A HEAT OF BATTLEELENA'S POV I peeked through the door, my heart still pounding from everything that had just happened. The room was empty. Liam wasn’t there. A part of me felt relieved, but another part... another part of me felt something else, something I couldn’t quite put into words. I swallowed hard, gathering my courage before stepping out of the bathroom, dressed in his clothes. His scent clung to me, wrapping around me like a second skin, and it only made everything more confusing.I ran a hand through my damp hair, trying to shake off the thoughts swirling in my mind. What had just happened? What was I even thinking, pulling him into the bathroom like that? I let out a shaky breath, pushing the thought aside. I needed to get out of here. I needed air.The house felt too quiet as I made my way downstairs and out the door. The cool evening breeze hit my face, but it did little to cool the heat rushing through my body. I walked with no real destination in mind, my thoughts rep
Chapter 19Shadows of the Past My eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light filtering through the room. Silence pressed in from all sides, broken only by the steady hum of crickets outside. I shifted slightly, and a sharp pain radiated through me, a vivid reminder of the fight I’d barely survived. Every inch of my body ached, as though I’d been trampled by a stampede. I took a deep breath, wincing, and tried to steady myself.The quiet suddenly broke with the sound of footsteps. Then, I heard a soft voice call out my name.“Elena.”I looked up to see Liam standing there, his gaze filled with worry—and something else I couldn’t quite name. He stepped closer, his eyes never leaving mine.“How are you feeling?” he asked, his voice gentle.“Like I got hit by a truck,” I replied, forcing a smile despite the sharp pain that followed each word.A hint of amusement softened his face. “You look like it too.”Rolling my eyes, I felt warmth in his teasing. “Thanks for that reminder. Can w
Chapter 20Unspoken TruthELENA'S POVSunlight peeked through the curtains, drawing me out of a fitful sleep. I shifted, feeling the weight of exhaustion heavy on me. Last night, I barely slept, tossing and turning as Liam’s question replayed in my mind—Will you accept me as your mate? Even now, the words hung in the air, making my heart flutter and ache at the same time. With a sigh, I tossed the bedsheet off and stretched. I knew I wouldn’t find peace lying here, so I dragged myself up and headed to the shower, hoping the hot water would wash away the fog in my mind. As I let the water cascade over me, I thought about Liam—how serious he’d been, the depth in his gaze, the way he seemed to see right through me. The uncertainty twisted in my chest. He’d given me space, but I knew he wouldn’t wait forever.Just as I wrapped myself in a towel and stepped out of the shower, the faint sound of movement drifted up from downstairs. Frowning, I dressed quickly, curiosity sparking through th
Chapter 21Pieces of the PastELENA'S POV The walk back to the packhouse was quiet, though Liam’s hand never left mine. I couldn’t shake the feeling of warmth and safety that settled over me, even as my heart beat faster with each step. I thought we’d go our separate ways after breakfast, but instead, he led me to his room, his fingers wrapped securely around mine. The moment we reached the door, a flood of memories rushed over me—memories of the last time I was here. How close we’d been, the way his lips had lingered on mine… I felt my cheeks heat up at the thought.Sensing my hesitation, he gave my hand a reassuring squeeze and smiled gently. “Relax, Elena. I just want to show you something.”I swallowed, nodding as he opened the door and ushered me inside. The room was just as I remembered it, simple yet cozy, filled with earthy tones that matched his calm, grounded nature. There was something oddly intimate about stepping back into his space, but I pushed the thought aside, focu
Liam's POVThe room was steeped in a heavy silence, the air thick with the tension of truths revealed and emotions laid bare. She stood before me, her trembling frame caught in the pale glow of moonlight spilling through the window. Her tear-streaked face tilted up, eyes meeting mine, and in that moment, the world faded. Her gaze pierced through every wall I had built, drawing me into the storm swirling behind her eyes—anger, pain, but also something deeper. Something unspoken. The weight of her stare pulled me closer, until the space between us dissolved into nothing. “Elena,” I whispered, the sound of her name almost a plea. Her lips parted, but no words came. Slowly, as if caught in a trance, our faces drew nearer. Her breath mingled with mine, shallow and uneven. Every nerve in my body seemed to ignite, urging me forward. My hand found its way to her cheek, my thumb brushing away the remnants of her tears. She leaned into the touch, her eyes fluttering shut for the briefest
Chapter 22Promise of ForeverELENA'S POV “Yes.”My whispered answer seemed to hang in the air, echoing in the stillness of the room. I could feel Liam’s gaze on me, intense and unwavering, as if he were trying to decipher every hidden thought in my mind. For a moment, neither of us moved. I held my breath, waiting for his reaction, my heart pounding in my chest.Then, he smiled—a slow, almost relieved smile that softened his entire face. “I hoped you’d say that,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper as if he was tryna hide something-Maybe how happy he was?I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, a tentative smile tugging at my lips. “I… I don’t know where this path will lead us,” I admitted, the honesty of my words catching even me by surprise. “But… I want to try.”Liam nodded, his hand reaching up to gently cup my cheek. His thumb traced a soft, comforting line along my skin, and the warmth of his touch seeped into me, easing the last of my doubts. “That’s a
