As the night deepened around her, Elara shifted back into her wolf form, her mind still buzzing with questions as she made her way back to the Crescent Moon Pack.But even as she ran through the forest, her thoughts kept drifting back to the Rogue King—the man who looked so much like her mate, yet carried a darkness that Luka had never shown her.And as much as she hated to admit it, something about him—about the danger in his eyes and the way he had spoken to her—sent a shiver of anticipation through her veins.Whatever secrets were hidden between Luka and the Rogue King, Elara knew she was about to uncover a truth that would change everything.And she wasn’t sure she was ready for it.Elara raced through the forest, her sleek black wolf form blending into the shadows as she ran back toward
For a moment, Elara couldn’t speak. The revelation hit her like a physical blow, the pieces of the puzzle suddenly falling into place. The resemblance, the bond she had felt between them, the way Luka had stared after the rogue king during the battle—it all made sense now.But the realization only deepened her anger.“Your brother?” Elara said, her voice trembling with disbelief. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why have you been hiding this from me?”Luka’s jaw tightened, his eyes blazing with anger. “Because it’s none of your concern.”Elara’s heart pounded in her chest, her fury reaching a boiling point. “None of my concern? I’m your mate, Luka! I have a right to know about your past, about your family. You’ve been keeping secrets from me for months, and now I
Elara felt her breath catch in her throat as Luka’s words sank in. Alec had been banished. He had become a rogue. But that didn’t explain why he had returned, why he had become the rogue king, or why he looked so much like Luka even now.“What happened after he was banished?” Elara asked softly, her voice filled with the quiet strength she hoped would encourage Luka to keep going.Luka shook his head, his expression darkening. “After Alec was banished, I took over as Alpha. Our father was devastated, and he became… distant. It was like losing Alec broke something inside him. He wasn’t the same after that. And neither was I.”The silence in the room was heavy, thick with the weight of Luka’s confession. Elara could feel the years of pain and resentment that had built up inside him, the scars left behind by Alec’s
“I don’t understand,” Elara said quietly, shaking her head. “Why is he doing this? Why now? After all these years?”Luka stood and began pacing the room, his body tense with frustration. “It’s revenge,” he said through gritted teeth. “It’s always been about revenge. Alec blames me for everything—for his banishment, for our father turning his back on him, for losing the life he thought he deserved. And now, he’s come back to take what he thinks is rightfully his.”Elara’s brow furrowed, her mind racing as she tried to piece together the puzzle. “But why didn’t you tell me this sooner? Why didn’t you warn me about him before?”Luka stopped pacing and turned to face her, his eyes filled with regret. “I thought I could protect you by keeping you out of it. I didn&
The pack was already stirring when Elara stepped outside. The air was cool and crisp, the early morning sun casting long shadows across the grounds. Warriors moved with purpose, their expressions tense and focused as they prepared for whatever was to come. The battle with the rogues had shaken them, but they had regrouped, ready to defend their territory against any further attacks.Elara made her way toward the main hall, where Luka had said the council meeting would take place. As Luna, she was expected to be there, to offer her input and ensure that the pack remained united in the face of this new threat. But as she walked, her thoughts kept drifting back to the conversation she had had with Luka the night before.Alec had been banished for his betrayal, declared a rogue, and had spent the last eight years building an army of outcasts and exiles. He had become the rogue king, a ti
Two days had passed since Luka had confessed the truth about Alec—his twin, the rogue king, and the man who had once been his closest ally. The tension in Crescent Moon Pack had only grown since then. The looming threat of another attack by Alec and his rogues weighed heavily on everyone. Patrols were doubled, guards were on high alert, and the warriors trained relentlessly. Luka remained focused on protecting the pack, his determination to stop Alec stronger than ever.Elara, however, couldn’t shake the growing doubt that had taken root in her mind. Luka’s words had painted Alec as a heartless monster, but there was something about Alec that didn’t fit that narrative. She remembered their brief encounter in the forest, the calm intensity in his eyes, and most of all, the strange tug of the mate bond she had felt with him. It was a pull she couldn’t explain, and it had left her questioning everythin
"I… I need to go," Elara stammered, her mind reeling as she took a step back, trying to put distance between herself and Alec.Alec didn’t stop her. He simply watched her with those intense silver eyes, a knowing look in his gaze. "You can’t run from this forever, Elara," he said softly. "You’ll have to face the truth eventually."Elara’s heart pounded in her chest as she turned and ran, her mind spinning with the weight of the revelation she had just uncovered. The bond was real. She was Alec’s mate, just as much as she was Luka’s.But as she fled through the forest, her heart racing with fear and confusion, one thought echoed in her mind.What would Luka do when he found out?Elara moved through the forest in a daze, her mind a tangled mess of confusion and disbelief. Al
For a long moment, Elara just sat there, her body trembling with the aftershocks of Luka’s rage. Her throat ached from the pressure of his grip, and her cheek still burned from the slap. But it wasn’t the physical pain that hurt the most.It was the realization that the bond between her and Luka—the bond that had once seemed so strong, so unbreakable—was cracking. Splintering under the weight of secrets and lies.Elara stared at the closed door, her mind racing with the impossibility of her situation. She had two mates. Two brothers. One who had locked her in a room to keep her under his control, and the other who waited in the shadows, his connection to her undeniable.Tears filled her eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. She wouldn’t cry. Not now.But as she sat there, alone and trapped, o
Luka’s wolf clawed at the surface, desperate for blood. Desperate to fix this. He couldn’t let her go. He wouldn’t.“You don’t understand, Elara,” Luka said, his voice strained with the effort of holding back his wolf. “You’re my mate. The bond between us... it’s stronger than anything. You belong with me.”Elara’s expression softened, but there was sadness in her eyes now, a sadness that only fueled Luka’s desperation. “The bond is real,” she said quietly, “but it’s not enough. Not when it’s built on control, on fear. I won’t be a prisoner, Luka. Not yours. Not Alec’s. I want my freedom.”Freedom.The word echoed in Luka’s mind, clashing violently with everything he believed, everything he had fought
The Crescent Moon wolves burst from the shadows, their massive forms tearing through the rogue camp with terrifying speed. The rogues barely had time to react. Panicked shouts and snarls filled the air as the Crescent Moon warriors ripped into them, claws and fangs flashing in the dim light of dawn.Luka charged forward, his powerful legs propelling him toward the heart of the camp. His wolf growled in anticipation, its single focus driving him—find Alec. Kill Alec.He barreled through the camp, rogue wolves leaping at him in a desperate attempt to stop his advance. Luka tore through them with ease, his wolf stronger and faster than any of the pathetic rogues that tried to stand in his way. His fangs sank into flesh, his claws raking through fur and skin, but he didn’t linger. He was searching for one thing and one thing only.Where are you, Alec?
