RockanI told her I loved her.There was no taking my words back, and it wasn’t that I regretted telling her. I told her the truth, but still, something felt off. My chest ached with an unfamiliar heaviness that lingered throughout the night, pressing down on me like an unyielding weight.Maybe it was the fear that gnawed at me, the realisation that Denera might choose her newfound family over me. She had spent so long yearning for a connection, for blood relatives who would treat her with the love and respect she deserved. I could feel that desire radiating from her, a longing that I couldn’t compete with.What if I forced her to follow me back home? The thought sent a chill down my spine. I could envision her resentment, the way her eyes might harden with disappointment. “I don’t want that,” I muttered to myself, digging my fingers into my hair, and tugging at the roots in frustration.I stood up from the bed, the rising sun casting a soft glow in the room, illuminating the shado
Denera He had to be the most hysterical person I had ever come across. Ryan had a way of finding humor in everything, his laughter infectious and brightening the mood around us. As he launched into another story, I felt my worries begin to fade into the background.“Mother never let me lead the track team after that,” he sighed dramatically, his expression a mix of mock sorrow and playful mischief. I couldn’t help but burst into laughter, the sound spilling out easily. The room around us faded as the joy of the moment took over.“You were naked!” I exclaimed, nearly doubling over as I banged my hand on my thigh, unable to contain my amusement.“So?” he shrugged, completely unfazed by my reaction. It was clear he didn’t see the wrong in his past actions, and that only made me laugh harder.“They were kids!” I added, shaking my head in disbelief, my laughter ringing out like music.“I shifted into wolf form, of course, my clothes got torn,” he defended himself, a grin stretching acros
Denera“Denera,”I turned my neck toward the sound of the voice, a distant whisper that felt both familiar and foreign. “Denera, wake up.”My eyes snapped open, responding instinctively to the urgency in her tone.“We’re almost there,” a feline-faced woman said, her excitement contagious. I could hear it in her voice, but her features remained a blur, like a painting seen through foggy glass.“I’m sure you’ll love it there; my people are very nice,” she added, her enthusiasm infectious. I nodded, my small legs dangling over the edge of the seat, eager to look out the window and see if we had arrived at our destination yet.“We’re not there yet, honey,” an overly familiar masculine voice called from the driver’s seat. My heart raced as I turned, my eyes widening as the face came into focus. “Dad,” I breathed, recognition flooding through me like sunlight breaking through clouds.“I know, I’m just really excited. It’s been so long. If not for Claire, we probably wouldn’t have had a rea
Denera“I remember. I remember everything,” I cried out, the weight of my memories crashing over me like waves, each one pulling me under.Rockan’s expression softened, concern etched deeply into his features. “What did you remember?” he asked gently, his grip tightening slightly, as if he feared I might slip away again.I took a shaky breath, the air thick with the remnants of my nightmare. “The fire… my dad… my mom… they were trying to protect me.” My voice cracked, each word laced with the rawness of my grief. “I was so scared. I lost them.” The ache in my chest felt like a deep, unhealed wound, reopening with every recollection.His eyes darkened with confusion and pain. “Shh,” he murmured, his voice a soothing balm against the chaos swirling inside me. “It's okay.”“I... I was safe. It was safe at first,” I whispered, but the comfort of that thought felt distant now, overshadowed by the stark reality of my past.Rockan shifted closer, his warmth wrapping around me like a protect
Denera Rockan and I walked briskly through the corridors of the pack house, the echo of our footsteps bouncing off the walls. A sense of urgency filled the air, and I could feel my heart racing as we navigated the familiar yet overwhelming space.“Do you think she’ll be in the kitchen?” I asked, glancing sideways at Rockan. His presence was a comforting anchor amidst the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me.“It's a good place to start. The kitchen is always buzzing with activity. If anyone has seen her, they’ll know where to find her,” he replied, determination etched across his features.As we reached the kitchen, the sounds of laughter and conversation filled the air, mingling with the rich aromas of simmering food. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. This was it—the moment I had been waiting for.We began asking around, approaching members of the pack who were busy chopping vegetables and stirring pots. “Excuse me, have you seen Luna Danielle?” I asked a woman
Denera“Claire,” she replied. “Her name was Claire, and she was the strong Luna of the Dark Lion’s pack.”My breath caught in my throat. “My mother?” Rockan breathed out, disbelief flaring in his eyes.I turned to Rockan, my own eyes wide with realization. “Granny Yeneva said I looked a lot like Lena that day,” I pointed out, my heart racing as the connections began to weave together.“Wait, wait, wait,” Rockan cut in, dismissively waving his hands. “You’re saying my mother, Claire, and her mother, Elena, were best friends?!”The revelation felt almost too good to be true, but Luna Danielle nodded, a knowing smile on her face. “Funny how those two kept wishing their kids would get mated to each other in the future. The Moon Goddess works in mysterious ways,” she chuckled wholeheartedly, the lightness of her tone contrasting with the weight of the revelation.“So you knew who we were because Rockan had already introduced himself as the alpha of Dark Lion—”“Yes, yes. I’ve always known
