"Our companion is badly injured," Saya says in Selene's mind, observing through her wolf’s eyes. "He won’t survive, he can’t do it alone, he needs us." The alpha is lying unconscious on the muddy ground. The rain falls relentlessly, and the cold cuts to the bone, even for them, despite their elevated body temperature. Saya stands a few steps away from her companion, torn between helping him or simply walking away and forgetting he ever existed, as he rightfully deserves. Yet something in her heart won’t let her. Perhaps her mother’s influence on her upbringing was too strong, leaving her incapable of abandoning him to his death, especially when she knows she can help, not just him, but all the members of the Redwood Wolves who now lie gravely injured at the site where the battle took place mere moments ago. Members who, whether she likes it or not, are part of her pack now, at least until Connor and she mutually reject each other, severing their bond forever so she can return to h
Two days. Two whole days have passed since the confrontation with the rogues. Alpha Connor remains hospitalized in critical condition. During this time, he hasn’t woken up even once, though the doctor has reported that his wounds are healing well and that he’s likely to regain consciousness within the next few hours. The tension in the pack is palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife. The murmurs in Selene’s mind have increased since that morning when she returned with her injured companion, though now, with a single glance, she lets everyone know that she’s aware of what they’re saying—or thinking. Most retreat or lower their gaze, exposing their necks when she walks past. It’s clear that the respect for her has grown, especially now that she has freed them from Augusto once and for all. Selene walks calmly from the mansion to the hospital. All eyes are on her, as usual. However, she nonchalantly ignores them, taking a bite from her apple to quell the insatiable hunger she’s
Selene observes her husband from a certain distance, unable to bring herself to enter. To say it doesn’t hurt her to see him like this would be an outright lie, because it does. But what hurts her more are the lies, not just his, but everyone’s in this pack. They all lied to her, betrayed her, and treated her as if she were worthless from the very day she arrived. “He’s improving, Luna, his heart rate is…” the doctor beside her begins to say, but Selene cuts her off sharply. “Good. I’ll be with the children now. Let me know if there are any changes.” Selene had planned to let her wolf come out this morning and approach his bedside to help him heal faster, but after what happened with Inés and Carla at the door, she no longer feels like doing so. She walks away from the room, leaving the doctor bewildered. In the pediatric ward, there are six children admitted, three more than last time, all with similar symptoms and no solution yet in sight. The pediatrician is examining one
“Luna? Are you feeling alright?” Ayanell’s voice snaps Selene out of her trance. She had been deeply stunned by what the doctor said, so much so that she lost track of time and place, consumed by the countless possibilities brought forth by this discovery. Everything she’s heard since arriving here now echoes more loudly in her mind. Damn it! Could it really be true? “Can I ask you for a special favor? But I’ll need your discretion,” Selene says, her gaze still fixed on the files. “Of course, if it’s within my power, I’ll do it, Luna.” Selene takes a few deep breaths before saying: “I want you to take a sample from my husband and compare it to the children. Is that possible?” Ayanell opens her mouth, but no words come out as the meaning behind Selene’s request sinks in. She nods slightly. “I’ll take the sample right away, and if you don’t mind, I’ll also send a copy to Dr. Moreira.” “Thank you. This is very important to me.” “I’ll take care of it, Luna.” Ayanell stan
“When the DNA results arrive, make them disappear,” Carla orders the woman standing before her. The woman keeps her head down, her hands trembling at her sides. She doesn’t dare look up, unwilling to face Carla’s fury. “I can’t believe that little girl had the audacity to do this.” “How can I do that, ma’am? She doesn’t let anyone near her office, and that doctor is handling everything personally, and…” “I don’t care what you have to do or who you have to kill to make it happen! But make those damned results disappear the moment they arrive. Do you hear me?” Carla shouts, pointing a finger at her. “And make sure the safe is cleared out. Don’t let that nosy little doctor stick her nose in there. Erase and burn all the files and samples, leave no trace of what happened. Selene cannot get her way.” “I’ll figure something out, ma’am, but…” “No buts! I’ve already had enough with that useless Augusto letting himself get killed by that rebellious girl. Now I have to deal with all the
Carla leaves the clinic even angrier than before. Not only does she have to deal with Selene acting like she owns the pack, doing whatever she pleases, but also with Inés’s extreme mood swings due to her pregnancy. Listening to her constant whining drives Carla to a new level of stress. She never imagined Inés would become so weak, dependent, and pathetic. She can’t wait for that pup to finally be born so she can have the heir to the Redwood Wolves under her control. When that happens, she’ll be so powerful that no one, not even Connor and his foolish mate, will be able to oppose her. Reaching the secret exit in the stone walls, she quickly vanishes into the darkness of the forest, unaware that a man is watching and stealthily following her. “She’s taken the hidden path I told you about. I have her in my sights right now. I’ll follow her,” Uriel tells Selene mentally. The man silently prays that his hunch is correct and that this woman will lead him to Lilith. “Thank you for d
