Avery’s Point of ViewI glared at him, my cheeks heating. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s really going on, Kaiden. You can’t just kiss me senseless and then throw me into some secret hideout!”His smirk widened, and he leaned closer, his face inches from mine. “First of all, I didn’t throw you anywhere. And second, if you really wanted to stay here, you wouldn’t have melted into my arms like butter just now.”My mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. “Y-you…..”“Yes, me,” he interrupted, his voice dripping with amusement. “Now, are you coming willingly, or should I find something to dress you in myself?”I froze, my face heating so fast I was surprised I didn’t spontaneously combust. “You wouldn’t dare.”His grin was wicked, and his silver eyes sparkled with mischief. “Try me.”“You’re insufferable!” I snapped, grabbing the nearest pillow and whacking him with it.He didn’t even flinch, only laughed as he caught the pillow and tossed it aside. “You’ve got t
Avery’s Point of ViewHe turned to me, a playful grin on his lips. “Want to see something cool?”I raised an eyebrow, folding my arms. “After what you just pulled, I don’t think I want to see anything you call cool.”“Trust me, you’ll love it”, he assured me with a small smile.A sly smirk played on my lips, my earlier anger replaced with a rare spark of mischief. “Alright, Kaiden. Impress me.”But before I could brace myself, the sound of fabric tearing filled the air.My eyes widened as I instinctively spun around, slapping my hands over my face. “Kaiden!” I yelped. “Are you stripping?”A very rebellious, traitorous part of me whispered that sneaking a peek might not be the worst idea.“Don’t flatter yourself, Snowy,” he drawled, amusement lacing his tone.I didn’t dare peek, but my imagination was already running wild, painting a picture of his broad, muscled frame beneath his shirt. My cheeks burned at the thought.“Relax, Snowy,” his voice came, deep and laced with amusement. “Yo
Avery’s Point of ViewSlade stepped back slightly, his powerful frame illuminated by the silver light of the moon. “Are you ready to go, Snowy?”I nodded, my heart steady now as I met his glowing eyes. “Ready.”Slade bent down on his massive legs, lowering his colossal frame. His glowing emerald eyes locked onto mine. "Hop on," he said, his deep voice vibrating through the air.I hesitated, looking at the sheer size of him. His back was broad and muscular, his jet-black fur glinting faintly under the moonlight. “You want me to… ride you?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly.Slade’s lips curled in what I could only describe as a wolfish smirk. “Yes, Snowy. Or would you prefer to walk?”I let out a nervous laugh, knowing full well that the woods were far too dangerous for me to trek on foot. Taking a deep breath, I grabbed onto his thick fur and hoisted myself onto his back. “If I fall and die, I’m haunting you,” I muttered.“You won’t fall,” Slade said confidently. “But hold on tight
Avery’s Point of ViewHis words made me pause, my heart skipping a beat. There was something about the way he said it, the conviction in his voice, that made the air feel heavier. But it wasn’t just the words—it was his gaze. As he spoke, his eyes locked onto mine, and his intensity was almost too much to bear.I felt a chill run down my spine, the kind that was both unsettling and thrilling. For a moment, I swore he was trying to tell me something without saying it outright. But I quickly shook the thought away, laughing nervously to break the tension. “That’s… nice,” I said, trying to sound casual.He tilted his head slightly, still watching me, but he didn’t say anything else. Instead, he gestured toward the door. “Come on. You should rest.”We walked back into the house, and as I admired the grandeur once again, I couldn’t help but feel like I was stepping into a different world. The silence between us felt charged, as if there was something hanging in the air, but I didn’t dare p
Maya’s Point of ViewThe night was suffocating, thick with a silence that pressed against my ears like an unwelcome guest. Sleep evaded me, no matter how much I tossed and turned. My thoughts were haunted by Dren’s lifeless eyes and the lingering problem that was the dungeon guard.I knew it wasn’t over. His silence wasn’t guaranteed. He could talk, spill everything to Kaiden… and if that happened, I was as good as dead. Every time I closed my eyes, I could see Kaiden’s face contorted with rage, his piercing emerald eyes bearing down on me with betrayal.I sat up in bed, running a hand through my disheveled hair. My mind wouldn’t quiet down. Maybe some fresh air would help. I grabbed my shawl, wrapped it around my shoulders, and stepped out of the house.The night air was crisp, a slight chill biting at my skin. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silver glow over the vast land surrounding the house. I wandered aimlessly, hoping the cool air would calm the storm brewing inside me.
