LIANA I stared at the wall Reed had just punched, the crack spreading like a spider web across the surface. For a second, I thought the entire house might collapse from the force of his fury. Then, just like that, he stormed off, his boots pounding against the floor, echoing louder than the thoughts swirling in my head. I blinked a few times, trying to piece together what just happened.“What’s his problem?” I asked, turning to the three men still standing awkwardly in the living room. Asher’s arms were crossed tightly over his chest. Callum was rubbing the back of his neck, and Malcolm—well, Malcolm was staring at me like I’d just grown a second head.No one answered me. They just exchanged glances like I was some kind of puzzle they couldn’t figure out.“What?” I pressed, throwing up my hands. “Did I say something wrong?”Callum’s jaw tightened, and he muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like “Unbelievable.” Asher shook his head and started walking toward
MADDOX’s POVThe air in my study was still, thick with the scent of aged whiskey and the remnants of cigar smoke. The desk before me was cluttered with maps and papers outlining our borders, but my mind had shifted from the elusive “border girl” to the unfinished business I had left behind. Seraphine.I had been interrupted at the worst possible moment. My wife’s body, warm beneath me, her breath shallow and quick, had been the only thing anchoring my restless thoughts until that damn servant barged in with news that couldn’t wait. And now, as I pushed away from my chair, I was ready to pick up where we left off.The corridors of my castle were eerily quiet as I strode toward my chambers. The faint shuffle of servants echoed in the distance, but the moment they spotted me, they froze in place, their eyes lowered in fear. I smirked at their trembling forms; power was a drug, and I was thoroughly addicted.When I reached my room, I swung the door open, already prepared to demand Seraphi
CALLUM POVI stormed into the study, slamming the door shut behind me, the echo reverberating through the house like my boiling anger. My fists clenched at my sides as I paced the room, every word Liana had said replaying in my head like a broken record. If Raiden begged me properly, I’d take him back. What kind of nonsense was that? After everything, after we saved her, protected her, gave her a damn home! I felt like a fool for even tolerating her presence here.The door creaked open, and Asher stepped in, his usual calm demeanor masking whatever storm brewed inside him. He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, his sharp green eyes narrowing at me.“You’re mad,” he observed dryly. “Don’t break anything this time.”I stopped pacing, running a hand through my hair as I glared at him. “Mad? Oh, I’m beyond mad, Ash. Did you hear her? If Raiden begged me properly!” I spat the words like poison. “After all he did to her? After he tossed her aside like trash, she has the audacity to
LIANA’S POVI woke up to the golden streaks of sunlight pouring through the tall windows of the Benetts’ mansion. The light illuminated the room, soft and warm, but I felt anything but comforted. The bed beneath me was soft, the duvet cocooned around my frame like a protective shield, but my chest felt heavy. My heart ached. I rubbed my temples, hoping to massage away the sting of regret and self-loathing that had lodged itself there overnight.The memory of the previous day played on repeat in my mind. Reed’s expression—cold, distant, and devoid of the warmth I had begun to cherish—was burned into my memory. His silence had spoken louder than any words. If Raiden begs me properly, I’ll go back to him. A foolish statement, born of my own fear and anger, and now, the sting of its aftermath was unbearable. I had tried all through yesterday to get him to talk to me or at least to see me but all he did was shut me out like I was nothing to him. I sighed as I swung my legs off the bed, t
REED’S POVThe clock on the bedside table blinked 2:03 AM in bold red digits, a mocking reminder of how long I had been awake. I stood by the window of my room, staring out into the dark expanse of the Bennett estate. The cool night air filtered through the slightly ajar window, but it did little to calm the storm raging inside me. Her words echoed in my mind like a cruel refrain: If Raiden begs me properly, I’ll go back to him.My fists tightened at my sides as I leaned against the windowsill, the cold marble digging into my palms. The girl who had burrowed her way into my guarded heart had twisted the knife without even realizing it. I had opened up to her—let her see parts of me I kept hidden from everyone else. And in return, she had reminded me why I had vowed to keep my distance from people in the first place.By 2: 30 AM, I was pacing the length of my room, the soft padding of my bare feet against the wooden floor the only sound. My wolf growled faintly, a restless beast yearn
LIANA’S POVThe air felt stifling as I sat in the principal’s office, flanked by Asher and Callum. Their presence didn’t do much to comfort me; if anything, it made me more nervous. The room smelled faintly of polished wood and coffee, but I couldn’t focus on anything but the unfamiliar environment I’d been thrown into.This wasn’t just any school—it was a shifter’s school, a place for werewolves who hasn’t shifted like me. A school meant to teach us control, discipline, and strength. Yet here I was, feeling anything but strong. The principal, a graying man with sharp eyes that seemed to see too much, leaned back in his chair, observing me with a mix of curiosity and formality. He had greeted Asher and Callum with familiarity, their exchange filled with subtle nods and small talk about Reed.“Reed couldn’t make it?” the principal asked, his tone casual but laced with interest.“He’s busy with work,” Callum replied curtly. “You know how he is.”The principal chuckled softly. “Of cours
