KATRINA Xavier’s cold eyes bore into mine as he stepped forward, pulling Bianca protectively behind him. It was almost like he thought I was some kind of threat, which was laughable considering the mess they had both made of things.“Why are you even here, Katrina?" He asked. "What are you trying to prove? Or are you just clinging to your father’s old connections, hoping someone will fight your battles for you?” His question grated my skin and I wanted every chance to slap the expression on his face.I knew he was only asking so everyone would assume he wasn't the weak Alpha they all think. Not like I was even surprised at how weak he had become lately, in fact, that was one reason I had to leave him. I've always thought he was a man, he was someone bold and courageous enough to stand his ground and defend those he loves–no. I was wrong, Xavier was the typical opposite. He hasn't even gotten the nerves of a lady. And here he was, trying to sound all mean and… what will I even call
KATRINA I marched forward, anger burning through me. My fists stayed clenched at my sides, my nails digging so hard into my palms and it felt like they might break the skin. My chest felt so tight, and my breathing grew heavy, I was so angry. And I was done holding it in.“Alpha Xavier,” I blurted. “If you don’t want your Luna to make a fool of herself like a clown, you’d better take her away now.” I kept my eyes locked on Xavier, but my hand lifted to point straight at Bianca.Bianca’s face darkened, and she rolled her eyes in disdain. “Katrina Snow, I think the only clown here is you." She pointed at me. "Don’t you see? You’re out of place, out of your league.”“You think so?” I asked, tilting my head slightly, a smirk tugging at my lips. “Funny, because I seem to remember the last time you underestimated me, it didn’t end well for you.” Alexandro stood beside me like a silent guard, his arms folded tightly across his chest. He didn’t interrupt, but the look in his eyes was unpred
ALEXANDRO I really didn’t expect things to turn out like this. The camp was supposed to be a place of focus and strategy, but it had turned into a battlefield of egos. The moment I announced Katrina would command the elite warriors, I knew trouble would somehow find its way to the surface. And it did. Katrina had earned her place, but there were always those who couldn’t see beyond their own pride. Bianca, of course, was at the forefront of this rebellion. She was too proud and too quick to assume she was being slighted.I watched from where I sat as the both women argued among themselves. I knew where this misunderstanding was heading to, but I preferred to observe before I took any action. Katrina stood at her spot, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. She looked calm, but I could see the anger burning behind those eyes. Bianca, on the other hand, was practically trembling with anger, ready to pounce on her.However, she lunged at Katrina like a wild beast. I couldn't let t
KATRINA I stood in the middle of the camp with my arms crossed tightly over my chest, trying to stay calm as the questions kept coming at me from every direction. The captains surrounded me, their faces stained with a mixture of confusion and sadness. I could feel their eyes boring into me, demanding answers I didn’t have the strength to give.“Kat, why didn’t you tell us about such an important matter?” one of them asked. It was Captain Thomas, an older man who used to visit my father when I was a child. I remembered how he would sit at our table, laughing with my father, drinking ale, and patting me on the head. Now, his gaze held nothing but pity.I was still processing an answer to his question when another asked. “How could you carry on all by yourself? After everything that happened?”How could I carry on all by myself? What was I supposed to say to that? Honestly, it wasn't easy at all. And just when I had hoped that everything would be alright regardless, it turned out worse.
KATRINAMy mate is coming back, I can feel it.I felt my wolf stir within me, “Katrina,” the soft murmur of her voice reached me before I could even catch my breath. “Xavier's close. I can feel his wolf getting closer to us. They’re back.”I closed my eyes, letting a faint smile play on my lips as I sniffed in the cold air of the morning. I was relieved and scared at the same time. Not the feeling of fear, but an uneasy feeling that kept building in my chest.It's been twelve long months since the night of our wedding. The night he held me in his arms, promising a lifetime together, only to leave shortly after for the war that tore us apart. It did break my heart, but what could I do? What could I say?I stood there, watching the only man who mattered a lot to me leave. Now, after a year of waiting and wondering if he'd return, he was finally coming home. “Do you think…” I paused, not even knowing how to voice it. “Do you think anything will be the same?” I asked Jinx, but her sudden
KATRINA THE walls of the packhouse had never felt cold like today. I stood at the entrance, my fingers trembled as I gripped the doorframe, and my heart sank even further with every laugh that echoed out from the inside. His laugh. Their laugh. I swallowed hard. It wasn’t just about the heaviness in my chest, it was more of the obvious change that has swept through my home in a blink of an eye. My home, where I had run this pack for a year in Xavier’s absence felt foreign, as though I no longer belonged. Steeling myself, I pushed the door open, stepping into the living room. There they were–Xavier, sitting comfortably, so comfortably beside his mother, with his hand wrapped around hers. Bianca’s. The woman who shouldn’t be here. The woman who shouldn’t be his. Xavier’s mother, Evelyn, was the first to notice me, then a smile played across her face. The same smile that used to comfort me, but this time, it felt empty. “Oh, Katrina,” she greeted, her voice too sweet. “We were just t
