ARDAN’s PoVIt was a silent night. Evelyn started to wake up in my arms as I was swaying her back and forth. Her baby-like hands clutched the collar of my shirt. As small as she was, she had no idea the burden she had on her back.“You are safe,” I murmured, tracing the brim of her cheek with my thumb. “Oh, I’ll see to it that you remain like that.”She only breathed gently and deeply in the silence of the night. At that moment, our world was peaceful, as if the turbulences and tragic events which had occurred in the past several months were just a nightmare.That moment did not last long and it was ruined by the appearance of Draven in the tent. He looked rather serious and did not have the usual relaxed character that he usually possessed.“What is it, Draven?” I asked, although deep inside I didn’t know if I really wished to hear what they had to say.He paused for a moment, staring blindly before his gaze shifted to Evelyn. “It’s about your daughter.”Instantly, I stiffened and my
Ardan’s PoV17 years laterOver the years, my pack and Joachim’s have been able to coexist in the same territory but different lands. We had rebuild enough that were no longer staying in tents but high rise buildings.I sat comfortably settled behind my desk sifting through maps and reports. The years had not been completely kind to me. I stared at the ceiling for what felt like hours, seventeen years of leading a fractured pack, of raising Evelyn alone, of waiting—always waiting—for Serena to wake.My contemplations were cut short by the appearance of Alpha Joachim. Standing at the entrance, he entered through the doorway, with his face as scowled as ever.“Ardan,” Joachim greeted.“Joachim,” I confirmed, pointing to the seat near me to let him know to sit down. “What brings you here?”Joachim unrolled a parchment and laid it flat on the table. “We must talk about these unpredictable associations we’ve been hearing about. Threats that are outside of our borders are increasing. It is
Ardan PoVSeventeen years. It has been seventeen years of struggle and longing for Serena to regain consciousness. I waited for her, did not lose faith. But in recent days, something inside me changed. The council elders had been clear: Being too concerned of Serena and our family, I was putting the pack at risk. They thought that my leadership had diminished, that I was no longer an Alpha but someone whose wife has just died.And maybe they were right. I had taken a decision which is very painful for any mate – to shut the door on my heart. In my mind, I knew and forced myself to believe that Serena would never wake up from such a state. That was the only option I had because I could not continue with my life the way it was before. Yet that decision had established a barrier between me and my daughter, Evelyn.One day, I stood, observing the hunters as they came back. As I looked into the eyes of each hunter I managed to greet them with a nod; the last one in line was Marcus.At twen
Ardan’s PoVPiles of papers lay on my desk including reports on the available resources, criminal movements of the pack and internal conflicts. I rubbed my head, attempting to concentrate on the paper before me, but the only thing on my mind was Evelyn. Her words I heard earlier were so harsh that they affected me more than I would like to admit.The sound of a knock on the door interrupted me suddenly. “Enter,” I said confidently and sat upright on the chair.Josephine entered. Despite wearing an impassive face, her eyes were a little wide, observing the unorganised papers strewn on the desk and my unkempt appearance.“You look like you haven’t slept for a week,” she commented, shutting the door after her. “Do you ever take a break?”“I don’t have the luxury,” I said softly, stretching backwards while resting my back against the leather chair. “There’s too much to do.”Josephine moved closer and rested her hand on the table’s edge. “Ardan, you cannot be an effective leader if you are
Ardan’s PoVThe days after paternity spell left me a wreck. To believe that Evelyn, was not my real daughter. Deep down I knew she wouldn’t be but now that I actually knew the truth and felt like a big mess, I despised myself for this feeling. She was still my daughter, still Serena’s child— our child in every way that one can imagine. However, every time I glanced at her, all I could see was the shadow of Caden teasing me from the other world.I distanced myself from her, angered and guilty. My duties as Alpha did help in distracting me from the torment, yet the moment I was done working, the torment started again. Evelyn noticed. How could she not? She always had those perceptive looks that did not leave anything unnoticed.It did not take her much time before she got the chance to approach and pull me aside to the common area of the pack house.“Dad,” she started firmly, “why have you been avoiding me?“I attempted to dismiss her complaints using the alibi of being bogged down with
Evelyn’s PoVLately, things did not feel right at all, almost as if the world was out of tune in a way. My father was avoiding me, Marcus was ignoring me and secrets that I wasn’t privy to seemed to be everywhere. All I could sense was that there must be something colossal looming behind it—something that close friends were hiding from me.When I found Marcus, he was perched on a log at the edge of the camp, honing his blade, which was something he always did when he needed time to introspect. I could tell even from where I was standing that something was very off with him.“Marcus,” I whispered as I approached him.He flicked another glance at me, his was face impassive, then he looked back to the sword. “Evelyn.”I took a seat next to him. “Are you okay?”He paused for a moment gripping the handle more firmly. “I’m fine.”I frowned. “You don’t seem f
