Alpha Theron’s POVAstrid turned heavy as a log as her consciousness fully slipped away. Her face looked peaceful, her eyes were closed, and her arms were hanging to her sides as I held her up. I carefully eased Astrid back to her bed, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn’t erase the memory of how scary she looked out of my mind. No matter how much I stared at her now innocent and relaxed face, I couldn’t forget the savage look that she had earlier. The way she gazed at me, she badly wanted to kill me just to shed blood. Doctor Smith would be here any moment. I hope he will have an explanation for this, and most importantly, I hope there will be a cure for Astrid’s condition. Doctor Smith just arrived on time, right after I tucked Astrid back into her bed. He is on full alert, ready to do his job. My son, Andros, followed soon after watching as Doctor Smith ran his tests on my daughter. “Andros, it’s best for you to wait outside,” I called his attention, making his con
Alpha Theron’s POV“You!—” I held out a finger and angrily pointed at him when I heard his words. No words left my mouth as it bobbed up and down like a fish. I was unable to oppose a word that he said because this wasn’t really his fault.“Astrid had always been strange when she arrived,” Doctor Smith spoke up for me. “We used the Lunar Elixir to save her, but it had no effect on recovering her wolf. When we used your blood to save her, although it didn’t match, it still mysteriously worked and saved her,” Doctor Smith paused; his words made me silent.“Who could ever explain Astrid’s condition? Even the most advanced Pack and the most knowledgeable Doctor in the world will never be able to find out what’s wrong with her. This is something that has never happened before,” Doctor Smith added with all honesty. I shifted my gaze on Astrid. I swallowed hard at the complexity of her condition. I don’t even know what kind of danger she’s in, which only adds to my fears.“I’m sorry, Alpha,
Drystan’s POVAs I finally stepped onto the familiar grounds of the Shadowfang Pack, a deep, bone-weary exhaustion settled over me. The long journey from the Nightsong Pack to here had taken its toll, both physically and mentally, but even as my body cried out for rest, my mind was consumed by a far greater concern — the wellbeing of Astrid. Two days ago, I received the news from the Shadowfang Pack that Astrid’s life was in danger. The moment I heard what happened, I instantly rushed out of the Pack, determined to be there beside Astrid as soon as I could. However, Beta Caden, our Pack’s Beta, stopped me before I could even take a step out of the Packhouse. He held me back and punched out my senses through his words. He made me realize that I have my own responsibilities as an Alpha, and I can’t forget all about them just for Astrid. I had no choice but to stay for two more days. My duties and responsibilities as an Alpha held me back, but there wasn’t a minute that I never thou
Drsystan’s POVAsha’s eyes turned wide when she saw my face. She was clearly surprised to see me, not expecting that I would suddenly turn up behind her back. “What took you so long to get here?” Asha asked as soon as she recognized my face. “I thought you wouldn’t be coming. I thought you didn’t care about Astrid as much as you did before now that she had finally served her purpose,” she commented disdainfully, trying to get on my nerves. Nova has been regularly updating me with their life in the Shadowfang Pack. Even though I was away, I still knew what was happening to them. Nova had once informed me that Asha had provoked Astrid into a fight before. Asha thinks that our purpose of coming here was to gain connections with her father and use their Pack to stabilize our failing Pack. Since the words she threw at me weren’t new anymore, I let it slide out of my mind. “What?” Asha snapped at her brother angrily when he suddenly discreetly held her back by the arm. “Is there anyth
Drystan’s POVBefore I could give much thought to what Asha’s true intentions were, the door suddenly slammed open, stealing all of our attention. Alpha Theron suddenly burst out of the door with a wide grin on his face. “Astrid is awake!” he cried, his voice brimming with unbridled joy.Without a moment’s hesitation, I entered Astrid’s room and rushed to her bedside with my heart pounding with a mixture of hope and trepidation. “Astrid,’ I breathed out, stealing the breath from my lungs when I saw her. There she was, finally sitting up on her bed, her eyes open and alert, with a small radiant smile playing on her lips. “Drystan.” Astrid muttered my name, surprised to see me here. At that moment, a profound relief flooded through me, chasing away the fear and worry that had been my constant companion ever since Astrid was put in danger. I’m so glad that I have left sooner, or else I wouldn’t arrive on time to see her. She’s finally alive, she’s conscious — she has finally return
Nova’s POVAs the stillness of the night and the chillness of the air calmed my mind, I found myself drawn outside, my feet carrying me to the most private part of the Packhouse, away from the noise and attention of other people. Today is my birthday, but no one knew about it except for Drystan. Everyone is preoccupied with Astrid’s recovery, and I couldn’t just steal all the attention and say, ‘Hey! It’s my birthday today!’ That would be so insensitive of me to do so, and I don’t want Astrid to be worried about me. It would be better for Astrid to focus on her recovery. A part of me was relieved that only Drystan knew it was my birthday. I had never been one for grand celebrations or the unwanted attention that came with them.The idea of being the center of focus, of having all eyes on me, filled me with a sense of unease. I preferred the solitude, the peace and calmness of the night.And so, I stared up at the twinkling stars that kept me company, and I felt a deep sense of cont
Nova’s POV“Really? Then why do you dye your hair in strawberry?” Drystan asked as he grabbed a strand of my hair. I moved all my hair to my right shoulder so he couldn’t reach it. “Just because I dye my hair strawberry blonde, it doesn’t mean I like strawberry,” I replied grumpily. My sister and I were born with the same hair colour. I was born with naturally perfect blonde hair, just like my sister. However, when my sister died, I chose to dye my hair because my hair would always remind me of her. I don’t like it when I look in the mirror and I see her. Before, when people saw us together, they thought that we were twins. That’s just how we look so much alike. Dyeing my hair with a different colour made me look a lot less like my sister. Drystan suddenly let out a huge yawn by my side; I watched as he leaned in comfortably on the bench beside me, his eyes connecting to the stars above. “Are you not going back inside to sleep?” I questioned him, not expecting that he would stay
Nova’s POVMy heart pounded in my chest as the words tumbled from my lips, “Are you going to reject me?” The vulnerability I felt was palpable, the fear of his answer etched into every trembling syllable. I watched as Drystan’s expression shifted, a flicker of remorse passing across his features. I held my breath, bracing myself for the impending verdict. Is he going to do it? Is he going to reject me?Just yesterday, he comforted me, saying that I shouldn’t have to worry about who my mate was going to be. He promised that he wouldn’t let my mate reject me and that he would force him to be with me. He even said that whoever my mate was going to be would be so lucky. Now that it turns out he is the lucky person he was talking about, would he reject me?Sensing my trepidation, Drystan spoke, his voice gentle but resolute. “Noba, I…” He paused, and I could see the conflict raging within him. I willed him to understand, my eyes pleading with him to see the depth of my feelings. Muster
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