Zarek's POV“Has Sage said anything yet?” I asked for what felt like the fifth time in the past thirty minutes. I couldn't help it. The waiting was eating at me, gnawing at the edges of my nerves.Kaidon and I were lying on the couch in the living room, surrounded by our pack mates. Some were with us, sprawled out in the room, while others were in the kitchen, busy with dinner. Ever since I told them everything I'd learned—leaving out the personal connection I had to Zarek, the Alpha of the Red Claw pack—everyone had been intent on getting in touch with Sage. But despite our efforts, he still hadn’t responded.“I promise that as soon as he responds, I'll tell you,” Kaidon said, his hand tracing gentle circles over my stomach.If it had been anyone else constantly questioning him, I'm sure he would've been annoyed by now. But Kaidon never got upset with me. Maybe because he knew how much I cared about Sage. Maybe because he understood the weight of it all—the risk, the fear, the helples
Zarek’s POV“Don’t lie, Axel,” Akiri said with a short laugh. “We all know you’re useless unless it’s Astrid’s heat.”"Only because Kaidon will murder me if I go in there! You know how possessive Alphas get during heat!"Akiri and Zara exchanged a look. “We’re both Betas, Axel. Not sure we actually get it,” Zara said, making Axel roll his eyes.“Alpha,” a voice echoed in my head, pulling me away from my laughter with my pack and back to the voice inside my mind. “Kaidon?”“Sage?” I responded, my mind still focused on the conversation.A sigh echoed in my head. “Ves, I’m here,” Sage said softly, sounding timid and afraid. “I’m sorry, this afternoon has been hectic.”“Yeah, it hasn’t been easy for us, either,” I said, trying to keep calm. “We’re home safely, though. Why didn’t you respond earlier?”“Ryker called Kane and I into his office... I couldn’t contact you without him asking what I was doing. His wolf was interrogating mine.”"And?" I asked, my suspicion growing.Sage sounded ev
Zarek's POV I woke up to an empty, cold bed, but Kaidon's scent still lingered on the sheets. It was faint, but enough to tell me he had come home at some point last night. A small smile tugged at my lips as I stretched, feeling the stiffness in my limbs from sleeping alone.The sound of water running echoed from the bathroom, and without wasting another second, I slid out of bed and padded towards the door. Peeking inside, I found Kaidon leaning against the wall in the shower, his broad shoulders slumped and exhaustion written all over his face. My heart clenched a little at the sight.I hesitated for a moment before pulling off my clothes and knocking on the glass door softly. Even though we were mates, I never wanted to intrude, especially when he looked so worn out.Kaidon’s tired eyes found mine through the steam, and a small, tired smile appeared on his lips. “Hey,” he murmured, voice heavy with fatigue. “What’s up?”I swallowed and gave him my best pleading look. “Can I get in
Zarek’s POVA week had passed.Sage and Kane had returned the night after their contact with Kaidon, their faces tense but relieved. They told us their plan had been exposed, and for a moment, my heart had nearly stopped. I imagined enemies trailing behind them, slipping through the shadows, waiting to strike the moment we let our guard down. But luckily, that wasn’t the case. They hadn't been followed—or at least, that’s what they assured us.Kane made the final cut from his old pack that same night. The severed bond must have been painful, but he showed no signs of regret. And when he and Sage officially mated a few days later, it felt like a fresh start for both of them. Sage seemed happier, more at ease now that Kane was tied to our pack permanently. But Kaidon… he wasn’t as easily convinced.I knew him too well. His sharp eyes followed Kane whenever he moved through the house, tracking every subtle shift in his behavior. Kaidon was cautious—always had been. Letting a new wolf int
Kaidon's POV I left the pack house with no worries weighing on my mind. Sure, Zarek was furious that I had to leave my mate, but I knew he was settling into the role and understood it was for the good of our pack. I made my way to the clearing where the pack trained, shifting into my wolf form as I approached the group.We’d be fighting our battles in our wolf forms, and I knew better than anyone how much harder it was to hurt a wolf compared to a human. Even with weapons, humans stood no chance against wolves—especially an enraged one. Alpha Slade was leading the training, as it was still his pack, but I could tell that with Zarek nearing his heat, Slade knew I’d feel vulnerable leaving someone without the proper training in charge. “Good morning,” Slade’s voice echoed through the pack link, reaching all of us present. “Let’s make this session count. Kaidon, you’re paired with Kane today.”Slade continued assigning pairings, but I ignored him, walking over to Kane, my new pack mat
