Tyler's Point of View As he emerged from the back of the restaurant, Daemon's face looked troubled. Adriana, the stunning pianist, was trailing behind him, her expression equally sombre. The tension between them was palpable, casting a shadow over the otherwise fantastic evening. "This is Adriana, and she will be returning with us tonight.," Daemon announced to us. As I looked at Daemon, I lifted my eyebrows in surprise. However, he responded with his usual grumpy expression, devoid of any emotion. As we stepped out of the restaurant, the chilly evening breeze hit us, causing me to shiver. We started walking towards the parking lot. Daemon and Adriana walked ahead of me, seemingly in a hurry, and I followed him closely. We finally reached our cars, which were parked side by side, and I fished out my car keys from my pocket, ready to head home. Since Daemon refused to divulge any details, I made the decision to shift my entire focus towards Adriana. I believed that if I gave her my
Adriana’s Point of View Tyler turned in his seat to face me and asked, "Have you found your mate yet, Adriana?" I froze. How was I supposed to answer that? Daemon... No, I don't want to refer to him by his full name unless he accepts me as his mate. That meant not only saying his name but thinking about him in any other terms. Alpha Daemon had made it quite clear that I was not allowed to tell anyone he was my mate. Was I to say no, and lie? Was I to say yes, and then have to answer questions about why I wasn't with my mate? I decided not to say anything at all and left the Alpha to reply to that one. Of course, he hadn't answered Tyler's question, or at least out loud. It hurt and angered me simultaneously that he wouldn't acknowledge me as his fated mate. I still don't know why he insisted on bringing me here. If he didn't want me, he should have just left me behind to go on with my own life. Tyler continued talking to him, "So Daemon, where did you say Adriana was staying?" Goo
Adriana's Point of View When I arrived at the packhouse last night, I had only ever seen it once from the outside. It looked relatively grandiose but also a little forbidding, all three storeys of it. Now I was going to be able to see the inside of it, and I still found it forbidding. I didn't want to be here. We walked through the main front entrance, with a massive open area. Tyler explained that this was where they would entertain or have large gatherings. There were doors to other rooms on either side of the open space, but Daemon led the way upstairs. "On the second floor, you will find the Alpha's office, as well as the Beta and Gamma's bedrooms," Tyler continued. "She doesn't need to know where your bedroom is," Alpha Daemon snapped. Tyler smirked at his comment. Shit! Does he know? I wondered if he'd been told, though it would make sense that if anyone else knew, it would be the Beta. Tyler stayed on the second while both the Alpha and I continued up to the third floor.
Tyler's Point of View Last night I was pretty sure that Adriana was Daemon's fated mate. The way Daemon was acting made it seem very obvious. This morning at breakfast, he told me that he wanted me to go and get Adriana's gear from her flatmates' place. Adriana looked like she was a deer caught in headlights. I guessed that her having to move her stuff in here was the nail in her coffin, like she realised she wasn't leaving here. "Adriana, you'll need to tell me your address and give me your keys so I can get your gear," I said to her. "I will need to call them first and let them know that you are coming," she answered sadly. She went out of the room to call them. While she was out of the room, I asked Daemon, "Are you sure this is what you really want?" "Are you questioning what I am wanting you to do?" he snarled. "You have to admit you are not acting the way you normally would," I countered. "I don't want to get into it right now," he answered. "Just do as I ask without ques
Daemon's Point of View "Why are you keeping me here when you don't want me as a mate?" Why was I keeping her here? It was obviously against her will, but I just couldn't let her go. I thought I didn't want a mate and surely didn't need one. A part of me suspected I was wrong. The mating bond was more potent than I realised. "I never said I didn't want you as a mate," I told her. "Effectively you did, by not acknowledging me as your mate or allowing me to acknowledge you," she responded. When I first laid eyes on her, I thought Adriana was the most captivating woman I had ever seen. Bewitchingly beautiful. With her light brown hair up off her shoulders, I could see her flawless back. I wanted to run my tongue and taste her. Would she be as tasty as an orange? Then there was her heart-shaped face and those kissable pink lips. Or maybe I could fist her hair while tasting her lips. Rogue or not, I wanted to take her there and then, but then it hit me. I had thought she was a rogue. I
Adriana's Point of View "No buts! I am the Alpha, and you will obey me. Now, if you are ready, I will take you through some of the jobs I wish you to do." Those were the last words he would say about why I had to be here. I'd spent much of the morning talking to Daemon. His office was as sparse as the bedroom I was sleeping in. Daemon seemed to be into minimalism, or maybe this was a male thing. I didn't own much either in the way of gear. In the centre of his office was a large, well-looked-after desk with a pile of papers in front of him. Behind him was a floor-to-ceiling bookcase partially filled with books. Bringing my attention back to Daemon, I was still in the same horrible situation I was in last night. I wondered whether this growing sense of dread and sadness would ever go away. It was like a waking nightmare. The only thing he would talk to me about was all the paperwork he wanted me to do for him as his personal assistant. First, I went through all his emails, sorting
