Ember's POV It was day two in the Scar Moon pack, and though the title of Alpha Rowan's mate should have filled me with a sense of pride, it brought nothing but emptiness and dread. I wasn't a mate in the way anyone would imagine; not cherished, not loved. I was nothing more than a servant, a tool in his cruel game. The bed I slept in last night felt cold, and the silence in the Alpha's room was louder than any noise. I barely slept. But I knew one thing; showing any weakness would only make things worse. I woke up before dawn, long before any of the other maids could barge into the room to drag me out of bed. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of thinking I couldn’t handle my new role. I dressed quickly in the plain brown servant clothes they gave me, a far cry from the life I used to know. The fabric was coarse against my skin, and I felt like a prisoner every time I touched it. I swallowed the lump in my throat, squared my shoulders, and headed straight for the kitche
Ember's POV. I knew the moment Rowan called me out in front of everyone that this wasn't going to end well. His eyes had that same predatory gleam I'd seen before, the one that told me he was out for blood; my blood. My heart thudded against my ribs as he stalked toward me, the crowd in the archery parting like a wave to let him through. In his hand, an apple. My breath caught in my throat. I knew exactly what he intended. "Come here, Ember," he said, his voice smooth, dripping with false calm. But I could hear the edge beneath it, the tension coiled tightly in his words. The Alpha’s tone, the unspoken command, had everyone around me freezing, and yet, I couldn’t move. I didn’t want to. I took a slow step backward, shaking my head. "No," I whispered, barely audible, but I knew he heard me. His jaw tightened. He took two long strides toward me, the apple held out like a taunt, like a weapon. "Take it," he ordered, eyes narrowing. I refused to move. My feet felt glued to the
Ember's POV. As I sat on the cold, hard ground, staring at the apple split clean in half by Rowan’s arrow, I couldn’t hold back the tears. The sting of the memory cut deeper than the bite of the chill in the air. My hands trembled as I looked around, realising I was the only one left in the pack’s archery range. Everyone else had gone, leaving me alone with my thoughts—and my fear. Rowan had punished me again. This time, it felt different, worse. His aim was sharper, more dangerous. The arrows he fired at me weren’t just shots to show off his skill anymore. No, this time it was personal. The hatred in his eyes, the coldness in his movements, it was as if each arrow was a reflection of the anger he carried in his heart. Anger because I left him, because I walked away when he needed me most. I pulled my knees to my chest, my entire body trembling, not just from the cold but from the fear. I should have run. I should have fought back. But all I did was sit there and take it.
Ember's POV I woke up with a start, my eyes blinking against the dim light of the late afternoon. My heart thudded in my chest, and my mind raced as I realised I was late. "I need to serve him tonight!" I mumbled to myself, my voice barely above a whisper, but the urgency behind the words hit me like a punch in the gut. Alpha Rowan. How could I have forgotten and slept in? I couldn’t get punished by him again. Not again. I jumped out of bed, my legs shaky beneath me as my feet hit the cold wooden floor. My head spun, a wave of dizziness nearly knocking me back onto the mattress. But I couldn’t afford to be weak. Not now. I pushed the feeling away, gripping the side of the bed to steady myself. There wasn’t time to dwell on how exhausted I felt or the constant weight pressing down on me. Alpha Rowan had already been displeased with me, and if I failed him again and again and again… I didn’t even want to think about the consequences. He hadn’t been kind the last time I saw him, an
Ember's POV The second the door to Alpha Rowan’s chambers was pushed open, my heart leaped in my chest. I sat there on the cold stone floor, staring at the ground, but when I heard the door creak, my gaze instinctively turned in his direction. Alpha Rowan stood tall, the faintest smile crossing his lips as he entered. For that brief moment, that tiny sliver of a second, I felt warmth spread through my chest. But then... then everything shifted. The smile vanished the second his eyes landed on me. His brow furrowed, and the air seemed to grow heavier. His deep frown carved shadows into his face, and I felt the familiar sting of dread creeping into my stomach. “What are you doing in my room?” he growled, his voice sharp, cutting through the silence. “Wasn't the moment with you at the archery enough?” I swallowed hard, my mouth dry as I fumbled for words. "I-I came to bring you your food, Alpha." My voice wavered, the confidence I once had slipping away with every syllable. My eye
Ember’s POV I stood in the middle of the dimly lit room, gripping the bowl of peach soup tightly in my trembling hands. My eyes, moist with unshed tears, flickered up to Alpha Rowan, who stood a few feet away, his dark eyes burning into me. He had always been intense, but now, his rage was evident, swirling around the room like a dark cloud, waiting to swallow me whole. The sight of the peach soup in my hands made my stomach twist painfully. My fingers shook slightly as I stared at the thick liquid, the scent of peaches filling my nose and stirring old memories I wished I could bury. Seven years ago, when I was with Rowan, I forced myself to eat anything that had peaches in it. I hated them—no, more than that, I was allergic to them—but I ate them anyway. Rowan never knew. He used to buy them for me with such pride, and I didn’t want to hurt him by refusing. I loved him too much to ever make him feel bad. So I ate them. And later, when I went home, my skin would be covered in an
