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
Giselle’s POVSweat beaded on my forehead as I thought of a word I could use so I could continue my statement. However, my mind went blank, and all I could feel was the fiery rage, which was hot and consuming and beginning to build within me. All around me slowly went quiet, and all I could hear was my heart pounding inside my chest, each beating a hammer blow against my ribs. Astrid had a smug smile on her face as she looked at me, waiting for me to finish my statement. As I glared at her, something caught my eye behind her. Just at the corner of her face, I saw Killian beckoning me to come over behind her. He had a bright, welcoming smile on his face, blissfully unaware of the anger raging inside of me. Astrid looked over her shoulder when she noticed my attention on something else. She followed my line of sight and saw Killian calling me to come over to him like a sweet, loving husband. I let out a deep breath as if Killian was a disturbance to me. “I have to leave, my husba
Giselle’s POVMy arms around Killian tightened as worry gripped my heart. All I could think of was how I could pull him out of there without making me look disrespectful and weird. What is Damien thinking of?! Is he going to expose me? If he does, then Vanessa will find out that he had a child with me and that he lied to her about it. I don’t care if they divorce because of this, but I can’t afford to lose the Luna title if my secrets were exposed. “Killian, I—“ my words were cut short when Damien glanced at me. He pinned me down with his gaze, silently questioning what I was so scared of. I didn’t say anything more when Damien did not add anything else to his words. What are Killian and I even doing here with them? Why is Killian so interested in their child, and why did he even call me here?Is it because he knows something?My eyes snapped to him in fear as soon as I had this thought. I looked into his face, trying to read his thoughts. “I have an only son named Ryker and he
Astrid’s POVI almost choked in surprise when I heard Vanessa’s words. I was just about to take a sip from my glass of wine when Vanessa blatantly said those words without even a bit of fear in her. I chuckled softly as I took the table napkin in front of me and softly dabbed my lips clean. I had been secretly eavesdropping on their conversation the whole time. I remained close to their table, just near enough to hear what everyone was saying without them noticing me. I was curious. I wanted to find out what their relationship with each other was, and now I finally found the answer that I was looking for.It turns out I was right; Giselle used to live in the Crimsonbane Pack, which means she had a connection with Damien and Vanessa. However, there’s something off between them. There is certainly that hostility and tension going on between them, and judging by Vanessa’s words just earlier, Giselle must have done something bad in the Crimsonbane Pack for Vanessa to hate her that muc
Drystan’s POVI willed myself together as I stared at Astrid, who was standing in front of me. “What is it?” Astrid breathed out in a whisper, wondering why I asked her to talk to me in private. I swallowed hard as my mind went blank. All the things that I wanted to tell her, all the questions that I was hoping to ask her, had fully vanished from my mind. I could only stare at her, not even remembering why I had called her out here. “H-How are you?” I asked her the first question that came to mind. I instantly felt embarrassed. I felt like I had just asked her the most stupid question I could possibly ask. “I’m fine, but I don’t feel excited as I ought to be,” Astrid answered without judging the awkward mess that I was. I watched as Astrid tilted her head to the side, her eyes deepening in thought. The corners of my lips lifted in a small smile when I saw her falling into her usual mannerisms. Ever since I met Astrid, she has always been like this. When I ask her a question, s
Drystan’s POVJealousy seared through my veins at the mere thought of Astrid being in the arms of another man — and not just any man, but Killian, the person who hurt and broke her to pieces.Just imagining Astrid and Killian romantically together is enough to drive me to the brink of madness; how much worse would it be if it’s all happening in front of me?Killian doesn’t deserve Astrid, even if the feelings that Astrid is going to show him are fake. Even though Astrid had already callously confessed to me that she was just going to do it all for revenge, I still couldn’t take it. Not just because I was in love with Astrid but also because I saw just how much Killian had destroyed her. I don’t want Killian to be anywhere near Astrid ever again. I shook my head. I promised to support her with anything that she wanted. I’m willing to support her except for this. “Astrid, are you sure you can do what you are saying? Killian had hurt you. Will you be able to take it in and pretend t
