KATRINA I was stunned, more like a shock. The wedding hall wasn’t at all what I had imagined it to be. It was supposed to be grand–Blackwood’s chance to show off its might and prosperity under Xavier's leadership. Instead, it felt incomplete, almost empty. The decorations looked rushed, the lighting dimmer than it should have been, and the tables… mostly empty. The only people that filled the hall was the Blackfang soldiers, which was even more unusual than anything else. There were no prominent Alphas from neighboring packs, no allies or powerful figures that would usually grace a wedding blessed by the Alpha King. It was a mockery of what should have been a celebration of strength and union. What was even more striking was the absence of the bride and groom.Therma and I stayed at one side, I glared around, searching for someone–anyone familiar to me.Then, I heard a familiar voice call my name. “Luna Katrina?” I turned and saw Amy, the Beta’s wife. She had once spoken up fo
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 my wolf, but her sudd
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 had barely set foot inside my room when I suddenly heard footsteps thundering down the hall. I didn't need anyone to tell me who it was… I already knew it was Xavier coming. The door swung open violently, and he stormed in, his expression spoke of hatred and anger. And for the first time in days, I didn't look scared at how furious he looked. "You went to see Alpha King, didn’t you?” He growled, pointing his first finger at me. "You begged him to cancel Bianca’s Luna ceremony, didn’t you?" I remained silent, watching him. There was an odd satisfaction I felt seeing him grow frustrated with my silence, it was a reaction he has never seen from me before. Perhaps he’s grown too used to my fear, my apologies, my shame. But I’ve none of those left to give him. Not now. “Are you deaf?” he barked. “You’re not a mindless animal, Katrina. I'm talking to a human being. So I need you to answer my question. Did you beg the Alpha King to cancel Bianca's Luna ceremony with me?” I lo
KATRINA Xavier’s eyes widened in disbelief. The shock on his face was almost satisfying. He hadn't expected this. Not at all. He didn't see it coming either. He had grown too comfortable believing I was weak, that I was a shy woman with no real strength of her own, someone who would always depend on others for her protection. “You… can fight?” he demanded, as if it was a joke. Like I had somehow made it up to provoke him. I didn't answer immediately. While he looked at me, I remained calm, holding his gaze without blinking. I wasn’t afraid. “Not really,” I replied calmly, “but I’m definitely better than you.” For a split second, I thought I saw his confidence fade away, but he quickly masked it. A low growl escaped him, so deep and threatening. His muscles bunched as he sprang toward me, his eyes blazed with anger. “I am your Alpha,” he snarled. “You will obey me!” But I’d prepared for this moment. I always have. I've faced worse monsters before. His aggression is nothing comp
KATRINA“The Alpha King’s verdict is as follows…” he paused for a second before he continued. “The Snow Pack’s Alpha, Jonathan Snow, was a great hero. The male members of the Snow family all died defending our borders, leaving only Katrina Snow, their only surviving daughter. Therefore, the responsibility and authority to rebuild Snow Pack now rests with Katrina, and the mate she chooses can take over as Snow Pack’s newest Alpha.”The words echoed in my head as if they were spoken in slow motion. My knees felt weak, and I dug my nails into my palms to hold myself. The tears that rolled down my cheeks were uncontrollable and I didn’t bother to wipe them away. There was no shame in crying for the family I lost. For the first time in years, I felt something close to pride—a bittersweet pride. It felt surreal hearing my father’s name spoken with so much honour, his sacrifices acknowledged by the very people who had turned their backs on us when we needed them the most.Now that the legac
KATRINA I was stunned, more like a shock. The wedding hall wasn’t at all what I had imagined it to be. It was supposed to be grand–Blackwood’s chance to show off its might and prosperity under Xavier's leadership. Instead, it felt incomplete, almost empty. The decorations looked rushed, the lighting dimmer than it should have been, and the tables… mostly empty. The only people that filled the hall was the Blackfang soldiers, which was even more unusual than anything else. There were no prominent Alphas from neighboring packs, no allies or powerful figures that would usually grace a wedding blessed by the Alpha King. It was a mockery of what should have been a celebration of strength and union. What was even more striking was the absence of the bride and groom.Therma and I stayed at one side, I glared around, searching for someone–anyone familiar to me.Then, I heard a familiar voice call my name. “Luna Katrina?” I turned and saw Amy, the Beta’s wife. She had once spoken up fo
