NARAH'S POV I had watched Gina's every move for months, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. My heart raced as I recalled the look on her face when I revealed my “evidence.”She had no idea how long I had been planning this, and I was far from over.“Are you hurt?” Isolde asked, rubbing my arms.I looked at the people around me, their faces revealing their concern for my well being. “I'm fine,” I responded with a faint smile.Luckily, her wicked claws didn't pierce my skin. I had played my part perfectly. Each gasp, each whisper from the council members fueled my satisfaction.I could see it in their eyes—doubt, fear, and, most importantly, mistrust toward their Luna, Gina.“I knew Gina was never to be trusted,” Hanadin said.“She's no Luna,” Kacy snapped, her tone biting.Goodness! People are quick to turn against others, I thought. But truthfully, they never really liked Gina to begin with.She was cold toward everyone, especially Hanadin and Sharon, whom she looked down
ALPHA VAN'S POV She reminded me of her. Had she always looked like Reina, but I never looked beyond the facade? Her hair, her smile, her beautiful eyes, and her confidence all seemed too different yet hauntingly familiar.“Mate!” Curtis growled.I felt my flesh creep at the word. It was scary, and yet it seemed to be true now more than ever. Was Narah a second chance mate for Zander, or was she truly my fated mate? What was I thinking? No, no! Reina died eighteen years ago, and I watched her lowered six feet under. Narah was different, but the swirl of emotions I felt was confusing.As I watched her across the table, I felt even more confused. Narah Smith—who really was she before she entered my life?After the banter between Beta Bernard and her, we all moved to the living room. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension, and only a few drinks were shared, but not much was said.“I wants Zander to choke on that wine,” said Curtis, annoyance evident in his voice.Narah’s laugh
NARAH'S POV “You're mine!” The words replayed in my subconscious. Like a broken record, it went on and on and on.As we drove back to the city centre, Zander was talking, and I was listening without comprehension. There was this smile that refused to leave my face and a fluttering feeling in my heart.Alpha Van loved me. He loved me as Reina, and that love still pulsed through our bond as Narah. He loved me either way. How is that even possible? Jolts of electricity coursed through my body at the thought. It was unbelievable.As Zander, Isolde, and I stepped into the hotel lobby, the bustling sounds of the city enveloped us. The bright lights and chatter felt worlds away from the quiet solitude of the Woodwick's territory.“You two can go in. I have someplace to go,” Isolde said. “Zander, the car keys.”She held out her hand for the keys. Zander tossed them to her, and she caught them effortlessly. She waved goodbye and left. Neither of us asked where she was going; we simply strutte
GINA'S POV“Why don't you confess and get this over with?”“Confess about what exactly?”“You know what you have to confess about. Don't play dumb.”Voices! The voices in my head were going wild. Voices in my head? No, they're not in my head. It was me and a voice just on the other side of the wall. It's a f**king voice on the other side of the wall—a voice I had been speaking with beyond the damn wall.The air was thick and stale. It smelled like torture in here, and the voices of the tormented seemed to cry out to me. I sat on the cold, uneven floor with my back pressed against the stone walls.My hands were pressed tightly to my ears to prevent the voices from getting into my mind, but they were relentless and somehow managed to get in.Why was all this happening to me?“Gina, you're not going to hold out too long, you know?”“Shut the f**k up!” I screamed at the empty room, the sound bouncing off the walls and jabbing straight to my heart like a f**king knife.“Murderer! Murderer!
