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
LILY'S POV“There’s nothing we can do,” Andrew said, his voice heavy with resignation. “Let’s just hope they don’t end up killing each other wherever they are.”I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. What could I have said to that? The tension between Coby and Vivian wasn’t something I had been aware of until now, but hearing Andrew say it out loud made it feel even more real—and dangerous.As we walked back to his house, his hand firmly holding mine, the silence between us stretched. I glanced at him now and then, but his eyes were distant, his brows furrowed in deep thought.He was worried. That much was obvious. Despite everything, he cared deeply about his Alpha and Luna, even if I didn’t think Vivian deserved the title.By the time we got back to his place, the weight of the night seemed to press even heavier on both of us. Andrew dropped onto the couch, rubbing his face with his hands, while I stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do.“Do you want some water?” I asked sof
VIVIAN’S POVThe hum of the car filled the silence—a low, steady sound that echoed the unease building inside me. I sat in the passenger seat, staring out into the darkness as the road stretched endlessly ahead.Coby hadn’t said a damn word since we left the shadow moon pack, and the longer we drove, the more I realized how stupid I had been not to ask questions.What exactly was I thinking? I came home, exhausted after a long day with Eva and Elijah, and there he was, telling me to get in the car.I didn’t even ask why or where we were going—I just went along. And Now, hours later, with nothing but the dim glow of the dashboard and his silence for company, I felt like an idiot to say the least.I turned my head to look at him. His face was set, his eyes locked on the road like it held some kind of answer. His hands gripped the wheel, his knuckles pale under the faint light.“Coby,” I said, breaking the silence, though my voice sounded smaller than I intended. “Where the hell are we g
VIVIAN’S POV“What truth are you talking about, Coby?” My voice came out sharper than intended, the sharp edge of fear making it crack. I couldn’t help it—the way he’d been acting, the things he’d been saying—it wasn’t like him.Coby didn’t answer. He didn’t even flinch. Instead, he turned on his heel and walked deeper into the ruins, his boots crunching over broken glass and rotting wood.“Coby!” I called after him, my voice rising in pitch—a mix of frustration and panic. My pulse thudded in my ears as I watched his retreating figure. He was acting so strange, so... off.Whatever madness had taken hold of him that night, I had to stop it. I needed to drag him out of that place before something terrible happened—something we couldn’t come back from.He was slipping away—both physically and emotionally—and I couldn’t let that happen. Not now.I hurried after him, stumbling slightly as I tried to navigate the broken remains of the house. The scent of damp wood and decay filled my nostri
VIVIAN’S POVHis grip on my throat faltered, a flicker of uncertainty flashing across his stormy eyes. I gasped, dragging air into my burning lungs, coughing as if it might stop the world from spinning.“For us?” His voice dropped to a low growl, quieter now but seething with danger.“Yes!” I choked, my words tumbling out through tears that burned hot trails down my cheeks. “Everything I did, Coby, I did for us. Do you think I wanted this? That I—” My voice cracked, and I gritted my teeth, forcing the words past the lump in my throat.“Do you think I enjoyed it? Being near him, letting him think he had control over me? I hated every second of being with him. But I thought—” I faltered, my voice trembling like brittle glass. “I thought if I gave him what he wanted, we could have his resources and support. It was the only way. For us. For our future.”His fingers twitched, loosening slightly, though they lingered at my throat. His breath was uneven, his chest heaving with restrained rag
LILY’S POV Three days. It had been three days since I woke up, and every moment since felt like walking through a dream—hazy, fragile, but achingly real. The pain was still there, a dull, persistent throb that pulsed with every breath, a cruel reminder of what I’d survived. But it was nothing compared to the warmth that flooded me whenever I looked at my husband, Andrew. Gosh, referring to him as my husband still felt so surreal. He hadn’t left my side, not once, despite my weak protests. His stubbornness was maddening, but it also made my heart ache with a love so fierce it felt like it might burst. “Andrew,” I whispered, my voice thin, like a thread about to snap. “You need to go home. Sleep in a real bed. I’m not going anywhere, I promise.” He shook his head, his hand tightening around mine, his rough fingers brushing against my skin in a way that sent a shiver through me. “I’ll rest when you’re home with me,” he said, his voice low but steady. “Until then, I’m not leaving.
XAVIER’S POV The next morning, I sat with Hannah and Jackson in the living room. Jackson’s laughter rang out, bright and carefree, but it felt distant, as though I were hearing it through water. My mind kept circling back to Elijah—the fire, the chaos, the way he’d vanished like smoke. I wanted to believe he was gone, but something in my gut twisted, whispering that he wasn’t done. Not yet. Knowing Elijah, he was probably somewhere buying time, waiting to strike again when we least expected. “Daddy, look!” Jackson’s voice broke through my thoughts. He held up a crooked drawing of what looked like a wolf—or maybe a dog. His little hands were smudged with crayon, his face beaming with pride. I forced a smile, ruffling his hair. “That’s amazing, buddy. Is that me?” He nodded vigorously. “Yeah! And that’s Mommy, and that’s me!” He pointed to three stick figures standing beside the wolf. My chest tightened. He had no idea how fragile this peace was, how close we were to losing it
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