THE CATCHRORY'S POV “Oh my—”I gasped, yanking my dress down, my face burning with embarrassment. The door had barely opened before it slammed shut again, leaving behind a heavy silence.My heart pounded as I recognized the woman from the forest—the one who had helped Ryker.Ryker let out a quiet sigh, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I’m sorry about that.”I swallowed, still shaken. “They don’t seem to hate me as much as I expected.”His lips twitched into a small smile. “You’re with their prince, love. That changes things.”I blinked. “Wait… you told them about me?”Ryker sat up, wincing as he reached for his clothes. I watched as he pulled on his trousers, then his shirt, his movements slow from the pain.“Of course,” he said simply, fastening the buttons. “They need to know about you.”A strange mix of emotions swirled inside me—warmth, uncertainty, and a hint of fear.“I want you to meet a few people.”I hesitated but nodded. He took my hand, his grip firm and reassuring as he
RUTHLESS.“Elijah, it’s not what you think, I swear,” I said, rubbing my hands together. My voice was barely above a whisper.We had walked in silence from the dungeon to my small, suffocating room. The air felt heavier with each step, but now that we were here, I knew silence wouldn't save me.Elijah finally turned, his face unreadable. “Alpha Renzo sent me to bring you out of the dungeon and inform you about the mate bonding season.” He tilted his head slightly. “But guess who I waited for all night?”He stepped closer, slow and deliberate. My breath hitched.“You.” He pointed at my face, his eyes dark and knowing.“Elijah—”“You went to the humans.”“No, it’s not—”“You can’t even deny it.”Panic crawled up my throat. “Elijah, please. You can’t tell Alpha Renzo.”“There’s only one person who could’ve helped you leave the dungeon.” His gaze sharpened. “Ayla must have paid you a visit. You’re playing with fire, Rory.”He moved closer, his voice soft but heavy with something I didn’t
FURY RORY'S POV “It’s not your turn to take the Alpha’s tea.” I turned to see Zara, the Alpha’s oldest mistress, standing in the doorway with her hands on her waist. Her sharp gaze raked over me like I was something filthy clinging to her floors. I exhaled slowly. “Whose turn is it then?” “It’s Mira’s.” The name sent a jolt through me. Mira—the same woman who had sold me out during my escape attempt. I hadn’t seen her since that night, hadn’t even had a chance to look her in the eye. “Mira?” I repeated, trying to keep my voice neutral. “Yes, the one who reported your evil missions,” Zara said mockingly, stepping inside. Behind her, the other mistresses followed, their expressions ranging from amusement to mild curiosity. Then Zara moved closer, lowering her voice just enough to sound conspiratorial. “One thing you don’t understand, Rory, is that everyone wants the Alpha.” Her lips curled into a smirk. “He fucks so good you—” She paused, eyes gleaming as if she enjoyed making
UNFORGIVABLE RORY'S POV “Elara! Where have you been?”I ran toward her, but she stepped back.I swallowed hard. “I deserve that. But, Elara—your face.” My voice wavered as I took in the bruises. “Did Alpha Renzo touch you?”She didn’t answer. Her eyes, sharp and burning with rage, locked onto mine.“Rory, what have you done to avenge our mother’s death?”My breath hitched. “Elara, it’s a process. I have to be careful—”“Careful?” She laughed, but it was hollow, bitter. “You’ve done nothing. Nothing! And you’re the reason she burned!”“Elara, stop.” My voice barely held.“All you do is sit here, playing his little mate,” she spat.“That’s not true.”“Then show me.” She stepped closer, eyes flashing. “Show me what you’ve done!”I clenched my fists. “He’s immortal, Elara! I can’t just fight him off like some rogue!”“Excuses.” Her voice was sharp as a blade. “Excuses while our mother rots in the ground.”“Elara, this is the Lunar Hall,” I hissed, glancing around. “The werewolves will h
THE MATE BONDING SEASONRORY’S POVElijah’s bandaged hands were a harsh reminder of Renzo’s cruelty.“The Alpha requests your presence,” he said as I opened the door.I sighed, struggling to fit into the tight red dress. “I’ll be there.”Alpha Renzo’s ChambersRenzo’s gaze swept over me as I stepped inside, his face unreadable.“You will behave tonight,” he said flatly. “No running. No rebellion. My wolves, the council—everyone expects the Alpha’s mate to act with dignity. You will not embarrass me.”I lifted my chin. “And if I do?”His lips curled, amusement flickering in his dark eyes. “Then you prove them right—that you don’t belong here.” His eyes flicked to my dress. “And by the looks of it, you’re already halfway there. Did you wear that to stand out or to be laughed at?”Heat crept up my neck. “I wore it because I wanted to.”Renzo hummed, stepping closer. His fingers brushed my waist, then pulled away just as quickly. “Bold choice,” he murmured. “Let’s see if you can carry it.
