Liam’s POV I took the stairs two at a time, needing to burn off the restless energy that had been building up inside me all morning.It felt like there was a storm trapped inside my chest, swirling and pushing to get out, and running down the stairs was the only way I knew to keep it all in.My boots thudded against the polished wooden steps, the sound bouncing off the walls of the empty hallway.The house was already starting to stir with life. I could hear voices and laughter coming from somewhere in the distance. It made the place feel alive, but it didn’t do anything to settle my nerves.I reached the bottom of the stairs and was just about to turn the corner toward the dining room when it happened.Someone slammed into me.Not hard, but enough to make me stumble slightly and grab the edge of the wall to keep my balance.For a second, I felt annoyed, ready to snap at whoever wasn’t watching where they were going.But then her scent hit me.Vanilla.Wildflowers.Soft and sweet and
Kat’s POVI spent the entire day in my room, doing absolutely nothing. At first, it felt kind of nice to have some quiet time—no people yelling, no one giving me dirty looks or throwing cruel words my way like in my old pack. But after a few hours, the silence started to feel heavy. Like it was pressing down on me. Like I didn’t belong here, and the quiet was just a reminder.I laid on the bed for what felt like hours, staring up at the ceiling. I counted the wooden planks above me twice. Then I paced the room. Then I sat by the window and looked outside, watching a few pack members walking around. Some were training. Some were just chatting casually, like life was normal and easy. I wondered if I’d ever feel that way again—normal and at ease.Cindy brought me lunch sometime in the afternoon. I didn’t hear her knock, and I think she must’ve noticed I was feeling off, because she gently pushed the tray inside and offered me a kind smile.“I brought you something to eat, dear. Make sure
Kat's POV I unfolded it slowly, and my eyes immediately caught the dark brown stains splattered across the front. Blood.My vision blurred with tears.I gripped the fabric so tightly my fingers hurt. I felt like the floor had disappeared from under me. Like I was falling into some dark, cold place and I couldn’t stop.“She…” I whispered, my voice breaking. “She was wearing this…”Beta Johnson didn’t say anything. He just looked at me with a kind of sadness in his eyes, like he already knew what I was thinking.I had been holding on to hope. I had told myself that maybe she had gotten away. Maybe she had escaped and just couldn’t find me. Maybe someone was helping her.But now…Now I knew.She was gone.My mom was dead.The pain hit me so hard it was like someone had reached into my chest and crushed my heart with their bare hands. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think. My mouth opened, but no sound came out at first—just a strangled gasp. Then the sob broke free, raw and loud, and it ech
Kat's POVHis words made more tears fall.I didn’t even try to stop them this time. I was too tired. Tired of holding it in. Tired of pretending I was strong. Tired of pretending everything would be okay when I knew it wouldn’t. My whole body ached, not just from the crying, but from the weight of everything I’d been through. I felt hollow, like something had been ripped out of me.But still, I stayed in his arms.Alpha Liam held me without saying anything. He didn’t try to tell me it would be alright. He didn’t ask me to stop crying. He just stayed there, one arm wrapped firmly around my back while the other rested gently on the side of my head. His hand was warm against my hair, and for some reason, that simple touch made the pain feel just a little bit easier to carry.I let my head fall against his chest, hearing the slow, steady thump of his heart. It was comforting, like an anchor pulling me out of the storm inside me. I closed my eyes, breathing in his scent. It smelled like pi
Kat's POV He gave me a short nod back, then rolled up his sleeve slowly. I swallowed hard as I watched him bring his arm up to his mouth. Without flinching, without even hesitating, he sank his fangs into the side of his palm. The sound of his teeth breaking skin made me tense, and then I saw the dark red blood start to drip.It wasn’t like normal blood. It shimmered slightly, almost like it had gold in it. It was thick, warm, and had this strange scent—something rich and ancient and powerful. My stomach twisted, not in disgust, but in nervous anticipation.He walked toward me, holding out his bleeding hand.“This is the blood of your Alpha,” he said, voice low and steady. “Drink it, and you’ll be bound to me and this pack. It’s not just a ritual—it’s a promise. A bond. Once done, it cannot be broken.”I nodded again, my breathing quick and shallow. My knees felt a little weak, but I took a step forward.I reached for his hand slowly, like it was something sacred. When I gripped his
Kat’s POVIt had been a full week since I found out about my mom’s death. Some days felt longer than others, like they would never end. I had spent most of my time locked away in my room, curled up under the blankets, staring at the ceiling or crying into my pillow. My heart still hurt, like a piece of it had been ripped out and would never grow back. But today, for the first time in days, I felt a little stronger. I was finally ready to try and go back to school. At least, I hoped I was.Cindy had been my saving grace. She was always so kind, never pressuring me to talk or come out of my room. She just knocked softly, brought me breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, and smiled warmly even when I couldn’t return the smile. We talked sometimes—well, mostly she talked and I listened. I learned her parents were omegas in the Crescent Moon Pack, and she was only sixteen. She still had a cheerful way of talking, full of energy, even when things were quiet. It made me feel a little less a
Kat's POV I looked down at my plate instantly, staring hard at my food like it was suddenly the most interesting thing in the world. But I still felt him. Felt the way the room quieted, the way everyone turned to greet him.“Good morning, Alpha,” the pack members said almost in unison.I didn’t say anything. I just kept my head down, my eyes glued to the plate in front of me, like it held the secrets to the universe. My fingers trembled slightly, and I curled them into fists in my lap, willing them to be still. The last thing I needed was to draw attention to myself. Not after everything. Not after the way Angie had embarrassed me last time.But even without looking, I knew he was there.I could feel him.His presence was impossible to ignore—it filled the room like heat from a fire and electricity during a thunderstorm. It wasn’t loud or flashy, but it demanded attention, like a quiet storm building in the distance. My skin prickled as if the air had shifted the moment he walked in.
