Elena's point of view.I can’t help but wonder if Serena’s struggle is at least partially due to the distance between her and Ben, not just because of Mark’s death. I know how the bond can be when mates avoid one another; it would make sense if Serena is having a harder time healing when she’s suffering from two wounds and only attempting to treat one.When Ben finishes for the night, I walk him to the front door, give him a hurried yet tight hug, and shut the door behind him. Charles arrived sometime during our clean-up—I can hear his and Vanda’s voices like a soft hum through the walls.I yawn against the back of my hand and trek upstairs to change clothes.I think Vanda’s plan to visit the Kane pack is a great idea—especially since a war with Alpha Walter means sticking to Alpha VuK’s land—but I wonder if she’s forgotten about my heat issue. If my tracking is accurate, it’s due to happen as soon as tomorrow, and the thought of going into heat in front of her family is extremely mor
As Vanda's lips curve into a smile, he shakes his head, unfolds his arms, and heads into the closet."It's not funny, Vanda. My heat. What about my heat?""I'll take care of it," he calls from within the closet.I push off the covers that somehow ended up over me. "I don’t want to go into heat in front of your family. Goddess above," I mutter."If it happens, it happens. It’s only natural—every mated woman goes into heat—and they know you can’t control it."I cover my face with my hands and collapse onto my side.His footsteps approach as he exits the closet. "Elena.""It’s embarrassing," I murmur into my palms, not even caring about the pain at this point. "You don’t understand."The bed shifts as he sits beside me. "I’m sorry, but I’m not going to wake you from a dead sleep to mate with you for the first time.""I shouldn’t have fallen asleep," I say, uncovering my face. "It’s my fault.""It’s no one’s fault, and if you go into heat while we’re there, I’ll do whatever I can to make
Elena's point of view.As I have only seconds to suppress the surge of anger that rises at the thought of replacing Vanda, I force a pleasant expression onto my face—something surprised yet joyful."Kevin? Really?" I ask, feigning breathlessness.Kevin—a brown-skinned man with buzzed hair and a few visible tattoos—flashes a broad smile. "Finally, I can put a face to the name. Elizabeth talks about you all the time, Luna.""Oh, please, it’s Elena. I can’t imagine Elizabeth’s mate calling me anything else—she’s incredible, I don’t know what I’d do without her; she’s brilliant.""Is she? Even after the wolfsbane incident?" Kevin chuckles nervously. "I was pretty horrified when she told me what happened, and I think she scared herself straight—no more experimenting with strange potions from old books.""Well, we’ll see," I tease. "I’m always willing to entertain her ideas.""I’m just glad you two get along so well. She says you’re like a younger sister to her.""Speaking of sisters," I sa
Elena's point of view.As we walk inside, I turn to Vanda. “Do you get along with him?”Vanda lifts our bags effortlessly. “As much as you can expect me to.” He leads me toward the back of the house where the bedrooms are. “My mother, Corinne, will be at the pack house tonight for dinner.”“Well, I should clean up. We only have a few hours before dinner, and it’s going to take me longer with one hand.”“I’m more than willing to help,” Vanda says, setting our bags on the floor of the master bedroom.“You know how to style women’s hair?” I tease.“I think I’d be more useful with the showering and dressing part.”I stifle a laugh and dig through my bag. “I think you’d be more of an obstacle.”Vanda steps closer, sliding a hand around my waist, his fingers lightly grazing the top of my backside. “I think you’re right. I’ll lie down then.”I raise a brow. “Lie down? I never thought I’d see you nap.”“It only happens on rare occasions.” His hand drifts away as he sits on the large bed. “I d
Elena's point of view."I know what I'm talking about. You won't get anywhere if you're not respectful towards your mate." Vanda's mother says."I'm... respectful," Vanda replies."Are you? And does your mate feel respected? I know how you can be, Vanda. You can't just go silent on her—she's going to need constant communication and reassurance. All this war business must be taking a toll on her, you know. You may be the one fighting out there, but it's not easy being home, worrying—believe me. She needs to feel safe."I press myself against the hallway wall, trying to be as still as possible. I can feel every small movement—the twitch of a finger, the ache in my back, my heels hovering just slightly off the floor."She is safe," Vanda says."No, I know she may be safe, but does she feel safe?"I swallow hard. The rational part of me says I should leave, give Vanda and his mother their privacy. But I can’t tear myself away."I have everything under control. Nothing is going to happen t
