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
I should take her away from him, Alec thought, his fists clenching at his sides. She doesn’t belong with him. Not anymore.But taking Elara away would mean facing Luka directly. It would mean risking everything he had worked for—his entire plan. His revenge was more important than anything else, and he couldn’t let the bond distract him.Yet, every time he thought of her, every time he remembered that kiss, Alec felt his resolve slipping.The kiss had been an accident, something he hadn’t planned. He hadn’t intended to claim her, hadn’t intended to get close to her. But the moment their lips had touched, it had ignited something inside him that he hadn’t felt in years. It had felt like fate, like destiny pulling them together.But fate was cruel. Because she wasn’t just his mate
The sun rose over the lush expanse of the forest, its golden light filtering through the towering trees and bathing the camp in a warm, peaceful glow. Birds chirped in the distance, and the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze carried the gentle hum of a community waking up to another day of joy and purpose.It had been years since the battles, since the bloodshed that had nearly torn them apart. Now, the camp was alive, thriving with laughter, love, and unity. The rogues who once lived on the fringes of survival had grown into a strong, proud pack—one that no longer lived in fear or isolation. Under Alec and Elara’s leadership, they had created a home where wolves of all backgrounds were welcome, where every member mattered, and where the scars of the past had been healed by the bonds of trust and love.Elara stood at the edge of the training grounds, her golden hair gleaming in the sunlight as she watched two young wolves sparring in the dirt. Her son, Kael, was fast and cunning, h
With a roar, Luka charged at them, his body a blur of rage and strength as he launched himself forward. Elara moved to intercept him, her movements quick and calculated as she dodged his attack, her body fueled by a mixture of adrenaline and determination as she fought to keep him away from Alec.Alec joined her, his strikes precise and powerful as he pushed Luka back, their movements a brutal dance of strength and skill as they fought together, each of them drawing strength from the other as they faced the darkness that Luka represented.The battle was intense, each of them pushing themselves to their limits as they clashed in a desperate struggle for survival. Elara’s body ached, her wounds burning with each movement, but she refused to back down. This was her home, her family, and she would defend it with everything she had.Alec fought with a ferocity that was almost terrifying, his body a force of power and control as he met Luka’s attacks with equal strength, his strikes landing
Alec blocked a savage blow from Luka, his body twisting as he countered with a powerful strike that sent Luka staggering back. But Luka recovered quickly, his snarl deepening as he lunged forward, his claws slashing through the air as he struck with a ferocity that was almost feral.Elara’s heart raced as she watched, her chest tightening with fear and desperation. She wanted to run to Alec, to help him, but she knew that this was a battle he had to face alone—a final reckoning between two brothers who had been divided by ambition, by betrayal, by a darkness that had driven them apart.The battle continued, the clearing filled with the sounds of snarls and growls, the scent of blood heavy in the air. Elara fought with everything she had, her body aching and her muscles burning, but she refused to give in. This was her family, her home, and she would protect it with everything she had.As the fight drew on, Alec began to gain the upper hand, his movements precise and powerful as he pu
The camp awoke to a dawn that felt heavy, as if the very air carried the weight of an approaching storm. The sky was overcast, muted shades of gray stretching endlessly above, and the light that filtered through the clouds was dim and cold. Elara could feel the unease settling over her skin, prickling at her senses, as if the world itself was holding its breath.Alec was already awake, moving through the camp as he checked on each member, offering words of encouragement and reassurance. His silver eyes were sharp, his expression a mask of determination as he prepared for whatever was to come. The previous day, they had received word from Kellen’s team: two neighboring packs had agreed to an alliance, sending scouts to deliver their message of support. It was a victory, a sign that they were not alone, but even the reassurance of allies had done little to dispel the tension that filled the camp.Elara moved to Alec’s side as he spoke with a small group of scouts near the edge of the ca
