Ryan’s POVI was seated on my ornate sofa, my hands drumming against my office desk. I was envisioning all the possible ways, this midnights raid could go. It could go well, we catch them off guard and kill everyone of them and also kill the man responsible for the deaths of my parent.Or it could go sideways, where outplayed and we're now the victims. Either way, we were going and there was no going back now. Just then, I heard a loud knock on my door, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Come in.” I yelled. Trevor stepped in and stood just by the door. “Alpha Ryan, all the warriors are prep and ready. And the goodwill feast is ready as well.” his words reached my ears. His tone firm. I paused. “And is everyone there?” I asked. “Almost, we haven't seen Elena. She wasn't in her room.”I froze. Elena, not in her room. Where could she go? “Find her now.” I ordered. “Yes sir.” Trevor answered as he stepped out. The door had barely closed, when I felt a sudden throbbing pain in
Elena POVI was closely following right behind Ryan as we moved to the meeting room. Reaching there, that tingling aroma from before reached my nostrils. That means whatever was happening in the meeting room was a special occasion. I stepped into the room and just then my eyes landed on them… Crystal wrapped herself around Ryan, squeezing tight around him like she owned him. And just then Ryan turned his gaze to me. And then, I saw something flicker in his eye. Guilt! Was he guilty because of me? “The aroma here is quite nice.” I said before walking away. I tried my best not to make that situation any more awkward than it already was. But, I couldn't help myself but feel jealous. And I hated it.. But, Ryan was my mate and those feelings are almost inevitable. But he chose Crystal and there was nothing I could do about it. I watched as Ryan and Crystal moved to their seats. Ryan was at the head of the table, and she seat just beside him to his right, as future Luna and t
Ryan’s POV“But then why me?” she asked. And then I froze. I stopped to think to myself for a moment. Why her? She wasn't my wife. But telling felt so right. “It doesn't matter.”“I'll see you when I'm back.” I stood up and walked to the door. “Ryan.” She called. I stopped, and then turned to her. “Goodluck.” she said, her voice was tender. She meant it.I nodded and walked away. I let myself be vulnerable to her. I wish I didn't but somehow it felt just right. She's not my wife, but I told my deepest secret, I've kept buried inside all these years. And even I still don't really know why. But now, that has to sit out atleast for tonight. It was time! “Sir. The warriors are waiting for you.”A werewolf walked up to me. He had short blonde hair, and broad shoulders, with glinting red eyes. Valari, my lead warrior and my most skilled werewolf. He fought battles alongside me and Trevor, but this one would be the satisfying of them all. “Let's go!”Midnight. Cold. Sharp.
Ryan POVNot a single damn soul.I exhaled hard, grip tightening on my blades. Something wasn’t right.And then—it hit me.That scent.Faint, but there. Werewolves, they were close by.The hair on the back of my neck stood up. My gut twisted. My wolf snarled.A trap.“Scatter!” I barked, turning sharply. “Now!”“It's a trap!”The first arrow came like a whisper.Then the night exploded.A sickening thwack—then gurgling. A warrior jerked beside me, his eyes wide, blood bubbling at his lips. He collapsed hard, hands twitching in the dirt, then still.More arrows.They were coming in fast and from everywhere. The air screamed with them. Hissing past my face, slamming into bodies, tearing through flesh, armor, bone.Callum staggered. Chest shot through. His mouth opened like he wanted to speak, but then—gone. Just gone.“MOVE! COVER! NOW!” I snarled, twisting, already sprinting through the chaos.Another arrow—too fast—THWACK.FUCK.Pain ripped through my back, deep, burning, raw. My vi
Elena POVI stayed in my room for the most part of that night. My mind was in dissary. But still on one person. My mate. Ryan. I paced around my room for almost an hour straight. And then I'll take a occasional peak out my window to check if they were back. I couldn't help but worry. My body for some reason felt uneasy even though it shouldn't. It's just an ambush. It should be easy. And besides, they've gone on several battles before today and always come out on top. Tonight wasn't suppose to be different. If anything, it was suppose to be more easy than usual. But for some reason… it was still feeling uneasy. Maybe a warm tea ought to free me up. I walk to the door, slipping to my shoes before walking out. “Do you know who I am, huh?” “I'm the Luna oof this pack and you dare…”“I can easily make your live here a living nightmare.”“Ma’am please I'm sorry.”. “Please I am.”I was reaching the kitchen when I heard Crystal's stern voice. “Crystal never changes.” I sighed. Sho
Elena POV I laid on my bed staring up at the ceiling. I couldn't sleep, not until I see Ryan. I needed to know what really happened. Did he avenge his parents murder?And if so, at what cost?I may not have seen him in action yet. But the tales we were told when I was in my old pack. Alpha Ryan was the best and most skilled fighter in the Werewolf land. So for even a top level fighter to come back so battered and bruised up, was a bit worrying. Just then I heard a soft knock on my door. I hesitated, just staring at the door. Who would be at my door at this hour? And then the knock came again… this time a bit louder. I gently walked to the door and opened it. What? Ryan! “What.. Why… How?” He stood, bandaged and patched up. “What are you doing here?” I finally managed to speak. “Can i come in?” he requested.“Yes.. Sure.” I stepped in and pulled a seat over to him, movement a bit hasty. “I don't have much time before the guards know I left.”He lowered his voice.“Okay… so
