine through clouds. "Maybe it's a bit too early for that, don't you think?” “Not at all,” he replied, his grin widening. “We can brainstorm! I mean, we have to be ready for the baby name book, right?” A new wave of amusement washed over me, and I couldn’t help but picture ourselves poring over names together. “Okay, if we’re doing this, I need to include your criteria for names,” I teased. “What constitutes a ‘Zane-approved’ name?” He pretended to ponder for a moment, placing his hand on his chin thoughtfully. “It has to be strong an
Avery's POVThe truth hung in the air, thick and heavy, as the reality of Kendra’s words crashed over us. I was pregnant. The phrase echoed in my mind, a blend of disbelief and a rush of emotions that felt almost overwhelming. Joy, fear, excitement, and anxiety erupted within me, a chaotic storm swirling in my chest.Zane’s arm tightened around my shoulders, grounding me as my thoughts spiraled. He captured my gaze, his eyes shimmering with a mixture of emotions that mirrored my own. In that moment, the world outside lost its significance, and all that mattered was us—what we had created together. “I—” I struggled to articulate my thoughts, words tumbling over one another in my mind. “What do we do now?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, as I searched his expression for answers.“We figure it out together,” Zane replied, his voice steady but laced with emotion. “We take it one step at a time.” There wasn’t a hint of doubt in his demeanor, and as the gravity of my situation sa
Avery’s POV A heavy silence settled around us, punctuated only by the ticking clock on the wall and the soft rustle of packaging as Kendra set up the pregnancy test. Time felt suspended, each second stretching into eternity. My heart raced, caught between fear and anticipation, while my mind churned with unanswered questions. Zane’s presence was a steadying force beside me. His hand remained entwined with mine, his thumb tracing soothing circles on my palm. I wanted to focus on the comfort of his touch, but the enormity of what was about to happen loomed large in my thoughts. “What if I’m not ready for this?” I repeated, more to myself than to him, the thought echoing like a haunting melody. “Avery, nobody is ever fully ready,” Zane replied, his voice a low rumble of support. “But we’ll figure it out together. Whatever this result is, we’ll tackle it as a team." His unwavering confidence was soothing, yet my own doubts antagonized me. I didn’t want to let fear dictate my life, bu
Craig’s POV As Delilah led the way through the thicket, I kept a vigilant eye on our surroundings, scanning for any signs of danger the moment we stepped away from the safety of our temporary haven. I could feel my pulse pounding in my ears, each beat echoing the urgency of our situation.“Where exactly are we going?” I whispered to Delilah as we navigated the dense undergrowth, branches snagging at my clothes as if they were trying to hold me back from the path ahead.“To the old hunting lodge,” she answered quickly, darting glances behind us. “It’s abandoned, but it should be worn enough that no one is likely to search it.”“We can’t stay there long,” I warned, my gut twisted with the knowledge that time was not on our side. “What if they track us?”“They might, but the longer we stay away from Alpha Zane’s territory, the better. They’ll be searching for you, no doubt. We need to throw them off your trail.” That thought should have reassured me, but instead, fear twisted tighter i
Zane’s grip on my hand tightened as he considered my question, his brow furrowing under the weight of uncertainty. “Then we take it one step at a time, just like Kendra said,” he replied softly, his voice steady despite the turmoil in the air. “We’ll talk about it. We’ll figure it out together. No matter what.”His confidence was both comforting and terrifying. I opened my eyes and met his gaze, searching for reassurance amidst the chaos of my thoughts. “But what if I’m not ready for this, Zane?” My voice trembled as I spoke, fear and vulnerability tumbling forth like a flood. “What if I can’t be the person that a baby needs?”Zane’s expression softened, compassion radiating from him. “Avery, none of us are ever fully ready for things like this. Life throws us challenges, and we just adapt. You’re strong; I've seen you face things that would break others. Plus, you wouldn’t be doing this alone.” I felt a spark of warmth at his words, but doubt still lingered. “And what about you? Are
Avery's POV As I gazed into Zane’s eyes, a warm afterglow surrounded us, melting away the remnants of our earlier conflict. But as that sense of connection enveloped me, I felt a sudden wave of nausea crash over me. A bead of cold sweat trickled down my back as I pulled away from Zane, the world around me beginning to spin.“Um, I—” I stammered, my voice faltering. “I think I need to sit down for a—”Before I could finish my sentence, the room tilted precariously, and I stumbled, clutching my stomach. Panic surged through me as I rushed to the side, barely making it to the bathroom just in time. I barely managed to turn on the light before the contents of my stomach surged forth, heaving violently as dry heaves followed. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, more from the shock than the physical discomfort.“Avery!” Zane called out, his voice echoing with alarm just outside the door. I could hear his footsteps rushing in my direction.The door swung open, and I looked up to see hi
Avery's POV“I understand more than you think,” I said, matching his intensity with my own. “But I refuse to let that weight crush my spirit—or my ability to fight for it.”“For once, can’t you just trust that I know what’s best?” he demanded, his voice thick with emotion. “Trust goes both ways, Zane,” I countered, my heart pounding in my chest. “If I can’t trust you to hear me out, if I can’t have a say in our direction, then I might as well be standing alone in this fight.”“Fine then!” Zane thundered, his frustration spilling over as he turned away from me, fuming under the pressure of our conversation. “If you want to defy me, I will take actions necessary to ensure you’re safe, even if it means locking you in here.”My breath hitched in my throat, anger flaring once again. “Are you really willing to go that far? To actually isolate me from everything and everyone?”“Maybe I need to!” he snapped, but his voice faltered as he saw my expression. “Avery, I don’t want to—but you leav