DENARA’S POV My eyes felt heavy, too heavy to open. Every nerve in my brain pulsed with pain as my head throbbed, a dull ache that seemed to echo in the quiet room. It took a while for me to gather the strength to finally crack my eyelids open, the morning light spilling in like a gentle reminder of the world outside.As I blinked into focus, memories of the night flooded back: the tears, the heartache, the overwhelming sadness that had consumed me. I had spent the entire night curled up, sobbing into the sheets, feeling utterly lost. Rockan was the only one who could bear witness to my pain, holding me close, and whispering comforting words that felt like a lifeline amidst my despair. Turning my head slowly, I looked at him. Rockan was fast asleep, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. He had been through so much, yet here he was, the man I loved, resting peacefully beside me. My heart swelled with gratitude as I gazed at his mask-less face, a sight I had longed to se
TYRIS’ POV I tossed and turned in bed, the sheets tangled around my legs like the mess my life had become. For what felt like the hundredth time to night, I shifted positions, trying to find a semblance of comfort. Sleep eluded me, and my mind raced with thoughts that twisted like a storm in my head. I hated my life, I hated who I had become. Chasing after Denera for so long had led me here, to this moment of turmoil. I had watched my brother, Rockan, fall in love with her, and a bitter taste lingered in my mouth. It still hurts to remember. At first, I had so much hate for him. How could he have won her heart when I had pursued her with such fervor? But now, as I lay in this bed, I realized there was no point in that anger anymore. Rockan and Denera obviously loved each other, and their bond was something I couldn't break. Still, the ache in my chest felt raw. I had wanted her to be with me, to see me as her mate, yet here I was, alone and grappling with my own failure. Each t
TYRIS’ POV Days had passed, yet it felt like months since I embarked on this relentless search. Each hour dragged on, a heavy chain of dread around my neck, as I combed through towns and packs in search of Serena. Who would have thought finding someone could be so impossibly difficult? With every mile traveled, my sense of urgency grew; my thoughts spiraled into a dark abyss of worry and regret.“Sir, are you sure we shouldn't stop somewhere? You seem really exhausted,” the driver said, glancing up at me through the rearview mirror. Concern etched across his face, a reflection of my own inner turmoil. “Your eyes on the road,” I curtly responded, irritation creeping into my voice. I didn’t want to entertain his concern, though a part of me appreciated it. He was the only soul I had with me, a simple man enlisted to help with my search. We had spent the last several days moving from one neighboring town to another, each stopping at a dead end. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wa
DenaraThe day was finally upon us, the day the whole pack except me of course was waiting for. It was the day our next alpha, alpha Tim’s only son, was coming back home from his five year study trip.So it only meant one thing for us: the packhouse maids. More work! Though other maids could see a positive side to this, I couldn’t because it meant more people would visit the packhouse and more people visiting the packhouse would mean more errands for us.Running more errands wasn’t exactly my problem, the problem was running errands around people. I dreaded being around people because the more people in my space, the smaller I felt.“You have been on that spot for how long now?” The familiar voice of Freya, my cousin, made me turn to know who else was with her.It was Magda, the chief of the maids. I didn’t know when they entered because I was lost in thoughts.“And you are still standing there looking at what?” Magda asked. I quickly turned and continued what I was doing, hoping they
DenaraDisbelief flooded through me as Freya's words sank in. My parents...traitors? It was almost impossible to comprehend.Random fragments of memories I had of them began to flood my mind. They seemed kind, so peaceful. My father and mother would never have done such a terrible thing - or even thought about it. They were killed because they tried to take over the alpha's position?"Your dad was the Beta?" Bruno asked, his eyes wide with realization and devastation.I stared at him, my own eyes surely reflecting the same mix of emotions. "I-I don't understand," I stammered, feeling unsteady on my feet. "This can't be true. My parents were good people. They would never..."My voice trailed off as the implications of Freya's revelation sank in. If what she was saying was true, then everything I thought I knew about my family was a lie.I felt dizzy, and the room around me began to spin. Overwhelmed, I took a step forward, reaching out towards Bruno, seeking his steadying presence. B
~Denera~….The thunderstorms had been going on for hours. It was cold and dark, the cottage's wooden walls creaked as the wind blew hard against it. I had my blanket to keep me company as I quietly drew on the sketch pad on my lap. Aunt Rosa and her family were settled at the main house. I initially used to feel bad about this but after sometime, I grew accustomed to it. Plus I would rather be alone in an old cottage than stay in a cosy house with the likes of them. I jerked up from my bed when I heard a loud bang against the door. At first, I assumed it was one of the calamities of the thunderstorm but then it rhythmically happened again. “Open up!” Someone yelled from outside, making me rush out of bed to check it was. Uncle?Abruptly I turned the knob open and he instantly shoved me aside before walking in. “You bastard! Haven’t I warned you to never lock the door? Look how damp I am now!” Uncle Austin growled. “I’m sorry sir.” I whimpered, wondering why he came here in the f
