Jake's POV A knock resounded through the door as Seth walked in, his eyes taking in the pack of cigarettes and other items on the table. I was standing behind the window, looking out.From his posture, Seth could swear that I was in a complicated mood from having stayed with him for almost all his life. “You look__”“What news did you bring?” I asked, not wanting to beat around the bush.I knew Seth too well. He wouldn't just come into my room unless he has something important to say to me. Sometimes I wonder if he just loved breaking terrible news to me, or passing John's instructions to me?“You're thinking again, I can see it, your shoulders are slumping.” “It's my business Seth," I scoffed."Your business? Is that so?" Seth never ceased to remind me of my mom. "How's my brother? Did he send you to come and fetch me?” I asked, this time turning around to look at Seth“Last i checked, he was with Lord Bernard. The other lords are coming down tonight.""The other lords? Why?" I j
Diane's POV I sat down at the edge of the bed, my thoughts swirling as I replayed Nene’s words in my mind. The lords were coming to pick a mate for the Alpha. This was unexpected. John had always been quiet about his intentions when it came to choosing a Luna, and now the decision was being forced upon him. Was he aware of this? Or was this a decision being made behind his back?I took another slow drag from the cigarette, the smoke trailing upwards as I exhaled. If the lords were coming, it meant the selection would be public. Whoever they chose would hold incredible influence over the pack—and over John.But why hadn’t I heard about it sooner? How could something this important be whispered about only among sentinels? There had to be more to it than what Nene overheard.And then there was Stephanie. I’d been keeping my distance, watching her with careful eyes ever since she arrived. There was something too polished about her story, something too perfect. It wasn’t that I didn’t be
Sarah's POV"Are you ready to talk now?" Booted feet walked into the room as Marcus raised his head. "Get lost!" I spat at them angrily."Oh, Sarah," Marcus pulled my hair, increasing the agony I was going through. With both hands tied and suspended from the ground, and with his firm grip on my hair, I felt like I was already losing it."You'll never get anything from me, Marcus," I was firm in my decision. I already saw this torture coming, but I still decided to keep my lips sealed, never to reveal Stephanie's whereabouts to him, even if it meant I'll have to sacrifice my life for it."You think you're tough, huh?" Marcus pulled harder. I screamed out loud, as the pain was so unbearable.I bit my lips hard, my teeth getting, as I tried to endure the pain. "No matter how much you torture me, you'll never get anything from me."I had given up my freedom just to make sure Stephanie got away in one piece. Marcus and his pack members had come for her when he came to attack our pack. We
Reyna's POV"You're aren't leaving, Reyna," John held my hands, his eyes searching through mine."But...." I tried to hesitate, but John wouldn't let me. Every time I looked at him, all I could see is a guy who really cared about me."There are no buts, Reyna. You're staying and that's final," He took my hands. His lips came down against mine. It was gentle and soft, and I could feel my heart thump within me.He pulled away and then his voice came out soft, "I want you to be in the ball room tonight,""But I don't belong there. I'm not a werewolf,""That's not true, Reyna. You're one of us. You just... just haven't found out how to become one yet.""But Lord Bernard....""Other lords will be present. He'll not be the only one to decide on how things should be. Besides, my mate will be declared tonight," "Is that why you want me to be around?" I could see the look of hope on his eyes. I knew what was going on in his mind. He was probably thinking of the possibility of me being his mat
Diane's POVI watched as Reyna and Stephanie walked into the ballroom, and to my surprise, they both exuded a confidence that seemed out of place. Reyna, in particular, was drawing the attention of nearly everyone in the room. Her dress clung to her figure, flowing elegantly with every step she took. I couldn’t help but feel a surge of jealousy rise within me. She was glowing, radiant in a way that made it clear she knew how much power she held tonight.Nene leaned in again, whispering, "Reyna looks stunning, doesn't she? I thought you'd care."I scoffed, trying to hide the annoyance brewing in my chest. "She's irrelevant. Don't let her looks fool you."But even as I said that, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. There was something about Reyna that bothered me—a deeper mystery I couldn’t yet unravel. She had become too comfortable, too confident in a pack where she should have felt like an outsider. And tonight, it felt like she was preparing for something bigger than just an evening w
John's POVAs the lords got into their rides, lord Bernard and and I stood side by side, watching the distance. I had really expected a decision to be made regarding the choice of my mate the previous night, but then, it didn't happen.Although the party had proceeded and we did get the chance to dance, I still wished the seer hadn't come with a contrary news. We were all looking forward to receiving my mate, the next Luna of the pack.“So when next are we going to see you? When are you gonna come visiting!” I asked, moving with Lord Bernard to his ride.“When the seer is ready to have your mate declared,"He said as I raised his brows. “I don't understand," I sighed. I was really looking forward to having my mate declared last night," "And it's obvious you already have someone in mind. The unrealised werewolf girl?" Lord Bernard chuckled.I didn't find his joke funny especially the part of him refering to Reyna as the unrealised werewolf girl. "Look, John," Lord Bernard continued, p
