Lunette POV"Stubborn idiot alpha," I muttered underneath my breath as I stormed away from Axel, my hands clenched tightly into fists. Fine, Axel. Have it your way.He was a stubborn ass, and I badly wanted to snap his head on something, but that would be too much.The weight of his rejection still stung of his words echoing in my mind.I wasn’t a fool; I knew he didn’t trust me.I’d known it since the first day I arrived, and it had been made doubly clear the moment he and Zarek rejected me as their mate, so I was under no illusions. But no matter how many times he pushed me away, I wasn’t giving up.Not when he needed my help anyway; leaving him there injured and bleeding would be wrong, but it wasn't a bad idea to let him wonder for a while.I strode away from him where he was sitting on the grass and walked back to the house, using the door I had left open when I ran over to him. When I glanced back over my shoulder, I saw him strugglingto get up, his face etched with stubborn
Axel POV When I’d pushed her away and told her I didn’t need her help, I thought that would be the end of it—that she’d finally get the message and leave me alone. I didn’t expect Lunette to actually come back, but her voice echoing behind me as she walked over and dropped to the ground right next to me a box in her hand that she laid on the floor made me wonder if I was too crazy from the pain. Determined, and her gaze sharp with resolve, she pulled my leg to her after a very stiff argument about me not wanting her to touch me. Her touch was gentle, almost… careful. She didn’t look at me, just focused on her work, and for some reason, that made me more aware of her presence. Of the slight frown of concentration on her face, the way her hair fell over her shoulder, catching the sunlight…“Don’t expect me to start trusting you just because of this,” I finally said, my voice guarded. She paused, meeting my gaze, and nodded "Fine" “But I’m not your enemy, Axel. I never have been.”
Lunette POVMy vision blurred as I walked away from Axel, clutching the bag of medical supplies tightly to keep my hands from shaking. Each step echoed his harsh words and the coldness in his voice as if from afar, with the garden fading behind me. Each word was replaced by the blur of my footsteps across the grass and dry crunching sticks as I hurried away from Axel, swallowing down the burn of tears before they could slip free. I wouldn’t let him see me like that—not after the things he’d said. He didn't get to see me fall apart after what he had said.I had been foolish to think he might, even for a second, appreciate my help or at least want it. But no, he had tossed my help into my face and ridiculed me in the process.The bitterness, or was it the burn of his rejection, made my chest ache even as the pressure building in my throat was hot and stinging. I wasn’t going to cry.Not for him. Not for someone who saw me as nothing more than an inconvenience.I focused on the path ah
Zarek PoV I needed a break; it was almost too quiet, and I needed to do something to take my mind off it. My father would be back from the Alpha summit in two days, and their preparation for the pack hunt would begin.As I moved down thecorridor, a familiar scent hit me—lavender and something earthy, grounding, like cedar.Lunette. I followed the scent andstopped short when her delicate frame collidedinto mine. She staggered a little, and I instinctively reached out, steadying her.I hadn't expected to run into her here, especially since she had been avoiding me since that night. But there she was, standing right in front of me, “Zarek,” she breathed very softly, but I heard her,her bright eyes widening as she looked up at me.“Lunette,” I said, letting my hand linger at her elbow. Her skin was soft beneath my fingers, and she seemed so...small, almost fragile.Memories of our night together played a dangerous loop in my brain. I took a deep breath, trying to stop the flush from wo
Lunette POV It had been two weeks since Axel’s incident, two weeks since I had tried my best to stay out of the way of both brothers.The tension I felt had crept into every corner of the pack house, or maybe that was just me.So here I was, trying to find some sort of calm in the only place that gave me any sense of control: the kitchen.The kitchen was not my space, so it was a surprise to me most times that I had managed to convince the head chef, Ms. Harlow, to let me prepare breakfast.The first time I asked, she had watched me closely, her arms crossed as if she were already preparing to say no. Then she had softened slightly, as if she saw something in me that had her feeling pity for me. She said yes and then spent the whole time watching me work through one breakfast rush. I had done everything to her approval; she had nodded her approval. Since then, she had given me free rein to the kitchen, and whenever I needed a distraction, I had gone to the kitchen.Today was like the
Axel POV I was running; that in itself was weird. I wasn't sure how or why it was, but it felt wrong, but not as wrong as whatever the hell was chasing after me.I couldn't let it get to me, but the problem was I wasn't sure where to run. The pack house was gone; I couldn't find Zarek or my father anywhere, then I heard the sound of a howling that echoed across the clearing, brushing past me and into the trees.Zarek! Was something wrong? I raced forward, and my leg slipped. A crunching sound echoed as I cursed, a loud shout escaping from my lips as I crashed to the floor.I took in a deep breath holding the injured foot; the ankle was twisted and not in a good way, blood dripping from a gash at the side."Let me help you," Lunette's voice echoed. "Why won't you let me help you?" she hissed, her voice sounding further and further away, like it was disappearing little by little. "Lunette," I called out. "Zarek," but there was no answer; I was on my own. Taking a deep breath, I dr
