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 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 half-moon hung like a silent witness in the night sky, its silver light spilling through the broken window where I stood. My fingers clutched the silk bedsheet around me, the fabric cool against my flushed skin. But something profound had shifted between us moments ago—I'd heard his voice in my mind, clear as crystal: Mine. Mate. The words still resonated in my chest like the lingering notes of a song. Only true mates could share thoughts, feel each other's emotions through that sacred bond. It wasn't supposed to exist between Nox and me—yet there it had been, as real as the cool night air kissing my skin. My wolf prowled beneath my skin, remembering how desperately she'd wanted his mark. The thought should have terrified me—marking was sacred, an irreversible claim between true mates. Instead, my skin tingled with the memory of his mouth against my throat, and how right it had felt. But he never did mark me. Warm lips brushed my
Willa’s POV The words hung in the air like poison—"Not to count Kael... his death was tragic, but he had it coming." My heart constricted, a physical pain so intense I thought I might shatter. Eamon hadn't killed Kael. I had. The guilt crashed over me in waves, drowning rational thought. If only he'd distanced himself from me, if he'd walked away, he might still be breathing. "How do you know all of this?" The question escaped my lips, a fragile whisper barely holding together. Damien's lips curled with a cruelty that made my skin crawl. "Because I helped him. I made all of your potential mates quit." The casual way he spoke—as if erasing lives was nothing more than a mundane task—ignited a fury deep within me. He hadn't suffered. He hadn't lost everything. I had lost my friends, lost Kael, lost the only person who had truly understood me when it mattered much. "Kael was weak," Damien continued, his voice a clinical dissection of my past. "He was never g
Astrid’s POV Damn this shoulder. The medics in this gods-forsaken pack might have been skilled, but the wound still throbbed with a vengeance whenever I dared move carelessly. It's been throbbing like a stubborn reminder of everything that's gone to hell. Still, the sting on my shoulder was a minor nuisance compared to the chaos this whole drama has brought. Tiring. If it were up to me, I'd have taken the simpler route. Find Eamon. Put a blade to his throat. Ended this shit weeks ago. No drawn-out drama, no unnecessary casualties. Just clean, precise elimination. But no, the Alpha had other ideas. Grand, sprawling plans that always seemed to draw more blood than they saved. Even so, those schemes were beginning to bear fruit, though. Like moths to a flame, the rogues were rallying. One shared enemy—a clever tactic to dissolve their generational hatred, sure. But the cost? Too damn high. I hissed under my breath as another jolt of pain shot through me
Astrid’a POV The moonlight spilled like liquid silver across the pack house roof, casting long shadows between weathered slate tiles where I perched precariously, one leg dangling over the edge, the other bent beneath. My sanctuary. My moment of peace after a day that had been nothing short of a goddamn circus. I'd swiped the bottle from the kitchen—a rich, dark vintage that promised to burn just right—alongside a plate of fruit pie that smelled like home. The pie was divine. Flaky crust, hints of cinnamon and apple, probably baked by one of the pack's elder women who still believed in the comfort of traditional cooking. Not that I cared about traditions. A soft scuff against the slate. "I guess you found my secret spot," a voice drawled, a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through the night air. Vad? I choked mid-swallow, the wine burning a path down my throat. Of course. Because the universe has a sick sense of humor, and Vad was it
Nox’s POV My wolf snarled beneath my skin, a restless beast caught between primal satisfaction and mounting irritation. Hunter's persistent mental prodding was like a goddamn woodpecker hammering against the fragile peace I'd carved out in these stolen moments. Fuck. I tightened my arm around her waist, breathing in the intoxicating blend of her scent—something between wild floral and something entirely her. My mate. A truth I'd yet to fully articulate, a secret coiled tight in my chest like a serpent waiting to strike. The bond thrummed between us, a living thing that demanded acknowledgment. My wolf growled internally, warning me. Tell her. Claim her. Make her understand. But some instincts ran deeper than wolf law. And this? This required patience. Another mental prod from Hunter. Sharp. Insistent. I ignored it. Her breath remained steady, her body curved perfectly against mine. One hand was tangled in my hair, fingers unconsciously tr
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
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