Until now, Killian has only cared about Astrid’s safety and happiness. Killian knows he made mistakes and has also hurt Astrid’s feelings, which is why he is willing to let Astrid be happy without him
Astrid’s POVI did not expect less from Giselle’s engagement party. I knew that everything would be expensive and top-notch since she had invited me. There’s no way she would invite me to her engagement party, which would be less than the one that I had. The engagement party was held at the pack grounds, which was designed as a luxury event space. The decor is lavish and opulent, the place is swimming with fresh flowers, and for the catering, they are serving expensive champagne, fine wines, and special cocktails. The dinner menu featured gourmet, skillfully prepared dishes using the finest and freshest ingredients. I couldn’t help but think that Giselle used the Werewolf Assembly we hosted as her inspiration for her own engagement party. The theme is the same, but the motif is slightly different. “What is she doing here?” “She even brought the man she chose to replace her husband to visit her ex-husband’s engagement party.” Whispers grew from the crowd as soon as we entere
Giselle’s POVThe light in Astrid’s eyes dimmed a little when I told her that it was Killian who exposed her affair with Drystan. “I don’t care who exposed it,” Astrid answered blankly after she concealed the emotions that crossed her features for a second like it wasn’t there. “What I want is that you take back everything that was said to clean our names,” Astrid demanded. I crossed my arms together and scoffed. Killian has been forcing me to clear out their names ever since he found out what I had done, yet I never listened to him. What makes her think that I would listen to her? Even if she cries with blood in front of me, I will never take back what I said. “I will never do that. I just only said the truth.” I rebutted. Astrid laughed at my words, taking me aback. “You want the truth? Fine, I will give you the truth. If you refuse to disprove that Drystan and I had an affair, I will expose to everyone that I’m having Killian’s baby. My eyes widened at Astrid’s words. Astr
Giselle’s POVI clenched my fists tightly as my face flushed with fury that coursed through my veins. Before I could even process the surge of my emotions, my hands were already in one. In a sudden, explosive outburst, I swept the contents of my vanity table onto the floor. Perfume bottles, jewelry, and an assortment of beauty products went flying, crashing, and clattering as they hit the hardwood floor with violent force. I pressed my lips into a tight, quivering line as I stood there with my chest heaving. How dare she to barge into my room and order me around! Who does she think she is to threaten me like that? She dares to scare me and threaten me to expose the truth and tell everyone that her child is Killian’s. Let’s see how she is going to do that. With a smirk on my face, I turned on my heel and stormed out of my room, leaving the scattered remains of my vanity behind. The sting of spilled perfume lingered in the room, but it was overshadowed by the lingering resentment
Nova’s POVThe party was filled with a bustling crowd of people, yet Drystan and I seemed to go unnoticed as the other guests around us mingled and chattered with each other while excluding us. I felt like a fool sitting in the middle of a crowd of people where no one bothered to acknowledge us. I felt like we were just forcing ourselves into a place where no one wanted us. My eyes flitted across the room. Wherever I look, I see familiar faces that used to talk to us and fill our ears with words we wanted to hear. Now, those people have changed. They deliberately ignore us after we fall off in disgrace. In the last gathering that we had, everyone was racing to have Drystan’s attention and get the chance to have a conversation with him. Everyone was giving him praise for how he started and developed his Pack. They were telling him what a great man he was to accomplish such things and that they wanted to work with a man like him. Drystan’s schedule after the Werewolf Assembly
Nova’s POV“No, I haven’t seen her. I just saw Giselle earlier, and she wasn’t with her,” Killian answered us, his brows furrowed as well. Drystan turned alarmed when he heard Killian’s answer. “What do you mean? Astrid had left for almost an hour ago. We were waiting for her to come back. She said she’s going to talk to Giselle first before meeting you.” I glanced at Drystan and Killian back and forth as worry etched itself across their face. “Astrid will be fine. She used to live in this Pack. She’s not going to get lost,” I joined into their conversation to ease their worries. We are inside the Silvermoon Pack, which is one of the most secure Packs in the world. What bad thing could happen to Astrid inside this Pack? However, Drystan didn’t listen to me. He stood up with an alarmed expression on his face. “Nova, stay here. I’m going to look for Astrid,” Drystan excused himself as he stood up and left before I could say anything. Killian also followed Drystan as he also fe
Killian’s POVDrystan and I left the venue in haste to look for Astrid. Coincidentally, Giselle was walking towards our path, about to enter the venue. “Killian, where are you going?” She asked me curiously as she stopped in front of me and glanced at Drystan, who was walking beside me. “Giselle, have you seen Astrid?” Drystan asked her instantly. Giselle’s brows furrowed. “I haven’t. The last time I’ve seen her was during the Werewolf Assembly.” “Astrid left the venue to see you. Are you sure you haven’t seen her?” I asked her again, leaving her more confused. “I really didn’t. I was in my bedroom the whole time. I’m just about to enter the venue because the event is about to start.” “Bullshit!” Drystan yelled, cutting Giselle off from her statement. “She said she’s going to talk to you. She’s been gone for almost an hour already. Where could she possibly be?” Giselle flinched back in fear when Drystan yelled at her. “If I really saw her, I would have told you already,” she
Killian’s POVMy eyes narrowed into slits as I stared at Giselle, who was looking anywhere else but me. I pulled her arm and raised it as I gripped her arm tightly until her skin had turned red. This successfully caught her attention. She finally looked at me with fear in her eyes. “Are her words true?” I asked her with menace laced in my voice. Giselle swallowed hard as her face turned pale in fear.“K-Killian, it hurts,” she winced as she stared at her arm, which was slowly turning red. “Answer me!” I demanded as I tugged her arm without any care that she was in pain. Giselle bit her lower lip as she looked at me with tears misting her eyes. “Are you seriously choosing to believe her words over mine?” She asked me, trying her best to act strong in front of me, but her voice still croaked because of the tears that she was trying to hold back. My brows furrowed, and my lips parted slightly as I stared at her. Honestly, I really don’t know who and what to believe anymore. That
Killian’s POVGiselle took in a sharp breath when she heard my words. She blinked her eyes and shook her head, not wanting to accept this. “N-No,” Giselle voiced out weakly as she looked at me pleadingly. She tried to crawl her way towards me, but Damien held her back. I felt embarrassed in front of Drystan and Damien, especially because he had to see us in such a state. Alpha Damien had told me once before that even though Giselle was just an adopted member in his Pack, he used to see her often because she used to serve as an omega in their Packhouse. Because of these, they knew each other and had gotten close. It’s only normal for him to feel bad for Giselle after seeing her lying poorly on the ground. “If you want a DNA test, we will have to wait until the child is born. Do you really want to put our newly born child in danger just to confirm that you are the father?” Giselle questioned me. I looked at her emptily. I know that to have the confirmation that I wanted, we
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.
