Evelyn’s POV. That idiot had killed my first mate!By the moon goddess!I was going to kill him and make sure that even his corpse would be left in the field or the mountains or wherever for vultures to feed on. How dare he!“And do you want to know why?” Alpha Gaius's voice trembled as he let out. “Just because Archer had sworn an oath that Cyrus was not going to commit all his atrocities. At least, not as long as Archer was breathing. Which was why the evil man killed him.” He explained. It was hard to comprehend the words. To think that I had always thought that my ex husband had been nothing but good and kind to everyone - except me - all these while, only to be dealt this news of his cruelty. How could a man with power think that the next best thing to do was kill another person just because the person was trying to stop them from committing evil?Was all that I knew of Cyrus a facade then? Was he worse than Rogues whom we had all been warned while growing to steer clear off
Gaius’s POVI could see it in her eyes. The depth of disappointment she had in her ex husband. Tinted with the disappointment was grieve for herself and maybe some guilt. I knew she was overwhelmed by everything that had been going on. While it seemed a little cruel that I was dumbing everything on her, I knew that it was something that was necessary. Not only would it help her to take her stand seriously, but it would also help her to kill whatever feeling she might still have left for the man. “I am so sorry. For everything each of you had gone through in the hands of that monster.” She said after about a minute or two of silence. Lisa and Adam nodded their heads to show that they heard her. “Evelyn,” I called to get her attention. She raised her head to look at me. “Like I said, there is a fourth associate. They were supposed to be a part of this meeting but they couldn’t make it here tonight. When the time is right, you will meet them,” I explained to her. She nodded her he
Evelyn’s POVMy father had something that could bring down Alpha Cyrus?I couldn’t help but wonder exactly what that could be. Apart from them meeting at the meetings for Alphas, I was not sure I had ever seen them together again. Still, I knew that I couldn’t rule out the possibility especially when I knew quite well that both my ex husband and my father were cunning men. They were both so bad that I couldn’t and wouldn’t be able to tell which one of them was worse than the other. My heart thumped in excitement as I wondered what exactly my father had against Cyrus. And if he did have something against the man, why?Why had he deemed it fit enough to keep a record against the man?“Evelyn?” A hand shook me slightly, bringing me back to the present. “Are you here?” I looked up to see that it was Alpha Gaius and he had a worried look on his face. “Sorry about that,” I apologized to him. “What were you saying?” I asked with a small smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Adam was as
Gaius’s POVWith my heart so heavy, I walked away from my mate. Even though it broke my heart to leave her standing in the dark, I knew that there was little to nothing else I could do. Even if I wasn’t feeling guilty that she should have belonged to my brother, I knew that I needed to give her space and enough time for her to forget her ex husband. At the thought of that man who had us all pent up, my anger returned and I hissed loudly. “What is it?” I heard Lisa ask. I paused from my walking and looked up, only to see that I was already halfway through the room. I couldn’t believe that I had been so angry and lost in thought that I hadn’t even figured out that I was walking and would have hit the wall if Lisa had not spoken up. “She is still refusing to get the vital evidence for us from her dad?” She asked again when I didn’t answer the first question. I knew that the ‘she’ in this context was only referring to Evelyn. Evelyn.The name that made me both happy and furious. H
Evelyn’s POVI watched as the man who was supposed to be my mate walked away from me like I was a fly that would perch on him if he accidentally stayed. Unwilling to let myself think more about everything that was going on with me and Alpha Gaius, I turned my back to the wall and forced myself to get back to sleep. By the time I would open my eyes again, the sun was already seeping through the window. I sighed and got out of the bed even though I had no idea what I was going to do with my day. At first, I thought about making myself breakfast, but I kicked against it. I was in a strange house and place. Rushing to the kitchen on my first day at the place might be frowned upon. I thought about staying indoors all day next, but again I kicked against that, knowing that was not the way to appreciate the people who had done nothing but made me feel welcome when they didn’t know me from anywhere. Determined to make the most of the day, I cleaned up and made my way to the living room of
Evelyn’s POVNo. Not that I almost dropped the phone. It actually slipped from my hand. “Evelyn!” The voice yelled at me from the other end. Unable to control myself, I quickly grabbed the phone and placed it back to my ear. Not in a million days had I expected to hear that voice so soon again. It made me dumb enough that I didn’t even know what exactly it was that I was supposed to do. “He-hello?” I managed to stammer out again. I wanted to be sure it was truly who I thought it was and not just that I was hallucinating. “Yes. How are you?” The voice asked me. The tone was not one that suggested that the person in the other end truly wanted to know how I was doing. Cyrus!Why the hell was he calling me now?“I’m not even going to wonder why you are not talking.” He said, laughing hysterically in the background. It was an evil laughter - one that suggested that he was deliberately taunting me. I wanted to retaliate. I wanted to curse him. I wanted to yell at him and ask him to
Gaius’s POVOnce again, the meeting had ended abruptly, with the women out of the pictures again, leaving just Adam and I in the meeting room. One of the women had asked for permission to think about whether she wanted to be mated to me or not. The other one had stumped her foot off in anger over why the first one had to think about something that would help all of us.I sighed deeply, not knowing what to think again. As much as I wanted to be considerate and think of Evelyn and how she was feeling with everything in her life happening at once, I couldn’t help but feel bad that she had even thought that she needed time to decide if we should announce our mating bond or not. Was I that bad to be with it?Could it be that she was irrevocably in love with that monster called Cyrus and she was not willing to let go of that love for him. Or could it be that she was ashamed of me and didn’t want to be associated with me?My mind went back to when I had introduced her to a couple of peop
Evelyn. My jaw dropped and my mouth was wide open as I stared at the man who had not just walked away from me after it seemed like we were getting close to each other, but the fact that he had actually transformed into his wolf form and dashed away from me like I was some sort of plague he should not be associated with. My heart shattered into what could only be described as a million little pieces from the heart break. What the heck was the man’s problem?Why was he always drawing close to me and then pushing me off whenever I lost my guide and wanted to be closer to him as well?Was all of this a joke to him and he just wanted to flirt with me? Or was he trying to see if I was a cheap catch?*His fur is amazing!* My wolf screeched into my thoughts. My annoyance doubled at her words. *How about having some care that the man is always rude to us?* I hissed at her. Even though I knew that she might have been right about his fur being amazingly cute, I didn’t want to dwell on that
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