Jake’s POVThe amber liquid swirled in my glass as I stared blankly at the bar counter. The mansion was quiet, save for the distant hum of activity as the staff prepared for tomorrow's moonlight party. I brought the glass to my lips, letting the alcohol burn its way down, but it did nothing to dull the storm in my mind.How did I get here? A few months ago, I didn’t care about anyone least of all any woman. Life was simpler then. No distractions, no attachments. But now? I couldn’t go a day without thinking about her.Reyna.Her name haunted my every waking moment. The way she laughed, the way her eyes lit up when she was happy, and even the way she frowned when something didn’t sit right with her. It all consumed me, and I hated myself for it.The door to the bar creaked open, and I glanced up to see Diane and her assistant step inside. Great. Just what I needed.Her sharp eyes landed on me immediately. “Jake,” she said, her voice laced with a mix of curiosity and disapproval. “Drink
Marcus’s POVFrom my office window, I watched as Jacob stepped out of his car. His usual confident gait was evident, but there was an urgency in his stride that piqued my curiosity. He wasn’t the type to come unannounced unless there was something pressing.My fingers drummed against the desk as I waited for him to appear. Moments later, the door swung open, and Jacob strode in, his face tense.“Where’s Sarah?” he demanded without preamble, his tone sharp.I raised an eyebrow and leaned back in my chair, feigning indifference. “You don’t have the right to question me about Sarah. And besides,” I added, my voice lowering, “shouldn’t you be more concerned about getting your men ready? You’ve got a bigger problem at hand—your precious daughter, Reyna.”Jacob’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t back down. “I’ve heard rumors that Reyna has been spending time with Stephanie,” he said, his voice cutting through the tension. “And since Stephanie is Sarah’s sister, I need to know if you’ve been in c
Reyna's POV The dress was breathtaking a flowing silver gown that shimmered with every movement, hugging my figure perfectly. Two makeup artists fluttered around me, adding the finishing touches to my makeup and styling my hair into elegant waves. Their chatter faded into the background as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. For a moment, I almost didn’t recognize myself.“Perfect,” one of them said, stepping back to admire their work. “You’re going to be the star of the party tonight.”I smiled politely, though my mind was elsewhere. Tonight wasn’t just about beauty or elegance it was about navigating a night filled with uncertainty and hidden motives.The door opened, and Stephanie walked in, already dressed in a sleek emerald-green gown that complemented her complexion perfectly. She looked stunning, and I couldn’t help but smile.“Reyna,” she gasped, placing a hand on her chest as she walked closer. “You look incredible.”I laughed softly. “Look who’s talking. You’re glowing
Jake's POV The knock at the door lingered in my mind as I stood there, my hand still gripping the doorknob. Behind me, Reyna was pressed against the wall, her chest heaving, her lips swollen from the kiss we’d just shared. The heat of the moment was still coursing through my veins, but I had to pull myself together.“Jake?” John called again, his tone sharper this time.I exhaled slowly, glancing over my shoulder at Reyna. Her wide eyes met mine, and for a moment, neither of us moved.“I’ll handle this,” I whispered to her, my voice low but firm.She nodded, biting her lip as I turned and opened the door just enough to step outside. John was standing there, arms crossed, looking impatient.“What’s so urgent?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral even though my mind was still spinning from what had just happened.“We need to finalize the plans for the moonlight party,” John said, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You weren’t at the briefing earlier.”“I was... preoccupied,” I replied, glancin
Jake's POV The faint buzz of chatter outside John’s office drifted through the slightly ajar window, a reminder that the moonlight party was about to begin. I leaned back in the chair opposite his desk, trying to focus as John talked about the final inspection.“The decorations in the main hall are flawless,” John said, flipping through a stack of papers. “Food is already set, and the security team is stationed at key points. Everything’s coming together.”I nodded absentmindedly, my mind elsewhere. Seeing Reyna earlier had shaken me more than I cared to admit, and now, sitting here with John her supposed protector only made the tension inside me worse.“And after the party…” John trailed off, a small, almost shy smile playing on his lips as he leaned back in his chair.I raised an eyebrow. “What about after the party?”He hesitated for a moment before pulling a small velvet box out of his pocket. My stomach dropped as he opened it to reveal a simple but elegant silver ring, adorned
Diane's POV The moment the Moon Goddess assistant announced that Jake and Reyna were mates, my heart stopped. No. This couldn’t be happening. All my careful planning, my meticulous scheming—it was unraveling in front of me. I felt the blood drain from my face, replaced by a surge of hot, uncontrollable anger.Before I knew it, I was marching toward the DJ booth.“Stop the music!” I snapped, my voice slicing through the chatter and laughter like a blade.The music stopped abruptly, and the hall fell into a tense, awkward silence. Every pair of eyes turned to me, but I didn’t care. Let them stare. Let them gasp. I wasn’t going to let this stand.I turned my attention to the so-called assistant of the Moon Goddess, standing at the center of all this chaos. My voice was sharp, unwavering.“Why would you say such a thing?” I demanded, narrowing my eyes. “That’s a lie! I paid you to say something else!”A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, but I ignored it. I was too far gone to ca
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