Stephanie's POV I laid on my back, my eyes pouring out tears as I bit back the feelings coursing through me. A sob raked her body, causing me to shake vigorously. "I'll keep your secret safe with me provided you agree to do my biddings," Diane's voice kept echoing in my head.Diane was the lady in hoodie on the night of annunciation. I wished there was a way I could say no to her offer, but I just couldn't. No one must know who I was and why I was around in the estate, especially not Reyna.“Are you okay?" Reyna asked as she walked into the room. I tried wiping my tears so she wouldn't notice I had been crying, but she already did, any way.“I'm fine, Rey," I managed a smile. "No you're not, Steph. You're crying," she placed a hand on my shoulder. "Tell me what's wrong.""I probably just got something in my eye," I sniffed. "It's not something to worry about," I attempted to dismiss her worries. Reyna mustn't know about my meeting with mistress Diane. She mustn't know I have someth
Reyna's POVAs I stood there watching Jake walk away, his words kept ringing in my ears, but I couldn't help feeling grateful that he had saved me. He was harsh, but maybe he had a point—what would have happened if he hadn't shown up?John approached with concern in his eyes. “What happened here, Reyna? You look shaken.”I hesitated, unsure how to explain the events. "There was a Lycan, and Jake... he saved me."John’s eyes darkened at the mention of a Lycan. "A Lycan? Here, within the pack’s grounds?"I nodded. “It looked hungry, and it was about to attack. I didn’t know what to do. I—I thought you’d be here sooner.”He stepped closer and gently placed his hand on my shoulder, his touch calming my nerves instantly. “I’m sorry, Reyna. Something urgent came up.""What's that?" I asked, seeing the looks of seriousness in his eyes."Let's not talk about it. Hope you weren't hurt in any way?" The way he showed concern was just so different. It was nothing like how Jake did.“Jake arrived
Jake’s POVI stared at the map spread out in front of me, my fingers tracing the rough paper as I tried to focus. Damon’s territory was vast, deep in the heart of rogue land, surrounded by thick forests and treacherous terrain. It wouldn’t be easy to get in, and getting out with Reyna would be even harder.My jaw clenched as my mind replayed the last few hours Reyna’s empty room, the lifeless sentinels, the destroyed security footage. Someone had helped them. Someone had made it easy for them to take her.The door creaked open behind me, and I turned sharply, my eyes narrowing when I saw Stephanie walk in.John, who stood on the other side of the table, straightened. “Steph,” he acknowledged, his tone neutral.I wasn’t as polite. “What the hell are you doing here?” My voice was sharp, cutting through the tense air. “You should be in the dungeon, not roaming freely like nothing happened.”Stephanie sighed, folding her arms. “I’m here to help.”I scoffed. “Help? How do we know you’re no
Reyna's POV “Who are you and what are you doing here? Who the hell are you?” I screamed,his eyes took in the wolf's bane and silver blade which lined the walls.I'm sure he must be very glad.He walked deeper into the room,his eyes scanning me from head to toe. “I'm sorry I didn't get to introduce myself earlier on when you were brought in. I am Alpha Damon. I am sure my name rings a bell.” A little smug covered his face as his eyes bore holes into every nook and cranny of my body.“Our wedding is coming up in a few days and I want you to be in the very best condition which is suitable for a bride. I wouldn't want people thinking I'm maltreating my Bride although running away from your father, you should serve some punishment but I'm going to tell you this I'm a very generous alpha and husband so I will let go and I will let it slide.” I laughed really hard and stood up from the bed “so tell me something Alpha should I thank you or perhaps I should delete your shoes because that's wh
Reyna’s POVI stirred, blinking slowly as my surroundings came into focus. The room was dimly lit, the air heavy with a faint metallic scent that made my nose twitch. As I tried to sit up, I realized my hands and legs weren’t bound. That surprised me I wasn’t exactly a captive, or so it seemed.The events of earlier began to flood back, and my heart sank. The van, the masked men, and the searing pain in my shoulder from the tranquilizer they all came back in vivid flashes.“Who were those men?” I muttered under my breath, my voice hoarse.I tried to reach out to my wolf, to feel her power surge through me, but something was wrong. There was nothing. Just silence. Panic rose in my chest, and I looked around the room for answers. My eyes landed on the counter nearby, where several silver blades and small vials of wolfsbane were arranged neatly.“Of course,” I whispered bitterly, realizing why my wolf was silent. The silver and wolfsbane in this room weren’t here by accident they were he
