Rayne's POVMy mouth tasted like ash and sand. It didn't feel good. As I opened my eyes, a sharp throbbing headache started, causing me to squint and groan softly. I touched my head, cradling it gently. The pains continued, making it hard for me to even focus on a single thought.When I looked around my surroundings, I realized one thing very quickly. This wasn't my room. In haste, I rushed to pull myself into a sitting position and realized that my hands were bound together by some kind of leather belt. The harsh material dug into my flesh painfully making the skin there red and sore. I tried to move, but I saw that my feet were suffering from the same treatment as well.A lump formed in my throat as I remembered the last few minutes I had spent awake in my home before waking up in a dingy shack with little ventilation and light. I told myself to not panic, but the more I remained on the squishy foam I sat on, the more annoyed I got about everything. The peeling walls disgusted me,
Rayne's POV“You're insane. And you always have been,” I spat viciously. “You can try as hard as you want to, but you will always remain so; a broken, crazy doll—”She backhanded me across the face so savagely that I almost fell backwards on the bed since I had nothing to support me sitting upright. Her nostrils were flared as she glared at me, and her chest went up and down forcefully with anger.I spat out the blood that pooled in my mouth, but still smiled at her. “Does the truth hurt?”She clutched the sides of her dress with shaking hands. It was obvious that she wanted nothing more than to wrap them around my neck and squeeze my flesh until I could no longer speak or breathe, and turned blue from lack of air.“Were you the one who asked Celine to capture me?” “Celine brought you here because she suspected that you were a werewolf.” She pulled Celine to her by the hand, a gesture too affectionate for someone like Savannah. I had never seen her being so gentle with anyone. “Unlik
Rayne's POVTick. Tock. The clock on the far corner of the wall had been making noises that were certainly meant to drive me insane. The headache from before returned, and I massaged my temples to get rid of the pain. Savannah had left the room as well at some point, muttering something about Celine taking too long to get the things she planned on getting. Which meant that once again, I was alone with nothing but my thoughts.My anxiety had long since vanished, but I still needed my brain working intact so I could at least come up with a plan. This wasn't the way I was going to die, and I wouldn't just sit back and let Savannah get away with all her crimes.I wasn't sure if it was because they underestimated my strength, or thought that I would be killed off quickly, but I realized that the leather binds on my wrists and ankles weren't the best kind of restraints for a werewolf. Sure, they were incredibly tight and thick, but if I was intentional about it, I could get them torn by bi
Rayne's POVThere was a popular saying about what happens to a person when death is close. Something about the person getting to see their entire life flash before their eyes, showing them everything that they had done right—and wrong, up until that very moment that their hearts stopped beating.I didn't like to recall the memory, but that time when I had been close to death because my healing factor was failing, I didn't see anything at all. I couldn't feel, and I couldn't hear. In fact, it was like I was lost in a vacuum, just floating like a lone leaf amidst powerful winds. And when the darkness passed, I was back in the present, but without the child I had been nurturing.I made it to the exit of the building without coming across anyone else, fortunately for them. I managed to pick up one or two things along the way, items that revealed deeper clues as to what Savannah's plan really was. I didn't know if she was hiding, or if she had left the building all together, because she w
Savannah's POVHer life, as they said, had been predestined right from the moment she was formed in her mother's womb. Everything had been in place to receive her once she was brought into the world. Her parents were Gammas, a long-standing generation of werewolves that usually produced advisors to the Alphas of a pack.Indeed, once she was born, everyone knew that she would be trained by the best scholars, until she became one herself. Next, she would be officiated as an Advisor versed in the art of war and peace negotiations, and together with the Alpha, they would bring prosperity upon the pack.Maybe that was why she had been drawn to a certain Alpha right from the moment she met him. Maybe because it was fate that she be tied to an Alpha for most of her lifetime. Maybe it was what was written in the stars for her, and nothing and no one could have changed it, no matter what happened.Unfortunately, on the night of her twelfth birthday, Mysticrock suffered one of the worst rogue a
Rayne's POVKaiden didn't take the news of Savannah's return lightly. He had been on the phone for hours, cursing out his human contacts he had trusted to keep an eye on Savannah during her exile. No matter how deeply he probed, all of them kept saying that they didn't know how she broke free of her surveillance. The person that had been assigned to her was nowhere to be found, and was presumed to be either dead or missing.I took a seat beside Bradford, putting my head inside my hands. “Goddess, this is all so messed up.” I took a look at my bloody nails, and internally cringed. I had to take a hot, warm shower.His first cup of coffee had long since finished, and he had brewed himself another. This one was steaming hot as well, but he drank it as though it meant nothing. “How's Sal?” I asked him. It was difficult to look at him and not remember my friend back in Mysticrock, especially since she was the one helping me babysit my children. A frank nod. “She's fine. Keep asking about