As Marcus turned to leave, Luka’s gaze drifted back to the forest. Somewhere beyond those trees, Alec was preparing for war, likely thinking he could outmaneuver his brother, that he could hold onto what he had taken. But Alec didn’t understand what Luka was capable of, what he was willing to do to bring Elara back.I’ll kill him, Luka thought, his heart pounding with the force of his conviction. I’ll kill him and anyone who stands in my way.He had already sent word to the other packs—those loyal to Crescent Moon—calling for reinforcements. They wouldn’t be needed, not for this battle, but Luka wanted to send a message. He wanted the world to see what happened to those who defied him, who dared to challenge his authority.Luka’s fists clenched at his sides, his nails digging into his palms as his wolf surg
As the scout left the room, Luka’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. His entire body trembled with the effort of holding back his rage, of keeping his wolf in check. He had always known it would come to this—always known that one day, he and Alec would face each other in battle. But he had never expected that Elara would be the catalyst for their final confrontation.She’s mine, Luka thought, his jaw tightening. She’s always been mine.The bond between them still lingered, faint but present, like a distant pulse in the back of his mind. He could feel her, even now, though she had tried to sever the connection. She could run as far as she wanted, but she would never truly escape him. The mate bond was unbreakable, and Luka would use it to bring her back to him—whether she wanted to come or not.And when he had her back&
Elara let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, her heart still racing. Alec had defended her, but she knew better than to think that meant she was safe. The rogues still didn’t trust her, and any mistake could cost her dearly.“Thank you,” she said quietly, glancing at Alec.He didn’t respond right away, his silver eyes still focused on the group of rogues. “Don’t thank me yet,” he said finally, his voice low. “You’re not out of danger.”Elara nodded, the weight of his words pressing down on her. She had survived another day in Alec’s world, but the path ahead was still fraught with danger. The rogues didn’t trust her, and Alec’s protection could only go so far.But she wasn’t going to give up.She had a
Alec turned away from her, his posture rigid as he moved toward the small window that overlooked the rogue village. “The rogues are loyal to me,” he said quietly, his back still to her. “But loyalty doesn’t mean they’ll accept you. They see you as an outsider, and in their eyes, that makes you dangerous.”Elara frowned, crossing her arms as she leaned back against the bedframe. “Why would they see me as dangerous?”Alec’s shoulders tensed, and for a moment, she thought he might ignore the question. But when he turned to face her again, his silver eyes were sharp, the intensity in them almost overwhelming.“They’re afraid of change,” Alec said simply. “They’ve been outcasts for years—rejected, abandoned, and forced to survive in a world that doesn’t care about them. Trust doesn&
Elara swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the attention on her. Her heart raced as she locked eyes with Alec, knowing that this was a dangerous move. But she couldn’t back down now.“Is this really necessary?” she asked, her voice steady despite the fear bubbling inside her. “He’s just a boy. He made a mistake. Does he really deserve this?”Alec’s gaze hardened, his eyes narrowing as he stared her down. The crowd around them shifted uncomfortably, clearly uncertain of how to react to her sudden interruption. Elara could feel the tension rising, the air thick with anticipation.“This isn’t your concern,” Alec said coldly, his voice low and dangerous. “You don’t understand how things work here.”Elara’s jaw tightened, but she forced herself to keep her tone cal
As Elara made her way toward the center of the village, she spotted Alec standing near a group of rogue wolves, deep in conversation. He looked up as she approached, his silver eyes narrowing slightly as he took in her presence.“Elara,” he said, his voice cool but not unkind. “You’re up early.”“I needed some air,” she replied, keeping her tone neutral. She couldn’t afford to give him any reason to doubt her.Alec studied her for a moment before nodding. “Come with me,” he said, gesturing for her to follow him.Elara hesitated for a split second before falling into step beside him. She didn’t know what Alec had planned for the day, but she knew she had to be ready for anything.They walked through the village in silence, the tension between them pal
The quiet of Alec’s cabin settled around Elara like a heavy blanket as the door clicked shut behind him. She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the door with her mind spinning. The soft, flickering light of a single lantern illuminated the room, casting long shadows on the walls, but the warmth of the light did nothing to ease the cold knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach.She had taken the first steps toward earning Alec’s trust, but the path forward was dangerous. Every word, every movement, had to be calculated. Alec wasn’t a fool—he’d see through any blatant attempt at deception. She had to make him believe she wanted to be by his side. If she pushed too hard, he would realize what she was trying to do.But the bond, that cursed connection between them, complicated everything. Elara couldn’t deny the magnetic pull she felt toward him. It wasn’t l