John’s POVThe silence in my office feels heavy as I watch the elders file out, each carrying the weight of the night’s plans. Our defenses are set, sentinels posted at every vulnerable point, and messages sent to neighboring packs. Every precaution has been taken, yet I can’t shake the feeling that something is missing—a piece of this puzzle that could change everything.After a few moments alone, I finally call for Jake. He strides in, his expression mirroring my own unease.“We need to go over this note one more time,” I say, placing the paper on the desk between us. The fresh ink glistens slightly, a stark reminder that whoever wrote it is still close. “If the ink’s still wet, then the person who left this is either one of us or hiding within the pack. It’s almost taunting us.”Jake nods, his jaw clenched. “I’ve already spoken to the guards. Everyone is alert and ready. But this note… it feels like we’re being lured into something, like they’re trying to pull our attention somewhe
Sarah's POV The car door slams shut, and I’m wedged between two sentinels, their hands gripping my arms with unyielding force. Sally sits in the front beside Ryan, a smug grin plastered across her face as the car jerks forward. My heart races, but I refuse to show them an ounce of fear.Sally turns slightly, a chilling gleam in her eyes. “Sarah,” she drawls, her tone almost mocking. “It’s time you learned what real pain feels like.”I scoff, rolling my eyes as I shift in the tight space. “You really think Stephanie is going to help you?” I sneer, refusing to let her see the tremor of anxiety in my chest. “You’re dumber than I thought if you believe that.”Sally’s laughter fills the car, cold and sharp. She gives me a look filled with pity, as if I were a child who didn’t understand the world. “Oh, Sarah,” she says, shaking her head. “Stephanie doesn’t have a choice. She has to help us.”I scoff louder, my laugh dripping with contempt. “You don’t know her like I do. Stephanie doesn’t
Jake's POV I sat at my desk, my fingers tapping rhythmically against the wood as I stared down at the reports scattered in front of me. The retreat of Marcus’s guards was puzzling, and my mind raced with possibilities. If Marcus was really pulling back, there had to be a reason—one that didn’t sit right with me. A soft knock broke my concentration, and I looked up as Seth stepped into the office.“Alpha,” he greeted with a nod, his face tense. “It appears that Marcus has ordered his guards to retreat. They’ve all vacated the hidden positions around our borders.”I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest. “Interesting,” I muttered, narrowing my eyes. “It’s two ways, Seth. Either someone from our side tipped them off about our plans, or they saw the odds and realized they’d be outnumbered before they even crossed the border.”Seth’s mouth formed a tight line as he nodded. “Both are possibilities, but I’ll personally investigate. We need to be sure no one here is leaking
Marcus's POVThe room was thick with tension as Marcus paced back and forth, his boots thudding heavily against the wooden floor. The failure of the attack was a blow to his ego, and he couldn’t shake the image of Ryan’s trembling voice over the phone, reporting their retreat."Useless fools!" Marcus growled, slamming his fist onto the table. His eyes burned with fury as he turned to Jacob, who stood silently by the window. "How did John find out? We planned this down to the last detail."Jacob sighed, his face etched with frustration. "There must be a leak. Someone tipped them off. Either that, or they figured out our strategy. John's not an idiot, Marcus. We underestimated him."Marcus scoffed, pouring himself a glass of whiskey. "Underestimated or not, I don’t take defeat lightly. We need another plan—a stronger one. Something they won’t see coming."Before Jacob could respond, his phone buzzed on the table. The shrill ringtone sliced through the silence, and Jacob frowned deeply,
John’s POVI adjusted the collar of my shirt, glancing at the set dinner table. The soft glow of the chandelier above reflected off the silverware, casting intricate patterns across the polished mahogany. With a sigh, I gestured for one of the maids.“Go tell Stephanie and Reyna to join us for dinner,” I said, keeping my tone even.The maid nodded and hurried out. I took my seat at the head of the table, pouring myself a glass of wine. Moments later, Diane walked in, her usual confident stride betraying nothing, but her sharp eyes didn’t miss a thing.“You’ve invited Stephanie and Reyna?” she asked, her voice calm, but I caught the edge in her tone.“Yes,” I replied simply, swirling the wine in my glass. “They’re part of the pack, aren’t they? It’s only fair.”She didn’t respond, but the faint tightening of her lips told me everything I needed to know. She didn’t like it. Not one bit.Reyna’s POVI was adjusting the straps of my dress when a knock on the door interrupted me. The maid’
