DUSTIN'S POV
I rushed into the pack house, eager to find Dexter. I needed to discuss things with him directly, to sort everything out between us, without any interference from the army or Xavier. I brought up the idea of dividing the pack in hopes that he would rethink all this chaos. Of course, I would never turn the people against our Alpha. But now I learned that Dexter had banished me for murders I didn't commit.I bumped into Kendra in the hallway, and she stood still, as if she wished to become invisible. It was clear to me that she felt terrified, almost as if she dreaded my next move. She should be scared because my wolf was angry and hungry for blood."Where is he?" I barked at her."He is not back yet," she gulped."Don't lie to me, you little hussy.""I'm not. I just heard it from the maidservant that Dexter is still not back. I am just coming from his room, and he is not in there," she said to me."Isn'tDUSTIN'S POVDexter had his hands in his pockets. His gaze dead-locked with mine. "A lot has changed since you left. I had to rule without you. I know a part of you thought I wouldn't make it, but here I am. I excelled. I learnt the hard way that nobody is too precious to sacrifice for what I want or need. And I will sacrifice anybody for Daisy, you included," he smirked. "If only you had supported me, stood by me like you always have. It would have been great, but no. You decided to divide my people, take half of them with you, and support Zordon in this war. You made an enemy of yourself, so don't act like I betrayed you. You betrayed me first," he pointed out to me."Is that what you told yourself before blaming me for the innocent lives that you took? Zordon might have killed those people, but they died because of you. They died in a battle that could have been avoided. You killed them, their blood is on your hands!" I hissed. "It doesn't ma
ISLA'S POVHeading out on a mission to the Pinewood Pack wasn't exactly something I was eager about. But I needed to get inside Xavier's head one more time. Maybe for the last time. Either way, I'd keep doing it for as long as I was needed.Zordon was my boss, and if he asked me to jump into a volcano, I'd do it without hesitation. I pulled up the hood of my sweatshirt and glanced at myself in the mirror. A knock came at the door. I groaned, waiting for someone to come in, but when no one did, I walked over and opened it.Stefan stood there.I turned away without a word, heading back to the bedroom. He stepped inside and took a seat on the table."You've come to say goodbye?" I asked, keeping my back to him."You know you don't have to do this, right? You don't have to go in alone. It could be a one-way trip. You might not make it back," he said."You just have to have a little faith that I will make it back. Xavier still has a soft spot for me, and I intend to use it. Besides, my inf
ISLA'S POVThe waitress looked at me with one brow raised, then sat down and smiled. She seemed friendly, maybe even a little too accommodating. Glancing toward the other tables to make sure nobody else wasn't listening, she leaned in slightly."There was a mass murder last night. Twenty-seven wolves killed," she said, lowering her voice. "This morning, Alpha Dexter announced that his Beta, Dustin, was behind it. But honestly, I don't think he did it. My guess is there was a fallout between the Alpha and the Beta, and now the Alpha's out for blood. Which means the real killer is still out there... and the Pinewood pack just lost its best defender."She looked down at the table, clearly troubled."Why do you think your Alpha's wrong?" I asked. "Aren't you supposed to trust him?""You don't sound like you're from around here," she replied."I'm not. I've been travelling, looking for somewhere peaceful to settle down. Thought maybe
ISLA'S POV"Don’t worry. I drive a sports car. If I'm fast enough, I can catch up with him and find a way to convince him to join us. We have to remember that he cares about his people. He just needs to remove the obstacles between him and them. If we can guarantee the safety of those who stand with him, he'll join us," I said to Zordon."We need to think this through. What if they stand against us? What if we have no choice but to get rid of them? We need to consider all the options," he replied."I know, and I'll figure something out. But I need you to trust me to make the right decision. I won't bring him in if he poses a threat to our kingdom or our people," I assured him."I trust you to do right by the pack. That shouldn't even be a question. I know you'll do what's best for the people. I have to check on Daisy now. Take care of yourself. I hear things are rough in the Pinewood pack. Stay safe, and call me at the first sign of trouble," he said."Yes, Alpha," I replied.The line
ZORDON'S POVI spoke to Isla once more, and she said she was on her way back home. I had hoped she was bringing Dustin with her. I saw things from her point of view, and she was right. We needed him on our side. We needed everyone Dexter sent away. It would be easier to convince them if they held a grudge.I walked out of my room and sighed. After that argument with Daisy, I wasn't sure she would want to see me. But I decided to try. I didn't want her with me just because of a contract anymore. No, she was more than that to me. She meant more. She had sacrificed her life for mine, something no one had ever done before. I'd asked her to run, but she stayed and fought for me, even though it was her first time on a real battlefield.Too many thoughts crowded my mind, and then the ugliest one resurfaced. The witch would take her price. I decided then that I wouldn't get intimate with her in any way. I couldn't get Daisy pregnant, only for her to lose the baby.I headed to the gym. I had
