Author's P.O.VThe shadows grew long in the forest as the moon rose high in the sky, shining softly on the Green Forest Pack's edge.The sound of hooves on the stone path rang out in the night, announcing the arrival of a dark carriage.When the carriage stopped, its wooden body creaked loudly.“Stay where you are!” shouted a guard with his shape looking like a ghost in the low light. He held his sword tightly with the blade shining in a scary way. The other guards acted fast, standing in a strong line as they got in front of the carriage.The door made a noise as it opened, and Elder Aurelius came out looking strong even though it was late. His white hair shone in the moonlight, and he seemed very wise from his old face. The guards looked at each other clearly surprised but also unsure.“Aurelius!” the head guard yelled with a hint of knowing in his voice. “You’re back.”“Yes, I have things to do,” Aurelius said calmly. He looked at the guards' faces and saw they were new. They were
Adams' POVI kicked my horse’s sides and felt it leap forward while the wind blew around us. Dale rode next to me still looking like a proud new warrior in my elite group.I glanced at him as if his vows showed in his face and shone with pride and resolve.We knew our mission well, but I felt a tight knot of worry in my stomach as we got closer to Thornvale Village.“Your Highness, do you think this might just be a false alarm?” Dale yelled above the loud noise of our horses' hooves.“Rogue sightings don’t just pop up for no reason, Dale!” I replied while sounding confident. “I trust my gut feelings. We can’t let them endanger the village. We must defend our home and our people!”Behind us, a dozen of my best fighters rode fiercely with their faces showing strong determination.Each man was a symbol of our proud heritage— a history built through many fights and earned wins. They had come to my side with intense loyalty and today that loyalty will be challenged.As we approached the ed
Ben's POVThe night surrounded me like an old coat, feeling both safe and risky. I crouched on the ground with my back against the rough fence next to the palace. The moon was hidden by clouds, giving me a little light—good for me.I had spent years moving through these shadows and every rustle of leaves and soft breeze reminded me of the home I had lost.“Stay quiet. Just until she gets here,” I whispered to my wolf, while trying to hide my nervousness.The words seemed too weak and lost in the still night. I tapped my foot on the ground and each soft beat rang in my head.I looked behind me with my heart racing as memories of why I was there flooded my mind. Being banished had changed everything, Adams had made me sneak around like a shadow.I was now on my own depending on quiet promises and the darkness for comfort.A cold breeze blew through the air and I brushed my hair back with a shaky hand. I must have waited so long.“Where are you, Shayla?” I whispered, while looking into t
Ben's POVI ducked down behind some twisted roots with my heart racing and my breathing quick as I looked at the dark rogue camp.I felt the past pressing down on me like a heavy blanket that wouldn’t go away. But tonight felt different as need and want pushed me ahead like two flames ready to ignite the whole forest.I saw the rogue scouts fade into the dark with their sharp eyes on the faintly lit entrance of the settlement. They looked like ghosts—thin, tense and always ready to jump into action. The guards stayed hidden with their hunting instincts satisfied by their secret spots.To an untrained person, the settlement looked empty, but I had learned to look deeper with each hidden figure, reminding me of how dangerous my situation was.“Stay sharp, stay aware,” I said quietly while repeating what Augustus had taught me. The rogue king was both friend and enemy, like a tricky balance of trust and betrayal.But tonight I was making my own path, and it was risky going right into the
Lilith's POVI walked back and forth in the big hall with my footsteps echoing on the large marble floors with each step matching the chaos inside me. Worry squeezed my heart and under my calm surface was a rush of need.The faraway voices filled with sharp orders and the movement of guards pulled at me like a strong current, putting me at risk of drowning in doubt.“What’s going on out there?” I whispered with my eyes glued to the beautiful stained-glass doors that opened to the palace grounds. I had made a choice—a brave, maybe foolish one—to start the plan to catch Ben.The pressure weighed heavily on me and each moment without news made my fear grow stronger.”What if they fail?” The thought slipped in so unwanted and sneaky. I bit my lip to push back the fear that gripped me. Ben was smart and clever and teaming up with the rogue King Augustus made him even more dangerous.I tightened my fists while remembering Shayla’s betrayal and the tough decisions I had to make. I didn’t fee
Adams' POVI stood under the faint moonlight watching the shadows move across the dirt path to Thornvale village. I had guided my men through the chaos and as they started to gather and celebrate I couldn’t shake the strange feeling surrounding me.“Your Highness,” said a voice from behind. I turned to see Elder Simmons coming closer with his old face shining in the dim light of the torches along the path.“Hello Elder Simmons,” I said to him with my voice steady, but friendly. “You look good.”Simmons nodded slightly while showing his age. “It’s a real honor to talk with you, Alpha King.” He paused while looking for the right words.“We can’t thank you enough for getting here so quickly. The rogues had us trapped and you… you rescued us.”I shook my head while feeling a familiar sense of humility. “I have to do this for my pack. I can't let anything bad happen to my people.”“Even so, you took big risks. Your men fought hard, and their bravery made a difference,” he said with his voi
