Ryland Pov The air in the Bloodfang clearing crackles with tension, thick enough to choke on. You stand at Ryland’s side, the Heart of the Grove dagger strapped to your hip, its moonlight blade a silent threat. The pack surrounds you—some kneeling, others glaring, their loyalty fractured like splintered bone. The twins cling to your legs, their wide eyes reflecting the mistrust radiating from the crowd. “You expect us to follow *her*?” A broad-shouldered warrior—Kael, Ryland’s former Beta—spits at your feet. “An Omega? A traitor?” Ryland’s growl vibrates in your chest. “She’s your Luna.” “Not mine,” Kael snarls. “Not after she abandoned us.” Your nails dig into your palms. “I didn’t abandon you. *You* cast me out.” “For good reason!” A woman steps forward—Mira, the pack’s lead hunter. Her gaze flicks to the twins. “Those… *things* are abominations. The elders warned us—” Ryland moves faster than thought, pinning Mira to a tree. “Finish that sentence,” he whispers, his cl
Ryland Pov The Grove hums with renewed life, its ancient trees swaying as if in gratitude. The twins sit at the base of the Heart’s pedestal, their hands pressed to the stone, their glow merging with the moonlight. You watch them, the dagger’s weight heavy at your hip, its silver flames a constant reminder of the bond you’ve reforged. Ryland stands beside you, his gaze fixed on the pack as they gather at the clearing’s edge. “They’re scared,” he murmurs. “Good,” you say, your voice sharp. “Fear keeps them alive.” He glances at you, his gray eyes softening. “And what keeps you alive?” You don’t answer. Selene’s voice breaks the silence, her tone distant, ethereal. “The moon lady says… *the shadow grows*.” You crouch beside her, brushing her hair back. “What shadow, baby?” She blinks, her silver eyes clearing. “The bad wolves. They’re coming.” Silas nods, his golden glow flickering. “Lots of them.” Ryland’s jaw tightens. “How many?” “Too many,” Silas whispers. Th
ZARA’S POV This can't be happening.It just can't.Those are the words that keep echoing in my head as I stand in the middle of the dinning area, my hands twisting at the rag I was using to clean.Why is this happening to me?My heart pounds in my chest, so loud I am sure everyone can hear it. The room is suffocating, the air thick with tension, as Ryland, the Alpha steps forward. His presence is impossible to ignoreHe is a literal force of nature that commands attention without effort and I can't even move as his footsteps echo against the marble floor of the pack’s ceremonial hall, each step drawing him closer to me.I am going to die.I can’t stop shaking even as my hands tremble, and clenches into tight fists at my sides while I struggle to hold myself together.“Why is he walking toward her?”“Isn’t she just an Omega?”“Maybe he knows her … asked her to do something?”“A slave? What could she possibly help him with? She is nothing.”They are not wrong… and I know better than
ZARA'S POVA dream.That is what these past weeks have felt like.A beautiful, wonderful dreamIt feels like I have stepped into someone else’s life. But it's mineMy life. A life I never thought could ever be possible For one, I am no longer invisible. People see me now. Wolves who used to walk past me without a second glance now greet me with bows and murmured respect. My days of scrubbing floors and dodging sharp words from the pack are over. I wear silks and soft fabrics now, clothes fit for a Luna, ao much so that my own reflection in the mirror startles me sometimes, as if the woman staring back isn’t me.Ryland has been amazingWonderful, caring, and the sex… oh, boy… that is just beyond words.We have been making love every since that first night and he has shown me just how much he cherishes me.From his lips, to his hands to … well … let me just say it has been perfect.It feels like a dream. A perfect, fleeting dream.But beneath all the luxury, I can't help but feel t
