Of course, Phil and Austin didn’t think facing the Onyx Pack’s Alpha unarmed and unprotected was the brightest idea. I knew the risk I was taking, but I had to do this. My advisors and Aric—who had volunteered to come with me—were the only ones accompanying me.Alpha Derek and his soldiers waited a short distance from the pack borders.His eyes studied me, just as they had in the meeting room—still measuring whether I was a threat. But once again, his expression revealed nothing.I came to a stop a few feet away from him.“I remember telling you that once I come for war, my offer will be off the table,” he reminded.“I didn’t forget, Alpha Derek,” I said, assessing him just as much. The air was thick with tension. The Onyx Pack’s soldiers stood ready, prepared to strike if it came to that. Things could easily turn very messy.“I have an offer for you. You want the Alpha King title? Then earn it.”“That’s what I intend to do when I conquer this pack.”“My offer is even better, but I wo
A knock sounded at my door, and I walked over to let Aric in.“I know what you’re about to say. I know you think what I did was dumb and reckless—”“I think you’re the bravest person I’ve ever known, Kaida. You’re willing to risk your life for a pack that doesn’t even deserve it. The plan might not be ideal, but it was a bold move—one not many would dare to make.”The sincerity in his voice told me he wasn’t just saying this—he truly meant every word. I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. Aric had always been my closest friend; he knew me—sometimes even better than I knew myself. But maybe Cynthia was right. Maybe I was the selfish one.I never knew about his sister. I had always been too caught up in my own goals, and through it all, he had stood by my side. I knew how he felt about me, yet I had pushed those feelings aside like they meant nothing.“Thank you. That means a lot to me,” I said. My eyes drifted to the clock.I had exactly two hours thirty minutes to go.“Are you re
“Let the fight begin!” the announcer’s voice rang out.Derek took his time, his watchful eyes never straying from me. Most men make the mistake of underestimating me in a fight—it always gives me the upper hand. But not Derek. He saw me as an equal, the only obstacle standing between him and the power he must have dreamt of.I walked up to the weapon stand. Guns, wolfsbane, and silver were forbidden in challenges like this—fighters had to rely on skill and strength, and not luck.I picked up two daggers, one for each hand.Derek’s fingers brushed over an axe, and I expected him to take it. A brutal weapon, but heavy—one that would have given me an advantage. Instead, to my surprise, he chose a sword.The smirk on his face told me he knew exactly what I had been thinking.We circle each other slowly; I wait for him to strike, but he doesn’t make the move, so I do.I slashed at him with my daggers, but he blocked every strike with ease before launching his own attack. I dodged, but ther
Maybe this was history repeating itself. My father had given up the Dawn Pack to Alexander and I – I gave away the Nightshade pack to Derek.It is believed that in moments like this—when you're on the verge of giving up—someone dear to you appears, offering words of strength. A vision of a parent, a loved one, a guiding voice to pull you back. I waited for that. I waited for Alexander or my father to appear, to tell me what to do next, to remind me that I wasn’t done yet. But no one came. No reassuring voice, no outstretched hand.There was nothing but darkness.I was alone.I thought about the pack—the people who never believed I deserved the title. I thought back to when I was a little girl, watching the soldiers train and repeating their steps. I remembered the first time I held a gun—the realization that I could so easily end a life was as terrifying as it was thrilling.I remembered how happy and proud I was when I defeated my first opponent—he was a lanky boy who felt insulted f
ALEXANDER’S POV**EARLIER**All I could think about was Kaida. I couldn’t shake the memory of the jagged scar from a gunshot on her midsection. She could have died, and I had acted like it didn’t bother me.‘If you care even a little bit for me, you would come with me,’ she had said. What she didn’t realize was that I cared for her far more than a ‘little bit.’.Transforming into my wolf form was as painful as it was the first time I’d shifted. I tried reining in my wolf, at least until I got out of my building and far from anyone’s sight. But he wanted to be free—I could feel his desperation.I pushed past the guards, heading for the exit.“Sir…” one of the human guards called to me, but I didn’t look back. If I did, he’d notice my not-so-naturally glowing eyes. I didn’t want to scare the poor guy.Taking the stairs or the elevator would have been the normal choice, but my wolf was getting restless. So, without a second thought, I leaped over the railing—and somehow, I landed on my
