Alison's POVThe air was thick with tension as I paced Simone’s hut, the soft flicker of candlelight casting elongated shadows against the walls. Every creak of the old wooden floor seemed louder than it should have been, each sound feeding my already frayed nerves. Simone sat at the corner table, her milky eyes staring into a void only she could see, her hands delicately tracing the edges of an old, yellowed map.“You’re wearing a hole into the floor,” she finally said, her voice calm but with an edge of amusement.I stopped mid-stride, folding my arms across my chest. “How can you be so calm? The Crimson Vault could be anywhere in this entire territory, and we have no idea where to start.”Simone’s lips curved into a faint smile as she tilted her head in my direction. “Because panicking won’t bring us any closer to finding it. Sit down, Alison. Your restless energy is suffocating.”Reluctantly, I dropped into a chair opposite her, the legs scraping against the wooden floor. Simone r
Alison's POVThe heavy silence in the air felt like a harbinger of chaos as I paced the length of my room, my mind spiraling through the tangled mess of alliances, betrayals, and mounting tensions. The weight of it all was unbearable. Every decision I made seemed to tighten the noose around my throat, and now, more than ever, I felt like I was running out of time.A sharp knock on my door startled me out of my thoughts. “Come in,” I called, my voice steadier than I felt.Simone stepped inside, her cane tapping lightly against the stone floor, followed by two of my guards. Her expression, serene yet commanding, belied the storm brewing in her mind. “The guards will assist me on my task,” she said simply, her blind gaze fixed somewhere near my shoulder.“Thank you for agreeing to this,” I said, my voice low.“You gave me no choice, We are more like sisters now,” Simone replied, a trace of humor in her tone. “I'd go any length for you. Are you ready?”Ready? No. But this wasn’t about me
Alison's POV The air in Alpha Gaius’s office was heavy, the tension almost suffocating as we sat around the old oak table. The treaty lay before us, its parchment yellowed with age, the ink faded but legible. My fingers itched to touch the Crimson Dagger at my side, its weight both comforting and ominous. The secrets we had unearthed could either save us or doom us.“Are we really sure about this?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended. “The treaty, the magic… it’s all just words until proven otherwise.”“Darling, legends don’t survive this long without truth to sustain them,” my father said, his deep voice steady but with an edge of concern. “And now we have the proof.”Simone sat opposite me, her sightless eyes directed slightly above my head. She held her staff with both hands, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to the storm raging inside me. “Let us read it again,” she said softly, tilting her head as if listening to something beyond the room.My father unfurled the scroll on
Alison's POVThe air outside Shadow Claw’s grand council hall was sharp and biting, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. My boots crunched against the gravel as I stood beside my father, Alpha Gaius, the ancient treaty tucked carefully under his arm. A thin veil of mist hung over the landscape, blurring the outline of the towering structure before us. The weight of what we were about to face bore down on me, tightening my chest like a vice.“Do you think they’ll listen?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.“They will,” my father said firmly, though his tone betrayed the tension coursing through him. “The council was created to uphold the laws and ensure balance among the Sister Packs. If there’s any justice left in this world, today will be our victory.”The word “victory” felt fragile in my mind, like glass teetering on the edge of shattering.I glanced at the doors of the hall, their intricate carvings depicting wolves under a blood-red moon. “How does it work? The counc
Alison's POV “You did it, Alison. You saved it all.” Xander said pulling me into a short hugI couldn't wrap my head around why he was here but I was super excited to see him regardless "Hey, you came?" before I could continue my father said"He told us he'd be coming but wanted it to be a surprise so we couldn't tell" my father said My eyes darted to my mother's side and the sweet smile on her face was so heart filling"So everyone else knew except me, wow guys" I teased pretending to be angry"It's payback for not telling me about these too, now I got you back" everyone burst into laughter."Table is served everyone, we might as well celebrate this win together as a family since Xander is here" my mum said as everyone concurred to it, Xander threw his arms around my waist as we proceeded for the dinning. The feast was massive, my mum had prepared so much in a bid for us to celebrate, by the time we were all done no one had the strength anymore to even rise from the table, by the