KATRINA I stood in the middle of the room, staring at Xavier as he lounged back on his chair. Bianca sat beside him, her hands slightly on his, their fingers interlocked in a way that made my stomach churn, reminding me that I was no longer a part of Xavier’s life–at least, not in the way I had once been. “I’m not interested in being a surrogate for the two of you,” I said firmly. The thought of carrying their child, of being reduced to some kind of vessel, sickened me. “This mated bond, this so-called marriage, I want it over. I want out.” Xavier’s lips curled into a shameless grin, the kind that made me want to slap it off his face. More like he was speaking to a child who didn’t understand the rules. He had always been arrogant, but now, it was as if he didn’t even see me anymore. He saw me not as an equal, not even as a former lover, but as an obstacle to control. Something to use. I don’t know if I should cry, or just laugh it off his face. He spoke as if I should be grateful
KATRINA Mrs Evelyn lay on her chaise, her hand pressed dramatically to her forehead, as if my action had somehow wounded her in the deepest possible way. “How dare you disobey and hurt your Alpha for an omega!” She yelled, casting an awful glance my way before letting out a deep, dramatic sigh and slumping back. Her eyes were halfway closed before her legs buckled slightly. “Oh! The nerve of this… this girl!” She cursed. “Get Pack Doctor Ashton over here!” Xavier ordered sharply, barely glancing at me as he summoned the only physician in the pack who would bend to Blackwood’s authority and reputation. Doctor Ashton was known to serve only those of highest status and reputation. Anyone order than the royals, he had no business with them. Xavier calling for his attention was, however, as much about his influence as it was about his mother’s health. But I stepped in calmly. My voice was low, almost soft. “Mother, it would be best if you got some rest.” I looked directly at her, fee
KATRINA I stood in the middle of the camp with my arms crossed tightly over my chest, trying to stay calm as the questions kept coming at me from every direction. The captains surrounded me, their faces stained with a mixture of confusion and sadness. I could feel their eyes boring into me, demanding answers I didn’t have the strength to give.“Kat, why didn’t you tell us about such an important matter?” one of them asked. It was Captain Thomas, an older man who used to visit my father when I was a child. I remembered how he would sit at our table, laughing with my father, drinking ale, and patting me on the head. Now, his gaze held nothing but pity.I was still processing an answer to his question when another asked. “How could you carry on all by yourself? After everything that happened?”How could I carry on all by myself? What was I supposed to say to that? Honestly, it wasn't easy at all. And just when I had hoped that everything would be alright regardless, it turned out worse.
ALEXANDRO I really didn’t expect things to turn out like this. The camp was supposed to be a place of focus and strategy, but it had turned into a battlefield of egos. The moment I announced Katrina would command the elite warriors, I knew trouble would somehow find its way to the surface. And it did. Katrina had earned her place, but there were always those who couldn’t see beyond their own pride. Bianca, of course, was at the forefront of this rebellion. She was too proud and too quick to assume she was being slighted.I watched from where I sat as the both women argued among themselves. I knew where this misunderstanding was heading to, but I preferred to observe before I took any action. Katrina stood at her spot, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. She looked calm, but I could see the anger burning behind those eyes. Bianca, on the other hand, was practically trembling with anger, ready to pounce on her.However, she lunged at Katrina like a wild beast. I couldn't let t
KATRINA I marched forward, anger burning through me. My fists stayed clenched at my sides, my nails digging so hard into my palms and it felt like they might break the skin. My chest felt so tight, and my breathing grew heavy, I was so angry. And I was done holding it in.“Alpha Xavier,” I blurted. “If you don’t want your Luna to make a fool of herself like a clown, you’d better take her away now.” I kept my eyes locked on Xavier, but my hand lifted to point straight at Bianca.Bianca’s face darkened, and she rolled her eyes in disdain. “Katrina Snow, I think the only clown here is you." She pointed at me. "Don’t you see? You’re out of place, out of your league.”“You think so?” I asked, tilting my head slightly, a smirk tugging at my lips. “Funny, because I seem to remember the last time you underestimated me, it didn’t end well for you.” Alexandro stood beside me like a silent guard, his arms folded tightly across his chest. He didn’t interrupt, but the look in his eyes was unpred
