EVA’S POVI leaned in close to Vivian, my breath warm against her ear as I whispered the plan. I felt the subtle tremor ripple through her frame. When I pulled back, I searched her face, desperate for the flicker of agreement that could tether us to the same course.But her eyes widened instantly, flashing with alarm as her body went rigid, her breath catching like a startled bird’s.“Eva,” she hissed, her voice trembling with disbelief. She stepped back as if the words themselves had weight, forcing space between us. “That’s insane. Do you even hear yourself?”Her fingers curled and uncurled at her sides—a telltale sign of her nerves. Her gaze darted to the door, the panic there unmistakable, as though expecting it to burst open at any second.“It’s reckless,” she continued, her tone sharp but unsteady. “It’s like lighting a match in a room full of gas. Everything could blow up!”I sighed, frustration bubbling beneath a fragile mask of calm. I couldn’t lose her to fear—not now.“Vivi
VIVIAN’S POVAs I walked away from Eva’s house, a wave of relief washed over me. Talking to Eva was always a rollercoaster ride, but today felt particularly intense. I replayed our conversation in my mind, pondering her bold suggestion.It was daring, to say the least, but a small part of me was tempted to try it. Desperate times called for desperate measures, didn’t they?As I turned the corner onto my street, I spotted a familiar figure standing by my front door. It was Coby, my husband, and he looked like he’d been waiting for me. My heart skipped a beat as I approached him, uncertainty swirling in my chest.What did he want? Had he found out about my encounter with Elder Elijah? Or was this just a coincidence? “Hey,” I called, forcing a brightness I didn’t feel into my voice. “What are you doing out here? It’s freezing.”He glanced up, his dark eyes locking onto mine. His expression was unreadable, a tight blend of hesitance and resolve. “You were at Eva’s again?”I nodded as I ca
VIVIAN'S POVI grunted with pleasure as he forced his way inside me. With my pussy as wet as it was, I was only just lubricated enough to make his entry possible. There was a touch of pain as he stretched me wide, but the feeling of being utterly filled by his cock made the pain seem unimportant.“You like that, huh?” he groaned, his grip tightening on my thighs. He continued to push, spreading my legs wider to help. As he thrust into me over and over, I was overwhelmed by the sensation. Each time I was sure that he couldn’t go any deeper, that he couldn’t possibly fill me up any more, he’d manage to get himself a little bit deeper, and I’d have to rethink things.“Oh, Coby,” I moaned, my voice barely a whisper. “You’re incredible.”It wasn’t long before he stopped pushing to go deeper. I was sure that he was all the way inside me, but I’d been sure of that several times already. I lay over the arm of the couch, waiting to see if there was more of his cock to be driven into me.I felt
COBY’S POVThe guilt clawed at me as I led Vivian toward the bathroom, its weight pressing heavily on my chest. I couldn't escape the echo of my earlier actions—the way I’d been with her. Reckless. Possessive.That wasn’t me. Or at least, it wasn’t the me I wanted to be. But the nagging doubt that had burrowed into my mind had festered into something uncontrollable.Her soft hand in mine felt fragile, almost unreal, as though I could shatter it with a single wrong move. I glanced back at her, searching her expression for something—remorse, deception, anything. But all I saw was that serene, almost ethereal calm she always carried. It only fueled my unease.The moment Andrew had called, his voice tight with certainty, saying he’d seen her at Eva’s house, my pulse had quickened. When she came home, I waited like a predator on the doorstep, my senses on edge.I wanted to smell the truth on her—the earthy, rich scent from the last time she’d claimed to be with Eva. But instead, there was
Coby’s POVThe morning air carried a strange weight, pressing against my chest as I sat at the breakfast table with Vivian. She spoke animatedly, her fork gesturing midair, but her words blurred into a low hum in my ears.I forced a smile, nodding absently. My thoughts weren’t with her—they hadn’t been since I woke up. They were elsewhere, with someone else.Jackson. My son. His name was a stone in my gut, an ache that wouldn’t ease.“Coby?” Vivian’s voice pulled me back. Her brows knit slightly, concern flickering in her green eyes. “You’ve barely touched your food. Are you okay?”“I’m fine,” I lied, pushing my chair back. “Just some pack duties. I’ll be out for a while.”Her gaze lingered, searching my face for answers I wouldn’t give. “Okay,” she said softly, her voice hesitant. “Be careful.”I mumbled a thanks, grabbed my jacket, and stepped into the chilly morning. My feet moved with purpose, my heart hammering as Alpha Xavier’s estate loomed into view.The wrought-iron gates sto
