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 POV“You don’t have to be worried, Astrid. I promise you, you are not alone in this. I will help you find your cure. I won’t let anything bad happen to you,” Nova adds when she sees my indifferent reaction. I glanced at Nova when I heard her words. She’s promising me too many things. She might blame herself if she’s unable to keep some of her promises. “You don’t have to promise me anything,” I shook her hand that she placed on my lap to comfort me. “I told you, I’ll figure everything out once my child is born,” I answered her even though I really had no intention of doing that anymore. It’s obvious that someone like me could never acquire such a precious medicine. “I’ve been doing my own research behind your back,” Nova confesses which surprised me. “I made a background search on Shadowfang Pack, it turns out Shadowfang Pack is an ancient Pack, no wonder why their name sounded so familiar to me,” Nova tells me. Although I was a Luna who had met so many Pack leaders beca
Astrid’s POV My heart almost jumped out of my chest when I heard Drystan’s voice from behind us. Drystan always appears in the most unexpected times. It’s pure luck that he still had no idea about my sickness until now. “What are you doing here?” I asked Drystan as I clutched my beating heart. “I just came to check,” Drystan answered. “Are you okay now? How are you feeling?” He asked me. I sighed. “I’m okay, I just get tired easily because of my pregnancy,” I lied using a smooth excuse. Drystan softly nodded his head. “You should rest more since you’re pregnant. Always tell us when you need anything,” Drystan tells me. “Is the party over already?” Nova asked Drystan. “Yes, I told everyone to go home already after we saw the moon,” Drystan replied. “Thank you, Drystan,” I paused. “For the party.” I don’t know how to thank him enough.Even though the party was too much, I knew I needed it and Drystan must have seen that also. I’ve been feeling so troubled lately. Even though Ki
Drystan’s POV I clutched Astrid’s bracelet inside my hand as I left her room. As soon as I was alone in the hallway, I took another check on the bracelet once again. For some reason, this bracelet looked so familiar. I’m just not sure where I have seen them before. With a bracelet as expensive as this, it would be uncommon to see it just anywhere. I’m sure that I didn’t see this bracelet from Astrid before. It was from someone else, but I just couldn’t remember. I rubbed the bracelet’s metal with my fingers and felt the weight of it on my hand to test its authenticity. The stone on the bracelet seemed fake, but I couldn’t tell that for sure. However, the metal used in this bracelet seems strange. If I’m not mistaken, I think the metal used here is called Luminite. In the whole world, only the Shadowfang Pack has access to Luminite. Luminite is very rare, and aside from that the Shadowfang Pack doesn’t just release their precious metal to anyone. It’s hard to acquire a special m
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