Zarek's POV I couldn’t believe it. All this time, I'd never found this small field behind Zara’s café. The sunlight filtered through the trees, casting a golden glow over the grass. It felt like a secret haven—one filled with the playful sounds of pups shifting and chasing each other. The field was tucked far enough into the territory that it was safe, a perfect place for pups to practice without fear.Even though I didn’t have experience with my own pups, I’d always had a soft spot for kids. They were so full of joy, their laughter infectious, their hope untainted. Watching them, I couldn’t help but wonder if Kaidon felt the same way. One day, I hoped we’d share that joy together—with our own children.“Zarek! I mean, Luna!” Zara’s voice called out, pulling me from my thoughts. I turned to see her walking out from the back of her café, her apron dusted with flour. She looked surprised to find me sitting in the field, watching the pups play. “What’re you doing here?”I grinned, though
Zarek's POVI had never seen Akiri and Zara's adopted sons in their wolf forms before. Truth be told, I’d barely seen them in human form either. Whenever I did, they’d shrink behind their mothers or vanish into their room at the café like frightened little shadows. I always figured it was just their nature.So when I stumbled upon Kaidon playing with two wolf pups, I didn’t immediately realize who they were. They seemed happy enough at first, rolling and nipping at each other’s fur. But when I took a step closer, they froze. Panic flared in their wide, innocent eyes, and then—before either of us could react—they bolted. Straight into the woods. My stomach dropped. Of all places, they picked the woods? The most dangerous place for two little pups?"Those were Zara's pups!" Corban's frantic voice rang through my head, his tone sharp with urgency. "Jade’s already on my case because of it. We’ve got to find them—fast! Especially since our mate spotted an unknown wolf nearby earlier!"The
Zarek’s POV“Your... what?” Kaidon asked in a dark tone, his words breaking the heavy silence that filled the room.Sage, standing beside me, almost seemed like he would cower under Kaidon’s gaze, but he stood strong. “My mate,” he said softly, glancing nervously from Zarek back to Kaidon. “He’s trying to change, and he wants to be accepted into our pack and...”Kaidon didn’t even let Sage finish. He rushed at Zarek, slamming him against the wall, his fist closing around Zarek’s throat.“Get the pups out of here,” Zarek ordered Akiri and Zara, not wanting them to witness their Alpha attacking his own packmate. “Kaidon, stop!”But Kaidon didn’t listen. I could practically feel the rage radiating off him. His Alpha aura was suffocating, and I had to fight the instinct to drop to my knees and show my neck to appease him.“What do you mean he's your mate?” Kaidon asked, his voice so calm and quiet that it was even more terrifying than his roar had been. “How long have you known?”“Alpha,
Zarek's POV “Kaidon….”“No,” Kaidon cut me off gruffly the moment we were in our room. “I’m not negotiating this.”I clenched my fists at my sides, fury boiling under my skin. “You told me when I got here that no Alpha would ever control me again!”“No Alpha is controlling you,” he snapped, sitting down on the edge of the bed, his eyes tired but sharp as they locked onto mine.I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, glaring down at him. He wasn’t listening again. I knew Kaidon was worried, especially because of Ryker and his vile intentions. But I wasn’t some helpless pup. I could protect my pack.“You’re controlling me!” I snarled, climbing onto the bed and standing over him.Kaidon raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. “Are you trying to intimidate me?” His voice was calm, almost too calm, and I hated it.“Stop trying to distract me!” I snapped. “That plan is the only way to protect our pack! Why can’t you just stop being stubborn and let me do this?”Kaidon sighed and lea
Zarek's POV I woke up with a start, my heart hammering in my chest. The clock on the nightstand read eleven at night. The room was dark and quiet, the only sound being the steady breathing of Kaidon beside me. His arms were wrapped around me tightly, a grip that felt more like a shield than an embrace, yet it was stifling. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think straight. I needed to leave, to do what I had promised. I shifted slightly, my breath held tight, hoping I wouldn’t disturb him. Kaidon was still fast asleep, his body radiating warmth as if it could melt my resolve. But I couldn’t stay.It took every ounce of strength not to wake him. I gently wiggled out of his arms, trying to ignore the pang of loss that shot through me as I slipped away from him. I stayed as quiet as possible, not even daring to move the bed covers. The seconds dragged on like hours as I carefully rose to my feet. My hands were shaking—either from fear of being caught or from the weight of what I was about to
Kaidon's POV I woke to an empty bed. It was just past one in the morning, and my heart sank into my stomach as I glanced over at the cold sheets where Zarek should’ve been. Something deep inside me told me he was gone, but I hadn’t expected it to happen this quickly.I threw the covers off and scrambled out of bed, heart pounding. I ran straight for the bathroom, hoping to find him there. “Zarek?” I called into the empty space, my voice shaky with both worry and anger. “Where are you, love?”But there was no answer.“He’s gone.” Axel’s voice reached me from the kitchen, sharp and matter-of-fact. I turned to meet her gaze. She was sitting at the table, sipping on a mug of coffee, eyes tired but calm. She’d been waiting for me to wake up, knowing I wouldn’t get any sleep until I found my mate.I swallowed hard, the weight of her words crushing me. “Where is he?” I asked, my voice a little more strained than I intended. I struggled to keep it even, to avoid snapping at Axel.Axel looked
