Astrid's POVThe entire day, my thoughts were constantly racing back to Drystan's statement that Giselle had sent a spy to ensure that I was dead and I couldn't get past over it.I don’t know why Giselle would still be so concerned about me when I already left the Pack.Thinking about it made me remember that Giselle hadn't been on my mind recently. Giselle has slipped my mind because I have been preoccupied with Killian.As I thought about her, I remembered the time when she drove past me right after I left the Pack.That was the last time that I saw her, and I would never forget her last words to me. “Of course, I wouldn’t miss to see you go down to dust. You are just a rogue now who has nowhere to go. You will be dead soon.” At that time, I never held meaning to her words. I foolishly believed she was merely trying to provoke me and add salt to my wound. As I pondered her words, however, I began to question if she really meant her words or if she was simply saying those things
Astrid’s POVI knocked on the door of Drystan’s office.“Come in,” I heard him shout inside, so I twisted the door open.“Astrid?” He looked up at me with surprise on his face, not expecting to see me. “What are you doing here?” He asked me.“I came to ask how I can be of help,” I answered him straightforwardly as I looked around, admiring his office.This is the first time I’ve ever been inside Drystan’s office. I didn’t expect it to look so cozy with a fireplace in the corner. At the side, he has a display cabinet where all of his medals and trophies are placed. Drystan was an overachiever. Not only was he smart, but he was also a talented student. He participated in a lot of extracurricular activities, made his name in sports, and even won many contests. Even with his grand achievements, it wasn’t enough to make him the Alpha of the Silvermoon Pack. “You should be resting in your room, Astrid,” Drystan spoke softly as he brought down his gaze back on the papers that he was wor
Drystan’s POV I clenched my fists when I heard what my Beta had said. I’ve been trying to form an alliance with the Frostbite Pack for months, and now the Silvermoon Pack just suddenly swept in and stole them from us. I’ve been sending gifts and envoys to the Frostbite Pack to convince their Alpha. To be honest, our proposition is a good deal. It is even more beneficial to them than it is to us. I just wanted to have a signed alliance with a high pack like them to stabilize our PackPack and strengthen our future projects. We are just a small Pack who is just starting to establish ourselves in the werewolf community, but we are already getting trampled down without being given the chance for a fair fight. Astrid sighed, making me look at her. I felt bad for her when I saw how her shoulders slumped and how she exasperatedly placed her forehead on her palm. She must be blaming herself for this outcome again. “Astrid—“ I was about to comfort her when my Beta spoke. “Alpha, I think
Astrid’s POV I gripped the steering wheel as my weary eyes scanned the winding road ahead. The rhythmic hum of the engine reverberated through the car, blending harmoniously with the faint music playing on the car’s speaker. It was a long ride travelling from the Nightsong Pack to the Frostbite Pack. Nova and I took turns behind the wheel so we could arrive there as soon as possible before the Frostbite Pack could sign an alliance with the Silvermoon Pack and lose all our chances.Nova lay sound asleep beside me, her chest rising and falling into a peaceful slumber. She drove all night before I took my turn to drive this morning. I shivered when the bitter cold seeped through the car’s window, chilling me to the bone and adding an extra layer of fatigue. Drowsiness tugged at me because of the cold climate. The long empty road, the snowflakes that pattered the windshield, and the snow-covered landscape outside. It made it hard for a pregnant woman like me to keep my eyes open. I ya
Astrid’s POVStella that is my new name for my new identity. My hair, which used to be black, is now bleached into the lightest color just to make sure that no one would recognize me. The cold weather here at Frostbite Pack also helped to make me less recognizable. With the cold weather, I had to wear thick clothes which covered my frame. The Frostbite Pack and the Silvermoon Pack had no relationship before. Not only that, but no one in the Frostbite Pack would be able to recognize me since we hadn’t even seen each other before. It would be impossible for anyone in here to point out that I’m Astrid when they don’t even know that Astrid exists. “Alpha Everest, when we arrived, we noticed your men going around the Pack. It’s hard not to notice. They practically covered the streets. May we ask what’s going on? Did we arrive at the wrong time?” Nova asked respectfully. “No, not at all. Alpha Drystan had informed us ahead of time that you’d be arriving today. You are not interrupti
Astrid’s POVBlood drained my face when I recognized Giselle’s familiar face. All along, the guest that Alpha Everest was waiting for was her. I would have never expected to see her again here. “Alpha Everest, you didn’t say you also have other visitors.” I immediately turned my head around when her gaze fell on us. ‘What is she doing here?’ I wondered as my heart raced rapidly inside my chest. “They have only just informed us that they were coming. I hope you don’t mind, Lady Giselle. Please meet Lady Nova and Lady Stella from the Nightsong Pack,” Alpha Everest pointed to us. I couldn’t turn around my head to face her, in fear that she would immediately see through my disguise. On the other hand, Nova didn’t say a word. She is not the type of person who can fake pleasantries to someone she doesn’t like. “Lady Giselle is here as a representative for the Silvermoon Pack. She would stay here for a few days with us,” Alpha Everest saved the conversation when we showed no interest
