Chapter Thirty Seven : SmarterCara's POVThe room was quiet save for the soft crackling of the fire. The dim light had long shadows cast upon the walls, and the room seemed unusually chilly despite warmth in the air. I was sitting on the edge of my own bed, staring at myself in the mirror at the far end of the room.I should have been sleeping, but my mind would not quiet.Too much had happened.Too many betrayals.I placed my hand upon my stomach, pressing down lightly into the life pulsating softly within me. My pup. The only thing that had kept me from shattering completely.My entire life, I'd been instructed that I was weak, an omega nothing but a liability. That was a lie.I didn't require proof.I wasn't weak.I'd been a warrior.Before Caleb had cast me aside, I had trained with some of the best fighters in his pack. I had battled with ferocity in combat, defended my people, and proved myself time and time again. My body might have been warped into the form of an omega, but n
Chapter Thirty-Eight: The TrapCara’s POVVanessa’s smirk faltered, just for a second. Just long enough for me to see the tiniest crack in her confidence. She expected me to be weak, to be swaying from whatever poison she thought she had fed me.But I was smarter.I stayed slumped in the chair, pretending to struggle, letting my eyelids flutter as if I were losing consciousness. The moment stretched between us, her breath coming in excited little pants as she thought she was watching me crumble.“Poor little Cara,” she whispered, crouching next to me. “I almost feel bad for you.”I made my body shudder. Let my fingers twitch. Made my breath come shallow.Vanessa let out a quiet laugh, victorious.And then, I struck.With a sudden movement, I shot forward, grabbing her by the collar of her dress and yanking her toward me. Her gasp was sharp, eyes widening in terror as she realized too late—she had been the fool, not me.“Surprise,” I whispered, my grip tightening around the fabric.Van
Chapter Thirty Nine : The Plan Of SchemeCara’s PovJust then, the door burst open, and Luna stepped in. Her presence filled the room with authority, her eyes scanning the situation carefully. It was as if the air in the room changed the moment she arrived, demanding attention and obedience.“What is going on here?” she demanded, her sharp gaze moving between me, Liam, and Vanessa.Vanessa turned to her instantly, her tears falling even faster. “Luna,” she gasped, her voice shaking. “Thank the Moon Goddess you’re here! Cara—she attacked me. And now, she’s lying about me poisoning her to make Liam hate me!”My heart pounded in my chest. I should have known she would twist the story even further. Vanessa was a master at playing the victim, making herself look innocent while painting me as the villain.Luna’s eyes narrowed as she looked at me. “Is this true, Cara?”I opened my mouth to speak, but Vanessa cut in before I could even get a word out.“She just wants Liam to hate me!” she cri
Chapter Forty : Recue In The DarkSophia’s POVI wiped the sweat off my forehead as I walked back from the training ground. My whole body ached, but I felt happy. After so many days of training, I was finally good at fighting. Cara would be proud of me. She always told me to be strong, to never give up. I couldn’t wait to tell her.As I entered the packhouse, I smiled to myself. I was already imagining Cara’s reaction. She would probably hug me and say, I knew you could do it!I hurried toward her room, excited to share the news. But as I got closer, something felt wrong. The door was slightly open, and the air inside the room felt cold.I stepped inside.My heart stopped.Cara was lying on the floor. She wasn’t moving. Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was slow—too slow.“Cara?” My voice shook as I ran to her side. “Cara, wake up!”She didn’t respond.I placed my hand on her face. She was so cold. My chest tightened in fear. What happened to her? She was fine before!I touched
Chapter Forty One: The Alpha’s DilemmaAlpha Damon’s POVI stood by the bedside, watching Cara as she lay there, her face pale and her breathing slow. She looked fragile, nothing like the warrior I had once known. But I knew better than to be fooled by appearances. Cara was strong. She had always been.I knew her well, not personally, but her reputation spoke for itself. She was once a fierce warrior of the Winder Pack, one of the best fighters they had. Then, suddenly, she became Liam’s mate in Silver Pack Caleb. It never made sense to me. How could someone like her go from being a warrior to the Luna of another pack?Her story was complicated, and I had too many questions.Why was she here?If she was truly Liam’s mate, why wasn’t she in Silver Pack with him?And most importantly—why would she need medical treatment from my pack when Silver Pack Caleb had great doctors of their own?I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.I turned to Sophia, who had brought her here.
