HANNAH’S POVAs soon as I laid Jackson in his crib, I lingered for a moment, watching his little chest rise and fall. His soft breaths filled the room, and for a second, I felt a wave of calm wash over me. But then I remembered who was waiting in the other room, and a nervous excitement crept into my chest. Quietly, I made my way back.Xavier was already in bed, stretching out lazily. He looked so comfortable, one arm flung behind his head, his muscles relaxed under the dim light of the room. I climbed onto the bed, straddling his waist, my knees sinking into the mattress on either side of him.“Feeling sleepy already?” I teased, raising an eyebrow.Xavier let out a low chuckle and nodded, eyes half-closed, his mouth curving into a lazy smile.I leaned in closer, my lips brushing against his ear. “That’s a shame,” I whispered, my voice barely audible but thick with intent. “I wanted to do something... just for us tonight.”His eyes flicked open, that familiar spark flashing in them. “
HANNAH’S POVThe next morning, I woke up in Xavier's arms as usual, his deep blue eyes the first sight to greet me as I blinked open my eyes. "Good morning, beautiful," he said before pressing his lips to mine in a kiss.I smiled into the kiss, wrapping my arms tightly around his neck. I couldn't get enough of this man who was my mate. Perhaps we could go another round this morning before the sun crawls out.And just as the thought popped into my mind, Xavier pulled away. "I have to get up and get ready for work. You should get up too, sweetheart."Xavier was right. I did need to get up and get ready for work, but I also wanted to cuddle with him a little bit longer."Are you trying to get rid of me?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow at him."Never," Xavier growled lowly before reaching down for another kiss. After he pulled away, I sighed in defeat."Fine," I mumbled, getting out of bed before smacking his ass from behind.Xavier chuckled and made his way to the bathroom to get ready
COBY’S POVI watched Hannah disappear into the elevator, a storm of frustration swirling inside me. My fingers twitched at my sides as my mind replayed the encounter that had just spiraled out of control. "Stubborn as always," I muttered under my breath, running a hand through my hair.This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. Not even close to how I imagined it would be.I had imagined—no, hoped—that somehow she’d listen to me, give me a chance to explain. But why did I think it would be any different this time? Did I really believe she’d welcome me with open arms like we are old friends? Still, I needed her to hear me out, to understand. But she wouldn’t even give me that.My hand balled into a tight fist as helpless anger simmered beneath the surface.If that girl, Lily, hadn’t shown up, I might have gotten through to her. My jaw clenched. Hannah had slipped away—again. She was always slipping away, just out of my reach. Now, I’d have to wait. A bitter thought. But waiting wasn’t my s
Xavier’s POVAs I watched Coby walk toward the door, a low growl rumbled in my chest, my instincts coiled tight, ready to strike. My eyes narrowed into slits, tracking his every step. The itch to rip him apart clawed at me—a primal urge I struggled to rein in. How dare he? How dare he come to me under the guise of appreciation, as if I couldn’t see through him? Did he really think I was a fool?“I’m not a threat to your union with her,” his words echoed in my head, mocking me with their empty assurances. Coby’s eyes had betrayed him. That spark—sharp, hungry—flickered when he said Hannah’s name. The bastard still lusted after her, still craved what was mine.I didn’t realize my fist was clenched around the pen until it snapped with a sharp crack. I stared at the broken pieces in my hand, feeling my blood hum with barely contained rage. The memory of Coby’s betrayal—how he left Hannah to rot in jail for his crimes—burned in my mind. And now, after all that, he thought he could crawl ba
HANNAH'S POVI stood by the window, watching my family. Xavier's laughter mixed with Jackson's giggles as he lifted our little boy into the air in the garden.For a brief moment, I let myself sink into the warmth of the scene. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the cloud that had lingered over me since Coby's visit. His sudden appearance at our doorstep had stirred a storm of memories I’d fought to bury.His lies, his manipulations—they always left scars. But unless he was here to finally admit the truth about Elise’s death, I had nothing left to say to him.With a sigh, I pulled myself away from the window. Tonight wasn't about Coby or the painful past he represented. It was about my stepmother, Cecilia. I hadn’t had much time with her since the last welcoming party, and I had missed her—her kindness, her warmth.The house buzzed with the quiet hum of preparation. The soft clink of dishes as the maid set the table, the faint aroma of garlic and roasted potatoes wafting
HANNAH’S POV"Who is it?" I asked, already sensing it would disrupt my brief moment of calm.Helen, my maid, replied softly, "It's Lily."I glanced over at my mother, Cecilia, sitting nearby. We exchanged a look, and I sighed inwardly. "Show her to the study," I said, my tone firm but not unkind. "I'll meet her there."Helen bowed and left swiftly. I turned to my mother, guilt gnawing at me. "I wish we could chat longer, Mom," I said, trying to smile despite the heaviness settling in. "But duty calls, as usual. I'll come visit as often as I can."Cecilia’s warm eyes softened as she stood, pulling me into a hug, her familiar scent of lavender surrounding me. "I understand, dear," she murmured, her voice rich with understanding. "You’ve always had so much on your shoulders, but I’ll hold you to that promise."I hugged her tighter, lingering in her warmth a moment longer. "Thank you so much for coming tonight, Mom. It means the world."She kissed my cheek, a gentle, comforting touch. "I’
HANNAH’S POVMy hands tightened on the little girl’s shoulders as her trembling form pressed against me. She was an orphan, clinging to the last thread of family she had left—her brother, who was fighting for his life in a distant room.Her wide, tear-filled eyes met mine, pleading. "Please... save my brother. Don’t let him die." Her voice cracked, and the raw desperation in it tore at my chest.I pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly. "Shh... It’s going to be okay. We’ll do everything we can." My voice was soft, but inside, fear gnawed at me. Would that promise be enough?She sniffed against my chest, her grip tightening around me. "You promise?"I hesitated for just a second, then nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. "Yes," I said, my voice barely steady.The girl didn’t say anything after that. She just pressed herself closer, as if my arms could protect her from all the horrors outside this moment. But I felt helpless. I could comfort her, but I couldn’t cure her brother.
