Chapter 46 Phoebe’s POVNathaniel had been gone for a while, locked in a meeting with Alpha Tommen. He had told me to stay put in our guest suite, but I couldn’t just sit here. The walls of the room felt too tight, like they were closing in on me.Mia tried severally to make me believe it was just my mind playing tricks on me, but I knew that was not the case. There was an ominous feel to the place and I worried even about Nathaniel. He was the one mostly doing the worrying, but this time I couldn't simply not panic for him. I walked to the window and looked out at Moonfury Pack’s territory. It was different from Moonhowl. The packhouse itself was made of strong stone, its towering structure giving it an imposing feel. Warriors moved with discipline, their steps measured, their eyes scanning the surroundings as if constantly expecting trouble.We hadn't come with warriors or even escorts. Nathaniel had wanted to give the impression that we indeed came for peace and would not start
Duncan’s POVThe meeting hall was silent except for the sound of Antonio’s fingers tapping against the wooden table. The steady rhythm was the only noise breaking through the heavy stillness in the room. I sat at the head of the long table, my hands clasped together, staring at the empty seats around me. Every one of those chairs used to be filled with warriors, advisors, and strategists—people I trusted, people who had faith in me as their Alpha. But now, the hall felt hollow. The pack was weaker than ever, and I knew exactly why.It made me wake up at night to mourn our new fate. When I heard of raids and attacks on other packs, my blood ran cold because I feared it could be the Glassfur pack one day. We weren't totally weak, we were still held in high esteem by other packs and we still rode on past glory, but for how long would that go on?“Things are getting worse,” I said finally, my voice steady but sharp. “If we don’t do something now, we won’t have a pack left to fight for.”A
Nathaniel’s POVI pushed open the door to the chambers, my muscles tense from the long meeting. The conversation with Alpha Tommen still weighed on my mind, but I forced myself to shake it off as I stepped inside. Phoebe was already in bed, her back against the headboard, a book resting on her lap. She didn’t look up immediately, but I could tell she was waiting for me to speak.I closed the door behind me, taking slow steps toward the bed. “You’re still awake.”Phoebe turned a page in her book, not looking at me. “Of course. I wanted to hear what happened at the meeting.”From how she held herself, I could tell she was dying to hear everything that went down with Alpha Tommen. And she didn't have to pretend that she was reading that book. Maybe it had helped her stay awake, but she was definitely not reading it. I looked around quickly, wondering where she found the book. No place looked likely to hold the book. My eyes went back to her and then I got closer.I sat on the edge of th
Phoebe's POVNathaniel was gone again.I sat on the bed, staring at the door he had walked through earlier. It had become a routine now. Every morning, he would leave for those endless meetings, and I would be left behind, waiting. The first few two days, I had tried to convince myself that I didn't mind being alone. But the longer I sat here, the more I realized just how isolated I was.I exhaled, pushing myself up. Sitting here wasn’t going to change anything. It only made me feel weak, like a child waiting for answers I already knew wouldn’t be good.I walked over to the window, pressing my fingers against the cool glass. The Moonfury Pack’s estate stretched far beyond what I could see, enclosed by high walls that kept outsiders away. Pack members moved below, their steps precise, their faces unreadable. There was no warmth in this place, only control.Mia, I called in my mind.For a moment, she was silent. Then, her voice came, steady but cautious. “What is it?”“Something feels
Duncan’s POVI sat in the dimly lit hall, fingers drumming against the wooden armrest of my chair, my mind restless. Antonio stood beside me, arms crossed over his chest, his jaw tight with tension.A scout had arrived moments ago, breathless and covered in dust, bringing urgent news—rogues were gathering near our borders. The situation was worse than we had anticipated.I exhaled sharply. "How many?"The scout wiped sweat from his brow. "At least thirty, Alpha. More could be hiding beyond the hills. They’ve been seen moving in small groups, but they are organizing. If we don’t act soon, they’ll strike first."Silence settled heavily in the room.Antonio turned to me, his expression grim. "We can’t afford heavy losses. Our warriors are strong, but we need a real strategy. This isn’t just a random attack—it’s planned."I clenched my jaw. I had been so focused on getting Phoebe back that I hadn’t given enough thought to our defenses. Now, the pack was vulnerable."Have they attacked yet
Nathaniel’s POVThe meeting had dragged on longer than expected. I sat at the long wooden table, arms crossed over my chest, as Alpha Tommen continued talking about alliances. The room was dimly lit, the glow of lanterns casting flickering shadows over the warriors and advisors gathered around.“The Silverclaw Pack has finally pledged their loyalty,” Tommen said, his voice measured. “They hesitated at first, but I convinced their Alpha that our side is the strongest.”I gave a slight nod. Silverclaw had been cautious for weeks, watching and waiting for any sign of weakness. Their support would give Tommen more influence, but it wasn’t enough. There were still packs hesitating, still others that could tip the balance if they made the wrong decision.“And the Darkrun Pack?” one of the advisors asked.Tommen’s expression darkened slightly. “They’re still weighing their options. Alpha Kieran doesn’t trust us fully.”That was a problem. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. “Da
Phoebe’s POVI folded another tunic, smoothing out the fabric before placing it carefully into the wooden trunk at the foot of my bed. The room was silent except for the soft rustling of cloth and the occasional creak of the old floorboards beneath my feet.This wasn’t how things were supposed to go.I reached for my cloak, draping it over my arm, my movements controlled despite the storm brewing inside me. The sooner we left, the better.A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.Shirleen.She stood in the doorway, her expression unreadable. Gone was the polite mask she had worn when we first arrived. There was no forced friendliness now, no need for pretended kindness.This time, she wasn’t pretending.I didn’t speak. I simply waited. If she had something to say, she would say it.Shirleen stepped inside, her steps slow and deliberate, like a predator closing in. “You’re leaving sooner than I expected,” she said, her voice s
Nathaniel's POV The journey back to Moonhowl was quiet. The tension from our last moments in Moonfury still sat heavy on my shoulders. Phoebe rode beside me, silent but alert. I knew she was thinking the same thing I was—something was very wrong.The trees stretched high around us, their branches shifting with the wind. The dirt path was worn from years of travel, but today it felt longer. Every few minutes, I glanced back, making sure we weren’t being followed. The feeling of being watched hadn’t left me since last night.By the time we reached the Moonhowl Pack’s borders, the sun was already sinking. The guards at the entrance recognized us immediately and stepped aside. No questions, no hesitation. But their faces were tense. Word must have already spread that things hadn’t gone as planned with Tommen.Phoebe and I rode through the main path leading to the pack house. Wolves moved about, some stopping to look at us before continuing on their way. There was no cheerfulness, no reli
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