RAIDEN’S POVThe morning air was cold against my skin as I sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. My wolf, Fang, stirred within me, restless and hyped. It was unusual for him to be this way so early in the morning, especially considering everything we’d been through in the past two weeks. But I brushed it off as his way of coping, perhaps convincing himself that life wasn’t all that bleak.I threw off the sheets and got to my feet, stretching. My mind replayed fragments of dreams I couldn’t quite piece together. There was a feeling I couldn’t shake—a tug in my chest, almost like an itch that wouldn’t go away. I shook my head, pushing the sensation aside. Today was just another day, and I didn’t have time for cryptic emotions.After a quick shower, I dressed in my usual attire—black jeans, a dark grey t-shirt, and a leather jacket. As I stood in front of the mirror brushing my hair, my wolf, Fang, hummed with excitement. “Calm down,” I muttered under my breath. He responded wi
MADDOX The morning air carried a sharp, unyielding chill as I stepped out of the car and into the dense forest. The message from my lieutenant had been cryptic, but the urgency in his tone told me enough. Something was wrong.The scent of blood—though faint—lingered in the air. My boots crunched against the frost-bitten grass as I approached the scene. Ahead, the cluster of my men stood rigid, their faces tense and eyes wary. When they saw me, they straightened further, nodding in silent acknowledgment of my presence.“What do we have here?” I asked, my voice cutting through the stillness like a blade.My lieutenant, Marcus, stepped forward, pointing to the figure sprawled on the ground. The man’s lifeless body was splayed awkwardly, his eyes frozen wide open in terror. His neck bore deep bruises, the tell-tale marks of strangulation. Yet there were no claw marks, no bite wounds—nothing that indicated the work of a werewolf or even a rogue.I crouched beside the body, my mind racing.
FOUR MONTHS LATERThe morning sun streamed through the sheer white curtains, casting a golden glow over the grand dining hall. The long wooden table was set with an elaborate spread—pancakes drizzled with honey, fresh berries, and a steaming pot of coffee. The scent of roasted bacon and buttered toast wafted through the air, making my stomach grumble in anticipation. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my swollen belly as I listened to the chatter around me. It had been four months since everything changed—four months since I had finally found my place, my home, my family. Reed sat to my right, his hand lazily tracing circles on my wrist as he spoke with Callum and Asher. My husband. The words still felt surreal, as if saying them would wake me from a dream. The mate bond between us had only grown stronger since our wedding, the kind of connection I once thought I would never have. “Callum can you please hand her another plate, it’s been five minutes since she asked for it,” Reed bl
ELIANA’S POVThe first thing I felt was warmth.Not the suffocating heat of fear or the numbing cold of rejection—just a steady, comforting warmth. It wrapped around my hand, grounding me before my mind could even piece together where I was.Slowly, I forced my eyes open.Blurry. Unfocused. The light overhead was too bright, making me wince. I blinked rapidly, willing my vision to adjust.Where am I? The ceiling above me was a bit familiar. The room smelled different, too—clean, with a faint hint of something I couldn’t quite place. Not the musky, indifferent scent of the packhouse I had come to despise. Then where…?And then it hit me. The pain. The sharp, unbearable pain that had gripped my body before I collapsed. My breath hitched as the memories flooded back—the searing agony, my vision darkening at the edges, the sound of my name being called in panic. Reed. Asher. My hand shot to my stomach. Still round. Still full. A shuddering breath escaped me. My baby. My baby was s
MALCOLM’S POVThe air in the room was suffocating.Not because of the space—we had more than enough of that in this damn house—but because of the weight of everything pressing down on us. The truth. The guilt. The realization that we had shattered something that could never fully be put back together.Callum and I talked on the way back home, but nothing could’ve prepared us for what we were walking into. Eliana was upstairs, unconscious. Reed had carried her in like she was the most precious thing in the world, like losing her would rip his soul apart. And it would.Because of us.Because we had believed what we wanted to believe. Because we had ignored the truth. Because we had taken the pieces of a story that suited our anger and ran with it—dragging Reed down with us. And now? Now, all we could do was sit in this damn living room, suffocating in our own regret while Asher paced like a man on the verge of shattering. His hands ran through his hair, gripping at the strands. His