Sarah's POVI struggled against Sally’s grip, my heart pounding as I wrestled with her in the cramped car. The vehicle swerved violently, the tires screeching against the gravel road. Ryan snarled in frustration from the driver’s seat, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel.“Get her under control!” Ryan barked, his eyes flashing with anger.But Sally wasn’t faring any better than I was. I twisted my body, using all my strength to push her away. The car jerked again, and Ryan’s focus wavered.“Stop it!” he yelled, but it was too late.The car slammed into something solid—a massive tree. The force of the collision threw me forward, but the seatbelt held me in place. Pain shot through my body as I gasped for breath.When the world stopped spinning, I turned to see Sally slumped against the door, unconscious. Her head lolled to the side, blood trickling from a cut on her forehead.Ryan groaned, his hand gripping his chest as he turned to glare at me. “You…”His voice was gut
Marcus's POVThe shrill ringing of my phone jolted me from my thoughts. I glanced at the screen—one of the sentinels guarding the outskirts of the clan’s territory.“What is it?” I barked, answering the call.“Alpha, there’s been an incident,” the sentinel reported, his voice tight with urgency. “Ryan and Sally’s car crashed near the old woods. Sarah escaped into the forest. Ryan attempted to pursue her but lost her trail. Sally is unconscious.”Anger surged through me, hot and consuming. I slammed my fist onto the desk, causing the papers and a nearby glass to rattle. “How could you let this happen? You’re supposed to keep everything under control!”“We tried, Alpha,” the sentinel stammered. “She’s fast, and the terrain made it impossible to track her without exposing ourselves.”“Useless,” I muttered before ending the call.I wasted no time summoning Lexon. Within minutes, he arrived, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern.“What’s going on, Marcus?” he asked, crossing his ar
Stephanie’s POVThe moonlight filtered through my curtains, casting soft patterns on the wooden floor. I sat at the edge of my bed, my mind racing. Every event, every conversation, every glance from Reyna or Diane seemed like pieces of a puzzle I couldn’t quite fit together.The announcement at breakfast replayed in my mind. A moonlight party. Elders demanding mates be chosen. My stomach churned at the thought. There was something inherently political about these gatherings, a dance of power and influence that I’d never felt comfortable with.A soft knock on the door startled me. Before I could answer, the door creaked open, revealing Reyna.“Can’t sleep either?” she asked, stepping in without waiting for an invitation.I shook my head, motioning for her to sit. “There’s too much on my mind.”She sighed, sinking onto the chair by the window. “Tell me about it. Diane’s stares could burn holes in steel, and Jake…” She trailed off, her expression unreadable.I arched an eyebrow. “Jake?”
Stephanie's POV Jake and John exchanged a look before turning to me."Don't worry," Jake said. "We'll go outside and see what Marcus wants."John nodded in agreement. "You and Sarah get Reyna out of here. We’ll handle things."Sarah scoffed. "We already know what he wants me." Her voice was steady, but I could hear the edge of fear beneath it. She lifted her chin defiantly. "But he’s never getting me back. I left his hold, and I’m never going back."Her determination made me proud, but we didn’t have time to argue about it. We had to move.Without wasting another second, we slipped through the back gate, where a black car was already waiting for us.“Get in,” the driver said in a low voice, his eyes darting toward the front of the building.Sarah climbed in first, pulling me along with her. As soon as the door shut behind us, the car sped off, leaving Jake and John behind to deal with Marcus.The tension in the car was thick. Sarah sat stiffly beside me, her fingers clenched into fis
Stephanie's POV A slow smile spread across my lips as I caught the flicker of fear in Damon’s eyes. He tried to hide it, clenching his jaw, standing tall, but I saw it I felt it.“What’s wrong, Damon?” I taunted, tilting my head. “I thought you were the most fearless werewolf. A rogue with nothing to lose.”His fists curled at his sides. By then, Jake and John had started stirring, groaning as they slowly regained consciousness. Damon’s gaze darted to them before snapping back to me.“You’re a damn psycho,” he spat. “How the hell did you cut off Diane’s hand?”I twirled my blade between my fingers, feigning boredom. “The same way I’ll take something from you if you don’t release my people.” My voice was calm, steady. Deadly.Damon scoffed. “Diane was weak. I don’t really care what happens to her.” His lip curled into a smirk. “And I’ll do whatever I damn well please.”I chuckled. “Good,” I murmured. “Because Reyna is safe now, and that means I get to enjoy this.” I lifted my gun, my
Stephanie's POV I moved swiftly through the corridor, my grip tightening around the blade in my hand. Sarah had given me the map, and I followed it exactly, weaving my way toward the cellar. Every step I took, every breath I exhaled, only solidified my determination. I would get Reyna back.The bodies I left behind didn’t faze me. The guards had barely been a challenge—quick, clean kills. Their lifeless forms littered the hallway, but I had no time to care. I reached into my pocket, pulling out the small vial of wolfsbane. Its dark, pungent scent filled my nostrils, sharp and intoxicating.A scream echoed through the cellar. My chest tightened. Reyna.I didn’t hesitate.I crouched, pouring the wolfsbane over the fallen guards. The second it made contact with their bodies, flames erupted, consuming them in an instant. The fire crackled, an eerie glow dancing against the stone walls.Perfect.If Diane was here—and I knew she was—this would lure her out.A slow smile curled my lips when
