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
ZARA’S POV The silence of the cabin wasn’t comforting tonight—it was suffocating. I leaned against the cold window frame, my arms wrapped tightly around myself as I stared into the dark expanse of trees. Shadows danced between the swaying branches, making my heart race. It was too quiet, too still, as if the forest itself was holding its breath. Behind me, Ryland’s presence weighed on the air like a storm cloud. I hated how it made the room feel smaller, more intimate, even when the distance between us was palpable. “You should leave,” I said without looking back, my voice a forced calmness. “I’m not going anywhere, Zara,” Ryland replied. His voice was low, steady, but it carried a note of finality that made my jaw clench. I turned sharply, the anger bubbling to the surface. “You can’t just show up here and act like you belong. You lost that right the day you walked away.” His gray eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw something raw flash across his face—regret, maybe, or guil
ZARA’S POV I felt my blood freeze as the figure emerged from the shadows. It wasn’t a wolf, though its presence was far more menacing. Tall and gaunt, with pale, nearly translucent skin, its eyes glowed a sickly gold. It moved with an unnatural grace, almost floating as it stepped toward us. “What—what is that?” I whispered, my voice barely audible. Ryland growled low, his wolf form snapping its head toward the figure. He stepped back from the wolves he was fighting, his posture rigid as if he recognized the new threat. “That,” he growled, his voice distorted but clear, “is a hunter.” I tightened my grip on the twins, my body trembling. “A hunter?” “Not human,” Ryland snarled, shifting back into his human form in a blur of motion. His chest heaved, blood dripping from a cut on his arm, but his focus never wavered from the creature. “They hunt wolves. Packless ones. Rogues. And anyone who stands in their way.” The hunter tilted its head, as though studying us. Its lips parted i
ZARA’S POV The scent of pine and blood still clings to the air, even after the rogues’ bodies have been dragged away. I stand at the edge of the clearing, watching as Ryland barks orders to the warriors. The surrendered rogues kneel in a ragged line, their heads bowed, their eyes flickering with a mix of fear and defiance. Silas and Selene hover near me, their hands clasped tightly in mine. “They’re scared,” Silas whispers, his golden eyes fixed on the prisoners. “Their wolves… they’re sad.” Selene nods, her silver gaze distant. “The moon lady says they can change. If we let them.” I squeeze their hands, my throat tight. *Trusting them feels like handing a knife to a shadow.* But the twins’ instincts have never led us astray—not yet. Ryland strides over, his gray eyes stormy. “We need to decide their fate. Now.” I glance at the twins. “What do you think?” Silas steps forward, his small chin lifted. “They’re lonely. They need a pack.” Selene tugs my sleeve. “But we have
ZARA’S POV The forest is too quiet. Even the crickets have gone silent, as though the earth itself is holding its breath. Moonlight filters through the trees, casting skeletal shadows over the clearing where Ryland and I stand shoulder to shoulder, our wolves taut with anticipation. Silas and Selene hover behind us, their small hands clasped together, their powers a faint hum beneath their skin. “They’re close,” Ryland murmurs, his claws unsheathed. His gray eyes scan the treeline, sharp and unflinching. I nod, my throat tight. The air reeks of pine and iron—*blood*. Zane’s allies have been circling the territory for days, their howls echoing like taunts in the dark. Tonight, they’ll make their move. Selene tugs my sleeve, her silver eyes glowing. “The moon lady says… it’s time.” Before I can respond, a guttural snarl rips through the silence. A dozen wolves burst from the shadows, their eyes feral, their teeth bared. At their helm strides a hulking figure—Kael, Zane’s lieut
ZARA’S POV The morning sun filters through the trees, casting dappled light over the training grounds. The air is crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and earth. I stand at the edge of the clearing, watching as Ryland adjusts the small dagger strapped to Silas’s belt. Our son’s face is a mix of excitement and nervousness, his golden eyes wide as he looks up at his father. “Do I really need this?” Silas asks, his voice trembling slightly. Ryland crouches to his level, his tone firm but gentle. “You’re a future Alpha, Silas. You need to be ready.” “But I’m just a kid,” Silas protests, his small hands fidgeting with the dagger’s hilt. “You’re more than that,” Ryland says, his gray eyes softening. “You’re Solara. And that means you have a responsibility to protect the pack.” Selene skips over, her silver eyes glowing faintly. “The moon lady says I’ll be *queen* one day.” Ryland chuckles, ruffling her hair. “And you’ll be the best queen this pack has ever seen.” I step f
