Astrid’s POVA small smile tugged at my lips as I tilted my head back, gazing up at the moon above us. Its soft, silvery glow offered me a soft silence and peace that I really needed right now. Wrapping my arms around myself, I shivered slightly as the cool breeze brushed against my skin.I missed the late night walks that I used to have back at Nightsong Pack when my life was more free and easy, without any responsibilities to think about. I was grateful Drystan had pulled me out of there. The bright lights, the endless chatter, I never liked those types of things. I always preferred the silence that loneliness offers than the noise of the crowd. Finally, I could be out here in peace, I never liked attending any gatherings. Out here, under the stars, in the quiet of the night, everything seemed simpler. I found solace in the calm that the night provided.I glanced at Drystan, walking beside me, his smile easy and genuine. His steps were light, as though just being near me was eno
Drystan’s POVI watched Astrid closely as she stared down at the heart-shaped rock in her hand, her expression distant, brows furrowed together as though the small stone held the answers to all her questions. The cold breeze swept through the night, rustling the leaves and sending a shiver down my spine, but I ignored it. My focus was solely on her.“What’s that?” I asked, trying to break the silence that had settled between us.But she didn’t respond. She was too lost in her thoughts to notice me. I watched as her fingers absentmindedly traced the shape of the stone, and something in her posture felt different—uneasy, troubled.“Astrid,” I called again, this time louder. “Are you alright?”She blinked, as though she was suddenly pulled back to reality. “What?” she asked, her eyes darting to me for the first time in what felt like minutes. “Oh… yeah, I’m fine. Just… thinking.”Her answer was vague, and I wasn’t convinced, but I didn’t press further. Instead, I took a step closer, hop
Astrid’s POVI held back the tears burning in my eyes, refusing to let them fall. I couldn’t cry in front of Drystan, not now. This wasn’t about me—it was about him, about setting him free. He needed to see that I wasn’t the one for him, that holding onto me would only bring him misery.I looked at him, my heart breaking as I saw the pain in his eyes, the confusion, the hurt I’d caused by not being honest sooner. It felt like the walls were closing in on me, but I had to stay strong. He deserved better than this. Better than me.“Drystan,” I whispered, my voice trembling despite my best efforts. “You deserve a life of your own, without waiting on me. I don’t want you to waste any more time on someone who can’t give you what you need. You have to live for yourself before it’s too late.”He didn’t respond right away, just stared at me, his fists clenched at his sides. I could see the battle raging inside him, the hurt colliding with the realization that I was right. It was like watch
Astrid’s POVI glanced at him, my chest tightening. "But why does it always have to be you?”Killian frowned, confused. “What do you mean?”I shook my head, the words I had been too afraid to admit bubbling up. “I couldn’t love Drystan. Not fully. Not the way he deserves to be loved. And do you know why?” I asked him as he stared at me cluelessly. “Because I’m still stuck on you, Killian. You’re the ghost I can’t shake. You’re always there, lingering in the back of my mind,” I blurted out before I could stop myself. He stood there, stunned into silence. For a moment, I thought he might walk away, say nothing, but he didn’t. He stayed, and it only made the ache in my chest worse.“I tried, you know? I tried to love Drystan the way I was supposed to. But every time, I felt like I was betraying something... or someone. And that someone was you.” My voice broke then, and I couldn’t stop the tears that filled my eyes. “Even though you hurt me, even though you weren’t the husband I neede
Killian’s POVI walked into my office, the door closing with a soft thud behind me, and for a moment, I just stood there in the silence. The conversation I’d just had with Astrid echoed in my head like a storm that wouldn’t settle. It was as if the weight I’d been carrying for years had finally been lifted off my shoulders, but in its place was something else—a heaviness that sank deeper into my chest, pressing down like a weight I couldn’t escape.I had told her. After all this time, I had finally told her the truth.The truth I’d buried for years, the one I thought would protect her. The truth that I never loved Giselle—not in the way a man should love his wife. That everything I did, I did for my son. I had tried to be a good father, to keep the family intact for him, even though every day felt like I was living a lie. Astrid finally knew that now. She knew why I had kept my distance, why I had pushed her away, why I had tried to convince myself that leaving her behind was the
Killian’s POVI sat in my chair, the weight of guilt still pressing down on me, my mind spiraling with thoughts of Astrid. Regret felt like a physical thing, constricting my chest, refusing to let go. I rubbed my temples, trying to block out the voices in my head, when suddenly there was a knock at the door.I didn't want to deal with anyone right now. Not after everything. But the knock came again, more insistent. With a sigh, I forced myself to speak.“Come in.”The door opened, and Beta Ryder stepped in, his face alight with excitement, practically beaming. I blinked, surprised by the energy radiating from him. He was rarely this enthusiastic, and I wasn’t in any mood to deal with whatever news had put him in such a good mood.“Killian,” Ryder began, unable to contain his grin. “I’ve got something important to tell you.”I tried to mask my exhaustion, but it was a losing battle. “Ryder, now’s not really the time—”“No, you’ll want to hear this,” he cut in, stepping closer. “The r
Killian’s POV"Alpha, what should we do?" Ryder's voice pulled me back from the brink of my spiraling thoughts. His eyes bore into mine, tense with the weight of what we had just discovered. "What Giselle did... it’s worse than treason. We have proof of her betrayal. How should we deal with her?"My heart raced, but I forced myself to stay calm. "Don’t alert her just yet," I said firmly, my voice cutting through the tension like a knife.Ryder looked at me, his eyes flickering with protest. “But, Alpha—”I raised a hand to stop him, my voice low but unyielding. “We’re barely scratching the surface, Ryder. If Giselle could pull something like this off for years, then we’re dealing with something much bigger. There’s more to this than we realize.”His jaw clenched as he tried to rein in his frustration, but I could see he understood. “You think there’s more she’s hiding?”I let out a slow breath, the weight of my next words heavier than I wanted to admit. “Yes, Ryder. I do. I’ve been t
Killian’s POVRyder exhaled slowly, tension rippling through his body as he processed the gravity of the situation. “Where do we start?” he asked, his voice tight with barely contained anger. I took a moment before responding. “I couldn’t think of anyone who could know more about this except for Giselle’s doctor,” I replied, my mind already working through the plan. “The one who handled her pregnancy. He would know what happened, or at the very least, he’d have records. If there’s a hole in her story, he’s the key to unlocking it.” I explained to him. Ryder fell into a thoughtful silence, his eyes narrowing as he absorbed the implications. After a beat, his fists clenched, his jaw tightening in fury.“Her doctors… They were all members of our Pack. How could they betray you? Betray us? How dare they lie to their Alpha!” His voice shook with righteous anger.“To hide something this huge would take more than just Giselle,” I continued, my voice steady but cold. “This wasn’t the work
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