Phoebe's POV
When I got back home, Uncle was sitting by the counter, going over his old notebook. It was filled with his notes about stock and finances for the cafeteria. He looked up when I entered, his eyes going to the red stain on my arm that'd appeared there from Nathaniel's strong grip earlier.
“What happened, Phoebe?” he asked, concern lacing his tone.
I tried to sound casual. “I got hurt while training. It’s no big deal. It’ll heal soon.”
Uncle didn’t look convinced. He got up and walked closer, his brow furrowed deeply.
“You shouldn’t push yourself too hard. Training isn’t worth getting injured like this.”
“I’m fine,” I said quickly, trying to brush it off. “Really.”
He stared at me for a long moment, then sighed. “You’ve always been stubborn,” he muttered.
I hesitated before speaking again. “Uncle, please let me pay rent. I’m staying here, eating your food, and working in your cafeteria. It’s only fair.”
He shook his head firmly. “I told you before. I can’t take your rent. I’ve already failed your father. I didn’t stand with him. The least I can do now is look after you.”
His voice was filled with regret, and I could see the pain in his eyes. I wanted to argue, but I knew it would only hurt him more. So, I let it go.
Later that day, my editor called. His voice was rushed and a little anxious. “Phoebe, we have a situation,” he said. “The company announced a fan meeting for you.”
“What?” I said, shocked. “You know I don’t show up for events. That was part of my contract.”
“I know,” he replied quickly, “but I didn’t know they’d do this. It’s already been announced. They want you there.”
“No,” I said firmly. “Tell them I’m sick. Make up something. You know I can’t attend.”
I wrote my books under a pen name that was a reverse of the name I used in the past. Some stories were inspired by my own life, even with characters based on Nathaniel and Duncan. If Nathaniel or anyone else recognized the connections, it would ruin everything.
“I’ll try,” my editor said hesitantly, “but it seems like this time, they’re insisting.”
That evening, I was cleaning up the cafeteria, ready to close for the night, when I heard the loud roar of a car engine outside. I looked up and saw a sleek, black car pulling into the parking lot. It stopped right in front of the entrance.
Nathaniel stepped out of the car, the twilight sky behind him making his silhouette even more striking. His sharp jawline, piercing eyes and the fitted shirt he wore clung to his broad shoulders and muscular chest, highlighting every defined line. His powerful arms flexed slightly as he adjusted his jacket, and his confident stride made him impossible to ignore. My heart skipped a beat, even though I told myself not to care.
He walked in, looking around like he owned the place. Then he sat down at one of the tables and looked straight at me.
“I’d like some pizza,” he said casually, his voice deep and smooth.
“We’re closing soon,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. “The pizza’s sold out.”
“Should I come back tomorrow, then?” he asked, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
I hesitated. “I saved some for myself,” I admitted reluctantly. “I can warm it up for you.”
As I went to get the pizza, my wolf teased me. “An Alpha like Nathaniel eating leftover pizza? Now, that’s something.”
Before I could respond, Mark stormed in through the back door. “Get me something to eat!” he shouted, his tone as rude as ever.
But then he spotted Nathaniel. His face paled, and his gaze dropped to the ground. He clutched his arm and took a step back.
“Never mind,” he muttered. “I’m not hungry.” Then he turned and left.
I blinked, surprised. My cousin hadn’t given me any trouble for the past two days, and now he was backing down so easily.
I warmed up the pizza and brought it to Nathaniel. As I turned to leave, he stopped me.
“I need to tell you something,” he said, his tone serious.
I turned back to face him. “What is it?”
“The Alpha has arranged for me to have a mating ceremony,” he said, watching my reaction closely. “With another Alpha’s daughter.”
My stomach twisted, but I kept my expression neutral. So this was it. He wanted to reject me before officially announcing his chosen mate. Memories of Duncan rejecting me for a political marriage flashed through my mind, but I refused to let the pain show.
“I’ll be there on time,” I said calmly, forcing a small smile.
It didn't feel so great to try to smile, but I did.
*****
The day of the ceremony came, and I stood among the crowd, bracing myself for what was to come. The stage was set, and Nathaniel stood at the center, looking as composed and confident as ever. His family sat nearby, along with the other Alpha and his daughter.
Nathaniel began speaking.
“Our packs have supported each other for years,” he said, his voice steady and commanding. “Today, we take that bond further. I announce that our two packs will sign a Mutual Assistance Treaty. From now on, if one pack is attacked, the other will come to its aid unconditionally.”
This is different from what he told me before. But I wasn't the only one surprised.
Moonfury’s Alpha looked surprised but pleased. Nathaniel’s father, however, seemed caught off guard, still he smiled and nodded.
Nathaniel continued, “In addition to that, there's one more announcement I'd like to make.”