Axel POV “Still at it, I see,” Curtis said, his voice low but tinged with amusement.I stiffened, biting back the urge to hiss at him, looking away from him almost as quickly as I'd looked back; my leg still stung a little from the rapid movement. "You could warn a guy, you know," I muttered, and he shrugged like it was no big deal, which for him likely wasn't. Curtis had a way of sneaking up on people, which was likely why I didn't notice him slip out of the kitchen, and a damn near perfect knack for finding me at the most inconvenient times.I looked to him sharply as I asked “Thought you’d be busy,” I muttered, and he raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting from me to Lunette, who was oblivious to both of us and focused entirely on her cooking. “Busy? Not really. Not as busy as you seem to be anyway,” he replied with a smirk, his voice quiet but his amusement clear, and I groaned. The last thing I wanted to do was discuss my... fascination because that was all this was.She was be
Zarek PoV I needed to check in on Axel; his leg was getting better, but he had the tendency to overdo things all the time. If he were not such a big ass, I would have asked Lunette to help me check in on him, so alas, I had to do it on my own.Our father would be home in time for dinner, so I had to pass through the kitchen and let the cook know that so she could plan ahead.I crossed the front porch and into the corridor when I caught a glimpse of Axel seating not far away. "Why the hell are you sitting in the corridor?" I mumbled, walking towards him.Lunette’s laughter echoed across as I reached him, soft and melodic, and I looked up to see her smiling as she stirred the pot, her eyes shining with a warmth that made my chest ache. I blinked rapidly, looking away from her and to my brother, who had his eyes exactly where I had just moved mine from. On Lunette, I wanted to ask him about it, but that seemed like a bad idea. Before I could ask again what exactly he wanted, Ms. Harlo
Axel POV“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice almost barely audible.“But I can’t do this anymore. I have feelings for Alpha Cormac now; hurting him is the last thing I want to do."Everything seemed like one big bowl of color and nothing all at once."I have feelings for him," she mumbled again. I had heard her the first time, but I wasn't sure what reaction I was supposed to give exactly.Especially not now when I couldn’t move, couldn’t even breathe, as Lunette’s words echoed in my head. It sounded like sirens blaring at too much volume. I swallowed, hoping it would give me inspiration on what to say, but it didn't work.Cornering her here had been a last-ditch effort to get her to stay here with me; it was stupid and reckless, but I had not been able to stop myself from doing it.Our argument had gotten louder, and I was surprised no one had come in to check up on us, but the
Lunette POV"I am your father's mate." I hissed, turning away from him. He stilled as if he couldn't move any longer. My heart clenched in my chest, burning like I had swallowed a vat of acid and maybe I had.I ignored it; we had all made our choices, and I had made mine so I could survive. Whatever happened here from now on wasn't my fault or my responsibility.I turned away from him and made to leave, but his hand shot out, grabbing my wrist with a gentleness that belied the intensity in his gaze. I still looked him in the eyes, not willing to back down. I was tired of being pushed around all the time.“Don’t walk away from me, Lunette,” he growled, his voice low and almost pleading. I pulled my wrist free, breathing harshly, ignoring the way he tried to grab at me. "Let me go," I cried out, and he roared. "I'm your mate; you don't get to walk away from me."Axel’s words echoed in my ears as I turned on my heel, determined to end this argument. I paused and looked to him, disbeli
Lunette POVThe nerve of Axel to do this to me."Why do you even care?" I demanded, my voice rising. I shoved him again, harder this time, breaking the cage he had formed around me. "Why does it matter to you?"I hissed louder than I’d intended, my anger propelling me forward. I had been doing so well in avoiding him and Zarek; I had done so well in avoiding them both and focusing just on Aloha Cormac.I had felt like that was what I owed him, especially since I was his mate.The guilt ate at me every day that passed, but I ignored it or tried to whenever I could because that was what was best for me and for them.And it had worked for a while; I had been able to hide and pretend that I didn't see them out of the corner of my eyes and that their scent didn't follow me out of the room at every turn.The walk today had been another form of escape, just me running from them again. I had been sure I was safe since the whole pack house was busy securing the prisoner from the rogue attack
