Astrid’s POVGiselle abruptly stopped in her tracks when she recognized me. Her face paled instantly as she stared at me like she had seen a ghost. I held back the smile that threatened to appear on my face when I saw how she reacted to seeing me. It’s great that she fears me. That means she still remembers what she had done. Whether it haunted her or not, it doesn’t matter. I have a plan to make her pay anyway. “Giselle, it’s so nice to meet you,” I spoke amicably as I carefully stood up and tenderly held the little boy’s hand. Giselle’s eyes widened, and she suddenly acted hysterical. “Ryker! Ryker!” she shouted as she ran towards the little boy beside me. She instantly gathered him into her hands and separated our hands before she walked backward, distancing me from the child like I was a threat to them. I stilled, and my whole body tensed when I realized that the little boy that I was talking to was actually none other than Giselle’s precious son.I didn’t know that I was al
Astrid’s POVMy heart skipped a beat when I saw Killian striding confidently towards us. Killian looked different from what I remembered. He had grown more mature, manly, serious and confident. He looked like a man who had gone through so many difficulties, sharpening him like a sword. His broad shoulders stretched through the fabric of his clothes, showing his masculinity. His jawline looked sharper, his features more defined, and his eyes that used to contain mirth and mischief now held a depth of unfathomable stories in them. His boyish charm had been replaced by a rugged, masculine appeal that sent a shiver down my spine.But it wasn’t just his physical development that struck me. There was also that seriousness in his demeanor, a quiet intensity that replaced the flippant immaturity of his younger self. I straightened myself as I watched him move with purpose and a quiet confidence that emanated from within. He now feels and looks like the Alpha that he should have been. Tim
Astrid’s POVMy brows furrowed, a question mark etched on the crease of my forehead as I observed Killian carefully like I was trying to decipher a cryptic message. ‘Killian, what is this that you’re playing exactly?’ I thought to myself as I tried to see through him. The Killian that I know wouldn’t tolerate any provocation from me. I still remember, when we were still married, Killian had no trust in me. When Giselle faked a fall on the staircase, he instantly accused me of pushing Giselle, and he was so angry at me. To him, Giselle’s words were enough to prove me guilty. Every time that Giselle was put in danger, he always blamed me for scheming to kill his mistress and their baby. He treats me like a villain instead of his wife. He sees me as a bad person who could take someone’s life. He loves Giselle in the same way that he hates me.I can still remember that day when Killian kept me from meeting my grandmother before she died. Because of him, I was unable to speak to my g
Giselle’s POV“Is that it?!” I taunted Killian as we escaped from the scene to retreat to our room in their Pack’s courtyard where all the guests were staying. “You just let her walk all over us?” I spat, my voice laced with venom. “Giselle, don’t do this now in front of our child,” Killian said, his voice calm, almost soothing as he tenderly carried his son in his arms. My anger simmered like a volcanic eruption, ready to burst at Killian’s unfazed expression. Killian’s unexpected surrender towards Astrid, siding with her instead of defending me and our child, felt like a betrayal, and Killian looked so fine with it. Unable to contain my rage any longer, I grabbed Ryker from Killian’s arms and handed him to his nanny, Rhya. Killian looked at me in surprise. Finally, I have his full attention. “Bring him back to our room and make him sleep,” I ordered Rhya after taking Ryker in her arms. Ryker’s gaze darted back and forth from me and her father cluelessly as Rhya took him away.
Giselle’s POVA chill went down my spine as I welcomed Damien’s dark gaze head-on. It’s been years since I last saw Damien. Ever since I gave him my child, I’ve lost all contact with him. I could understand why he held so much hate in his eyes when he caught me watching his family from afar. “Daddy! Are you not coming with us?” The little girl ran back to her father when she noticed that he wasn’t following behind them, which caused Damien to break eye contact with me. I sucked in air into my lungs the moment Damien turned his head away. Damien’s gaze was so intense that it pinned me down, suffocating the air out of me. I stilled as I stared closely at the little girl. My hand instinctively covered my chest as my heart raced inside me for some reason.She had grown so big. I still remember when I gave birth to her. She was just a little bundle. When the doctor tried to place her in my arm, I refused. I didn’t dare to touch her. I was afraid that if I had one small contact with he
Astrid’s POVThe ceremony is still tomorrow, but most of the invited guests had already arrived a day earlier than the set date. The invited guests chose to travel in advance, especially those who lived in distant Packs, to ensure that they would be able to attend the ceremony on time in case any delays caused setbacks in their journey. Some of them, I heard, had to travel for days just to get here. You can really see how the Shadowfang Pack is well respected among other packs. Alphas and Lunas really came all the way here to attend an event they were invited to with only one week of notice despite their busy schedule. In honor of their sacrifices and to make their time worthwhile, Alpha Theron decided to hold a special dinner the night before the event. This wasn’t a part of the plan, but because the guests had transformed into a bustling crowd, it had become a need for us to show them our courtesy, especially knowing what it took them to arrive here. I quietly followed Alpha T
Astrid’s POVI held myself together as I locked gazes with Giselle. She knew I heard her words. She probably spoke it out loud to make sure that I would hear her.“Does it even matter who she is? As long as she’s a member of the Shadowfang Pack, for sure she could help us. If we want to impress their Alpha, we must at least impress her first.” I heard someone whisper. However, Giselle only laughed, stealing everyone’s attention. “She’s just a mistress, she had no influence over the affairs of the Shadowfang Pack. It would be better if you just go directly to the Alpha instead of wasting your time with her.”I forced back a smile when I heard her words. She had no idea just how much influence I had here ever since I became the Pack’s acting beta. “Astrid,” Giselle’s voice, laced with venom, cut through the air. “She’s just a mistress, after all. A temporary distraction a fleeting fancy. For sure the Alpha will get bored of her just like how the previous Alphas she dated did.”I’ve be
Astrid’s POVA smile formed on my face as I stared at Vannessa’s little girl. Her blonde curls were a tangled mess, escaping from the bright pink headband that sat crookedly on her head. She wore a bright yellow dress with a cartoon unicorn in it. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes, which were just tired and sleepy, suddenly turned bright as she pointed a finger at her approaching father. “Daddy!” she yelled as she ran towards her father with her tiny shoes, one pink and one blue. “Oh look at her,” Vanessa whispered to me. “I thought she had already used up her energy. I was so ready to get her to sleep.”I chuckled when I heard Vanessa’s words close to my ear. “How is my little darling doing?” Vanessa’s husband beamed energetically as he picked up his daughter, trying his best to match her energy. Vanessa and her husband sweetly gazed at each other. By the depth of the look in their eyes, you can see how much they are in love with each other. I think they are also secretly t
Drystan’s POVThe forest was eerily quiet, a suffocating silence that wrapped itself around us as we regrouped near the Rogue King’s camp. My wolf stirred restlessly within me, sensing the tension that rippled through our ranks. The remnants of the earlier attack were still fresh—blood staining the ground, the air thick with the scent of burnt wood and iron. Yet, there was no time to grieve or falter. The rogues were waiting.Nova stood beside me, her eyes scanning the horizon. Despite the exhaustion etched into her face, she radiated a quiet determination. I knew she was thinking about Liora—about the lies and betrayal that had stolen her sister’s life. And now, with Rowena’s guilt looming over us, the questions weighed heavier than ever.Killian and Astrid approached, their expressions tense. Killian’s golden eyes were shadowed, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them.“We need to strike before the ritual is completed,” Killian said, his voice cutting through the
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