Kaiden’s Point Of ViewI barely had time to process what was happening.Avery’s glowing eyes, that blinding, otherworldly light were still locked on me, her body trembling with raw power. And then, before I could even think, before I could even breathe, Slade responded.His voice, deep, guttural, possessive shook through my very soul."MINE!"A wave of invisible force exploded through the room. The very walls of the house shuddered. The windows cracked. The air was charged, electric, humming with an overwhelming energy.But then, just as suddenly as it had come, the light vanished. Avery’s body collapsed against me, her frame trembling violently. I caught her just in time, holding her as she shook uncontrollably in my arms.Her body spasmed, her breath ragged, her limbs convulsing like she was fighting something inside her.I panicked.“Avery!”Her hands clawed at my shirt, her fingers curling into the fabric as if she were afraid I would disappear. And then, as abruptly as it started
Kaiden’s Point Of ViewThe past week had been absolute torture.Avery was safe now. Alive, healed. But… she was different. More reserved, more cautious, as if she was still processing everything that had happened. She barely spoke unless spoken to, barely smiled—and it drove me insane. I wanted her to talk, to laugh, to argue, to be the fierce, defiant Avery that I knew.But what killed me the most? She barely noticed me. And the worst part? I was still on heat. And having her near me only made it worse.Every single time I caught her scent, that intoxicating, irresistible scent of wild roses, vanilla, and honey, it made my body burn.Every single time she brushed past me, I had to clench my fists, dig my nails into my palm to stop myself from grabbing her. From claiming her.I was in my room now, sitting on the edge of my bed, breathing heavily. Sweat dripped down my forehead, soaking my shirt. My entire body felt like it was on fire. And Slade, the damn wolf, wasn’t making things any
Kaiden’s Point Of View"Avery… please… please don’t leave me!"A bone-crushing pain exploded in my chest.And then, I was back.Gasping.Panting.The vision ripped away, but the terror still clung to me. My hands were still shaking as I ripped my teeth from her skin, staggering back.Avery collapsed against the wall, dizzy, breathless.Her violet eyes searched mine, dazed, confused."Kaiden?" she whispered, her voice weak.I stared at her, at the mark on her neck… At the faint trickle of blood. And all I could see was her lifeless body, drowning in red, cold blood.My chest tightened.My breath hitched.No. No, no, no."I… I have to go," I choked out, stumbling backward."Kaiden, wait…"I didn’t.I turned and ran.Away from her.Away from the vision that haunted me.Away from the terrifying truth that hit me like a dagger to the chest. If I stayed with her… if I let this fire consume me… I would be the one to destroy her. And that was a fate worse than death.My breath came in ragged
Avery’s Point Of ViewI was still pressed against the wall, my body trembling, my breath shallow. My lips were swollen from his kisses, my skin hot from his touch.But it wasn’t just the way he had touched me. It wasn’t just the way his lips had devoured mine, the way his hands had explored every inch of my skin, leaving behind a trail of fire.It was what he had done.He marked me.A shiver ran down my spine, my fingers instinctively brushing over the tender skin of my neck.The bite was still fresh.The tingling sensation it left behind was impossible to ignore.But… why?I wasn’t his mate.I had known that from the very beginning.So why would he mark me?Did he finally accept me as his chosen mate? Did he want me as his Luna? My heart pounded in my chest at the thought, my fingers tightening over the mark. Then why did he run? The question hit me like a slap, knocking the breath from my lungs.Had he regretted it? Had he finally realized what a mistake it was? Had he finally reali
Avery’s Point Of ViewMy breath caught. A memory flashed… The vision… The pain… The wolf… The word that had left my lips. Mate. I gasped.And the voice finally spoke the words that shattered my reality.‘I am your wolf, Avery.’‘I’m Lynexia.’ The room spun. I staggered back, my breath hitching, my hands trembling.My wolf?No. No, that was impossible. I had never… I never shifted. I had lived my entire life believing I was nothing.But this… This wasn’t normal. I could hear her… Feel her. Like a second heartbeat inside of me. A part of me. My head spun, the walls around me seeming to close in."You’re lying," I rasped, shaking my head violently. "This can’t be true—this can’t—"‘It is true,’ Lynexia cut me off. Her voice was calm, but there was something beneath it… something ancient. Something powerful.‘You are not just human, Avery.’I clenched my fists, trying to breathe. Trying to think. Trying to understand. But it was too much. Too damn much. "You’re wrong," I whispered. "You h
Avery’s Point Of ViewWould he feel the bond now, the same way I did?Would he be searching for me, too?The idea sent my pulse racing, my heart hammering wildly in my chest. I had to try… I had to do something.The pull was unrelenting. I didn’t know where I was going, but I trusted it. I trusted the bond. I stepped outside, the night air cool against my skin, and for a moment, I hesitated at the entrance of the house.This was reckless.This was dangerous.I should have stayed inside, should have thought this through, should have done anything but this. But… I needed to find him. My heart pounded with every step I took, my feet carrying me forward as if they already knew where to go. I didn’t question it. I just followed.The pull was faint at first, like a whisper in my veins, a tug in my chest that urged me forward.And then it intensified. The further I walked, the stronger it became, until it was an undeniable force, guiding me into the heart of the forest.The towering trees st
Kaiden’s Point Of ViewBlood dripped from my fingertips, soaking into the grass beneath me. I didn’t even remember when I did it. Didn’t even feel it when my claws tore into my own flesh. I only knew one thing, I’d rather die than be the one to hurt my mate.The pain, the self-inflicted wounds, were nothing compared to the war raging inside me. I had thought that staying away would keep her safe. That keeping my distance would be enough. But the bond… The fucking bond. It refused to be ignored.I had pushed. It had pulled. I had fought. It had clawed back. Now here I was, slumped against a tree, my breathing ragged, my vision blurred.Weak.Pathetic.I closed my eyes, but then a scent… Her scent. It crashed into me like a tidal wave, invading every cell in my body.Fresh roses… soft and delicate.Vanilla… warm and intoxicating.And something else… Almond, honey, and wild fruits.A scent so uniquely hers, so dangerously addictive that it made my pulse skitter. Slade, stirred. His restl
Warning: Explicit Content Ahead. Avery's Point Of View "His smirk was sinful. His emerald eyes burned into mine, dark with hunger, his breath ragged as his hands gripped my waist with a force that sent a shiver down my spine. God, he looked like a man on the verge of losing control. And I wanted him to lose control. I barely had time to catch my breath before he dipped his head again, his lips brushing over the exact spot where his mark already sat on my neck. A low, satisfied growl rumbled deep in his chest, the sound vibrating through me. "Look at this," he murmured against my skin, his fingers tracing over the mark. "Mine." The possessiveness in his voice made my stomach tighten, made my thighs clench around his waist. Then, before I could respond he latched on. A broken gasp escaped me, my back pressing harder against the tree as his mouth claimed me all over again. His tongue flicked, his lips sealed around my mark, and then he sucked. Hard. My entire body a
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