Nathaniel's POVI moved carefully, my body tense, waiting for her next strike. Phoebe stood across from me in the training ring, her breathing steady, her stance firm. She had already landed a hit to my side, and I could still feel the force of it. She was fast—faster than I expected. I knew she had skill, but this was something different.She didn’t hesitate. The moment I shifted my weight, she moved again, coming at me with a sharp precision that forced me to stay on the defensive. I blocked her first strike, but she twisted around me, trying to take me down. I barely caught her wrist in time, using my strength to hold her back.She gasped, her breath warm against my skin as I pinned her arm behind her back. For a moment, neither of us moved.The scent of her wrapped around me, making it hard to think. Her body was pressed against mine, her chest rising and falling quickly. I could feel every inch of her, the heat between us impossible to ignore.I should have stepped away.Instead,
Phoebe’s POVBreakfast was quieter than usual, but I could feel the tension underneath. The warriors had trained hard the previous day, and many of them ate in silence, too tired for chatter. Nathaniel sat beside me, focused on his plate, while Elizabeth sat across from us, her usual smug expression in place.Then, Alexander cleared his throat.“I’m leaving for a few days,” he announced, his voice calm. “I’ll be visiting some friends in a neighboring pack.”The words sent a chill through me. I put down my spoon and turned to look at him, my stomach twisting with unease.Nathaniel didn’t react at first. He kept eating, as if this wasn’t news to him. I leaned in, lowering my voice. “You can’t let him go.”Nathaniel sighed, setting his fork down. “He’s not a prisoner, Phoebe. I can’t stop him from visiting other packs.”I clenched my fists under the table. “He’s up to something.”Nathaniel met my eyes, his expression unreadable. “You don’t have proof.”That was the problem—I didn’t. But
Phoebe’s POVThe packhouse was quiet in the afternoon light, but my thoughts were loud. There was an unsettled feeling in my chest, something I couldn’t shake no matter how much I tried to distract myself. Ever since Alexander left, that feeling had only grown stronger. Mia had been restless in my mind all day, her presence more insistent than usual.“Something is wrong,” she murmured.I agreed. But I had no proof, no real reason to act. It left me feeling powerless.I turned a corner, still lost in thought, and nearly ran straight into Elizabeth.She didn’t move out of the way. Instead, she stood there, her arms crossed, eyes burning with something that I knew was more than just dislike. It was closer to hatred.“This is your fault,” she spat.I blinked, my mind catching up to the sudden hostility. “What?”Elizabeth took a step forward. “Because of you, the Moonfury Pack refused the alliance. You’re the reason we’re vulnerable now.”I didn’t flinch. I didn’t even let her words sting.
Phoebe’s POVThe packhouse walls felt like they were closing in on me. The day had been exhausting, and my mind refused to rest. Every thought led back to Alexander leaving, Elizabeth’s accusations, and the uneasy feeling deep in my gut that something bad was coming.Mia stirred in my mind, restless. Run. You need to run.I agreed.Slipping quietly out of my room, I padded barefoot down the hall, careful not to make a sound. The packhouse was silent, most wolves already asleep. As soon as I stepped outside, the crisp night air hit my skin, bringing an instant sense of relief. The sky stretched above me, dark and endless, the moon a quiet witness to my escape.Without a second thought, I shifted.Mia took over, our paws hitting the ground in an easy rhythm as we darted into the trees. The scent of damp earth filled our nose, the whisper of wind through the leaves a soothing hum against our ears.This was what we needed—freedom.For a while, we ran without direction, letting our instinc
Phoebe’s POVI threw a punch, my knuckles slamming against the padded target. The impact sent a sharp jolt through my arm, but I didn’t stop. My muscles ached, sweat dripped down my back, and my breaths came fast, but I welcomed the exhaustion.“Again,” I muttered to myself, shifting my stance.Mia urged me forward, pushing me to move faster, hit harder. We needed to be stronger. The unease from last night hadn’t left me. If anything, it had settled deeper in my bones. Something was coming, and I had to be ready.I lunged, throwing a high kick, following it up with a quick strike. The training dummy rocked under the force, but I didn’t pause. My body knew these movements too well. I had trained for moments like this. For survival. For battle.Nathaniel stood nearby, arms crossed, watching. He wasn’t training today, just observing. I could feel his gaze, sharp and unrelenting, as I moved.Finally, he spoke. “You fight like a warrior who's been to many battles.” His voice was calm, but
Phoebe’s POVI woke with a jolt, my breath coming in sharp gasps. My body was covered in sweat, and my hands trembled as I pushed myself upright. The room was dark, silent except for the faint chirping of crickets outside. I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing, but the images from my dream clung to me like a heavy weight.Flames. Blood. Bodies strewn across the ground. And Alexander—standing tall, his lips curved into a cruel smile, surrounded by rogues and enemy wolves. His confidence had been unnerving, his eyes glinting with something dark and victorious. Even in a dream, the sight of him had made my stomach twist.“It wasn’t just a dream,” Mia, my wolf, growled inside my head. “He’s not just visiting a friend. He’s planning something and you've just seen something close in your dream.”I pressed my hands against my forehead, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling. Mia wasn’t one to overreact. If she was certain Alexander was up to something, then I couldn’t ignore it. I
Phoebe’s POVThe training grounds were alive with movement. Warriors clashed, the sound of bodies hitting the ground mixing with the sharp crack of fists meeting flesh. The air smelled of sweat and dirt, the usual scent of a pack pushing itself to be stronger. I tightened the wraps around my hands, rolling my shoulders as I prepared for my next sparring match.Nathaniel stood nearby, his arms crossed as he observed the other warriors. His sharp gaze followed their movements, assessing their strengths and weaknesses. He had always been an exceptional fighter, but he was also a careful leader. He never missed a mistake, never overlooked a flaw in technique.He turned his head slightly, his eyes meeting mine. "Ready?"I nodded. "Always."A smirk tugged at his lips as he stepped forward. "Then let’s see if you’ve been keeping up."We moved at the same time, our bodies reacting out of habit. I ducked under his first strike, twisting to the side before aiming a hit at his ribs. He caught my
Phoebe’s POVThe days passed, each one slipping into the next as the pack settled into a steady rhythm. Warriors trained, patrols followed their routes, and meetings were held to reinforce our defenses. Life carried on, though there was an unspoken awareness lingering beneath it all—Alexander’s absence had left a mark, and no one had forgotten him.Nathaniel was busier than ever, managing Alpha duties with his father. He handled border reports, assigned warriors to new shifts, and ensured everything remained in order. I had taken on more responsibilities as well, helping with training sessions and assisting warriors where I could. It wasn’t a role I had ever imagined for myself, but I felt stronger each day. The pack had started looking at me differently—not as an outsider, but as someone they could rely on.After another long morning of training, I found a quiet spot near the pack house to catch my breath. The sky was clear, the breeze carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. I wip
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