NARAH'S POV“How's it going with Gina?” Liora asked, her eyes glued to her cell phone screen, the glow casting a soft light across her face. The rhythmic tapping of her fingers was a constant in the charged silence of the car.I glanced at Chris through the rearview mirror. He smiled thoughtfully, brushing his hair back with an ease that opposed sharply with the tension in the car.“Honestly, it’s bad,” he replied, the corners of his mouth still curving upward, as if the situation amused him. “They’ll think she’s mad.”“That's because she is mad,” I said steadily, refocusing my attention on the road ahead. “She and her mother are alike.”The car rattled over a pothole, and I gripped the steering wheel tighter.“You are definitely right about that,” Chris said.“Doctor Rowan is dead—twice. And now Chris Stevens is born—twice,” I murmured, a hint of sarcasm in my tone as a small, satisfied smile graced my lips.My brother Chris was alive. I had only mourned the loss of the real Doctor R
LIORA'S POVAs we left the woods, the scene around us shifted from the haunting stillness to the bustle of police activity at the site where we found the deceased Doctor Rowan.Whatever power Zander wielded, it had certainly proven useful. I wondered how he had managed to direct the cops to that location and what he even told them.Narah asked Chris to take the car while she caught a bus back to the hotel. I chose to follow Chris, compelled by a longing I had never fully understood—a yearning that felt both reckless and thrilling.“Did you know what your mother was like?” I asked Chris, breaking the silence that enveloped us.His eyes, steady on the highway, flicked momentarily toward me before returning to the road. A broad smile spread across his face, and I could see the memories of his past, particularly of his mother, dancing in his mind.“She was more than amazing. She was great… super awesome,” he replied.It seemed words weren't enough to describe her. That was something I cou
NARAH'S POV My mind refused to process the shocking information at first; It was utterly unbelievable. How could the same man Anakiyus had worked for be the one who had given Liora to him eighteen years ago?Eighteen years ago Ankaiyus had started searching for the Moon jade, causing chaos wherever he went, all for a gem that was in Alpha Van's possession.“He betrayed his Pack exactly eighteen years ago when he said I was sent to him. He left me with a woman named Stella and would often visit. He used to lead the rogues even before he became one,” Liora said. “When his wife died three years later, he murdered some people and was banished.”Since the gem could resurrect, why did he need it even before his wife's death? He was never the one who needed it to begin with; his need for the Moon jade only grew after his wife died. The weight of the revelation pressed down on me, a suffocating haze of confusion and dread that enveloped my thoughts like a thick fog that refused to lift.I w
NARAH'S POV The long drive to the Woodwick's Pack territory made matters worse for me. Why did it have to feel so endless? The constant replaying of the phone call swirled in my mind, and I couldn't help but think: would he be alright?My heart raced as I imagined the worst—Alpha Van struggling for breath, the urgency in Kacy's voice echoing in my ears. “You don't have to worry too much about him,” Chris said over the line. “It's just the effect of the enchantment. Just like his seizures. It'll get worse from time to time until the enchantment wears off or he breaks free.”“Why is it taking so long?” I asked, tears threatening to spill.“The enchantment is really strong. Whoever enchanted him is powerful.”Gina! The name ignited a fire within me. I'd make sure she understood the consequences of her actions. I bet she didn't care about Alpha Van’s pain. She must be laughing and enjoying the whole scenery.Why did I love him so much? I never intended to form such a bond, but somewher
NARAH'S POV Arthur and Dahlia. Oh dear! Arthur and Dahlia visited and asked for forgiveness, but I had already forgiven them. Besides, I became friends with their son, Luca. He was a really nice kid. Hanadin and Rachael started dating with her father's permission. Beta Henry had a change of heart toward Hanadin. Although, he said Hanadin was weird. Bryan asked Liora out, and she responded with a big fat “No.” Good heavens, she had been avoiding him recently. He wouldn't stop accompanying her wherever she went, and he promised he would wait for her until she changed her mind. “Or until he meets his fated mate,” Liora told me when recounting the story of how he tailed her to the store when she went to get groceries with Cindy. Bryan and Jeremiah got closer and became inseparable. Beta Solomon's wife still didn't like Bryan, but Jeremiah didn’t care and told her it wasn't Bryan's fault that her husband slept with another woman and brought forth a son—Bryan. How sweet. Br
NARAH’S POV It was finally over. The Moon Jade was gone. The weight that had burdened so many for centuries had finally been lifted. I could feel the peace settling into my bones, like the calm after a storm. The power that had once ruled over so many was now nothing but dust and memory. The curse was broken, and it was over. When I focused all of my powers into extracting it from Beta Bernard, my mind was disturbed by memories of how the Jade had been passed down through generations. Many years after Jenna and Ophelia's death, the farmers working on the land to build a bridge dug up Jenna's remains from her grave, and that was how they discovered the Moon Jade. It was later passed on from one Alpha to another, a King to another, a governor, a Duke, a duchess, and they all had one name for it: “the cursed gemstone” due to the number of people who had died because of it. Many had tried to destroy the Moon Jade, but it wouldn't budge. So, it was sold to a princess who gav
NARAH'S POV I couldn’t afford to break down in front of Alpha Van, not now. I forced my lips into a smile, but even I could see how hollow it was. I wasn’t okay—nothing about this was okay—but I couldn’t let him carry that burden alone. “I'm good. Are you okay?” “My love... I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice full of raw emotion. “I can't let you fight all by yourself.” “You don't have to worry, ” I assured him, the vacant emptiness in my eyes returning, revealing the presence of my hybrid wolf. “We’ll fix this. Together.” Minisi had done her part—to protect the foetus, but now, if she didn't lend me her full strength, there would be no home for my unborn child, or the people of Vaelothor to live in. My bones groaned in protest as they stretched, snapping and dislocating with a sickening crunch. A searing pain tore through my muscles, each shift a fresh agony, my skin stretching and tearing as though it couldn’t contain the transformation. The heat from within radiated o
NARAH'S POV Van’s muscles bulged with effort as he absorbed the impact, his body seizing under the power with a coldness such as I had never seen. I could feel his pain through the bond we shared.With a guttural scream, his body surged forward, breaking through the dark energy like a battering ram. He wasn’t fully healed, but he was strong—strong enough to fight for us.Beta Bernard's eyes widened in surprise. He had expected the lethal force to end Alpha Van's life in the frightful encounter.“Thank goodness,” I muttered under my breath, taking a stand by Curtis's (Alpha Van) side.He had taken a blow meant for me. I was more than grateful that he had, but I just prayed that he was truly okay and that nothing awful would happen to him.He didn’t let Beta Bernard’s attack stop him. He was back, fighting for what was right, and I fought by his side.“Change of plan,” Beta Bernard said, blocking my kicks. “I'm going to kill both of you right here.”“I'd like to see you try,” I raved.
