DawnIt didn't get better. Instead, it became dramatically worse. The false accusations kept on piling up each day. Instead of the pack to focus on the danger they could be in because of the rumors about the Crest and the frequent attacks at their border, they were focused on taking me down.Princess did everything she could to keep me from the truth but it didn't work. In her way of warning me to be careful, Mimi, the cook, told me everything. I was even accused of poisoning the children I rescued. Rumor also had it that I was insane and that I was blackmailing Rhys, which was why he made me his wife. They were insane and untrue, yet they affected me more than I could understand. I wallowed in it all. I'd even begun to lose appetite and energy for anything else. I only wished that the days would fly past and I'd be set free from my obligations to Golden Crest. I was over everything. But it was as if everything loved to mock me because instead of speeding up, the days slowed down.P
DawnIn the next few days, I discovered that my new reality wasn't as dreadful as I had imagined. The solitude was comforting, and the absence of constant hostility was a relief. I began to establish a daily routine, finding solace in structure and small achievements.Each morning, I woke up at dawn. The soft light streamed in through the small window of my room. I had no view to be amazed at but it was still good enough. I started my day with a brisk walk around the perimeter of my home; then I devoted time to working on merging both sides of my existence.I practiced shifting and controlling my wolf form, pushing myself to be faster, stronger, and more agile. It was a painful process, but the progress I made made me proud. It was the first time I'd dwelled alone and I was surprised at how peaceful it was. I could be myself and not try to be anything for anyone. I told myself that whenever I was set free from Rhys, I'd ask him for somewhere like this. Somewhere I could be alone.I
RhysI walked away from the shack where Dawn had been staying for the last few days, mad. Completely mad at myself and her for the control she had over me. I didn't want to care, yet, it seemed that caring was all I could do. It irritated me that I could sense when something was wrong with her. I'd already known that something was up before the triplets, whom I'd stationed to guard and protect her, mind-linked me this morning. I barely finished training with the rest of the pack before I came running. My excuse? Her absence from training. When all I wanted to do was see her. At least I hid how much I missed her well enough and she didn't notice that it was on the tip of my lips to confess how much I loved her presence and how sorry I was for using her as a trap.I couldn't wait for the whole ordeal to be over. I couldn't wait for the fools who plotted her downfall and tried to kill her at the Luna test to fall into my trap. They were going to regret being born.After doing a few ins
DawnI sat cross-legged on the floor of my small, sparsely furnished room, focusing intently on merging my mortal and wolf sides. Regular practice helped to strengthen my connection with my wolf and helped me gain better control and understanding. The morning training sessions had become a routine, but this personal practice was where I felt the most progress.Suddenly, a chorus of roars and howls broke my concentration. My heart skipped a beat, and I froze, straining to listen. The sounds were coming closer, too close. I sat quietly, hoping they would pass, but the noise grew louder and more menacing until the intruders were right at my doorstep.I held my breath, praying they would go away, but my broken door was yet to be fixed and didn't stand a chance. Huge menacing werewolves burst in. I didn't know where I found the energy or strength, but as soon as the first intruder breached my door, something inside me snapped. I launched myself at him, my instincts taking over.I didn’t t
RhysI had the captives dragged down to the darkest part of the dungeons, a place where light didn’t dare to enter and the air was thick with the scent of blood and fear.I wanted them to understand why Golden Crest was to be feared and why I was terrifying.The stone walls echoed with the sounds of their panicked breathing. I paced back and forth, the shackles around their wrists and ankles clinking with each step they tried to take. I could see the fear in their eyes, the way they flinched whenever I moved too quickly or too close. They knew what was coming.I stopped in front of the first one, a wiry-looking man with matted hair and a broken nose. “Why did you come here?” I asked, my voice low and dangerous. “Who sent you?”He spat blood at my feet and glared at me, defiant despite his obvious fear. “We don’t answer to you, Alpha. We answer to the one who sent us.”My eyes narrowed as they trembled before me, bound and broken from hours of relentless questioning. The once-proud war
DawnI sat in my old room terrified. I'd missed it and the comfort it brought, but I couldn't focus on anything else. I was scared for Kaden. I wondered what would become of him. The walls felt like they were closing in on me, and I couldn’t shake the gnawing sense of dread that had settled deep in my chest. Why was it that every time someone showed me kindness, they ended up suffering? It seemed like a cruel twist of fate, and I was at the center of it all.The fear coursed through me like a cold. The thought of what might happen next made my heart race, and the weight of my helplessness pressed down on me. I wanted to scream, to release all the pent-up frustration and agony that had been building inside me, but the fear of what would come next kept me silent. I could only imagine what Rhys would do, and the thought made me shiver.Hours passed, each minute stretching into what felt like an eternity. I kept waiting, my anxiety growing with each tick of the clock. The silence was dea
