******************Ethan's POV*I tried to convince Sophia to get some rest, but she refused, insisting she wouldn't rest until we found Lena."I want to find Lena as badly as you do, but I can't do that if you're about to collapse," I said."I'm stronger than you can ever imagine," she retorted.No doubt my sister is strong, but right now, she looked like she might drop dead any moment. I tried my best to persuade her, but she remained adamant.After a while, my Beta returned with my former beta."Greetings, my lord. It's an honor and a privilege to stand before you once more, ready to serve," he said, kneeling.I looked at him. He was unkempt, clearly not faring well wherever he'd been. He resembled an abandoned lone wolf, and I felt a pang of pity. Before becoming my Beta, he was my friend. We had shared many secrets, which made his betrayal all the more painful. I knew it wasn't entirely his fault; Lauren might have blackmailed him or left him no choice. Knowing Lauren, she'd do a
*************************Adrian's POV*I kept calling out to Ian, but he wasn't answering. He remained awfully quiet. I begged and pleaded, but to no avail. Deep down, I sensed something coming—danger drawing nigh. It's all the more reason why I couldn't bear to think that Ian had disappeared again.The last time this happened, it was far from funny. I was lucky Ian had shown up at my lowest point.My head was swimming with thoughts. I had to find a way to save Lena, guilt gnawing at me after giving Claire consent to do whatever she liked. I knew that at this very moment, Claire would be hatching her plans to find the black witch.I called my Beta, who rushed in."Go check if Claire is in her chambers. If she isn't there, check her father's place as well," I ordered."Yes, my lord," he said and left.After a while, he returned, reporting that Claire was nowhere to be found in or around the pack's abode. He also mentioned that some guards and maids were missing. I knew instantly that
*********************Adrian's POV*"How many times do I have to tell you that no one knows I'm here... except—" Lena paused as if suddenly recalling something."Except what?" I asked anxiously.She seemed lost in thought. I moved closer to her cell, standing directly in front of her, and repeated my question. Finally, she answered."Except my only friend back in my former pack," she sighed, as if she had completely forgotten about this person."How have you been communicating with her?" I pressed."We communicate through letters, but since I was called a spy and framed, I haven't written to her," she explained."What were the contents of these letters?" I asked, trying to maintain my composure."I told her how my life had turned out for the better. The last one I sent was about Claire wanting to end me by all means possible, and that you were involved in it."Anger surged through me. I banged on her cell loudly, the force throwing her back. Surprisingly, she didn't fall or hit her he
*************************Adrian's POV*They came faster than I had expected. I wondered how long they had been planning this, how long they had waited to get their revenge on me. It was all beginning to make sense now. I understood why I stumbled upon Lena at that bar.But what I still couldn't comprehend was why the Moon Goddess made her my mate. I had never had a mate before; Claire was just handpicked as she had the grace of a Luna and came from a good background."What's that sound?" Lena asked, her voice tinged with worry."They're here for you," I replied coldly."What do you mean? Who's here for me?" she pressed, confusion evident in her tone."Ethan," I said, watching closely for her reaction. But I couldn't quite read her expression. She looked... disappointed? I couldn't believe her. What was she trying to achieve? Play the victim until she had my head on a platter?Never. I would never allow that to happen."Look here, Lena. I don't know what you're trying to do, but I won
**************************** Ethan's POV "Look around, Adrian. I have more men than you. It's over," I said coldly. "It's not over until it's over," he replied defiantly. FLASHBACK "We need to be sure she's really still alive, and exactly where she is in Adrian's pack. Before storming in blindly, we have to strike when they least expect it," Sophia said, her tone measured. "You're right. But what do we do about that? At least now we know Adrian is the Alpha who took her, but we need to confirm she's still alive... and well." I paused, lost in thought, searching for a solution. "What do you think we should do?" I asked my former beta, turning to him. He let out a deep sigh. After a few moments of thinking, he finally spoke. "We could send in our trained spies to gather the information we need. That way, we can strike at the right time." "That's a good idea," Sophia chimed in, "but Adrian can't be underestimated. He's a strong Alpha. He'll sniff them out." "My lady, d
*************************Ethan's POVAdrian’s eyes were closed. I slapped him hard, forcing him to open them. As soon as he did, I lifted Claire by the neck, bringing her closer to him, making sure he watched every second as I strangled the life out of her.He struggled, but I had him pinned so well he couldn’t move. After a while, I grew tired of strangling her and decided to snap her neck. The sharp crack echoed through the air as I tossed her lifeless body aside. Adrian groaned in agony. It seemed like Claire's death gave him some kind of strength. The next thing I felt was his hand on my back, throwing me hard against the wall of a nearby building. I crashed into it with a bone-rattling force.With his wolf speed, Adrian rushed at me again, but I was quick. I calculated his moves faster than he did, staying glued to the wall, pretending to be too weak to move. As he got closer, I jumped off. He smashed into the wall with full force. If I had let him hit me, the impact would hav
***********Ethan's POV"What if I refuse to go with you?" she asked.I was dumbfounded. I hadn't anticipated this question. I never imagined she'd have a choice—after all, she had nowhere to go. Her uncle wouldn't take her back after losing his daughter to the cold hands of banishment."Please, don’t refuse," I said, carefully choosing my words. "My happiness depends on you... my sister’s life is in your hands.""What do you mean by your sister’s happiness? So, you came here just because you think you need my help?" she snapped, her voice rising with anger."Calm down, Lena. I’ll explain everything better when we get back to my pack. Please, don’t refuse to come with me," I pleaded, desperate to calm her."You have to free me from this cell first, even if I am to go with you," she demanded.I signaled to my former beta to check behind the cell, where Lena had said there was something causing the electric current."There’s an uninsulated wire glued to the iron of the holding cell," he
***************************Lena's POV**'He killed the father of my child, and he expects me to just do what? Thank him? Lick his feet or do whatever he says?' I thought to myself."Did he save me because he was sorry for breaking the bond, or did he need me for his sister's health?" I couldn’t help but wonder."Calm down, Lee," Lyla said."Do you understand what he's talking about?" I asked Lyla."I don’t know what he’s talking about. Maybe you should give him a listening ear and find out what’s happening.""Do you think he's telling the truth about regretting his past actions?" I asked."How do you expect me to know that, Lena? I’m a white witch, not a Moon Goddess," Lyla said, laughing."I thought you were the know-it-all kind of witch," I teased."You don’t seem too happy. What’s wrong, Lena?" Lyla asked."I’m fine, Lyla. Don’t worry about me.""Don’t tell me not to worry about you. What’s going on?""I’m just sad that my first mate killed my second chance mate," I replied reluct