REED’S POVI didn’t think. I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t wait for permission. The moment I saw her—Eliana, crumpled in the doorway, her body trembling, her skin pale and damp with sweat—everything else ceased to exist.I was at her side before my mind could even catch up, scooping her into my arms. She was so light. Too light.Her breath was uneven, shallow, her body barely responding.“Asher,” I barked, my voice tight with urgency. “We’re taking her out here.”He was already ahead of me, moving fast, clearing the way as I carried her through the castle halls. I didn’t care about the whispers, the wide eyes of pack members watching us go. I didn’t give a damn about their judgment or their curiosity. They had failed her. They had stood by while she was beaten, humiliated, starved. And now, she was barely clinging to life because of them. I would not fail her too. We reached the car, and I slid into the backseat with her cradled against me. Her head lolled against my chest, her face
ELIANA’S POVPain.It started as a dull ache, twisting deep in my stomach. I barely noticed it at first. My body had endured so much these past months—hunger, exhaustion, bruises, the sharp sting of words meant to break me. What was one more pain added to the pile?I thought maybe it was the weight of my dress, the heavy fabric pressing against my skin. That had to be it.I forced myself to stand, my fingers trembling as I reached for the laces of the gown. Each breath I took felt shallow, strained, but I ignored it. I just needed to change. Get comfortable. Then the pain would go away. I peeled off the dress, my breath catching as the cool air kissed my overheated skin. My body ached everywhere, my muscles screaming in protest. Slowly, I slipped into a loose gown, something softer, something that didn’t suffocate me. But the pain didn’t stop. I pressed a hand to my stomach. My heart pounded against my ribs. This was different. A sharp, searing pain shot through me, knocking the
REED’S POVI didn’t know what to do.My body felt too heavy, my mind too loud. I wanted to scream, to rip at my skin until I felt something other than this suffocating regret. But nothing would change. No matter how much I hurt, no matter how much I wanted to turn back time, I couldn’t undo what I’d done.She hated me.I’d called her a whore.I’d let my rage speak louder than reason, and now I had lost her in a way that I wasn’t sure I could ever fix. Eliana had always been strong, but the woman I had just seen—this new version of her—she was unshakable. And I had pushed her there. I had driven her to the point where she didn’t just refuse to listen to me; she didn’t even care to. I pressed my hands against my face, dragging them down slowly. My chest burned, and the weight in my throat grew unbearable. I tried to swallow it down, but it rose like bile, hot and acidic. I sucked in a sharp breath, but it didn’t help. Then, before I could stop it, my vision blurred. A warm line of w
ELIANA’S POVThe dress felt heavier than it should have.Silk, soft against my skin, clean, free of blood—yet I still felt stained.I adjusted the cuffs of my sleeves as I walked down the corridor leading to the Grand Hall, my heels clicking against the polished floor. The path felt longer than usual, the air thick with tension, but I kept my head high. There would be no sign of weakness tonight.The investors were waiting. So was Ronan. My godforsaken Beta.The doors to the Grand Hall were already open when I arrived. The room was grand, high ceilings adorned with golden chandeliers, the long table in the center lined with crisp documents, and men and women dressed in sharp suits. Humans. Our potential business partners. My people were gathered too. The elders, the council, warriors standing at the edges like silent shadows. Asher was seated at one end, his expression unreadable. Raiden was on the opposite side, his arms crossed, eyes trained on me the second I entered. And then
ASHER’S POVI was losing my mind.Hours had passed since she walked out, and no one knew where the hell she was.I should have stopped her. I should have gone after her the second she stepped out with that bloodied gown clinging to her like a second skin. But I hadn’t. I’d been too stunned, too fucking caught up in my own emotions to move. Now, she was out there—alone, hurt, and wearing the same damn nightgown she almost died in. My hands curled into fists as I stormed across the main hall. Every available pack member was searching for her. Even Ronan, despite his silence, was out there looking. The elders were restless. Not because they cared about her, but because of the investors meeting. “Find her, now,” one of them growled at the warriors. “We cannot afford to miss this deal over one reckless woman.” I clenched my jaw. She wasn’t just a woman. She was their Alpha. My wife. Or at least, she had been. And they still spoke about her like she was nothing. I exhaled sharply, s
CALLUM POV The sheets were soft. The woman beneath me, softer. She moaned against my mouth, her fingers tangled in my hair as her bare thighs tightened around my waist. I smirked, trailing kisses down the curve of her throat, my hands gliding over smooth, warm skin. “You’re insatiable,” she purred, her nails dragging lightly over my shoulders. I chuckled. “And you love it.” She didn’t argue. My lips traced down her collarbone, my fingers dipping lower when— Knock. Knock. Knock. I froze. The woman beneath me let out an irritated groan. “Ignore it.” I wanted to. Fuck, I really wanted to. But whoever was at the door was persistent. Knock. Knock. Knock.I clenched my jaw, pressing my forehead against hers with an exhausted sigh.“This better be good,” I muttered. Then, raising my voice, I barked, “Who the fuck is that?” There was a pause before a familiar voice answered. “It’s me, sir.” I sighed again. Benson. My butler. The man had impeccable timing. “What do you want?”