Stephanie’s POVThe familiar path to the pack’s gates felt different this time, though I couldn’t quite put my finger on why. I returned under the cover of the fading moonlight, weary but determined to act as if nothing had happened. Whatever Sarah and I had discussed earlier would remain between us at least until I could figure out my next steps.As I approached the gates, two sentinels stepped forward, their expressions unreadable.“Stephanie,” one of them said curtly, “Alpha John and Jake are waiting for you.”My steps faltered. “Waiting for me? Why?”Neither of them answered. They only exchanged a glance, their faces cold and void of emotion.“What happened?” I pressed, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in my chest.Again, no response.The silence sent my mind spinning, and my heart began to pound. Something was wrong very wrong. The atmosphere was colder, heavier, and every step toward the Alpha’s office felt like walking into a storm.I swallowed hard as I reached the door. I
Stephanie’s POVThe dense woods felt like they were closing in around me as I made my way down the narrow, winding trail. The darkness was oppressive, with only faint slivers of moonlight peeking through the towering trees. My pulse raced with every crunch of leaves beneath my boots.When I reached the small, hidden house nestled deep in the forest, I glanced around one last time to make sure I wasn’t followed. The familiar wooden door stood slightly ajar, its creak echoing as I knocked twice.The door opened, and Sarah’s wary face appeared. She motioned me inside quickly, shutting the door firmly behind me and bolting it.“Thanks for coming,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.“I didn’t have much of a choice,” I replied, pulling off my scarf. The room was dim, lit only by a single oil lamp on a rickety table. “Sarah, we need to talk. You can’t keep hiding here forever.”She sighed, collapsing into a chair and motioning for me to do the same. “You think I don’t know that?” sh
Reyna's POV I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the moonlight filtering through the curtains. My thoughts were a tangled mess, replaying every word and glance Stephanie had exchanged earlier. Who was Sarah? And why had Steph looked so startled when she saw me?I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Something wasn’t right, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that Steph was hiding something big. But what could it be? We had always been close, so why would she keep secrets now? My chest tightened as doubt crept in. Maybe I was overthinking it… or maybe not.I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was late, and exhaustion pulled at me, but my mind refused to rest. I stood and began preparing for bed, hoping sleep might offer some clarity. Slipping into my nightgown, I walked over to the vanity to brush my hair. As I stared at my reflection, I couldn’t help but notice how weary I looked. Tonight had been a whirlwind of revelations and emotions, and it was taking its toll.Just as I set
Reyna's POV Stephanie and I lounged on the plush sofa in the lounge, the faint hum of conversation and the occasional clink of glasses echoing in the background. The party still buzzed with energy downstairs, but we’d sought a quieter corner to talk. The topic of discussion was Diane her disgrace, her rage, and, of course, her current predicament.“I can’t believe Diane thought she could get away with it,” Stephanie said, shaking her head as she sipped her wine. “Paying the Moon Goddess’s assistant to lie? How desperate can she be?”“She’s lucky John didn’t do worse,” I said, crossing my arms. The image of Diane being dragged to the dungeon replayed in my mind, and I couldn’t suppress the small smile that tugged at my lips. “Honestly, it feels good knowing she’s finally facing the consequences of her actions.”Stephanie chuckled, her eyes glinting with amusement. “For once, we don’t have to watch our backs with her lurking around. She’s exactly where she belongs.”We shared a laugh,
Reyna's POV I stood frozen as John’s words echoed in the air, tension wrapping itself around the room like a suffocating fog.“Jake,” John said, his tone sharp and dismissive. “You’re interrupting my time with Reyna.”My breath hitched as Jake’s gaze flicked to me. His expression was unreadable, but there was a storm brewing in his eyes. I wanted to say something, to diffuse the growing tension, but my voice was caught in my throat. I looked at him helplessly, silently pleading for this confrontation to end before it spiraled out of control.Jake’s jaw tightened, and he nodded curtly. “I’d like to have a word with you when you’re done talking to her.”John smirked, clearly unfazed. “Of course. I’ll find you when I’m ready.”Without another word, Jake turned on his heel and left the room, the sound of the door clicking shut behind him amplifying the silence that followed. My heart was pounding, each beat louder than the last. I couldn’t bring myself to look at John, but I could feel h
Reyna's POV The moment I left the hall, the cool evening air hit my skin, a stark contrast to the suffocating tension inside. My heart was racing, and my mind was a whirlwind of emotions. The announcement from the Moon Goddess assistant replayed in my head like a haunting melody—Jake and I were mates. It was something I had never expected, something I wasn’t sure how to feel about.I kept walking, my heels clicking against the cobblestone path, needing to put as much distance as possible between myself and the chaos I had just escaped. My emotions were tangled—anger, confusion, guilt. And underlying it all was an inexplicable pull toward Jake that I couldn’t ignore, no matter how much I tried.“Reyna! Wait up!” Stephanie’s voice cut through my thoughts, and I stopped, turning to see her hurrying toward me, her dress billowing behind her.She reached me, slightly out of breath, and placed a hand on my arm. “What are you doing out here? You just ran out without saying a word.”“I neede