« CLARA » "Andromeda," Ravenanna discloses. "Andromeda, the pack witch of the Dark Howl pack?" I scoff, although I'm not surprised, there is still anger bubbling inside of me. Ravenanna nods grimly. "Yes. Andromeda orchestrated the whole thing. She framed Mom and convinced the council to exile us."Shaking my head in disgust, I say, "I’m not surprised, I already suspected her even before you told me." It was indeed true… Andromeda had always seemed suspicious to me, and the witch always gave me the creeps every time I saw her with that ever-present smile of hers. "But..." I pause, narrowing my eyes as I voice out my thoughts. "Who helped her? Who else was involved?"Ravenna appeared hesitant to reply for a second, staring intently at me, I could decipher the look on her face as she was inwardly debating if she should tell me or not. "Your stepmother. Tiara.” She eventually reveals, tightening her fists on her lap. What! I gasp before I could stop myself, my blood running cold,
« CLARA » With the help of the rogue nurses, I am being carefully placed into a wheelchair. Ravenanna has suggested we take the car, which would be the fastest way to get to the pack house, but instead, I tell her I want a small walk. Since I cannot make use of my legs yet, a wheelchair is provided for me. Standing behind me, Ravenanna grips the handles firmly and she leans down to my face, her voice whispering softly to my ear. "Ready?""Hm," I bob my head at her, and then we begin our slow journey out of the pack hospital. The moment we reach outside, the cool air hits my face, and despite feeling weak, I can't help but breathe in appreciatively. It feels so good to be out of the confinement of the hospital. Also, since I was a child, I hated the smell of sterile, medicines, and everything else that comes with it. As enjoy our leisurely walk, I can't help but notice how completely different this whole place is from any pack I have ever seen. What made me even more surprised w
« CLARA » The air in the corridor of the pack house becomes thick with tension. "Shantel, why don't you mind your business and leave this place," Ravenanna snaps at her, stepping forward in front of me. Seeing her defending me, I feel a wave of gratitude toward my best friend, but the situation seems to be spiraling out of control as Shantel scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest. She’s standing a few feet away from me, her gleaming green gaze settling on me, and her lips curling into a sneer. "Ravenanna, are you openly going against me because of this evil wolf?" she spits, her eyes narrowing on me. I stiffen, hearing her directly calling me an ‘evil Wolf’ causes a chill to run down my spine. Surely, the news about who I truly was was beginning to spread so fast like wildfire in the Rogue pack. If not, how did she know? "Stop, Shantel!" Ravenanna's voice cuts through my thoughts, and she snaps angrily at her. "I know Clara, she's not an evil wolf, so stop spreading rumors."
«CLARA» I lower my head, visibly relieved that it has all ended.Ravenanna limps over to me, her arm still pressing against her wound. "Are you okay?" she asks, concern softening her face."I should be the one asking you that," I reply softly, reaching out to touch her arm. "Rav, you got hurt because of me, I beg you not to ever do it again.""Clara, Shantel is a bitch!" She snaps, still fuming. "I won’t stand by and let her or anyone talk about you like that."I sigh. "Thank you, Rav. But I need to figure this out on my own. If staying here puts the people in danger or makes enemies within it, I’ll leave. I won’t let anyone get hurt because of me, I'm not worth it."Ravenanna grounds her teeth but doesn’t argue further with me. Instead, she nears me, careful not to jostle her injury. "Come on, let's get you settled in."I nod but before leaving, I turn my wheelchair and face Brandon. "If you don't mind, could you please bring the first aid box for me?""Of course, I don't mind," Bra
«CLARA» The silence in the room is deafening. Staring down at the book, my hands tremble I brush my thumb over the drawing on the page. It's the drawing of a crescent red moon, the very mark that has defined my fate for as long as I can remember.Traveling my eyes downward beneath the drawing, I carefully read every word written below, each one seeping deep into my chest.Years ago, before the arrival of the next generation, a prophecy foretold the coming of a special child born under the red Moon. She's born of true selflessness and love and would possess a unique power capable of uniting and strengthening all the werewolf packs. She shall bear the crescent red moon mark on her arm. Not everyone will have it, as the mark is rare, special, and powerful.Wait… what?I gasp, shocked, my heart pounding so hard I think it might burst out of my chest.My breath hitches as I reread the words, trying to make sense of them. Could it be true?“This…” I trail off, murmuring to myself, shak
« ADRIAN »Tonight is the annual pack celebration, a grand event that brings together alphas and their packs from across the countries.The cool evening air brushes against my face as I walk toward the Pack Hall with long strides, one hand in my pocket and the other absently scrolling through my phone. As I approach the entrance, the pack guards bow deeply at me. I pocket my phone and nod at them before stepping inside.The grand hall is alive with music and laughter. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling, casting a warm glow that reflects off the polished floors and glittering decorations.The moment I enter, the chatter dies down, and all eyes turn to me. One by one, they stop what they’re doing and bow, showing their respect to me… the Alpha King.My black tailored suit and towering build make me stand out among the crowd. I exude authority as I move through the hall, exchanging brief pleasantries with other alphas. My senses are sharp, picking up every sound and movement around me.
