Hazel’s povI woke up that morning feeling intense pain in my stomach. If that was the only problem I was having then I wouldn’t complain, but to top it off, my head felt like it would explode from the thumping going on in it. I suddenly got nausea and felt like throwing up but held it back as I laid in bed.I winced in pain and put a hand over my stomach, willing whatever it was causing this havoc to subside.There I was, just closing my eyes to try and get the pain away as my head throbbed mercilessly when a knock came at the door. I groaned louder. I was not in the mood for visitors. Grunting, I pulled myself up from the bed and trudged over to open it, every step causing my headache to increase tenfold.A frown instantly formed on my face at what stood before me – Evelyn, all perfect smiles and sugary sweet expressions.The rage that filled me up that morning was nothing to write home about. I just wanted her off my sight and I would do anything to have her gone. “What do you wan
Evelyn’s povThe moment I entered my room, I summoned my maid. She came quickly and made a little bow. “My lady?” she said, as she always addressed me.“Well, I want you to get something nice for Hazel this morning, chicken and peas, or whatever else she likes best.”I could feel the tension rise between us as the maid had not expected that from me.Her eyebrows rose, but she didn't say anything. "Yes, my lady," she said eventually. "And do you want me to prepare it with... the poisons or with anything else?"I narrowed my eyes at her. "No," I told her, just as firmly as before. "Not yet. Eventually, yes, but for now I need her to think I'm someone who cares about what happens to her... someone she can trust. I’m trying to lure her in so she can be on my side and not be against me. That way maybe we can be friends and I can show her that I’m not so bad.”The maid hesitated in a bow for a moment before she nodded. “I’ll see to it at once.”“See that you do.” I waved her away and watche
Hazel’s povI sat across Evelyn, gazing at my half eaten breakfast, trying to make sense of everything that happened. She was making an effort alright, but I couldn’t help thinking that there’s something more to this.“Hazel?” her voice brought me back from my thoughts.“Yes?” I said with a confused look on my face.“The food park. Would you want to go with me?”I blinked, not knowing how to reply. “A food park?”She beamed at me. “Yeah! It’s a lot of fun and the food there is amazing too. We can try different types of cuisines, maybe do a little bit of exploring while we are at it too. It’ll be good to…bond.”Bond? Right. That word, I wondered if she knew what it meant.To be honest everything within me wanted to tell her to get lost but I knew it would be rude of me to say that to someone who was trying to be close to me. She was trying to be nice and here I was thinking of how to be mean. I wanted to say no, that I couldn’t go, but I knew that I couldn’t do it.There was no excuse
Evelyn’s povIt was late, the moonlight barely shining on the path as I headed to find Leif in the dark shadows near the edge of the pack lands. He was leaned against a tree, his arms crossed and his eyes sharp when he looked up at me. He must have sensed my seriousness because he pushed off from the tree to stand tall.“I need you to do something for me,” I told him.He smirked. “What now, Evelyn? Another one of your schemes?”I rolled my eyes. “Don’t act so self-righteous. You’re here, aren’t you? You know what I always call you for so don’t act so scared now. Listen, tomorrow Hazel and I are going shopping, and I want you to set up an attack.”“An attack?” He arched an eyebrow.“Yes, an attack!” I bit out. “Get some of your men—masked, obviously—and do it. Make it look real. I want her scared as hell, but don’t hurt anyone on our side. I’ll take care of the rest.”Leif tilted his head to the side, narrowing his eyes as he studied me. “And what’s your endgame this time?”I took a st
Evelyn’s povThat morning, I felt ready for what was to come that day. I got up and put on something nice but not over the top, it had to be responsible looking and it was what I hoped Orion would think if he saw my outfit. In the dining hall, Hazel was already there eating and already dressed up.“Good morning” I said with a smile before sitting across from her.She looked up, a little surprised. “Good morning, Evelyn.” Her voice was soft, hesitant.I poured myself some tea and picked up a slice of toast. “So, are you excited for our shopping trip today?”Hazel gave a small smile and nodded. “Yeah, I guess. I haven’t really gone shopping like this in a while.”I chuckled lightly. “You should not be bothered about a lot of things. I’ll handle the cost. You should just give on what you need. Clothing, cute shoes and maybe even accessories.”She laughed a little, and I noticed she was starting to slowly let her guard down with me. “I just really need some casual clothes… or a few dresse
