Astrid’s POVAs we neared the dungeon, the cold air wrapped around me like a warning, and my steps faltered. The weight of what I was about to do settled heavily in my chest, making it hard to breathe. I was nervous — no, I was scared. Giselle was down there, the woman who had torn our lives apart, and I had to face her alone.Lost in my thoughts, I suddenly felt warm air fanning the side of my face. I blinked and turned, only to find Killian standing so close, his face inches from mine. His breath was warm on my skin, and for a moment, the world narrowed down to just the two of us. My heart skipped a beat. The closeness, the way he was looking at me—it made me forget, just for a second, about the darkness waiting ahead.“Astrid,” he whispered, his voice soft and full of concern. “Are you sure about this?”His eyes searched mine, his brow furrowed with worry, and for a brief moment, I wanted to say no. I wanted to lean into him, let him shield me from everything. He always had a
Astrid’s POVI tried to keep my face steady, but her words struck a chord deep inside me. She did know something.Something about the changes I had felt, the darkness I had sensed lurking within me. The poison. It had been her weapon, and now, I realized it was more than just a means to kill me. She knows something else, something even I hadn’t understood.“You’re lying,” I hissed, my voice shaking with anger, but also with doubt.Her grin widened. “Oh, am I? Why do you think the poison didn’t kill you? It wasn’t meant to. It was meant to awaken something… darker. Something you won’t be able to control. You’re a monster, Astrid, and soon enough, everyone you love will see it too.”I shook my head, refusing to believe her. She was trying to manipulate me, to twist my mind just as she always had. “Shut up,” I whispered, but my voice wavered.“You feel it, don’t you?” she pressed, her eyes gleaming with cruel satisfaction. “The power inside you, the anger. It’s only a matter of time be
Astrid’s POVI tried to focus on the world around me, to drown out her voice with the rhythm of my footsteps, anything to make my mind occupied with something else. But it was no use. My mind kept circling back to the same thing.The book.I hated myself for even considering it, but I couldn’t deny that I was curious. Giselle had said it would explain everything — what kind of monster I was, what I was becoming. And as much as I tried to convince myself that it was all lies, I couldn’t help but wonder if the book held the answers I was so desperately seeking. Maybe it was the key to understanding the darkness that had started to consume me. Maybe it would give me the answers I feared most.But did I even want those answers? Did I want to confront the truth, or would it be easier to turn away and pretend that Giselle was just playing with my mind? I had spent so much time running — from my feelings, from my past, from the wolf inside me — that the thought of facing it all was terri
Astrid’s POVI stared at the book in my hands, my fingers trembling as I continued to flip through the pages. I had always known Giselle was manipulative, a liar through and through, but this time… she had been telling the truth. The truth was here, written in the ancient pages of this book, and no matter how much I wanted to deny it, I couldn’t. My heart raced, each beat thudding heavily in my chest. This book wasn’t just about some random creature. It was about me.The next passage stopped me cold.“Relationships between Alphas and Omegas are forbidden. Such unions are immoral, unnatural, and evil. They go against the natural order of the wolf hierarchy. The offspring of such unions are cursed, born with an inherent darkness that cannot be tamed. They are known as Almegas.”My blood turned to ice. Immoral. Unnatural. Cursed. The words echoed in my mind, each one cutting deeper than the last. My parents… they had been forbidden from loving each other. Their union had never been
Astrid’s POVI stepped outside, the cold air biting at my skin as I tried to clear my head. The sky was a dull grey, and the world around me seemed muted, like everything had been drained of color. Giselle’s execution had already taken place by the time I arrived. Her body had been taken away, and there was no trace of her left—no lingering presence, no echo of her voice. She was gone. And yet, the weight of her words, the darkness she had awakened inside me, still clung to my soul.I should have felt relief. I should have felt free. But I didn’t.I saw Killian across the courtyard, his face lighting up with a smile the moment he saw me. He ran toward me, his expression filled with joy, completely unaware of the storm that raged inside me. I wanted to return his smile, to let his warmth melt away the cold fear gripping my chest, but I couldn’t. I felt… detached. Distant. As if there was a wall between us that hadn’t been there before.“Astrid!” he called, reaching out for me. Hi