ZORDON'S POV“You will do nothing, Zordon. Mistakes happen. We don't even know how they managed this, but you keep forgetting that we're dealing with a pack that's made a deal with witches. They're capable of anything. You can't punish someone for something they weren't expecting," Daisy reprimanded me."It's their job to expect everything. I pay them to protect this pack from all kinds of attacks, and if they can't do that, then what good are they to me? I can't take this risk! This is war, and we're not even prepared for it! How am I supposed to deal with Dexter if this keeps happening?" I said, struggling to control my anger."Dexter is a coward. That's why he's attacking like this. We still have the upper hand," she said."No, we don't. He's shown he has no limits, and he'd rather kill you than see you with anyone else. I'm not letting that happen. Go to your room while I handle this," I told her."No! I'm not a child you can just send to her room when the tough conversations happ
ISLA'S POVI jumped out of the car and headed to my own. Dustin and I had talked, and he'd agreed to come with me—he didn't really have anywhere else to go.He wasn't sure where he'd sleep that night, and with the Pinewood pack after him, there was no place safer than the Deathclaw mansion. It was the only place he could truly be protected. He didn't know the way to our pack, so I had to lead him there.The ride was long. I kept glancing in my rearview mirror, making sure he was still behind me. My phone rang, but I couldn't answer it. I knew it was someone from the pack checking in.Stefan didn't have my number, but Zordon might have given it to him. I smiled at the thought of Stefan waiting up for me. I wouldn't be home until midnight, and knowing he was awake, waiting—it made my heart race.When we finally pulled into the pack-yard, I didn't stop. I drove straight to the mansion.Once I reached the house, I parked in the garage, and Dustin followed suit. As we walked to the front d
DAISY'S POVThe air buzzed with excitement as the pack celebrated this momentous occasion, one I believed was meant to honour Dexter and me.I stood beside my fiancé, my heart swelling with pride at being in the company of such a powerful alpha. I was dressed in a midnight-blue gown that matched the colour of his eyes perfectly. Furthermore, I felt every bit the Luna I had dreamed of becoming. For years, I had been by Dexter's side, supporting him through battles, council meetings, and late-night strategizing sessions. I had given him my heart, my devotion, and my everything. Tonight was going to be the night he would finally acknowledge all that I had done for him. The moment he would tell everyone that I was the brains behind everything; the one who stayed up longer than anyone, the one who came up with the best and brightest ideas to defeat rogues and keep our pack safe. He would finally declare that I was the woman he would swear to love for
ISLA'S POVI jumped out of the car and headed to my own. Dustin and I had talked, and he'd agreed to come with me—he didn't really have anywhere else to go.He wasn't sure where he'd sleep that night, and with the Pinewood pack after him, there was no place safer than the Deathclaw mansion. It was the only place he could truly be protected. He didn't know the way to our pack, so I had to lead him there.The ride was long. I kept glancing in my rearview mirror, making sure he was still behind me. My phone rang, but I couldn't answer it. I knew it was someone from the pack checking in.Stefan didn't have my number, but Zordon might have given it to him. I smiled at the thought of Stefan waiting up for me. I wouldn't be home until midnight, and knowing he was awake, waiting—it made my heart race.When we finally pulled into the pack-yard, I didn't stop. I drove straight to the mansion.Once I reached the house, I parked in the garage, and Dustin followed suit. As we walked to the front d
ZORDON'S POV“You will do nothing, Zordon. Mistakes happen. We don't even know how they managed this, but you keep forgetting that we're dealing with a pack that's made a deal with witches. They're capable of anything. You can't punish someone for something they weren't expecting," Daisy reprimanded me."It's their job to expect everything. I pay them to protect this pack from all kinds of attacks, and if they can't do that, then what good are they to me? I can't take this risk! This is war, and we're not even prepared for it! How am I supposed to deal with Dexter if this keeps happening?" I said, struggling to control my anger."Dexter is a coward. That's why he's attacking like this. We still have the upper hand," she said."No, we don't. He's shown he has no limits, and he'd rather kill you than see you with anyone else. I'm not letting that happen. Go to your room while I handle this," I told her."No! I'm not a child you can just send to her room when the tough conversations happ
ZORDON'S POVI spoke to Isla once more, and she said she was on her way back home. I had hoped she was bringing Dustin with her. I saw things from her point of view, and she was right. We needed him on our side. We needed everyone Dexter sent away. It would be easier to convince them if they held a grudge.I walked out of my room and sighed. After that argument with Daisy, I wasn't sure she would want to see me. But I decided to try. I didn't want her with me just because of a contract anymore. No, she was more than that to me. She meant more. She had sacrificed her life for mine, something no one had ever done before. I'd asked her to run, but she stayed and fought for me, even though it was her first time on a real battlefield.Too many thoughts crowded my mind, and then the ugliest one resurfaced. The witch would take her price. I decided then that I wouldn't get intimate with her in any way. I couldn't get Daisy pregnant, only for her to lose the baby.I headed to the gym. I had
