Kendrick’s POVThe sound of Alison’s desperate pleas echoed in my mind long after the guards had dragged her away. I leaned back in my chair, exhaling slowly, savoring the taste of her fear in the air.She would come around. They always did.With a flick of my wrist, I beckoned one of the guards forward. He approached swiftly, bowing his head in submission.“Your Imperial Order,” he said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.I tilted my head slightly, studying him. Loyalty, when built on fear, was fragile. It needed reinforcement.“Get me Bruce,” I commanded.The guard bowed again, then turned and disappeared down the dimly lit corridor. The silence that followed was heavy, thick with the weight of anticipation. I tapped my fingers on the armrest, my patience wearing thin.Minutes later, the door creaked open, and Bruce entered, his head already lowered in deference. His long black robes trailed behind him, the scent of ancient herbs clinging to the fabric. He was
Xander’s POVWaiting was never my strong suit.From the moment the sun had risen, I had been stuck on Alison’s balcony, watching as Alpha Gaius meticulously screened and selected the best warriors for our journey to the Ancient Rogue City. I understood the need for caution… hell, I even respected it but the endless deliberation, the way he took his damn time choosing his men as if we weren’t racing against the clock, was driving me insane.Every second wasted was another second Alison was alone with him.Kendrick.The name alone sent a surge of fury through me, making my grip tighten around the balcony railing. He was probably smirking right now, thinking he had won, that he had Alison where he wanted her. The thought of him even breathing near her made my blood boil.I checked the time on my phone. 12 noon.I clenched my jaw. At this rate, we wouldn’t leave until nightfall. And if I let them keep delaying? We’d end up going the next damn day. That was unacceptable.I couldn’
Alison’s POVThe dress was beautiful.Soft silk cascaded down my frame, the intricate embroidery shimmering under the dim candlelight. The fabric clung in all the right places, a masterpiece meant to accentuate, to allure. It should have made me feel elegant, powerful. But instead, it felt like a noose tightening around my throat.I stood before the mirror, staring at the reflection of a woman I barely recognized. Dressed in white, yet drowning in dread. Tonight, I was to be bound to Kendrick, a man I loathed with every fiber of my being.A man I once had a crush on.A bitter smile curled on my lips. It seemed laughable now, how I had once harbored a childish crush on him. Back then, he was the charming, mysterious and enigmatic Alpha that intrigued me, despite how he treated me. But now? Now, I saw him for what he truly was. A monster wrapped in silk. A snake disguised as a king.But how?How had Kendrick risen to power so quickly? It had barely been two years, and yet here h
Kendrick’s POVThe moment I stepped into the chamber, the air shifted.Tension clung to the walls like a thick, suffocating fog. The young maiden at Alison’s feet stiffened, her wide eyes darting toward me as if she had been caught whispering secrets she had no right to speak. But I barely paid her any mind.Because there she was.Alison.My breath caught for a fleeting second before desire took its place. Dressed in silk and gold, she was everything I had ever wanted.. everything I was about to own. Her long, dark hair cascaded down her back, her skin glowing under the candlelight. She looked like a goddess draped in mortal flesh, and fuck, if I didn’t want to rip that dress off her and mark every inch of her body.But I had to wait.The ritual to sever her bond with Xander was only hours away, and when it was done, she would be mine. The mere thought of it sent a wicked thrill down my spine. I could already imagine Xander writhing in agony, his soul ripped apart as their bon
Xander’s POVDarkness swallowed us whole as we crept through the twisted alleys of the Ancient Rogue City. The air was thick with decay, the scent of blood and damp earth saturating my senses. Every shadow felt like a pair of watching eyes, every gust of wind like a whispered warning to turn back. But I wouldn't. I couldn’t.Alison was here. Alone. Trapped. And every second I wasted was a second closer to losing her.Simone moved beside me like a ghost, her footfalls silent against the uneven ground. She grabbed my arm, pulling me into the shadow of a crumbling wall as a group of rogue wolves passed by, their laughter guttural, their conversations laced with violence. I clenched my jaw, suppressing the growl building in my chest. I wanted to tear through them, rip apart anything that stood between me and Alison."Alpha, you need to keep your head straight," Simone whispered, her breath warm against my ear. "If you charge in blind, you're not saving Alison, you’re just getting you
Alison’s POVThe cold stone beneath my bare feet sent a shiver up my spine as I was dragged through the dimly lit corridors. My wrists ached from the tight grip of Kendrick’s men, their fingers like iron clamps around my skin. No matter how hard I struggled, how much I kicked and twisted, they didn’t loosen their hold."Let go of me, you bastards!" I hissed, my voice raw with defiance.One of them yanked me forward, making me stumble. "Save your energy, girl," he sneered. "You’ll need it for what’s coming."A sharp burst of fear tightened around my chest, but I refused to let it show. I lifted my chin, forcing steel into my voice. "If you think I’m going down without a fight, you don’t know me at all."The rogue to my left let out a low chuckle. "That’s what they all say before they break."They shoved me forward through a set of massive double doors, and my breath hitched as the throne room came into view.It was nothing like Xander’s grand hall, this was a place of nightmare