Rayne's POVWe could only stare, shocked right down to our bones after Jacob's announcement. A raid? For werewolves? How exactly did they plan on carrying it out? And why did they choose a course of action so drastic? “What? Why?” I asked, stepping forward to stand by Kaiden's side. Doing so gave me a little bit more strength because he didn't seem too shocked by the news.He glanced at me and took my hand, rubbing his thumb over my knuckles. ‘Everything will be alright,’ he told me through our mental bond.“Apparently things have heated up in some parts of the city. Not too long ago another dead human was found in an alleyway beside a bar,” said Jacob, running a hand through his hair. The dark strands fell back into place, like he hadn't just run a hand through them. “How long ago?” Bradford joined in the conversation, still seated. Once again, he had finished his cup of coffee. There was no telling if he would go and make another.“Last night. This one was even more gruesome than
Rayne's POVEven looking outside now took a lot of energy and boldness. Two days went past, and we were still unable to find a solution to the problem at hand. Savannah was still out there, and the violence between humans and werewolves kept getting stronger every minute. It had gotten to the point where people had started to protest against werewolves, carrying about big signs with ‘Down with the beasts’ written on them. It was difficult to watch, even on the news. Whenever the newscaster showed his face, he always looked like it took him all the energy in the world to even sit down and speak. I could imagine the mental stress it took to literally be a bearer of bad news, measuring the numbers of the unsatisfied citizens on the street, getting injured for the cause they held dear.Frustrated, I finally turned off the television and threw the remote to a far corner of the room. Kaiden looked at me with an eyebrow raised, but said nothing.“If they only knew the mistake they're making
Author’s POVYears had passed since the great war that signaled the end of an era for the Mysticrock pack and its allies. That singular moment that had seemed miniscule in the eyes of many ended up being a memorable turning point in the treaty between humans and werewolves all over the world. The scars of the terrible times had healed, though the memories of struggle and loss remained etched in the hearts of those who survived. Life, however, had a way of moving forward, and in the years since Dr. Cedric’s imprisonment, the werewolf community had continued to thrive. Mysticrock pack had expanded even further since Rayne’s rescue of the imprisoned werewolves. Many of them chose to remain in service to her, preferring to stay within reach of the Lycan Queen, than even in their own home packs. The pack now stretched across more miles of dense forest, now basking in the warmth of the afternoon sun. The land had increased in vibrancy, and anyone who saw it wouldn’t have been able to tell
Rayne's POVKaiden.I smiled at the thought of him, my heart swelling with warmth. He had been there all along, quietly watching, waiting, and never pushing. Even when I had been mated to an Alpha, our fates intertwined in ways I hadn’t understood. Kaiden had been my constant, my true north, even when I didn’t realize it. And now, here we were, fated to be together, just as it was always meant to be. Even the years apart did nothing to dampen the flames of our passion. Many times, thinking about him was what kept me moving during the most terrible of days—the hope that eventually, once I got free, I would be back by his side, where I was truly meant to be. The place where I truly belonged.A soft rustle of leaves pulled me from my thoughts, and I opened my eyes to see Sal approaching. Her twin daughters, Ivy and Isla, followed closely behind, their identical faces full of curiosity and energy. Seeing them filled me with a burst of joy, because I could still vividly remember when she a
RAYNE'S POVIt’s strange when I look back at everything now. All that chaos, the pain, the heartbreak—it all seems like a lifetime ago, though it’s only been months since my world changed for the better once again. I sat at the edge of the pack grounds, watching the late afternoon sun stretch its golden light across the treetops. A soft breeze played with the locks of my hair, pushing the strands against my face in a tickling manner. The wind carried the familiar scent of pine and earth, but it also brought memories, tugging at my mind until I could no longer push them aside.Eighteen years. That’s how long I had been trapped, held captive by Dr. Cedric, who cared for nothing else but his own twisted ideals—only what my blood could do for him. I used to wonder how I survived all those years, locked away, forgotten by the world I had once known, and separated from my family. The nights that I had screamed myself to sleep because I couldn’t stand the silence of those human-sized pods o
