Valeria’s POVI stood behind the unknown wolf, my heart pounding in my chest. He had just saved my life, stepping in when the others had been ready to rip me apart without a second thought. I was grateful, but also wary. He was the only thing standing between me and a violent death, and I didn’t know if his protection would last or did he really cared enough to help a stranger like me.“She is trespassing and the rules are clear,” one of them said.“Are they now? Are we going to judge her just like that? What if she is innocent?” My protector retorted.The argument between him and the other wolves raged on, their voices harsh and suspicious, their gazes cutting. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the others begrudgingly gave me a chance to explain myself.“Speak, girl,” one of them growled. “Tell us why you’re here, and we’ll decide whether you live or die.”The finality in his tone made me shiver, but I managed a shaky nod. I followed them to a small, ramshackle cabin that lo
MAGNAR'S POVHalf the day had passed, and we were no closer to finding her. My father’s insistence on locating a mere slave baffled me. She was nobody—just another cog in the wheel of pack labour. Yes, I knew she was the daughter of an Alpha from her previous pack, but here, in our pack, she was nothing more than a servant.“Magnar, I think it’s fruitless now,” Braden said, breaking my train of thought. “There are no traces, no scent, nothing to go after. I think we’re wasting our time.”I nodded reluctantly. “I know, but what do I tell Father? That a slave slipped out of the pack while I was on patrol and is now nowhere to be found? He’ll start doubting my capabilities.”Braden grimaced, and I knew he shared my concerns. “You’re more than capable, Magnar. I don’t understand why Alpha Dimitri is still holding onto the title. You’ve already found your wolf, your Luna is at your side, and you’ve proven yourself time and again. Why is he still the Alpha?”His words sparked an unsettling
VALERIA’S POVA young wolf was assigned to show me around the area. He was barely out of his teens, lanky but with a spark of confidence in his gait. I assumed they chose him to make me feel at ease. His youth and demeanor exuded a sense of safety. The rest of the wolves had stayed back at the dilapidated cabin, likely to discuss my arrival.The boy introduced himself as Colin. He seemed eager to talk, and I was eager to learn about this peculiar pack.“So, Colin,” I began hesitantly, not wanting to seem intrusive. “How long have you all been staying here? I didn’t know rogues could form their own packs.”He looked at me with an amused grin, his bright eyes reflecting an innocence that seemed rare among wolves who lived on the fringes. “We’re not a proper pack,” he said, a hint of pride in his voice. “We’re just a group of wolves who stick together. And we haven’t been here long. We move around a lot.”“Move around? That must be difficult,” I said, genuinely curious. “Isn’t it hard to
VALERIA’S POVThe evening air in The Haven was surprisingly warm, filled with the soft murmur of voices and the occasional crackle of the fire. I stood near the makeshift cooking area, watching as the pack members gathered to eat the simple meal I had prepared. My nerves buzzed as I observed their reactions, waiting for any signs of disapproval or criticism.But the moment they took their first bites, I saw it—the subtle nods, the satisfied hums, and the faint smiles that lit up their faces. They liked it. A wave of relief washed over me, followed quickly by a flicker of pride. It was a simple dish, nothing extravagant as if we didn’t have enough resources. I prepared a vegetable stew and also added mushrooms to make it more filling.For the first time in years, I wasn’t cooking out of obligation or fear of punishment. I wasn’t cooking because someone demanded it. I was doing it because I wanted to.“Valeria, this is amazing!” one of the younger wolves, a girl named Lila, exclaimed wi
VALERIA’S POVIt was my first day of training, and I could already feel my nerves fraying. I knew it was going to hurt—physically, mentally, and emotionally. But I had no choice. I am glad that Elijah already decided that I needed training, and I do need it.I can’t even defend myself.I arrived at the training ground, which was more of a clearing in the forest than any organized training space. The ground was uneven, littered with roots and patches of grass that had been trampled into dirt. Unlike the pristine training arenas I’d imagined, this was wild, raw, and unstructured—much like the wolves who called this place home.The others were already there, sparring. But it wasn’t the orderly, one-on-one matches I’d heard about in structured packs. This was chaos. Five or six wolves at a time clashed in the center, fists and feet flying in what looked more like a brawl than a training session. It was a flurry of dodges, punches, and grapples, with no clear rules or structure. They were
VALERIA’S POVThe moment I felt the crushing weight of my opponent's arms around my neck, I knew I was at my limit. My vision blurred, dark spots danced before my eyes, and every muscle in my body screamed in agony. But I couldn’t give up—not here, not now. Not after Elijah’s taunt about my soul accepting slavery. I had fought too hard to leave one cage behind; I refused to step into another, even if it was of my own making.A scream erupted from deep within me, a raw, primal sound I didn’t recognize. It tore through my throat, growing louder and louder until it became deafening even to my own ears.The arms around me slackened and then fell away completely. My knees hit the ground, but I barely registered the impact. Gasping for air, I turned to face my attacker, only to find not just him, but everyone—wolves and spectators alike—writhing on the ground. Their hands clutched at their heads, faces twisted in pain, as if they were being torn apart from the inside.“What’s happening?” I