Daemon's Point of View I had been sitting in my office trying to focus on my work, but my wolf, Theo, was grumbling at me about how I spoke to Adriana. "You need to speak nicely to our mate," he whined. "She will think you don't like her, and that is all on you." I tried to ignore him, but her scent was driving me wild. I could still smell her scent even though she had left the room about an hour ago. As for thinking I didn't like her... To be honest, I didn't know what I thought about her. On the one hand, I didn't want a mate, but she was my fated mate, and we were only ever given one of those. She was mine. On the other hand, she was indeed the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Beautiful on the inside as well as the outside from what I could see. "Go to her," Theo begged me. "Go to her and tell her we want her." "Bloody hell Theo," I growled, "I am trying to work here." "Go to her before you damage the relationship entirely," he growled back at me. I tried to ignore him
Adriana's Point of View Although it had only been a night, I missed my piano. I guess it was because it represented something concrete and normal in my life. Everything else was all in the air and far from the ordinary. After practising the piano for a couple of hours, I decided that I needed to get a pre-dinner snack. When I got to the door, I could smell that Daemon had been standing by it recently. That was strange. I wonder why he didn't come in? He smelt of chocolates with a hint of a forest, which set Calliope off. She wanted me to go to him. I didn't know how to make her understand that Daemon didn't want us as his mate. "His wolf does, so he will," she kept telling me. "It's not that simple," I replied exasperatedly. I was learning that a wolf's base nature was such that they didn't understand the nuances of human relationships. Regardless of whether our wolves wanted each other or not, if Daemon didn't want me as his mate, he would reject me. I just didn't know why he h
Lucienne's Point of ViewI took down the three warriors effortlessly, including their Gamma, who put up a decent fight but was ultimately no match for me. He would have been their top fighter, except maybe the Alphas, but he didn't have my training. It might have been a tad unfair since I wasn't a Wolf-Shifter like them, but they needed a reality check.As they rose to their feet, dusting themselves off, the humiliation was unmistakable in their expressions. Their eyes avoided mine, and their jaws clenched with the sting of defeat. The fact that a female had beaten them only deepened the shame and disgust written on their faces. Clearly, this wasn't something they'd soon forget—or forgive."Let me handle this," my father's calm yet commanding voice echoed through our mind-link. He had noticed the intense, uneasy look the warriors were casting in my direction—a mixture of shock, resentment, and bruised pride. His tone carried the subtle authority that had always made him such a respect
Cole's Point of ViewLucienne was here in our suite, changing her clothes. My wolf stirred restlessly, eager to claim her, to make her ours in every possible way. Marc and I had waited so long, dreaming of the day we'd finally have our mate at our side, leading our pack. But now that Lucienne was here, the reality was even more consuming than we'd ever imagined. Her strength, her loyalty, her fire… she was a perfect match for us in every sense.As if sensing my thoughts, Marc turned to me with a smirk. "You're as restless as I am," he murmured, his voice filled with anticipation."Can you blame me?" I replied, my gaze drifting to where Lucienne had stood only moments ago. "She's perfect. I don't know how we ever lived without her."Marc nodded, his expression softening. "Soon, brother," he promised. "When the time is right. We'll mark her together."The thought was both thrilling and humbling. We would be bound to her, our souls intertwined. And with Lucienne as our Luna, nothing coul
Elizabeth's Point of ViewI found Beatrice sitting stiffly on the edge of the packhouse couch, her friends scattered around her, gossiping to distract her from Lucienne's latest insult. But the fury that simmered in Beatrice's eyes told me their words weren't making a dent. The humiliation Lucienne had dealt her still festered, a wound no soothing words could heal. And if I had my way, it would fuel the fire I intended to stoke."Leave us," I ordered her friends with a pointed glare. They glanced uneasily at each other before retreating, understanding enough to avoid my temper.I liked that everyone obeyed me. Everyone, that is, except Duncan and his sons. I could feel my face scowling, and I couldn't have that. Scowling made faces wrinkle and look old.Once we were alone, I assessed her carefully. Her chin was down, her posture defensive—pathetic. This wouldn't do. I needed her sharp, cold, and controlled."Don't let that stupid bitch win," I snapped, refusing to let any hint of symp
