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
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
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 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 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
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
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 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
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
Calvin’s POVThe night stretched on, quiet and still, as I finally concluded my duties for the day. The weight of leading a struggling Pack never seemed to ease, but at least for now, I could leave it behind. Franklin stayed behind to organize the last of the documents, locking the office as I stepped out into the cool night air.There was only one thing on my mind.My children.I made my way to their room, my steps slow but purposeful. The moment I opened the door, a soft melody greeted my ears.Lysaa.She was sitting on the rocking chair, gently swaying back and forth as she sang a lullaby to the twins. Her voice was quiet, soothing, almost like a whisper against the night. Astor and Arabella were lying in their crib, gazing up at her, their tiny hands curling and uncurling as if reaching for her voice.My heart palpitated in my chest.How could something so small, so fragile, hold such power over me?Lysaa must have sensed my presence because she stopped singing and turned toward m
Calvin's POVI never imagined that two tiny beings could change my life so much.Even with the weight of the Pack still pressing down on me, demanding my time and attention, I found myself drawn back to them—Astor and Arabella. My children. My twins. No matter how chaotic things were, no matter how much my responsibilities as Alpha demanded of me, I refused to be absent from their lives. I had lost too much already.And if there was one thing I was certain of, it was that I couldn’t afford to lose them, too.That first week with them had been a trial by fire. The first few days had been the hardest—two-month-old infants didn’t just accept new faces, even if that face belonged to their father. They didn’t understand who I was, and so they wailed. Loudly. Relentlessly.At first, it made me panic. I could hold my own in a duel, could lead warriors without flinching, but two tiny babies crying at the same time? It left me utterly lost. Marlana—my mother—would step in then, taking them fro
Kamrynn’s POVSleep refused to come.I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind an endless swirl of questions. The key sat hidden beneath my pillow, yet it might as well have been burning a hole through the mattress.I couldn't stop thinking about it.For once, I was grateful that Lorien had chosen to sleep in the living room tonight. The distance between us gave me a rare moment of solitude, a chance to breathe without his watchful gaze lingering over me.I sat up slowly, careful not to make any noise. The room was dim, moonlight casting silvery streaks across the floor. My fingers hesitated for only a moment before I reached beneath my pillow and retrieved the key.Holding it up to the light, I turned it over between my fingers, studying the intricate grooves along the metal.What if this was a mistake?What if Lorien had placed the collar around my neck to protect me from something?I clenched my jaw, gripping the key tighter. No. That didn’t make sense. If it was for my safety,
Kamrynn’s POVI stared at the key in my hand, turning it over between my fingers, the weight of it sinking into my skin.What did it open?My mind ran through possibilities, but nothing seemed to make sense. Lorien had hidden it carefully, tucked away where I’d never think to look.My hand drifted up, almost absentmindedly, brushing against the shackle jewelry thing around my neck.I froze.A keyhole. That's right, the other day I realized it had a keyhole. Which is very much strange for something that's supposed to be jewelry.I turned the key over in my palm, my fingers tracing its cool, metallic surface. It was small, unassuming—yet its existence unsettled me in a way I couldn’t quite put into words.I inhaled sharply, my grip tightening on the key as realization slithered through my mind like a shadowy whisper.Could this key… unlock it?If it did, that would mean this wasn’t a necklace.It wasn’t a piece of jewelry meant to symbolize love, devotion, or commitment.It was a shackl
Kamrynn’s POVIt had been days since I heard that name."Kamrynn."A voice in my head had whispered it so clearly, so intimately, that it sent shivers down my spine.And I hadn’t been able to get it out of my mind since.I didn’t understand why it unsettled me so much. I knew my memory wasn’t whole—I had long accepted that pieces of my past were missing. But was Kamrynn someone I used to know? Someone important?Someone I had forgotten?I should ask Lorien.It was the logical thing to do. He would have answers.And yet, every time I thought about it, something held me back.I couldn’t explain it. It was just an instinct, a whisper in the back of my mind warning me to stay quiet.But why?Why couldn’t I bring myself to tell him?I had no reason to hesitate. Lorien had always been there for me. He was my husband, the only person I had ever known. The only one who had ever cared for me. He had been nothing but patient with me, always so gentle, always—I trusted him.Didn’t I?I sighed,
Calvin's POVI gritted my teeth, weighing my options.I had no idea how long it would take for Rmonica to fall asleep—or if she was even a heavy sleeper to begin with. Every second I wasted was a risk, a gamble I couldn't afford to take.I had to act. Now.Overpowering her would be easy, especially in her current state, but that didn’t mean I could just pin her down and walk out of here. She was the Alpha’s mate, the Luna of this Pack. One mind link, one call for help, and I’d be dead before I even reached the front gates.I was already screwed. No matter what I did, the odds weren’t in my favor.Just as I clenched my fists, readying myself to take the risk, Rmonica suddenly sat up in bed.I froze, holding my breath.She pressed a hand to her mouth, her expression twisting in discomfort. Then, with a sharp inhale, she shot up from the bed and rushed out of the room.Gone.She left.A wave of relief crashed over me.She was probably going to throw up.That meant I had minutes—maybe seco
Calvin’s POVI remembered it as clear as day; their scent. Though they were too young to have developed their own unique scent, especially with no wolf, I could tell their presence from a mile away.Soft, warm, pure. A delicate blend of milk, the gentle sweetness of talcum powder, and that inexplicable, almost heavenly aroma that only babies carried—the scent of innocence itself.It tugged at something deep inside me, something primal. They were close by.I closed my eyes for a brief moment, allowing my senses to fully absorb it, to let it guide me. I had memorized this scent from the very moment I had discovered their existence. No matter where they were, I would always find them.Astor. Arabella.Selene, please let them be safe. Please don’t let them be in the same room as Rmonica or Orion.I took another deep breath, following the softest traces of their scent, weaving through the corridors with careful, calculated steps. The palace was eerily quiet, the only sounds being the dista
Calvin’s POVThe air was thick with tension as we arrived at the outskirts of the palace under the cover of night. The towering walls loomed ahead, their stone faces bathed in the pale glow of the moon. Every inch of the palace was guarded, every pathway watched. One mistake, one misstep, and this mission would be over before it even began.I clenched my fists. Failure is not an option.Lysaa stood beside me, clutching her white cane tightly. She was tense, but she had agreed to do this. Franklin was positioned with the car a safe distance away, waiting for my signal."Alright," I whispered. "You remember what to do?"Lysaa exhaled sharply. "Unfortunately, yes.""Good. I’ll direct you from here. Just walk straight ahead for now."Lysaa took careful steps forward, tapping her cane against the ground. The two guards patrolling the walls immediately noticed her and rushed over."Halt!" one of them barked. "Who goes there?"Lysaa flinched, playing the part of a vulnerable blind woman perf
Calvin’s POVThere was a time when I had firmly believed that there was nothing I couldn't do. But lately I've been reminded over and over again that I'm still a mere mortal, one who the moon goddess herself had to humble. This was one of those situations.The bitter feeling of helplessness had become a common presence in my life of late. This wasn't any other situation, this was my flesh and blood we were talking about. Every second that passed, my children were slipping further away.Franklin paced in front of me, his boots crunching against the gravel. Lysaa sat stiffly on the hood of the car, arms wrapped around herself, her expression unreadable."What the hell are we supposed to do now?" Franklin finally spoke, his frustration evident. "Blue Bell doesn’t remember Kamrynn, and they sure as hell won’t just hand over the kids. We can’t fight them for this. So what’s the plan?"I didn’t respond right away. My mind was working through every possible option, every path that could lead