Kamrynn's POVMy heart races in my chest as the reality of my situation sinks in. I’m about to be sold at an auction like some piece of livestock. My skin prickles with humiliation, but the fear is stronger. I can’t let them take me. I can’t let this be my end—not after everything I’ve endured to get this far. I tug at the ropes binding my wrists, my movements desperate and futile. The rough fibers dig into my skin, biting harder with every struggle, but the knots hold tight.Think, Kamrynn. You need a plan. You have to get out of here.But my mind feels like it’s covered in a thick fog. I can’t think clearly, can’t focus. The noise of the auction, the lewd murmurs from the men, the cries from the other girls—it all swirls around me like a storm. I clench my jaw, fighting back the panic threatening to swallow me whole. I don’t have my wolf to help me, but I’m not giving up. I’ve come too far to let it end like this.I glance around, scanning the crowd and the platform for anything—any
Kamrynn's POVThe word hits me like a blow to the chest, stealing the breath from my lungs. A rogue. They think I’m a rogue. It shouldn’t surprise me, not after I cut all ties with the Obsidian Pack, but hearing it said aloud feels like a final blow. Rogues are infamous for a reason—lone wolves cast out from their Packs, known to wreak havoc and bring chaos wherever they go. They’re dangerous, unpredictable… and they’re usually killed on sight.The first warrior frowns, his gaze hardening. “Is that true?” he asks, his voice laced with suspicion. “Are you a rogue?”I open my mouth to respond, but no words come out. I can feel the sting of the word—rogue—like it’s branding itself onto my skin, marking me with a fate I never wanted. Panic surges through me as the other warriors exchange a look, their postures growing tense and threatening.“She has no identification,” the second warrior snaps, his hand drifting toward the knife at his belt. “We should deal with her here and now. Can’t ha
Calvin's POVThe chaos began the moment I received my mother’s mind link, a frantic plea for help. Her voice had been laced with desperation, something I wasn’t used to hearing from her.“Calvin!” My mother's voice echoed in my head, urgent and strained. “Come to my chambers immediately. It’s an emergency!”I had been moments away from dealing with that worthless whore, Kamrynn, but when my mother called, there was no hesitation. I had to go. The situation in her chambers was nothing short of a disaster. The servants were running around in a frenzy, shouting orders and trying to control the smoke billowing out from the corridor.“Something seems to have gone wrong with the heating system,” one of the guards reported, his face pale with worry. “It overloaded and caused a fire in the Dowager Luna’s room. We’re still trying to get it under control.”I stormed inside, the smoke stinging my eyes and burning my throat. My mother was coughing, held up by two servants, while the flames flicke
Calvin's POVThe tension in the central hall is thick enough to choke on. Fenrir is pacing restlessly inside me, his growls echoing in my mind, his rage mirroring my own. Whoever helped Kamrynn escape is out there, among these cowards, hiding in plain sight. I can feel it. I’m not leaving until I have their blood on my hands.Suddenly, a man steps forward, his head bowed. His hands tremble slightly as he raises them in surrender."Alpha," he begins, his voice quivering with fear. "I… I saw her. I saw Lysaa. She… she helped Kamrynn escape."The confession hits me like a spark to a powder keg. My rage ignites, flaring to life with a force I can barely contain. I feel Fenrir surge to the surface, his presence nearly overwhelming, his voice a guttural snarl in my head. “Let me out. I’ll tear her apart.”My vision blurs with red as my eyes shift, Fenrir’s rage and mine blending into one. It takes everything in me to hold him back, to keep him from breaking free and ripping this entire hall
Kamrynn's POVTime doesn’t exist in this place. It’s hard to tell the days apart when every moment feels like an endless loop of misery. But if I had to guess, I’d say it’s been at least two weeks since I was thrown into this cell, though it feels like so much longer. Two weeks since I was "rescued" from the auction, if I can even call it that. Two weeks of surviving in this pit of despair, where my only company is hopelessness and a gnawing fear that I’ll never get out.The warriors bring me meals twice a day—gruel in the morning and some hard, crusty bread at night. It isn’t good food by any means, but it’s enough to keep me and my child alive. I’m grateful for that, at least. If nothing else, I don’t have to starve.No one has told me what will happen to me. I’ve heard no word about my fate, no hint of a decision being made. I don’t know if I should consider that good news or not. Every day that passes feels like a death sentence drawn out slowly. And while the uncertainty is madde
Kamrynn's POVThe first thing I notice when I open my eyes is the softness beneath me. It’s not the hard, cold floor of my cell. The mattress yields slightly under my weight, and the blanket draped over me feels smooth and cool against my skin. A sharp smell stings my nostrils—medicine, disinfectant, and the sterile air that can only belong in a hospital.I blink against the harsh light, my eyes struggling to adjust as I take in my surroundings. White walls. Monitors beeping steadily. The ache in my body is a dull throb, a reminder of the beating I endured. I try to shift, and pain slices through me, forcing a wince. I’m covered in bruises, and my muscles scream with even the smallest movement."You're awake," a familiar voice says.I glance over and see Elara sitting beside the bed, her arms crossed and her expression set in a stern frown. She looks like she’s been there for a while. I can’t tell whether that’s a good or bad thing. The last time I saw her, she wasn’t exactly sympathe