Lying here on the bed made me feel vulnerable before him, but I didn’t trust myself to stand without getting dizzy. I stared up into those beautiful eyes—so beautiful that, for a moment, I wanted to forget everything that went wrong and just hold him close… No.I shove the thought away.“It didn’t look that way to me. You told me that you’ve found a new life, one I wasn’t part of—it seemed to me that you’d meant exactly what you said.”"I thought I could start over—I wanted to leave it all behind. But I couldn’t. Not because of the pack but because of you. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t let you go."“And those women?” I asked, unable to keep the jealousy from my tone.“I thought using them would help me get over you. But it didn’t.”"It hurts—knowing you were with others. I know we weren’t mated anymore, but I just thought…" My voice faltered. I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. "I can’t do this right now. Just leave."“Not this time. I’m not leaving this time, Kaida.”My eyes
Three days had passed. I was finally discharged with instructions to be careful for the next few weeks.While I was healing, Alexander had taken over the pack’s activities, and for that, I was more than grateful. The weight of the pack no longer rested solely on my shoulders, and that was a huge relief.Now, I thought back to the ‘moment’ with Alexander—the one we never got to finish. I paced my room, debating whether to go to him. I already knew his response: ‘Rest’. He would insist I needed more time to heal. But my body wanted him. It had been so long since I’d had any… action, and I hadn’t realized how much I missed having sex until now.Screw it. I was going to him.I reached for the door, but before I could open it, it swung wide, and there stood Alexander. One glance at me, and I was sure he knew exactly where I was going—and why. In his hand was a jacket, the very one I had left behind at his house.“This belongs to you,” he said, handing me the jacket. I took it from his hand
Derek had been taken away from the pack after our fight. A small part of me felt bad for him. In his pack, he had been worshipped, but now… everything was about to change—especially the fact that he would have to rule as an Alpha with only one arm.If his story taught me anything, it was that we often fail to appreciate what we have. He had a pack, people who loved him, but like every other Alpha, he wanted more. He was an honorable man, and for that reason, I had let him go his way—even after his demeaning words about making me his ‘whore’ when he took over the pack.“I have to admit. You did very well with the pack.” Alexander praised, and I couldn’t help the swell of pride I had felt in that instant.We were currently in the bed, none of us wanting to leave the room or each other’s company.“Most of the time, I didn’t even know what I was doing.”“Well, that makes the two of us. You were born a leader, Kaida.”"No, I wasn’t. I might be the daughter of an Alpha, and I might have ha
**BETA PHIL’S POV**EARLIER… (MATE BALL)I wasn’t born into any of the ‘noble’ bloodlines. None of my ancestors had ever been part of the Alpha, Beta, or Gamma clans, so I never thought I could ascend to such a position. But if my mother were alive today, she would wear that same warm smile—the one that said, ‘I told you so.’ She had believed in me, even in times when I didn’t share that belief. Pack members stepped forward to congratulate me. I couldn’t recall the last time I had felt this happy.Then, I caught the scent.Many years ago, I would have been overjoyed; many years ago, the thought of finding my mate—my other half—consumed me. But those prime years were gone, and now I saw how people were overly obsessed with the ideology of having mates. We didn’t need mates to be complete; it was all a matter of the mind. I never needed one.So why now?Why now when everything was finally falling into place?Abandoning my half-drunk glass of champagne, I rose and followed the scent. Th
Phil and I joined the pack patrollers.“We’ve got it covered here.” Phil assured them, and they spread out, giving us some privacy. "You’re very observant," he says, and I assumed he was referring to my earlier suspicion."It’s actually written all over your face. You look stressed.""Well, you’re the only one who noticed.""Maybe I do have a knack for picking up on things."I knew he wasn’t the type to share his personal problems, so I couldn’t push him; he’d talk when he felt ready. At least he had admitted to my suspicion that something was indeed wrong.“It all started back at the mate ball. Right after the ‘big announcement.’I had gone to grab some champagne when I caught the scent. That’s when I finally understood what everyone had been going on about. The scent was heavenly. She must have arrived late, I’m sure I would’ve noticed if she’d been at the ball earlier.”I didn’t bother admitting that all this time, I had assumed he was mated. I realized I knew so little about thos
KADIA’S POVMy session with the soldiers had ended for the day. I needed a hot bath and enough food to feed a small village—preferably before I collapsed from starvation.I was heading to the pack house when I spotted Phil. I’d been meaning to see him. For the past few days, he’d been a bit… absent, and that was—well, weird.Ignoring my stomach’s protests, I walked up to him, but he was so lost in thought that he didn’t even notice me until I tapped him. He turned, looking a little startled before quickly masking it.“Luna, sorry, I was just… caught up in my thoughts,” he said.I nodded, offering a small smile.“That, I can understand.” I paused, studying him. There were faint bags underneath his eyes, like he hadn’t been sleeping well. His facial hair was a little overgrown. He looked exhausted—he’d been like this since the… announcement. Was it all too much for him?“Phil, are you alright?” I asked.“Yes, of course. Why?”“Nothing. It’s just—you’ve been distant these past few days.”
