Asha’s POVThe air was thick with grief, but Astrid’s accusatory words cut through the silence like a blade. I knelt beside Father’s lifeless body, tears blurring my vision. My trembling fingers clutched his cold hand, my mind struggling to process what Astrid was implying.Betrayal? From Andros?I glanced at my brother. His face was tight with a mix of anger and hurt, his posture rigid under Astrid’s scrutiny. He looked calm, yet something about his demeanor felt off. It wasn’t guilt—it was more like a defense mechanism, a mask he wore too well.Then it hit me—a memory. A vivid flash of a conversation I had overheard just a few days ago. How could I ever forget that unfamiliar stranger and the suspicious conversation that they had. At that time I didn’t think much of it, but as I remembered the details, I start to wonder if it was all connected to what happened to us. The date and the time that was mentioned, it all corresponds to the rogue attack. The timing is too perfect to b
Asha’s POVI sat in my father’s office, the familiar scent of his presence filling the air—aged wood, leather, and a faint trace of his cologne. It was both comforting and painful. My eyes, red and puffy from crying, wandered across the room, lingering on the little things that made it undeniably his. The neatly stacked books on the shelf, the way his chair was slightly tilted as if he’d just left it moments ago, and the faint indentations on the desk where his hands often rested.Father. The word hung in my heart, heavy and aching. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to hold onto the essence of him, even as it felt like he was slipping further away with each passing moment.My gaze dropped to the book on the desk. Its worn, ancient cover seemed unassuming, but I now knew better. I had finished reading it moments ago, and its secrets still swirled in my mind, unsettling and confusing.I looked around the room again, my father’s memory woven into every corner, every object
Asha’s POVThe smell of freshly baked bread and steaming coffee filled the air as Andros and I sat at the dining table. It felt strange, not having father eat with us. Andros is now sitting on the seat where father used to sit. My gaze flickered to Andros, watching him as he ate, seemingly unbothered. For the first time, I looked at him with suspicion, studying the slight tension in his jaw, the way his eyes were distant, and his movements sharper than usual. “You’ve been quiet,” he said suddenly, his voice breaking the silence. He set his fork down and looked at me. “Just tired,” I lied, forcing a small smile. Andros leaned back on his chair, his expression unreadable. “I’m leaving later today. I’ll take a group of warriors with me to visit the Silvermoon Pack.”My head snapped up, my stomach twisting. “The Silvermoon Pack? Why?”He raised an eyebrow at me. as if the answer were obvious. “Astrid could be hiding there. It’s the only place she’d run for protection.”A chill run d
Asha’s POVThe pieces began to fall into place, and my chest tightened with realization. Astrid had been hiding something from me all this time. Her recent actions, her sudden aloofness, as if creating distance between us — it all made sense now.“She knew,” I murmured, the words more a thought than a question.Asha nodded. “She did. And she kept it hidden from everyone, even me.”“She lost control once,” I said quietly, more to myself than to Asha. “I saw her wolf, and she was terrified. I didn’t know what it meant at the time, but now…”I ran a hand through my hair, guilt clawing at me. “She was carrying this burden alone, and I wasn’t there for her. I let her push me away again because I thought she needed space. I should have known better.”“Don’t blame yourself,” Asha said softly. “She’s been hiding this her entire life. My father protected her, but he didn’t tell Andros or me. And now…”Her voice faltered, and I looked at her sharply. “What about your father? What did he think
Andros’s POVThe knock on my door came just as I expected. My warriors knew better than to waste time when it came to delivering critical information.“Enter,” I called, my voice steady and calm.One of my men stepped in, bowing his head in deference. “Alpha Andros, we’ve confirmed Astrid’s location. She’s at the Crimsonbane Pack. Asha and Killian are already on their way to see her.”A slow, sinister smile spread across my face. “Perfect,” I murmured, leaning back in my chair.I tapped my fingers against the armrest, letting the satisfaction wash over me. Asha thought she was so clever, thought she could outmaneuver me. She’d been playing right into my hands from the beginning, her every move as predictable as the sunrise.“She actually believed she was outsmarting me,” I said, my voice laced with amusement. “Stupid girl. Always so ruled by her emotions. So easy to read.”I stood, walking to the window as I continued, my voice dropping into a colder tone. “Asha has always been predi
