Andros’s POVI let out a heavy sigh as my gaze lingered on Asha from a distance. The wind danced around her, caressing her hair and blowing her dress like whispers of the past as she stood before our mother’s womb. I headed to her room before this, thinking that she would be there throwing a tantrum. When I found her room empty, I instantly knew where to look next, and I wasn’t mistaken. I knew deep down that she would be drawn to the quiet solace of our mother’s resting place, seeking comfort in the memories that lingered there. I softly approached Asha, stopping just inches behind her. My gaze fell on the fresh flowers adorning our mother’s tomb, their vibrant colors standing out against the cold stone. Asha glanced over her shoulder before turning her gaze back again to the ground, ignoring my presence. I watched her, framed by the gentle sway of the wind. “People are out there celebrating while you’re here choosing to mourn by yourself,” I muttered to steal her attention. As
Giselle’s POVI gripped my glass tightly as I caught snippets of hushed conversations drifting through the air. The banquet has almost come to an end, yet people are still talking about me and Killian. They are speculating that Killian is now regretting our marriage now that his ex-wife’s identity has come to light. Their whispers gnawed at my confidence, and their words settled like a stone in my stomach, heavy and unsettling. I glanced at Killian, who was standing a few feet away from me, talking to an Alpha. I’m sure he’s fully aware of the whispers going on around us. Even I, who didn’t like their words, couldn’t ignore them because of how much they were talking about us. Even though Killian could hear them, he just wore a mask of calm, his eyes distant as if he had chosen to tune out the murmurs altogether. This only added to my set of worries. He could easily stand up and defend himself to stop the rumors altogether. However, he chose to remain silent.Is this because thei
Astrid’s POVIt has been a long and busy day; my body is worn out from engaging in endless conversations with the guests and walking around to accommodate everyone from the ceremony to the special banquet earlier. I couldn’t wait to retire to my room and be alone. I thought I’d be overcome with sleep once my head hit the pillow, but unfortunately enough, my mind couldn’t stop buzzing from one thought to another, and I ended up laying on my bed, unable to sleep. I had a nice warm bath to relax my body as soon as I arrived at my room, and then I wore my best, nice, and comfortable night clothes for a comfortable sleep, but it eluded me. I have too many worries now that I’ve done step one of my plans. Giselle and Killian’s reaction to the truth kept replaying in my mind like a vivid film, refusing to let me rest. This is just the first step. I haven’t even done anything yet. I’m too excited ti actually be able to do something.I sat up on my bed and sighed. I’m getting tired of think
Andros’s POVI stared at Father in surprise when he announced that Astrid would be joining us for the briefing. This is a highly confidential meeting. Even Asha has never joined us here before. She’s not even aware of our Pack's private operations. However, the Father is willing to spill all of our confidential operations to Astrid. What does this mean? What are the father’s intentions really in bringing Astrid here?“Thank you for welcoming me,” Astrid spoke firmly. Still, the flutter of nerves in her stomach is evident in her face. Everyone is staring at her with a scrutinizing gaze as if weighing her in, but their father’s steady gaze on her encourages her to hold her ground. I opened my mouth about arguing with my father about this matter when someone spoke up first behind me. “Alpha, are you sure you are going to bring her into this?” One of our men questioned, his tone skeptical. I held myself back, seeing that there was no need to oppose my father when everyone inside the
Astrid’s POVA ripple of agreement swept across the gathered men when they heard my suggestion. One of them spoke up, his brows furrowed in thought. “Miss Astrid spoke exactly what I was thinking. The rogues are calculating, and we only have limited intel about them. If we warn the others, we can bolster our defenses and strategize together.”My eyes swept to the men around the table. Their eyes that initially held skepticism about me are now showing signs of trust. No longer do they regard me with skepticism; instead, my words ignited a spark of determination in them. Their faces that had once been set in doubt now reflected a shared resolve. I felt a swell of pride as I started earning their confidence. They no longer see me as just a mere woman or some unworthy illegitimate child. “Don’t worry about that. Tomorrow, I’ll hold a meeting for all the Packs, and I’ll inform them of everything that we discussed today,” Alpha Theron assured everyone inside the room. “Then, if that’s
