RYAN'S POV~My father, the Wolf King, was right about one thing - there was a war brewing between the Night Pack and the Moon Pack. It was a delicate, volatile situation, with resources scarce and tempers flaring. And my father, in his wisdom (or arrogance, depending on who you asked), had tasked me with negotiating peace.As I had dug deeper into the situation, I discovered that the Moon Pack was now led by its Beta, Lincoln, following the death of its previous Alpha. "I heard you, Father," I snarled, my words seething with a barely controlled rage. "The reports will be delivered when I return home, but until then, get off my back. And tell Mother I'll be back soon enough."Without waiting for a response, I disconnected the call, the tension in my muscles only slightly abating as I slunk back against the plush bed. I groped for my phone, scrolling through my contacts until I found Leo's number. "Hello?" he grumbled, his voice like gravel being raked over stone. Clearly, I had wok
ISABELLA'S POV ~The last two days without Ryan had been a rollercoaster of emotions for me. With each message or phone call, my uncertainty grew, making it hard to laugh with him as freely as I used to. The lingering uneasiness in my chest made every moment feel heavy.The sudden knock on the front door jolted me out of my reverie, and I froze. My heart leapt into my throat the moment I saw Ryan standing there, a wide, handsome grin on his face that made my breath catch. I was frozen in place, my heart pounding in my chest as he took me in, his gaze lingering on every curve of my body. He took a step towards me, almost as if he was checking to make sure I wasn't hurt.His eyes gleamed in the dim light, piercing into mine as he reached out and cupped my jaw, tilting my head back so I had no choice but to meet his gaze."I've missed you," he growled, his thumb tracing across my bottom lip. "Tell me it's been hard without me. Why aren't you hugging me, Isabella?" My name on his lips sen
ISABELLA'S POV ~I was jolted awake, my heart pounding in my chest as I sat up in bed, the sound of clattering and crashing echoing in my ears. For a moment, I was disoriented, still lost in the haze of sleep, but the thuds and bangs continued to reverberate outside my door.I threw off the covers, my feet finding the cool floor as I rushed to the door, my hand trembling slightly as I reached for the knob.My heart jumped in my chest as I burst through the front door, but my sprint came to an abrupt halt when I spotted Ryan eating in the hallway. His head snapped up from his plate, a sheepish grin gracing his face as he stood against the wall. "Oh, sorry about that. The utensils must have fallen," he said with a shrug, "I'll take care of it."I eyed him warily, my relief slowly morphing into suspicion as I took in his neatly dressed appearance and the backpack at his feet."Where are you going dressed like that?" I questioned, a hint of accusation lacing my words as I gestured at his
ISABELLA'S POV ~ Waves of grief and despair washed over me like a tidal wave, pulling me under into a vortex of darkness. My legs felt like jelly, threatening to give out from under me as my knees trembled. I staggered backward, reaching out for the wall, using it as a lifeline to steady myself, my fingers digging into the hard surface. My vision became blurry, as if a veil had been dropped over my eyes, but it was my heart that was truly breaking into a million pieces.As Noah stepped toward me, his hands outstretched, I recoiled like a wounded animal, hissing through clenched teeth. "Don't touch me. I'm fine. Could you let me be now?"The heat in my eyes intensified, my cheeks flushing with anger and betrayal. Noah raised his hands in a gesture of surrender before he turned and left, his footsteps echoing down the deserted hallway.Tears streamed down my face like acid rain, burning my cheeks as they went. How could I have been so blind? I thought I knew Ryan, but in reality, he wa
RYAN'S POV~The cold sweat on my forehead was the first thing I noticed, but what followed next was even more alarming. A chill ran down my spine as I stared into the eyes of the woman I loved, but instead of warmth, all I saw was hatred. What the hell had happened while I was away? I could feel the air between us growing thicker by the second, each moment adding another layer of tension. My stomach churned, the sight of her disgust sending me into a spiral of confusion and fear. What had I done to deserve such disdain?Desperately, I swallowed hard, trying to force the lump in my throat to disappear. My mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation, but I was drawing blanks. "Are you okay, Darling?" Isabella's eyes narrowed as I spoke, her lip curling slightly in contempt.I watched, helpless, as she pushed herself off the bed, clearly intent on leaving. My heart pounded as my instincts kicked in, realizing that I couldn't let her go without at least trying to understand what wa
ISABELLA'S POV ~My heart was pounding, my palms were sweating as I began stuffing my clothes into the box. With every fold, every stitch, every seam I packed away, it felt like I was stuffing away pieces of me. I knew I had to leave, but I couldn't shake the feeling of dread that filled my gut as I watched Ryan standing by the door refusing to leave the room, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, his whole body slumped with defeat. His pain was palpable, and for a moment, I considered comforting him, wrapping my arms around him and telling him everything would be okay.But then, a voice in my head whispered, "This could all be an act." I knew better than to fall for his tricks again. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my emotions in check as I continued packing my things. The sound of Ryan's phone ringing was deafening in the silence of the room, but he didn't budge, as if he were lost in another world."Where would you be going? You said you'd live far away from me. Where would that be, Isa
