Nox’s POV I’d spent more than half an hour soaking in the icy water, trying to wash off the heat of the night, the tension that had clung to me. Cold water, cold wine, and more than a few curses muttered under my breath as I tried to unwind. Needed it after the night I’d had. I knew what the rogue leader wanted—a test, to see if I’d stoop to bedding a rogue. And I’d given him exactly what he expected. Just enough scent and spectacle to play the part. A convincing ruse. Now, he thought he had me, held by a bargain that gave me just enough leverage over him. For now, I’d play his game. Before Willa, none of it mattered – pack, rogue, omega – they were all the same to me. Just another cog in the lust of heat. In the machine I controlled. But she? She wasn’t something to be controlled, couldn’t be. The goddess had finally thrown a mate my way, and it was someone like her – someone as defiant as a wildfire. The bond was maddening, gnawing at m
Nox’s POV Silence settled across the council table, heavy and tense. Eyes flicked from one face to another as Deacon sank into his seat, forced into compliance under the weight of my command. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table, and let a slow smile play across my lips. “I want to extend my apologies,” I began, voice smooth but with an edge sharp enough to draw blood, “for my words earlier. Maybe I was too direct. I didn’t mean to accuse anyone here of incompetence. That’s hardly the issue, is it?” I let my gaze linger. “But I do urge each of you to review your ministries. Find the traitor among us. Bring them to me—alive, preferably.” A few glances shifted nervously, and I noted every flicker, every quick inhale. They might not have realized it yet, but this was all part of it. I wanted to see who squirmed, who reacted. And I knew, when the meeting ended, someone would make a move. I’d set the bait, and now, it was just a matter of waiting.
Willa’s POV I was furious, seething in a way that had my skin practically buzzing. He couldn’t even answer me—couldn’t admit the truth. I should have seen it coming, yet part of me, the foolish part, wanted it to be real. I wanted him as my mate. I wanted to believe there was a chance, some version of a happy ending where I got my pack, my life, maybe even him. But Nox? Vad had said he’d softened, but I was starting to see who he really was. Damn it. "I guess the bargain was never part of this—your scheme," I said, my voice dripping with bitterness. Silence. His lack of response was all the answer I needed. I turned, determined to leave this mess behind, but he grabbed my arm. “Willa, wait.” I spun around, fury radiating from me. "What do you want, Nox? Tell me. You couldn’t even answer my questions, which tells me everything I need to know. So what is this about? What do you want?” “Because I care!” His voice boomed, catching me off guard.
Willa’s POV He slowly infixed his hand under my back against the table. His hard-on pressed against my contre and a gasp flew from me. My legs fell open, granting him access. Swiftly, he flipped me so that my back was to him and my face was against the table. He unfastened my zipper and tossed the dress from my body. “Nox—” “No one is coming,” he rasped. I felt his lips against my ass cheeks and my breath hitched. “Fuck!” He lifted me and made me bend against him. My ass to him whilst I leaned onto the table. He cupped my breast from behind and then slid his finger into me. A low cry escaped me and my knee bucked. He was fucking me with his finger with no restraint this time. I felt him descend and kiss my cunt then he added another finger followed by yet another cry. “Nox…. Nox!” My eyes widened when he added another finger. A low sound vibrated from his throat and I swallowed a moan. Leafing me over, his mouth collided with my own and I t
Willa’s POV I couldn't move. It wasn't just sex. It wasn't just the act itself—no, it was deeper than that. In a way, it broke through the hatred I had carried for what I’d become. Despite the stories and curses that had chased me, here I was, and none of it seemed to hold power over me with him. Maybe the goddess had a hand in this, or perhaps Nox was simply untouchable by fate. But whatever the reason, I’d done it with him. It was as far as I’d let myself admit. Too good. Too real. Nothing else would ever compare, yet I had no idea where this left us. Maybe there was no reason to worry about that now. I’d said it myself. No title. Nox lifted me off the table, cradling me in his arms. He’d managed to pull on his pants and slip me into his shirt. I couldn’t help but glance back at the table, a grimace forming as I pictured the council’s faces if they ever found out. How could I sit through another meeting, knowing what we had just done on that table?
