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
Chapter 21Nathaniel's POVI felt the morning hit my face as I stood on the balcony of the packhouse, looking down at the warriors training below. The clearing was alive with movement—wolves sparring in pairs, bodies clashing, the sharp sound of punches landing, the occasional bark of an order. Every motion was disciplined, powerful. The pack was growing stronger. I had made sure of that.But not everyone welcomed my leadership. I had been prepared to not be accepted by everyone. My father had always talked about the fact that leaders will not always be accepted by everyone under them and I'd come to understand that.My gaze settled on Alexander. He was in the middle of the field, shirtless, muscles taut as he demonstrated a series of strikes. The warriors surrounding him watched closely, their admiration clear. He had always been the strongest, the fastest, the one they used to look up to. It didn’t matter that I was Alpha now, he still liked to think that he was the alpha. There wer
Duncan’s POVThe tension in the Glassfur Pack’s court was suffocating. Warriors stood at the edges of the hall, their hands close to their weapons, though no fight had broken out—yet. Pack elders sat in their designated seats, whispering among themselves, their faces tight with concern.I strode through the large wooden doors, my boots striking against the stone floor with steady force. The murmurs grew softer as I walked toward my seat at the head of the table. The council had been waiting for me.At the far end of the table, Antonio stood with his arms crossed, impatience written all over his face. He had been pushing for this meeting, eager to lecture me, eager to question my decisions.I wasn’t in the mood.I dropped into my chair, stretching my arms over the sides of the wooden frame. “Well?” I said lazily. “Let’s hear it.”Antonio didn’t sit. Instead, he planted his hands firmly on the table, leaning forward as if he needed to push his words directly into my skull. “We’ve lost s
Nathaniel’s POVFrom where I stood, I could see them.Kara was near the training grounds again, her eyes following Phoebe as she moved. It had been the same for days. She wasn’t aggressive, wasn’t trying to force her way into conversations, but she was always there. Watching. Speaking when she had the chance.Phoebe, on the other hand, paid her little attention. She was focused on her training, her responsibilities, and everything else that mattered. But even if she didn’t care, I did.I wasn’t sure what Kara wanted.She is trying to get close to her, my wolf rumbled in my mind.Obviously, I replied, keeping my gaze locked on the two women. But why?Maybe she admires her. Maybe she is studying her.I considered that. Kara had been a warrior under Alexander, and now she was here, insisting she had abandoned him. But I didn’t believe things like that happened so easily. People did not just switch sides, especially not after fighting for a cause.I kept watching as Phoebe finished her sp
Phoebe’s POVKara had been in captivity for days, locked away in one of the guarded rooms in the pack house. She had provided no useful information about Alexander, and I still didn’t trust her. But for reasons I didn’t understand, Nathaniel decided to grant her limited freedom under strict supervision.I heard about it before I saw it. The warriors had been talking—muttering about how she was now allowed to move around, though always under the watch of at least two guards. Some thought it was a mistake, others were curious. I didn’t care. As far as I was concerned, she was still the enemy.When I finally saw her outside, it was during training.I was in the middle of a sparring session with a young warrior named Doran when I caught movement at the edge of the training grounds. Kara stood there, hands clasped behind her back, two warriors flanking her like shadows. She wasn’t trying to hide. She watched openly, her sharp gaze locked onto me as if I was the only one here.I ignored her
Nathaniel’s POVI was in my office, reviewing reports from my warriors, ensuring everything in the pack remained stable. A few border patrols had spotted unfamiliar wolves in the past week, but nothing suggested an immediate threat. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was shifting, something I needed to be prepared for.Just as I set one of the reports aside, a sharp knock sounded at the door.“Enter,” I called.A warrior stepped in, his breathing heavy as if he had rushed here. His expression was tense, eyes sharp with urgency.“Alpha,” he said, standing straight, “a woman has arrived at the gates. She claims she used to be one of Alexander’s warriors.”I stilled at his words. That was unexpected. No one willingly left Alexander’s ranks unless they were cast out, and even then, it was rare for them to show their faces anywhere near rival territory.“Who is she?” I asked.“She said her name is Kara,” the guard replied. “She wants to speak to you directly.”I leaned back
