CHAPTER 50Willa’s POV The moment I bolted outside, the rain still pouring in relentless sheets, a violent shiver racked my body. The tension from inside had kept the shivers at bay, but now they rattled through me, shaking my bones … but… if there was even the slimmest chance Eric was alive, I had to find him. No one dies— "Eric!" I shouted into the storm. "Eric, where are you?" My boots squelched in the mud as I rounded the base of the watchtower, heart pounding in my chest. The rain plastered my stray hair to my face, and I impatiently shoved it aside, scanning the area desperately. “Eri—” I rushed, nearly tripping over my feet as I found him under the shadows, collapsed against the wooden pillar. My breath caught in my throat. His face was pale, too pale, and his eyes were half-closed, barely clinging to consciousness. “Eric!” I fell to my knees beside him. My hands hovered over his body, unsure where to begin. There was so much blood. "No, no, no," I m
Nox’s POV My heart slammed wildly. It had never beat this hard for anyone. Truthfully, I only meant to warm her, just to take the chill off. But my wolf… hell, my wolf wanted more, and seeing her shiver and tremble like she could collapse at any moment made me wonder why I had let her come with me in the first place. She wasn't built for this—may have been forced to learn to survive but still, this cold, this fight. She shook harder, her body rattling so much I feared she’d pass out right then and there. But I couldn’t call her out on it. It wasn’t my place, not when we were both stuck in this mess. And I know coming along meant something to her. It had to. Yet, it surprised me that she agreed to lie beside me on the couch, and I might have just dug my own grave. Whatever her reasons were, I wasn’t about to question them. It was good she accepted. But my body betrayed me. I’d tried to hold it back, my wolf, my desire, those thoughts, and needs… but they al
Willa’s POV I smacked my palms against my cheeks, the sharp sting doing nothing to ease the heat burning across my face. My face felt like it was on fire, and I knew without looking that I must be flushed a deep crimson. What in the goddess's name had I been thinking? I could blame the cold, the rain, the heat from his body... that's all it was— But deep down, I knew better. I wasn’t thinking straight. It wasn’t just the cold, and I couldn’t pretend it was. The way I had ground against him, the way my body had responded to his touch—it had nothing to do with survival. I had wanted it. Desperately. I closed my eyes, biting back the flood of embarrassment. More heat coursed through me as I recalled the feel of his fingers, his knuckles grazing my breast, circling my nipple. I smacked my face again, harder this time, and let out a frustrated scream that echoed off the tiled walls. “Stupid, stupid, stupid," I berated myself. "You were so selfish you ne
Nox’s POV "Keep an eye on the old man," I instructed silently, focusing on the pack bond that thrummed like a living thing beneath my skin. "I want everything … who he meets, where he goes. And make damn sure you're not noticed." The reply came swiftly. I could practically taste his thoughts through the bond. "And if you get caught," I added, my mental voice as cold as the winter wind, "I'll kill you myself. Understood?" A pause, then the spy's confirmation rang back in my head. I was about to sever the connection when Viktor's voice came from behind me. "Alpha? A word?" I turned, eyeing the medic. His face was drawn, worry lines etched deep around his eyes. "What is it?" "Eric's condition," Viktor said, his voice low. "Should we inform his family?" I considered for a moment, weighing the potential fallout. "Go ahead," I finally said. "But not a word to his mother. The news might just kill her. Give the command to his siblings.” Viktor no
Willa’s POV “Walk with me,” the priestess had said, her voice as gentle as the breeze that rustled through the leaves. I fell into step beside her, my fingers fidgeting with the hem of my shirt. The fog had faded but the day wasn't that bright still. Even though I needed this, my mind was elsewhere, still reeling from the events of the past few days. I'd searched for Nox earlier, desperate to talk to him after he visited my room, but he was nowhere to be found. Or maybe I was trying to distract myself from the fear of what the priestess's words may be. I was terrified, to say the least. And now here we were, wandering the pathways of the garden, her robes whispering against the ground with every step she took, my stomach in knots. I had questions, ones that gnawed at me relentlessly since our last conversation. "I've spoken with the elder priestesses about our previous conversation," she began, her eyes fixed on the path in front of us. "About the... cu
Willa’s POV The moment I closed my door behind me, the thick scent of her heat clung to my skin like a second layer. I’d only been here a few weeks, yet somehow, this had fallen into my lap—an Omega in heat and no wolf of my own to guide me through this. I wiped my brow, the sweat beading there was less from the warmth of the room and more from the anxiety gnawing at me. I moved to tuck the blankets tighter around her when a sharp knock at my door made me flinch. I didn’t expect visitors. Least of all him. Hunter. The last person I imagined would stand at my door. His scent hit me before his voice did—sharp, yet somehow grounding. I hesitated before answering the door, my hand frozen on the knob. Hunter never came to this side of the wing. Ever. I swung the door open. "Gaia’s in there, isn’t she?" I blinked. “How did you—” He didn’t bother answering. He didn’t have to. I’d underestimated him. Gaia’s scent may not have been strong enou
Willa’s POV The room felt colder than the first time I’d been in here, though that might have been because of Nox. His presence had a way of making the air denser, stifling, like the calm before a storm. It was the same room I had been brought to after the maids had scrubbed every trace of grime from me. The telescope by the far window still stood in the same position, collecting dust, maybe not, but seemed forgotten, much like everything else in here. I glanced at him, catching the sound of glass clinking against glass as he poured himself a drink—no, two. He didn’t offer words, just handed me the glass, the faintest trace of a smirk playing on his lips. It was the kind of smirk that made you question if he knew more than he let on. I took the glass, narrowing my eyes. “So, when exactly were you planning on telling me about your plan?” “What plan?” I frowned. “Don’t play dumb with me, Nox. I know now you’re planning to go after the rogues—using them. W
Willa’s POV I reciprocated with wanton abandon, sliding my tongue against his, my nails digging into his skin leaving little crescent shapes that disappeared almost immediately. My hand left his shoulder to tangle itself in his hair and he groaned as I pulled. I’d yearned for this for days now. The touch, the warmth, I missed it. Fuck, I missed it. And it was more maddening that it was him. I was really kissing him this much, how I desired. I pulled, tilting his head back to sweep my tongue against his just as I wanted. “Fuck!” He cursed, and that sound did something to me. My body jerked and I felt him tense, forcing a whimper to leave my lips and I paused, lips still against his, not moving. He didn't push it. A kiss, I’d been given the kiss I requested. But— I clamped my legs, holding the damn sensation that was burning there, wanting to be touched, to be felt. I wanted more. More. I finally dragged away enough to look up at him. His e
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