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
Lunette POV Zarek was staring into my eyes; he had never done that before, not when he found out that we were mates and definitely not when his father had decided to claim me as his.He had always looked at me like he was ready to strangle him, and he would if given the chance. But as it stood now, if he harmed me, he would get in trouble with the alpha.The thing though was that no matter what way he looked at me, when he did, I felt it deep within me, but somehow it was the way he looked at me now with lust and care.I swallowed, feeling hot all of a sudden. Maybe the room was a little too quiet, or was that just me? I stilled, my finger lingering over the bed sheets. Zarek looked stressed still, his arms wrapping around his body as if he were still in pain, but he leaned into me, his hands running over the callouses of mine. I swallowed deeply. "You should rest," I mumbled, and he laughed, and I blinked in surprise. That was the first time he had done anything remotely kind to me
Zarek's POV "You're so goddamn beautiful, and I want you so badly. I whispered, running my hands over her face, although the room light was dim, tiny shadows of a flickering firelight dancing across the walls and over her face. My body was still tense, the lingering effects of a forces shift, or was it the kiss that I had just shared that left my limbs burning up?Her scent surrounded me—wildflowers and something sweet, something that was just hers—iit was enough to clear thefog of my mind. “I don’t want to hurt you,” I managed to say, my voice sounding strainedeven to myself. “You won’t,” Lunette whispered, her lips brushing my ear. “You’re stronger than that.” I exhaled slowly, my breath ragged, closing my eyes. “Lunette,” I rasped, my voice rough. "How do you believe in me so much?" I asked, looking into her eyes, meeting her gaze. Her dark eyes were filled with heat—the same heat I felt in me. She smiled, her hands sliding up to my neck, her thumb brushing along my jaw."Be
Lunette POVHe held me in his arms, but it felt different, as if he had finally convinced me that I was not leaving him. He kept running his hands through my hair, and it felt good in a way to stay there in his arms knowing I was his, even if it was just in this moment.Zarek, my mate.He took my face into his palm."Do you know how beautiful you are?" he asked, and I smiled, hiding my face away. I had always wanted to hear this from someone once in my life; all my life I had been told I was useless and not worthy, but to have someone see my worth.Someone who I care for, it was a bit overwhelming, I swallowed"You're not bad yourself," I whispered, the soft glow of the candle, casting a soft glow on his face so he looked like a beast and a prince all at once.My heart pounded in my chest as Ilifted my hand to his face, then through his hair."Lunette," he whispered, his voice a
Lunette POV I drifted in and out of sleep the whole night while tangled in Zarek’s arms, feeling the warmth of his body. Iwas spent, my skin tingling with the echoes of pleasure from the orgasm that had left me quivering just hours ago. Each time my eyes fluttered open, I found myself still cradled in his arms, my head resting against his chest, with his heartbeat steady beneath my ear. Zarek. His scent was unmistakable—that mix of sandalwood and something light, maybe pine.My limbs were heavy, and although the rhythmic rise and fall of his breathing should have lulled me back to sleep, I stayed awake. Finally giving up, I opened my eyes fully. It was still dark outside, like it would have been night forever if it was possible.The candlelight had gone off, so the moonlight filtering through the curtains was casting a soft glow over the room. Sitting up slightly I tilted my head, and there he was—Zarek, lying beside me, his face calm and peaceful in his sleep. He wasn't in pain
Lunette POV The castle was buzzing with energy that. I didn’t quite describe, it wasn’t the good kind though. Lorraine’s tantrums were constantly in the background, but I did my best to ignore them. She thrived on the attention, and I refused to give her that satisfaction. Between Lorraine’s constant tantrums, the twins complete absence and my growing fear that Alpha Cormac would uncover the truth, I felt like a rabbit trapped in a den of wolves. So I did what I had been the best at doing, I poured my energy into spending time with Cormac, convincing myself that this was where my focus should be. After all, this engagement wasn’t just about us—it was about securing my future. I spent most of my days either dodging Lorraine’s pointed remarks and orders or trying to keep my composure as Cormac’s watchful eyes bore into me on our date. It was exhausting. I was on another date with him because somehow, in the midst of all this chaos, we found ourself spending more time together.
