Elena's point of view.I follow Vanda to the study, my heart racing harder with each step. When I reach him, he’s standing behind his desk, pouring himself a drink. He takes a long sip before speaking.“Your father and family are safe—so is the Beta, Serena's mate." he says, his voice steady.“Thank you,” I reply softly, stepping closer to the desk. My eyes immediately catch a cut along his jaw, though it’s no longer bleeding. I can’t help but scan for other injuries, likely hidden beneath his clothes. “And you? Are you okay?”He finishes his drink and sets the glass down. “Will you come to bed with me?”I cross my arms, gripping my left elbow with my right hand. “You’ve been gone every night this week with almost no explanation. I should say no. I should sleep in the guest room.”“You’re not sleeping in the guest room,” he mutters firmly.“I’ve already been sleeping there. At first, I thought it was because I was angry, but every night, I just hoped you’d show up and bring me back to
Elena's point of view.I wake up on my side, completely embraced from behind. Vanda's arm is draped over my waist, holding me close. I try to twist to see his face."Vanda?" I lift his arm slightly. "The sun's up.""I know," he mumbles in a deep, sleep-roughened voice. "Go back to sleep.""What are you still doing here? Don’t you have to leave?""No."I turn again, but Vanda adjusts, pulling me snugly against his chest. His familiar scent washes over me, grounding me in the moment. "Why not?""Do you want me to leave?""No, of course not. I’m just confused," I admit. "You’re never here when I wake up.""I decided to wait until you did today."Smiling secretly, I press my forehead against his chest. "If there’s something you need to do, maybe I could come along. See what keeps you so busy all day.""You want to?""Can I? Is that allowed?" I ask with a lighthearted tone.He looks down at me, his eyes soft. "Why wouldn’t it be? You’re my Luna.""I just assumed…""This pack belongs to bot
Elena's point of view.Vanda leads me into a modest, one-story building that, while simpler than the pack members' homes, is comparable in size. Inside, the main room features a long table surrounded by chairs. The occupants are already seated, their gazes fixed on us as we enter.“For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her, this is my mate, Elena,” Vanda announces confidently. “She’ll be joining us today.”I receive a series of polite nods, which eases my nerves slightly.Vanda pulls out a chair beside the head of the table and gestures for me to sit. Once I’m settled, he takes the seat to my right.The door opens, and Charle steps in. He freezes briefly upon spotting me but quickly recovers. “Luna, welcome,” he says with a respectful tone, moving to sit on Vanda’s left. “This is a pleasant surprise.”“This morning, she decided to accompany me as I go about my schedule, including today’s meetings,” Vanda explains. “I thought it was an excellent idea.”“I agree whole
Elena's point of view.I found myself rambling again as Vanda and I walked through the woods. “I think I got a little distracted toward the end,” I admitted.“With what?” Vanda asked, his curiosity piqued.I hesitated before speaking. “Well, we know Alpha Walter can find another Luna to produce an heir, but what about Alpha Kane? He has his Luna, Serena, but they can’t seem to have a son. What is he supposed to do?”Vanda’s jaw tightened, his response delayed. “It’s a complex situation,” he finally said.“What would you do if you were him?” I pressed.“I don’t know,” Vanda replied. “I thank the Goddess I’m not.”I glanced at the trees, my thoughts drifting. “But what if we couldn’t—”“You’re thinking too far ahead,” he interrupted. “Don’t worry yourself.”I stopped walking, my heart heavy with unease. “Would you find someone else who could give you a son?”Vanda halted abruptly, turning to face me. “Where is this coming from?”I shrugged, instantly regretting my question. “The words j
Elena's point of view.I shower before dinner, dressing quickly with the bedroom doors shut—Vanda is in the study. As I pull on my pants and tug a clean shirt over my head, I reflect on the day. Vanda takes his leadership seriously, as expected, but seeing him in action gave me a clearer understanding of what he deals with. I hope there will be opportunities for me to join again, especially in discussions like the one about the war earlier.Once I’m done, I head downstairs. Ben is likely in the kitchen, so I plan to help with dinner.From the top of the stairs, I hear the front door burst open. I descend a few steps and see Alex in the foyer, half-dressed in only shorts.“Vanda!” Alex yells, rushing into the living room near the study.I hurry down the rest of the stairs, and as quickly as Alex vanishes to fetch Vanda, he returns with my mate, both moving with urgency.“What’s going on?” I ask, stepping closer to touch Vanda’s arm.He turns to me as Alex bolts back outside, leaving th
Elena's point of view.At one in the morning, I hear Vanda return to the house. Unable to sleep for hours, I leave the bed and rush downstairs in my nightgown. Ben is staying in one of the guest rooms—we thought it too dangerous for him to head home alone with a potential attack looming—so I lent him some of Vanda's clothes and a bed. The dim light under the guest room door tells me he’s asleep.As I hurry down the stairs, Vanda’s footsteps echo from the hallway before stopping abruptly. Leaning over the railing, I spot him glancing back at me.“Was it an attack?” I ask quickly.He gestures for me to come down, so I take the steps two at a time. Once I reach him, he confirms, “Kane attacked. He didn’t get too close to the border, but we didn’t have much time to intercept him. The first wolves to face his forces were slaughtered, but they bought us the time we needed.”“How bad?” I whisper.“Sixteen dead so far, though we may find more.”I press a hand to my mouth. “Goddess. How did it
