Adam's POV“Shane!” We all exclaimed, except Lilith, who looked on, confused.Shane, our older brother, is back.Our father had five sons, with Shane topping the list and me being the youngest.He was strong, powerful, short-tempered, and he had a destructive personality. After Ronan’s father was killed, my father was so heartbroken, he didn't have the mind to select another Beta.He was grieved for a while and the pack matters almost slipped from his hands till Shane took over and turned things around.His name was heavy in the mouths of the people as he was a no-nonsense leader. People were scared of him, even we, his brothers, never stood before his presence without trembling.A few times, Ben tried to challenge his authority, being the next after him, but he always met his Waterloo.
Shane's POV.I walked into my father's room before he died and closed the door gently behind me.In this room, every Alpha that had ruled this pack, from my father to his father's father and so on, died. According to what I heard, my father's last wish, aside from Adams being the king, was to have this room preserved in his honor.It was under lock and key, always guarded.There was so much dust in it which made me sneeze and wheeze, but I was determined to hold the meeting in this room, whether they liked it or not.“Stupid boys, couldn't they have cleaned it?” I asked myself. Closing my eyes, different memories replayed in my head, so much so tears dropped from my eyes.On the bed was my father's golden staff, his symbol of power and authority. Every Alpha since the beginning of time has been with it, but it all stopped after my father's death.From Adams' reign, the staff was replaced by a ring which was worn by him on his right middle finger.Although I wasn't around, all the new
Lilith's POV.I kept rolling on the bed, unable to put my mind at ease.The time was almost nine pm, and Adam was not yet back. What were they discussing that was taking them so long to conclude?I rose up slowly from the bed, and sat up on it, contemplating if I should check up on him or not.“He's not a kid, stop worrying already,” Lex scolded me. The treacherous animal was angry with me for reasons best known to her.That was all she could do though, get angry. I was her master and she had to remain subject to me.I stood up from the bed, taking one foot after another, carefully so as not to fall as it was dark, and I had put the fire off.I looked at my hand where Shane had kissed me and remembered how I felt. I was terrified and thought I would pass out from the fear, but I didn't
Author's POV:“Never!” Ben screamed, pacing alone in his room. “I would never let Adams remain as the Alpha of this pack. No one, not even Shane, can stop me.He kicked the side of his bed and winced in pain as blood came out of a cut on his flesh.He boiled with so much anger, he could literally explode any minute. A soft knock came on the door, jolting him out of his angry, distressed state.He squinted his eyes and curled his fist, as if to fight with whoever was at the door.“What do you want?” He asked, screaming at the frail figure of the maid before him.“I'm sorry… my Lord, Lord Shane requests your presence at his private chamber,” she said, on the edge of bursting into tears. She shook before him like a mouse about to be devoured by a cat, after being beaten by a heavy downpour of rain.He stared at her with so much hate, one would wonder how she offended him?“To hell with Shane,” he whispered, closing the door abruptly on her face. She yelped in fright and scurried away, n
Author's POV.“Where is this place?” Ben asked, ignoring Augustus' question. “Why did you tie me to the chair? Let me go!”Augustus didn't turn back to look at Ben’s face. He faced the wall and crossed his arms behind his back.“Relax Ben, I wouldn't hurt you. You are more valuable alive to me than dead,” he spoke without mincing words.Ben stared at him, trying to make a meaning out of his words. “What do you want, Augustus?” His face neither brightened up nor looked sad. Rather, it had a frown on it.“I want to help you, Ben, I know what it is that you desire.” He turned back and for the first time, Ben saw his face.Not everyone knew him physically as he was always in a mask, to maintain his mysterious profile.He had a scar on t
Adams' POVMorning came with gloomy weather as the rain fell non-stop.Lilith was still asleep when I woke up. After taking my bath and getting dressed for the day's activity, I kissed her on the lips as she slept, before stepping out.Last night, while my brothers and I were at the meeting, I noticed her presence, long before she even got to the door and peeked.I smelt her scent from far away and looked at the faces of others to know if they also did, but found nothing to indicate such in their countenances.Ever since the gift of the ancient Lycans, as my brother called it, was activated, I have been able to detect sounds and scents far away.I looked at the door when she was there, because I knew someone might see her. Fortunately, she hid and was quick enough to get out before Ben caught her.Even though she was the Luna of the pack, there were things which we expected from her. Things like being responsible, obedient and able to satisfy her Alpha.Failure to do these things cou
Author's POV“If you put it that way, then there's no use denying it,” Augustus said, pacing around the room.“B…but how? How did you do it?” Ben asked, excited. Augustus was surprised by his reaction. He expected him to be curious but in an annoying way. “Why are you so excited? Shouldn't you be scolding me or scrutinizing me for what I did?”“What? Why should I do that?” Ben replied, smiling like he had stumbled upon a pile of gold.“I don't know… he may have been your friend or your father's friend,” Augustus replied.“Nah… I'm cool with it. I could learn a trick or two from you, you know?” Ben winked, impressed by what Augustus had done in the past.Augustus smiled to himself, shielding his face away from Ben. He was happy with how pleased Ben was and couldn't wait to hear his plan for his request.His face changed from the self-satisfied one he had, to the serious one he wanted Ben to see. “Come off it already. What do you want us to do, to get your brother out of the way? What
Adams' POVOnly the goddess could explain how he got in, because I was sure the room was empty.I was speechless and dumbfounded at the same time. He was angry, and I knew it. I wondered what I should say to him, how he would react. I was an Alpha and this kind of behavior was least expected of me.Even if I had suspicions about a person, there were ways to go about it.“Ben, I… I…” the words just didn't make sense and I gave up eventually, waiting for whatever would happen next.He stood up and began to walk towards me, his movements precise and calculated. Since we were kids, I had never feared Ben. But for some awkward reasons, I had every reason to be scared of him now, since I was the one who trespassed.I suddenly felt like a little mouse, about to be eaten by a frustrated cat. My legs shook like a leaf under me despite that I was boldly standing before him.“Adams, what are…”“My king,” Ronan called from outside the room, cutting him short. “I have been waiting for you.”I coul
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