Lucian’s POVLiving without Scarlett felt like drowning in darkness. Every day was an empty, colourless stretch, filled with nothing but sorrow. There was no joy left in my life, no light, no purpose. I spent most nights with a bottle in hand, numbing myself until I felt nothing at all. But even that brought no relief—it only deepened the void she left behind.Clay hadn’t given up, though. He clung to hope like it was the last shred of light in a world swallowed by shadows. He showed her photo to everyone he met, asking, pleading for any sign of her. He offered rewards, desperate promises, anything to find her again. But the days passed, and there was no news. His eyes looked more hollow with each passing day.And Maxwell… he was barely a man anymore. I saw the emptiness in his eyes, a haunting vacancy that mirrored my own. At first, he’d lash out, his anger finding no other place to go. Bianca and her child bore the brunt of his rage, but even he realised that hurting others wouldn’t
Lucian’s POVThe memories twisted inside me, vivid and merciless. I thought of the day Maxwell and I came home and made her wear those damp, uncomfortable clothes because we refused to let her use our things.The cold-heartedness of it sickened me now, yet she had never complained. She just bore it all, quietly, with a strength we didn’t deserve to witness. And even after everything, she had opened her heart to us. She allowed herself to love us, to see something good in us when we gave her every reason not to.I clenched my fists, feeling the fire of anger and guilt burn within me. How could we have allowed people like Bianca, Stasia, and Gregory to treat her with such contempt? We favored the pack, protected their petty feelings over the well-being of the one who was supposed to be our mate, our equal. And now, we were paying for it. This mess was ours, a twisted reflection of everything we’d allowed and encouraged.The image of Timothy and Tasha flashed in my mind, and I felt a whi
Lucian’s POV“I’m sorry, Maxwell,” I murmured, desperation clawing at my voice. “I swear, I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right.”He looked at me, his face streaked with tears, his eyes hollowed by sorrow and anger. “You can’t bring her back, Lucian,” he whispered, his voice shaking. “You can’t… you can’t fix it. Don’t you see that?” He buried his head in his hands, the weight of grief pressing down on him until his shoulders slumped forward, defeated.“We took everything from her,” he continued, his words choked with guilt. “She had nothing, Lucian—no money, no security, no one. We stole it all. Nikolay was right to keep her from us… he saw what we were, what we’d do to her.” His voice cracked, and he wept openly, the kind of raw, unfiltered grief that comes when there’s nothing left to lose.“Please, Maxwell,” I urged, reaching for something—anything—that might bridge this chasm between us. “I know you felt it, too. She’s out there somewhere, and we can find her. I’ve been
Lucian’s POVThe room was filled with a heavy, suffocating silence. I felt my heart sink as I realized what this meant. Scarlett was out there, exposed and vulnerable, in a state that made her a target for any predator, any alpha, and we had no idea where she was or how to find her. And somehow, she was trying to reach us, trying to connect, but something was keeping her from us.The silence after Elsa’s words was suffocating. Her gaze held a sorrowful understanding, as if she saw through all the bitterness and regret we carried, all the wounds we had inflicted on ourselves and on Scarlett. Maxwell, fists clenched, got up and swung his fist hard into the wall, his knuckles splitting against the impact. I could feel the anguish radiating from him, a shared pain we both bore for what we had done to her.“I’m sorry,” Elsa said softly, her eyes flickering with genuine sadness. But her words offered no comfort; they only deepened the ache within me.I took a steadying breath, forcing mysel
Lucian’s POVElsa was hiding something from us. I could tell. She thought it would be better for us not to know, like she was shielding us from some truth that could break us. I prayed, deeply, that whatever she was holding back wasn’t something too awful, something that would shatter what little we had left.“I just need the spirit to give us a sign,” Maxwell murmured, his voice thick with grief as tears rolled down his cheeks.That’s all we really wanted—a sign. A clear path. We needed something solid, something real to grasp onto in this dark, foggy mess.Elsa’s face was calm as she replied, “I’ve already told you—the spirits say to form an alliance with the West. They are pointing west.”But I shook my head, frustration edging my voice. “Not for the war, Elsa. I need a direction to find Scarlett.”She lowered her head, a sad acknowledgment in her expression. “I don’t have magic, Alpha. I only know what the spirits choose to share with me. But I’ll tell you this: bittersweet news i
Scarlett’s POVBeta David dragged me across the rough, cold floor by my hair, each pull igniting a fire of pain across my scalp. The agony was unbearable, each tug making it feel like my skin might tear away.My eyes filled with tears, and no matter how hard I tried to blink them back, they spilled over, hot and unstoppable, streaming down my cheeks.Every inch of my bare skin felt raw, scraping against the gritty, jagged stones below, each scrape opening fresh cuts that stung and burned.I couldn’t even grieve my father’s death. I wasn’t given a moment to mourn, to reflect, or to breathe before they decided I was next to be discarded.My father—Alpha Nikolay Vladislav—had been taken down by silver poisoning after a brutal battle. He was the Alpha of the South, feared by many but loved by none.He was ruthless, a man with an iron heart and fists to match. His power was overwhelming, and he ruled with cruelty that was legendary.He took anything he wanted without hesitation or mercy, l
