DawnFalling into the darkness felt like a slow, inevitable descent into nothingness. The pain that had racked my body before was gone, but the emptiness it left behind was almost worse. There was nothing to hold onto, no ground beneath me, no light to guide me. I was floating in a void, weightless and lost.If I could scream, I would. For this was worse than dreadful nightmares. I was alone and falling in a way that felt like my very essence was being suctioned out by a huge vacuum. There were times when I felt a twitch. Like an anchor that pulled me away from the darkness. It only lasted for a few seconds though.I had given up. I only wanted whatever this was to end. I wanted the silence of peace.And then, suddenly, there was a jolt. It was like being yanked back from the brink of something terrible, and I gasped, feeling my consciousness snap back into place. For a moment, I was disoriented, unsure of where I was or what had happened. But then the sensations started to filter in
DawnMy eyes adjusted to the dim light in the room, and I realized Rhys was still beside me, but this time, he was awake and staring at me with an intensity that made my breath hitch. His expression was one of shock as if he couldn’t quite believe I was really awake.The moment our eyes met, he jerked in surprise, his body stiffening. Without a word, he pulled away from me, creating a distance between us. I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw clenched as he stood up from the bed. But more than that, I could feel his emotions thrum with me like a raw and unfiltered current of anxiety and relief mingled together.“Thank you,” I managed to whisper, my voice shaky and unsure. “For saving me… I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t been here.”I didn't truly understand what I'd just said. It had to be coming from what the old Alpha had said. It didn't even sound right.Rhys frowned, his expression unreadable as he stared down at me. For a moment, I thought he
RhysThe fact that Dawn could be my mate didn't make any sense. My whole life, I had been certain that I wouldn’t have one. I didn't need one. My wolf was already too dominant and I didn't need to burden another female with it. And even if I did get one by some miracle, she was supposed to be strong. Someone who could stand beside me in every battle, who would understand the burdens of leadership. Dawn was… different. She had been broken, cast out, and her presence in my life had been nothing short of chaotic. That was just half of it. If Dawn was to be anyone’s Luna, she needed to be treated like a princess. She wasn't to be burdened with anything stressful. I couldn't even give her that. Yet, the more I thought about it, the more it unsettled me. I found myself avoiding her, deliberately keeping my distance as I tried to make sense of the emotions roiling inside me. The problem, however, was that I wanted to go and see her so badly and know how she was doing. It was so bad. The id
DawnI wasn't the same person I was when I collapsed a few days ago. Before now, I abhorred training more than anything. Now, the moment I stepped into the training arena, I felt a surge of exhilaration rush through me. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a warm glow over the pack grounds, and the air was thick with the scent of earth and sweat. Princess, the triplets, and Kaden were already waiting for me, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. It was still surreal to me how everything had changed. Just yesterday, I beat Princess in a sparring match. Princess. One of the strongest fighters in the pack. Princess who could tackle warriors with ease. The same Princess who had dominance and power similar to Rhys. I could still hardly believe it.I walked toward them with a bounce in my step. The best part was that our training sessions were private so no one apart from the people waiting for me and Nadia had discovered my recent prowess. I couldn't stop myself from grinning. I
RhysThe meeting had just concluded, and I watched as the Alpha of the Crimson Claw pack inclined his head respectfully. It was the third pack I had visited, and just like the others, this one had gone smoothly. Almost too smoothly. They all seemed eager to strengthen ties. It was surprising, considering that I was expecting a lot of resistance. Anyone monitoring my movement would think that I was going after the Crest, even though I was here under a different guise. Golden Crest was almost impenetrable but we also found strength in our allies. We also didn't go for the loudest packs, we went for the ones with values similar to ours. Coincidentally, these packs almost always had some sort of history with the Crest, making them everyone's Target.This was my way of letting them know that despite everything, I wasn't going to abandon them. The Alpha bid us goodbye with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, and I returned the gesture with a nod before turning away to prepare for our dep
DawnI tried not to overthink it. In fact, I made sure to keep myself busy with the alchemy lab and following Princess, who loved shopping around. Her excitement about new clothes and trinkets was infectious, and it helped distract me from the growing ache in my chest. Nadia was teaching me a lot, and I threw myself into learning everything I could from her. She was patient and kind, and I appreciated her guidance. I even willingly gave myself to the triplets to be used as their lab rat for new styles and fashion ideas. Yet, despite all the activities and learning, I couldn't stop thinking about Rhys.I'd asked myself a million times what our last interaction meant. How'd he know that I was feeling rejected? Why was I even feeling rejected? Why’d he keep saying all those things yet was always pushing me away? I missed him so damn much. I felt like I had no right to miss him this intensely, especially since I wasn’t even sure how he felt about me. Everyone noticed my distraction, n
RhysMy return was sudden. Almost too sudden for the Pack and the Council. I'd been away for more than a week and they expected me to stay longer. As soon as I arrived, they were already calling for meetings. At first, I wanted to ignore them and go after the main reason I returned to the pack in the first place. But I wondered if it would make me look silly. And besides, it wasn't as if I parted on good terms. I wanted her to come to me. Like she always did. This time, I wouldn't pretend. I was in so much agony after missing her for too long. Just as they arrived for the meeting, I opted out, asking Lex to handle it, while I returned to my Den. Hoping and waiting for her.I paced the floor, tension building with each passing minute. I willed her to come to me, to sense that I was back. She had to know. I could feel her presence even from this distance; she had to feel mine too. But as the minutes dragged on, unease settled in. Why wasn’t she coming?Finally, I couldn’t take it anym
RhysI pulled her closer, letting my hands run down her petite frame. She sighed onto my lips. My tongue greedily swiped against hers. It wasn't enough. I needed her. I needed my scent imprinted on her so anyone who came close to her would immediately sense that she was for me and only me. Her soft moans were driving me insane. At first, I was hesitant, because I knew that there was no going back. Now, I didn't care. I precisely wanted to go further and not back. I pushed her nightie downwards and found those beautiful breasts of hers. I sucked on her nips, teasing and flicking them while she shuddered and cried. The way she responded, moaning with her eyes closed, was ripping my self-control to shreds. She ground her waist on me and kissed me hard. Her legs curved around me and we moved to the rhythm. My hands touched every curve of her body. I groaned as she began to rid me of my clothes. It was difficult keeping my wolf at bay. It wanted to sink its claws into her lush skin
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