Nathan's POV I stared at Darius, as I tried processing his words. My mind reeled with the weight of the truth he had just dropped on me. All this time, I had thought Nina was the one who cared enough to make that herb for me, the one who noticed my pain. But it wasn’t her—it was Benita.“Why are you telling me this now, Darius?” My voice came out strained, a mix of anger and guilt.Without thinking, I crossed the distance between us in two quick strides, grabbing him by the collar.“You knew?” I growled, my voice low and menacing. My grip tightened, pulling him closer until our faces were inches apart. “You knew all this time and didn’t tell me? Why the hell would you keep that from me, Darius? Why?”He looked startled but didn’t move away, his hands coming up in a placating gesture.“Nathan, listen to me—”“Don’t you dare tell me to listen!” I snarled, shaking him slightly. My anger was a storm, threatening to break free. “You let me believe Nina was someone she wasn’t. You let me l
Alpha Nathan’s POV*A WEEK LATER*“What are you saying!” I yelled at the top of my voice, throwing the glass of whiskey at the wall, shattering it into pieces. The trackers standing before me flinched and stepped back cautiously.“We’re sorry, Alpha Nathan,” Justin, the head tracker, said cautiously, stepping back as though my rage might strike him next. “We’ve searched every pack in London. My other teams are combing through Spain and neighboring countries, but we can’t do much without her scent,” Justin’s words shattered my heart into pieces.It had been a week since Benita vanished. Seven excruciating days, and we still had nothing—no leads, no clues, no sign of her. It was as if she had been swallowed by the earth itself. No one could explain how she managed to leave the mansion and boarder without being caught. I interrogated all the men on duty that night, but no one admitted to seeing or helping her leave. I had threatened everyone with everything I could, but eventually, I rea
Nathan’s POVAunt Anne went silent for a moment before speaking again. “I thought you believed she was using charms on you…”“She wasn’t!” I cut Aunt Anne off rudely.Aunt Anne raised a brow. “How do you know?” she asked, and I clenched my jaw.“Because I can feel it, Aunt. What I feel can’t be a spell. It can’t be,” I spat in pain. The love I felt in my heart couldn’t be from a spell. I was sure of it.“If that’s so, then the wooden sculpture—who did that?” Aunt Anne asked, and I lifted my gaze to look at her with confusion. It seemed she was onto something.“What are you trying to say, Aunt?” I asked, but she simply shrugged her shoulders and stood. “If you believe Benita never cast a spell on you or your mate bond, then it means she was set up. Perhaps you should start by interrogating her father, who brought the wooden sculpture in the first place.”With those words, she turned and began making her way to the door but then stopped and looked back at me.“Nathan, you can’t force so
Five years laterBenita's POV“Miss Benita, your attention is needed,” Rita, one of the caregivers, said in a panicked tone. Hurriedly, I stood to my feet and followed her. We went to the children's ward, where she led me to the bed of a two-year-old child who was convulsing. I didn’t waste time asking questions. I scooped the trembling child into my arms and sat down, cradling her against my chest. Closing my eyes, I released my healing abilities, focusing on calming the girl’s erratic movements. Slowly but surely, her convulsions subsided until they ceased entirely.“She is fine,” my wolf whispered, confirming her healing. A sigh left my lips, and I slowly pulled the child back and looked into her face to see her sleeping soundly. “She is fine,” I said to the caregiver, who had a big, bright smile on her face as she took the baby from me and laid her on the bed.I stood and watched the child sleep peacefully.I stayed for a moment, watching the girl as she slept, her small chest ri
Alpha Nathan’s POV “Alpha, it’s happening again. Her condition is getting worse,” Victoria, my mother’s personal maid, said, her voice trembling with panic. I didn’t wait another second. Rising swiftly from my chair, I rushed out of my office, my heart pounding as I raced to her room. When I arrived, I saw the healers surrounding her, their hands glowing as they channeled their powers to ease her suffering. My breath hitched at the sight of her frail form, her face contorted in pain, her body almost lifeless against the bed. I stepped closer, my legs shaky, and gently took her hand in mine. Her fingers were icy, a chilling reminder of how close she was to slipping away. “Mother, I’m here,” I whispered, leaning close to her ear. But her eyes remained shut, and the agony etched on her face made my chest tighten painfully. Tears blurred my vision as I watched the healers do their best to alleviate her pain. Their magic shimmered faintly in the dim light of the room. The energy seeme
Benita’s POV“Hi, Benita.” A familiar voice called from behind me, and I turned to see Aunt Anne standing there.“We need to talk. Follow me,” she said and didn’t wait for a response before walking toward her office.Confused, I followed her into the small room tucked away in the orphanage. She motioned for me to sit on one of the single couches. I obeyed, lowering myself hesitantly as she took the seat across from me.Curious about what was happening, I studied her face. I could tell she wasn’t looking happy. She had been away for months and had just returned, only to request to see me with such a bothered expression.“What’s wrong?” I asked cautiously, my mind instantly racing to Nathan. Did he find me? The thought sent a chill down my spine. It wasn’t fear of him that unsettled me, but the idea of seeing him again after all these years.“Tell me, Benita, how was Luna Anita to you?” Aunt Anne asked.I furrowed my brows in confusion. Why was she suddenly asking me this after all these