Astrid's POVI held my babies close as I carefully made my way down the stairs. The house was quiet except for the gentle hum of activity outside. My little ones, Bels and Sirius, rested in my arms, their tiny faces peaceful and unbothered by the tension I knew was brewing in our pack. As I reached the living room, I spread a blanket on the floor and laid them down between my legs, keeping a watchful eye on their every movement. Sitting there, I noticed Kaidon stretched out on the couch. His form seemed heavy with exhaustion, his usually powerful and composed demeanor cracked by worry. I sighed softly, the events of the previous night playing on my mind. I had woken up to raised voices and tension thick enough to suffocate. When I’d asked Axel about it, his explanation only added to my concern. "Sleeping on the couch can't be comfortable, Kaidon," I said, my voice gentle as I saw him stir. His eyes fluttered open, and the weight of his distress was immediately evident. "I can't
Zarek’s POVI was stuck. Stuck in the same place where I’d been for the last three hours—Ryker’s bedroom. I hated it. The room. The smell. Everything about it made me feel trapped, like I couldn’t breathe. I had already looked at the windows, studied them long enough to figure out how I could climb down from the pack house. I’d even thought about doing it earlier. But I didn’t have the guts. I couldn’t leave yet. Not until I got Tan’s okay.I couldn’t just run off and leave Sage and Kane to fend for themselves. That would ruin everything. The plan. The whole thing would fall apart, and I couldn’t live with myself if that happened. I couldn’t let anyone else get hurt because of me. Not after what I’d learned about my mother. After discovering I was the one who caused her death…“You know we couldn’t control that,” Aegis said, his voice dripping with irritation as he watched me sulk. “Sage and Kane will be fine. They’ll stay on the inside. You can run.”I wanted to snap at him, tell him
Zarek’s POV“Oh, shit, Kaidon,” I panted, my head tilting back as Kaidon’s teeth grazed along my neck while his hand expertly stroked me. "We have to get to the reception!" I tried to keep myself together, but my body was betraying me, and I couldn't stop the gasp that escaped my lips.Kaidon growled against my skin, his pace quickening as he stroked me harder, before he pulled away slightly. "So you want me to leave you hanging here without finishing?" he asked, his voice low and full of desire.I shook my head, the air leaving my lungs in a shaky whimper. "N-No," I whispered, my gaze lifting to the wisteria hanging above us, its delicate flowers swaying with the breeze. I couldn't believe I’d agreed to this, to let Kaidon pleasure me right here in the middle of the garden. But I guess it wasn’t as surprising as it seemed, especially with Aegis's encouragement. The memory of Aegis had me grinning despite everything. I couldn’t help but laugh, thinking back to when Aegis had begged m
Zarek's POV "Stop stressing, you look great!" Sage said, helping Zarek adjust his suit. His voice was reassuring, but my nerves were still buzzing. "You're going to be perfectly fine!”I nodded, too stressed to say anything. I reached for my glass of water, making sure not to spill it on my white suit. I knew it would show if I did, and the last thing I needed right now was another thing to stress about. There was a chair in the small pop-up tent I was getting changed in, so I collapsed onto it, trying to settle my racing thoughts.The tent flap whipped open, and I heard footsteps. I didn't need to look up to know it was Astrid. A grin was already on her face as she rushed inside, carrying both of her pups. One was in a pouch on her front, the other on her back. She held a small box in her hand and handed it to me without hesitation.“Can’t believe you almost forgot this, Luna,” she teased, planting a kiss on Bels's forehead, who was nestled in the front carrier. "It's the one thing
Kaidon's POV I woke up groggily, the dull pounding in my head acting like a heavy drumbeat in the back of my skull. My senses were slow to return, and everything was out of focus. The world around me seemed distant and distorted, and the voices I could hear sounded muffled and indistinguishable.My back was hurting, and the sharp stinging pain cut deep through the fog in my brain, while my mouth was dry, like I hadn't drunk anything in days. I needed water. It wasn't just an irritation any longer; it was a demand that no longer allowed me to simply bear with it.I fought the grogginess, opening my eyes slowly and allowing the blurry contours of the room to take shape. Everything was soft, as if I was looking at the world through a foggy glass. Far away, I saw the blurry shape of Zarek standing beside Astrid.I heard the murmur of their voices but not what they said. I felt myself floating, apart from my body, suspended in that place between sleeping and waking."Zarek," I said, hardl
