Astrid’s POV“You don’t have to be worried, Astrid. I promise you, you are not alone in this. I will help you find your cure. I won’t let anything bad happen to you,” Nova adds when she sees my indifferent reaction. I glanced at Nova when I heard her words. She’s promising me too many things. She might blame herself if she’s unable to keep some of her promises. “You don’t have to promise me anything,” I shook her hand that she placed on my lap to comfort me. “I told you, I’ll figure everything out once my child is born,” I answered her even though I really had no intention of doing that anymore. It’s obvious that someone like me could never acquire such a precious medicine. “I’ve been doing my own research behind your back,” Nova confesses which surprised me. “I made a background search on Shadowfang Pack, it turns out Shadowfang Pack is an ancient Pack, no wonder why their name sounded so familiar to me,” Nova tells me. Although I was a Luna who had met so many Pack leaders beca
Astrid’s POV My heart almost jumped out of my chest when I heard Drystan’s voice from behind us. Drystan always appears in the most unexpected times. It’s pure luck that he still had no idea about my sickness until now. “What are you doing here?” I asked Drystan as I clutched my beating heart. “I just came to check,” Drystan answered. “Are you okay now? How are you feeling?” He asked me. I sighed. “I’m okay, I just get tired easily because of my pregnancy,” I lied using a smooth excuse. Drystan softly nodded his head. “You should rest more since you’re pregnant. Always tell us when you need anything,” Drystan tells me. “Is the party over already?” Nova asked Drystan. “Yes, I told everyone to go home already after we saw the moon,” Drystan replied. “Thank you, Drystan,” I paused. “For the party.” I don’t know how to thank him enough.Even though the party was too much, I knew I needed it and Drystan must have seen that also. I’ve been feeling so troubled lately. Even though Ki
Drystan’s POV I clutched Astrid’s bracelet inside my hand as I left her room. As soon as I was alone in the hallway, I took another check on the bracelet once again. For some reason, this bracelet looked so familiar. I’m just not sure where I have seen them before. With a bracelet as expensive as this, it would be uncommon to see it just anywhere. I’m sure that I didn’t see this bracelet from Astrid before. It was from someone else, but I just couldn’t remember. I rubbed the bracelet’s metal with my fingers and felt the weight of it on my hand to test its authenticity. The stone on the bracelet seemed fake, but I couldn’t tell that for sure. However, the metal used in this bracelet seems strange. If I’m not mistaken, I think the metal used here is called Luminite. In the whole world, only the Shadowfang Pack has access to Luminite. Luminite is very rare, and aside from that the Shadowfang Pack doesn’t just release their precious metal to anyone. It’s hard to acquire a special m
Drystan’s POVThe dungeon is so dark and damp that even the place itself could cause fear to roll down your spine. It was eerie silent inside, broken by my heavy footsteps as I strolled in with my hands kept behind my back. I stopped and took a scrutinizing glance at the two spies that my men just caught lurking around our Pack borders. They stared at me with fear in their eyes not knowing what was in store for their life. “You two must be new,” I muttered in a low voice as I sat on the chair across them. The two spies couldn’t speak even though their mouths weren’t bound with anything. They are also sweating so hard even though the night is cold. I sighed and leaned back on my chair, feeling relaxed as opposed to them. The fact that they were caught so easily is a telltale sign that they are newly hired. They didn’t expect the number of Pack guards guarding around our borders, and they also had no clue about our new rotation. It means they just started on their spy job. “Who hi
Giselle’s POV “Astrid is dead, madame,” the spy that I hired finally came back with his report. I let out a breath and sat on my couch when I heard his confirmation. Of course, Astrid is dead. The Nightsong Pack held her memorial service along with her funeral. How could she still not be dead?It doesn’t even make sense for Drystan to put on a whole show just to fool his own nephew. Even if Drystan and Astrid are close, why would Drystan betray his own flesh and blood for her?I think Killian’s wolf is just in denial just as what Drystan had explained to him. Killian sounded so convincing that he nearly made me doubt my own eyes. “Are you sure she’s not dead?” I asked the spy I hired again, just to make sure. “She even has her own grave in the Nightsong Pack. We’ve been spying on their Pack for days, but I never saw the girl in the picture you asked me to look for in their Pack,” he replied. I sighed. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was relieved or if I was frustrated that Killi