Astrid’s POV“Do you like it out here?” I asked Lucinda with a smile on my face as we accompanied her at the garden, but just like usual, she never responded. Still, Nova and I kept asking her questions hoping that she would say a word to us. To grant Luna Crystalia’s request. We agreed to spend time with her daughter to hopefully get her to speak. I’m not sure why Luna Crystalia thought that her daughter would open to us. We are strangers to this Pack, and Lucinda is not familiar to us. I’m not sure why Lucinda would trust us, but I hope that she would. “These are her favorite toys, Lady Stella,” the omega informed me as she brought Lucinda’s dolls and huge doll houses to us. I thought playing with Lucinda would make her comfortable with us. “Thank you,” I muttered to the omega with a smile. After bringing what we have requested, they finally left us alone as we wanted. I believe there would be more chances of Lucinda opening up to us if there are only the three of us. “Oohh! T
Astrid’s POVI pressed my lips tightly, suppressing the pain that radiated from my wounds as the Pack Doctor applied ointment to my deep scratches. “Be careful; do not press too much on the wound,” Alpha Everest commanded the Pack Doctor when he saw my pained expression. The Pack Doctor pauses, then starts to dab ointment on my wound more carefully this time. Alpha Everest never left my side. He called the Pack Doctor and had me stay in his office to receive medical treatment. “It’s okay,” I uttered, knowing that pain is inevitable and the Doctor has to thoroughly cleanse my wounds to avoid infection. “I have high pain tolerance.” As a Pack warrior, I’ve had worse injuries. As werewolves who use our canines and sharp claws to fight, deep scratches like this are expected. It cannot be avoided in a fight. I didn’t even know I was hurt until Lucinda pointed at the blood seeping through my clothes. “I think we need to stitch it,” the Pack Doctor suggests after cleansing
Astrid’s POVRowena’s quarters sat on the outskirts of Silvermoon territory, a place that felt as removed from the Pack’s core as Rowena herself. The journey there was quiet, the tension between Killian and me palpable. I could tell he was already regretting agreeing to this, but we didn’t have the luxury of letting emotions cloud our judgment.The rogue attacks were escalating. They were organized, purposeful, and more ruthless than ever. If Rowena had answers that could shed light on the Rogue King’s plans, we had no choice but to seek her out.Rowena had always been a thorn in our sides—a manipulative force who thrived on power plays. But she was also cunning, and if she knew anything about the Rogue King, she might just be the key to understanding what we were up against.As we approached her quarters, the scent of burning herbs filled the air. Rowena’s home was modest but had an aura of quiet power. It was an illusion, I knew—a way to remind every one of what she once was.K
Astrid’s POVThe sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the Pack’s central courtyard. The faint scent of pine lingered in the air as laughter echoed from the grassy clearing near the training grounds. For the first time in what felt like weeks, I wasn’t caught up in Pack meetings, rogue threats, or endless strategy sessions. I could finally spend some time with my children at last. I missed them so much. Ryker and Elara darted around the clearing, their playful giggles warming the heavy ache in my chest. Ryker, now eight, was tall and quick, his movements already showing hints of the warrior he’d one day become. Elara, only four, struggled to keep up but refused to give in, her fierce determination reminding me so much of myself.“Elara, you’re supposed to tag me!” Ryker teased, effortlessly dodging her tiny hands.“I will, Ryker!” she declared, her little face scrunched in determination as she lunged at him.I couldn’t help but smile. For a moment, the world
Nova’s POVThe attic was darker and colder than I’d expected. Dust floated in the dim light that streamed through a cracked window, and the air carried the faint scent of cedar and time. This part of the Shadowfang Pack house had been sealed off for years—ever since Liora’s death.Drystan had given me permission to look through her things, but stepping into the space felt like crossing into sacred ground. Her scent was long gone, replaced by the mustiness of disuse, but I could still feel her presence here. Liora had always seemed larger than life, unbreakable, but here she was just a collection of forgotten memories, packed away in old boxes.I moved cautiously, my fingers trailing over the stacks of wooden crates and trunks. A soft creak from the floorboards behind me made me turn.“You don’t have to do this,” Drystan said, his voice low. He stood in the doorway, his face shadowed but his concern clear. “I can look through it if you want. You don’t need to carry this.”I shook m
