Lena's PovI stared at Kyler, my heart tangled in knots, my tongue tied in my mouth.Before I could even begin to sort through the storm inside me, the car pulled into the long driveway of the pack. The driver stepped out and opened the door.Kyler held out his hand to me, his touch sending a shiver down my spine. I hesitated, but then I placed my hand in his, and the warmth of his skin made my pulse race. He helped me out, and we walked toward the packhouse, silence stretching between us.“They’re holding hands.”“Does this mean he’s finally accepted her?”“I thought he didn’t want a mate.”“To even think about it, she divorced her former mate just to be with him.” I heard the distant murmurs and whispers from the omegas who couldn't focus on their work as we passed.I swallowed hard, my fingers twitching in Kyler’s grip, but he held me tighter, his grip reassuring.We were almost at his chambers when Elder Elijah stepped into our path.The old man’s face lit up with a wide smile, h
Kyler's Pov I shut the door behind me, pressing my back against it as I tried to catch my breath.What the hell did I just do?My lips were still tingling from the kiss, my body still burning with the way Lena had melted against me. I could still hear her whisper my name, and I could still feel her fingers in my hair.I clenched my fists, forcing myself to breathe. That shouldn’t have happened.I had been so stupid and reckless to expose my vulnerability to Lena.My entire body was strung with shame.I was under no obligation to treat her like a wife. I shouldn't have kissed her gently and hungrily as though she meant the world to me.But the way she had looked at me, the way she had trembled in my arms, made me lose control.I shook my head and pushed off the door. I needed to clear my mind. I needed to put distance between us before I did something I would regret.But then, the hoarse voices from the other room made me freeze suddenly.The voices were muffled through the walls, but
Kyler's PovShe let out a loud, thunderous laugh; the sound crawled under my skin, slithering into my bones.“I want you to always feel the same pain I felt when you rejected our mate bond.”“I want you to know the same agony I knew when the mark of our bond led to my death.”I let out a mocking chuckle. It had been a decade since Serena died, but she hadn't healed yet.I had caught her cheating on me with my beta after a day I marked her.Due to my rejection, she had been in severe bondage and later died even after performing every ritual to appease the moon goddess.Because I never accepted her back, the Moon Goddess had caused me and the Silverfang Pack as a whole.But Serena?She had died because I had just newly marked her when she decided to betray our bond so the consequences of my rejection couldn't be denounced.“I should have killed you myself.” I scoffed.Her expression didn’t falter. If anything, her lips curled into a knowing smile.“You did,” she murmured, taking anothe
Lena's Pov I ran until my legs could no longer carry me, my heart heavy with the weight of betrayal from my past.Painful memories clawed at my mind, each one striking me with the force of a thousand stones.Their words echoed in my ears, as if the wind itself carried their voices, whispering their accusations over and over again. The sting of their cruel words cut deeper than any wound, leaving scars no one could see.My mind raced with painful images from the past; each charge hit me like a ton of rocks.As I thought about the mean comments that have been said about me in the past, the pain in my chest grew worse. It “Murderer...” they would call me, and their words would hurt me so much more than any hit.It all started when my parents died.After my parents’ deaths, Theo’s family took me in. They insisted I was too young to survive on my own in the Blackwood Pack, and they had pleaded with the pack to take me along.At first, everything seemed perfect.Theo’s parents welcomed me
Lena's PovThe walls of the hall seemed to close in on me as I tried to steady my breath.Luna Helena’s eyes, swollen and red, bore into me with a hatred that sent a sharp chill down my spine. Tears clung to the edges of her lashes, but they did nothing to soften the hard lines of her face. The baby was still in her arms, its tiny form wrapped in blankets.Alpha Damian stood beside her, his fingers twitching as though barely holding back the urge to kill me. His jaw clenched in anger, his teeth gritting, which made me shiver in fear.From the look on their faces, I was sure I had landed myself in trouble.My legs trembled as I approached, each step feeling like I was walking into an abyss. “Lena, come here.” She ordered as she dragged me towards her by my hair.I opened my mouth to speak, but before a single word could leave my lips, her hand shot out, landing a thunderous slap on my face.Before I could react, she grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked me forward. Pain shot throug
Lena's Pov“Burn the witch!”“She killed the baby!”“She deserves death!”Their voices crashed over me like thunder, each word laced with venom.I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block them out, but the hate-filled chants burrowed into my skin like fire.“She doesn’t deserve to see another daylight!” someone sneered.“Why kill an innocent child?” A fragile female voice butted in, but it was drowned by another harsher one.“Oh, poor child!”“Not to think that Luna Helena had always treated this witch so well!”A sharp pain seared through my scalp as a hand yanked my hair, forcing my head up. My blurry gaze met the angry mob, their faces twisted with rage.Tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Maybe they were right. Maybe I deserve this.The guards dragged me down the stone corridors, their fingers digging into my arms like steel chains. My body ached from the beating, every step sending fresh waves of pain through me. My breaths came in short gasps, my mind reeling.
