Lunette POV I spent most of my days in hiding from the twins.The last thing I wanted to do was face them, but Zarek and Axel continued haunting my thoughts with their touch, their words, and the memory of what we’d done. I couldn’t look at either of them without my stomach churning with equal parts shame and longing. So, I did the only thing I could think of: I avoided them. If they were in the hall, I turned the other way. If I heard their voices nearby, I found an excuse to leave. It wasn’t a perfect strategy—they were far too smart for that to work in the long term—but it was enough to give me some space to think. What bothered me more than my feelings for the twins, however, was what had happened in Zarek’s room. That blinding burst of light, the force that had erupted from me like a storm—I had no explanation for it. And I needed one. The pack library became my go-to place, especially for hiding from the world. It was quiet, hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the pac
Zarek POV The cold emptiness of the room hit me first; from the moment I opened my eyes, for a brief, groggy moment, I thought I had imagined everything—the kiss, the way she had clung to Axel and me, her scent filling every corner of the room. But the faint trace of her scent—lavender and pine—lingered on the sheets, reminding me it had all been real, but she was gone. She had been gone for days.I didn’t know why I expected her to still be here that first night; Lunette wasn’t the type to linger, not when she was weighed down by guilt.I sat up slowly, running a hand through my hair as the memories of the night before came rushing back—the way she had looked at me, the way her body had felt against mine. But now, there was nothing but silence. I sighed, dragging myself out of bed and into the shower, the icy water doing little to wash away the unease pooling in my chest. Days had passed uneventfully, each one dragging on longer than the last, a constant reminder of Lunette’s ab
Axel POV I didn’t need to see the way Zarek stormed out of the dining hall to know that he was furious. The sound of his chair scraping against the floor echoed through the room, and my father’s disapproving look followed him out. I barely resisted the urge to do the same, but I knew I had to keep my composure for just a little longer, especially since this was a meeting that was very important.His gaze swept the room, lingering for a fraction of a second too long on Lunette, who looked a bit stunned, but I could tell she wasn't unaware of what was happening either, not when she sat there frozen in her seat, her hands clenched tightly in her lap, her knuckles white. He grabbed her hand in his and smiled at her face, and she took a deep breath, swallowing deeply as she looked to him and nodded."He must be worried," I muttered around the table, and they all accepted it, and when the murmurs of conversation died down and returned to normal conversations, I made to leave myself. "Exc
Lunette POV The room was in a flurry of activity as Mrs. Harlow and the maids fussed over and around me, smoothing the delicate fabric of my dress and arranging the intricate braids of my hair. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, the weight of what was happening here pressing down on my shoulders like an invisible chain. The dress I had on was a soft ivory gown with intricate lace detailing; it was beautiful—far too beautiful for something that felt so wrong. Mrs. Harlow bustled behind me, adjusting the fabric with a practiced hand, and her warm smile did little to ease the ache in my chest and the scent of lavender and honey filling the air, calming yet suffocating. My fingers trembled slightly as I clutched the edge of the vanity, watching their reflections in the mirror. “You look stunning, my dear,” Mrs. Harlow said, her tone warm and a little bit flustered. I forced a small smile, not trusting my voice to be steady if I said anything.My stomach churned with a mix of ne
Lunette POV I stood at the door of my bedroom trying not to walk back into my room. "It's time, Lunette." Clara whispered, definitely sensing my hesitation. I looked away from her and swallowed, bracing myself again as I allowed the maids to lead me out of the room. My steps were slow, my feet felt heavy, each one feeling heavier than the last, each step dragging me closer to a future I was not sure I could escape from.The walk to the hall felt like it took an eternity. The hall looked exactly like I had expected, a grand display of the wealth that Alpha Cormac definitely had. It was a bit more outstated because we had a guest from the Creek pack; every detail had been meticulously crafted to impress, although that was more of the pack's doing than their alpha's.The golden light bulbs that hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow of lights over the crowd below. How could I face Axel and Zarek now? How could I stand before them, knowing what I had done? I didn’t have time to
Axel POV The hall was filled with the hum of chatter,and muffled rustling of people all interested in what was happening here now but for me, every sound faded to a distant echo the moment I saw her. LunetteShe stood at the far end of the grand hall, a vision of beauty draped in that dress that seemed to shimmer in the soft light, her hair delicately braided everything made to enhance her beauty and not detract from it. I clenched my fists at my sides, my chest tightening with each step she took closer to the altar where our father waited. The air was thick with tension and every sound in the engagement hall grated on my nerves or maybe that was just us but I couldn't help it not with my fists clenched at my sides as I watched Lunette standing beside my father– our father her head slightly bowed, her hands trembling in his grasp as he slid the ring onto her finger.She looked breathtaking, as she always did, but the light in her eyes that made her who she was—the fierce, defia
