Gwen’s POVI drifted in and out of consciousness, caught between my memories and… someone else's. It’s strange, like watching two lives play out side by side, and I can’t tell which one is mine anymore. I try to focus, try to cling to my memories, Gwen’s memories, but they keep slipping through my fingers.I remember pieces of my past life, fragments of moments that once felt so real. I can see him, Damien, the way we laughed together, the way I trusted him with everything. And then… betrayal.The memory is sharp, like a blade cutting deep into me. I can still feel the sting of finding out he wasn’t loyal, and that my maid, someone I also trusted, was involved. The two of them, behind my back, lying to me, betraying me. My heart aches at the thought, the love I once had for him twisted into something painful.But then, as if the memory doesn’t belong to me anymore, it shifts. Suddenly, I’m not seeing my life. I’m seeing someone else’s. Arlene.Her memories, vivid and clear, weave them
Lucian’s POVAs I stood there, staring at the woman before me, I couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling deep in my gut. She looked so much like Arlene, with the same face, and the same piercing eyes that once held my soul captive. It was almost like a sick joke, one I wasn’t sure I could laugh at.Every part of me screamed to believe that it was her. My Arlene. But something was wrong. There was something different in the way she carried herself, something off in the way she looked back at me.Ethan stood beside me, watching my reaction closely. He always knew when I was about to lose control. He cleared his throat, breaking the tense silence."Alpha Lucian, listen to me," he began, his voice calm but firm. "It’s not dark magic. I’ve checked. Whatever is happening here, it’s real. This isn’t some trick."I didn’t answer him. I couldn’t. My mind was spinning, memories of the last time I saw Arlene flashing before my eyes. That day, the day she died, it still haunted me.The blood, the b
Gwen’s POVWhen I woke up, it felt like I was being dragged out of a deep, suffocating darkness. My head throbbed, my body felt impossibly heavy, and my thoughts were a jumbled mess.For a few disorienting moments, I didn’t even know where I was. Slowly, the room around me began to take shape, the dim lighting, the soft bedding, the strange but familiar scent hanging in the air.Lucian.His name echoed in my mind before I could even think twice about it. It had slipped from my lips so naturally, so... intimately.I hadn’t planned it and hadn’t even realized I had said it until the sound of it filled the room. The moment I saw him, it was like everything else faded away, and all I could do was focus on him.It felt instinctive like something deep inside me was urging me forward, something I didn’t fully understand but couldn’t resist.And then, before I even knew what I was doing, I kissed him.As soon as my lips touched his, reality snapped back into place. A wave of shock hit me, and
Gwen’s POVI kept banging on the door, each hit weaker than the last as exhaustion took over. My throat burned from screaming, my knuckles ached from pounding on the wood, but none of it mattered.The anger, the frustration, it was all too much to hold in. I needed him to hear me, to understand that I wasn’t Arlene. I wasn’t some cruel reincarnation of his lost love. I was Gwen, and I was just as lost as he was.But the door never opened.Eventually, my body couldn’t take it anymore. My muscles were heavy, and my mind was foggy from the overwhelming emotions and physical exhaustion.My legs gave out, and I slid down to the cold floor, curling up against the door. I kept muttering under my breath, “I’m not her. I’m not Arlene,” but even those words started to lose their strength.Before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep, my body giving in to the exhaustion.When I woke up, the sun had already started to creep into the room, casting a soft glow on the stone walls. My body felt like it h
Gwen’s POV“Stop pretending to be her!”Lucian just stood there, his face unreadable, his arms still crossed after yelling at me."I don’t care what your excuses are," he said, his voice low. "Arlene is dead. And nothing you say will change that." I stood there, staring at Lucian, trying to gather my thoughts. The words I wanted to say felt tangled up in my mind, the memories of Arlene swirling around like a storm.It was becoming harder and harder to separate my thoughts from hers. Every time I tried to speak, images of her life, her twisted relationship with Lucian, flooded my mind, interrupting my reality. I was still me, Gwen, but every part of me felt like Arlene overshadowed it.“Lucian, you have to believe me,” I said, my voice shaky as I tried to find the right words. “I’m not Arlene. I know I look like her, and maybe… maybe I sound like her too, but I’m not her.”But even as I spoke, I could feel the memories creeping in, like uninvited guests. Arlene’s laughter echoed in my
