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
Vivian's POVReluctantly, I stepped between Elijah and Eva. "That's my girl," Eva squealed in excitement, hugging me close. Elijah turned me back to face him and claimed my lips in a deep, passionate kiss.His tongue slipped into my mouth, and I sucked on it while Eva's hand slipped into my blouse and began to pinch my already hard nipple.Waves of tingling sensation shot up my body like a spark of electricity, and I moaned into his mouth as he deepened the kiss.I broke off our kiss and slipped Elder Elijah's cock into my mouth, sucking on the tip while Eva ran her tongue up and down his shaft. After half a minute of this, we switched, with Eva taking his cock in her mouth while I wet his shaft with my tongue."Yeah, just like that," Elder Elijah said, watching intently. From his expression, I could tell he'd never been with two girls at the same time before, and so far, it was immensely satisfying.I dropped my head down a bit and pushed towards him, allowing me to take his balls in
Vivian's POVElder Elijah did what he could, rising up a bit to give himself more leverage. Then, using that leverage, he hammered his cock as far into Eva's pussy as it would go. He slammed his hips up against her ass, making it jiggle with every pump."Yeah, baby, yeah!" Eva cried, turning her head to look back at him. "Just like that! Just like that! Keep fucking me! You're going to make me cum! You're going to make me fucking cum!"Even though he was running out of steam and desperately needed a break, Elder Elijah continued fucking Eva with reckless abandon. He gave her what she wanted, knowing that the harder he fucked her, the sooner she would cum, and the sooner she cummed, the sooner he could catch his breath.With this in mind, Elder Elijah reached out and grabbed a handful of Eva's hair, yanking it back to force her to arch her back to relieve the pressure.Eva let out a yelp of pleasure, and Elder Elijah knew he had her. She loved getting her hair pulled; it always put her
VIVIAN’S POVSmiling, I nodded, though the expression felt as forced as a broken clock ticking on time. Eva didn’t seem to notice—or maybe she did and chose to ignore it.She pulled me into another hug, her arms warm and reassuring, but I couldn’t summon the strength to reciprocate. Her embrace felt like a lifeline thrown to someone too tired to swim. My chest tightened further.When we finally pulled apart, I bent to gather my clothes from the floor. My hands trembled as I struggled to button my blouse, the small task inexplicably monumental.The fabric seemed determined to evade my fingers, only worsening my frustration. My breath hitched, each inhalation shallow, the walls seeming to close in with every passing second.Across the room, Eva hummed to herself, twisting her red hair into a lazy braid. The soft melody might have been soothing in another life, but right now, it grated against the whirlwind of thoughts tearing through my head.What would Coby say if he saw me today? He’d
ANDREW’S POVI crouched behind a cluster of rose bushes, my legs cramping from staying in the same position for far too long. I had been watching Elder Elijah’s house for what felt like an eternity—over an hour and a half—and my patience was starting to wear thin.The doubt creeping into my mind grew louder with every passing minute. What if I was at the wrong place?The only reason I hadn’t left yet was that I had seen Vivian go inside earlier. I had trailed her there, sure that something was off. But the silence and stillness around the house were eating at me. Was I wasting my time?Just as I was about to give up and leave, the front door creaked open, and I froze. My instincts kicked in, my body tense and ready. Vivian stepped out first, and my breath hitched.She wasn’t alone—Eva followed close behind, and the two of them were laughing loudly, almost obnoxiously. Something about their body language made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.Their laughter wasn’t just carefree
ANDREW’S POVHe stopped, his eyes glaring at me, with both fists clenched at his sides. “I’m going to do what I should’ve done a long time ago,” he growled.A chill ran down my spine. “Coby, listen to me,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “This could’ve been a misunderstanding. We didn’t have solid proof—just speculation.”He shook his head, his expression dark. “No. This wasn’t speculation. I’ve had a gut feeling about Vivian for weeks. Something’s been off. And now, I know why.”“Feelings aren’t facts,” I argued, stepping closer. “We needed evidence. If we jumped to conclusions and were wrong, it could’ve destroyed everything.”Coby’s lips twisted into a bitter smirk, but his eyes—dark and stormy—betrayed something deeper, something raw. He stepped forward, his voice sharp as a razor. “You’re serious? Now, of all times, you want to second-guess me?”His tone sliced through the tension, leaving a sting in its wake. “After everything? After everything you’ve seen, you want me to
LILY’S POVI stood outside Andrew’s door, feeling the familiar flutter in my chest that always came with the thought of seeing him. It was ridiculous, really, how much of an effect he had on me, even after everything we’d been through together.I smoothed down my hair and adjusted my smile. I didn’t want to look as nervous as I felt. He had been so busy lately that we barely saw each other, only exchanging quick texts during the day and before bed.Whatever was going on with him, I told myself I’d figure it out. I always did. When he opened the door, the look on his face caught me off guard.His eyes were stormy—filled with worry, anger, and something else I couldn’t quite place. But as soon as he saw me standing there, his expression shifted.His beautiful lips curved into that lopsided smile I adored, and I could almost see the tension melting from his shoulders.“Hey, handsome,” I said softly, stepping closer to him.Before I could say another word, he pulled me into one of his bon
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