Giselle’s POV My lips curled downwards and I lowered my gaze to evoke pity from Killian’s mother. Her brows bent downwards instantly when she saw the sad look on my face. She took a step forward, closing the distance between us. “Come on, tell me,” she whispered to me kindly. I forced a small smile on my face as I looked at her. “I’m just happy that you accepted me wholeheartedly,” I paused and blinked my eyes, letting the sadness sink in. “Killian had only seen me as a carrier of his baby. I wasn’t even sure that you would like me,” I spoke pitifully. “This is nonsense,” Killian’s mother exclaimed. “You are the mother of my grandson, of course, I will accept you.”I fell quiet at her words. Grandson? How could she be so sure that I was carrying a boy and not a girl?“You don’t have to worry about Killian. I will talk to him, okay? From now on if you have any problems just tell me. Thinking of problems is not good for the baby,” Killian’s mother smiled as she crouched down to speak
Astrid’s POVI lay awake on my bed with my eyes wide open, unable to turn back to sleep. It’s extremely early, the sun hasn’t even risen yet. I used to wake up at this hour of the day every single day back when I was still a Luna. My body clock is yet to adjust to the new life that I have. In my days as a Luna, I used to wake up before the sun could take its place in the sky to work until late in the night. Back then, I would work for hours straight without any time to rest, but now all I had to do all day was rest. Drystan and Nova refused to let me do any work just because I was pregnant. They are treating me like I’m a disabled person. I know that it is unreasonable of me to complain that I’m doing nothing, but my body is just not used to doing nothing. I miss my job, I miss having tasks that I had to complete throughout the day. I feel like I’m only wasting time every day. Even though it was not time for me to wake up yet, I stood up and cleaned my bed knowing that I won’t
Killian’s POV I twirled the pasta with my fork with a bored expression on my face. I had no appetite to eat, but my mother forced me to join her for dinner. I thought she had something important to say to me, but I was surprised when I saw that Giselle would be joining us for dinner. My Beta had mentioned to me before that my mother and Giselle are getting along pretty well. I also noticed that the two of them have been spending so much time together in the last week. I just pretended that I hadn’t noticed this and busied myself for work. There are a lot of things I had to handle anyway so I got no time to spare for other matters. “Killian, you’ve gotten so thin. What happened?” Mother sounded so alarmed as she looked at my face. “Giselle, why are you not taking care of my son?”I was about to tell her that I was fine. I have just become busy lately, but I was stopped short when she suddenly asked Giselle a weird question. Take care of me? Why is it Giselle’s job to take care of
Astrid’s POVThe walls of the Packhouse had never felt so suffocating.Days had passed since Elara was taken, but time had lost all meaning. The world outside moved on, but inside these walls, inside this nightmare, everything was frozen—suspended in a relentless cycle of fear, exhaustion, and waiting.Waiting for news. Waiting for a sign. Waiting for something, anything, to bring my daughter back.But all I had were the heavy, sinking hours in between, where every breath felt like a struggle, where every shadow in the room felt like it was closing in on me.Ryker’s condition wasn’t improving.If anything, he was getting worse.He barely spoke. He barely ate. When he did sleep, it was restless and fitful, his small hands gripping the sheets as if he were still in battle, as if he were still fighting off the monsters that had stolen his sister.Every time he closes his eyes to sleep, he wakes up screaming his sister’s name, tormented by nightmares.Ryker is blaming himself for what ha
Astrid’s POVThe corridors leading to the infirmary felt impossibly long, the walls closing in on me with every step. My heart pounded, a relentless drumbeat of panic and guilt, louder than my own breath, louder than the torches flickering along the stone walls.Ryker.My son.The thought of him lying there, unconscious and injured, made my stomach twist violently. I should have been there. I should have protected them both.Killian’s hand was firm on the small of my back, steadying me, grounding me, but I barely felt it. The only thing I could focus on was the door ahead, slightly ajar, spilling faint light into the dim hallway.I hesitated for only a second before pushing it open.The moment I saw him, my legs nearly gave out beneath me.Ryker lay on the bed, his small body dwarfed by the sheets tucked around him. His face was too pale, his lashes dark against his cheeks, his breathing slow and shallow. A thick bandage was wrapped around his head, stark against his golden hair.