Carla arrives a few minutes later at the hut that served as a hideout for her cause all these years. Her aura is so dark that the entire room turns icy cold in an instant. Carrie, locked in the dungeon, tenses up when she hears Carla’s footsteps approaching the place. A large shadow spreads everywhere, and she braces herself for the worst. The reinforced iron bars swing open, and she doesn’t need to look up to know that Carla is furious. “I sensed it.” The otherworldly voice of Carla’s true self reverberates against the moldy walls. “Did you have contact with her? Do you have anything to do with that protection she’s wearing that keeps me from getting close and nullifies my powers?” Carrie closes her eyes as Carla grabs her by the neck and lifts her against the wall. “Answer me, damn it!” “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t do anything.” “Don’t play dumb. Just tell me what object holds her protection. I’ll kill that idiot myself once I’ve destroyed her shield
Saya reaches the spring, the place where she was last with Connor. That night, their intimacy had felt vastly different from other times, as if their connection had grown stronger. She had never felt so completely his; yet now, it is entirely the opposite. At the water’s edge, she shifts, and Selene gazes at the gentle movement of the water, overcome by a profound sadness. She still cannot comprehend what went wrong, why the Moon Goddess brought her here, so far from home and among people she had never known, only to make her suffer. Is she being punished for something she did wrong? Does she deserve this? First, the goddess took Dexter from her, the only person who had been by her side, caring for her since they were children. They were so close that he practically lived at the packhouse with her. Her parents never objected to their friendship and were happy to see her happy. The love they shared was always unconditional. During her most critical health crises, he was always ther
Deep in the forest, as dawn begins to break on the horizon, Connor climbs down from the tree, ready to return to the hotel. But the moment he sets foot on the ground, he is surrounded by several wolves—at least twenty of them.The deadly growl of a massive gray wolf fills his ears. A few seconds later, another one, also gray but with white ears and tail, lunges forward, growling menacingly at him. Sorem tries to take control and shift, but Connor doesn’t allow it.He takes two steps back, realizing he is at a clear disadvantage, yet with no intention of running away. He will face this like a man—the man he should have been from the very beginning.“How dare you set foot on my land?!” Ethan shifts in front of him, his voice filled with hatred. “How dare you come here after what you did to my sister?! Are you that eager to die?!”The growls of the other wolves grow louder, preventing Connor from responding. They inch closer, ready to attack, but the first to strike is Remus, Ragnar’s gr
The days fly by, except for Alpha Connor, who feels every second of the day like a dead weight on his back.Fortunately, the pups are evolving quite well. Doctor Moreira is doing an excellent job alongside Ayanell. The reports they deliver to the alpha every day are encouraging. The treatment is truly effective, and although they will all be latent wolves, they will be able to live normal lives, according to the doctor himself.The pack’s renovations are progressing on time and as planned. Jackson personally oversees all the work, and the results are good. One piece of good news amid so much chaos is that the beta’s mate is expecting their first pup. She’s only a short way into the pregnancy, but everyone is happy for them since they had been trying to conceive for a long time.King Kaelan and Clarisse are leaving for the Highlands this afternoon, and Connor has mixed feelings about it. On one hand, he is pleased to see his sister happier than she has ever been before, but on the othe
That same night, Inés is taken to the place where she will serve her sentence—a remote and sinister location that has remained untouched for far too long. The dungeon's whereabouts are known only to the alphas, passed down from generation to generation. It is guarded by Terrakais, making it far easier to enter than to leave. No prisoner has ever escaped, and those who have dared to try met their end within mere meters, buried beneath mountains of sand and tangled vines. Her face and reaction upon seeing the place are unforgettable. Her screams of desperation and horror are swallowed by the forest. The following morning, the entire pack feels different, as if a new energy has settled over them. They begin moving early. After training, Jackson and the others start organizing the repairs. Clarisse continues helping at the clinic, while Connor immerses himself in the administrative matters he has neglected for far too long. His goal is to have everything cleaned up and in order by t