Xander’s Point of ViewI woke up to an empty bed and an empty room.At first, it didn’t register. The warmth of the previous night still lingered in the sheets, and most of all in my mind, sluggish and heavy with contentment, I didn’t immediately process that Alison wasn’t next to me. But as my eyes fluttered open and adjusted to the soft morning light streaming through the curtains, the absence of her soft breathing beside me became glaring to me.A pang of disappointment rippled through me. I turned my head, hoping she had simply rolled away or tucked herself in the corner of the bed, but no. The space was cold and untouched.I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I sat up. I was hoping to get a beautiful good morning sex, but I guess today had other plans in store for me. Today was supposed to be the day I returned to NightFang. I had only come to celebrate Alison’s victory and to finalize the details of our mating ceremony. The thought of leaving her, even if only for a short
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
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
Xander's POVThe training grounds came clearly into view as I stood by the edge of the gates. I watched Alison move with an eerie grace, her body a blur as she dodged and countered, each motion precise, calculated. But I knew she was pushing herself too hard. The Alison I had brought to Night Fang was calm, quiet and could barely defend herself. Not to sound horrible but I love that she could stand for herself but this burden? It was too much on her and my heart bled looking at her pushing herself beyond limits. Then I saw her lose grip and stumble back. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay still. My wolf raged within me, demanding that I intervene, that I catch her before she hit the ground again. It felt the pain I felt at the sight before meWhen she hit the ground I growled inwardly. The impact sent a tremor through the earth, but Alison was up before the dust settled, her breathing ragged yet determined. She was relentless. The prophecy had made sure of that. The fate o
Alison’s POV"We can't afford to waste time," Simone’s voice crackled through the conference call. "The Blood Moon is coming, and if the prophecy is true, we're already running out of time."I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to suppress the tension building in my chest. "I know," I admitted. "But we can’t go in blind. There has to be a way to stop the witch before she gains full power."Xander sat beside me, his arms crossed, his sharp gaze fixed on the laptop screen where Simone’s worried face stared back at us. His presence was a grounding force, but even he couldn’t deny the heavy uncertainty hanging over us.Simone exhaled deeply. "I've been digging through every ancient text I could find. If she’s trying to sever mate bonds permanently, then she needs a ritual of unprecedented power, something connected to the Blood Moon itself."I felt a chill run down my spine. "You think she plans to tap into the Moon Goddess’s energy?"Simone nodded gravely. "It's the only thing strong
Simone’s POVA shiver traced down my spine before I even opened my eyes.Something was wrong. I felt an unwanted presence.The air felt thick, heavy with something unseen, something ancient. My heart pounded as I forced myself to sit up, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps. I wasn’t in my room anymore. I wasn’t anywhere real.The world around me was shifting violently.. black mist rolling like storm clouds, the sky bleeding into deep, unnatural shades of red. The ground beneath me cracked, jagged like something had torn through it.Then, I saw her.The same cloaked figure Alison had described to me few days ago, standing beneath the looming Blood Moon.The witch lifted her arms, her voice ringing out in a chant that I couldn’t understand, but somehow, felt in my bones. It was dark magic, something twisted and unnatural, seeping into the air like poison.I tried to move. Tried to speak. But my body refused to obey.And then the pain hit the Wolves lurking around under the red moo
Alison’s POVThe dream started like a whisper, a fleeting sensation of something pulling me into a realm between sleep and wakefulness.Then, the darkness gave way to a vision.Mother Eliza stood in her glory before me, her aged figure framed by an eerie silver glow. The old witch had always been mighty to behold… FoFor now she was ither an enemy nor an ally, just a powerful figure that had a hand in my existence in the shadows of fate. But tonight, there was something different in her stance, when I had seen her in her abode she looked calm, calculated and without a fear. But now she looked… in a hurry, like what she had to say was something urgent yet hot to voice out.Her deep-sitted eyes locked onto mine, and when she spoke, her voice was like wind rustling through dead leaves."Alison! This fight isn’t over! You are resting while she plots more evil.!"I felt my stomach drop."The balance between wolves and witches is at stake."The words wrapped around me, suffocating, their wei