Lucian’s POVI stood there, staring at the door that Gwen had just slammed in my face. For a moment, I didn’t move. I was too stunned, too caught off guard.I could still hear the echo of the door crashing shut, and feel the vibration of it. That wasn’t like Arlene. Arlene would’ve fought me.She would’ve stood her ground and thrown whatever insults she could muster. But Gwen? She ran. She hid.That difference gnawed at me.I let out a frustrated breath, my hands curling into fists at my sides. My wolf growled low, unsettled. Everything about Gwen confused me. Her face, Arlene’s face, taunted me, pulled at old wounds I thought had healed.But nothing about her added up. She was different in all the ways I didn’t expect, and I couldn’t decide if that was a good thing or if it made her more dangerous.Without thinking, I shifted, my body melting into the form of my wolf as my muscles stretched and fur erupted across my skin.I took off into the woods, letting the wind rush past me, my p
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
GWENBeing pregnant wasn’t supposed to be like this. I knew carrying pups wasn’t easy, but as an Alpha mated to another Alpha, I should have known it would be different. The moon had granted me a vision, a glimpse of the future, and yet here I was—exhausted, emotional, and constantly battling fluctuating moods. I couldn’t help but laugh sometimes, wondering how the pack would handle this version of their Alpha Queen.The first few weeks after Ethan had confirmed the news felt like an endless roller coaster. My body seemed to change by the day, the weight of pregnancy settling into my bones. Some days, I could hardly keep my eyes open; others, I felt like I could conquer the world. But it wasn’t just my body that was changing—it was my emotions, too. I’d snap at Lucian for something trivial, my mind a storm of thoughts and anxieties, only to immediately apologize and burst into tears because I felt guilty. Hormones? No. This was an Alpha’s pregnancy, and it was intense.Lucian, bless h
GWENThe night was quiet, serene—almost too quiet. After the grand celebration of our union, Lucian and I finally had a chance to rest, to take in everything that had happened in the past few days. But sleep eluded me that night. I found myself lying awake, staring at the moon through the open window. Its light bathed the land in silver, peaceful and eternal, much like the bond I shared with Lucian.That’s when it happened.A soft presence filled the room, a comforting warmth that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. I blinked, sitting up, my heart racing. The room was empty, yet I felt no fear. There was only a sense of calm, as if I were being cradled in the very arms of the night itself.Then, a voice, as gentle as the moon’s glow, filled my mind.Gwen.My breath caught in my throat. It was her, the Moon Goddess.Do not be afraid, child. I have watched you closely. Your defiance, your refusal to bow to the constraints of destiny, it inspired me. You, Gwen, have shown
GWENThe day had finally come, the day I would say goodbye to Arlene. The woman who had been my closest confidante, my mentor, and my friend. She had stood beside me through the darkest of days and the brightest of victories. Now, her absence was a gaping wound in my heart, one that I wasn’t sure how to close. But life had to go on, and I had promised her that I would lead our pack into a future that honored everything she had taught me.The clearing was quiet, the air still with the weight of anticipation. The pack had gathered to honor Arlene, and as I stood before the gathered faces, I could feel her presence with me, as if she were standing right behind me, offering her silent support. I could almost hear her voice, whispering the words of strength I needed to carry on.The ceremony was simple, yet filled with reverence. The flowers we had picked from the fields, the candles that flickered with a soft light, and the incense that swirled through the air all spoke of love, loss, and
GWENThe moonlight cast a soft glow over the newly rebuilt pack lands, the air crisp and alive with the whispers of a future we were all striving toward. The sounds of construction had faded, replaced with a deeper kind of peace, one that had been hard-earned, fought for with the blood of our people and the weight of history on our shoulders.I had spent so many nights looking out over these lands, reflecting on what had been lost under Damien’s reign and what we were now building together. My heart still carried the scars of his betrayal, but I had made a promise to my people—to rebuild, to heal, and to lead them into a future where we could finally be free of the shadow he had cast over us.With Lucian by my side, that promise felt more like a vow I could keep.It had been weeks since the last of Damien’s forces had been rooted out, since we had finally reclaimed our territories. There were no more whispers of traitors hiding in the shadows, no more enemies creeping through the crac
