Drystan’s POVThe grand hall of the Shadowfang Pack buzzed with anticipation as all the guests from different Packs gathered together. Their murmurs echoed off the marble walls as the others used their extra time to meet the different leaders from other Packs and hopefully gain new connections and alliances. While everyone was enjoying this festivity, I was tainted by deep, overwhelming sorrow, knowing what this ceremony meant between Astrid and me. Last night, I failed to change her mind. Things are much worse now that I know what Astrid’s plan for revenge is. I stood in the shadows, waiting patiently for the ceremony to end. I stood at the corner of the room, away from everyone’s eyes, to avoid their attention. I’m in no mood to interact with anybody. I just silently scanned the whole crowd, seeing if there were any guests here that I could recognize. Ever since I disrespected all the Alphas and declined alliances from all of them, I have been labeled as an arrogant man just b
Giselle’s POVI clenched my fists as my face turned red in anger. I couldn’t believe that until now, Drystan would still defend Astrid even after she chose to stay in the Shadowfang Pack rather than be with him.Astrid is just a gold-digger, a social climber. I thought after three years, Drystan had already realized that. I couldn’t believe that he would defend Astrid until now as if she hadn’t betrayed her by choosing to stay in the Shadowfang Pack rather than be with him. After everything that Drystan had done for her, in the end, Astrid chose to stay in the Shadowfang Pack, forgetting all the help that she received from Drystan. That’s who Astrid is. Just to have a taste of more status and power, she will abandon everything that she has. I thought Drystan and I were going to be on the same page about her. I didn’t expect that Drystan would defend Astrid until now. I couldn’t believe that the smart Alpha of the Nightsong Pack would still be bewitched by Astrid’s charms even aft
Giselle’s POVI couldn’t help but openly stare at Alpha Theron and his son and daughter, just like everybody else. Alpha Theron doesn’t look like what I expected him to be. I heard he has two grown-up children, so I was expecting a silver-haired man whose skin had sagged of old age. However, the person I saw is not a man grown old by age, but only a man who grew old with wisdom. His grey streaks of hair did not add to his age but instead added to his handsome features. I could see why Astrid could have fallen for him. Even at his age, he still had the looks that could attract young women to him. My jaw clenched when I realized that Alpha Theron didn’t look like I expected. It would have been better if this Alpha looked more like his age. With that, it would have been easy to make people think that Astrid was just dating him for his status and money.Also, if only I had known that the Alpha of the Shadowfang Pack would look this young and handsome, I would have rather gone to the
Giselle’s POVThe grand hall fell into silence when the massive wooden doors swung open, revealing a vision in crimson. A woman glided into the room, the scarlet silk of her gown cascading around her like molten fire. Every head turned in rapt attention, the guests utterly transfixed by her captivating presence. The woman whom I still haven’t recognized moved with a regal, almost otherworldly gaze, her every step fluid and purposeful. The guests in the hall stood up transfixed; they had already forgotten about the Alpha lineage of the Shadowfang Pack. Their attention is now focused on the woman who has just arrived. There was an undeniable aura of power that seemed to emanate from this woman, commanding the attention of all who laid eyes upon her as she carried herself with poise and confidence as if she had descended from the heavens above to grace us mortals surrounding her.Who is this person? How come I haven’t met her before? I, who had no interest in this ceremony whatsoev
Giselle’s POVBefore anyone could ask their questions, Alpha Theron had already made a move to answer them. “Honored guests,” he began, his deep baritone voice carrying a weight of authority. “I understand the confusion and speculation that has arisen regarding my relationship with Astrid. Allow me to set the records straight.”Alpha Theron paused, his eyes briefly meeting Astrid’s before he continued. “Many years ago, before I became the Alpha of the Shadowfang Pack. I was engaged in an affair with a young omega.”Gasps filled the room when Alpha Theron gave his confession, and whispers started to grow among the guests. After all, a forbidden relationship between an Alpha and a lowly Omega is unheard of. It’s even more surprising, especially coming from the Alpha of the most developed Pack. “Astrid and I were able to establish her true lineage three years ago after a series of tests. To my great surprise and joy, I discovered that she was indeed my long-lost daughter. A collectiv
Andros’s POVThe crowd inside the grand hall gradually dispersed after the ceremony ended. The bustling energy of the ceremony now echoed with the receding footsteps of the departing guests. Amidst the slowly emptying space, only we stayed behind. As the hosts of the event, of course, we had to be the last to leave the place. I glanced at my father, who had a joyous smile on his face as he talked to his estranged daughter, Astrid. I clenched my jaw, and my eyes turned cold when my eyes landed on Astrid’s crimson-red gown. I had been bracing myself all morning, anticipating the inevitable complaint about Astrid’s dress. I thought my father would have been informed about it already. But as the hours ticked by, the expected summons never came, leaving me puzzled and unsettled. I was confident that Asha did something to Astrid’s dress to stop this ceremony. My sister is like an open book, very easy to read. I swear you could read her thoughts just by looking at her face. Seeing how