Willa’s POV I awoke to the creak of old wood above me and the faint singing of birds filtering in from outside. Blinking away the haze, I took in my surroundings: a shabby, rusted ceiling and the faint smell of moss and fresh water. Soft white furs and worn woolen blankets covered the bed I lay on, oddly luxurious for such a run-down place. I sat up, a sharp ring echoing through my ears, making my head throb briefly. A sudden, shrill whistle sounded from outside, jolting me to full awareness. I swung my legs over the bed and stumbled to the door. Standing by the stream, Vad was calmly holding an eagle on his arm, his fingers brushing its feathers as he fed it a small fish before releasing it into the air. From this angle, he looked exactly like Nox. No sign of that smirk that now tells him aside. Bare-back, he wore only his pants and a pair of weathered boots stained mold at the edges. The moonlight caught on the sheen of sweat tracing his back, highlighting
Nox’s POV I could sense Hunter's approach even before he made a sound. A familiar gait, steady and confident, though tonight there was something… urgent. He pushed open the door to my study, arms crossed, his gaze serious. "I've got a report," he began, with a tight grin, "and a not-so-good one." I arched a brow, feigning amusement. "That's how you welcome your Alpha back? No fanfare? No 'glad you survived the night, Nox'?" He smirked, a wry glint in his eye. "Surviving’s just part of the job description, isn’t it?" I leaned back against the edge of my desk, folding my arms. "Alright then, let’s hear it. What's the good news?" "We got word about those people you're looking for," he said, voice dropping to a murmur. "A blacksmith mentioned them. Said he nearly freed them himself." My eyes narrowed. "And?" Hunter shifted, hands slipping into his pockets. "Apparently, they were sold. To a slaver—a circus slaver, to be exact. Barely looked li
Willa’s POV “Davina, darling,” Vad drawled, his voice a lazy purr. “Could you pass the loaf?” Davina handed him the bread, her gaze flickering my way just briefly. She was quiet, but her loyalty to him was clear in every careful movement, like a shadow that refused to be shaken. “How’s your soup?” Vad asked, his attention settling on me. “It’s... fine,” I muttered, barely touching it, just tracing the rim of the bowl with my spoon. Vad’s brow arched. “You’ve barely taken a bite. Davina put a lot of effort into it, you know. You wouldn’t want to insult her.” “Or maybe it’s poisoned,” I replied flatly, meeting his gaze without a shred of humor. A sudden, sharp thud echoed through the room as Davina, seated further down the table, slammed her fist down and stood, her face darkened with offense. Without a word, she stalked over, picked up my bowl, swapped it with her own, and sat back down, resuming her meal without so much as a glance my way.
Willa’s POV I watched as relief flickered across Nox's face—subtle enough that weeks ago, I wouldn't have caught it. Now, I was learning to read the micro-expressions that crossed those sharp features, the tiny tells that betrayed his thoughts. "You all were late," I said, adjusting my robe more tightly around myself. Water still dripped from my hair—and my scalp still hurt. The plan had been simple: appear vulnerable, draw out whoever was working against us from within. And it had worked—perhaps too well, considering the attempted drowning in my own bathtub. But I knew Nox well enough by now to suspect there was more to his and Vad's absence. He never made a move without multiple purposes. "Had to take the long way back," Nox explained. "Needed to ensure we weren't followed." Beside him, Vad cocked his head, a small grin playing at the corners of his mouth as he watched me. "Besides," Nox continued, clicking his tongue, "you had Astrid and Davina
Willa’s POV The air was tense on the front porch of the pack house, the crisp bite of the evening brushing against my skin as I stood beside Astrid. My arms crossed tightly over my chest, I couldn't help but watch Nox and Vad standing a few steps ahead. Their postures were strikingly similar—broad shoulders squared, heads held high— And then there was her. Davina. She lingered too close to Vad, her hand brushing his arm as if staking some unspoken claim. I wasn’t sure what her purpose was. Was she going with them, or was she just here to see him off? Astrid adjusted her stance beside me, the soft creak of her leather boots catching my attention. She was dressed simply for once—brown leather pants and a loose, long-sleeved shirt. But I knew her well enough to see past the simplicity; beneath those flowing sleeves and tucked into her boots were a small arsenal of daggers. She shifted her weight slightly, wincing as her injured shoulder protested. "Seems
Willa’s POV "Home?" The word escaped me like a challenge. "What do you mean, home?" The aftermath of Eamon's revelation churned inside me like a poisonous brew. Emotions twisted and coiled, threatening to break through the fragile barrier I'd constructed. Eamon's claims about my father—they burned, not with divulgence, but with a fury that threatened to consume everything in its path. What if the claim was true? The thought flickered and died. Truth or lie, nothing could justify the devastation. Not what he'd done to me. Not what he'd done to Astrid. Not the cubs torn from their mother. Not the lives destroyed in his wake. I locked those thoughts away, deep in the darkest recesses of my mind. A place where emotions became weapons, where pain transformed into something. Vad's eyebrow arched. "Whoa," he drawled, his voice a silk-wrapped knife, "those frown lines could topple kingdoms." I stepped forward, I was in leather pants and a shirt now. Good fo