« THIRD’s POV »Ophelia slips back into the bustling grand Hall, her eyes searching for Adrian, but she can't find him.Earlier, she had expected him to run after her when she deliberately ran away. She wanted Adrian him to chase after her. But he didn't. Disappointment rises in her chest.For once, she had believed that their relationship had improved. Or was it all her illusion? Does Adrian still think about Clara?Ophelia's eyes turn cold at the thought of it. Just then, she catches sight of her mother walking towards her from across the hall. Tiara reaches her daughter, her eyes full of concern. “Ophelia, where have you been?”With a flick of her wrist, Ophelia quickly wipes away any signs of distress from her face. She doesn’t want her mother, or the guests, to notice anything out of the ordinary. “Nothing, Mother,” she replies with a forced smile.Tiara sighs and begins to redo Ophelia’s hair. “Your father and I have been looking for you. Where is Adrian?” she asks, her ey
« CLARA »Days pass, and I am finally getting better. My legs have healed, and I no longer need the wheelchair. It feels good to stand on my own again, to walk without help. Savanna and Ravenanna have been by my side through it all, making sure I recover well. They never leave me alone, always making sure I eat, rest, and heal properly. I am grateful to have them. Without them, I wasn’t sure how I would get through this.Now, I am in the rogue pack’s library, surrounded by books loaded up high on the wooden table in front of me. I have been coming here every day since I learned the truth about the crescent moon mark on my arm. Everything I had been told, everything I had suffered for a month now, was built on lies. I wasn't the evil Wolf but someone else was. But that is not enough. Although I'm getting closer to the truth, I could sense there was more to the story, I can feel it in my bones. For some reason, I’m curious to know who she is and I'm bent on finding out. I narrow
«THIRD POV»She stood still, her face slowly her smile slowly fading.The warm feeling in her chest turned cold and heavy. That was it?That’s why he grabbed her?Her hands shook a little as she stared down at Lusaka. Her heart beat fast, not with love, but with bitterness. She wanted to shout. She wanted to ask why it was always about Clara! But instead, she gave a fake smile, a cold and tight one that it almost hurt her cheek. “Of course,” she said, pretending to be calm. “It’ll be our little secret.”Even though deep inside, it made her blood boil.Lusaka looked at her, his eyes sharp and cold like ice. “Jasmine…” he said slowly, as if warning her.That made her snap.“What?! Huh?!” She yelled, her voice shaking with anger.She picked up the bowl beside the bed and threw it hard. It hit the floor and water splashed everywhere. But she didn’t care. She didn’t even look at it. Her eyes were only on him now, burning with pain and rage.“Lusaka told me to seduce Adrian!” she shouted
«THIRD POV»“Bastard!” Adrian roared, his voice dark and guttural, not entirely human anymore.Without hesitation, his form exploded into his massive black wolf, Magnus, fur shimmering like obsidian, eyes burning like molten gold. Lusaka, in his brown wolf form, lunged toward him in response, snarling ferociously.The clash was violent. Two powerful wolves with too much hatred, too much fury, and too much to lose. They collided with a sickening crash that sent vibrations through the ground, sharp claws slicing the air, fangs gnashing and tearing. The sounds of snarls, snapping jaws, and bone-jarring impacts filled the air, drowning out even Jasmine’s terrified cries. “S-stop!” She shrieked, scrambling backward, tripping over herself as blood sprayed across the floor. Both men pounced violently, wrestled, and slammed each other into the walls, the stones cracking beneath the weight of their savage bodies. Deep fissures split the walls as dust and debris fell like rain.Magnus w
«THIRD POV» After Clara stormed away, Savanna and Ravenanna hurried after her, worried about her. Ravenanna was calling her name frantically as she disappeared around the corner. “Clara, wait!” The tension left behind in the packhouse was suffocating, thick enough to choke the air from anyone who remained.Adrian stood rooted in place, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned bone-white, his chest rising and falling with ragged, furious breaths. His jaw clenched it hurt, his amber eyes burning with a dark rage as they settled on Jasmine.She was trembling now, her face pale and terrified under his lethal glare. Staggering, she took a cautious step back, her lips quivering as if she wanted to speak, to beg, but no words came. Her whole body shook visibly.“You just signed your death warrant!” Adrian snarled lowly, his voice like gravel, rough and sharp. Then he seized Jasmine’s arm roughly, yanking her forward with such force that she gasped aloud and eyes wide with fea
