I feel bad for Nova. She has to push her feelinsg aside especially since Astrid is in danger and is the one in need the most.
Drystan’s POV‘Is this really the Shadowfang Pack?’ I asked myself within my thoughts as I stared at the vast forest with the Shadowfang Pack guards patrolling the area. Although I have never been in the Shadowfang Pack before, I’ve heard rumors of what the infamous Shadowfang Pack looked like. It was no secret that the Shadowfang Pack is medically and technologically advance. With their rare metals and their abundant natural resources, they have become the richest Pack among all of us which made me expect something more from them.In my head I was thinking of elaborate systems of holographic projectors and advance camouflage systems to protect their Pack like something that came out of a futuristic science fiction novel. The rumors also said that the Shadowfang Pack has a stunning blend of organic and technological elements. They have curving structures made of unique ebony-hued metal called Luminite and a sprawling network of state of the art treatment facilities, research laborat
Drystan’s POVMy jaw just fell open when I saw the vast scenery in front of us. I shouldn’t have judged the Shadowfang Pack too early. The sprawling cottages earlier had deceived us into thinking that the Shadowfang Pack would be nothing like I had expected. The Shadowfang Pack is a highly secretive and isolated community that resides deep within the treacherous Shadowfang mountains, which are famous for their lore and historical landmarks. It was said that the Shadowfang mountains protected the Shadowfang Pack. Many rogues and Packs had tried to colonize or attack them before, but because of their tall mountains, all their exploits only led to a failure.The Shadowfang mountains are two tall triangular mountains that are glued together like a curved wall, concaving the Pack with a beautiful silver lake in the middle.The view is breathtaking, not to mention the sprawling subterranean city carved directly into the mountainside.I can’t imagine what they would look like at night with
Drystan’s POVI swallowed hard as Beta Alex ushered Nova and me into Astrid’s dimly lit quarters. My nose twitched slightly when the heavy scent of medicinal herbs entered my nostrils. The air inside the room is thick with the scent of medicine and tense anticipation. As I entered inside, my gaze fell upon Astrid, her lithe form motionless upon a specialized treatment cot, surrounded by a flurry of white-clad physicians tending to her with solemn concentration. Astrid’s clothes are also changed into a white hospital robe. She looked pale and fragile inside the glass, a sign of how her life was slowly seeping out of her. Nova gasped softly beside me, her delicate features etched with concern as she took in the scene before us. I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly running dry. Different emotions churned within me: fear, worry, and no small measure of guilt. It’s my fault that Astrid is fighting for her life. I should be the one lying in that bed, not her. Because of me, she had los
Drystan’s POV“Drystan?” Alpha Theron spoke my name unsurely, his brows pinched together as he studied me. I lowered my head in submission and reverence for him. I’m not sure what he feels about seeing me. I feel happy to see him after so many years. Of course, it might not be the same for him. It’s not like I had anything to be proud of. He might find it embarrassing to let anyone know that he used to be friends with a loser like me, a man who calls himself an Alpha of a falling Pack. “It’s really you!” Alpha Theron’s tone turned excited when he spoke his next words, which surprised me. I abruptly lifted my chin as I looked at him in surprise. I watched as he took confident strides towards me, and suddenly, he just wrapped his arm around me and hugged me. “It’s so good to see you again!” Alpha Theron spoke with a huge smile on his face. The wrinkles at the corner of his eyes deepened. Still caught in surprise, I forced a smile and hugged him back while my heart pounded rap
Drystan’s POV“Miss, this elixir that you speak of—“ The Doctor was about to answer Nova’s question, but he stopped himself when Theron spoke on top of him. “What do you wish to know about the Lunar Elixir?” Theron asked Nova calmly. “Actually, Astrid had already seen a doctor before to find out what was wrong with her wolf. The doctor said that it was some rare disease that afflicted her wolf, and only the Lunar Elixir could cure her,” Nova replied. “A rare disease, you say? Don’t worry, there’s no disease that our Pack cannot cure,” Theron answered. “Please forgive me for speaking once again. Astrid’s illness is not normal, and only the Lunar Elixir could cure her. If she doesn’t get cured soon, she might die,” Nova spoke with her head bowed down. “You ignorant fool!” A loud voice filled the room, making our heads turn to where the voice came from. We watched as a woman wearing a physician’s uniform entered the room with a scowl on her face. “The Lunar Elixir is our Pac
Drystan’s POVI shook my head as I slowly approached Astrid. Tears threatened to come out of the back of my eyes, but I fought them back as I stared at Astrid’s limp body. I wanted to hold her hand, but I couldn’t. A glass stopped me from touching her, so I could only place my hand on top of the glass. “Asha, you are the best physician in our Pack. Surely, you know a way how to cure her,” Theron insisted. Asha sighed. “Forgive me, Father, but the only way we could help Astrid’s wolf is by curing the root of her disease, which we had no idea about. We can continue giving her medicine if you want, but her body would only slowly gain resistance to it, and we will have to add more dosage. Astrid’s body would only become dependent on medicine if we did that. It will only make her health deteriorate faster and lessen her rate of survival. The only way I could think of in saving her is by focusing on her human self more. There’s nothing else I could do to help her wolf,” Asha spoke in a
Drystan’s POVMy attention turned to Theron as I waited for him to answer his daughter’s question. I was so desperate for help and to save Astrid’s life that I didn’t even question the motive behind Theron’s kindness. I was just glad that he was there to help us, without even knowing what this could possibly mean for us. Why exactly is Theron so willing to help us?My eyes brimmed with a mixture of anticipation and unease as I waited for his answer. The weight of Asha’s question hung in the air, demanding an answer from her father. Theron, his face blank with any emotions, paused for a moment, the seconds ticking by like the steady beat of a drum.“Do you even know her, father? I can understand why you are willing to help her because Alpha Drystan is your friend, but why would you use the Pack’s sacred treasure for her?” Asha asked again, forcing her father to break his silence. “Are you questioning my decision and my authority, Asha?” Theron asked his daughter coldly, his eyes na
Killian’s POVI paced back and forth with my arms crossed together, waiting for Drystan to call us back. Behind me, Giselle sat in silence, her gaze fixed on the empty hallway, waiting for someone to appear and call us. The minutes ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity. My brows are furrowed with worry, my mind racing with a thousand possible scenarios, each one more dire than the last. I couldn’t rest until I knew that Astrid was safe. Giselle, too, felt the weight of the wait, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her knuckles turning white with the strain. “How long have we been waiting here?” I asked Giselle as I grew more and more impatient. Giselle glanced down at her phone, her expression pensive. “It’s been over two hours,” she murmured as her brows furrowed in confusion. Two hours? Something doesn’t feel right. It wouldn’t take the doctor two hours to explain his diagnosis, wouldn’t he? My heart sank as I ran a hand through my hair, a frustrated sigh escaping
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