Adriana's Point of View Things were looking bleak. I had woken up in an unfamiliar place I had no idea where it was. Clearly, I was inside, and it was a storage room based on the old boxes stacked in the corner. However, it didn't seem as if it was somewhere used often, if at all. There was a musty, rancid smell. The kind that came from rotting produce that had been decaying for years. Many years. In the room with me were five shifters. I could smell them. Four of them had been in the vehicle with me and smelled the same; fetid and gross. It stunk. It wasn't normal. The apparent leader had a completely different smell, like a regular shifter, except that he wasn't regular in any way, shape or form. "Take your contacts out," he demanded. I could feel his Alpha aura trying to overpower me and compel me to do as he commanded. It wasn't working, but I was in shock, and all I could do was stare at him with my mouth open, catching flies, as my mother used to say. My mother. The only othe
Daemon's Point of View "What do you mean Alpha Brandon uses rogues?" I asked Tyler. "Alpha Brandon from the Red Devil Pack?" "It's just a rumour," he answered. "Though it is a popular rumour." "Why would he need to use rogues?" Adam asked. "Is there any way to find out the validity of the rumour?" "Sure," I answered. "Well, probably, but that is going to take time. Time we don't have." I rubbed my neck to try and ease the painful throb from Adriana's mark there. That wasn't the only pain. For some reason, my wrists hurt as well. However, there was an empty hole in my heart from missing her." The trip back to the pack took almost an hour. While that wasn't much time in the space of things, it felt like a lifetime. I wanted to get started finding Adriana as soon as possible. We would have to have a meeting straight away when we got back. It meant having Mitchell there, but he needed to help fix this. When we entered my office, I could still smell Adriana's scent in the room, thoug
Adriana's Point of View Alpha Brandon finally came back into the room. I don't know how long it had been since he left, but it seemed like hours. Even though there was no bed in the room, I managed to fall asleep lying on the wooden floor. I was starving and sore. The agonising throbbing in my neck was getting worse. To make matters worse, I had fallen in love with Daemon, and his betrayal left a void in my heart. "Here is some food," he sneered, dumping a tray on the floor next to me. "Enjoy it while you can." "And what do you mean by that?" I asked, absolutely sure that I didn't actually want the answer, but at the same time, some sick sense of wanting to know made me blurt it out. Brandon just laughed at me as if he were well aware of what I was thinking. I sighed, thinking he wasn't going to tell me what he had planned. Whatever it was, I was sure it would end in my death. Would that be such a bad thing? Wow! How had I gone from hoping for a chance to escape all the way to won
Daemon's Point of View The following two nights were hell. The nerve-wracking waiting for all the trackers to come back and report, hoping that at least one person had found Adriana. I knew it would take time for them to find her. A lot of preparation was needed for all the trackers to minimise their scent so they weren't putting themselves in danger. I totally understood this, but this was my mate and their Luna in trouble, and I was having difficulty reconciling priorities. Adam coordinated between the commanders, ready to put attack plans into action as soon as we had found her. Tyler spent his time organising the other work I would usually do. It was very remiss of me, but I couldn't concentrate on anything other than getting Adriana back. Tyler was also consoling me between jobs and ensuring Theo didn't take control and attack someone... anyone. "Alpha. Tyler. One of the trackers has come back. He thinks he's found her," Adam mind-linked us. "Meeting in my office now!" I order
Adriana's Point of View It had been two days that had passed since getting dragged off the bus. I was sure of it. At least Brandon is feeding me. I get two small meals daily, which consist of dry bread, some form of cooked meat and stale-tasting water. I was undoubtedly used to tastier food, but it is better than nothing. Prisoners can't be choosers. I know the saying was “beggars can't be choosers”, but I refuse to beg. My hands were still cuffed and causing welts. Despite this, I was not tied down in any other way, leaving me free to wander around the storage room. In one of the visits, Brandon gloated that the welts were caused by the silver handcuffs. I already knew this and told him so. He flipped his lid and had a massive meltdown. Easily riled piece of shit, although I might have used the word "doh!" while telling him. The look on his face when I laughed at him. At times, I thought my mum was nearby in spirit. Where I had felt like giving up before, I now felt like I would no
Daemon's Point of View We were in position. It had been torturous creeping up on the old packhouse like that, but we had managed it without getting detected. I only hoped we would be there in time, although if we had seen Brandon and his henchmen act, we would no longer have bothered creeping. With the full moon out, it was bright, and with our shifter senses, it might as well be daytime. So far, nothing had happened, but we still stayed in our positions, ready to attack. I took note of my surroundings in case there was someone else we hadn't accounted for. On one side, there was the large packhouse. Some other smaller buildings surrounded the open flat area on the other two sides. We were hidden on the fourth side, where there was long grass and some trees. All of the buildings were rundown, and it was noticeable that they hadn't been occupied for the last 18 years. It wasn't long before something happened. We watched Alpha Brandon enter the storage shed with the unknown woman, an