Nova’s POVThe journey to Shadowfang territory was slow and tense. Every rustle of leaves, every distant howl, put us on edge. The warriors moved in near silence, their weapons ready, their gazes sharp. The moon hung low in the sky, its pale light casting long shadows across the forest.Drystan stayed close to me, his presence steady, though I could sense the storm raging beneath his calm exterior. Neither of us spoke much. The weight of what we might find—and what it could mean for Liora’s sacrifice—hung heavily between us.Astrid and Killian led the group, their eyes scanning the path ahead. The Rogue King’s forces had fortified Shadowfang, and the closer we got, the more we felt his presence.We reached the outskirts of Shadowfang territory just before dawn. The air was thick with the scent of rogues and something darker—something I couldn’t quite place.“We’ll rest here,” Killian said, his voice low but firm. “Drystan, take a small group and scout ahead. Report back with anyt
Astrid’s POVThe Emberwood ruins were quiet, but the air felt heavy. The scars of the siege remained—bloodstains on the stone, shattered barriers, and weary warriors moving through the wreckage. The Rogue King’s retreat had left a bitter aftertaste, not a victory. We all knew it wasn’t over.Scouts arrived at dawn, their reports grim. The Rogue King was rallying in Shadowfang territory, an area long abandoned after his rise to power. Worse, his forces weren’t just rogues anymore. Several smaller Packs had joined him, their banners seen flying alongside his.“He’s not just uniting rogues,” Killian said as we gathered in the council chamber. “He’s turning wolves against their own Packs.”The room erupted into murmurs of disbelief and anger.“What kind of Alpha betrays their kind for a rogue?” one elder growled.“A desperate one,” Nova said, her voice sharp but steady. She leaned against the table, her injuries still evident. “The Rogue King’s offering them something we can’t: freedom
Killian’s POVThe Emberwood ruins were silent, but it was a deceptive kind of peace. The air was thick with the stench of blood and ash, and every shadow seemed to whisper of danger. Warriors moved through the wreckage with weary purpose, tending to the wounded or reinforcing what defenses we had left.Nova rested in one of the makeshift infirmary tents, her pale face a stark reminder of how close we’d come to losing everything. Drystan was at her side, his usual stoicism replaced by a quiet but fierce protectiveness.Astrid was near the council chamber, her presence a steadying force as warriors gathered to plan our next steps. The weight of the siege hung heavily on us all, but the real burden sat in the back of my mind: the Amulet.We reconvened in the council chamber later that evening. The warriors who could stand attended, their faces etched with exhaustion. The Amulet, I thought, would be the center of this conversation—our next move, our strategy. But when I stepped into
Astrid’s POVThe Emberwood ruins were eerily silent as the last rays of sunlight bled into the horizon. The warriors moved like shadows among the crumbling walls, setting traps and reinforcing defenses. Every sound seemed amplified—the crunch of boots on gravel, the rustle of leaves in the wind, the faint metallic clink of weapons being prepared.Killian stood at the edge of the ruins, his gaze fixed on the darkening forest. His shoulders were tense, his posture rigid, but his voice was steady as he issued commands.“They’ll hit us hard and fast,” he said, his tone calm but carrying the weight of authority. “Hold the line. Protect the Amulet. Do not let them break through.”I nodded, standing by his side. “The rogues won’t stop until they have it. But we won’t let them win.”He glanced at me, his jaw tight. “No matter what happens, Astrid, promise me you’ll make it out of this.”I reached for his hand, squeezing it briefly. “We both will.”The first howl cut through the stillness l
Astrid’s POVThe air in the council chamber was heavy, almost suffocating, as Killian explained what Nova and Drystan had learned. The Amulet wasn’t just a weapon—it was a curse, a relic tied to the Rogue King’s bloodline. Destroying it would require a confrontation with the one enemy we couldn’t afford to lose to.The warriors gathered around the table exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions grim.“The Rogue King won’t wait for us to come to him,” Killian said. “He’ll strike first. And when he does, he’ll bring every rogue under his command. If we’re not ready, it’s over.”Nova’s voice was steady, though I could hear the anger and pain beneath it. “We can’t let him use the Amulet. If it falls into his hands, he won’t just destroy the Packs—he’ll twist everything we’ve built into his version of chaos.”I glanced at the Amulet, its faint glow seeming almost malevolent. Just looking at it made my wolf uneasy, as if it could sense the darkness radiating from the artifact.“What’s t