Evelyn's pov.The day felt heavy, as though the weight of everything I’d been struggling with had finally caught up to me.My steps were slow as I made my way through the corridors of the packhouse, my hand resting on my stomach. The baby inside me had grown stronger, more active, and yet I could feel the toll it was taking on my body.I’d been so caught up in the chaos of everything around me—Roman, my father, Gaius, and the constant pressure of the pack—that I hadn’t taken the time to care for myself.Today, I was going for my checkup, and I could only hope that the doctor would have some good news.Gaius walked beside me, his presence a constant source of comfort. His hand brushed against mine every now and then, a subtle reminder that no matter what was happening around us, I wasn’t alone.“How are you feeling?” he asked, his voice low and concerned.“I’m fine,” I said, though my words didn’t feel as convincing as I wanted them to. “Just tired.”“You need to rest more,” he said,
Evelyn's povThe scent was unmistakable. As soon as I opened my eyes, it hit me—the rich, comforting smell of the meals my mother used to make. It was a blend of herbs, spices, and something warm and hearty, familiar and safe. I could almost hear her humming in the kitchen, the sound that always seemed to follow the delicious aroma of her cooking. For a moment, I thought I had drifted back in time, back to when everything was simpler, when my biggest concern was running through the halls of the packhouse with my siblings, laughing and carefree.I rose slowly from bed, the lingering warmth of the covers against my skin making me want to sink back into them. But the smell pulled me out of my stupor, and I couldn’t resist. I slipped into my slippers and walked quietly down the hall, following the scent like a trail.When I entered the kitchen, my steps faltered. There, standing at the stove, was Clara. She was stirring something in a pot, her focus completely on the task at hand. I co
Evelyn's POVEmpty. I had woken up to another empty bed. I reached the spot where my 'husband' should have slept and it was cold as ice. His scent wasn't there. It was everywhere else, but not on the bed. He hadn't slept here last night. I lay still on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, trying to fight the tears that burned the corner of my eyes. This wasn't new. This wasn't the first time. You would think that after being married for eight months, I would be used to this by now. Used to being ignored, to being tortured and tormented emotionally by a man I had foolishly given my heart to. I rolled out of bed and trudged out of my room. I could hear the maids moving around the building, cleaning and chattering. "Luna." They bowed when I walked past them, downstairs. I was following a scent. The one scent that made my heart beat faster and blood rushing through my ears. I found him in the kitchen, naked down to the waist, holding up a frying pan. His dark hair was to
Evelyn's POV "C-Clara," I stuttered when the couple did not stop their obscene act. "What... What's the meaning of this?" She ignored me for a while and I grew angry. "Clara, stop this right now!" She sighed, tossed me a scathing look before disentangling from her lover. Naked, she climbed off the bed and strutted toward me. The last time I had seen her, her skin had been so pale and white. Now she looked so vibrant, it was confusing. "I thought you were sick. I thought you had the disease," I whispered, backing away with each step she took toward me. "Oh, please." She scoffed. "May the goddess forbid. I am hale and hearty as you can see." Roman approached the room then. He shoved me aside, causing me to fall to the ground while he laughed cruelly. "The gig is up, Clara?" "I got tired." She shrugged while I looked on in disbelief. "For how long was I supposed to pretend to be sick? She already married the Alpha in my place, so what's the point?" I gaspe
Evelyn's POV My heart beat faster as I reread the text. Run? What did that mean? Was it Raven? Was she trying to threaten me into leaving Cyrus? "No," I shook my head, sniffing. "He's mine! Cyrus is mine!" I sent him a series of texts, demanding where he was and reminding him that he was supposed to have dinner with me. I got nothing in response, so I waited. By ten that night, my husband walked in, reeking of Raven's scent. "You're late," I sniffed, not moving an inch from where I was. He ignored me, ready to walk upstairs. "I made dinner." "It's late," he replied gruffly. "I had dinner already.” "With Raven," I spat, and heard him growl. I could hear the maids creeping out of their rooms, probably ready to witness another one of the many scenes of us arguing. "It's late, wife. If you're not eating, then go to bed.”"My name is Evelyn!" I yelled, rising from my chair and storming over to him. "And I am your Luna. Your wife. Not that crazy woman!" He stopped in h
Evelyn's POV When I woke up, it was in a ward room. I was surrounded by the relieved faces of doctors and nurses. For a minute, I wondered why I was back in the hospital. Then, it dawned on me. I hastily tried to sit up, clutching my belly. "My baby," I croaked. "Please tell me nothing happened..." The doctor's relieved expression slowly shifted into a grim look. "I apologize, Luna Evelyn." He spoke, and my stomach dropped. "By the time you were rushed here, you had lost the baby." My body trembled. I closed my eyes, leaning back into the bed, trying not to break down. "Did my husband bring me here?"There was silence. I didn't have to open my eyes to know that they were staring awkwardly at each other. Their silence meant one thing. Cyrus hadn't known I had bled all over his elevator. At least not yet. "I would like to be alone," I murmured, turning my back to the doctor and nurses. I didn't make a sound but hot tears slipped down my face as I cried. I had lost m
