Andros’s POVMy father’s gaze sharpened when he looked at me after I asked so many questions. “You don’t have to worry about those things. I already have everything all planned out,” he answered me, making me fall silent. “Everyone is already working together to prepare for the event. Since we are going to introduce Astrid as a part of the family, everything needs to be grand and special,” my father spoke excitedly. His eyes were glinting with excitement; he had already made up his mind about this. I clenched my jaw as I tried to remain expressionless when I heard my father’s words. I don’t want him to know that I don’t like this decision he made.It was so sudden. What made him change his mind? The plan was to let Astrid leave once Beta Alek was back, just as Astrid wanted. Why is he keeping Astrid with us instead?My heart sank when my thoughts made an unexpected turn. What if my father also changes his mind in the future? What if he suddenly chooses Astrid as the future Luna of
Astrid’s POVI stared into the mirror, feeling exhausted and sleepy, yet the makeup perfectly covered the weariness etched into my face. The bags under my eyes caused by the stress of being an acting Beta was gone, covered by whatever cosmetic they used on me. It’s like they worked magic on me. I looked fresh and beautiful, like I wasn’t from a long day of duty. I smoothed my hands over the soft, velvety fabric of my dress, which was sent to me by Alpha Theron just yesterday. He told me to wear this dress for today’s special banquet. I wanted to deny the invitation, and I think he knew that which is why he sent me this dress along with the invitation, so it would be hard for me to say no. The dress looked so good on me, though. The deep burgundy hue accentuated my graceful figure. It’s evident that it was custom-tailored just for me. I have no idea what the banquet is for. I heard nobody is invited, just Alpha Theron and then my half-siblings. The banquet is solely for the famil
Astrid’s POVI was just silently eating when Andros suddenly broke the silence. “You know, Astrid,” Andros spoke, catching my attention. “Father has been telling me a lot about you recently. He couldn’t stop giving you praises for the job you have done as the Pack’s acting Beta,” he tells me casually, with his voice tinged with a hint of pride. I felt a surge of surprise when his words washed over me. I wasn’t expecting my brother to talk to me and even compliment me. Andros had always been out of Pack. He only comes back once a year and leaves as soon as he arrives. The first time that we met, we did not leave a good impression on each other either. I didn’t expect that he would mention something like this in front of everyone. I thought he also felt the same way as his sister towards me. I thought he also hated me, but I was surprised that he initiated to talk to me. Alpha Theron suddenly laughed in glee and pride when he heard his son’s words. “That’s true,” he confirmed as h
Astrid’s POVAlpha Theron slammed his fist on the table in anger after Asha raised her heavy accusation against her father. My muscles turned tense, and I lowered my head as the tension hung thick in the air. The anger radiating off from Alpha Theron felt heavy and suffocating as it filled the entire room. “Asha, know your place,” Alpha Theron muttered coldly, his voice laced with threat. Still, Asha did not back down. Her sharp gaze didn’t leave her father as she pinned him down. “Asha, let’s calm down,” Andros discreetly whispered to his sister before things could escalate even further. He reached for his sister’s hand to pull her down. However, Asha shook his hand away and glared at him. “Brother, are you just going to sit here in silence as that woman takes everything away from us?!” Asha spoke to her brother, hoping that he would take her side. “Asha, Astrid is our sister. We might not come from the same mother, but she is still a part of this family and she shares the sam
Astrid’s POVOur eyes turned to Andros when he suddenly stood up. “Don’t worry about her, father. You know how stubborn Asha could be, after a while I’m sure she would realize her mistakes once she had calmed down,” Andros spoke up to appease his father’s anger. Alpha Theron sighed. “That girl, she always let her emotions control her. As my daughter, she should always be capable of handling her emotions well.”“Astrid, I want to apologize for Asha’s behavior. Asha is not usually like this, she was just surprised with the sudden changes,” Andros bowed his head to me to extend his apologies. “It’s okay, there’s no need to apologize,” I spoke hastily as I felt uncomfortable and undeserving of receiving a bow of respect from him. Andros gave me a warm smile, grateful that I accepted his apology on behalf of his sister.“Father, please excuse me. I’ll go after Asha and try to talk to her,” Andros said, turning to his father for his permission. “Okay, you should go. You know your siste
Asha’s POVMy chest heaved as I entered the confines of my bedroom, my lips drawn back in a feral snarl. I couldn’t believe that my wise and powerful father would be tricked by that woman. Even my brother was manipulated by her. How could they not see that woman has evil plans going on in her mind?She lied about everything. She acted like she did not want to have anything to do with us, but the moment she was presented with an opportunity to become a formal part of this family, she did not even hesitate to say yes. How could my father fail to see through that woman? Even if she was his daughter, we cannot just allow her to trick us into getting what she wants. She had only been staying in our Pack for two months, but she had already managed to convince my father to make her our Pack’s acting Beta.Now, she had finally convinced everyone to officially welcome her into the family. Astrid is clearly trying to make her way to the top. If this continues, she might even steal the Alpha
Andros’s POVI held back a smirk after Asha finished her words. I’m glad that Asha understood the situation and saw how these things are unfair to us. I no longer have to say anything to open her eyes. As her older brother and only sibling, I know Asha more than she knows herself. Asha rarely dislikes someone, but if she does, she won’t change her heart easily. Asha is willful and stubborn, not to mention that she’s also very competitive as well. When Asha confessed that she didn’t like Astrid, I knew Astrid would never stand a chance in winning Asha’s heart like the way she did to my father. Asha is straightforward, but she can also be petty at times. I could only wonder what kinds of troubles Asha had thrown upon Astrid in the three years that she’d been staying here. Knowing my sister, she’s not afraid of anything. If she’s angry, she’s angry. She never fakes anything. “Asha,” my brows bent downwards as I uttered her name. I softly reached out to her and gently squeezed her a
Drystan’s POVMy heart raced as I approached the familiar borders of the Shadowfang Pack. After three long years, Astrid is finally coming home with me. I waited for one year and then another two years to finally be with her in my Pack. I held on to her promise that she’d be coming back no matter what. I have everything arranged for her in the Pack. The room where she would be staying was already waiting for her. I have also informed all the Pack members that she’s coming, and everyone is excited to welcome her. For the past three years, the Pack had developed a lot, but even so, I wanted her to feel that nothing changed much since the last time she left. I don’t want her to feel out of place in the Pack and make her think that the three years were too much. My smile deepened when I already saw Astrid waiting right at the Shadowfang Pack’s entrance. I wonder how long she has been standing there all alone, waiting for me. She must have been as excited as I was. Last night, I could
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