Lunnette POV
The kitchen was my sanctuary.
It wasn’t glamorous work, but I was fine with that, especially after everything that had happened. It felt good to have something to focus on, something I could channel my frustrations into.
I liked the routine, the warmth of the stoves, the smell of freshly baked bread, the familiar scents of herbs, and the chatter of the kitchen staff—it was all so normal, peaceful even.
With the morning sun filtered through the kitchen windows, casting a golden glow over the counters.It had taken some time, but I was finally starting to feel at home in the packhouse oras much as one could under the circumstances.
The Alpha’s proposal was a choice that still hung over me, and the constant tension with the twins made life difficult, so the quiet moments like this—where I could breathe and just be was much appreciated.
The sounds of pots clattering were
Verda POVI paced the length of my chambers, fury rushing through my veins like wildfire. My plan had been foolproof, or so I thought.Have the girl in prison long enough to get her killed in a way that would not be suspected.How could it have failed? Lunette was supposed to be gone by now, a distant memory swept away by the rumors I had carefully planted.But she was still alive. Still breathing."How could this happen?" I hissed through clenched teeth, glaring at the guard who stood trembling."I paid them a fortune. How could they let her slip through their fingers?"He paled, his eyes darting between me and the door, clearly hoping for an escape.“My lady, the guards..."“I don’t care about excuses!” I snapped, my voice sharp enough to cut glass.“I want results!" I screamed"Get out, now," I hissed, throwing the delicate vase that rested on my dres
Zarek POVI slammed the book shut, my fingers trembling slightly as I set it down on the side table. The familiar weight of the worn leather cover should’ve brought me comfort, but today it did nothing. I couldn’t focus. I couldn’t breathe.Lunette’s scent was everywhere.It clung to the walls of the house, to the furniture, to the air I breathed. Sweet, like wildflowers blooming after a rainstorm, but laced with something more dangerous—something that made my wolf stir restlessly beneath my skin.The pull was inescapable, and no matter how hard I tried to shut it out, it was there, tugging at the edges of my self-control.I ran a hand through my hair, the strands damp with sweat. The library, which had once been my sanctuary, now felt suffocating.Even here, her scent had managed to seep in, like a taunt, reminding me of her presence in the house. 
Axel POV The rhythmic thud of my fists against the padded training dummy echoed in the open air.I focused on my movements, each thought sending a ripple of tension down my spine. I had been at it for hours; the rhythmic sounds of my fists were the only thing keeping me grounded these days. Martial arts was a human art, but I loved it. It had always been my escape, the one place where I could channel my frustrations, and lately those frustrations were all about Lunnette.The scent of pine and earth grounded me, but it did little to ease the storm brewing inside. Lunnette.Just the thought of her made my chest tighten, sweat dripped down my forehead, and the burning ache in my muscles was the only relief I had. She was mine—and Zarek's—but things weren’t that simple anymore, not with my father now involved.I threw another punch, harder this time, trying to shove away the confusion and the jealousy, because that did me no good at this point. I threw a kick, the bag swaying violentl
Axel POV I blinked slightly, the lights blurring behind my eyes, blood flowing into my mouth. Zarek’s growls echoed through the walls, guttural and harsh.He was fighting; his brother was trying his best even as the beast inside him was fighting tooth and nail to break free. I clenched my fists. I was going to help him. Rising to my feet, my body leaning against the wall, I winced my contorted in pain. His eyes had already started glowing that unmistakable red—the sign of a shift we all feared.“Dammit,” I muttered under my breath, heart racing; this was spiraling out of control."Brother, you really need to snap out of this." I hissed. The room was thick with tension, the scent of aggression filling up the place all at once. The door burst open, and Lunnette rushed back in, Curtis right behind her. Her face was pale, but her eyes roamed over their faces. “Help me, Curtis!” I called out, already sidestepping Zarek; his body started the shift, and his wolf growls filled the room,
Lunnette POVFrom the moment my door had banged against the walls to the point when Zarek’s screams had started echoing through the walls, my heart had been in my throat, and it had stayed there.I sat frozen in the corner of my room after they had dragged him out, hugging my knees to my chest, trying to focus on anything but the sounds of agony pouring through the corridor.I had never heard Zarek scream like that before. He had shouted at me a few times in a deep commanding tone, but this was different; it was as if he had been filled with raw, unbridled agony. He was hurting—I wasn't sure what it was—but I couldn't help; I was afraid I would only make him worse.Another roar echoed from the corridor again, and I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails bit into my palms; the pain was a welcome distraction. If I focused on that, maybe I could block him out. I tried to breathe, in and out, slow and steady, just like Curtis had shown me. But I only managed shallow breaths.The do
Lunette POV I couldn’t sleep.Even though Axel had told me Zarek would be fine, that his screams were normal and just part of the healing process, every agonizing cry that echoed through the wallsslicing through the quiet of my already restless sleep left my body tensed involuntarily each time.It wasn’t normal—not to me and not when the sound tore through the quiet night like a wounded animal begging for mercy. Iturned, pulling the blankets over my head as if that would block out the sound. It didn’t.I couldn’t stand this anymore. I couldn’t just lie here and pretend everything was fine when every fiber of my being told me he needed me.Axel was wrong. Zarek was not fine.Throwing the covers off, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood; the floor was cold under my feet, grounding me for just a moment.Moving quickly, I raced across the room, my bare feet padded against the floor, making no sound. I didn't want Axel or Curtis finding me; I followed the sounds of his scre
Zarek POV I stood there, the door open behind me, my eyes scanning over Lunette's face. She looked up at me, her face pale, her hands hovering over the bed frame. Her scent hit me like a train on railroad tracks; it was undeniable that I wanted her. Nothing had ever left me feeling this kind of want; it was like all of me was out of control and reaching.My wolf growled, spinning out of control as muscle spasmed and contracted, the pain becoming almost unbearable.She stood there, her eyes filled with fear, and my wolf welcomed it, even as a rational part of me fought to stay away from her and not attack her like it yearned to do. Istood there, my body tensing, my muscles coiling, so I was ready to pounce. Lunette was backed up against the wall, her face pale with fear. I didn't hear when it happened, but suddenly I was stumbling into a wall with a heavy weight on my chest shoving me in place. I blinked rapidly, stumbling upright to my feet, my gaze snapping to his almost immediate
Lunette Pov Zarek roared, and I hissed in pain at his nails digging into my skin. "You need to leave," he roared, and she shook her head."No, no, you don’t understand. You shouldn’t be here.” He cried out, his other hand shooting out and gripping my wrist in an awkward movement due to the chains binding his limbs.His touch was almost desperate. “It’s not safe.”“What do you mean it’s not safe? It’s just you and me.” I hissed, twining our fingers together. "I'm safe with you," I muttered, and I meant it; he was my mate, so there was no one I could be safe with if it weren't him.His eyes squeezed shut, and another guttural groan ripped from his throat. His grip on my wrist tightened painfully, but instead of pulling away, I leaned closer, my fingers brushing lightly against his cheek; his skin was burning up hot and feverish.Something wandered beneath his skin.“I can feel it,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.“There’s something inside you, Zarek." I looked to him in