Astrid’s POVI stared at Killian, my expression carefully neutral, revealing nothing of the turmoil raging within me. I could see the desperation in his eyes as he searched my face, seeking some crack in my icy demeanor for some glimmer of warmth that he had once known, but my features were set in an impenetrable mask. I watched as Killian’s hand, which was half-raised aiming to reach for me, suddenly fell back to his side as if scorched by the frost in my gaze. His eyes blinked with a look of longing written so plainly on his face, but I remained motionless, unwavering, unwilling to give in to the temptation. I crossed my arms as I waited for him to say a word. He is the one who pulled me out here. Is he just going to stare at me all day?“H-How have you been?” Killian finally spoke in a soft, unsure voice when he saw the impatience that crossed my features. Now that we are alone, he no longer looks like a powerful Alpha. In front of me, he looked like a man walking on eggshell
Killian’s POVIt has been a long day for everybody. We have just arrived at the Emberwood Pack after our long travel, and we are still trying to adjust to the work around this place.We weren’t able to help the Shadowfang Pack much because we had to settle everything. We had to settle our provisions and also build our camps. The night has long fallen, but not all camps have been built yet. As the Alpha, they had prioritized my camp first so I could have my temporary settlement and also so that I could have a good night’s sleep. However, I couldn’t sleep. My conversation with Astrid continued to trouble me. So, I sat on my makeshift desk and started to write so I could do something productive while Astrid kept me awake. In the middle of the night, only the sound of my pen scratching on paper could be heard while an omega shuffled around me, fixing my things and organizing them around the camp since we had only just arrived. I sighed as I turned to another page of the paper. “Alpha
Giselle’s POVThings have been well inside the Pack ever since Astrid had stopped making trouble for us. Until now, she’s still busy at the Shadowfang Pack, and I had no idea when she’s planning to leave and what she is currently thinking. Until now, I have been waiting for the news of her leaving the Shadowfang Pack so I can be ready. I know that as soon as Astrid leaves that place, Killian will rush to see her. That’s why I had to know so I could stop them from meeting or so that I could be there when they meet. Even though I made sure to hide my traces properly, I knew that Astrid would blame me for the accident that happened to her. I’m sure right now she already knows that I was involved in her accident. Drystan must have informed her by the time she woke up about how I lied and that I never met her. I’m sure that would bring suspicions to them. Still, I wasn’t afraid of being blamed for what I did. They can hate me if they want. The feeling is mutual. Even if they have the
Astrid’s POVIn order to cater to the remaining survivors of the Emberwood Pack that needed our help, I woke up at dawn and helped in the kitchen to cook for everyone’s breakfast. I don’t know enough of things around the kitchen; I only know enough not to let myself die of hunger. Although I am good at combat, handling Pack military and Pack affairs, and even knowledgeable in medicine, there are still a lot of things that I don’t know of. Even though I am a woman, I don’t know what women would usually be good at doing. I could break a bone when I dance, I could injure myself with a needle if I sew, and I could make people turn deaf when I sing. I’m certainly not a wife and a Luna material because of these things. The moon goddess really made a mistake in choosing me as Killian’s mate and Luna. It was no wonder why our relationship only ended in a disaster. As volunteers, we prepared today’s breakfast, but we still had to serve the food and also eat last. As I ladled the w
Killian’s POVMy fingers instinctively curled into a fist when I saw Giselle coming. What the hell is she doing here? Why did she follow me?My gaze instantly turned across me to where Astrid was standing. However, instead of seeing her, I saw Nova instead. I was surprised to see Nova holding the ladle and giving soup. I had no idea when Nova and Astrid had switched places. While I was working earlier, I could feel Astrid’s gaze boring into me from time to time. It’s as if she’s trying to read me, scrutinizing every detail. It took me a lot of effort to resist her gaze and to stop the urge to stare back at her. I purposefully ignored her to grant her wish that I would never bother her again. I was afraid that if our gazes met, everything would be over for me. I was afraid that the only resistance I had left, the little thing that I had left for myself to keep myself together without her, would suddenly vanish, and I would be left with nothing. I’ve done a lot of bad things. I h
Killian’s POVAs I was about to answer Giselle, I abruptly fell into silence when a sudden movement in the shadows caught my eye. Before I could react, a blur of motion exploded out of nowhere, a wild, feral snarl ripping through the air. Giselle barely had the time to gasp before she was tackled to the ground. A fierce, snarling figure pinned her down. “Astrid?!” I exclaimed, stunned by the unexpected turn of events. I couldn’t believe that the wild, feral figure that appeared out of nowhere and tackled Giselle to the ground was actually Astrid. I even had no idea where her strength came from. The first time that I met Astrid again here at Emberwood Pack, the first thing I noticed was the great change in her health. Astrid had seemed so weak, so broken, a mere shadow of the vibrant and confident Astrid that I had once known. Astrid is a pure-blooded omega. Her wolf has always been weak, even before, and now she has become significantly weaker. I doubt that Astrid would be abl
Astrid’s POVI grunted at the pounding headache that had overtaken my body. I can barely see straight — everything is blurry, and I feel so disoriented like I was drugged. However, I haven’t eaten or drank anything this morning. It’s impossible that I was poisoned. What’s happening to me is strange but also familiar. This was the same thing that happened to me the last time that I lost control of myself and attacked Asha. First, there was that pounding headache, and then once the pain was gone… I suddenly lost control of my body. I pressed my palms firmly against my temples as if I could somehow squeeze the pain out. But it’s no use. The throbbing only intensifies. It feels like my brain is being squeezed in a vice-like grip. The pain is excruciating, radiating from the center of my skull down to my neck and shoulders. Still, I tried my best to fight through the pain and keep my eyes open. I can’t let what happened last time happen again. I’m afraid that if I allowed my wolf to
Astrid’s POVI pressed my body on Killian as I leaned forward in pain. My lips twisted as the searing pain on my back tore through my whole body, my muscles tightening and my veins freezing. “A-Astrid,” Killian choked out, his eyes widening with horror when he saw the pain etched across my face. “W-What?” I choked out, panic flooding my senses as I started to realize what had just happened. I took in a deep breath when something sharp was yanked from my back. My body went rigid, and I squeezed Killian’s arms, my nails digging into his skin as the agony ripped through me. At that moment, time seemed to slow to a crawl. I could feel the blood pulsing in my ears, the air catching in my throat. Slowly, I looked down when I felt the wetness of blood begin to soak through my clothes. “No, no, no,” I heard Killian breathe, his voice thick with anguish after he followed my gaze. His words sounded distant, muffled as if I was underwater. I watched as his expression morphed into one