EvelynThe warmth of the water washed over my skin, steam curling in the air like a beautiful cloud. Gaius stood behind me, his strong arms wrapped around my waist, his hands tight over my abdomen as though he were afraid to let go. His touch was gentle.“I missed you,” he murmured, his lips brushing the curve of my shoulder.I placed my head back against his chest, closing my eyes and letting the warmth sink into my tired muscles. “You’re here now,” I whispered, my voice soft but steady. “That’s all that matters.”The shower wasn’t just about washing away the dirt and exhaustion of the past few days—it was about cleansing the weight of everything that had tried to break us. After a while, Gaius reached for the towel, wrapping it around me with care before taking one for himself. I caught his gaze in the mirror as we dried off, his eyes softer than I’d seen them in weeks.“You’re staring,” I teased, the corners of my lips twitching into a faint smile.“Can you blame me?” he replied,
EvelynTwo days after the picnic, the pack house felt quieter than usual. Gaius was at his desk, engrossed in a stack of papers, while I sat by the window, sipping tea and letting the morning light ease my thoughts. For the first time in weeks, it felt like we were starting to rebuild the fragile threads of a normal life. That peace was shattered by a panicked knock at the front door.“Alpha! Luna!” The voice was urgent, high-pitched, and unmistakable—it was Adam.Gaius was already on his feet before I could react, his chair scraping loudly against the hardwood floor. I followed him into the hallway, my heart pounding. When Gaius opened the door, Adam and Lisa burst in, both pale and visibly shaken.“Adam? Lisa?” Gaius’s tone was sharp, his Alpha presence commanding. “What’s going on?”Lisa clutched Adam’s arm, her eyes wide with terror. “You… you need to see this,” she said, her voice trembling.Adam didn’t waste a second. He pulled a tablet from his bag, his hands trembling as he tu
CyrusI adjusted my tie, ensuring it lay straight, before stepping up to the podium. The cameras rolled, their lenses focusing on me, capturing every calculated detail of my expression.“Good evening, my brothers and sisters of the packs,” I began, my voice smooth and commanding, filling the room and, undoubtedly, countless homes across the territories. “Today marks the beginning of a new era—one of strength, order, and true leadership.”I allowed the silence to stretch, feeding off the weight of my words. The carefully orchestrated scene behind me—the subdued Council of Elders bound and gagged—spoke volumes without me needing to say more.“For too long,” I continued, pacing slowly, “the Council of Elders has failed us. They’ve pretended to stand for justice and unity, while secretly indulging in corruption and cowardice. They’ve betrayed the very packs they swore to protect.”I turned toward the camera, letting my gaze pierce through the screen. “But no more.”The feed switched to a
Evelyn“Stay with me, Dad,” I cried low, my voice trembling as I leaned closer to him. My hands pressed a damp cloth against the wound in his chest, and the coppery scent of blood was thick in the air, mingling with the faint sting of antiseptic.His breathing was shallow, each rise and fall of his chest a battle. I couldn’t look away, couldn’t let go. My father was too strong, too stubborn to let a silver bullet take him down, but the fear that filled my chest told me otherwise.“Evelyn,” Gaius said softly, his voice cutting through the panic spiraling in my head. He placed a firm hand on my shoulder, grounding me. “Step back. Let Adam handle it.”“I can’t,” I rasped, my hands refusing to move. “He needs me. I need to—”“Evelyn,” Gaius interrupted, his tone steady but commanding. “Trust Adam.”I hesitated, my fingers clinging to the cloth as if letting go would mean losing my father. Finally, I nodded, my movements stiff as I stepped aside, my knees threatening to give out beneath me
EvelynThe pack house was filled with tension, each step echoing with an unspoken fear that had settled over the pack. Rumors spread in hushed conversations, whispers that carried the weight of panic. I could feel it everywhere—the unease, the doubt, the fear of what might come next.Gaius stood in the council room, his broad shoulders squared as he faced the pack elders and advisers. The light from the high windows cast long rays on his face, but his expression was unreadable, a mask of control.“Alpha,” one of the elders began, his voice thin and brittle with age. “We understand your position, but Cyrus’s forces grow stronger every day. Packs far more powerful than ours have already fallen under his control. We must… reconsider our options.”The room fell silent, everyone waiting for Gaius’s response. His green eyes burned with quiet fury as he turned to face the elder.“You mean surrender,” he said flatly, his tone leaving no room for misunderstanding.The elder shifted uncomfortab
EvelynThe hallway stretched endlessly before me, every step feeling heavier than the last. Lisa walked silently at my side, her expression tense. My heart thundered in my chest, the mixture of emotions—relief, fear, dread—making it hard to breathe.My father was alive.I’d spent nights believing otherwise, resigned to the idea that he’d been another casualty of Cyrus’s twisted ambitions. Yet here he was, awake and asking for me.When we reached the door to his room, Lisa stopped, her hand resting lightly on the handle. “He’s… weak,” she said cautiously, her voice barely above a whisper. “The doctors don’t know how long he’ll stay conscious.”I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I understand.”Lisa gave me a small, encouraging smile before stepping aside. I hesitated for a moment, gathering my courage, before pushing the door open and stepping inside.The room was dimly lit, the curtains drawn to block out the harsh afternoon sun. Machines beeped softly, their steady rhythm a
