Xander's POVI leaned back against the dark oak frame of the bed, my eyes fixed on the window as the late afternoon sun began to sink behind the Silver Moon Pack's towering gates. This pack house felt as cold and unwelcoming as any foreign territory, yet I hadn't come here for comfort. I was here to honor the alliance between all packs. But something else was making my pulse race, an unease that shook my usual calm.It was her. The girl I'd seen within the castle compound , her scent still lingering in my senses.From the moment I saw her... I'd felt a pull like nothing I'd known before. My wolf had been clawing at me, instincts screaming for me to find her, to mark her, to claim her as mine. But impulse had no place here, not when my wolf's howls nearly drowned out every sense of reasoning within me. She could already be with someone else, I reminded myself, trying to calm my wolf, Cain."She's ours," Cain growled, voice thick with longing. "You felt the bond, Xander. She's ours, an
Kendrick’s POVThe clinking of glassware and murmurs of conversation filled the dining hall, but my focus was razor-sharp, zeroed in on one thing: Alpha Xander’s unwavering gaze on Alison. Each time I looked his way, his eyes were fixed on her, tracking her every movement as she served the guests, her posture humble, head lowered. Irritation flickered in my gut. Xander’s stare didn't seem like casual curiosity; it held a possessive spark that I recognized all too well."The arrogance," I thought, narrowing my eyes. Dinner hadn’t even begun, and already he’d already began crossing a line. His eyes were too focused, too intense on something or rather, someone that wasn’t his to want.I raised my glass abruptly, cutting through the chatter around the table in a bid to divert his attention. “A toast!” I called out, my voice booming across the hall. Conversations died down as everyone turned their attention to me, lifting their glasses.“To new alliances and strong friendships between our
Alison's POVSitting at the edge of my cot, I hugged my knees close to my chest, exhaustion pressing down on every inch of me. The dim moonlight seeped through the cracks in the walls, casting shadows across my tiny room. Tonight had been chaotic. I’d served wine, cleared plates, and avoided the subtle stares of powerful Alphas and their Lunas. Yet, the one gaze I couldn’t escape, the one that had seared into me with an intensity I couldn’t shake was that of Alpha Xander.Pulling my tattered blanket closer, I felt a thrill spark in my chest. A giddy smile crept onto my face as I whispered softly to my wolf, Maya, “Tomorrow, Maya. Tomorrow, we’ll be free. Just one more night of this hell hole.”Maya stirred within me, her voice fierce and hopeful. “We’ve waited so long, Alison. Just a few more hours.”But before I could get lost in the thought of freedom, my door flew open with a loud bang, slamming against the wall. I jumped to my feet, heart racing. Standing in the doorway, framed by
I felt the weight of Alpha Xander’s gaze on me like a fire I couldn’t shake. The room was quiet now, the night’s festivities faded. But Xander, calm and intense, studied me as if every word I might say mattered, as if he truly saw me. I shifted on the edge of the couch, every part of me screaming to stand up and run.But Maya, my wolf, urged me to stay.“So,” Xander began, his voice soft but unyielding, “tell me more about yourself Alison.”I blinked, caught off guard. No one had ever asked me that, especially not an Alpha. The leaders I’d known always took from others just like Kendrick, hoarding respect without giving any. Xander was different, looking at me with genuine curiosity and patience. I glanced away, feeling the heat creep into my cheeks.“I don’t know what you want to hear but I’m no one important,” I murmured, my voice almost a whisper. A part of me didn’t want to tell him anything, fearing he’d see just how broken and small I felt. But there was something in his express
Xander’s POVThe morning was alive, pulsing with energy and promise, but a thread of tension tugged beneath my excitement. I adjusted the cuffs on my sleeves, feeling anticipation course through me like a live wire. Today would be the day, I'd finally bring Alison home as my mate, after the wedding ceremony I will take her back with me. But amid the thrill, an uneasy feeling settled in the back of my mind.I glanced at Luke, my Beta, as he straightened my jacket. “Did you take care of the dress I picked out for her?” I asked, my voice sharp, betraying the urgency simmering under my calm exterior.Luke hesitated just a fraction before nodding. “Yes, Alpha. She’ll be stunning.” His brow furrowed, and he shot me a questioning look. “But are you sure about bringing her to Alpha Kendrick’s wedding? She’s… well, given her position here at Silver Moon, it might attract the wrong kind of attention.”I felt a snarl build in my throat, my words coming out as a low, dangerous warning. “Never ref
Alison's Point of ViewA sharp, searing pain throbbed through my skull as I woke, my eyes fluttering open to the sight of cold, cracked stone below me. I tried to reach for my head, to touch the aching spot, but my hands were bound tightly to my legs, keeping me curled in a fetal position. A gag pressed against my mouth, rough and biting into the corners, muffling any sound I tried to make.I was trapped. Somewhere dark and damp, with a chill that seeped into my bones. The last thing I remembered was stepping out of my room’s bathroom, humming some tune in anticipation of the wedding I was invited to be Xander's plus one, my mind light and hopeful. Then… then something hard and cold had slammed into my head, and I’d blacked out. Now, here I was, waking up to what felt like a nightmare.I twisted, wriggling as much as I could against the ropes binding my limbs, panic clawing at my insides. This wasn’t some accident, someone wanted me here, bound and helpless. The thought of it made fea
Alison's POVA soft tickle grazed my cheek, stirring me awake. My eyes fluttered open to see Xander’s face close to mine, his familiar smile warming me instantly.“We’re here,” he murmured, his voice a gentle rumble. I blinked, still dazed from sleep, as he nodded toward the window. “Look outside, Ally.”I turned my head, my mouth dropping open at the sight beyond the glass. We were parked before an enormous castle, but this wasn’t anything like the dark, stoned fortress Kendrick called home. This castle was modern, gleaming with elegance and style, a masterpiece of towering spires, vast gardens, and pristine walls that caught the morning light like something from a dream. The air seemed lighter, free from the tension that always lingered around Silver Moon.“Wow,” I whispered, unable to tear my eyes away. “It’s… beautiful.”Xander’s hand gently touched my chin, bringing my gaze back to him. “Do you like it?”All I could do was nod, a genuine smile stretching across my face."Good,” h
Alison's POVThe air was still, and I could hear my own heartbeat pulsing in the silence. One week in Night Fang, and I was already feeling the weight of the walls around me. I’d barely left my room since Xander brought me here, hiding from his mother and her disapproving glances, the way she looked at me like I was the dirt on her pristine shoes. But I couldn’t stay locked up forever. If I was going to survive in this new world, I had to start facing it.I stretched out in bed, feeling the silk sheets against my skin, so different from the scratchy, worn out naked foam I used back at Silver Moon. After a quick shower, I slipped on a dress Xander had bought for me... a soft, flowing piece that hugged me just enough to make me feel bold. I glanced in the mirror and asked Maya, What do you think?"Not bad, though you might need sharper claws for the likes of this place," she replied with a hint of sarcasm making me chuckle.With a deep breath, I stepped into the hallway, letting my feet