Evelyn's POV "Let go of me!" I screamed as the soldiers lifted me in both arms and carted me out of my home. "Let go this instant! Cyrus! Cyrus, you can't be serious!" I looked over my shoulders as I was being dragged away from my home. A maid had a sad look on her face as she closed the front door. The soldiers shoved me into a car and drove while I screamed. They arrived at the pack prison and left me down to the dungeon. A place kept for hardened criminals and dangerous people. It reeked of dirt and blood and sweat. I could hear the hollering of the prisoners as I got led through a small hallway down to a prison at the end. I had stopped screaming. What was the point? No one could save me. I had been rejected by my family, treated as dirt, and used as a pawn over and over. And then I yearned for the love of a cruel man who treated me like a prisoner. Because of his lover. "I'm sorry, Luna." One of the guards mumbled in apology as he opened the jail gate. I wal
Gaius’s POVShock! Disbelieve!I could see the two emotions clearly reflecting in her eyes. While I could understand what was going on with her - simply because I was feeling the same way - I didn’t want to prolong the matter in any way. “You…” The disbelief in her voice stretched for over ten seconds before she was able to find her voice again. “You…” And again, she lost her voice. I sighed, knowing that it was only a matter of seconds before the words would plopped out of her mouth. “Yes, we are mates,” I affirmed to her, hoping that she would let go of the matter since I already gave her the confirmation she wanted. However, she quickly proved me to be wrong. “How?!” She bellowed. At that, I got a little irritated. If she thought that I wanted to stand in front of a prison bar and go through a question and answer series, then she was wrong. Also, if she thought that the mate thing was only shocking to her, again she was wrong. I was just trying to hold off whatever roller co
Evelyn's povThe scent was unmistakable. As soon as I opened my eyes, it hit me—the rich, comforting smell of the meals my mother used to make. It was a blend of herbs, spices, and something warm and hearty, familiar and safe. I could almost hear her humming in the kitchen, the sound that always seemed to follow the delicious aroma of her cooking. For a moment, I thought I had drifted back in time, back to when everything was simpler, when my biggest concern was running through the halls of the packhouse with my siblings, laughing and carefree.I rose slowly from bed, the lingering warmth of the covers against my skin making me want to sink back into them. But the smell pulled me out of my stupor, and I couldn’t resist. I slipped into my slippers and walked quietly down the hall, following the scent like a trail.When I entered the kitchen, my steps faltered. There, standing at the stove, was Clara. She was stirring something in a pot, her focus completely on the task at hand. I co
Evelyn's pov.The day felt heavy, as though the weight of everything I’d been struggling with had finally caught up to me.My steps were slow as I made my way through the corridors of the packhouse, my hand resting on my stomach. The baby inside me had grown stronger, more active, and yet I could feel the toll it was taking on my body.I’d been so caught up in the chaos of everything around me—Roman, my father, Gaius, and the constant pressure of the pack—that I hadn’t taken the time to care for myself.Today, I was going for my checkup, and I could only hope that the doctor would have some good news.Gaius walked beside me, his presence a constant source of comfort. His hand brushed against mine every now and then, a subtle reminder that no matter what was happening around us, I wasn’t alone.“How are you feeling?” he asked, his voice low and concerned.“I’m fine,” I said, though my words didn’t feel as convincing as I wanted them to. “Just tired.”“You need to rest more,” he said,
Evelyn’s P.o.vThe weight of uncertainty hung heavy over the room. Gaius, Lisa, Adam, and I sat in the study, the air thick with tension as we tried to piece together our next move. My father’s whereabouts—or what Roman believed to be his fate—loomed over every word spoken.“We need to consider the possibility that Cyrus has him,” I said, breaking the silence. My voice trembled slightly, but I forced myself to speak clearly. “If Roman isn’t lying, and if my father’s not dead, there’s no one else who would go to such lengths to keep him hidden.”Lisa nodded thoughtfully, her gaze sharp as she exchanged a glance with Adam. “It would make sense,” she said, tapping her fingers against the armrest of her chair. “Cyrus would gain leverage over you that way. And we know he doesn’t shy away from using people as pawns.”Adam leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “If Cyrus does have him, we need proof before we act. Otherwise, we’re walking into a trap.”“I know that,” I replied, try
