Chapter nine Jake's POVThe night was soft and serene, with the soft glow of the moon casting a silvery sheen over the pool. The water gently rippled, reflecting the stars and the surrounding trees swaying lightly in the breeze.There, I sat alone, my legs dipped in the pool, staring at the stars, with a bottle of whiskey by my side, my loyal companion whenever I felt I neded to be alone.The memories of how I had lost my mother came back to me that night, a night that whenever I remembered, always reminded me of trusting too much.“You seem lost in thought, what's wrong? What's the issue?” Seth asked, coming to sit next to me as he dipped his own legs in the pool. Seth was the only one who really understood me. He taught me everything I knew as far as being a werewolf is concerned, and I would be forever indebted to him for that. "Thinking about what happened five years ago? When will you accept the fact that it's not your fault?" Seth said, patting me gently on the shoulder."It
Chapter tenStephanie's POVI woke up that night on my way to use the restroom when I began to hear the Alpha brothers, and from the tone which they spoke with, it was obvious there was something about their relationship that they weren't talking about.John was the Alpha of the pack but it appeared as though Jake wasn't happy with it. I quickly slipped away so as not to get seen, and that was when I met Selena the stewardess.Her room was just beside mine, and I guessed she too, had overheard the heated argument between the brothers.“Peeping on the brothers? If I were you I wouldn't do that.” Selena smiled at me.“I…I…I wasn't….” I stuttered. “Forget about what you've heard tonight. They've always been like that since they were boys,” My eyes narrowed, and a smug smile tugged at the corners of my lips. “They've always been like that since they were boys,” I mimicked Selena, though not audibly.“There has always been this tension between them, but believe me, they're the best broth
Chapter ElevenJohn's POV“Welcome lord Bernard,” I took a slight bow, then shook hands with him.“You're doing a good job John. I can see.” The hall was already filled with the other members of the pack, but Jake was no where to be found.“Have you seen Jake?” I turned to Mark, one of my most trusted Betas.“He's gone hunting,” Mark replied.“Hunting? On such an important occasion?” I bit my lips.Reyna walked in, looking very beautiful. I had specifically chosen the dress for her to wear, and just as I had expected, she didn't disappoint me.“Where are the newbies?” Lord Bernard asked as he took his seat by my side.Newbies! That's how they were called. “We're still waiting for the last one.” I called one of the Sentinels and whispered into his ears. After a couple of minutes, Stephanie and the sentinel walked in, and it was time to commence the ceremony.“Have both of them been confirmed to be werewolves?” Lord Bernard asked.“Yes but…one of them is yet to unlock her werewolf pot
Chapter twelve Reyna's POV“Are you okay?” I heard someone ask from behind me. I turned around and it was Stephanie.I wiped the tears in my eyes, but not before she could notice that I had been crying. I felt humiliated that I couldn't heal from a simple cut.“Let me see,” She took my hands which had been wrapped with a plaster.I was lucky John stood up to prevent the lord from stabbing me, else I'd have been dead.“Instead of stabbing her, why not give her a little cut? We just want to be sure she can heal for sure, right?” John had suggested just before Lord Bernard could think of stabbing me for real.Lord Bernard had taken a brief moment to ponder over John's suggestion.“Very well,” he sighed, after which he took my hand and with everyone watching, he placed a cut on my wrist, and I bled.All eyes were on me waiting for me to heal, but that didn't happen as the bleeding continued.“Call for first aid,” John instructed, and in no time, they were there.“She can't be admitted in
Jake's POV“Why weren't you around for the imitation ceremony earlier?” John asked, as he walked into my room.“What has my presence or absence got to do with the ceremony? And besides, I was trying out some of the new skills I had learnt from Seth.” I grimaced.I expected John to know better that I don't fancy such occasions, especially where the lords would be gathering. It kept reminding me of my misfortune, and how I was deprived of my rightful place as Alpha of the pack.“Every other member of the pack was present, but you, my own brother, you weren't there.” He reached out for my dagger sheath which was on top of the drawer and tossed it at me, and I gave it a good catch.“Reyna was cut today but she didn't heal,” his voice became softer.I furrowed a brow, and then pulled the dagger from its sheath.“I thought you said she healed the other day you stabbed her.”“Yes she did,” I ran my fingers on the sharp edge of the dagger, reminding me of how blood thirsty I could be. There
Marcus' POVThe tension in the room was suffocating. Every face around the table reflected the same frustration, fear, and a thirst for vengeance. Three of my most powerful werewolves had been beaten up— not just beaten up, but humiliated. The rogue responsible had made a spectacle of it, and it was a huge sting on my ego.It wasn't the first time we'd dealt with outsiders, but this? This was different. No one messes with me and goes away with it.I sat at the head of the table, my hands clenched tight in front of me as I listened to the others speak. The meeting had dragged on for nearly an hour, and with every word spoken, my blood boiled hotter."Two dead, Marcus," said Ryan, my second-in-command. His voice was steady, but I could see the barely concealed rage in his eyes. "One more wounded, and the rogue didn't even bother hiding his tracks. It's like he's daring us to come after him.""Daring us?" Jaxon scoffed. "He’s mocking us! He’s mocking *you, Marcus. What kind of wolf dare
