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 POVThe training grounds were packed with wolves from every corner of the pack. The elders stood in a semi-circle, their faces unreadable as they waited for Phoebe to step forward. The air was thick with anticipation, whispers moving through the crowd like a wave.Phoebe stood tall, her expression calm. If she was nervous, she didn’t show it.I crossed my arms, standing beside my father as the first elder spoke.“We will test Phoebe’s strength, intelligence, and leadership,” Elder Marcus announced. His sharp gaze swept over her. “The Luna must be more than just a title. She must be worthy.”Elizabeth, standing with a group of warriors, smirked. “If she even lasts the first test.”I clenched my jaw but said nothing. I wanted to see how Phoebe would handle this. I knew she was strong and I had confidence in her. The first challenge was combat. Phoebe stepped into the sparring ring, facing off against an experienced warrior named Luke. He was skilled but not the best—this wa
Nathaniel's POVThe night was quiet. A soft breeze moved through the trees, rustling the leaves above the garden. I had been inside the pack house, speaking with my father about security, when a strange unease settled in my chest. Something wasn’t right.“We will have the borders strengthened and we'll speak with a few other security officers in the pack so we can know the measures to take for our security….” I heard my father saying, but I wasn't paying full attention to what he was saying. He looked up at me as I got off the chair I was sitting and walked to the window.“We won't be taking chances here.. we've never been attacked and it won't ever happen. That's because we don't even give our enemies a chance to infiltrate our pack. We must keep it that way,” he said.I didn't say anything, but when I turned around and saw that his eyes were on me, I nodded. He was right and I understood what he was saying, but I wasn't exactly paying full attention.“You know, as the next Alpha of
Nathaniel's POVPhoebe hadn’t spoken since Duncan left.She walked ahead of me, her arms crossed, her steps quick and tense. Her shoulders were stiff, and I knew she was trying to avoid this conversation.Too bad.“Let's leave her alone for the meantime, maybe that's what she wants,” my wolf muttered within me. I rejected the idea before it fully made sense to me. I shook my head. She had quickened her pace now and I was still following her, my strides were longer but I didn't want to overtake her.“We don't have to leave her alone simply because she wants to be left alone. There are things that must be dealt with whether or not we want to deal with them.” My voice was almost a hush. Too low for her to hear, but she turned around once and our eyes met briefly. She didn't stop walking.Whatever she'd heard, she didn't want to make it sound like it was any business of hers.Duncan had been in my pack and no matter how hard I wanted to ignore that and act like it hadn't happened, I could
Nathaniel’s POVThe attack came without warning. No one would have guessed that an attack was on its way to the pack. It had never happened in that fashion. Only days back, my father had been talking about the security of the pack and the measures that were to be taken to ensure the pack was constantly safe and at peace as it had always been.One moment, the pack house was peaceful. The next, an alarm howled through the air.I got off my chair in a moment of alarmed surprise. I bolted outside, my wolf thrumming beneath my skin as warriors rushed to their positions. The guards were shouting commands at each other and the pack house moved from a safe haven to a place that was only full of confusion for the next few minutes. And then I got the information of what was going on in the pack house. Rogues. At least twenty of them, maybe more, had entered the pack lands and were now about to wreak havoc on the pack. My wolf was already in action, this was something I couldn't hold back on.
Nathaniel's POVThe tension in the pack house had grown thick, lingering in the air like an approaching storm. The warriors had seen too much. The elders had seen too much. And I had seen too much.Phoebe wasn’t just a fighter—she was something else entirely. The way she had commanded warriors, moved with precision, and taken down an elite rogue as if it was nothing… It wasn’t something she had learned overnight. I knew this and I also knew that if I tried to press her to give me answers to the question I had in my head, she would shy away.Perhaps, she had not intended to be on the spotlight, but then, for fighting so gallantly, she could not also be ignored. She had been seen by everyone and the reactions were similar.And now, everyone wanted answers.I strode through the halls, my mind racing with questions I didn’t want to ask but couldn’t ignore. The whispers followed me, pack members murmuring about what they had witnessed. I caught words like unnatural, dangerous, and who is s
Nathaniel's POVThe old records lay scattered across my desk, the worn edges curling from time. I wasn’t sure what I had been looking for at first—some explanation, some answer to the nagging feeling that wouldn’t leave me alone.Phoebe had secrets. That much had always been clear. But now, staring at the name in the report, my hands clenched into fists. She didn't care to let me in on her life and how things were going in her life. She didn't care about the opinions of her I had. It didn't matter how many times I told her that she was mine and would always be mine, she was set in her own ways and she didn't cease to let me see just how strong-willed she was.I stared at the name again, my hands running through the pages again.Alec.A name whispered in war stories. A name feared among packs. A name I had once thought belonged to a ruthless strategist, a ghost of battle.Yet here, in these reports, was the truth.Alec was Phoebe. Or was this simply what I had led myself to believe? W
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
