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 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 povWhen I woke, the world was muted, hazy around the edges, as though I were emerging from a thick fog. The sharp ache in my body was overwhelming, radiating from my abdomen and seeping into every nerve. My lids fluttered open, and the dim light of the room filtered in, casting long shadows on the walls.The first thing I saw was Gaius, seated at my bedside. His hand clasped mine tightly, as if letting go would cause me to slip away. His face was pale, his eyes red-rimmed, his usual controlled demeanor replaced by an expression I’d rarely seen on him: anguish.“Evelyn,” he breathed, his voice breaking with relief. “Thank the moon.”I tried to speak, but my throat was dry, and my lips felt cracked. “What… what happened?” I managed to rasp, the words scratching painfully as they left me.“You were poisoned,” Gaius said, his voice low but laced with fury. His eyes darkened as he spoke the word, and his jaw tightened as though he was forcing himself to remain calm.The memory of
Evelyn's pov“Evelyn, you need to eat something,” Gaius said softly, his voice filled with worry as he knelt beside me. His hand reached for mine, but I pulled it back, squeezing further into myself on the couch. The blanket wrapped around my shoulders felt like the only thing keeping me together.“I’m not hungry,” I muttered, my voice low.“You’ve been saying that for days,” he cut in, his tone strict now, though not unkind. “You can’t keep doing this. Your body needs—”“My body needs nothing,” I interrupted, my voice sharp as my gaze finally met his. “What’s the point, Gaius? Why does it even matter?”He flinched, but instead of arguing, he moved closer, his green eyes searching mine. “It matters because you matter, Evelyn. Don’t you see that? I can’t lose you too.”My throat tightened, the weight of his words settling over me like a heavy wood. “You deserve better than this,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Better than me. I couldn’t even…”“Stop,” he said firmly, cutting me o
Evelyn’s povThe room was buried in silence, heavy and suffocating. Gaius’s words lingered in the air, his promise to protect me from losing more piercing through the grief that took over my mind.But it wasn’t enough. Nothing about this felt enough.I stood abruptly, the blanket falling from my shoulders. “I can’t do this,” I said, my voice shaking with barely contained rage.“Evelyn,” Gaius started, rising to meet me, his tone cautious.“No,” I cut him off, walking towards the window, the frustration in my chest itching to be let out. “Sitting here, mourning, letting them walk away with everything they’ve taken from us—it’s not enough. It’s not me.”“You’re grieving,” he said softly, moving closer.I turned to face him, my wolf stirring beneath my skin. “And I’ll grieve later. But not now. Not while Clara’s standing there beside Roman like she’s untouchable. Not while the Council of Elders protects them and refuses to see the truth. They think they’ve won, Gaius. They think I’ll fa
“Evelyn, I need you to listen to me,” Gaius said, his voice low but steady, cutting through the anger consuming me. His green eyes fixed on mine, unwavering, even as my wolf bared her teeth and snarled in warning.“I can’t,” I gasped, my voice broken, almost unrecognizable. The primal force inside me surged, raw and uncontrollable, drowning out reason. My claws flexed, slicing the air as I took an instinctive step back.“You can,” Gaius cut in, stepping closer, his movements deliberate, calm. “You’re stronger than this, Evelyn. Look at me. I’m right here.”A guttural growl erupted from my throat, and before I could stop myself, I lunged. My wolf moved with blind fury, her grief a palpable force driving her.Gaius was ready. He stepped to his sides swiftly, catching my wrists mid way. His grip was strong but not harsh, a steady counter to the wildness consuming me.“Evelyn, stop!” he barked, his Alpha tone cutting through the haze like a sharp blade.But my wolf wasn’t ready to stop. S
“Gaius, look at this,” I whispered, my hands trembling as I held the red envelope out to himMy voice felt too loud in the silence of our room, my heart pounding uneasily.He took it from me, his green eyes stretching as he read the words scrawled across the paper. “Watch your back,” he murmured, the tension in his jaw evident as he set the note down.“Who would send this?” I asked, struggling to keep the fear hidden from my voice.“I don’t know,” he said, his voice tight. He reached for my hand, squeezing it gently. “But I will find out. No one dares threatens you, Evelyn.”“I can’t ignore this,” I said, pulling away to walk around the room. My wolf stirred uneasily underneath my skin, her instincts on high alert. “What if it’s connected to the orphanage? To the children?”Gaius frowned, his gaze following me. “You think this has something to do with the children?”“It has to,” I said, turning to face him. “The letters were from the kids. Someone made them write them—someone who wan