Chapter One hundred and Six: Unmasked Secrets Cara's POV A pounding headache throbbed inside my head as I gradually awoke. My body felt leaden, my limbs trembling. My last recollection was the argument with Liam, the scorching pinch of a needle, and then—nothing. I blinked, my vision blurry at first, but then the room came into focus. It was unfamiliar. The air smelled different, like pine trees and fresh earth. This wasn’t Silver Pack Caleb. “Cara! You’re awake!” A voice I knew shook me out of my reverie. I looked up to see Sophia beside my bed, a radiant smile on her face illuminating it. Her eyes sparkled as if she had worried for eternity. "You scared me," she said, her hand sweeping lightly over my arm. "I thought we lost you." I tried to sit up, but my body fought me. A splintering pain shot through my arm, and I winced. "Don't move so much," Sophia warned. "You're too weak." I took slow breaths, my mind reeling with questions. "Where am I? I here’s Liam" I demanded. S
Chapter Forty Three: Bound by the AlphaCara's POVThree days.Three days ago is when Sophia left me off with Alpha Damon's pack. Three days ago is when I saw her face, a mixture of worry and distress, begging Damon to keep me safe. Three days of being locked inside this healer's home, with nothing but my own mind and the occasional visit from Damon and the doctor.The room was filled with the aroma of herbs and wet soil, a smell that reminded me I was still convalescing. My body was stronger now, but my head was as fatigued as the day I awoke here.I had barely spoken to anyone except Damon and the doctor. The pack members would have known I was there, but no one approached me. No one inquired about who I was.Maybe they didn't care.Maybe they already understood.The sun streamed through the small window when I rolled over beneath the dense blanket. My body ached still, and I was happy at least to be able to leave bed without nearly falling to the floor.As if sensing I was changing
Chapter Forty Four: Uncontrollable DesireAlpha Damon’s POVThe night was quiet, but my mind was anything but.I sat in my office, staring at the untouched glass of whiskey on my desk, my fingers tapping against the wood in frustration. It had been three days since Cara arrived, and yet, she still refused to trust me. She barely spoke to me unless necessary, and even then, her words were cold, distant.I should have let her leave. I should have respected her decision. But I couldn’t.Not because she was a warrior. Not because she was valuable. But because I wanted her.My wolf had been restless ever since she set foot in my pack. It was an unfamiliar feeling, one that made it hard to focus, hard to think straight. Every time I caught her scent, my control wavered. Every time I looked at her, my wolf growled in frustration, demanding that I take her, claim her.But she didn’t trust me.She thought I was like Caleb and Liam—men who had used her, betrayed her. And the more she pushed me
Chapter 105: Cara's POV – The Unexpected SightI had been pacing around the packhouse, trying to cool my head. It had been days since I'd spoken with Damon. Ever since the evening he'd betrayed me, I couldn't seem to handle him. And now, even Sophia, she wasn't even staring at me in the same way anymore. There was tension among us all.But that was something to worry about another time. There was something that worried me much more. I had to keep Damon away from Sophia. I had to tear them apart, destroy what was between them. That was my plan. That was my plan since the first time I'd seen them together, but deep within me lay something that had it set upon making it become a reality.I returned towards the living room, the part of the packhouse where individuals typically gather. But when I drew near, I stopped. I overheard the laughter and became frozen.I did not anticipate this. Not at all.I looked out the window, and there they were. Damon and Sophia. Sitting together. Laughing.
Chapter 104– Damon's POVI stood before her door.I heard her soft breathing inside.A week had passed.One complete week since she caught me and Cara. Since the truth unfolded. Since I apologized to her for the error I committed.And every single day thereafter felt like punishment.Sophia stopped sharing our bed. She gathered her stuff and just left without a word. And never returned.She barely addressed me.She walked past me as if I didn't exist.As if I were a stranger.Even Kayden, my wolf, stopped talking to me for a while. He was upset too. Upset with me. Upset at hurting our mate.Now, I was standing in front of her room… heart pounding like a drum.I didn't know why I was scared. I was the Alpha of the strongest pack. I could kill ten rogues in one stroke and not blink.But I couldn't go to my mate's door and knock.I closed my eyes and took deep breaths."Open the door, Damon."Kayden's voice resurfaced eventually."If she refuses you entry, we'll deal with that. But you s
.Chapter Forty Three – Cara's Point of ViewI lay on the couch with hands folded across my belly. The house was quiet. Too quiet. I still remembered Sophia's crying in my head although she had scaled up to the bedrooms. Her heart was broken. And because of me. I did not intend to hurt her. I did not intend to do all of these. But I did.I never planned on sleeping with Damon again, but these…It just escaped me.And then… I did something. I did it in order not to be disposed of by Damon. He looked at Sophia as if she was the sun, and yet I couldn't let him do so without a fight. I had something—a baby. Something potent.The thing is I knew.Growing inside of me is a baby by Liam.I was already three months pregnant before Damon ever touched me again. And Damon knew. Hr knew that day when Liam came to take me r. He knew I am being pregnant with Liam, and how he was shocked. But now… now all of that was different. Now he had kissed me again.Maybe. perhaps, if I made him aware that th