RhysI had never been so shocked in my life. The way Dawn lashed out at me, the fire in her eyes, and the raw power in her voice took me by surprise. My mind was a storm of conflicting emotions, and I could feel the anger and frustration bubbling up inside me like a volcano about to erupt. I tried to ignore the way my heart raced at the memory of her standing up to me, but it was impossible. She reminded me so much of the first time we met. She had been just as fiery, just as unyielding. I had been drawn to her then, and that fire hadn’t dimmed in the slightest.It was so obvious that she was going insane that day. I could smell it from a mile away along with her enticing scent. This time around, there wasn't an ounce of insanity in her eyes, just frustration and pure rage. It was a side of her I hadn’t expected—a fierce, powerful side that stirred something deep within me, something primal. Her voice had carried such dominance, such authority, that I could almost feel it resonate in
DawnThe kiss left me breathless, my mind spinning in a whirlwind of emotions I couldn’t quite grasp. One moment, Rhys and I were arguing, our voices sharp and laced with tension, and the next, he was kissing me with a fierceness that stole the breath from my lungs. My hand rested on my lips, trying to process what had just happened. I could still feel the heat of his lips on mine, the raw intensity that had passed between us. He wrenched himself away from me and rushed off, not sparing a single glance back. Should I be angry or upset by his sudden departure? Maybe. But instead of fury, a smile slowly tugged at the corners of my lips. What was wrong with me? I should’ve been furious at him for leaving me like that, for confusing me even more. Yet, I couldn’t help but feel a thrill at what had just transpired. I didn’t know what had driven him to kiss me so fiercely, but I couldn’t deny that it had awakened something within me, something that had been lying dormant for far too long.
Epilogue RhysNine months had passed since the chaos that plagued us finally ended. Despite a few arguments with disgruntled Alphas and the pressure of ruling the pack, we were okay. Dawn and I found and now, she was in labor. The most terrifying and exhilarating moment of my life was happening, and I was completely out of my mind.I paced outside the room, my heart pounding against my ribs. The sounds of Dawn’s pain-filled cries tore through me. My stomach twisted with every sound, and it was taking every ounce of strength not to burst into the room and demand to know if she was okay."Alpha, please, sit down. It’s going to be fine." Nadia tried to calm me down, but I shook my head, running a hand through my hair."Fine?" I growled, the word coming out harsher than I intended. "She’s in pain, Nadia. What if something happens? What if—"Nadia smiled gently, cutting me off. "It’s normal, Rhys. You’ve seen her overcome worse than this. Trust in that strength."I wanted to believe her,
RhysThe day Alex attacked Golden Crest, I was ready. His desperation had become so obvious that it was almost pitiful. Word had spread quickly, his forces gathering at the edge of our territory, preparing for what he likely thought would be a grand invasion. Fool. He didn’t know who he was dealing with.I scanned the forest line where his men were hiding. "Hold your positions," I commanded. My Deltas and warriors growled in anticipation. They were eager to spill blood, to protect their home. Alex’s forces weren’t as ready as they thought. From within them, someone gave an order and they charged. A ragtag group of rogues and fools ran straight into the open field where my warriors were waiting. "Take them down," I ordered calmly. My men moved like shadows, fast and lethal, cutting through Alex’s forces like they were nothing. I barely needed to lift a finger. His men fell one by one, their screams echoing through the trees. While none of my warriors were even touched.It was almos
DawnI couldn't believe it. My head spun as I tried to absorb the words that had been thrown at me. Sofia. Lex. A maid. They had all conspired together to poison me. My skin prickled with anger. The worst part was the confirmation that I had been right about Lex all along. The discomfort I’d felt around him wasn’t just paranoia; it was instinct. He had changed, and not for the better. They caught up with him soon enough. There was nowhere he could hide. There was no place where Rhys' wrath wouldn't get to him. Rhys assured me that everything was under control. Lex and Sofia were being tortured in the dungeon. He didn't want to think about it or stress myself.But I couldn’t rest. Not with this burning need for answers clawing at my insides. The doctors had told me to take it easy, to rest for the baby’s sake, but how could I? My life had been turned upside down by people I thought were part of my world. I needed to confront them.First, I went to Lex.When I saw him sitting there,