Benita’s POVI walked into the garden, where I met Aunt Anne having a cup of coffee as she gazed at the blooming flowers in the orphanage garden. When she noticed me approaching, she looked my way with curiosity. “I believe you are here to tell me your decision, but I want you to know that whatever you decide, I will accept it. I won’t force you to do what you don’t want to do,” I nodded and sighed, taking the seat beside her. Silence lingered between us before I finally spoke. “Where will Theo and I stay?” I asked, voicing one of the many concerns weighing on my mind. Of course, I didn’t want to stay in the mansion if I returned to the pack.“You’re forgetting I’m from there too,” Aunt Anne replied with a small smile. “My father was once the Alpha of Snow Moon Pack. I still have more than two apartments there. You and Theo can stay in one of them.”Relief washed over me, knowing at least one problem was solved. “I’ll go back with you, but Theo has to come too. I won’t leave him here
Alpha Nathan’s POV“Are you sure of your decision? What if this healer demands something outrageous?” Darius spoke in a worried tone, but I only sighed and relaxed back in my seat. When Aunt had communicated with me and told me the healer wants all her wishes granted if she is able to heal my mother, at first, I refused. Why would she make such a demand? But Aunt Anne assured me that the healer would not wish for anything audacious. She convinced me that the healer might just ask for money, a house, or lands, and that was all. Then she told me the healer would surely heal my mother and the people who were still infected—she was so sure of it. Left with no other option, I couldn’t sit and let my mother die, so I had to agree to accept all her wishes.“Alpha Nathan, you should take back your words and ask her not to come,” Darius pleaded. I could see the fear and concern in his eyes, but my mind was already made up. I was willing to take such a risk for my mother and my people. Besides,
Alpha Theo’s POVI could see the terrified look in her eyes as she waited for my command. There were so many things I wanted to demand of her—to ask her to call off her marriage with Oscar. Why would she want to marry a man she didn’t even love? I wanted to ask her to stop taking my breath away, to stop smelling so intoxicatingly alluring that I couldn’t control myself or my wolf. I wanted to tell her to stop making me feel this way—the unbearable urge to claim her, to mark her.For God’s sake, I was supposed to hate her. What the hell was happening to me?Composing myself, I looked at her, considering my next move. I needed to give her a task, something she couldn’t refuse. Then, something clicked in my mind.Her wolf.I hadn’t seen her wolf yet. And damn it, my wolf was growing restless, desperate to see it.“In twenty minutes, leave the mansion and wait for me outside,” I ordered.Lagertha’s brows furrowed. “Why?”I scoffed. “You’ll find out later. Now, unless you want to stand the
Lagertha’s POV “I'm so happy for you, Leggy. You deserve to be happy." Mother Lagertha had been buzzing with excitement all morning as we prepared breakfast. She seemed absolutely thrilled, going on and on about the wedding—about how Beta Oscar would be the perfect husband for me. I felt bad, knowing all of this was just an act. “Lagertha, Alpha Theo requests that you bring him a cup of coffee in his room.” One of the guards’ voices cut through my thoughts. A frown tugged at my lips, and my wolf huffed inside me. With a heavy sigh, I prepared the coffee just the way Theo liked it, grabbed the tray, and left the kitchen. When I reached his door, I hesitated before knocking, my pulse quickening as his intoxicating scent wrapped around me. “It’s open,” his deep voice called from inside, softer than usual, none of the usual harshness in his tone. Taking a steadying breath, I pushed the door open, stepped inside, and closed it behind me. Turning around, I met him standing at the
Lagertha’s POV I took a deep breath and stared at my reflection in the mirror. “You can do this, Lagertha,” I whispered, trying to steady my nerves. My wolf stirred within me. “Calm down. It's just a family dinner,” she soothed. But she was wrong. This wasn’t just any family dinner. It was my first time sitting at the same table with Oscar’s parents, Theo’s parents, Oscar’s siblings, Theo’s siblings, Theo and Oscar—all in one room. And I had to pretend to be in love with Oscar, right in front of Alpha Theo. My mate. It was a huge task. “You can do this," my wolf encouraged again. I exhaled deeply, forcing myself to push aside my emotions. Straightening my dress, I left my room and walked down the long hallway. My heart pounded with each step. The mansion was eerily quiet, aside from the faint clinking of dishes coming from the dining hall. The scent of roasted meat and warm spices filled the air, but it did nothing to settle my nerves. As I reached the entrance of th
