Katherine POVMy whole life, I've been planning the perfect escape. I was born a lowly Delta in the goddess-forsaken South, but I always knew I would rise to Luna one day. There was only one person that stood in my way, Kiera.My parents were fools to take her in as a child. She ruined everything for me, and they never cared how she got everything that was meant to be mine. I wished I had the courage to kill her years ago. Now, none of that mattered. I made a deal with the devil, and I would reap all the glory, finally.On my way to meet Elizabeth, I witnessed another punch to the gut, though. Not only was my sister a little whore, she was a dumb one. I heard her and Alpha Chase fucking like wild rabbits; then she rejected him. She had the three strongest Alphas that ever walked our lands as her mates, and she chose to reject them. I didn't understand why the goddess blessed such a stupid woman with so much. It was clearly wasted on her. What a fool my dear sister is. The power she
Drake POVI held my brother's wolf in my arms; his desperate cries of agony were gutting my insides. Kiera had rejected us. I felt her reject Chase, and now, compounded with River's rejection, my insides felt like lava was melting every part of my being. I wasn't sure we would survive a third rejection."Kiera, don't." I pleaded with her, pain enveloping my body. Our eyes locked into each other, and I bared my soul to her. She can't do this to us. "We can fix this, make it right. Just let me explain." My words were full of hopelessness, and her eyes held no concern for any of us. We betrayed her trust, lied to her, and used her. Kiera would never forgive any of us."There is nothing to fix. There is no right in this world anymore. Goodbye, Drake." She jutted her chin in the air to show confidence when she felt none. I knew my perfect little doll better than she would ever know, and I knew exactly what her following words would be."I beg you, Luna. Don't do this. I don't think we will
Drake POVAfter an excruciating journey to the barracks, something that should have taken me five minutes, I found my brother lying in a ball on the floor. I bent to his side, my hand burning to his touch."Brother, what is wrong?" Concern laced my tone as I looked him over. He appeared to be dying, but a rejection can't do that."I had already rejected her." He cried, arms wrapping tighter around his stomach. "Why would you..." I paused, realizing he didn't reject her today but when we first met her. He could only accept her again if she did first. My eyes scanned over his neck; a faded mark was blackened on his skin. "She marked you, then rejected you." I thought out loud."The pain. It's fucking gutting me, Drake." His voice was a whine of despair."I'm sorry, Chase. I'll get you through this; we will all get through this." I shook my head as I watched him cry in agony. "You're burning up. We need to cool your body." I squatted and took a deep inhale to prepare myself. I wasn't as
Kiera POV"Are you ok?" Becky asked for the hundredth time."I'm fine," I said through the pain. Three rejections in one day were too much for me. I tried to bury the agony, cracking my bones and ripping apart my muscles, but it was eating away at my soul. The look of all three brothers was etched in my brain. I crippled them, left them too weak to hold their own for days."We can go back. The South isn't going anywhere, Luna." Andy was now on my right side. "No, we can't go back," I said confidently. If I went back, I would never leave. My bond with them was too strong. The pain I felt was enough to make me give in. I knew if I accepted them, then all this would wash away, but then I would be bound to them forever."At least let one of us carry you." Andy pleaded with me. I was barely walking on my own. Each step felt like my tendons would tear apart. "I know you are all concerned. I'm fine, though. The rejection will pass, and we will be at our strongest again." I stopped walkin
River POVMy body was on fire, melting away from the inside out. I had no way to stop the pain. All I could do was try and endure it. Drake's hand ran through my fur, offering the comfort of our brotherhood, and then I felt his strength fortifying my bones. He was an idiot that knew this would end him. I heard voices around us but was too far gone to comprehend what was happening. Suddenly, a surge of power ran through me. Drake poured everything he had into me, and Chaos growled viscously that my brother would be so stupid to sacrifice himself for me. I wasn't deserving of this world, and I should be the last to be spared. 'Rip his throat out and eat her heart.' Drake commanded, and then his body fell to the side. I turned to face a woman and a man looking surprisingly at me. They thought they could take advantage of our weakened state, and now they will pay. No one hurts my family. I lunged at the man, tearing a chunk of skin from his shoulder. The woman grabbed my fur and pulle
Kiera POV"Be prepared for anything," Andy warned everyone as we officially crossed over from the North to the South. The landscape alone was vastly different, almost like a line drawn between rich and poor. In the North, despite lower privileged areas, basic needs were still met, ensuring a semblance of comfort. As we ventured into the South, the landscape shifted dramatically. The once lush grounds dried rapidly, devoid of any traces of snow or cold. Desolation stretched as far as the eye could see, with barren lands offering no hope for vegetation to thrive. Not a single animal roamed, and the absence of rain for weeks had left multiple villages in utter shambles.Along our journey, we conversed with many souls, extending offers of hope and peace in the distant lands of my former pack-house. Some greeted our words with reluctance, clinging fiercely to the only home they had ever known. Others viewed us with suspicion, branding our message as that of a cult and driving us away fro
Katherine POV"That wretched woman ruined everything!" I shrieked as I stomped my foot in frustration. I had the Alphas in my grasp. Ending them would ensure my rise to Luna. "Everyone always ruins my plans. Why can't they see I'm the rightful leader."Marcus laughed at me as he walked out of the bathroom. The gushing wound from his neck was finally healed. "Rightful leader? You're a child playing with fire." He taunted, and I narrowed my eyes at him."I'm the one giving you this opportunity. Don't forget you need me to be more than some subpar Alpha of the South.""Watch your mouth!" He growled. "I am an Alpha, and you are nothing without my mark."I clenched my jaw in annoyance. He was right. I can never be Luna without an Alpha since my parents were lowly Deltas. I had to make him believe I needed him more than he needed me, even though anyone could see that simply wasn't true."I want to be yours, Marcus. I keep myself untouched for the strongest Alpha. Take me and mark me." My v
Kiera POV"What is happening?" I rushed to Karen's side as she hollered on the floor."That disgusting Alpha did it again." Becky spat out, her hand gently brushing through Karen's hair."Did what?" I asked as tears left my eyes. Karen was in so much pain, and I had no idea how to stop it."Her Alpha is taking another." Elizabeth's fingers brushed over her mark."Marcus!" I growled out."Marcus? Is that Karen's mate? He was with Katherine." Elizabeth's eyes enlarged at the realization. Katherine was mating with Marcus. She knew all those marked by Marcus would feel this pain, and I'm sure she didn't care in the slightest. I knew more than ever I needed to let her go. "Reject him!" I demanded of Karen. Heat warming inside my skull."Your eyes!" Becky leaned away from me. "They are glowing."She's the one!" Whispers circled me, but I ignored them all."Karen!" I shouted her name, grabbing her face to look at me. "Reject him!" I ordered her."I... can't. It's hurts too much." She waile