Chapter 23After the BattleELENA'S POVThe aftermath of the fight hung heavy in the air, the silence almost as deafening as the battle that had raged only moments before. Bruised and bloodied, I leaned against Liam, each step back toward the pack house. His arm was wrapped firmly around me, grounding me, his warmth seeping through the exhaustion clouding my mind.We made it to the edge of the clearing, and Liam glanced down, his eyes dark with a mix of worry and relief. “Elena, you should rest. You’re hurt.”I shook my head, though every muscle in my body screamed for a break. “I’m fine, really,” I insisted, my voice barely above a whisper. I didn’t want him to see just how badly I was hurting. “Besides, I can’t let you carry everything alone.”He gave me a look, one of those rare, exasperated smiles that told me he knew I was being stubborn, but wasn’t about to argue. “You’re as hardheaded as I am,” he murmured, tightening his hold slightly. “Let’s get you inside.”The pack house lo
Chapter 24THE LETTERELENA'S POVThe morning air held a lingering chill, wrapping around us as we walked along the edge of the forest. Dew clung to the leaves, the early sun barely piercing the trees, casting a gentle light over the world. Liam walked beside me, his hand brushing mine occasionally as we talked, though neither of us seemed eager to break the quiet.It felt… peaceful. After everything we’d been through, this silence was almost sacred. But as we walked deeper into the forest, a sudden breeze made me shiver, and Liam, ever perceptive, paused to look over at me, his expression softening.“You’re cold,” he murmured, already shrugging off his hoodie before I could protest. He held it out to me, his eyes filled with that familiar look of quiet concern. “Take it.”I started to refuse, but one look at his expression told me there was no point. Smiling softly, I slipped my arms into the hoodie, the warmth and scent of him surrounding me. It was surprisingly comforting, groundin
Chapter 41Liam's povThe sun snaked in through the curtains but I was awake and prepared for it. With swift movements, I closed the gaps that permitted the light and continued staring at Elena, at my Luna. She was the embodiment of beauty and I was sure that the goddess took her time to craft her. She had fallen asleep immediately after her third orgasm. I remembered when I told her to mark me, the surprised expression on her face and her hesitation. She did mark me but it was clear it was a feeble effort. “I could stare at you all day.”“Alpha..” One of my soldiers' mind linked me.“What do you need?”“Uh…it's time for the meeting. Based on the information you were able to receive from the traitor, the rogues should start their attack from the west side of the pack.”“I'll be there shortly.” I replied, my tone clipped. I was angry because I had to leave her side but the pack was important to me. “See you later, Elena.” I planted a soft kiss on her forehead and left, closing the
Chapter 40Elena's povI stared at him under the dim glow of the lights in the room and I could feel my face heating up. I was finally mated. I finally had a mate for myself.Looking back at all the things I'd done, I realized how stupid I was. I had chased him away so many times but he always came back, like a moth was attracted to the flame. I was the flame and he was the moth. And even though I could burn him, he still stood with me, fighting. Fighting for us. My heart was warm as I stared at his chest heaving up and down. Subconsciously, I touched the mark on my neck and a small smile formed on my lips.“I wonder what form it would take when it's healed.” I muttered to myself. Everytime a wolf was marked, the mark would take on a shape unique to the person. It was like a tattoo gifted by the moon goddess. “Thank you for not giving up on me.” I whispered, tracing my hands along his face as I fought the tears that threatened to spill.He suddenly turned and offered a smile. He
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE MATEDLiam's POVThe room was steeped in a heavy silence, the air thick with the tension of truths revealed and emotions laid bare. She stood before me, her trembling frame caught in the pale glow of moonlight spilling through the window. Her tear-streaked face tilted up, eyes meeting mine, and in that moment, the world faded. Her gaze pierced through every wall I had built, drawing me into the storm swirling behind her eyes—anger, pain, but also something deeper. Something unspoken. The weight of her stare pulled me closer, until the space between us dissolved into nothing. “Elena,” I whispered, the sound of her name almost a plea. Her lips parted, but no words came. Slowly, as if caught in a trance, our faces drew nearer. Her breath mingled with mine, shallow and uneven. Every nerve in my body seemed to ignite, urging me forward. My hand found its way to her cheek, my thumb brushing away t
