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
Phoebe's POVI scrubbed the counters harder, the veins in my hands bulging.They were clean but I didn't stop.Mark sat behind me on a swing chair and I could feel his eyes almost drilling a hole on my back. He cracked open a beer.He took a swig tossing the empty bottle at my feet. It shattered on the floor, but I didn't flinch. I already knew he was just trying to get me to retaliate so he could get me into trouble.Since I moved in with my uncle, his father three months ago, he made it his mission to make my life unbearable.“Hurry up, you jinx.”Mark said behind me.I didn't bother to look back at him. I kept scrubbing.Going back and forth with him was useless. I was here because his father, my uncle, was a good man. Even if he didn't try to defend me or call Mark to order.He picked a brush from the floor and threw it at me. I tilted my head away.“I've done nothing wrong to you, Mark. Leave me the hell alone,” I snapped, clenching my fists. He walked towards me angrily, his ey
Nathaniel’s POV Phoebe pulled her arm away quickly.“I don’t know this Alec guy you’re talking about," she said, her voice steady.I stared at her, unable to look away. There was something about her—her sharp eyes, the stubborn tilt of her chin, the way her voice stayed calm even though I could tell she was nervous. My wolf stirred inside me, growling softly in approval.There was an undeniable pull between us.I gulped and asked, my voice low. “You felt it too, didn't you? We are mates.Phoebe’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I know what I am,” she said, meeting my eyes. She looked away from me, rubbing her hand unconsciously. I wanted to hold her hand and tell her to relax.“It’s impossible for someone like me to be your Luna. I’m an outcast. I’m ready for your rejection.”She said suddenly.I didn’t see that coming. I did so much to get her to come to me, that's not what I wanted to hear. When I thought about all this because of Duncan, I started to get angry. But I'm one of t
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.
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 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