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,
Daemon's Point of View "Bring Doc over. Adriana has been stabbed with a silver blade. She isn't healing," I mind-linked to Tyler. "On our way!" he replied. Shit, shit, shit! There must have been something on the blade that is stopping her from healing. I held Adriana in my arms while trying to keep the wound closed. Adam came over and picked up the knife, smelling it. "Smells like wolfsbane," he said. "That'll be why Adriana can't heal. Her wolf will probably be dormant. Hopefully, it wasn't a large dose, but Doc will be able to tell." Fuck! Wolfsbane can be fatal to humans and wolves. If the dosage is large enough, it could kill not only her wolf but also her. If it is wolfsbane in her system, then there is no way she'll be able to use mind-link and shift into her wolf. Still, most importantly, she won't be able to heal as fast as was typical for shifters. She would only be able to recover like a fragile human. I continued to hold Adriana in my arms while we waited for Tyler and
Daemon's Point of View "Well, congratulations, Alpha. Your mate is pregnant." What? I couldn't believe my ears. Adriana was pregnant, and that meant she conceived during her first heat. I didn't know whether to be happy or sad. Given the way the doctor was congratulating me, I decided to at least act happy. "I need you to put a lid on this," I said to him. "I think Adriana and the family need to know before this becomes general knowledge. I will announce it at some stage soon. Doc nodded and left the room. I held Adriana's hand thinking about the news. The idea of having a pup wasn't horrible. It was just I was wondering what Adriana would think about it? Would she be happy or sad? We hadn't even discussed the Luna ceremony, and now a pup was on the way. Would Adriana even want a pup at this stage? We hardly knew each other and hadn't done much to cement our relationship. Correction... I hadn't done a lot to cement the relationship. If I had, Adriana wouldn't have run when she saw
Adriana's Point of View I was alive. Well, at least I thought I was. After all, if I wasn't, I was sure it couldn't hurt this bad. My left side still stung from where Alpha Brandon stabbed me with his knife. The wound was throbbing and aching. Why hadn't I healed fully yet? "Calliope?" I asked, hoping she would still be there to answer me. "Calliope?" She didn't respond, but I could feel her. It was like she was curled up, sleeping in the corner. There was also another sensation. Someone was holding my hand. I heard a groan. Was that me making that awful noise? Yes, I thought it probably was because I then heard Daemon asking me a question. What was he saying? "... are... awake?" I groaned again. It was definitely me making that sound, and it was Daemon who was holding my hand. "Adriana, are you awake?" he asked. "Water, please," I croaked. Although I hadn't opened my eyes yet, I was sure it was Daemon giving me a drink of water. I could feel the straw on my lips, and when I s
Mitchell's Point of View Two days ago, I rang Leon, my contact with the Council of Alphas and explained what had happened. They were unhappy that we hadn't informed them prior to going in to get Adriana, but at least Leon understood why we couldn’t wait. Leon advised me that he was sending someone to come and get the bodies. Then within the next week, they would send a representative to do a full investigation. I made my daily trip to the medical centre to see if Adriana was awake. I could have mind-linked Daemon, but considering how strained our relationship had become, I wasn't willing to risk him telling me to stay away. I was completely aware that our issues were mainly due to me and my interference in his life. If only he could see that my actions were due to my love for him, despite how much I had fucked up. Just like Daemon will need to make it up to Adriana for his part in this, I would too. My actions had put her in danger. The very opposite of what I intended to do. To mak
Elizabeth’s Point of ViewThe chill in the air seeped into my bones as the guards marched me from the packhouse room to the cells. The walk wasn’t long, but it felt like an eternity—a gauntlet of humiliation hammering home how far I had fallen.Entering the pack prison, the guards’ heavy boots thudded against the cold stone floors, a steady, merciless rhythm that echoed in my ears. The frigid air wrapped around me, biting at my skin and worming its way into my core.Though I walked with my chin high and shoulders back, I couldn’t shake the heat of their gazes—guards, warriors, even pack members who had dared peek from doorways. Silent witnesses to my disgrace. Once their Luna, now reduced to this. Each step felt like dragging iron weights, yet I refused to falter. My pride was the only armor I had left.The sharp clang of the iron door jolted me from my thoughts. I didn’t resist as the guards shoved me inside, though every movement I made was deliberate and controlled. My posture rema
Adriana’s Point of ViewThe room where Elizabeth awaited her fate was dim and unwelcoming, its sparse furnishings and plain white walls starkly contrasting with the lavish surroundings she had once commanded as Luna. Two pack warriors stood guard at the door, their expressions unreadable but their stances alert. Inside, Elizabeth sat stiffly on a plain wooden chair, her back straight and her chin raised in defiance. Her once-impeccable appearance was fraying; her outfit was wrinkled, her hair slightly out of place, but her pride remained intact.When the door opened, Duncan entered first, followed closely by Daemon and me. Duncan’s face was set in a grim mask, though a flicker of pain crossed his features as his gaze met Elizabeth’s. She didn’t flinch, but her icy blue eyes narrowed, her lips curling into the faintest sneer.While I could just as easily adjudicate the proceedings, I was happy to let Daemon take control. “Elizabeth,” Daemon began, his voice cold and authoritative, “you
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
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