Xavier’s POV Kasper’s eyes narrowed, his jaw set in a firm line. "I’m not against you showing her off, Xavier. I’m just saying, be cautious. A grand party will put Hannah in the spotlight, making her a target. A simple dinner would be safer."A low growl rumbled in my throat, but I kept it in check. "You’re being paranoid, Kasper," I growled, barely restraining the irritation that bubbled to the surface. "As long as Hannah remains within the pack’s territory, she’s safe. That bastard wouldn’t dare try anything on our land. Besides, I want Hannah to feel welcomed. A grand party is exactly what she needs, and that’s final."Kasper met my gaze, his expression unwavering. "I understand your desire to make her feel at home, Xavier, but I have to look out for her safety—and yours. We don’t know what ‘he’ is planning. A public celebration could be the perfect opportunity for him to reappear."I leaned back in my chair, trying to rein in the frustration that gnawed at me. Kasper’s caution wa
HANNAH’S POVThe day of the welcoming party had finally arrived, and despite Xavier’s reassurances that Kara—his Beta’s mate—would be coming around to help me get ready, I couldn’t shake the nervousness gnawing at me.The way Xavier had spoken about Kara, his eyes lighting up as he described her, made me believe she would be kind. Yet the fluttering in my stomach persisted—a mix of anxiety and anticipation twisting within me.Xavier had left early that morning, muttering something about needing to check on the party preparations. But I knew better; it was just an excuse to give Kara and me some space. I appreciated the gesture, especially since I was feeling both lazy and nauseous from the pregnancy hormones.The mere thought of dragging myself out of Xavier’s king-sized bed felt like an Olympic feat. But I had to look presentable before Kara arrived, so I forced myself up, each movement a small victory over the fatigue weighing me down.The cold tiles sent a shiver up my spine as I p
HANNAH'S POVEver since arriving at the Blue Moon pack and being confined to Xavier's room, the outside world had become a distant memory. The walls of his quarters were both my shelter and my prison, with only fleeting glimpses of the world beyond through half-closed curtains.So when he finally told me about the party, I could only think of one thing: freedom, at last. But the momentary joy was quickly replaced by a creeping sense of dread. Xavier mentioned that he had invited all the neighboring packs and allies.Could Coby be among them?The thought sent a cold shiver down my spine, my palms dampening with the anxiety that gripped me. As we walked down the long hallway, my fingers instinctively tightened around Xavier's arm, my anchor in this storm of uncertainty."Are you okay?" Xavier's voice, always so controlled, now had an edge of concern. His eyes flickered toward me, softening at the sight of my tension.I forced a smile, though my stomach was in knots. "Yeah, just... a litt
HANNAH’S POVMy breath caught in my throat the moment I saw him—Andrew. His familiar chiseled jawline, the messy hair that always looked like he had just woken up, and those deep brown eyes that always seemed to be watching, observing everything. My heart stuttered for a second as a mix of shock and something else—something I didn’t want to name—rushed through me. I hadn’t seen him in weeks, and I certainly didn’t expect to find him at Xavier's lavish party. The room around us faded; the hum of laughter and clinking glasses reduced to a dull buzz as my eyes locked onto him. “Andrew?” The word slipped out, barely above a whisper, my voice betraying my disbelief. I swallowed hard, feeling the sudden dryness in my throat. “What are you doing here?” His lips curled into a small smile, but his eyes... they told a different story. A hint of something—perhaps relief, or maybe something darker—flickered there. “Hannah,” he said softly, his voice like a memory. “It’s good to see you again.”