Axel POVI had a dark cloud on my head!I had a dark brooding cloud hanging over my head that refused to lift, and it was becoming bothersome, especially since others noticed it and did their best to avoid me, which was in their best interest at the moment. As I would likely bite the head off of anyone who looked at me wrong.I strode away from the prison area, unable to shake the unease that had taken root since the rogue prisoner took his life in the early hours of the morning, hours before we could actually question him. Normally I would find such loyalty heartwarming, but then the word loyalty being used in the first place was wrong.Rogues weren’t known for their strategy or foresight; they were driven by chaos and the primal instincts to survive.They definitely were not known for their loyalty, as they would sell their own mother for food. So this was something else. Something deliberate, and it left a bitter taste in my mouth, making me feel that I was definitely right.Som
Axel POVThe thick scent of tension and blood in the air as I approached the border where my father, Zarek, and a few dozen other soldiers were already waiting, my muscles tightened with anticipation, my wolf pacing restlessly beneath my skin. Rogue activities had been escalating in the last week, and tonight seemed to become a turning point, which was both annoying and relieving, as he really was spoiling for a fight. As I reached them, my father was barking orders to a group of border patrol wolves; they were supposed to have noticed this far earlier before this became a problem, so my father was pissed, which was understandable; his presence was as commanding as ever, and with Zarek standing beside him, his arms crossed and his usual stoic expression in place, they looked too alike. Was that what people saw when we all stood together?“About time you showed up,” Zarek muttered as I approached, his tone laced with irritation. “Cut it out,” I snapped, not in the mood for his sarca
Lunette PovI stood in front of the mirror, smoothing over the soft fabric of my dress for what felt like the hundredth time. The sun was setting outside soon; soon it would be dark, but we had an hour or two.It was a simple yet elegant deep green that complemented my eyes and clung to my curves in all the right places—or so Mrs. Barlow said. I wouldn't know; I hadn't had a dress in a very long time and definitely not a new one, so it was a little confusing to know how to act now that I had one, but I was happy too.So I put it on and let out a shaky breath, my nerves tingling with anticipation as I got ready for my date. It had been days since I’d seen Alpha Cormac in the corridor that night, and since my fumbled answers to him about where I had been and what I had been doing.The days in between that had been... complicated, a very tedious dance to avoid Axel and Zarek, which was not been an easy feat considering how persistent they could be. My guilt over what had happened with t
Lunette POVI ran away from the shed like the hounds of hell were all rushing behind me. I needed to do that to at least tell myself that I wasn't a totally bad person. I slipped in through the door, trying to be as quiet as possible.The hallway leading to my bedroom was a little too quiet, and I wasn't sure if I was grateful for it since it made the echo of my hurried footsteps as I made my way back to my room all the more loud.It was frightening, especially with my heart racing like I was being chased and pounding against my ribs like a trapped bird.I felt out of control, and I hated feeling like this—like I was caught in a web of my own making, which was a hundred percent right.I shouldn’t have done it. Again.Again, being the most important word in the whole thought process, I shouldn't do it again too, but I wasn't sure if I would be able to say no. Axel’s touch still lingered on my skin, the heat of his fingers on my skin, and the memory of his smirk seared into my brain.I
Lunette POVThe dim light filtering through the cracks of the storage shed made me feel uneasy. I shouldn't be here at all, but I felt suffocated inside, so I decided to help clear the mess in the storage. The shelves were stacked with tools, old supplies, that were dusty and in need of arranging, so here I was looking for solitude—trying not to let my thoughts circle back to Axel and that night in the forest. The pack runs were over, but thinking about that night still made me feel hot and brought a flush to my skin. Even now my core was wet just at the thought of it.The forest was supposed to be the last time; that’s what I told myself every day after that; that’s what I promised myself. But promises had a way of crumbling when Axel was involved. No matter where I went, he seemed to find me. No matter how much I tried to resist, I kept finding myself giving in. It wasn’t just the forest. There was the time by the stream when he caught me washing the dirt off my hands after gard
Axel POVThe forest was oddly too quiet; the blood spilling down my chest from the man I had just killed was warm and sticky; it would be a hassle to clean.Mostly a hassle to explain to Lunette, but that was a problem to deal with then. I looked at the body; that would be another problem; maybe I should have left him alive.I found out exactly what he wanted from her in the first place and why he had been stalking her, but the time for that had passed. I moved to the body and dragged him across the ground, the body making the leaves rustle. The faint calls of wolves from the pack run echoed back here, making me smile a bit.It was funny in a way I didn't want to think about right now.I was supposed to be enjoying a peaceful, quiet run, not dragging a body half way across the forest. Once I was done hiding the body, I moved to where Lunette stood by the water, looking scared.She must have heard me coming; she glanced at me and then immediately looked worried when she saw the blood o