Lunette POV “What do you want?” I asked again, my voice quieter now. Her eyes gleamed with triumph as she pulled back a bit. “Ah, now we’re getting to the good part,” she said. She circled me slowly, like a predator stalking its prey. “What I want,” she said, drawing out the words, “is to see you squirm. To see you suffer, it's a past time of mine you see" she mumbled and I flinched “I’ll keep your secret,” she started walking around me like a vulture circling prey, she sounded too gleeful about this that it made it almost to difficult to let it go.“If,” she added, her smile returning, “you do exactly as I say.”My stomach dropped, and I stared at her in disbelief. “What do you mean?”“You heard me,” she said, her voice as smooth as silk lie she was an innocent girl asking for an innocent favour when we both knew that couldn't be further from the truth “If you want me to keep my mouth shut, you’re going to do what I want, when I want.”I swallowed hard, dread pooling in m
Lunnette's POV Ever since my meeting with Lorraine, in fact ever since Axel had slammed a door in my face after sending me on my merry way I had been an emotional wreck. The weight of Lorraine’s presence was floating over me like a storm cloud,a very dark and very suffocating storm cloud.My little chat with her earlier had left my nerves frayed and had my thoughts spiraling in a thousand directions. What would she do with Axel, what would she tell him? Would she expose me to the pack?I was still struggling to fit in here, and they would no doubt be people who would want me gone because I lied.Worse yet, what if she went to the twins or—goddess forbid—Alpha Cormac? My heart clenched at the thought of his piercing eyes darkening with betrayal. I had fought so hard to build this life, to protect myself and those I cared about. It couldn’t all come crashing down now, not because of her. What would I tell them!My stomach churned at the thought. I paced my room, the wood floor
Lorraine POV I stalked out of Axel's bedroom my heart pounding with satisfaction. I had gotten what I wanted and I was feeling on top of the world He had agreed to my terms. Of course, he had no choice but to. My heels clicked sharply across the hard wood floors as I made my way down the corridor, the sound echoed in the otherwise quiet space. I was familiar with these halls, just like I was familiar with the Grey Moon pack house. It was getting to dawn and the halls were still dimly lit,it would be a while before they would fully lit.It had been a while since I was back here but, I would be here a lot more often and that was amusing. A sly smile crept onto my lips as I thought about the power I now held. Axel was desperate and properly trapped, and it was all thanks to what I had stumbled upon the moment I arrived.I had not been sure how to pin him down when I left home for this pack, all I knew was I needed to get him back to me immediately. And by some sort of providence,
Zarek POVI woke up gasping for air, bolting upright as my heart hammered in my chest as the lingering effects of the nightmare clung to me like a second skin.The images were still as vivid and had seared themselves into my mind—my father’s lifeless body, blood all over the floor, Axel nowhere to be found, and Lunette’s screams as darkness swallowed her whole.I clenched my fists, trying to steady my breathing.“It’s just a dream,” I muttered, but the words felt hollow.It was just a dream.But it didn’t feel like one.I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, my hands shaking as I ran them through my damp hair.My room was suffocating; the walls seemed too close, the air too still. I swung my legs off the bed and stood, needing space, needing air.Sleep wasn’t coming back for me, not
Axel POV "Then your father would have nothing to say about this," Lorraine said, her words cutting through the silence.My ears were ringing; maybe it was because the air in the room felt heavier than ever, pressing down on me as Lorraine’s smirk deepened. Or maybe it was because I couldn’t tell if the weight on my chest was anger, frustration, or the sickening realization of the corner she’d just backed me into. I stalked over to her, taking a step into her space, letting my wolf rise just enough for her to feel the tension crackle in the air. I leaned against the wall, fists clenched so tightly that my nails dug into my palms, my wolf snarling inside me, with the familiar mix of chaos, anger, and frustration that mirrored my own emotions. Lorraine wasn’t someone I could afford to underestimate, not with what she had just seen and not when she held the power to destroy everything in my life just to spite me. “Whatever game you think you’re playing, Lorraine, it ends now,” I gro
Axel POV I pushed her out the door and leaned against it and took a deep breath. She didn't move immediately, and I didn't want to entertain any conversation until I was sure she was gone.I stood there, my hand on the door handle, listening as Lunette’s hurried footsteps faded down the hall. My chest felt tight, every part of me screaming to go after her. But I couldn’t. Not now. Not with her standing in the room. Lorraine wasn’t the type to back down easily, and I knew without a doubt she’d use this against us if it suited her. “How can you be so sure?” Lunette had asked, looking up at me, her eyes filled with fear, something so close to terror it had been difficult to look away. Her question had been valid, and so had my answer, because just like I had promised her, I wasn't going to let Lorraine ruin anything for her. Turning the lock with a sharp click, I leaned against the door for a moment, gathering myself. Then I turned back to the one face I didn't want to be anywhere
Lunette's POVI lay there in the dim light, still tangled in Axel's arms, my skin still flushed and tingling, almost trembling even from the assault of emotions and sensations.His arms were draped possessively around me, fingers tracing lazy circles on my bare shoulder. For a fleeting moment, the world was still, like we were in our own bubble, and I was free from the judgment, guilt, and the crushing weight of responsibility that would follow our choice.But it didn’t last.Axel's heartbeat was steady against my ear, louder to me than the silence in the room but a contrast to the chaos swirling in my mind.The room smelled of us—our shared passion and the consequences that would come later.But as the high ebbed, guilt crashed down on me like a wave, suffocating and unrelenting.My gut tightened immediately in regret at that point, but there was nothing I could do about i
Axel POV When I kissed her again, I wasn't sure what I had expected her to do; pulling away from me and slapping me was not it.I couldn’t stop staring at the door when she left; the click of the door quietly shutting behind her echoed in my chest and my ear. She was always running from me, always. My fists clenched at my sides, my nails biting into my palms as I fought against the frustration boiling beneath my skin. Why couldn’t she see it? Why did she think that running from what we both felt was the right answer? We were mates no matter what she wanted to say, no matter what she claimed.She belonged to Zarek and me. I paced around the room, my frustration bubbling over into something I couldn’t contain. I wanted to punch something, yell at her, or maybe at myself.But none of it would make a difference. She was out there, walking away from me—again, and I couldn’t let her go this time. I wouldn't let her go.Before I could talk myself out of it, I was already moving. I yanke