HANNAH'S POVI gazed at Eva, my expression cold, disinterested. Every muscle in my face was deliberately still—no flicker of warmth, no hint of openness. The air between us felt thick, suffocating, as if the tension had manifested into something tangible. But Eva, unfazed, stepped closer. She forced a smile—tight, strained—and extended her hand, a hollow gesture wrapped in forced civility. “Let’s start again, Hannah.” Her voice was coated with a sickly sweetness, each word dripping with an effort to seem kind. I could hear the tension beneath it, the way her vocal cords tightened with resentment she couldn’t fully mask. “I think we got off on the wrong foot. Maybe we should reintroduce ourselves, try to make amends. Who knows—we could become allies, if not friends.” A sigh escaped me, slow and deliberate, laden with disinterest. “I’m not interested in becoming your ally or friend, Eva.” The words came out clipped, each syllable sharp, as though I was too exhausted to even bother w
HANNAH'S POVXavier’s face shifted, his brows drawing together in concentration. His voice, calm yet calculated, broke the silence. "Eva was no one, Hannah. Just another pack member. You didn’t need to worry about her."I studied him, my mind racing as I pieced together what I’d heard. My eyes narrowed as I searched his face for the truth. "That’s not what I’ve been told," I said, my voice firmer than I intended. "I heard you were going to make her your Luna before I came along and ruined your plans."His expression changed—shock, confusion, and finally, a flicker of anger briefly clouding his features. But beneath the mask he wore, I caught a glimpse of something else. Guilt. It was subtle, but it was there."Who told you that?" Xavier’s voice dropped, edged with a dangerous calm, as though he were barely holding back a storm.I lifted my chin, refusing to back down. "Does it really matter where I heard it? The point is, you’re not telling me the truth. You and Eva—you were together,
HANNAH’S POVThe next morning, I slowly opened my eyes, still half-lost in the warmth of sleep, only to find Xavier beside me. His large, protective arms were wrapped around me like a barrier against the world, as if even in sleep, he was afraid to let go. For a moment, I just lay there, captivated by the rise and fall of his chest.He looked peaceful, his rugged features softened by sleep. His brows, usually furrowed in concentration, were relaxed. His long lashes—ridiculously long for a man—rested against his cheeks, giving him an almost boyish innocence. I couldn’t help but smile as I noticed his slightly parted lips, the softest of snores escaping now and then. My heart swelled unexpectedly.“Why do I feel this way?” I wondered, a flutter stirring in my chest. I couldn’t help it; I was drawn to him more than I should be. There was something comforting about watching him sleep, something that made me feel... love. But love was dangerous, wasn’t it? I shook my head lightly, trying t
HANNAH’S POVTHREE YEARS LATERThree years can slip by like a gentle breeze—swift and subtle—yet in those years, my life had transformed. Jackson, my beautiful boy, had become the sun around which my world revolved. And Xavier—he had been my anchor, always steady, always there. From the moment Jackson’s first cry broke through the air, Xavier became a man who lived for us.I remember that day like it was yesterday: the exhaustion, the pain, and then... the overwhelming joy. I saw something new in Xavier’s eyes when he held our son for the first time—pride, yes, but also a kind of fierce tenderness.As he whispered Jackson’s name, a name he chose to honor his late father, I knew our lives had shifted forever. The bond between us deepened in that moment. Whatever doubts I had about his commitment faded away like mist under the morning sun.One night, when Jackson wouldn’t settle, his tiny voice demanding Xavier’s presence, I glanced at the clock. Nine p.m. had come and gone, and still, n
HANNAH’S POVI woke to the soft, rhythmic sound of Jackson’s breathing beside me, his little chest rising and falling with such perfect innocence that it made my heart ache. The pale sunlight seeped through the curtains, painting his face in a golden glow. For a moment, I didn’t move, just watched him—the curve of his cheeks, the flutter of his lashes.He looked so peaceful, and in that stillness, I found a fleeting sense of calm. Leaning down, I pressed a gentle kiss to his warm cheek, my lips lingering for a heartbeat.Slipping from the bed, I tightened my robe around me and padded silently to the bathroom. The cool splash of water on my face was like a reset button, wiping away the remnants of sleep. As I dried my face, the thought of pancakes floated to mind—unbidden but welcome. Jackson loved pancakes, especially with a swirl of honey.Back in the bedroom, I changed into Xavier shorts and leggings before pulling my hair into a loose bun.Humming softly, I headed to the kitchen, t
EVA’S POVThe sharp knock at the door tore through my sleep like a blade, yanking me from a fragile dream. I groaned, rolling onto my stomach and pressing my face into the pillow, hoping whoever it was would take the hint and leave.The knocking came again, harder this time, rattling the thin door. “Whoever it is, go away!” I shouted, my voice thick with sleep and irritation.“Eva! It’s me—please, open up!”Vivian? Her voice cracked, raw and unfamiliar, and an uneasy prickle shot through me. I dragged myself out of bed, my head foggy as I stumbled across the room.She never sounded like that—not Vivian, not the girl who could chew someone out without breaking a sweat.When I pulled the door open, whatever I was about to say died in my throat. She stood there, trembling, barely holding herself upright.Her hair stuck to her forehead in damp strands, and her oversized shirt—definitely not hers—hung awkwardly off one shoulder. But it was her eyes that hit me the hardest. They were swolle
VIVIAN’S POVThe night was alive with tension, each breath of wind carrying the weight of my choices. The six guards surrounded me in a loose circle, their postures sharp, hands resting near weapons that might as well have been unsheathed.Their eyes burned with the kind of suspicion that came only from long, hard training. Predators. My wolf stirred beneath my skin—a coiled spring of instinct and fury. I swallowed it down with a low growl, a sound that straddled the line between warning and restraint.This wasn’t the time. Not yet.I pulled air into my lungs, slow and deliberate, willing my wolf to retreat. The shift back to human form hit like a vice tightening around every bone in my body, each joint snapping into place with brutal finality.When it was over, I stood there bare and trembling, the cool night air a sharp reminder of how fragile this form could feel. My breaths came unsteady, but I forced my voice to remain calm. Steady.“I’m Luna Vivian, wife of Alpha Coby of the Cri
