ZED POV.“Leave trivia,” I ordered, but she refused. I watched as she threw herself at me, wrapping her arms against my neck in an embrace. I could feel the leash I had on my wolf go weaker by the minute as it began to take control. A louder growl eased through my lungs, but she remained unmoved, staring down into my orbs, sending chills down my spine.I pushed her off to no avail either; something was wrong at all paces.My claws elongated and I pushed her off. I tensed up seeing how she fell with a loud thud against the floor; blood oozed from her back, and I was enraged at myself.Pissed to the core that I couldn't control myself from hurting her, the more anger I felt, the more unstable I became. Another growl eased through my lips as I clenched my fists, strands of hair began to grow on my skin, and my ears elongated to wolf life structures.I could hear the sounds of my bones snapping and breaking at intervals as I began to shift. Pain struck at my nerves as my eyes lingered on
My hands were tucked behind my back as I stood facing the window, my back towards the door. I sighed, enjoying as fresh air reeled into my face, and my eyes narrowed down to the ground.Loud noises, however, erupted from my door, causing a frown to settle on my face. What were the maid's up to this time?.The door opened and Camellias' face popped up right behind; she didn't seem pleased by any bit; the frown on her face grew wider by the minute, feeling totally unsettled as I watched as she approached me.“You sneaky old liar!” She retorted, taking me by surprise.“What's wrong, sheila?" Why are you here?” I asked half-mindedly, and she rolled her eyes and drew even. Loser to me.“Why am I here? You dare to ask me that when you are nothing but an old geezer full of scams, we paid you to get us the right information, and you made me go over there looking like a fool,” she snapped again, and I felt my very own patience diminish with each passing moment as she spoke.“What on earth is y
ZEDs POV.It's been two weeks since the full moon, two weeks since we had our fight, two weeks since we last spoke of the distance between us. I wasn't entirely sure how to act or what to wish for, but I believe I already had enough.She snuggled even closer to me, and a smile settled on my lips as I watched her push her eyes open lazily before a yawn eased through her lips.“Good morning, my love." I greeted her, and she smiled faintly before pulling even closer to me.I wanted times like this to last forever—times like this when we had not a single care in the world other than being in each other's arms—this was all I wished for.“What!” She asked, giggling while my gaze remained pinned on her.“Nothing, is anything wrong?” I asked again, and she smiled faintly before letting out a gentle laughter.“You keep staring at me; it makes me anxious, you know?” She asked. I leaned forward to settle a kiss on her temples and down to her lips.“It's just that you look way beautiful each time
ZED'S POV The frown on my face hardened as I cut into the bacon served on my plate. I had long lost my appetite the very moment Ethan had asked for his own food and settled into the chair.I didn't want to seem like an annoying, insecure, and overprotective lover at first, which is why I didn't want to seem way too forward. I tried holding my sanity and anger, but I just couldn't avoid it.I couldn't afford to hold it in anymore, seeing how often Ethan stole glances at Trivia, who was way too busy minding her food to observe my obviously annoying brother keeping his gaze pinned to her.Even after I had given him a stern warning to clear off her and told him she was my mate, he still would not stop gawking shamelessly in her direction; it was making me sick and causing me such irritation I never had to withhold before. Filled with anger, I slammed my fork and spoon against the table, dressing all of their attention towards me while I glanced in direction.“Are you here to eat? Or her
EREBUS POVThe ride back to the territory was filled with a comfortable tension, the kind that lingered between people too connected to let words truly hurt but too proud to leave certain feelings unspoken. Embry’s voice rose above the hum of the car, his tone sharp yet tinged with exasperation.“A *hug*, Erebus? You *hugged* him?” he repeated, as though saying it louder would make it more absurd. “How do you expect me not to be jealous when you pull something like that?”Zed snorted from his seat, running his fingers through Trivia’s hair as she leaned against him. “I’m more worried about how long you two were alone. It’s Alaric, after all.”“Both of you are impossible,” I muttered, gripping the wheel tighter as the road stretched endlessly before us. “It was just a hug—a *friendly* one, mind you. What was I supposed to do? Push him away?”“Yes,” they both replied in unison.I laughed despite myself, the sound cutting through the charged atmosphere. Trivia stirred slightly, her lashe
TRIVIA POVThe dining room felt warm and intimate, lit by the soft glow of candlelight that bounced off the polished wood table. The four of us sat together, plates of food spread out before us. It was rare to have such a quiet evening, just us, no pack business, no outside worries. I cherished these moments more than I could ever express. Erebus was on my right, lazily twirling his fork through a pile of roasted vegetables, his sharp eyes scanning the room like he was still expecting trouble to walk through the door. Across from me, Embry leaned back in his chair, sipping from a glass of red wine, his stoic expression softened by the faintest hint of a smile. Zed, to my left, was the only one eating with real enthusiasm, his plate already half empty as he reached for a second helping. “This is nice,” I said softly, breaking the comfortable silence. Zed turned to me, his lips quirking into a grin. “It is. We should do this more often.” “We should,” Erebus agreed, though his to
