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 POV"Crimson Pack." The name hit me like a blow, and for a moment, all I could hear was the rush of blood in my ears. The Crimson Pack—the one pack I had hoped never to cross paths with again.My breath hitched. The hesitation in Xavier’s voice before he uttered the words should have confirmed my worst fear—it was my old pack. Memories crashed over me, each one cutting deeper than the last.Three years had passed, but the scars still remained, hidden but not forgotten. I had worked so hard to bury that part of my life, but now, it was rising to the surface, threatening everything I held dear."No, this can't be happening." My mind raced with fear and anger. "What would this mean for me, for my son, Jackson?" The thought of Alpha Coby coming here, seeing him, and realizing he was his own son sent a jolt of panic through my veins."Oh no! What if he tries to take Jackson away from me? It would be over my dead body," I swore to myself. Jackson was mine—no one would take him, not
HANNAH’S POVThe next day, the Shadow Moon Pack grounds buzzed with life. Everywhere I looked, pack members were busy, their movements quick and purposeful as they prepared for the Crimson Pack’s arrival. The air itself seemed to hum with their energy.I watched as people rushed about—some carrying boxes, others organizing supplies. In the communal hall, stacks of food, clothing, and other essentials lined the walls. Normally, this show of unity would calm me, but today, a knot tightened in my stomach, stubborn and unrelenting.I forced myself to focus on the pile of donations in front of me, trying to block out the thoughts creeping in. Every time my mind wandered, it went to Coby. Just the thought of him sent a cold shiver up my spine."Why does he have to come back now?" I had rebuilt my life here—Xavier, Jackson, and the pack had become my world. But with Coby’s return, everything felt fragile again, like a delicate balance waiting to tip over.I paused, my fingers gripping a soft
COBY’S POV"Coby, our relocation to the Shadow-Moon Pack has been approved by the council." Andrew's voice cut through the stillness of my office.The room had been suffocating with endless paperwork and thoughts of a crumbling future. I looked up at him, the exhaustion weighing heavy in my eyes. For a moment, his words lingered in the air like a lifeline thrown to a drowning man.I blinked. Had I heard him right?"Are you serious?" My voice cracked with disbelief as I stood, knocking the chair back slightly. Relief surged through me, but it felt strange—almost foreign.Andrew nodded, a small smile playing at the edges of his lips. "We’re moving, Coby. We’ll start over."I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. For months, Andrew had been my rock, even when I didn’t deserve it. Through all my failures, he stayed by my side. His tall frame stood firm, but I could see the weight of these past years in his eyes too. He was as worn out as I was.I exhaled slowly, feeling a small
COBY’S POV"Welcome. I'm glad you all could make it," Xavier’s voice reverberated through the air, his tall, commanding figure framed against the entrance of the packhouse. His presence demanded attention, like a king surveying his court.I stepped forward, nodding with deliberate respect. "Thank you for having us. My people and I won’t forget your kindness, Alpha Xavier. This is my Luna, Vivian, and my second-in-command, Andrew."Vivian, her smile warm yet regal, took a small step forward. "It's a pleasure to meet you, King—" Her words hung in the air as Xavier cut her off, his focus shifting away from her entirely."Welcome, Andrew, everyone," he said, reaching past Vivian to clasp Andrew’s hand. His grip was firm, his tone polite but distant, as if Vivian hadn’t spoken at all. "It’s good to have you. Unfortunately, I have pressing matters to attend to. Please, make yourselves comfortable. I’ll see you all at the welcoming fest tonight."Andrew returned the handshake, glancing brief
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