Lucian’s POV As Gwen stumbled, I caught her arm to stop her fall, but the moment felt… wrong. I quickly let go, stepping back as she wobbled, barely catching herself. Her eyes met mine, filled with disappointment. “Lucian...” she whispered, her voice barely holding steady. “Don’t,” I cut her off, my tone sharp. “Don’t think for a second that I’ve forgotten who you are.” She blinked, her lips parting as if to say something, but then she just stared at me, hurt flickering in her eyes. I could see her holding back her words, maybe waiting for me to say something else. I didn’t. “So, this is it?” she asked softly, her voice trembling. “You’re just going to keep treating me like the enemy?” “I don’t know who you are,” I replied coldly, arms crossed. “You look like her, but that doesn’t mean you are.” She straightened herself, her face hardening. “I’m not Arlene. I’ve never claimed to be. But you keep acting like I’ve done something wrong just by existing.” I clenched my jaw, refusin
Gwen’s POV After the meeting with Lucian, I felt like I could finally breathe. Lucian’s rules were clear, his chambers were off-limits, and I couldn’t cross the staircases to his private area. Fine. I didn’t need his personal space, I just needed him to trust me or stop treating me like an enemy. On my way back to my room, I heard footsteps behind me. Turning around, I saw Ethan catching up to me, his face relaxed as usual. He flashed me a quick smile. “Hey, Gwen, mind if I walk with you?” he asked. I shrugged. “Sure, it’s not like I have much choice in the matter.” Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ve got more choice than you think, trust me.” We walked side by side in silence for a few moments before he spoke again. “You know, I’ve been thinking about what you said earlier. About your story.” I glanced at him, trying to gauge where this conversation was headed. “And?” He tilted his head slightly, looking at me as if he was trying to see straight into my soul. “I believe
Gwen’s POV I slept angrily when I slammed the door against Lucian earlier. I was so pissed that I had to sleep before thinking about what to do next. After sleeping for more than one hour, I sat up in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind still swirling with the vision I just had. It was the same as the one I had when I died. I rubbed my temples, trying to piece together what I had seen. The vision wasn’t clear to me yet, like looking through foggy glass. But I knew one thing for certain; it had something to do with Lucian. And Arlene. And this strange second chance at life I had been given. "Three months," I muttered to myself, my voice barely above a whisper. "Three months to reclaim my mate and get my revenge." The Moon Goddess had been clear about that part, at least. “But what did she mean by "reclaim my mate"? Was Lucian meant to be mine?” I muttered. I sighed, feeling more confused than ever. "Why can’t these visions just be straightforward for once?" I said aloud, half
Lucian’s POV Inside, I couldn’t shake it. The way Gwen had stormed out, the tension that still hung in the air gnawed at me. I stood there, staring at the door she had slammed behind her, my thoughts racing. My gut was telling me something wasn’t right, and my wolf wasn’t making it any easier. "She’s hiding something," my wolf growled, a low rumble I could feel deep inside. His frustration mirrored my own, clawing at my insides. I let out a long sigh, running a hand through my hair. Maybe she was hiding something—maybe not. But I wasn’t the type to just sit around and wait. I had to know. The way she threw that name at me, "Gwendolyn Silverfang," felt like a challenge, as if she wanted me to dig into her past. Fine. I’d do exactly that. Without wasting another moment, I grabbed my phone from my pocket and dialed Ethan’s number again. He was the only one I trusted to get to the bottom of this, no matter how deep he had to go. The phone rang a couple of times before I heard his voi
Lucian’s POV“We need to help each other out if we’re going to get through this. No more secrets.” I said, holding back my usual coldness and keeping my voice calm.Gwen’s eyes flickered with doubt. She crossed her arms over her chest, clearly still wary of me, but after a tense pause, she nodded. “Fine. No more secrets. But this doesn’t mean I trust you.”“That’s enough for now,” I replied, feeling a slight relief. Trust would come later, if ever. Right now, we need to move forward.I pulled out my phone and dialed Ethan. “Get to my castle, now.” A few minutes later, Ethan arrived, clearly annoyed, storming into the room with a scowl. “Lucian, I swear, if you keep calling me on these last-minute runs—”“I don’t have time for your theatrics, Ethan,” I cut in, brushing off his complaints.Ethan glared at me before turning to Gwen, his expression softening. “Gwen, good to see you again.”She gave him a small, polite nod, still wary of the situation. “Same here.”I grabbed my jacket, sl
Damien’s POV(Back at the Crescent Moon Pack (Gwen’s original pack)The room was finally mine.I sat back in the Alpha’s chair, running my fingers over the polished wood of the desk, taking it all in. This was my desk now. The weight of responsibility didn’t feel as heavy as I’d thought, it felt like power. Pure, unfiltered power. And it felt good.For so long, I had been the one in the shadows, taking orders. Gwen was always barking commands, expecting everyone to fall in line. Especially me. I was her second-in-command, but honestly, most days, I felt more like her errand boy."Damien, do this." "Damien, handle that." "Don’t you think you should’ve done it like this?"I chuckled, shaking my head. The amount of times I had to grit my teeth and just… take it. She loved lording her power over me, always reminding me who was in charge.Well, not anymore.I grabbed the bottle of whiskey from the table, pouring another glass. The amber liquid swirled as I raised it to my lips. "Here’s to
