Lunette POV I sat at the table with my own plate; the smell of coffee, sizzling eggs, and oats filled the air. I took a deep breath and tried to keep my heartbeat steady. Axel and Zarek were seated across from me, their presence both familiar and unnerving. Axel was scowling as usual, but Zarek seemed more open. I smiled at him softly, glad for the reprieve when he smiled back. It was nice to not have to travel on the minefield of emotions that was the twins.The two of them had become constants in my life, and this strange situation might have made them enemies, but at least for breakfast we would not be getting into that.I looked down to the floor where Axel's foot seemed to be jiggling over time; he didn't look like he was in discomfort, though maybe just uncomfortable.Axel seemed to be the quieter of the two today; his eyes intensely focused on the plate before him, flicking up now and then to meet mine with a glint of something that looked like want and rage all mixed in one.
Lunette POVI found myself in the kitchen again, just before dawn. It was easier to bake than to try falling asleep, especially when that wasn't working out too well for me in the first place.I had been baking bread; from breakfast, they were in the oven, and I was working on muffins, then cookies would go in next. The scents of eggs and herbs filled the air as I worked; moving through the familiar motions of slicing, stirring, and kneading helped block my mind for a while, at least for an hour or two where I could forget everything outside this space. It gave me time to think—though sometimes, thinking wasn’t exactly as comforting as they claimed it to be.But even as I moved through the familiar motions, my thoughts wandered to the morning before and the twins' reaction when I’d mentionedtheir father, Alpha Cormac, being my mate. The look in their eyes, a blend of shock, confusion, and something else, lingered with me still. It was almost as if they hadn’t expected me to claim it
Lunette POVHe was looking to me; he seemed to expect an answer, but I couldn't seem to think of one right way anyway; his words just kept echoing in my head. “Joining a pack like ours, with so much going on all the time.”In a way, he was right; the pack was almost always busy; people were always washing, cleaning, or nursing, but I assumed that was the part of life here for a pack so big. I gave a small nod, my fingers tightening around my coffee mug. “It is,” I admitted. He looked at my brows arched, and I rushed to clarify. “but in a good way. I... I feel like I belong here, even if it’s different.”His expression softened, and his eyes settled on me, warm and reassuring.“That means a lot to me, Lunette,” he said quietly.“I want you to feel like you have a place here. A home.”The sincerity in his voice caught me off guard, and I looked down, unable to hold his gaze. Ihadn’t expected him to be so open orto care about making me feel welcomed.It was easy to see why he was resp
Varda Pov I entered my mate's chambers, my face hopefully smeared with enough makeup to make me look as pale as possible, and my eyes red rimmed like I had been crying. I hadn't been crying. Alpha Slade’s chamber had the heavy scent of sickness clinging to it, and with the air all around it, I had to suppress the urge to cover my nose. The only light in the room was a single flickering candle casting very unattractive shadows over his sunken and very pale face.A bolt of irritation bit, and it was a very difficult battle holding it in as I approached the bed. This was my mate after all—the man who’d once held such power, but the powerful and intimidating man I’d once known was now reduced to a shell of himself, lying in his bed, his skin pale and clammy. It was almost pitiful.His illness had only grown worse over the past few weeks; sometimes I was very certain that his daughter's disappearance was the cause.“Alpha Slade,” I called out softly, stepping closer. His eyes were half-
Alpha Cormac POVI pulled away from Lunette, swallowing deeply. She looked away, her face flushing red.I turned to the beta, who stood awkwardly by the door. I sighed. "What's the problem?" I asked, and he nodded. "Well, you're needed at the council," he muttered, and I nodded I turned to Lunette, unsure what to say to her, hesitant to leave but unsure of what to do so I could stay.“I should go,” I said. She looked to me, looking as if she wanted to speak, but then she nodded, offering a small smile.I left the kitchen after breakfast, feeling more excited and more than a little bit tired. The kitchen door slammed close behind me, and I let out a slow breath. Breakfast with Lunette had been... unexpected but also refreshing; in a way, it had left me feeling things that I had not felt in years.There was something about her—a gentle determination that shone through even the simplest conversations; she was a survivor, and she wasn't ashamed of it.Frankly, neither was I. I was gla
Zarek POVI jolted awake, a sheen of sweat running down my forehead, my heart pounding as if I’d just run through the entire forest a couple of times. I tugged the covers off me feeling hot, my mind latching onto hazy fragments of the dream that were almost too bright and raw—Lunette's laughter, her eyes, her hands—damn it.She’d been in my arms, her touch soft and electric, her gaze locked onto mine with a longing that made me ache; even the memory of it had heat pooling in my gut.I rubbed a hand over my face, trying to shake it off. “Damn it,” I muttered, running my hand through my hair, my fingers clenching for as I forced myself to relax. I didn’t want to think too hard about what that dream meant or why Lunette had invaded my dreams in the first place. It was too early for that level of self-examination. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, shivering as the cold air hit my skin, a sharp reminder that I was now very much awake. My eye robed over the room that was just wh
Alpha Cormac POV . “Reconsider?” I repeated, a spark of anger igniting in my chest, letting the word hang in the air. “Explain yourself.”“And what, exactly, is the concern this time?” I asked, though my patience was thin; this was the last thing I wanted to be spending my time on, and I made sure they all sounded like it from the sound of my voice. He shifted on his feet, becoming clearly uncomfortable, but maybe he was brave or stupid; he pressed on regardless. “There are those of us who question Lunette's suitability,” he said, his tone firm."While she is no doubt a kind woman, we need more than kindness in Luna. We need strength and a proven lineage that will ensure the pack’s future.”I felt my jaw tighten, even as I forced my expression to be neutral, though I wasn't very sure if I was succeeding or not.This wasn’t the first time they’d voiced their opinions on the matter; although those times have been subtle, there had been countless debates, and I had endured their endl
Lunette POVI wiped my hands on the apron, looking around the kitchen to make sure everything was in place before I left.The kitchen was finally still, the last breakfast tray had been sent off, and the counters were spotless. I took a deep breath, letting the lingering scents of warm bread, roasted vegetables, crisp bacon, and spices from this morning meal fill my nose. It had been a long morning, and my back hurt from standing for so long, but it did not feel too bad, not when my heart felt full. A few beta's who worked in the kitchen with Ms. Harlow lingered by the counters, gathering up the last trays to bring to the dining hall; she had joined me and helped me make breakfast for the warriors and some of the young men with no mates that were horrible at making meals. I looked around the storage, but she was nowhere to be found; she'd likely gone to sit down. As I wiped down the final countertop, I thought back to my breakfast with Alpha Cormac this morning. He had been so diffe
Lunette POV The words hung in the air like poison, each one of them slicing through me with cruelty I couldn't believe existed, I tried not to let it bother me but that didn't seem to be working. "Whore." They repeated and I struggled not to flinch "She’s not even trying to hide it." I stood there my hands trembling as I clutched the pruning shears I had been using in my garden,a place that was my solitude but yet seemed to have had all the peace drawn out of it through a thin straw, my breath stayed caught in my throat, thick and cloying .I looked down at my hands, the dirt beneath my nails and the shears in my grip blurring as tears welled in my eyes, the first instinct that screamed at me was to run, but my legs felt rooted to the ground. I wanted to confront them, to scream that they didn’t know me, that they didn’t understand. But the words caught in my throat, choked by the shame that I felt deep into my bones.But what would I say to them, that even though I was betrothe
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