As evening approached on the third day of preparation, Elara was checking supplies in one of the storage shelters when Alec approached, his expression serious. She looked up, catching the intensity in his gaze, and set down the roll of bandages she’d been inspecting.“We need to talk,” he said, his voice steady but grave. “There’s something I’ve been considering, and I want your thoughts.”Elara nodded, her curiosity piqued as she followed him to a quieter corner of the camp. He led her to a small clearing near their cottage, away from the noise and activity, where the gentle sound of the wind rustling through the trees provided a momentary reprieve from the tension that had gripped the pack.Alec turned to face her, his silver eyes searching hers. “Luka won’t stop until he’s either taken the pack back or destroyed it in the process,” he began, his voice laced with a hint of weariness. “He’s angry, humiliated, and he won’t let go of his power so easily.”Elara’s heart tightened at the
The moment they arrived, Alec’s lieutenant, a young wolf named Kellen, stepped forward, his expression grim. “Alpha,” he said, his voice steady despite the tension in his posture. “The patrols have spotted movement near the southern border. It’s a group of wolves—half a dozen, maybe more. They’re not making any attempt to hide themselves.”Alec’s jaw clenched, his gaze hardening as he processed the information. “Luka,” he murmured, the name a low growl on his lips. “He’s here.”Kellen nodded, his expression filled with a quiet resolve. “We believe he’s leading them himself. They’re holding at the edge of the border, but they’re watching us. Waiting.”Alec’s eyes flicked to Elara, his gaze filled with unspoken concern. She met his gaze with a nod, a silent assurance that she was ready to face whatever came their way. She could feel the tension radiating from him, the weight of responsibility that pressed down on his shoulders, but she knew he would not let Luka intimidate him or the pa
The peace lasted for several more weeks, the camp thriving under Alec’s leadership as they settled into a routine. The wolves became more comfortable with their new roles, their newfound freedom bringing a sense of unity and purpose to the pack. Elara found herself busier than ever, tending to the pack’s needs as she worked alongside Alec to build a life that was rooted in trust and cooperation.But just as she had feared, the shadows of the past were never truly gone.One morning, Elara was helping a group of young wolves gather herbs in a nearby clearing when she noticed a faint rustling in the underbrush. She tensed, her senses sharpening as she strained to hear, but the sound faded quickly, leaving only the soft chirping of birds and the rustle of leaves in the breeze.She shook her head, dismissing the noise as an animal passing through. But as the day wore on, she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that settled over her. She glanced around the camp, her eyes scanning the shadows,
One of the older wolves, a grizzled man named Garin, approached them with a respectful nod, his gaze filled with admiration as he addressed Alec. “Alpha Alec,” he began, his voice filled with respect. “We’re all grateful for what you’ve done. You gave us our freedom, and for that, we’ll stand by you. But… there are some of us who still have questions. Questions about what kind of leader you’ll be.”Alec nodded, his expression serious as he met Garin’s gaze. “I understand,” he said calmly. “And I welcome those questions. This pack has been ruled through fear for so long, it’s only natural to have doubts. But I promise you this—I will lead with honesty, with respect, and with the wellbeing of every wolf in this pack in mind.”Garin nodded thoughtfully, a flicker of approval in his eyes. “We’re not used to this… freedom,” he admitted. “But I think, under your leadership, we’ll learn. We’ll grow.”Alec placed a hand on Garin’s shoulder, a gesture of solidarity and reassurance. “We will,”
As the celebration continued, Elara felt Alec’s hand slip into hers, his fingers intertwining with hers as he pulled her close. She looked up at him, her heart racing as she met his gaze, filled with a tenderness that took her breath away.“We did it,” he murmured, his voice barely more than a whisper.Elara smiled, her eyes shining with tears of joy. “You did it, Alec. You gave them hope. You gave them freedom.”Alec shook his head, a soft smile playing on his lips. “I couldn’t have done it without you, Elara. You gave me the strength to keep fighting, to believe that this was possible.”Elara felt a blush rise to her cheeks, her heart pounding as she looked up at him, her love for him overwhelming her. She reached up, cupping his face in her hands as she whispered, “I’m so proud of you.”Alec’s eyes softened, and he leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “And I’m so grateful for you.”They stood together, wrapped in each other’s arms, as the pack continued to celebrate