Scarlett’s POV“What did I do to you?” I screamed, my voice hoarse, desperate for some answer, some flicker of humanity from my father’s Beta. But David’s face was stone-cold, void of any trace of empathy. He didn’t even glance at me.With mechanical indifference, he took a briefcase from the bearded man and turned his back, as if I were already a distant memory. I clenched my teeth, vowing silently that if I survived this, I would come back for him. One day, I would make him feel every ounce of betrayal he had given me.I felt the unyielding bite of silver on my wrists and ankles, binding me, draining any chance I might have had of escaping. The men shoved me into the back of the truck, where two other strangers held me down with callous strength. I knew I didn’t stand a chance against them. I was helpless, forced to endure whatever came next.The journey dragged on, and the air grew colder with each mile. I had no clothes to shield me from the chill, no wolf to heat my blood. Eventu
Scarlett’s POV“Get up, bitch!” the bearded man snarled, and I forced myself to rise, refusing to show him my pain or fear. I locked my gaze with his, holding it with a silent defiance until he looked away, a flicker of irritation crossing his face.He yanked on the chain again, pulling me like I was no more than an animal. My body ached with each step, my feet stinging with numbness as they pressed against the icy ground. Weak and exhausted, I could barely keep up, but I forced myself to follow him.As we entered a large house, the sudden warmth hit me, bringing a temporary relief to my frozen skin. The interior was plain, almost crude, with sparse wooden furniture and dull tungsten lights casting an eerie glow over everything. There was no sense of comfort or taste here—just a harsh, lifeless atmosphere that matched the man who dragged me in.He tugged on the chains again, and as I stumbled forward, I glanced down, realizing that the chain itself was iron. Only the part wrapped arou
Lucian’s POVElsa was hiding something from us. I could tell. She thought it would be better for us not to know, like she was shielding us from some truth that could break us. I prayed, deeply, that whatever she was holding back wasn’t something too awful, something that would shatter what little we had left.“I just need the spirit to give us a sign,” Maxwell murmured, his voice thick with grief as tears rolled down his cheeks.That’s all we really wanted—a sign. A clear path. We needed something solid, something real to grasp onto in this dark, foggy mess.Elsa’s face was calm as she replied, “I’ve already told you—the spirits say to form an alliance with the West. They are pointing west.”But I shook my head, frustration edging my voice. “Not for the war, Elsa. I need a direction to find Scarlett.”She lowered her head, a sad acknowledgment in her expression. “I don’t have magic, Alpha. I only know what the spirits choose to share with me. But I’ll tell you this: bittersweet news i
Lucian’s POVThe room was filled with a heavy, suffocating silence. I felt my heart sink as I realized what this meant. Scarlett was out there, exposed and vulnerable, in a state that made her a target for any predator, any alpha, and we had no idea where she was or how to find her. And somehow, she was trying to reach us, trying to connect, but something was keeping her from us.The silence after Elsa’s words was suffocating. Her gaze held a sorrowful understanding, as if she saw through all the bitterness and regret we carried, all the wounds we had inflicted on ourselves and on Scarlett. Maxwell, fists clenched, got up and swung his fist hard into the wall, his knuckles splitting against the impact. I could feel the anguish radiating from him, a shared pain we both bore for what we had done to her.“I’m sorry,” Elsa said softly, her eyes flickering with genuine sadness. But her words offered no comfort; they only deepened the ache within me.I took a steadying breath, forcing mysel
Lucian’s POV“I’m sorry, Maxwell,” I murmured, desperation clawing at my voice. “I swear, I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right.”He looked at me, his face streaked with tears, his eyes hollowed by sorrow and anger. “You can’t bring her back, Lucian,” he whispered, his voice shaking. “You can’t… you can’t fix it. Don’t you see that?” He buried his head in his hands, the weight of grief pressing down on him until his shoulders slumped forward, defeated.“We took everything from her,” he continued, his words choked with guilt. “She had nothing, Lucian—no money, no security, no one. We stole it all. Nikolay was right to keep her from us… he saw what we were, what we’d do to her.” His voice cracked, and he wept openly, the kind of raw, unfiltered grief that comes when there’s nothing left to lose.“Please, Maxwell,” I urged, reaching for something—anything—that might bridge this chasm between us. “I know you felt it, too. She’s out there somewhere, and we can find her. I’ve been
