Astrid’s POVThe nanny’s eyes widened as she watched Ryker eat, and I could see the surprise clearly written on her face. She leaned forward, her gaze shifting from Ryker to me, as if she couldn’t quite believe what she was seeing.“I... I can’t believe it,” she whispered, her voice tinged with awe. “You actually got it right.”I offered her a tentative smile, my eyes still focused on Ryker. “I just wanted to make sure he had something he liked,” I said softly. “I know how particular he is.”She shook her head, a look of wonder crossing her features. “Particular doesn’t even begin to cover it,” she replied with a gentle laugh. “It’s almost impossible to get it right with him on the first try. It took me months just to figure out his preferences. Even now, I still make mistakes before I manage to cook the right pancake for him. I was so frustrated, I nearly quit my job as his nanny because of it.” She paused, her eyes softening as they met mine. “But you did it.”Her compliment war
Killian stepped forward, his presence a steadying force in the room. “Hey, buddy,” he said, his voice unusually soft, almost gentle. “I know yesterday didn’t go the way we planned.”Ryker’s eyes shifted to him, his expression still clouded. Killian knelt down beside him, making sure he was at Ryker’s eye level. “It was supposed to be a special day for you — your birthday — but things got a little... messy. And I’m really sorry about that.”Ryker tilted his head, his fingers still toying with the edge of his notepad. He was listening, but I could tell he was waiting for more.Killian’s face softened, and for a moment, the guarded mask he usually wore was gone. “I promise we’ll make it up to you. We’ll do whatever you want — just you and me. How does that sound?”Ryker’s eyes lit up, if only for a second. He scribbled quickly on his notepad before holding it up. “Anything?”Killian’s lips curled into a small smile, a glimmer of relief in his eyes. “Anything,” he confirmed. “Just name i
Astrid’s POVThe sun kissed my skin as I stood on the shoreline, watching Ryker and Killian splash in the surf. Laughter carried on the breeze, mingling with the rhythmic crash of the waves. For once, I allowed myself to relax, to pretend that everything was exactly as it should be. We were like a real family bonding together at the beach. Ryker’s smile — bright and carefree — was enough to make m believe in the illusion, even just for a moment. I imagined everything was well with us, Killian and I were still married and that Ryker thinks I’m his mother. It was a good thought, a great illusion, but it was far from the truth. Still, I couldn’t help it. It was nice to indulge myself with the fantasy. I let myself breathe, inhaling the salty tang of the sea breeze. It was a rare thing, this kind of peace. I’ve never felt this peaceful since I found out that my son is alive. For the first time, I felt I was alive again. Being with my son, seeing him safe and happy I finally could f
Astrid’s POVThe poison courses through my veins, burning like wildfire as it spreads. I can feel its tendrils seeping into every muscle, rendering my limbs heavy and unresponsive. Panic claws at my chest as the world blurs and darkens, the strength I’ve always prided myself on slipping away. The sand beneath my fingers feels coarse and cold as I clutch at the ground, trying to stay anchored, trying to fight the rising tide of fear and hopelessness.In the distance, I catch a glimpse of Killian locked in a vicious fight, his movements a blur as he fends off the attackers. My heart pounds. He’s occupied and even if he’s not, he’s too far. I know he won’t reach me in time. I’m alone. I have no one but myself. And the attackers — they’re closing in.I looked at Ryker, his eyes wide and terrified, his small hands gripping my arm as I struggle to rise.It’s hopeless for me. I couldn’t run. But Ryker… he has to go on, he has to protect himself. “Run,” I whisper, my voice cracking.
Astrid’s POVAs I lie there, hopelessness threatens to swallow me whole.I can’t shift, I can’t fight. If only I still had my wolf—if only I were strong enough.I’m so tired of feeling defenseless, of losing everything I care about.Sobs choke me as I call out to my wolf, the part of me that has been silent for so long.I haven’t seen her nor heard from her since the accident. I’m not sure if I had lost her, but I needed her now. She has to come back.The darkness pulls at me, a relentless tide that threatens to swallow me whole.My vision fades, and every muscle feels like it’s made of lead as I lie helpless on the sand.