Nox’s POV I’d anticipated a lot of fallout, but not this. Fuck! Silence punctured the council chamber, thick with implied pressure and disbelief. My jaw clenched, muscles coiled tight beneath my skin as I watched Willa—her frame vibrating with a rage so pure, so concentrated it could slice through steel. But only visible enough for me to tell. Somehow, they had escaped—not by magic, but by conscious layout. Even with the young woman’s gifts as a seer, no strange power had intervened after the smoke flared. This had been deliberate, every step mapped out. The shockwave that came with it had sent a few Alpha tumbling. And Willa… she wasn’t startled. With all Eamon had revealed about her father, it was impossible to tell which emotion churned within her the most. Was it hatred? Wrath? For once I feared her thought. The dagger remained where it was, untouched—for now. But I knew, without a doubt, that if the moment had been hers, she would not have he
Nox’s POV The pressure in the council chamber thickened as the drunk's voice quivered, each word dragged from his throat. "I got to know Pack Leader Eamon during a raid on the eastern villages of the Moonviel Pack years ago. We were being led by Rogue Leader Thadeus then..." Finneas's face darkened, a deep frown etching lines across his forehead. "What?" The drunk's fingers trembled against the floor. "Yes, it was so brother…" He swallowed hard. "A chance encounter—or rather, an unlucky one on a full moon night. Thadeus was..." His voice cracked. "Thadeus was energetic as ever with his speeches, rallying us for the raids. It was going well at first. He was a good wolf—the only reason he agreed to that raid was because we got word of a cargo caravan moving supplies through the Cull Path." "Those were dark times. I had barely passed being a cub. Finneas remember—we had no food. Our camp was starving, wolves turning on each other. Thadeus never wanted that future for h
Nox’s POV Chaos erupted instantly—chairs scraping, claws extending, growls filling the air. "What sorcery is this?" Kora leaped to her feet. "Guards, to arms!" "Whoa, whoa!" Vad raised his hands in mock surrender, his grin mirror-identical to my own, if I was in his shoes, which I wasn't. "Everybody hold on. I'm only here in an observing capacity. After all, the host is my brother, and this is still my house." "So that's how you do it," I mused, though I'd suspected his presence. Not this early, perhaps—but my brother had clearly mastered the art of concealment even more than before. "One lost brother fighting their kind," Kora snarled. "Unforgivable." I noticed Willa hadn't even flinched at Vad's appearance, and I wasn't sure if that pleased or concerned me. Vad's smile turned cruel. "Their kind? Oh, you mean the dark roams. Yet you all managed to defeat them. There are so few of them left, they're literally extinct." "Everyone calm down," I co
Nox’s POV "Alpha, they have all arrived." Hunter's voice carried a weight I hadn't heard in years.. I turned from the window where I'd been watching shadows lengthen across the courtyard. "Tell me, what time is it?" "The moon is just starting to appear." Hunter's eyes flickered to the darkening sky, then back to me. "A fitting hour for what's to come." "And everything is in place?" I kept my voice neutral, though my wolf prowled beneath my skin, eager for what lay ahead. Hunter shifted his weight, a tell from our childhood days that he wasn't entirely comfortable. "Yes... but I still think there's more to be done, given how high the stakes are tonight." His jaw tightened. "Too many bad ideas floating around." A smirk tugged at my lips. "Those bad ideas are what makes it exciting." I straightened my jacket. "The thrill of not knowing what's going to happen next." "You're beginning to scare me, Nox." The use of my name rather than my title spoke volumes
Nox’s POV The morning sun hadn't yet cleared the mountains when I turned to Hunter. "Triple the guards around the pack house." He nodded, falling into step beside me as we strode through the corridors. The events of the previous night—the cubs, the thrall's visit—had left an unsettling weight in my gut. "The cubs?" I asked, pausing at one of the tall windows overlooking the training grounds. "Fed, washed, and rested." Hunter's expression softened slightly. "Surprisingly resilient for what they've been through. Almost... eager." I filed that detail away for later consideration. "And our friend, the thrall?" "Paid and gone. I made sure he understood the wisdom of keeping his distance from our territory." A ghost of a smile touched Hunter's lips. "We won't be seeing Dick again." "Good." We emerged onto the main balcony, the morning air crisp with the promise of autumn. Below, guards patrolled in precise patterns, but I knew better than to trust in
Nox’s POV The silk sheets whispered against my skin as I sank into my bed, muscles aching—being an Alpha was never the cushy job others imagined it to be. I unbuttoned my shirt, tossing it aside as my gaze drifted to my reflection in the mirror, noting the nearly faded scratch marks across my shoulder. Even though it’s been a day, I could still smell that distinct floral scent. My wolf prowled beneath my skin, unsatisfied with just her lingering presence. We both wanted more. "Can't remember the last time I turned in early," I muttered, my eyes drawn to the empty expanse of my bed. The last time I'd suggested she stay, she'd fixed me with that fierce look of hers—equal parts defiance and something darker that made my blood sing. Her refusal only made me want her more, and the goddess herself must be laughing at my predicament. A sharp knock interrupted my brooding. "Enter," I called out, not bothering to retrieve my shirt. Few would dare disturb me