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
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
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 raised my sword as soon as Slade called for the fight to begin, stepping into the battle circle with Ryker standing about ten feet across from me. We were both circling each other, neither of us making the first move. The tension in the air was thick, and I could feel the eyes of both packs on us, waiting for the inevitable clash.I wondered what Ryker was thinking right now. He always had that smug look on his face, but now it was laced with something darker. He was trying to provoke me, and I could feel it.“I wonder what you're thinking right now,” Ryker said, his smirk widening as he took a step closer to me. “I know what I’m thinking—about how hard I’m going to fuck my Omega when this is all over.”My anger flared, but I kept it in check, hoping to provoke him into making the first move. “Funny you say that,” I shot back, trying to hide the venom in my voice. “From what I’ve heard, your Omega, your mate, is dead.”Ryker’s smirk faded instantly, and I could see the
Kaidon’s POV"Come on, defeat me!" Kane roared, his voice shifting into a growl as his body contorted. His bones cracked, reshaping as thick fur spread across his skin. In a matter of seconds, he had shifted into his wolf form—a massive beast with razor-sharp fangs. He lunged at me with terrifying speed. I barely had time to react before he knocked the short sword right out of my grip. The blade clattered to the ground, and before I could even think about retrieving it, Kane stood in front of it, his chest rising and falling with controlled breaths. His sharp canines gleamed under the moonlight as he grinned at me in his wolf form. "Ryker will have your head in thirty seconds!" he taunted. "Stop talking!" I snapped, trying to focus. But Kane wasn’t done messing with me. He circled me like a predator sizing up its prey, his piercing eyes locked onto me as if he was calculating his next move. His muscles coiled, ready to strike. "Focus, then!" he barked through the mind-link,
Kaidon's POV After a long day of training, all I wanted was to get home. My body ached from the drills, and my mind was already occupied with thoughts of my mate, Zarek. He still had a few months left in his pregnancy, but it was torture leaving him alone for so long. Every moment away from him felt like I was missing something important. The pack house buzzed with activity—parents collecting their pups, warriors discussing patrols—but I didn’t see Zarek anywhere in the room. A frown formed between my brows as I scanned the area. I stopped Astrid on her way out. "Have you seen Zarek?" She nodded. “He’s in his room with Andre and Leo, watching movies.” Relief settled in my chest, but I didn’t waste any more time. I strode toward our room, eager to see him. When I stepped inside, I found the two pups sprawled out on the bed, their faces illuminated by the glow of the television. But my mate wasn’t there. “Have you two seen Luna Zarek?” I asked, drawing their attention away fr
Zarek's POV Days passed, and despite the weight of the situation, we were no closer to uncovering the full extent of Ryker's business within our pack. There had been no attacks or ambushes, and for the moment, everyone was safe. The pack had been vigilant, constantly checking on everyone, making sure we all knew our place, making sure we were where we needed to be.The outside world had gone quiet, as expected. Everyone had been ordered to stay inside unless they were warriors. The warriors had set up camp just outside the pack house and in the center of the village, ready to spring into action if the need arose. I couldn't help but feel a little restless. I was used to more action, more of a sense of purpose. But right now, all we had was waiting. In the midst of all this, Kegan and Astrid had turned the pack house into a makeshift daycare for the pups. It was a good way to keep the little ones occupied while their parents patrolled or trained. And they had even made rooms available
