Astrid’s POVI watched as the range of emotions flickered across Drystan’s face — the initial disbelief, the growing anguish, and now, the most unexpected response of all — understanding. I thought he would hate me for breaking my promise. No reason can justify my betrayal. Drystan had asked me many times before this if I was really sure about my decision to stay at the Nightsong Pack with him, and I had always given him the same answer. I had lied to him many times. Drystan had always been so kind to me; he always had my back no matter what, and I chose to do this in return. “I understand, Astrid,” he murmured, his voice soft and steady. “You do not have to blame yourself. I know this has been hard on you,” he continued, his words wrapping me like a warm embrace.I was speechless. What have I done to deserve him?“You don’t have to hide anything from me. I’m always here for you Astrid. I’ll support you no matter what you choose.” I felt a surge of guilt wash over me as he spoke hi
Nova’s POVMy earbuds pulsed with the rhythm of my steps as I jogged to my apartment, lost in my own thoughts. Ever since I left the Pack, it became dangerous for me to shift to my wolf anytime I want. Having morning jogs everyday, helped in controlling and calming my wolf better. As I reached for my keys, I saw Mrs. Perkins out of the corner of my eye looking at me with that wrinkled smile on her face. Mrs. Perkins is my landlord and she’s so nice and sweet. “Nova, dear, you have a letter,” she called out after me, showing a crisp white envelope. I paused, tugging out my earbuds. “A letter? For me?” I asked in surprise. In the three years that I left the Pack, I have never received a single letter from anyone other than the bills and the occasional catalog. “Yes, just arrived this morning, but you were out for your jog,” Mrs. Perkins answered with a warm smile. “I thought I’d catch you before you go inside.”“Thank you, Mrs. Perkins,” I replied, accepting the envelope. I studi
Astrid’s POV“What? Is Asha still not joining us for today’s breakfast?” Alpha Theron asked as his gaze swept across the table, landing at the empty seat where it should have been. Since the special banquet took place, Asha had never appeared to us. She’s been purposefully avoiding us like the plague. Alpha Theron hoped that she would have been over with the incident by now, but it seems that she still held resentment towards us.“She had stopped dining with us all together and I haven’t seen hide nor hair of her. She couldn’t possibly be hating us until now, does she?” Alpha Theron questioned Andros since he was the only one who could reach and talk to Asha. “You know how stubborn Asha could be, father. She’s always been like this since we were little. If she doesn’t get what she wants, she always throws a tantrum. In the end, you always couldn’t bear it and you always give in to her,” Andros replied with a smile on his face. I stopped when I heard what Asha was like as a child.
Andros’s POVWith a stoic expression on my face, I silently stood by the side, my keen eyes observing their interaction with my usual detached demeanor. I watched as a beaming grin spread across the sewing manager’s face as my father’s discerning eyes swept over the elegant dress before him. The dress before us is a stunning creation, as expected from our team of talented seamstresses. The dress has a bloody red hue, an arresting contrast against the pristine white walls of the chamber. Every intricate detail has been meticulously crafted by the skilled hands of our selected Pack seamstresses. The delicate fabric was handpicked for comfort and design. Its lightweight and silky feel created a graceful fluidity that defied the limitations of textiles. Delicate embroidery danced across the surface, the threads weaving an intricate tapestry that could only have been achieved through painstaking manual labor. The delicate fabric and thread used also left the seamstresses with minimal
Andros’s POV“Father, it would be such a pity if we don’t put this dress to use. The materials took a lot from our Pack funds,” I tried to reason out to my father with fingers crossed. I had no choice but to help him since he asked for my help in front of my father, and I knew what answer my father was expecting from me. My father had always been clear to me about what kind of leader he expected to rule the Pack. Since I was little, my father always emphasized that a great leader loves the people he leads and would take care of them more than how he values his own life. Standing up for this sewing manager who made things difficult for me is the only way out of the dilemma he has given me. “Yes, Alpha! Sir Andros is right. If we are going to make another dress, it will cost us another fortune,” the sewing manager suddenly spoke up in support.I fought back the scowl that threatened to appear on my face as I glanced at this thick-skinned person who didn’t know shame.“It doesn’t ma
Asha’s POV“Asha, you shouldn’t talk like that! What if others heard you? You’re putting yourself in trouble,” My brother snapped at me angrily. I rolled my eyes and averted my gaze from him. My brother had always been so righteous and modest, which is the opposite of me. “I know, you had always been the good and perfect sibling while I’ll always be the evil one. I’m sorry if I couldn’t be like you!” I rebutted with a scowl on my face. Andros stared at me with a look of surprise in his eyes. He was not expecting that I would suddenly burst out like that.I huffed and crossed my arms as I turned away, feeling guilty instantly. I shouldn’t have pinned my anger on my brother. This isn’t his fault. My brother suddenly shook his head. “If you really think that I am good and perfect, then you’re wrong. Sometimes, my thoughts could turn evil too.”I turned to look at him when his words caught my attention. My brother had always been good and perfect in my eyes. I don’t believe in his wor
Giselle’s POVI watched with rapt attention as my three year old son, Ryker, sat cross-legged on the plush rug, his small hands meticulously arranging and rearranging the brightly colored blocks before him. My trusted assistant, Rhya, stood at the far corner, carefully watching Ryker to be there in the moment that he needed help.I sighed as I rested my chin on my palm. “It’s a rare moment of peace, isn’t it?” I whispered, my gaze not leaving Ryker’s enraptured form. Ryker looked like a sweet little boy as he played with his toy blocks with laser-focused movements. Everyone who would stare at him right now would never imagine that he is actually a spawn of the devil. Ryker has been diagnosed with autism since birth. Small things could easily set him off, and it’s hard to calm him down when he holds tantrums. I and my two attendants aren’t enough to subdue him when he bursts into a fit. There were times when I just wanted to tear my ears off because of his loud and violent yelling.