UNSPOKEN RENZO’S POVFire tore through my veins, burning me from the inside out. My skin blistered, peeled—then healed just as fast. But none of it mattered.Because Rory—my weak, wolfless mate—had transformed.A white wolf. Rare. Impossible.The moment her paws touched the earth, the air shifted. My pain ebbed, replaced by a strange, unsettling calm. Around us, the wolves she touched stirred, their wounds sealing as if the poison had never touched them.She turned to them, voice steady. “Are you okay?”They nodded, their gazes wide with something close to awe. The humans were gone, their attack seemingly successful. But this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.Rory stepped toward me, extending a hand. “Let me help you up.”I gritted my teeth. I don’t need help.“I can stand on my own.”Pushing to my feet, I staggered but forced myself upright. She couldn’t see me like this—weak. Vulnerable.Not now. Not ever."You’re healed."Rory’s voice held quiet amazement as she stared at my skin—a
WHISPERS OF WAR.RORY'S POV “Make me coffee.”He ordered in the morning like he had never begged me to sleep in his bed last night—or maybe the name Ryker still haunted him.“About last night—”“Summon my Beta and leave my chamber.” His voice was cold, sharp. “Not only do you keep mentioning our enemy, but the one who slaughtered our kind—”A knock.His jaw clenched, his fury barely contained. But I never lied when I said I didn’t belong to him.Elijah stepped inside.“Assemble the warriors.” Renzo’s voice was quieter now, but no less lethal.“We’re going to war.”"You can't launch an attack on the humans until you figure out how to fight what they used last night."Renzo’s gaze snapped to me, burning with barely contained rage."Now you care?" His voice was sharp, bitter. "I am Alpha. I do not sit back while my warriors choke on the enemy’s poison like helpless pups. I do not wait while my enemies plan their next move."He turned sharply to Elijah."We move."They strode out, and I
SHADOWS OF THE PASTRORY’S POVI stared at her.Renzo buried them here.The words settled in my chest like stones, heavy and unmoving. The study was silent, but suddenly, it didn’t feel quiet anymore. It felt… haunted.Ayla’s fingers traced the armrest of her chair, her face unreadable. “Surprised?”I wasn’t sure what I felt. “I didn’t know.”“Of course, you didn’t.” She exhaled softly, her eyes dark with something I couldn’t quite place. “No one does.”A pause.Then, quietly, she added, “Except him.”Renzo.I swallowed. “Why would he bury them here?”Ayla leaned back, her expression unreadable. “Because he loved them. And because he killed them.”My breath caught.Before I could speak, a distant howl cut through the night—sharp, urgent.Ayla’s head snapped up. “They’re back.”I frowned. “Who?”She rose to her feet, moving toward the door. “The scouts. If Renzo’s warriors marched, then the humans would have moved too.” She glanced at me, her expression unreadable. “Come. We should see
CHAPTER 30 The Challenge RENZO'S POV The night air was thick with tension. Every werewolf in the pack stood gathered in the clearing, their faces drawn with unease. The torches flickered, casting restless shadows over the assembled crowd. Zike stood at the center, shoulders squared, his gaze sweeping over them like he already owned them. "Our land is threatened," he declared, his voice ringing through the air. "Renzo can no longer protect us!" A murmur of agreement rippled through the pack. I clenched my jaw. "And you can?" I stepped forward, my voice steady. Zike smirked. "At least I won’t let our enemies walk right in. Or have you forgotten? The vampires came because of you." A growl rose from the crowd. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, ready to strike. "Watch your tongue, Zike," I warned. "You speak of betrayal, yet it was the witch who revealed the truth—you let them in." Zike’s expression didn’t falter. "Lies. I would never endanger my own pack." I glanced at Rory. Sh