"Bring the prisoner!" The alpha’s voice startles Doctor Mirna, who shifts uneasily in her seat. A few minutes later, Inés’s screams echo throughout the place. Her appearance is deplorable—she is dirty, emaciated, and covered in half-healed wounds. "Connor, please!" she cries between sobs. "You don’t have to do this. Please, please, please..." The guards escorting her shove her toward the center. She falls to the ground. "Inés Emberclaw, omega of the Redwood Wolves pack, you are here tonight to be judged for the crimes of criminal association, betrayal of your pack, accessory to murder, and many other offenses." One of the elders stands and addresses her after the alpha gives the order. "How do you plead?" "I’m inno...cent, I swear," she responds between choked sobs. Connor watches her with no trace of emotion on his face. The trial continues for several hours. Nearly all those involved come forward to give their statements. At one point, Maya turns to her side and realiz
Somewhere in the Highlands…Lilith walks slowly, carrying a tray of food in her hands. It’s likely that Selene won’t touch it, just like she hasn’t in the past few days, but she still tries to get her to change her mind. She opens the door and enters with a broad smile."Good morning," she greets her. "How are you feeling this morning?""Good morning," Selene responds in a low, slightly hoarse voice. "I feel much better, Aunt. The wound barely hurts anymore.""That concoction I made never fails. I knew it would help with your injury, but that’s not what I’m asking about, Selene." Lilith places the tray on the small terrace table before returning to sit beside her on the bed. "I mean this." She points at Selene’s chest. "How is that heart feeling today?"Selene averts her gaze without answering. There’s no need to be a mind reader to know what’s going through her head right now. In the days she has been here, Lilith has learned to read her well—she knows she’s suffering deeply, but lea
Alpha Connor runs toward the training field. Just before reaching the massive stone wall, he shifts into Sorem, deliberately slamming his body against it with all his strength.He does it over and over again. The wall begins to crack and crumble little by little, while blood gushes from his forehead.His sister’s screams from behind him do nothing to quell his frustration, his pain, or his rage. The only way to stay alive without Selene is to push his body to the limit, to remind himself every day that he deserves this punishment, that he deserves to suffer and feel pain for what he did."Connor, please, stop. You’re hurting yourself," his sister pleads, trying to reach him, but Sorem growls at her, forcing her to step back.This scene repeats itself every single day since Selene disappeared. The female guards surround him, attempting to stop him, but they know they won’t be able to—not until he has had enough.A few minutes later, much of the wall has collapsed, becoming just another
One week later…Limping, Kaelan walks through the clinic’s hallways until he reaches one of the rooms. He opens the door, and his smile widens at the sight of the red-haired woman busily tending to the children."You shouldn’t be wandering around here, King Kaelan," Clarisse says, still with her back to him. "As far as I know, the doctor hasn’t discharged you yet.""If Muhammad won’t go to the mountain, then the mountain must go to Muhammad," he replies, stepping closer to her. His mere proximity makes the hairs on her body stand on end."I’m busy," Clarisse points toward the room. Fortunately, all the pups are recovering well, and it seems they’ll be discharged soon. "And you’re still injured. Go back to your room, please."Kaelan moves even closer. His nose brushes against her neck, and she shudders instantly."I needed to smell your scent," he says, inhaling deeply. "I’d heal faster if you visited me more often. I’m your mate."Clarisse swallows hard, trying to loosen the knot in h
Eisheth smiles, her eyes fixed on Selene's. Inés keeps crying, which irritates her immensely. She can't believe that this runt managed to capture her and, on top of that, is threatening her with her own dagger. What a complete failure!"Come get her, monster," Selene urges, a smile also on her face as she presses the dagger a little harder until tiny drops of blood become visible on Eisheth’s skin. She doesn’t intend to harm her, but if she’s going to use her as bait, it has to be convincing.Eisheth readies herself and strides toward her in a menacing manner, but in the end, she recites a few phrases in an unknown language, and all the wolves of her own pack begin to surround her, growling."You think I’m going to face you when I have them to do it for me?" Eisheth gestures toward them. "I won’t kill you. He will do it for me."She beckons to Connor with her index finger, and he starts moving toward her, menacing, baring his fangs. Both Uriel and Kaelan step forward to intervene, but
Saya watches the events unfold from a distance. Her aura is intensifying rapidly as she sees the members of her pack attacking her grandfather and the others. They are all obeying Carla—or rather, the monster that is now revealing its true face. Her blood boils within her veins, unable to tolerate what is happening. However, she remains out of sight, waiting until she has a clear objective. Dr. Moreira is right—she must be cautious and move carefully to avoid endangering her pup. Charging in without a plan is, in fact, a very bad plan.From her position, her gaze remains locked on the monster responsible for all this chaos. Her fury grows, and with a low growl, the lowest branches of the sequoias begin to spiral and tremble, alerting Eisheth. A portion of the dark mist disperses for a few seconds before settling back into place. The Terrakai begin to grow uneasy. No one understands what is happening—except the spirits of the earth, who can sense their goddess, gifted by the moon, near