Do you think it would be better for Killian to find out the truth or not?
Killian’s POV “Astrid is already right in front of you, Killian,” Drystan answered me with a straight face. “What else should I show you to prove that Astrid is already dead?” Drystan asked me with disdain. I laughed at Drystan’s words knowing that this was all a lie. “Have you forgotten, Drystan? Astrid is my mate, I will know it if she is really dead.” Even though Astrid had rejected me as her mate, I still had a little connection left with her because I did not accept her rejection. My wolf could still feel traces of connection with Astrid’s wolf. If Astrid was really dead, we would have known. We wouldn’t even have the smallest connection that we have with her right now. “It’s normal for your wolf to be confused, Killian. I also lost my mate and it took me months for my wolf to accept that our mate is dead,” Drystan answered. I shook my head as tears pricked the back of my eyes. My whole body felt numb as I stared at Astrid’s picture and on her urn once again. I couldn’t
Giselle’s POV My eyes blinked when I heard Killian’s words, but I didn’t let him know that I was confused. “What do you mean?” I asked him. I don’t know if Killian is still in denial or if he just couldn’t accept the truth right now. I thought he had already accepted that Astrid was dead. We just saw her memorial service going on and even her ashes were there. What evidence does he need for him to believe that Astrid is dead? “I think Drystan is hiding something from us. There is definitely something going on that we had to find out,” Killian answered making my brows furrow. Drystan doesn’t seem to be acting strange earlier. Although, it’s normal for Killian to think that Drystan is acting strange because he doesn’t know one thing. Killian doesn’t know that I sent werewolves to kill Astrid. I also imprinted the Silvermoon Pack’s mark on their paws to frame Killian so they would think that Killian was the person behind Astrid’s attack. The reason why I insisted on coming
Astrid’s POVMy body is tense as I wonder what’s happening outside. I hope Drystan will be able to convince Killian, and that Killian won’t give him such a hard time. I wish I could go out and see what’s happening so I wouldn’t have to be left in the dark, anxiously waiting for Drystan’s news. Being left alone in my room, my mind couldn’t stop thinking about worst-case scenarios. What if Killian doesn’t believe us? What if he sees through our plans? I just don’t want anything to do with Killian anymore. I want to cut him off my life completely and that could only happen if he thinks that I’m dead. I jumped in my seat when someone twisted the door open. My heart pounded in my chest thinking that Killian was here. He has found me and he is taking me back to his Pack. I was so horrified until Nova peeked inside. I shut my eyes tight and clutched my dear heart as I slumped back on my couch. Nova slowly entered and locked the door behind her. “Astrid, are you okay?” Nova rushed to my
Astrid’s POV As a person who had lost her mate to another woman, I think that’s enough for me to understand what it feels like to lose your mate to death. Although both things are entirely different, I still know how much Drystan suffered when his mate died. Drystan lost half of him when his mate died and he never recovered from her death. After many years had passed, I know he still loves his mate now and he would choose to have her over and over again if he could. If there was a way to bring someone back to life, he would have traveled around the world to find the procedure that would bring her to life instead of searching for his second chance mate to replace the first one that he had and loved. As an Alpha, Drystan needs to have a Luna that could lead his Pack by his side. He did not look for his second chance mate because he had already moved on, he searched for her for the sake of his Pack. It must have hurt more for him to be forced to find your second chance mate whe
Astrid’s POV “What’s wrong with her? Is she okay?” Nova asked anxiously after the Pack Doctor performed a thorough check on me. Nova stayed beside me the whole time that I was hurting. She squeezed my hand and comforted me with worry etched across her face. If she had the ability to take away half of the pain that I was experiencing, I knew she would have done it. I’m so glad that we have gotten to know each other and that we have finally become friends. The Pack Doctor couldn’t meet our eyes as he took a step back. I became anxious knowing that face meant that something was wrong. “I-I’ve never seen something like this,” the Pack Doctor blurted out with fear in his eyes. Nova’s brows furrowed. He is the Pack’s best doctor, he should know this kind of thing. “I’ve studied all kinds of diseases and medicines, but I’ve never seen anything like this,” the Pack Doctor continued, adding to my fears. “W-What’s wrong with me? I-Is the baby okay?” I stammered. “The baby is f
Astrid’s POV “Astrid,” Drystan called out my name as soon as he entered my room. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Nova and the Pack Doctor who were standing beside me. “What happened?” Drystan’s eyes widened as he rushed over me. He looked at me with a worry etched across his face as if I was already dying. This is one of the reasons why I don’t want him to know that I’m sick. He doesn’t know anything about my sickness yet, but he is already worried. “I’m fine, Drystan,” I forced a smile on my face as I tried to sit up on my bed. Nova rushed to my side to help me get up, but I refused to get her help since I was no longer in pain anymore. “What is the Doctor doing here? Did something happen when I was gone?” Drystan asked us. I laughed at his exaggerated reaction to stop him from worrying. “What do you mean? Didn’t you say that you tasked a Pack Doctor to monitor my health? I wasn’t doing anything so I called him in for a checkup,” I lied between my teeth. “What did h
