CHAPTER 73: RiftMaverick’s PovThe gentle breeze and morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting warm beams of light onto the long oak dining table. The smell of freshly baked bread, brewed coffee, and scrambled eggs filled the air, but my appetite wasn’t the cause of my satisfaction this morning. Just sitting beside me was Beta Derick, and just across from me, sat my mother, seated at the head of the table, her mouth moving, mumbling about something I wasn’t paying much attention to, with Derick nodding along. Natalie sat beside her brother with a small smile on her face, almost as if the storms that had raged within her for weeks had finally settled. It was… unexpected.She looked different, glowing with an unusual light, her smile—no longer one of those tight, strained smiles she used to offer, but a genuine one. Looking at her now, it softened her sharp edges. She’d been so volatile ever since I ended things between us, her anger and resentment palpable. I didn’t b
CHAPTER 74: Not The Author But The EndLuna Elodie’s POV:I watched as everyone filed out of the dining room, leaving only the echoes of their footsteps in their wake, mingling with the faint clatter of silverware left abandoned on the plate. An unsettling silence filled the room, the lavish food on the table long forgotten. I sighed, my gaze shifting to the chair where Maverick had once sat. His behavior hasn’t gone unnoticed, the way his eyes lingered on Natalie more than they should have—studying her, questioning her. Maverick has always been stubborn, but now, even more. I let out a soft sigh, my hands folding neatly on my lap as I focused on nothing in particular. There were too many variables at play lately—too many cracks. What could have killed Connor?‘Who’ could have killed him? This is getting out of hand. Someone is covering their tracks carefully. I didn’t know why but my gaze shifted toward where Natalie sat moments ago. She wasn’t so bothered about Connor’s death, a
CHAPTER 75: The Body Of Commander Connor Maverick’s POV:The sound of heavy footsteps followed behind me, echoing off the walls. The heavy iron door of the dungeon groaned as it swung open, revealing the dim, damp corridors of the place I loathed the most. I scrunched up my nose in disgust, the stench of decay mixed with damp stone assaulted my senses, making my stomach churn. This was one of the reasons my father hated this place. He had always avoided keeping prisoners locked here, instead, preferring banishment or death as a form of justice. I never understood why, but now that I was here, I affirmed he was right.The dungeon was no place for the living or the dead.As I walked into the corridor, my mind replayed an earlier event. I had never personally known this Commander, but his death weighed heavily on my mind. If father's methods were followed, Commander Connor would still be alive now. Banishing him would have been a suitable and fitting punishment for his crimes if need
CHAPTER 76: Oblivious ThanePyra’s POV: I couldn’t get over how beautiful my new room was. It was a startling neon green, brighter than anything I would have chosen for myself, but it still had an odd charm to it. Finally, a place of comfort. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed my stay in the pack house, but the constant new faces I see everyday, and not being able to enjoy an entire large room like this to myself as it would be shared with other maids, it was like I was in a whole different world. My fingers traced the edges of the book I was reading on my lap, its pages filled with advice on motherhood. As I read, each word felt foreign, like it was meant for someone else and not for me. Still, I forced myself to read, hoping the words would somehow sink into my soul and make me believe I was ready for this new chapter and episode of my life. I finished page seventy-two and flipped to the next page to continue when the faint hum of conversation outside the room caught my attention. I
CHAPTER 77: Oblivious Thane 2Pyra’s POV: The suffocating tension lingered in the air, the once so large room I had admired felt like an enclosed space, the walls closing in on me. Veronica rushed to Thane, her movements jerky with hesitation. “That’s what I wanted to tell you, Thane, but you gave me no chance!” She said, her voice trembling slightly but slowly regaining its edge. Thane’s sharp blue eyes darted between us, confusion etched into his features as he grimaced slightly. His orbs finally locked on me as he asked the question I had dreaded. “Pyra is pregnant?” His tone was incredulous, each word carrying the weight of disbelief.Even hearing it out made me freeze, my breath hooked in my throat as I struggled to respond. My gaze locked onto his, and I felt utterly exposed. Sitting on the bed, I was like a statue, powerless against the storm swirling in his expression.“Are you pregnant, Pyra?” Thane repeated when he didn’t hear my reply, his voice firmer this time, demandi
CHAPTER 78: The Game Of Truths Luna Elodie’s POV:It was still early as the morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the dining hall, illuminating every corner of the vast space. The soft clicks of my fork against the gold plate echoed through the large room, reverberating and bouncing off the wall, louder than I had expected. I glanced around the table—so many seats, so many spaces, all unoccupied. I sighed, trying to push back the familiar ache of loneliness that crept into my chest. “Well,” I muttered in a matter-of-fact, slicing a piece of bacon, “This is the best time to finally have some peace,” I said, munching on the bacon. Who was I lying to? It wasn’t peaceful; hell, it was suffocating. My eyes betrayed me, drifting toward the head of the table. The most important one, which wasn’t occupied right now. A chair sat there, perfectly in place, but its emptiness weighed heavier than anything else in the room. I didn’t care if Natalie, Beta Derick, or the other