Ryan POV I left Elena's room, my heart a bit heavy. I didn't have to burden her with that news. But I did. Because for some reason, Elena felt like the only one I could really trust. I moved gently through the hallway. Every step burned, my back and arm screaming, pulling, tearing, but I had to bear it. I had to return back to my room before the guards return from their shift. The last thing I want is for them to get worked up more over me. I reached my room, and with a small nudge, I carefully pushed the door open, the creaking noise disturbing the silence. “Hey handsome.” I heard a soft voice. I snapped my head to the direction. Crystal! My eyes cracked wide open as I turned to her. A thin dress clung to her frame, light, deliberate. Her golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, her eyes dark, gleaming with intent.She smiled. “You’re finally back.”“W..what are you doing here?” I asked, my breath shaking. “Can't a wife a come check on his husband?” She asked, her tone lust
Elena POVI walked back to my room, and collapsed on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. The image was the fresh in my mind. Ryan lying next to her.Crystal.I had seen them—his body half-turned toward her, her form curled near his, the sheets tangled between them My stomach had twisted, sharp and ugly, but I had turned away before I could feel it break me. Before I could do something stupid.Because that’s what I had done, hadn’t I?Let myself believe, for just a second, that maybe—**just maybe—**there was something for me there.Fool.Crystal was his Luna to be, how could I forget thatI got my mind clouded up with the ambush and Ryan's past trauma, for a second i thought maybe, our mate bond was getting stronger. Just then, I heard Crystal's voice. “Oh? You’re up early.”Her voice.I stopped, then snapped my head to the direction of the door.And there she was.Crystal.Standing just outside my room, wrapped in a silk robe, her blonde hair perfect, shining, lips curled into som
Elena POV The bright sun shone through the curtains. I justify laid here in my bed, my mind a complete mess. I barely slept last night. I could only play in my head, all the possible ways today could go. The marriage. It was finally today. The day I loose my mate bond with Ryan. And then, I'll just be another werewolf in another pack who can't shift. Crystal would only make my life here even more hell. And, Ryan…talking with him after, will feel like I'm talking to a complete stranger. The only certainty is that after today, my misery will only grew. Just then, my eyes cracked wide open. And there she was… Crystal, dressed in her silk robe. ‘What do you want?!” I asked, my voice came out sharper than I intended. “To warn you!” She said, her voice cold. My breath hitched. Warn me? “Warn me from what?” I let out a dry laugh. “Today is my marriage. The most important day of my life.”Crystal stepped foward and stood a few steps from me. “Do not. And I mean… Do not! Try any
Ryan POV Valari was on the move. I marched outside at once, leaving Crystal to herself. I couldn't let this chance pass me by, if Valari was the mole I needed to know. I marched up the stairs, my boots landing hard against the marble surface. And then, I reached the top. The cold, fresh air hit me, like a knife to the gut. I was at the top of the castle, with the largest view covering the whole borders of the Star Raiders pack and beyond.“Welcome Alpha!”Trevor welcomed me, already there. “Here!” Trevor handed me a device. ‘Wolf Eyes’A device that can see objects even thousands of miles away. I grabbed and wore it across my face. There he was! Valari, riding his horse, far beyond the packs boundaries. The Wolf Eyes could cover even only so far, but now we had a reason to be bring him in for questioning. I pulled it off, turned ready to leave. “Bring him in for questioning tommorow!” I said to Trevor, my voice heavy. “I'm not sure about tommorow.” Trevor's words made me
Elena’s POVRyan turned to me, and I knew what was coming next. He was going to walk out on me and leave me in the dark, like I wasn't fit for discrete information. “Wait here!” he said, hisvoice firm. “But I want to know.” I shot back. And for a second, I saw something flicker in his eyes.Realization. He knew I wanted to. “You'll know.” That was it. And then he walked away with Trevor.I lay there. Still. Empty.Staring at the ceiling like it could give me the answers.It didn’t.Because all I could think about was him.Ryan.His voice. The way it cracked. The way he looked at me last night, like he wanted to say more, like it mattered.But it didn’t.Because at the end of all this—He wasn’t mine.He never was.Never would be.He was going to marry her.Crystal.It was already written, already decided, already killing me.I squeezed my eyes shut, hating myself.Hating that I let myself think, for one second, that maybe—just maybe—this meant something.That maybe I meant somet