Astrid’s POVAlpha Theron gazed at me with a wistful look in his eyes, reflecting a tapestry of emotions within them after Andros had left, leaving only the both of us behind.I shifted on my feet, feeling uncomfortable under his nostalgic gaze. He is staring at me with memories playing in his eyes.And then, the corners of his lips curled slightly, like he had just woken up from a dream. “Oh, Astrid. You’ve grown up so much already. Your dress really looks good on you,” Alpha Theron muttered, confirming my thoughts.He is staring at me the way a father does when he looks at his grown-up daughter while reliving past memories. “I wish I was there to see you grow up. I wish I was really there with your mom,” he whispered with pain in his voice.A lump formed inside my throat when I heard his words. In the past, he had the option to fulfill those wishes he mentioned.However, in the end, he still chose to leave us. It doesn’t matter whether he regretted his decision or not.The day he
Astrid’s POV“Nova, you… you looked different,” I muttered as I failed to find the words to describe how much she had glowed up. “I’m sorry I was late. I didn’t arrive on time to witness the ceremony,” Nova spoke with her eyes squinted a bit as she felt bad for being late. I was so annoyed and so angry when I didn’t see her presence in the ceremony. I thought she wouldn’t come. She said in her letter that she would attend my ceremony and introduce her mate to me. I was heartbroken when I didn’t see her in the grand hall earlier. “I forgive you since you stayed true to your words and still came,” I answered in a forgiving tone. “By the way, where is your mate? Didn’t you say you’ve found him already? You said you’re going to introduce me to him.”Nova smiled shyly when she heard my questions. She looked behind her and gestured for the man who was with her. “Astrid, this is Michael,” Nova announced as she beckoned her mate towards me. As I turned to face the newcomer, words fled m
Astrid's POVThe air felt sharper, heavier. Ryder's words lingered, a warning that sent a jolt of adrenaline surging through me. "It's a trap."Killian's hand tightened around mine briefly before he let go, signaling silently to the warriors around us. His golden eyes locked onto mine, and without speaking, I understood. Be ready.The rogues emerged from the shadows like wraiths, their movements swift and predatory. My heart pounded as Killian raised a hand, signaling our group to spread out and form a defensive line. The moonlight gleamed off their weapons, but it was their eyes-feral, unrelenting-that sent a shiver down my spine.The rogue king's voice broke through the stillness, cold and calculated. "You've been followed, Cedric."Cedric spun around, his eyes wide in shock and fear as his gaze darted toward the trees. With the rogue king’s army surrounding us, and with his calm demeanor. It was obvious that he had seen us from afar. He was prepared to stop us.Only Cedric had
Astrid’s POVThe tension in the council chamber clung to my skin like a second layer of sweat. Every time I closed my eyes, I could still see Alpha Cedric’s smug expression from the last meeting, his words twisting the air with doubt and discontent.Killian and I walked side by side through the dimly lit hall, his golden eyes sharp and focused. Neither of us spoke as we headed toward the war room, our minds occupied by the same burning question: could Cedric truly be working with the rogue king?The war room door creaked open, revealing Ryder standing at the center of the table, maps and documents scattered before him. He looked up as we entered, his expression grim but composed.“Alpha. Luna,” Ryder greeted, bowing slightly.“What did you find?” Killian asked, his voice steady but clipped.Ryder straightened, his gaze meeting Killian’s. “We’ve been discreetly monitoring Alpha Cedric’s movements as you requested. There’s nothing concrete yet, but… there’s something off.”I frowned,
Astrid’s POVThe private chamber was dimly lit, the flicker of candlelight casting shifting shadows on the stone walls. The air was thick with anticipation as Killian and I stepped into the room. Alpha Damien and Luna Valerie stood by the hearth, their faces somber. Damien’s normally relaxed posture was stiff, and Valerie’s fingers were laced tightly together, betraying her tension.“Damien, Valerie,” Killian began, his voice firm. “We were told you’ve uncovered something about the rogue king. What is it?”Damien exchanged a glance with Valerie before stepping forward, his gaze steady. “Valerie and I had been conducting an investigation—secretly,” he admitted. “Ever since the first rogue attacks began to increase, we’ve been suspicious.”Valerie nodded, her tone soft but urgent. “The rogue king’s moves weren’t random. They were calculated, methodical. He wasn’t just targeting packs for power or resources; he was targeting the foundation of our system—the hierarchy, the unity that bi
