Xander’s Pov Eventually, she relents, her resolve crumbling in the face of the searing pain. “I work alone,” she hisses, her voice raw with suffering. “I don't need anyone else.”I shake my head in disgust, appalled by her arrogance. “Just like I was a liability to you?” I retort, my tone laced with bitterness. “Don't make me laugh.”Without waiting for her response, I turn and leave the room, the weight of her betrayal heavy on my shoulders. Outside, Richard looks to me for guidance, his expression troubled.“Can we trust her?” he asks, uncertainty clouding his features.I shake my head, my resolve hardening. “No, we can't,” I reply firmly. “But we can use her to our advantage. Let's conduct a sweep of the pack borders, and anyone we question, we'll threaten with wolfs bane. It's been a long time since they've seen it. It should be enough to make them talk.”Richard nods in agreement, his determination matching my own. As he sets off to gather the soldiers, my wolf stirs within me,
Xander’s Pov Finally, after what feels like an eternity, we reach the end of our questioning, the last soldier standing before us with a defiant glare. “I don't know anything about Elara's plans,” he insists, his voice tinged with defiance. “I swear it.”I exchange a glance with Richard, silently communicating our doubts. But as we weigh our options, a sudden realization dawns upon me. “Bring out the wolfs bane,” I command, my voice firm and unwavering. “Let's see if he's telling the truth.”With a sense of urgency, we retrieve the potent herb, its pungent scent filling the air as we approach the soldier. “Hold out your arm,” I instruct, my tone leaving no room for argument.Reluctantly, the soldier complies, his eyes widening in fear as he watches us draw closer. With careful precision, Richard administers the wolf's bane, its effects immediate as the soldier's eyes widen in pain.For a moment, there is only silence, the courtyard holding its breath as we await his response. And the
Allegra’s PovAs Xander enters our room, the soft morning light dances across the walls, casting a warm glow over my still form nestled beneath the covers. I feel the mattress shift as he approaches, and my eyelids flutter open to meet his gaze, a gentle smile curving my lips."Xander," I murmur, my voice thick with sleep. "Is everything alright?"He nods, his eyes tender as he kneels beside the bed, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. "Everything's fine, love," he assures me, his touch sending shivers down my spine. "I just wanted to check on you."I reach out to him, my fingers intertwining with his as I pull him closer, grateful for his presence. "I'm glad you're here," I whisper, my heart swelling with affection for the man who holds my heart in his hands.For a moment, we simply revel in each other's company, the worries of the outside world fading into the background as we savor the peace of our shared sanctuary. But soon, reality comes crashing back in, reminding us of the tas
Allegra’s PovAs Xander's breathing steadies, his body relaxed in sleep, I can't help but let my mind wander to the events of the day. It feels like we're constantly fighting against some unseen force, struggling to maintain the fragile peace we've worked so hard to achieve. Sighing softly, I brush a stray lock of hair from his forehead, my thoughts swirling with worry and uncertainty."Hey," I whisper, my voice barely above a murmur. "Are you still awake?"Xander stirs slightly, his eyes fluttering open as he turns to face me. "Yeah," he replies, his voice heavy with sleep. "What's on your mind, Allegra?"I bite my lip, unsure of where to start. "I just...I can't shake this feeling that something's not right," I confess, my voice barely more than a whisper. "It's like no matter how hard we try, there's always another obstacle in our path."He reaches out, taking my hand in his, his touch a comforting anchor in the darkness. "I know what you mean," he murmurs, his voice filled with un
Allegra’s PovAs we're still talking, before I can press him for more information, a commotion breaks out across the room. Rushing to the window, I peer outside, my heart skipping a beat at the sight of a group of unfamiliar figures approaching our home.“Who are they?” I ask, my voice barely more than a whisper.Xander joins me at the window, his expression grim. “I don't know,” he replies, his tone tinged with concern. “But we need to be prepared for anything.”As the strangers draw closer, I can feel the tension in the air crackling with anticipation. With each step they take, my heart beats faster, the sense of foreboding growing stronger with each passing moment.“They're here,” Xander murmurs, his voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart.Taking a deep breath, I steel myself for whatever may come. Whatever challenges lie ahead, I know that as long as we face them together, we can overcome anything. And with Xander by my side, I refuse to let fear control us.As the str
Allegra’s PovAs we're still talking, Xander reaches out, his hand seeking mine in the darkness. “I understand your fears, Allegra,” he says softly, his touch a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. “But we can't let fear control us. We have to trust that we can handle whatever comes our way, together.”I pull away, my heart heavy with doubt. “I just don't know if I can do this,” I admit, my voice barely more than a whisper.He sits up, his eyes searching mine in the dim light of our room. “You're stronger than you think, Allegra,” he says, his voice filled with conviction. “You've faced challenges before, and you've always come out stronger on the other side. We can do this together.”I want to believe him, I truly do. But the fear that gnaws at my insides refuses to be silenced. “I'm scared, Xander,” I confess, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. “Scared of what's to come, scared of what we might lose.”He gathers me into his arms, holding me close as I bury my face against his c
Allegra’s PovWith a renewed sense of purpose, I rise to my feet, pulling Silver up with me. “Come on,” I say, flashing her a bright smile. “Let's get you cleaned up and try to distract you. We can tell Richard together when you're ready."Silver nods, a newfound determination shining in her eyes. “You're right, I can't keep crying about it” she agrees, her voice steady with resolve. “And thank you for agreeing to tell him about the baby with me.”“Silver, you know I would do anything for you. Plus I don't think it's necessary because I know he's going to be happy, but I will be there with you because I love you.” Silver smiles and tells me she loves me too.With our hearts light and hopeful, we make our way downstairs, ready to face whatever the future may hold, united in our shared bond of friendship and love. And as we step out into the sunshine, I know that regardless of what challenges may come our way, as long as we face them together, we can conquer anything.As Silver and I se
Allegra’s PovAs I rush home, my mind races with the news I have to share with Xander. Silver's excitement, her fears, and the joy of the day all swirl together, fueling my eagerness to tell him everything. Bursting through the door, I find Xander engaged in conversation with Richard. I try to compose myself, but my excitement must be written all over my face because Xander notices immediately.“Hey, Allegra, you seem unusually eager. Everything okay?” he asks, his eyes studying me intently.I attempt to brush off his concern with a quick nod and a forced smile, but I know he sees through my facade. Making a quick excuse, I hurriedly retreated to our room, the anticipation of sharing the news with Xander making my heart race even faster.Alone in our room, I stand in front of the mirror, unable to contain the fluttering excitement within me. The image of Silver's joy and her new dances in my mind, and for a moment, I find myself imagining what it would be like to be in her shoes, to f