The knock on the door cut our moment short.Normally, when a door’s locked, it’s a clear sign that the person inside doesn’t want visitors. But I guess the heads outside couldn’t take the hint.Kaida got back in her dress, and I helped adjust her hair.“How do I look?”“Beautiful.”“Thanks, but not that. Do I look like someone who just had sex?” She asked, and I shook my head.“No, you look fine.”Well, sometimes a little lie was necessary. Her hair, smudged lipstick, and rumpled clothes would surely give her out, but she didn’t need to know that.I pulled the door open to find two teenage girls with wide smiles—smiles that dropped the moment they saw us.Their eyes quickly raked over both of us, immediately figuring out what we'd been up to, and their cheeks flushed deep red."Sorry, we didn’t mean to interrupt. We came to pick up our rented dresses, but we can — just come back… later," one of them stammered, and they both hurried off without waiting for a reply."Hey?" Kaida called,
I found her jealousy amusing.“You’re jealous, aren’t you?”“Why wouldn’t I be? Sure, she might be a good person, but let’s not forget that you two used to have sex. I have every right to feel insecure, especially with the way she kept looking at you…” Kaida trailed off.I watched her, feeling unworthy. She had been faithful to me, even when we had broken things up, but I was stupid enough to think being with other women could take my mind off her.“I was apologizing for what I did to her earlier, and then she found her mate—she hesitated to go to him at first, but changed her mind in the end. That’s about it.”Kaida ran her hands through her thick black hair. “I feel like an insecure fool. I’m really sorry.”“You have nothing to apologize for.”She was staring at something, and I followed her gaze to Lara, who was kissing a dark-skinned guy. I figured that had to be her mate.“Wow. This mate ball turned out to be far more fun than I anticipated.” She said, I lingered on her expressi
I couldn’t take my eyes off her."Care for a dance?” I asked her and she nodded. It didn't seem like she enjoyed parties much.I took her hand and led her to the dance floor, aware of how people kept their distance. Seriously, what did they think? That I’d take their heads off just for bumping into me on the dance floor?This was getting ridiculous. But I couldn’t dwell on that thought any longer—Kaida was staring.“We match,” she said, motioning to my black tuxedo with its dark blue vest and tie. Maybe that wasn’t entirely a coincidence. “And you look really hot in that tuxedo, but then again, when do you not?” Her cheeks reddened. Kaida could be a badass fighter, but she wasn’t always as confident when it came to... well, other things.I stepped closer, letting her feel the subtle shift of my arousal. “Giving me compliments like that in public is dangerous.”She let out a breathy laugh, her cheeks still flushed. I saw the need flash in her eyes. I had been contemplating leaving wit
The dark blue dress would look beautiful on Kaida. That was the first thought on my mind when I saw it in the store. I knew I had to get it for her..Kaida was on the training field, she’d taken up Aric’s position. I believed it was another way to honor his memory. She trained the soldiers just as he had done… before everything went downhill. I had to admit, she was very good at it. Even the soldiers seemed to be enjoying the session with her."Your weight on this leg," she instructed, adjusting the soldier’s stance. I didn’t miss the way his gaze flickered to her ass for a split second before he quickly looked away, likely fearing he’d be caught staring. The possessive part of me wanted to pry out his eyes for even looking, then drag her into our room and fuck her all day long for looking so damn sexy.The longer I watched, the more something dark stirred inside me. She was too damn close to that guy, and those leathers—hell, they were so tight, her ass was practically on display. I
The Rogue leaders had waited. When the two days were over, I invited them into the meeting room.A maid brought over bottles of beer, and Edna was the first to take a deep gulp, the others following soon after. The maid excused herself.“Edna, Skale, Kev, Gal, and of course, Timothy. Welcome to the Nightshade Pack.”“I didn’t remember keeping you waiting this long when you paid us a visit.” Edna said to me."I’d hoped you’d get impatient enough to leave."Edna chuckled; it was silent and humorless. “Unfortunately, we’ve come to speak on an important matter.”“I assumed as much.”"We allowed a peace treaty with you once, and now we’ve come to discuss the terms.""I made you a promise, Edna. I told you that if you couldn’t keep the rogues under control, there would be war. This time, something tells me you were the brains behind the earlier attack.""Yes. I was. Like the rest, we believed you were gone, and we did what anyone would do—we attacked.""But I guess you were wrong.""Sorely.
ALEXANDER’S POVIt was almost unnerving how similar she had looked to Kaida. Her voice sounded so much like hers—I had hesitated, and in that moment of weakness, Cynthia escaped.It all made sense now. I could recall that incident. When Kaida had walked into the room, looking all seductive, I had given in so easily. And then—she ‘d lifted the dagger to my chest. I hadn’t realized it wasn’t her. For a fleeting moment, I had even thought the weapon was just another tease.But then she’d stabbed me, and too late I realized something different about her—something I hadn’t picked up on earlier. Her eyes. They were different, not because they weren’t the same grey I knew, but because it felt like they belonged to a stranger, not the woman I had known and fallen for.Kaida had taken the blame, but of course, she could never have done such a thing. She’d never have gone through with it, and I couldn’t believe I was just realizing that now."It’s not your fault. Cynthia excels at those kinds o