Nathaniel's POVThe night was quiet. A soft breeze moved through the trees, rustling the leaves above the garden. I had been inside the pack house, speaking with my father about security, when a strange unease settled in my chest. Something wasn’t right.“We will have the borders strengthened and we'll speak with a few other security officers in the pack so we can know the measures to take for our security….” I heard my father saying, but I wasn't paying full attention to what he was saying. He looked up at me as I got off the chair I was sitting and walked to the window.“We won't be taking chances here.. we've never been attacked and it won't ever happen. That's because we don't even give our enemies a chance to infiltrate our pack. We must keep it that way,” he said.I didn't say anything, but when I turned around and saw that his eyes were on me, I nodded. He was right and I understood what he was saying, but I wasn't exactly paying full attention.“You know, as the next Alpha of
Nathaniel's POVPhoebe hadn’t spoken since Duncan left.She walked ahead of me, her arms crossed, her steps quick and tense. Her shoulders were stiff, and I knew she was trying to avoid this conversation.Too bad.“Let's leave her alone for the meantime, maybe that's what she wants,” my wolf muttered within me. I rejected the idea before it fully made sense to me. I shook my head. She had quickened her pace now and I was still following her, my strides were longer but I didn't want to overtake her.“We don't have to leave her alone simply because she wants to be left alone. There are things that must be dealt with whether or not we want to deal with them.” My voice was almost a hush. Too low for her to hear, but she turned around once and our eyes met briefly. She didn't stop walking.Whatever she'd heard, she didn't want to make it sound like it was any business of hers.Duncan had been in my pack and no matter how hard I wanted to ignore that and act like it hadn't happened, I could
Nathaniel’s POVThe attack came without warning. No one would have guessed that an attack was on its way to the pack. It had never happened in that fashion. Only days back, my father had been talking about the security of the pack and the measures that were to be taken to ensure the pack was constantly safe and at peace as it had always been.One moment, the pack house was peaceful. The next, an alarm howled through the air.I got off my chair in a moment of alarmed surprise. I bolted outside, my wolf thrumming beneath my skin as warriors rushed to their positions. The guards were shouting commands at each other and the pack house moved from a safe haven to a place that was only full of confusion for the next few minutes. And then I got the information of what was going on in the pack house. Rogues. At least twenty of them, maybe more, had entered the pack lands and were now about to wreak havoc on the pack. My wolf was already in action, this was something I couldn't hold back on.
Nathaniel's POVThe tension in the pack house had grown thick, lingering in the air like an approaching storm. The warriors had seen too much. The elders had seen too much. And I had seen too much.Phoebe wasn’t just a fighter—she was something else entirely. The way she had commanded warriors, moved with precision, and taken down an elite rogue as if it was nothing… It wasn’t something she had learned overnight. I knew this and I also knew that if I tried to press her to give me answers to the question I had in my head, she would shy away.Perhaps, she had not intended to be on the spotlight, but then, for fighting so gallantly, she could not also be ignored. She had been seen by everyone and the reactions were similar.And now, everyone wanted answers.I strode through the halls, my mind racing with questions I didn’t want to ask but couldn’t ignore. The whispers followed me, pack members murmuring about what they had witnessed. I caught words like unnatural, dangerous, and who is s
Nathaniel's POVThe old records lay scattered across my desk, the worn edges curling from time. I wasn’t sure what I had been looking for at first—some explanation, some answer to the nagging feeling that wouldn’t leave me alone.Phoebe had secrets. That much had always been clear. But now, staring at the name in the report, my hands clenched into fists. She didn't care to let me in on her life and how things were going in her life. She didn't care about the opinions of her I had. It didn't matter how many times I told her that she was mine and would always be mine, she was set in her own ways and she didn't cease to let me see just how strong-willed she was.I stared at the name again, my hands running through the pages again.Alec.A name whispered in war stories. A name feared among packs. A name I had once thought belonged to a ruthless strategist, a ghost of battle.Yet here, in these reports, was the truth.Alec was Phoebe. Or was this simply what I had led myself to believe? W
Phoebe's POVThe grand hall shimmered with golden lights, the air thick with the scent of flowers and burning candles. Wolves from every part of the pack had gathered, their eyes fixed on Nathaniel and me as we stood before the elders. The ceremony was about to begin.I stood beside him, hands clenched at my sides. The dress they had given me felt too heavy, the weight of expectations pressing down. This wasn’t how I imagined it. This wasn’t my choice.Nathaniel’s voice cut through the silence. “We stand here today to honor the bond—”The doors burst open.The scent of blood hit first. Then the screams.The room erupted into chaos as warriors poured in, their fangs bared, their claws slicing through anything in their way.I spun just as a wolf lunged toward me. I ducked, slamming my elbow into his ribs before grabbing a fallen sword from the ground. Nathaniel’s growl echoed through the hall as he charged into battle, his wolf bursting free.I had no time to think. No time to breathe.
