Astrid’s POVThe room was covered with silence when everyone left the room. I turned to my side, facing the opposite direction and covered myself with a blanket. I don’t know why Alpha Theron has to stay. What else does he have to say to me? Isn’t it clear that I don’t want to talk to him? Haven’t I pushed him enough away from me already? “Astrid, I know you hate me. What I did to you and your mother was unforgivable, and nothing that I do will make up for all the mistakes that I had done to the both of you,” Alpha Theron started to speak, his voice solemn and filled with remorse. “I don’t deserve your forgiveness… I never will. All that I’m asking is that please give me a chance. You can hate me all you want, I will accept that, just let me be there for you. Give me a chance in your life even if I cannot break through your heart,” Alpha Theron pleaded. As the Alpha of the Shadowfang Pack, Alpha Theron has never pleaded with anyone before; it was always the other way arou
Astrid’s POV“Astrid, are you alright?” Nova’s soft voice entered my ears as soon as I stepped out of the therapist’s office. I shook my head softly in reply as I held on her arm tight. Every time that I go for a session with a therapist, I always leave feeling raw and exposed afterward. The carefully constructed walls I had built around my emotions were always methodically dismantled, one brick at a time, by the therapists’s well-thought questions. Nova wrapped a hand around me to comfort me. “Don’t worry, you’re done already. You can finally relax,” Nova whispered soothingly as she helped me out of the room. I could only nod my head and swallow hard at her words. I always feel weak and out of myself after my therapy sessions. With the therapist’s keen insights and probing questions, she always got into the buried feelings that I had desperately tried to bury and tuck away from the deepest corners of my mind. It’s her job to unearth those buried emotions, forcing me to confro
Astrid’s POVAsha’s terrified screams pierced my ears as I blacked out for a moment. I couldn’t see anything, nor did I know what was happening. I have lost control of myself, like I was trapped inside my own body. “Astrid STOP!!! You are going to kill her!” Nova yelled at me, but I had no idea why she was shouting for me to stop. Panic started to set in as I struggled to get out of myself. I clawed desperately at the boundaries of my consciousness, fighting for control over my body. My wolf had never done something like this before, blocking me from full control over my human body, including my other senses. All that was left of me was my sense of hearing. Usually, in werewolves, the human side should always have higher human control over the human form, just like how the wolf side has higher control over their wolf form.I don’t know how my wolf managed to take full control over my human body, trapping me and keeping me from taking over. “Lyra… Lyra stop. What are you doing?”
Astrid’s POVThe room felt thick with tension. The air is practically crackling with unspoken conflict. After Asha and I were caught in a fight, we were brought to Alpha Theron’s office to make his judgment on us and think of what punishment he should give us. Luckily for us, we are his daughters. We weren’t directly subjected to the law. The Pack guards brought us directly to him instead of bringing us to the Pack’s tribunal, the one in charge of things like this. “This is embarrassing,” Alpha Theron spoke in a disappointed voice. “I didn’t even believe it when one of our Pack guards rushed to my office and reported that you two were fighting.”I lowered my gaze in shame, unable to meet anyone’s gaze. Meanwhile, Asha is still giving me that smoldering glare across from me while pressing an ice Pack on her bruised cheek. “You two are behaving like an uneducated rabble out there,” Alpha Theron said, his voice dripping with disdain. “Even the weakest omega in our Pack has more restra
Astrid’s POVAsha’s scowl deepened, and her knuckles also turned white as she gripped her armrest tightly. Sparks of rage flickered and danced in her eyes, casting an almost unnatural glow upon her features as rage coursed through her. “How dare you try to justify Astrid’s actions by using the trauma she had endured!” She lashed out at Nova. “Trauma will never be an excuse to hurt others!” she spat out, her voice laced with venom. “Astrid made a choice to lash out, and that choice was wrong — unforgivable, even. Her trauma will never justify her actions.”Suddenly, Alpha Theron stood up from his seat; his powerful frame cast a shadow upon them. Asha’s blood ran cold as she recognized the fury etched across her father’s features — a look that no one ever dared to provoke before. “You have the audacity to call Astrid and her mother a ‘gold-digger’ and a ‘slut’?” Alpha Theron bellowed, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder. Asha shrunk back, the weight of his accusation press
Astrid’s POV“Stop blaming yourself for it,” Nova suddenly spoke beside me, breaking me from my thoughts. “It wasn’t your fault. She was the one who approached us and said those mean things first. She was clearly asking for a fight.” I turned my gaze back to the view outside the window when I finally realized what she was talking about. “I’m sure she did it on purpose. She deliberately provoked you to make you lose control. It was obvious that she was trying to make you look like a bad person in front of your father. In the end, her plan backfired,” Nova continued talking. I sighed and lowered my gaze to my fingers. “It’s normal for her to feel that I’m a threat, Nova. As someone who grew up without a father, I will never know how it feels like to grow up with one. Asha had experienced that, and now she’s feeling that her father is slowly slipping away because of me. It’s normal for her to do such things. I only wish that her fear won’t become true.” Nova momentarily stopped what
