ELARA'S POVI could still remember clearly how the events had unfolded that day. The echoes of my defeat still rang in my mind as I sat on the cold stone floor of my chamber. Although my magic was powerful, it had proven to be no match for Damon’s relentless attack. He had pushed me to my brink until I was forced to surrender—not out of weakness, but because the upper hand of the battle had turned against me.My emotions were a swirl of anger and humiliation as I paced back and forth, the hem of my dark robe brushing the stone floor.I had begged.The memory of my voice trembling as I knelt on the floor, my knees scraping the dirt replayed in my mind. I had pleaded for mercy, a decision that felt like bile up my throat. I could still remember Damon's dark eyes as he puffed with triumph.He had spared me, but his mercy came with a price. The council of magic had placed me under probation because I was still useful to the pack. Now, my powers were restricted. Every step I took, and ever
SELENA’S POVYasmine had come to me trembling with fear earlier this morning, claiming that she had heard from Elara that Silas was planning an ambush on the rogues and that we had to act fast.Now, Kai and I moved through the dense forest, walking in the path Yasmine had directed us too. I could recall her saying that they had a meeting point and we could confront him before then.Kai’s facial expression was hard as stone as he walked slightly ahead of me. His broad shoulders looked tense with determination.“You shouldn’t have come,” he muttered without looking back.I sighed for the umpteenth time since we started walking. “You really think I would let you face Damon alone?”“It’s not about what you would let me do,” Kai shot back, glancing over his shoulder. His blue eyes glimmering in the evening sunlight “It’s about what I’m willing to risk.”I didn’t respond to his words immediately. There was no point in arguing with him, not when his protective instincts always overrode his c
KAI’S POVI had been too blinded by emotions to close the gap between us. The kiss had been reckless. My lips barely brushed her soft ones, but it was enough to send heat through my entire body. The moment I tasted her natural flavor from those pink plump lips, the pain and exhaustion from Elara’s attack all disappeared, leaving only the softness of Selena’s skin against mine. But the kiss was over almost as soon as it began. Selena didn’t pull away, nor did she kiss me back either. When her wide, stunned eyes met mine, reality slammed into me like a silver-tipped dagger.What was I thinking?“I…” My voice shook as I stood back, releasing her from my grasp. “Selena, I’m sorry. That was—”She shook her head quickly, cutting me off as her cheeks turned red with a flush. “Don’t apologize. It’s fine.”No, it wasn’t fine! Nothing about this situation was fine!The silence on our way back to the pack was very unbearable. Every time I glanced at her, she avoided my eyes with an unreadable
SELENA’S POVThis couldn’t be happening. It had to be a joke.Renn? The same Renn who had always been jovial? The kind wolf that was fiercely loyal to Kai? The man who Kai called a brother? How could he be standing there with untamed rogues at his back, smirking as if this was just a casual argument between siblings?It didn’t make sense. None of this did.‘This isn’t right, Selena.’ Celestia’s voice rang restlessly in the back of my mind. ‘He is hiding something. No wolf turns on their family without a reason.’‘What reason could justify this treason?’ I shot back, my gaze darting between Renn’s mocking expression and Kai’s stunned yet calm one.I wanted to believe it was a joke. I really hoped that Renn would burst into laughter any second from now and apologize for the misunderstanding. But as I looked at the rogues circling the square, their bloodthirsty faces that were illuminated by the moonlight, the truth hit me like a wave.This wasn’t a joke.Renn was serious.“Kai,” I whisp
KAI’S POVEvery fiber of my being ached from the fight with Renn. But despite the pain, I couldn’t bring myself to rest. They way Selena had intervened for me kept replaying in my mind like a broken record. Her amazing power, her desperation, and the way she ignored how I told her to stay back—all of it infuriated me.I ran a hand through my hair, my sharp claws extending slightly as Nyx growled in the back of my mind.‘She disrespected us,’ Nyx mumbled in an angry tone. ‘Selena had no right to step in. She doesn’t understand the intensity of an alpha challenge.’‘She was just trying to help,’ I muttered under my breath to defend her, my voice laced with frustration as I paced outside the pack health physician’s quarters.‘Help?’ Nyx scoffed at me. ‘She embarrassed us! Do you know what this will do to the pack’s belief in us? How will they respect us if our mate can’t stay in her place?”I stopped in my tracks, glaring at the nowhere exactly as if I could find the answers in sought fo
SELENA’S POVThe events of the day had shook me, leaving me lonely as my only friend was mad at me. As I sat alone near the edge of a log of wood outside my cabin, I couldn’t shake off the look on Kai's face when he was angry. He hadn’t said much after the fight with Renn, but the way he looked at me… it cut deeper than any blade ever could.Celestia stirred restlessly in the back of my mind and that only irritated me more.“I shouldn’t have interfered,” I said in an annoyed tone.“You couldn’t just stand there and watch him die,” she muttered aloud, her voice echoing faintly in my head.“He wasn’t going to die,” I snapped back. “Kai is stronger than you think. And now, not only have I made him look weak in front of the pack, he is angry at me.”I flinched at my own words, it was like I had hit a nerve within myself.I didn't mean to underestimate him. I had only wanted to help. But maybe she was right. I couldn't have just stood by a side, watching him suffer in a fight he didn't des
