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
Astrid’s POVNova and I walked back into the lounge, where Killian and Drystan were seated, deep in conversation. Drystan was casually sipping tea while Killian held a steaming cup of coffee in his hands. They looked so relaxed, like two old friends catching up on lost time. But as soon as they saw us enter, both of their gazes shifted.Drystan was the first to react. He stood up immediately, his eyes flickering to Nova before he smiled and excused himself. “Come on, Nova. Let’s give them some space.”I didn’t say anything, but I couldn’t help but stare at Drystan as he moved to leave. There was something I wanted to say to him — something I felt I needed to talk to him about — but when he noticed my gaze, he simply gave me a gentle, knowing smile before turning away. His arm slipped around Nova’s waist as they disappeared through the door, leaving me alone with Killian.A quiet stillness filled the room as I turned back to him. Killian took a long sip of his coffee before placi
Astrid’s POVThe journey to the Shadowfang Pack was quiet but comforting. I sat in the backseat with Nova beside me, her hand resting on mine as if to silently reassure me. Drystan was focused on the road, his hands gripping the wheel firmly. Occasionally, he would glance back in the rearview mirror, his eyes filled with silent encouragement.As we pulled up near the Packhouse, Drystan turned to me. “Are you sure you don’t want us to come in with you?” he offered, his voice warm but concerned.Before I could respond, Nova playfully smacked him on the shoulder. “Drystan, stop it! It’s embarrassing enough to show up uninvited. Astrid will be fine.” She winked at me, her lips curving into a reassuring smile.I couldn’t help but laugh, grateful for her lightheartedness. I reached over, wrapping my arms around her for a goodbye hug. She leaned in, her voice a soft whisper in my ear. “Promise me you’ll tell me everything when this is done.”I nodded against her shoulder, whispering back
Astrid’s POV I had braced myself for questions, for confusion, maybe a hint of curiosity when I showed him the book. But instead of the reaction I expected, his eyes sharpened, and something flickered across his face—fear, maybe? Leaning forward, he asked in a low, urgent voice, “Where did you get this?”The question stunned me, and I froze, letting the weight of his words settle over me. Where, not what. He already knew. He knew exactly what this book was.“You knew,” I breathed, disbelief thick in my voice.Alpha Theron’s eyes widened, realizing his mistake. “Astrid… I—”“You knew about this,” I cut him off, my voice stronger, tinged with anger. “Why didn’t you tell me?”He opened his mouth as if to explain, then hesitated, his gaze shifting. “Astrid, this book… it’s fake,” he said, forcing a steady tone. “Whatever you think you’ve read in here, it’s not real.”A cold, hard anger flared inside me. I already found out about this thing that he is hiding from me and he still dare
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
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 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
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