RhysThis had to be the worst type of fear I'd ever experienced. Why did she collapse again? Watching Dawn unconscious with her skin pale and chest barely moving was torture. My mind was racing, grasping at anything, trying to make sense of how this could have happened. The moment she collapsed the first time, I lost control.It was as if my greatest fear was manifesting before me."Move back, Alpha!" someone shouted at me, but I couldn't. My legs felt like they were glued to the ground. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her as they wheeled her into the emergency room. A hand gripped my shoulder, snapping me out of the daze. It was Kaden, his face grim, but his grip steadying. “She’ll be okay, Rhys.”"I swear to God, Kaden if anyone had a hand in this..." I couldn’t finish the sentence. I didn’t know if I was going to break down or tear the whole world apart. He nodded, his jaw clenched. “We’ll find them.”But finding them wouldn’t change the fact that Dawn was lying there unconsci
DawnThe celebration after our return from Creekside was unlike anything I’d ever seen. The entire pack came alive with joy. Music echoed through the night and laughter bounced off the trees. Lights twinkled, and tables were piled high with food and drink. It was as if the very air had shifted and was filled with the energy of victory. Pack members danced, cheered, and toasted to Rhys and me, the new Alpha and Luna Prime. I felt so much pride and acceptance from them. This was our moment, and nothing could ruin it.Rhys kept me close the entire night, his hand never leaving mine, as if he were afraid I’d disappear if he let go. I could see the love and admiration in his eyes, but I also caught the worry. He hadn’t said anything yet, but I knew he felt something was off with me.To be honest, he wasn’t wrong. For days, I’d been feeling strange—this odd sense of imbalance in my body. It started with a bit of nausea, then evolved into random waves of dizziness. I chalked it up to stress,
DawnThe day had finally arrived, but something about me felt off. It wasn’t the usual jitters before a mission or even the creeping anxiety of walking into enemy territory. This was different, like a knot twisted deep in my gut that I couldn’t unravel. But I knew better than to let it show. Not in front of Rhys.He’d been on edge all morning, pacing around like a caged wolf, his eyes constantly flicking to me with worry. I could feel the weight of his gaze, even when I pretended not to notice.“Dawn, are you sure you’re okay?” he asked for the third time, his voice tight with concern.I forced a smile, keeping my tone light. “I’m fine, Rhys. Just... thinking about everything that’s about to happen.”He studied me, his brow furrowing. I could see the doubt in his eyes, but I didn’t give him a chance to press. If he knew how unsettled I felt, he’d scrap the whole plan in a heartbeat. He’d always been overprotective, but this time it wasn’t just annoying—it could ruin everything.Maybe
RhysI watched Dawn, her eyes shut in concentration, as she attempted to summon one of the pack members to us. Her brow furrowed in frustration as she reached out with her mind, trying to compel them to come. She was struggling, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. I was making it harder for her, intentionally distracting her with my presence, but I couldn’t stop myself.She was more powerful than she realized. But that wasn't what terrified me.The thought of her walking into enemy territory unarmed, trusting those wolves who had already proven themselves traitors, made my blood boil. The plan was dangerous. Too dangerous for her. I wanted her safe, by my side, not out there pretending to be vulnerable when I knew she was anything but. And what if they figured her out? I couldn't stand the thought of that bastard Alex standing next to her.Yet, the more she struggled, the more I felt that guilt creep in. It wasn’t fair to her. She deserved my support, not my fear. Suddenly,
DawnI stood at the edge of the training grounds. The cool breeze brushed against my skin, but it did nothing to calm the whirlwind of emotions inside me. The plan was set, and I was a key part of it. But before that, I needed to test the full range of my abilities by infiltrating enemy territory. My role was simple, at least on the surface. I’d summon the Lunas from the enemy packs, make them think I was naive enough to trust them, and then walk right into their territory, unarmed and unassuming. The idea was for them to believe they had me, and in doing so, we’d get the upper hand.But none of this felt simple. The truth was, I’d have to go back to Creekside, the same place I swore I’d never return to. Just thinking about it reminded me of the memories that haunted me. They were the same ones I had tried so hard to bury. Yet here I was, about to walk right back into that darkness.I glanced over at Rhys, who was watching me carefully as we stood together. We had been testing out ab
RhysI was sitting in the Den with Marcus and Kaden, and my thoughts were all over the place. It was frustrating. The immediate danger had passed, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something darker was brewing. I could feel it. Ever since I’d accepted my role as Alpha Prime, my instincts had sharpened. I knew exactly which Alphas were plotting against us. Their plans and strategies weren't as mysterious as they thought.They were having meetings now, those Alphas. They were discussing all possible methods and entry points to get to Dawn. It was funny how they were yet to discern or reason about my possible position as Alpha Prime. All their focus remained on Dawn.They wanted what they believed was her power. They were getting desperate now and trying to sneak up on us with a disjointed alliance, each one more eager to stab the other in the back than to actually attack me.But there was one name that stuck in my mind like a thorn—Alex. That bastard. The thought of him was enough t