KAI’S POVDays had passed, or maybe weeks. The scent of rain was all I could perceive as I stood near the cliffs, overlooking the forest in our territory. This was one of the few places where I found myself, whenever I couldn’t think clearly. This was the only ground far away from the noise of preparations for the coming war. My pack needed me to be strong… prepared, but my mind was far from clear. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her.I always saw Selena.Those sad and questioning eyes of hers haunted me, lingering in my head like a ghost I couldn't scare away. I clenched my fists, my nails screwing into my palms. “Focus,” I muttered to myself, controlling my thoughts back to focus on the present situation.‘You’re running from her.’ Nyx observed, talking softly in my mind.“I’m protecting her,” I countered at his words, but even as I said the words, they felt like a lie.‘Protecting her by ignoring her?’ Nyx shot back in question. ‘That’s rich.’I sighed, leaning against a nearb
SELENA'S POVKai was avoiding me again.It shouldn’t have surprised me, but it hurt more than I wanted to admit. Every passing day without a word from him felt like a fresh rejection.I paced the grass field near the training grounds, clenching my fingers in frustration. ‘What was his problem? Why was he so distant?’ I thought back to the moments we had shared alone. The way his gaze lingered on mine, the way his touch had felt warm, protective, and… confusing, he had even kissed me!“He's such a stubborn idiot,” I muttered under my breath as I got closer to the training ground.‘He’s your mate,’ Celestia reminded me gently, her voice echoing in my mind like a soft melody. ‘And you love him.’“Love him?” I scoffed, running a hand through my dark hair. “How can I love someone who acts like I don’t exist half the time?”‘Because you see him for who he really is, Selena,’ Celestia replied in that annoyingly patient tone of hers. ‘Even when he’s pushing you away, you feel his pain. His st
SELENA’S POVI stood on the balcony of the Alpha’s quarters, my hands resting on the curve of my swollen belly as the cool breeze kissed my skin. I watched the moon hanging brightly in the night sky, casting a soft silver glow over the Silvermoon pack.I couldn’t sleep—not with the way my wolf kept pacing anxiously in my head and my mate snoring softly beside me. Celestia, as restless as ever, kept nudging me with her thoughts. ‘You need to sit down before you tip over.’ She suggested like she was a fairy godmother.‘I’m fine,’ I shot back, but I wasn’t even really convinced. My back ached all over, my feet were swollen, and this baby—our baby—was practically trying to kick his way out. I glanced behind me, smiling at the sight of Kai sprawled out on the bed. His dark hair was a mess, and his bare chest rose and fell steadily with each breath. My Alpha. My mate. And soon-to-be dad. The thought sent a ripple of excitement and fear through me. What if I messed this up? What if I w
SELENA’S POVRenn sat on the grass floor with his back against the wall. His knees were bent to meet his chest and his elbows rested on them like the weight of the world was pressing down on his shoulders. And honestly? It probably was. I lowered myself beside him so we could be at the same height, and immediately I sat, I felt the cool floor press against my thighs through the thin material of my dress. Kai didn’t look at me right away, but I waited for him to.. I knew better than to rush someone who was grieving. “Hey.” My voice was carefully soft. “You okay?” He scoffed. “Do I look okay?” “Fair point.” I picked at a loose thread on my sleeve, letting the silence stretch just long enough before I added, “But you do look better than you did five minutes ago. That's a huge progress, right?” Renn didn’t laugh, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. “You’re trying too hard.” “Yeah, well, it’s what I do.” I nudged his shoulder with mine. “Someone’s gotta keep you from
KAI’S POVI wasn’t drunk. I wasn't even close to being drunk. But I kind of wished I was—because dealing with Renn right now? Yeah, it was the kind of emotional wreckage I was facing at the moment that made me crave something strong enough to burn down the ache.“Renn,” I said softly, crouching beside him as he slumped against the back wall of the hall. His eyes had red rims around them, his shirt was wrinkled, and his knuckles were bruised probably from punching something he shouldn’t have. Or someone. With Renn, you could never tell.He wiped at his face, but it didn’t help much. “Don’t look at me like that.”“Like what?”“Like I’m pathetic.”“I’m not,” I said, even though he kind of was. “I’m looking at you like you’re a guy who’s hurting. Big difference.”He laughed, but it came out sharp and bitter. “You don’t get it, Kai. You don’t get any of this.”I leaned against the wall beside him, giving him space but not enough to let him feel alone. “So explain it to me.”He turned his