Lucian’s POVThe memories twisted inside me, vivid and merciless. I thought of the day Maxwell and I came home and made her wear those damp, uncomfortable clothes because we refused to let her use our things.The cold-heartedness of it sickened me now, yet she had never complained. She just bore it all, quietly, with a strength we didn’t deserve to witness. And even after everything, she had opened her heart to us. She allowed herself to love us, to see something good in us when we gave her every reason not to.I clenched my fists, feeling the fire of anger and guilt burn within me. How could we have allowed people like Bianca, Stasia, and Gregory to treat her with such contempt? We favored the pack, protected their petty feelings over the well-being of the one who was supposed to be our mate, our equal. And now, we were paying for it. This mess was ours, a twisted reflection of everything we’d allowed and encouraged.The image of Timothy and Tasha flashed in my mind, and I felt a whi
Lucian’s POVLiving without Scarlett felt like drowning in darkness. Every day was an empty, colourless stretch, filled with nothing but sorrow. There was no joy left in my life, no light, no purpose. I spent most nights with a bottle in hand, numbing myself until I felt nothing at all. But even that brought no relief—it only deepened the void she left behind.Clay hadn’t given up, though. He clung to hope like it was the last shred of light in a world swallowed by shadows. He showed her photo to everyone he met, asking, pleading for any sign of her. He offered rewards, desperate promises, anything to find her again. But the days passed, and there was no news. His eyes looked more hollow with each passing day.And Maxwell… he was barely a man anymore. I saw the emptiness in his eyes, a haunting vacancy that mirrored my own. At first, he’d lash out, his anger finding no other place to go. Bianca and her child bore the brunt of his rage, but even he realised that hurting others wouldn’t
Scarlett’s POVThe car came to an abrupt stop, and Keith pulled away, stepping out quickly and rounding the vehicle to open my door. He lifted me out with ease, holding me as if I weighed nothing, his arms steady and unyielding. I clung to him, my body pressed against his as he carried me into the mansion.“All male workers—leave the premises immediately!” he called out, his voice echoing through the grand halls. The urgency in his tone left no room for argument, and as we moved deeper into the house, I felt the space empty around us, leaving only the two of us alone in our need.He laid me gently on the bed, and I couldn’t tear my dress off fast enough, the fabric tearing as I pulled at it, desperate to feel his skin against mine. The ache inside me was unbearable, like a burning hunger that wouldn’t be sated. Keith’s touch was the only thing that grounded me, the only thing that eased the frantic beat of my heart.He touched my forehead, his fingers gentle, his gaze full of concern
Scarlett’s POVEvery fiber of my being wanted to strike him down, to make him feel even a fraction of what he’d put me through.Before Geoffrey could mutter another insincere word, two hefty men appeared and seized him, dragging him away from the crowd and out of sight. I barely had time to process what was happening before Keith gently wrapped his arm around me, guiding me back to our table, his touch grounding me.“You can do as you wish with him,” he murmured, his voice low yet reassuring. “He’ll be locked up in the dungeon, waiting for whatever justice you decide. Let’s not let that bastard ruin our night.” I looked up at him, stunned by his loyalty.He was willing to imprison one of his own to honour what I’d been through, to make sure I felt seen and protected.In Redcape, Lucian and the others had always defended their pack above all else, turning a blind eye to crimes if it meant protecting their reputation or keeping the peace. No one had ever been held accountable, especiall
Scarlett’s POVI froze in Keith’s arms, my entire body going rigid as my eyes locked onto the man who had singlehandedly destroyed everything I once held dear. He stood across the room, laughing casually with his friends, oblivious to the way his mere presence churned up a storm inside me.Keith must have sensed my change in mood. He leaned down, his breath warm against my ear.“What is the matter, darling?” His voice was gentle, filled with concern, and the tenderness of it almost undid me. I blinked, fighting the sting of angry tears, my throat tightening as memories flooded back—memories of the life I had been forced to leave, the home I’d lost, and the mates who had once promised to protect me.Gregory Olsen had taken everything from me. Before he entered my life, things had been… bearable. I had a place, a sense of stability, even love. But that man had twisted everything, pulled the rug from under me, and left me with nothing but betrayal and pain. Yes, my mates had failed me in
Scarlett’s POVThe day of the event arrived quickly, and when Keith handed me the gown, I was speechless. It was a stunning, backless royal blue dress adorned with intricate pearls and tiny diamonds that sparkled as if holding stars within them. I had never worn anything so elegant, so luxurious, and I felt like someone new as I slipped into it. Standing in front of the mirror, I could hardly recognise myself. I looked… beautiful. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt like I belonged somewhere, like I deserved to be seen.As I stepped out of the closet, my breath caught. Keith stood waiting in a midnight blue tuxedo that complemented my dress perfectly. He looked like a dream, every bit the Alpha he was—a man whose presence commanded respect and admiration. His blue eyes were as deep and intense as ever, a gaze that seemed to look right into my soul.“You look beautiful,” he said, his voice soft yet filled with something that made my heart race. I couldn’t stop the smil