Denera “Before it all went black, my mother screamed and pleaded from afar. She called her name—Rosa.”The room fell silent, the air thickening with the weight of my revelation. Rockan’s grip tightened around my hands, a mixture of shock and disbelief flashing across his face. “Rosa?” he whispered as if trying to process the enormity of what I had just revealed. “Your mother’s sister?”I nodded, the tears I had fought so hard to hold back now spilling down my cheeks. “She was there, Rockan. I don’t know why she did it, but I heard my mother’s cries. She was desperate… and then everything went dark.”“Why would she attack her own family?” Rockan’s voice was filled with confusion and rage, the betrayal cutting deep. “I don’t know!” I cried out, my voice breaking. “But the image of that day has haunted me for years. I thought it was just a nightmare, a figment of my imagination, but now… now it all makes sense.”Luna’s expression was one of profound concern, the gravity of the situati
Denera He was quiet for a long time, and I began to wonder if he didn’t hear me or if he simply chose to ignore my words. Either way, I decided not to bring it up again. I was willing to wait until he was ready to discuss it—after all, we were both grappling with our own demons.Then, breaking the silence like a sudden thunderclap, he asked, “Do you know why our pack is called the Dark Lion?” His voice was steady, but there was an undertone of something deeper that piqued my curiosity.I shook my head, my interest fully captured. “No, I don’t. Why?”He leaned back against the couch, his eyes drifting to the ceiling as if he were searching for the right words in the cobwebs above. “For werewolves, we were known to be surrounded by a couple of lions in our territories,” he began, his tone thoughtful. “It wasn’t just a name; it was a legacy.” I leaned in closer, eager to absorb every detail. “What do you mean?”He took a breath, his brow furrowing slightly as he gathered his thoughts.
DENARA’S POV I stepped out of the medical wing, the sterile scent of antiseptic still lingering in my nostrils. Each step I took felt heavy, as if I was dragging the weight of the world behind me. My heart was still racing from the news about Rockan, and the sharp pain in my lower abdomen reminded me of the fragile life growing inside me. I had to stay strong—for him, for our child. But as I walked down the dimly lit corridor towards my room, the weight only grew heavier. “Denera, are you sure you should be out?” Rachel’s voice trailed after me, filled with concern. “I need to see what’s happening,” I replied, my voice steadier than I felt. “Please, just rest a bit longer,” she urged, her footsteps quickening to keep pace with me. I shook my head, the determination surging through me. “I can’t. I need to know.”As I approached the large window overlooking the courtyard, a low murmur began to rise outside. I paused, my heart pounding in my chest. I peeked through the curtain, and
DeneraHurriedly, I reached into my back pocket, hoping that what I kept there was still there. “What’s going on?” Rachel questioned, but I was too stunned to respond. I could feel my heart racing, a mixture of anxiety and hope swelling within me. Finally, my fingers brushed against the familiar texture. “Great!” I exclaimed softly, pulling out the piece of paper I had tucked away. I placed it beside the one from my neck and squinted at the writings. They were similar, but the new paper was old and wrinkled, the ink fading, making it difficult to decipher. Suddenly, the door swung open, and my head snapped up. “Is she awake yet?!” Tyris rushed in, his expression a mix of relief and urgency. The moment his eyes met mine, a wave of comfort washed over me. “Oh, thank goodness,” he said, releasing a heavy sigh. Relief spread across his features, but it was quickly overshadowed by something darker. “Where’s Rockan?” I asked, my heart pounding in my chest. The question hung in the ai
Denera….“Denera…”My brows furrowed at the mention of my name, the sound echoing in the void around me.“It’s okay, you can open your eyes,” a soothing voice added as if to reassure me. I obeyed, slowly peeling my eyelids open. At first, everything was blurry; my eyelids felt heavy as if weighted down by the grief and pain I had been carrying. But after a few seconds, the haze began to clear, and I started to take proper mental notes of my surroundings.“Am I dead?” I asked my voice barely a whisper, tinged with confusion and fear.I heard a chuckle that caught my attention, warm and familiar. Turning my head, I searched for the source of that laughter.“No, my love. You’re not dead.”My heart skipped a beat. My eyes widened in disbelief, and my jaw dropped as recognition flooded over me.“Mum…”There she was—my mother. Though she looked a bit older, I knew it was her, the essence of her spirit shining through. It felt surreal, like I was staring at a reflection of myself, yet she