Ryan POV “Sir, we need to talk.” Trevor said, his breath shaking, his tone urgent. ‘Can't it wait?” ‘“Unfortunately, no sir..” He responded sharply. Then, he lowered his voice. “I have almost certain confirmation on who the mole is.”What? My breath hitched. I turned to Elena, the curiosity in her eyes. She wanted to know just as much. “Wait here!” I said, my voice firm. “But I want to know.” she answered. I knew she did. But this information has to remain discrete. “You'll know.” I said before walking out. I followed Trevor to the chamber room, locking the metallic doors. This was the most discrete room in the castle. “Alright. Who is it?”Trevor leaned in close to my ear, lowering his voice.“I think it's Valari.”I froze. Valari? My number one warrior for years.The man who I fought countless battles with. The only besides Trevor who I could trust. “No, no, no! It can't be.” “Are you sure of this?” I asked. I couldn't bring myself to believe it. “We are not 100%
Ryan POV I laid flat on my bed, eyes looking up at the ceiling, the thoughts circling in my head. My wedding to Crystal was less than three days away. But at the moment I couldn't even care less about that.I needed to speak with Elena. For some reason she's been difficult to find. Maybe she could be avoiding me? But she has to understand that I had choice. Crystal practically blackmailed me. But even more importantly I needed to find the mole in my pack. I needed to… But, there was a mole, that much I was sure of.I did all pros and cons, and all analysis possible. No way the Shadow Blood pack could have planned for our arrival unless they had earlier information. So it had to among the warriors and higher ups. The other members of the castle only knew about the ambush that night, making it impossible to get a message to the Shadow Blood pack before we arrived.For me, the sooner I get the mole, the quicker I get closer to the Shadow Blood pack. And then… I will have anothe
Elena POVI walked back to my room, and collapsed on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. The image was the fresh in my mind. Ryan lying next to her.Crystal.I had seen them—his body half-turned toward her, her form curled near his, the sheets tangled between them My stomach had twisted, sharp and ugly, but I had turned away before I could feel it break me. Before I could do something stupid.Because that’s what I had done, hadn’t I?Let myself believe, for just a second, that maybe—**just maybe—**there was something for me there.Fool.Crystal was his Luna to be, how could I forget thatI got my mind clouded up with the ambush and Ryan's past trauma, for a second i thought maybe, our mate bond was getting stronger. Just then, I heard Crystal's voice. “Oh? You’re up early.”Her voice.I stopped, then snapped my head to the direction of the door.And there she was.Crystal.Standing just outside my room, wrapped in a silk robe, her blonde hair perfect, shining, lips curled into som
Ryan POV I left Elena's room, my heart a bit heavy. I didn't have to burden her with that news. But I did. Because for some reason, Elena felt like the only one I could really trust. I moved gently through the hallway. Every step burned, my back and arm screaming, pulling, tearing, but I had to bear it. I had to return back to my room before the guards return from their shift. The last thing I want is for them to get worked up more over me. I reached my room, and with a small nudge, I carefully pushed the door open, the creaking noise disturbing the silence. “Hey handsome.” I heard a soft voice. I snapped my head to the direction. Crystal! My eyes cracked wide open as I turned to her. A thin dress clung to her frame, light, deliberate. Her golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, her eyes dark, gleaming with intent.She smiled. “You’re finally back.”“W..what are you doing here?” I asked, my breath shaking. “Can't a wife a come check on his husband?” She asked, her tone lust
Elena POV I laid on my bed staring up at the ceiling. I couldn't sleep, not until I see Ryan. I needed to know what really happened. Did he avenge his parents murder?And if so, at what cost?I may not have seen him in action yet. But the tales we were told when I was in my old pack. Alpha Ryan was the best and most skilled fighter in the Werewolf land. So for even a top level fighter to come back so battered and bruised up, was a bit worrying. Just then I heard a soft knock on my door. I hesitated, just staring at the door. Who would be at my door at this hour? And then the knock came again… this time a bit louder. I gently walked to the door and opened it. What? Ryan! “What.. Why… How?” He stood, bandaged and patched up. “What are you doing here?” I finally managed to speak. “Can i come in?” he requested.“Yes.. Sure.” I stepped in and pulled a seat over to him, movement a bit hasty. “I don't have much time before the guards know I left.”He lowered his voice.“Okay… so
Elena POVI stayed in my room for the most part of that night. My mind was in dissary. But still on one person. My mate. Ryan. I paced around my room for almost an hour straight. And then I'll take a occasional peak out my window to check if they were back. I couldn't help but worry. My body for some reason felt uneasy even though it shouldn't. It's just an ambush. It should be easy. And besides, they've gone on several battles before today and always come out on top. Tonight wasn't suppose to be different. If anything, it was suppose to be more easy than usual. But for some reason… it was still feeling uneasy. Maybe a warm tea ought to free me up. I walk to the door, slipping to my shoes before walking out. “Do you know who I am, huh?” “I'm the Luna oof this pack and you dare…”“I can easily make your live here a living nightmare.”“Ma’am please I'm sorry.”. “Please I am.”I was reaching the kitchen when I heard Crystal's stern voice. “Crystal never changes.” I sighed. Sho