ANDREW'S POVWhen I opened my eyes the next morning, I didn’t expect to see Lily slumped beside my bed, her head resting on the edge of the mattress, her body twisted awkwardly in the chair.Her dark hair, tangled and unkempt, spilled across her face, hiding her strained expression. The sight tugged at something inside me—a warmth, a kind of gratitude that she stayed.I reached out instinctively, my fingers hovering above her shoulder, about to wake her gently. But then, her lips parted, and a quiet, broken sound escaped.“No—no, please stop,” she whimpered, her voice laced with terror. Her face contorted, deep lines creasing her forehead as if she were fighting something in her sleep.My heart lurched. “Lily, hey,” I whispered softly, placing my hand on her arm and shaking her gently. “It’s just a dream. Wake up.”Her body tensed further, her hands clenching into fists, and my worry grew. I shook her again, more urgently this time. “Lily!”Suddenly, her eyes flew open, wide and unfoc
HANNAH'S POVI stood frozen, my breath caught in my throat as Andrew’s words tore through the air between us, each syllable like a punch to the chest."Alpha Coby knows about your son."The world seemed to tilt. I could feel my pulse hammering in my ears, the words repeating, taunting me. How could he know? Our secret—my secret—was supposed to be safe. My body felt cold as panic surged through my veins, making it impossible to think.“Who told him?” My voice came out a broken whisper, trembling with disbelief. I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer. I searched Andrew’s face; his eyes were downcast, avoiding mine. Deep down, I already knew.His lips barely moved as he mumbled, "I’m sorry, Hannah."I blinked, trying to process it, my heart thrashing in my chest. "Sorry for what?"“I told him,” Andrew admitted, his voice heavy with guilt. He glanced up at me, a brief flash of shame crossing his face before he looked away again. "I had to... to save myself."For a split second, the world went
COBY’S POVI stormed out of the woods, leaving Andrew behind, each step heavy with anger. My hands were clenched so tightly my knuckles throbbed. His voice still echoed in my head, sharp as broken glass, cutting deeper with every passing second.“Hannah had a son... two years ago... and he’s yours too.”I stumbled as the words rang in my ears, my breath catching in my throat. A son. My son. Every fragment of the past—Hannah disappearing, the sleepless nights wondering what had happened to her—now snapped into a cruel, undeniable picture.She hadn’t just escaped. She had left with our child in her womb. And for two whole years, I had lived in ignorance.I could feel my pulse pounding in my temples as disbelief fought with the fury bubbling beneath my skin. How could she? How could she keep something like this from me? And Andrew—he knew. He knew, and yet he said nothing.The thought turned my anger into a fire I could barely contain. I shoved my fists into my pockets, trying to steady m
COBY’S POVThe days had blurred together, each one a heavy fog of guilt and secrecy. My heart pounded under the weight of a truth I couldn’t reveal. Every glance from Vivian—sharp, questioning—was a needle pricking deeper into my conscience. She was no fool.Her suspicions were growing, a silent storm building between us. And every day, I felt the pull—our son, somewhere within the pack. The thought gnawed at me constantly, a relentless ache.I couldn’t take it anymore. It had to end. I had to know, to face it all. I needed to see Hannah. Confront her. Get the answers that had eluded me for too long.Before I knew it, my feet were moving, taking me out of our quarters and straight to Xavier’s mansion. The closer I got, the harder my heart pounded, each step fueled by a mix of anger, desperation, and a flicker of hope.The guard at the entrance stood tall, his face a mask of indifference, but his eyes betrayed suspicion. His hesitation only fanned the fire inside me.“I need to see Han
COBY/HANNAH’S POV*Coby’s POV*“What do you mean, Hannah? You think I would hurt my own son?”I barely recognized my own voice—it was sharp, defensive, almost aching. Her accusation cut deep, like a wound I didn’t know could exist between us. My eyes darted over her face, searching for a sign, any sign, that she didn’t truly believe it. But there was no comfort in her expression. Just fear. Fear of me.Hannah’s lips formed a thin line, her eyes hardening. “Not you, Coby,” she said quietly, “but Vivian would. And I can’t take that risk.”Vivian. That name—it twisted something inside me. My gut churned, though I tried to push the thought away. I couldn’t let myself believe it. She wouldn’t. She couldn’t. But doubt crept in, slow and unwelcome, wrapping itself around my resolve. My fists clenched at my sides as I tried to shake it off. Vivian was capable of a whole lot of things, there was no denying that.“Vivian wouldn’t dare.” The words came out firm, though the certainty wasn’t there
VIVIAN’S POVI sat on the couch, book open, but the words blurred together, unread. My eyes followed Coby’s every movement as he grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. He paused for a second, glancing back at me. I quickly pretended to turn a page. My heart pounded, but I forced a casual smile. He wasn’t buying it. Neither was I.The door clicked softly behind him, and the silence that followed felt deafening. I tossed the book aside and stood, my chest tight with unease.Something was wrong. I could feel it in the pit of my stomach, that gnawing sense of dread I couldn't shake off. Coby had been distant since his meeting with Andrew that night, shutting me out with that maddening, dismissive line he always gave whenever I asked what was wrong: “It’s nothing, Vivian.”I clenched my jaw. It wasn’t nothing. His smile didn’t reach his eyes anymore, and when he laughed, it felt hollow, like he was forcing it for my sake. But worst of all, he wouldn’t meet my gaze. Every time I looked