~Alpha Rockan~I didn’t need a mate, the moon goddess knew this and saved herself the stress of giving me one. All my life I hated a weakness or anything that would make me slow down and having a mate and a child would do that, but these elders won’t listen.I had one already, my brother Tyris, even though everyone in the world including him thought I didn’t give a fuck about him, I still did, but no one had to know how important he was to me so they wouldn’t want to use him against me.“Alpha, you might end up going feral just like the alpha of the red lake pack. We can’t afford to watch anything happen to you, you’re like a god to us, what am I even saying, you are our god and our lives are in your hands.” Timothy, one of the elders repeated what they had been saying over the years, but this time he added an example.I knew his name because of the name tag he had on his chest. I told all the elders to always come with a name tag so I could identify them because I didn’t have the lux
Denera..His trousers fell down his legs and my eyes widened in horror as different thoughts about what could be happening crossed my mind. Uncle Austin took his shirt off also and I almost believed he was trying to take the wet clothes off before he caught a cold. Aunt Rosa was spending the night at the pack house with Freya so I knew only he was at the main house. Memories of how he stared at me when I served him dinner earlier flashed through my mind and I couldn’t help but whimper. “Uncle, what are you doing here, sir?” My voice cracked as I tried to speak but he kept mute. He held a dark gaze at me making me cower. I knew one mistake and he would beat me till I could not move—so I remained quiet. “Take those clothes off your body,” he ordered and I felt my heart sink to my belly in sadness and disappointment. “I…” I trailed off, losing words as the reality of what was about to happen hit me. I should’ve seen the signs, I did see them but I chose to ignore them. He had alwa
TYRIS’ POV Days had passed, yet it felt like months since I embarked on this relentless search. Each hour dragged on, a heavy chain of dread around my neck, as I combed through towns and packs in search of Serena. Who would have thought finding someone could be so impossibly difficult? With every mile traveled, my sense of urgency grew; my thoughts spiraled into a dark abyss of worry and regret.“Sir, are you sure we shouldn't stop somewhere? You seem really exhausted,” the driver said, glancing up at me through the rearview mirror. Concern etched across his face, a reflection of my own inner turmoil. “Your eyes on the road,” I curtly responded, irritation creeping into my voice. I didn’t want to entertain his concern, though a part of me appreciated it. He was the only soul I had with me, a simple man enlisted to help with my search. We had spent the last several days moving from one neighboring town to another, each stopping at a dead end. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wa
TYRIS’ POV I tossed and turned in bed, the sheets tangled around my legs like the mess my life had become. For what felt like the hundredth time to night, I shifted positions, trying to find a semblance of comfort. Sleep eluded me, and my mind raced with thoughts that twisted like a storm in my head. I hated my life, I hated who I had become. Chasing after Denera for so long had led me here, to this moment of turmoil. I had watched my brother, Rockan, fall in love with her, and a bitter taste lingered in my mouth. It still hurts to remember. At first, I had so much hate for him. How could he have won her heart when I had pursued her with such fervor? But now, as I lay in this bed, I realized there was no point in that anger anymore. Rockan and Denera obviously loved each other, and their bond was something I couldn't break. Still, the ache in my chest felt raw. I had wanted her to be with me, to see me as her mate, yet here I was, alone and grappling with my own failure. Each t
DENARA’S POV My eyes felt heavy, too heavy to open. Every nerve in my brain pulsed with pain as my head throbbed, a dull ache that seemed to echo in the quiet room. It took a while for me to gather the strength to finally crack my eyelids open, the morning light spilling in like a gentle reminder of the world outside.As I blinked into focus, memories of the night flooded back: the tears, the heartache, the overwhelming sadness that had consumed me. I had spent the entire night curled up, sobbing into the sheets, feeling utterly lost. Rockan was the only one who could bear witness to my pain, holding me close, and whispering comforting words that felt like a lifeline amidst my despair. Turning my head slowly, I looked at him. Rockan was fast asleep, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. He had been through so much, yet here he was, the man I loved, resting peacefully beside me. My heart swelled with gratitude as I gazed at his mask-less face, a sight I had longed to se