Valeria’s POVThe tension in the air was thick, pressing down on me as Tony stood in my path, his broad shoulders blocking my way. His sharp eyes bore into mine, and I could feel the weight of his judgment even before he spoke.“What are you doing, Tony?” I asked, my voice wavering despite my attempt to sound steady.He didn’t answer my question. Instead, his gaze narrowed, and he countered with one of his own. “Where do you think you’re going?”His words were sharp, cutting through the fragile resolve I had managed to muster. Still, I held my ground, clutching my bag tightly as if it were the only thing tethering me to reality.“A safe place,” I said softly, but firmly. “Somewhere far away. Because as long as I’m here, this place won’t be safe for any of you.”Tony crossed his arms over his chest, his stance unyielding. “And you get to decide that?”I swallowed hard, the storm of guilt and fear inside me threatening to spill over. “Don’t you see what happened? Chaos has somehow follo
VAKERIA'S POV“Going somewhere?” a low, mocking voice drawled from above me, its tone soaked in malice.My heart pounded against my ribs as I thrashed against the weight pinning me to the ground. My hands clawed at the dirt beneath me, but it was no use. Whoever this was, they were stronger, faster—and clearly not here for a friendly chat.“Let me go!” I hissed, forcing as much defiance into my voice as I could muster. Fear, however, laced my tone, betraying my bravado.A dark chuckle echoed above me, and I felt the unwelcome sensation of their breath near my ear. “You think we’d just let you leave? Not after what you did.”“I didn’t mean to—” I began, but my words were cut off as a rough hand clamped around my arm, yanking me upright with a force that left me staggering.Blinking against the blur of movement, I found myself face-to-face with my attacker. The moonlight barely filtered through the thick canopy above, but it was enough to make out his face—a face I recognized. He wasn’t
Elijah took a deep breath, his eyes softening slightly as if preparing to explain something heavy. The weight of his gaze settled on me, and I knew whatever he was about to say would change everything. “We’re not going to war—not yet. War is the last resort, and we don’t have the numbers or strength to win a direct fight with Dimitri’s pack. But what we do have…” He paused, his voice steady but purposeful. “…is you.”I blinked, taken aback, the gravity of his words sinking in. “Me?” My voice came out in a whisper, barely audible over the pounding of my heart. “What do you mean?”Elijah leaned forward, his expression as serious as I’d ever seen it. “Valeria, you’re not just another wolf. You’re Moonbound. You have abilities that no one else has, powers that even Dimitri—someone who thrives on control and power—doesn’t know about. That makes you
VALERIA’S POV“You did what?” My voice echoed through the trees, louder than I intended, but I couldn’t hold back the frustration bubbling inside me.Elijah stood a few feet away, arms crossed defensively, but his expression remained calm, like he’d anticipated my reaction. “I know I didn’t discuss it with you, but I had to,” he said, his tone steady, almost too steady, as if trying to justify his actions to himself as much as to me.“You had to?” I snapped, pacing back and forth as my thoughts spiraled. “Elijah, you could have just returned! There are plenty of places in this forest to find herbs. You didn’t have to… didn’t have to reveal anything!”My voice cracked on the last word, and I stopped pacing to glare at him. “Do you realize what you’ve done? If Magnar is even half as smart as he thinks he is, he’ll figure it out. He’ll know I&rs
MAGNAR’S POVThe man cocked his head, his amusement faltering for just a split second before he doubled down. “I think we’ll take our chances,” he said.I smirked, letting the predator in me show just enough to unsettle him. My eyes narrowed, my voice sharp and biting. “You can take all the chances you want. But understand this: the second you step out of line, I’ll make an example out of you. Your pack will scatter, and no one will remember your name.”The smirk on his face faltered for the briefest moment, but then he recovered, a glint of defiance sparking in his eyes. “That’s the difference between kids like you and true Alphas,” he said, leaning forward slightly, his voice dripping with mockery. “True Alphas set examples with their actions. Kids like you? You only know how to talk.”I felt the blood rush to my ears, my wolf growling louder in my mind, but before I could react, a scent hit me like a punch to the gut. My breath caught.That scent.It was faint, but unmistakable. My