Elizabeth's Point of ViewI watched the pack's eyes trail after Lucienne as she entered, their gazes fixed on her like moths to a flame. It grated on my nerves—the fawning admiration, the way they seemed captivated by her every movement. This outsider had barely set foot into our world, yet she now commanded the attention of everyone, especially my stepsons, Marc and Cole. She had them under her spell, bewitched by her so-called strength and honour, all wrapped up in that carefully composed grace that seemed to draw people in without her lifting a finger.It was disgraceful, really. The way she carried herself, the way she flaunted her so-called strength as if it were some prize for them to chase. I'd seen how some of her own warriors looked at her, their eyes lingering just a second too long, betraying the kind of desire she seemed to stoke so effortlessly. And Lucienne, with that loose, careless smile, surely didn't mind. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if she finds her way into mor
Marc's Point of ViewShe came! Our mate came with the Royals, and we claimed her in public in front of the pack members present. I took it as a good sign that she didn't reject our advances. The King announced Lucienne as the future Gamma to the King. That was surprising. She was the one who would be evaluating our warriors.Gamma Ellis wasn't going to like that one bit, and there was nothing he could do about it. Lucienne was the Gamma of Gammas, undeniably the best warrior in our generation. To get that position, she would have needed to battle multiple opponents in the arena, some of them Alphas from other packs. Rumour had it that she was better than the King and Crown Prince.The King introduced the other members of their entourage and holy shit! Most of them were royalty of different species. Neither Cole nor I knew that Danielle was friends with such people. I reckoned that Beatrice wouldn't have been such a bitch to Danielle if she had realised.When we sat down for lunch, the
Duncan's Point of ViewThe moment the King and Queen stepped onto our pack lands, I sensed their raw and undeniable power. I had anticipated strength, of course. They were royalty, chosen by the Moon Goddess herself, then transformed into Lycans, much like the human movies portrayed—half beast, half human.Their reputation as a formidable pair was well known. But this? This was beyond anything I had imagined. Their presence wasn't just commanding; it was like an energy that pulsed through the air, seeping into the earth beneath our feet. Every wolf on our territory felt it, an instinctual recognition of the true power standing among us.The King's aura radiated a steady, unyielding strength, his gaze sharp and all-knowing. Beside him, the Queen was equally powerful, if not more, yet hers was a strength layered with grace—a silent but dangerous force, much like the calm before the storm. Together, they were a sight to behold, embodying everything a pack could desire in its leaders. As
Marc's' Point of ViewAfter training, I followed up on my mind link to Cole and gathered the younger members, including those who had looked hopeful during Cole's speech. Since none were warriors, I had to mind-link them to return to meet me in the training hall.When they arrived, the hall buzzed with nervous energy as they exchanged glances. It took patience and a lot of careful words, but eventually, they opened up. Beatrice and her posse left a lasting mark on this group, which was mainly composed of young teenage females. I could see the instilled fear and self-doubt. Many shifted uncomfortably, casting wary glances around as they finally shared their stories, revealing the extent of Beatrice's manipulation and cruelty."It's true," one of the younger females, Mallory, said, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes darted around the group before landing on me with a mix of fear and relief. "Beatrice and Michaela… they make life difficult for anyone they disapprove of, especially
Cole's Point of ViewFirst thing in the morning, we sought out Danielle's mother, Stephanie. "We found our mate last night, and she is friends with Danielle," said Marc."Congratulations," she answered. "Danielle stayed with her friends last night. Which one of her friends is your mate?""Her name is Lucienne," I gushed.Raising her left eyebrow, she warned, "You will have a strong Luna indeed. Be prepared for changes. She is not one to mince words, and there are some things that happen around here she will not like. She has a high moral compass."Good. I wasn't worried because things needed to change around here.After breakfast, as the warriors and many other pack members who were training with them gathered for a routine training session, I took the opportunity to address them. The non-warrior pack members would also include many females, although it wasn't compulsory for them to train, as it was for the men.The decision to integrate females into training had been our idea and had
Marc's Point of ViewAs I watched Lucienne stride out of the club, her every step brimming with authority, I felt like a force of nature had passed through. She was fierce, with a powerful presence that was impossible to ignore. The way she stood up to us, unyielding—that kind of strength was rare. And beneath it all, she was breathtaking, her beauty undeniable even as her words cut sharp.Cole stood beside me, his gaze fixed on the empty doorway Lucienne had just walked through. His jaw was tense as if he were trying to hold back the swell of emotion that had overtaken him. He swallowed, a flicker of something like awe passing over his features, and then he finally spoke, his voice low and almost reverent. "Our mate… she's incredible." He ran a hand over his face as if trying to piece together what he'd just witnessed. "I mean, I always imagined my mate would be strong, but Lucienne… she's beyond anything I could've pictured."He turned to me, his eyes searching mine as if hoping I'd