Alana's POVIt’s been three days since Luna Emilia was laid to rest. Her sudden death left everyone in shock, especially Kai. He has barely spoken to anyone since, locking himself in the study. It’s unbearable to see him this way. It’s even worst that I will soon be leaving for oceanic pack.I wandered through the halls of the pack house, haunted by the stillness that surrounded me. I felt like a ghost, drifting through a world that had lost its color and meaning. Kai's sadness was not the only thing that bothered my heart. I had another reason to be restless.The coronation of my sons as Alphas was rapidly approaching. I found myself needing to persuade them to return home in time for the ceremony. They had been living among the Crimson Pack for an extended period, where they encountered their mate, Willow. Enchanted by her, they followed her back to crimson pack. Here, they marked and mated with her, binding their wolves to hers in a bond that made separation impossible.I could se
ALANA’S POVHis voice echoed in the silence, a stark refusal that hung heavy in the air. “We are not leaving,” Chase repeated. His voice was firm and resolute—a single word that shattered my hopes. How could he say no? How could he refuse to come back with me?"Chase, what do you mean by not leaving?" I asked, my eyes wide and unblinking, mirroring my confusion and disbelief.I looked at Cameron, his twin brother, hoping for some support, but he only nodded in agreement with his brother. They both looked at me with determination, their eyes unwavering.“Please explain why you’re reluctant to return to the Oceanic Pack with me.” I strived to maintain a calm and composed voice, but I could feel the tension mounting in my chest. I had anticipated this moment for days, dreading their response. Now, they were rejecting me, shirking their responsibilities despite my attempts to make them understand the reasons.Chase, acting as a spokesman for both himself and his brother, sighed, ran a ha
WILLOW'S POVA day had passed since I started pretending to be sick. Gradually, I began to feel as though I had been lying here for hours, feigning illness. This was turning into much more than I had anticipated.Despite his dedication to me, I was starting to feel as if Healer Marcus was trying to punish me somehow with his endless lectures and his particular brand of herbs for me to chew. Aside from their horrible smell, they tasted just as bad too.By this point, the afternoon sun had cast long shadows across my room, making it a little darker and colder. I lay there, staring up at the ceiling, counting the minutes until I no longer had to pretend.Healer Marcus had left hours ago, promising he would be back soon. But I knew he was lying. There was no need for him to return. He had important tasks to handle and actual patients to attend to, not someone like me who was merely pretending to be ill.He knew I was lying, but he played along, hoping to buy me some time so I could keep m
WILLOW'S POVHis words struck me like a ton of bricks. I could feel my blood turning cold and my heart ceasing to beat. I stared at him in disbelief, unable to comprehend the words he had just uttered. He was my father. How could that possibly be?“Is this some kind of sick joke?” I spat out, staring at Adam with disbelief and horror. He was supposed to be my father’s trusted right-hand man, his beta. But now he was standing in front of me, claiming to be my real father. How could that be possible?Adam's face was a mix of guilt and hope. He inched closer and reached out his hand, as if to touch me, but I flinched away, forcing him to curl them back into fists.He sighed. “I know this may be hard to believe, but it’s the truth. Willow, you’re my daughter. My blood runs in your veins.”I shook my head, refusing to accept his words. I looked at him, searching for any sign of a lie. But all I saw was our resemblance, forcing me to bite back on my tears.Adam took a deep breath and contin
CAMERON POVToday started out bad and I have a feeling that it’s about to get worst felt. Our mother had just returned after having walked away from us earlier; her face bore a serious expression. She called my brother Chase and me to the garden, her voice calm but tinged with annoyance. We exchanged worried glances and followed her."Mother, what's wrong?" I asked, sitting on the bench next to her. Chase took the chair across from us, his eyes alert and curious. She took a deep breath and looked at us with a mixture of sadness and anger. "I have something to tell you, and you're not going to like it.”“What is this about? Is it about Willow again?” She nodded mutely, then replied, “She’s not sick, boys. She never was. She’s been lying to you all this time.”We stared at her in disbelief. "What? That's impossible. Mother, you must be mistaken. We've seen her suffer. We've seen her in pain. Healer Marcus confirmed it. She has a rare and incurable disease that's slowly killing her. How
WILLOW'S POVI felt the shock of their words like a punch in the gut, causing my stomach to twist as a sour taste filled my mouth. It hurt to know that all my attempts to keep Cameron and Chase close to the pack until the next full moon had been in vain. They had seen, through my deception, the web of lies I had spun to protect them from the very truth.I faced them, their eyes boring into me like twin beams of fire. They burned through my defenses, leaving me weak and shaky as I pleaded for a chance to explain myself. “Tell us the truth, Willow. Why did you lie to us?” Cameron demanded. His voice was as cold and hard as his continuing glare.I nodded, having no other option but to confess—to tell them the truth that I had hidden from them for days now. My voice was barely audible—a faint whisper in the stillness of the room as I explained my motives.I swallowed the lump in my throat, struggling to find the right words. "I did it for your father,” I whispered, barely audible. “Our
KAI’S POVIt was early in the morning, the sun still hidden, when I felt Max, my wolf, stirring within me. Eager to stretch his paws and run through the forest, he detested confinement, especially when our hearts were burdened with grief.It had been six days since my mother died, but the pain was still fresh and raw. She had been my rock, loving me unconditionally. She had taught me everything I knew about being an Alpha, a leader, and a protector. Without her, I felt lost and alone.Alana, my mate, was expected to fill that void, to become my partner, my lover, and my soulmate. However, she turned her back on both me and our relationship. She refused to accept me back as her mate, never allowing me to prove myself to her.She had become cold and distant, never letting me in, never sharing her feelings, nor allowing me to love her or receive her love in return. Despite this, she remained loyal to her pack, the Oceanic Pack, who were also responsible for our separation all these years.
KAI'S POVI felt the world crumble around me, each fragment piercing my skin like a thousand needles. My heart hammered in my chest, a deafening drumbeat that drowned out everything else. The words she had spoken—words of rejection—haunted me like ghosts, their echoes filling my ears with a chilling sound."Alana, please don't do this. You’re my mate. You belong with me," I pleaded, my voice cracking with emotion. I reached out to her, hoping to touch her one last time. But she flinched away, her eyes cold and distant.“You broke our bond first; I just accepted it.”“I never meant for this to happen, Alana,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. But she stood there, her face calm, her eyes devoid of the love they once held for me.“I know,” she replied, her voice steady. “Despite begging, you proceeded. You made your choice, and I’ve made mine. I’m leaving, and I’m taking the children with me.”I felt a surge of panic, my heart tightening in my chest. "No, you can’t. They’re my chi