Astrid’s POVHer words made me flinch, but I didn’t respond. Asha reached into her bag and pulled out a document, holding it out to me.“This,” she said, her voice trembling slightly, “is from our father. It’s proof that he wanted you to lead the Shadowfang Pack. Not Andros.”I took the paper with trembling hands, scanning the words. My father’s handwriting, so familiar and yet so distant, stared back at me. The weight of his decision settled over me like a crushing burden.I fell silent, I had no idea that despite my cold treatment towards him, he still chose to hand me his position before he died. Overwhelming grief enveloped my heart once again as I remember how he died. “I can’t do this,” I said, shaking my head and thrusting the document back toward Asha. “I can’t lead the pack.”“Astrid—” Asha began, but I cut her off.“You don’t understand,” I said, my voice breaking. “My wolf… it’s getting stronger. Harder to control. I can feel it—the power, the rage. One day, I’m going to l
Astrid’s POVSomething inside me snapped seeing the fear in Ryker’s eyes and hearing him call me “Mommy” for the first time even though he had no idea that I as his mother. Although he doesn’t know the truth, he had considered me his mother from the start. An overwhelming urge to protect her filled me. I don’t want to let him down. Heat surged through my body, and I felt my wolf rise to the surface, more powerful and uncontrollable than ever before. My bones cracked, my muscles shifted, and my vision sharpened as I transformed.When the change was complete, the world seemed to pause.Gasps echoed around me as everyone froze, their eyes fixed on my massive wolf form. My silver fur shimmered in the fading light, and my glowing dark eyes burned with an intensity that even I couldn’t fully comprehend.Andros turned, his smug expression vanishing as terror consumed him.“The monster… i-it has come out!” he stuttered, stumbling backward. “Kill her! Kill her! She has completely transforme
Astrid’s POVThe battlefield was eerily quiet, the echoes of the fight lingering in the heavy air. As I gained control over my Almega wolf, my senses were restored as I free from my wolf’s control. I stood there, still in my wolf form, but no longer shackled by my wolf’s evil thoughts. My heart pounded with the raw power of my wolf still surging through me.Andros lay at my feet, battered and defeated. His once smug expression was gone, replaced by anger and humiliation. Around us, his remaining warriors had either surrendered or fled.I looked at him, my chest heaving, my mind racing. The rage that had fueled me moments ago was gone, replaced by something colder: clarity.“You’ve lost, Andros,” I said, speaking to him through my wolf, my voice steady but filled with finality. “This ends now.”He spat blood onto the ground, glaring up at me. “You stole everything me! I wouldn’t have gone to such great lengths if father didn’t made the decision to make you the Pack’s Leader. “My e
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
Astrid’s POVThe morning sunlight streamed through the windows of the Shadowfang Packhouse, bathing the room in a golden glow, but I barely noticed. My hands trembled as I clutched the folded piece of parchment in my lap, the Pack Doctor’s words from earlier still ringing in my ears.“You’re with child, Luna.”The world had tilted beneath me then, and even now, hours later, I couldn’t seem to steady myself. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of joy and fear twisting in my stomach.Pregnant.I pressed a hand to my abdomen, the weight of the revelation settling over me like a heavy blanket. I thought the morning sickness and the sudden changes in me was just caused by stress from leading the Shadowfang Pack. I never thought that those were actually the symptoms of my pregnancy. A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.“Astrid?” Killian’s voice was gentle, his concern evident.I quickly wiped at my eyes, though I wasn’t sure when the tears had started falling. “Come in.