Xander’s POV"Don’t you dare fucking touch her!" I bellowed, my heart hammering against my chest as I tore through the throng of Kendrick’s warriors. Every step I took felt like a war between my body and my soul. Their stench, sweat, blood, and rogue filth clung to the air, but none of it mattered. Nothing mattered but her.Simone moved beside me, her magic flashing like brilliant streaks of light, incapacitating rogues as we cut a path toward Alison. "I’m holding them off, but we’re running out of time!" she shouted, her eyes flicking toward the throne where Kendrick stood, watching with an evil grin curling on his lips.The scent of her, Alison grew stronger as we moved closer, but it was marred with fear, agony. And something darker. I could feel it, feel her slipping away from me, piece by piece. My chest tightened, the bond between us stretching thinner with each agonizing step.No. No, no, no.I shoved through another rogue who dared to block my way, ignoring the sting of
Alison’s POV The world around me exploded in a flash of silver-white light, my senses sharpening to a degree I’d never experienced before. The smell of blood, sweat, and earth filled the air like a tidal wave crashing over me. The ground beneath my paws felt alive, pulsing with energy, every vibration humming through my body. My bones ached as they shifted, but the pain was nothing compared to the power that surged through me. I could feel everything. The weight of the air. The pressure in my lungs. The pulse of the earth beneath me. Every footstep, every breath of Kendrick, every heartbeat in the room, it was like the world had slowed, and I was the center of it all. "Impossible…" Kendrick's voice echoed around the room, laced with disbelief and anger. I didn’t need to look at him to feel the fury radiating from his every cell. He was terrified. But so was I, though I couldn’t fully comprehend why. The connection to Xander flared again.. warmth, light, his energy coursing thr
Xander's POVThe training grounds came clearly into view as I stood by the edge of the gates. I watched Alison move with an eerie grace, her body a blur as she dodged and countered, each motion precise, calculated. But I knew she was pushing herself too hard. The Alison I had brought to Night Fang was calm, quiet and could barely defend herself. Not to sound horrible but I love that she could stand for herself but this burden? It was too much on her and my heart bled looking at her pushing herself beyond limits. Then I saw her lose grip and stumble back. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay still. My wolf raged within me, demanding that I intervene, that I catch her before she hit the ground again. It felt the pain I felt at the sight before meWhen she hit the ground I growled inwardly. The impact sent a tremor through the earth, but Alison was up before the dust settled, her breathing ragged yet determined. She was relentless. The prophecy had made sure of that. The fate o
Alison’s POV"We can't afford to waste time," Simone’s voice crackled through the conference call. "The Blood Moon is coming, and if the prophecy is true, we're already running out of time."I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to suppress the tension building in my chest. "I know," I admitted. "But we can’t go in blind. There has to be a way to stop the witch before she gains full power."Xander sat beside me, his arms crossed, his sharp gaze fixed on the laptop screen where Simone’s worried face stared back at us. His presence was a grounding force, but even he couldn’t deny the heavy uncertainty hanging over us.Simone exhaled deeply. "I've been digging through every ancient text I could find. If she’s trying to sever mate bonds permanently, then she needs a ritual of unprecedented power, something connected to the Blood Moon itself."I felt a chill run down my spine. "You think she plans to tap into the Moon Goddess’s energy?"Simone nodded gravely. "It's the only thing strong
Simone’s POVA shiver traced down my spine before I even opened my eyes.Something was wrong. I felt an unwanted presence.The air felt thick, heavy with something unseen, something ancient. My heart pounded as I forced myself to sit up, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps. I wasn’t in my room anymore. I wasn’t anywhere real.The world around me was shifting violently.. black mist rolling like storm clouds, the sky bleeding into deep, unnatural shades of red. The ground beneath me cracked, jagged like something had torn through it.Then, I saw her.The same cloaked figure Alison had described to me few days ago, standing beneath the looming Blood Moon.The witch lifted her arms, her voice ringing out in a chant that I couldn’t understand, but somehow, felt in my bones. It was dark magic, something twisted and unnatural, seeping into the air like poison.I tried to move. Tried to speak. But my body refused to obey.And then the pain hit the Wolves lurking around under the red moo
