HANNAH’S POVThe sun’s golden warmth warmed the Moonlight Pack’s extensive mansion, its beams filtering through lengthy windows and revealing dust motes twirling in the air. I was standing at the threshold of Annabeth’s previous room where the door made a creaking sound as it opened.This room was like a museum of the past, untouched and maintained in such a way that sent cold shivers down my spine. It felt like her spirit remained here haunting my entire life as well as all corners of this house.“Get rid of everything,” I ordered the maids keeping my voice indifferent and authoritarian. “I want this room cleared out completely.”The maids Dina and Lila looked at each other hesitantly before finally nodding their heads to show that they agreed to do what I had asked them to. They went about it gingerly, almost fearful of disturbing those memories that were imprinted on these walls.When they began putting away Annabeth’s clothes, trinkets, and personal belongings acquired over time,
Hannah's POVWith all of Annabeth's stuff packed up into boxes and ready to be carried off and stashed somewhere out of sight, I stood in the now-cleared room. The brief sense of fulfillment I had was swiftly succeeded by the empty sting of realizing that Landen's heart remained bound to the past in spite of my best attempts.In an attempt to center myself, I inhaled deeply. The sun was nearly sinking, creating lengthy shadows on the floor as it streamed through the windows. It was almost nightfall.The maids had just completed cleaning, and their tense looks at me reminded me of the stress that had been in the home ever since Landen lost his cool.The door to the room opened as I was ready to go, and Landen stepped in. His expression was unreadable, a mixture of determination and something else I couldn't quite place. I straightened, preparing myself for another confrontation."Hannah," he said, his voice surprisingly calm. "We need to talk."I crossed my arms, my eyes narrowing slig
Hannah's POVThe cityscape of Shadow Pack loomed ahead as we touched down, its sprawling skyline a mix of glass and steel. I felt a rush of determination, ready to prove my worth as Luna and help Landen secure this crucial deal for the Moonlight Pack. However, the excitement was short-lived.Jasper had been unusually quiet during the flight, his normally vibrant energy subdued. As soon as we stepped off the plane, he clung to me, his little face pale and clammy. My heart pounded with worry."Landen, something's wrong with Jasper," I said, my voice tinged with panic.Landen turned, his eyes widening as he saw our son. Without a word, he scooped Jasper up and we hurried to the waiting car. The driver sped through the city streets, weaving through traffic with urgency.We arrived at the hospital within minutes. The medical staff acted swiftly, ushering us into an examination room. I had a hard time even swallowing while I stood there, my hands shaking watching them do something to Jasper
Landen's POVI left Hannah and Jasper in the ward and sprinted through the corridors of the hospital, my mind filled with fear and confusion. How could my son Jasper have been exposed to the poison called wolfbane? It was a dangerous substance, endangering our home. I needed answers, and quickly too.As I turned a corner, almost ran into a small boy who had been playing with a ball along the hallway. He appeared to be about six or seven years old with black hair and keen, questioning eyes. Wearing the uniform that distinguished his school life he must just have come from school.“Hey there! Be careful,” I said suddenly stopping.“I am sorry sir”, said the boy peering up at me sheepishly. “I didn’t see you.”“It is not your fault,” I answered with a smile twitching at my lips’ corners. “Where are your parents?”“My Daddy is one of the doctors here.” The boy spoke proudly of himself.“My mum will soon arrive to pick me up.”"Your Daddy's a doctor?" I repeated, my curiosity piqued. "What
Anna's POVThe meeting went on and on, every minute dragged like a rabbit in the evening. I glanced at my phone anxiously counting every second till I could leave.Owen wanted to see me at Navian's hospital but there was still this uncomfortable feeling in my stomach.“Anna, are you with us?” my business partner Jessica asked bringing me back into reality.“No, sorry,” I said trying hard to keep my grin apart from myself."I just have a family matter to attend to. Can we wrap this up soon?"Jessica nodded sympathetically. "Of course, we'll make it quick."Finally, the meeting concluded, and I rushed out, dialing Navian as I made my way to the parking lot."Hey, Anna," Navian answered, his voice filled with concern. "Everything okay?""I'm on my way to pick up Owen," I said, my voice tense. "I'm sorry for being late. The meeting took longer than expected.""No problem," Navian replied. "Owen is doing great. He's been playing with some of the nurses. Drive safely.""Thanks, Navian. I'll
Landen's POVI couldn’t avoid the feeling of anxiety as I sat in Navian’s office. The atmosphere of the hospital did not help, and the news about Jasper and his health spiked the tension in me. I looked at Hannah and attempted to sit as calmly as possible, but I clearly did not succeed.Her eyes shifted uneasily around the room, settling for a brief moment on Jasper, who lay in the hospital bed, his thin, frail body inhaling and exhaling regularly. Navian coughed to bring attention back to himself and the matter at hand. “Jasper is going to be fine,” he said to comfort us.“It is a mild fever and most probably caused by a small positive reaction to the wolfsbane that he took into his system might have got into his system by accident, but from now on we have to be more careful. ” “But how did it come in the first place in our house?” I demanded my voice tight with anger and worry.“We don’t have any wolfsbane in our pack lands.”“I’m not sure, but it’s something you need to investiga
