Alison's POVI stood in the garden, watching the lilies sway under the morning sunlight, petals stretching towards the sky. The delicate scent of their blooms should’ve been calming, but today, they only reminded me of the fragility of everything around me, of how easily beauty could be trampled. Could I really handle the weight of being tied to Night Fang? It wasn’t just about being with Xander; it was about facing everything that came with him including his family, his responsibilities, and the pack’s ruthless politics. Maya, my wolf, stirred within, urging me to fight through this uncertainty."This is where we belong, Alison," Maya insisted, her voice like a warm reassurance in my mind.But as I stood there, trying to convince myself of those words, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I frowned, surprised; it was an unsaved number. Hesitantly, I accepted the call.“Alison,” a smug, familiar voice greeted me... Kendrick.I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. He’d always been controllin
Alison's POVI lay awake in bed, my mind racing. The ceiling above me seemed to stretch infinitely, an empty canvas upon which all my doubts were painted. How did I get here? A rejected mate, a broken life in Silver Moon… and now, standing on the verge of rejection yet again. Was I really so cursed, so unlucky in love? My heart felt like it was being shredded by invisible claws, and I didn’t know how to stop the ache. Every time I closed my eyes, Kendrick’s cruel smirk haunted me, followed by Xander’s pained, indecisive expression.A soft knock pulled me from my thoughts, breaking the stillness of the night. I hesitated for a second before climbing out of bed. Wrapping a blanket around me, I shuffled to the door and opened it to see Luke, Xander’s trusted advisor and the only one in the Night Fang who treated me with any kindness.“Luke?” I said, a bit surprised to see him so late.He gave me a warm, polite smile. “Good evening, Ms. Alison. Alpha Xander requested that I escort you som
Alison’s POVThe morning light spilled into my room, casting a golden glow across the walls. For once, I woke up feeling like a weight had lifted off my chest. My heart brimmed with hope, a warmth ignited by the memory of Xander’s promise the night before. His words replayed in my mind as I let the warm water from the shower wash over me. “You have me. I’ll always be by your side.” I wanted to be worthy of that promise. I wanted to be strong, resilient...the perfect Luna for Xander and his pack.Drying off, I slipped into a light floral dress, pinning my long curls into a loose ponytail. I wanted to start this day with purpose, to be a part of the life here, not just a silent observer. And maybe, just maybe, Xander would see that I was ready for the responsibility that came with standing by his side.Downstairs, I walked into the kitchen to find a flurry of activity. The maids moved with practiced precision, trying to keep up with the morning rush.They stopped and looked at me as I e
Xander's POV The silence of my office was the kind that allowed thoughts to swell and churn, thoughts that lately were almost always of Alison. Since that night, I could still feel the touch of her hand, the way her laughter filled me with a peace I’d never known. But today wasn’t about basking in memories. Today was about preparation. Alison needed to understand the depth of her responsibilities, the weight of the leadership role she was stepping into, and I intended to give her every advantage in doing so.As I leaned back in my chair, gazing out the window at the dense, brooding forest that bordered our lands, I considered how best to support her. Alison had strength in her spirit, a fire that had drawn me to her from the beginning. Yet, this world was vast, complex, and sometimes merciless. She had to be prepared for what lay ahead.A knock on the door broke my focus. Luke entered, his face etched with quiet professionalism, his gaze steady but carrying a hint of urgency.“Alpha
Alison's POV I stumbled back to my room, every step heavy, my chest aching as if I’d taken a direct blow. I had never felt such a sharp, unrelenting pain before. The moment I’d walked into Xander’s office, I’d been frozen, seeing Caitlyn’s hands draped around him and her lips pressed against his. Even worse, I’d seen the shock on his face, but it hadn’t mattered. That image was now burned into my mind. It felt like deja vu.When I reached my room, I shut the door with a thud and slid down against it, my body trembling. I wrapped my arms around myself, clutching tightly, as if holding myself together could somehow stop the pain. Everything we’d shared these past few days, the trust that had been growing between us... it felt fragile now, on the verge of shattering.A knock sounded against the wood, quiet but firm. My heart clenched as I heard his voice.“Alison, please. Open up. I need to talk to you.”I bit down on my lip, anger and hurt twisting in my chest. “Go away, Xander. Just..
Alison's POVI sat back on the porch, trying to stifle a laugh as Andrew and I wrapped up our lesson for the day. The air was warm, filled with the scent of freshly cut grass, and I felt light, free for once. The last few weeks had been grueling as Andrew pushed me to catch up on subjects I’d never had the chance to study before. But with each lesson, I felt myself grow a little stronger, a little smarter, and today, I felt downright accomplished.Andrew chuckled beside me, leaning back as he rubbed his temples. "You’re doing better than you give yourself credit for, Alison. Really. It’s rare to see someone this dedicated."I shook my head, still smiling. "You mean desperate, right? I can’t exactly afford to waste the opportunity Xander’s given me.”Before Andrew could respond, a shadow fell across the porch. I looked up and felt my stomach twist. Caitlyn stood before us, her gaze cold and sharp as it raked over me. Andrew greeted her politely, but she ignored him, fixing her eyes on
Alison's POVThe morning sun filtered through my window, casting a soft, warm glow over the room. I’d just finished my lesson with Andrew and was feeling restless, a strange energy building up inside me. Xander had encouraged me to become familiar with the Nightfang Pack’s lands and customs, but up until now, I hadn’t ventured much beyond the castle grounds. Today, something in me urged to explore, to see more of the place I was slowly beginning to call home.I took a deep breath, straightening my shoulders. "It’s time," I murmured to myself, slipping on a light jacket and heading out. I was going to face this world outside, whether they liked me or not.Stepping out of the castle felt like stepping into another world entirely. The gardens gave way to cobbled paths, which led to the cluster of stone buildings that made up the heart of the Nightfang Pack’s territory. The air here was thick with the smell of pine and earth, layered with the occasional waft of grilled meat or baking brea
Alison's POVI hadn’t yet grown used to the weight of their stares.Every glance that lingered a moment too long, every careful whisper behind cupped hands, it all felt like a constant reminder of the skepticism surrounding my place here. I told myself that they didn’t know me, that in time they’d see who I truly was and what I could offer the Nightfang Pack. But that didn’t make the icy receptions around me any easier to bear.This morning was no exception.Breakfast had barely begun when Caitlyn strolled into the room, her presence filling the space with an unspoken authority that most pack members seemed to respect and fear. She moved with a confidence that suggested she already considered herself the Luna of this pack. And why wouldn’t she? Katherine, Xander’s mother, had practically crowned her as the chosen one long before I’d arrived.“Good morning, Alison,” she greeted me, flashing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I hope you’re settling in well. Adjusting can be so hard, e
Xander’s POVThe acrid scent of blood and burning wood filled the air, a grim reminder of the battle we had just survived. The Ancient Rogue City lay behind us, its silence far more unsettling than the chaos that had erupted just moments ago. The weight of what had happened pressed against my chest, but there was no time to reflect. We had to leave now.Simone stepped forward, her hands glowing faintly as she conjured a shimmering veil of energy around us. “This should keep us hidden long enough to escape the rogue warriors hunting us down,” she murmured, her voice laced with exhaustion. Sweat clung to her brow, but she pushed forward without complaint.Alison, however, was another story. She was barely standing, her body trembling from the aftermath of her first shift. Her silver-white fur shimmered under the moonlight, a sight both mesmerizing and concerning. She had unlocked something ancient, something powerful but right now, she was weak, her strength flickering like a dying
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 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 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 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
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
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
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’
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