Astrid’s POVNova and I was finally able to separate ourselves from the others, after a long catch up between all of us. Killian stayed to talk with his Uncle, whom I’m sure both would ask a lot of questions to each other.Nova and I excused ourselves to finally talk together in private. I was planning to tell her everything — about the book, about what I’d read, about the curse that was my life.Nova and I finally managed to separate ourselves from the others after what felt like hours of catching up with everyone. Killian stayed back to talk with his uncle, and I could see from the way they were engaged that both had a lot of questions for each other. It was a good moment for Nova and me to slip away, and we excused ourselves to find somewhere quiet, somewhere private.I had been carrying this weight on my shoulders, the secret of what I’d read in the book, for what felt like an eternity, even though it had only been a short time. The fear of what it all meant — of who I was bec
Astrid’s POV“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, my voice breaking as tears streamed down my face. “I’m so, so sorry. I never wanted this. I never wanted to hurt you.”Nova’s eyes widened in shock. She had expected anger, maybe even disappointment, but not this. Not tears. Not this kind of raw emotion. She quickly reached out, grabbing my hands, her own eyes shining with unshed tears. “No, Astrid, don’t do this,” she said urgently, her voice shaking. “None of this is your fault. Don’t blame yourself.”“But it is my fault!” I sobbed, unable to stop the flood of guilt that consumed me. “You’ve been hurting because of me. Drystan rejected you because of me. You ran away for three years because of me. I caused all of this—”“No!” Nova interrupted, her voice firm, though her hands trembled as they held mine tightly. “None of this is your fault, Astrid. You didn’t cause any of this. You didn’t know, and even if you did, it doesn’t change anything. Drystan and I… we had our own journey. Please
Astrid’s POVI sat on the bench, my face buried in my hands, my body trembling as sobs wracked through me. Tears streamed down my cheeks, soaking my palms as I cried harder than I had in years. Everything I had been holding inside — the fear, the uncertainty, the hopelessness — it all poured out of me in that moment. I had just finished telling Nova everything, and now that the words were out in the open, the weight of it was unbearable.Nova sat beside me, her hand gently patting my back, offering silent comfort. She hadn’t said much after I told her about the Almega, the book, and the curse that loomed over me, but her presence was enough. Just knowing she was here, that I wasn’t alone in this, helped steady me, even if just a little.I wiped my eyes, trying to calm the sobs that wouldn’t stop coming. “I don’t know what to do,” I whispered between shaky breaths. “I’m so scared, Nova. I don’t want to become… that.”Nova’s hand stilled on my back for a moment, and then she wrapp
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
Alpha Theron’s POVAndros entered, his eyes darting between me and the book lying on the desk. He tried to mask his apprehension, but I caught the flicker of recognition in his gaze. I wasted no time.“Did Beta Alek give you this book?” I asked, my voice steady but taut.He blinked, feigning innocence. “I’ve seen the book before, yes. Beta Alek showed it to me and explained what it was.” His eyes held mine, the picture of calm. “Is there something wrong?”Besidehim, Beta Alek looked stricken but hopeful. He took a step forward, his voice shaking with urgency. “Andros, explain everything to your father and tell him that I’m being wronged. I gave you the book didn’t I? I even told you to burn the book for me,” Beta Alek spoke up, trusting that my son would prove his innocence. Andros raised his brows, feigning confusion. “What do you mean?” he asked, his tone soft and innocent.“That didn’t happen. You never gave me the book — I’ve never even touched it.”Beta Alek’s face went pale
Alpha Theron’s POVThe moment Astrid left my office, I reached through the Pack Link, calling for Beta Alek.My voice came out raw and unfiltered, the unmistaken anger pulsed through the link sending their wolves into submission. I could sense Beta Alek’s panic, could feel his wolf bristle at the force of my command. He knew I wasn’t pleased.Moments later, the door opened, and Alek entered, his face pale, but his steps were urgent.I didn’t give him a chance to speak before hurling the book at him. It hit him squarely in the face, making him stagger. As he caught the book, his face drained of color even further when recognition flared in his eyes.“Didn’t I tell you to burn that book?” My voice was low, lethal, and I didn’t miss the way he trembled at each word.Alek fell to his knees, the weight of his guilt bearing down on him. “Alpha,” he choked out, “I admit my irresponsibility. I failed you. I’m willing to accept any punishment for my insubordination,” he answered readily, pr