Adams' POVI sat at the side of the party with the flickering torches giving off a warm light that pushed back the cool night. But my eyes went to Ronan.What really grabbed my attention was his intense stare at Dale, who was telling a funny story that had everyone cracking up. Dale had just proved himself in battle and his charm made even the serious soldiers laugh. But it was Ronan’s reaction that really stood out to me.“Ronan,” I said in my head while sipping my drink with my thoughts spinning. What was happening? The way Ronan’s eyes softened and how he leaned a bit toward Dale stirred something in me. A bond between two guys? It seemed strange, even extreme, but the bond between them was clear.As the party went on, laughter and music filled the air and I started thinking hard while watching Ronan and Dale. As the night went by, the fun slowly faded as the soldiers became tired. I realized it was time to talk to Ronan alone.“Okay guys, it's time to relax,” I said while softly g
Lilith's POVAs I slowly woke up, the first thing I noticed was warmth. It was a gentle and steady feeling that surrounded me very different from the cold darkness that had held me just before.I blinked a few times with my eyes focusing on seeing where I was with the familiar walls and the bed beneath me. But what shocked me most was the sound of a heartbeat nearby.I turned my head and saw Adams next to me. He was slumped a bit with his head resting on his hand as he slept. His dark hair fell across his forehead and at that moment he looked different—almost delicate.Confusion hit me hard. What had happened? I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness pushed me back down. My mind was a mess of memories—Bartholomew's wound, my desperate efforts to help him, the heavy darkness closing in on me and Augustus hiding within.My heart raced at the memory with a quick beat ringing in my ears. I gasped softly, and suddenly I saw Adams's eyes pop open with his gaze meeting mine with both relie
Adams' POVThe forest appeared ahead covered with an uneasy feeling. As I guided my men into the Green Forest Pack’s territory, I felt the heavy crown on my head.It was a steady reminder of my responsibilities as Alpha, and King of all the Packs. My warriors were nearby, their faces tensed with anticipation, ready to battle, but the deep silence unsettled even the most seasoned of them.“What's happening?” Ronan, my Beta, whispered, looking at the trees as if they might suddenly attack us.“Be careful!” I said, looking closely at the darkening sky. “We might be walking into a trap.”Next to me, Lilith rode, her calmness a source of comfort. She looked at me, and said, “No matter what comes, we will handle it.”I nodded, feeling thankful for her bravery. We had made it too far and given up too much to stop now. Together we moved forward deeper into the Pack.By the time I stepped on the boundary, I expected trouble, but the woods were strangely quiet. I noticed my men sharing anxious
Adams' POVA thick silence covered the battlefield as the last sounds of fighting disappeared. I stood among the leftovers of the fight finally feeling my breath steady again.The harsh truth hit me. It was finished. The rogue army led by the traitor Augustus had been defeated. Their threats will no longer hang over my packs and I will not have to be afraid of backstabbers anymore.“We did it, Adams,” Lilith said quietly, her voice a mix of relief and surprise. She moved closer, her bright green eyes looking into mine. “It is finally done.”A huge weight lifted off my chest at her words. “Yes... it is settled.” Our eyes met and at that moment every other thing felt unimportant. I pulled her close, ignoring our friends and the signs of the battle, kissing her passionately.The salty flavor from sweat and dirt dripped down my throat, but in her presence even the bad feelings turned good. We hugged each other tightly, connecting our hearts as one, enjoying the joy of our victory, and fin
Lilith's POVAn intense fear took hold of me, making me feel cold all over, and it seemed unyielding and harsh.With determination, I shouted out, “You will never be able to have me!” deep inside, I understood that my words were unlikely to have any effect on him.I turned my eyes toward Adams, hoping to see some sign of reassurance from him, but sadly, he was caught up in a fierce struggle with Ben.“Get behind me!” Adeline shouted fiercely, showing her teeth in a threatening way as she got ready to protect me.However, Augustus’s laughter filled the air, such a disturbing sound that sent shivers through my body.“It's pointless,” he said, lifting his hand and carelessly flinging Adeline away as if she were just a small bother to him. She fell onto the grassy ground, but as soon as she got back up, her anger burned even brighter.“All of you are so weak and pathetic. Did you honestly believe that you could possibly oppose someone like me?”“Augustus, you really don't recognize our tr