Astrid’s POVThe world felt distant, muffled by the thick fog of unconsciousness. My body was heavy, weighed down by pain and exhaustion, yet my mind clawed for clarity, for awareness.Then, all at once, reality came crashing down.Elara.My breath hitched, my body jolting as I forced my eyes open. A sharp pain seared through my back, but I ignored it, my heart hammering against my ribs. My surroundings swam into focus—the soft glow of candlelight flickering against the stone walls, the scent of herbs lingering in the air.I was in my room.Someone had carried me here.A shadow shifted beside me, and my gaze landed on Killian.He sat in a chair beside the bed, his elbows resting on his knees, his golden eyes dark with something raw and unguarded. His face was drawn, his usual sharp confidence buried beneath an overwhelming weight.The moment he saw me stir, he straightened. “Astrid,” he breathed, relief washing over his features.But I barely heard him.“Elara,” I gasped, my voice
Astrid’s POVThe hour was unnervingly still-the kind of stillness that didn't promise peace but danger. Even the crickets had silenced their symphony, leaving the world suspended in an uneasy pause.Fresh guards had taken their positions outside Elara and Ryker's room, their heavy boots scuffing the floor before settling into still vigilance. Inside, I sat unmoving, my nails absently scraping patterns into the worn armrest of the chair. Every creak of the house, every gust of wind, felt like a warning. My wolf stirred, pacing just beneath the surface, uneasy.Killian had checked on me earlier. He'd lingered in the doorway, his golden eyes searching mine, his mouth pressed into a grim line. He didn't speak, didn't push me to leave. He didn't need to. He knew I wouldn't.I wasn't leaving my children tonight.The breeze through the open window caught the flame of a candle, snuffing it out in a final flicker. Shadows stretched long across the room. I stood, my movements deliberate an
Astrid’s POVLong shadows cast down on me as I walked through the halls. Every step felt heavier than the last, the air thick with tension. I had spent the last hour sitting by Elara and Ryker’s beds, watching their peaceful faces, willing my fears to fade away. But they hadn’t.I had always trusted my instincts, and right now, they were screaming at me. Something was wrong.Killian had tried to reassure me, promising that we had taken every precaution, that the guards stationed around our children were the best of the best. But my gut told me otherwise. Ardan was methodical. He didn’t make reckless moves. If he had stayed silent for this long, it was because he was waiting for the perfect opportunity.I wasn’t about to let him take it.I turned a corner and found Killian waiting for me outside the war room, his golden eyes watching me closely. He had been expecting me.“You didn’t rest,” he said simply.“Neither did you,” I countered, folding my arms across my chest.He exhaled, ru
Astrid’s POVThe unease had taken root deep in my chest, twisting tighter with each passing moment. The Packhouse bustled with warriors and scouts moving in and out, delivering updates and taking orders, but it didn’t soothe the gnawing feeling in my gut. It felt like standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting for the inevitable plunge.I stood in the war room, pretending to focus on the reports spread across the table. Maps marked with patrol routes and potential rogue movements stared back at me, but none of it felt real. My eyes kept darting to the door, half-expecting someone to rush in with news of an attack.Killian was on the other side of the room, speaking with Ryder. His golden eyes burned with intensity, and the tension in his stance betrayed his own worries, though he’d never admit them outright. Killian always bore the weight of leadership with unwavering strength, but I knew he felt the strain just as much as I did.“The eastern border,” Ryder said, his voice carrying
Astrid’s POVThe eerie silence of the Packhouse had never felt more oppressive. The warmth of the torches lining the halls failed to chase away the chill that seemed to settle deep in my bones.I paced outside Elara’s room, my mind racing as I tried to make sense of what had just happened. The image of the guard’s frightened expression, the mention of a rogue scent, it all played on a loop in my mind.Killian stood nearby, speaking in hushed tones to Ryder. His golden eyes were sharp, every ounce of his Alpha authority pouring into the conversation as he issued orders. His presence was reassuring, but the fear gripping my chest refused to ease.Elara.The thought of her so close to danger made my stomach churn. She was too young, too innocent to be dragged into this nightmare. Ardan’s shadow was creeping closer, and it terrified me.“Ryder,” Killian said, his tone steady but laced with anger. “I want a full sweep of the Packhouse and the surrounding forest. If there’s even a trac
Astrid’s POVThe meeting dragged on, each word from the council weighing heavier on my mind. The tension in the room felt suffocating, like a rope tightening around my chest. Despite the conversation moving forward, my thoughts were locked on the reports Ryder had just delivered.The eastern forest. A small group of scouts.It wasn’t unusual for Ardan’s rogues to test our borders, but this felt… off. Too timed. Too deliberate.Killian sat beside me, his golden eyes flicking between the Alphas as they debated strategies. Every so often, his hand would tighten into a fist on the table, his jaw clenching as tempers flared.“We’re wasting time,” Alpha Damien growled, slamming a hand against the table. His dark eyes scanned the room. “Ardan’s already moving against us, and we’re sitting here bickering over details. We need decisive action—now.”“Decisive action?” another Alpha countered, his voice sharp. “Like sending more warriors to die for nothing? Ardan’s forces aren’t just mindless ro
Astrid’s POVThe council chamber buzzed with an undercurrent of tension that made the air feel thick. The weight of the looming meeting sat heavily on my chest, though I knew I couldn’t let it show. This was where Ardan would aim to make his statement, where he’d strike to spread chaos and fear.I stood in the far corner, my eyes scanning the room as the Alphas and Lunas filed in one by one. Their voices filled the space, low murmurs exchanging concerns over Ardan’s growing influence and his unrelenting attacks.Killian stood at my side, his presence as steady as a mountain. His golden eyes scanned the room, sharp and calculating, watching for any signs of danger. Ryder had already slipped into the shadows, overseeing the security measures with a team of warriors stationed discreetly throughout the area.“You’ve been quiet,” Killian said, his voice low, for me alone.I turned to him, meeting his gaze. “I’m thinking,” I admitted. “Ardan isn’t just about brute force. If he has peop