Kairen's POVI couldn’t help but let out a little surprised laugh as he took my hand and led me away from the crowd. Roman, who was talking to a group of his classmates, momentarily paised to give us a knowing look as we passed, but he didn’t say anything. He simply gave a small wave before turning back to the group of friends he was with. Todd didn’t say much as we walked, his hand warm and steady in mine as we made our way through the campus and out into the surrounding woods. It wasn’t until we reached the all too familiar clearing—the place where we had first crossed paths—that I realized where he was taking me.The memories flooded back the moment we stepped into the familiar space. The trees were just as tall, their branches swaying gently in the wind, and the soft sound of the nearby stream filled the air. It was peaceful here, just like it had been that day so long ago, when our lives had first intertwined. Who would have ever thought that I would have fallen in love with a g
Kairen's POVMonths had passed since the chaos surrounding Dr. Cedric had finally come to a fruitful demise. Life had slowly begun to find its beat once again, though the scars of what we’d been through still lingered in small, subtle ways. The pack had recovered from most of the damage done in those crucial 18 years, the tension, fear and anxiety giving way to a renewed sense of strength and hope. But more than anything, the peace allowed us to move forward—each of us in our own way.Today, we were gathered for something far different than the clashing of claws and roaring. The university campus buzzed with excitement and celebration as students in their robes moved through the courtyard, their faces lit up with the glow of glorious achievement. They were celebrating the years they had gone through the halls of this school, studying to become people of influence in the nearest future. Todd and Roman were among them, their final year completed, and now they were finally graduating. T
Kairen's POVI stood next to Todd, the silence between us heavy with everything left unsaid. His face was drawn, shadows clinging beneath his eyes, and I wondered how much longer he could keep this up—this weight he carried, the war within him.“Todd...” I began, unsure of what to say. What could I say? His father was a monster, and though I had known Dr. Cedric’s cruelty, I couldn’t pretend to understand what it meant to Todd. It wasn’t just about stopping a villain; it was personal, wrapped in all the twisted layers of family, duty, and a lot of shame.He probably didn't feel like he was supposed to be by my side.Todd shook his head, as if to stop me from saying whatever was on my mind. “Don’t, Kairen,” he said softly, his voice hoarse. “Don’t say anything. You don't have to try to make me feel better about this.”I hesitated, but I couldn’t let it go. “It’s not your fault,” I said, my words firmer than I felt. “It's not your fault at all.”His lips twitched, but it was far from a
Kairen's POVThe air I breathed in that evening remained thick with dampness, and the stench of blood and fear still lingered, though the fighting had long since ended. Even though the manor was now pristine and devoid of any evidence of the terrible fight that occurred, the memories still lingered in my brain, and I didn't think that anything would have been able to change that anytime soon. Todd had been quiet for most of the evening, focused on freeing the last of the prisoners trapped in the underground cells beneath the manor. Mom had said that even though she had managed to rescue some of them, she had the feeling that there were more of our kind still stuck in the manor—but she couldn't find out where for some reason.Todd had volunteered to go in search of the other prisoners and I had decided to go along with him for two reasons. One, I actually wanted to get some alone time with him and iron out some loose ends concerning his father's imprisonment. I could tell that he wasn
Kairen's POV“Your mother's healing capabilities is probably the major reason she was kept here,” said Dad. “I suspected that one of you might have inherited her abilities, but I didn't know who would.”By this time, Roman's wound had already healed halfway, and color had started to seep back into his face. He hadn't spoken yet, but the look on his face was one of pure relief.I didn't even know what to feel at that point. I had gone from shocked, to grieved, and back to shocked. All I could do was watch him, knowing fully well that I was completely dumbfounded to say or do anything else until I was sure of what was happening.“I guess Roman took my healing, and you,” Mom turned to me, smiling for the first time since she saw her son's supposedly dead body, “and you took my gift of sight.”“Sight?” I asked quietly, pressing a shaking hand to my chest. “What do you mean by sight?”“It's what we call being able to see beyond the physical. I discovered mine late, but my mom was supposedl
Kairen's POVTo my surprise, Dad only walked over to me and ran his hand through my hair. “My daughter has found a mate. Which I find to be a very wonderful thing. She is an excellent judge of character, so I have no doubt that she wouldn't have picked this young man if she didn't see him as worthy.”The man who had spoken up earlier frowned, his face showing disgust. “You would allow your child to be with the son of the one who had tormented your kind? The one who even kept your own mate away from you?” The man's eyes trembled as he stared at Dad. As long as Dad remained the Lycan King, no one actually had the guts to be disrespectful towards him.“I would allow my child the freedom to choose.”The man sneered. “And that is why we all decided that you weren't the best choice to lead us as a society any longer. The years must have changed you . . . Made you more of a spineless diplomat than the warrior you showed us years ago when you were going after this position.”Dad didn't respo