TRIVIA POVThe dining room felt lit by the soft glow of candlelight that bounced off the polished wood table. The four of us sat together, plates of food spread out before us. It was rare to have such a quiet evening, just us, no pack business, no outside worries. I cherished these moments more than I could ever express. Erebus was on my right, lazily twirling his fork through a pile of roasted vegetables, his sharp eyes scanning the room like he was still expecting trouble to walk through the door. Across from me, Embry leaned back in his chair, sipping from a glass of red wine, his stoic expression softened by the faintest hint of a smile. Zed, to my left, was the only one eating with real enthusiasm, his plate already half empty as he reached for a second helping. “This is nice,” I said softly, breaking the comfortable silence. Zed turned to me, his lips quirking into a grin. “It is. We should do this more often.” “We should,” Erebus agreed, though his tone carried a touch
ZED’S POVThe grass beneath us was cool, opposite to the heat still radiating from our bodies after the fight. The silence between the three of us felt less like an absence and more like an understanding. There was a weight to it—a shared acknowledgment of everything that had brought us here. But then Erebus broke it, as he always did, his smirk returning full force. “We stink.” Embry shot him a look, his lips twitching as if suppressing a smile. “You stink. The rest of us are fine.” “Speak for yourself,” I said, running a hand through my hair. Sweat clung to my skin, the fight leaving me sticky and in desperate need of a shower. Erebus stretched lazily, his grin widening. “Well, if we’re all in agreement, let’s do something about it.” He was on his feet in a second, offering a hand to pull me up. I took it, and Embry followed without a word. The cool night air bit at my skin as we made our way back to the house, our bare feet quiet against the earth. Inside, the silence o
EREBUS’S POVThe room was quiet, except for the faint scratch of pen on paper and the occasional crackle of the fire. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing a hand over my face as I stared at the endless reports spread across the table. Running a pack was hard enough, but merging three packs and the Lycans’ territory into one? It felt impossible some days. But I didn’t regret it. Not for a second. Our decision to merge the packs had been a bold one, but it was the right one. Together, we were stronger, safer, and better equipped to protect our family. I glanced out the window, the sprawling landscape of our territory bathed in the soft light of the afternoon sun. This was home now. And at the heart of it was Trivia. The thought of her brought a faint smile to my lips, even as exhaustion tugged at me. She was the reason we worked so hard, the reason we pushed ourselves to the brink every day. “Still working?” Zed’s voice broke through my thoughts. I turned to see him lean
TRIVIA’S POVThe ocean stretched endlessly before us, its waves sparkling like a sea of diamonds under the golden afternoon sun. The air was warm but carried a light breeze that smelled of salt and freedom. Everything about this place felt surreal—perfect in a way I’d only ever imagined. We were staying in a secluded villa perched on the edge of a cliff, its large windows and open layout making it feel like the sea was part of the house itself. The honeymoon had been Zed’s idea, though Erebus had insisted on finding a place as breathtaking as this. Embry, true to his nature, had made sure every detail was flawlessly planned. “Relax, Trivia,” Erebus said, lounging on the oversized outdoor daybed as he sipped a glass of wine. He was shirtless, his toned chest glistening in the sun, and his green eyes sparkled with mischief. “You’re making us nervous with all that pacing.” “I’m not pacing,” I said, pausing mid-step. “You are,” Zed chimed in, his golden eyes crinkling with amuseme
TRIVIA’S POVThe morning sun streamed through the windows, bathing the room in a soft, golden glow. The air hummed with a mixture of excitement and nerves as I stood before the mirror, adjusting the delicate lace on my dress. It was beautiful—soft ivory with floral embroidery that cascaded down the skirt like a meadow in bloom. The dress wasn’t flashy, but it was me. And today was ours. A knock at the door broke through my thoughts. “Come in,” I called, my voice trembling slightly. The door creaked open, and Erebus stepped inside, his usual smirk replaced with something softer. He was dressed in a dark green suit that complemented his eyes, his hair styled in a way that made him look almost regal. “Wow,” he said, his voice low as he took me in. “You look... perfect.” My cheeks warmed, and I turned back to the mirror, fussing with a loose strand of hair. “I don’t know about perfect. My hands won’t stop shaking.” He crossed the room in two strides, gently taking my hands in
