NARAH’S POV The cold, clammy hand that covered my mouth was surprisingly gentle, but it sent a shiver down my spine. I struggled slightly, my breath muffled against the invading palm as my heart raced with fear. Suddenly, I heard Gina's footsteps retreating.“It's nothing. I guess I was just being paranoid,” she said.The hand withdrew. Slowly, I spun around and the shadows revealed a face I recognized— Chris. His expression was a mixture of urgency and concern. “Shh, Narah. It’s me,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.My initial panic subsided into confusion and a glimmer of relief. “Chris? What are you doing here?” I said in a hushed tone.Once again, Gina's wet moans began. The colliding of her body with the man's began almost immediately.Chris glanced around nervously before answering. “I knew you were investigating Gina. You'll be in danger if you keep doing that.”My mind raced with questions. How did he know I was onto Gina? I gulped down hard on nothing.“But I—”“We nee
NARAH'S POVSharon and I sat in silence for a few minutes. When she started to yawn, I asked her to go to bed. She didn't hesitate; she tiredly mumbled some gibberish, then finally said goodnight and staggered upstairs.I tried my best to get some sleep, but my eyelids refused to stay shut, even for a moment. My mind reeled with wild thoughts. Finally, I figured out how to get some sleep; the thoughts of Alpha Van naked was like a lullaby.Despite being overwhelmed, I smiled shyly at the memory. I remembered those strong arms that spun me around. Lips that passionately burned through mine.A broad back and chiselled jaws that could bend a knife. Hazel eyes that pierced through my beating heart, and finally the member that stood between his legs, leaving me scarred for life.I yelped out in excitement, my voice sounding like a teenager who had just met her crush. The image was stuck in my memory, and occasionally, I found myself revisiting it, perhaps even dreaming of it.Gina didn't g
NARAH'S POV “You haven't fixed my bath water, and you lost my f**king cat,” Gina snapped at me, her voice sharp as broken glass.I tried to explain calmly that she was still asleep when I arrived, and I had made sure the door was securely locked when I left, but she wouldn't give me listening ears. Frustrated, her eyes kept darting around the room, from one corner to the next, searching for her pet.Gina’s frustration was evident as she crouched, checking under the bed. She said, “I have no one to blame but you. It’s your f**king fault Rufus is gone.” She raised her head, her eyes, burning with anger, met mine. “And why the f**k are you just standing there?” she snapped. Standing up, she closed her eyes and clasped her hands together in a desperate prayer. “Rufus, my baby,” she whimpered, her voice cracking with anguish, “I will kill this maid in front of me if anything happens to you. I'll make sure this maid pays. May the moon goddess bear me witness today.”Her threat was chillin
ALPHA VAN'S POV“And what are we to have here? Alpha Van, the ruthless now turned what?” Jeremiah’s voice cut through the air, laced with sharp contempt and a hint of sarcasm.I chuckled, meeting his gaze. There was the same fierce light in his eyes that I remembered from our youth. Jeremiah had been primed to be Alpha, but had gently stepped aside, leaving me in his stead.“The prodigal son finally returned home,” I said steadily, a touch of melancholy in my voice.“And I heard that the ruthless Alpha is not so ruthless anymore, or is he?” Jeremiah’s tone was both mocking and curious, as if he were testing the waters of our old friendship.I glanced back at the distant figures inside the hall, then turned my attention back to him. Despite the tension, I couldn't suppress a genuine smile. “I've missed you,” I admitted, the words feeling heavy with unspoken history.Jeremiah stepped closer and embraced me, his frame towering over mine. There was a solidity to him that I had always admi
NARAH'S POVThe girl’s amber eyes glinted with an unsettling mix of curiosity and amusement, she said, “It took you so long to hear my call.”The music had ceased abruptly, leaving only the faint rustling of leaves and my quickened breaths filling the clearing. I asked, surprised, “What do you mean?”As she started to walk closer toward me, I stepped back and picked up a stick, holding it straight ahead like a sword, trying to warn her that I was dangerous. The scenery only made her laugh. “Is that supposed to make me steer clear?” She asked. I nodded. “Well, It’s not going to work, I assure you. I’m Liora.”I became highly alert and prepared to confront her as she extended her hand for a handshake. She didn’t appear scared and maintained her composure, continuing to offer her hand, which I dismissively rejected with a stern look.“No?” She asked. I shook my head and she shoved her hand back into the pockets of her dark hoodie.“How do you know my name?”“The night of the hunt. I saw
LIORA'S POV “Where are you coming from?” I halted abruptly, my heart pounding as though it had skipped a beat. Sneaking around had never been my forte; Anakiyus had always been one step ahead, and tonight was no different. His presence here, waiting in the shadows, confirmed he’d been searching for me. I turned slowly, my breath catching as I faced him. Nas, standing across the room, flashed an awkward smile that did little to ease the tension. “Anakiyus,” I said, forcing a polite tone, though my pulse quickened. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you, but I must be going now.” As I moved to slip past him towards my room, his voice cut through the air like a blade. “Don’t you dare make a move, young miss.” The stern command made me freeze, my hand halfway to the door leading upstairs. The flickering light from the nearby lamp cast sharp shadows across his face, highlighting the intensity in his eyes. It was as if I could almost feel the weight of Anakiyus's disapproval pressi