Astrid’s POV “Surprise!” My heart melted when Nova removed the blindfold from my eyes and revealed a surprise party for me. I closed my mouth in shock and my eyes teared up when I saw what they had prepared for me. “What is this?” I asked Nova with an overjoyed look in my eyes. I thought Nova had just personally prepared something little to lift my spirits when she told me that she was going to show me something. I knew it was something special when she had to put a blindfold around my eyes, but I didn’t expect that she had gathered all the members of the Pack together and prepared a huge party for me. “It was Drystan’s idea to surprise you,” Nova smiled at me making my mouth fall open. My eyes blinked as I thought of Drystan preparing all of these. I couldn’t believe that he’d been planning something like this behind my back. “Drystan,” I muttered his name breathlessly when I finally noticed him coming towards me from the crowd. “You don’t have to do this, it’s not even my bir
Astrid’s POVI raised my arms and watched how the moonlight reflected on my skin. I don’t understand what is happening. This has never happened to me before. I took a step back with my heart racing inside my chest. Fear gripped me for I didn’t know if I was in danger or not.The moon shone brighter and it looked larger than usual. The crowd was so amazed their mouths were open in awe as they marveled at the moon’s sight. As werewolves, they are attracted to the moon’s sight. They were completely unaware that I was already panicking behind them. My whole body trembled in fear as my body absorbed the moon’s light. The light of the moon that was shining so brightly above us slowly narrowed down to my body as if I were absorbing it. “Huh? What’s happening?” Whispers grew from the crowd as everyone turned confused when the moon’s light slowly faded away into one area. Thankfully, their eyes remained on the moon in front of them. No one had thought of looking behind them yet. I was ab
Astrid’s POVThe Silvermoon Packhouse was unusually quiet as we arrived, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the grounds. My wolf stirred uneasily within me, sensing the tension in both Killian and myself. nWe hadn’t spoken much on the way back, but the weight of what we’d uncovered hung heavy between us.As we approached the front steps, the sound of laughter broke through the silence. I turned toward the sound and saw Rowena in the courtyard, her face uncharacteristically soft as she knelt in the grass, playing with Ryker and Elara.“Mama! Papa!” Elara’s bright voice rang out as she spotted us.Ryker followed close behind her, his grin wide as he sprinted toward Killian. “You’re back!”I knelt just in time to catch Elara as she threw herself into my arms, her small hands clutching at me as if I’d been gone for days. “I missed you, Mama!”I smiled, seeing her melted all my worries away. Although I wasn’t gone that long it felt like I haven’t seen her in ages upon seeing
Astrid’s POVThe clearing was unnervingly quiet. The parchment in Killian’s hands seemed heavier than it had any right to be, the words scrawled across its surface burning into my mind like a brand. Elimination Plan. Pack informant. No survivors.It seems that there is something more behind Liora’s death. It was planned, she was targetted. Her death wasn’t a simple accident. And worse, someone from Silvermoon had helped them.I felt the weight of Killian’s silence beside me, and my stomach twisted. I’m sure he is already suspecting his mother. Aside from Rowena, who else could have made a deal with the rogues?If it was Rowena, it would make sense why she made a deal with us in exchange of escaping punishment.I reached for Killian’s hand and squeezed it in comfort. Killian looked at me and I stared back at him with understanding. There’s no evidence yet. All we know is that someone from the Silvermoon Pack had something to do with Liora’s death. We aren’t sure yet if it was Rowen
Astrid’s POVThe forest around the Emberwood ruins was a tangle of shadows and silence. Every crunch of leaves beneath our boots and rustle of branches above felt amplified in the eerie stillness. My wolf stirred uneasily within me, its senses sharp as if anticipating an ambush.Killian walked at my side, his posture rigid with tension. Drystan and Nova followed close behind, their weapons at the ready, and a small group of warriors flanked us. We’d planned this mission carefully, but the weight of the Forsaken Amulet and the shadow of the Rogue King made every step feel like a gamble.As we approached the ruins, the crumbling stone walls loomed into view, covered in moss and vines. A cold wind blew through the trees, carrying a faint metallic tang that made my stomach churn.“It’s too quiet,” Killian muttered, his eyes scanning the treeline. “I don’t like it.”Drystan nodded grimly. “If the Rogue King knows we’re here, he’s waiting.”“We don’t have a choice,” I said, gripping my
