CALANTHA When I finally woke up the next morning, a dull, pounding headache made it hard to open my eyes. I groaned softly, shifting on the bed as my vision adjusted. The walls around me were unfamiliar. This wasn’t my room.A small frown creased my forehead, but before I could process where I was, a voice spoke from beside me.“My Luna. You’re awake. Thank the Moon Goddess.”I turned my head slowly, careful not to make the headache worse. An older man stood beside me, arranging syringes and bottles of medicine on the table. He smiled warmly at me.“You’ve been unconscious since last night,” he continued, his tone gentle. “How do you feel now?”How did I feel? My head throbbed, and my body ached like I had just been run over by a truck.“Awful.” I muttered.The man chuckled. “Your body has an incredible healing ability, my Luna. With the injections and herbs I’ve given you, you’ll be back on your feet in no time.”As he spoke, memories from last night came rushing back.Waving at El
CALANTHAThankfully, the weekend gave me just enough time to recover. Kaiden stayed by my side the entire time, helping me however he could. The physician also checked in, just as he had promised. Once again, he mentioned how fast my body was healing, but Kaiden quickly shut him down before he could ask any more questions. Queen Adeline kept sending healing soups, though she made it clear that she was only doing it because I was an important asset to her son and the pack —at least for now.By the time Monday arrived, I was almost fully recovered.That morning, Kaiden and I drove to the academy together. As soon as the chauffeur pulled up and parked, I reached for the door handle, ready to get out like the other students arriving in their fancy cars. But before I could, Kaiden’s hand shot out, stopping me. I turned to look at him.“Remember…” he said, his dark eyes locking onto mine. “Stay close to me.”I nodded. “Okay.”We both stepped out of the car, and just as my feet touched the
CALANTHAThe game kicked off immediately, with the crowd roaring as the players took their positions on the court. The Redwood Tigers immediately took control of the ball, moving with swift expertise. Kaiden dribbled past two defenders effortlessly. The moment he found an opening, he leaped into the air and launched the ball toward the hoop.Swish!The ball sailed through the net perfectly, earning the Tigers their first points. The crowd exploded in cheers, and from our seats, Eloise, Nyx and I joined in the uproar. I felt super proud of Kaiden.I mean, he was the Lycan King after all. What wasn’t he capable of?But Kaiden did not celebrate immediately, as his focus was already locked on the next play.But the opposing team wasn’t about to let them take the lead so easily. They regrouped quickly, passing the ball between their players with careful and wicked coordination. Within seconds, one of their forwards broke through Redwood’s defense and went for a clean shot.The ball swoosh
THAT SAME DAY - EVENINGAT THE CRIME SCENE WHERE CALANTHA WAS ALMOST KILLEDElder Kane’s car rolled to a stop at the exact location their GPS tracker had led them to. Timothy Grant was the first to step out as his eyes scanned the dark surroundings. Elder Kane followed closely behind. They moved cautiously into the dense woods, their eyes shifting into their enhanced wolf vision to pierce through the darkness. Every rustle of leaves, and whisper of the wind sent their senses on high alert.It had been days since they ordered the assassin to kidnap and eliminate Calantha. At first, everything had gone according to plan. The assassin had even sent them a photo as proof that he had captured her. But after that, what followed was complete silence.And Calantha was still alive. Walking around as if nothing had happened. If the assassin had truly done his job, she wouldn’t still be breathing. Had she escaped? Had something gone wrong? And if so, why hadn’t the Lycan King reacted? Why wa
CALANTHA THAT SAME NIGHTI had spent the entire day trying so hard to avoid Kaiden, because honestly, thinking about him, or even facing him made me feel… anger? Annoyance? Maybe… jealousy?After leaving the basketball court, where he had been all sweet and friendly with that Lysandra girl, things only got worse. He also invited her to ride in the same car with us.Lysandra had greeted me with a polite “hi” before immediately turning back to Kaiden, chattering away like I wasn’t even there. They talked about everything —laughing, whispering, acting like they were the only two people in the world. It irritated me to no end. So, I did the only thing I could; stared out the window and pretended they didn’t exist until we reached the packhouse.Yet, as if that wasn’t bad enough, Queen Adeline was even nicer to her. She invited her to dinner, and Kaiden insisted I join too. So, I sat there, silently stabbing my food while Lysandra basked in all their attention, talking and talking like
KAIDENWith Elder Kane and Timothy Grant now locked up in the packhouse cells, I wasted no time calling for a council meeting the next morning.When the elders arrived, they were met with an unexpected sight —two once-respected men, handcuffed and kneeling in the center of the gathering with their heads bowed in shame.Standing on either side of me were Bradley and Hana; my Gamma. It was Hana who had successfully captured these traitors. The night Calantha was attacked, I had reached out to her and assigned her to monitor the crime scene with her wolves, and to watch for any suspicious activity.That was the trap. And these two fools had walked right into it.Last night, I had spent the entire night restraining myself from storming into their cells and breaking every bone in their bodies. It wasn’t enough that they had plotted against me and my throne. Now, they had dared to go after Calantha too?!The council members were already whispering among themselves, confusion written all ove
KAIDENNearly an hour had passed since I had sent my guards to fetch the proof Timothy Grant claimed to have. The proof that he claimed would show his innocence and prove that Elder Kane was working with the rogue wolves.I was beyond frustrated. The fact that he was still trying to slip out of his crimes made my blood boil. But as the Lycan King, I had to follow due process. So, I let him fetch his so-called evidence.Beside him, Elder Kane knelt in silence, shooting daggers at Timothy Grant for his betrayal. But Timothy simply avoided his gaze, unfazed by the fact that he was sacrificing his accomplice to save himself.Hana, growing impatient, checked her wristwatch before turning to him with a sharp glare.“It’s been over an hour, Mr. Grant,” she said coldly. “Are you sure you’re not playing games with us?”“I would never do that,” Timothy Grant insisted, slipping on a pitiful expression. It might have worked on others, but not on me.As if on cue, the council chamber doors opened.
