I stood frozen, my eyes glued to Lunette’s form lying on the bed. My mind racing with questions I couldn’t begin to answer. Questions like, How had she done that? What kind of power had just come out from her? She still looked so small and fragile now, her face far less pale against the pillow. I’d checked on her every minute since I carried her in here, making sure she was breathing and ensuring she wasn’t hurt. Yet now, as I stared at her, I couldn’t ignore the storm of questions building inside me. I leaned against the wall, one hand tucked into my pocket, the other gripping the table. I didn’t realize how tightly I was gripping the edge of the bedside table or that my knuckles had turned white until Axel’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “What the hell is she, Zarek?” he demanded, his tone sharp and accusatory. I flinched, anger flaring at his tone. "Lower your voice,” I growled, casting a glance at Lunette. “She’s been lying to us,” Axel continued, ignoring my warnin
"Do you ever stop being stupid?" My stepmother's Varda voice rang out from across the room as she delivered a sharp kick to my side while I was scrubbing the floor. I let out a small wince, the pain searing through me as I collapsed to my knees again. Ignoring her, I resumed cleaning, not wanting to provoke any further trouble. If I claimed to understand why she was hitting me this time, it would be a lie. She often did this for her own twisted amusement. "You are just a petty thief, just like that damn whore mother of yours," she spat, punctuating her words with another painful kick to my side. A small scream escaped me, and tears blurred my vision from the impact."Mother, stop!" Lorraine, her daughter, begged as she rushed to her mother's side, desperately trying to stop the abuse. Her mother wanted to hit me more. But Lorraine quickly ran to me, helping me to my feet, and we fled the scene together, not wanting to endure more of Varda’s cruelty. She was my mother's best friend and
I woke abruptly, gasping for breath, sweat running down my forehead as I struggled to control my heart. I had just had a nightmare, a terrifying one. I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration, but then I realized—it wasn’t just a nightmare. Everything I had experienced was real. My heart pounded as questions flooded my mind, but the most pressing one was: where the heck am I? I looked around the room, but I didn’t recognize it.The room was big, grand, and fancy—nothing like what I had back home. That only raised more questions. What had happened to me that day? Why was I here? Just then, the door flew open, catching my attention. Two men walked in, and they froze as soon as they saw me awake. I did the same. Our eyes locked for a moment, and just like before, my wolf began to stir, but this time she was more agitated. Their scent was oddly familiar, and when my wolf whispered “Mates…” again, the truth hit me.My eyes widened in shock. They were the wolves from that night—the on
I gasped and quickly clamped my arms over my bare chest, trying to cover myself. Why the hell did he just barge in without knocking? I couldn't wrap my mind around it. His eyes darkened as they roamed over my body, lingering in a way that made my skin tingle. I had always been complimented on my beauty, but the way he was looking at me now was different—intense. Yet, in a strange way, it made me feel desired.He took a step toward me, and I gulped, instinctively stepping back. The expression on his face made my heart race. “I wonder why Father is treating you so kindly? You trespassed into our territory, and yet he shows you so much hospitality,” Axel said bitterly. I couldn’t help but wonder, what did he have against me? We hadn’t even met before, so what was his problem? Zarek didn’t seem to like me much either, but Axel was a complete asshole.“What is your problem with me anyway?” I asked, my voice trembling as I summoned all the courage I had. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”Before
ZAREK'S POVDinner had been a quiet affair for years in our family; I was used to it, and so was Axel.But as I walked into the dining room, Lunnette scent me like a sledgehammer to the back of my head. I stood at the doorway, gripping the frame stiffly, trying to free my fingers so it didn't crush through the wood. "Aren't you going in?" my brother asked. I took in a deep breath that almost made it seem worse and stalked into the dining room. Once we were all seated, I looked to her and stilled. She looked beautiful, her pale blonde hair looking almost white; she seemed a little too pale with a slight flush to her cheeks. She looked up at me, and I looked away immediately. "I've decided to take Lunnette as my mate." My father mumbled. For the second time, I think, I sat there, stunned and frozen in disbelief as his voice echoed in the room, in my ears, but though I could hear him,it seemed to take me time to grasp what he was saying.My eyes locked on my father asI gripped the edg