The days blurred together, each one passing in a haze of grief and confusion that seemed to stretch on endlessly. Time felt irrelevant now, a concept I couldn't quite grasp, as if everything around me had come to a stand still. The fear awoken by my father’s last words—those heartbreaking truths he had spoken to me—burned steadily in my chest.Every corner of the pack house seemed quieter than before, suffocatingly still. His absence was everywhere, in the empty spaces that once held his presence. His laughter, his commands, the way he moved with authority and grace—gone.I barely saw Gaius. He seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at once. His body was present in the pack house, but his mind was elsewhere. He was always somewhere else—physically here but mentally adrift, consumed by thoughts that I couldn’t reach. When he did pass through the hallways, his green eyes were distant, far away. His gaze didn’t meet mine; his presence felt like a shadow rather than the man I once knew. He w
Gaius I leaned against the edge of the table, my arms crossed, watching Raven with a mixture of distrust and curiosity. Evelyn sat stiffly across from her, her posture rigid, and her hands clenched into fists as her wolf stirred uneasily. Raven, as always, looked unbothered. “You don’t have to trust me,” Raven said, her tone calm but strict. “And honestly, I don’t expect you to. But what I’m telling you isn’t about trust. It’s about survival.” Evelyn’s eyes narrowed. “Survival?” she spat. “You’ve got some nerve. Do you think I’ve forgotten how you helped Cyrus rise to power in the first place?” “I’m not here to argue about the past,” Raven replied smoothly. “I’m here because Cyrus is about to launch something big. If you don’t act now, you won’t get another chance to stop him.” “And we’re supposed to just take your word for it?” Evelyn shot back, her voice sharp. Raven let out a slow breath, pulling a black device from her bag and placing it on the table. “You don’t have to take
EvelynThe pain came in waves, sharp and relentless. My breathing was shallow as I clung to Gaius’s hand, his steady presence the only thing keeping me grounded. I had prepared for this moment—or at least I thought I had. But nothing could have prepared me for the overwhelming pressure, the way my body felt like it was tearing apart.“Breathe, Evelyn,” Gaius said softly, his voice calm but firm. “You’ve got this.”I nodded, though the words felt distant. Another contraction hit, and I cried out, my wolf stirring restlessly inside me.Grace entered the room, followed by the midwife, a kind but no-nonsense woman named Marion. She took one look at me and started giving instructions, her voice steady and reassuring.“You’re doing great, Evelyn,” Marion said, kneeling by the bed. “But the baby isn’t in the right position yet. It might take some time.”I groaned, my grip on Gaius’s hand tightening. “I don’t know if I can do this,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face.“Yes, you can,” G
EvelynThe ride back to the pack was quiet. Gaius sat beside me, his hand resting on my knee, a comforting weight in the stillness. I leaned my head against the window, watching the trees blur past. My mind wandered, replaying the confrontation with Roman.His words didn’t haunt me the way I thought they might. Instead, I felt a strange calm, like I’d closed the door on a part of my life that had long held me captive. I wasn’t afraid of him anymore. He couldn’t hurt me now.Gaius’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “You’ve been quiet,” he said softly, glancing at me.I turned to him, offering a small smile. “Just thinking.”“About Roman?” he asked, his tone careful.I nodded. “He’s bitter. Angry. But he’s nothing now. Just a shadow of what he used to be.”Gaius squeezed my knee gently. “You’re stronger than him, Evelyn. You always were.”His words warmed me, and I placed my hand over his. “Thank you,” I said softly.The pack house came into view, its familiar structure a welcome si
EvelynI stood barefoot on the sand, the turquoise waves lapping at the shore. Gaius walked up behind me, his arms circling my waist as he pulled me against his chest. “What are you thinking about?” he asked, his voice low and comforting.I smiled, leaning into him. “I was just trying to remember the last time I felt this peaceful.”He kissed the top of my head. “It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”“It feels like a lifetime ago,” I admitted.Our honeymoon had been nothing short of magical. After everything we had been through—the battles, the loss, the constant chase of Cyrus’s shadow—this felt like a dream. We had traveled to a secluded island, a place untouched by war or worry, where the only sounds were the waves and the laughter of the locals.For the past few days, we had let ourselves forget about the rest of the world. We’d explored hidden waterfalls, hiked through lush jungles, and shared quiet meals by candlelight. It felt like we were rediscovering each other, peeling back th