Lucian’s POVI, together with Ethan and Gwen returned home and after telling me to accept Gwen for who she was, Ethan left the castle. It felt like a rock was stuck in my throat.I couldn’t believe what I was about to do, but I knew it had to be done.Gwen had told me her side of the story, and honestly, part of me still wasn’t sure if I should trust her, but rumors would be flying faster than a pack of rogues on a full moon.If I didn’t introduce her myself, rumors and whispers would turn into something much worse.I took a deep breath and ran a hand through my hair, pacing back and forth in my room. “Come on, Lucian, just rip off the bandage,” I muttered to myself.My gut was twisted, and the idea of standing in front of everyone, putting Gwen out there like that, had my nerves all over the place.Still, it was better to hear it from me than through half-truths and lies.I walked out of my room and made my way to where Gwen was sitting in the living room, her back leaning against a
Lucian’s POVAfter addressing the crowd, I watched as they slowly filed out of the hall. Even though I could sense the doubt still lingering in the air, I was relieved that no one openly challenged me.It would take time for them to accept what I’d said about Gwen, and I knew I couldn’t force them to believe right away. But at least they were willing to consider it, and that was something.Once the last person left, I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I’d been holding. Gwen, standing beside me, looked exhausted.She hadn’t said a word the entire time, but I could feel the tension rolling off her. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft."Lucian," she said, looking up at me with tired eyes, "I think I need to rest. This has been... a lot."I nodded, understanding completely. "Of course," I said. "You’ve been through enough for one day,”She gave me a faint smile and turned to leave with one of the servants. As she walked away, I couldn’t help but feel a mixture of emotions.Rel
GWENThe first thing I saw when I crossed into our territory was Lucian. He was standing just beyond the tree line, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon as if willing me to appear. When his gaze finally landed on me, relief washed over his face, softening the usual stoic lines of his expression.“Gwen,” he breathed, striding toward me. The next moment, I was in his arms, his warmth chasing away the chill that had settled deep in my bones.“You’re back,” he murmured, his lips pressing against my temple. His grip was firm, like he was afraid I’d vanish if he let go. “I was so worried.”“I told you I’d come back,” I said, trying to muster a smile. But even as I stood there, wrapped in his arms, the weight of what I’d seen and experienced clung to me like a shadow.Our reunion was short-lived. Before I could explain everything, Ethan arrived with grim news.“Lucian,” he said, urgency lacing his tone, “we have a problem. Scouts spotted Damien’s forces moving toward us. It looks like they’re
GWENThe night fell heavy and silent as we regrouped inside the captured outpost. The air inside was damp, tinged with the metallic scent of blood from the earlier fight. Our team spread out, each warrior taking a position to guard the perimeter. Despite the victory, tension lingered in the air, and exhaustion pressed down on all of us.I sat near a small, cracked window, my gaze fixed on the forest beyond. Shadows danced in the faint moonlight, and every flicker of movement had me on edge. My fingers instinctively reached for the pendant again, tracing its smooth, crescent shape. It was becoming a habit—a tether to keep me grounded amidst the chaos.Lucian’s face filled my mind. I wondered what he was doing at that very moment. Was he staring out at the same moon, thinking of me? Was he pacing in frustration, cursing this plan for pulling us apart? The thought brought a small smile to my lips, though it was quickly overshadowed by the ache of longing.“Penny for your thoughts?” Ethan
GWENThe evening sky was painted in soft hues of orange and pink as the sun dipped below the horizon. The warmth of the day was giving way to a cool breeze, and the weight of what tomorrow would bring pressed heavily on my chest.Lucian and I sat on the balcony of our quarters, overlooking the pack grounds. The sounds of life around us—children laughing, warriors preparing—felt distant, like a world I wasn’t part of. My focus was entirely on him, and the moments we had left.“You’re too quiet,” Lucian said, his voice soft but tinged with concern. He reached out, his fingers brushing against mine where they rested on the table. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”I sighed, turning to meet his gaze. His eyes, always so piercing, were softer now, filled with an emotion I couldn’t fully name. “I’m just... trying to memorize this moment. You. Us. Before everything changes.”Lucian frowned slightly, his thumb tracing slow circles on the back of my hand. “Nothing is going to change, Gwe
