KADE’S POVThe amber liquid swirled in my glass as I leaned back in the leather chair, my other hand running along the coarse, black fur of my beast. The creature growled low in its throat, but I knew better than to make it for aggression. It was loyalty—twisted, primal, and absolute. A hybrid of a wolf and a panther, bred through dark magic, it was as feral and monstrous as the soul that fed it. It lay at my feet, its glowing red eyes watching the flames dance in the fireplace. The castle was eerily silent, save for the occasional crackle of firewood. I preferred the solitude, though this evening, it felt heavier, as if the shadows themselves had decided to whisper in my ear. My grip on the glass tightened as my thoughts turned to her. Lila.My darling Lila. I’d sent her to retrieve the Silver Blade, knowing it was in the possession of those Bennett brothers. Years of patience and calculation had brought me to this moment, and I wasn’t about to let Reed Bennett or his self-righteou
REED’S POVThe room was thick with tension, silence broken only by the occasional sound of Callum tapping his pen against the table. I stood at the head of the room, arms crossed, watching the faces of my brothers—Callum, Asher and Malcolm. They waited for me to speak, their expressions ranging from curiosity to impatience.Malcolm, ever the calm and analytical one, was the first to break the silence. “Are you sure about the name?” he asked, his tone cautious, his eyes narrowing as he searched my face. I didn’t hesitate. “I’m sure. She said her real name is Aurora Blackwood. She claimed to be Liana’s biological mother.”A low whistle escaped Callum’s lips. “Aurora Blackwood,”‘he repeated, leaning back in his chair with a smirk. “Now there’s a name I didn’t think I’d ever hear again.”Malcolm frowned, his jaw tightening. “Reed, this doesn’t make sense. If Aurora Blackwood is alive, why has she stayed hidden all these years? And why now? Why would she reach out now?”“She said she want
LILA’S POVThe moment my phone buzzed in my hand, I knew it was him. Kade. I exhaled slowly, pressing the phone to my ear. “What do you want?” I kept my voice even, indifferent, but my fingers clenched around the device.A low chuckle rumbled through the receiver. “Now, now, Lila. That’s not how you greet an old friend and family.”I ground my teeth. “You’re not my friend neither are you my family.”Kade only laughed, unfazed. “Fair enough, I’m still not your enemy. But we are business partners and we have an unfinished business and a new business to discuss. I have another job for you.”Of course, he did. That was all I had ever been to him—a tool, a weapon sharpened and wielded at his command. “I’ve done every damn job you’ve thrown at me,” I said, my voice sharp with quiet fury. “I kept my end of the bargain. It’s time for you to keep yours.”Silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. Then, another chuckle—deeper, mocking. “Ah, Lila. You really think we’re done?” Kade’s
RAIDEN’S POVThe halls were too quiet.I knew something was wrong the moment the final bell rang and Seraphine was nowhere to be found. She hadn’t been in any of her classes. She hadn’t been in the dining hall during lunch. She hadn’t even been in the staff lounge where she usually went to grade papers. It wasn’t like her.Something was off.I had tried to ignore the gnawing worry in my chest, telling myself she had probably stepped out for something important. Maybe she wasn’t feeling well. Maybe she had a meeting. Maybe she had done something silly and Maddox had come for her. Maybe she had been caught by Kade. I couldn’t bring myself to stop thinking of all of the crazy possibilities of what might have happened her. The longer I went without seeing her, the harder it became to stay still.By the time the last class ended, I couldn’t take it anymore. I pushed past students in the hallway, heading straight for her office. My fingers curled into fists at my sides as my pace quicken
LIANA’S POVReed was exhausted.I could see it in the way his shoulders sagged, in the tight set of his jaw, in the way his fingers curled around his briefcase like he was holding onto something more than just leather and paperwork.The moment he stepped into the house, I didn’t give him a chance to argue. “Come with me,” I said, taking his hand firmly. He didn’t resist. He let me lead him up the stairs, our steps quiet against the polished wood. I could feel the tension radiating from him, thick and suffocating, but he didn’t say a word. When we reached his room, I gently took the briefcase from his hand, setting it aside. Then I turned to him, my fingers already reaching for his jacket.He exhaled heavily, but he didn’t stop me.Carefully, I slid the heavy material off his shoulders, letting it fall onto the nearby chair. Then my fingers moved to his tie, loosening the knot with slow, deliberate movements. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, but he still didn’t say anything.
REED’S POVIt has been two hours and Liana was still clinging to me.Her warmth, the lightness of her touch, the way she practically bounced on her feet—it was a stark contrast to the crushing weight in my chest. She had no idea what was coming, no idea that the very foundation of her life was about to shift beneath her feet.But she deserved to know.I inhaled deeply, keeping my grip firm on her as I leaned down slightly. “Come on, we need to go downstairs.”She pulled back, her bright eyes narrowing slightly. “Why?”I hesitated, searching for the right words. “There’s something important we need to talk about.”Confusion flickered across her face, but it was quickly replaced with curiosity. “Like what?”I sighed. “It’s a family discussion. Everyone needs to be there.”That seemed to intrigue her more than concern her. Instead of questioning me further, she grinned and grabbed my hand, lacing her fingers through mine as she tugged me toward the door.“Fine, but you’re making it sound
SERAPHINE’S POVShe was standing right there.So close.My daughter. My child.For nineteen years, I had carried nothing but the memory of her—the weight of her absence pressed into my chest like an iron brand. I had pictured this moment a thousand times, dreamed of it on the rare nights when I allowed myself to believe she was still out there, still breathing, still alive. But now that she was standing right in front of me, I couldn’t move. My throat locked, a choked sound rising and dying before it could leave my lips. She was so much more than I had imagined. Her eyes—my Goddess, her eyes—were mine. That same deep shade of stormy gray, filled with unspoken questions and quiet strength. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders in dark waves, the way mine used to before time and grief had dulled its luster. She looked so much like me, yet there was something about her stance, something about the way she held herself, that belonged entirely to him. Eliana. I wanted to say her name,
REED’S POVThe air in the room turned to ice. My breath hitched. My muscles locked. Did I hear her right? Callum did. His chair scraped against the wooden floor as he shot to his feet, eyes blown wide. “What?” His voice was a razor’s edge, sharp enough to cut through bone. “You’re Maddox’s wife?” Seraphine’s jaw tensed, but she didn’t look away. Callum let out a sharp, humorless laugh, shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe it. “You’re Maddox Gray’s wife. The same Maddox who murdered our father. The same bastard who burned our home down and left us for dead. And we let you in.” His hands curled into fists. His voice cracked. “We opened our doors to Maddox Gray’s wife!” His words rang through the room like a gunshot.Malcolm went pale. Asher shoulders stiffened. I could hear his breathing, slow and controlled—too controlled. I knew he was trying to keep himself from snapping. My own stomach twisted with something between fury and betrayal. I kept my hands clenched at my side
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?”