Ember's POV.My breath hitched as Alpha Rowan's grip tightened around my neck, pressing me harder against the cold stone wall of his room.I could barely move, my back screaming in pain as I tried to squirm free from his iron hold. I could feel my body trembling, not just from the fear of him but from the suffocating effect of my worsening allergy.The peaches. I should never have eaten them, but I didn’t want to provoke anyone, especially not in front of him.Now, it was making everything worse. My chest felt tight, my throat itched, and my vision blurred, yet none of it could compare to the agony in my heart.I didn’t want this. Not any of it.Tears welled up in my eyes, but I forced them down. I couldn’t show weakness in front of him. Not in front of Rowan.“I’ll always love you, Rowan…” I whispered silently to myself, the words trapped inside, unable to escape my lips. The truth was choking me more than his hands ever could. “…And that’s why I left… to save you from dying.” My tho
Ember's POV.Sitting alone on my bed, I replayed Alpha Rowan's words in my head over and over again. His voice, filled with anger and disgust, echoed in the silence of my room, cutting through me like a knife."I hate you, Ember. You disgust me."I winced, pulling my knees up to my chest, resting my chin on them as I wrapped my arms around myself. I couldn’t stop the tears from welling up in my eyes. My hand trembled as I reached for my neck, gently pressing against the spot where his fingers had once gripped me. The memory was so vivid, it almost felt like he was still here, holding me against the wall, his breath hot against my face, his anger suffocating.I could still feel the pain from how tightly he’d held me, the panic that had surged through me as my throat closed up. And it wasn’t just because of his grip—it was because of the peaches. The drink he had made me force down my throat, not knowing I was allergic. I had tried to refuse it, but Rowan had insisted, and at that m
Rowan's POV. I burst into the room, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. The scent of blood and sweat filled the air, but it was her scent—soft and familiar—that made my wolf, Crawls, roar in my mind. There she was, Ember, lying on the cold floor like a broken doll. Her fiery red hair was tangled, her face pale, and her body still. For a moment, I froze.“Ember,” I whispered, my voice trembling. My knees hit the floor beside her, and I gently scooped her up into my arms. She was far too light, her frame frail, and the warmth I always associated with her was gone. Crawls howled again, desperate and full of rage, but I forced him back. Now wasn’t the time to lose control.“I’ve got you,” I murmured, pressing her close to my chest. “I’ll keep you safe now. I swear it.”Without wasting another second, I rushed out of the room, my boots echoing against the hardwood floors. The house was eerily quiet, the signs of battle evident in the shattered windows and overturned furniture.
Rowan's POVStaring at Loak, who stood before me, my hands holding his shoulders, I tried to piece it all together. His uncanny resemblance to me, his ability to calm me down even after raging.His scent. He was definitely of Alpha blood. Could he be my son? I pondered deeply, but just as I was still trying to understand it all, the door to the room pushed open, and Beta Nathan stormed in.It seemed more like they hadn’t left the pack yet.“Alpha Rowan, we’ve got news,” he declared the second he walked in, making me stand to my feet and turn to him.There was no doubt that I would solve the situation between Loak and me later. Right now, Ember mattered the most.“Speak up!” I commanded with a deep, grumpy voice, and immediately, he began to speak.“Our spies in the Claw Bane pack just sent a message to us that Luna Ember is in the Claw Bane pack. Alpha Thane took her that night!”The second Beta Nathan let out those words, I felt an intense sense of rage and fury course through my vei
Rowan's POV“What do you mean you can't find her? Is she some ghost now who can just disappear without a trace?” I shouted as I struck my tightened fist on the table before me.After the misunderstanding between Ember, my Luna, and me, she left the pack house. I was going to chase after her, but Beta Nathan asked me to stay back. He pleaded with me to stay back. Now, I don't know where she is.I have no idea where she ran off to. It's been close to three days, and my mate hasn't returned to the pack house. So where the fuck is she?“I’m so sorry, Alpha Rowan, but we've searched the entire Scar Moon pack for her and are unable to find her. I don’t know, but maybe she left just like seven years ago.”The second he let such bitter words leave his lips, I stormed to my feet in anger. “Enough, Beta Nathan!” I could see him take a step backward, recoiling away from me.“She loves me! Only me! She wouldn't dare leave the pack like before. Don’t say what you aren’t sure of!” I warned him ster