Elena's point of view.Alpha Gold grins, likely already aware of his mate’s condition, but Corinne gasps in surprise. "You’re pregnant?" she asks, the shock still evident on her face. "For how long?""The wise woman believes I’m about three weeks along, so I must have already been pregnant when I visited Vanda and Elena without realizing it. She mentioned that my scent hasn’t changed as much as expected, but there’s nothing to worry about."I glance at Alexa’s empty spot where a wine glass should be, recalling how much she drank while visiting us. Then, I focus on my own drink. Maybe when Vanda and I start trying for a child, I should avoid alcohol altogether."Wonderful, absolutely wonderful. I thought you refused to taste my special bottle out of spite, but no, my dear little Alexandra is expecting a child," Corinne exclaims, her voice rising with excitement."Bryan and I are thrilled, and his mother is, too," Alexa says, squeezing her mate’s hand affectionately."The previous Luna
Elena's point of view.I press a hand to my chest, nervous that I might do something wrong.Vanda unbuttons his pants, pushing them down, making his arousal even more evident. My heartbeat quickens as anticipation fills me. Lying back against the bed, I raise my hips to remove my underwear, but Vanda takes over, sliding the delicate fabric over my knees, down my legs, and off my feet."You're quite eager," he murmurs, pulling me toward the edge of the mattress. He parts my legs and presses against me, the last barrier between us being his underwear.As the realization of the moment washes over me, a strange calmness settles within me."I keep having this dream—a recurring one—where we're like this, but you're about to..." I hesitate, searching for the right words. Elizabeth had used a more clinical term, but it felt too formal. "You're about to be inside me," I decide.Vanda hovers above me, bracing himself on either side. "And then what happens?""Then I wake up," I admit softly, my
Elena's point of view.The next morning, I receive a message from Alexa about our plans for the day. Vanda informs me that he’ll be spending time with Alpha Gold until it’s time to go to the beach, so Serena and I head to the pack house for an early lunch with Alexa, Corinne, and the former Luna, Olivia Gold, on a stone patio in the garden.The patio is shaded by tall trees and decorated with beautifully arranged flower beds. When we arrive, the pack house workers are already setting out platters of finger sandwiches, cookies, and neatly cut fruit for us.Alpha Gold’s mother carries the same elegance as Corinne but is more reserved and introverted. She greets us politely, introducing herself as Olivia Gold. When Alexa joins us after overseeing the food preparations, Olivia quickly asks how she’s feeling in the early stages of her pregnancy.Corinne then turns to Serena. “Are you mated, dear?”I watch my sister, wondering how she will respond.“I was twice.”“Twice?” Corinne echoes, cl
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
Vanda VuK's point of view.On my sixteenth birthday, I experienced my first shift in the heart of the open fields, surrounded by a hundred men. My body twisted and contorted, muscles stretching in ways I had never known. I couldn't cry out, couldn't shed a tear. Instead, I bit down hard, grinding my teeth until I cracked two in the back of my mouth. The sharp fragments fell onto the grass, and when I looked up, my father stood there, arms crossed, nodding in approval.Among those watching was Charles, standing beside his father. He had shifted a year before, but his father—our Beta—kept a firm hand on his shoulder, making sure he didn’t intervene. Helping me would have been seen as a weakness, an insult to my strength.When we were children, Charles and I spent most of our time together, imagining battles and fending off pretend rogues in the forest. It was our sanctuary, a place where we could create any story we wanted. Alexa often played along, crawling under tree roots and pretend