ISLA'S POV"Don’t worry. I drive a sports car. If I'm fast enough, I can catch up with him and find a way to convince him to join us. We have to remember that he cares about his people. He just needs to remove the obstacles between him and them. If we can guarantee the safety of those who stand with him, he'll join us," I said to Zordon."We need to think this through. What if they stand against us? What if we have no choice but to get rid of them? We need to consider all the options," he replied."I know, and I'll figure something out. But I need you to trust me to make the right decision. I won't bring him in if he poses a threat to our kingdom or our people," I assured him."I trust you to do right by the pack. That shouldn't even be a question. I know you'll do what's best for the people. I have to check on Daisy now. Take care of yourself. I hear things are rough in the Pinewood pack. Stay safe, and call me at the first sign of trouble," he said."Yes, Alpha," I replied.The line
ISLA'S POVThe waitress looked at me with one brow raised, then sat down and smiled. She seemed friendly, maybe even a little too accommodating. Glancing toward the other tables to make sure nobody else wasn't listening, she leaned in slightly."There was a mass murder last night. Twenty-seven wolves killed," she said, lowering her voice. "This morning, Alpha Dexter announced that his Beta, Dustin, was behind it. But honestly, I don't think he did it. My guess is there was a fallout between the Alpha and the Beta, and now the Alpha's out for blood. Which means the real killer is still out there... and the Pinewood pack just lost its best defender."She looked down at the table, clearly troubled."Why do you think your Alpha's wrong?" I asked. "Aren't you supposed to trust him?""You don't sound like you're from around here," she replied."I'm not. I've been travelling, looking for somewhere peaceful to settle down. Thought maybe
ISLA'S POVHeading out on a mission to the Pinewood Pack wasn't exactly something I was eager about. But I needed to get inside Xavier's head one more time. Maybe for the last time. Either way, I'd keep doing it for as long as I was needed.Zordon was my boss, and if he asked me to jump into a volcano, I'd do it without hesitation. I pulled up the hood of my sweatshirt and glanced at myself in the mirror. A knock came at the door. I groaned, waiting for someone to come in, but when no one did, I walked over and opened it.Stefan stood there.I turned away without a word, heading back to the bedroom. He stepped inside and took a seat on the table."You've come to say goodbye?" I asked, keeping my back to him."You know you don't have to do this, right? You don't have to go in alone. It could be a one-way trip. You might not make it back," he said."You just have to have a little faith that I will make it back. Xavier still has a soft spot for me, and I intend to use it. Besides, my inf
DUSTIN'S POVDexter had his hands in his pockets. His gaze dead-locked with mine. "A lot has changed since you left. I had to rule without you. I know a part of you thought I wouldn't make it, but here I am. I excelled. I learnt the hard way that nobody is too precious to sacrifice for what I want or need. And I will sacrifice anybody for Daisy, you included," he smirked. "If only you had supported me, stood by me like you always have. It would have been great, but no. You decided to divide my people, take half of them with you, and support Zordon in this war. You made an enemy of yourself, so don't act like I betrayed you. You betrayed me first," he pointed out to me."Is that what you told yourself before blaming me for the innocent lives that you took? Zordon might have killed those people, but they died because of you. They died in a battle that could have been avoided. You killed them, their blood is on your hands!" I hissed. "It doesn't ma
DUSTIN'S POV I rushed into the pack house, eager to find Dexter. I needed to discuss things with him directly, to sort everything out between us, without any interference from the army or Xavier. I brought up the idea of dividing the pack in hopes that he would rethink all this chaos. Of course, I would never turn the people against our Alpha. But now I learned that Dexter had banished me for murders I didn't commit. I bumped into Kendra in the hallway, and she stood still, as if she wished to become invisible. It was clear to me that she felt terrified, almost as if she dreaded my next move. She should be scared because my wolf was angry and hungry for blood. "Where is he?" I barked at her."He is not back yet," she gulped. "Don't lie to me, you little hussy." "I'm not. I just heard it from the maidservant that Dexter is still not back. I am just coming from his room, and he is not in there," she said to me."Isn't
DEXTER'S POVI smirked at Xavier. I felt like I was being manipulated, but I wasn't sure, nor was I ready to back down. I couldn't stop now. I needed to see this through to the end. There was no turning back now.By daybreak, Dustin was going to make himself my enemy. I would miss him, but it would be for the greater good. I wasn't going to let him get in the way of my victory, and I certainly wasn't going to let him stop me from getting Daisy back. There was no one in the world who could prevent that—not even him.“I think you've had enough to drink for one night. You need rest. Tomorrow, you'll stand in front of your people. If they are going to support you, they need to see their alpha with his head held high. They won't support someone drunk and unable to keep his house in order,” Xavier said, taking the glass from me.“I can hold my liquor. I don't need sleep, and I certainly don't need to impress my people,” I replied, snatching the glass ba