ANDREW/LILY POVLily’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson, her voice trembling with a mix of shyness and determination. “I liked him too, Luna. A lot.” Her words hung in the air, fragile yet undeniable, as her eyes flickered down to the dirt beneath her shoes. It was as though admitting the truth had stolen her strength.Hannah’s grin was instant—bright and mischievous. She clapped her hands together, her delight spilling over like a bubbling stream. “Well, that settles it then! You should go with him, Lily. No point hanging around here when you could be... you know.” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.“Wait, are you serious?” Lily’s brows pulled together in a small frown, her gaze darting between Hannah and me. “We still have—there’s stuff we haven’t finished—”“It’s fine,” Hannah interrupted, her tone light and airy but with a layer of knowing beneath it. She leaned closer, her voice dropping conspiratorially. “Go, Lily. Don’t overthink it. I’ll take care of the rest.”I stepped forw
LILY’S POVThe first lick of creamy vanilla hit my tongue like a sweet, delicate promise, and I couldn’t stop the grin spreading across my face. The richness, the perfect balance—it was heaven in a cone.Andrew’s smirk grew as he watched me, his brown eyes sparkling with amusement. “Tastes good, huh?” His voice carried a playful lilt, one brow quirking as he raised his chocolate cone, waiting for my response.“It’s better than good,” I said, licking the side where it threatened to drip. “This is what vanilla dreams are made of.”He chuckled, a low sound that rumbled through the lazy summer air. “Vanilla dreams? Alright, let me one-up you,” he said, taking a deliberate, exaggerated lick of his chocolate. He closed his eyes, humming as though he’d just uncovered the secret to life itself. “This, my dear Lily, is chocolate nirvana.”I rolled my eyes, laughing. “You’re ridiculous.”“Ridiculously right,” he shot back, his grin widening.We strolled along the park path, the afternoon sun ca
LILY’S POVThe familiar sight of the pack house greeted us as Andrew’s car rolled to a stop in front of my place. Andrew turned off the engine, his fingers lingering on the key for a moment longer than necessary. He exhaled softly—a sound that felt like the release of a weight neither of us wanted to name.“I had a great time today,” I said, turning to look at him. My voice was light, but my chest tightened, betraying how much I meant it.His eyes, warm and steady, found mine. A smile tugged at his lips—soft but earnest. “I did too, Lily. More than you know.”A blush crept up my cheeks, and I looked down briefly, tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “We should do this again,” I ventured, the words leaving my mouth before I could second-guess them.Andrew’s smile deepened, his gaze never wavering. “Definitely.”The quiet that followed wasn’t awkward. It was charged, filled with the kind of unspoken tension that makes you hyper-aware of every detail—the soft tick of the cooling e
Xavier’s POVThe mid-morning sun hung heavy over the training grounds, its relentless heat beating down on warriors locked in combat. The air brimmed with the tang of sweat and the steady rhythm of fists striking practice dummies. Every movement, every grunt, reverberated with purpose.Across from me, Beta Kas tightened his grip on my hand as we squared off. His sharp eyes bore into mine, a flicker of challenge igniting within them. We began circling, our boots digging into the wet earth.“Ready to lose?” Kas teased, his smirk sly and his voice edged with anticipation.I cracked my neck, matching his grin. “You wish.”Kas chuckled, the sound low and deliberate, before lunging forward.The fight erupted into a whirlwind of motion. Kas moved with the precision of a predator, each strike calculated and fierce. But I was ready.His fists were fast, his jabs sharp, but my blocks met him with equal force. A particularly strong punch grazed my forearm, sending jolts of pain up my arm. I grit
XAVIER’S POVAs I stepped into our home, the tension in my shoulders unraveled like a frayed rope, the familiar warmth of the living room washing over me. My gaze landed on the two anchors of my world.Hannah sat cross-legged on the couch, her hair tumbling loosely over her shoulders, a strand curling near her cheek as she scrolled through her tablet. She looked up as the door clicked shut, her sapphire eyes crinkling into a quiet smile.Across from her, Jackson was sprawled on the carpet, his tiny hands working diligently to stack colorful blocks. He furrowed his brows in exaggerated concentration, his tongue peeking out from the corner of his mouth.When one of the blocks tipped over, his high-pitched giggle lit up the room—a sound so pure it eased the last vestiges of tension from my body.“Dada!” Jackson’s voice rang out as soon as he spotted me, his face lighting up like the blocks he’d abandoned. Without hesitation, he scrambled to his feet and bolted toward me, almost tumbling
HANNAH’S POVAs Xavier hurried upstairs to shower, his footsteps faded, leaving the room still and quiet. The silence felt weighty, thick with unspoken thoughts.I adjusted Jackson in my arms, his soft coos a soothing contrast to the tension. Cecilia’s gaze lingered on him, her expression a mixture of curiosity and tenderness that caught me off guard.Clearing my throat, I forced a smile. “Mom, this is Jackson, my son,” I said, keeping my tone steady despite the flutter in my chest.Her eyes widened, and a soft gasp escaped her lips. “Oh my goodness,” she murmured, stepping closer. Her clasped hands trembled slightly. “He’s... beautiful. Look at those little fingers.”She hesitated before reaching out, her fingers lightly brushing his cheek. Jackson giggled, his chubby hands instinctively grasping at hers. Cecilia let out a small laugh, her face lighting up with a warmth that momentarily eased the knot in my stomach.“Would you like to hold him?” I asked, careful to keep my voice invi
VIVIAN’S POVThe wind bit at my cheeks as I stormed down the sidewalk, each step harder and faster, as though I could outrun the weight pressing on my chest. The laughter and chatter from the pack center faded into the background, a distant hum drowned by my boiling frustration.The title of Luna felt less like a crown and more like a noose today, tightening with every shallow breath I took.The memory of Coby’s smug smile lingered—his broad shoulders draped in the admiration of the elders—while I stood beside him, a silent ornament. I had played my role: graceful, composed Luna they expected me to be. But inside, my patience had worn razor-thin.My thoughts kept returning to the one face absent from today’s Crimson moon pack gathering: my mother’s. Deep down, I already knew where she had gone.As I turned the corner, my suspicions solidified. There she was, her stride light and her expression glowing with excitement, as though she’d just stumbled into paradise. Her smile widened when
VIVIAN’S POVI hung up the phone, the receiver trembling slightly in my hand as I set it down. My chest tightened under the weight of the choice ahead. I’d been circling this moment for days, but now there was no escape. It had to be done—one way or another.The drive to his house felt like an eternity. The rhythmic hum of the engine did little to calm the storm raging inside me. When I pulled into the driveway, the sight of the house loomed large, its darkened windows seeming to watch me. I sat for a moment, gripping the steering wheel, inhaling deeply. You can’t back out now.The porch creaked beneath my feet, and the mahogany door stood before me like an unyielding sentinel. My finger hesitated over the doorbell, but I forced myself to press it. The chime echoed faintly, and moments later, the door opened with deliberate slowness.Beatrice stood there, her eyes sharper than any words she might have spoken. She scanned me quickly, as if assessing my resolve.“Vivian,” she said, her
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