ZARA'S POV"I, Ryland Cross, reject you, Zara Hale, as my mate.”"I, Ryland Cross, reject you, Zara Hale, as my mate.”Over and over again, his words replay in my head, each syllable is a dagger digging deeper into me."I, Ryland Cross, reject you, Zara Hale, as my mate."“Oh, goddess,” I gasp as I grip my tummy, trying to catch my breath that has escaped me.The world feels like it's crumbling beneath my feet. I can’t move. I can’t breathe. My hands are trembling as I try to hold myself, the weight of his words pressing down on my chest until I think it might cave in.Everything around me is a blur. There are the murmurs, the gasps, the way people shift uncomfortably in the crowd- it all feels distant, like I am watching it from behind a thick pane of glass. And my wolf… who has been silent for so long, finally stirs, but it is not the comforting presence I need. She lets out a howl, low and mournful, a sound full of the same grief that is similar to what I feel.I can't thin
RYLAND’S POV5 YEARS LATER “LIARS!” I roar as I throw my chair across the room, watching as it crashes against the door and splinters to the ground.The room is a wreck. My office looks like a battlefield. Thee are papers scatteredall.jcer the place as my rable lies overturned, and the broken remains of a glass decanter glint accusingly in the faint light.It palws in comparison to how I feel .“FUCKING LIARS!” I roast again as I begin panting, out of breath.My wolf is pacing in my head, snarling at me, blaming me for the mistake I made.A bloody mistakeI shouldn't have trusted them.I should have investigated in my own.All this time…The lies.The deception.My wolf growls again, and this time, I let him. His anger mirrors mine perfectly. My chest is heaving, my nails are extended, claws threatening to tear through my own skin. I need to break something- someone.Kill someone I lean heavily against the desk, the memory of Zara’s face as I rejected her searing into my mind
ZARA'S POVONE YEAR LATERThe first thing I feel is a tiny hand shaking me, followed by a persistent voice.“Mommy, wake up!” Selene’s sweet but insistent tone pulls me from sleep.Before I can respond, another voice joins in- this one more commanding, like his father. “Mommy, it is morning. You said we can’t be late for school.” Silas, always the serious one, tugs at the blanket.I groan, pulling the covers over my head. “Just five more minutes, please.”“Nope!” Selene giggles, and I feel a pair of small hands pulling at the blanket. “The sun is awake, so you have to be, too!”Reluctantly, I open my eyes, to meet with two identical sets of bright, curious faces. Silas and Selene, my children, stand beside the bed, their messy curls framing their angelic features. Angelic now, but I know this peace won’t last long.“All right, all right,” I say, sitting up. “I am up. Happy now?”Selene squeals in triumph, throwing her arms around me while Silas just smirks, crossing his arms like h
Chapter 6: "A Past That Haunts"ZARA'S POVThe smell of rain lingered in the air as I stared at Ryland across the diner table. The space between us felt as wide as the ocean, filled with questions and answers I wasn’t ready to hear. I gripped the edge of the table so tightly my knuckles turned white, my heart pounding hard enough to make me lightheaded.“Zara, you need to let me explain,” Ryland said, his voice soft but firm.I scoffed, shaking my head. “Explain? You want to explain? After everything? After rejecting me in front of everyone, telling me to leave your pack like I was nothing?” My voice trembled, and I hated that I couldn’t keep the pain out of it.He leaned forward, his hands resting on the table as his gray eyes locked on mine. “I didn’t want to do it. You think it was easy for me to—”“Don’t.” I cut him off, raising a hand. “Don’t you dare say it wasn’t easy for you. You didn’t lose everything, Ryland. I did.”His jaw tightened, and for a moment, he didn’t speak. The
