NOX’s POV I strode into the receiving room, my footsteps echoing against the glossy marble floor. This was where I entertained high-ranking guests—other Alphas, mostly. But the Alpha of Moonveil had never been one of those guests, at least, not until now. Eamon rose to his feet, his wife following suit a beat later. Moonveil pack. The name had been cropping up with alarming frequency for my liking ever since mylittle assassin had arrived in my territory... The scent of fear that clung to her at the mere mention of Moonveil wasn’t lost on me, no matter how hard she tried to mask it. I saw the way her face drained of color, the desperate excuse she'd fumbled with when it was mentioned the Alpha had come. Perhaps when Draven returned, I’d have the answers I sought. Until then, I’d keep her exactly where I wanted her— I'd pay good money to know what was going through that pretty little head of hers right now. …And now here was its Alpha, standing before me day
NOX’s POV I stalked through the hallways. Maids, servants, and guards scrambled to bow and murmur greetings as I passed. Their fear was noticeable, a scent as familiar to me as my own. "Alpha," they whispered, eyes downcast. I barely acknowledged them, barely looked elsewhere other than ahead. I was searching for one thing—or rather, one infuriating woman who had the audacity to vanish from under my nose. I'd sent Hunter off to handle the tedious arrangements for the council meeting. Dear goddess, she knew just how to tempt my patience. The door to her room nearly splintered as I threw it open. Empty. The scent of her lingered, mocking me. I hissed, my wolf clawing at the edges of my control. I strutted out and headed to the library. Again, nothing but the musty smell of old books and the startled gasps of a few pack members who quickly made themselves scarce. "Terrence!" I bellowed. The old keeper shuffled into view, his rheumy eyes wide with alarm. I
WILLA’s POV The tunnel was colder than I remembered, the cold stone pressing in from all sides. My heart was pounding against my ribs like a caged animal, breath misted in front of me as I crouched in the dark, listening for any sounds above. Nothing. No heavy boots, no murmured commands. I'd slipped out of Nox's study the moment he'd left to meet with the Alpha of Moonveil pack—my uncle. The irony wasn't lost on me; while they discussed whatever nefarious plans Alphas discuss, I was plotting my own escape. For now, it seemed I had a little time before they figured out where I'd gone. I'd studied these tunnels for days, memorizing every twist and turn. It was my failsafe, my last-ditch effort if things went south. And boy, had they gone south. The dagger I'd swiped from Nox's study pressed against my thigh. An hour ticked by, each second stretching into an eternity. The lack of guards made me uneasy. Had they given up? Or was this just the calm before the storm? Mayb
WILLA’s POV "Leave us," Nox commanded, his voice a low growl that sent the maids scurrying from the room. They'd somehow managed to make my quarters look decent, though I couldn't bring myself to feel grateful. Not when I knew nothing of what was going on. I wasn't sure whether to thank Hunter for his timely arrival or curse him for interrupting... whatever that moment had been. All I knew was that I was back in the packhouse, not being sold to my uncle. At least, I didn't think so. That uncertainty coiled in my stomach. Part of me itched to know why he had come all this way. What scheme he had under his sleeve. The question burned on my tongue, but I couldn’t afford to ask. Not yet. Not when suspicion would only tighten the noose around my neck. It was the last thing I needed. I was not being dragged back to Moonveil and that was all I needed … the tension in my chest releasing just enough for me to breathe again. Those midnight eyes landed on me. "You've
WILLA’s POV “Willa," she said, her voice muffled by the fabric over her nose and mouth … low, as if she was testing the name on her tongue. My name. I blinked. How did she—? “Who are you?" My voice came out sharper than I intended. I didn’t know anyone in this pack. I didn’t even belong here. “Seeing that you're no longer in the dungeon, nor sent back there after yesterday’s event,” She ignored my question. “The Alpha must have allowed it." I stiffened, my fingers itching to reach for the dagger that was no longer there. So, I instinctively shuffled back, putting more distance between us. She knew I’d been in the dungeon. Knew about last night… How did she know all these? How? I could only think of one alarming explanation … could have been someone my uncle sent—an assassin, she looked more of it, probably here to drag me back. I shifted on the balls of my feet, gauging the distance between us. gauging the distance I would likely have to run across. Her gaze f
NOX’s POV The pressure built, white-hot and urgent. I groaned low in my throat as I reached my peak, holding her head down with one firm hand. My breath came out in hot, rapid bursts, misting the air as I clenched my teeth, stifling a growl I should’ve let out. My head tilted back, eyes closed, lips parted in silent, cruel ecstasy. The young woman on her knees swallowed everything… greedily. But even as the satisfaction crept through my veins, it wasn’t enough. It never was. For the past twenty-four hours, I’d indulged myself in this… distraction. One woman after the next, seeking something I couldn’t name, trying to burn off the edge that gnawed at me. But no matter how many bodies I took, no matter how many breaths I stole, it wasn’t enough. I still felt her. That damn scent. Her wolf— Goddess! I had sensed it, and it had taken every ounce of my strength to keep my own beast tamed. Those eyes of hers, asking for things I wasn't sure she even knew she wanted … her e
