Gaius. For what felt like forever, I managed to merge myself into the crowd again. I ignored the stares of people at how tattered I was looking. I had managed to escape from the cell I was trapped in and rushed into the forest. After running and running for hours in fear of having guards being set after me, I found myself in the city of the moon goddess knows where. I tried to find my way out of the place, but nearly everyone I stopped ran away from me like I was some sort of plague. It was either because they knew I was someone who tried to escape from someone or something and they didn’t want to involve themselves in my matter or because they thought I would harm them. Whichever one it was, it wasn’t helping my situation. Now, all I could do was get to busy areas and merge myself with the people there so that it wouldn’t be so easy to notice me among them. “Did any of you see a man who looks tattered and probably has a chain on him?” I heard someone yell from a distance. I knew
Cyrus POV. “I am glad you are here,” I said to the woman in front of me while dishing a portion of food onto her plate. “I hope you enjoy your meal,” I told her with a bright smile. It was a smile that I. ontinjed to plaster on my face for a little over four hours now that I had been standing and attending to these people.She nodded her head as I added another portion to the one I already served. Once I was done serving her, I expected her to walk away like the rest of the others did but she didn’t. “You are such a good Alpha.” She said to me with a grateful smile. She ate a spoonful of the food I served her and smacked her lips. “Thank you for feeding us.”“You are welcome,” I said with a smile. She walked away after that and another person took her place, this time with their own empty plate. I repeated the action I did for the woman. After everything in my plan had gone haywire, and almost everyone was pointing an accusing finger at me and claiming that I was a wicked Alpha, I
Evelyn. “How long do you think it will take before we are able to put up the walls completely?” I asked the workers in charge of the project. After the initial rejection from the Elders and some of the people of the pack leaving because they claimed that they could not wait behind, holed up in a tent when they wanted to be free and go about doing theor businesses, the fee people who were left finally supported me and helped moved the tents to the mansion area. Now, every one of them were there and helping out however they could.Some of them were these people who had volunteered to help build the walls so that the process would be faster than going out to loon for more people. However, it still didn't excuse the fact that the building was going to take a while. How long that would be was something I didn't know yet, which was why I intended to find out from these people.“At least three weeks, Luna.” One of them replied. “And at that, we need every hand on deck as much as it is possi
Evelyn. The news I was waiting for finally came. However, it wasn’t the one I expected to hear. As days went by and I didn’t hear any response from my mate, I kept my hope alive, telling myself that the mission was just taking him a while to accomplish and maybe he was just in a real tight situation where he couldn’t pick his calls or turn on his phone to check on me. But then, I got slapped in the face by this kind of news?Or did I hear him wrongly?“De-dead?” I stammered out, my hands held against the basket I had forgotten I was holding. Finally, the basket slipped from my hand and my eyes began to turn me. “Yes, Luna. I am so so–“ the soldier said. His eyes held the sadness that was laced in his voice. I didn’t bother to hear the rest of the words. I couldn’t even listen if I planned to. The ground under my feet gave way and I found myself plummeting to the floor, my eyes closed and my senses lost. The last thing I noticed before I finally fainted was that one of the men sur
Evelyn. Boom!The loud bang of something exploding made me jump to my feet from where I was trying to rest in the mansion. I rushed over the stairs, straight downstairs and straight to where the tents were erected. I knew without being told that we were about to face another random attack if we were not already facing it. “What’s going on?!” I yelled the moment I got to the tents. I saw people panicking but still managing to act composed. Each tents had two people standing close, ready to close the tent’s zipper if they needed to stay hidden from the destruction. “Another random attack!” Grace answered, standing beside me. She cracked her neck ahead, trying to see if she would see the incoming war. “Get in the tent!” I yelled at her. She didn’t however moved. I ignored her and also strained my neck to see if I could notice the war. “Luna, are you okay?” I looked to my side and saw the Beta standing there, looking at me and the tents to be sure everyone was okay. “Why are the at
Evelyn. “Thought I would never see you again,” I said without beating around the bush with her. “But I see that you are still trying your very best to act like my replacement by forcing yourself around here.” I looked at her from head to toes in a disdaining way. If she wasn’t aware that I was not in my sweetest mood to listen to her nonsense, then she thought wrong. If she had any brain left in her head, she would have realized that I was back in the moon goddess forsaken pack, not out of joy, but because I needed to settle a grievance. But since she was too dumb to realize that, I wouldn’t mind showing it to her. Her countenance changed the moment she heard me utter those words to her. I hissed back at her, daring her to try anything funny around me. She eyed me from head to toes as well, probably trying to think of an adequate comeback for my words on her. “What are you doing here?” She hissed out in anger, obviously not being able to find something workable to say back regardi
Evelyn. “Why would you even think that I would merge my pack with yours in the first place? After I know who you are and how evil you are?” I hissed at him. The man must have lost his mind. At least, now it was clear that the hunch the Beta and I had was not just an hunch anymore. It was the truth. He was the one who was truly responsible for all the attacks against the pack. There was no reason to doubt anymore. “You just said it now. It is your pack.” He answered. He looked at me like I was a fool for not even getting the point of his words and knowing about what he was saying.“Point of correction, Cyrus. It is my mate and I’s pack. And that is why I get to refer to it as mine because whatever belongs to my mate belongs to me. Not everyone will be like you where you are not proud of the woman you made your Luna," I scoffed at him. If he thought that everyone was like him, then he thought wrong. There were men out there who valued their mates enough to have them know that everyt
Gaius. “No!” I screamed, flaring my hands in the air. My eyes flung open as pain hit me from the action I tried to perform. My hands hurt and my throat burned. I sighed as I swallowed my own saliva hard to keep the patch in my throat away. I grunted as I tried to raise my right hand again but had to quickly drop it down because of how hurt it felt to do even such a simple thing. As I closed my eyes again to get myself back from the haze that filled me, the memory of the car crash came fully. *I was driving, trying to escape from the men that were set behind me to kill me. While I was speeding away, I heard the loud honk of a car behind me. I turned at that moment, trying to see if it was the same people I was running from that managed to gain up to me. I didn’t realize that there was another car coming from one of the sides of the road I was driving on. While I was so focused on the car behind me, the one at the side hit me so hard that my car somersaulted immediately I turned a
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