GWENThe wind swept through the ruins of the once-great city, carrying with it the scent of fresh earth and rebuilding. Everywhere I looked, the landscape bore the marks of war—broken walls, shattered homes, the remnants of lives lost. But amidst the destruction, there was something else. Hope. It was growing, slowly but surely, as my people—my pack—began to rebuild what was lost.I stood at the edge of the newly constructed walls, my gaze sweeping over the horizon. The sun was rising, casting a golden glow on the charred remnants of Damien's reign. It was almost surreal to think about how far we had come, and how much we had been through. I had been forced into a role I never expected, thrust into the leadership of a pack torn apart by betrayal and bloodshed. Yet, here I was, standing strong, the weight of my people’s trust on my shoulders.Lucian stood beside me, his presence steady and grounding. His hand brushed against mine, a silent reminder that I wasn't alone in this. We were
GWENLucian’s scent, earthy and steady, with just a hint of spice, wrapped around me like a balm. He didn’t speak, just came to stand beside me, his broad shoulders silhouetted against the faint glow of the dying fire.“You’re brooding,” he said softly, breaking the silence.I huffed a breath, the corner of my mouth twitching in a half-hearted smile. “I prefer the term ‘reflecting.’”He chuckled, the sound low and rich, vibrating through the cool night air. He didn’t push me to speak, giving me the space I needed to sort through my thoughts. But the silence between us wasn’t empty, it was filled with the steady, unspoken connection we always shared.Finally, I exhaled deeply, letting the words I’d been holding back tumble out. “Do you ever wonder if... if we’re doing the right thing? If I’m doing the right thing?”He turned to face me, his dark eyes searching mine. “What brought that on?”I gestured vaguely toward the clearing. “Everything. The battle, the losses, and the decisions we
GWENThe sun dipped low in the sky, casting its warm, amber glow across the clearing as the pack gathered to honor our fallen. The air was thick with grief, mingling with the faint scent of earth and smoke from the makeshift pyres. Each face was etched with sorrow, yet there was a quiet sense of pride among us—a recognition of the strength it took to survive and protect our home.I stood at the center, my hands clasped tightly in front of me. Lucian stood beside me, his presence grounding me as I struggled to find the right words. My voice felt heavy, burdened by the weight of loss and the responsibility to keep our pack moving forward.The clearing felt alive with silence, the kind that pressed against your ears and made every thought louder. Wolves of all ranks and ages were gathered, their postures stiff, their eyes solemn. Mothers clutched their children close; warriors stood with heads bowed. The pyres, carefully built from branches and kindling, stood like solemn sentinels await
GWENAfter the whole saga with Elaine, it was time to addressed the ruthless Alpha. The forest was eerily quiet as we approached the rogue Alpha’s camp, the kind of quiet that sets your teeth on edge and makes you hyper-aware of every sound. Lucian walked ahead of me, his stride confident and steady, even though the tension radiating off him was impossible to miss. I stayed close, my senses sharp and ready. This wasn’t just any rogue we were dealing with. This was the Alpha who had dared to ally with Damien, who had promised reinforcements that could have devastated us.And now, he was about to face justice.We reached the edge of the clearing where the rogue’s camp was situated. My eyes swept over the scene—ragged wolves lounging near a smoldering fire, a few sharpening weapons, others pacing like caged animals. They were a sorry sight, but there was still danger in their unpredictability. The air was thick with the smell of unwashed bodies and stale aggression.Then he emerged. The
GWENThe battlefield was quiet now, starkly contrasting to the chaos that had reigned just hours ago. The storm Damien had summoned had dissipated, leaving a somber calm in its wake. The bodies of the fallen were being tended to, and the wounded were receiving care. Yet, amidst the aftermath of battle, another storm was brewing—a far more personal one.I stood at the center of the pack’s gathering, my Alpha aura still humming with power. The tension was palpable as two warriors dragged Elaine before me. She was disheveled and bruised, her hair matted with blood and dirt. Yet her eyes held no remorse, only a bitter defiance that made my stomach churn.The pack murmured angrily, their voices rising as they hurled accusations at her.“Traitor!”“She almost cost us everything!”“She deserves death!”I raised my hand, and silence fell instantly. I stared at Elaine, trying to reconcile the image of the loyal maid I once trusted with the venomous woman kneeling before me.“Elaine,” I began,