DENARA’S POV The world around me felt like a haze, a blur of voices and shadows. I blinked slowly, trying to piece together the chaos that had erupted. I had thought I passed out but I didn’t. I couldn’t, it was like the pain wanted me to feel every bit of it.My body was heavy, weighed down by the remnants of pain, but there was a soothing numbness spreading through me, courtesy of the anesthetic shot I had received.As the wave of anesthesia began to lift, I blinked against the bright light that filled the room. My heart raced, and the world around me slowly came into focus. The sterile smell of antiseptic mingled with something else—something warm and familiar. And then I saw him. It wasn’t a dream all along and I was definitely not dead. “Rockan,” I breathed, my voice a mere whisper, but it felt like a shout in the silence of the room. The sight of him propped up against the pillows, his hair tousled and eyes bright, filled me with a wave of relief. It felt like I had been los
TYRIS’ POV “Sir, your attention is needed quickly.” The urgency in the maid's voice snapped me from my thoughts. I turned, my heart racing as I searched her eyes for any hint of good news. My brother had been in critical condition, and every minute felt like an eternity. “What is going on?” I asked, forcing myself to remain calm, though my insides churned with anxiety.“I was asked to call you down to the emergency ward,” she replied, her voice steady but lacking the reassurance I desperately sought. “The emergency ward?” The words felt heavy on my tongue, and a sinking sensation settled in my stomach. I forced my legs into action, propelling myself through the hallway of the hospital, each step a frantic prayer that the news would be good.As I approached the entrance to the emergency ward, I paused, staring at the glaring sign that loomed above me. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. Whatever had happened to Rockan, it couldn’t be good. I braced myself for wh
ROCKAN’S POV I was floating, enveloped in a vast nothingness. I couldn’t feel or move my body. It was dark and quiet, so quiet that it was almost deafening.“Am I dead?” I thought to myself. There was no one to talk to, and I couldn’t even move my mouth to think out loud.“Is this punishment for all my misdeeds?”The weight of my past decisions pressed down on me. There was no way I could have died so easily; my life and goals had not been achieved.Denera...I missed my mate. An ache settled in my chest as I longed to see her, to tell her how much I loved her. It felt as though I hadn’t said it enough, or shown it enough. But I did love her, fiercely and without reservation.Tyris would never forgive me if I died. I really owed him an apology, too.“No…” A faint wind blew past me, carrying the sound of a voice. Was I imagining things?“What’s happening?”The same voice echoed again, almost recognizable, yet just out of reach.I held my breath, hoping I was not imagining it. Then the
DENARA’S POV The air in the hospital room was thick with tension as everyone quietly cleared out, leaving the three of us—Luna Danielle, Adrianna, and me—standing by Rockan’s bed. The murmurs from the pack outside faded into a dull roar, and I felt my heart race. This was it. This was my chance to finally prove myself to Rockan and the pack. Panic and anxiety was an understatement to what I felt in that moment. “His life is in your hands, save him,” Luna Danielle urged, her voice steady yet laced with urgency. I nodded, though anxiety gripped me like a vice.As the door swung shut, sealing us in, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. Rockan lay there, still and vulnerable, the mask from his previous injuries now removed. The sight of him sent a wave of emotions crashing over me—fear, love, and desperation all mingled together. “Let’s begin,” Adrianna said, her tone serious as she approached Rockan’s bedside. She gently placed her hands on his shoulders, her expre
DENARA’S POV “Step one is complete,” Adrianna murmured, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and anticipation.“Now it’s step two,” Luna Danielle added, her gaze steady on me as I blinked in disbelief, trying to wrap my head around what that meant.“There’s more?” I deadpanned, my mind racing with the implications.“Yes,” Adrianna responded, her tone serious. “We can’t give you a full life form to heal unless you’ve tested it. Plus, the note never said anything about waking him up from the coma. I think it was only to heal the scar.”My heart sank as I processed her words. “What if he never wakes up—”“No, no, no, negativity will not fix anything. Adrianna, quiet,” Luna Danielle interjected sharply, shooting a scornful look at Adrianna. She then picked up a flower pot and handed it to me. I accepted it hesitantly, staring at the pot that was filled only with soil. “What am I supposed to do now?” I asked, confusion swirling in my mind.“What do you think?” Adrianna teased, her p
DENARA’S POV The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the garden where I had spent a few afternoons with Adrianna, learning about herbs and potions. The familiar scents of lavender and rosemary filled the air, but today, the atmosphere felt charged with urgency. A day had gone by before the healers could reach our pack. As I approached, I could see Luna Danielle, and Adrianna deep in conversation, their expressions serious. Luna Danielle, with her long, flowing hair and strong demeanor, looked every bit the leader I remembered. She also had a big resemblance that showed she was my mother’s cousin, a woman who had always embodied grace and strength. “Denera!” Adrianna called out, her eyes lighting up as she spotted me. “We’ve been waiting for you.”“Is it true?” Luna Danielle asked, her voice steady but concerned. “About the masked alpha?”I nodded, swallowing hard. “Yes. I found a letter from my mother that might hold the key to helping him.”“Oh I knew your mother wo