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
ANDREW’S POVAs I walked away from the tense scene, my mind churned with emotions I couldn't easily sort. Alpha Xavier’s possessiveness wasn’t a surprise—everyone knew how fiercely protective he was—but seeing it with my own eyes, as he pulled Hannah close and marked her as his, did something to me.A twisted knot formed in my stomach, tightening with every step I took. She was his wife, bound by the Moon Goddess. I had no right to feel the things I did, but still, it hurt.I clenched my fists. How could I forget that? She belonged to him. And me? I was nothing more than a refugee—a survivor Xavier had taken in after my pack fell. But was that really all I was?As I walked down the dimly lit pathway leading back to the clinic, my thoughts drifted back to Hannah. Her face appeared in my mind—so beautiful, so soft. She had always been gentle, her kindness radiating in every smile.I had loved her long before Xavier came into the picture, back when we were just kids playing in the meadows
COBY’S POVAfter I left the clinic, I headed straight to our quarters, my steps quick and heavy, driven by a storm of emotions. The possibility that Vivian had a hand in the poisoning churned my stomach, tightening my chest with each stride. I didn't want to believe it, but the more I thought about it, the more the pieces clicked together.So this was her big plan to take Hannah down? Unbelievable. She had become even crazier than I thought. If I don’t stop her soon, she might get us all killed.I reached the door and threw it open with a force that rattled the frame. Inside, Vivian sat by the window, pressing an ice pack to her cheek. The pale light cast her in shadow, her face unreadable—until her eyes flicked up and met mine. They sparked with defiance, cold and sharp."Vivian," I growled, barely recognizing my own voice, rough and threatening.She didn’t flinch. Instead, she turned slowly toward me, her lip curling in disgust. "Keep your voice down, will you? What’s your problem?"
XAVIER'S POVA couple of days had passed since the food poisoning incident at the refugee camp, and still, I had no evidence, no leads, and no answers. The frustration inside me simmered like a low fire, each unanswered question stoking the flames.I paced the office, the thud of my footsteps echoing in the quiet space. Every step seemed to amplify the weight of my failure.Innocent people had suffered. Under my watch.Hannah was struggling. Every night she came home, her face pinched with worry, shoulders drooping. She had always been so strong, but this… this was breaking her. My chest tightened whenever I saw her like that.Why couldn’t I fix this?The council’s whispers weren’t helping either. Doubts about Hannah were spreading fast, like poison of their own. And that was unacceptable. My fists clenched at the thought. How dare they question her? My beast stirred beneath my skin, anger rippling through me.“Vivian,” I muttered, her name like bile in my mouth. My instincts screamed
COBY'S POVI stumbled out of Xavier's office, my lungs desperate for air. My throat burned where his hand had been, and I rubbed the bruised skin as I leaned against the hallway wall. The ache spread with each breath, but it wasn’t the physical pain that unsettled me.Xavier's strength, the raw power behind that grip, rattled me. It was unnerving—unexpected. I had underestimated him."Damn Lycan," I muttered, wincing as I tried to straighten up.I had underestimated his protectiveness toward Hannah. But I couldn’t back down now. Hannah wasn’t guilty—not yet. She was key to my plan. If I could manipulate things just right and get the council to believe she was guilty, then Xavier would be cornered.He’d have no choice but to bow to me. I’d get what I wanted, and he wouldn’t even see it coming. Vivian had laid out the path perfectly. Together, we would climb to the top, no longer living like outcasts.My footsteps echoed down the empty corridor as Xavier's fury lingered in my mind. His