WILLA’s POV I shouldn’t have agreed to this. The thought repeated itself over and over in my mind as I followed Nox through the dense woods, my steps too loud, too ungraceful compared to his effortless strides. The men did the hunting in my pack—it was always the men who ventured into the woods, returning with their prizes slung over broad shoulders. Kael did the hunting. I wasn’t supposed to be out here, hunting had never been my forte …wasn’t trained for it, and certainly wasn’t used to this sort of tension coiling in my chest. The only times I’d been in woods like this was with Kael. My eyes were drawn to Nox's back as he walked ahead of me, just as Kael used to. I would admire him from behind—his lean frame, the way his back moved when he stepped over a ridge. But Nox... Nox was different, every muscle in his body rippling beneath his shirt as he climbed up the slight hill in front of us. His broad shoulders stretched the fabric just enough to make me wonder what
WILLA’s POV “You can’t be serious.” “And you can't seriously be upset about one rabbit.” Of course, he’d say that. Killing it for the sake of hunting felt... heartless. Pointless. It wasn't like the packhouse was running low on meat. I could still feel the weight of Nox’s eyes on me, that insufferable smirk playing on his lips as if he were amused by my discomfort. “I’m not upset,” I bit back. The rabbit was still warm, its body limp in my hands, and I hated the way guilt twisted in my stomach. Nox opened his mouth, no doubt ready with some infuriating retort, but something made him pause. His entire demeanor shifted. He wasn’t smirking or lounging with that lazy arrogance. No, his body was tense, his gaze fixed on something in the distance. Every muscle in him seemed coiled, like he was a heartbeat away from springing into action. I could almost see him straining his senses, using his wolf abilities in a way I couldn't. “Nox?” His nostrils flared, his
Nox’s POV My body coiled tight, steel cables ready to snap, every sinew screaming to tear Eamon apart. Rage crackled deep in my chest like electricity—one heartbeat, two— I didn’t even realize I’d moved until Eamon’s voice stopped me cold. “Not. Another. Step." Eamon's voice was glacial. My claws ached to sink into his flesh, my wolf howling in frustration. Willa’s wide eyes met mine, and I saw the fear there—the fear I never wanted to see on her face again. But beneath it, there was anger too, a fire that hadn’t been extinguished. It made my chest tighten, a sick mixture of fury and helplessness. “Let her go,” I growled, my voice raw and guttural. Eamon smirked, his claws flexing against her skin. “Oh, I don’t think so. You make one wrong move, and I’ll slit her throat right here.” Willa winced as his grip tightened, and my entire body tensed, the mate bond hammering through me like a second heartbeat. My wolf pushed harder against my control, despe
Nox’s POV The night pressed down like a curse, sharp and unforgiving. The air was thick, heavy with ash, and carried the weight of a thousand untold stories. It reminded me of sharp fangs sinking deep into flesh—relentless, excruciating, and unyielding. Rest was a luxury we couldn’t afford, and complaints felt pointless now. Once this ends, Willa will learn the truth about what indeed happened to the second man she had been accused of killing. Draven was on it already, and I'm certain she would get the hang of it quickly. Maybe there was a bright end to this after all. My eyes swept across the maw of the mountain. The Ash Eyes Pack. Once, they were revered. Legends spoke of their lands—a paradise enriched by volcanic soil that made their harvests plentiful and their people untouchable. But that was all gone now, like ash falling from the sky and disappearing into the wind. No one spoke of what had happened. It was as if an unwritten rule had silenced their me
Willa’s POV The Blood Moon would be here soon, I thought, tightening my grip on the hilt of my dagger. If we survived this night, perhaps we'd celebrate it at last, instead of merely surviving under its light. Maybe this time, it would bring renewal, not more bloodshed. I tore my eyes from the heavens to face the land before me: Gerald’s Way. “What is this place?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, though the tension crackling through the air ensured everyone heard me. “This,” Nox replied, his voice smooth, almost indifferent, “is where it all started for Eamon.” Vad’s lips twisted into a smirk that made my wolf bristle. “This is his true home,” he said, gesturing grandly to the crumbling castle perched on the volcanic mountain. “Where he was born.” The small castle loomed, its jagged towers stretching into the ashen sky. Steam hissed from cracks in the earth, the very air heavy with heat and sulfur. “It’s massive,” I murmured, scanning the da