Diane's POV I storm up the stairs, my boots heavy against the wooden floor. There’s no time to waste. I shove open Reyna’s door and find her sprawled across the bed, her eyes barely open.Before she can react, I grab her wrist and yank her up.“What the hell?” she mumbles, still groggy.“We’re going for a little ride,” I say, my grip tightening.Reyna’s lips curl into a smirk. “A little ride?” she repeats, tilting her head. “Or did Jake and John finally show up to save me?”I slap her before she can say another word. The sound cracks through the silence.“Shut up,” I snap. “Or I’ll ruin that pretty face of yours. Then no one will bother looking at it.”She blinks, then lets out a chuckle. “Even if you ruin my face, even if you kill me, what makes you think Jake and John won’t do the same to you?”I drag her toward the hallway leading to the back exit, my nails digging into her arm. “If you survive tonight, you should be grateful,” I sneer. “Because I don’t think Jake and John stand a
Jake's POVAs I descended the stairs, John shot me a not-so-good look before asking what I had been up to."I woke the sleeping princesses," I said with a smirk. "It’s time to decide how we're going to save Reyna."John sighed, rubbing his temples. "We have to be careful, Jake. We can't afford for anyone else to get hurt."I narrowed my eyes at him. "Are you trying to protect Sarah and Stephanie?"He shook his head. "I’m not protecting anyone. I just want you to think rationally, that’s all. We have to be smart about this."Before I could respond, Sarah and Stephanie walked down the stairs. Sarah scoffed as her sharp gaze landed on me."Just so you remember, Jake," she said, crossing her arms. "I don’t owe you an alliance. I could change my mind about helping you in the snap of my fingers, so maybe try to be nice."I let out a short laugh, shaking my head. "I’ll be nice when Reyna is safe and back with us. Until then, focus."She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. We all gathered aroun
Reyna's POV The warm water had done little to wash away the exhaustion clinging to my bones, but at least I no longer felt like a walking pile of dirt. Stepping out of the bathroom, I wrapped a towel around myself and ran a hand through my damp hair.Just as I reached for a fresh set of clothes, the door swung open.Diane.I sighed heavily, rolling my eyes. “You’re the last person I want to see right now. Get the hell out of my room.”She smirked, leaning against the doorframe like she had all the time in the world. “Too bad. You don’t get to order me around.”I turned my back on her, picking up my clothes. “Fine. Sit there and watch me dress up, then. You seem to have a talent for babysitting.”That got under her skin. I heard her sharp intake of breath before she moved.A hand swung toward my face, but I caught her wrist mid-air, gripping it tightly. Slowly, I turned to face her, my expression blank, but my eyes burning with warning.“What do you think Damon would say?” I asked sof
Stephanie's POV I led Sarah to my bedroom, quietly shutting the door behind us. She had been silent the entire way up, but now, she was watching me with an expression I couldn’t quite place.“What?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.She tilted her head. “You didn’t tell me you’ve met your mate.”I blinked, completely thrown off. “What are you talking about?”Sarah’s lips curled into a knowing smirk, but then her expression shifted to one of confusion. “Wait—you don’t know?”I crossed my arms. “Know what?”Her confusion faded into amusement. “Oh, now I get it,” she laughed, shaking her head. “I was wondering why your energy felt different. But now it makes sense.”I frowned. “What makes sense?”She gave me a pointed look. “You look more radiant, Steph. Stronger. Happier.” She paused, studying me. “Don’t you know why?”I scoffed. “I haven’t noticed anything.”Sarah rolled her eyes. “Liar. You’re just trying to push it down.”I stiffened. “That’s not—”She cut me off, stepping closer. “You k
Marcus POV I clenched my jaw as the call ended, my grip on the phone tightening until my knuckles turned white. That woman. Diane had just laughed in my face, dismissing me like I was nothing. As if she had never owed me a damn thing.Jacob sat across from me, watching with mild curiosity. “What’s wrong?” he asked, arms crossed over his chest. “What did Diane say?”I exhaled sharply, shoving my phone into my pocket. “Forget Diane,” I said. “You should be more concerned about how we’re going to get your daughter away from that man.”Jacob snorted, an amused smirk playing on his lips. “Do you really think I’m bothered about that?”I frowned. “What the hell are you talking about?”Jacob leaned back, shaking his head. “I don’t care, Marcus. Damon can do whatever he wants with Reyna. It’s none of my business.”My stomach twisted in disbelief. I took a step toward him, trying to read his expression, but there was nothing—just a blank, indifferent stare. “What the hell are you saying?” I de
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