Lena’s Pov"I... I don't want to die," I struggled to sputter, my voice barely above a whisper, only meant for Theo’s ears.His grip on my arm tightened for a brief second before he stole a glance at me. Then, with his head held high, he turned to the crowd."Did you kill the baby?"His voice carried over the restless murmurs, and for a moment, everything stilled. Then, as if on cue, the crowd erupted again."What kind of question is that?" someone sneered."Even if she did, do you think she’ll openly admit it?" a woman scoffed."This is pointless!" a man barked. "We already know the answer!"Theo raised his hand, demanding silence. The authority in his voice was enough to make the mob hesitate. "Wait," he commanded, his tone steady, unwavering. "Before you carry out your so-called justice, hear what I have to say."The crowd muttered, shifting uneasily. Some looked toward the Alpha, waiting for his permission. Others glanced at Luna Helena, her face carved from stone, her lips presse
Lena’s POV I sat stiffly on the edge of the small cot, my hands balled into fists on my lap.The final execution had been postponed to two weeks.That was all the time I had before my final fate would be decided.Two weeks to prove my innocence or I die.A heavyweight sat on my chest, pressing down until it became hard to breathe. They nearly killed me today. If it weren’t for TheoMy fingers trembled in fear.But why had he saved me?Initially, he had acted as though he was enjoying the scene.He acted as though he was happy watching me die.But why had he saved me all of a sudden?I should be grateful that Theo had spoken for me. Grateful that he had stopped them from killing me on the spot. But instead, my mind spiraled with thoughts I couldn’t control.What if the real killer was never found?What if I was truly meant to die?I squeezed my arms around myself, trying to quiet the panic rising in my chest. The pack hated me. The Alpha had practically sentenced me to death the mome
Alison's Pov.Theo had given me all the necessary instructions on what I should do.I peeped in through Alpha Kyler's room, waiting for the perfect time to strike. Everything needed to go perfectly. One mistake, and it would all be ruined.I could see Alpha Kyler pacing back and forth through his slightly opened door, his brows furrowed in deep worry.“Poor Alpha!” I scoffed silently. “Look at the all-powerful Alpha, yet so helpless without his little Luna!” I mocked, curling my lips in disgust.I pulled away quickly and rushed back into my room. It was time to act.Slipping into the tiniest, most revealing dress I owned—a silky black one that hugged every one of my curves—I let my hair down and smeared on a glossy red lipstick. I grabbed the tiny vial Theo had given me and poured the strange, glittery liquid into the stew I had prepared.“His favorite,” I muttered with a smirk as I stirred the rich sauce. “Let’s see how loyal you are now, Alpha.”Once the food was ready and the poti
Damian's Pov“How dare you hurt her?” I roared, my voice shaking the room.My mind was a chaotic mess. I had always hated people messing up my orders, and I never believed Leonard could be one of them.I had trusted him to be competent and trustworthy in keeping to instructions, but he had just done the opposite.“I asked you to deliver a simple letter to her telling her how much I missed her, but you went ahead to do what you saw fit.”“Hitting her hard and making her go unconscious. Now look at the way the media has twisted the whole story…”“Read the story...” I roared at him, throwing the newsletter in his face.Leonard stood frozen, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. My fists throbbed from the last punch I landed on him, but I didn’t care. Not when Lena was suffering.I slammed the newsletter into his chest so hard it made him stumble. “Read it! Go on—READ what the pack is saying!”He opened it with shaking hands. His eyes scanned the front page, the bold headline like
Lena’s PovElder Elijah grabbed my arm roughly, his face stiff with anger and disappointment. “You’ve disgraced yourself,” he muttered, dragging me to my feet.My throat burned from crying. I tried to stand, but my legs wouldn’t hold me. I wobbled and almost fell back to the floor.He sighed. “Get up. Don’t make this harder than it already is.”Before I could even take another breath, he grabbed my arm and yanked me up.I didn’t resist. What was the point?Alison trailed behind us, her heels clicking against the floor like the countdown to my doom.“Aww, look at you,” she whispered behind me, her voice sugary sweet. “All that confidence, gone in a day. What a shame!” “You could’ve at least fixed your hair, Lena,” she whispered with a chuckle. “Oh wait, you’re too busy being a criminal to care about your looks now.”I bit my lip, trying not to cry again. My heart already felt like it had been ripped to pieces. I didn’t want to give her the satisfaction.Elder Elijah led me through t
Lena’s POVAt the door was Theo, a wicked smirk plastered across his face.“What do you want, Theo?” My voice was hoarse and bold as I tried to hide my weakness.He let out a dry laugh, his eyes glinting with that same evil mischief. “Still trying to act strong, little mouse?” he mocked, leaning against the doorframe. “Do you think you can just stroll out of here? You’re not going anywhere.”I took another step, wobbling slightly but refusing to back down. “I don’t care what you say. I’m not staying here.”He moved faster than I expected. In a blink, he was right in front of me, grabbing my arm and yanking me back inside.“You think I don’t have eyes everywhere?” He growled. “You’ve been under my watch since the moment you passed out.”“Let me go!” I shouted, struggling in his grip. “You’re insane!” I cursed as I struggled with his firm grip.He laughed again. “You’ve always liked to fight, Lena and I love that about you.”I tried to yank myself free, but he slammed his mouth onto mi