Killian’s POVI tear into another attacker, my jaws snapping as I toss him aside. But they keep coming, one after the other, their numbers overwhelming.I'm outnumbered, and every move feels heavier, slower. My fur is matted with blood-some mine, some theirs-but it's not enough.Two wolves slam into my side, knocking me off my feet and pinning me down.I growl, thrashing as I try to push them off, but their combined weight keeps me grounded.I catch sight of one of them his teeth bared-lunging for my throat. I twist, trying to shake him off, but they have me pinned, and I know I'm losing this fight.My wolf surges with frustration and fury. We're much powerful compared to them, but we're running out of strength, and I can feel the odds tipping against us.Just as one of
Astrid’s POVI rushed to Killian’s side without a second thought, my only goal was to protect him. I can see he’s outnumbered, pinned down beneath two wolves.My only thought is to protect him, to fight for him. But as I rip the wolf off of him, something changes.The scent of blood hits me harder, sharper. My claws sink deeper into the flesh, and I can hear my wolf whispering in the back of my mind, ‘More. Give me more.’I feel the weight of my wolf coiling inside me, urging me forward as I tear through another attacker.My teeth sink into flesh, the taste of blood filling my mouth, and the rush of power surges through me.I can feel her — my wolf — pushing me away, clawing at the surface, wan
Astrid’s POVHer growl deepens as I push back. She feels me, senses the shift, and her fury erupts like a storm.She turns inward, roaring, her claws tearing at our shared mind as she tries to maintain control.The pain is blinding, but I don't stop. I won’t stop.I push harder, clawing my way to the surface, forcing myself to the forefront of our shared body.The wolf thrashes, her rage palpable, and I feel her claws scrape against our own flesh, desperate to hold onto her dominance.‘Let me out!’ she howls, her voice feral, raw, ‘I will kill them!’‘No!’ I scream back, pushing harder, feeling her anger tear through me like fire. ‘I won’t let you harm them.’She fights, thrashing in her fury, but I can't
Astrid’s POVThe heat of the amulet’s power surged through me, fire and ice clawing at my very core. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the end, ready to accept the pain that would come. This was it.But before the energy could consume me, a sudden, powerful force slammed into my side, sending me sprawling to the ground.I gasped, my eyes flying open in shock. The world spun for a moment before I steadied myself, and when I looked up, my heart stopped.Rowena stood where I had been, her hands firmly on the amulet, the blinding glow of its energy engulfing her.Our eyes met. For a fleeting moment, there was no coldness in her gaze, no calculation—only peace.“Rowena, no!” I screamed, scrambling to my feet.She closed her eyes, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips, and said nothing.The energy erupted from the amulet, a searing light that forced me to shield my face.“No!” the Rogue King’s voice boomed, his fury cutting through the chaos.The light intensified, consuming e
Astrid’s POVThe clearing was chaos. The amulet’s glow grew brighter with each passing second, its pulsating light casting long, flickering shadows across the battlefield. The energy emanating from it was suffocating, filling the air with an oppressive pressure that made it hard to breathe.I reached the altar, my wolf surging forward as I clawed at the ancient runes alongside Nova. Each strike against the stone sent sparks of light into the air, but the runes resisted, glowing brighter and stronger as if mocking our efforts.“It’s not working!” Nova shouted, her voice cracking with frustration.“Keep trying!” I yelled back, refusing to give in. But even as I struck the runes again and again, I felt the futility in my movements.Behind us, Killian and the Rogue King clashed in a violent storm of teeth and claws, their snarls echoing through the clearing. Killian’s golden wolf fought with unrelenting power, but the Rogue King’s speed and cunning gave him an edge, keeping the battle
Drystan’s POVThe forest was eerily quiet, a suffocating silence that wrapped itself around us as we regrouped near the Rogue King’s camp. My wolf stirred restlessly within me, sensing the tension that rippled through our ranks. The remnants of the earlier attack were still fresh—blood staining the ground, the air thick with the scent of burnt wood and iron. Yet, there was no time to grieve or falter. The rogues were waiting.Nova stood beside me, her eyes scanning the horizon. Despite the exhaustion etched into her face, she radiated a quiet determination. I knew she was thinking about Liora—about the lies and betrayal that had stolen her sister’s life. And now, with Rowena’s guilt looming over us, the questions weighed heavier than ever.Killian and Astrid approached, their expressions tense. Killian’s golden eyes were shadowed, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them.“We need to strike before the ritual is completed,” Killian said, his voice cutting through the