Evelyn’s povA soft knock on the door made me jump, and my maid stuck her head in with a worried look on her face. “My lady,” she hissed, slipping into the room and closing the door behind her.I pushed myself up, wincing as I did so. “What is it?”She hesitated before speaking. “Everything is going according to plan… but the Alpha seems suspicious.”I sighed and rubbed my temples. “I know. He’s not a fool.”She nodded and stepped closer. “What’s the next step?”I took a moment to think, then a slow smile spread across my face. “Now we play the long game. I’ll make it look like I’m walking away… giving Hazel time to heal. But I’ll be close enough to strike when the time is right.”My maid bowed. “Understood.”I tossed myself back against the pillows, squeezed my eyes so hard that a few tears spilled out. I would be an angel in Orion’s eyes—for now. Hazel had made it through another day, but I wasn’t finished with Hazel yet.Orion might have thought that he could keep me away, but he w
Author’s povAlpha Ryder was sitting in his office, the large window that looked out over the Shadowclaw Pack’s territory showcasing a view of nothing but green. The sun was high in the sky, yet he felt none of its warmth. Instead, his mind was filled with annoyance, disappointment and an unsettling emptiness that had plagued him for what was now going on for months.He sighed heavily and pushed his dark hair out his face as he leant back in his chair thinking about Freya, his chosen mate. The woman who at one time Ryder thought he couldn’t wait to stand side by side no matter what circumstances they faced together. This had made him discard Hazel from being his mate and he had gone for Freya.The subtle cracks in their relationship had started small. Dismissive words, cold glances, moments when she’d been too preoccupied with something—or someone—else. He hadn’t been oblivious to the change in her behavior, and it pissed him off more than he’d like to admit.His jaw clenched as he g
Authors povThe next morning Ryder stood in front of the full length mirror in his room, towel drying his wet hair. He was dressed only in his briefs, the light from the windows catching on his damp toned muscles. With a smirk, he went over to his wardrobe to pick out what he would wear for that day.Before he could pick up a shirt, the door swung open without warning. A young maid stumbled through and Ryder narrowed his eyes at the maid who had forgotten to knock before entering. The young maid quickly averted her gaze and bowed deep in an apologetic way.“I-I’m sorry, Alpha,” she stammered, her face reddening as she took a step back. “I didn’t mean to intrude without asking for permission first.”The alpha looked over at the maid, wondering if he was to yell at her or act like he didn’t care as he found her a bit sexy. He decided to smile and maybe build a relationship with the woman.“It’s okay,” he smiled. “It's not that bad. There’s no need to be scared. Come in.”The maid hesita
Authors povWithout another word, Ryder turned and walked out of the healers quarters. The forest was quiet for early morning but it did nothing to calm his beast down. He moved swiftly through the pack’s territory, his mind set on what must be done. Telling no one what he was going to do; Ryder knew there would be no time for explanations.Coming to a stop at the edge of his territory, Ryder looked back, seeing all that had been his, all that he was leaving behind and felt his heart break but his mother was his world and he would move heaven and earth if it meant getting her back even if she didn’t know him.The journey to the Blackthorn Mountains was long and hard. Ryder moved quickly, his long powerful legs taking him over rough ground and through thick forests. The river Maren had told him about would be his guide. It sparkled in the sunlight as it wound through the land he traveled over. The farther into the mountains he got, the rougher it became. Hills turned to cliffs with sha
Authors povAlpha Ryder of the Shadowclaw Pack sat in his study, the only light a candle flickering on his desk. The room smelled of old parchment and ink; it was a scent that both soothed and excited him. His eyes scanned the reports laid out before him, all detailing incidents regarding rogue wolves on his land. Frowning, he drummed his claws against the worn oak surface. The rogues were growing more daring and erratic with their attacks each day.But he had no time to devote to the problem just yet. He would leave it for the next day then. At that point, a soft creaking closed door caused Ryder’s dark head to raise sharply, lips parting in warning. Jarek, one of his border guards, entered hesitantly. If anything bothered Jarek enough for him to implicitly risk interrupting Ryder without word or ceremony then it couldn’t be good.“What is it, Jarek?” Ryder asked but his voice was calm. “I told the maids I wasn’t to be disturbed. You can show up tomorrow if it’s not too important.”