«CLARA’S POV»When I woke up in the hospital ward, the first thing I felt was pain. A dull, throbbing ache that seemed to pulse with every beat of my heart. My belly hurt the most, a sharp, stinging reminder of what Ophelia had done to me. I winced, my hand moving instinctively to the spot where she stabbed me. The bandages were tight, and the skin beneath it felt tender, raw.But thanks to whatever pain relief Brandon had given me, it was bearable. I could breathe without wanting to scream.The last thing I remembered was Adrian catching me just before everything went black. His arms around me, the sound of his voice–panicking, desperate, calling my name. It should’ve been Lusaka in my mind, but it wasn’t. It was Adrian. And when I opened my eyes, hoping—maybe even expecting—to see him sitting beside me, all I found was Lusaka.I don't know why but a wave of disappointment which I hadn't expected hit me. Meanwhile, Lusaka was smiling so wide, his eyes glistening with disbelief as
«ADRIAN’S POV»I was stunned when my eyes landed on Jasmine. She was standing at the doorway of the packhouse entrance, half-hidden in the shadows behind the elder woman like she wanted to disappear. But it was too late, our eyes met. And I saw it. That look. Fear. Guilt. Panic. She was terrified of me. What the hell is she doing here?! My gut twisted. It was then I realized she must be living here, in the rogue packhouse. Only the high ranking wolves gets to live in the packhouse. Does that mean she knows Clara? That was very much possible and I had this foreboding feeling building inside of me. Jasmine wasn’t just some ordinary she-wolf like I once assumed. Fuck! I should’ve known. I should’ve followed my instincts when I first sensed something off about her at the bar last night. But before I could even move toward her, a voice pulled my attention.“Alpha Adrian,” The older woman in front of me spoke, her voice familiar, it was soft and gentle. I took a step closer to her
«ADRIAN’S POV»“We have to stop them!” I growled low, my voice rough and frantic as I spoke into the phone. “Do anything, Ryan. I don’t care how, you have to stop Marcus! Delay him. Sabotage the damn trucks, blow their weapons stash, fake a threat, I don’t care!” “Adrian…” Ryan was hesitant. I knew he was scared of being caught. But I fucking don't care. I can't sit and watch Marcus and the rest of the alpha attack the rogues and take Clara. I would be damned if that should happen! “Ryan,” I sighed and spoke intensely into the phone. “The rogues aren’t prepared. Clara… Clara’s hospitalized.”There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line. “What?!” Ryan’s voice cracked in shock and he blurted out. “Hospitalized? What happened to Clara?!”I sighed heavily again, dragging a hand down my face, the weight of everything crushing against my chest. “She’s currently injured, Ophelia attacked her.”There was a long, thick silence. I could hear Ryan’s breathing shift,
«ADRIAN’S POV»The first thing that hit me was the headache. A splitting pain that made me groan deeply, my hand instinctively going to my head. The bright ray of morning streamed through the car windows, making the space feel like it was spinning. I slowly opened my eyes, blinking against the harsh light, only to be greeted by a bare naked image that froze me in place. What the fuck?I was half-naked, sprawled across the front seat of my car, my hairy chest exposed and covered in sweat. Turning my neck beside me, a woman lay there, her hand resting boldly on my chest. A soft, content smile played on her lips as if we were some kind of lovers. I could barely breathe as my mind raced to understand what had happened… Fuck! The reality of the situation slammed into me like a freight train. What the hell was going on?“Hey!” I growled in disbelief, pushing her away with more force than I meant. Her body jerked as she fell to the other side of the car, a surprised cry escaping her
«ADRIAN’S POV»I glared at her. “Not interested, Jasmine.”She threw her head back and laughed, eyes twinkling as she rested her elbow on the bar, eyes never leaving mine.“Why Alpha Adrian?” She drawled, trying to act sexy enough to tempt me. I gave her a sharp glance, my voice flat. “How do you know me?”She shrugged, taking a sip. “Everyone knows who you are. The big bad Alpha. Killer of kings. Breaker of rules. Heard a lot about you.”I huffed, downing the rest of my drink. “Well… ‘they’ clearly don’t know shit.”Jasmine leaned in again flirtingly, her perfume too strong it gave me a headache. “I dunno… you look exactly like the stories say. All brooding, dark, and tragic.” She grinned playfully. “But… I see it in your eyes. You’re not as heartless as they think.”I scoffed, motioning at the bartender for another drink. “Don’t pretend you know me.”She raised a brow. “I don’t have to. It’s obvious. Men don’t drink like that for no reason.” She tipped her head at me with curious
«ADRIAN’S POV»I meet his glare, his eyes full of fury and grief, and for a second, I don’t recognize myself. The man I used to be would’ve fought him, would’ve claimed what he thought was his.But now…“I’m not here to take her, Lusaka,” I grind out, my voice rough, my throat tight. “I just… I need her alive.”The rogue king scoffs bitterly. “You didn’t care about that before, did you? Back when you left her bleeding the first time.”His words are a blade in my chest. I stagger back a step, guilt heavier than anything I’ve carried before.“I made mistakes,” I admit hoarsely, my voice breaking, “I made the worst fucking mistake of my life. And I’ll regret it until the day I die. But don’t you dare think I don’t want her breathing right now.”Brandon curses again, working faster as he checks her pulse frantically. “Come on, Clara… stay with us, girl. Don’t give up now.”I can’t take it.I move closer, just a step —Magnus howling, desperate to touch her, to feel her heartbeat, to know s