Maya’s Point of ViewBy the time the sun began to set, I could no longer sit still. I needed to see Kaiden. He was the only one who could put an end to this if I played my cards right.I changed into a simple but elegant gown, one that showed just enough skin to remind Kaiden of what he was missing. Maybe, just maybe, I could charm my way back into his chambers. If he would only listen to me.The walk to the Pack House felt longer than usual. The guards stationed outside his chambers came into view as I turned the corner. Taking a deep breath, I straightened my posture and walked forward with confidence.But the moment I reached the entrance, the guards immediately crossed their spears in front of me, blocking my path.I frowned. “Step aside,” I ordered, my voice laced with authority.They didn’t budge.“Did you not hear me?” I snapped. “Move!”One of the guards, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward. “Miss Maya, you are not permitted to enter.”My patience
Maya’s Point of ViewI had to leave. I had to get away before my life spiraled further out of control.I took a step forward. Then another.But before I could take a third step, a strong hand shot out and grabbed my arm from behind, yanking me to a sudden halt.I gasped, spinning around, my eyes blazing with fury. “Who the hell……”My words died on my tongue when I locked eyes with him.A tall, broad-shouldered man stood in front of me. His build was strong, but he wasn’t as imposing as Kaiden. His skin was a smooth tan, his hair jet black and slightly tousled, and his piercing hazel eyes bore into mine with an intensity that sent an unexpected shiver through me. His chiseled jaw clenched, as if he was holding something back, and his breathing was slightly uneven.Then he spoke.“Mate.”A single word. One that made my entire world stop.My chest tightened. My heart pounded violently against my ribs. My vision blurred for a moment before I forced myself to focus.I took a sharp step ba
Maya’s Point of ViewBut even as I stormed out of the Pack House, I could still feel the weight of his gaze on my back. And deep inside my mind, Cinder howled in anguish.‘I did the right thing’, I told myself. ‘I don’t need a mate. I already have everything I’ve ever wanted.’But as I walked, I noticed something.Footsteps.Soft but deliberate.I clenched my jaw, my wolf instincts prickling at the realization. He’s following me.I growled lowly, a warning. It wasn’t loud, but it was firm. A clear message: Stay away from me.Yet, the footsteps didn’t stop.I came to an abrupt halt, spinning on my heel. Sure enough, there he was, Lucas, standing a few feet away, his hazel eyes locked onto mine, an infuriatingly calm expression on his face.I narrowed my eyes. “Why are you following me?” I demanded, my voice sharp.Lucas only smiled. A small, knowing smirk that made my blood boil. “Nothing,” he said casually. “Just wanted to know my mate more.”I felt something inside me snap. My hands
CHAPTER NINETY-TWOKaiden’s Point Of ViewThe weight of the Elders' eyes pressed in like a tide, steady and ancient. Their bows lingered, but as I gave a subtle nod of acknowledgment, they slowly straightened, murmuring among themselves.“Your Highness… truly,” Elder Varo said, his voice a rasp of disbelief and reverence. “After all this time…”“You grace us,” another added, placing a palm against his chest. “The Pack is honored by your presence once more.”I sat atop the throne, shrouded in shadow, one leg crossed over the other, forearms resting lightly on the golden arms of the seat. My presence demanded silence and they gave it, trembling beneath the weight of it.Only once the final syllable of their greeting faded into the air did I speak, voice low but steady, each word dipped in command.“You may rise.”One by one, they shuffled to their designated seats in the stone semicircle, robes billowing behind them like fading shadows. Their movements were precise, dignified but I coul
Kaiden’s Point Of ViewI stepped onto the main path of the pack and immediately felt the shift in atmosphere.The air buzzed not from power, not even from anticipation, but from the sheer awareness of my presence.Eyes turned. Whispers started.The moment I passed by the warrior training field, every single one of them halted mid-motion. The clang of swords stopped. Feet paused mid-stride. Heads turned. “Your Highness,” a young she-wolf stammered, dropping into a bow. The others followed suit, some in shock, others in stiff, respectful awe.I gave them a short nod, acknowledging their greetings, and continued towards the Pack Hall. But none of them moved until I was already halfway down the path.Even in my absence, the pack was in perfect shape… buildings maintained, patrols running in rhythm, no air of disarray or neglect. I knew who to credit, even if my pride didn’t want to admit it. Caspian.He’d held it down like the true beta he was. Efficient, strict, and downright obsessive a
Avery’s Point Of View“Time they see that you’re alive.”I stared at him, my breath catching in my throat. “You’re not a secret. You’re not hidden. You’re mine, Avery. And it’s time the whole world sees that.” My fingers trembled in his grasp, and for a long second, I just blinked at him, the words echoing in my ears like a drumbeat.“Kaiden…” I whispered, my voice barely there. “And also,” he added, his voice dropping into something deeper, something almost primal, “it’s time they know you’re my mate. My Luna.”I felt the world pause.My chest tightened, lips parting in a small gasp as the full weight of his words slammed into me.“Your… Luna?” I echoed, wide-eyed. He nodded slowly, his thumb brushing over the back of my hand. “It’s not just about going back. It’s about announcing it. All of it. You. Me. Everything they never expected.”I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. Not just alive. Not just returned. But standing at his side as his equal. As the Luna of the pack th