Drystan’s POVThe battlefield was a cacophony of snarls, howls, and the clash of steel. Blood mingled with the damp earth beneath my feet, and the air carried the metallic tang of death. My wolf surged within me, urging me forward, but I held steady. We were pushing the rogues back, but something about their movements didn’t sit right with me.“They’re retreating too easily,” I growled through the link to Nova, who was fighting nearby. Her lithe wolf danced around a rogue before sinking her teeth into its neck with precision.“I noticed,” she replied, her tone sharp, even in the heat of battle. “This isn’t a retreat. It’s a distraction.”I snarled, driving my blade into the side of a rogue that lunged at me. It crumpled to the ground, lifeless, as my gaze swept over the battlefield. The rogues were falling back, but their movements were too coordinated, too deliberate.“Hold the line!” I barked to my warriors. “Don’t chase them. They want us to follow.”Killian’s voice cut through t
Killian’s POVThe camp was alive with activity, warriors moving like clockwork as weapons were sharpened, armor adjusted, and strategies refined. The tension in the air was suffocating, pressing down on all of us like an invisible weight. The final confrontation was drawing near, and every wolf here knew it.Astrid approached, her steps light but purposeful, her face shadowed with exhaustion. “Drystan and Nova haven’t sent word yet,” she said softly, her eyes searching mine.“They will,” I replied, forcing certainty into my voice. “They know what’s at stake.”But deep down, doubt gnawed at me. The alliances we had built, the fragile unity between the Packs—it all felt like it was hanging by a thread, ready to snap at the slightest provocation.Astrid’s gaze shifted to Andros, who stood near the edge of the camp, guarded by two warriors. He leaned casually against a tree, his sharp eyes scanning the camp with calculated precision.“I still don’t trust him,” Astrid muttered, her voic
Killian’s POVThe camp was a flurry of activity, every wolf preparing for what could be our last stand. Weapons were sharpened, armor repaired, and scouts came and went with grim updates on the Rogue King’s movements.I stood near the center, watching the warriors train in the clearing. Their strikes were fast, their stances solid, but the tension in the air was unmistakable. Everyone knew what was coming, and the weight of it was crushing.Astrid approached, her expression as resolute as ever, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of exhaustion. “Drystan and Nova haven’t sent word yet,” she said quietly.“They will,” I replied, my voice firm. “They know what’s at stake.”Astrid’s gaze flicked toward the edge of the camp, where Andros was being guarded by two warriors. He sat on a fallen log, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp, scanning the camp as if calculating his next move.“I don’t trust him,” Astrid said, her voice low.“Neither do I,” I admitted. “But right now, he’s a nec
Drystan’s POVThe council chamber at the Silvermoon camp was more crowded than usual, but the air was heavy with unease. After everything we had learned from Rowena and Andros, tensions ran higher than ever. Wolves from allied Packs whispered among themselves, their voices sharp with mistrust.Killian stood at the head of the chamber, his presence commanding as always, but even he couldn’t mask the strain on his face. Astrid sat to his right, her eyes dark with fatigue. Nova was beside me, her hand resting on her thigh, her tension palpable.Andros and Rowena sat on the far side of the room, their backs straight despite the weight of every glare in the room directed at them. Andros leaned casually against the wall, but Rowena remained composed, her sharp eyes sweeping over the gathered wolves with quiet authority.“We’ve heard what they’ve told us,” one of the elders said, his voice echoing through the room. “But how can we trust anything that comes from the mouths of traitors?”M
Chapter 35: The Rogue King’s True IntentionsAstrid’s POVThe fire crackled softly in the middle of our camp, its flickering light casting long shadows across the weary faces gathered around it. Rowena sat apart from the others, her posture poised despite the shackles around her wrists. Her silver hair, neat and immaculate, caught the firelight, and her eyes—sharp, calculating—watched us with the kind of patience that only came with age and experience.Killian stood to her right, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. He hadn’t said much since we brought her back, but the tension in his shoulders spoke volumes. His mother, the woman who had caused so much pain, was now our reluctant informant.Drystan paced nearby, his claws flexing as he glared at Rowena. Nova sat stiffly beside me, her hand gripping her knee as if to keep her emotions in check. Andros leaned against a tree on the far side of the clearing, his presence like a dark shadow, a reminder of the betrayal that had fra
Astrid’s POVThe forest around us was suffocating, its silence oppressive. Every step deeper into rogue territory felt like a journey into a nightmare. My wolf was on edge, her instincts screaming that danger lurked just beyond the trees.Drystan led our group, his movements precise and calculated as he tracked Rowena’s faint scent. Nova kept pace beside him, her body still healing but her determination unyielding. I trailed close behind, my gaze darting between the shadows, each step weighted by the tension of what we might find.“She’s leading us somewhere,” Drystan muttered, his voice tight with frustration. “But whether it’s to the Rogue King or a trap, I can’t tell.”“She won’t outsmart us again,” Nova replied, her tone sharp with anger.I wished I shared her confidence, but something about this chase didn’t sit right. Rowena wasn’t careless, and she wasn’t predictable. Whatever she was planning, it wouldn’t be simple.The scent trail brought us to a clearing veiled in mist.