Alison's POVThe car's engine hummed softly, a rhythmic sound that only seemed to amplify the whirlwind of emotions storming inside me. I sat in the back seat, my fingers tightly gripping the leather armrest. The sight of the winding forest road stretching endlessly ahead did little to calm me. My chest tightened with each mile we traveled, and the looming uncertainty of how I would be received at the Crimson Pack weighed heavily on me.The Crimson Pack. My pack. My family.Or at least, I believed it was my familyI swallowed hard, feeling the car hit a small bump on the road. Was I really ready for this? What if they rejected me? What if I’d been away for so long that the bonds that should be between pack members had withered into nothingness? What if my parents don't see me as the child they had yearned for hears to find?"You have been so quiet, Miss Alison," Beta Luke said from the driver’s seat, his sharp gaze flicking to me through the rearview mirror. “Nervous?”I let out a hal
Alison's POVThe sunlight filtered through the thick Crimson curtains of my new bedroom, casting streaks of gold and red on the floor. I stirred, half-lost in dreams of simpler times, but the muted hum of activity beyond the door reminded me I wasn’t at home at least, not the one I’d come to know with Xander months ago.A quiet knock startled me fully awake. The sound was gentle yet deliberate, signaling the start of another unfamiliar and unpredictable day in a place that was supposed to be my own.Slipping out of bed, I threw on a cozy sweater over my pajamas and tied my hair into a loose ponytail. Despite the grandeur of my surroundings, I craved simplicity, something grounding in the midst of everything swirling around me. As I stepped into the hallway, I was greeted by the soft murmurs of the staff bustling about.“Good morning, Miss Maureen,” one of the maids said, offering a warm smile as she passed by with an armful of fresh linens heading for my room.“Good morning,” I replie
Alison's POVThe air in the dining room felt heavier than it should have, and the Alpha’s hug lingered like a thorn pressing against my chest. I barely registered the warmth of his arms around me which must have been geared at trying to calm me as Cedric finally released me.“My dear girl, This is Felix, my son” Cedric said, his booming voice filling the room as he gestured to the younger man beside him. “Your betrothed.”The word hit me like a thunderclap. I blinked, convinced I hadn’t heard him right.“My What?” The single word escaped my lips before I could stop it, a sharp, incredulous whisper that carried far more venom than I intended.My father’s deep voice cut through the tension. “Maureen, Felix. why don’t you both step out for a moment? Cedric and I have little matters to discuss.”“Wait I...” I began, but my father’s stern look silenced me. Reluctantly, I rose from my chair, my hands shaking besides me where no one could see.Felix extended his arm toward me, his lips curve
Alison's POVThe late morning sun streamed through the window, its golden rays painting shifting patterns on the floor. Despite the warmth outside, I felt a chill creeping through me. My mind hadn’t stopped spinning since that argument with my father last week. The tension between us had settled into an uneasy silence, the kind that thickens the air and makes every glance loaded with unspoken words.But I couldn't stay cooped up in this house any longer. The walls felt like they were closing in, each one carrying the weight of promises I never agreed to. I needed air, an escape, something to remind me that my life was still mine to live.Grabbing a light jacket, I made my way to the door. Just as my hand touched the knob, my father’s voice cut through the quiet like a blade."Maureen, Where are you going?" His tone was sharp, though the weariness behind it softened the edges.I froze, exhaling sharply before turning around. "I need some space. I’m just taking a walk through the pack.