Ember's POVA throbbing ache in my head welcomed me back to reality. The stinging light pierced into the dark room through the cracks on the wall. Don’t get me started on the cold that engulfed me instantly.“Where am I?” I struggled to speak, my eyes squinting as I held my head, trying to stop the pain that coursed through my veins.I wasn’t expecting my morning to be this way—finding myself on the ground and looking all pale. Just as I was trying to understand what was happening, I recalled it. I recalled last night.I had seen Alpha Rowan with a lady—a half-naked lady at that. He was on her. The Rowan I knew wouldn’t dare to cheat on me, but because of my assumptions, I believed it and fled from the pack house without realizing it was a plot to get me where they wanted me.Uncle Baron had taken me in and drugged me. And the last voice I heard was that of Thane. Does it mean Alpha Thane was part of this plot? He carried me last night, which meant just one thing… “I am in the Claw Ba
Zara's POVI kept hearing weird sounds—disturbing ones at that—as I lay in my room. I had been unable to rest all day, and just as I was about to do so, this happened.With a frustrated groan leaving my lips, I sat up on the bed, rubbing my eyes gently to check what time it was. It was clearly midnight, so why was I still hearing whispers from outside my room?It seemed like something fishy was going on, and whoever was responsible didn’t want anyone to know about it.“Who could that be?” I pondered briefly before I stood up from my bed and walked out of the room.My eyes scanned the area, as vigilant as always. In case the pack house was being robbed, I definitely shouldn’t let myself fall into danger immediately.Just as I was trying to understand what was going on, I couldn’t help but halt abruptly in my tracks at the sudden sight of a door partly creaked open by my right side.With my brows furrowing, I turned on my heels and headed closer to the door. Peeking through the tiny ope
Ember's POVI wasn't sure what Beta Nathan was trying to do, but one thing I knew was that I didn’t, and couldn’t, fall for it.I ignored him and headed straight toward the room. I was tired of standing out in the cold. I needed to rest. I had been through so much already, and I was certain that standing there and listening to him speak for another second could make me collapse.He tried to call out and stop me, but I didn’t—I couldn’t stop. After what felt like an eternity, I finally arrived at the door to the room.For some reason, I kept hearing voices inside the room. It couldn’t be Beta Nathan because I had just been with him, and from the tone of the voice, it sounded more like a female voice, which made my brows furrow immediately.“What’s happening? Why is there a female in the Alpha's room?” I questioned, my curiosity piqued as I reached for the door handle.I knew that Rowan rarely let the maids come into his room after I began staying with him. Without another thought, I pu
Rowan's POVOne week later*It's been a week, a wonderful week since Ember healed up from being poisoned by wolfsbane. She was poisoned by that demon called Zara, who pretends to be a cool and kind lady in front of Thane. She's just using him.Well, that's not the point. The point is that the second Ember walks through those doors, I won't hesitate to embrace her, kiss her, and tell her how much I have always loved her, despite being rude and harsh to her.That was never my intention. I just wanted her to see how much leaving me hurt—leaving me all alone after taking some money from my uncle. But right now, I don't care about any of that, as it might all just be lies.As I stared at myself in the mirror, a bright smile curling across my lips, I couldn't help but think about what she'd say when she walks in.I was preparing for her alone. I wanted her to see me as a good Alpha she could trust, someone she could open up to, and not as a monster. I didn't want to be a monster anymore.Tu
Uncle Baron's POV.“High Lord Baron, are you certain that Scott's plans will work?” Ricky asked as he drove the car.We were heading back to the pack house so I could rest and also act like nothing happened—like we hadn't left the pack house.I turned my gaze to look outside the car. I knew Scott was still young, but that didn't mean he wasn't thinking or that he was useless.“What will be will be, Ricky. So long as you want it, it'll happen. I don't care about the plans Scott has. I care about the outcome, and we have to make it happen,” I said in a low grunt, my eyes not turning back to look at him.I was sure he had kept staring at me through the rearview mirror, but I still didn't give him a glance from where I sat.Just as we were still heading back to the pack house, the sudden ringing of his phone echoed inside the car, pulling his attention to it.I didn't care. I didn't want to, but the minute he mentioned Alpha Thane, I felt my hairs stand. There was no doubt that the plans
Uncle Baron's POVJust as I stood by the window, my grip around the glass cup I held in my hand tightened, a deep frown etched across my face as I looked outside.Rowan dared to confront me because of that bitch. That omega, whom I had warned to stay away from the Scar Moon pack. We had an agreement—she was expected never to show up, but she did, and right now, she was ruining my plans for me. My plans to take over the Scar Moon pack.And whoever threatens to destroy what I have tried to build for so long—I'm sorry, but I can't let them live.“She has to go.” My grip tightened even more until I crushed the glass cup, letting the pieces pierce through my skin, just to show how furious I was.I wasn't expecting to see her in the Scar Moon pack.Just as I was still reeling in anger and rage, a sudden knock came at my door, bringing me back to reality for a split second.“Who?” My deep voice echoed in the room as I asked.“It's Gamma Ricky, Sir,” the voice came in, sharp and abrupt.“Come