The air in the room felt thick, as if every breath I took required more effort than the last. Leo lay still on the bed, his complexion pale but his breathing more regular now. The healer had done everything she could, and though the dark magic had taken its toll, Leo was strong. He had to be strong—for me, for the pack, for our future.I stood by the window, staring out at the vast expanse of our territory. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a golden glow over the landscape. It should have filled me with peace, but there was an unsettling tension in the pit of my stomach.Marcus. We still hadn’t found him, and each day that passed without any word made the knot of anxiety tighten further. He was a key ally, one of the most loyal alphas of the outer packs. His sudden disappearance had shaken the alliances we’d worked so hard to build, and now, with Leo’s recovery dragging on, the pressure was mounting on me to hold everything together.I heard Leo stir behind me, and I turned
Leo leaned forward, hugging me. It was supposed to be an exciting moment—a moment of pure joy, finding out I was pregnant, that we were going to start a family. But instead, the weight of the attack hung over us, and a sense of dread had settled in the pit of my stomach. I could feel Leo’s tension in the way his arms tightened around me, his unspoken fears matching mine.“I thought we were past this,” he murmured, his breath warm against my neck. “After everything we’ve been through, I thought we were finally safe.”I closed my eyes, resting my forehead against his shoulder. “I did too. But there’s always someone lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.”He pulled back, his expression hardening. “We’ll find out who’s behind this. They’ve gone too far.”Just then, Ethan burst through the door, his face pale, panic etched in every line of his face.“Ethan?” I said, standing up from the bed. “What’s wrong?”His voice came out in a strained whisper. “It’s your son.
Leo’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the message again, his fingers crumpling the parchment at the edges. I could feel the tension radiating from him, a quiet fury brewing beneath the surface. As much as I wanted to tear this threat apart, it wasn’t time to charge blindly into action.“What do we do now?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper as I held our son tighter, feeling the warmth of his tiny body against mine. The fear was there, gnawing at the edges of my resolve, but I knew I couldn’t afford to let it take control.Leo was silent for a moment, his gaze distant as he considered our next move. Finally, he spoke, his tone grim. “We need to be smart about this. Whoever is behind this has already proven they can strike at us without warning, and they’re not going to stop until they get what they want.”“But who?” I pressed, shaking my head. “Who could hate us this much?”“We’ve made a lot of enemies,” Leo muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “This is someone with resources, so
I crossed my arms against my chest as Leo, Ethan, and I stood just outside the council chamber, ready to confront Marcus. The betrayal still clawed at my insides like a fresh wound. Marcus, someone we had trusted for years, had been orchestrating the chaos that had torn through our pack, putting our son at risk.How dare he?Leo’s hand tightened around mine, his grip firm but comforting. “Are you ready?” he asked, his voice low, i know this wasny easy for him. Betrayal from someone close have never been the best for anyone. Though they did say it. You don't face betrayal from your enemies but your close associates. And this was the moment. I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “We have to do this, Leo. For our son. For the pack.”He leaned closer, his breath warm against my temple. “Whatever happens in there, we face it together.”Ethan gave us a tense nod, his sharp gaze scanning the room as we pushed the heavy wooden doors open. Inside, Marcus stood with a few other council
The air was filled with the soft hum of life as I lay in the hospital bed, atmosphere smelled like vinegar and antiseptic, I was cradling two tiny bundles in my arms. Their weight felt both light and heavy, like they were made of pure love, delicate and yet the center of my world. I looked down at them—two perfect little girls with tufts of dark hair and tiny pink fingers that curled around mine. The moment felt surreal, like I was living in a dream, but the warmth of their skin against mine made it real.Leo stood by the bedside, his face lit with a kind of joy I had never seen before. His eyes were soft, misted with tears, as he gently stroked one of the girls' heads. "They're beautiful," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Just like their mother."I smiled, though exhaustion pulled at my body. "I still can’t believe it. Two of them. I wasn’t ready for that."He chuckled, leaning down to kiss my forehead. "Neither was I, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. They’re perfect
Lily's POVTwenty Two years later.“As the next leader of the pack, you need to maintain the stance of being emotionless. A smile plastered on your lips. Be humble. Be kind. Be honest, but never, ever show your true pain to the people as it meant disability.”Those were the words I had heard my father say to my brother Carmen when he was next in line to be Alpha.Now he lay inside a coffin. Dead. Killed by the wolf plague that had attacked us not too long ago, making me the next in line—older than my twin sister Rose by just a few seconds. It was me who would lead. Me who would carry the weight Carmen once bore.I watched as the coffin was brought in front of us. My mother, my father, and I kept our faces indifferent. Beside me, Rose was a sobbing mess.I didn’t blame her. She was lucky. I wanted to cry too, to break down like she did, but I couldn’t. Not here. Not in front of them. I’d save that for my room.The air was thick with the scent of damp soil and grief. I felt eyes on me—e