Alison's POV The air in my room was oozing with tension. I stared at the reflection in the mirror, trying to decide between a sleek navy dress and a simple black one. My hands trembled slightly, not from excitement but from sheer nerves. This wasn’t just a date.. it was a forced rendezvous with a man who had the gall to blackmail me with the same war that tore me apart from my family for years. Felix. Just his name left a bitter taste in my mouth. As I reached for the navy dress, a sudden knock on the door jolted me. Before I could even call out, the door creaked open. “Darling!,” my mother’s soft voice filled the room. She stepped inside, closing the door behind her. Her sharp eyes immediately took in my half-dressed state and the makeup scattered across the vanity. “Are you going somewhere?” “Yes.” My tone was clipped, but I didn’t spare her a glance. I was still furious at both her and my father. They had made decisions about my life without me, a decision that left me entangle
Alison's POV The aroma of sizzling spices and freshly baked bread wafted through the kitchen, wrapping me in a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in days. The soft hum of the stovetop and the clinking of pots and pans created a rhythm that matched my joyful mood. It had been nearly a week since the confrontation with Felix, and the silence from him felt like a small victory. Two more days. Two days until Xander would arrive at Crimson Pack to finalize the arrangements for our mating ceremony and finally take me with him as his Luna, My chest swelled with excitement at the thought. It was almost surreal that the chaos of the past months was finally settling into something that resembled normalcy or as normal as life could get for someone like me. “Miss Alison, should I start packing these?” Lila, one of the castle staff, asked from across the counter. I looked up from the platter of roasted vegetables I was garnishing. “Yes, Lila. Pack everything carefully. Simone deserves the best, and
Alison's POV The morning sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, painting golden streaks across the ornate walls of my room. It should’ve been the happiest day of my life. a milestone that marked the beginning of something I had dreamed of for years. Yet, as I sat on the velvet stool while the castle staff meticulously tied ribbons into my hair, an unsettling weight pressed against my chest. It was the kind of heaviness that didn’t belong on a day like today. Simone’s words echoed in my mind, as vivid and haunting as they had been when she first said them. You are special… but the obstacles on your way will try to halt it. She had spoken with the voice of the Moon Goddess, a voice I couldn’t ignore, even if I wanted to. My thoughts spiraled back to that moment, her glowing eyes, her voice no longer her own. It wasn’t just the message that haunted me; it was Simone’s revelation afterward. “I’m not like you,” she had said, her voice trembling. “I’m a witch. That’s why I isolat
Alison's POV The first thing I noticed was the noise. It wasn’t the hum of machinery or the muted sounds of nature outside my window... it was voices. A cacophony of them. They overlapped and twisted together like a symphony gone wrong. Some were angry, others were mournful, and a few were so quiet they seemed to whisper secrets just out of reach. The more I tried to tune them out, the louder they grew, crashing against each other in a storm of unintelligible words and emotions. My body felt heavy as I stirred. I wasn’t fully awake yet, but the voices… they wouldn’t let me slip back into the comforting darkness. “Why did this happen to her?” “I’ll kill anyone who touches her.” “She’ll be fine… won’t she?” Who did these voices belong to? Why did they sound so close yet so far? My heart raced as panic gripped me. My eyelids fluttered, and I forced them open, the brightness of the room blinding me momentarily. I blinked rapidly, and when my vision cleared, I saw them. Xander sat
Xander’s POVThe letter burned in my hands…figuratively, but the weight of it felt heavy enough to leave scorch marks. Kendrick’s insignia glared up at me like a personal challenge, the sharp, black ink practically taunting me to make the first move.“No.”The word cut through the thick silence in the room. Alison stood near the window, sunlight painting golden streaks across her dark hair, but even the soft morning glow couldn’t soften the sharp edge in her eyes.“Xander…” she started, her voice calm but laced with determination.“I said no.” I crumpled the letter in my fist, jaw tight, the rage bubbling just beneath my skin. “It’s a damn trap, Alison. You know it, I know it… hell, Simone knows it.”Simone didn’t argue any further. She sat cross-legged on the armrest of the couch, but her gaze flicked between us, calculating.Alison pushed off the windowsill and stepped toward me, her bare feet nearly silent against the hardwood floor. “It’s not a trap. He wouldn’t have sent a letter
Alison’s POVThe soft morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, wrapping the room in a golden haze. I stirred, warmth still lingering in my chest from the night before. My body ached in the best possible way… a sweet, heavy soreness that made me want to stay tangled in these sheets forever.I shifted slightly, my bare skin brushing against his, and I smiled. Xander’s arm was draped lazily over my waist, his breathing deep and even, his chest rising and falling against my back. I tried to ease away, careful not to wake him, but his grip tightened like steel.“Where do you think you’re sneaking off to?” His voice was husky, low, that perfect mix of groggy and dangerous.I laughed softly, feeling the vibrations of his words against my spine. “I wasn’t sneaking. I was just… ”“Don’t lie to me my love,” he cut in, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “You were absolutely sneaking.”I tilted my head back, still caught in his hold. “Maybe I was. But someone has to be productive ar
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