Nova’s POVThe hum of the car engine vibrated through my chest, a soothing constant as the trees blurred past the windows. It had been far too long since our last visit to the Silvermoon Packhouse, but life at Shadowfang had left no room for reunions. Rogue attacks near our borders kept us tethered to home, juggling defenses and strategies.Today was different. Today, we were finally going back.I sighed, my gaze drifting to Leira. She was practically bouncing in her seat, her excitement bubbling over. Too young to understand the weight of what brought us here, she only saw this as a long-awaited visit to her best friend.“Are we there yet, Mama?” she asked, her face pressed against the window, her voice brimming with hope.“Almost,” I replied, my lips curving into a smile. Her energy was infectious, a bright spot in the constant tension.She turned to Drystan, her wide eyes sparkling. “Do you think Elara will be happy to see me?”Drystan, his hands steady on the wheel, glanced at her
Astrid’s POVRowena’s quarters sat on the outskirts of Silvermoon territory, a place that felt as removed from the Pack’s core as Rowena herself. The journey there was quiet, the tension between Killian and me palpable. I could tell he was already regretting agreeing to this, but we didn’t have the luxury of letting emotions cloud our judgment.The rogue attacks were escalating. They were organized, purposeful, and more ruthless than ever. If Rowena had answers that could shed light on the Rogue King’s plans, we had no choice but to seek her out.Rowena had always been a thorn in our sides—a manipulative force who thrived on power plays. But she was also cunning, and if she knew anything about the Rogue King, she might just be the key to understanding what we were up against.As we approached her quarters, the scent of burning herbs filled the air. Rowena’s home was modest but had an aura of quiet power. It was an illusion, I knew—a way to remind every one of what she once was.K
Astrid’s POVThe sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the Pack’s central courtyard. The faint scent of pine lingered in the air as laughter echoed from the grassy clearing near the training grounds. For the first time in what felt like weeks, I wasn’t caught up in Pack meetings, rogue threats, or endless strategy sessions. I could finally spend some time with my children at last. I missed them so much. Ryker and Elara darted around the clearing, their playful giggles warming the heavy ache in my chest. Ryker, now eight, was tall and quick, his movements already showing hints of the warrior he’d one day become. Elara, only four, struggled to keep up but refused to give in, her fierce determination reminding me so much of myself.“Elara, you’re supposed to tag me!” Ryker teased, effortlessly dodging her tiny hands.“I will, Ryker!” she declared, her little face scrunched in determination as she lunged at him.I couldn’t help but smile. For a moment, the world
Nova’s POVThe attic was darker and colder than I’d expected. Dust floated in the dim light that streamed through a cracked window, and the air carried the faint scent of cedar and time. This part of the Shadowfang Pack house had been sealed off for years—ever since Liora’s death.Drystan had given me permission to look through her things, but stepping into the space felt like crossing into sacred ground. Her scent was long gone, replaced by the mustiness of disuse, but I could still feel her presence here. Liora had always seemed larger than life, unbreakable, but here she was just a collection of forgotten memories, packed away in old boxes.I moved cautiously, my fingers trailing over the stacks of wooden crates and trunks. A soft creak from the floorboards behind me made me turn.“You don’t have to do this,” Drystan said, his voice low. He stood in the doorway, his face shadowed but his concern clear. “I can look through it if you want. You don’t need to carry this.”I shook m
Astrid’s POVThe tension in the air was suffocating. Every time I stepped into the council room lately, I could feel it pressing against my chest—the growing divide within the Pack. It was subtle at first, a quiet undercurrent of uncertainty, but now it was undeniable. People were questioning us. Questioning Killian. And Killian’s mother, Rowena, had only made things worse.The council members sat around the long table, their expressions ranging from weary to outright suspicious. Rowena had planted seeds of doubt with her sudden return, and now those seeds were taking root. Some of them believed she was here to help, that her knowledge of the rogues might be the key to stopping this war before it began. Others—including me—weren’t so sure.Killian sat beside me, his jaw tight, his eyes scanning the room like a predator sizing up potential threats. He hadn’t spoken much since his mother’s revelations the night before. I knew he was struggling to process it, to reconcile the woman
Astrid’s POVThe council chamber was filled with the low murmur of voices, Pack leaders debating strategies and plans. I sat at the head of the table beside Killian, my hands resting on the smooth oak surface. The tension in the room was palpable—every attack, every loss, had brought us closer to the realization that this wasn’t a rogue problem. It was something far more calculated.Killian shifted beside me, his jaw tight, his body radiating barely contained frustration. He hated these meetings. So did I. But this time, they were necessary. The rogues weren’t just targeting the outposts; they were playing a long game, and we needed to figure out the rules.Just as I was about to speak, the heavy doors to the chamber creaked open. Every voice silenced, and I felt my wolf stir uneasily as the figure stepped inside.Killian’s mother.Her entrance was calculated, her steps deliberate as her sharp eyes scanned the room. She carried herself with the regal air of a woman who had once