Evelyn’s P.o.vThe silence between Gaius and me stretched long and thin as the car sped away from my father’s packhouse. I couldn’t shake Clara’s words, her hesitant voice playing on a loop in my mind.He’s not coming back. Roman thinks he’s dead.No matter how many times I replayed it, I couldn’t accept it. My father—dead? No. It wasn’t possible. He was too strong, too clever to be taken down so easily. But the doubt wormed its way into my thoughts, gnawing at my resolve.Gaius’s steady grip on the wheel was the only anchor keeping me tethered to the moment. I could feel his glances, the weight of his concern, but I didn’t have the energy to meet his gaze. Instead, I stared out the window at the passing trees, their green blur doing little to distract me from the storm in my chest.“Evelyn,” Gaius said softly, his voice cutting through the hum of the engine.“I don’t want to talk about it,” I said flatly, not looking at him.“You’re not fooling anyone,” he replied, his tone gentle bu
Evelyn's P.o.vThe air in the packhouse was suffocating. My wolf moved uneasy beneath my skin, her unease mirroring my own as Roman stood before me, his expression a mixture of defiance and barely concealed fear. His hands were clenched at his sides, his jaw tight, but his eyes betrayed him. “I told you,” he said, his voice wavering despite his attempt at control, “I don’t know where Father is.” “Liar,” I said, taking a step closer. My voice was steady, but inside, my anger simmered, threatening to boil over. “You’re hiding something, Roman. Just tell me the truth.” “I’m not hiding anything!” he snapped, though his gaze darted to Gaius, who stood at my side, silent and imposing. Gaius didn’t speak, but his presence alone was enough to make Roman flinch. I narrowed my eyes, my wolf growling low in my chest. “Do you think I’m stupid? Do you think I don’t see through you? I know you know something. Stop wasting my time.” Roman’s lips pressed into a thin line, and he took a st
The faint glow of moonlight spilled through the window, casting a soft, silvery light over the room. I stirred, shifting restlessly against the sheets, my body heavy with exhaustion but my mind refusing to quiet. For days now, the nightmares had plagued me, leaving me weak and anxious.A low, soothing hum filled the room—a sound I realized came from Gaius. His arms were wrapped securely around me, his warmth seeping into my chilled skin.“Evelyn,” he murmured, his voice a deep rumble against my ear. “You’re safe. Just breathe.”I clung to him, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as I tried to ground myself. The echo of the nightmare still lingered, a shadow at the edges of my mind, but his presence was a balm against the fear.“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice hoarse.“There’s nothing to apologize for,” he replied firmly. “You’ve been through so much. It’s no wonder your mind is restless.”I nodded weakly, the lump in my throat too thick to speak. Gaius shifted, his hand
Gaius’s POVThe council chamber was unbearably stifling, despite the faint breeze filtering through the high windows. My knuckles pressed against the smooth surface of the table as I locked eyes with the lead councilor. His expression remained neutral—too neutral—and I already knew what was coming.“After careful deliberation,” he began, his voice steady but devoid of any urgency, “the recording you provided has been deemed irrelevant to this case.”The words hit me like a cold slap, though I kept my expression steady. My wolf growled faintly in the back of my mind, mirroring the frustration boiling in my chest.“Councilor,” I said, my voice measured, though it took effort to maintain, “that recording exposes Cyrus for the manipulative liar he is. How can you possibly call it irrelevant?”A murmur swept through the chamber. Some of the other councilors exchanged uneasy glances, but the lead councilor remained unperturbed.“The recording lacks sufficient context,” he replied, folding h
Evelyn’s POVThe court hall was packed to the brim. The tension in the air was thick enough to taste, a mix of hushed conversations and the occasional snap of a camera shutter. I sat in the gallery, my hands clasped tightly in my lap, trying to ignore the whispers behind me.“Do you think Cyrus will get away with it?”“I heard he’s bribed half the council already.”“Gaius won’t back down. He’s not that kind of Alpha.”My wolf stirred uneasily, sensing the waves of doubt. Despite my faith in Gaius, I couldn’t shake the fear that Cyrus might wriggle out of this, just as he had with so many other schemes.The wooden doors at the back of the courtroom creaked open, and a ripple of murmurs spread through the room as Gaius entered, his presence commanding as ever. He didn’t glance at anyone, his piercing green eyes fixed straight ahead as he strode to his place. He looked calm, collected, but I could see the tightness in his jaw, the way his fingers flexed slightly as he adjusted his suit j
Cyrus’s POVThe sun streamed through the towering windows of my office, bathing the room in a golden glow. But its warmth did nothing to ease the chill running through me. My fingers tapped rhythmically against the polished wood of my desk, the sound sharp and precise, as I waited for the call.I had built this empire brick by brick, crushed every rival in my path, and climbed higher than anyone dared to imagine. Yet here I was, waiting for the Council of Elders to call me. My patience was wearing thin.The sharp buzz of my phone cut through the silence, and I snatched it up immediately. The screen displayed a single name: Council of Elders.I pressed the phone to my ear. “This had better be good,” I said, my voice cold and clipped.“Alpha Cyrus,” came a measured voice on the other end. It was one of the Council’s representatives—no doubt chosen for their ability to speak without emotion, to remain neutral. “The Council has reviewed the ongoing situation with Alpha Gaius Hartwood and