VIVIAN’S POV"Trouble in paradise?" A voice cut through the tension behind me, thick with mockery. I froze, my pulse quickening. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.Eva.I whipped around anyway, my eyes narrowing as I met her gaze. She stood there, arms crossed, a smug grin plastered on her face—the kind of grin that made my skin crawl.Ever since our last encounter, I had done everything to avoid her. Coby’s warning about her not being trustworthy echoed in my mind. But now, here she was, baiting me."Trouble in paradise?" she repeated, savoring the words like some sort of victory. Her eyes sparkled with amusement, and the sight of it made my stomach twist.I clenched my fists, feeling my nails dig into my palms. The sharp sting helped anchor my rising anger. "I don’t have time for your games, Eva," I bit out, trying to keep my voice steady. The last thing I wanted was for her to see just how much she was getting to me.She tilted her head, her grin widening. "Oh, but I
ANDREW'S POV I walked away from Vivian, the cool evening air brushing against my skin, but it did nothing to calm the chaos inside me. Her words still clung to me, replaying in fragments, each one soaked with desperation and ignorance. Seeing how angry she was, It was obvious she had no clue about Coby’s secret—the child with Hannah. A slow, satisfied smile crept onto my lips. Finally, Coby was growing a fucking spine, keeping Vivian in the dark about something as important as this has to be the first. For once, he was making decisions without her claws digging into him. Maybe he was ready to stand up to her. Maybe not. But I couldn’t help wondering what his endgame really was. Was he truly hiding everything to protect the child from her evil schemes, or was he preparing for something bigger? The possibilities swirled around in my mind like smoke from a fire I couldn’t control. Maybe I should go see Hannah and talk to her but I doubt she would want to see me, not while she was tha
ANDREW’S POV The room erupted into a frenzy of motion as the doctors rushed in, their faces a mix of shock and forced calm. My chest heaved, and my hands trembled at my sides, slick with sweat. The echo of my own voice still rang in my ears—raw, desperate, pleading for help. My eyes stayed locked on Lily, her fragile form almost swallowed by the sterile white sheets. But she was alive. Awake. Her eyelids fluttered, and the sight hit me like a sucker punch. Relief and guilt crashed together in a storm I couldn’t begin to sort out. The doctors moved around her with practiced precision, their murmurs a low, clinical hum. I stood frozen, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst. Every second stretched into an eternity, every beep of the monitor a cruel reminder of how close I’d come to losing her. Finally, one of the doctors—a woman with kind eyes and a no-nonsense air—turned to me. Her smile was small but real, and it felt like the first crack of sunlight after a lon
ANDREW’S POV The cold, damp air of the dungeon clung to me like a second skin as I burst into the open. My chest heaved, not just from running, but from the raw, unrelenting fury burning in my veins. Beatrice was gone—her lifeless body left behind in that cursed cell—but Elijah… Elijah was still out there. And he would pay. I shifted into my wolf form, my paws pounding against the earth as I raced toward the main house. The guards and servants scattered like leaves in the wind, their shouts fading into the background. They weren’t my concern. My focus was singular, unyielding: find Elijah. Make him suffer. Make him regret digging his claws into what was mine. But as I tore through the forest, my wolf’s instincts sharp and unerring, I collided with a force that stopped me dead in my tracks. Alpha Xavier and his men stood before me, their presence commanding and unshakable. Xavier’s piercing gaze locked onto mine, and I shifted back into my human form, my body trembling with a mix
ANDREW’S POV The heavy dungeon door creaked open, and Beatrice stepped inside, her boots echoing against the cold stone floor. She carried a plate of food, her grip tight, knuckles whitening. Her eyes flicked to me, and for a split second, I saw it—hesitation, a flicker of doubt. But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by a hard, angry glare. She was trying to convince herself as much as me. My heart hammered in my chest, but I kept my face calm. This was my chance—my only chance to break free. “Beatrice,” I said, my voice low but steady. “You don’t have to do this. Let me go. I’ll make sure Xavier knows you were just following orders. You don’t have to go down with Elijah. He’s just using you.” She stopped short, her lips curling into a sneer. “Save your breath, Andrew,” she spat, her voice sharp but with a tiny crack in it—a fracture. “You’re going to die soon anyway. Why don’t you just shut up?” She dropped the plate in front of me. The bowl clattered, soup slos