Adriana's Point of View "We are coming to rescue you." What? Moments ago, I had wished that Daemon was here to help rescue me, but I wasn't expecting it. So when he mind-linked me, I was shocked. For starters, the wolfbane compound I'd been given had finally worn off enough that I could hear him. Maybe, I could hear and talk to my wolf, though she still wasn't responding. Secondly, it was astounding that he was still trying to mind-link to me. Why on Earth would Daemon say that he was going to rescue me? I just couldn't comprehend why he would want to contact me or know that I needed rescuing, let alone come and rescue me. "Why?" was the only thing I could think of asking him. "Adriana, you are my mate. Of course, I would come and rescue you." I guess being fated mates wasn't something he could easily throw away, even if he wanted to. How would his new Luna feel about this? Surely it would have been better for them to let me go. Not that it mattered. There was no way I was going
Daemon's Point of View In our wolf forms, Adam and I raced towards Adriana, Alpha Brandon and the witch. Adam reached the witch before I got to Brandon and leapt at her. I could see she was fast, probably due to magic, and had managed to dodge his first attack. I was sure he would be fine, though, and I left him to it so I could focus all my attention on Brandon and Adriana. As I got into combat range, Adriana stopped kicking and hitting Brandon and turned partially to face me. I could see she was puffed and needed to catch her breath. It was not surprising because, with her hands cuffed in what looked like silver, she appeared to find it hard to keep the attacking momentum going. Not to mention, she was probably in pain from the silver touching her. Brandon had been clutching his throat the whole time I was coming at him, something that Adriana had done to him. Seeing that she had stopped attacking and had turned away from him, he fumbled with something on his right side. Suddenly,
Adriana’s Point of ViewThe early morning light filtered through the grand windows of the packhouse, casting long golden streaks across the polished floors. I stood at the centre of the great hall, surveying the final preparations for Lucienne’s Luna ceremony. Stephanie had stepped up to help me organise it, along with the head Omega.I could hardly believe it. My darling daughter was having her Luna ceremony this evening. Every detail had been meticulously planned, and every flower arrangement and piece of decor was placed with precision. The Omegas bustled quietly, their movements efficient, their expressions glowing with pride.“Mum,” called Lucienne as she came down the stairs.“I’m glad you’re awake. Have you had breakfast yet?” I asked.“Just about to,” she answered.After breakfast, I had planned for her to have a day of pampering. I was well aware of her aversion to most things feminine, but she had agreed to the spa treatment I had organised for her, Danielle, Annabelle and A
Lucienne’s Point of ViewThe office was finally quiet, but the silence felt heavy, almost suffocating. The weight of everything that had just unfolded lingered in the air, pressing down on me as I sat between Marc and Cole. Their presence was steadying, but my thoughts churned with the complexities of what lay ahead.Marc’s voice broke through the stillness, soft yet insistent. “Lucienne.” His hand reached out, his touch grounding me. “We need to talk about what’s next.”I shifted my gaze to his, his piercing blue eyes steady and filled with concern. “I know,” I said, my voice firm despite the turmoil inside me. “There’s no running from it now.”Cole leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his body coiled with protective tension. “We’ll protect you, Lucienne. No matter what happens, no one will touch you. Not Beatrice, not Elizabeth, not anyone.”I believed him. Truly, I did. His words resonated with the conviction I had come to trust. Offering them a faint smile, I let the s
Lucienne’s Point of ViewThe tension in the room was almost unbearable as Jeremy leaned back in his chair, the altered photo now replaced with its original. He had a big smile on his face as he cast his monitor to the office TV screen. The air crackled with barely restrained anger, the collective rage of the Alphas, my parents, and Marc and Cole’s father filling the space.Marc’s jaw clenched as he glared at the unaltered image displayed on the screen. “Beatrice,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous.Cole was less composed, slamming his fist against the table. “She dared to drag Lucienne into this—to humiliate her like this?”My father, King Daemon, was simmering, his powerful presence looming as he folded his arms. “The sheer audacity. This was not only an attack on our family but also on the future Luna.”Queen Adriana, calm but no less furious, turned to Jeremy. “Post the original photo on all pack social channels. Make it clear that Lucienne was the victim of this manipulation