Elena's point of view.The clatter of pots and pans greeted me as I entered the kitchen that morning. Ben stood at the stove, wearing borrowed pajamas and cooking breakfast.He glanced over his shoulder at me. "Morning. The Alpha's already eaten. He's in the study with Charles and Alex. I figured I'd make something since I wasn’t sure when you’d wake up. There’s plenty if you’re hungry." He paused, flipping something in the pan. "After this, I’ll stop by home to change before heading to the gardens. I’ll be back by lunchtime.""Is Elizabeth here?" I asked, rubbing my chilled arms."She came in for a bit but left to get soap for the laundry. Hungry?""Yeah," I admitted. "I’ll be back in a minute. I want to check on Vanda. I think the attacks are weighing on him.""No rush," Ben replied with a kind smile.Leaving the kitchen, I headed down the hall, past the stairs, and into the left living room toward the study. Vanda’s, Charles’s, and Alex’s voices carried through the open door."The l
Elena's point of view.Vanda gently unclenches my fist, his expression caught between amusement and surprise."What is it?" he asks, a playful curve to his lips."I... want more," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper.His brows lift in surprise. Placing his hands on the desk on either side of me, he leans closer, his presence making me instinctively press my knees together. "Is that so?" His hazel eyes scan mine, searching for any trace of hesitation."What would you do if I was in heat?" I mumble, unable to meet his gaze.His smirk fades, replaced by a more serious look as he straightens. "Elena...""I'm serious," I insist, stepping down from the desk. "You mentioned there are...""There are what?" he prompts, his tone both curious and challenging.Heat rises to my cheeks as I glance away. "You said there are things besides traditional mating. I know about them, but I don’t know what you meant. I want to understand.""Alpha!" a voice calls from the front of the house, cutting thr
In the morning, I notice pinkish spots of blood in my underwear. By now, Vanda is already out of the house as usual, so after getting dressed and placing some toilet paper in a clean pair of underwear, I share my findings with Elizabeth."Sounds like implantation bleeding to me," she says while folding bedsheets in the laundry room.I linger in the doorway. "Have you read a book on pregnancy?""No. My mother was pregnant when I was sixteen; I learned a lot from that.""So you have a sibling?" I ask, intrigued. "You never mentioned—""Neither he nor my mother live at VuK. We aren't very close—I rarely see them."Her past advice about chosen families resurfaces in my mind. It seems she speaks from experience, and I assume she has built her own sense of family here at VuK for personal reasons. I decide not to press further."Well, I'm going to start on the new list of warriors. Although, we're running low on baskets.""Maybe we should switch to something we can get plenty of at Pack Cent
As Elizabeth and I sit at the kitchen table, reviewing our latest gift deliveries, we reflect on the positive feedback we've received."I think people really appreciate the flowers," I say thoughtfully.Elizabeth nods. "I agree; they add a nice touch.""And when Tamara showed her daughter the teddy bear we added to their basket, my heart just melted.""That was such a sweet moment," Elizabeth agrees, glancing up from our notes.With our work for the day completed, we lounge comfortably, going over ideas for improving our gifts."Do you think we should change anything?" I ask, leaning over to peek at the notepad. "It feels like we're close to having a solid routine.""I think we should fill out the flower arrangements a little more, and then we’ll be all set.""Sounds—"Before I can finish, the front door swings open, and the sharp voices of Vanda and Charles clash in the hallway."He got hurt because he's still recovering from a dislocated shoulder! He shouldn’t have been put against
Charles greetee us with a polite "Good morning, Luna, Alpha," as he moves to the chair across from mine.Sensing the tension thick in the air, I offer a reassuring smile and shift my chair slightly closer. "No one else is here yet. You don’t have to call me Luna.""Just getting into the habit," he says with a small smirk.The unease between him and Charles is unmistakable. Rather than longtime friends working through their differences, they seem more like distant acquaintances forced to tolerate each other. Vanda had mentioned last night that they had settled things—to some degree—but judging by their stiff interactions, it was purely a professional truce rather than the personal reconciliation I had hoped for."We were just at Rose’s," I say deliberately, keeping my voice light. "I’m officially pregnant."Charles’ rigid demeanor softens slightly. His gaze flicks toward Vanda, who meets his eyes with an unreadable expression."Congratulations," Charles finally says, turning to me. "T