Lena’s POVI woke up with my head pounding like a drum. My body felt heavy like I had been hit by a boulder and then left out in the cold. Every inch of me hurts.Where… where am I?I blinked slowly; my vision was blurry, but slowly I started to make sense of my surroundings.The room was dim, lit by a few glowing stones on the white walls.There was a small shelf at the other end of the room which was stacked with herbs. And then another table with bottles and glowing vials. The faint scent of burning sage mixed with bitter medicine filled the air.I was in the pack’s infirmary.I tried to lift my head, but a sharp pain shot through my neck. I winced, letting out a soft cry.My arms felt like jelly, and my throat...?It felt like sandpaper. I could taste the bitterness of herbs and drugs on my tongue. Someone had been feeding me things while I was out.A sharp knock pulled me from my thoughts.The door creaked open, and I walked to the last person I wanted to see.Theo!“Look who’s a
Alison's Pov Have you ever cherished something before, and then suddenly it was forcefully collected from you, and you were left with no choice but to fight for it?That was my case with Alpha Kyler.He used to cherish me.But now I was just another woman in the pack. Forgotten, ignored, and replaced.And no one should blame me for being desperate to get him back. I was not about to watch everything I once had slip away into the hands of someone like Lena.Honestly, I don’t know what hurts more: the loss of his love or the loss of my status.Because ever since Alpha Kyler stopped caring about me, the omegas in the pack don’t even bother hiding their sneers. I once used to walk with my head high, knowing fully well that I was known as Alpha Kyler's lover and no one would hesitate to keep to my orders, but as soon as Lena came into the picture, none of the omegas or pack guards acknowledged me anymore.They were already beginning to see me as another commoner, and some couldn't even hi
Damien’s POVThe stack of newspapers before me did nothing to ease the troubles in my mind as I patiently waited for Leonard's return.It had been twenty-four hours. Twenty-four long, agonizing hours since I sent him to deliver the letter. Yet still, I had heard nothing from him, not even a single word or report, and the worst, he wasn't back yet.The silence in my office was deafening. My heart had been racing non-stop since the moment I handed Leonard that damn letter to deliver to her.I know how stubborn Lena can be. I knew if she received the letter, she wouldn't hesitate to write back to me, but I wasn't sure what I expected from her.“Would she curse me?”“Would she throw some punches at me through the paper, or worse still, would she remind me of how she hated me because of the way I sold her off?A small part of me whispered the worst: “What if Kyler found out? What if Leonard was captured and could not deliver the message, or what if Kyler had bandaged Lena and she was una
Lena's PovThe guard didn’t say anything else. He just gestured for me to follow. My hands were still trembling as I wiped my palms on my dress and hurried after him.I had no idea what Kyler would say or how he would react.Oh goodness!Alison had set me up perfectly. Such a terrible manipulator!But then who the hell was waiting for me?The guard led me past the rows of graves and toward the garden gates. I expected to see Alpha Kyler or Elder Elijah.Maybe Alison couldn't wait to report me to Alpha Kyler.I wondered what kind of punishment I would be assigned. I just hoped Alpha Kyler would allow me to speak.I wasn't the one who broke his cherished frame.Just as I lifted my head, my gaze caught on the person standing beside the gate, making my breath hitch.“What?”Standing just outside the gate, dressed in all black and leaning casually against a tree, was Leonard.Leonard from the Blackwood pack."No," I muttered, my legs unable to carry me further."What the hell is he doing h
Lena’s Pov“What do you want?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm, even though my gut was twisting in knots just looking at her.Alison’s smirk widened like she could smell my unease. “Relax, Luna,” she said, dragging out the title like it was a joke. “I was just taking a walk and thought it was adorable how you're being shown around like the special little pup you are.”I crossed my arms, already getting uncomfortable by her presence. “I was asked to take a tour of the pack. That’s all.”“Training and a tour?” she purred, stopping a few feet from me. “You must be special.”I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t have time for whatever you are here for, Alison.”She tilted her head, her expression mock-innocent. “Oh, relax. I’m just saying, it’s sweet how Alpha Kyler makes time for you. Sending guards, planning your day. Very sweet indeed.”My fingers curled into fists. I didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of getting under my skin. “He’s just helping me adjust. That’s what a good Alp