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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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