NARAH'S POVI yawned lightly, waking up to the gentle, rhythmic sensation of someone stroking my hair. As my eyes squinted, slowly adjusting to the brightness of the room, I saw Sharon’s beautiful face and Hanadin’s warm smile.“Hey, you’re awake,” she said softly, her voice filled with affection. She glanced back at my hair and lowered her voice saying, “Your roots are obvious. You need to retouch them.”A wave of self-consciousness washed over me. I had completely forgotten about that detail. The last time Benny had helped me with my hair, it felt like a lifetime ago. I managed a nervous smile, trying to mask my unease.Hanadin’s voice broke through my thoughts. “What were you doing out in the woods by yourself?” His concern was evident, his brow furrowed with worry.That means they didn’t see Liora. Thank goodness they didn’t. Hanadin said I’d been gone for hours yesterday, but it seemed I had only been away for a couple of minutes.I must have walked a long distance because Sharo
LIORA’S POVAfter successfully leaving the house, I got into a bus heading to Vaelothor, it was an hour drive from here. We now lived in a nearby village, safe from Van’s reach, that’s what Anakiyus had said.But ever since I discovered my connection with Narah, I’ve found myself visiting the woods at the mansion quite often, calling for her with the sound of my music. And today, I decided to go back again.I had my harmonica in my hoodie’s pocket, and was ready to call her when I arrived, hoping she’d hear and respond quicker this time. I don’t use a cell phone; Anakiyus said it’s against the rules and that we could be tracked down easily. As I approached the woods, a car drove by with Narah inside. With a mix of relief and anticipation, I hailed a taxi and instructed the driver to follow. The car stopped at a restaurant, and I saw Narah with a man and a woman.“Can you pay now?” the driver asked as I watched Narah and her companions enter the restaurant.“Sure,” I replied, reaching
NARAH’S POV“I'll be going back to the Killian's estate. Sharon invited us for the pre-wedding party,” I said.“What's a pre-wedding party?” Chris asked, scrunching his nose.“Apparently, it's a party the rich throw to celebrate their upcoming wedding. Instead of a bridal shower, they're just throwing one big party,” Liora answered.“She invited you too, Liora,” I said, turning back to look at her.“Nope. No more partying for me. I'm good,” she responded, shaking her head.I agreed with her. Maybe she felt that way because she had to hide her identity and mask her aura all day just to hang out with Bryan and the others. It must be a bit challenging and draining for her, I thought. But soon enough, when the truth comes to light, she wouldn't have to hide in the shadows any longer.Chris dropped me off at the bus stop and left. As I waited for the bus, the air biting my skin, I couldn't help but feel an unease within me. I was going to see Alpha Van and possibly tell him everything—the
NARAH’S POV“Babe, who is it?” Dahlia’s voice rang out, cutting through the stillness of the room.Arthur didn't respond. He just stood still, eyes wide and staring intently at me, wondering. Then, Dahlia appeared behind him, her head tilting slightly to see past his broad frame. Her eyes widened in surprise as she saw me."Reina?" Arthur's voice echoed softly. He looked as though he were unsure if this was a dream or a nightmare and if he had seen a ghost.“Oh! Narah!” Dahlia exclaimed, her tone so full of warmth and recognition that it almost hurt.Before I could process her words, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug. My body went stiff at first, the sudden physical contact catching me off guard.I swallowed hard, my throat dry as I fought the wave of emotions that threatened to crash over me. She pulled back from the hug and turned briefly to Arthur. “It's Narah. She was the one I told you I met at the bridal shop who looks exactly like Reina.”Arthur
NARAH’S POV“What?” Zander asked, surprised.“Are you Mr. Mysterious?” I repeated, assuming he didn't hear me the first time.“No, I'm not,” he blurted out, disbelief thick in his voice. “How could you think that?”“Why wouldn't I? It seems to me that you pretended you'd never heard of the Moon Jade before you met me. You cast a fake mate bond on me, and for what?”Zander fell silent. His eyes darted away, his jaw tightening. Then, he moved closer to me, his demeanour shifting. There was an air of regret in his gaze, something I hadn’t noticed before, but it didn’t soften the storm brewing inside me.“I’m sorry I did that, Narah,” he said softly, his voice calmer now. “I didn’t mean to deceive you like that.”I stared at him, every word a new weight on my shoulders. My chest tightened as the truth hit me with full force. He wasn't denying it. I had been so foolish to believe his excuses before. So many signs, so many warning bells ringing, but I had ignored them all. He had played me