Ardan’s PoVThe situation in the camp had been tense for some time. It began with word battles—a few barbs exchanged between my pack and Joachim’s rogues in passing—though recently, things had turned physical. Today, I found myself in the middle of the training grounds, clapping my hands to restore order after another fight.“This is exactly the kind of attitude that we don’t want around here! You’re all children!” I boomed, making my voice heard above all the ruckus. “We are supposed to be on the same side, are we not? How can this be happening?”The two fighters angrily retreated, cursing under their breath.“Ardan,” a voice whispered. It was low and commanding. I looked round to see Josephine coming nearer and her aura demanded respect at first sight. “Let me handle this.”She stood between the two groups and her words were deliberately chosen and diplomatic. &ld
Evelyn’s PoVIt happened a few nights ago. Initially, I could not believe that it was really happening to me and it might be my imagination due to the ongoing stress within the pack and the fact that I was now aware that I was cursed. But they kept coming back—I saw them, persistent, haunting and as if they were calling my name.I got up from the bed, shaking the sweat from my brow. The whispers were louder now, pulling at a cord somewhere inside me.“Evelyn...”My heart pounded. It didn’t matter who or what was behind it, they just wanted me to come with them.And I listened.I left the pack house discreetly so as not to wake anyone. The night was rather chilly; I could hear the insects’ buzz and the whispers. The whispers led me further into the forest with my toes bare against the rough ground.Finally, after what it felt like an eternity, I arrived in an area that I had never set foot in before. At the centre was a round, worn stone base, not large enough to hold even a medium-siz
Evelyn PoVAt first, I had not thought that Gilly's story would turn out to be so tragic. I thought I was merely doing my mother a favour: I was releasing a spirit and giving peace to the pack. But every single step I took in the direction of solving was heavy with shadows that just threw more secrets in my direction. I could feel the darkness circling in, twisting me into a hangman's noose.The old records of the pack were dusty and brittle, worn yellow with age. Weeks I spent in the archives bent over a desk deciphering the scribbled handwriting and cryptic notes. Draven helped where he could, his fingers dancing over ancient texts while I pieced together, bit by bit, the fragmented history of Gilly's downfall.It started innocent enough. Gilly was loved; with those attributes of kindness and strength, she was never really a natural leader. Somehow respect turned to jealousy, and jealousy turned to betrayal. The swirling in the ancient documents held very hostile stories of a family
Authors PoVThey started like whispers in the night.In the stillness of sleep, they forced their way into her brain to take her through dark and twisted visions. Some shadows curled around her, cold and snake-like; their touch glided over the rippling skin and left frosted impressions behind. The dreams picked their way through her nightmares the same way—her pack in chains, expressionless and with eyes like black pits; there was someone ahead, a person cloaked in shadows.The figure's face shifted and distorted; at one time it would be reminiscent of Gilly with her soft features, at another of Gloria, with that awful smirk. She would desperately attempt to run, to scream, but either the land would crumble beneath her feet, swallowing her whole in the world, until she woke up gasping for air.The dreams haunted her daily, tormenting her with the reality of the world outside the realm of sleep. Gilly's spirit seemed to linger in the edges of reality sewn into the very fabric that woul
Evelyn PoVThe truth sat heavy on my chest, a stone sinking into dark waters. Gilly's voice lingered in my mind, a soft, desperate whisper threading through my thoughts even as I went through the motions of daily life. The blood of the betrayed will break the chains.Those words had been haunting me ever since the ritual with Draven, every syllable a jigsaw puzzle piece that refused to fit. What betrayal? Whose blood? The answers I sorely craved could only be unearthed by digging deeper into Gilly's past, the life which she had led before Gloria's darkness swallowed her whole.I started my search among the old documents located in the pack's ancient archive building where old books and fragile scrolls blended their aged scent with forgotten tales. For hours I studied the pack's historical records that included birth and death records as well as political alliances and loyalty breakdowns. Being careful with my page turns made me sharply conscious that the sound of crinkling pages carri