Jacob's POVThe sound of my boots crunching on the gravel echoed in the quiet night as I made my way to the old Ridge. It wasn’t much of a place—just an old, run-down tavern on the edge of nowhere—but it had served as neutral ground for years. When you needed a conversation that wouldn’t make its way back to either side, this was the spot.Marcus was already there, sitting in a dark corner booth, a half-full glass of whiskey in front of him. He looked as grim as I’d ever seen him. It wasn’t hard to understand why. His pack had been humiliated, beaten down by some rogue wolf. Marcus didn’t take losses lightly, especially not ones that made him look weak.I made my way over and slid into the seat across from him. His cold eyes flicked up to meet mine, but he didn’t say anything at first, just waited for me to speak. He never had much patience for small talk."Thanks for meeting me," I said, signaling the bartender to bring me a drink. "I heard about your pack. About the attack."His ja
Reyna's POV The night was cool, but there was this surge of restlessness within me. I was still not yet able to understand why I couldn't heal when lord Bernard cut my wrist with the dagger.“She's not one of us,” the voice continued to replay in my head. That was lord Bernard's verdict, and it really made me feel embarrassed.I decided to meet up with Jake and to ask him a couple of questions. I wanted to know if there was something special in the dagger he had used to stab me that had made me heal.I felt like I was losing my mind. Maybe I was, and who knows, maybe, just maybe, that was the reason my father had rejected me. I hurried down the hallway, my heart pounding in my chest as I approached Jake’s room. We haven't seen eyeball to eyeball ever since John returned. I think he has been avoiding me, if not, why didn't he attend the initiation ceremony.When I reached his door, I knocked softly at first, then louder when I got no response. “Jake?” I called out, knocking again, b
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’
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,
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
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
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
John’s POVThe air in the pack feels tense, like everyone is holding their breath, waiting. The news from the note has traveled through the ranks quickly, despite my orders to keep things discreet. Now every sentinel and elder is on high alert, and I can feel their unease even as I make my way toward the meeting hall.Once inside, I find the elders already seated, each with a wary expression. Jake is there too, pacing the floor with the note in his hand. When he sees me enter, he stops, his face hardened with a mix of anger and determination.“I’ve been thinking,” Jake begins, holding up the note. “Whoever wrote this clearly knows something about us. But they’re not giving us a name, just a warning. That makes me think they might be trying to stay anonymous to protect themselves.”I nod, feeling the same suspicion. “If they’re afraid of being exposed, they’re likely close by. Maybe even someone we wouldn’t normally suspect.”One of the elders, Elder Marcus, leans forward. His gray eye
John’s POVI glance at the note once more, feeling the weight of its words bearing down on me. The elders are gathered around the long wooden table in the meeting room, their faces grim. Beside me sits my brother, Jake, who’s gripping the arms of his chair a bit too tightly, his jaw clenched as he reads over my shoulder. None of us had expected a warning like this to arrive at our gate, especially not with such foreboding words.“They’re coming tonight,” I read aloud once more, letting the words hang in the silence. “And whoever left this clearly knows something—or someone—in the pack.”One of the elders, a stout man with silver-streaked hair, leans forward, his expression troubled. “The ink is fresh,” he notes, pointing a gnarled finger at the paper. “Whoever wrote this must be close. Either they’re within the pack, or they’ve just left after dropping this.”I nod in agreement, my mind whirring with the implications. “This isn’t just a stray message from a rogue,” I say, folding the
Reyna’s POVI wake up early, the soft morning light filtering through the small window beside my bed. After a quick bath, I dress and head to Stephanie’s room. She’s usually up by now, but today, I hadn’t seen her around, which isn’t like her. I feel a pang of worry but shake it off as I reach her door and knock softly.Pushing the door open, I see her still lying in bed, her face turned away, breathing evenly. The sight surprises me. Stephanie never stays in bed this long.I approach quietly and give her a gentle tap on the shoulder. “Steph?” I call softly, trying not to startle her.She stirs, blinking her eyes open, and gives me a small, tired smile. “Hey, Reyna.”“What’s going on with you?” I ask, concern filling my voice. “It’s not like you to be in bed this late.”She stretches slightly, then sighs. “I’m just… tired. Nothing more.” Her tone is light, but there’s something off, a slight tension in her voice that makes me hesitate.I narrow my eyes, studying her face. “Are you sur
Stephanie’s POVI slip out of bed quietly, my heart pounding as I make my way over to the small table in the corner of my room. Every sound seems amplified in the silence, from the rustling of my clothes to the faint scratch of pen against paper as I write. Tomorrow, Sally and his people will be raiding John and Jake’s pack, and they expect me to lead them straight in. But there’s no way I can betray them, especially not without giving some kind of warning.I keep the message short, anonymous, and vague, careful not to reveal my identity. The fewer details, the better. I fold the note tightly and slip it into the sleeve of my jacket. The paper feels heavier than it should, a reminder of the danger I’m risking. But it’s all I can do, a small act of rebellion that I hope will make a difference.The halls are dark and eerily silent as I make my way toward the main gate. Each step feels measured and tense, my senses on high alert for any sign of movement. The guards have been rotated sinc