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 Warm sunlight streamed through the room as the sound of soft footsteps pulled me from sleep. My eyelids fluttered open just in time to see Steph yanking the curtains apart, letting the golden glow spill across the walls."Rise and shine, sleepyhead," she teased, turning to face me with a wide grin.I pushed myself up against the pillows, a slow smile spreading across my lips. "Steph," I breathed.She didn't hesitate. In a second, she was beside me, arms wrapped tight around my shoulders. I clung to her just as fiercely, letting the warmth of her presence chase away the last remnants of fear that had clung to me since my return."I'm so glad you're back," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion.I pulled back slightly, searching her eyes. "I'm glad to be back."Her gaze softened. "We were all worried about you, Reyna. I was worried about you."A lump formed in my throat. It was still hard to believe I was safe, back in familiar surroundings, surrounded by people who car
John's POV The night air was crisp as I stepped through the front doors of the estate, the weight of exhaustion settling deep in my bones. Steph had been right beside me just moments ago, but before I could say a word, she vanished into the shadows like she always did. She never liked lingering too long, especially after a mission.I rubbed my temples, barely suppressing a groan. The night had been long, and I wasn’t looking forward to whatever came next.A sentinel approached, his expression unreadable. “The elders request an audience with you, Alpha.”I exhaled sharply, already irritated. “Not tonight. Tell them I’ll meet them tomorrow.”The sentinel hesitated but nodded before turning on his heel and disappearing down the hall. I knew pushing off the meeting wouldn’t go over well, but I didn’t care. For once, I just needed a damn moment to breathe.I moved further inside, my steps slowing as I reached Reyna’s door. My hand hovered over the handle, but I hesitated.What was I suppo
Jake's POV The air in the dungeon was thick with the stench of damp stone and decay, the kind of smell that clung to your skin long after you left. I barely noticed it. My focus was locked on the metal door in front of me, the one separating me from Diane.The guards stepped aside as I approached, their expressions unreadable. They knew better than to question why I was here. Everyone knew what Diane had done, the pain she had caused.I pushed the door open.Diane sat in the corner, shackled to the wall. Her once-perfect appearance was in ruins,her hair tangled, her face streaked with dirt and dried blood. She looked up at me, her eyes narrowing before shifting into something unreadable.“Jake,” she murmured, voice hoarse. “Here to let me go?”I let out a dark chuckle before slamming the door shut behind me. “You think this is a rescue mission?”She smirked, though I could see the flicker of doubt in her gaze. “You’ve always been the reasonable one. The quiet one.” She tilted her hea
Stephanie's POV The silence between us wasn’t heavy. It wasn’t awkward or tense. It simply… was.John and I sat side by side on the fallen log, the cool night air wrapping around us. The moon was high, its light filtering through the trees, casting silver threads over the clearing. I focused on the sound of the wind rustling the leaves, on the distant hoot of an owl. Anything but the way John’s presence made my chest feel tight.I wasn’t used to this.Silence, yes. I had spent years locked inside my own head, drowning in the absence of words. But this wasn’t that kind of silence. This was different. This was… safe.I stole a glance at him.John was watching me, his eyes darker than usual under the soft glow of the moon. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in the way he looked at me that made my skin prickle. Not with fear. Not with unease. But with something I wasn’t ready to name.His lips parted, and for a moment, I thought he might speak. But he didn’t. Instead,
John's POV I caught the scent of her hesitation before she even moved.Stephanie’s hand hovered over the doorknob, her shoulders tense. Her breathing was steady, controlled,but I knew better. She was about to bolt.In a flash, I moved, cutting her off before she could step inside. I wasn’t even sure why I did it,only that letting her slip away didn’t feel like an option.She gasped, her eyes widening in shock. “What the hell, John?”I crossed my arms, blocking the door with my body. “Were you planning on running away?”Her lips parted, then pressed into a thin line. “I wasn’t running.”“Then why did you freeze up when you saw me?”Stephanie huffed, crossing her arms. “I wasn’t expecting you to appear out of nowhere like a damn shadow.”I smirked. “Werewolf speed has its perks.”She rolled her eyes and tried to step around me, but I shifted, keeping her in place.She let out a frustrated sigh. “Move, John.”“No.”Her brows knitted together. “Excuse me?”I leaned against the doorframe,
John's POV The hum of the engine filled the silence between Jake and me as I drove through the dimly lit streets. The city blurred past, a mixture of neon lights and shadows, but my focus was elsewhere. Something in my chest felt… off. Like a weight pressing down, not painful, but present. An awareness I couldn’t shake.Jake sat beside me, lost in his own thoughts, his fingers drumming against his knee. I knew what he was thinking about,Reyna. The need to get back to her, to see her safe with his own eyes. I understood that kind of devotion. Or at least, I thought I did.But something had shifted in me.I gripped the wheel tighter, staring at the road ahead. Reyna. The woman I had fought for, bled for, almost died for. The woman I had sworn to protect.Yet, something was missing.The bond, the pull I used to feel toward her, was dull, faded. Not gone, but distant—like a song played from another room, recognizable but no longer mine to claim.I inhaled sharply, forcing my mind to focu
Reyna's POV I woke up to the soft glow of the bedside lamp, my head still throbbing but lighter than before. The scent of fresh linen and antiseptic filled my nose, and as my vision cleared, I saw Sarah sitting beside me."You're awake," she breathed out, her voice laced with relief.I blinked a few times, my body still sluggish. "Where…where am I?""A safe house," she answered, reaching out to squeeze my hand. "You've been unconscious for two days. We were so worried."Two days? My mind struggled to catch up. The last thing I remembered was pain,Damon, Diane, and chaos. I swallowed, my throat dry."Stephanie?" I croaked.Before Sarah could respond, the door swung open, and there she was."You're finally awake." Stephanie strode into the room with her usual confidence, but her eyes softened as she looked at me."Steph," I whispered.She crossed the room in seconds and wrapped her arms around me. Her embrace was strong, grounding me in the present. For the first time in days, I felt s
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