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
Giselle’s POV“Luna, please don’t be angry. It’s bad for our future Alpha. I promise you, what I have is a piece of good news,” The omega who just arrived spoke with a wide, infectious grin spread across her face. “Just speak!” I snapped at her in annoyance, making her cower down. After recovering herself, a small, imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she leaned in closer, her voice lowering to a conspiratorial murmur.“Apparently, the Nightsong Pack is on the receiving end of a lot of hate right now,” she revealed, a glint of something almost akin to satisfaction flickered in her eyes. I raised an eyebrow at her. “And how is that possible? People were just desperate to meet Alpha Drystan and form an alliance with him last time. How come their heart changed quickly? Are you sure that your sources are correct?”“Luna!” her eyes widened with hurt when I doubted her. “It was Alpha Killian’s most trusted source that had told me. I will never give you the news that I
Asha’s POVThe soft crunch of leaves beneath my boots was the only sound as I walked through the forest path.My mother’s grave is far from the Packhouse. She is buried in a secluded area, giving her peace. The cool air carried a solemn stillness that matched my mood. Visiting her grave was my sanctuary, a place where I could let my guard down and remember the woman who raised me.That’s when I saw him — Andros, my older brother, standing at the edge of the woods. The shadows from the trees seemed to engulf him, and his posture was rigid, alert. Was he here to visit Mother too? I wondered. My heart swelled at the thought. It wasn’t often that Andros and I shared these quiet moments. As the crowned Alpha he has too many responsibilities placed on his shoulder. He was always busy. I opened my mouth to call out to him but stopped short when another figure emerged from the shadows. My brows furrowed. The man wore a black hoodie that concealed most of his face, and his movements wer
Asha’s POVI staggered back, shaking my head in disbelief. “That’s not true. That can’t be true,” I mumbled as if I was just trying to convince myself.“I was left with no choice, Asha. Your mother—Luna Jamaica—was my brother’s mate. He was the rightful Alpha. But when he died, the Pack needed a leader. And I… I was the only option. I was forced to marry her to maintain stability. To keep this Pack from falling apart.”My father’s eyes turned red as he tried his best to hold back his tears. My heart wrenched as I feel for his pain. This is the first time I ever saw my father look so vulnerable. “I gave up everything. My mate. My happiness. My future. I gave it all away for this Pack, for a life I never wanted. And every day since, I have lived with that choice. With the weight of betraying my mate, of turning my back on the only woman I ever loved.”I stared at him, my body trembling as the truth settled over me like a suffocating blanket. Everything I had believed, everything I
Asha’s POVI squared my shoulders as I faced my father, my eyes narrowing at him in anger. I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, the weight of years of frustration and jealousy boiling to the surface. My father simply stood before me, his usual composed demeanor tinged with a rare expression of exasperation, but I didn’t care. Not anymore“She doesn’t even call you Father!” I spat, my voice trembling with anger. “Not once in her life has Astrid ever acknowledged you as her father. And yet, you treat her like she’s some prized treasure. Why, Father? Because you feel guilty for neglecting her? She’s just your illegitimate child! It’s best that she realize she’s not special!” I blurted out angrily.Alpha Theron’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t speak. That silence — his silence — was what always drove me mad. He would never defend himself, never justify his actions, as if I were the one being unreasonable. But I wasn’t.“She’s ungrateful!” I continued, pacing back and forth as my em
Astrid’s POVThe silence after the call ended was heavier than the words I hadn’t spoken.I remained frozen, clutching the phone as though its weight could tether me to the choices I had made. Each unspoken truth tightened like a vice around my chest, each lie stealing the air I so desperately needed.I wanted nothing more than to turn back, to run to Ryker and finally tell him who I really was. But how could I? How could I be so selfish, so reckless? I knew the truth about my condition — how dangerous and uncertain everything is. How could I let him get close to me, knowing how it will all end?The thought of Ryker loving me, only to lose me, was unbearable. I couldn’t let him go through that pain, the kind of pain that had already hollowed me out. I knew it too well — the ache of losing someone you’d give anything to keep. The searing, unrelenting agony of losing my husband, the devastation of outliving my child. I wouldn’t wish that torment on anyone, least of all Ryker.A shiv