Chapter 29FracturesRORY’S POVIt was late at night, and the castle was eerily silent except for the distant howls of wolves. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and burning torches. Elara wasn’t in the room. I could hear Renzo humming softly from his chambers—calm, at ease, as if he hadn’t just tried to break me.A pang of something sharp twisted inside me. I shouldn’t let him control me. And yet, no matter how hard I tried, my wolf refused to obey me. She craved something I refused to name.I needed to clear my head.Pulling my cloak tighter, I wandered through the dimly lit halls until I reached the study.Inside, Ayla sat with Zike. She was laughing at something he said, her expression light and carefree. For a moment, I hesitated. It was rare to see Ayla so happy.Still, I stepped forward.“Hi,” I greeted, my voice careful.Zike’s expression soured instantly. He leaned back in his chair, regarding me with open distaste. “You should excuse yourself. This is a family di
CHAPTER 28TouchRENZO'S POVThe witch stood in my chambers, her face hidden under a dark hood. She smelled of earth and something old, something unnatural."You called for me, Alpha?" Her voice was rough, like dried leaves in the wind.I folded my arms. "I need a barrier around my pack. One that keeps everyone out—humans, vampires, anyone who doesn’t belong."She tilted her head, a slow smile spreading across her lips. "That kind of magic isn’t simple. It comes with a cost."I stepped forward. "Name it."She lifted a thin finger and traced strange symbols in the air. A heavy energy filled the room, raising the hairs on my arms. The walls seemed to breathe, shifting ever so slightly. Then, she stopped. Her eyes darkened, as if she had seen something terrible."Your brother," she whispered.A cold feeling settled in my chest. "What about him?"Her voice dropped lower. "He let them in. The vampires. The humans. Zike."The room felt smaller. Tighter. I clenched my fists as Rory sucked in
CHAPTER 27Written RENZO'S POV “You see why you can’t be Alpha of this pack?” Zike sneered. “You ruin every woman you touch.” His gaze flicked to Rory. “Isn’t that right, little mate?”Rory stiffened, but I didn’t react. Not yet.An elder grunted, his fist tightening on the armrest.I let out a slow breath, my voice calm. “My mate isn’t ruined.” I turned my gaze to Mira. “Or at least… let her speak.”Zike scoffed. “Does it even matter? You’ve already broken her.”I clenched my jaw. He was pushing me, testing my control.“Either way,” I said, my tone cold, “I’m not going to argue over this. This pack belongs to me.”Zike’s smirk didn’t waver. “We both know that’s a lie. It belongs to both of us.”He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “So, make your choice. Give up… or we split the pack.”His eyes gleamed with challenge. “Watch me ruin you a second time, brother.”Then he turned and stormed out.I shifted my gaze to Rory. She stood still, her eyes distant, lost in thought.“Are you o
CHAPTER 26HeirRENZO'S POVI paced the room, fists clenched, rage burning beneath my skin. Zike wasn’t supposed to be here. None of this was supposed to be happening.A loud bang on the door yanked me from my thoughts.“In,” I ordered, voice sharp.Elijah stepped in, his face tight with urgency.“The council is gathered. They want you there.”I exhaled slowly, already knowing the reason. Zike.“I’ll be there shortly.”I left the room, tension coiling in my chest like a storm ready to break. As I moved through the halls, my senses flared—her scent hit me before I even saw her. Rory.She stood in the corner, her posture stiff, her eyes wary as they met mine.“Follow me to the council,” I commanded.Her expression twisted in protest. I knew that look—she wanted to fight me on this.“Now.”Her lips parted, probably to argue, but she must’ve seen the warning in my gaze because she stayed silent. She always tries to counter me.Inside the council chamber, the tension was thick enough to ch