Giselle’s POVThe air hung heavy around me as my anger pulsed through my veins. As soon as I heard that Killian was doing something behind my back again, I instantly rushed to his office to confront him. I stood before Killian’s door, my back straight and my jaw set in a line of unyielding resolve. The guard, a young man with a face still too smooth to hold the weight of authority, stood before me. His hands hovered nervously near the door handle as he faced me. He must be a newly recruited Pack Warrior, and he was assigned to guard Killian’s room to keep everyone outside.“I need to speak to Killian,” I spoke, my voice a low, icy rumble. It wasn’t a request. It was a demand, a command delivered with the chilling certainty of a queen issuing a decree. My words were laced with a chilling coldness, a warning that I was not to be trifled with, as I fixed my gaze on the mahogany door. I could feel his palpable fear as he stared through me. I could see the sweat beading on his forehea
Drystan’s POVThe battlefield was a cacophony of snarls, howls, and the clash of steel. Blood mingled with the damp earth beneath my feet, and the air carried the metallic tang of death. My wolf surged within me, urging me forward, but I held steady. We were pushing the rogues back, but something about their movements didn’t sit right with me.“They’re retreating too easily,” I growled through the link to Nova, who was fighting nearby. Her lithe wolf danced around a rogue before sinking her teeth into its neck with precision.“I noticed,” she replied, her tone sharp, even in the heat of battle. “This isn’t a retreat. It’s a distraction.”I snarled, driving my blade into the side of a rogue that lunged at me. It crumpled to the ground, lifeless, as my gaze swept over the battlefield. The rogues were falling back, but their movements were too coordinated, too deliberate.“Hold the line!” I barked to my warriors. “Don’t chase them. They want us to follow.”Killian’s voice cut through t
Killian’s POVThe camp was alive with activity, warriors moving like clockwork as weapons were sharpened, armor adjusted, and strategies refined. The tension in the air was suffocating, pressing down on all of us like an invisible weight. The final confrontation was drawing near, and every wolf here knew it.Astrid approached, her steps light but purposeful, her face shadowed with exhaustion. “Drystan and Nova haven’t sent word yet,” she said softly, her eyes searching mine.“They will,” I replied, forcing certainty into my voice. “They know what’s at stake.”But deep down, doubt gnawed at me. The alliances we had built, the fragile unity between the Packs—it all felt like it was hanging by a thread, ready to snap at the slightest provocation.Astrid’s gaze shifted to Andros, who stood near the edge of the camp, guarded by two warriors. He leaned casually against a tree, his sharp eyes scanning the camp with calculated precision.“I still don’t trust him,” Astrid muttered, her voic
Killian’s POVThe camp was a flurry of activity, every wolf preparing for what could be our last stand. Weapons were sharpened, armor repaired, and scouts came and went with grim updates on the Rogue King’s movements.I stood near the center, watching the warriors train in the clearing. Their strikes were fast, their stances solid, but the tension in the air was unmistakable. Everyone knew what was coming, and the weight of it was crushing.Astrid approached, her expression as resolute as ever, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of exhaustion. “Drystan and Nova haven’t sent word yet,” she said quietly.“They will,” I replied, my voice firm. “They know what’s at stake.”Astrid’s gaze flicked toward the edge of the camp, where Andros was being guarded by two warriors. He sat on a fallen log, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp, scanning the camp as if calculating his next move.“I don’t trust him,” Astrid said, her voice low.“Neither do I,” I admitted. “But right now, he’s a nec
Drystan’s POVThe council chamber at the Silvermoon camp was more crowded than usual, but the air was heavy with unease. After everything we had learned from Rowena and Andros, tensions ran higher than ever. Wolves from allied Packs whispered among themselves, their voices sharp with mistrust.Killian stood at the head of the chamber, his presence commanding as always, but even he couldn’t mask the strain on his face. Astrid sat to his right, her eyes dark with fatigue. Nova was beside me, her hand resting on her thigh, her tension palpable.Andros and Rowena sat on the far side of the room, their backs straight despite the weight of every glare in the room directed at them. Andros leaned casually against the wall, but Rowena remained composed, her sharp eyes sweeping over the gathered wolves with quiet authority.“We’ve heard what they’ve told us,” one of the elders said, his voice echoing through the room. “But how can we trust anything that comes from the mouths of traitors?”M