HANNAH'S POVI burst through the hospital doors, barely aware of where I was going. My chest felt tight, emotions swirling like a storm inside me—panic, guilt, confusion—all fighting for dominance. I hadn’t even realized I was crying until my vision blurred, and I stumbled forward.Suddenly, a firm hand caught me, steadying my trembling body."Hannah, hey—what’s going on?"It was Andrew. His voice was gentle but filled with concern. I blinked through the tears and saw the furrow in his brow, his blue eyes searching my face for answers. His grip on my arms was steady, grounding me.I tried to speak, but the words came out in a sob. "How can you ask that?" My voice cracked, and the tears flowed harder. "People in there... they're sick. And... and it might be my fault."Andrew’s expression softened, his hands still holding onto me as if he could keep me from unraveling completely. "Hey, hey... slow down," he said quietly. "Hannah, none of this is your fault. You don’t know that."Andrew
HANNAH’S POVThe moment Elijah stepped into the doorway, flanked by his men, my breath hitched. His presence was like a storm rolling in—dark and suffocating. My eyes locked onto his, and for a split second, the world narrowed to just him: his cold, calculating gaze, the cruel curve of his lips. My chest tightened as fear and anger clawed at my throat.“Step aside, girl,” Elijah said, his voice smooth but laced with venom. “Hand over the Luna and the boy. Do that, and I promise you won’t get hurt.”Taylor didn’t move. Her stance was steady, her voice like steel. “I’m not afraid of you, Elijah. Turn around and leave, or I’ll make you regret ever coming here.”Elijah chuckled, low and mocking. “I was hoping you’d say that. Now, I get to grant your wish.”With a flick of his hand, his men lunged forward. Taylor turned to me, her eyes blazing with determination. “Go back upstairs, Luna. Take Jackson. Stay there until I clear this. Don’t come down until I say it’s safe.”I nodded, my throa
XAVIER’S POVThe battlefield was a storm of chaos—a whirlwind of snarls, blood, and desperation from both sides. My claws tore through flesh, my fangs dripped with the metallic tang of enemy blood, and my lungs burned with every ragged breath.The rogues and Lycans came in waves, relentless, their eyes wild with a hunger that bordered on madness but Ross was nowhere in sight. I don't want to believe he was hiding behind his army because that would be the height of cowardice.These set of rogues weren’t the usual stragglers we’d faced before. No, these were something darker, something angrier. And they just. Kept. Coming in their numbers. Good thing, Andrew and his warrior knew how to handle the rest of them and they were holding them back at the western border.Kas fought beside me, his movements sharp but slowing with each kill and strike, his Lycan precision no longer as accurate as I had hoped.I could feel it in the air, in the way his strikes lacked their usual precision. My ches
HANNAH’S POVThe growls and screams of pack members outside clawed at my ears, each one a dagger twisting deeper into my chest. I couldn’t watch the massacre anymore. Warriors from both sides were falling, their lives snuffed out like candles in a storm.My heart ached for them—for the families who would never see their loved ones again. Everyone except Elijah and Ross. They deserved whatever hell awaited them. But Xavier… Kas… Andrew… Where were they? Out there, somewhere, fighting. Leading. Protected by their men, but still in the thick of it. The thought made my stomach churn.I turned away from the window, my hands trembling. The weight of it all pressed down on me, suffocating. I couldn’t bear to see another drop of blood spilled. Not tonight.Jackson squirmed in my arms, his tiny fists clutching at my shirt. His whimpers snapped me back to the present. “Shh, baby,” I whispered, rocking him gently. “It’s okay. Mommy’s here.”His wide, fearful eyes searched mine, and I forced a sm
HANNAH’S POVThe night had been perfect—soft, quiet, the kind of peace that sinks into your soul and makes you believe, just for a moment, that the world could be kind. I was curled up next to Xavier, his warmth wrapping around me, our breaths falling in sync as we slept. But that peace shattered in an instant.A piercing, excruciatingly loud alarm blared through the pack house. I jolted awake, my heart hammering in my chest. The obnoxious sound grated on my ears, and I winced, trying to get my bearings.What could have caused such a ruckus in the middle of the night? I glanced at Xavier beside me, but he was already up, standing at the side of the bed, his body rigid. His eyes had darkened, his jaw clenched tightly.Then it hit me like a punch to the gut—Ross.The alarm could only mean one thing: Ross and his men were here. My blood ran cold.Xavier growled deeply, the sound rumbling through the room and sending shivers down my spine. He stormed out of the bedroom, his movements fast