Nathaniel’s POVThe royal pack house had been quiet these past few days. The usual hum of activity still filled the halls, but my focus had remained on one thing—Phoebe and the way she had cared for her uncle.I had watched from a distance, observing how tirelessly she worked to make sure he was comfortable. The helps assigned to her didn't seem to do things to her satisfaction so she simply did things by herself and that made it hard for her to get any help. But she seemed okay doin these things. She wasn't tired and this was a show that when she loved, she loved deeply. She'd stayed with this uncle and loved him, and worked at his shop and yet, her cousin, Mark had treated her wrongly. Now that he was away and she was the only one left to take care of the man, she didn't mind whatever mistreatment she'd faced in the hands of her cousin, Mark. She was selfless and that was just beautiful.“She doesn't say much, she doesn't make promises, but she would stick up for those she loves if
Nathaniel’s POVI didn't like that Phoebe wasn't anywhere close to me. I was stuck in the office attending to paperwork and she was out there. Without me. It didn't matter how much she had proven to me that she could handle herself, I needed to be close to her and make sure she was safe. At all times. This was not the time to let my mate go off and I'd sit back at the office. I ran my hands through my hair. My frustration at everything was growing by the moment and I couldn't even hate myself for it. It had only been a few hours, but the absence of her presence weighed heavily on me. The pack felt different—quieter in a way I didn’t like. I tried to focus on my duties, reading through reports and handling pack matters, but my mind kept drifting back to her.She had been so determined, so sure of her decision to leave. No matter how much I argued, she refused to stay. She had made up her mind, and that was that.I sat in my office, leaning back in my chair as I clenched my jaw.She sh
Phoebe’s POVThe journey to my uncle’s home felt long, and it was quiet for the most part. My mind would not stay at peace. There was a part of me that was mad that I hadn't taken him earlier. But then, with the attacks that had faced the pack house in recent times, maybe it wouldn't have been a good idea. Still, I wished I'd done something earlier. The warriors Nathaniel had sent with me rode in formation, keeping a watchful eye on our surroundings. I barely spoke the entire way, my thoughts consumed by worry.When we finally arrived, I stopped in front of the house, gripping the reins of my horse tightly. My stomach twisted at the sight before me. The house, once well-kept and warm, looked abandoned. The wooden porch was covered in dirt and dried leaves, the windows clouded with dust. The grass around the home was overgrown, and the front door looked like it hadn’t been opened in weeks.Sliding off my horse, I approached the house, hesitating for just a second before pushing the doo
Nathaniel’s POVI was focused on the reports in front of me, going over the ones I'd seen before and trying to get myself to fully focus again. Sean was very conscious in my mind. He shared my distress and I couldn't keep my troubles away from him even if I wanted to. He was my one true friend, the one in always in my mind who understood the problem before I shared it. “The attacks might not come anytime soon. Better to pay attention to the things you have to do now. These won't wait until you're in the mood to do them.”I sighed. That was correct. I had to do my administrative duty as alpha, it didn't matter if I was in the mood for it or not. That is why it was duty. Just then, a knock sounded on the door.Without looking up, I exhaled sharply and rubbed my temples. “Come in.”The door opened, and the moment I caught Phoebe’s scent, I knew this wasn’t just another routine visit. She stepped inside, closing the door behind her, her posture tense. I placed the reports down and gave
Nathaniel’s POVA week had passed since the letter arrived, and the pack had not relaxed for a moment. Every wolf knew what was at stake. The attack had nearly cost us everything, and Alexander’s message had made it clear—something worse was coming.We strengthened our borders, reinforced our watchtowers, and doubled the patrols. Every available warrior trained harder than ever. Some even trained past exhaustion, determined to be prepared. Even the civilians were more cautious, moving in groups and keeping their children close. Fear lingered in the air, thick like an approaching storm.Phoebe and I spent hours on the training grounds, pushing ourselves beyond our limits. She was relentless, her strikes sharp and precise. I could see the exhaustion creeping into her, but she never complained. She was more useful than everyone else I had come to know in battle for the past few years. Now I was beginning to understand that aside once being mated to alpha Duncan, she had been an asset wh