Phoebe's POVThe night air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. The wind whispered through the trees, rustling the leaves as I stood frozen near the riverbank. The moon cast a pale glow over the water, making it shimmer like silver.Duncan stood a few feet away, his golden eyes locked onto mine, unblinking. His presence was suffocating, his stance tense but unreadable.“We can leave now,” he said, voice low but firm. “Just you and me. No more hiding. No more pretending to be someone you’re not.”I swallowed, my hands curling into fists at my sides. “I’m not pretending.”He exhaled sharply, stepping closer. “Yes, you are. This isn’t you, Phoebe. You don’t belong here.”“I belong where I choose,” I said.His mouth pressed into a thin line. “And you’re choosing him?”The question hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.I didn’t answer right away.His jaw clenched. “You think Nathaniel can protect you? That he can understand you the way I do?” He let out a bitter laugh. “I was
Phoebe’s POVThe journey back to the pack house was quiet, but the silence wasn’t peaceful.Nathaniel’s grip on my wrist hadn’t loosened since we left Duncan’s territory. He didn’t look at me, didn’t speak, but his body was rigid with something heavy and unspoken.The others trailed behind us, giving their Alpha space. They had seen what he had done tonight—how he had torn through Duncan’s warriors like a beast unleashed.And they knew this wasn’t over.Neither did I.My body ached from exhaustion, my mind swirled with too many emotions, but one thing stood above the rest.Nathaniel was angry.Not just at Duncan.At me.By the time we reached the pack house, the weight of the night pressed down on me, and I just wanted to breathe, to be alone, to make sense of everything. But the second the heavy doors shut behind us, Nathaniel yanked me toward him.I barely had time to react before my back hit the cold stone wall.He loomed over me, his breath coming in sharp, controlled exhales. His
Nathaniel's POVThe knock came just after sunrise.This time, I was dressed and waiting. I didn’t sleep much the night before. The guard at my door gave a small nod and said, “It’s time.”I followed him without asking questions. We walked down a different hallway today, one that led away from the main rooms. The floor here was older, the stones uneven and darker than the rest. The air felt heavy.We came to a large wooden door. Two guards opened it as we approached. Cold air blew in at once. I stepped outside and found myself standing in a stone courtyard. The sky above was gray, no sign of sun.High stone walls surrounded the entire space. The walls were rough and worn, but clean. Guards stood at every edge. They held their weapons tight and watched the center of the courtyard.There was a platform in the middle.It was raised a few feet off the ground, with wide wooden steps leading up to it. A long block stood near the center of the platform, shaped for one thing. A heavy axe reste
Nathaniel's POV Someone knocked on my door before the sun came up. I was already awake, sitting by the window, watching the sky shift from dark to gray. I stood and opened the door. A young guard stood outside, eyes fixed ahead.“Alpha Throndsen would like to see you,” he said.“Now?” I asked.“Yes. He said it’s important.”I didn’t ask more. I changed quickly, pulled on my coat, and followed the guard through the cold halls. The stones under our feet were wet with morning frost. The silence between us lasted the entire walk. We moved past the sleeping halls, past the main courtyard, and through a set of tall wooden doors. Two more guards opened them without a word.Inside, Throndsen waited.He stood by the long window at the far end of the room. The light outside was still faint, but it spilled in just enough to show his face. This time, he didn’t wear his usual polite smile. His hands were behind his back, and he didn’t speak right away.The guard left and closed the door behind me
Nathaniel's POV The next morning, I stepped outside the guest quarters. The wind was colder than the day before, and the sky was gray. The ground was hard under my boots, and the cliffs stood far in the distance like stone walls. I walked slowly through the Silver-Coast Pack’s territory, taking in everything. The people I passed did not smile. They did not seem to have any message in their eyes. And even if they did, they didn't seem eager to share it to the alpha who had come to them for want of information. They simply moved in directions that they had business in.Most of them did not even look up. They moved quickly and quietly, as if they were afraid of being watched. Or even caught.The guards stood straight at every corner. Their eyes didn’t move unless I spoke to them first. Even then, they only answered with short words. No one joked. No one laughed. It wasn’t like the Star-Rain Pack, where people tried too hard to impress. Here, everything was quiet. Too quiet.I kept walki