ISABELLA'S POV ~It was as if time itself had frozen, the world entirely coming to a halt around me. My resignation letter was crumpled in my hand like a piece of trash, a symbol of all my hard work and sacrifice being thrown away. I tried to hold back my own tears, but they threatened to spill forth and betray my façade of strength and determination. I knew this was the right decision, the only way to avoid the inevitable pain and torment that awaited me in the Moon Pack. But the finality of it all was crushing, the realization that I was leaving behind a life I had worked so hard to build.But I knew that the sacrifice was necessary, that I had to protect myself from the darkness that awaited me in the Moon Pack.The mere thought of my father made my blood boil and my heart turn to stone. He was nothing more than a shadow of a man, a monster who had caused so much pain and suffering in my life. The idea of ever laying eyes on him again made my skin crawl, and the thought of being a
RYAN'S POV~I hadn't slept well in years, not since Isabella had left my life. I was a shadow of my former self, a broken shell of a man, tortured by her absence. Every day, I watched her from afar, disguised and hidden, too scared to approach her, too afraid to confront the pain I knew would come with seeing her again. It was a silent agony, watching her from a distance, knowing that she was within my reach and yet still so far away.I missed her more than I could ever put into words.I did what I could to help her, to try to make her life easier. I made sure to boost her grocery store online, drawing in customers and helping her business to thrive. But it only served to remind me of what I'd lost, to rub salt in the wound of her absence.I hated that she was working so hard, that she was overworking herself, but I knew that this was what she wanted. She wanted her own success, her own money, her own life, and I couldn't fault her for that.It felt like a piece of me died every day t
ISABELLA'S POV~"You're lying, James!" I shouted, my voice trembling with rage and disbelief. "Why would you sink this low? I'm not going anywhere with you. Just leave!"My body trembled as waves of anger and heartbreak washed over me. I refused to believe that Ryan could have betrayed me like this. We had promised each other that nothing would tear us apart, that we would never let history repeat itself."Isabella..." James took a step towards me, his eyes shining with something I couldn't decipher, but I stepped back, raising my hand as if to ward him off."Just go!" I yelled at the top of my voice, my words echoing off the walls of the cell. "I'm not leaving here. Not without Ryan."James's eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. I could see the wheels turning in his mind, trying to come up with a way to convince me. But I was done listening.“Fine, I'm not going to force you to believe me or not. Why don't you come see for yourself? This is the last opportunity to flee this cell
LINDA'S POV~My legs moved swiftly as I clutched my shawl, ensuring that it remained wrapped tightly around my neck. I approached the small, hidden door in the palace walls, and took a quick glance around to ensure I hadn’t been spotted.With cautious movements, I placed my fingers on the secret fingerprint sensor that would grant me entry. The door creaked open, and I cast one final look down the shadowy hallway. Seeing that it was empty, I darted inside, my heart racing.I heard a click, and the room was illuminated by a dim light.In the center of the room stood a single pot, with images and statues of ancestral wolves and celestial bodies adorning the walls.The pot, filled with a boiling, fragrant liquid, caught my attention. As I pulled off my shawl and set it aside, I cast a sharp gaze upon my reflection in the liquid, my jaw clenching.I was here with a purpose - to deal with my son, Ryan. The thoughts of his actions kept me up at night, the weight of his shame upon our royal
RYAN'S POV~Time seemed to slow to a crawl as my brain struggled to process the events unfolding before me. My mother’s concerned gaze went ignored as my eyes remained locked on the elder priest. It was as if I was viewing the world through a haze of red mist, the only thing piercing through me, was the sight of danger that threatened my mate.Then the guards made their move, their hands reaching for their guns. In that instant, something within me snapped."What the fuck are you insinuating?!" I roared, my voice shaking the very foundations of the hall.The priest’s expression darkened, but I didn’t care. This man, who dared to accuse my mate of being a danger, would not get away with this.My mother, sensing the volatility of the situation, placed a gentle hand on my arm, but I shrugged her off with a glare that spoke volumes. I wouldn’t be silenced. Not when Isabella’s honor was at stake.“I only say what I see, son,” the priest hissed.My blood boiled at his arrogance.“My work is
