Lunette POV I woke up slowly, I think it was the drop of water that woke me up first,one, two three tiny drops falling over my face, and then it was the morning light filtering through the trees and over my face, when I finally forced myself to open my eyes I did it slowly too accustoming myself to the bright light that kept painting the world in soft hues of gold. For a moment, I didn’t move, content to stay warm and still. But then I felt the steady rise and fall of someone’s chest beneath my cheek and the undeniable weight of an arm draped protectively over me. Zarek. He hadn't left, it was a stupid thought because of course he wouldn't have left, not when I was still here outside in his secret spot but in a way I wished he had left just like Axel the morning after, not having my mistake wrapped around me the next morning had been very freeing. I felt guilty for thinking that especially as the memories of the previous night came rushing back, Zarek's words, his vulnerability
Lunette POVThe days around me passed in a overly vivid blur as I did my best to push all thoughts of the twins out of my mind. It was easier said than done. Everywhere I turned, there were memories of Axel and the romantic side of him that I had never experienced or Zarek’s vulnerability all of them creeping in, and weaving themselves into the fabric of my every thought. So I did what I did best I kept myself busy, throwing myself into each and every mundane tasks there was in the pack and trying to focus on anything else but what the twins made me feel.That morning was no different. I had already spent the early hours in the palace library, losing myself in dusty old books and even older manuscripts hoping to find out what the powers I had exhibited truly meant.I hadn't found anything so far but that didn't stop me from hoping to find something any way. I loved this pack despite my very complicated feelings right now about my fate here. I wanted to be able to help them with whate
Alpha Cormac POV"We're not alone," I muttered pushing Lunette behind me to protect her even though I couldn't see who it was, but mostly because I had felt their presence for a while now. The words had barely left my lips when the sharp sound of branches snapping interrupted and then they came.A dozen men clad in dark clothing burst through the treeline, veils covering their face to hide them, they were twelve of them and they quickly surrounded us, their movements were fast and calculated. Their eyes gleamed with deadly intent, and the glint of silver weapons made my wolf snarl in rage. We were not meant to make it out alive."Lunette," I said, keeping my voice low urgent."Stay behind me."She looked at me, her wide eyes brimming with questions and fear, but she didn’t argue.I could feel her heartbeat quicken, mirroring mine as the rising tension around filled me all at
Zarek POV I barely registered the blood pooling beneath my father’s body as I held him in my arms, with his weight sagging against me, I knelt there panic coursing through me. My father, the strongest man I’d ever known, was limp, his blood soaking into my clothes and pooling on the forest floor. “Father!” My voice cracked, "We need to get him inside" Lunette muttered and I agreed with her, I lifted him off the ground and we started walking he coughed weakly, blood staining his lips as his head lolled against my shoulder like he had fainted“Stay with me,” I begged, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart. "Come on, old man," I muttered through gritted teeth, forcing my legs to steady under his weight. "You’re not dying here. Not like this." My hands trembled slightly as I pressed against the wound at his side, against the blood that just kept coming. My muscles screamed in protest, but I just kept moving. I wouldn’t let him slip away. Not like this. Footstep
Lunette POVAlpha Cormac lay so still in bed, his breathing was still shallow and his -powerful frame looked smaller under the weight of blankets. The room still smelled heavily of the scent of antiseptic and blood.Two days later and it still felt like I was back there with those assassins, the blood on their skin dripping to the floor.I sat in the chair beside him, my hands clasped tightly together as guilt twisted through my gut like a dagger.He had risked his life to save me, throwing himself into danger without a second thought.And for what? I didn’t deserve that kind of sacrifice.“Why did you do it?” I whispered, my voice barely audible."You should have just let me face them on my own.”Of course, he didn’t answer.His eyes were still closed, his face pale almost white, and though the healers had assured me he would
Axel POV The weight of responsibility was pressing down on me like a mountain, but I welcomed it. With our father still in a coma, I had stepped into the role of acting Alpha for our pack, they needed guidance and Zarek showed no interest in taking up the mantle—his focus was elsewhere not that I could totally blame him—and that left me to shoulder the burden. It was easier this way. The work kept me distracted, and gave me purpose, if I was focused on managing the pack, there was no room to dwell on the chaos threatening my personal life. And no room to think about her. Lunette spent every day by our father’s bedside, from early in the morning until late into the night, she remained in that room, her gaze fixed on his unconscious form as if her presence alone could will him back to health. I hated seeing her like that—fragile, lost, a shadow of the woman I had come to know. But I couldn’t bring myself to approach her. Not after what she’d said. She was going to accept my
Zarek POVI had made a mistake. A colossal mistake.I knew it from the moment I agreed to train Lunette that it was a mistake but I had done it anyway. I told myself it was to keep her from running herself into the ground.She had been practically clawing for the chance to learn how to fight. I thought I could get her to see reason by exhausting her, prove to her that her determination wasn’t enough to carry her through rigorous training.But she had that look in her eyes, the kind that said she wasn't going to give this up.Every day, we met in the training grounds, at dawn when the pack was still asleep and everyday Lunette had thrown herself into the sessions with reckless abandon that made my chest tighten in a way I didn’t want to acknowledge.But it wasn’t just her determination that worried me anymore—it was what I was seeing during those sessions.&n
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
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