Mia Moonfury’s Alpha’s daughter stood, smiling confidently, ready to step onto the stage.
I clenched my fists, ready for the pain of rejection. But then Nathaniel’s next words stunned me.
“Phoebe.”
The crowd gasped, and I felt every eye turn toward me.
Nathaniel extended his hand toward me, waiting.”Come here”
The other alpha looked furious, but he didn’t dare say anything, especially after Nathaniel had announced the mutual protection contract.
Nathaniel’s father seemed shocked at first, but he quickly masked it. Leading by example, he began to clap. The rest of the crowd followed, their cheers filling the air.
I took a deep breath and stepped forward. My heart pounded in my chest as I walked toward Nathaniel.
Nathaniel's POV The whip cracked against my back, and I clenched my teeth to keep from making a sound. My father, Alpha of one of the strongest packs in the region, stood before me, fury radiating from him. This wasn’t the first time I’d been on the receiving end of his anger, but it didn’t make it any easier.“How dare you make such a decision without consulting me?” he barked, his voice echoing in his study. I didn't speak until he was done venting his angerWhen the punishment was done, he tossed the whip aside and crossed his arms. “Stand up and explain yourself.”I pushed myself to my feet, my back throbbing with each movement. My father’s eyes bored into mine, demanding an answer. “I did it because it was the best decision for the pack,” I began, keeping my voice steady. “Father, you’ve been planning to take control of other packs gradually. But with every new territory we gain, management becomes harder. There have already been signs that our resources are stretched too thin
Nathaniel's POVI walked into the pack house, Phoebe was sitting on the couch, staring out the window. Her hair caught the light, and she looked peaceful. I hadn’t expected her to be here or to have her wait here for me, but seeing her there made me stop for a moment."Phoebe... how're you doing?” I asked, stepping closer. "Looks like I’m okay,” she said with a shrug.Before I could respond, she cut me off, her words sharp and to the point. “What is this all about, Nathaniel?” Her tone wasn’t just questioning—it was desperate, demanding.I stopped in my tracks, raising one eyebrow in question and she rolled her eyes. I knew she meant the mating ceremony. I didn’t want to talk about it. Admitting I had planned to mate with someone else would only make things worse. So I kept my face calm and walked closer to her. “What do you mean?” I asked, She scoffed, “Don’t play dumb. The mating ceremony. You didn’t plan this, did you? Or were you just waiting for the perfect moment to humilia
Phoebe's POVI woke up feeling like my head was spinning. For a few seconds, I didn’t know where I was. The ceiling above me was unfamiliar, and the bed felt different. Panic crept in as I tried to sit up, but my body felt heavy. Where was I?I closed my eyes and tried to think. Slowly, pieces of the previous day came back to me. Nathaniel. His face. His lips on mine. His arms held me as he guided me… somewhere.Before I could figure it out, there was a knock on the door. I froze, unsure of what to say. A moment later, a maid stepped in, carrying a tray.“Good morning, Miss Phoebe,” she said politely, placing the tray on a small table beside the bed.I rubbed my eyes and pushed myself up. “Why am I here?” I asked, my voice cracking.The maid hesitated, her hands fiddling with the edge of her apron. “You were at the dinner table with the alpha's family last night, Miss,” she said carefully. “Lord Nathaniel brought you here so you could rest.”“You were….um, you had a little too much
Phoebe's POVNathaniel left with his father and two brothers early in the morning. I had watched him mount his horse, his face set in a serious expression. The treaty with the Moonfury pack was important, and the Alpha wanted all his sons to be involved in the negotiations.Nathaniel was leaving me with people who didn't even like me. I took a deep breath.“I’ll be back by evening,” Nathaniel had whispered as he came to stand next to me. .I nodded. “Good luck. I hope the peace treaty lasts.”Before he could leave, Elizabeth stepped forward, arms crossed. “What about our training today in the fields, Nathaniel? You promised to help me today.” He sighed. “Elizabeth, I’ll help you tomorrow. Today is important. We have to leave with father in a matter of minutes.”“You always say that,” she snapped. “But you never follow through. Fine, let Phoebe help me instead.”Nathaniel’s brows furrowed. “No, I—”“It’s settled,” the Alpha interrupted, his deep voice cutting through the conversatio
Nathaniel's POVI returned to the pack house after the meeting at Moonfury pack, and I hoped Elizabeth hadn't given Phoebe a hard time. The warriors guarding the house were tense, whispering among themselves. One of them approached me, his expression grim.“Nathaniel,” he said, his voice low, “there was an attack.”My heart sank. “What happened?”“Rogues,” he said. “They ambushed the group at the training grounds. Elizabeth and Phoebe are missing. The others with them seemed to have escaped together and got back here.”I didn’t wait to hear more. How could the ones I'd left to take care of Phoebe and Elizabeth come back unhurt when the people I'd charged them to protect were missing. Without a word, I shifted into my wolf form and raced toward the training grounds. My brother followed, and soon, other warriors joined us. We raced for the training grounds and for the first time, I caught myself wondering how in the world the training grounds happened to be so far away from the royal