Nathaniel's POVThe road leading to the Silver-Coast Pack was silent. I rode slowly, my eyes fixed on the cliffs in the distance. The wind blew colder here. Even my wolf, Sean, didn’t speak much as we approached the gates. The guards stood in a straight line, quiet and still. Their faces gave nothing away. No movement, no expression. It was like they were made of stone.The gates opened with a heavy sound. No one gave an order, but the guards moved in perfect steps. I stayed on my horse until I saw the man coming toward me. He was tall, his steps slow and steady. He had grey hair at the sides and sharp eyes. I knew right away who he was.“Alpha Throndsen,” I said as I got down from my horse.He didn’t answer at once. He looked at me for a long time, as if he was reading something written on my face.Then he spoke. “Nathaniel. Welcome to Silver-Coast.”His voice was quiet but firm. He nodded to a man beside him, who stepped forward and took the reins of my horse.“Come,” Throndsen said
Phoebe's POV The next day, I sat at my table, flipping through the records again. The papers were old in some places, newer in others. Some had Nathaniel’s handwriting, and others were mine. There were notes on supplies, guard shifts, and patrol reports. I tried to focus on them, but my head ached from reading too much. I leaned back in the chair and rubbed my forehead slowly.The knock on my door came all of a sudden. I didn’t expect anyone.I frowned. “Come in.”The door opened, and Kara stepped inside. Her hair was tied back today. Her clothes looked cleaner than the last time I saw her. She had a strange look on her face—like she had something important to say. I didn’t trust her. I never did.I sighed and didn’t bother to hide my frown. “What do you want, Kara?”“I need to talk to you,” she said. Her tone was calm. “I found out something. I think it’s important. I came to share it with you. It’s for the good of the pack.”I crossed my arms. “Really? You suddenly care about the p
Phoebe's POV The next day, I sat at my table, flipping through the records again. The papers were old in some places, newer in others. Some had Nathaniel’s handwriting, and others were mine. There were notes on supplies, guard shifts, and patrol reports. I tried to focus on them, but my head ached from reading too much. I leaned back in the chair and rubbed my forehead slowly.The knock on my door came all of a sudden. I didn’t expect anyone.I frowned. “Come in.”The door opened, and Kara stepped inside. Her hair was tied back today. Her clothes looked cleaner than the last time I saw her. She had a strange look on her face—like she had something important to say. I didn’t trust her. I never did.I sighed and didn’t bother to hide my frown. “What do you want, Kara?”“I need to talk to you,” she said. Her tone was calm. “I found out something. I think it’s important. I came to share it with you. It’s for the good of the pack.”I crossed my arms. “Really? You suddenly care about the p
Phoebe's POV The next day, I sat at my table, flipping through the records again. The papers were old in some places, newer in others. Some had Nathaniel’s handwriting, and others were mine. There were notes on supplies, guard shifts, and patrol reports. I tried to focus on them, but my head ached from reading too much. I leaned back in the chair and rubbed my forehead slowly.The knock on my door came all of a sudden. I didn’t expect anyone.I frowned. “Come in.”The door opened, and Kara stepped inside. Her hair was tied back today. Her clothes looked cleaner than the last time I saw her. She had a strange look on her face—like she had something important to say. I didn’t trust her. I never did.I sighed and didn’t bother to hide my frown. “What do you want, Kara?”“I need to talk to you,” she said. Her tone was calm. “I found out something. I think it’s important. I came to share it with you. It’s for the good of the pack.”I crossed my arms. “Really? You suddenly care about the p
Phoebe's POV I stood at the edge of the training grounds. The wind was light, and the sounds of fists hitting practice pads, swords clashing, and feet moving over the dirt filled the air. I didn't say anything. I just watched. My arms were crossed over my chest, and my eyes followed the movements of the younger warriors. Some of them were still learning how to hold their balance. Others moved with more skill. I didn’t know if any of them saw me standing there, and I didn’t care if they did.Mia, my wolf, stayed quiet in my head. She was calm, but I knew she was watching too. We both needed this quiet moment. The day had already been long, and it wasn’t even close to night yet.I didn’t want to think about Elizabeth. I didn’t want to think about what Alpha Darius had said. I didn’t want to think about anything at all. I only wanted to be outside, where the air was fresh and the noise wasn’t coming from arguments.But of course, peace never lasted long.I heard footsteps behind me. The
Phoebe's POV Elizabeth walked beside me like we were friends. She didn’t say much, only looked ahead and walked with her usual proud steps. I didn’t say anything either. I kept my hands at my sides and focused on the hallway in front of us. The silence between us was tight, but she acted like there was nothing wrong.“She's mastered the art of pretense,” Mia whispered in my head. I shrugged off the thought because I didn't want to settle on it. True, I've come to learn that despite how much Elizabeth had always disliked me, she tried to make sure she didn't show this when Nathaniel was anywhere close, except for the occasions when it became unbearable and she just had to show how much she didn't like me.I'd made peace with the fact that she was never going to like me and I didn't bother to do much to get her to like me. She made it seem like it was Nathaniel that she really loved while she was siding with Alexander. She was the tricky sister indeed and Nathaniel didn't deserve a si