EvelynThe news of Cyrus’s latest attack had spread like wildfire, leaving fear and uncertainty in the minds of everyone.I stood near the large window in our study, staring out at the pack grounds. People were gathered in small groups, their hushed voices and wary glances betraying their fear. I could feel their doubts, their growing mistrust, and it stung more than I wanted to admit.Gaius sat at the desk behind me, his head resting in his hands. His normally strong, and commanding presence seemed dimmed, burden by the pack’s safety.“They’re scared,” I said quietly, not turning to face him. “I can feel it. Their fear is everywhere.”Gaius lifted his head, his green eyes meeting mine. “And they’re turning that fear into blame,” he said, his voice heavy. “They don’t think we can protect them anymore.”I sighed, crossing my arms over my chest. “We’ve faced worse before, Gaius. They know what Cyrus is capable of, but we’ve always fought back.”“This time feels different,” he mu
CyrusThe photograph of my father lay on the desk before me. It's edge was worn and the image slightly faded, but his eyes still seemed to pierce through me as they always had.“You doubted me, didn’t you?” I muttered, leaning back in my chair.“You thought I’d never amount to anything more than a disappointment.”I picked up the photo, running my gloved fingers along the frayed edges. His expression was as cold and unforgiving even in death as it had been in life. My lips twisted into a sharp smile.“But look at me now,” I said softly, my tone almost mocking. “I’ve surpassed even your wildest dreams. A world where the strong rule unchallenged, where no council, no laws, no Alphas can stand in the way—that’s what you always wanted. And I’ve made it a reality.”The smile faded as my wolfs growl rumbled low in my chest, the sound filling the silence of the room. “All that’s left are the two thorns in my side. Gaius and Evelyn.”Their names rolled off my tongue like a curse. They h
EvelynGauis sat across from me in silence, his eyes distant, fixed on something far beyond the room we were in.“You’ve barely said a word since you got back,” I said softly, my voice low. “What’s wrong?”He turned to meet my gaze, his jaw tightening before he spoke. “At the amphitheater,” he began, his voice low, as though speaking too loudly might shatter the moment, “I saw someone.”I tilted my head, frowning. “who?”“A woman,” he said, shifting slightly. “She was backstage, standing near the edge of the crowd.” He paused, asif searching for the right words. “She looked like you, Evelyn.”The room seemed to spin, his words throwing me off balance. “Like me?” I whispered.Gaius nodded, his gaze intense. “Not just in appearance. The way she moved, the way she stood—it was so familiar. And her face... It wasn’t completely clear, but...” He hesitated, the lines on his face deepening. “I think it was your mother.”I felt air leave my lungs in a rush, and I gripped the edge of
GaiusThe forest grew quieter the farther we ran, the shadows swallowing the sounds of pursuit until it felt like we were alone with the whispers of the trees. The boy clung tightly to me, his small hands gripping my shirt as though letting go would mean the end of his fragile safety. Raven loped beside me in her wolf form, her breathing ragged but steady, her injured shoulder leaving a faint trail of blood on the forest floor.The hideout was less than a mile away, an old hunting cabin reinforced to serve as a temporary safe house for situations exactly like this. The closer we got, the more I allowed myself to hope we might make it without further incident.Raven reached the clearing first, shifting back into her human form with a sharp grunt of pain as she clutched her injured shoulder. She didn’t look at me as she opened the cabin door, but I could feel her frustration radiating like heat.Inside, Adam and Lisa were waiting, their tense postures relaxing only slightly when the