Kat's POV There was something in his tone that made my heart skip a beat. I quickly lowered my eyes and nodded. “Yes, Alpha.”The moment I said that, something strange happened.His body went a little stiff, and his eyes darkened—just for a second. Like there was something hidden under the surface. Something strong. Dangerous. Hungry. But then it disappeared, and his face was calm again.I blinked, wondering if I had imagined it.“Follow me,” he said.I followed him, walking beside him around the pack house. We didn’t speak, but I could hear the soft crunch of gravel under our feet and the sound of birds chirping in the trees.When we reached the garage, I stopped in my tracks. My mouth opened a little, and I just stood there, staring.I had never seen anything like it before in real life. The garage wasn’t just big—it was massive. Like, way bigger than the entire first floor of my old house. The outside walls were made of smooth gray stone, the kind that sparkled a little in the sun
Kat's POV As the bell rang, signaling the end of the lesson, Mr. Jacobson smiled at the class. "Remember, understanding our history is key to understanding our future. It shapes everything we do as a pack."I packed up my things quickly, eager to escape the overwhelming amount of new information, but Blake stopped me before I could leave."So, what do you think?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.I shrugged, feeling a little out of my depth. "It’s a lot to take in," I admitted. "But I’ll figure it out."Blake grinned, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. "Don’t worry. You’ll fit right in. And hey, if you ever need help understanding any of it, I’m here."I smiled back, appreciating his offer. "Thanks, Blake. I might take you up on that."Blake and I walked to our next class together. As we made our way down the hall, I felt a little more relaxed now that I had someone to walk with. He kept talking to me, asking more about where I was from and how I liked Crescent Moon Pack so far. I
Kat's POV We arrived at Room 204 just as the bell rang, signaling that class was about to start. The classroom door was already open, and a few students had already trickled in. Blake opened the door for me, and I stepped inside, scanning the room quickly to see if there were any empty seats. Blake followed me inside, and after a quick glance around, he walked toward an empty desk in the middle of the room and slid into the seat next to it."Come sit next to me," Blake called out to me with a playful smile.I couldn’t help but laugh. "You’re really insisting on sitting next to me, huh?""Of course," he said with a smirk. "Who else would I sit with on the first day?"I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop a small smile from tugging at my lips. "Alright, fine."We both settled into our seats, and I took out my notebook, trying to calm my nerves as I felt the weight of everyone’s eyes on me. The door at the front of the room opened, and the teacher, an older man with glasses and graying hai
Kat's POV I walked into the school building, the halls were buzzing with the sound of students chatting and laughing. I felt a little out of place, my heart racing as I tried to figure out where to go. It was my first day, and everything felt so new and overwhelming. The walls were lined with posters for upcoming events, and the lockers were stacked against the walls in neat rows. I felt like everyone already knew where they were going, and I was the only one who had no idea.I glanced around and spotted a student walking by. I must have looked lost because she gave me a small smile and asked if I needed help. I nodded, feeling a little embarrassed, and asked her where the admin office was. She pointed down the hallway and said it was at the end, then gave me a quick wave before hurrying off to her class.I took a deep breath and made my way down the hallway, trying to look confident even though I was still nervous. The walls seemed to close in a little as I walked, and I could feel
Kat's POV There was something in his tone that made my heart skip a beat. I quickly lowered my eyes and nodded. “Yes, Alpha.”The moment I said that, something strange happened.His body went a little stiff, and his eyes darkened—just for a second. Like there was something hidden under the surface. Something strong. Dangerous. Hungry. But then it disappeared, and his face was calm again.I blinked, wondering if I had imagined it.“Follow me,” he said.I followed him, walking beside him around the pack house. We didn’t speak, but I could hear the soft crunch of gravel under our feet and the sound of birds chirping in the trees.When we reached the garage, I stopped in my tracks. My mouth opened a little, and I just stood there, staring.I had never seen anything like it before in real life. The garage wasn’t just big—it was massive. Like, way bigger than the entire first floor of my old house. The outside walls were made of smooth gray stone, the kind that sparkled a little in the sun
Kat's POV I looked down at my plate instantly, staring hard at my food like it was suddenly the most interesting thing in the world. But I still felt him. Felt the way the room quieted, the way everyone turned to greet him.“Good morning, Alpha,” the pack members said almost in unison.I didn’t say anything. I just kept my head down, my eyes glued to the plate in front of me, like it held the secrets to the universe. My fingers trembled slightly, and I curled them into fists in my lap, willing them to be still. The last thing I needed was to draw attention to myself. Not after everything. Not after the way Angie had embarrassed me last time.But even without looking, I knew he was there.I could feel him.His presence was impossible to ignore—it filled the room like heat from a fire and electricity during a thunderstorm. It wasn’t loud or flashy, but it demanded attention, like a quiet storm building in the distance. My skin prickled as if the air had shifted the moment he walked in.