Astrid’s POVI sat in front of the vanity table as my attendants carefully did my makeup. I watched as their skillful hands placed paint all over my face, enhancing my features. I stared awkwardly at the mirror, not used to having someone touching my face and doing my makeup for me. When I was a Luna, I never had any attendants. I used to do all the work by myself, including some jobs that were supposed to be for Killian. Although I was called Luna, I never felt like one. It always felt like I was just Killian’s personal secretary. I felt nothing more than just a subordinate in the Silvermoon Pack. This is the first time I had someone serving me. As a person who used to serve, this felt very unusual. “There, Miss! You look so beautiful, do you like it?” The makeup artist had a huge and proud smile on her face as she stood behind me and looked at me through the mirror. My mouth fell wide open when I saw myself in the mirror. I fell speechless. I was literally staring at the impro
Astrid’s POVTrepidation crept up my spine as I silently followed the sewing manager, who called us out because there was something he wanted to show us. I fell one step behind him, not trusting him fully. Glancing sidelong, I motioned for my most trusted attendant to fall in beside me. I decided to bring her along with me, just in case something happened. Today is my introduction ceremony, and I couldn’t be too sure of my safety. Something bad had already happened with the dress. I couldn’t expect that things would go on smoothly. This could be a trap to lure me out. With my trusted attendant by my side, I will be reassured in case any unforeseen challenges arise. I know not everyone has already accepted me as Alpha Theron’s daughter, and Asha is one of them. Knowing what Asha is like, I’m sure she would try all that she could to stop the ceremony from happening smoothly. Even though I still had no idea about what happened to the dress, I’m already sure that she is the person
Astrid’s POVThe morning sun spilled over the horizon, bathing the Silvermoon Pack in golden light.It felt like a dream.Like I had woken up from a nightmare and stepped into something softer, something real.The wind was cool, crisp, carrying the scent of pine and earth, untouched by war, by fear. Peaceful.Something I never thought I’d feel again.But here I was.And my children—my heart, my soul—were safe.I looked down at Elara, her tiny fingers curled around mine as we sat on the balcony of the Packhouse. She was staring out at the trees, her expression calm but distant."Are you cold?" I asked softly, brushing her hair behind her ear.She shook her head. "No."She was quiet these days.Healing.Like all of us.I glanced over my shoulder, where Ryker sat cross-legged on the floor, watching Killian with furrowed brows."You're doing it wrong," Ryker grumbled as Killian attempted to braid his sister’s hair.Killian gave him a mock glare. "Excuse me? I was an Alpha before you were
Killian’s POVThe night smelled like blood and fire.I couldn’t stop moving.Every rogue in my path fell before they even had a chance to react. I didn’t feel them fall. Didn’t care.Because she was here.Astrid.And I would burn this entire place to the ground to get her and Elara back."Killian! We need to push back toward the main entrance!" Ryder shouted over the chaos."Then do it," I snarled, my claws slashing through another rogue’s throat. "I'm getting Astrid."The camp was collapsing around us, rogues scattering in terror. But I didn’t care about them.I cared about one thing.I slammed through the wooden doors, my wolf roaring inside of me, scenting her immediately.Astrid’s POVThe walls shook.The sounds of battle grew louder, closer.I knew what that meant.Killian was here.I forced myself to remain still, though my wrists ached from where they had been tied.The rogues had been restless since nightfall. They hadn’t expected an attack so soon. Hadn’t expected Killian to
Killian’s POVThe night air was thick with tension as we stood outside the war tent, the flickering lanterns casting long shadows over the gathered warriors. We had our plan.It wasn’t enough.Not for me.Not for the rage clawing at my chest, the desperation gripping my every thought.Astrid was out there. Alone. Surrounded. And every second we waited was another second she was at that bastard’s mercy.I paced the length of the clearing, my hands clenched into fists, my wolf snarling just beneath the surface. Patience was never my strength. And right now, I had none."Killian."Ryder’s voice was firm, grounding.I stopped, exhaling sharply, forcing my breathing to even out."We’re ready," Ryder continued, stepping beside me. "The scouts confirmed Astrid’s trail—it leads straight into the rogue king’s stronghold. But we still don’t know exactly where they’re keeping her and Elara."I turned to him, my golden eyes burning. "Then we force them to tell us."Ryder nodded, but his gaze flic
Killian’s POVThe room was suffocating.The walls pressed in around me, and my wolf howled inside my chest, clawing to be free, to run, to fight, to kill.I couldn’t breathe.Astrid was gone.Elara was still missing.They were both in his hands.The war room blurred as I stormed through the Packhouse, my mind a whirlwind of fury and desperation. My steps were too fast, too sharp, but I couldn’t slow down. Not now.Not when I had already lost so much.The moment I stepped into the war room, all eyes snapped to me.Ryder was there, arms crossed, watching me carefully. Warriors stood around the table, tense, waiting for orders. Waiting for me to do something.But I wasn’t thinking.I couldn’t think.I could barely see past the red haze of rage.“She left a trail,” Ryder said before I could even open my mouth.I froze.The room around me seemed to still, my mind catching onto his words like a drowning man clinging to a lifeline.“What?” My voice came out sharp, dangerous.Ryder motioned t
