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
HANNAH’S POVAs I pulled up to the house, the mysterious message played over in my mind, lingering just beneath my thoughts. But I pushed it aside and stepped out of the car, trying to focus.When I entered the living room, I found Xavier standing by the window, his back to me. His whole posture radiated tension.I cleared my throat softly. “Xavier?”He turned slowly, his eyes dark, jaw clenched. “Coby reached out.”The words landed like a rock in my chest. I swallowed, feeling a knot of worry tighten. “What does he want now?”Xavier’s gaze was hard—the look of a man carrying a burden. “Another meeting with Jackson,” he said, his voice edged with frustration. “Apparently, he wants to be... involved in his life as his father.”“Involved?” I echoed, anger sparking within me. I scoffed, folding my arms. “As his father? Is he out of his mind or just freaking delusional right now?”Xavier’s face softened as he reached out to touch my arm. “I know,” he murmured, his voice quieter, “but... h
XAVIER’S POVAs the door clicked shut behind Hannah, I spun around, pinning Kas with a sharp look. "Anything new?" I demanded, my voice low and tense, weighted with the urgency of what we needed to know.Kas hesitated, his eyes flicking away as if still deciding how much to share. Then he leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper. “I dug into the rogues. Found something you need to hear.”Silence stretched taut between us, and I forced my expression to stay calm. “Tell me,” I urged, though my voice betrayed the impatience simmering beneath.He took a steadying breath, glancing around. “These rogues... they bear marks. The same marks as the ones that attacked the Crimson Pack.”A chill settled in my stomach. I kept my face neutral, but my voice held a razor edge. “Coincidence? Or something intentional?”Kas met my gaze, unflinching. “I think it’s intentional, Alpha. They're too organized to be random.”I clenched my fists, my words dropping like stones. “Bring Alpha Coby to me. Now.”
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