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 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
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 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
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 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
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
Duncan’s POVThe halls of the Glassfur Pack house were quieter than usual. Too quiet.I strode through the halls, my boots echoing against the polished floors. The warriors I passed walked briskly, avoiding my gaze, their heads lowered. A few muttered under their breath, their voices barely above a whisper before they fell silent the moment they sensed my presence.Cowards.They thought I didn’t notice the way they flinched. They thought I didn’t see the unease in their eyes, the hesitation in their movements. But I saw everything.I always did.Fury burned in my chest, but I swallowed it down. I would not let their disobedience go unpunished.The tension within the pack had worsened over the past few weeks.Warriors were leaving.Slipping away under the cover of darkness, vanishing without a trace.At first, I thought it was nothing—an isolated incident, a few weaklings who lacked the stomach for the battles ahead. But then it kept happening.More and more faces gone.More and more
Nathaniel's POVI stood by the window, holding a warm cup in both hands. The morning air was cold, though the fire behind me still burned low. I didn’t look outside for the view—it wasn’t much to look at. Gray sky, heavy walls, quiet buildings with stiff guards at every corner. But I needed the silence. I needed the space to think.My bag was half-packed. A servant had already folded most of my things. Another one stood near the door, sorting through supplies. I hadn’t asked for help, but they had sent people anyway. One young man kept checking if I needed anything. I told him I didn’t. He still hovered.“We’ll be done soon,” he said, carefully placing a pair of boots into a leather sack. “We’re almost finished with your men’s things too. I sent someone to check on them.”I nodded and took another sip from my cup. The drink was bitter, but warm. It helped me stay alert.Sean was quiet in my mind, but I could feel him close, always ready.We were leaving today. I had already spoken wit
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