Elena's point of view.The news of an impending war between the packs seemed to be known by everyone but me."Is everything alright?" Alexa's voice rang out, pulling me from my thoughts.I forced a bright tone as I glanced back at her. "Yeah, everything's fine."“Elena—” Vanda started, but I cut him off quickly. “We’ll talk later, I guess. Alexa and I are heading around the pack for a while.”He remained where he was, watching as I walked away to rejoin Alexa.“So, how long are you staying?” Charles asked her.“Just until tomorrow,” Alexa replied with a small smile. “It’s a short trip, but Vanda tells me he and Elena are planning to visit Gold soon.”I joined in their conversation. “I’m ready when you are.”“Oh, that was fast,” Alexa commented with a mix of sadness and contentment. Turning back to Charles, she added, “It was so good to see you. Please give Emma my best wishes with the new baby.”“Good luck with Alpha Gold,” Charles said with a chuckle.Alexa sighed dramatically. “Yeah
Elena's point of view.As Elizabeth disappears with the man, stepping outside where the glowing moon starts to dominate the blackened sky, I remain inside, looking at the array of jewelry before me."This is all for me to wear?" I ask, my voice tentative as I glance at the gleaming adornments.Vanda approaches, carrying the jewelry carefully. With one hand, he begins separating the pieces and hands me a heavy moonstone necklace, its multiple pendants dangling in a delicate row. I secure it around my neck, feeling its cool weight against my skin.Next, he gives me two bracelets, one for each wrist. “You look beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice low but sincere.A blush rises to my cheeks, and I try to suppress it. "I thought you might have changed your mind or gotten too busy for the ceremony. You still want to do this, don’t you?"“I do,” he replies with quiet conviction, holding up the final piece—a headpiece adorned with fine, shimmering chains and moonstone droplets. Its intricate met
Elena's point of view.With my feet damp from the grass and my heart racing, I rush into the kitchen. "Elizabeth?"She and Ben are sitting at the table with a mug in front of each of them. Ben has a small plate of cookies, but he sets the one in his hand down when he notices me, breathless and dripping moon water."Unbutton me," I demand, turning my back to them. "Hurry."Elizabeth rises immediately, her chair screeching against the floor. "Is everything alright?" she asks, starting with the shawl."I... I think so," I stammer.I feel her tugging at my dress, unfastening each of the tiny buttons as quickly as she can."You finished the ceremony, didn't you?" Ben asks, his tone curious."We did. He told me to go upstairs."Ben's eyes widen slightly. "Oh?"I twist my hands nervously, each second stretching into an eternity. Elizabeth is working quickly, but she starts to struggle."Where is he?" I ask anxiously."I think he went to the study. Maybe for a drink—I’m not sure," she replies
Elena's point of view.I stare out the kitchen window, lost in thought, watching the wolves patrolling the property as they’ve done every night for the past week. Their rhythmic pacing does little to settle the unease in my chest.“Well,” Ben says from his spot at the counter, “maybe something came up. Could’ve been an emergency. If there was blood on his wolf, he must’ve been handling something serious.”“Has there been an emergency every other night too?” I snap, turning to face Ben and Elizabeth. “He has Charle and Alex for a reason. Why couldn’t one of them step in? I get that he’s the Alpha, but last night wasn’t the time to just leave me behind. He hasn’t even stayed for dinner in days—all he does is come here, lock himself in the study, and then leave after changing clothes.”Ben exchanges a look with Elizabeth before she exhales heavily. “I don’t know, Elena. How was he during the ceremony?”“He seemed fine, besides being late. I thought it went well—so well that I even believ
Elena's point of view.I sit in the living room just off the study while Vanda and Charle finalize the details of my meeting with my mom and Serena. It hasn’t been long since I last saw them, but it feels like an eternity. My family has never been perfect—far from it. I’ve often wished my parents could be more forgiving or open-minded. But despite our flaws, we’ve never been divided like this. We’ve never been enemies. Even if I could have foreseen this rift, I never would have guessed I’d be standing on the opposing side alone.Last night, I stayed in the guest room again. I’m not even sure why. It’s always easier to sleep in Vanda’s bed, but by now, his scent on the sheets must be fading.This distance between us, the coolness in our interactions, has only added to my unease about confronting my family. Still, there was no way I could say no to this meeting. Serena is terrified of the looming war, and even though I know Vanda’s attack is inevitable, I’ll do my best to comfort her.W