The morning fog hadn’t lifted, casting an eerie haze over the training grounds. I stood at the edge of the field, arms crossed, watching the pack's warriors sparring with one another. My thoughts lingered on the message from the previous night. Rogues. Dozens of them, maybe more. Attacks creeping closer, inch by inch toward our borders. It wasn’t a coincidence.Someone must have known that I was about to be Luna and had want to cause disruption. Maybe trigger me to make a mistake. We’d been caught off guard once, and I knew we couldn’t afford to let it happen again. Not with the trials so close. Not with everything at stake.The scent hit me before I saw him. Something unfamiliar—earthy, clean, but sharp, like a blade that had never been sheathed. I turned just as the newcomer approached, his movements smooth, controlled. A man with dark, tousled hair and eyes that seemed to catch every flicker of movement around him. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with an intensity that sent a ripp
Noah hadn't lied. Indeed we were going to be attacked.The air was thick with tension. Every shadow outside the packhouse seemed to crawl with danger, every rustle of leaves too loud, too deliberate. I stood near the open window of the council room, my eyes scanning the treeline beyond. My pulse quickened. The calm before the storm was the worst part—the waiting.Rose paced behind me, restless energy radiating off her in waves. Eli sat in the corner, sharpening his blade, his face unreadable. Noah leaned against the far wall, arms crossed, watching everything with that same quiet intensity that had me on edge since he arrived. Father and mother were holding out the main entrance. Whereas we. We were the Frontline. “They’ll come from the south,” he said finally, his voice cutting through the silence. I turned to him, eyebrow raised. “How do you know?”“I just do,” he said, not looking at me. His jaw was clenched, his gaze fixed on the distance like he could already see the battle
The world around me was hazy, the sharp pain in my chest stealing my breath. Darkness encroached, but somewhere in the distance, I could hear voices—familiar ones—calling my name. Eli, Noah... their shouts pierced through the numbness. I clung to that sound, refusing to let go.This couldn’t be the end.With a herculean effort, I forced my eyes open, my body feeling like it weighed a thousand pounds. Above me, the sky stretched endlessly, a deep and inky black, but the shadows that had once loomed so large were gone. The dark force was defeated—or at least, it should’ve been.I felt a hand on my arm, tugging me back to the present. It was Noah, his face pale, his usually calm eyes wild with fear. "Lily! Stay with me!"Eli crouched beside him, his expression a mix of fury and anguish. "Don’t you dare die on us, Lily. Don’t you dare!"My vision swam as I tried to sit up, but the pain ripped through me again. My hand went to my chest, feeling the warm slickness of blood where the final s
The pack gathered at the edge of the forest, their faces grim. The air buzzed with tension as everyone prepared for the battle that would determine their future. I stood at the front, trying to keep my nerves in check. This was it—the final stand. The moment I had trained for, fought for, bled for.Leo, my father, approached me, his expression unreadable. Despite the trials, the betrayals, and the pain we’d endured, his presence always carried the weight of leadership. But today, he wasn’t the Alpha. Today, the pack looked to me."You’re ready," Leo said, his voice steady.I looked up at him, my heart swelling with emotion. "I hope so."He placed a hand on my shoulder, the gesture more tender than I expected. "We all trust you, Lily. I trust you."Selena stepped forward, her usual sharp demeanor softened by the gravity of the moment. She didn’t say anything, but the look in her eyes spoke volumes. She trusted me too, and for the first time, I felt the full weight of my responsibility
The air in the sacred chamber was heavy with anticipation. My footsteps echoed on the stone floor as I walked toward the center of the room, my heart racing in my chest. This was it—the final Luna trial. Everything I had fought for, everything I had endured, had led me to this moment. But I wasn’t prepared for the weight of it, the crushing pressure of what was at stake."You’ve got this," Rose said quietly from beside me. Her voice was soft, free of the usual bite that accompanied our exchanges. Ever since the battle with the traitor, she had changed. Maybe it was seeing Eli hurt, or maybe it was the realization that we were all in this together. Either way, Rose was standing by me now, for the first time in years, and that meant more than I could put into words.I gave her a small nod, grateful for her presence, even though fear gripped my chest like a vise.Noah stood just behind us, his arms crossed as he surveyed the chamber. He had been distant since the battle, quieter than usu