NARAH’S POVThe water ran hot, steam curling around me as I stood under the shower, letting the heat flow into my skin, washing away the remnants of the night before.Just as I tried to relax, I heard Liora’s voice scream, “Are you still going to wear that beautiful wedding dress?”I couldn't hear her properly, so I turned off the shower. “WHAT?”“The wedding dress!” she shouted. “Are you still going to put it on? Ellie is calling.”How did I forget about that? “Sure, I will. For dramatic effect,” I screamed back.“That's my girl,” Liora said, and a smile tugged at the edges of my lips.I turned on the shower again and let it all flow—my anger, my confusion, the stench or alcohol, the memories of Hendrix, Ophelia and Jenna, and the mounting pressure of everything I had just uncovered. It was all too much, yet not enough. The truth was a cruel thing, especially when you couldn’t unlearn it.But as the water ran cold, something else was there. A hollow emptiness in the space where my w
ALPHA VAN’S POV “I... I came because I—" She hesitated, clearly trying to find the right words again. Then Liam cut her short. “I invited her for my wedding tomorrow. I want her to be a part of it.” Mother nodded several times. “He's right...and I want to make it right to you, Liam, and Kacy. Especially you, Van.” The bitterness surged in me again. Make it right? Was this some pathetic excuse to ease her guilt after all these years? It was too late for that. I blamed Liam for inviting her without letting me know first. He definitely wouldn't have informed me because he knew how much I hated her, to the extent that I had prohibited anyone from talking about her. “As you can see, we're all doing just fine without you,” I said through clenched teeth. “You think a couple of tears and a half-assed apology is gonna make up for abandoning me? For abandoning us?” Liam, still oblivious to the tension in the room, stepped forward with his usual excitement. “Van, it’s Mom! You—” “No!” I
ALPHA VAN’S POV“I don’t believe Gina should be allowed to roam around freely the way she is.”I raised an eyebrow, the corner of my mouth twitching into a half-smile. “I’m pretty sure she isn’t helping much by being detained either. She insisted she didn’t help Anakiyus escape.”Not that I entirely believed Gina, but she seemed sincere. “Liars be sincere until they're caught,” Curtis chimed in, his voice a low growl at the back of my mind. “All evidence proves guilty. Guards wouldn't lie.”I dismissed his voice in my head. Briefly, I glanced at Jeremiah, feeling the familiar tension between us, but he only gave me a deadpan expression. "Besides, she's not allowed to leave the estate. So, her roaming is limited," I added, trying to push the conversation to lighter ground.Jeremiah chuckled, but it was a hollow sound. A short, fanciful laugh that made my skin crawl. “The Luna is under house arrest,” he said with an exaggerated sigh. “How will the Alpha live!”I shot him a dry look. “W
NARAH’S POVOphelia’s final memories unravelled in my mind, jagged and raw, like shards of glass cutting through my consciousness. I felt everything she had. The coldness of her rage. The weight of her grief.The relentless power that surged through her as she slaughtered the entire Pack in the woods. The rogue Kings fell before her, their blood staining the earth as they crumpled in the dirt. Hendrix was last. She had saved him for last.I could feel the moment she tore his throat open with her claws—her eyes deathly cold and unwavering as his life’s blood gushed out, and the earth drank to its own satisfaction. It was a massacre, brutal and swift.She was unstoppable. The power of the silver wolf coursing through her veins made her a force no one could withstand.But what haunted me the most was how she didn’t hesitate. She didn’t flinch as she watched Hendrix’s body slump to the ground, his blood mixing with the dirt.Ophelia’s heart was a fractured thing, but she didn’t show it. A
NARAH’S POV (Still trapped in Ophelia's body, Ophelia's consciousness overpowered Narah's in this chapter, meaning everything that happened occurred exactly as it did in the past) A sort of hysterical laughter surged up in my throat, and I choked it back. I couldn't believe Hendrix's betrayal. I could taste the bile that had formed at the back of my throat as anger, frustration, and severe despair coursed through my veins. Still, I said nothing, my eyes fixated on Hendrix. He stood tall and proud at the front of the Pack, the rogue Kings behind him. I didn't know what to make of the situation. I just couldn't believe it. “Hendrix, how could you?” Jenna snapped, her brows furrowing. “Shut up, witch!” ordered one of the rogue Kings. “Hendrix has told the truth to all of us. Your atrocity is a disgrace. You are an abomination.” I listened to every word, and they rang like a tolling bell, ripping my heart out. But nothing hurt more than seeing the expression on Hendrix's face.
NARAH'S POV How would I tell Ophelia? Was there even a way for me to inform her about Hendrix’s plan? History had already taken place, and there was no way that I could change it. There was no turning back the hands of time. Just as I ran out of the cottage, the weird teleportation thing happened again, and this time, I found myself plunged into darkness. No—my eyes were closed. I just had to open them. When my eyes finally opened, I noticed I was lying on a hard, rough surface—hay, scattered around the floor like a crude mattress. My body ached all over, every muscle screaming in protest. The pain was so intense that I wondered if it was the side effect of being teleported multiple times. The confusion muddied my thoughts, and I tried to push through the agony to sit up. As I struggled to rise, a jolt of pain shot through me, more intense than before, and I collapsed back into the hay. A groan slipped from my lips. What in the world had happened to me? My mind raced as I