CHAPTER 79: The Red Thing Maverick’s POV:Attack? My pack is under attack?I wasted not even a second and left the office like it was on fire. What pack would dare attack the Fangborns?My pulse quickened, my instincts taking over as I headed for the door and out into the hallway. Behind me, I heard my mother’s voice calling out, her words urgent, but I ignored them. I had no time for explanations or any of her drama and self-righteousness. My people were in danger and they needed me. Just as I was about to leave the office door and race out into the pack yard, a hand grasped my arms, stopping me from med-stride. “What?” I snapped, turning to see my mother’s worried face. “I have no time for a dead commander and your self-righteousness. I have a pack—““Just be careful, son,” she said softly despite my rude words. Her words grounded me for a moment as I stared into her familiar sweet and kind eyes. My gaze softened, guilt creeping in for the way I’d spoken to her earlier. I no
CHAPTER 80: Penance Of Hard Work Luna Elodie’s POV:The air in the Stronghold was thick with tension, filled with the muffled cries of children and loud whispers of frightened women in the dim, metallic chamber. The old cracked walls seemed to close in around us despite its large space, as we waited for good news, but every second seemed to drag on like an eternity. I stared at the frightened women, children and older pack members, sighing a little. I was meant to be their strength, their pillar in this time of storm, but even I wasn’t immune to fear. My hands trembled slightly on my thigh, my heart pounding within my chest as I tried to keep my composure. They need you to be strong, Elodie, I reminded myself. “Luna,” a voice broke through my thoughts, snapping me to attention. I stared up as an older woman approached me, her expression a mix of hope and dread.“I’m sorry to bother you, Luna,” she began hesitantly, bowing before me. “It’s alright,” I said dismissively, forcing a
CHAPTER 175 : Commanders Of Stealth Pyra’s POV:The atmosphere was gloomy, and every breath I took felt heavy with grief.No one spoke. No one dared to. The entire pack was in peril, everyone felt the sorrow of loss. Even the air dared not disturb the thick silence that enveloped the whole place. All around me, faces were etched with pain—eyes red from the constant crying, lips trembling with the weight of the looming silence. Even the strongest among us were brought low by the tragedy that had befallen the pack.My two sons stayed beside me, watching the event unfold. I dared not allow them a few feet away from me after what happened to Zerek. Never. Everything was happening too fast. Too fast for me to control. It was like everywhere I turned, danger, pain, and loss filled there already. I should be the anchor to fix everything happening in these packs, but how could I when I was most broken and affected?It hurts to be back here at Fangborn Pack. I thought I was ready to face my
CHAPTER 174: Betrayed PainSteven’s POV:I stirred, yawning loudly as I woke from my slumber. I opened my eyes, and the small light of the morning filtered into my eyes from the window.I blinked against the sting, groaning softly as I stirred from sleep. It was still too early in the morning but I was awake, energized. My body felt heavy, like it wanted more sleep—even though I knew I overslept. I turned on my side, dragging a hand over my face to wipe off the remnants of the strange unease clinging to me. Something felt… off.I didn’t know how to explain it as I stared at the ceiling but I felt that today wasn’t just going to be a normal day. I sat up slowly, rubbing my temples. The scent of the morning breeze drifted in, mixed with the faint perfume of pine from the woods beyond. My throat itched with thirst and I reached for the bottle of water beside my bed only to feel something crisp. I frowned, turning to see a letter sitting right there. What the hell?I turned on the ligh
CHAPTER 173: An Empty CradlePyra’s POV:Cold. That was all I could feel. It slipped into my bones, tearing at me from the inside. I couldn’t move, barely able to breathe except for the cold moisture that was so dense that it felt like I was breathing in water. I took another painful breath in, choking on it immediately. My choking seemed to snap me out of whatever I was in because one moment I could feel my eyes closed permanently shut, and air as thick and dense as liquid entering my lungs, and the next moment, I stood before a forest.The trees towered over all, animals ran into their hiding spots as if running from something dangerous. The branches of the towering trees crept like hands, promising a destructive hug but even with that, nothing could hide what hung prominently in the sky, casting red lights that bathed the ground. The moon. It was bleeding a bright crimson red. I veered around, searching all around me. As strange as this place was, it was familiar. I didn’t kno
