The next few days passed in a blur of quiet moments and small, comforting routines. Leo and I began to settle into a rhythm that felt almost normal, considering everything we had been through. The mansion was quieter now, with Leo’s family giving us space to breathe, and the atmosphere had shifted from tense to something closer to peaceful. It was nice to be here with family as someone who haven't really been in best with mine. But there was still a lingering restlessness in me, a feeling that I needed to start thinking about the future, about what my life would look like beyond the immediate whirlwind of pregnancy and the challenges that came with it. I had always been a planner, someone who needed to feel like I was moving forward, and the idea of just waiting around for the baby to arrive wasn’t sitting well with me. One morning, after a particularly restless night, I found myself sitting in front of the laptop that Leo had set up for me in one of the smaller rooms on the gr
The weeks leading up to the wedding were a whirlwind of preparations, emotions, and growing anticipation. My belly had grown noticeably, and with it, so had the excitement surrounding the arrival of our child. Leo and I spent most of our days planning for both the wedding and the baby, juggling appointments with the doctor and visits to wedding planners. Clara, who had initially been distant, had grown closer to me, much to my relief. She seemed to have accepted me, and our bond had strengthened in ways I hadn’t expected.One afternoon, just a few days before the wedding, Clara and I were sitting together in the living room, going over the final details for the ceremony.“I can’t believe the big day is almost here,” Clara said, her eyes bright with excitement. “It feels like just yesterday you and Leo were… well, everything was different.”I smiled, resting a hand on my swollen belly. “I know what you mean. Everything has changed so quickly. But I’m glad things are the way they are no
The days following our son’s birth were a beautiful whirlwind. As much as the chaos of the unexpected delivery had thrown our plans into disarray, it had also brought an overwhelming sense of joy and completion to our lives. The wedding ceremony might not have gone as planned, but Leo and I both agreed that there was something incredibly special about how it had all turned out. Still, we knew we had to properly hold the ceremony again, and this time, we wanted our son to be part of it.For now, though, our focus was entirely on our baby. The first night in the hospital was sleepless, but not in the way I had anticipated. Between feeding the baby, changing diapers, and just staring at him in awe, Leo and I barely slept. Every little sound he made was a marvel, every movement a tiny miracle. As I held him close to my chest, trying to get him to latch for breastfeeding, Leo sat beside me, his hand resting gently on my back.“You’re doing great, Selene,” he whispered, his voice full of a
The rest of the night passed in a haze of worry and exhaustion. Despite my best efforts, sleep eluded me. Every time I closed my eyes, Jess’s cryptic message played on a loop in my mind, refusing to let me rest. The darkness outside seemed to press in on me, making my fears worse. I felt anxious because of the note, even though it was tucked away in the drawer of our bedside table, as if its mere presence in the house was enough to unsettle the air around us.Leo slept soundly beside me, one arm protectively draped over my waist, his body a warm and comforting presence. I envied his ability to find peace in these moments. For him, the world was as it should be—we had a beautiful son, the pack was thriving, and our enemies had been defeated. But for me, the shadows of doubt and fear had returned with that single, ominous message.What did Jess want?Where was she?What was her goal?: How was she still a threat when we had been so sure she was gone for good?How was she alive ?The qu
Two months had passed since that night when worry had gripped me so tightly. Two months since I had called Ethan in the middle of the night, fearing that Jess’s shadow was still looming over us. But nothing had happened since then. No more cryptic messages, no unexpected appearances, no threats. It was as if she had vanished into thin air, and with each passing day, I allowed myself to breathe a little easier.Tiana and Adrian had also slipped into the shadows, their whereabouts unknown. At first, I had been on edge, wondering if they were lying in wait, ready to pounce when we least expected it. But as the weeks went by without incident, I began to believe that perhaps they were gone for good. Maybe they had realized that there was no place for them here anymore, no way to win whatever twisted game they had been playing.Life moved on, and so did we.Our son, whom we had finally named Lucas, was growing beautifully. Every day brought new surprises as he discovered the world around hi
Seven years had passed, and life had flourished in ways Selene could have never imagined. She had not only grown into her role as Queen but had also started her own tech company, which had quickly become one of the most respected in the industry. The company was innovative, forward-thinking, and a testament to her intelligence and perseverance. People far and wide knew her name, not just as the Queen of the pack but as a business mogul. She received gifts from admirers and allies, tokens of respect and appreciation for her leadership both in the business world and within the pack.The years had been kind to her and Leo. Their bond had only deepened with time, and Lucas had grown into a bright, energetic boy who adored his parents. Life was good—better than she had ever dared to hope for.Selene walked through the corridors of their home with a sense of satisfaction and purpose. The walls were adorned with artwork and photographs from their travels, and every room was filled with warmt
Selene 's POVI didn't know what to say. The words seemed stuck in my throat, heavy and thick, as I tried to wrap my mind around what the guard had just told us. Adrian was back, and worse—he had raised an army of the dead. The idea was so horrifying, so nightmarish, that it seemed almost impossible to believe. But the cold, hard truth was staring us in the face, and I felt an icy dread seep into my bones.Leo’s arms tightened around me as he sensed my fear. “We need to tell Ethan,” he said, his voice low and steady, though I could feel the tension running through him. “He’s our Beta. We have to act quickly.”I nodded, my voice still lost somewhere in the swirl of emotions flooding my mind. Ethan had been through so much already. The loss of his brother, Caleb, still hung over him like a dark cloud, and now this. How could we pile more on his shoulders? But there was no choice. We had to do this together, as we always had.Leo took my hand, his grip reassuring, and led me out of the s
“SILENCE!!” Leo shouted, his voice booming over the chaos that had erupted in the council chamber. The room fell quiet almost instantly, the council members staring at him with wide eyes, their fear still palpable but now held in check by the force of his command.He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself as he looked around at the gathered faces. “We cannot afford to fall apart now. Adrian has aligned with Tiana, and that makes them a greater threat than we anticipated, but we are not defeated. We will not let fear control us.”Kira, the sharp-eyed woman who had been one of the most vocal during the earlier discussions, leaned forward, her expression intense. “But how do we fight them, Leo? An army of the dead, and now Tiana with her knowledge of our defenses? We need a plan, and we need it now.”Leo nodded, his jaw clenched tightly. “We do need a plan, and it starts with preparing ourselves for the worst. We’ll need to double our patrols, increase security around the borders,
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