Sarah’s POVThe sharp pain in my feet was nothing compared to the fear pounding in my chest. The branches scratched my arms as I pushed through the dense woods, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Every step felt heavier than the last, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone—or something—was close behind me.I glanced over my shoulder for the hundredth time, my heart racing with every sound of snapping twigs or rustling leaves. Was Ryan still chasing me? His growls and screams had echoed in my ears earlier, but now the woods were eerily silent.When I finally felt like I couldn’t run any farther, I stopped and leaned against a thick tree. My legs trembled, and my lungs burned as I struggled to catch my breath. The moonlight trickled through the canopy above, casting ghostly patterns on the forest floor.I sank to the ground, resting my back against the tree. My hands trembled as I clutched the earth beneath me, grounding myself in its coolness. My body begged for sleep, but my min
John’s POVThe morning sun filtered through the tall windows of my office, casting streaks of gold across the polished wooden desk. I leaned back in my chair, my fingers drumming against the armrest as Diane and Jake entered. Diane's steps were sharp, her heels clicking against the floor with precision. Jake, ever composed, followed her, his face unreadable.I motioned for them to sit. "Let’s get straight to business."Diane perched on the edge of her seat, her eyes already gleaming with anticipation. She was always eager when it came to taking charge, but today, her eagerness annoyed me. I couldn’t pinpoint why, but perhaps it had to do with the calculated way she looked at me—as if she were waiting for me to say something she could twist in her favor.“We have two major events coming up,” I began, looking between them. “The Moonlight Party is in three nights, and the elders have sent word that the Mate Choosing Ceremony must happen alongside it.”Diane’s expression lit up briefly be
Reyna’s POVThe hallway was quiet as I closed the door to John’s office behind me. My heart raced, and I pressed my palm against my chest as if I could steady the erratic thumping.He had asked me to be his date.I shook my head, biting back a laugh at how ridiculous the situation was. Out of all the women in the clan, John had chosen me—a woman most people viewed as nothing more than a nuisance.“Is he serious?” I muttered under my breath as I walked toward the staircase, my mind whirling with questions.The Moonlight Party was a big deal, especially with the Mate Choosing Ceremony happening alongside it. It wasn’t just another social gathering—it was a declaration, a step toward something permanent. Why me? What was he trying to prove?I pushed open the door to my room and leaned against it, letting out a long sigh. My thoughts raced as I tried to piece together John’s motives. Was this just a way to get under Diane’s skin? She had been glaring daggers at me ever since Stephanie and
Jake’s POVThe sunlight streamed through the large windows of the council chamber, illuminating the old elder sitting across from me. Elder Gregor was the oldest in the clan, and his advice often carried more weight than anyone else's.He leaned forward, his silver eyebrows furrowing as he spoke. “Jake, the Moonlight Party isn’t just a celebration. It’s a calling, a chance for the Moon Goddess to guide us. John must choose a mate, but...” His voice trailed off, his gaze piercing mine.I knew where this was going.“But what?” I asked, my tone guarded.“But you need to consider your future too,” Gregor said firmly. “The clan cannot thrive with only one strong leader. You, as the beta, must also find a mate. The elders have been discussing this, and it’s time you took it seriously.”My chest tightened. I’d avoided this conversation for too long. Every mention of a mate felt like a noose tightening around my neck.“I’ll think about it,” I said curtly, rising from my chair.“Think quickly,
Diane’s POVI sat in the dimly lit room, the air thick with the scent of incense burning in the corner. The woman before me, clad in an outfit that mimicked the ceremonial attire of a Moon Goddess assistant, nodded silently as I spoke. Her eyes were sharp, calculating, and I knew I had chosen the right person for the task.“You understand your role?” I asked, my voice cold and firm.“Yes,” she replied, her tone steady.“Good.” I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes at her. “You will arrive at the Moonlight Party as the assistant to the Moon Goddess. You’ll make a grand entrance, enough to catch everyone’s attention, and then you’ll speak with authority. You’ll address the elders, the crowd, and most importantly, John.”The woman nodded again, her expression unreadable.“Make it clear that Reyna and Stephanie are threats to the clan,” I continued. “They’re outsiders, unfit to be considered as potential mates for John or anyone else of high status. They’ll bring nothing but trouble to our
Stephanie’s POVThe soft knock on my door drew my attention away from the book I’d been attempting to read. Before I could answer, the door creaked open, and Reyna peeked in."Can I come in?" she asked hesitantly."Of course." I set the book down and motioned for her to sit on the bed.Reyna walked in, looking more flustered than usual. She sat down and folded her hands in her lap, her fingers fidgeting nervously."What’s wrong?" I asked, leaning closer.She sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping. "It’s John and Jake."I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What about them?""John asked me to be his date for the Moonlight Party," she said, her cheeks tinged with pink. "And then Jake...he asked me too."I blinked, surprised. "Both of them? What did you say?"Reyna bit her lip, her gaze darting to the floor. "I accepted John’s offer, but when I told Jake...he didn’t take it well. He just walked out without saying anything. I think he’s angry with me."I couldn’t help but chuckle at her predic
Reyna's POVI sat on the edge of my bed, staring out the window as the moonlight spilled across the forest outside. My mind was a tangled mess of thoughts, mostly about the two men who had somehow taken over my every waking moment. I sighed and leaned back against the pillows, trying to push the confusion aside.A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.“Come in,” I called, though my voice lacked the usual warmth.The door opened, and my heart sank just a little. It was John. I had been hoping—no, wishing—it was Jake, but of course, it wasn’t.“Hey,” he said, stepping inside and closing the door gently behind him. “Stephanie told me you weren’t feeling well, so I thought I’d check on you.”I forced a small smile, not wanting to appear ungrateful. “Thanks, John. I’m fine, really. Just needed some time to myself.”He walked over and sat on the edge of my bed, his gaze soft and filled with concern. “You’ve been through a lot. It’s okay to take a breather.”I nodded, unable to
Diane’s POVThe next morning dawned crisp and clear, with the soft glow of the rising sun casting golden hues across the estate. I was already awake and bustling about before the first rays of light even pierced through the curtains. Today was the day of the Moonlight Party—a pivotal event, not just for the clan, but for me personally.Everything had to be perfect, and I would ensure that it was. This was my chance to solidify my position, to show everyone—especially John—that I was the right choice for him.I summoned my personal maid and gave her a long list of instructions. “Make sure the hall is spotless. The decorations must be flawless. The tables need to be set with the silverware I selected yesterday, and the flowers—only white lilies and red roses, nothing else.”“Yes, ma’am,” she replied obediently before scurrying off to fulfill my demands.Next, I sent for Stephanie. If Reyna was truly too “sick” to help, Stephanie would have to pick up the slack. I smirked at the thought
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
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