Drystan’s POVA sense of belonging and relief washed over me as I approached the well-worn trails leading into the heart of my home. It has been a long journey, and now I finally found myself gazing upon the familiar territory of my Pack. Suddenly, the lazy smile on my face was wiped away when I noticed that the landscape beyond our Pack’s borders had changed. For some reason, tents had sprung up around, ruining the natural view of the Pack. Aside from that, there are also multiple unfamiliar faces going around as if they are legitimate settlers in the area. I stopped the car and went out to face them. Of all the places where they could stay, they have gathered just inches away from my Pack’s borders, adding a threat to our Pack. Before I could fully process these unexpected changes and speak to them, their faces suddenly lit up when they recognized me. “It’s Alpha Drystan! He’s here!”“Alpha Drystan is here!”I stood just outside my car with confusion written all over my face un
Giselle’s POVI sat on the balcony, the warm afternoon sun dappling on my face as I bent over my sketchpad. A small smile played on my lips as I delicately guided the paintbrush across the paper, coaxing the vibrant hues of a delicate orchid to life. With each gentle stroke, the petals unfurled on the page, their delicate leaves and subtle gradient of colour emerging under my skilled touch. I lost myself in the rhythm of my movements, the brush dancing across the surface, creating a serene and beautiful image. But as time passed by, my smile slowly faded, replaced by a furrowed brow and a growing sense of dissatisfaction. With a frustrated huff, I pressed the bristles of the brush against the paper, covering the entire drawing with black pigment. “Luna, it was so beautiful. Why did you stop?” The omega beside me asked, who was also one of my attendants. “I don’t like it. It doesn’t look like an orchid at all. It looks like I am drawing chives,” I rolled my eyes as I sat b
Astrid’s POVThe ruins of Emberwood loomed around us, silent and foreboding. The rogue ambush had rattled everyone, but we couldn’t turn back now. The message we’d found on the rogue’s body made it clear: the Forsaken Amulet was here, hidden somewhere within these ancient stones.Killian’s voice broke the silence as he gestured to the group. “Spread out. Look for anything out of place—symbols, markings, anything that might lead us to the Amulet.”The warriors nodded, fanning out through the crumbling structures. Nova, Drystan, and I moved together, our eyes scanning the moss-covered walls and broken pillars.“This place is ancient,” Nova murmured, her fingers brushing against a vine-covered carving. “Older than any Pack I know of.”“It’s no coincidence the Amulet is here,” Drystan replied. “The Rogue King must have known about this place for a long time.”I nodded, my wolf uneasy as I felt the weight of the place pressing down on me. There was something here, something powerful and da
Nova’s POVThe library was silent, save for the occasional crackle of the fire in the hearth.A dozen open books surrounded me, their pages filled with old, faded scripts that blurred together in my tired mind.Liora’s journal lay at the center of it all, her precise handwriting guiding me through fragmented thoughts and cryptic hints.The Rogue King. The Forsaken Amulet. The medallion Rowena had presented at the council meeting. All of it pointed to a larger puzzle, but the pieces didn’t fit—not yet.I ran my fingers over one of the pages, my wolf restless beneath my skin. Liora had always been meticulous, deliberate. If she had left clues, they were here for a reason.“Still no luck?” Drystan’s voice broke the silence.I looked up to find him leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed, his expression soft but concerned.“Not yet,” I admitted. “But there’s something here. I can feel it.”He walked over, pulling a chair beside me. His presence was grounding, his steady confidence a
Astrid’s POVThe cool night air felt sharp against my skin as I stood on the balcony of the Silvermoon Packhouse, staring out at the dark line of trees marking the western border. The medallion Rowena had left on the council table earlier still weighed heavy in my mind. The intricate symbol, unfamiliar yet menacing, seemed to pulse with a foreboding energy I couldn’t shake.Killian’s voice behind me broke my thoughts. “They’re too close.”I turned to face him. He stood in the doorway, his expression hard, his shoulders tense. It wasn’t like him to let the strain show, but tonight, even he couldn’t hide it.“Scouts?” I asked.He nodded, stepping closer. “A dozen, maybe more. They’ve crossed into the borderlands.”“That’s not a coincidence,” I said. “Not after the rogue’s little performance tonight. They’re testing us.”Killian leaned on the railing, his jaw tight. “They want to see how far they can push before we snap. We need to make a move, and fast, before this turns into something