KATRINA Xavier’s cold eyes bore into mine as he stepped forward, pulling Bianca protectively behind him. It was almost like he thought I was some kind of threat, which was laughable considering the mess they had both made of things.“Why are you even here, Katrina?" He asked. "What are you trying to prove? Or are you just clinging to your father’s old connections, hoping someone will fight your battles for you?” His question grated my skin and I wanted every chance to slap the expression on his face.I knew he was only asking so everyone would assume he wasn't the weak Alpha they all think. Not like I was even surprised at how weak he had become lately, in fact, that was one reason I had to leave him. I've always thought he was a man, he was someone bold and courageous enough to stand his ground and defend those he loves–no. I was wrong, Xavier was the typical opposite. He hasn't even gotten the nerves of a lady. And here he was, trying to sound all mean and… what will I even call
KATRINA I was so vexed that I wouldn't mind causing a scene here. What the hell was she trying to prove right now? That I'm the bad one here? Like she could even sit comfortably with the fact that another woman was going to take her mate?I did what any other woman would have done. I saved myself from getting any further heartbreak, but here she was, trying to prove a point from her own stupidity."You’re the ones who traded war merits for the Luna Duet, leaving me no choice but to accept the rejection and let you two happy lovebirds have your way."All eyes were on us, and I hated the way both my men and Alexandro men stared at me like I was a criminal or something. She had planted the seed of discord, now she seems happy she's won, right?She clasped her hands in front of her, feigning and innocent face. “Why are you so angry? Did I lie? You agreed to the rejection, didn’t you? It was your choice.”“It’s been a while, Bianca, and you’re still so good at twisting the truth,” I added
BIANCA “Alpha Xavier, Luna Bianca, we’ve finally met your reinforcements. Good for you!” The woman who greeted us was Katrina Snow. She looked just as she always did—the confident and unbothered bitch, with a quiet strength that irritated me to no end. And it was clear that even the seasoned warriors around us were drawn to her.I stared at her, taken aback. "Why is she here?" My wolf growled low in my chest, I couldn’t hide the brief flicker of annoyance in my eyes, though I quickly masked it with a smile. "She looks so confident, so comfortable among them." My wolf, Gina, growled low, not liking how her aura seemed to overshadow mine, even for a moment.I glanced at the gathered warriors. They were all looking at her with admiration, some even with awe. Then it hit me. They think Katrina is still Xavier’s Luna? The earlier compliments, they weren’t meant for me, were they? They were for her. The brave and skilled Luna they’d praised wasn’t me, Bianca, Xavier’s fated mate. It
KATRINA "Oh no, it's Xavier! We have to hide!" My wolf was the first to pick up the scent.Xavier and Bianca were here? Why? Could they be the reinforcement?I didn’t need to be told twice. The moment I caught the faint scent of pine and cedar, his scent, I froze for a split second before my instincts took over. Without thinking, I sneaked my way into the crowd, letting the tall features of the men cover me.Alexandro’s eyes scanned the room, and more than once, his gaze landed on me. I knew he wanted me to come out and face Xavier, but there was no way I could do that. Not now. We've had our differences, and nothing about him concerns me now."Don't listen to him, Kat." Jinx echoed in my head. "We aren't going to that betrayal."After the rejection, Jinx had suddenly picked hatred on Xavier. Everything about him pisses her off, and with Bianca by his side, it only made things worse."I'm never thinking of going there, Jinx." I assured her. "We'll remain here until they are gone. So,
Alexandro We were gathered in the pack camp, sitting around the long table in the center of the meeting tent. By this time of the week, we'd always gather to discuss how to go over the strategic plans for the next week.It wasn't an easy one, but it was part of what we do. Without a plan, we wouldn't have conquered the war. Without a plan, we wouldn't have been what we are now. I stared at the map before me, mentally calculating strategies and likewise comparing every strategy my men had offered for the next plan. Somehow, I wasn't buying any of the ideas, they felt weak in a way.I tried so hard to come up with a better idea, but the noises from the brief argument they were having seemed to be making it a lot difficult for me to focus. “That's enough!” I half yelled, but that didn't stop them from yelling at each other.I rubbed my forehead in frustration, fighting the urge to roar, but I had to do something to stop this noise from distracting me or it will definitely turn into a
CASSIAN“Alpha.” Xander called as he walked into the study room. “Kat is truly the daughter of Alpha Snow!” He said almost excitedly, I could tell he was even more proud than I was. “Katrina even burned the supplies of the Crescent Pack with just a small team!” I leaned back in my chair, holding the report from Alexandro in my hands. The corners of my mouth twitched into a smile as I read the details. It was a rare one these days. It wasn’t just pride that I felt, though. There was something more to it.“Has Alexandro informed her already?” I asked after a moment, dropping the report on my desk. “From now on, she’s an official warrior in the army. Make her a first-class captain. Once she helps Alexandro banish the Crescent Pack from the south, she’ll be promoted to a full Pack Warrior.” Xander nodded, clearly pleased with my decision. “Um… I'm not sure, but I'll send him a message as soon as I'm done.” I nodded.“Well, I'm pretty sure Katrina will be happy when she learns of the