Kat’s POVIt had been a full week since I found out about my mom’s death. Some days felt longer than others, like they would never end. I had spent most of my time locked away in my room, curled up under the blankets, staring at the ceiling or crying into my pillow. My heart still hurt, like a piece of it had been ripped out and would never grow back. But today, for the first time in days, I felt a little stronger. I was finally ready to try and go back to school. At least, I hoped I was.Cindy had been my saving grace. She was always so kind, never pressuring me to talk or come out of my room. She just knocked softly, brought me breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, and smiled warmly even when I couldn’t return the smile. We talked sometimes—well, mostly she talked and I listened. I learned her parents were omegas in the Crescent Moon Pack, and she was only sixteen. She still had a cheerful way of talking, full of energy, even when things were quiet. It made me feel a little less a
Kat's POV He gave me a short nod back, then rolled up his sleeve slowly. I swallowed hard as I watched him bring his arm up to his mouth. Without flinching, without even hesitating, he sank his fangs into the side of his palm. The sound of his teeth breaking skin made me tense, and then I saw the dark red blood start to drip.It wasn’t like normal blood. It shimmered slightly, almost like it had gold in it. It was thick, warm, and had this strange scent—something rich and ancient and powerful. My stomach twisted, not in disgust, but in nervous anticipation.He walked toward me, holding out his bleeding hand.“This is the blood of your Alpha,” he said, voice low and steady. “Drink it, and you’ll be bound to me and this pack. It’s not just a ritual—it’s a promise. A bond. Once done, it cannot be broken.”I nodded again, my breathing quick and shallow. My knees felt a little weak, but I took a step forward.I reached for his hand slowly, like it was something sacred. When I gripped his
Kat's POVHis words made more tears fall.I didn’t even try to stop them this time. I was too tired. Tired of holding it in. Tired of pretending I was strong. Tired of pretending everything would be okay when I knew it wouldn’t. My whole body ached, not just from the crying, but from the weight of everything I’d been through. I felt hollow, like something had been ripped out of me.But still, I stayed in his arms.Alpha Liam held me without saying anything. He didn’t try to tell me it would be alright. He didn’t ask me to stop crying. He just stayed there, one arm wrapped firmly around my back while the other rested gently on the side of my head. His hand was warm against my hair, and for some reason, that simple touch made the pain feel just a little bit easier to carry.I let my head fall against his chest, hearing the slow, steady thump of his heart. It was comforting, like an anchor pulling me out of the storm inside me. I closed my eyes, breathing in his scent. It smelled like pi
Kat's POV I unfolded it slowly, and my eyes immediately caught the dark brown stains splattered across the front. Blood.My vision blurred with tears.I gripped the fabric so tightly my fingers hurt. I felt like the floor had disappeared from under me. Like I was falling into some dark, cold place and I couldn’t stop.“She…” I whispered, my voice breaking. “She was wearing this…”Beta Johnson didn’t say anything. He just looked at me with a kind of sadness in his eyes, like he already knew what I was thinking.I had been holding on to hope. I had told myself that maybe she had gotten away. Maybe she had escaped and just couldn’t find me. Maybe someone was helping her.But now…Now I knew.She was gone.My mom was dead.The pain hit me so hard it was like someone had reached into my chest and crushed my heart with their bare hands. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think. My mouth opened, but no sound came out at first—just a strangled gasp. Then the sob broke free, raw and loud, and it ech