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 garden had always been my solace from the day I arrived here, a place where the chaos of the pack house couldn’t quite reach me. The early morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew-kissed flowers and the earthy aroma of freshly turned soil. I sat on the stone bench, my fingers tracing patterns on my skirt, my mind a whirlwind of doubt and pain.Every harsh word spoken during the meeting echoed in my head like a cruel symphony. Katherine’s cold, unforgiving tone. The smugness in Caitlyn’s grin. The silent judgment of the elders.You’ll get one last chance.The weight of those words was crushing. What if I failed again? What if this time, I couldn’t claw my way back? My chest tightened, and I buried my face in my hands.A soft crunch of footsteps behind me jolted me out of my spiraling thoughts. My head shot up, heart racing.“Miss Alison.”I turned to see Luke, Xander’s Beta, standing a few feet away. The golden morning light illuminated his sharp features
Alison’s POVThe faint chill of the morning air brushed against my skin as I stood beside the bus, watching the castle staff hustle around me. Boxes of neatly packed food, wrapped in brown paper and tied with simple string, were being loaded into the vehicles. The faint clatter of footsteps, hushed voices, and the hum of engines filled the air as we worked to prepare for the trip.I clasped my hands together, trying to steady the nervous energy that buzzed through me. Today mattered. I needed this to go well, not for my pride but for my survival in this pack.“Excuse me, Miss Alison,” a timid voice called behind me.I turned to see a young maid standing there, her hands clasped nervously in front of her apron. She couldn’t have been more than Twelve, her wide brown eyes filled with both fear and duty.“Yes?” I said softly, kneeling slightly so I was closer to her eye level.“Lady Katherine requests your presence,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.My stomach dropped. “Where
Alison's POVSometimes, the biggest battles aren't fought with swords but with silence, smiles, and the subtle art of proving your worth to those who doubt you.Two weeks. That’s how long it had taken for the walls around me to start crumbling, not the stone ones that encased the castle, but the ones built mistrust and resentment from the pack. For the first time since arriving here, I felt a glimmer of acceptance. I wasn’t foolish enough to think I had completely won them over, but I could see it in their eyes now, the cautious glances replaced with tentative smiles. Small victories, but victories nonetheless.This morning, the castle kitchen buzzed with energy as I worked alongside the staff, my hands deftly chopping vegetables while the aroma of sizzling sausages filled the air. The clatter of pans and the hum of conversation created a lively symphony. Today I had decided to take a break and make something nice for the house, I was in the thick of it, sleeves rolled up, when the h
Alison’s Point of ViewThe night was cloaked in a serene stillness, the kind that felt sacred, as though the world itself held its breath. The faint hum of crickets outside blended with the soft rustle of the wind through the trees. I stood by the window in our bedroom, the silver light of the full moon washing over me like a gentle caress. Its glow illuminated the room, casting long shadows that danced on the walls.I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling the soft cotton of my robe against my skin. My hair, still damp from the shower, clung to my back, and I brushed it away absently as I gazed out at the night.The moon had always been a silent witness to my life, a distant, glowing guardian. Tonight, it seemed brighter, fuller, as if it too celebrated the journey I had taken to reach this moment. I pressed a hand to the cool glass, feeling a sense of connection to the universe beyond.How did I get here? The thought whispered through my mind, not in disbelief, but in awe.Memories
Alison’s Point of ViewThe council chamber buzzed with a quiet intensity that seemed to seep into every corner of the room. I sat beside Xander, my hands resting on the carved wooden armrests of my chair, the intricate wolf insignia of the NightFang Pack etched into the wood beneath my fingertips. My heart raced, but I kept my face calm, my expression neutral. Today was no ordinary day. It was the first time I would preside over a major pack case as Luna.The weight of responsibility was tangible, like an invisible crown pressing down on me. A year ago, I wouldn’t have thought this possible, me, a slave from Silver Moon, now the daughter of an Alpha and most of all a Luna, seated at the head of the most powerful pack council. Beside me, Xander exuded his usual air of authority, his gaze steady as he surveyed the room. Just his presence grounded me.“Ready?” he asked, his voice low but laced with a warmth that only I could detect.I nodded, meeting his eyes. “I am.”He gave a small smi
Xander’s Point of ViewThe first rays of dawn stretched across the Crimson Pack’s territory, painting the horizon in soft golds and pinks. The forest, still hushed from the night, seemed to hold its breath, as if reluctant to let us leave. I stood on the balcony of the guest quarters, staring at the landscape that had become familiar over the past few weeks. It was beautiful, yes, but not home.Behind me, Alison stirred, her soft movements like music to my ears. I turned, catching the sight of her wrapped in a blanket, her hair cascading down her back in loose waves. Her eyes, still heavy with sleep, met mine, and for a moment, the world stilled.“Good morning,” she murmured, her voice husky from sleep.“Good morning, my love,” I replied, crossing the room to her. I leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead, savoring the warmth of her skin against mine.She smiled, but there was a hint of something in her expression, bittersweet, perhaps. Today was the day we would leave the Crimson