Alpha Theo’s POV Lila stiffened beside me, her discomfort obvious in the way she tensed. I could feel the weight of her pain pressing down on both of us, but she kept her expression carefully blank. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay composed, to not let my own emotions betray me. “They had to step out,” I said evenly, keeping my voice devoid of the frustration clawing at my insides. “Oscar had some business to handle, and Lagertha went with him.” It was a lie. I had no idea where they were. Mother’s brow furrowed slightly, but she nodded. “I see. Well, we’ll have to see them soon. The wedding preparations must be keeping them busy. I heard it’s happening in two weeks,” Mother announced, and my brows furrowed. “Two weeks?” I asked in panic, unable to control it. Mother furrowed her brow and gave me a suspicious look. “Yes… do you have a problem with that?” she asked, and where I stood, my heart sank. My furious wolf howling loudly in my head. Not getting any response
Alpha Theo's POV I stood on the balcony, gripping the railing so tightly as I watched Lagertha step into the car with Oscar. Everything in me urged me to go downstairs and pull her away from him, but I forcefully forced myself to remain in place as I watched the car drive out of the mansion. “Do something,” my wolf growled angrily in my head, and I wished I knew what to do, but I was confused. Oscar had put me in a tight corner—I was cornered. The sound of my door creaking open pulled me from my thoughts. I turned, my chest tightening when I saw Lila walk in. Her green eyes—identical to mine—were red and swollen, her usually radiant face pale and lifeless. My protective instinct kicked in, and I rushed to her, gently holding her arms as I studied her pale face. “Lila, why are you crying? What happened?” I asked worriedly but also angrily. Lila’s tears had always been my weakness, and seeing her like this, utterly broken, shredded me from the inside out. Lila broke into a loud sob
Beta Oscar’s POV Three years ago. My heart pounded in my chest as I watched Lila chatting happily with some guests, completely unaware of the storm raging inside me. Tonight was the mating ceremony, where aged wolves who didn’t find their mates after turning eighteen would participate in the bond. I had just turned eighteen a few days ago, and I was anxious—anxious about what lay ahead of me. I looked at Lila again—the only girl I had ever loved. I had liked her for as long as I could remember, ever since I truly understood what it meant to have feelings for someone. The three-year age gap between us had never mattered to me. I had convinced myself that if we were mates, she would see past it too. So I kept my feelings hidden, waiting for this night, clinging to the hope that fate would be on my side. I prayed every night for the Moon Goddess to grant my wish—to make her mine. And now, the moment of truth had arrived. We were all called to stand in line, but Theo refused, s
Lagertha’s POV The moment she walked in, I stood abruptly, my heart pounding. I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. My body tensed as I met her gaze—her confused expression only making my nerves worse. I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could, Beta Oscar beat me to it. “Lila, you’re here,” he said, straightening to his full height. Then, unexpectedly, he wrapped an arm around my waist. I flinched but didn’t move away. I could see the stunned look on Lila’s face. “Lila, Lagertha and I are now dating,” he announced. My breath caught in my throat as I turned to Miss Lila, watching as a disapproving look flickered across her face. I swallowed hard as I began to wonder if the whispers among the other servants were true. According to the gossips I had heard, it was said that Miss Lila has feelings for Beta Oscar—that was why she had been rejecting all the eligible suitors that came for her. But I had never believed in gossip from the staffs. However, seeing the reaction
Lagertha’s POV I reached my room and leaned against the door, trying to catch my breath. My heart was still pounding, and my mind raced with everything that had happened. “Well done, Lagertha. You did well,” I murmured, offering myself a moment of encouragement. I stood there for a while, willing my pulse to slow, before finally pushing away from the door and sinking onto my bed. I kicked off my shoes and stared at the floor, my thoughts circling back to Theo—what I had said to him and the way he had reacted. If Lila hadn’t walked in when she did, I had no idea what would have happened. A sudden knock at the door made me jerk, but I quickly relaxed as a familiar scent filled the air—Mother Agatha. She always smelled like dried coffee, a scent I could recognize anywhere. The door creaked open, and she stepped inside, a warm smile spreading across her face. “Happy eighteenth birthday, dear Leggy,” she said cheerfully. A small smile tugged at my lips as I stood up. In her hands
Alpha Theo's POVI wanted to pull her back and tell her that I was never going to allow her to get married to Oscar. She could choose any of the men, and I would be able to live with it, but not my best friend… not him.“Theo… is everything okay?” Lila asked, concern lacing her voice. I sighed, turning my back to her. My wolf was howling in fury, sending a splitting headache through my skull. “Theo, please talk to me," she pleaded, placing a hand on my shoulder. I stood rigid, debating whether to tell her the truth. It was a risk. If she found out, she might tell our parents, and that could land me in trouble. “Are you in love with Lagertha?” Lila suddenly asked. I neither confirmed nor denied it. Lila sighed. “Theo, I noticed the way you look at her. You might pretend to others and make them think you hate her, but I know that you like Lagertha. I see the way you look at her when you think no one is watching,” Lila said, sounding so sure about it, and I didn’t bother to deny it