Ryland Pov The Grove hums with renewed life, its ancient trees swaying as if in gratitude. The twins sit at the base of the Heart’s pedestal, their hands pressed to the stone, their glow merging with the moonlight. You watch them, the dagger’s weight heavy at your hip, its silver flames a constant reminder of the bond you’ve reforged. Ryland stands beside you, his gaze fixed on the pack as they gather at the clearing’s edge. “They’re scared,” he murmurs. “Good,” you say, your voice sharp. “Fear keeps them alive.” He glances at you, his gray eyes softening. “And what keeps you alive?” You don’t answer. Selene’s voice breaks the silence, her tone distant, ethereal. “The moon lady says… *the shadow grows*.” You crouch beside her, brushing her hair back. “What shadow, baby?” She blinks, her silver eyes clearing. “The bad wolves. They’re coming.” Silas nods, his golden glow flickering. “Lots of them.” Ryland’s jaw tightens. “How many?” “Too many,” Silas whispers. Th
Ryland Pov The air in the Bloodfang clearing crackles with tension, thick enough to choke on. You stand at Ryland’s side, the Heart of the Grove dagger strapped to your hip, its moonlight blade a silent threat. The pack surrounds you—some kneeling, others glaring, their loyalty fractured like splintered bone. The twins cling to your legs, their wide eyes reflecting the mistrust radiating from the crowd. “You expect us to follow *her*?” A broad-shouldered warrior—Kael, Ryland’s former Beta—spits at your feet. “An Omega? A traitor?” Ryland’s growl vibrates in your chest. “She’s your Luna.” “Not mine,” Kael snarls. “Not after she abandoned us.” Your nails dig into your palms. “I didn’t abandon you. *You* cast me out.” “For good reason!” A woman steps forward—Mira, the pack’s lead hunter. Her gaze flicks to the twins. “Those… *things* are abominations. The elders warned us—” Ryland moves faster than thought, pinning Mira to a tree. “Finish that sentence,” he whispers, his cl
Ryland Pov The forest is too quiet. Even the wind holds its breath as you trek through the undergrowth, the twins’ hands clasped in yours. Ryland walks ahead, his shoulders tense, his gaze scanning the shadows. The dagger at your hip pulses like a second heartbeat, its silver glow seeping through the fabric of your coat. “Mommy,” Silas whispers, his golden eyes wide. “The trees are scared.” You squeeze his hand. “Stay close.” Selene tugs your sleeve, her silver gaze distant. “The moon lady says… *hurry*.” Ryland halts, nostrils flaring. “They’re here.” The ambush erupts in a storm of snarls. Wolves pour from the trees—elders in hybrid forms, their claws glinting with venom. You shove the twins behind you, the dagger blazing to life in your grip. “Protect them!” you snarl at Ryland. He doesn’t hesitate. His wolf form collides with the first attacker, bones crunching. --- The forest dissolves into chaos. Claws slash at you. You duck, driving the dagger into a wolf’s r
Ryland Pov The sanctuary trembles, dust cascading from the ancient stone arches as the Moon Goddess’s voice fades. The dagger—*your* dagger—burns cold in your grip, its moonlight blade casting jagged shadows across Ryland’s face. His gray eyes lock onto yours, unflinching, as the twins cling to your legs. “We need to go,” Ryland says, his voice frayed. “This place won’t hold.” You tighten your hold on the dagger. “Not until you tell me what this *really* does.” He steps closer, blood still seeping from the gashes Marus left. “It binds bloodlines. Cross and Solara. It’s the only way to secure the twins’ power.” “Or hand it to the elders,” you snap. Selene tugs your sleeve, her silver eyes wide. “The moon lady says it’s a key. Not a weapon.” Silas presses his palm to the dagger’s hilt. Symbols flare—a crescent moon devouring flames. “It’s *for* us, Mommy. To make the packs listen.” Ryland’s jaw tightens. “We don’t have time for this. Zane’s coming.” As if summoned, a h
Ryland Pov The forest is a blur of shadows and moonlight as you run, the twins’ hands clamped in yours. Ryland’s ragged breaths echo behind you, his wolf form limping but relentless. The air reeks of burnt magic and blood—Elder Marus’s doing. “Faster,” Ryland growls, his voice distorted by the shift. “He’s gaining.” You glance back. Marus’s monstrous form crashes through the trees, his eyes glowing like molten iron. The twins whimper, their fear sharp in the air. “Mommy,” Silas gasps, his golden aura flickering. “The stone… it’s calling.” “What stone?” Your voice cracks. “The Heart of the Grove,” Ryland pants. “The sanctuary. It’s close.” You don’t ask how he knows. You don’t care. The twins’ survival is all that matters. The trees part abruptly, revealing a moss-covered ruin. A stone archway stands at its center, carved with symbols that mirror the twins’ glow. “Inside,” Ryland orders, shifting back to human form. Blood streaks his chest, but his gaze is steel. Yo