Killian’s POVIt had been days since Ryker had last seen Giselle, and Ryker still hadn’t asked a single question about her mother. At first, I was afraid of what he’d say, dreading the moment he’d look me in the eye and ask, Where’s my mother? I couldn’t bring myself to tell him the truth, knowing how much it would break him. How could I possibly explain to him that Giselle is not her mother, and that she’s dead. In his whole life, Ryker believed that Giselle was his mother — she’d raised him, after all, and he’d known her as nothing else.I know it would be difficult for him to accept and process the whole truth, and I was trying my best to avoid the confrontation from him. But now… I’m no longer just worried about Ryker’s difficult questions now I wasn’t just avoiding the question. I am now worried wondering why he still haven’t asked me any question. In the days that had passed, he hadn’t asked even once. Not a word about Giselle. No concern, no curiosity. Just silence. And
Alpha Theron’s POVAndros scoffed, his disbelief clear as he tilted his head back. “You are choosing Astrid over me?” he spat out. “You’re going to make her the crowned Luna of this Pack? It’s only been three years since you met her, and you think she’s worthy of this title? What do you think Asha would say? Astrid isn’t even your legitimate child!”I met his gaze, my own expression resolute. “Astrid has proven herself capable. She’s been our acting Beta for three years and led as the Luna of the Silvermoon Pack for five years before that. She has the qualities, the skills, and the strength needed to lead. In terms of ability, Andros, she does her job far better than you.”Andros’s fists clenched, his expression darkening with insult and rage. “This is madness! The Pack won’t accept it! My mother is your true mate and the Luna of this Pack. Giving your position to someone who isn’t her child is an insult to her legacy and to this Pack!”I took a step forward, my voice unwavering.
Alpha Theron’s POVA long silence settled over the room after I asked the question, heavy and tense. I kept my gaze fixed on Andros, waiting, hoping for a sign of remorse or an explanation. But what I saw instead shook me to my core. Andros looked back at me, and in that gaze, I saw a stranger. The gentle son I thought I knew was gone, and in his place stood a man cold and unyielding.Then he spoke, his voice sharper and louder than I had ever heard it, filled with a defiance that sent a chill through me. “You want to know why I did it?” he snapped, his tone a mix of anger and something darker. “I did it for us, for this pack. I was doing you a favor by doing what you could never bring yourself to do.”His words stunned me. Andros had never raised his voice to me, not once in all the years I’d known him. Even when I was harsh or demanding — as I always was, he had always accepted it in silence, never challenging me. But now, he stood before me, speaking without restraint, and I
Alpha Theron’s POVAndros entered, his eyes darting between me and the book lying on the desk. He tried to mask his apprehension, but I caught the flicker of recognition in his gaze. I wasted no time.“Did Beta Alek give you this book?” I asked, my voice steady but taut.He blinked, feigning innocence. “I’ve seen the book before, yes. Beta Alek showed it to me and explained what it was.” His eyes held mine, the picture of calm. “Is there something wrong?”Besidehim, Beta Alek looked stricken but hopeful. He took a step forward, his voice shaking with urgency. “Andros, explain everything to your father and tell him that I’m being wronged. I gave you the book didn’t I? I even told you to burn the book for me,” Beta Alek spoke up, trusting that my son would prove his innocence. Andros raised his brows, feigning confusion. “What do you mean?” he asked, his tone soft and innocent.“That didn’t happen. You never gave me the book — I’ve never even touched it.”Beta Alek’s face went pale
Alpha Theron’s POVThe moment Astrid left my office, I reached through the Pack Link, calling for Beta Alek.My voice came out raw and unfiltered, the unmistaken anger pulsed through the link sending their wolves into submission. I could sense Beta Alek’s panic, could feel his wolf bristle at the force of my command. He knew I wasn’t pleased.Moments later, the door opened, and Alek entered, his face pale, but his steps were urgent.I didn’t give him a chance to speak before hurling the book at him. It hit him squarely in the face, making him stagger. As he caught the book, his face drained of color even further when recognition flared in his eyes.“Didn’t I tell you to burn that book?” My voice was low, lethal, and I didn’t miss the way he trembled at each word.Alek fell to his knees, the weight of his guilt bearing down on him. “Alpha,” he choked out, “I admit my irresponsibility. I failed you. I’m willing to accept any punishment for my insubordination,” he answered readily, pr