Alison’s POVA month into my studies, I had finally begun to feel comfortable here or as comfortable as I could, given the circumstances. Each day, I’d been learning from Andrew, absorbing lessons on pack history, leadership, and the diplomatic intricacies of being a Luna. While it was no easy feat, I was beginning to see myself as more than just Xander’s mate. I was transforming, piece by piece, into someone who could stand beside him and lead.Xander noticed my progress, too. Just that morning, he’d suggested we take the next step in my training.“Alison, you’re doing brilliantly with the studies,” he’d said, his tone filled with pride. “But there’s more to being Luna than just knowledge. You should start physical training, learning to harness your wolf, practicing combat, and immersing yourself in the ways of the pack.”I nodded, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. I knew he was right. To truly earn the respect of the pack, I couldn’t just learn from books. I needed to
Alison’s POV“Get up, Alison,” came the clipped, frosty voice from across the room. My eyes snapped open, and there stood Katherine, already dressed in full training gear, her arms crossed and her gaze drilling into me with impatient distaste. “Daylight is burning, and half the pack is already out and about. Five minutes to join us outside or there will be consequences.”She spun on her heel and left, her footsteps echoing down the hall, leaving me scrambling. Heart pounding, I jumped out of bed, feeling a swell of frustration and determination collide within me. I knew Katherine had no real intention of making this easy. She’d do everything in her power to make me feel inadequate, to test my patience, and above all, to make me question my worthiness as Luna. But if this was a battle she wanted, I’d give her one.Quickly freshening up, I threw on my training clothes and bolted out the door, the cool morning air biting at my face. As I reached the training grounds, I slowed, taking in
Alison's POVI squared my shoulders, exhaling as I stepped onto the training grounds. Every step I took felt heavier under the watchful eyes of the pack members who were present today. It's two solid weeks into my Luna training and I can strongly say I was improving, physically and mentally, but Katherine's relentless regimen and barely hidden disdain didn’t make it any easier. I expected resistance from her. What I hadn’t anticipated was the simmering hostility of the pack, whispers, sidelong glances, and thinly veiled sneers that felt like daggers in my back, I had thought that by now seeing my resilience they would finally accept me, but I was wrong. “Good thing You’re early today,” Katherine’s voice cut through my thoughts like a whip. She stood at the edge of the training field, her posture rigid, her eyes as sharp as ever. She crossed her arms, her gaze sweeping over me as if searching for a flaw. “Let’s not waste anymore of our time. Warm up with the forms we practiced yesterd
Alison’s POVI slammed my fists into the training dummy, the rough burlap splitting under my relentless strikes. Sweat trickled down my back, and my breathing came in hard, sharp bursts. It wasn’t just the physical exertion, it was the constant weight of disapproval, the glares, and Katherine’s icy words disguised as guidance."You think that's enough to lead a pack?" Katherine’s voice cut through the training grounds, slicing into my concentration like a blade.I straightened, meeting her gaze with unwavering resolve. "I’m doing my best.""Your best won't keep this pack safe." Her lips curled in a faint smirk. "And certainly not from someone like Caitlyn."Caitlyn whose training had ended, stood smugly nearby, let out a soft chuckle. She’d been my shadow these past weeks, undermining me at every turn. During training runs, she’d conveniently “forget” to warn me about uneven terrain, leaving me stumbling. In sparring sessions, she’d whisper insults low enough that only I could hear, h
Alison’s POVThe scent of roasted meat and fresh herbs filled the grand hall as the pack gathered, their voices a low hum of anticipation. I stood at the head of the room, watching the steady stream of pack members settle into their seats. My chest tightened, but I kept my chin high, masking my nerves. Tonight’s ceremony was crucial.. a chance to prove myself.Katherine’s words from earlier echoed in my mind.“This is your chance, Alison,” she had said, her icy tone unmistakable. “If you can’t handle the responsibility of a simple pack gathering, how will you ever manage as Luna?”Her cold gaze was a weight I couldn’t shake. She’d made it clear: failure wasn’t an option. And I wouldn’t give her or Caitlyn the satisfaction of seeing me falter.“Everything is ready,” I told myself, adjusting the silver bracelet Xander had gifted me. The decorations, the food, the seating arrangements, I had overseen it all. No one could accuse me of being unprepared.As the ceremony began, I moved throu
Alison's POVA cold gust swept through the room, rustling the drapes as I sat in the corner, staring at nothing. The disaster from the other day still fresh in my mind like a broken record. Their faces sneering, judging and burned into my memory. Even now, days later, I couldn’t escape the suffocating weight of it.Katherine’s scathing voice had been the loudest of them all, piercing through me like a dagger. I should’ve been used to her disdain by now, but her words carried a venom that still stung. Her verdict lingered in the air: You’re not good enough. You’ll never be good enough.I curled up tighter in the chair, pulling the blanket around me. How had things spiraled so far out of control?A sharp knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts. I sat up, my pulse quickening. “Yes?”The door creaked open, and a maid stepped inside, her expression carefully blank. “Good morning Miss Alison, Lady Katherine requests your presence in her quarters immediately.”My stomach dropped. Kather