Astrid’s POVThe air buzzed with excitement as wolves from the Shadowfang and Silvermoon Packs gathered under the full moon. Tonight wasn’t just a celebration of unity between the packs—it was a celebration of love, trust, and a future we had fought so hard to reclaim.In the packhouse, Asha stood behind me, fixing the final braid in my hair. When I glanced at her, her face was lit with a quiet pride. “You look beautiful,” she smiled at me in awe. “Thank you, Asha,” I whispered as I met her eyes through the mirror. “For everything.”“Astrid,” she said softly, meeting my gaze in the mirror. “I know I wasn’t always the sister you deserved. I said things, did things I regret. I’m sorry.”I turned to her, surprised by her sudden vulnerability, but my heart warmed at the sincerity in her eyes.“It’s okay, Asha,” I said, taking her hands. “We both made mistakes. But we’re here now, and that’s what matters.”“No, let me finish,” she said, her voice breaking. “You’ve always been so strong,
Astrid’s POVThe night was heavy with silence as the warriors dispersed, the battlefield now empty save for those I loved most. Andros was gone, banished to a rogue’s life, and with him, the storm that had loomed over my family and the Shadowfang Pack for so long.I stood near the edge of the forest, my legs trembling under the weight of exhaustion, both physical and emotional. The moon hung low, its light casting a gentle glow over Killian and Ryker, who approached me hand in hand.“Mommy?” Ryker’s voice was soft, hesitant, as if he wasn’t sure I would respond.I knelt down, opening my arms. He didn’t hesitate. He ran to me, throwing himself into my embrace, and I held him tightly, burying my face in his soft hair.“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. “I should have protected you better. I should have been there.”Ryker pulled back just enough to look at me, his small hands resting on my cheeks. “You did protect me,” he said firmly, his young voice full of co
Astrid’s POVThe battlefield was eerily quiet, the echoes of the fight lingering in the heavy air. As I gained control over my Almega wolf, my senses were restored as I free from my wolf’s control. I stood there, still in my wolf form, but no longer shackled by my wolf’s evil thoughts. My heart pounded with the raw power of my wolf still surging through me.Andros lay at my feet, battered and defeated. His once smug expression was gone, replaced by anger and humiliation. Around us, his remaining warriors had either surrendered or fled.I looked at him, my chest heaving, my mind racing. The rage that had fueled me moments ago was gone, replaced by something colder: clarity.“You’ve lost, Andros,” I said, speaking to him through my wolf, my voice steady but filled with finality. “This ends now.”He spat blood onto the ground, glaring up at me. “You stole everything me! I wouldn’t have gone to such great lengths if father didn’t made the decision to make you the Pack’s Leader. “My e
Astrid’s POVSomething inside me snapped seeing the fear in Ryker’s eyes and hearing him call me “Mommy” for the first time even though he had no idea that I as his mother. Although he doesn’t know the truth, he had considered me his mother from the start. An overwhelming urge to protect her filled me. I don’t want to let him down. Heat surged through my body, and I felt my wolf rise to the surface, more powerful and uncontrollable than ever before. My bones cracked, my muscles shifted, and my vision sharpened as I transformed.When the change was complete, the world seemed to pause.Gasps echoed around me as everyone froze, their eyes fixed on my massive wolf form. My silver fur shimmered in the fading light, and my glowing dark eyes burned with an intensity that even I couldn’t fully comprehend.Andros turned, his smug expression vanishing as terror consumed him.“The monster… i-it has come out!” he stuttered, stumbling backward. “Kill her! Kill her! She has completely transforme
Astrid’s POVHer words made me flinch, but I didn’t respond. Asha reached into her bag and pulled out a document, holding it out to me.“This,” she said, her voice trembling slightly, “is from our father. It’s proof that he wanted you to lead the Shadowfang Pack. Not Andros.”I took the paper with trembling hands, scanning the words. My father’s handwriting, so familiar and yet so distant, stared back at me. The weight of his decision settled over me like a crushing burden.I fell silent, I had no idea that despite my cold treatment towards him, he still chose to hand me his position before he died. Overwhelming grief enveloped my heart once again as I remember how he died. “I can’t do this,” I said, shaking my head and thrusting the document back toward Asha. “I can’t lead the pack.”“Astrid—” Asha began, but I cut her off.“You don’t understand,” I said, my voice breaking. “My wolf… it’s getting stronger. Harder to control. I can feel it—the power, the rage. One day, I’m going to l