Authors povRyder stood in his study, breathless from the rage that had overtaken him only a few minutes before. The whip lay sprawled across the marble floor, metallic spikes stained with Stark's blood. Now the room was still but for his breaths, they were ragged through the silence. He stepped to the doorway, pulling it open and speaking coolly to the guards stationed outside. "Enter."The guards came in then, faces like stone and eyes that gave nothing away. They had heard Stark screaming, and they were too smart to ask any questions. “Take him to the dungeon,” Ryder said softly, his voice just loud enough to be heard. “Lock him up.” He leaned down into Stark’s face until they were nose-to-nose. “And he doesn’t leave until I say so.”The guards nodded hurriedly and rushed forward. They seized Stark by his arms and yanked him to his feet. Stark screamed in agony, his legs buckling beneath him, but the guards held him upright as they hauled him up and out of the room. A train of th
Author’s povFreya’s heart broke with his admission – the pain lacing his words so evident. She had done this. She had destroyed everything they had worked towards and now she had nothing left to give him.“I don’t want you to…” Her voice cracked, hot tears welling in her eyes. “I can’t bear for this to be over.”But Ryder turned his back on her, moving to the window to stare out at the packhouse grounds. He was tense all over—as though he was carrying a great burden—and he didn’t look her way when she finally found her tongue.“I think—it—hurts us both,” she managed in a stilted whisper.“Go to your room. I’ll see what to do with you later.”Freya just stood there, not able to say anything more. There was absolutely nothing left in the room. The silence between them was so loud that no one could stand it.She had lost him. Freya left the room silently, her heart thumping painfully against her ribs. She knew what was going to happen next. Ryder didn’t forgive as a rule; she’d messed
Authors povRyder had been pacing through the packhouse, his head full of frustrations and doubts. Unsettled had been how he’d felt around Freya for over a long time now, but he’d ignored his intuition, pushing it aside as though their problems were minor.He reached her study as he knew it was time to confront her and ask her deep questions but while there, he heard quiet moans from inside which halted him in his steps. Heart racing, inexplicable dread widening its grip on him, he knew something was wrong.He pushed open the door and what he walked into hit him like a blow to his face. There in her study, Stark, a trusted guard, was on top of Freya. Ryder saw red and didn’t stop to question just exactly how fast he was moving as his fist met Stark’s head with a force enough to propel the man across the room as stark landed on the floor with an unconscious slump.Freya scrambled to cover herself, her mouth open in shock and her heart pounding against her chest. “Ryder, wait, please—”
Author’s povStark was shocked at this behavior of hers but before he could open his mouth properly to ask what she was doing, her lips assaulted his with bruising force.Stark stiffened against her, hands likewise fisted at his sides as if he could hold her off by not touching her. He knew what they were doing… their fatal mistake. And if Alpha Ryder ever found out it would be his death.“Luna…” he whispered between her demanding lips, sounding so shaken she wondered what he was shaking for. “We… we shouldn’t be doing this. If the Alpha finds out, he’ll have my head.”Freya pulled back slightly, a playful smirk on her lips as she traced a finger down his chest. “Oh, Stark, you’re such a child,” she whispered, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Always so frightened. Don’t you trust me?”Stark swallowed hard, his heart racing in his chest. “It’s not about trust, Luna. It’s about staying alive. The Alpha is not someone to anger.”Freya laughed softly, pressing her lips against his jaw.
Authors povRyder sat on his grand throne in the centre of the Shadowclaw pack’s throne room, his sharp eyes scanning the elders seated before him as they discussed matters of the pack—territories, rogues and borders. But Ryder’s mind was elsewhere. It kept going back to Freya and he could feel that disturbing suspicion growing inside him like a fire that would not die out.Just as one of them finished speaking, the doors to the giant wooden room creaked open, alerting everyone’s attention. Ryder withheld a sigh when Damon, who he had been sent to tail Freya, walked into the room—his face tense and avoiding direct eye contact with his alpha. Everyone frowned at him for interrupting the meeting but only Ryder was happy.“You are all dismissed,” Ryder said in a cold, commanding voice. The elders glanced at one another before rising, bowing respectfully to him, and exiting the throne room. They left one by one, the sound of their steps echoing through the large room of nothing but white
Authors povFreya stormed out of the packhouse, her heart pounding in her chest. She climbed into her black car and took a deep breath, attempting to calm herself. She needed to think. She needed to see him—one last time.She had not ripped off the bandaid but this time she was ready to do so.She glanced in the mirror before pulling onto the road and sighed when she saw a black SUV a few cars behind her. Ryder. He must have had someone follow her.Freya gritted her teeth, her mind racing. She couldn’t allow them to follow her. Not today. She took a deep breath before making a sharp right into a small alley, turned again and again on much smaller paths. Glancing at the mirror, she found the car was still behind though not without difficulty from all this sudden turning and twisting as she was sure the driver was confused on what was going on.“Not today,” she murmured through clenched teeth. She was not about to be caught by anyone who thought they could rat her out to the pack. No. S
Authors povThe next morning Ryder stood in front of the full length mirror in his room, towel drying his wet hair. He was dressed only in his briefs, the light from the windows catching on his damp toned muscles. With a smirk, he went over to his wardrobe to pick out what he would wear for that day.Before he could pick up a shirt, the door swung open without warning. A young maid stumbled through and Ryder narrowed his eyes at the maid who had forgotten to knock before entering. The young maid quickly averted her gaze and bowed deep in an apologetic way.“I-I’m sorry, Alpha,” she stammered, her face reddening as she took a step back. “I didn’t mean to intrude without asking for permission first.”The alpha looked over at the maid, wondering if he was to yell at her or act like he didn’t care as he found her a bit sexy. He decided to smile and maybe build a relationship with the woman.“It’s okay,” he smiled. “It's not that bad. There’s no need to be scared. Come in.”The maid hesita