CALANTHA “Alright, everyone! You know the drill!” our supervisor called out, clapping his hands together.Around him, the other students stood motionless, their expressions dull and uninterested. Today was community service, and our task was to clean the pack’s beach. Dressed in simple sportswear, none of the students looked particularly excited about it.“Make sure the entire area is spotless,” he continued. “Every semester, our academy gives back to the pack by helping with sanitation. We can’t slack off now. Let’s make Redwood Pack proud!”He pumped a fist in the air, clearly hoping for some enthusiasm. Instead, the students muttered among themselves, their moods just as low as before.Awkwardly clearing his throat, he dropped his fist. “Your time starts now. You have two hours to finish up!”A wave of grumbles and sighs swept through the group as students split off into smaller clusters. I walked away with Eloise and Nyx, both of whom looked just as miserable as the others.“I h
CALANTHA “Apologize.”The men froze, not saying anything at first. Then their shocked faces contorted, and they burst out laughing, now looking at Kaiden like he had just said the most ridiculous thing ever. But while they laughed, Kaiden’s face stayed the same.Not angry. Just calm and straight. But out of everyone here, only I knew how dangerous he could be whenever he wore that look."He said to apologize!" One of the men — the one who had tossed me the napkin and seemed like their leader — laughed loudly with his group."He’s really got some balls, doesn’t he?" he added, making the others laugh even harder. But even with all the mocking, Kaiden didn’t move. His straight face stayed the same, and his leg stayed stretched out in front of them, keeping them from moving forward.Knowing where all this could end, I decided to step in and let it all go."That’s okay, Kaiden," I said quickly, forcing a small, fake smile as I tried to get up from my seat. "I’m fine. It’s just a little st
CALANTHA Kaiden and I were now at the quiet corner of a café, both of us dressed to go unnoticed. I was wearing baggy joggers and an oversized hoodie pulled low over my face. While Kaiden was in a leather jacket and a cap angled to shadow his features. Our disguise seemed to work as no one seemed to recognize us.As we sat waiting for our order to arrive, Kaiden kept tugging at his cap. At first, I tried to ignore it but later, I couldn’t help myself any longer.“You’re acting suspicious while trying not to look suspicious.” I muttered, shaking my head.He shot me a self‑satisfied grin. “I’m too handsome to hide completely. If someone looks close enough, they’ll spot me.”I rolled my eyes at his show off, just as our breakfast arrived. The server set steaming trays in front of us and hurried off. My stomach rumbled as I began to salivate.“Ooh, this looks amazing. I’m starving.”“You’re not starving. You’re just a glutton.” Kaiden said calmly, lifting a mug of coffee to his lips. W
THAT SAME DAYSHADOW MOON PACK: ALPHA SLADE’S PACKHOUSEThe guards bowed their heads as Hera entered the packhouse, flanked by her handmaidens. As they passed, every servant and maid halted work to lower their heads in respect. Hera, as chief priestess of the capital pack, was accustomed to this display of honor and the quiet fear it inspired.A guard led her through the grand hallway to the guest chamber, where Alpha Slade sat in earnest conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Grant. Her handmaidens waited outside and the moment the Grants spotted Hera, they rose and bowed their heads. Hera inclined her own in return, then offered a formal nod to Alpha Slade. His expression was too calm, and the faint curve of a sinister smile touched his lips.“Finally. The chief priestess shows up,” Alpha Slade said, motioning to the seat beside him at the table. Mr. and Mrs. Grant sat to his left. “Please, have a seat.”Hera walked to the table but instead of taking the seat he offered, she chose the fart
CALANTHAThat night, I couldn’t sleep. Even though Kaiden was in the living room and I was in my bedroom, knowing we shared the same roof left me restless. I tossed and turned, burying my face in my pillow with a frustrated groan.What the hell was wrong with me? I had vowed to move on, yet here I was, still feeling his presence so much, enough for it to even disrupt my sleep.Finally, I gave up on my bed and crept out for warm milk in the kitchen, hoping it would calm my nerves and finally put me to sleep. My feet hesitated in the hallway as I passed the living room where Kaiden was sleeping. I hated how anxious I felt just walking by his space.Once I stepped inside the living room, I froze at the sound of Kaiden’s harsh breathing and restrained whimpering. He was lying on the couch, shivering and murmuring names I didn’t recognize.“Raya… No… Please… No… Liam… No…”My heart thundered and I realized that he was in the grip of a nightmare. And a horrible one at that.I rushed to him