Evelyn PoVWas this a mere figment of my imagination?… Gilly’s voice had become an echo that trickled into the stillness, catching me unawares. The torment did not even allow me peace in sleep. I would close my eyes, and her voice would take me into shadowed dreams-corridors layered in darkness, chains clanking in the distance."Evelyn."It now sounded weak and soft, no more than an echo but soon merely a whisper grazing my skin. Jerking upright in bed, I pulled the blanket tighter around my shoulders."Wh-What do you want from me?" I whispered back, my voice lost in the dark.Silence.I woke up abruptly from my bed before drawing the blanket closer to protect my shoulders."What do you want from me?" I demanded quietly. I managed to answer him but my words vanished into the darkness.Silence.I clenched my fists. “If you’re real I need to see you to be sure.”The air moved through the room as the window remained closed. The candle flame moved in an unexpected sideways wave as though
Evelyn’s PoVAs I came to stand amidst the rubble of Odessa’s fortress, there rioted smells of smoke and blood. The bodies of both friends and foes lay scattered on the ground from a battle that, to me, seemed less a victory than a doomsday. My body screamed for peace, and the tightness of every muscle felt unbearable; yet it could hardly compare with the turmoil within me.Finian stood a few paces away, his eyes piercing into mine. His expression was inscrutable-somewhere between hope and acceptance. His knuckles were bruised, his hair caked with dirt, and yet still he seemed the bedrock I have leaned upon during my stay with the pack at Odessa. He had saved me countless times, and now, standing before freedom, I no longer knew where we stood.And then there was Marcus.He emerged from the smoke like an apparition. Relief, pain, and something else—something much deeper, something older, much older—were stamped on his face, making my chest tighten. The last rays of sunlight broke thro
Author PoVBefore sentries had time to alert their camp the arrows struck their targets. The wolves crashed into each other while they shifted as their howls unified their counterparts.Inside the fortress, Evelyn felt it. The vibrations of battle were within her, through the stone walls, deep and low; she felt a low hum settle deep into her bones. She was clasped in silver chains burning against the skin, watching Finian about to die.One of the guards entered the room quickly, his face extremely pale. "We are under attack!"Odessa's face hardened, "By whom?""Callum and his people… he’s alive my alpha. And the Red Blood Moon pack."Odessa's lips twisted into a snarl. "Then they have come to die." She turned toward Evelyn, handing her a dagger she had drawn from her belt. "I ought to kill you. But I will save you for last.”Evelyn then looked into Odessa's eyes, her fear burning away and replaced by determination. "No, I will save you for last.”Then the ambush began. Callum and Ryan
Author PoVThe woods was dark as Marcus and Luca passed through the underbrush in silence. Marcus’s heart thudded against his ribs, with a steady caution. He glanced toward Luca, who had graduated from one stern face of determination to intent.They had been trudging through the woods for hours on nothing more than scraps of intelligence and the stubborn pull of hope. Ryan's rogues had pointed them in the right direction but were ultimately not adventurous enough to try to approach the Red Blood Moon pack directly. After all, Odessa's territory was a death trap of sorts. Even the most adventurous rogues knew better than to cross her borders without sufficient cause.The moonlight was just enough to see the outlines of makeshift tents and some shadows on watch. Marcus motioned for Luca to keep it low and crouched behind some ferns to take in the camp."Do you see her?" Luca whispered in a voice so faint it was almost a sigh."Not yet," Marcus ground out, struggling to make each breath
Serena’s PoVTears stung my eyes, and I woke up in a start with broken breath as the persistence of the dream clung to me. In this muted room, shadows danced upon the wall; for a second, I was hardly certain of where I stood. The dream had borne the reality—Odessa, her eyes bright with evil gleam, standing atop a heap of bones. Her army, a roar of growling rogues and defiled creatures spread out to the last sight. And then there was Evelyn... Evelyn was there, firmly standing by the side of Odessa, the empty look on her face an undercover of madness.I put my trembling hand over my forehead, it was sweating. This dream wasn't just a figment of imagination; it was a warning.I pushed aside the thick furs, stood, and went to the unbarred window. The pack grounds lay quiet, a deceitful calm before a storm. My instincts screeched like a mother's intuition that something far worse than what we had imagined was in the making.If only I could make Ardan see it too.But Ardan... he was no lon
Evelyn’s PoVThe dagger felt heavy and cold in my palm. Odessa’s cold demand rang in my ears. Kill Callum. Bring me his head. This wasn’t a test or ,twisted game to see how far I would go to prove my loyalties. I just had to do it. I knew I had to do it.If I turned it down, she would turn against me. If I carried out her order, I would lose the only ally I had managed to win over. Either way, she would win.Not this time.Finian walked beside me as we traveled through the thick forest. His expression was a mixture of concern and determination. He had not questioned me for warning Callum. He had not hollered when I insisted we needed to fake a death, to give like a disguise for the purpose of tricking Odessa into believing I had done my job. Instead, he nodded, affirming my sense of loyalty."Are you sure it will work?" he asked softly."It must." I responded. "If Odessa realises we lied to her, we would be dead."