"After them!" I shouted, my heart pounding as I sprinted forward, Noah and Selena close behind. The traitor had disappeared into the shadows of the hall, slipping away like a ghost. We rushed through the narrow corridors, the weight of betrayal pressing down on us.The traitor—a former ally, a trusted figure—had turned against us. My father, Leo, the man who had built this pack from the ground up, was now in danger. I couldn’t allow them to succeed.As we turned a corner, a loud crash echoed from up ahead, followed by the unmistakable sounds of a struggle. I picked up the pace, the urgency pulling me faster than my legs wanted to go.When we burst into the central chamber, chaos greeted us.Eli was already there, locked in a brutal fight with the traitor. Blood stained his shirt, and his movements were sluggish. My heart lurched. He was injured.Leo stood behind him, trying to defend himself with whatever strength he had left. But he wasn’t the man he once was. Age had slowed him, and
The figure reached out, fingers curling around the edge of their face, pulling the skin away as if it were a mask. I gasped, my throat tightening in shock, but no sound escaped. Where Rose had stood moments ago, a stranger now stared back at me. Dark eyes glittered with satisfaction, a sneer twisting their lips. My heart hammered in my chest, but I couldn't move, rooted in disbelief. "You’ve been deceived, bitch," the stranger spat, the familiar warmth of Rose’s voice replaced with something cold, mocking. I blinked, my mind racing. Who was this? My pulse thrummed in my ears, drowning out everything around me. "Where’s Rose?" I demanded, my voice steadier than I felt. The stranger grinned, baring teeth like a predator toying with its prey. "Closer than you think." Noah stepped forward, his presence grounding me. His eyes flickered over the figure, suspicion darkening his features. "Who are you?" The stranger chuckled, the sound hollow. "Someone who’s been watching this pack f
The early morning sky was bruised with dark clouds, heavy and foreboding. The distant rumble of thunder blended with the cacophony of preparation in the pack’s camp. The pack members scrambled to their positions, their faces etched with grim determination. I stood at the edge of the camp, watching the horizon, my heart pounding in my chest. The rogue army was almost upon us.The scent of rain mixed with the tang of adrenaline, and the air was charged with tension. I tried to focus on the task at hand, forcing myself to take deep, steady breaths. Our defenses were set, but the traitor’s sabotage had thrown our plans into disarray. We had already lost precious time repairing breaches and reinforcing weak points.“Lily!” Rose’s voice cut through the din, and I turned to see her running toward me, her eyes fierce. “The scouts reported that the rogues are just minutes away. We need to be ready.”“I know,” I replied, nodding. “Everyone’s in position. We just have to hold the line until rein
The sky was overcast, the heavy clouds pressing down as if to mirror the gravity of our situation. The atmosphere around the pack's central gathering area was tense, a low hum of worried voices mingling with the clatter of preparations. The rogue army was advancing, and time was running out. I stood on a makeshift stage at the center of the clearing, the weight of the pack’s fears pressing down on me like a physical force. I needed to rally their spirits, to inspire them to face the threat head-on.The pack members were assembled, their faces a mix of fear and determination. I took a deep breath and stepped forward, trying to push aside the doubts that gnawed at me. Rose stood beside me, her expression guarded, while Eli and Noah flanked me from either side. The tension between them was palpable, but there was no time to address it now.“Everyone, listen up!” I called out, raising my voice to be heard over the murmurs. “I know that many of you are scared. I am too. But we cannot let f
The pack’s council chamber was a vast, echoing space, its high ceilings and ancient stone walls bearing witness to countless decisions made for the safety and future of our pack. Tonight, it felt more like a labyrinth of secrets and shadows than a place of governance. The atmosphere was thick with tension as Eli and I stood before Councilor Whitman, who had agreed to meet with us under pressure.Councilor Whitman, a tall man with graying hair and a stern demeanor, sat behind his large oak desk. His eyes, though weary, held a sharpness that made me wary. Eli stood beside me, his expression serious as he prepared to question Whitman about the troubling clues we’d uncovered.“Councilor Whitman,” I began, trying to keep my voice steady, “we have reason to believe that there’s a traitor among us, and that this traitor is providing information to the Blackthorns.”Whitman’s eyes narrowed. “This is a serious accusation, Lily. I would appreciate it if you had concrete evidence before making s
The moon hung high and heavy in the sky, its pale light casting long shadows over the pack’s territory. The night was quiet, but the stillness felt oppressive, as if the very air was thick with secrets waiting to be uncovered. The betrayal I feared was not just a whisper in the dark—it was a tangible threat, and it was close.I paced the length of my bedroom, trying to sort through the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions that had taken hold of me since the meeting with the Blackthorns. Noah’s words echoed in my mind, growing louder with every passing hour. Someone from within our own pack was working with Killian Blackthorn, and it wasn’t just a matter of figuring out who—it was a matter of finding them before it was too late.Rose had been insistent that I was letting paranoia cloud my judgment. She’d accused me of letting the stress of leadership consume me, and while her words were sharp, I could see the underlying jealousy and frustration. I had a purpose now—one she felt had been