ZED’S POVThe grass beneath us was cool, opposite to the heat still radiating from our bodies after the fight. The silence between the three of us felt less like an absence and more like an understanding. There was a weight to it—a shared acknowledgment of everything that had brought us here. But then Erebus broke it, as he always did, his smirk returning full force. “We stink.” Embry shot him a look, his lips twitching as if suppressing a smile. “You stink. The rest of us are fine.” “Speak for yourself,” I said, running a hand through my hair. Sweat clung to my skin, the fight leaving me sticky and in desperate need of a shower. Erebus stretched lazily, his grin widening. “Well, if we’re all in agreement, let’s do something about it.” He was on his feet in a second, offering a hand to pull me up. I took it, and Embry followed without a word. The cool night air bit at my skin as we made our way back to the house, our bare feet quiet against the earth. Inside, the silence o
TRIVIA POVThe dining room felt lit by the soft glow of candlelight that bounced off the polished wood table. The four of us sat together, plates of food spread out before us. It was rare to have such a quiet evening, just us, no pack business, no outside worries. I cherished these moments more than I could ever express. Erebus was on my right, lazily twirling his fork through a pile of roasted vegetables, his sharp eyes scanning the room like he was still expecting trouble to walk through the door. Across from me, Embry leaned back in his chair, sipping from a glass of red wine, his stoic expression softened by the faintest hint of a smile. Zed, to my left, was the only one eating with real enthusiasm, his plate already half empty as he reached for a second helping. “This is nice,” I said softly, breaking the comfortable silence. Zed turned to me, his lips quirking into a grin. “It is. We should do this more often.” “We should,” Erebus agreed, though his tone carried a touch
TRIVIA POVThe dining room felt warm and intimate, lit by the soft glow of candlelight that bounced off the polished wood table. The four of us sat together, plates of food spread out before us. It was rare to have such a quiet evening, just us, no pack business, no outside worries. I cherished these moments more than I could ever express. Erebus was on my right, lazily twirling his fork through a pile of roasted vegetables, his sharp eyes scanning the room like he was still expecting trouble to walk through the door. Across from me, Embry leaned back in his chair, sipping from a glass of red wine, his stoic expression softened by the faintest hint of a smile. Zed, to my left, was the only one eating with real enthusiasm, his plate already half empty as he reached for a second helping. “This is nice,” I said softly, breaking the comfortable silence. Zed turned to me, his lips quirking into a grin. “It is. We should do this more often.” “We should,” Erebus agreed, though his to
EREBUS POVThe ride back to the territory was filled with a comfortable tension, the kind that lingered between people too connected to let words truly hurt but too proud to leave certain feelings unspoken. Embry’s voice rose above the hum of the car, his tone sharp yet tinged with exasperation.“A *hug*, Erebus? You *hugged* him?” he repeated, as though saying it louder would make it more absurd. “How do you expect me not to be jealous when you pull something like that?”Zed snorted from his seat, running his fingers through Trivia’s hair as she leaned against him. “I’m more worried about how long you two were alone. It’s Alaric, after all.”“Both of you are impossible,” I muttered, gripping the wheel tighter as the road stretched endlessly before us. “It was just a hug—a *friendly* one, mind you. What was I supposed to do? Push him away?”“Yes,” they both replied in unison.I laughed despite myself, the sound cutting through the charged atmosphere. Trivia stirred slightly, her lashe
ZED'S POV The frown on my face hardened as I cut into the bacon served on my plate. I had long lost my appetite the very moment Ethan had asked for his own food and settled into the chair.I didn't want to seem like an annoying, insecure, and overprotective lover at first, which is why I didn't want to seem way too forward. I tried holding my sanity and anger, but I just couldn't avoid it.I couldn't afford to hold it in anymore, seeing how often Ethan stole glances at Trivia, who was way too busy minding her food to observe my obviously annoying brother keeping his gaze pinned to her.Even after I had given him a stern warning to clear off her and told him she was my mate, he still would not stop gawking shamelessly in her direction; it was making me sick and causing me such irritation I never had to withhold before. Filled with anger, I slammed my fork and spoon against the table, dressing all of their attention towards me while I glanced in direction.“Are you here to eat? Or her
ZEDs POV.It's been two weeks since the full moon, two weeks since we had our fight, two weeks since we last spoke of the distance between us. I wasn't entirely sure how to act or what to wish for, but I believe I already had enough.She snuggled even closer to me, and a smile settled on my lips as I watched her push her eyes open lazily before a yawn eased through her lips.“Good morning, my love." I greeted her, and she smiled faintly before pulling even closer to me.I wanted times like this to last forever—times like this when we had not a single care in the world other than being in each other's arms—this was all I wished for.“What!” She asked, giggling while my gaze remained pinned on her.“Nothing, is anything wrong?” I asked again, and she smiled faintly before letting out a gentle laughter.“You keep staring at me; it makes me anxious, you know?” She asked. I leaned forward to settle a kiss on her temples and down to her lips.“It's just that you look way beautiful each time