CHAPTER 172: Revenge Served With A Syringe Third person’s POV:The darkness was persistent, not a ray of moonlight sipped through. The lands of Lunaria were bathed in total darkness. Not even the stars dared to blink. The once lively whispers of the wind had grown still, and even the wolves, proud guardians of the night, were silent—watching, waiting.And the lands of the FireHeart pack were not immune to this. Deep in the darkness, a pair of dark eyes blinked, making his way straight into the path where a lady waited patiently for him. He stopped before her, their eyes locked into each other, no words being spoken. After what felt like forever, Alpha Rhaella shifted, giving access to Alpha Maverick into her penthouse. Immediately he was in, she shut the door. “I’ve been waiting for this,” Maverick said, impatiently going to hold Rhaella’s hand, his body almost gluing to hers. Rhaella didn’t respond with words—she didn’t need to. The way her breath hitched, the way her fingers t
CHAPTER 171 : Death To OneThird person’s POV: Tonight— a day of celebration for the RedClaw pack. Banners of crimson and gold fluttered in the wind coming from the windows, strung from every pillar in the heart of the territory. In their celebratory halls, Soft Music drifted through the air, a cheerful tune that tried—desperately—to fill the silence that hung over the pack like a thick fog.A performance for the Alpha and his newly appointed Ministers who sat watching from their raised platform. The scent of roasted meat and sweet wine mingled with the heavier stench of anxiety. Eyes darted nervously. Voices were hushed. It was meant to be a wedding, after all.Natalie’s wedding.A dream she had always sought. Achieving what she always wanted; to be Luna. But not to the Alpha she wanted. She is, after all, now the bride to Alpha of the RedClaw pack. Natalie sat at the center of the highly perched table, different meals present and she was cloaked in white silk that shimmered lik
CHAPTER 170: Beneath The Sheep Clothing Pyra’s POV: I watched as Steven approached me, his gray eyes glinting with a light I hadn’t seen for quite some time now. What has made him this happy? I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. It was like he had just taken a bath, his hair a slightly rough mat, pulled back roughly as if he didn’t have time to properly comb it but for some weird reason, it made him look more incredibly handsome. I didn’t notice he was holding something until he was close to me before my gaze shifted towards his hands. There was a bouquet of flowers in one hand and in the other, what looked to be a gift box was present. I was silent as he stopped before me, my gaze still fixed on the gift box. What could be inside? Steven knew how much I didn’t like receiving gifts but if he was to bring one to me now, it meant it was something very important. Could it be what I think it is?I heard a small cough behind me and that was when I was brought back to reality. I tu
CHAPTER 169: Boxed FlowersMaverick’s POVThe morning air was crisp, carrying the lingering scent of pine and damp earth as I made my way toward the penthouse. The sun had barely broken past the horizon, casting long shadows over the quiet roads. It was rare for me to be up this early in the morning, but yesterday was restless, leaving me with no other choice.We were meant to eat breakfast with Alpha Rhaella, and the prominent figures of the pack but for a while now, Alpha Rhaella has stopped that act. Instead, everyone eats their meals in their own private space. Sure, I do understand her for the last few meetings we had in the dining room and it turned out to be disastrous. As I continued walking down the narrow road, I felt vibrations in my pants and fished out my phone, answering the call without looking at the caller ID. I knew who it was before her voice could pierce through. “Mother!”Why would she have called this early? Was there a problem or did she find out what I wanted
CHAPTER 168: Green Intruder Third person’s POV:The river roared through the heart of FireHeart Pack’s land, its currents swift and relentless, reflecting the fiery hues of the setting sun. This was the exact place where the infamous Alpha Rhaella, the Queen of Alphas was found half-dead. This place was the beginning and the birth of a legend. Beyond the river, the pack’s territory was vast, a stretch of dense pine forests and towering cliffs that cladded a well tiled road but yet, the sweet scent of damp earth and wild musk filled the air.This late in the evening, the riverbank was not a place of peace and serenity. No, it was far from that. It was alive with the sound of footsteps wading through the waist-deep water, their breath heavy, and eyes scanning the depths for a single object—the lost necklace of Alpha Rhaella. Steven StoneClaw stood in the waist-deep water, his powerful frame tense as he watched the flowing water with keen, vigilant eyes. The necklace was no ordinary
CHAPTER 167 : A Call Hindrance Luna Elodie’s POV:After Minister Scott, made sure he continued his investigations. I didn’t tell him much knowing if there was anyone who could tackle this problem, it would have to be me. I dug into my pocket, fishing my phone and instinctively dialing a single number. I watched the phone ring, the screen brightness doing nothing to deter my resolve. I waited for the call to be answered, standing from my seat due to restlessness. Now that I think about it, why would Maverick ask me to find out about someone? I’ve asked this question more times than I could count since given this mission, yet no answer played forth before me. Does he mean he doesn’t trust that person, or the person was a great danger?Steven StoneClaw! The name is foreign yet carries a weight of foreboding along with it. The call ended yet no one picked up the call. I paced around, watching the pack through the large window for several minutes, enjoying the peace that reigned today.