HANNAH’S POVAs soon as Coby disappeared down the path, I let out a breath that felt like it had been trapped for hours. My hands trembled, refusing to steady no matter how tightly I crossed my arms.Anger, fear, and frustration coiled in my stomach, each emotion jostling for dominance. It was always like this with him—chaotic, overwhelming, suffocating.“Hannah,” Kas’s voice cut through the storm in my head, anchoring me.I turned, relieved and ashamed in equal measure to meet his concerned gaze. His expression, sharp and ready just moments ago, softened as he stepped closer.His presence was steadying, but the way he looked at me—like I might shatter—made my throat tighten.“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low and gentle yet edged with restrained tension.I nodded too quickly. “I’m fine,” I said, though the waver in my voice betrayed me. “Thank you for stepping in.”Kas didn’t look convinced. His eyes searched mine, his jaw working as if he were holding back words. “He grabbed yo
HANNAH’S POVI gripped the phone tightly, forcing my voice to steady as I answered, “Hello?” I tried for casual, but even to my ears, the attempt sounded thin.“Hannah.” Xavier’s voice came through warm, though tinged with concern. “Hey. Is everything okay? You sound… off.”A familiar pang echoed in my chest. Xavier always saw through me, even over the phone. My free hand clutched the soft edge of Jackson’s blanket, grounding me.I pressed out a hollow laugh, trying to shake the unease from my tone. “I’m fine,” I said too quickly. “It’s just been a long day. Nothing unusual. How’s the meeting?”A pause. Brief but heavy. I could imagine him rubbing the back of his neck, the way he did when deciding how much to say. “It’s dragging,” he admitted, his sigh audible. “And it’s about to get worse. The board extended it—two more days.”“Two more days?” The words slipped out soft, nearly a whisper. My chest tightened, disappointment coiling low in my stomach.“I know.” His voice dropped, raw w
VIVIAN’S POVThe moment I left the house that afternoon, my nerves buzzed with unease. Elder Elijah’s voice on the phone had been sharp, clipped—urgent in a way that knotted my stomach. I hadn’t called Eva. She hadn’t picked up the previous day, nor had she bothered to call me back, and I didn’t want her involved in whatever this was.I told myself it was fine. I could handle it. Right?The path to his house stretched wide and empty as I walked, the occasional rustle of leaves brushing against the eerie silence. Elijah’s estate loomed ahead, its grandeur almost oppressive, like a giant beast lurking in the amber glow of the setting sun.When the front door creaked open, a servant I didn’t recognize greeted me. Her face was drawn tight, her lips pressed into a disapproving line that made my palms sweat.For a second, I thought it might be Beatrice, Elijah’s suspicious and ever-watchful wife. But it wasn’t her. Just a servant, all business and no warmth.“Elijah is expecting you,” she s
XAVIER’S POV The night clung to us like a suffocating shroud as we crept toward Elijah’s house. The forest was alive with the restless whispers of the wind. My men moved like wraiths behind me, their presence a steady, silent hum of loyalty. Kas was at my side, his sharp eyes darting across the dark corners, his jaw clenched so tightly I could see the muscle twitching. My mind was a blade, honed to a razor’s edge. No hesitation. No mercy. Not after what Elijah had done. “Search the house,” I ordered, my voice low but slicing through the stillness. “Bring him in—dead or alive.” The words hung heavy, a storm brewing in the air. My men nodded, their movements precise as they fanned out. But as we neared the front door, my Lycan senses prickled. The familiar scent of pine and damp earth was tainted—sharp, acrid. Gasoline. My nostrils flared, and a growl rumbled deep in my chest, raw and guttural. “Stay back!” I barked, throwing my arm out to halt them. My heart hammered against
ELIJAH’S POV The hospital’s sterile air clung to my skin as I left Hannah behind, her words echoing in my mind like a death knell. Xavier wasn’t a man who forgave, and his wrath would be a storm I couldn’t outrun. But I couldn’t think about that now. Andrew was the priority. Finish him, then vanish before Xavier’s claws could find me. I hurried home, my heart pounding like a war drum. The streets blurred as I drove, my knuckles white on the steering wheel. Beatrice. She didn’t know how close we were to the edge. She didn’t know how much danger we were in. As I neared my home, my lycan stirred uneasily, a low growl rumbling in my chest. Something felt... off. The ache in my chest wasn’t just fear—it was something deeper, something close to dread. When I pulled up to the house, the silence hit me like never before. There were no guards. No servants. Just an eerie stillness that made my skin crawl. My lycan’s growl turned into a whine, a sound I hadn’t heard in years. “Beatrice
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