Xander’s POVThe first thing I noticed when we stepped back into Crimson Pack territory was the air.It was different. Lighter. Cleaner. Gone was the heavy, suffocating pressure that had lingered like a noose around this place. The sickness, the darkness, the rot.. it was gone.The second thing I noticed was the people.Wolves rushed from their homes, from the infirmaries where they had been bedridden, from the training grounds where they had once been too weak to fight. Their faces, drawn and gaunt from weeks of suffering, now glowed with something I hadn’t seen in a long time. Hope.A murmur rippled through the crowd, then a roar."It’s over!""The curse is broken!""We’re free!"The entire pack erupted. Some fell to their knees in exhausted relief. Others clung to their loved ones, sobbing openly. Warriors lifted their heads to the sky and howled—a deep, guttural sound that echoed through the land.Alison’s fingers tightened around mine, her nails digging into my palm. I turned to
Alison’s POV The ruins of SilverMoon were eerily silent, except for the ragged breaths of the three of us as we staggered toward Kendrick’s crumpled form. The air was thick with the scent of blood, dust, and death. My heart pounded in my chest as I pushed past the shock, my legs carrying me forward on instinct alone. Kendrick lay there, his body broken, his breathing shallow. But his eyes… those piercing green eyes… still held life. Just barely. “No, no, no,” I whispered, my voice cracking as I dropped to my knees beside him. Simone knelt next to me, her hands trembling. Xander, breathless and still staggering from the fight, crouched beside Kendrick, his jaw clenched so tightly I thought it might snap. Kendrick’s lips curved into a weak smile. “We did it,” he rasped, his voice barely a whisper. Tears burned in my eyes. “Don’t do this, Kendrick. You’re going to be fine. We… we can find you a good healer in Xander's pack. There has to be someone who can help.” My voice was franti
Alison’s POVPain. It was sharp, searing, and all-consuming.I barely registered the sound of my own scream as my wolf form collapsed onto the cold, hard ground, my leg pulsing with agony from where Priya’s blade had torn into me. My body trembled violently, the silver of my fur now stained with crimson.“Alison!” Xander’s desperate voice echoed through the ruins, panic laced in every syllable.I forced myself to lift my head, but my vision blurred. Through the haze of pain, I saw Priya, her twisted smile sending a chill down my spine.She wasn’t done.Her lips moved swiftly, chanting, her voice dripping with venom as she sent a surge of dark magic toward me.A force so powerful rushed at me that my breath hitched, this was meant to end me.But before it could, Simone stepped forward.“No, you don’t!” she hissed, raising her hands.A surge of bright light erupted from her fingertips, colliding with Priya’s dark spell mid-air. The impact sent a wave of force rippling through the ruins,
Alison’s POV A deadly silence filled the ruins. For a split second, I had seen something in Priya’s eyes… fear. But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, replaced by something much darker. She sneered. “You think I’m afraid of you four?” A low, guttural laugh spilled from her lips, growing louder, more unhinged, until it echoed through the ruins like a chorus of the damned. The sound slithered under my skin, cold and unsettling. “You actually think your measly powers are enough to stop me? That you can prevent me from wiping out the entire werewolf pack as revenge for what I went through in their hands?” She tilted her head, black eyes gleaming with malice. “How stupid and naive.” Her gaze snapped to Simone, and a cruel smile curled her lips. “You,” she hissed, “a witch, siding with the very creatures that slaughtered your ancestors? You should be ashamed of yourself.” Simone’s jaw clenched, but she didn’t speak. She stood tall, her fingers twitching at her sides, magic
Alison’s POVKendrick took a step forward, fists clenched, but I grabbed his wrist, stopping him before he could do something reckless. His muscles tensed under my grip, his body trembling with barely contained fury."Don’t," I whispered, barely able to get the word out.Priya’s gaze snapped onto Kendrick like a predator spotting its prey, her twisted smile vanishing in an instant. Her face darkened, her brows pulling together in a deep scowl, something between rage and... heartbreak?“How dare you bring him here?” Her voice cracked, laced with venom and something deeper... something raw.A slow, heavy breath escaped her lips before she tilted her head, black eyes narrowing.“You think,” she hissed, stepping forward, “that because I once loved him, I would back down?”Her voice sent a shiver racing down my spine.Priya let out a shaky breath, as if she was barely keeping herself together, and then before I could react her lips moved, forming words in a language I didn’t understand.Th