Hayden tries to act nonchalant when Elise tells him that Ethan’s father will be at the summit and that the alpha identity turns out to be someone so unexpected and powerful. “What?” He was perplexed by her confession. He knew one day they’d talk about who Ethan’s true father was, but he never knew it’d be now, especially to say it was someone coming to the summit, and not just anyone but Rygan ka’al Andras. But Hayden was so angry at the fact that those monsters, Kaide and Alvira, could treat such a beautiful soul as Elise as a criminal, and she was abandoned to fend for herself; he wanted to kill them. “The Black Moon Pack,” she starts with a light caress on Hayden's face as he quietly listens. “That was where I was given refuge after my first mating failed,” she starts. She tells him her story, from what happened to her mother and then becoming a slave in Kyren's hands to when she met Rygan in that dark cell and how he saved her. They were practically bonded. He couldn't
No one in Rygan's pack had expected that attack either; they had all been celebrating Taz's announcement that he was going to be a father soon, and no one saw it coming that night. The males all sat around the bonfire in Taz’s yard, and they were all surprised to see their alpha king in attendance. It was Taz's pleading request to Rygan, and he showed up. Throughout the years, Rygan had become the shell he once was, now a cold alpha who was the beast of the night. Yes, he was a protector of his people, killing threats and anything that dared trespass into their lives. He had been there when they needed him to be, and at the birth of his and Alvira's child, he made sure to be there. A glimmer of hope turned when he saw he now had a child, hoping to calm down that feral recklessness knowing that he had something and someone to protect. Yet he hated that he felt no bond with his daughter; what was that? Through the years, his relationship with Kaide had become estranged; there
It felt as if time had stopped for the Blackmoon Alpha. It felt like he was looking at a ghost from the past. Rygan felt like he couldn’t breathe; none of them could the minute they watched Elise walk into the room. Elise was alive; she had been all this time. Taz was wide-eyed with shock, while Kaide and Alvira looked terrified, as if they had seen a ghost come to haunt them. Kyren's face mirrored that of the Beddor cousin, with an icy terror in their gaze, while Chief Dexton looked like he was a second away from bolting out of the room in fear. No one saw this coming, and now they could barely speak a word. “Welcome, Alpha and Luna of the Calhan Pack,” Camille called, breaking the icy tension in the room. They were all intrigued by the fact that this was the first time they had seen a Calhan wolf interact with other packs in decades. But half of the table was more terrified and still in disbelief of the female who stood tall and proud, her hands elegantly placed on the cur
The whole room was still clouded in utter tension from the chaos that ensued the moment Elise made her appearance and ripped Dexton's arm out; they knew then she was a force to reckon with. Yet to their surprise, she asked for leniency for the humans, just until they had a talk with their leaders and maybe came to a treaty with them to never attack the wolf packs ever again, especially since it was a ploy and partnership likely set by her ex-father Beta Dexton. There were still questions as to how the humans found out about the pack since they had been hidden for so long; something still didn’t add up. But with the decision tallied three to three on each pack's vote, there was still no verdict on the outcome of their choice. Silence only spoke from the Black Moon pack, who had been mute with astonishment ever since Elise arrived. Only after the agreement for a trial did the summit get postponed. With the moon city being a day’s journey from all their respective packs, rooms
Elise had a son. They couldn't believe it. As they all gawked in shock and confusion, Elise held onto the small boy who called her mom, his curious eyes going to Hayden, who smiled at him. For the first time, breaking that hard. He had the exterior of a cold, wicked warrior as he looked down at Ethan, but his cold eyes returned as soon as he faced away from him. Ethan’s curious gaze went across everyone standing in front of him and locked specifically on Rygan, who hadn’t said a word since Ethan’s arrival. He felt frozen in place as he gawked at the boy; something in him thrashed and made his body itch to get closer. He wondered if it was the shock or utter jealousy that Elise had a family, but it was something more than what met the surface. Something his blood recognized before he did. “Who are they, Mom?” “El, this is your—“ “No one is important, sweetie," she said, cutting Rygan off. For a short moment, panic rushed into her gaze before she turned away from them.
Being in the moon city had never felt so nerve-wracking. Everyone was on edge with the tension growing; the sun had set in no time, a reminder of the dinner all packs must attend to further strengthen their relationship, but with no talk of the matter of war. But Rygan could barely think of that; all that was on his mind was Elise! Elise, Elise! He needed to talk to her; just another glimpse of her would quench the burning flame of yearning in his heart. So Rygan had left his chambers first, walking through the compound, his head a mess from what just happened today, and he thought he was processing fully now that Elise was still alive. But that look on her face was like he couldn’t recognize her; that cold, unforgiving gaze caused shudders to rush through his blood. As he walked through the compound to the way of the dinner hall, he came across the last bastard he’d want to see, Kyren, who was busy talking to his concubine in a wicked manner, his hands wrapped around her ne
A tense silence ensued after Alvira’s outburst; she wanted Elsie to feel burning shame that she revealed her secret to everyone: that she had slept with three men in this very room. Alvira then begins to give a slow, mocking clap with a wicked smile. “I mean, it could even be more if she had gotten her grubby hands on Kaide!” She shouts when she feels a painful tug from Rygan, who channels an order for her to stand down. “Calm down, Alvira; you’re drunk,” he warns her, but she ignores Rygan's warning. Maybe it was the wine that was giving her drink courage, but she didn’t back down. “Why should I sit down when the cause of all our troubles is right there? She is a liar, and nothing she says should be believed,” she points out to Elise. But instead of seeing the reaction she was waiting for, Elise's lips stretched out into an amused smirk, and as she was enjoying Alvira drunkenly humiliating herself, it was like a dam of anger had burst into Alvira's emotions as she stalked o
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t be snapping both your heads off right now! Talk now!” Rygan roars out as he pushes his claws deeper into Kaide's neck, cutting off the airflow from his throat as the beta sputters out blood. And with each given silence, Rygan landed punch after punch to Kaide’s face, he didn’t care until his hands bled, knowing full well they both betrayed him and the woman he loved with his heart. The beta groaned out as he began to lose vision from Rygan’s hold, and at any moment he was sure to lose consciousness, but Kaide was as loyal as a dog to Alvira; he wouldn’t spill her secret, and their secret about Alana would lead them both to their deaths the moment they were found out. “Rygan!” Taz called from the door; his voice echoed, making the alpha pause as Taz marched in fast strides to where the three of them were. With the virus still pleading maniacally with a hand wrapped around Rygan's legs. He watched Alvira's horror-filled and tear-stricke