Fractured BondsElena's POVThe truth hit me like a freight train, crashing into every part of my mind, leaving nothing untouched. Logan had killed my parents. Logan, the man I once cared for, had been the one to frame Liam, the one I thought had betrayed me. My heart was heavy with the realization, the anger boiling inside of me. It was so much to process, too much to bear in a single moment.I stared at Liam, his pain evident in his eyes, his posture rigid as he waited for me to make sense of it all. And then there was Logan—his presence seemed to suffocate the room, and I couldn’t bear to look at him any longer. The man I had once trusted had betrayed me in the most unforgivable way possible.With trembling hands, I wiped away the unshed tears that threatened to spill over. I couldn’t break down now. I couldn’t. Not in front of them. “You,” I began, my voice trembling but gaining strength as I spoke. “You... *how dare you*?” My words
Shattered TruthLiam's POVThe anger, the frustration, and the pain coiled around me like a suffocating noose as I left Elena’s door behind me. Every step I took felt heavier than the last. I wanted to scream. To break something. To do anything but feel this suffocating ache gnawing at my chest.But there was something I needed to do. Something that, deep down, I knew would make me feel even worse. It wouldn’t give me any satisfaction, not with how things stood between Elena and me, but I couldn’t ignore it any longer.I headed toward Logan’s room.The hall was empty, the silence stretching between each footstep. My mind reeled from the words I had just overheard from Elena. Logan was back, and he was begging for forgiveness—begging her to come back to him. The pain of hearing it felt like I was being torn apart from the inside. But more than that, there was something about his presence here, in my pack, that I couldn’t ignore.
Torn Between the Past and PresentELENA'S POVThe day had dragged on, each hour stretching longer than the last. It was as though the world outside had forgotten to move, frozen in time while the storm raged inside me. I had kept to myself, avoiding the pack’s usual gatherings and trying to silence the confusion swirling in my mind. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t ignore the hollow ache deep inside me, a gap that had grown since everything had changed between Liam and me.I tried to convince myself that this was just a phase, that my anger, my hurt, would eventually fade, but it felt so raw, so fresh, every time I thought about Liam and the lies he had kept from me. It stung. He had betrayed me, even if I wasn’t supposed to hold onto that truth anymore. I couldn’t forget. As the evening sun cast long shadows across the pack house, the sound of footsteps in the hall made me pause. A quick glance at the door, followed by the soft knock t
UNWELCOMED VISITOR LIAM'S POVThe morning came too soon, the first rays of sunlight seeping through the gaps in the heavy curtains of my room. I rubbed my face, trying to shake off the lingering remnants of sleep and the tension that still held my body in a vice. Last night’s meeting, the betrayal—everything felt like a storm I couldn’t quite escape. My mind was racing, my thoughts circling Elena, the traitor’s fate, and what it all meant for the pack. I didn’t know if I could afford to let my guard down, not now, not when everything felt so fragile.The scent of fresh coffee drifted into my room, sharp and bitter. It was one of the few comforts left to me in a place that felt both like home and a prison, depending on the moment. I took a deep breath and forced myself to stand, to move, to do what I had to. The sound of footsteps echoed through the hall, steady and purposeful. My senses instantly sharpened, and I recognized the cadence
TRAITOR ELIMINATED LIAM'S POVThe hallway outside Elena’s door felt colder as I walked away. Her words, her anger—every bit of it had sliced into me in ways I didn’t want to admit. I told myself I deserved her wrath. I had, after all, made choices that hurt her. Choices that left scars. But standing there, watching her try to hate me while I couldn’t help but care—it was a battle of its own.Once back in my room, I sank down heavily on the edge of my bed, staring at my hands, still stained with the aftermath of war. As I took a breath, I noticed the blood-soaked cloth lying on the table—a reminder of the treachery lurking within my own pack. I picked it up, my jaw tightening. I had no tolerance for betrayal. My pack was my family, my responsibility, and I wouldn’t allow any internal threat to tear it apart.“Time to end it all,” I muttered, my voice a low growl. It was time to capture the traitor. I couldn’t ignore the signs any lo
GUARDEDELENA'S POVThe faint glow of dawn seeped through my bedroom window, casting a dim light over the silent Manor. Outside, the remnants of the battle lay quiet, but I could still sense the tension simmering beneath the surface, like embers of a fire refusing to die.I hadn’t been allowed outside, not even to glimpse what was happening, and it tore at me, that helplessness. I had only felt the echoes of the war from within these walls—the roars, the tremors of battle, the scent of blood drifting in through the windows left cracked open. It was maddening to know that out there, lives had been risked, lost, and saved, while I’d been forced to sit here and do nothing. Cole and Derek had been stationed outside my door, their presence constant, their duty clear. Liam had ordered them to keep me here, out of danger, even as he went into battle himself. I shouldn’t have been surprised. He had made that decision for me, as if my thoughts o