HANNAH’S POVAs Andrew walked away, my thoughts twisted in a storm of anger and worry. Elder Elijah’s actions were beyond belief—a betrayal so deep it cut through every bond of trust our pack had ever built with him. And the fact that Lily, my dear friend, had been hurt by his hand was unforgivable.I hurried to our room, my chest tight. Inside, I found Xavier and our son, Jackson, playing on the floor. Laughter bubbled up around them, filling the room with light—a sharp contrast to the turmoil inside me.Xavier looked up and immediately saw the worry etched on my face. His smile faded as he stood, his expression shifting from playful to serious. "Hannah," he said, his voice soft but tense. "What’s going on?”Jackson sensed the change too, his small hands grabbing Xavier’s leg. I took a deep breath, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Andrew just left,” I said. “He told me... about Elder Elijah. About what he did to Lily.”“What did that bastard do?” he asked. I recounted everything Andr
HANNAH POVFor a second, she just stared at me, shock and fury in her eyes. Then she wiped the blood from her nose, smirking as if savoring the taste of it. “Betrayal hurts, doesn’t it?” she sneered, a twisted smile spreading over her face. “Coby would never betray me because he loves me. You’re nothing but a bitter memory to him.”The rage inside me burned hotter. I saw flashes of Coby’s face—his smile, his desperate promises, the hope I’d foolishly clung to. Was she right? Was everything he showed Xavier and me that day, when he came to see Jackson, a lie?I pushed the thought down, straightening my shoulders and forcing myself to breathe. “You’re wrong, Vivian,” I said coldly, my voice stronger than I felt. “Coby’s love for his son is stronger than any fantasy you cling to.”For a flicker of a moment, doubt shadowed her face, but she quickly covered it with a sneer. “We’ll see about that,” she whispered, retreating with a glint of dark satisfaction. I watched her go, willing my han
VIVIAN'S POVThe sun bore down on me, unforgiving, pressing heat into my skin as I pushed through the crowded street, clutching my nose. Blood trickled down my fingers, warm and sticky.Every throb echoed with her name—Hannah. Her face flashed in my mind, her smirk like a brand. I could still feel the sting of her slap on my cheek. She’d done this. Humiliated me. And she thought she could walk away? No. She was wrong.I pushed through the crowd harder, my grip on my nose tightening against the pain. I ignored the stares as people noticed the blood smeared on my hand. The thought of Hannah’s smug face twisted my lips into a cold, bitter smile.That bitch dared to do that—to me. Rage swelled, scorching away the sting. She’d pay, and she’d pay soon.Weaving through the bustling crowd, I couldn’t help but smirk. Hannah might think she had the upper hand, especially with Coby sticking close to her, but that confidence of hers was nothing more than a flimsy mask. She was about to learn how
VIVIAN’S POVAs the meeting wrapped up, I rose to leave, feeling Elder Elijah’s steady gaze on me. His eyes crinkled in a knowing smile. “Our alliance will be mutually beneficial, Vivian,” he said, his voice low and deliberate. Each word carried a weight that settled between us like an unspoken pact.I nodded, extending my hand. “I’m glad we agree on that,” I replied, keeping my voice steady as I looked him in the eye.He took my hand firmly, his grip warmer than I’d expected, lingering just a second too long. “Until next time, Vivian,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes remained locked on mine, intent and unreadable.I quickly broke away, heading out of his study before his gaze could uncover anything hidden.The crisp evening air hit me as I stepped outside, clearing the heavy remnants of the conversation. By the car, Eva leaned against the hood, watching me with a look that said she’d been reading the whole situation from afar.Sliding into the passenger seat,
COBY’S POVI knocked on the bathroom door, pressing my ear to the wood, waiting. Silence. My heart thumped heavily in the stillness, anxiety gnawing at me from the inside out."Vivian," I whispered, my voice soft but desperate, though I knew she couldn’t hear me over the running water. I let out a shaky breath, slid to the floor, and pulled out the note I’d scrawled earlier. "Vivian, we need to talk – Coby."I slipped the note under the door, hoping it might reach her in a way my words couldn’t. Hannah’s voice echoed in my head—her threats, her clipped tone, the icy edge in her eyes when she’d warned me. Vivian was dancing with danger, and I had to make her understand.If she kept this up, she'd face Hannah’s wrath, and I couldn’t bear to think about what that would mean. Vivian didn’t know the weight of the consequences, but I did. She had to stop. She had to.But even as I thought it, I could see that familiar defiance in her eyes, that spark of stubborn resolve. She was relentless.