Astridl’s POV How did I end myself in this situation? I could just punch him and get this over before I regret my next action. But I couldn't bring myself to say the word, to act like I used to. His eyes were still on me, waiting. Gods, he was waiting, and the thought that his eyes were this focused on me, the thought of what my answer would do to my body made me nearly curse out. “Say it, Astrid.” Goddess, why can't he just… “Give me more.” I couldn't care about what we were doing—who he was. “I am at your service,” he grunted, and then he reached between us, his finger snagging the latch of my carry-on and he yanked them off. Metal met the floor. And then the one on my thigh. More daggers off. Then he reached for my pants. He pulled on them hard enough to lift my hips. Buttons popped free, tossing onto the floor. “Goodness,” I murmured. He barked out a short, harsh laugh as he shoved my pants down until one leg was completely free, and
Astrid’s POV Once this was over, my family could finally rest, knowing the man who destroyed their lives would breathe no more. A part of me dreamed of escaping with Asher, finding a home beyond the sea—somewhere far from this chaos. This wasn’t home. It never had been. But first, there was work to be done. Willa would get her pack back. That was why I’d joined the fight, after all. And if I wasn’t mistaken, her relationship with the Alpha might not end, not even when the war ended. I knew the dynamics shifting around me. Willa would likely become the Alpha's Luna, and the tension between Starfall and Moonviel might dissolve into an unexpected alliance. Maybe even merge. Packs up north had done it before. Not that it mattered to me. My focus was singular: kill Eamon and complete my revenge. Then I'd be gone. Everything else—the alliances, the titles, the futures of others—was irrelevant. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself. I c
Willa’s POV Justin's lifeless body lay crumpled on the floor, a pool of crimson spreading beneath him. Astrid didn’t so much as glance at her handiwork as she secured the bloodied fabric back onto her hip—a lethal weapon I'd only just witnessed—gleamed with a deadly shimmer, the embedded daggers barely visible against the rich fabric. She stepped away from the mess, spitting outside the open window like it had been nothing more than a chore. I’d seen that fabric with her but never known it to be a weapon, or so. Vad, on the other hand, seemed invigorated, the gleam in his golden eyes unsettling. His gaze landed on the man who’d called Nox his cousin and that smirk of his grew. "The people you hoped would help you crawl onto the throne are nothing but weaklings," Vad snickered. He stepped over Justin’s corpse without hesitation, his boots smearing red across the floor. "You should’ve stayed in the shadows where you’ve been hiding all these years…” Vad turned.
Willa's POV The air, already heavy, seemed to grow denser as the council members filed in behind the Deacon whose face had gone several shades paler, his composure crumbling like wet paper. The unfamiliar man—their uncle, I guessed—looked utterly stunned, his disbelief written across every line of his face. My gaze flicked to Vad, who was watching him with that infuriating smirk, as if savoring the man’s discomfort. He looked like one who already regretted his move too late. But how will I know, judging that he was one of their bloodline, who knows what could exactly come off them? Only a few guards remained inside—Marcus and two others. I pulled at my sleeve. So, this had been the brothers’ plan all along? How? When? Was I kept in the dark again? Not that it mattered now. What a family dynamic. “What is the meaning of this?” The Deacon's voice cracked with indignation, like a man who'd just discovered he was nothing more than a puppet.
Willa’s POV It wasn’t that I was used to Vad’s presence—far from it. But recently, my wolf had stopped baring her teeth every time he was near. That shift meant something, though I wasn’t entirely sure what. The room felt charged, and I couldn’t tell if it was the tension or just Vad’s inherent ability to turn a space into a pressure cooker. I had come in looking for Nox, expecting a quiet moment. Instead, I found Sylvia, and to my surprise, Vad. Hunter had acted strange earlier, avoiding my gaze when he told me where to find Nox. But soon it made sense. Astrid’s expression gave it all away the moment I walked in on her. The rumor. Of course, there was always a rumor when it came to me, but this one didn’t sting. This one was different. My wolf purred at the thought, and I cursed myself as a flush crept up my neck. My sweater sleeve became an anchor as I pulled it over my palm, pretending to focus on something—anything—other than the weight of Nox’s gaze.
Nox’s POV "How do you know?" I prompted, my voice low and measured. Her lips curved—not quite a smile, more a razor's edge of knowing. "Because I can still feel that cold, shivering stare on me since I arrived. It's a sensation you don't forget.” “Unbelievable," Vad muttered, swirling the amber liquid in his glass before throwing a few into his mouth. “What?" Sylvia's eyebrow arched, a challenge wrapped in silk. "You find something amusing?" “No?” Vad drawled. “It’s always something with you. Ever so dramatic." I watched the interplay, my wolf prowling beneath my skin. Something was off. Vad's unusual calm wasn't lost on me. My twin had always been the type to unravel spectacularly when things didn't align with his vision—a mirror of my own younger self, only I'd learned to temper that rage into something more surgical. "Forgive my brother," I said dryly, rubbing my temple, feeling the beginnings of a headache. "He was dropped on his head enough tim