Kamrynn's POVI take a deep breath, forcing myself to sit up a little despite the pain coursing through my body. I can’t let this opportunity slip away. "Please, Elara," I plead, my voice trembling but firm. "You have a daughter, right? You said you’d do anything to protect her. I was just trying to do the same for my child."Elara’s face hardens, and she crosses her arms. "That doesn’t excuse what you did. You still need to learn that actions have consequences. You were reckless.""I know," I reply quickly, wincing as the words slip out in a pained rush. "I was angry… but I’m willing to accept responsibility. I just… I just couldn’t let her insult my baby like that. I’m begging you, please try to understand."For a long moment, Elara’s expression remains stony, and I feel my hope slipping away. Then, she sighs, her features softening just slightly. "Fine," she says at last. "I’ll talk to the Gamma, see if there’s a possibility of letting you off this time. If that isn’t possible, I’l
Kamrynn's POV “I’m so sorry,” I say quickly, my own voice barely a whisper, guilt swelling inside me for having touched such a raw nerve. “I didn’t mean to—”“It’s alright,” Rmonica interrupts gently, though her voice trembles. “You couldn’t have known.” She takes a deep breath, as if trying to steady herself, but I can see that the effort costs her. “My mate and I… we’ve been trying for so many years.” Her voice wavers, and she pauses, as though she’s pulling the words from some deep, dark place. “We’ve had so many moments of hope. You know, that spark that flares up with the first missed period, or the first flutter of a heartbeat on an ultrasound… Every time, I thought, ‘This is it. This is finally it.’”Her gaze drifts toward the window, as if she’s looking far beyond it, back to all those moments of brief joy that ended in despair. “But each time… each time, it slipped away. I’ve had more miscarriages than I can count,” she continues, her voice breaking on the last word, “and ev
Kamrynn’s POVI practically ran into my room, clutching Astor against my chest like he was my lifeline. My hands were shaking so badly that it took two tries before I managed to turn the lock, securing the door behind us.Rmonica followed close behind, still holding Arabella, her face dark with confusion and concern.“Kamrynn,” she said, voice firm but laced with worry. “What the hell just happened? Who was that man?”I let out a shuddering breath, my chest heaving as I pressed my back against the door, needing its solidness to ground me. I turned my gaze to Rmonica, whose sharp green eyes were burning with questions.“That was Calvin,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.Rmonica’s entire body stiffened. “Calvin?” she repeated, as if saying his name would somehow make the situation less real.I nodded. “He—he was here at the party. He approached me. Asked for my forgiveness.”Rmonica’s eyes flashed with pure, unfiltered rage. “That bastard had the guts to show his face? After eve
Kamrynn’s POVThe second I stepped into the bathroom, I barely had time to lock the door before my legs gave out beneath me. I crumpled onto the floor, my hands trembling as I clutched at my dress, gasping for air. My chest felt tight, as if someone had wrapped their hands around my throat and was squeezing, forcing out every last bit of control I had left.And then the first sob tore through me.It was raw, ugly, painful. The kind of cry that came from deep inside, from a place long buried under layers of strength and survival. The kind of cry I hadn't allowed myself in a very long time.My shoulders shook violently as I pressed a hand over my mouth, muffling the desperate sounds escaping me. My heart pounded against my ribs, the weight of everything crashing down all at once. I had held it together for as long as I could. I had faced Calvin without breaking, without giving him the satisfaction of knowing just how much he still had the power to hurt me. But now that I was alone, the
Calvin’s POVUpon arriving at the Blue Bell Pack’s celebration, a rare feeling of satisfaction settled in my chest. The plan was working. The guards at the entrance had barely spared me a second glance when I handed over my invitation, granting me access without suspicion. The grand hall was filled with energy—laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses creating a welcoming atmosphere.I had come here with a purpose. My Pack was barely holding on, resources dwindling to dangerous levels. This was my chance to negotiate with the Alpha of Blue Bell, to form an alliance, to secure a trade deal that could keep my people from starving. That was all that mattered.Or at least, it was. Until I saw her.At first, my mind couldn’t register it. I was making my way through the crowd when my eyes landed on a familiar figure at the buffet table. It felt like the air had been sucked out of the room.Kamrynn.My heart lurched in my chest, an erratic, painful thud. It had been so long—so long since