Avery’s Point Of ViewI exhaled slowly, brushing my fingers along his collarbone, feeling the steady thrum of his pulse beneath my touch. His skin was warm, like sunbaked stone, and his body radiated heat even through the sliver of space between us.“I was having a peaceful moment,” I whispered. “And now you’re having me.” He caught my wrist and kissed the inside, slowly. “You were humming. Happy. I like you like this.”“I like me like this.”“I love you like this,” he murmured into my skin. The words hit harder than I expected. I blinked up at him, lips parting. He smiled, soft but wicked. “Don’t go all misty-eyed on me, Snowy.”“I’m not misty-eyed. I’m just…”“Falling for me harder?” he teased, nudging my nose with his. “Already done. You were asking to be kissed.”“Was I?” His voice dropped, dark and dangerous. “You always are.” I laughed and smacked his chest, but it was hopeless. My heart was a mess of fireflies in a jar, wings fluttering with no rhythm, just wild chaos.Something
Avery’s Point Of ViewThe soft bubbling of stew filled the kitchen, a gentle, almost hypnotic rhythm that echoed my heartbeat. I stood barefoot in front of the stove, humming an old melody I didn’t even recognize. The tune danced lazily from my lips as I stirred the pot, watching warm steam curl around me like a misty lover wrapping itself around bare skin.The scent of roasted garlic, wild onions, herbs Kaiden had handpicked himself from the garden... it all mingled into something intoxicating. Comforting. Like home. Like a life I never thought I’d be allowed to have.Sunlight streamed through the wide kitchen windows, golden and thick, kissing the countertops, slipping over the wooden floors, and catching in the coppery strands of my hair. The beams painted streaks of honey across my skin as I moved, sleeves rolled up to my elbows, the hem of Kaiden’s shirt brushing dangerously high up my thighs.His shirt.It drowned me, and yet I felt more naked in it than I ever had wearing nothi
Sophia’s Point Of ViewThe door slammed shut behind me with a finality that echoed through the silence like a death knell.My back hit the door as I collapsed against it, gasping for breath like someone who had nearly drowned. My chest ached… physically ached as if something vital had been ripped from within me. I clutched the fabric over my heart, hoping in vain that the pressure would stop it from breaking further.But it didn’t, and then the tears came. Hot. Silent. Devastating.I slid down the wooden frame, my legs folding beneath me like a marionette with its strings cut. My body trembled uncontrollably, fists pressed hard into my eyes, as if I could block out everything, his cold eyes, his cruel voice, the feel of his hands on my skin… not like before. Never like before.“Why…?” I whispered, my voice barely audible. I rocked slightly, the room spinning around me. “Why did you change like that, Julian?”The name alone cracked something deep inside me.“You weren’t like this,” I br
Julian’s Point Of ViewI stood at the far end of my office, the dim light of the overcast sky filtering in through the arched windows, casting long, mournful shadows across the hardwood floors. The invitation in my hands was heavy, both in weight and in meaning.Thick, gilded parchment, marked with the black crest of the Alpha King himself. He had the audacity to invite me. My jaw clenched as I read the words again, every syllable drenched in arrogance.“You are cordially summoned to the Grand Summit of Aethroria. Attendance is not optional.”Of course it wasn’t.Not when the sender was the same monster who razed half of Krypta to the ground. The same bastard who stood in the blood-soaked ruins of my pack and called it a necessary sacrifice, all for what? For a little offense I committed. He had turned Krypta, once the fiercest, most respected clan of warriors, into a ghost town of silence and ashes.Half my people were dead, the other half were scattered, broken. And I was supposed t
Maya’s Point Of ViewI blinked hard, my mind rejected the words, spat them out like poison, refusing to digest the meaning behind them.‘If Kaiden wanted you to know, Maya… you’d already know.’No. No, that couldn’t be true.That wouldn’t be true. “He wouldn’t…” I muttered under my breath, pacing a tight circle in front of Caspian’s desk. “He wouldn’t just leave me in the dark like that. Not him. Not Kaiden. He’s not like that.”But Caspian didn’t respond. He just stood there, relaxed and silent, swirling his drink like he wasn’t the one slowly ripping the ground out from under me. Like my pain was nothing more than background noise to his neat, calculated world.My hands curled into fists.He was calm. Too calm.His eyes were emotionless slits behind the amber gleam of his glass, and that only made my rage boil hotter.“I said… he wouldn’t leave me!”Nothing.Not a twitch. Not a blink.I screamed.In fury, frustration, humiliation, every raw emotion surged to the surface at once, and
Maya’s Point Of ViewI met her stare without blinking. “It’s best I discuss it with him personally.” Laura gave a soft, mirthless laugh and began to close the door. “Then it’s best you leave.” Her hand touched the brass knob, and the door started to swing inward.I was one second away from being dismissed like a beggar. “I wanted to ask him about the Alpha,” I said, my voice slicing through the closing space like a dagger.The door stopped.Laura’s body stilled. She turned back, slowly, her eyes scanning my face as if to confirm what she heard. “What about him?”I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to. Laura's gaze shifted, something calculating flickering beneath her lashes. She turned to the maid with a calm, quiet authority that chilled the air. “Put a call through to my husband.”Betty nodded and scurried off like a shadow melting into the house. I remained standing at the doorway, back straight, chin high. Waiting. Burning. I might not be Luna yet… but soon, they’d all know better than