ZARA’S POV The packhouse is alive with noise—clattering dishes, murmured conversations, and the occasional burst of laughter. It’s a sound I haven’t heard in years, not since before the elders’ betrayal. The air smells of roasted meat and fresh bread, a stark contrast to the metallic tang of blood that lingered just days ago. I stand at the head of the long dining table, my fingers tracing the intricate carvings on the back of Ryland’s chair. The twins are seated nearby, Silas shoveling food into his mouth with the enthusiasm of a starving wolf, while Selene picks at her plate, her silver eyes darting around the room. “They’re watching us,” she whispers, tugging at my sleeve. I follow her gaze to a group of warriors huddled near the fireplace. Their eyes flicker to me, then away, their expressions unreadable. “Let them watch,” I say, forcing a smile. “They’re just curious.” “Curious or suspicious?” Ryland’s voice is low as he steps up beside me, his hand brushing mine. I
*ZARA’S POV* The Moonwell glows faintly in the predawn light, its waters rippling as if stirred by an unseen hand. The grove is silent now, the echoes of battle replaced by the soft rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of waking birds. My body aches, every muscle protesting as I kneel beside the well, my fingers trailing through the cool, silvery water. “She’s here,” Selene whispers, her voice carrying an otherworldly echo. She stands beside me, her tiny hand gripping mine, her eyes glowing faintly with the same light that dances on the water’s surface. “Who’s here, baby?” I ask, though I already know the answer. “The moon lady,” she says simply, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. Behind us, Ryland shifts uneasily, his arms crossed over his chest. Silas leans against him, half-asleep, his golden aura flickering weakly. The battle took its toll on all of us, but the twins bore the brunt of it. Their powers, still raw and untamed, drained them in ways I can’t
ZARA’S POV* The forest is eerily silent, as if even the trees are holding their breath. Moonlight spills through the canopy, casting jagged shadows over the sacred grove where the elders once communed with the Goddess. Now, it reeks of betrayal. My claws dig into the damp earth as I crouch behind a moss-covered boulder, Silas and Selene pressed close to my sides. Their rapid breaths fog the air, their small bodies trembling not from fear—though Goddess knows they should be—but from the raw power humming beneath their skin. “Mommy,” Silas whispers, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the dark. “The bad man’s here.” “I know, baby,” I murmur, smoothing his wild curls. My wolf paces inside me, her snarls a silent echo of my rage. *Zane*. Ryland materializes beside us, his broad frame tense, blood streaking his jaw from a earlier skirmish with rogues. His gray eyes lock onto mine, stormy and unyielding. “The pack is in position. We move on your signal.” I nod, but Selene tugs my s
Ryland The dawn breaks cold and brittle, the sky streaked with ash from the smoldering ruins of the elders’ fortress. You stand at the edge of the Bloodfang clearing, the dagger’s weight heavy on your hip, its silver flames dormant but pulsing like a second heartbeat. Around you, the pack moves in exhausted silence—warriors binding wounds, mothers hushing whimpers, children clutching charred toys salvaged from the rubble. The air tastes of iron and regret. Kael approaches, his bravado tempered by a newfound deference. He bows his head, a gesture that still feels foreign. “The scouts report no sign of the elders’ remnants. Only crows picking at the dead.” You nod, your gaze lingering on the forest’s jagged treeline. “Double the patrols. They’ll regroup.” He hesitates. “You sound certain.” “The shadow wasn’t the end,” you say, echoing Selene’s warning. “It was a beginning.” His jaw tightens, but he doesn’t argue. For the first time, his loyalty feels earned, not forced. --
Ryland The air reeks of smoke and blood, the aftermath of battle clinging to your skin like a second shadow. Around you, the pack tends to the wounded, their murmurs a low hum of exhaustion and fear. The twins huddle at your side, their small hands gripping your torn sleeves, their glow dimmed but unbroken. Ryland stands a few paces away, his back to you, shoulders taut as he surveys the smoldering ruins of the elders’ fortress. The dagger at your hip pulses faintly, its silver flames a ghostly echo of the covenant’s power. “They’re regrouping,” Ryland says, voice gravelly. He doesn’t turn, but you feel his gaze like a physical touch. “The elders won’t stop.” You tighten your grip on Silas and Selene. “Then we finish this.” He finally faces you, his gray eyes haunted. “It’s not that simple. The shadow they summoned—it’s not just a weapon. It’s *alive*. And it’s hungry.” Selene whimpers, her silver eyes widening. “The moon lady says… *it’s coming*.” As if summoned, the grou
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