Alison’s POVThe dream started like a whisper, a fleeting sensation of something pulling me into a realm between sleep and wakefulness.Then, the darkness gave way to a vision.Mother Eliza stood in her glory before me, her aged figure framed by an eerie silver glow. The old witch had always been mighty to behold… FoFor now she was ither an enemy nor an ally, just a powerful figure that had a hand in my existence in the shadows of fate. But tonight, there was something different in her stance, when I had seen her in her abode she looked calm, calculated and without a fear. But now she looked… in a hurry, like what she had to say was something urgent yet hot to voice out.Her deep-sitted eyes locked onto mine, and when she spoke, her voice was like wind rustling through dead leaves."Alison! This fight isn’t over! You are resting while she plots more evil.!"I felt my stomach drop."The balance between wolves and witches is at stake."The words wrapped around me, suffocating, their wei
Xander’s POVThe first thing I noticed when we stepped back into Crimson Pack territory was the air.It was different. Lighter. Cleaner. Gone was the heavy, suffocating pressure that had lingered like a noose around this place. The sickness, the darkness, the rot.. it was gone.The second thing I noticed was the people.Wolves rushed from their homes, from the infirmaries where they had been bedridden, from the training grounds where they had once been too weak to fight. Their faces, drawn and gaunt from weeks of suffering, now glowed with something I hadn’t seen in a long time. Hope.A murmur rippled through the crowd, then a roar."It’s over!""The curse is broken!""We’re free!"The entire pack erupted. Some fell to their knees in exhausted relief. Others clung to their loved ones, sobbing openly. Warriors lifted their heads to the sky and howled—a deep, guttural sound that echoed through the land.Alison’s fingers tightened around mine, her nails digging into my palm. I turned to
Alison’s POV The ruins of SilverMoon were eerily silent, except for the ragged breaths of the three of us as we staggered toward Kendrick’s crumpled form. The air was thick with the scent of blood, dust, and death. My heart pounded in my chest as I pushed past the shock, my legs carrying me forward on instinct alone. Kendrick lay there, his body broken, his breathing shallow. But his eyes… those piercing green eyes… still held life. Just barely. “No, no, no,” I whispered, my voice cracking as I dropped to my knees beside him. Simone knelt next to me, her hands trembling. Xander, breathless and still staggering from the fight, crouched beside Kendrick, his jaw clenched so tightly I thought it might snap. Kendrick’s lips curved into a weak smile. “We did it,” he rasped, his voice barely a whisper. Tears burned in my eyes. “Don’t do this, Kendrick. You’re going to be fine. We… we can find you a good healer in Xander's pack. There has to be someone who can help.” My voice was franti
Alison’s POVPain. It was sharp, searing, and all-consuming.I barely registered the sound of my own scream as my wolf form collapsed onto the cold, hard ground, my leg pulsing with agony from where Priya’s blade had torn into me. My body trembled violently, the silver of my fur now stained with crimson.“Alison!” Xander’s desperate voice echoed through the ruins, panic laced in every syllable.I forced myself to lift my head, but my vision blurred. Through the haze of pain, I saw Priya, her twisted smile sending a chill down my spine.She wasn’t done.Her lips moved swiftly, chanting, her voice dripping with venom as she sent a surge of dark magic toward me.A force so powerful rushed at me that my breath hitched, this was meant to end me.But before it could, Simone stepped forward.“No, you don’t!” she hissed, raising her hands.A surge of bright light erupted from her fingertips, colliding with Priya’s dark spell mid-air. The impact sent a wave of force rippling through the ruins,
Alison’s POV A deadly silence filled the ruins. For a split second, I had seen something in Priya’s eyes… fear. But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, replaced by something much darker. She sneered. “You think I’m afraid of you four?” A low, guttural laugh spilled from her lips, growing louder, more unhinged, until it echoed through the ruins like a chorus of the damned. The sound slithered under my skin, cold and unsettling. “You actually think your measly powers are enough to stop me? That you can prevent me from wiping out the entire werewolf pack as revenge for what I went through in their hands?” She tilted her head, black eyes gleaming with malice. “How stupid and naive.” Her gaze snapped to Simone, and a cruel smile curled her lips. “You,” she hissed, “a witch, siding with the very creatures that slaughtered your ancestors? You should be ashamed of yourself.” Simone’s jaw clenched, but she didn’t speak. She stood tall, her fingers twitching at her sides, magic
Alison’s POVKendrick took a step forward, fists clenched, but I grabbed his wrist, stopping him before he could do something reckless. His muscles tensed under my grip, his body trembling with barely contained fury."Don’t," I whispered, barely able to get the word out.Priya’s gaze snapped onto Kendrick like a predator spotting its prey, her twisted smile vanishing in an instant. Her face darkened, her brows pulling together in a deep scowl, something between rage and... heartbreak?“How dare you bring him here?” Her voice cracked, laced with venom and something deeper... something raw.A slow, heavy breath escaped her lips before she tilted her head, black eyes narrowing.“You think,” she hissed, stepping forward, “that because I once loved him, I would back down?”Her voice sent a shiver racing down my spine.Priya let out a shaky breath, as if she was barely keeping herself together, and then before I could react her lips moved, forming words in a language I didn’t understand.Th