COBY'S POVThe air was thick with tension as I left my quarters, Vivian’s words still echoing in my mind, lingering like a curse I couldn’t shake. Doubt snaked its way into my thoughts, unsettling me, stirring up a confusion I’d buried deep.Had I really been so blind all this time? Or was it simply desperation—a need to believe Jackson was mine? Was it pride, blinding me to the manipulations Hannah might have spun?Andrew’s face surfaced in my mind, the haunted look in his eyes that night. Andrew wouldn’t lie to me, would he? I replayed every detail, the tension in his voice, the flash of fear as he spoke of secrets too heavy to carry. But then… there was Hannah. Had she deceived me all along?Driven by a need to end the torment, I tracked her down. She was in the Pack’s communal area, laughing easily with the women and children, her face relaxed, her movements so natural that it felt surreal. Could she really be hiding something so dark behind that serene smile? As if on cue, Alpha
XAVIER’S POVI leaned back in my chair, scanning the map of our territory spread across the table. Afternoon sunlight slanted through the window, casting shadows across Kas’s face, his features lined with tension.“Alpha, our patrols reported increased rogue activity along the eastern border,” Kas said, his voice low but tight with worry.I nodded, my fingers tapping against the chair’s armrest as I ran scenarios in my mind. “Double the patrols. I want eyes on every inch of that border, around the clock. We can’t afford to let them get through.”Kas nodded, already scribbling notes in his worn leather notebook. “I’m on it, Alpha. But this can’t go on forever,” he added, his voice a little softer. “We keep reacting to their moves instead of taking control.”I rubbed my jaw, the rough stubble scraping my palm. “You’re right. Let’s bring in the warriors for a strategy session. We need to start anticipating, not just responding.”Kas’s mouth twitched into a faint smile. “I’ll set it up,”
EVA’S POVI stumbled out of Xavier's office, my heels clicking sharply against the marble, echoing like gunshots down the empty hallway. My hand reached up to my neck, rubbing the sore skin where his fingers had gripped so tightly.How could he? My heart pounded, disbelief and fury flooding every corner of my mind. Xavier had known all along—everything I had revealed about Hannah, my plan to expose her, had meant nothing to him. He wasn’t angry with her; his rage had turned on me instead.“Why?” I muttered, my voice trembling as I stepped into the late afternoon sun. It was blazing, sweltering, but I hardly felt it over the numbness spreading inside me. Why was he protecting her? How could he still want her, even knowing she had given birth to another man’s child?My phone buzzed, snapping me back to the moment. I fished it out, seeing Vivian’s name light up the screen."Eva!" She answered on the first ring, her voice eager and almost gleeful. "How did it go with Xavier?"I let out a
EVA'S POVAs soon as I stripped out of my clothes, Elder Elijah's gaze intensified, his eyes darkening with a lust so raw it made my pulse race. A hunger simmered there, sharp and possessive. I tried to steady myself, but the unease prickling at the edge of my mind refused to settle.Then, without warning, his hand shot out, gripping mine firmly and pulling me toward him with a possessiveness that left no room for escape."Do you know what you do to me, little Eva?" he murmured, his voice thick with desire, laced with something darker. "You're mine. No one else can have you."My breath caught, a tangled mix of fear and resentment tightening in my chest. He drew me closer, his gaze tracing over my body, lingering at my chest, then sliding lower until it settled between my legs—a gaze that marked and claimed every inch as his."Say it," he demanded, his voice low, almost hypnotic. "Say you're mine."My throat felt tight as I forced out the words, tasting their bitterness. "I'm… yours, E
HANNAH’S POVLater that evening, I held Jackson close, his soft snores a gentle balm against the tension knotted in my chest. The confrontation with Coby still replayed in my mind, like a thorn I couldn’t pull out.How could he even think I’d lie about my own child? The sting of his accusation made my skin crawl. If it were up to me, he never would’ve known about Jackson at all. But Andrew… Andrew had to go and spill everything, and now I’m left to deal with Coby’s games all over again.I glanced at the clock, sighing. Where was Xavier? He’d said he wouldn’t be long, but the silence of the empty apartment felt heavy. My fingers hovered over my phone, tempted to call, when Jackson stirred against me, letting out a soft whimper.“What’s wrong, sweet boy?” I whispered, rocking him gently. “Are you hungry?”He relaxed again, his little mouth forming a tiny “O” as he drifted back to sleep. Just then, the faintest scent—warm, woodsy, unmistakably Xavier—filled the air, grounding me. A momen
HANNAH’S POVI looked at Xavier and gave him a slight nod, trusting him implicitly. The living room felt heavy with silence as we waited for Coby to arrive. The air between us was tense yet unspoken, each of us lost in our thoughts. Finally, the doorbell echoed through the quiet.“I’ll get it,” Xavier said, breaking the silence as he rose. He moved toward the door with purpose, his footsteps quiet yet firm. He opened it, and I heard Coby’s voice—a mix of apprehension and gratitude.“Xavier, thank you… thank you for agreeing to this,” Coby said, stepping inside.As he entered, his gaze landed on me and lingered for a moment before shifting to Jackson, who was sitting on my lap. For a second, a softness washed over Coby’s face—a glimmer of longing that made me look away, not quite ready to process it.Coby swallowed, his voice barely above a whisper. “Can I… can I hold him?”I looked at Xavier, who gave me a small nod, his eyes calm but watchful. “Okay,” I murmured, handing Jackson over
HANNAH'S POVXavier kissed down my chest, between my breasts, sending chills across my skin. Each touch was deliberate, every press of his mouth electric. He explored every inch as though he had all the time in the world.My chest rose and fell, breaths coming in shallow gasps as he drifted lower, his mouth brushing past my navel. Each kiss stoked the heat inside me, pushing me closer to an edge I could hardly stand."Xavier," I managed, my voice barely more than a whisper. My hands gripped his shoulders, feeling the hard muscle under my fingers. "I don't know how much longer I can..."He looked up, meeting my gaze with a smoldering intensity. A slow smile curved at the corner of his mouth. "Patience," he murmured, his voice a velvet promise. "I want you to feel every second of this."A shiver ran through me as he drifted lower, his breath warm, tantalizingly close. When he finally reached me, his lips pressed down with a mix of gentleness and fire that made me gasp.His tongue moved
HANNAH’S POVI stepped quietly into the nursery, watching Jackson as he sat on the floor, his tiny hands twisting and stacking his wooden blocks with intense concentration. His baby babble filled the room, and he made little sounds of triumph with each successful stack.Ella sat beside him, her warm, motherly smile never wavering. She looked up at me with a chuckle. “He’s been at it for hours. This little guy’s going to be an engineer, mark my words.”I couldn’t help but laugh. “Then let’s hope he gets his patience from Xavier.”As I watched Jackson play, a flicker of excitement rose within me. Our anniversary was approaching, and I wanted to make it unforgettable. I reached for my phone and typed a quick message to Kara. If anyone could bring magic to the occasion, it was her.“Meet me at the café outside the Pack. I need help planning something special.”A final glance in the mirror confirmed I was ready to go. With my purse in hand, I stepped outside, my heels tapping against the t
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