ANDREW’S POVI watched Coby’s stiff back as he walked away, tension radiating off him. My chest tightened, a sense of unease creeping in. What is he hiding? His words echoed in my mind, deliberate and cold.“Loyalty comes first.”Loyalty to whom, though? The question rattled around in my skull. To Vivian or to the truth? I swallowed hard, suspicion gnawing at me. The pieces didn’t fit. Coby was acting strange, and Vivian... she was somehow tangled in all this. I just didn’t know how. If I’m going to do anything, I need proof.After training, my body screamed for rest. Every muscle ached, but my mind was relentless, circling back to Coby, Vivian, the poison. Nothing added up.“Damn it,” I muttered, scrubbing a hand through my hair. Maybe a shower will help.Back in my room, I peeled off my sweat-drenched clothes, feeling the weight of exhaustion. The cold water did its best to relax my body, but the knots in my stomach refused to untangle. No amount of scrubbing could wash away the dre
ANDREW'S POVThe thought hit me like a punch to the gut. I hadn’t felt anything like this since... well, since Hannah. But with Hannah, it was one-sided, unreciprocated. This felt different. Deeper. I couldn’t stop the questions from swirling in my mind as I tossed and turned, the tension in my body refusing to let me sleep until exhaustion finally pulled me under.The next morning came too soon. The sun’s early rays filtered through my window, and I knew I wouldn’t find any rest lying there. I needed to clear my head. Grabbing my clothes, I headed outside, the crisp morning air biting at my skin. My wolf stirred restlessly, eager to run, to stretch. Without a second thought, I shifted, feeling the familiar rush of power as my brown wolf took form.The forest welcomed me as I ran, the cool earth beneath my paws grounding me. Each stride burned away the restlessness, but the questions lingered. Why did I feel this pull toward Lily? What was happening to me?By the time I returned to wh
HANNAH’S POVThe wind tugged at my hair, cold and biting, as I leaned against the balcony railing. The early morning chill wrapped itself around me, creeping into my bones. I tightened my grip on the cold metal beneath my fingers and stared at the horizon. Maybe, just maybe, the answers I sought would appear if I looked hard enough.But they didn’t.A knot of unease twisted in my chest, a weight that hadn’t lifted in days. My thoughts circled back to the council’s summons—an ever-present shadow. The accusations, the looming trial.The poisoned refugees. The wolves I had tried to help were now the cause of my trial, and despite my innocence, the truth felt just out of reach.“They’ll condemn you,” a small voice whispered in the back of my mind. “Just like they did before.”I squeezed my eyes shut, inhaling sharply, trying to quiet the voice. But fear clawed at me, refusing to be ignored.Later that day, I made my way to the clinic. My heart pounded against my ribs, my steps too quick,
COBY’S POVI leaned against the counter, arms folded, the cool edge pressing into my back as I stood there, silent. My eyes stayed on them—Hannah, her arms wrapped tight around Jackson, his head tucked under her chin like it was where he belonged.Her face was hidden, buried in his messy curls, and for a moment, I couldn’t tell if she was smiling or holding back tears. Either way, I wasn’t part of it.Jackson’s laughter cut through the heavy silence like sunlight piercing storm clouds. It was bright, full, and innocent in a way that made my throat tighten.The sound pulled a smile from me despite everything, but it was fleeting. The joy in his laugh felt like a reminder of everything I wasn’t—everything I’d lost.“Can I have pancakes?” he asked, his small, hopeful voice breaking the quiet.“Pancakes?” Hannah repeated, tilting her head to look down at him with a teasing glint in her eye. “Hmm… what about broccoli pancakes instead? So healthy. So delicious.” Her voice was playful, soft—
HANNAH’S POVOnce inside, I led Coby to the dining table and gestured for him to sit. He sank into the chair heavily, as though gravity had claimed a special hold on him.Without a word, I poured him a cup of coffee. The kettle hissed softly, and the bitter scent of the brew filled the air. I placed the mug in front of him, the faint clink against the table the only sound between us. “Here,” I said simply.“Thanks,” he muttered, his voice rough and small. He wrapped both hands around the mug, his fingers trembling slightly. He sipped, his shoulders slumping further, as if the heat in the cup could thaw the cold inside him.I sat across from him, my gaze sharp and unwavering. He avoided it, staring into the dark liquid like it held answers he was too afraid to speak aloud.The Coby I remembered wasn’t this… diminished. He used to carry himself with a sharp-edged arrogance, always ready to cut someone down if it suited him. Now, that sharpness was gone, dulled to something that looked u
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