3RD PARTY POVMikel leaned back in his chair, feeling the weight of the words on the other end of the phone."We found something more interesting, sir," Mikel’s man said, his tone serious.Mikel had asked them to dig deep into Hannah’s past while Navian was swamped with surgeries for over a week, unable to continue with the investigation. Now, Mikel was taking the lead."Spit it out," Mikel ordered, relaxing into the back of his office chair."There’s a record that links the woman you asked us to look into and the Beta of Moonlight Pack, the Alpha’s closest friend.""Gerald?" Mikel echoed, shocked. "What did you find out? What’s the connection?""They were secretly in a romantic relationship before she became the Alpha’s wife," the man said carefully.Mikel’s jaw dropped. Gerald and Hannah? The same Gerald who despised Hannah for being obsessed with Landen? Back in school, they never got along, and Gerald hated how Hannah would follow Landen everywhere, practically worshipping him. No
Mikel had suspected Hannah for a while, but to learn that Gerald, the Beta of Moonlight Pack, had betrayed his Alpha? That was a heavy blow. His thoughts were racing, and he could feel the strain of the circumstance rising.He got up and started to pace his office. Why? There was tension in the question.How could Gerald, a man sworn to his Alpha by blood, betray Landen? Was love at the center of this? Was Gerald really in love with Hannah, or was there another motive? Mikel knew there was so much missing out on the puzzle.Was Hannah manipulating Gerald? She had always been obsessed with Landen, everyone knew that. But why keep Gerald in the picture if she had already secured her position as Luna? The more Mikel thought about it, the more twisted the entire situation seemed.What kind of game are they playing? he wondered.The bigger concern, however, was Anna and Owen. Were they still safe? With everything Mikel had uncovered, he couldn’t help but fear for them even more.If Hannah
"I got what is needed, Navian," Mikel said as he placed the envelope containing the DNA samples on the desk."Good job, man," Navian said while removing the stethoscope that was hanging on his neck.He just stepped out of a tough surgery and his face was showing how tired he was as he sat limply in the chair. But, this was not something he could afford to overlook; it was about Anna and Owen’s life and there was no place for relaxation."I'll send this to the lab techs right away," Navian said, eyeing the envelope. He couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of unease wash over him."My current fear is Anna and Owen’s safety. There's more to all of this, and I can feel it."Mikel leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, face dark with worry."Gerald’s involvement with Hannah is still shocking to me. I never saw it coming." His voice was low, almost as if saying it aloud would make the situation more real.Navian looked up, meeting his gaze. "The web is too entangled, Mikel. Your Beta may
“I don’t believe this.” Navian’s hand trembled as he stared at the DNA test results. His eyes darted over the confirmation again and again, but the words refused to change.Gerald is Jasper’s father. The thought slammed into him like a sledgehammer. He had suspected it after Mikel’s investigation, but now the proof in front of him, glaring in black and white.He snatched his phone, dialing Mikel immediately. His heart raced as the call rang.The stakes were too high. When Mikel picked up, Navian didn’t waste time.“Mikel, it’s true. The DNA confirms it—Gerald is Jasper’s biological father.”There was silence on the other end for a moment, as if Mikel was trying to process the weight of what Navian had just said. Then came his voice, low and tense,“Are you absolutely sure?”“Yes, Mikel, there’s no mistake. Jasper isn’t Landen’s son.”“Damn it,” Mikel muttered, his voice cracking. “This changes everything.”Navian sank into his chair, feeling the gravity of the revelation pulling him d
Elena paced in the hallway, her heart pounding in her chest as she replayed Navian’s outburst in her mind. He had been yelling in frustration just moments ago, slamming the file in his hands.“Haa, what more do we do? How did she manage to hide her track so well?”Navian’s voice still echoed in her ears. The exhaustion, the helplessness—it cut through her like a knife.She stood there, staring at the door, her hands trembling as guilt washed over her.“This is my fault,” she thought. “I’m the reason he’s falling apart. I’m the reason Anna and Owen are still missing.” The guilt was a constant ache in her chest, an invisible weight pressing down on her shoulders. She’d never seen Navian this desperate, not even after the most grueling surgeries. And it was all because of her.She swallowed hard, feeling her throat tighten. The room seemed to spin as her emotions churned inside her. She loved him—she loved Navian with everything she had, but how could she live with herself, knowing she
Anna's povI was stiff and sore from having my hands tied for most of the day; the skin on my wrists was rubbed sore from the ropes. Owen rolled across my lap, curled up and asleep; his body twitched in the darkness.He had stopped crying hours ago—maybe days ago, I wasn’t sure anymore. The clocks ceased to exist and all that separated them from one another was the dim light that came in through the little crack in the door separating night from day.My eyes opened, they were sticky and droopy, they had not been shut for long, given the terror that I was going through. My body started getting dizzy and I couldn’t understand where I was, my tongue felt fleshy and swollen. And how long had we had been in here? Weeks? I was worried when Owen became silent, but his whimpering was unbearably pitiful and pained. I pulled with all my strength on the ropes in an attempt to loosen them but my arms felt so weak and with each movement, I felt the bolts of pain in my aching muscles. It was no u
Anna’s POVSuddenly, as the door shut behind them, I got a sickening recollection of the next few minutes that was almost physically hard to bear.My hands were tied firmly behind my back, my hands and arms began to feel a pins-and-needles sensation, and the rope left red marks on the surface of my skin as I tried to move.Except for a small lamp that was shedding its pallid light on the room, the rest of the world was dark and even the shadow of a doubt was suffocating in my heart. Owen’s small body lay limp on my lap, his breaths shallow but steady. That was my only comfort now—he was still alive.But for how long?Hannah had left with that vile smirk on her face, and Gerald... Gerald had been the final blow. It wasn’t just the betrayal of Landen, the man I had once trusted with my life, but the way they both took pleasure in revealing the truth to me, piece by piece as if they were savoring my anguish.I rested my forehead against the cold stone wall, trying to hold on to any rema
The moment he stepped through the door, there seemed to be a tension charge in the air. He appeared to have all the time in the world as he walked slowly and diligently. I pressed my lips tightly and turned away not to yield to agony which I knew he was enjoying watching. “Still holding up, are we?” He said it more like a statement and to me there was something sinister in his jovial tone that made the bristles of my hair stand on end at the back of my neck. I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t let him have the pleasure of seeing my voice shaking. Frowning, Gerald huffed and pretended as if I had let him down by not responding to his joke. “I suppose you are angry with me now,” he said in a sarcastic and harsh manner.“But you shouldn’t be. After all, everything I have done has been for the greater good. ” My brows drew together, and at long last I opened my mouth to speak, my voice hoarse and ragged. “Greater good?” I spat. “You are being very selfish, Gerald. Very selfish.
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