DENARA’S POV He killed Bruno…“No,” the word escaped my lips as a desperate whisper, my heart plummeting into an abyss of fear.I rushed away from Freya’s still form, her lifeless body haunting me even as I sprinted toward Rockan. Each step felt like a weight bearing down on me, but I couldn't stop. I needed to get to him. I needed to know he was okay.As I reached Rockan, horror gripped me at the sight of blood pooling beneath him, soaking through his shirt. I dropped to my knees beside him, panic surging as I placed my trembling hand over the wound, trying to staunch the flow of crimson. “No, no, no! Please don’t die. Don’t leave me,” I cried out, my voice breaking.“I’m not dying, little mate, I’m not,” he chuckled weakly, his hand reaching up to touch my face. But I could see through the lies in his eyes. The bullet had gone through him. The force of the shot, aimed at him, had struck true, and he was losing strength by the second.“Rockan, I have to tell you something,” I manage
DENARA’S POV She was gone.The realization hit me like a physical blow, the weight of it crashing down on my chest. I could feel the warmth fading from Freya’s body, her heartbeat growing fainter until it vanished completely. I lost her even before I could forgive her. At that moment, the world around me dulled into a blur of chaos and noise. I could still hear Rockan and Bruno struggling, their bodies colliding with a force that sent shockwaves through the air, but it felt distant like a storm raging far away. All I could focus on was the lifelessness in my arms, the way Freya’s body felt so heavy and still. “You’re a monster!” I screamed, the words tearing from my throat with a rawness that surprised even me. I didn’t know if I was addressing Bruno or Rockan, or if it was a self-directed accusation—maybe a little of both. All I knew was that the pain in my chest was unbearable, an agony that consumed me whole. “Freya!” I sobbed, cradling her head against my shoulder, feeling the
FREYA’S POV “No!”My body moved on its own, a reflex born from instinct. Time seemed to slow as the world flashed before my eyes, each moment stretching into eternity. I could hear the chaotic symphony of shouts and struggles around me, but all I could focus on was the glint of metal in Bruno’s hand. The gun.I didn’t think it through. I just acted.In that split second, I lunged forward, my heart pounding in my chest. “No!” I screamed, but the word felt like a whisper lost in the storm of emotions swirling around us. The sound of the gunshot echoed, a deafening crack that shattered the tension in the air. I felt a sharp pain, a searing heat that radiated from my inside. It was a sensation that took a moment to register, the bullet found its mark, and it was me. “Freya!” I heard Denera’s anguished scream cut through the chaos, a sound that struck deeper than the bullet itself. I glanced over at her just as she launched toward me, her eyes wide with fear, her expression desperate.
DENARA’S POV It was very noisy out there, the sound of war or gunshots? But why would anyone shoot guns so consistently? Unless it was something else, but my mind was too foggy to come up with anything else.“If you’re hiding her, you’re making a grave mistake. I won’t hesitate to tear this place apart.”I jolted awake, the harsh reality cutting through the fog of unconsciousness. My lungs burned as I forced air down, each breath a struggle. “Rockan,” I breathed out weakly, though I knew no one could hear me. He had come to find me, and tears stung my eyes at the realization. The weight of my situation pressed down on me, but a flicker of hope ignited in my chest. Determined to escape the dark corners of this room, I scanned my surroundings. The dim light barely illuminated the space, but I could make out the remnants of the broken glass that had earlier wounded me. Wounded me? I thought I had miscarried my baby.Bruno must have cleared the room, probably thinking I would use a sha
Bruno’s POV “Son, you have to hide, quickly!” My mother burst into my room, her face pale and fear-stricken.“What? Why?” I questioned, my mind still foggy from the alcohol. The haze was lifting, but it left a lingering confusion in its wake.“He’s here,” she announced, her voice trembling.“What? Who?” I was still piecing together the situation, my heart racing.“The masked Alpha,” she replied, her eyes wide with panic.“Fuck,” I cursed under my breath as I rose to my feet, adrenaline flooding my system. I rushed to the window, glancing outside to confirm her words. My heart sank as I saw him—Rockan, striding into the pack house like he owned the place, with Freya trailing behind him. The sight of her ignited a firestorm of anger within me. Betrayal coursed through my veins, making my vision blur. How could she? After everything we had been through, after everything I had done for her, she chose to stand with him. My world spiraled out of control, and the walls of my room felt lik
DENARA’S POV I blinked awake, a dull ache pulsing through my head and radiating over my body. Panic surged as I tried to move, only to find myself firmly bound to a chair. The cold, hard surface pressed against my back, and my wrists felt raw from the silver-like ropes digging into my skin. Memories flooded back—the last thing I remembered was Bruno's face, twisted with anger before everything went dark.“Bruno,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. The betrayal cut deeper than the pain in my head. My heart ached not only from the physical torment but from the realization that I had been taken—kidnapped by someone I once trusted. The words he said echoed in my mind. Why would a person hate her own sister so much that she would perpetuate her and her husband’s murder? I shuddered at the thought, my heart racing. I had always believed family was supposed to protect one another, not destroy. “Sevyn?” I called out softly, hoping my wolf would respond. It felt as if a heavy fog