COBY'S POVI pushed myself harder, the cold night air biting into my lungs—sharp and unforgiving. Each breath was a struggle, icy needles stabbing into my chest, but I pushed through, ignoring the burn, letting my wolf’s instincts take control.The thrill of the run was exhilarating, blurring the doubts that clawed at me with every pounding heartbeat. The woods were dense, shadowed—foreign. One wrong step could mean a run-in with the pack patrol, or worse... a rogue.I slowed down, letting my paws glide over the damp earth, savoring the rich scent of leaves and soil. For a brief moment, I felt like I belonged here—lost among the trees, just another shadow slipping through the night.The burdens of Hannah, of Vivian, of everything, faded, replaced by a raw, grounding quiet. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, letting the wildness seep into me.A faint murmur broke the silence, snapping me from my trance. My ears perked up, curiosity prickling as I padded forward cautiously. A chill c
XAVIER’S POVThe council members shuffled out, some casting sidelong glances, their faces unreadable masks. I held my expression steady, nodding at each one as they passed. “Thank you, gentlemen. Your input has been invaluable,” I said, keeping my voice steady but subtly dismissive.When the door clicked shut, I turned to the only one left. “Stay, Elijah. I need a word.” My tone was sharp, slicing through the quiet room.Elijah’s bushy eyebrows arched, and he sank back into the seat across from me, an amused smirk hinting at the corners of his mouth. “Well, this sounds serious, Alpha,” he said, his voice light with forced innocence, but there was a glint of something darker in his eyes.“It is,” I replied, my voice steady as I leaned back, steepling my fingers. “I’ve received some troubling reports about you and… Lily, Elijah.” I let the words settle heavily between us, measuring his reaction. “And when I say troubling, I mean accusations of a forced sexual relationship. Threats.”Eli
XAVIER’S POVAs I drove through the bustling streets, passing shops and restaurants filled with oblivious humans, I felt a mix of relief and unease. They went about their lives, unaware of the secrets and battles hiding in the shadows around them. Our kind were safer hidden, unbothered by their scrutiny.My thoughts drifted back to my mate again as I wondered what gift to get her this time. Jewelry? Flowers? Or maybe something more personal, something that captured the bond we shared.I sighed, feeling the wind in my face as I navigated the street corners. The weight of the world felt lighter with thoughts of her in it, and I intended to keep it that way.The hum of the city buzzed around me as I parked, sounds of laughter and hurried footsteps blending together like a living heartbeat of downtown. With each step along the sidewalk, I glanced at store windows, my gaze catching on a diamond necklace gleaming under the afternoon sunlight.It sparkled, reminding me of Hannah’s smile. My
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
Hannah’s POVThree days. Three days since the world tilted on its axis, and I still couldn’t breathe. A Lycan—Ross—was out there, hunting us. Hunting me. Hunting Xavier. Hunting our son.The thought clawed at my chest, sharp and unrelenting, like a beast trying to burrow its way into my heart. Every shadow felt alive, every rustle of leaves a whisper of danger. And Taylor... Taylor was always there. Always.She stood by the door now, her presence a silent sentinel. Her sharp, calculating eyes flicked to me every so often, as if checking to see if I’d cracked yet. I hadn’t. Not yet.But the weight of her gaze, the unspoken reminder of why she was here, made my skin crawl. I wanted to scream at her to leave, to give me just one moment alone, but I couldn’t. Because she wasn’t the problem. Ross was.“Mommy?”Jackson’s voice was small, tentative, pulling me from the spiral of my thoughts. I turned, forcing a smile, though my chest ached at the sight of him. He stood in the doorway, his li
XAVIER’S POVThe air in the room felt heavy, pressing down on my chest and making it hard to breathe. I took a deep, shaky breath, but it didn’t help. My heart pounded so hard I could feel it in my throat.Hannah sat on the edge of our bed, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her eyes locked on me. Those eyes—deep, warm, and usually so full of life—were now clouded with worry. She was waiting, and I hated that I was about to break her heart.“Hannah,” I began, my voice low and rough, like gravel. The words felt stuck, as if they didn’t want to come out. But they had to. She deserved to know. “There’s something I need to tell you… something I should’ve told you a long time ago.”Her brow furrowed, and I saw the flicker of fear in her eyes. She shifted slightly, her fingers digging into her arms. “What is it, Xavier?” she asked, her voice soft but trembling. “You’re scaring me. Just say it.”I couldn’t stand still. I paced the room, my boots thudding against the floor, each step ec