Lunette POV The voices screaming all around me were deafening, blending into a chaotic hum, every word sharp and biting, clawing at my already frayed nerves. I stood there in the center of the engagement hall, frozen as Axel, Zarek, and Alpha Cormac stood together, locked in an argument that was spiraling out of all our controls.The pack’s murmurs buzzed in the background, all their eyes on me, judging, watching, waiting for me to fall apart. My body kept fidgeting; I felt cold as they each tossed words at each other, each of them sharp and cutting, each one aimed at hurting the other. It was all a chaotic mess of anger and tension, suffocating me all at once. Their voices blurred into one overwhelming noise, drowning out everything else except the racing of my heart in my chest, my breathing uneven. I tried to hold on, to stay composed, but the air was too tight to breathe, and it was like I was suffocating all over again. “Stop!” I mumbled quietly, but no one said anything. “
Lunette POV The air in the palace had changed after the engagement was called off. The moment I stepped out of my room, I felt it—a shift in the air, eyes boring into me from every corner of the palace, whispers of venomous words. Alpha Cormac had done it almost immediately, so I had not said anything, but I had felt the chill almost immediately.It was like a mirror of what had happened not so long ago that I almost was tempted to break down.Every breath I took felt heavier than the last, and the unspoken words and biting glares did little to help. This time, though, I kept my head high as I walked down the hallways, refusing to let the weight of their disdain press on me.“Look at her,” someone hissed as I passed. “The whore who tore the royal family apart,” another murmured. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. Their words stung, each one a dagger in my already wounded heart. I’d expected this, of course. Alpha Cormac was loved among his people, and so were hi
Lunette POV The moment that Varda fired that bolt I had been sure it would hit Axel. So sure in fact that the world had slowed around me, my breath caught in my throat as I braced for the worst. But then Lorraine had stepped in. While she quarreled with her mother all I could feel was relief—until Varda struck again, until I saw the bright red blood spreading across her clothes as she crumpled to the floor. Varda had tried to kill her own daughter. For a second, all I could do was stare. I stood frozen, watching in horror as Axel caught Lorraine before she hit the dirt. Lorraine’s body trembled, her hands pressing against the wound, her lips parted in shock. Varda turned back to Axel but before I could react, Zarek moved. A low, guttural growl ripped from his throat as his body twisted and grew, his Lycan form bursting free. He lunged at Varda, his teeth bared in a snarl. Varda barely had time to turn before his fangs sank deep into her neck. Her scream was cut off as he to
Zarek POV They attacked us first, or they tried to anyway, after our escape we made plans to draw them out, it would be the best way to even our playing field and she was pissed when she discovered we were missing. She had brought her men in immediately,"Kill them all!" She roared and the battle that followed afterwards was pure chaos. Snarls and screams filled the night air as blood soaked the dirt beneath my feet. My muscles burned, but I couldn’t stop. Not now. Not until Varda was dead. The Lycan curse poured through my veins like fire, pain following it and pushing me past my limits. My body twisted, the monstrous power within me taking over. My claws lengthened, my teeth sharpened, and a guttural roar tore from my throat. Varda’s men hesitated at the sight of me. Good. They should be afraid. With a single leap, I tore into the nearest warrior, my claws ripping through armor and flesh like paper. The scent of blood thickened in the air as another wolf lunged at me his
Axel POV The weight of Curtis’s death still hung heavy in the air, but we had no time to grieve. The dungeon might have been cold and suffocating, but the fire of rage burning inside me made it bearable.We had to escape, and we had to bring Varda down. Zarek sat against the wall, arms crossed, jaw clenched. He hadn’t spoken much since Curtis died. I could see the storm brewing inside him, the need for vengeance, for blood. I felt it too, and it wasn't just the curse, to know that our mother had died at the hands of such a man. But Lunette—Lunette was different. She stood between us, but she didn’t cry anymore, the tears from earlier seemed to have dried up. "We have to kill her." Zarek hissed and shook his head "No." “We have to be smart,” he continued, voice steady. “We can’t just rush into a fight. Varda is dangerous. If we attack without a plan, we’ll lose.” “She killed our mother,” he growled, his voice raw. "She killed our father. She has to pay for it.” Lunette,