IVY'S POV~I rose slowly from the bed, driven by my rage. As I walked towards the window, the soft night breeze was the only sound in the silence and in darkness. The world seemed to have stopped, but my heart was ablaze with thirst for vengeance.I wanted nothing more than to watch the world burn. Winter Fall Pack might have been at peace, but I wanted chaos. How dare Ryan humiliate me? I had seduced countless men, but when I thought I had Ryan under my spell, he slipped away, disgracing me.In my anger, I threw a flower vase to the ground, watching it shatter.Before I could process my thoughts, a dark idea crept into my mind, and I stopped, my eyes wide with excitement. Without hesitation, I picked the nearest long coat on the cloth hanger, draped it on with a shawl covering my face and then left the room, determined to carry out my diabolical plan.~ ~ ~The street was blanketed in silence. No sounds of traffic, no signs of life. Just two stray cats, their fur standing on end, da
RYAN'S POV~My steps echoed through the hallway as I approached the room. Five armed men stood in waiting as I strode past. The door was already open, courtesy of the guards.Alan and several operatives sat hunched over their devices, their intense focus broken as I entered. Their heads lifted and turned towards me, a chorus of "Alpha" greeting me in unison. I gave them a single nod, acknowledging their respect, before taking my seat next to Alan.He slid a file across the table,"The evidence is all here," Alan said. "Everything to take Ryan down. We traced his transactions, his contacts. Everything."My chest rumbled with deep satisfaction as he placed CDs and drives on the table, the knowledge that Ryan's downfall was imminent filling me with a sense of dark triumph. "Brilliant," I commended. The operatives all nodded."Where is Ross and the men now?" I asked, checking my wristwatch. Alan followed suit. "Be rest assured, Alpha. They're on the way and headed to us." Alan typed away
ROSS'S POV~The door slammed shut behind me, and there he stood…nobody. There was absolutely nobody but the door shutting on its own. But I could imagine Ryan, standing there and staring at me like he had suddenly caught me up in his trap. I could imagine his face twisted into a side grin, his eyes gleaming with an evil satisfaction. My breath caught in my throat as my world froze. My mind raced, thoughts scattering like rats as a sinking dread took hold. This was not part of my plan, not at all. How had he known? How had I failed?"Well, well, dear brother. Here you are," Ryan's smooth voice slithered through the room, sinister and mocking. But no matter where I turned, his face remained hidden. The sound of his approaching footsteps chilled me to the bone, my fists clenching tighter with each step. "Oh, you look scared, brother. So scared. Perhaps a picture or two to share with the world?" His chuckle was like a blade against my skin, but no matter how I searched, I found no tra
RYAN'S POV~I watched with chilling coldness as Ivy's body slumped over the table, her speech slurring and her head drooping. The drug she had slipped into the drink which she assumed was mine, was slowly taking effect, her body heating up, the telltale signs of her impending heat becoming more apparent with each passing second. I could already envision the wolves in here circling her like prey, ready to feast on her vulnerable state. My insides twisted with a dark, vengeful satisfaction."You think you're clever, don't you?" I muttered under my breath, glancing around the bar with a calculating glare.My anger simmered beneath the surface, as I took in the scene around me. The shifters in the bar laughed, drank, danced, and made out in corners of the bar, completely oblivious to the scheme that was unfolding right under their noses. I needed to leave, but first I contemplated texting Ross once more, pondering if my previous message was flirtatious enough.I let out a low chuckle as
ISABELLA'S POV ~In that moment, I was stripped of my armor, vulnerable and raw in front of Ryan. He had seen me through my darkest moments, but this was different; this was a deeper, more vulnerable kind of brokenness. My heart ached as I watched his own vulnerability surface, his expression a reflection of my own pain. It was as if the world had stopped spinning for a moment, and all that existed was the two of us, bound together by our shared bond. I hoped that this tender moment, this fragile peace, would never be shattered.My mind raced, trying to process the emotions swirling through me. I felt numb, as if the world had gone still and silent around me. I knew I had to say something, anything, but my voice refused to work.Instead, I pulled Ryan into a tight embrace, allowing his comforting scent to fill my senses, attempting to ease the turmoil in my mind. It was all too much; the exhaustion, the emotional upheaval, the weight of the world seemed to bear down on me.“I know…
ISABELLA'S POV ~Rage built within me like an inferno, blistering every inch of my being. My breath came in short, ragged gasps as I stared at the man who should have been on his knees begging for forgiveness. But instead, he was groveling at the feet of the strange woman he'd chosen over his own family, trying to atone for the wrongs he'd done to his daughter by sacrificing me.I felt like I was unraveling at the seams.My stepmother bled out before my eyes, her life draining away in a crimson pool. My so-called father clutched her, sobbing hysterically, his hands slick with blood as he desperately tried to save her. But I felt nothing for them. No empathy, no sympathy—only a cold, hard emptiness where my heart used to be. Perhaps I was evil for feeling this way, but in that moment, I could not bring myself to care.Ryan's arms encircled me, keeping me from collapsing to the ground like a broken doll. His voice, gentle as a summer breeze, barely registered in my mind.“Hey… are you