HANNAH’S POVThe air felt heavier than usual, pressing against my chest as I stood by the window. My fingers gripped the edge of the sill, the coolness of the glass doing little to soothe the unease coiling in my stomach.Outside, the gate was swarming with guards—more than I’d ever seen before. Their movements were sharp and purposeful, sending a chill skittering down my spine. What’s going on? My mind raced, each thought more frantic than the last. Were we under attack? Was someone coming for us?Xavier had left before breakfast, his absence like a gaping hole in the room. I’d been missing him more lately than ever. Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones, or just this nagging feeling that something was wrong—something I couldn’t quite put my finger on yet.Having him around calmed me down a lot, and when he wasn’t here, everything felt chaotic. I hated how much I relied on his presence to feel safe, but right now, his absence was a gnawing reminder that something was off.“Mama!” Jacks
COBY’S POVMy heart dropped the moment Elijah’s face changed. The calm mask he’d been wearing earlier slipped, and a slow, icy smile spread across his lips. It wasn’t the kind of smile that brought hope—it was the kind that made my skin crawl.“No,” He said. And for a second, I thought I’d misheard him, but his next words made every hair on the back of my neck stand straight.“I’m not going to help you,” Elijah said, his voice flat and empty. The warmth I remembered—the camaraderie, the shared purpose—was gone. “In fact, I can’t wait to see Ross take down every single one of them.”My hands balled into fists, nails digging into my palms, as my mind scrambled to make sense of what he was saying. “What—what the hell are you talking about?” My voice cracked, a mix of disbelief and anger bubbling up in my chest.I was this close to snapping at him but I clenched my fists tighter, trying to keep myself grounded. I couldn’t lose it—not yet. Not until I understood what the hell this old geez
COBY’S POVThe way Elijah was looking at me, I was sure he would expose me—so certain he would let slip something that would ruin everything. But to my surprise, he didn’t. He kept his composure, playing along just as we had agreed. I exhaled, relieved, though my heart was still pounding in my chest.Ross turned to Elijah, his tone shifting to something more private, more serious. “We have things to discuss,” he said, glancing at me as if I were suddenly an outsider.I tensed, curious about what they needed to talk about. Whatever it was, I needed to know. But before I could say anything, Ross looked at me sharply. “Excuse us, Coby. This is between Elijah and me.”I nodded stiffly, swallowing the bitter frustration that rose in my throat. I had no choice. “Of course, Ross,” I said, bowing my head before turning and walking out.The door closed behind me with a heavy thud. I leaned back against it, pressing my ear against the wood. I tried to focus, to pick up any sound of their conver
COBY’S POVThe moment Ross said he was going to take Xavier’s family and make him watch, the world seemed to tilt. My stomach dropped to the floor, and a cold sweat prickled at the back of my neck. My heart thudded unevenly, like a drumbeat gone wrong, and for a second, I couldn’t breathe.But I couldn’t let Ross see. I couldn’t. My face hardened, my jaw tightening as I shoved the panic down, burying it deep. I’d spent months perfecting this mask—cold, unfeeling, loyal. But inside, I was screaming.Hannah. Her name echoed in my mind, sharp and suffocating. Her laugh, her smile, and our son—our son—his tiny hands clutching mine, his wide, trusting eyes. Xavier loved him like his own. If Ross touched them... if he even looked at them... I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t.I swallowed, my throat dry as sandpaper, and forced myself to think. Think, Coby. Think. I couldn’t protect them openly—not without Ross figuring it out. But I had to do something. Anything to stop this madness.I
ROSS’S POVFor ten years, I’ve waited. Ten long years, each one heavier than the last. The weight of her absence has never lifted, never faded. Laila. My mate. My beautiful light. She was the only good thing in my life, the only person who could see past the darkness inside me. And he took her from me.Xavier.I don’t care if it was an accident. What matters is that her blood spilled at his fucking hands. What matters is that I had to watch as the life drained from her beautiful eyes—the same eyes that used to look at me with nothing but love. Xavier stole her from me, and for that, he must pay. He will pay.I’ve bided my time, waiting, planning, gathering my strength. Over the years, I’ve had offers—wolves eager to see Xavier fall. But none of them understood what it would take. It wasn’t enough to just kill him. No. That would be too easy, too quick. I needed him to suffer. I needed him to feel the same pain that has torn me apart every single day since I lost her.For ten years, I’v
XAVIER’S POVThe moment Hannah told me she was pregnant, the world seemed to stop. A rush of joy—raw and electric—surged through me, so intense it stole my breath. My heart pounded in my chest, and for a second, I couldn’t speak.Another baby. A piece of us.I pulled her into my arms, holding her so tightly I worried I might hurt her. But she laughed—a sound so light and full of hope it made my chest ache. I kissed her, my hands trembling against her face, and for that one perfect moment, everything else faded away.But as we left the hospital, the joy began to crack.Ross.The name slithered into my mind like a snake, cold and unrelenting. My stomach twisted, and I clenched my fists to keep them from shaking. He was out there. Watching. Waiting. The thought of him anywhere near Hannah, near Jackson—near this new life growing inside her—made my blood run cold.I could almost see his face: that cruel smirk, those empty, cold eyes. My jaw tightened, and I forced myself to breathe, to ke