Chapter 35: The Rogue King’s True IntentionsAstrid’s POVThe fire crackled softly in the middle of our camp, its flickering light casting long shadows across the weary faces gathered around it. Rowena sat apart from the others, her posture poised despite the shackles around her wrists. Her silver hair, neat and immaculate, caught the firelight, and her eyes—sharp, calculating—watched us with the kind of patience that only came with age and experience.Killian stood to her right, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. He hadn’t said much since we brought her back, but the tension in his shoulders spoke volumes. His mother, the woman who had caused so much pain, was now our reluctant informant.Drystan paced nearby, his claws flexing as he glared at Rowena. Nova sat stiffly beside me, her hand gripping her knee as if to keep her emotions in check. Andros leaned against a tree on the far side of the clearing, his presence like a dark shadow, a reminder of the betrayal that had fra
Astrid’s POVThe forest around us was suffocating, its silence oppressive. Every step deeper into rogue territory felt like a journey into a nightmare. My wolf was on edge, her instincts screaming that danger lurked just beyond the trees.Drystan led our group, his movements precise and calculated as he tracked Rowena’s faint scent. Nova kept pace beside him, her body still healing but her determination unyielding. I trailed close behind, my gaze darting between the shadows, each step weighted by the tension of what we might find.“She’s leading us somewhere,” Drystan muttered, his voice tight with frustration. “But whether it’s to the Rogue King or a trap, I can’t tell.”“She won’t outsmart us again,” Nova replied, her tone sharp with anger.I wished I shared her confidence, but something about this chase didn’t sit right. Rowena wasn’t careless, and she wasn’t predictable. Whatever she was planning, it wouldn’t be simple.The scent trail brought us to a clearing veiled in mist.
Nova’s POVThe journey to Shadowfang territory was slow and tense. Every rustle of leaves, every distant howl, put us on edge. The warriors moved in near silence, their weapons ready, their gazes sharp. The moon hung low in the sky, its pale light casting long shadows across the forest.Drystan stayed close to me, his presence steady, though I could sense the storm raging beneath his calm exterior. Neither of us spoke much. The weight of what we might find—and what it could mean for Liora’s sacrifice—hung heavily between us.Astrid and Killian led the group, their eyes scanning the path ahead. The Rogue King’s forces had fortified Shadowfang, and the closer we got, the more we felt his presence.We reached the outskirts of Shadowfang territory just before dawn. The air was thick with the scent of rogues and something darker—something I couldn’t quite place.“We’ll rest here,” Killian said, his voice low but firm. “Drystan, take a small group and scout ahead. Report back with anyt
Astrid’s POVThe Emberwood ruins were quiet, but the air felt heavy. The scars of the siege remained—bloodstains on the stone, shattered barriers, and weary warriors moving through the wreckage. The Rogue King’s retreat had left a bitter aftertaste, not a victory. We all knew it wasn’t over.Scouts arrived at dawn, their reports grim. The Rogue King was rallying in Shadowfang territory, an area long abandoned after his rise to power. Worse, his forces weren’t just rogues anymore. Several smaller Packs had joined him, their banners seen flying alongside his.“He’s not just uniting rogues,” Killian said as we gathered in the council chamber. “He’s turning wolves against their own Packs.”The room erupted into murmurs of disbelief and anger.“What kind of Alpha betrays their kind for a rogue?” one elder growled.“A desperate one,” Nova said, her voice sharp but steady. She leaned against the table, her injuries still evident. “The Rogue King’s offering them something we can’t: freedom
Killian’s POVThe Emberwood ruins were silent, but it was a deceptive kind of peace. The air was thick with the stench of blood and ash, and every shadow seemed to whisper of danger. Warriors moved through the wreckage with weary purpose, tending to the wounded or reinforcing what defenses we had left.Nova rested in one of the makeshift infirmary tents, her pale face a stark reminder of how close we’d come to losing everything. Drystan was at her side, his usual stoicism replaced by a quiet but fierce protectiveness.Astrid was near the council chamber, her presence a steadying force as warriors gathered to plan our next steps. The weight of the siege hung heavily on us all, but the real burden sat in the back of my mind: the Amulet.We reconvened in the council chamber later that evening. The warriors who could stand attended, their faces etched with exhaustion. The Amulet, I thought, would be the center of this conversation—our next move, our strategy. But when I stepped into