AXEL'S POVI gripped Zarek’s arm tighter than I probably should have, practically dragging him out of the packhouse before he could do something truly reckless. His muscles were tense, his breath coming in shallow bursts.He was barely keeping his wolf from snapping. I knew that feeling too well.An omega? He was taking that omega as his mate of all women?The door slammed shut behind us, cutting off the murmur of voices and gasps from inside.The tension followed us through the doors.I crossed my arms, my gaze following him as he paced back and forth."He’s right, Zarek," I finally said."We rejected her. She’s free to choose, and so is he."A snarl tore from his throat as he hissed."Don’t you dare say that to me." He roared, and I sighed; he wasn't making this easy on me. Hell, I was stunned too, and trying to wrap my head around our father&rs
Lunnette POVThe moment the door slammed behind Axel and Zarek, as they stormed out of the dining room, a thick, oppressive silence settled over everyone left, making the air thick with tension. Someone slammed against the door hard, and it echoed down the hallway. I stayed frozen in my seat, unable to move, unable to breathe, my heart pounding in my chest, like a bass drum.My hands trembled in my lap as I stole glances at Alpha Cormac, who was sitting across from me, watching me. I hadn't expected a proposal; if the twins were surprised, then I had no idea what I should be right now. So I just sat there in silence, trying to process what had just happened. Zarek’s fury, Axel’s quiet seething anger—but it was Alpha Cormac’s words that kept replaying in my mind. He had claimed me. Not a beta or another high-ranking wolf. No, me an omega to be mated to Alpha Cormac. The father of the two men who were supposed to protect me now wanted me for himself. He would be my Alpha. “Lunette,
Lunnette's POVCurtis, the alpha beta, led me to my bedroom. I followed behind him, a little dumbstruck but mostly grateful at the thought of not having to worry about where I would sleep for the night.At least for now, that was a worry I didn't need to have."Thank you," I mumbled softly, and he looked to me, bowing slowly. I bowed back, insure of what to do with the way he had insisted on greeting me since I arrived."Your welcome; if you need anything, let me know," he muttered, and I nodded, going to bed.I made my way to the room; it was nice and quiet. It was better than where I actually slept in my old pack, which meant I had a bed and covers over me.I moved to the bathroom; it would be nice to take a shower and fall asleep, maybe hoping for some peace and quiet before morning.Once I turned on the shower, letting hit water run over me,.I didn't spend too long there; I was too tired anyway.I
I stood frozen, my eyes glued to Lunette’s form lying on the bed. My mind racing with questions I couldn’t begin to answer. Questions like, How had she done that? What kind of power had just come out from her? She still looked so small and fragile now, her face far less pale against the pillow. I’d checked on her every minute since I carried her in here, making sure she was breathing and ensuring she wasn’t hurt. Yet now, as I stared at her, I couldn’t ignore the storm of questions building inside me. I leaned against the wall, one hand tucked into my pocket, the other gripping the table. I didn’t realize how tightly I was gripping the edge of the bedside table or that my knuckles had turned white until Axel’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “What the hell is she, Zarek?” he demanded, his tone sharp and accusatory. I flinched, anger flaring at his tone. "Lower your voice,” I growled, casting a glance at Lunette. “She’s been lying to us,” Axel continued, ignoring my warnin
Axel POV I could barely sit still not with my thoughts still all tangled with worry,and suspicion.Not when it was causing this gnawing frustration that I couldn’t seem to shake off.Lunette was everywhere in my mind, and Lorraine’s venomous words from before were still played on a loop in my ears.Lunette was a rejected omega, an alpha’s daughter. If Lorraine was right, then goddess I didn't know what came next if that was the case.Rejected or not, it didn’t matter to me. What did matter was that Lunette had been keeping secrets—and I was going to find out what they were. I rose from my bed immediately,pulling on a clean shirt,I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. My face was tense,and I looked tired as hell but I decided I couldn’t wait any longer.I needed answers, and I needed to see her. The hall outside my room was quiet, the glow of lamp lights lining the walls cast a faint shadow over the floor.I tried to be quiet since it was late but my boots thudded against th
Lunette POV The air was warm and cold at the same time, I wasn't sure how that was possible at all. But the cold felt sharp against my skin, and carried with it a faint scent of pine and decay.My whole body was aching, and that was when I realized I wasn't really wearing clothes to protect me from the winter, and that I was back in my father’s pack house, with its familiar suffocating walls pressing down on me. Everything felt the same—the heavy silence, the watchful eyes of those who turned away from me even when I was suffering, that and the ever-looming presence of Varda and Lorraine. I stood in the center of the grand hall, my legs trembling beneath me while I held on to the rag I was using to scrub the floors as Varda circled round me like a predator. Her sharp nails dragged along the back of a chair, the sound grating in the oppressive quiet. “Did you really think you’d escape us, girl?” she sneered, her lips twisting into a cruel smile. I wasn't sure where she thought I