CHAPTER 25.ZikeRORY'S POV"Please… help me," I stuttered, barely aware of who else was in the room. The pain was unbearable.He stepped forward, a strange smile playing on his lips."I will gladly help you," he said.Before I could react, he lifted me and placed me on a chair. His gaze dropped to my legs, and when he saw the blood, he let out a dramatic gasp."You’re losing a child.""No… no…" My breath hitched, panic choking me.He smirked. "It’s okay. You’ll make more."With a casual ease, he wiped the blood away, as if it meant nothing."Who… who are you?" My voice was barely a whisper."You’ll get to know soon enough."His grip tightened slightly. "But first, you need to wash the blood off."Without another word, he picked me up again, carrying me to Renzo’s bathroom. He set me down, then turned and walked out, leaving me trembling in silence.And just a few minutes later, I heard it—growls, snarls, the crash of furniture breaking. The room shook with the force of bodies collidi
CHAPTER 24After warRORY'S POV I woke up feeling like my body had been trampled by a thousand wolves. My limbs ached, my throat burned, and my head pounded. The room smelled of herbs and something stronger—Renzo.He was sitting beside the bed, watching me. His expression unreadable, but his eyes… dark, calculating.“You are not dead. I wish you were.”His voice was quiet, almost thoughtful, as if he were considering it. Then he leaned in, pressing a kiss against my hand. A mockery of tenderness.I jerked my hand away, my heart pounding. “Then why save me?”He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he picked up a cup from the nightstand and held it out to me. “Drink.”I hesitated, but my throat was dry, and I needed strength. I gulped it down, the liquid thick and bitter.Renzo stood, his silhouette blocking the dim torchlight. “Your wolf is not a fighter,” he said. “Only a healer.” He scoffed, shaking his head. “Weak.”I clenched my fists. “Why save me, then? You don’t need me. You cou
CHAPTER 23ATTACK RORY'S POV His eyes darkened, his grip tightening just enough to make my pulse spike.“It does matter, Rory,” he said, his voice low, controlled—but I could hear the anger beneath it. “Who is the father?”I lifted my chin. “It’s none of your concern.”His chest rose sharply. For a moment, I thought he might explode, but instead, he exhaled through his nose, stepping back like he was forcing himself to stay in control.“You’re getting rid of it.”My stomach dropped. I stiffened. “What?”His gaze was cold, unyielding. “You heard me.”“No,” I said, my voice shaking but firm. “I won’t.”His jaw clenched. The silence between us stretched, thick and suffocating. Then he spoke, his voice lower this time.“If the council finds out…” He exhaled sharply, raking a hand through his hair. “My kingdom will be at risk.” His eyes flickered with something dangerous—something close to desperation. “Alpha Renzo's mate carrying a human’s child? Do you know what that means?”I said not
CHAPTER 22UNRAVELED RORY'S PORyker’s fingers tightened around mine, his breath catching. “Say it again.”I swallowed, my heart pounding against my ribs. “I’m pregnant.”His eyes widened, shock flashing across his face. Then something else—something deeper. His grip on me softened, but his whole body went rigid, like he was trying to hold himself together.“For me?” His voice was barely above a whisper, yet it carried so much weight.“Yes,” I breathed.A shuddering exhale left his lips. He lifted a hand, hesitated, then gently placed it over my stomach. His touch was warm, grounding. A thousand emotions flickered through his gaze—disbelief, fear, something dangerously close to hope.“I thought…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “I thought I lost you.”I looked away. “You almost did.”Silence. Thick, suffocating.Then, his voice dropped to a low whisper. “He doesn’t know?”“No.”His jaw tightened. “Good.”I frowned. “Ryker—”“I won’t let him take this from me. From us.”The convicti