Ross’s POVAs we advanced, I couldn’t help but think about how sweet it would be to see the fear in Xavier’s eyes, the realization that he couldn’t protect his pack, his precious little family. This wasn’t just an attack. This was personal.The further we moved into Shadow Moon Pack’s territory, the heavier the anticipation grew. The silence between us was palpable, broken only by the occasional whisper of leaves beneath our boots.My senses were on high alert, every nerve in my body tuned to the slightest sound or movement. But everything was still. Just the way I wanted it.As we neared the outer edges of the pack’s territory, I held up a hand, signaling the others to stop. Roman and Elijah froze instantly, their eyes fixed on me, waiting for my next move. I crouched low, scanning the area. I knew Xavier would have his best guards patrolling, but they weren’t expecting this—not yet.I motioned for Roman to scout ahead. He slipped into the shadows without a word, his movements so flu
ROSS’S POVThe engine’s hum was a low, steady growl, matching the tension coiled in my chest. My fingers drummed against my thigh, each tap a silent countdown. Ten years. A decade of planning, of rage simmering beneath the surface, of dreams drenched in vengeance. And now, finally, it was here. The night Xavier would learn what it meant to lose everything.I glanced out the window. The road stretched endlessly ahead, swallowed by the shadows of towering trees. A cruel smile tugged at my lips. He had no idea what was coming. None of them did.Roman, my most trusted, sat behind the wheel, his grip tight on the leather, his jaw set in a hard line. His eyes were fixed on the road, but I could feel the anticipation radiating off him—sharp and electric. He was ready. We all were.In the back seat, Elijah sat quietly, his usual chatter replaced by a tense silence. But I could see the eager glint in his eyes, the way his fingers twitched restlessly against his knee. He was hungry for this, to
Coby’s POVI don’t know how long I was out, but when I finally came to, I was stuffed into the cramped trunk of a moving vehicle. I could tell by the smell of gasoline and the frequent speed bumps. My head throbbed, and every inch of my body ached from the earlier impacts.That fucking monster had broken my neck back there without a second thought. I was lucky to still be alive, but it was going to take a while for me and my wolf to recover completely. For now, I could only depend on myself to get out alive.As the car sped along, the salty taste of the air grew fainter, and I could smell pine and cedarwood, indicating a change of scenery. My jaw tightened as the reality of the situation set in—Ross was heading straight for Shadow Moon Pack. And there was nothing I could do to stop him. At least, not while I was stuck in the trunk of his car.I could feel the cold metal pressing against my skin and hear the hum of the engine as it barreled down the road. Fear clawed at my chest, but I
COBY’S POVThe phone rang again, each tone going straight to voicemail. I kept trying, but it ended the same fucking way. It was insane. My jaw tightened, frustration bubbling under my skin. She had to know. She just had to. Time was slipping through my fingers like quicksand, and I couldn’t afford to lose any more of it.I cursed under my breath, the sound sharp in the empty room. My fingers trembled as I dialed Andrew’s number next. Maybe he could get to her. Maybe he could deliver my message to Xavier as well, and Xavier could take it from there.Andrew’s phone rang once, then twice, and then there was an answer. “Hello?” A woman’s voice, soft but firm, cut through my thoughts. Lily. Of course. Andrew’s girl.“Who is this?” she asked, her voice suspicious.I froze, the words catching in my throat. Should I explain? Could I trust her? My mind raced, but the clock in my head was ticking too fast. I didn’t have time for this. I didn’t have time for anything.I hung up without a word,
XAVIER’S POVThe security check was done. Every patrol was synchronized, and every entry point sealed. On paper, it was flawless. But the quiet—the fact that it was suddenly so quiet—unsettled me. I wished I knew what Ross was planning, but for the past few days, there had been no sign of him or his men anywhere near our pack.Silence from him wasn’t peace; it was a coiled spring, ready to snap. My fingers twitched as I pulled out my phone and dialed Taylor. Hannah and Jackson’s faces flashed in my mind, and my chest tightened painfully.“Alpha,” Taylor answered, her voice crisp and no-nonsense.“How is my family?” I asked, my tone clipped, betraying none of the storm inside.“They’re fine,” she said steadily. “Luna Hannah took Jackson to school. We’re back now. I’ve got eyes on her. Nothing’s out of place.”I exhaled slowly, the tension in my shoulders easing just a fraction. “Good. Stay sharp. If anything changes, you call me.”“Always,” she replied, her voice softening just enough