NARAH'S POV Standing face to face with Van's direwolf, my heart leaped for joy. As my hands slowly trailed over its soft, stunning black fur, it growled tenderly, leaning its head on my arm.Suddenly, with the speed of light, Beta Bernard grabbed me from the side, lifting me into the air, his laughter cutting through the atmosphere like a blade.“Let me go,” I shouted, the wisps of my breath curling in the air as I wriggled in his arms. I could see Alpha Van's wolf running after us, its gaze drifting toward the sky now and then. I didn't even get a moment more to rejoice at his breaking free.Although I had initially wanted to get to Beta Bernard, now that I was soaring about twenty thousand feet above the ground and knowing he had the power to throw me off at any moment, I had a change of heart.“I'll show you what real power looks like,” he said, focusing above as he rose higher.My heart was pounding rapidly, my stomach churning with every gust of air I breathed in. “Murdering p
NARAH'S POV I wiped my tears, smiling and nodding, but it was only for a split second before the creature pounced on me, pinning me to the ground. It seemed to be fighting with the voices in its head, staggering back, growling, and throwing punches at its own head.My heart hammered in my chest as my shuddering legs managed to find the strength to support me. Frantically, I dashed through the clearing once more. However, Beta Bernard was no longer in sight. The creature—Van— was hot on my heels again, a twisted shadow of the man I loved. Each desperate step felt like it could be my last, but there was no time to stop.No! I couldn't stop. Not now, not when Beta Bernard was still out there, controlling everything and planning to destroy people's lives.I glanced over my shoulder just in time to see Alpha Van stumble again, his paws pounding the earth, his body fighting against the unnatural force that gripped him.It was as if a part of him, deep inside, was beginning to take charge,
NARAH'S POV The monsters surrounding us snarled, their eyes empty of recognition, all of them bound by the same cruel will. “So that which was cursed may never be cursed again,” witch Verusia whispered, staring at Jeremiah. Then I understood what she meant. The reason Jeremiah hadn't changed along with the others was that he had been cursed by the Moon Jade, and now the curse Beta Bernard had placed on the other werewolves could not touch him. The air grew thick, making it difficult to breathe, as we shifted back slowly while the creatures approached. My eyes were locked on them, thinking of how to win this battle without hurting them. “Beta Bernard is controlling their minds,” I said, my voice firm. “I'll see how I can get the Moon Jade from him, while you guys handle our friends.” “Our friends?” Liora snapped. “Look at them. I bet all they want is to sink their teeth into our plump flesh and use our bones as toothpicks.” Jeremiah sneered, his eyes flashing with defiance.
NARAH'S POV I could see the feral grin on his face as he rose from the ground like a phoenix rising from its ashes. I expected nothing less. Beta Bernard's appetite for power seemed to know no bounds. His eyes blazed with an intense white light that radiated like a flashlight pointing in all directions until they finally rested on me. I caught Liora's body in midair just before it slammed onto the ground.“Oh my! Thank you,” she mumbled, catching her breath, disbelief etched on her face.“Are you okay?”She nodded instinctively; then her eyes darted toward Beta Bernard, scanning the clearing. His guards were getting back on their feet, along with Luna Tauriel. The flames they had held were now extinguished and the sticks tossed aside.“That old man just won't quit. Motherf**ker!” Liora cursed bitterly, glaring at him.“He looks pretty mad and happy at the same time,” I retorted.Instantly, Liora's amber eyes grew large with surprise as they focused behind me, gawking at something—or
NARAH'S POV When I created a portal to lead us to where Liora and the others were, I thought I had conjured the right destination. I was dumbfounded when it led us to a part of the woods where I saw Gina. She was holding on to dear life…barely.It broke my heart to see her like that—battered and broken beyond saving. I could sense the silver mixing like a drug in her blood. It pulsed through her veins like the rhythm of a mourning song.When I held her, the things she had done since my return were quickly erased from my mind, replaced by a gaping wound of regret and sorrow which scared my heart deeply.For the first time, I caught a glimpse of the sister I had once known and loved. The Gina that had filled my childhood with her elegance. Her sultry green eyes had lost their sparkle. They were bleary with tears, and her pupils were dilating.For Corolla—I didn't exactly know what to feel. Hurt, betrayed, and beneath it, a genuine love for a friend whom I had thought was true. What a t