GaiusCyrus stood tall on the stage, his voice booming with twisted conviction as he flaunted his power. The sight of the boy, trembling and locked in that cage, burned in my mind, and I knew there was no time to hesitate.Raven, beside me, moved with practiced stealth as we crept along the perimeter of the massive gathering. Her hood had concealed most of her face, but the tension radiating from her was unmistakable. “Gaius,” she murmured under her breath, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd, “this is madness. Even if we get the boy, we’ll have every rogue in this forest on our heels.”“I know the risks,” I replied, my voice low. “But leaving him here isn’t an option.”Her jaw tightened, and for a moment, she said nothing. Then she exhaled sharply. “Fine. But if we’re doing this, we’ll need to create a distraction. Something big enough to scatter them.”“Leave that to me,” I said, my mind racing with possibilities.We moved quietly through the group of rogues, careful not to draw
GaiusEvery step Raven and I took was deliberate. We moved in silence as we approached the secluded location of the Shadow’s grand gathering.The intel we got was just enough to confirm Cyrus’s presence and the purpose of the meeting. The rogues were gathering to swear loyalty to their new “Supreme Alpha” and witness the unveiling of his latest weapon.Raven walked ahead of me, her features covered by the hood of her cloak. “This isn’t just a meeting,” Raven whispered as we neared the clearing. “It’s a show of power. Cyrus wants to remind them why they follow him.”I nodded, adjusting the mask covering my face. “Then we’ll make sure we see everything,” I said, my voice low.The clearing came into view suddenly. The rogues had gathered in a makeshift amphitheater carved into the earth, a steep circle of jagged rocks surrounding a central stage. We slipped into the crowd unnoticed, our disguises blending with the rogues around us. The sounds of murmured conversations and the occ
EvelynThe house was quiet.It was the kind of calm that should have been soothing but instead made me uneasy.I sat at the dining table, stirring my tea until the liquid had cooled to the point I felt it was undrinkable no more.My mind churned with the thoughts of Gaius’s mission preparations, Raven’s lead, and the decisions we had to make. Just knowing that Cyrus was still out there, regrouping, left a constant ache in my chest. My wolf stirred uneasily.A knock came at the front door, the sound startled me enough as the spoon from my hand jolted. Grace appeared moments later, holding a pale envelope. She had an unreadable expression written on her face.“This just arrived for you, My Lady,” she said, handing it to me.I frowned, taking the envelope cautiously. There was no name or address on it, just the words Luna Evelyn written in elegant, handwriting. The paper felt rough beneath my fingers. It smelt like herbs.“Who delivered this?” I asked.Grace shook her head. “A cou
GaiusI sat in my office, staring at the map laid out before me, my thoughts a storm of frustration and helplessness. The fractured bond between Evelyn and me lingered in my chest like a physical ache, but there was no time to dwell on it. Not when Cyrus remained a threat, regrouping in the shadows like the viper he was.A soft knock on the door broke my reverie.“Come in,” I called, my voice heavier than I intended.The door opened to reveal Raven, her expression unreadable as she stepped inside. She no longer carried the air of detached confidence that once defined her. Living among the pack, isolated and distrusted, had stripped away some of her bravado.“What is it?” I asked, my tone guarded.“I have a lead,” she said, her voice steady despite the tension in the room.I raised an eyebrow, leaning back in my chair. “A lead on Cyrus?”She nodded. “He’s moving to regroup with the Shadow’s leadership. There’s an old abandoned stronghold in the eastern mountains. It’s isolated, for
EvelynCyrus’s laughter echoed through the cave, each note grating against my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. His smirk widened as he turned his attention to me, his predatory eyes gleaming with amusement.“And you, dear Evelyn,” he drawled, his tone dripping with condescension, “how the mighty have fallen. Tell me, does it ever get tiring, hiding behind stronger men?”My chest tightened, his words hitting a tender spot I hated to acknowledge. My wolf growled beneath my skin, restless and furious, but I held her back. This was not the time to lose control.“I hate you,” I spat, my voice trembling with fury.Cyrus’s smirk deepened. “Oh, I’m counting on that.”His taunts cut deep, stoking a fire that had been burning since the moment he destroyed everything I held dear. He turned to Roman, his shadow, who stood still and silent, his gaze locked on me. Something flickered in Roman’s expression—something cold and unreadable—but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.“You’re a coward,