Kamrynn’s POVThe room felt like it had been frozen in time. My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at Calvin, the last person I ever expected—ever wanted—to see here. My back hit the buffet table, and I scrambled for balance, but his hands gripped my shoulders, steadying me.His touch burned through the fabric of my dress, sending a shiver down my spine. I inhaled sharply, steeling myself. I wouldn’t let him intimidate me. Not now. Not ever again.“What are you doing here?” My voice was low, sharp, laced with venom.“I need to talk to you,” he said simply, his voice calm but urgent.Before I could react, he removed his hands from my shoulders, his fingers sliding down to clasp my hand instead.“Let go of me,” I hissed, trying to pull away, but his grip was firm as he began leading me toward the edge of the hall.“Kamrynn, please. Just come with me. I don’t want to make a scene.”“Oh, I’ll make a scene,” I snapped, trying to dig my heels into the floor, but he was already pulling me
Kamrynn’s POVAnxiety curled in my stomach like a stubborn weed, refusing to be uprooted no matter how hard I tried to shake it. It had been two days since the nightmare, but Calvin’s haunting gaze and his bloodied hands still lingered in my mind like a stain. Every time I closed my eyes, the vision of him whispering, “You’re my salvation,” echoed in my ears. The memory left a bitter taste in my mouth, a warning I couldn’t decipher. I couldn't help but wish over and over again that I would never have to cross paths with that man.I tugged absently at the hem of my dress, my mind racing. The party. I still wasn’t sure I wanted to attend. In fact, every fiber of my being screamed to stay behind, to shut myself away with my twins and avoid the crowd altogether.The sound of soft gurgling pulled me from my thoughts. I turned toward the crib and found Astor and Arabella lying side by side, their tiny hands waving in the air as they grunted at each other. They were only a week old, yet they
Calvin's POVThe rhythmic ticking of the clock on the far wall grated on my nerves as I sifted through the endless paperwork littering my desk. Numbers, trade routes, inventory lists—all of it blurred together into meaningless scribbles. My mind wasn’t here, couldn’t be here, not when Kamrynn was still out there, somewhere. The gnawing frustration and helplessness had become a constant ache in my chest, and no amount of work could drown it out.A sharp knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I straightened in my chair, my voice sharp and unwelcoming. “What?”Franklin stepped in, his expression carefully neutral. He always wore that mask when dealing with me these days, likely to avoid triggering one of my outbursts. “Alpha,” he greeted me with a respectful nod.I wasted no time. “Do you have news?”Franklin hesitated, the pause long enough to stoke my irritation. He knew better than to drag his feet, especially about this.“Well?” I demanded, my tone harsher than I intended.“No
Kamrynn’s POVIt had been five days since I gave birth to my twins, and the world felt both miraculous and impossibly heavy. The aftermath of childbirth wasn’t something I’d fully prepared for, no matter how many stories I’d heard or how many reassurances I’d been given. My body felt like a battlefield, and I wasn’t sure if I was winning or losing the war.My first real struggle came from the constant bleeding. Every movement reminded me that my body was still in recovery, and the dull ache in my abdomen served as a persistent reminder that my body had gone through something extraordinary—and excruciating. I shifted uncomfortably in bed, my hand brushing against the bundle of blankets where my twins slept.The exhaustion wasn’t just physical. Sleep was a distant memory, a luxury I hadn’t experienced since their arrival. Every cry woke me in a panic, my heart pounding as I scrambled to soothe whichever baby needed me more. Even when they were quiet, I found myself lying awake, afraid s
Calvin's POV The moment the witch’s words settled in my mind, I knew what had to be done. Kamrynn was the key to saving the Pack, the only chance to break the curse that had turned our lives into a living nightmare. The realization felt like a hammer striking my chest. I clenched my fists, a mix of dread and determination swirling within me."Thank you," I said to the witch, my voice hoarse. She regarded me with wary eyes, as if unsure whether I meant it.“Remember, Alpha,” she replied, her voice sharp like a blade. “Your Pack’s salvation depends on her forgiveness. Nothing else can save you.”I nodded grimly and left her dwelling, the air around me feeling colder than ever. Kamrynn was out there somewhere, not just carrying the hope of my Pack’s survival, but also my child—my heir. She must have given birth by now, and the thought of her raising my child, away from me, filled me with an unbearable mix of frustration, yearning, and guilt.Returning to the Pack, I knew there was no ti
Calvin's POV“If you think I'd ever—” I had begun my strong rebuttal when I felt Franklin's hand on my shoulder.“We don't have a choice, Alpha. Just do it, please. For the sake of the Pack. She's our last hope.” He pleaded.I knew that all too well but still…I clenched my fists, trying to rein in my temper. “Please,” I said through gritted teeth, bowing my head in surrender. “Please help me, my people are dying. If you know something, please tell me and you'll forever have my gratitude.”She quirked an eyebrow but a smile finally settled on her face. “That wasn't so hard now, was it?” She quipped after a long pause. “Step inside.”The room we entered was darker than the hallway, lit only by the faint glow of a fire in the hearth. The air was even heavier in here, suff