Drystan’s POV“No!” Nova gasped, rushing forward, but it was too late. The rogue was gone.I stared down at the lifeless body, my wolf snarling in frustration. He’d been sent here for one reason: to dangle the truth just out of our reach, then snatch it away. My fists clenched tightly at my sides as the words he’d spoken burned into my mind.“The truth will destroy you.”The silence in the courtyard was deafening. Nova stood frozen, her hands trembling as she stared at the rogue’s body.“They’re toying with us,” she said, her voice trembling with anger. “They want us to tear each other apart.”“They won’t win,” I said firmly, my voice cutting through the tension. “We’ll find the truth, no matter what it takes.”Killian stood beside me, his face unreadable but his eyes shadowed with something dark—something I couldn’t quite place.The sharp sound of footsteps broke the stillness. Rowena stepped into the courtyard, her expression carefully neutral, though her eyes gleamed with a calcu
Astrid’s POVThe council room was bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, but there was no warmth in the air. The tension between us was palpable, like a thread stretched too thin, ready to snap. Drystan and Nova sat across from Killian and me, the diary Nova had found lying open on the table between us. Its pages were filled with Liora’s careful handwriting, each word a piece of a puzzle that was growing darker by the minute.“She suspected someone,” Nova said, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. “She didn’t name them, but she knew there was a threat within Silvermoon.”Drystan’s jaw tightened, his golden eyes burning with anger. “And that threat cost her everything. It’s time we stop circling around this. Someone in Silvermoon betrayed her, and we need to find out who.”Killian leaned forward, his expression carefully controlled. “We’re already investigating. My warriors are questioning anyone who had close contact with Liora during that time. But it’s not so
Astrid’s POVThe Packhouse felt heavier than ever as the tension between us grew. Despite our united front, I could see the cracks forming. Drystan and Nova were relentless in their pursuit of the truth about Liora, while Killian and I were walking on a tightrope, desperately trying to keep our secret buried.The message from the rogues still lingered in my mind: “Loyalty is fragile. Truth breaks even the strongest bonds.” They weren’t just taunting us—they were succeeding.Killian had thrown himself into the investigation, questioning warriors and reviewing records, but I could see the toll it was taking on him. He was barely sleeping, barely eating, and the strain of carrying his mother’s secret was written all over his face.As for me, I had my own demons to wrestle with. Every time I looked at Nova, I felt a pang of guilt. She trusted me, confided in me, and here I was, hiding the truth about her sister’s death. My wolf growled uneasily, a constant reminder of the betrayal sim
Astrid’s POVThe Silvermoon Packhouse was quieter than usual, as if the weight of the past few days had seeped into its walls, stifling every sound. Killian had been unusually distant since the discovery of the locket and the ledger, his thoughts turned inward as we both struggled to decide our next move. The secrets we carried were a heavy burden, and the consequences of their revelation loomed over us like a dark cloud.I stood in the courtyard, watching Ryker and Elara chase each other around the garden. Their laughter echoed through the open space, a brief reprieve from the storm brewing within me. My wolf stirred uneasily, sensing the tension that lingered just beneath the surface.“Mama, look!” Elara’s excited voice called, breaking through my thoughts.I turned to see her holding a small bouquet of wildflowers she had picked. Her silver eyes sparkled with pride, and for a moment, the world felt lighter.“They’re beautiful, sweetheart,” I said, kneeling to accept the flowers
Nova’s POVThe room was silent, save for the crackle of the fire burning low in the hearth. I sat at the head of the long table, staring at the assortment of documents scattered before me. Each piece felt like a fragment of a puzzle too shattered to put back together.Drystan stood at the far end of the room, arms crossed, his expression grim. His wolf had been on edge since our return from the Emberwood ruins. So had mine.“They planned it,” I murmured, breaking the silence. “Liora’s death wasn’t just a rogue attack. They lured her there, Drystan. And someone helped them.”Drystan’s jaw tightened, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. “We’ve suspected as much. But we need proof—something that ties this to someone in the Pack. Without it, we have nothing.”I picked up the silver locket we’d found at the ruins, my fingers brushing over its worn surface. Liora had carried it with her everywhere. Finding it there felt like she’d left it as a breadcrumb, a plea for the tru
Astrid’s POVI stared at Rowena, my heart pounding in disbelief. My wolf stirred uneasily within me, sensing my anger, my sadness, my… disgust. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.“You have no remorse,” I said, my voice trembling, a mix of anger and sorrow. “After everything that happened. After the pain you caused to Drystan and Nova. After taking someone’s mate, someone’s sister, you stand here and act as if it was just… business. Just a means to an end.”Rowena’s cold, detached gaze met mine. “It wasn’t personal, Astrid. It was survival. You have to understand—when you’re protecting what’s yours, you’ll do whatever it takes. Drystan would have taken everything from us.”I took a step forward, my fists clenched, my wolf growling within me. “Do you even hear yourself? You didn’t just take everything from Drystan; you destroyed him. You tore apart a bond stronger than anything in this world. Do you know what it feels like to lose your mate? To live every single day with half of