Astrid’s POVKillian halted mid-step, his shoulders stiffening as he turned to face me. His brow knitted together, the golden hue of his eyes darkening with unease. “What do you mean?” he asked, his voice low, guarded.I hesitated for just a heartbeat before the words poured out, tumbling over each other in a rush. “Alpha Cedric,” I said, my voice tight with urgency. “At the council meeting—he stood up, questioning us, doubting our leadership, our decisions.”Killian’s brows pinched together as he processed my words. “What if… what if it wasn’t just him being confrontational? What if it was intentional? Designed to sow distrust, to divide us?” I asked him Killian’s gaze sharpened, his eyes narrowing as he digested my words. A flicker of understanding crossed his face, followed by something colder, harder. Slowly, he nodded. “I’ve been thinking the same thing,” he admitted, his tone heavy with thought. “When Andros suggested there could be a traitor, Cedric was the first person w
Astrid’s POVThe words hung in the air, heavy and ominous. I felt my chest tighten, the implications settling like a stone in my stomach. “What do you mean?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Andros’s gaze dropped again, his shoulders slumping as if the weight of his confession was too much to bear. “If you suspect that someone’s feeding the rogue king information, it wasn’t me. It must be someone close to you,” he answered. “Since they know so much about the Pack, it could be someone in your ranks. Tell me, is there anyone acting weird recently? Anyone you think that is hiding something.”“That’s impossible,” I instantly blurted out. “All of us wanted the rogue king gone. All of us were helping each other to overcome this crisis. Why would someone betray us and work with the rogue king?”“I’m not the one leaking information to the rogue king,” Andros spoke sternly. “Who do you think it is?” The question that escaped Killian’s mouth made me look at him. “Killian, what are y
Astrid's POVThe air in the dungeon was damp and heavy, clinging to my skin like a second layer. The faint flicker of the bright light painted uneasy shadows on the stone walls, casting long, distorted shapes that felt as restless as the questions swirling in my mind. Killian and I stopped outside Andros’s cell, and for a moment, neither of us spoke.Andros sat against the wall, his posture slouched, his gaze fixed somewhere distant, as though we weren’t there. His face was pale, worn, and etched with the weight of regret he had carried silently since Rowena’s death.“Andros,” I said, my voice softer than I intended. It was impossible to ignore how different he looked now, like a man who had already resigned himself to whatever fate we would decide.His dark eyes flicked toward me briefly before dropping back to the ground. “What now?” he asked, his voice hollow, lacking the defiance I used to know.Killian stepped forward, his tone firmer than mine. “We need answers,” he said. “T
Astrid's POVThe warrior’s words hung in the air like a heavy shroud, suffocating and cold. I stared at him, trying to make sense of what I’d just heard.“The fragments… are missing?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. My heart pounded, each beat echoing louder in my ears as confusion and disbelief clawed at my thoughts.The Forsaken Amulet was destroyed. Rowena sacrificed her life to ensure it could never be used again. Why would the rogues come back for it? What could they possibly want with shattered remnants?Killian stood beside me, rigid as stone, his golden eyes locked on the warrior. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice low, taut with restrained fury.“Yes, Alpha,” the warrior said, bowing his head. “We inspected the area as you instructed, to see if the rogues left anything behind—clues, weapons, anything. But instead, we found the fragments… gone.”Gone. The word echoed in my mind, a drumbeat of confusion. I tried to piece together the rogue king’s motives, but not
Astrid’s POVThe tension in the room was suffocating. The large council chamber, usually filled with calm deliberation, was now a battlefield of words. Alphas and Lunas from across the packs are all gathered around in one room, their gazes heavy with doubt and mistrust. Killian and I decided to call this meeting to inform everyone about the recent events and to formulate another plan for the future. “We heard that Andros is back, that he came back to the Pack with you, was that true?” One of the Alphas asked. I nodded my head. “That’s true. Although he is banned to enter any Packs, I made my decision out of careful consideration. While we are unsure of where his alliances lies, it would be safe if he is here with us where we could monitor him.”“Andros cannot be trusted,” Alpha Raiden of the Thunderclaw Pack said, his voice cold and unyielding. “He betrayed us once—no, twice. Do you expect us to believe he won’t do it again?”Several heads nodded in agreement, murmurs spreading li
Astrid’s POVI studied Andros’s face as he spoke, searching for even the faintest trace of deceit, but there was none. His expression was raw, stripped bare of his usual indifference, and in its place was something achingly human. Beneath the steady timbre of his voice, I caught a faint sadness—not just for Rowena, but for Killian, too. It made my chest tighten.I turned to Killian and felt my heart break at the sight of him. His golden eyes, usually so fierce and commanding, burned with a storm of emotions that threatened to drown him—anger, sorrow, regret. He stood frozen, like a man facing the wreckage of his entire world.“Then why didn’t she?” Killian’s voice, sharp and brittle, sliced through the heavy air. His fists trembled, clenched so tightly at his sides that his knuckles were white. “If she regretted everything so much, why didn’t she just say something? Why didn’t she stop?”Andros let out a quiet sigh, leaning his head back against the damp stone wall. “Because she c