Lunette POV I couldn’t move, I couldn’t breathe. To have Varda standing before me, tall and proud no hint of remorse in her eyes, her golden hair catching the flickering light of the candle in the cabin we had run to, and her eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she looked down at me, at all of us. "You look surprised, darling." She purred, stepping closer, the scent of death clung to her, or was that Curtis blood pooling over the floor making my stomach churn. "Surely, you knew this day would come." I shook my head, willing myself to speak, but nothing came out. “Where’s Alpha Slade?” Axel asked, his voice low and dangerous. His hands curled into fists at his sides, barely restrained fury radiating off him. "He has to know that this won't end well for him." Varda sighed dramatically. “He's outlived his usefulness honestly it was such a burden waiting for him to kick the bucket" My father… dead? My legs nearly gave out, and I staggered back. “No,” I whispered, my voice ba
Axel’s POVThe council chambers were suffocating me, and Lorraine standing beside me was not doing me any favors to be honest, her face composed but I saw the glint in her eyes. She had me wrapped around her fingers and the council was helping her squeeze. They had all but declared, Lunette, Curtis and Zarek traitors to the pack. “We cannot allow them to run free,” Lorraine said, her voice dripping with false concern."If Zarek and Lunette are left unchecked, they’ll bring ruin to Grey Moon. We have to act before it’s too late.” I clenched my fists at my sides, barely containing my anger because I knew she didn’t care about the pack, only her own ambitions but her performance was flawless and the council bought it, murmuring their agreement,“Alpha Axel,” elder Fred addressed me. "You must send your soldiers to apprehend them. For the good of the pack.” I had gotten used to those words over the last few days, even more than I had gotten used to my own father's death. Maybe it wa
Varda POV I heard the news about Alpha Cormac's deathly injury, while I was cleaning up my new room, it had been one of the best news I had in a very long while.I knew it was time.When I had sent the assassins to finish off Lunette, it had never occured to me that I would catch bigger fish in my endeavor.The alpha Cormac, the biggest alpha om our coast and the most respected, it was a coup. A storm of satisfaction had spread through me, filling me, this was good. I needed this chance now, cold determination settled over me as I leaned back in the ornate chair in Slade's–my study now. The Grey Moon pack was vulnerable. Their leadership in shambles this was the time for me to get more than I had wanted with the chaos that was no doubt already starting to spread. I had my opening.And while Lunette wasn't dead yet, that wasn't something I couldn't solve later.Lunette. The name was a bitter taste on my tongue, that little brat was a thorn in my side. She was a loose thread, the la
Zarek POV "Have you lost your mind?” I snarled, at my brother my voice low and dangerous.“You think locking Lunette up is going to solve anything? She didn’t kill Father, Axel.” The tension in the room was suffocating and I really didn't need to be pissed, Axel stood at the head of his table, his arms crossed over his chest, his jaw set tight, I stood across from him bracing my hands on the surface of the table, it was barely enough to keep myself from reaching across and shaking some sense into him. “I didn’t say she did. But until we know for sure who’s behind this, I can’t take any chances.” “Chances?” I barked, slamming my fist on the table.“You’re not just taking a chance, you’re condemning her. The council will see this as an admission of guilt. Do you understand what you’re doing?” Axel’s lips pressed into a thin line. “What I understand is that the council is already breathing down my neck. If I don’t handle this carefully, we risk losing everything.” “Losing wha
Lunette POV My whole body ached from hours of training with Zarek, each and every muscle group screamed in protest as I settled into the chair beside Alpha Cormac’s bed. With the room dimly lit, the only light coming from the faint glow of the monitors tracking his vitals.The steady beeping was oddly comforting, I could at least hold on to the fact he was still with us. I watched him breath in and out guilt gnawing at my insides. He looked a bit better today, not so pale, maybe soon he would wake up. He had nearly died protecting me. He shouldn’t have risked himself for someone like me. I slumped into the chair by Alpha Cormac’s bed and I told myself I’d only rest my eyes for a moment, just long enough to catch my breath. “I’ll make it right,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I’ll find a way to fix this, to protect your pack... your family.” But the steady rhythm of the machines and the quiet hum of the room lulled me into sleep.I didn’t even realize when my eyes closed,
Lorraine’s POVIt was dark outside and quiet wrapped around the pack house like a shroud, it had never been this quiet in a long time the stillness was broken only by the occasional creak of the old walls or the distant howl of a wolf. This was a perfect time for what I had to do, it was the perfect cover.I slipped through the hallways, keeping my footsteps as silent against the wooden floors as possible, my heart pounded in my chest, but it was not from fear. No, this wasn’t fear. This was anticipation. Alpha Cormac’s injury had given me the perfect opening because now with him bedridden and Zarek too preoccupied with training that brat girl Lunette, Axel was the only one fit to step up as acting Alpha. And if Axel became Alpha, well... I would ensure that I was by his side as Luna. It was time to act. Time to turn the chaos to my advantage, meaning there was no room for error tonight. I tightened my grip on the small syringe hidden in my sleeve. The attack had been... unex