Ryland Pov The Shadow Pack’s camp is a maze of tattered tents and smoldering fires. The air reeks of fear and betrayal, the remnants of Zane’s rule lingering like a curse. You clutch the twins’ hands, their small fingers trembling in yours, as Ryland leads you through the chaos. “Stay close,” he murmurs, his voice low. You glare at him. “I don’t need your protection.” His jaw tightens. “Maybe not. But they do.” You glance at Silas and Selene, their wide eyes reflecting the camp’s flickering torches. They’ve seen too much, endured too much. And it’s your fault. “This way,” Ryland says, gesturing to a large tent at the center of the camp. You hesitate. “What’s in there?” “Answers.” The tent is dimly lit, its walls adorned with faded tapestries depicting wolves and moons. At its center stands a stone altar, its surface etched with ancient runes. “What is this?” you ask, your voice barely above a whisper. Ryland steps forward, his fingers tracing the runes. “The elde
Ryland Pov The cave is too quiet. Even the twins’ soft breaths feel like an intrusion, a reminder of how fragile this peace is. You sit with your back against the cold stone wall, Silas curled against your side, his golden glow faint but steady. Selene sleeps with her head in your lap, her silver hair tangled from the night’s chaos. Ryland stands at the cave’s entrance, his silhouette a dark shadow against the moonlit trees. His shoulders are tense, his gaze scanning the forest for threats. You hate how your eyes linger on him, how your wolf stirs at his nearness. “You should rest,” you say, your voice sharp. He doesn’t turn. “I’ll sleep when you’re safe.” “We’re not safe,” you snap. “We’ll never be safe.” He finally looks at you, his gray eyes stormy. “Then let me fix that.” You scoff. “You can’t fix this. You can’t fix *us*.” His jaw tightens. “I’m not asking you to forgive me. I’m asking you to let me protect you.” “Why?” Your voice cracks. “So you can feel better
Ryland Pov The fire crackles, its warmth a fragile shield against the night’s chill. You sit cross-legged on the damp forest floor, the twins curled against your sides. Silas’s head rests in your lap, his golden glow flickering like a dying star. Selene clings to your arm, her silver eyes reflecting the flames. Ryland sits across from you, his broad shoulders hunched, his hands clasped tightly. Blood streaks his temple, a reminder of the fight that nearly cost him his life. His gray eyes flicker to you, then away, as if he’s afraid to hold your gaze for too long. “You need to eat,” he says, holding out a strip of dried venison. His voice is softer than you remember, stripped of its Alpha edge. You ignore him, your fingers brushing Silas’s feverish forehead. “He’s getting worse.” “The Moonwell’s water stabilized him. For now.” Ryland leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “We need to keep moving. Zane’s wolves will track the magic.” You snap your gaze to his.
ZARA'S POV The forest is too quiet. Even the wind holds its breath, as if the trees themselves are waiting to see what we’ll do next. Silas and Selene slump against me, their warmth a fragile anchor as Ryland kneels to inspect the elders’ lifeless bodies. His hands are steady, but I see the tremor in his jaw—the one he thinks I don’t notice. “They’re gone,” he says, voice rough. “All of them.” “Good.” The word tastes like ash. I want to feel relief, but all I taste is dread. The twins stir, their eyelids fluttering. Selene’s fingers curl into my sleeve, her whisper barely audible. “The moon lady’s tired, Mommy. She needs to sleep.” I brush her hair back, my throat tight. “Then let her rest, baby.” Ryland rises, blood streaking his temple. “We can’t stay here. Other packs will have felt the shift in power. They’ll come.” “For the twins?” “For *them*.” He nods at the Moonwell, its waters still glowing faintly. “And for you.” I stiffen. “I’m no one’s prize.” “No.” His