Astrid’s POVThe tension in the air was suffocating. Every time I stepped into the council room lately, I could feel it pressing against my chest—the growing divide within the Pack. It was subtle at first, a quiet undercurrent of uncertainty, but now it was undeniable. People were questioning us. Questioning Killian. And Killian’s mother, Rowena, had only made things worse.The council members sat around the long table, their expressions ranging from weary to outright suspicious. Rowena had planted seeds of doubt with her sudden return, and now those seeds were taking root. Some of them believed she was here to help, that her knowledge of the rogues might be the key to stopping this war before it began. Others—including me—weren’t so sure.Killian sat beside me, his jaw tight, his eyes scanning the room like a predator sizing up potential threats. He hadn’t spoken much since his mother’s revelations the night before. I knew he was struggling to process it, to reconcile the woman
Astrid’s POVThe council chamber was filled with the low murmur of voices, Pack leaders debating strategies and plans. I sat at the head of the table beside Killian, my hands resting on the smooth oak surface. The tension in the room was palpable—every attack, every loss, had brought us closer to the realization that this wasn’t a rogue problem. It was something far more calculated.Killian shifted beside me, his jaw tight, his body radiating barely contained frustration. He hated these meetings. So did I. But this time, they were necessary. The rogues weren’t just targeting the outposts; they were playing a long game, and we needed to figure out the rules.Just as I was about to speak, the heavy doors to the chamber creaked open. Every voice silenced, and I felt my wolf stir uneasily as the figure stepped inside.Killian’s mother.Her entrance was calculated, her steps deliberate as her sharp eyes scanned the room. She carried herself with the regal air of a woman who had once
Drystan's POVThe pendant rested in my hand, its weight heavier than the tarnished metal should allow. The insignia stared back at me, an unwelcome ghost from the past, its edges dulled but still unmistakable. The mark of the rogue faction that had haunted Liora’s final days.The pendant was a warning, though I wasn’t sure if it was meant for me or for the Packs. Either way, I wasn’t about to ignore it.I sat in the quiet of my office, the walls lined with maps and old records. Beta Jared stood nearby, his arms crossed and his expression grim. He’d stayed silent since delivering the pendant, but his presence was steady. Reliable.“This can’t be a coincidence,” I said, breaking the silence. “First, rogue attacks close to our borders, and now this. They’re not just testing us” they’re sending a message.”Jared nodded but didn’t speak right away. He was like that, careful with his words. “It’s possible someone wanted you to find it. To unsettle you.”I turned the pendant over in my ha
Nova’s POVI didn’t dream often, or if I did, I never remembered them. But tonight, the images were vivid and relentless, as if the past had clawed its way into my mind and refused to let go.I was small again, no more than four years old, hiding behind a tree as fire consumed our Pack. The acrid smell of smoke filled my lungs, and the air was thick with the metallic tang of blood. Wolves howled in agony, their cries echoing through the night. My tiny hands gripped the bark of the tree as I peeked out, my heart racing.A shadow loomed over me, massive and terrifying. “Stay quiet,” Liora closely whispered to my ear, her voice steady despite the panic in her eyes.My older sister, Liora, looked young in my dream, still in her early teenage years. We were both just children, but she was forced to act brave to protect me, taking in the role of being the older sister.I stared at her, my heart beating in fear. She crouched beside me, clutching a blade in one hand and shielding me with the
Astrid’s POVThe forest was too quiet. Not the comforting kind of silence that allowed me to think, but the eerie kind that set my instincts on edge. Every rustle of leaves and every creak of the trees felt amplified, like a warning I couldn’t ignore. My wolf paced restlessly inside me, uneasy, as though it could smell something I couldn’t.The crisp scent of pine hung heavy in the air, but beneath it, I caught a faint, metallic tang of blood on the breeze. My stomach tightened. Another attack. I stood at the edge of the Silvermoon Pack’s territory, my warriors scattered behind me. Their silence matched mine, their tense stances a reflection of the gravity of the moment. They waited for my signal, for their Luna to give them direction.The rogues had struck again. That made three attacks this month. The outposts near the borders were easy targets—isolated, poorly defended—but this wasn’t just random desperation. No, this was something else entirely. The patterns were too precise,
Special Chapter: Ryker’s PerspectiveThe sun was shining so brightly today that it made the grass sparkle like little stars. I loved running through it barefoot—it felt soft and tickly. I stretched my arms out, pretending I was flying, and ran down the hill as fast as I could.“Ryker, don’t go too far!” Mommy called from the garden bench where she sat with Aunt Nova.“I won’t, Mommy!” I shouted back, spinning around to wave at her. She was smiling at me, and I couldn’t help but smile back.Mommy had the best smile. It made me feel warm inside, like I was wrapped in a big, soft blanket. I loved hearing her laugh, too, which she was doing now because Aunt Nova said something funny. They both had big bellies because there were babies inside. I couldn’t wait to meet them.I ran back up the hill to Mommy and climbed onto the bench next to her. “Why are you laughing, Mommy?” I asked, curious.Mommy chuckled and brushed some grass out of my hair. “Aunt Nova was telling me about how much he