Andros’s POVAll eyes turned on me in surprise when I suddenly stood up and volunteered to challenge Andros. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Andros glancing at me, his gaze piercing and intense, a mix of curiosity and irritation. As the room fell into charged silence, I didn’t shift my focus from Alpha Theron. I stared at him with unwavering determination, willing him to see my resolve.“Alpha,” I began, my voice steady, “Let me handle the mission. As a previous member of the Silvermoon Pack, I am already familiar with the people. I can give them the support that they need.”Andros stepped forward, his expression shifting to one of fierce determination. “This mission is critical, and it requires someone with my experience. You may know the people, but I have the skills to lead us through this safely. You can’t underestimate the dangers we face.”The tension in the room thickened as his words echoed in the silence. For some reason, Andros is really determined to take on this mi
Astrid’s POVThe grand hall was alive with tension as all Alphas and Lunas from different Packs were gathered together, their murmurs filling the air like a restless tide. At the front, Alpha Theron commanded the room with his imposing presence. His gaze swept over the gathered leaders, silencing any lingering whispers. To his right sat his son, Andros, arms crossed and jaw set, a storm brewing behind his eyes. On his left was his daughter, Asha, poised and composed, her expression a blend of determination and caution. Aside from the three of us, Asha and the invited guests had no idea what this sudden meeting was about. After the breakfast was served, everyone was just surprised when Alpha Theron called them to come for an urgent meeting. As Alpha Theron began to share everything we had discussed the night before, the atmosphere in the grand hall shifted dramatically. The tension that had gripped the leaders transformed into a mix of surprise and contemplation. Gasps echoed th
Astrid’s POVThe room was thick with an awkward silence as everyone processed the unexpected revelation. Whispers of disbelief rippled through the assembly, eyes darting between Alpha Theron, Drystan, and me. The tension was palpable, a mix of surprise and concern hanging heavily in the air. I could feel the intensity of Drytsan’s scrutiny, his disbelief almost tangible. Before the ceremony, he already made his feelings clear to me. He is not comfortable about me going back to the Silvermoon Pack and being anywhere near my ex-husband and his new wife, whom he had replaced me with. Drystan knows more than anyone how much I had suffered because of them, and yet I’ll be sent back there again with the task of helping them. I knew Drystan wouldn’t like this, I should have talked to him about this beforehand, but cowardice got the best of me. Drystan is worried about my safety and well-being. Yet I remained focused on the task at hand, not letting his reaction sway my resolve.Around
Asha’s POVThe chaos outside the Packhouse was deafening, the shouts of warriors mixing with the blaring alarms. My heart pounded in my chest as I rushed to find my father. Three warriors trailed closely behind me, their presence both reassuring and a reminder of how grave the situation was.When I found him in the main hall, his expression was a mix of concern and focus. The weight of leadership never left his shoulders, even now, as danger closed in on us.“Father,” I called, my voice firm but urgent. “The rogues have breached the borders. Andros sent me to evacuate you. We have to leave now.”His brows furrowed deeply, his gaze shifting toward the window where the faint glow of fires could be seen in the distance. “How could this be? How could they get past the security measures so fast? We have the most advanced technology. How could the rogues enter our perimeters just like that?” My father echoed the same questions that I had, but there was no time to think. “The rogues woul
Astrid’s POVThe moon hung high in the sky, its cold light spilling into the quiet room. I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the open suitcase before me. My hands shook as I carefully folded my clothes, my mind a tangled mess of emotions I couldn’t untangle.I was my father’s legitimate daughter.The truth had unraveled everything I thought I knew about myself. For years, I’d believed I was nothing — a mistake, a stain on his perfect image. I’d told myself I didn’t belong, that I would never be worthy and that I was just a trouble to their perfect family. And now, knowing it was all a lie… it left me hollow.He’d hidden the truth from me. From all of us. I wasn’t sure what hurt more— the truth itself, or the years of deception.I clenched a shirt in my fists, my breath trembling as I fought to steady it. This doesn’t change anything. I couldn’t let it. He might have been my father by blood, but he had never been a father to me. That bond had been broken long before I even kn
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