XAVIER“I will wait. I will take care of your mother and the pack.” Those words kept replaying in my head over and over again. She had said those words to me before we mated. She had said it, while lying in my arms.Now as I sat in my room, staring at the shadows dancing on the walls, I couldn’t get off the thought of everything replaying in my head. It all feels like they are happening right now. The rejection especially, it struck a blow in my heart, leaving a hollow space inside me that I couldn’t quite place. I had told myself it was for the best. I had rationalized it a hundred different ways. As much as I tried to drown it out–her voice, her words–but they’re just all in there, haunting me like a nightmare.I didn’t realize when Bianca stepped in until she said, “Hey.”I turned to look at her, and she had this welcoming smile on her face. “Hey,” I forced a smile in return.“Are you done rejecting her?” She asked. “Did you manage to take away at least half of her assets?”Somet
KATRINA“The Alpha King’s verdict is as follows…” he paused for a second before he continued. “The Snow Pack’s Alpha, Jonathan Snow, was a great hero. The male members of the Snow family all died defending our borders, leaving only Katrina Snow, their only surviving daughter. Therefore, the responsibility and authority to rebuild Snow Pack now rests with Katrina, and the mate she chooses can take over as Snow Pack’s newest Alpha.”The words echoed in my head as if they were spoken in slow motion. My knees felt weak, and I dug my nails into my palms to hold myself. The tears that rolled down my cheeks were uncontrollable and I didn’t bother to wipe them away. There was no shame in crying for the family I lost. For the first time in years, I felt something close to pride—a bittersweet pride. It felt surreal hearing my father’s name spoken with so much honour, his sacrifices acknowledged by the very people who had turned their backs on us when we needed them the most.Now that the legac
KATRINA Xavier’s eyes widened in disbelief. The shock on his face was almost satisfying. He hadn't expected this. Not at all. He didn't see it coming either. He had grown too comfortable believing I was weak, that I was a shy woman with no real strength of her own, someone who would always depend on others for her protection. “You… can fight?” he demanded, as if it was a joke. Like I had somehow made it up to provoke him. I didn't answer immediately. While he looked at me, I remained calm, holding his gaze without blinking. I wasn’t afraid. “Not really,” I replied calmly, “but I’m definitely better than you.” For a split second, I thought I saw his confidence fade away, but he quickly masked it. A low growl escaped him, so deep and threatening. His muscles bunched as he sprang toward me, his eyes blazed with anger. “I am your Alpha,” he snarled. “You will obey me!” But I’d prepared for this moment. I always have. I've faced worse monsters before. His aggression is nothing comp
KATRINA I had barely set foot inside my room when I suddenly heard footsteps thundering down the hall. I didn't need anyone to tell me who it was… I already knew it was Xavier coming. The door swung open violently, and he stormed in, his expression spoke of hatred and anger. And for the first time in days, I didn't look scared at how furious he looked. "You went to see Alpha King, didn’t you?” He growled, pointing his first finger at me. "You begged him to cancel Bianca’s Luna ceremony, didn’t you?" I remained silent, watching him. There was an odd satisfaction I felt seeing him grow frustrated with my silence, it was a reaction he has never seen from me before. Perhaps he’s grown too used to my fear, my apologies, my shame. But I’ve none of those left to give him. Not now. “Are you deaf?” he barked. “You’re not a mindless animal, Katrina. I'm talking to a human being. So I need you to answer my question. Did you beg the Alpha King to cancel Bianca's Luna ceremony with me?” I lo
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 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 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
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 my wolf, but her sudd