Astrid’s POVElara’s blue eyes locked onto mine, wide and glistening with tears, her small frame trembling in the grip of the rogue holding her.“Mommy!”Her voice cracked, breaking something inside me.I lunged, the burning pain of the wolfsbane shackles forgotten, my body driven by nothing but instinct.I barely made it a step before rough hands grabbed my arms, yanking me back.A snarl ripped from my throat. “Let her go!”Ardan’s smirk deepened. He raised a hand, and the rogue restraining Elara tightened his grip.She whimpered.A sound so small—so fragile—that it shattered every ounce of restraint I had left.“I swear with my own life, Ardan,” I growled, my voice raw with fury, “if you so much as touch her—”He laughed.Actually laughed.Like this was amusing. Like he wasn’t holding my world in his filthy hands.“My, my,” he mused, pacing toward me with slow, deliberate steps. “You really do have a soft spot, don’t you?” His gaze flickered to Elara. “I wonder… does she share your
Astrid’s POVThe journey to Ardan’s stronghold felt longer than it should have.They forced me to walk.Through the forest, over uneven terrain, my wrists bound in iron shackles laced with wolfsbane, burning against my skin with every step.I didn’t fight them.Not because I couldn’t.But because every second I stalled, every moment I made them think I was truly broken, brought me closer to Elara.That was all that mattered.The rogues surrounded me in a loose formation, their laughter and whispered taunts filling the night air.They didn’t see me as a threat.Not anymore.They saw a woman who had given up, a mother who had walked willingly into the lion’s den.That was their first mistake.Their second?Letting me breathe.As we moved deeper into rogue territory, my thoughts remained sharp, focused. I counted our path, memorized the turns, the landmarks, the scent markers.If I survived this, if I found a way to get Elara out, I needed to know exactly how to escape.If I didn't… then
Astrid’s POVThe rogues had been waiting for me.They lingered in the shadows, motionless, like predators poised for the perfect moment to strike. Their eyes glowed eerily in the dim light of the moon, flickering with something sinister—anticipation.They knew I was coming.My stomach twisted, but I forced my expression into something unreadable, my shoulders squared as I stepped forward. I came alone. No weapons. No resistance. Complete surrender.It was the only way.If I fought back, if I hesitated for even a second, Ardan might change his mind. He might keep Elara. He might hurt her.And that was a risk I wasn’t willing to take.I took slow, deliberate steps into the clearing, my heartbeat steady despite the way my wolf clawed at the inside of my skin, urging me to turn back, to fight.Not yet.I exhaled, tilting my chin upward as I finally stopped before them.The group of rogues—at least a dozen—remained silent for a moment, assessing me. Then one of them, a tall, lean man with
Killian’s POVThe omega’s words rang in my ears like a warning bell."Alpha! Alpha! It’s Ryker! He’s awake and looking for you. He won’t calm down!"My entire body locked up.Ryker had always been tormented with nightmares ever since Elara was kidnapped. He often woke up in the middle of the night, demanding to see us and he would always look so terrified. I stood at the Packhouse entrance, my wolf raging to break free, my warriors prepared to track Astrid before she got too far. Every instinct inside me screamed at me to run, to chase her down, to drag her back before she made the biggest mistake of her life.But my son needed me.For a single, agonizing moment, I hesitated.Then I turned on my heel and strode toward the infirmary, my boots pounding against the floor, my fists clenched so tightly my nails cut into my palms. My lungs burned with restrained fury, my thoughts a storm of frustration and helplessness.First Astrid. Now Ryker. I was losing control of everything.When I
Astrid’s POVThe night stretched on, endless and suffocating. The dim glow of the bedside lamp cast long shadows against the walls, but the light felt hollow—cold. The Packhouse was eerily quiet, the usual hum of distant conversations and footsteps replaced by an unbearable stillness.I sat on the edge of the bed, my fingers twisting the fabric of my shirt, my thoughts a hurricane raging inside me.Elara.Her name was carved into every thought, every breath, every aching second that passed. She was out there, in the dark, in the hands of the man who wanted nothing more than to see me broken.And I was still here. Waiting.I had tried. I had tried to listen to Killian, to hold on to the logic that we could save her together, that there was a plan, a chance. But how could I gamble my daughter’s life on a chance?What if they were wrong? What if we weren’t fast enough? What if she needed me now?My throat tightened, the guilt curling around me like a noose. I had waited too long alread