Kaidon's POV"We're under attack!" Axel screamed through the pack link into my mind.My heart skipped a beat as I shot up from beside my confused mate. Fear surged through me—panic, terror, the feeling of dread that something was terribly wrong. I couldn’t shift with Corban silent in my head, but I couldn’t just let my pack fight their battles for me. My role wasn’t to stand on the sidelines.“What’s wrong?” Zarek asked, looking at me in horror. His voice was filled with disbelief as his eyes locked onto mine.“Have you seen who’s attacking us?” I asked, my voice shaking slightly despite my efforts to remain calm. I moved quickly, locking the windows and scooping Zarek into my arms, rushing him to our walk-in closet. I laid him down gently, trying to hide him away from any potential threat. “How many are there?”“Kaidon! What’s going on?” Zarek’s voice was laced with worry.I didn’t answer right away. Axel and Astrid burst into the room, their two pups, Andre and Leo, trailing behind
Zarek's POV I woke up to a cold room. I didn’t open my eyes right away. Instead, I kept them closed, feeling around for a blanket. The air smelled like Kaidon, and I didn’t feel uncomfortable, so I convinced myself I was in my own room. But there was still that nagging confusion in the back of my mind, wondering why I was so cold.“Kaidon?” I whispered, but my voice barely escaped. It was almost like the words were stuck in my throat. My stomach felt tight when I realized there were hands gently resting there. The surprise hit me, and I gasped softly, trying to push the sensation away.I opened my eyes and saw Kaidon leaning against the wall, nervously biting his nails. The doctor was still hovering near me, her hands moving around my stomach with that careful, clinical precision.I remembered the conversation I had with Sage earlier, but I was holding onto hope that the doctor was finding out that I was okay—that everything was going to be fine. There was no way I could have been in
Zarek's POV I had never seen Sage look so distraught. His hands were shackled to the cold ground, the chains tight, leaving him barely any space to move. His neck was adorned with a thick collar, and I couldn’t help but notice the red marks around it—his attempts to rip it off were clearly unsuccessful. It looked like pure torture.“What's on his neck?” I whispered, looking up at Kaidon with a horrified expression.I couldn’t believe it. Sage was supposed to be a warrior, strong and fierce, but now he looked like he was on the edge of breaking. This was wrong. I had never imagined seeing one of our own treated like this, especially not Sage. I always thought he'd be able to handle anything thrown at him, but this was pure cruelty.Kaidon growled at Sage, a deep, guttural sound that filled the room. He wasn’t fazed by the state of the prisoner. "It overpowers his senses and weakens him. He can’t talk through any form of mind link or shift," Kaidon said coldly, making my jaw drop. I f
Kaidon's POVIt had been a month since Sage, Lyra, and Kane had been arrested and taken into custody. They refused to speak with anybody but Zarek and me, but I avoided them completely. Honestly, I was just plain scared I would snap the minute I even got close. I didn't trust myself enough not to kill them on the spot.The pack house had never felt so tense. There was no hum of activity, just silence, anger hanging heavy in the air. It weighed on everyone, even the children, who were too afraid to leave their parents' rooms. Even Astrid barely left her room, the anger in the house making everyone tense, as if the slightest spark could set off an explosion.Zarek hadn't been much better. He hadn't been out of his room much, either, but for different reasons. The pregnancy was exhausting him. His stomach was getting heavier with each passing day; the pups inside were becoming more and more demanding. He left the room only when it was highly necessary-to visit me in my office, to get some
Zarek's POV I barely stopped Kaidon from storming out of the room. “What’s going on? Kaidon, you need to talk to me,” I said, stepping in front of the door. “I don’t understand what you're saying. And if there’s an enemy in our land, calling a meeting will chase them away!”Kaidon shook his head, his focus entirely on the door. He was trying to move me out of the way. “It’s not safe here unless we find out who’s infiltrated!” he growled, reaching for the doorknob.Without warning, I surged forward, throwing myself into Kaidon’s arms. His body crashed to the ground, and I straddled him, holding him tightly so he couldn’t get up without taking me with him.“Let go,” Kaidon growled.I shook my head stubbornly, pressing my face against his neck. “No,” I murmured, feeling him relax a bit, but then tense back up. “I need you to explain what’s going on to me. Please, I can help.”“Fine,” Kaidon mumbled, standing up and lifting me off him before depositing me on the bed. His eyes stayed glue