Chapter Title: The News That Broke MeSophia's POVI sat alone in the garden behind the packhouse. It was quiet. The only noises were birds and the wind through the trees. I had my knees curled up tight against my chest and cried silently.I did not want anyone to see me. My heart felt like a stone. I thought I could be strong. I thought not speaking to Damon would hurt less. But no… it hurt worse. I couldn't get him out of my head. I couldn't get his voice out of my head, apologizing… telling me he still loved me.But how do you say I love you to someone and then go to bed with somebody else?I wiped away my tears in a hurry when I heard footsteps. I was praying that it was Lucas. He had stopped by to check on me earlier, but I told him I needed to be alone. I didn't want anyone. I wanted peace.But when I turned around…It was Cara.I frowned and looked away immediately. I did not wish to gaze at her. I did not wish to hear her voice. But she did not mind. She walked towards me slow
Chapter 101Damon's POVI could feel the weight of the silence hanging in the air. The tension between Sophia and me had been mounting for days now, and despite how much I fought it, it seemed like the distance between us continued to widen. The things I'd shared with her, the truth about what transpired with Cara—it was just too much for her to process. I had expected her to be furious, but I could never imagine that it would be like she was escaping me, step by step.I stumbled through the packhouse, my feet heavy on the ground, my mind spinning. I hadn't talked to Sophia since I'd told her Cara was dead. Since then, she'd barely even looked at me. When she did, her eyes were full of hurt, betrayal… and something else I couldn't quite pinpoint. She was so far gone, and nothing I said or did seemed able to bring her back.Today, I was compelled to deal with her. I was compelled to make her understand that I loved her. That I didn't want Cara. That I didn't want anyone else other than
Chapter HundredHe Chose Her Instead of MeSophia's POVI curled up alone in the packhouse garden at the base of a big tree where no one could see me sitting. I tucked my knees up into my chest and wrapped my arms around them, and had my chin resting on top. I wasn't crying anymore. My eyes were already tender. My heart pounded harder.I hadn't even noticed how long I had been sitting there. Maybe hours. All of it weighed on me. My chest, my breath, my mind.Then I heard footsteps.I didn't lift my head."Sophia?"I knew that voice. It was Lucas. Damon's Beta. His best friend.I didn't answer him.He approached slowly and sat beside me without permission."You've been out here a while," he said softly. "Are you okay?"I didn't look at him. I didn't talk. I didn't even move.Lucas hesitated, then said again, "Sophia, you need to tell me something. You don't sound okay."I shut my eyes and let out an unsteady breath. "I'm not," I hardly whispered.His face drifted before me, concerned.
Chapter Ninety NineHer ScentI was in the packhouse living room, holding a pillow to my chest. It was quiet in the room. The fire was low in the fireplace, and the night air was cold. I had just come back from my parents' house. I missed them, but I missed Damon more while I was away.I smiled to myself as I thought about him. I wanted to surprise him with my return, maybe cook for him, maybe cuddle in his arms like we used to. I missed his warmth, his scent, his laughter. I missed the way he would look at me as if I was the only person in the world.I heard the door open.My heart pounded.He was back.I sat up straight right away and turned toward the door, expecting his smile. But Damon didn't smile. He walked in slowly, shoulders tense, eyes brooding. He didn't even look at me."Hey," I said softly, attempting to make him look at me.He nodded just and walked by me. No hug. No kiss. No words. He was… different."Damon?" I said softly. "Is everything okay?"He didn't answer. He ju
Chapter Ninety EightScheme From HerCara's POVI woke up slowly. My body was frail, but my heart was warm. Damon was next to me. His chest was bare. His face was serene in sleep.I smiled weakly. Last night was real. He touched me. Held me. Kissed me.It was like the past again.I reached out my hand, craving to touch his hair. But before I could, his eyes opened.He looked at me. He did not say anything for a moment. He was dazed. Then he sat up abruptly."What the hell?" he cried, breathing heavily.I also sat up, wrapping myself in the blanket. "Damon, relax. You're okay.""What is this?" he shouted. "What happened last night?"I looked at him. "You were drunk. You were upset. You needed someone. I was there for you."His eyes were wide open. "No. No, this didn't happen. Tell me we didn't sleep together."I said nothing.He jumped off the bed, pulling up his pants. Then he came to my side and grabbed my arm roughly."You tricked me, didn't you?" he yelled. "You planned this!""No!
Cara's POVI rested against the window, gazing out at the serene, moonlit evening. The house was abnormally still, the only sounds the distant howls of wolves in the forest. I could feel the pressure of it all crashing down on me. Damon and Sophia were bonded. That was the truth. The truth that stung. But it was irrelevant now. I had a plan.I surveyed the room, my eyes locking onto the door. Damon was in the adjacent room. Sophia had gone off to visit her parents, and I was left alone with him. I had been waiting for this opportunity—the ultimate opportunity. This was my moment to at last get what I wanted. I was pregnant with Liam's child, but no one knew that. Everyone thought the baby was Damon's. That was my chance to reclaim Damon, to have him back for myself.I couldn't help but smile to myself, imagining. This would be okay. Damon had never truly pushed me away, and if I could only maintain the charade that the baby was his, then he would return to me. He would be mine again,