As we reached Navian's office, I found Owen sitting on a chair, swinging his legs and chatting happily with a nurse."Mommy!" he screamed, running over to me.I scooped him up, hugged him tightly, and swirled him around which made him giggle. "Hey, sweetheart. Did you have a good day?""Yes! Uncle Navian showed me his office, and I played with some toys," he said excitedly."That's great, baby," I said, kissing his forehead. "Let's get you home."“Hey, Uncle Navian,” I said to Navian, who walked towards us.“Thank you so much, Mr. Landen. You can always get back to me if there’s any issue, but I’m sure the boy will be good,” he said to whoever was on the other side of the phone.Landen? It’s been ages since I heard that name—four years now. Really, I would have loved to glance at the man who has that name. My heart felt like it was being twisted inside.Landen’s face flashed in my head. What would he look like after four years? Since he never searched for me, I guess he is doing perfe
LANDEN’S POVMOONLIGHT PACK"Where are you going?" My voice echoed through the room, laced with a mix of frustration and disbelief.I watched her turn slowly, her expression hardened like I was nothing more than a stranger in her eyes. The sight of her, ready to go, with her bags in hand, felt like a punch to the stomach, but I covered it up with anger.Annabeth didn't answer, just kept moving as if I hadn’t spoken at all. The silence between us once filled with warmth, now felt suffocating. I strode forward, my hand instinctively reaching out to grab hers.She halted, but the fire in her eyes was enough to sear through any remaining hope I had that she might stay."I asked where you are going, Annabeth," I growled, my grip tightening slightly. I needed to hear her say it, to understand why she was walking out on us, on everything we’d built together."To give you both some peace and quiet," she spat, her voice dripping with bitterness. "A moment to enjoy your honeymoon and an heir fo
The living room was filled with the soft hum of conversation and occasional laughter, the warmth of companionship wrapping around me like a familiar blanket.Navian sat beside me, his eyes reflecting both relief and concern. I glanced around at the others—Rita, Mikel, and someone I hadn’t expected to see—Elena, Navian’s fiancée.Having Elena in the room made me feel off and it only got worse when she took a step forward, the atmosphere thickening. Her eyelids were puffy and her cheeks were crimson.It looked like she had been sobbing non-stop for many hours. I studied her with caution because I didn’t know what to anticipate.Elena said with a trembling voice, "Anna." “I—I need to apologize. For everything.”I frowned, glancing at Navian for an explanation, but he nodded, silently urging me to hear her out.“I—worked with Hannah to get you and Owen kidnapped,” she continued, her words tumbling out in a rush.“I was jealous and insecure. I thought—thought Navian still had feelings for
I watched as Landen cradled Owen in his arms and rocked him back and forth like a baby. I could see the tenderness in his gaze as a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Seeing him this protective and caring kind of guy reminded me of their planned connection. "He's so peaceful when he sleeps." I walked over to them and whispered, “Like all the pain and chaos we’ve been through never touched him.”Landen glanced up at me, his eyes shining with a warmth I hadn’t seen in years. “It’s because of you, Anna. You’ve always protected him, kept him safe when I couldn’t.”I smiled softly, reaching out to brush my fingers through Owen’s hair. “We both protected him, Landen. We’re both his parents.”A flicker of something—guilt, regret—crossed his face. He looked down at Owen, his jaw tightening.“I failed him. I failed both of you. I let you go… let you suffer alone because I didn’t see what was right in front of me.”“Landen,” I whispered, my voice gentle but firm. “We’ve been throug
Anna's POVI found myself in the middle of the pack house, surveying the crowd spread before me. Some faces were known to me, while a few were unknown but friendly faces, filled with respect and warmth.It was heartwarming to hear Landen’s voice echo around the room, announcing my presence after such a long time.“Today, we acknowledge what should have never been questioned,” Landen declared, his gaze steady on me.“Anna is the rightful Luna of the Moonlight Pack. Her strength, courage, and unwavering loyalty have proven that time and again. And,” he paused, his voice softening as he looked at Owen, “our son, Owen, is the true heir of this pack.”Around us, cheers broke out. I felt a wave of emotions rush through me as a result of the music. I blinked back the tears that pricked at the corners of my eyes while maintaining a straight face. I had believed I had lost this moment and this realization forever.I glanced over at Owen, who was standing beside Landen, a proud smile on his sma