Beatrice’s Point of ViewMy heart sank. I couldn’t believe my mother’s words. “Leave? But—”“There’s no other choice,” she snapped. “If you stay here, you’ll be locked up in the cells before sunrise. And don’t think for a second that I’ll sacrifice myself to save you.”Her words stung. Some mother she was, but I knew she was right. “Where am I supposed to go?”Elizabeth sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as if speaking to me was an unbearable chore. “There’s a rogue named Rodney. He was an associate of your father before he… met his unfortunate end. Rodney owes me a favour. He’ll help you—for a price.”I stared at her, stunned. “You expect me to run to some rogue and beg for help?”“You don’t have a choice,” she said coldly. “Rodney can get you out of the pack’s territory and keep you hidden. I’ve stashed money in several places—enough for you to buy his silence if necessary.”Elizabeth scribbled down an address and handed it to me. “Go there. Take the money, find Rodney, and sta
Beatrice’s Point of ViewThe walls of my room felt like they were closing in. Michaela’s pacing grated on my nerves, but I couldn’t show it. Not now. I needed to stay calm, composed, and in control. Even though my heart was pounding and my palms were clammy, I refused to let her see how badly things were falling apart.“Stop pacing,” I snapped, my voice sharper this time. Michaela froze mid-step, her wild eyes locking onto mine.“Do you even realise how screwed we are?” she hissed, her hands gesturing wildly. “That tech guy—James… Jeremy or whatever his name is—he’s exposed everything, Beatrice. Everything! They know it was fake. And now they’re talking about us all over the pack! We’re finished!”I rolled my eyes, masking the unease twisting in my gut. My hands itched to wring something—anything—to release the tension coiling in my body. “They don’t know anything for certain,” I said, forcing my voice into the cool, detached tone that always worked to keep Michaela in check. “Rumours
Lucienne’s Point of ViewI felt their stares long before I saw them. The weight of jealousy and resentment hung heavy in the air, a palpable tension that seemed to press against my skin. It wasn’t hard to guess where it came from.Beatrice and Michaela.Their presence alone was enough to make the atmosphere shift, the air thick with their unspoken animosity. I could almost feel their eyes on me, sharp and judgmental, like knives slicing through the crowd. Every time I moved, I could sense their gaze following me, each glance laced with disdain.Beatrice’s was the worst. Her hatred was like a quiet storm brewing just beneath the surface, held back by the thinnest veil of civility. Her eyes, dark and calculating, constantly scanned me, looking for any weakness she could exploit. Michaela’s, on the other hand, was more evident in their venom. She didn’t try to hide her disgust, the sneer on her face ever-present, her body language tense with barely contained aggression.Michaela was pred
Beatrice's Point of ViewSitting in the corner of the grand hall, I felt the familiar heat of resentment burning in my chest, twisting and coiling like a venomous serpent. The festivities for Marc and Cole's Alpha ascension were in full swing, an endless parade of opulence and celebration. Laughter echoed through the cavernous space, the clinking of glasses blending with the rustle of silken gowns and sharp suits. But amidst all the luxury and grandeur, my focus was drawn to one thing, and one thing only: her.Lucienne.What was so special about her? My jaw tightened as I watched her glide through the crowd with ridiculous grace. She wasn't even beautiful. Too tall, too muscled, too… intimidating. That wasn't what a Luna should be. A Luna should be soft, delicate, someone who brings a sense of calm—not someone who commands the room like a damn soldier.The very sight of her made my blood boil. Dressed in a gown that shimmered like moonlight, her presence was enough to draw every eye i
Marc’s Point of ViewThe ceremony hadn’t even started, and already, my patience was wearing thin. Ryan and Lochlan couldn’t keep their damn eyes off Lucienne, and it was taking everything in me not to let Cassius, my Wolf, now Lycan, surge to the surface and make our position clear.It wasn’t just the way they looked at her—the subtle smirks, the lingering glances, the way they angled themselves to be closer to her. It was how they spoke to her, all charm and thinly veiled admiration.“She’s ours,” I growled through the mind-link to Cole.His jaw ticked as he responded, “Trust me, I know. But we can’t afford to lose control. Not tonight.”Cassius rumbled his discontent. He hated that we were holding back and not marking our territory more obviously. But I knew better. Tonight wasn’t about flexing power or giving in to primal instincts. Tonight was about stepping into our new roles as Alphas, showing the pack—and the visiting Alphas—precisely who we were.Still, as I glanced at Lucienn
Cole's Point of ViewThe warmth of the morning sun barely filtered through the thick canopy of trees surrounding the packhouse as I stepped out onto the balcony, my muscles still humming with residual energy. Last night's run through the forest with Marc and Lucienne had been like nothing I'd ever experienced. Completing the mate bond with Lucienne had already left me feeling whole in a way I couldn't describe, but shifting into my Lycan form? That was something else entirely.I leaned against the railing, staring out over the clearing. Every part of me felt sharper now—my senses heightened, my body stronger, and my instincts more primal. I'd heard stories about Lycans, of course—their strength, agility, the uncompromising dominance they commanded. But no story could've prepared me for what it actually felt like.I heard footsteps behind me, pulling me from my thoughts. I turned to see Marc coming through the French doors. He stepped out onto the balcony, already dressed and looking a