CALANTHAI sat stiffly on the couch, the TV series playing but my mind elsewhere. Although it was my favorite show, I couldn’t focus. Kaiden was seated so close beside me, and I felt his gaze on me every few seconds. The tension between us was overwhelmingly thick.After he had eaten the soup I made, he refused to go to bed and insisted on watching TV with me. I tried to convince him otherwise, but his stubbornness won. So here we were, side by side, barely any space between us. I doubted he was even watching, with the way his eyes kept drifting straight to me.Clearing my throat, I scooted over to create some distance but he slid right after, closing the gap again.“Are you kidding me?” I snapped, turning on him. Despite my frustration, he stayed unnervingly calm.“Everything okay?” He asked, pretending not to know what he was doing.“Cut the act.” I growled and backed up toward the couch’s edge. He followed.“Ugh, stop it!” I hissed, and this time his lips twisted into an amused sm
CALANTHA I had never seen Kaiden like this before and honestly, it scared me.He was looking at me like I was something priceless, like I meant the world to him. Like he was searching for something in me. That look in his eyes wasn’t the one I was used to. Kaiden’s eyes were always cold, sharp, and unpredictable. But now, they were soft and vulnerable. And that confused me.I didn’t expect him to show up at my doorstep. After everything. After all the silence. He didn’t stop me when I walked away, he never called, and never came after me. That made it clear that he didn’t want me. And I had forced myself to believe that. To believe that I was the fool for thinking we could have been something more.And now here he was, in my space, kissing me in the places he knew I liked to be kissed. Trying to wake up the same feelings he once buried deep inside me. Was this his plan? To make me feel everything all over again, just so he could walk away once more?That was why I gently pushed him
KAIDEN“Kaiden?”Calantha’s smile vanished as soon as she saw me. Her eyes widened, filled with shock and confusion.Even with the alcohol still fogging my head, I kept walking toward them. My eyes stayed locked on Cross, who looked annoyingly calm. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I snapped as I reached them.Calantha stood frozen beside us, completely thrown off by my sudden appearance here.“My King.” Cross greeted with a small bow, then stood straight again, a smug smile tugging at his lips.That smile. It made my blood boil.I clenched my fists hard at my sides, seconds away from breaking his face. But then a voice in my head reminded me…This isn’t why you came here. Don’t ruin it more with Calantha.“I ran into the Luna at the restaurant nearby,” Cross said, holding up a brown paper bag that smelled of food. Calantha held one too. “It felt wrong to let her walk back alone by this hour of the night. I was just being helpful.”His voice was calm, almost casual. But I
KAIDENThe anger I had been trying so hard to keep inside started bubbling again the moment I heard a knock at my door. My jaw clenched as the first thought crossed my mind. Ivy. That girl must have come back, even after I had humiliated her and kicked her out.The door opened before I could even respond, and my tension eased a little when I saw it was Bradley who walked in. He looked concerned, his brows furrowed as he stepped inside.“Did something happen between you and Councilman Leonard’s daughter?” he asked, glancing around the room before focusing on me.I was sitting on the edge of my bed, slowly sipping from a glass of wine. I didn’t answer him right away. I was still too angry, not just because of Ivy, but because of everything that had been building up inside me all day. Ivy had just added fuel to the fire.Bradley spoke again after a few seconds of silence.“I saw her crying in the hallway. From the way she looked and what she was wearing, I could tell she just came from
IVYA shaky breath slipped past my lips as I stepped into the chamber, relieved to find it empty. The Lycan King wasn’t here—at least, not yet. But I knew I couldn’t turn back. He could walk in at any moment.I used the little time I had to finally breathe, letting my eyes wander around the room. Everything was expensive and elegant. The antique paintings, the polished furniture, the rich color of the drapes. It all screamed power and wealth. He definitely had a taste for the finer things.Slowly, I began to pace, taking it all in with quiet awe.Then, out of nowhere, a deep voice shot through the silence making me almost jump out of my skin. “What the hell do you think you’re doing here?”I spun around so fast, only to face the Lycan King who was now standing just a few feet away, his hair damp and with droplets of water still sliding down his bare chest. The only thing covering him was a towel loosely wrapped around his waist.It was now clear that all the while I thought he was ou