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 POVI stood there, torn between confusion and overwhelming concern for Lily. The shift from passion to rejection hit me like a punch, leaving me off balance.Something was wrong. I could feel it, and the thought gnawed at me, deepening my resolve. I couldn’t let her vanish into the night—not like this, not when she was hurting.My breath hitched as I stepped out into the cool evening air. The distant hum of laughter and conversation from pack members enjoying their night felt wrong, like it belonged to a world separate from the one Lily and I occupied.My footsteps echoed down the path as I quickened my pace, my mind spinning. What had happened to make her push me away? Was it something I had done? Or was she battling something deeper?By the time her house appeared in the distance, my chest was tight with worry. The windows glowed faintly, a sign that someone was home. Relief flickered through me. I could still reach her. I just needed her to let me in. I reached the door, k
LILY’S POVI could feel my heartbeat—each pulse pounding, aching, like a quiet scream within me. Andrew sat beside me, close but not too close, his face a mixture of compassion and worry.He searched my face, as if he could somehow read the pain written there, wanting so badly to understand, to help carry whatever burden weighed me down. I hadn’t wanted him here. I’d told him to leave, but he stayed. And a part of me—a small, bruised part I barely acknowledged—felt grateful.“Lily…” he murmured, his voice a gentle, steady plea. “Please, talk to me.”Words seemed too dangerous, too revealing. I pressed my lips together, shaking my head, fighting against the tears stinging my eyes. “I... I don’t know how,” I whispered, barely finding the strength to say it. My voice broke, a small, fractured sound.His gaze softened even more. “I’m here,” he said simply, a promise in those two words. “For you, no matter what.”His kindness felt like a blade slicing through old scars, painful in its gent
ANDREW/LILY POVAndrew’s POVI closed Lily’s door softly, feeling the ache of her words like a bruise in my chest. Leaning against the cold wall outside, I clenched my fists, replaying every moment of our conversation. She’d been so close to opening up, and then… like a door slamming shut, she pulled away, shutting herself down.Her words echoed in my mind: “damaged.” The raw pain in her voice, the defeat in her eyes—both haunted me.“Dammit,” I muttered under my breath, running a hand through my short hair.I knew she was hurting; it was written in every guarded glance, every tense silence. But hearing her call herself damaged… it twisted something deep inside me. I took out my phone, fingers hovering over the screen as I wrestled with what to say.Finally, I typed a message. Simple, but true. “I’m not going anywhere, Lily. When you’re ready to talk, I’ll be here.”I hit send, hoping, praying she’d understand. I meant it. Whatever she was carrying, whatever shadows she was fighting,
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