Elena's point of view.As I step into the clearing, Serena tries to approach me, but Mom throws an arm out to block her. “Elena,” she says firmly. “I’m glad you decided to meet us. There are some things we need to discuss.”“Where’s Dad?” I ask, my voice cold.“He’s busy with Alpha Kane,” she replies, her tone laced with disapproval. “I see you’ve brought Alpha VuK along.”“He wanted to ensure my safety,” I explain, though lately, his actions at the pack have made me question his intentions.Her expression tightens. “He’s violating our agreement.”“He cares about me,” I respond, though the words feel hollow. “He’s not here to cause trouble.”“Fine. I hope he keeps his promise. He seems far too eager for violence.”I bite my tongue to hold back a retort.“How are you?” Serena interjects softly. “Have you been getting my letters?”“Yes,” Mom cuts in before I can answer. “Has Alpha VuK even given you Serena’s letters? Or does he keep them from you? How much does he really share with you?
Elena's point of view.I wake in the guest room to the worst kind of alarm—an internal sensation I now recognize too well. It's subtle at first, like a low drumbeat, but soon intensifies, making it clear this is more than a mere stomachache; it’s heat.I grip the blankets tightly, frustration building. After yesterday’s disastrous meeting with Serena and my mom, and yet another lonely night, this is the last thing I need. Vanda and I haven’t spoken since I told him about my mother’s proposal involving Alpha Walter, and if I don’t find a way to mask my scent soon, he’ll know exactly what's happening.The last time this happened, Vanda made it crystal clear that he understood the situation and wouldn’t tolerate me trying to handle it on my own. My face flushes red as I pull the covers over my head. There’s one thing I know for sure—I do not want him to find out about this.I only have one option: to get far enough away that he can’t pick up on my scent. But with Vanda’s territory extend
Elena's point of view.Elizabeth helps me to the wise woman's door, knocking frantically until it swings open. A silver-haired woman in a loose, patterned dress stands there, looking annoyed."What is going on—" she begins, but Elizabeth cuts her off."It's the Luna," Elizabeth blurts. "She drank wolfsbane."The wise woman's expression sharpens. "Wolfsbane? Why would she do that?""It's in the tea meant to suppress heat," Elizabeth explains.The older woman shakes her head, motioning us inside. "This is what happens when you meddle with nature. Lay her down on the couch."Elizabeth supports me as I sink onto a worn leather couch under two curtained windows. She draws the curtains, dimming the room."How much did she drink?" the wise woman calls out from another room."Just a pinch of root," Elizabeth replies anxiously. I press my hand to my stomach, a sharp cramp radiating through me."And it's her first time?" the woman asks, returning with a small cup."Yes," Elizabeth says. "But I
Elena's point of view.The rest of the night, I'm embroiled in our mate bond. Every time Vanda touches me, I have to withhold my blush and wipe the fresh memory of what we've done out of my mind. Over dinner, my attention is so shot that I hardly hear Ben say he'll be leaving tomorrow for four days to visit a friend's pack, thankfully, neither Kane's nor Alpha Walter's. He's definitely chosen such days on purpose, however. With the mayhem of constant attacks, he must be yearning for normalcy.Each time my distracted thoughts win, and merely making eye contact with Vanda has me giddy and shy, he simply smiles, waits a moment, and then asks me something unrelated so I might find some relief.---Hours before the sun rises, Vanda rubs my upper arm in short strokes, waking me up. I stir and slide my arm over his chest."Don't go," I mumble.The bed is the perfect temperature and perfect softness; it tries so hard to lull me back to sleep."I have to get ready to meet Alpha Walter's men at
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
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
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.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.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.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 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.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