Axel POV The cool night air clinging to me as as I stepped into the pack house after another long, gruelling patrol was not welcome. I was exhausted and I needed a break but I didn't have much time to sleep so dragging my steps as I climbed the stairs to my room, desperate for a shower and maybe a few hours of peace. I made my way to my room, dumping my gear along the road as I went, trying not to collapse any where on the floor and just go to sleep.The patrol had been uneventful, a few rogues as usual nothing that was out of the ordinary but my body ached from the hours spent keeping watch, my mind was tense with worry about Lunette's training with Zarek though I tried not think of that particular thing at the moment.All I wanted was a shower and some sleep, but the sight that greeted me as I opened my door drained whatever patience I had left down the drain. Lorraine.She was sprawled on my bed her crimson silk robe barely clinging to her frame, like a second skin her breasts
Alpha Cormac POVThe chill in the air was unmistakable warning that winter was coming, with the Harvest feast done, I had more things to worry about and I wasn’t one to leave things to chance.I preferred to get ahead of these things, ensuring the pack was ready for whatever nature had in store.Curtis, walked alongside me as we discussed preparations for the colder months.“We’ll need to double the firewood stockpile this year,” Curtis said, jotting down notes on his clipboard.“And, I think the hunters should start earlier. Game is already retreating deeper into the forest.”I nodded, my mind busy calculating how best to allocate resources."Agreed. Make sure the Beta teams are assigned to rotate shifts so they can cover more ground.”As we continued down the corridor, Curtis still rambling off a list of thing that needed to be done a smal
Zarek POVI stood in the training field the next day, waiting with the thoughts running through my head like a washing machine left on.Maybe it was a bit of an exaggeration, but that was how I felt. I was here earlier than she was again! I was glad for that, though it gave me time to think and at least get my thoughts in order.Lunette arrived a few minutes later; she looked exhausted from our last session.She smiled at me, her wide, curious eyes looking for mine, and I forced myself to look away.The memory of her touch, her scent, and the way she moved, her brows wrinkling when she tried to copy a move I showed her, haunted me.It was infuriating..I was furious with myself for feeling this way, for letting the mere sight of her pull at desires I had no right to have.It was wrong. Every damn part of it was wrongI had no right to want her—not when she was
Lunette POVI was up early; the excitement and nerves had made it too hard to sleep all night, so here I was almost thirty minutes early, walking to the training grounds. I was looking forward to this. If I was ever going to hold my own in this pack—or any pack—I needed to be stronger, faster, and better.I reached the clearing, expecting to see Axel waiting for me, the usual impatient scowl he had plastered on his face most of the time when he saw me.Instead, there was someone else standing in the middle of the field, arms crossed, his sharp features set in an unreadable line.Zarek!I remembered what I had said to him that night at the Harvest feast. My throat closed up, my stomach dancing with nerves all of a sudden.“Zarek?” I said, my voice filling with surprise.“What are you doing here?”He turned to face me, his amber eyes locking ont
Zarek POVThe moon was dying of that was a term I could use , it hung low just behind the trees its pale glow over the dense forest making it brighter.I made my way back to the pack house eager to get out of my wet clothes, patrols had been grueling tonight, every muscles I'm my body ached, and the lingering scent of blood and dirt clung to my clothes. All I wanted was to collapse in bed, maybe grab a drink first if I could muster the energy. But as I crossed the courtyard, the shadow moving in the corner of my vision told me that I would not get any rest tonight.“Zarek!” I heard a voice call out, it didn't sound familiar besides no one was supposed to be out right now.. I tensed, instincts kicking in, until Axel stepped into the light. “Axel?” I said, frowning. “What are you doing out here?” He looked like hell, his hair disheveled, his shirt wrinkled and damp a wild desperation in his eyes,that I didn’t like one bit “I need your help,” he said, his voice low but urgent h
Lunette POVIt was morning; it had been for over four hours, and I hadn't been asleep for almost five. I got out of bed and made to get dressed. I tugged on a shirt and some pants.I was in no mood to cook or work in the garden, so I wandered down the hallway, breathing deeply; it was cold, the air crisp and heavy, carrying the faint scent of freshly turned soil, grass, and pine as I stepped into the training ground.I stood at the edge of the training grounds. My eyes fixed on the sparring circle where Alpha Cormac and Axel seemed to be doing exactly what the name implied.Their movements were a full blend of power and precision, with their facial muscles rippling as they traded blows with a speed that left me breathless.Alpha Cormac was a force of nature; his strikes were all calculated, each movement showing off the raw power honed by years of experience.Axel matched him as well because he was