Alison's Point of ViewThe sunlight filtered through the thick canopy of trees, dappling the forest floor with golden patterns that seemed to shift and shimmer with every breeze. For once, the ever-present tension in the Crimson Pack felt like it had lifted, replaced by an air of celebration. But as I stood in my room, staring at my reflection in the mirror, my heart was a whirlwind of emotions, joy, nerves, and the faintest hint of disbelief.I was about to mate with Xander, the man who had under gone so much with me. And now, he was mine, and I was his. Forever.A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. Before I could answer, the door creaked open, and Simone stepped inside, her expression warm but still tinged with the seriousness her new role demanded.“You look breathtaking,” she said, her voice soft as she closed the door behind her. She wore her ceremonial robes, a deep Crimson that complemented her dark hair and the faint golden glow that now seemed to follow her ev
Alison’s Point of ViewThe weight of Simone’s revelation still hung heavy in the air as we walked through the Pack’s central grounds, the towering trees casting flickering shadows under the soft glow of the moon. Xander’s hand rested lightly on the small of my back, grounding me as my thoughts swirled with the vision I had seen and the strange, ancient mark on Simone’s shoulder.I couldn’t help but glance over at her. She walked beside me, her face pale but determined, her eyes darting around as though she were still marveling at the simple gift of sight. The Simone I knew had always been brave, but tonight, there was an unmistakable tremor in her steps, a hesitation that I had never seen before."Do you think he will believe us?" Simone’s voice was soft, almost drowned out by the crunch of leaves underfoot.I turned to her and smiled reassuringly, though inside, I wasn’t so sure myself. “If anyone will, it’s my father. Alpha Gaius has always been open to the mysteries of the world, e
Alison’s Point of ViewThe air around Simone felt lighter than ever as she stood before me, her face radiant with a joy I hadn’t seen in a long time. Her newfound ability to see had transformed her demeanor entirely, her smile wider, her laughter unrestrained. For the first time, she didn’t need her cane or anyone else to guide her steps. As I hugged her, grateful beyond words, my eyes caught something peculiar.There it was, just below the collar of her dress on her left shoulder, a faint but intricate marking. It looked almost like a swirling pattern, delicate yet commanding, as if it had been etched there with purpose. In all my days with her, I had never seen anything like this on her skin, so it got me wondering. “Simone,” I began, pulling back slightly, my fingers lightly brushing her shoulder. “When did you get this?”She blinked, confused. “Get what?”“This.” I pointed to the mark, tilting my head to get a better look. “It kind of looks like a tattoo. Did you have this done
Alison's Point of ViewThe anticipation for tonight had my nerves tingling all day. I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing the soft fabric of my pale lavender dress, the color chosen specifically because Xander had once mentioned it reminded him of moonlight. A sly smile crept onto my lips as I thought about what he might say when he saw me. This wasn’t just a date, it was a moment of escape, a reprieve before the whirlwind of our mating ceremony took over.When the knock came at my door, my heart skipped a beat. I took a deep breath, giving my reflection one last glance, and opened the door to find Xander waiting. As always, he was the embodiment of perfection... dark slacks, a tailored shirt that clung to him in all the right ways, and that trademark smirk that made my pulse race.“You’re breathtaking,” he said, his voice low, his gaze raking over me appreciatively.“You’re not too bad yourself, Alpha,” I teased, letting him take my hand as he pulled me closer.He chuckled, press
Alison’s Point of ViewThe air was still tinged with the sweetness of Xander’s proposal as we returned to the castle. My heart felt lighter than it had in weeks, and I couldn’t help the soft smile that tugged at my lips as I glanced at him walking beside me. He looked calm, his usual stoic demeanor tinged with something softer, something just for me.As soon as we stepped into the grand hall, my mother appeared, her radiant smile lighting up her face. “There you two are!” she exclaimed, clasping her hands together. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Your father has organized a feast to celebrate your victories and, of course, your engagement.”“A feast?” I asked, raising a brow. “Isn’t that a bit much?”“Not at all,” she replied, waving a dismissive hand. “You’ve accomplished so much within a short while darling, and your father wants the pack to share in the joy. It’s already been arranged, so no arguments.”Xander chuckled beside me, and I turned to him, my lips curving into a s
Alison’s Point of ViewThe warmth of the morning still lingered in my chest as we cleared the breakfast table, the echoes of laughter and heartfelt words still floating in the air. It felt like a turning point, a moment that tethered all of us closer together. As I stacked plates and handed them off to the staff, I caught Xander watching me from across the room, a soft, almost secretive smile curving his lips.“What?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him, though I couldn’t keep the grin off my face.“Just admiring my woman ,” he replied smoothly, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. “You look so at home here. It’s... nice.”“Nice?” I teased, raising a brow. “You really know how to make a girl feel special, Alpha.”He chuckled, pushing off the frame and walking toward me. “You know what I mean. You belong here with your family, with your people, It really suits you.”Before I could respond, my mother’s voice rang out from the kitchen, pulling my attention back to the task