MAGNAR’S POVI wasn’t expecting to walk into a standoff between my pack warriors and a ragtag group of scavengers. The tension in the air was palpable, the scent of hostility thick as I approached the clearing.My heart picked up its pace, but it wasn’t from the situation in front of me. Something else was tugging at me, a gnawing sensation deep in my chest. My wolf stirred restlessly, his presence suddenly more forceful.“What is it? We don’t have time for this—stay focused,” I growled internally, annoyed by his behaviour.“Something is here,” he replied, his voice laced with an urgency I didn’t understand. “Someone important.”Important? What was he talking about? I shook my head, pushing the thought aside. My priority was the situation in front of me. I stepped into the clearing, my boots crunching against the forest floor, and all eyes turned toward me.“So,” I announced, my voice carrying authority, “I hear you wanted to meet the Alpha directly.”The warriors immediately parted,
MAGNAR’S POVIt was my duty tonight, and the forest was silent save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. The chill of the night wrapped around me, but I barely noticed it as I patrolled the third round of the boundary. My focus was unwavering, my instincts sharp. This expansion project couldn’t afford any setbacks, especially under my leadership.That’s when I saw it—a faint column of smoke rising in the distance, barely visible under the moonlight. I froze in my tracks, narrowing my eyes to make sure I wasn’t imagining things.Who would light a fire at this time of night?It couldn’t be rogues; they rarely announced their presence so openly. But then again, rogues were unpredictable. Worse, it could be hunters. Humans had their ways of blending into the forest, waiting to ambush unsuspecting wolves.My heart quickened, but I kept my composure. I immediately mind-linked one of my patrol teams stationed nearby. "Yannis, take your warriors and check the source of that smoke.
MAGNAR’S POVIt was clear to me from the moment my father assigned this task that he intended for me to fail. His condescending tone, the way he presented it as a “test,” and the tight deadline—it all screamed of a trap to humiliate me in front of the pack. But I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction.If this was his way of undermining my potential, I’d show him exactly what I was capable of.The first week was all about clearing the area. I wanted everyone focused on the same task so we could execute it efficiently. Workers and warriors alike were instructed to cut down trees, clear the rocks, and prepare the land for construction. I worked alongside them during the day, earning their respect by showing that I wasn’t above hard labor.By the second week, I split everyone into shifts. Two teams of workers and two teams of warriors were created—one to work during the day and the other at night. The warriors’ role was not just to guard but to ensure resources were being procured and
ALPHA DIMITRI'S POVI leaned back in my chair, fingers steepled as I contemplated my next move. Magnar was becoming a thorn in my side—not because he wasn’t capable, but because he believed himself ready for the Alpha title when he clearly wasn’t. His arrogance and impulsiveness were dangerous traits in a leader. He needed to learn, and if he wouldn’t listen to words, then I’d have to teach him through action.With that thought, I mind-linked him. “Magnar, meet me in my office.”I wanted to see his reaction to the task I had in mind. This wasn’t just about giving him something important to do—it was about testing him. If he wanted the Alpha title so badly, then let him work for it. Let him prove, not just to me but to the entire pack, that he was capable.Fifteen minutes later, Magnar strode into my office, his posture confident but his eyes restless. He took his usual seat across from me without hesitation. Ever since he turned eighteen, he’d started adopting this bold attitude, thin
DIMITRI’S POV6 MONTHS LATERI leaned back in my chair, my eyes fixed on the monitors in front of me. The flickering images from the CCTV cameras displayed the mundane routine of the pack—warriors sparring, workers bustling about, and slaves completing their assigned chores. None of them had any idea they were being watched so closely. I preferred it that way.My fingers tapped idly against the desk as I studied their movements, paying particular attention to the slaves who hadn’t yet shifted. They were the key to everything—though none of them realized it. Their value lay not in their current state but in what they might become.So far, nothing. No changes. No signs. Just the same dull monotony of their existence.Sometimes I wonder if I should finally accept the offers from the other Alphas—the ones who proposed deals for these so-called “useless” slaves. Their words still echoed in my ears: Why hold onto them? They’re dead weight. Trade them, sell them, or let them go. You’d profit
VALERIA’S POVI was relieved that Elijah’s behavior didn’t change after that day. Despite everything, he treated me the same as always, and for that, I was grateful. I had half-expected him to pull away, to distance himself after learning more about me. But no, he remained steady, patient, and unyielding. It was comforting in a way I hadn’t anticipated.We resumed training soon after, and every day I could feel myself improving—getting stronger, faster, more focused. My old pack, cruel as it was, left me with one gift that proved invaluable during my training: my pain tolerance. Years of enduring punishment had hardened my body and mind in ways I hadn’t fully appreciated until now.Each bruise, each ache from Elijah’s rigorous sessions, was a mark of progress, not suffering. I endured it all, letting it fuel me, and over time, I began to see the results. My muscles became toned, my reflexes sharper, and my stamina nearly unmatched. Elijah often pushed me to my limits, and though it wa