Elena's point of view."Alpha, Luna, come in, come in."Rose’s voice is warm, her outstretched hand beckoning us into the safety of her home. The wind outside howls like a wounded beast, whipping through the pack lands, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and brittle leaves. The trees groan as their branches are bent and stripped, surrendering to the season’s merciless grip. The forest, once a golden canopy, is fading into skeletal silhouettes against an iron-gray sky.I hesitate for a moment, tilting my chin up to the heavens. The clouds are heavy, swollen with the promise of rain, and I hope it holds off until Elizabeth and I finish delivering the remaining baskets.Vanda is right behind me, stepping in swiftly and pulling the door shut. The second it clicks into place, the outside world is muffled, leaving only the crackling of a fire and the rich scent of herbs lingering in the air."That wrist of yours," Rose says, eyes narrowing as she sets her hands on her hips. "Tell me i
By the time Vanda returns, I’ve already checked all the doors and turned off most of the downstairs lights, leaving only the staircase chandelier glowing softly. As I stand in the bathroom, scrutinizing my reflection, I try to imagine how my body will change over the coming months. So far, the changes are almost nonexistent—just a shift in my scent, something only Vanda and a few others have noticed. It doesn’t feel real yet. I crave tangible proof, something undeniable to remind me that a new life is growing inside me.The sound of footsteps on the stairs pulls me from my thoughts. I straighten just as Vanda appears in the open doorway, his expression unreadable, exhaustion dulling his sharp features. He loosens his tie, his movements slow and deliberate, scanning the room as if lost in thought."H-how was it with Charles?" I ask, hesitating, not wanting to push too hard."It was… alright," he finally says, though the stiffness in his shoulders suggests otherwise. "We couldn’t agree
Elena's point of view.As Charles and I approach the study, a wave of anxiety clenches my chest. The heavy doors are closed, a clear indication that Vanda doesn’t want to be disturbed. But Charles doesn’t care. Without hesitation, he pushes one of the doors open and guides me inside with a firm hand hovering just behind my back.Vanda stands behind his desk, his hands planted on the polished wood, his expression caught between amusement and irritation. He bows his head for a brief moment before straightening, his sharp gaze locking onto Charles."I thought Elena would like to be part of this conversation," Charles states, stepping beside me.Vanda exhales sharply, crossing his arms. "Of course, you’d think that," he mutters.My eyes drift toward the glass sitting on Vanda’s desk, the decanter nearby waiting to fill it. Exhaustion and fury simmer beneath his composed exterior, his thirst for vengeance barely contained. The weight of everything that has happened still lingers in his pos
I wake up alone, just as I went to bed, and it’s clear that Vanda never came home last night. I lie in bed for a while, lost in thought about my body and the changes that are inevitably coming. Eventually, I push back the covers and head downstairs, finding Elizabeth already seated in the kitchen, sipping tea. Her tight-lipped smile as I join her makes me feel a little lighter."Any news since I left yesterday?" she asks, wrapping her hands around her mug.I take a seat across from her. "Unexpected news.""Unexpected? So Vanda didn’t mention anything about you being pregnant?""I'm pretty sure he hasn't noticed the shift in my scent yet. He seemed... distracted. It was like he was trying his hardest to keep his emotions in check, not to let his feelings about Alex slip. And then he started talking about this whole situation with Alpha Gold—it’s only adding to the chaos."Elizabeth frowns. "Alpha Gold?""Vanda thinks Alpha Gold wasn’t actually unable to come here because of Alexa being
Elena's point of view. Back to the present Silence fills the safe room. Charles grips the doorway, staring at the floor, while Elizabeth steps away and turns to face me."Alex is dead?"I struggle to find words. I had spoken to Alex just this morning when he stopped by the packhouse to pick up Vanda’s Wolfsbane. He had even congratulated me. I never worried much about him or Charles in battle. I trusted Vanda to watch over them, but this time, Vanda wasn't there. Somehow, Alpha Walter had discovered his absence and used it to strike when we were most vulnerable."Where’s Vanda?" I ask, breaking the silence. "Does he know?"Charles looks up. "He knows. I told him, and he went after the retreating warriors. He’s hunting down Alpha Walter—he wants revenge."Elizabeth sighs. "I'm sorry."Charles takes a deep breath. "It’s safe to go back to the packhouse. They never managed to infiltrate."Elizabeth waves Serena and Ben over."So, he went after them alone?" I ask Charles as I step out o
Vanda's point of view It was close to midnight when the mate bond struck me unexpectedly. I was in my study, going over the quarterly pack reports, trying to keep my mind occupied under the new moon. Work was supposed to be a distraction from the irrational thoughts that always surfaced on nights like these—but I had no idea I was about to spiral.Her scent drifted through the territory, seeping into the pack house, demanding recognition. I went rigid, my body betraying me as the familiar illness that plagued me bi-weekly surged through me with full force. Before I could even process it, a guard arrived at the door, his urgency pulling me back to reality.I rose from my chair, setting aside my turmoil, and faced him. I didn’t allow interruptions at this hour unless the matter was serious.“We have a trespasser from the East," the guard reported. "Two border guards have her in custody—”“You know the protocol,” I cut in, my tone firm. “If there’s no immediate threat, I’ll handle it in