Phoebe's POV I woke up in an unfamiliar bed. The blankets were heavy, wrapping me in warmth, but the scent around me was unmistakable—Nathaniel.Blinking, I sat up slowly. My body ached, and my head felt heavy. Why was I here? The last thing I remembered was the river, the cold water pulling me down, and Nathaniel’s arms around me.The door opened, and he walked in. His shirt was slightly wrinkled, his hair a bit messy, as if he hadn’t slept much.“You’re awake,” he said, stepping closer.I frowned. “Why am I in your room?”“You passed out,” he answered. “I brought you here.”I pushed the blanket off and swung my legs over the side of the bed. My head throbbed badly and I wanted to get back into the warm bed and sleep some more, but I heard myself saying, “I’m fine now. I should go.”His hand was on my shoulder before I could stand. “You’re not going anywhere.”I looked up at him. His expression was unreadable, but there was no mistaking the firmness in his voice.“Nathaniel, I—”“N
Phoebe's POVThe next day, breakfast was quieter than usual. The tension in the dining hall was thick, pressing against me from every side. I sat beside Nathaniel, my back straight, forcing myself to ignore the way Elizabeth’s sharp gaze lingered on me. Across from us, Alexander toyed with the silverware, his expression unreadable.The clinking of plates and soft murmurs of conversation filled the space, but I knew something was coming. It always did with them.Elizabeth, dressed in an elegant dark-blue dress, picked up her teacup and took a slow sip. “It must be quite the adjustment for you, Phoebe,” she mused, setting the cup down with a delicate clink. “Going from… wherever you came from to sitting here among us.”I didn’t reply.Alexander smirked. “It makes you wonder what kind of life she led before this,” he added. “There’s no record of her, is there?”Elizabeth sighed, shaking her head. “Probably spent her days learning how to serve instead of how to lead.” Her lips curled into
Nathaniel's POV My father’s voice left no room for argument. "The mating ceremony must happen soon."This was the kind of Alpha I had always known my father to be. He always had the final say on every issue that was vital to our lives and the development of the pack. He didn't give room for questions. It was on very few occasions that he gave me a chance to tell him what I felt of a particular issue and give my take on it. Most of the time, it turned out that I had a smart idea. But this time, he wasn't about to let me give him one of those smart opinions which will alter his own decision.I sat across from him in his office, my arms resting on the chair’s armrests. He spoke with the authority he had over us. He gave no room for questions. Phoebe stood beside me, silent but tense. I could feel the frustration radiating from her, though she kept her face carefully blank. Once again, I knew the responsibility to speak for both of us was resting solely on my shoulders and that meant I
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
Phoebe’s POVI sat on the edge of the bed with my arms crossed and my legs swinging slightly. The room was quiet, but my thoughts were loud. My eyes stayed on the floor, but inside, I was still hearing the voices from earlier. I could not stop thinking about the way they looked at me when I gave the order. Like I was wrong for speaking.Mia, I called gently in my mind.“I’m here,” she answered quickly. Her voice always made me feel stronger. “You did what you had to do.”I nodded slowly. But they still don’t respect me. I can feel it. They don’t see me as their Luna.“They will,” Mia said. “Respect doesn’t always come fast. But that doesn’t mean you stop doing what is right.”I sighed. It’s hard, Mia. I’m not trying to prove anything. I just want them to stay safe. Why can’t they see that?“They are stubborn,” she said. “And used to old ways. You are not what they expected, and that scares them. But you are stronger than they know.”I let those words sit in my chest for a while. I sto
Phoebe’s POVThe morning sun touched the edge of the windows, but I had been up long before the light came. The air in the Moonhowl Pack house was quiet, almost too quiet. I walked through the hallways slowly, each step light but steady. I had hoped for a message. A letter. Even a messenger. But nothing had come. Not since Nathaniel left.Mia, my wolf, stirred inside me.“He’s taking too long,” she said. “He should have sent something by now.”“I know,” I whispered back, glancing at the door again. “But he’s careful. He doesn’t like to speak too soon.”“Still,” Mia growled softly, “we should know something. I don’t like the quiet.”Neither did I.I walked out into the open yard where the wind picked up a little. The morning drills had started. A group of warriors was lined up at the training grounds, their swords clashing in short bursts, their feet moving in practiced rhythm. I stood to the side at first, watching them spar. Some of them noticed me and gave short nods. Others barely