VIVIAN’S POVThe taillights vanished into the yawning dark, swallowed by the endless stretch of road. A lump rose in my throat—sharp and suffocating—and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe.My chest hitched as I choked down a sob that threatened to claw its way free. He’d done it. Coby had really left me—abandoned me—without a second glance, without a shred of hesitation.The cold pressed against my skin like icy needles, but even that was nothing compared to the hollow ache churning inside me.The forest loomed beyond the crumbling pack house, its gnarled branches clawing at the moonlit sky like skeletal fingers. Shadows pooled beneath the trees—dark, alive—and my gut twisted.Rogues could be out there, lurking, watching, waiting. I shivered, but not from the cold. The fear pressed down on me, heavy and relentless, making my pulse race and my breaths come shallow.“Get a grip,” I whispered, though my voice barely broke the silence. My legs felt leaden as I forced them to move, each step
COBY’S POVThe car hurtled down the desolate road, the growl of the engine loud but not loud enough. The chaos in my mind was deafening. My fingers clamped around the steering wheel, nails biting into the leather. My jaw ached from clenching so hard.I had done it. Finally. I had walked away from her for good.But her voice—raw, broken—clung to me like a ghost. “Coby, please! Don’t go! Don’t leave me like this!”Her scream had shattered something inside me, something I wasn’t sure I’d ever get back. Even now, the memory of it tightened around my chest like a vice. But I couldn’t stop. Not after what she’d done.The name came unbidden: that damn Elijah.Just thinking his name made my blood boil. How could she? After everything we had been through, after everything I had sacrificed for her, how could she betray me like this? I slammed my hand against the wheel, the sharp pain in my palm doing nothing to ease the rage burning through me.She had stood there, tears streaming down her face
VIVIAN’S POVHis grip on my throat faltered, a flicker of uncertainty flashing across his stormy eyes. I gasped, dragging air into my burning lungs, coughing as if it might stop the world from spinning.“For us?” His voice dropped to a low growl, quieter now but seething with danger.“Yes!” I choked, my words tumbling out through tears that burned hot trails down my cheeks. “Everything I did, Coby, I did for us. Do you think I wanted this? That I—” My voice cracked, and I gritted my teeth, forcing the words past the lump in my throat.“Do you think I enjoyed it? Being near him, letting him think he had control over me? I hated every second of being with him. But I thought—” I faltered, my voice trembling like brittle glass. “I thought if I gave him what he wanted, we could have his resources and support. It was the only way. For us. For our future.”His fingers twitched, loosening slightly, though they lingered at my throat. His breath was uneven, his chest heaving with restrained rag
VIVIAN’S POV“What truth are you talking about, Coby?” My voice came out sharper than intended, the sharp edge of fear making it crack. I couldn’t help it—the way he’d been acting, the things he’d been saying—it wasn’t like him.Coby didn’t answer. He didn’t even flinch. Instead, he turned on his heel and walked deeper into the ruins, his boots crunching over broken glass and rotting wood.“Coby!” I called after him, my voice rising in pitch—a mix of frustration and panic. My pulse thudded in my ears as I watched his retreating figure. He was acting so strange, so... off.Whatever madness had taken hold of him that night, I had to stop it. I needed to drag him out of that place before something terrible happened—something we couldn’t come back from.He was slipping away—both physically and emotionally—and I couldn’t let that happen. Not now.I hurried after him, stumbling slightly as I tried to navigate the broken remains of the house. The scent of damp wood and decay filled my nostri
VIVIAN’S POVThe hum of the car filled the silence—a low, steady sound that echoed the unease building inside me. I sat in the passenger seat, staring out into the darkness as the road stretched endlessly ahead.Coby hadn’t said a damn word since we left the shadow moon pack, and the longer we drove, the more I realized how stupid I had been not to ask questions.What exactly was I thinking? I came home, exhausted after a long day with Eva and Elijah, and there he was, telling me to get in the car.I didn’t even ask why or where we were going—I just went along. And Now, hours later, with nothing but the dim glow of the dashboard and his silence for company, I felt like an idiot to say the least.I turned my head to look at him. His face was set, his eyes locked on the road like it held some kind of answer. His hands gripped the wheel, his knuckles pale under the faint light.“Coby,” I said, breaking the silence, though my voice sounded smaller than I intended. “Where the hell are we g
LILY'S POV“There’s nothing we can do,” Andrew said, his voice heavy with resignation. “Let’s just hope they don’t end up killing each other wherever they are.”I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. What could I have said to that? The tension between Coby and Vivian wasn’t something I had been aware of until now, but hearing Andrew say it out loud made it feel even more real—and dangerous.As we walked back to his house, his hand firmly holding mine, the silence between us stretched. I glanced at him now and then, but his eyes were distant, his brows furrowed in deep thought.He was worried. That much was obvious. Despite everything, he cared deeply about his Alpha and Luna, even if I didn’t think Vivian deserved the title.By the time we got back to his place, the weight of the night seemed to press even heavier on both of us. Andrew dropped onto the couch, rubbing his face with his hands, while I stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do.“Do you want some water?” I asked sof