Kaidon's POVI shifted into wolf form, running until the barrier of the pack was in view. I sat down in the dirt and inhaled, the earthy scent filling my nose. I could not bring myself to stand, as if I felt sick, disgusted with myself. There was no reason for the thought of harming Zarek even crossing my mind, and that fact alone made me worse than I could ever have imagined.I wanted to go to my father, to ask him to reprimand me for even thinking of such a thing, yet I could not let myself be this weak and found myself drowning in anger which clouded my mind.But then something changed. A scent wafted through the air. It wasn't one of my packmates, and that sent a surge of anger through me. No one outside of my pack should be this close to our territory.I didn't bother linking for backup. It was late, and I wasn't going to attack anyone. But I was angry enough to take on ten wolves if I had to. So I set off on my own, sniffling the air, trying to place the direction of the new sme
Zarek's POV I'd been watching Kaidon and Zarek since they'd arrived at the cottage this afternoon. Well, Zarek had gotten in a few hours earlier, and then Kaidon had joined him an hour later. They acted as though they were trying to gel and get along, but I didn't understand why. From what I knew, the two of them had a great and loving connection. So why the tension?Is everything alright with you two?" Slade asked, catching on to what I had been picking up on. "You're being. icy."Kaidon didn't even look up from his plate of pasta, still chewing, not acknowledging Slade's pointed question."We're fine," Zarek muttered, his glare still shot at Kaidon.I pursed my lips, trying to figure out what was going on between them. "You two said you had news? That's why we're meeting for dinner?" I asked, hoping to turn the conversation to lighter topics as a tight feeling began building between all of us in the room.To my great relief, the smile that appeared on Zarek sent Kaidon's mouth tick
Zarek's POV When I opened my eyes, the events of the night before flooded my mind. My heart pounded in my chest, and my eyes shot open, a growl escaping my lips. I shifted instinctively, ready to defend myself from whoever had taken me. My body trembled with the rush of adrenaline, but as I snapped to alertness, I realized something.I wasn’t in an unfamiliar place. I was in bed, sitting beside a wide-awake Kaidon, who had obviously been disturbed by my snarls. "Zarek?" Kaidon asked hesitantly, his voice softer than usual, clearly taken aback by my reaction. "Baby? Shift back for me and talk to me.”I was panting heavily, barely able to breathe. My eyes darted around the room, searching for any sign of danger, expecting someone to be hiding in the corners. And then I felt it—a hand on my fur. A snarl ripped from my throat before I could stop it, and I snapped at him in a panic. I leaped across the room, retreating to the farthest corner.Kaidon looked confused, his expression a mixt
Zarek's POV Excitement bubbled in my chest as I climbed into bed, unable to keep the wide grin off my face. The usual sting of loneliness from Kaidon being out on patrol didn’t bother me tonight. My mind was too busy swirling with thoughts of the future—our future. My hands instinctively rested on my stomach, and a soft giggle escaped me. Babies. Our babies. The very idea filled me with warmth, pushing away any lingering anxiety. I rolled onto my side, snuggling into Kaidon's pillow, his scent surrounding me like a comforting embrace. "They better look like Kaidon," Aegis' voice echoed from my link, pulling me from my thoughts. I rolled my eyes, though I couldn’t stop the fond smile that tugged at my lips. "Don't roll your eyes at me!" Aegis scolded playfully. "Just imagine little Kaidon look-alikes running around the house!" I hummed, the thought making my heart skip a beat. "How many do you think we'll have?" I asked, unable to hide the curiosity in my voice. Aegis chuckl
Kaidon's POV I woke up at three in the afternoon, feeling groggy but oddly content. The first thing I did was mind link my father to apologize for sleeping in so late. But Slade only laughed and told me it was completely acceptable. He said that, as a mate, my priority was to take care of my other half. I stretched in bed, muscles sore but satisfied, and glanced around the empty room. I didn’t know where Zarek was, but Corban wasn’t panicking. Zarek hadn’t linked me or tried to wake me up either, so I figured his heat was over. With a yawn, I pulled on a sweatshirt, making sure it covered the marks scattered across my chest, back, and neck. After slipping into a pair of athletic shorts, I headed out of the room, rubbing my eyes. “I like the lavender, but isn’t that a funeral color?” Zarek’s voice drifted from the dining area, and I followed the sound, feeling a small smile tug at my lips. When I walked in, I found him sitting at the table with Astrid and Akiri, flipping throu
Kaidon's POV I was completely drained. I loved Zarek more than life itself, but I severely underestimated the difficulties and exhaustion that came with an Omega's heat. Now, I understood why Axel was so snappy and tired during Astrid’s heats. I was experiencing all of it with no warning, no preparation. I was feeling every symptom, and it hit harder than I ever could have imagined.We were nearing the end of it, which meant Zarek was clearer about what he wanted, but he also kept claiming that he was back to normal, despite the thick, undeniable scent of heat still surrounding him. I had finally caught a rare moment alone, and while I was grateful for the silence, I couldn’t help but feel anxious. All I wanted was to be curled up with Zarek, resting together, but he seemed to understand how tired I was. Even in the middle of his heat, he forced himself to push through the discomfort just so I could take a break. He’d insisted that I shower and relax alone, making sure I wasn’t pres