Alison's POVI woke up to the first rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains, but the light did nothing to chase away the heavy dread weighing on my chest. My heart thumped erratically, a wild rhythm of anxiety that refused to settle. Today was the day. The Ancestor’s Ceremony."Please, Moon Goddess, I prayed silently, staring up at the ceiling. Help me get through this. Help me prove myself" The quiet plea echoed in my mind as I forced myself to get out of bed. My feet hit the cold floor, and I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to calm the tremor in my fingers.The bath was lukewarm, but it did little to ease the knot in my stomach. I scrubbed every inch of my skin, as though washing away my doubt and fear. As I slipped into the dress I’d carefully chosen... a soft, flowing cream-colored gown with intricate embroidery symbolizing the ancestors, heard the door creak open.I stiffened. Only one person entered my room without knocking.“Xander,” I said softly, my voice barel
Alison's POVThe air in the pack house felt heavy, suffocating, like a storm waiting to break. Whispers had reached my ears early that morning, whispers of a meeting called by the elders. The tension was palpable, coiling around my chest like a python.A sinking feeling took root in my stomach as I was summoned. It wasn’t a request, it was an order. My heart pounded with every step I took toward the council room, the walls closing in around me. I tried to steady my breathing, but my wolf whimpered softly in the back of my mind.As I approached the tall wooden doors, I paused, my palms clammy. Beyond those doors lay judgment not just of my actions but of my worth."You have to do this," I told myself. "They won’t break you." I pushed the doors open.The sight before me stopped me cold.The elders were seated at the long table, their expressions grim, like they were preparing to deliver a death sentence. Katherine sat near the center, her posture regal, her sharp eyes gleaming with cru
Alison’s POVThe cold night air bit into my skin as I stepped outside, the faint scent of pine lingering in the breeze. Each step felt heavier than the last, my body still drained, my muscles aching from the transformation. But none of that compared to the hollow ache in my chest.Xander stood a few feet away, his broad shoulders tense, the moonlight painting silver streaks across his dark hair. He didn’t move. Didn’t turn. Just stood there, staring at the sky as though it held all the answers he couldn’t find.I wanted to say something…anything but the words twisted in my throat.“Xander,” I finally managed, my voice soft and strained.No response.My heart thudded painfully. I took another shaky step forward, my bare feet brushing over the cool grass, and before I could overthink it, I slipped my arms around his waist from behind. His body stiffened under my touch, hard lines of tension locking into place.I laid my cheek against his back, my pulse thudding in my ears.“I’m sorry, m
Xander’s POV"You really think you can just… what? Nearly die and then brush it off like it’s nothing?"The words tear out of me before I can stop them, bouncing off the walls with more force than I intended. I don’t care.Alison’s lying in bed, her skin pale against the dark sheets, shadows clinging beneath her eyes. She looks fragile… too fragile. But even now, with barely enough strength to sit up, she’s staring at me like I’m the one being unreasonable.“Xander, please…” Her voice is soft, strained, but it still digs under my skin.I can’t sit. I can’t even stand still.Instead, I pace the room, each step heavy, the frustration clawing at me like wildfire. My hands are fists at my sides, knuckles white, the air thick with everything I want to say but can’t figure out how to.“Don’t please me, Alison,” I snap, stopping short of the bed. My heart’s racing too fast, chest tight like it’s about to crack open. “You almost died. Do you get that? Do you even realize what the hell you did
Alison’s POV "Don’t move, sweetheart! Just… just breathe." My mom’s voice cut through the heavy fog in my mind, soft but laced with panic. My eyelids fluttered open, and a sharp ache shot through my skull as the room’s dim light hit me. Every inch of my body felt heavy, like I’d been run over, twice. Then the flashbacks slammed into me with full force. The shift. The raw power tearing through my body. Bones snapping and reforming. Silver light. Kendrick’s face twisted in a sneer. The blood. The pain. A groan clawed its way out of my throat as I clutched my head. A wave of pain bloomed behind my eyes. “Maureen!” my mom cried out, her hands catching mine, pulling them gently away from my head. “Don’t move, baby. You’re safe now.” Her face swam into focus, she looked teary, worried, her features creased in panic. My mother. Standing right there. “Mom?” I rasped. My voice felt like it had been dragged across broken glass. “Oh, thank the goddess,” she whispered, cupping my cheek.
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