SELENA’S POVDamn it, I was losing my mind. Okay, maybe not in the literal sense, but it sure felt like it. The party was in full swing mode. There were lights illuminating the hall, people dancing carelessly, music vibrating through the ground, and voices blending into a chaotic hum of laughter and chatter. Wolves from every corner of the Silver moon territory were here, dressed to impress, smiling like tonight held all their dreams wrapped up in glitter ribbons. And maybe it did. Because tonight wasn’t just a random party—It was ‘the’ party. The one where celestial bonds would be sealed, mates would be chosen, and vows would be made under the blessing of the Moon Goddess. Also—this party was the one where I would officially be announced as Kai’s… Luna. No pressure, right? I sat on the throne beside Kai, my back so straight it was probably illegal. The chair was huge, carved from dark wood and draped in silver silk that looked like moonlight had been woven into it. It
SELENA’S POVI had no idea what I was doing.Okay, that was a lie.I knew exactly what I was doing. I was taking a risk—no, scratch that—I was diving with my head first into something that could either shatter me or make me whole.And yet, with Kai sitting across from me, his hand holding mine and his eyes pulling me so deep into his world, I couldn’t make myself care about the side effects of all of this.Not when he looked at me like this.Not when his touch made me have goosebumps all over my skin like the air before a storm.I swallowed nothing, staring at the sharp lines of his jaw, the way the moonlight kissed his cheekbones and made his eyes glow brightly. Kai wasn’t perfect. Hell, he wasn’t even close, no one was. But there was something about his imperfections, I meant his invincible scars, his family history, that made me feel safe.And maybe that was dangerous, but I didn’t care.I shouldn't even care about it tonight.“Say it again,” I whispered.His brows furrowed. “Say w
KAI’S POVThe Silvermoon Pack’s village square was jam-packed with people, and for once, I was grateful it wasn’t for a fight.They all stood shoulder to shoulder, my rogues and Silvermoon wolves blending into one ocean of tired faces. Their clothes were stained, some with dirt, others with dried blood, but despite the wreckage the war had left behind, there was something else in the air that was heavier than exhaustion.I sensed hope.I didn’t know what the hell to do with that, though.I stepped forward, clearing my throat to address them all. “First of all—” My voice cracked, and I internally shook my head. ‘Great start, Alpha,’ Nyx mocked. ‘Real inspiring.’I tried again, ignoring him. “First of all,” I said, louder this time, “we won.”That got their attention.The werewolves straightened their backs. Some of them raised their heads higher. I wasn’t sure if it was pride or disbelief that shimmered in their eyes, but it didn’t matter. They were listening.“We won,” I repeated, my
SELENA'S POVWe buried Yasmine under the shade of an ancient oak tree.The shaman said it was the closest spot to the goddess’s light—whatever that meant. I didn’t question his words at all. Not when Renn looked like he was one wrong word away from losing his mind completely.He stood by her grave, silent and pale the whole time, his hands shaking as he placed a white lily on the mound of fresh loamy soil. The rest of us stood back, giving him space to mourn his mate because It didn’t feel right to interrupt his grieving moment, but at the same time, I wanted to say something, or anything to make it better.I didn’t, though.Because nothing would ever make him feel better. The shaman, the old man with silver braids and piercing green eyes, hovered around nearby. His staff sank slightly into the ground as he stepped forward, clearing his throat before he spoke. “Renn,” he said softly, “is there anything else you wish to ask before we seal her spirit’s path?”He didn’t answer at first.
SELENA'S POVI didn’t even know what to feel now that the war was finally over.The battlefield that had once vibrated with screams, roars, and explosions of magic, was now eerily silent. It was too silent. The atmosphere now felt heavier than it should. Every air that I inhaled was thick with the scent of smoke, blood, and something more worse. Grief took over the whole atmosphere.I turned around slowly, my boots sinking into the mud that had mixed with blood and shattered remains of dark spells. My heart pounded in my chest as my gaze swept over the entire battlefield. Bodies laid scattered across the ground, some were our friends, and some foes, but they were all lifeless. I came to the conclusion that this wasn't a victory—it was survival. And barely that because we were the only three people that survived. All other soldiers, who were probably husbands and fathers, had all laid their lives down for me.I saw Renn on his knees, hunched over Yasmine’s pale and broken body like he
NARRATEDDamon didn’t see it coming at all.His aim was at her because one moment Selena had turned her back, her focus now locked on Elara. But in the next moment, when he lunged forward like an unchained beast with desperation burning in his eyes, Kai met him with a faster energy.Their bodies collided with a bone-crunching impact, and the ground made a thud sound beneath their weights. Damon roared, his dark magic losing its control within him, but Kai met him blow for blow, his claws ripping through Damon's fur and flesh like they were paper.“You’re done!” Kai growled angrily, his voice coming out with a furious thone as he grinded his teeth against each other.Damon grinned despite the blood dripping from his mouth. “Not yet.”He shoved Kai off him, sending him flying backwards, but Kai was already moving again. His wolf surged forward, becoming wild as it slammed into Damon before he could fully recover.Selena turned at the direction of the scuffling sound, her chest tightenin