HANNAH’S POV Elijah’s footsteps faded down the hallway, and I finally let out the breath I’d been holding. My chest felt tight, my heart hammering so hard I thought it might burst. I turned to Lily, my hands trembling as I reached for her. Her face was pale, her chest rising and falling in shallow, mechanical breaths. I leaned closer, my fingers brushing her wrist to check for a pulse. It was there—faint but steady. Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived. The image of Elijah hovering over her, his cold gaze lingering, sent a chill through me. He hadn’t come to check on her. He’d come to finish what he had already started. “Lily,” I whispered, my voice breaking. I took her hand, squeezing it gently as if I could will some of my strength into her. “Please, wake up. You have to fight. We need you.” My throat tightened, and I swallowed hard, blinking back tears. “You’re not alone, okay? I’m here. Xavier’s here. We won’t let him hurt you again.” Her hand twitched—just the sl
ELIJAH’S POV The heavy dungeon door groaned as it swung shut behind me, its iron hinges screaming in protest. My boots scraped against the uneven floor, each step a deliberate act of defiance as Andrew’s muffled groans faded into the oppressive darkness. My chest tightened, a volatile mix of anger and satisfaction coiling deep within me. He deserved this. Every agonizing second of it. Beatrice caught up with me, her face a mask of worry. “We need to kill him before Xavier returns and finds out. If we’re caught, it’ll be over for both of us.” I glanced at her, slightly irritated. “Not yet, Beatrice. I want him to suffer more before I end him. He stays alive for now, and that’s final.” She sighed, shaking her head. “You’re making a mistake. Keeping Andrew alive is too dangerous, especially with Xavier sniffing around. It’s not about Andrew himself—it’s about what happens if Xavier returns with more guards to search for him.” I considered her words for a moment, the scenario
ANDREW’S POV The cold was the first thing I felt—sharp, biting, like teeth sinking into my skin. It wasn’t just the chill of the dungeon; it was alive, slithering through the air, wrapping around me until I could barely breathe. My head throbbed, each pulse a cruel reminder of the blow that had knocked me out. My body ached, every muscle screaming as I shifted slightly. Then came the sound—a sharp, metallic clink. Chains. My wrists were shackled, the cuffs digging into my flesh, and my ankles were anchored to the floor with heavy iron. I was trapped. I blinked, my vision swimming as it adjusted to the dim, flickering light. The walls were slick with moisture, the stones jagged and uneven, as if they’d been carved to inflict suffering. The air reeked of mildew and decay, a nauseating stench that clawed at my throat. This wasn’t just a cell; it was a tomb, a place designed to crush hope. And then I saw him. Elijah stood a few feet away, his silhouette sharp against the gloom.
XAVIER’S POV I stormed out of the hospital, my mind racing as I headed straight for Elijah’s compound. Andrew’s impulsive decision to confront Elijah alone was reckless, and I knew it could only end in disaster. Elijah wasn’t the kind of man you confronted without a plan, and Andrew’s grief and rage had clouded his judgment. I had to stop him before it was too late. When I arrived at Elijah’s house, the guards at the gate immediately tensed, their hands hovering near their weapons as they recognized me. I didn’t have time for their games. “I need to speak to Elijah,” I said, my voice sharp and commanding. “Now.” The guards exchanged uneasy glances but eventually stepped aside, allowing me to pass. I strode through the compound, my senses on high alert. The place reeked of arrogance and deceit, and I hated every second I had to spend there. Elijah was waiting for me in the main hall, his expression calm but his eyes sharp. “Xavier,” he said, his voice smooth and mocking. “To wh
ANDREW’S POV The night air was cold, biting at my skin as I stormed through the streets. My mind was a whirlwind of anger, grief, and desperation. Every step I took felt fueled by the fire burning in my chest—a fire that had been ignited the moment I saw Lily lying there, broken and bleeding. The image was seared into my mind, playing on repeat like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from. And now, the doctor’s words echoed in my ears: “She’s hanging on by a thread.” Elijah did this. He hurt her. He took the one person who meant everything to me and tried to destroy her. I didn’t care if it was a calculated move or some twisted message to the pack. All I cared about was making him pay. He was going to regret ever laying a hand on her. My fists clenched at my sides as I picked up speed, my feet carrying me toward Elijah’s territory. I didn’t have a plan, and I didn’t care about the consequences. All I knew was that I couldn’t sit there and wait while Lily fought for her life. I had
HANNAH’S POV Andrew’s sobs tore through me, raw and unrelenting, as he clung to my shoulder. His body shook against mine, each cry a knife twisting deeper into my chest. I held him tighter, my fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt as if I could somehow anchor him to this moment—to me. The sterile smell of the hospital burned my nose, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my heart. Lily—sweet, fierce Lily—was just beyond those doors, fighting for her life. And Andrew… he was breaking in my arms. “Why?” he choked out, his voice muffled against my shoulder. “Why her? Why today?” His words were ragged, each one laced with a pain so deep it felt endless. I didn’t have an answer. There was no answer. The world was cruel, and it had chosen them—two of the kindest souls I knew—to bear its cruelty. I pulled back just enough to cup his face, my thumbs brushing away the tears that wouldn’t stop falling. His eyes were bloodshot, his cheeks streaked with grief. “Andrew,” I whis