GWENThe warmth of Lucian’s arms wrapped around me, and for a fleeting moment, the world outside didn’t matter. His heartbeat was steady against my cheek, and I focused on its rhythm, trying to anchor myself in the calm he provided. But the weight of the future pressed heavily on my mind, refusing to be ignored for long.I pulled back slightly, enough to look up at him. His expression was soft, but his eyes held a flicker of worry that he couldn’t entirely hide. “Lucian,” I began, my voice low and hesitant, “what happens when we’re not enough? When all the love and strength we share isn’t enough to protect the people who rely on us?”He studied me for a moment, the lines of his face etched with thought. “We do what we can, Gwen. We fight with everything we have. And if we fall, we make sure it’s because we gave everything, not because we held back.” His fingers brushed a strand of hair from my face. “But we’re stronger together. That’s the point of this bond. It doesn’t make us invinc
GWENThe night air smelled of smoke and blood. It clung to my skin, heavy and suffocating, as I stood among the remnants of the battlefield. The allied territory we had fought so hard to defend was in shambles. Structures were reduced to rubble, the ground torn apart by claw marks and bloodstains. Damien’s forces had retreated, but their attack had left scars—on the land and us.Lucian approached me slowly, his steps deliberate, as though he were trying not to spook me. His face was smeared with dirt and blood, but his golden eyes burned with something far more intense than exhaustion. Anger. Concern. Both, maybe.“Gwen,” he said, his voice low but sharp, cutting through the chaos around us. “We need to talk.”I turned away, unable to meet his gaze. My hands trembled as I wiped them on my torn pants, trying to focus on anything other than the sinking feeling in my chest. I knew this conversation was coming. I had known since the moment my hesitation in the battle almost cost him his l
GWENThe world felt unusual still as I drifted in that place between dreaming and waking, where reality blurred with something deeper, something primal. In the vision, the Moon Goddess stood before me, radiant and untouchable, her silvery light washing over everything. Her expression was calm, but there was a weight in her eyes that made my heart ache.“You are strong, Gwen,” she said, her voice like the gentle rustle of leaves in a midnight breeze. “But strength alone does not ensure victory. Love is your greatest gift, but it is also your greatest risk.”Before I could respond, the scene shifted. Suddenly, I was standing on a battlefield. Smoke curled in the air, and the metallic tang of blood filled my senses. Wolves snarled and clashed all around me, their fur matted with sweat and dirt. My heart thundered as my eyes locked on Lucian. He was fighting fiercely, his movements graceful and precise, but he was outnumbered.A decision loomed before me—I could sense it without knowing t
GWENThe preparations for the final confrontation consumed the pack. Everywhere I turned, there was movement, warriors sharpening their weapons, strategists huddling in quiet conversations, and younger wolves preparing supplies. The air buzzed with tension and anticipation, and while I tried to immerse myself in the activity, my thoughts kept drifting.Lucian noticed, of course. He always did.As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the training grounds, he found me standing near the edge of the clearing. His footsteps were soft, but I felt his presence before I saw him. When I turned, his expression was calm yet determined, a sharp contrast to the chaos around us.“Come with me,” he said simply, holding his hand.I frowned, glancing at the bustle of activity behind me. “Lucian, we can’t just leave. There’s so much to do—”He stepped closer, cutting me off with a gentle but firm touch to my arm. “You’ve done enough, Gwen. You need a moment to breathe. We both do
GWENThe cool wind kissed my cheeks as I stood in the training yard, my muscles straining with each move. My blade gleamed under the sunlight, slicing through the air as I practiced my swings. But my mind wasn’t on the weapon in my hand or the strength in my arms. It was elsewhere, caught in a web of doubts and whispers that gnawed at my resolve.The Moon Goddess’s words lingered like a shadow, growing heavier with each passing day. The price must be paid. Her voice had been as soft as a lullaby, but the weight of her warning was anything but gentle. My vision had shown fire, blood, and heartbreak, but the meaning was still a puzzle I couldn’t solve. Every night, the images replayed behind my eyelids—the crackle of flames, the anguished screams, and the figure standing amidst it all. I couldn’t make out their face, but the despair in their voice as they called my name was unmistakable.I was terrified of what it might cost—who it might cost.“Focus, Gwen!” Ethan’s voice cut through my
GWENThe first thing I noticed was warmth—the kind that seeped into my bones and made me reluctant to move. It took me a moment to register where I was, the soft glow of morning sunlight filtering through the curtains casting everything in a golden hue. I blinked slowly, my eyes adjusting, and that’s when I felt him.Lucian’s arm was draped around my waist, his chest pressed against my back, rising and falling with the steady rhythm of his breaths. For a moment, I froze, my mind racing to catch up with the events of the night before. Flashes of emotion, intimacy, and raw honesty played in my head, and I felt my cheeks heat up.What had we done?But as I lay there, wrapped in his warmth, the guilt that I expected didn’t hit as hard as I thought it would. Instead, there was a quiet sense of peace, a feeling I hadn’t allowed myself to have in what felt like forever. I shifted slightly, and his hold on me tightened, pulling me closer.“Good morning, trouble,” he mumbled, his voice rough w