Lunette POVThe scent of blood in the air was almost too sharp and metallic, making my stomach churn. I didn't really like blood all that much. I stepped closer to Axel, my eyes narrowing as I took in the dark stains smeared across his arms and torso.His unusually calm demeanor only made it more unsettling. "Is that blood?" I muttered. It sounded stupid now I had said it out loud.Of course it was blood. “What happened to you?” I asked, but he said nothing, walking towards her. “Axel,” I muttered hesitantly, my voice cutting through the quiet of the clearing."You're hurt. There’s blood on you.” I gestured toward the bright red stains over his chest and arms, my concern outweighing my discomfort.Axel didn’t flinch, his gaze steady as he wiped at the blood absentmindedly with his hand."It's nothing,” he replied, his tone dismissive. I frowned, unconvinced and definitely not buying his casual explanation. “That’s not nothing, Axel. Whose blood is it?" He exhaled heavily, runni
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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