EvelynThe days after the healer’s news were filled with quiet worry. At first, I thought I was just exhausted from everything we’d been through—the battles, the losses, the rebuilding. But my body felt heavier with each passing day, and the symptoms only grew worse.Gaius barely left my side, his eyes constantly flicking to me with a worry he tried to hide. But I could feel it in his touch, in the way his hand would linger on mine, or how he’d wrap an arm around me as if afraid I might disappear.“You need to rest,” he told me for the hundredth time as I sat on the couch one afternoon, my head resting against his shoulder.“I am resting,” I said, though the ache in my body made it clear that rest alone wasn’t enough.“We’re seeing the healer again,” he said firmly. “Something isn’t right.”I didn’t argue. I didn’t have the energy to.The healer, an older man with kind eyes and steady hands, greeted us warmly when we arrived. But as he examined me, his expression grew serious. He did
EvelynThe land was quiet, the chaos of the fight replaced by an eerie stillness. It was over. Cyrus was gone, and his reign of terror had ended.But as I walked through the remains of the battlefield, the weight of everything we’d lost pressed heavily on my chest. Those that died were being gathered, their bodies lined carefully, as survivors worked tirelessly to restore some semblance of order. I spotted Gaius in the distance, directing soldiers and healers with the same calm authority that had always been his strength. Even from here, I could see the exhaustion etched into his features, but he didn’t falter. He turned as I approached, his eyes softening when they met mine. “Evelyn,” he said, stepping closer. His hand rested gently on my arm, his touch grounding me. “You shouldn’t be out here. You need to rest.”“I’m fine,” I said, though the truth was far from it. My body ached in ways I didn’t fully understand, and every step felt heavier than the last. But I couldn’t sit idl
GaiusThe battlefield was eerily quiet. Smoke curled in thin tendrils from scattered fires, and the once deafening sounds of battle had faded into an uneasy silence. Around us, Cyrus’s forces lay defeated, either dead or having fled into the shadows. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, it seemed like we might actually win.But Cyrus wasn’t done.He stood alone in the clearing, his once-pristine black coat torn and bloodstained, but his stance was still defiant. His smirk, cruel and venomous, clung stubbornly to his face as though he knew something we didn’t.I tightened my grip on my blade, my wolf pacing restlessly inside me. “It’s over, Cyrus,” I said, stepping forward. “Your army is gone. Surrender now, and maybe we’ll let you live.”His laugh echoed across the field, cold and sharp. “You think I’m afraid of dying, Gaius?” he spat. “You think this is the end for me?”“It is,” I said firmly, my voice calm but unyielding. “You’ve lost everything.”Cyrus took a step forw
GaiusAs I carried Evelyn’s unconscious form through the dense forest. My arms tightened around her as I pushed forward, my heart pounding with a mixture of fear and urgency. She felt so fragile in my hold, and the thought of her being hurt clawed at me.Behind me, Raven led the way, limping but determined. Despite her battered appearance, her eyes burned with a fierceness I hadn’t seen in years. She had gathered guards and allies in a makeshift camp deep in the woods—a safe zone where we could regroup and plan our next move against Cyrus.The soft murmurs of voices and the faint glow of campfires appeared ahead. Relief flooded through me. At least we’d reached some measure of safety for the moment.The guards at the perimeter stiffened as we approached, their weapons raised until they recognized us. “Alpha Gaius!” one of them called out, rushing forward.“Clear a path,” I ordered, my voice tight. “She needs care.”They stepped aside without question, their faces etched with concern a
CyrusThe chamber reeked of sweat and blood. My throne, carved from blackened stone, felt harder beneath me as I stared at the rogue kneeling before me. His head was bowed, his body trembling.“How many this time?” I asked, my voice low and steady.The rogue flinched, his fear bleeding into the silence. “Three squads, my Lord,” he stammered. “They... they deserted last night.”I sat back, my fingers curling around the armrests of the throne.“Three squads,” I repeated slowly, “And what did they take with them?”“S-supplies, my Lord,” he whispered, barely able to meet my eyes. “Weapons, food... they stole what they could carry.”My wolf stirred, snarling at the edges of my mind. Traitors. After everything I had done—everything I had sacrificed—this was how they repaid me?“You’re telling me,” I said, rising from my seat, “that a third of my army has turned tail and fled? That they think they can run from me?”The rogue didn’t answer. He didn’t dare.“Look at me,” I commanded, my voic
Evelyn My chest burned with each breath, my muscles aching from the effort of keeping Gaius moving. He leaned heavily on me, his strength waning, but his stubbornness kept him upright.“He’s getting closer,” I said breathlessly, glancing over my shoulder.The warrior loomed in the distance, his enormous frame tearing through trees and underbrush with ease. His glowing green eyes locked on us.Gaius gritted his teeth. “We just need to make it a little farther.”“No, we don’t,” I said, coming to a sudden stop.Gaius staggered as I pulled him to a halt. He turned to me, his face pale and bloodied. “What are you doing?”I straightened, letting go of his arm. “We can’t keep running. You can’t keep running.”“Evelyn, don’t,” he said, shaking his head. “We have to keep moving.”“No,” I said firmly. “We won’t make it. He’ll catch us, and when he does...” My voice trailed off, the words catching in my throat.Gaius’s eyes softened, but only for a moment. Then his jaw set, and he stepped in fr