Nathaniel’s POVThe crackling fireplace was the only sound in my office as I studied the map spread across the table. The scent of burning wood mixed with the lingering metallic tang of blood on my clothes. Tonight’s small battle to keep the jerks away had been a little too brutal, I hadn't expected it to take such wild turn, but we had driven the enemy back. For now, we had won. But I knew Alexander. He wouldn’t stop. He’d retreat, regroup, and strike again. He was forming alliance with as many packs as he could. He was getting them on his side so he could come back and take the Moonhowl pack. He would not stop until he was sure that the Moonhowl was completely broken and he could come and take over what was left. My fingers traced the western border of our territory on the map, where his forces had attempted their ambush. It had been a foolish move—rushed and reckless. But the next time, he wouldn’t be so careless.A sharp knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.“Come in,” I
Nathaniel’s POVPhoebe and I took a stroll around the pack in the evening. Near the edge of the field, two younger warriors faced off. Their movements were eager but lacked precision. I observed closely as one hesitated just before delivering a strike, his uncertainty giving his opponent the opening to counter. The blow landed, weak but effective, throwing the first warrior slightly off balance.“They should stop soon,” Phoebe said beside me, her voice firm but calm.I kept my gaze fixed on the warriors, arms crossed over my chest. “They need to train harder.”“They’ve been training all day,” she countered, her tone unwavering. “They need rest.”“If Alexander attacks again, we can’t afford weakness.”Phoebe let out a slow breath, crossing her arms as well. “Exhaustion is also a weakness, Nathaniel. If they’re too tired to fight properly, they’ll make mistakes.”I clenched my jaw, unwilling to admit she had a point. The pack couldn’t afford mistakes. But neither could we afford warrio
Duncan’s POVThe morning was quiet, but I knew better than to think peace would last in this house. From the very first time I had made the step of going to get Phoebe, sending men and then eventually going in person, a lot had changed. Some things that could not be fixed had broken and I wasn't sure I really cared yet. Not when I had still not gotten what I was out for.I sat in my office, looking through reports and playing with my cup once again when Antonio walked in. I waited for him to walk from the door and reach me and in those few seconds, I tapped my hand on the desk, almost too anxious to hear what he had come to say this time. It didn't look like he was exactly coming with some exciting news, but I waited as he reached me and mumbled a word of greeting that I barely acknowledged, too focused on the matter he had come to discuss, as he was. He placed a paper on my desk and leaned against the chair across from me. “You might want to deal with your mate.”I didn’t look up.
Duncan’s POVThe room was dimly lit, the wooden desk between us covered in scattered reports. I picked up my cup of water more than once, but each time, I set it back down before my lips could touch the lid of the cup. I wasn't about to get myself distracted from important business, yet, my mind called for that very distraction. I sat back in my chair, watching Antonio as he flipped through one of the papers. The scent of ink and old parchment filled the office, but my focus was elsewhere. The attack on Moonhowl had shaken things up, and I knew this was the moment to act. If we were ever going to get some power over them, this was their trying period and it was the safest time to launch an attack that will be completely successful. This was the one chance.Antonio set the paper down and met my gaze. “You called me here for a reason.”I nodded, leaning forward. “Moonhowl was attacked. Alexander failed, but he managed to weaken them. Every pack is weakened after a war and this is their
Phoebe’s POVThe night was far from over. Though the battle had ended, the weight of what had happened still hung in the air. Warriors tended to the wounded, the pack house filled with quiet murmurs and the occasional pained groan. Blood stained the ground, the scent of it still thick around us.Nathaniel stood near the main hall, his face tense as he watched the last of the injured wolves being taken inside. I stood beside him, exhaustion creeping through my limbs, but my mind refused to rest. We hadn't been defeated, But that didn't mean we enjoyed the war. Every pack wanted to stay at peace, it didn't matter their prowess in war and how easily they could eliminate other packs. They still wanted peace in the end. “We need answers,” Nathaniel finally said, his voice low but firm. He turned to one of the warriors. “Gather the top fighters. Now.”The warrior nodded and hurried off. I looked at Nathaniel, knowing what he was thinking.“It was him,” I said. “You know it.”Nathaniel clen
Phoebe's POVA loud howl ripped through the night, jerking me awake. My breath came in sharp bursts as the sound echoed through the pack house. Another howl followed, then another—this time, a warning.Nathaniel and I had not shared the same bed for a while now because I said I preferred to sleep in my bed again. I didn't know what exactly was happening outside the pack house but I knew it could not be anything good. The room was dark but I could see flashes of light outside and that was all that I needed to know that there was real trouble.Intruders.I was still trying to make sense of the dreams and visions I've been having and then this happened. I could feel my heart thumping wildly.I threw off my blanket and sprang to my feet, my heart pounding with urgency. I pulled my hair back instinctively and had it tied to my neck as I rushed over to my wardrobe and threw on a jacket and pants that would leave me more comfortable if I stepped out there and there was an actual war to be f
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
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