Lilith's POVThe rogue army charged through the broken and ruined gates, moving with a sense of urgency. My heart was seriously thumping loudly in my chest, like a drum that wouldn't stop, pushing me to do something, to respond to the situation.“Adams!” I mind-linked, trying to get his attention. Lexi caught a quick sight of our mate as he began to change, his body transforming further, his Lycan features gradually taking over.His muscles moved and shifted beneath the bright, fiery fur that covered him. He was a strong and fierce wolf, fully prepared to take charge.“Do not move from that spot, Lilith!” he growled with his voice deep and rough. As he jumped into the chaos of the fight, his strong arms and legs pushed him ahead with great force.I felt a mix of emotions inside me as I had control of my body; I was proud of him for being so brave, but at the same time, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of anxiety and concern.However, I found myself unable to move from my spot. I could
Lilith's POVAs I walked slowly beside Adams, my heart beat hard and fast in my chest. Below the ramparts a terrific battle was going on, and it was intense to witness. Two wolves fighting each other—a fierce and savage dance involving their sharp claws and powerful teeth.The air was filled with the wild and piercing sounds of battle cries which vibrated through the ground under our feet. I became more alert and focused with each second that passed. “Look over there!” I said excitedly, pointing my finger towards something I recognized among the group of troublemakers.“It is the Green Forest, my home pack! I can’t believe they would turn against us like this. How could they do something so hurtful?”Adams' spoke to me, “Ben has influenced their thoughts in a very negative way. He had convinced them that they would take control and gain power. He will not give up until he has succeeded in tearing us apart completely.”“Then we will demonstrate to them exactly what loyalty really mean
Lilith's POVI was standing at the edge of the tall stone walls and I suddenly felt my breath catch in my throat. I looked down at the huge army of wolves that had gathered below me.Their fur was shining and sparkling, catching what little light was left in the sky as the sun started to set. The wolves were making deep low growling sounds that combined into a sound like a heavy dark hum that I could feel deep inside of me.I realized that Augustus had finally come, and I could sense that a big battle was about to take place. It appeared as if a dark cloud was hovering over us ready to unleash terror at any point.“Just take a look at them,” I said quietly in a whisper, as my heart beat loudly in my chest. I turned to Adams, who was standing right next to me.He appeared completely unfazed by what was happening. I noticed that his striking blue eyes were fixed intensely on the dark wave of people stretching out across the field and I couldn’t help but admire how calm and collected he
Adams' POV“Ben,” I said while trying very hard to keep my voice steady. I wanted to sound calm, but inside I felt like there was a huge storm of emotions raging.“You have decided to side with a person who is completely out of his mind. How could you make that choice? You are a brother to me. You were one of the good people in our pack!”“There is no connection between us, only the pursuit of power!” he exclaimed with anger, with his eyes narrowing in a way that showed an intense bitterness I could hardly recognize.“And you, my dear King, are blocking the path forward. You must make your choice carefully and think it through.”“Choose death instead of being a servant?” I laughed bitterly, anger burning inside me. “Do you really think I’d submit to Augustus? Tell him to stick his offer somewhere. You’ve become a worse person and his darkness will swallow you just like it has your soul!”“No!” Ben shouted loudly with his voice filled with anger and frustration. It was as if a dark and
Adams' POVI stood at the very edge of the sturdy stone wall of the fortress. The old stronghold which had been the home of my family for many generations was built with tall parapets. These walls had once been alive with the noise and excitement of battle, filled by my brave ancestors who were skilled archers ready to protect our land from any invaders.Now, however, darkness surrounded us completely and a thick silence pressed down on our group of warriors. It felt strange and unsettling as if we were all holding our breath together, both the defenders standing ready and the shadows that seemed to inch closer and closer to us.To my left was Ronan. Right now he looked very tense. His usually bright and lively eyes were narrowed, and he was carefully looking out at the land in front of us, searching for any signs of movement.All around, the generals and captains of the Bloodhound Pack were standing in a tense way, almost like tightly wound bowstrings. Their muscles were tight and pr
Adams' POV Lilith softly extended her hand and lightly placed it on Adeline's arm. She turned to her with a warm expression of gratitude and spoke, “I honestly want to thank you for supporting me during this trying time in my life.”I observed how the two exchanged a glance that seemed to hold a deep understanding between them, a connection that had been built on trust and loyalty over time. Feeling the need to give them some space, I took a step back and gently let go of Lilith’s hand.It was as if something heavy settled into my chest, making me feel a bit sad. I then spoke to her, “Now you should go. Make your way back to the palace and make sure to stay near Adeline. I need to handle some important things on my own.”“Please be careful my dear.” Lilith's voice shook just a little bit as she looked deeply into my eyes and I could see a mix of concern and love in her expression.I nodded my head slowly, fully realizing just how much fear was reflected in Lilith's eyes. I leaned in