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"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
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 then I was glad in a way because explaining what the hell was going on here seemed like a far worse proposition.
Zarek PoVI leaned back against the cold stone wall, my arms crossed over my chest as I replayed the pieces of their argument. I’d overheard, my fists clenched and my jaw tightened as I watched Lunette walk away from my brother.The resignation in her shoulders was visible even from this distance, as was the tension in his; it made the storm I could sense brewing between them before she disappeared into the house. I hadn’t caught the full conversation—just enough to understand the undercurrent of emotions flowing between them both.Axel had always been impulsive, charging into situations without much thought about anything; it was what he did, and maybe once upon a time it would have been something he did as well.But this was Lunette, and while she was our mate, she wasn’t just anyone to us anymore; she was our father's mate, now someone completely untouchable.I sighed, dragging a hand through my hair. Axel would never accept the reality of things; he thrived on rebellion and pushin
Axel POVThe moon was sliced to a tiny crescent, but it was bright over the treetops, its silver light spilling over the dark forest floor. I stood at the edge of the western border, watching the patrols fan out into the forest.Father’s decision after the incident with the rogues attack and the death of the prisoner was to tighten security and patrol. I couldn't find fault with that decision because, despite my suspicions, I had no proof of anything, so I couldn't raise any alarms yet.But it came with a catch—he’d put me in charge.I wasn’t exactly thrilled to be spending nights out, but at least it killed time and allowed me to think about anything but her and my father.And it was hard not to because they were always together; it made it hard to escape from them both.So here I was battling a cold breeze and still trying to figure out where I stood in all of this.A sha
Lunette PoVMy mind wandered as I skimmed the book on medicinal herbs that I had picked that morning. Axel had fallen asleep. I knew it; even though I wasn't looking at him, he was moving less, and he had not turned a page in almost an hour. The candlelight flickered over the pages of the book in my lap that I was reading, or that I had been anyway, but the words had long since blurred into meaningless shapes. I sighed and leaned back in my chair, stretching out my stiff legs, hoping to get some relief.The library was quiet, except for the occasional creaking of the old wood shelves. I had come to like being in the library; it was a quiet space that I could think in without having to worry about others watching me or whispering behind my back. My eyes drifted across the room, landing on Axel. It was a habit now, and I tried not to do it so much. He was slumped in the chair across from me, his long legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles. His head was tilting slightly to th
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
Lunette POVI should have left the room immediately I put him to bed, but I didn't; the dimly lit room lured me into a fantasy, with the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting warm shadows across Axel’s face.Axel's room was quiet, save for the occasional creak of the old wood beneath my shifting feet; the faint scent of him lingered in the air, mixing with the sharp tang of alcohol.I stood near the door, watching him sit on the edge of his bed, his head bowed, his broad shoulders slumped with the blanket I had draped over him earlier, its edges hanging loosely around his frame, slipping slightly.His broad frame looked smaller somehow, weighed down by exhaustion and whatever demons had driven him to drink tonight."I want to shower," he mumbled all of a sudden, catching me off guard.I nodded."Ok.""I'll leave you," I whispered and stood from the bed; he gestured to me to help