Thane's POVI opened my eyes slowly, feeling the sting of the sunlight pouring in through the hospital window. My whole body ached as if I had just fought a battle.Every muscle in my body screamed in pain, and I winced as I sat up on the stiff couch. The scene from the night before flashed through my mind—me, holding Grandpa in my arms, his body limp and unresponsive.I had rushed him to the pack’s clinic, my heart pounding with fear, and I spent the whole night outside the emergency unit, pacing, waiting, hoping.I thought I had lost him.The memory made my stomach turn. It had been the longest night of my life, watching the doctors rush in and out of the room, each time praying for some good news.I never left the hospital, not even for a second. I couldn’t. What if something happened while I was gone?But now, as I blinked the sleep out of my eyes, something felt different. The air in the room was calmer.I stood up slowly, stretching my stiff legs, and the first thing I saw was G
Thane's POVI clenched my fists, staring at the hospital door ahead. I could feel the anger boiling inside me, the heat crawling up my neck and pounding behind my eyes.Weakness? Disrespect? No way was I going after Ember. If she wanted me, she’d come back on her own. She was the one who left, after all.“I don’t think I want to find her, Grandpa,” I said through gritted teeth, keeping my voice low but firm.“That’s a sign of weakness, disrespect. If she wants me, she should come back!” I turned sharply, my boots echoing loudly as I strode towards the door, ready to leave the room and the conversation behind.But just as my hand brushed the doorknob, Grandpa’s voice thundered through the space, freezing me in my tracks.“If Ember isn’t back as I have commanded, then count yourself an Alpha turned rogue who will be disowned by his Grandpa.”My heart skipped a beat. I whipped around to face him, disbelief flooding through me.Grandpa, standing by the window, looked at me with those shar
Ember’s POVIt had been three days since I’d been stuck in the Alpha’s chamber. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could take it.Every night, I stayed awake, eyes wide open, staring at the shadows on the walls. Sleep was a distant memory.My body was exhausted, but my mind wouldn’t let me rest. There was too much fear. Fear of him—Alpha Rowan.Why was he keeping me here? He hadn’t hurt me, not yet, but there was this thick tension between us, like the calm before a storm.Collapsing in the throne chamber, whatever it was, might have been part of the reason. But even with that, why would Alpha Rowan insist I stay in his room? His room, of all places.I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands trembling a bit as I fiddled with my fingers, trying to calm my racing heart.My eyes flicked toward the bathroom door. He was in there. I heard the water running, and every few minutes, I felt my stomach twist with nerves.I should’ve talked to him, asked him—no, begged him to let me go back to my room
Ember's POV"Fine, I’ll come once I’m free..." I whispered into the phone, trying to keep my voice steady as I spoke to Caleb.My heart was racing, and I kept glancing toward the door, making sure no one was listening.But just as I finished the sentence, the door to Alpha Rowan’s room burst open, slamming against the wall with a loud bang. I jumped, my breath catching in my throat.There he stood—Alpha Rowan. His dark eyes burned with anger, and his entire body was tense, like he was ready to explode.He had clearly heard what I said. My pulse quickened, and I felt my throat tighten.His eyes locked onto mine as if demanding an answer even before he spoke."Who was that?" His voice was low and dangerous, like the calm before a storm.I froze, unable to say anything. My body felt numb, and my mind raced to find an excuse, but all I could hear was the pounding of my heartbeat in my ears.I quickly ended the call, fumbling to press the button before shoving the phone into my back pocket
Ember's POVI woke up the next morning, blinking at the faint light that peeked through the heavy curtains in the room. For the first time in a long while, I felt calm, almost safe.I realized why that was as I looked around the room and noticed Alpha Rowan wasn’t there.He hadn’t been by my side when I’d gone to sleep, and I didn’t hear him come in during the night, either.It was strange to admit, but I liked it. I liked the peace, the lack of fear. Not that I’d ever say that out loud, but it was nice to go through a night without feeling tense, without wondering if he’d say something hurtful or if he’d be in one of his cold, distant moods.As I lay there, my mind drifted to the question I’d ignored the moment I woke up: where could he have gone so early? He was always an early riser, true, but something felt different today.It was like he was in a hurry to be gone, as if he had some urgent matter to tend to. But then again, I’d stopped questioning his actions. They were as unpredi
Zara's POVAs I sat on the worn bench in the park, my eyes drifted over the playground, where children laughed and ran around, their carefree joy filling the air.I tried to focus on anything but the bitter thoughts in my head. I wasn’t here to brood—I told myself that much.But the truth was, I couldn’t stop thinking about everything that had gone wrong. I didn't want to keep blaming myself for letting Grandpa know about Ember, which made him want her back in the pack.A heavy sigh left my lips. Just as I was feeling somewhat grounded, a flash of auburn hair caught my attention.I squinted, my gaze zeroing in. It took only a second to recognize that familiar figure—Ember.My heart twisted in disgust. She stood by the edge of the park, close to the old rusty building, talking with Doctor Caleb. Watching her, I felt a familiar sting of anger bubbling up.Ember, the omega who was married to but rejected by Alpha Thane, was here, in Claw Bane pack’s territory. And she looked far too comf
Ember's POVStanding at the edge of Scar Moon Pack's boundary, my heart pounded like a drum, each beat filling me with a fear I tried to ignore.The trees stood tall around me, their shadows stretching out and closing in. I felt my hand clutching at my chest, as if that could help calm the storm inside.I couldn’t believe I’d actually found her here—Zara, at the park of Claw Bane Pack, just outside the pack house. I never expected her to be here of all places.The sight of her brought back every single one of her biting threats, as sharp and painful as if she’d just said them.“If I find you back here, I won’t hesitate to tell everyone the cunning Luna you really are.”Her words rang in my head, clear as day, and I felt fear clawing at my insides.The whole pack knowing the truth wouldn’t shatter me, but my son, Loak, knowing? Seeing his disappointment in me? That thought nearly broke me.I couldn’t let him look at me and see someone he couldn’t be proud of. And if Alpha Rowan discove
Rowan's POVAs I pinned Ember against the cold, hard wall, my eyes bore into hers, searching for answers. Her breath was shaky, and I could feel her fear as if it were something I could reach out and touch.She wasn’t giving me what I wanted—where had she gone? The silence between us was so tense that it felt like the air itself was cracking under its weight.I opened my mouth, ready to push her again, demanding that she finally tell me the truth. But before I could even get the words out, the door swung open with a loud bang, cutting through the silence.“Sorry to intrude, Alpha Rowan, but we have a problem,” Beta Nathan said, bowing his head respectfully but with urgency.My Beta’s face was tight with worry, his jaw set in that familiar way that told me this wasn’t just the usual matter.I took a deep breath, irritation coursing through me. His timing was beyond terrible, yet something in his tone kept me from snapping.Still holding Ember in place, I turned just enough to look over
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