I wasn’t separated from Anna for hours it seemed like I had been watching over her the whole day. Each day washed the other away, sleepless nights and hours of waiting where the days became a blur. I sat by her bedside and only got up occasionally to attend to Owen or get something I needed.It mattered not whether the roof above was made of iron or gold; it mattered not whether the earth below was stone or sand; it didn’t matter whether the food on the table was plain or grand; the only thing that was important was to be here with her, waiting for her to wake up and give me her smile once again, to hear her laughter, to hear her say “I’m fine.”It was very silent in that room, the only audible noises were the …beeping of the heart monitor, and the sound of the equipment. I saw how Anna’s chest was moving up and down, but she was so weak, so slim, so unlike the woman I had married.I reached out and touched her gently on her hand, afraid to grip it too firmly lest she break.“Anna,” I
Gerald was finally behind bars, I was standing just outside of the cell, looking at him across the heavy barred iron, I looked at him that way.He looked right back at me and his eyes were filled with anger and hate that had been brewed deep within him.“You think this is over, Landen?” Gerald sneered, his lips curling back. “You may have won this round, but you’ll never truly defeat me. The bond I have with Anna—”“Shut your mouth,” I growled, my voice low and dangerous. “You lost, Gerald. There’s no bond, no claim. You’ll rot in this cell for the rest of your miserable life.”I turned on my heel, walking away before I could do something I’d regret. I couldn’t afford to let Gerald’s words affect me now. Not when Anna’s life still hung in the balance. I glanced at the pack warriors standing guard.“No one goes in or out without my express permission,” I ordered. “He doesn’t get to speak to anyone. Understood?”“Yes, Alpha,” they replied in unison, their stances firm and unyielding.Sa
I glanced up as the two warriors dragged a struggling, screaming Hannah towards me. Her screams broke through the mayhem and blood that had marred the evening, resonating throughout the warehouse.My so-called wife, the one who had destroyed all I had ever held dear, was the object of my unwavering gaze.“What is the meaning of this?” I growled, narrowing my eyes at the warriors.My voice came out low and dangerous, but I couldn’t help it. Anger coursed through my veins like fire. “You dare to handle my wife like that?”The words slipped out before I could stop them, but even as I said them, they felt foreign on my tongue. I didn’t recognize them as mine.Was she really my wife? Could I even call her that when Anna—my true mate—was lying on the cold ground, bleeding out in front of me?“We apologize, Alpha, but…” One of the warriors hesitated, glancing at his partner before meeting my gaze again.“We saw the Luna pull the trigger that just shot Lady Anna.”All I could feel was cold, a
Gerald shrieked in agony as my claws tore into his side. I saw him stumble back, breathing in short breaths as blood spattered on the concrete floor. His fur was matted and saturated in blood—some of it mine, most of it his. We circled each other, breathing fiercely, but I felt like I was winning this time. The look in Gerald’s eyes wasn’t one of a confident victor anymore. It was the gaze of a desperate man who realized he was losing everything.“Come on, Gerald,” I growled, lowering my stance. “Is this the best you can do? After all the planning, the scheming—you thought you’d just waltz in and take my family?”He growled, baring his teeth, but there was hesitation in his movements now. His attacks came slower, less precise. I could feel his strength fading as we clashed again and again. With each bite and claw stroke, I pushed him farther away and neared victory.His voice quivering with a mix of tiredness and wrath, he growled, "Shut up!" He came at me, but I effortlessly sideste
The moment my bones cracked and shifted, fur bursting through my skin, I knew there was no turning back. My wolf form, dark and massive, towered over Gerald as he shifted in response.The air hummed with energy and anticipation, our growls vibrating through the large warehouse like thunder.Everything around us blurred—my warriors, Gerald’s men, Navian desperately trying to untie Anna from those cursed red bindings—but none of it mattered.It was just Gerald and me. Alpha against Beta. We lunged at each other simultaneously, teeth bared, claws ready to rip through flesh.Our bodies collided with a sickening thud, and we rolled across the concrete floor in a tangle of fur and fury. Gerald’s fangs snapped at my throat, but I twisted, using my larger frame to pin him down. He snarled, kicking me off with a powerful shove that sent me skidding back.I regained my footing quickly, leaping at him again. This time, my teeth found purchase, sinking into his shoulder.He groaned in pain and hi
As we approached the warehouse, it appeared as a dilapidated prison instead, its decayed skeleton cutting sharp tongues of shade on the ground that was bathed in the light of the moon.My team and I went a little faster, heading toward Gerald's hideout. We had managed to follow him to this godforsaken location with only one intent in mind: to shoot and bring both Anna and Owen home.That feeling lingered in the atmosphere, the second skin feeling when your body was alert and screaming for you to run. Each and every step we made resounded faintly in the silence.My heart was a drumbeat of fury and fear. When we reached the doors, I signaled my men to halt. The scent of wolves—more than I had expected—hung heavy in the air. Gerald hadn’t just hidden away; he’d prepared for war.I glanced at my warriors. Each one looked back at me with grim determination, their muscles taut, ready for action. I nodded, and they braced themselves. Pushing open the creaky metal doors, we stepped inside, we