Phoebeâs POVThe room was too quiet, and it made me restless. I hated the silence. It let my mind wander, let the thoughts creep in, and I didnât want to think about any of it. My mother had been keeping to her room winde Tiara had been taken away and I didn't know how to deal with that. She was usually the one I went to on days like this. She was the one who would know what to say to help my mind stay at ease. She was the one who would suggest the next line of action to me on days like this. But now that she was mostly in her room, she was acting defeated, as if there was nothing we could do about the current situation of things.I paced in front of my vanity, arms folded, lips pressed together so tightly they hurt. Anger simmered under my skin, getting hotter, ready to boil over.Tiara was gone.But not just gone. She had been taken.Under Alpha Nicholasâs protection.The words made my stomach turn.I threw myself onto the chair in front of the vanity and gripped the edge of the tab
Phoebeâs POVTiara was gone, and I should have been satisfied. I had gotten what I wanted, hadnât I? No more of her in my way, no more of her quiet defiance making my blood boil. No more racking my brain to come up with new and exciting punishments for her. I could only wish that she was not accepted where she was. I could only hope that she'll be faced with misfortune where she was, yet, I wasnât happy.Because Nina was still here and each time my eyes rested on her, I was once again reminded of who she had been to Tiara.The girl had always been by Tiaraâs side, whispering words of comfort, acting as if they were equals. She had never known her place. And now, instead of shrinking into the background like she should have, she kept her head high, acting as though Tiaraâs departure didnât affect her. As though she wasnât all alone now. She was too confident and too comfortable in the life that was now hers. I hated her. Almost as much as I hated Tiara now..I couldn't watch her have he
Tiaraâs POVForestHowl was nothing like MoonCrown. The land stretched far and wide, with thick forests surrounding the packâs main grounds. The scent of pine and damp earth was stronger here. The people moved with confidence, and there was a sense of unity that I had never seen before.I had been here for days, and yet, everything still felt foreign. The towering packhouse, the training fields, the bustling marketplaceâit was too different from what I had known.But the strangest thing of all?No one treated me like an outcast.I wasnât ignored. I wasnât shoved aside or given the worst tasks. In fact, I wasnât given any tasks at all.People looked at me with curiosity, not disdain. Warriors nodded respectfully when I passed, and some of the maids even offered small smiles. The older women at the market stalls called me âdearâ as if I had always belonged here.It didnât make sense.I wasnât supposed to fit in.The thought unsettled me.I walked along a narrow stone path, brushing my fi
Phoebe's POVI leaned back in my chair, letting a lazy smile curl on my lips as I twirled a strand of my golden hair between my fingers. The dining hall buzzed with chatter and laughter, the scent of roasted meat and spiced wine thick in the air. The long wooden tables were filled with pack members enjoying the evening meal, their conversations blending into an indistinct hum. But my attention was fixed on one thingâmaking Luke miserable.Across from me, he sat stiffly, his fingers wrapped around his cup, gaze fixed on the table as if the knots in the wood grain held the secrets of the universe. He had been like this for weeks now. Quiet. Withdrawn. Pathetic.It was almost disappointing.Beside me, Callum, one of the warriors, poured more wine into my cup. His smirk was confident, his eyes filled with something playfulâmischief and desire woven together like an unspoken promise. I enjoyed the attention, the way his gaze lingered, the way he leaned in just enough to make his interest c
Tiara's POVAlpha Nicholas had called for a meeting in the ForestHowl pack.I stood with a group of warriorsâ mates, keeping my head down. It felt safer that way. But before I could settle in, a warm, firm hand gripped my wrist.I barely had a second to react before I was being pulled forward. My breath caught as I stumbled, looking up to see Alpha Nicholas guiding me toward the front. For a while, I simply followed, having nothing to say and wanting him to speak first. Surely this gathering had nothing to do with me. Why then was I being led to the front?âStay by my side,â he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.I stiffened. âAlpha Nicholas, IâââNot a request,â he interrupted, his hand steady on my wrist before he finally let go.I swallowed, feeling every single pair of eyes on me. Some filled with curiosity, some with irritation. I could hear the whispers growing.Why is she up there?Isnât she the one he brought from MoonCrown?She doesnât belong next to him.My skin bur
Tiara's POVThe pack members had left with murmurs about what was coming, what was to be expected and how to prepare for it.I wasnât part of this pack, not fully. But I was here now, and whether I liked it or not, I was involved.Taking a deep breath, I turned and walked back toward my chambers. The pack house was large, and I was still unfamiliar with most of it. I passed a few wolves in the hallways, but they didnât speak to me, only offering quick glances before moving on.When I reached my room, I found Liz waiting for me inside. She was sitting comfortably in one of the chairs near the fireplace, her legs tucked beneath her.âThere you are,â she said with a smile. âI was wondering if youâd gone into hiding after all that.âI shook my head, closing the door behind me. âI was just⊠thinking.âLiz studied me for a moment before nodding. âIt was a lot, wasnât it?ââIt was.â I walked toward the window, looking out at the pack grounds. âI didnât expect him to call me out like that.ââ
Tiara'sI woke up early, staring at the ceiling of my chambers. The silence felt strange. No one had knocked on my door, demanding I get up. No one had left a list of chores for me to complete before sunrise.It had been days since I arrived in ForestHowl, but I still couldnât shake the feeling that I was supposed to be doing something. My hands itched for a task.I pushed off the thick blankets and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. The room was still dim, the morning light slipping in through the curtains. I stood and stretched, listening to the quiet hum of the pack house waking up.Liz had promised to come be with me today. She had been the one helping me understand life here, and I was grateful.A light knock sounded at my door, and I pulled it open to find her standing there, a grin on her face.âGood morning,â she said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. âYouâre up early.ââI couldnât sleep much,â I admitted.âStill not used to not being bossed around?â she
Phoebe's POVI stormed through the halls of the MoonCrown pack house, my hands clenched at my sides. The walls felt like they were closing in, suffocating me. Everything was wrong. Everything.For years, I had made sure Tiara knew her placeâbeneath me, serving me, obeying me. And now, she was gone. Not just gone, but thriving. It was infuriating. We were yet to get a report from the ForestHowl pack that talked of her misbehaviour or of her being hated by the members of the pack, or even not being accepted. We hadn't heard any of such news and we didn't think it would come as she got to know them better and blend into the pack.If she was a member of the alpha's household, it meant that she was untouchable. It meant that she would be treated as royalty, as member of the alpha's family. This was not how it should have been.She should be miserable, struggling, forgotten. Instead, she was in ForestHowl, under Alpha Nicholasâs protection. Living a life of comfort. How did she manage to tu
Tiara's POV I woke up still feeling sore from the previous night. I couldnât shake the feeling that Phoebe and Ryker were both involved in something, working together in ways I hadnât fully understood before. Ryker, always nearby, his eyes constantly scanning the room. Phoebe, too, had been acting oddly, especially after what happened last night. I needed proof. I had to watch them closely, just as Ryker had once done to me.As the day stretched on, I kept my distance, keeping an eye on their every move. Ryker always seemed to be near Phoebe, never far from her. There was something about their connection that didnât sit right with me.I had to find out more. But I knew I couldnât confront them directly. I needed something solid, something I could use to expose whatever they were hiding. They had to slip up. I had to be patient.The sound of my name pulled me from my thoughts. "Tiara," a voice called from the hallway, and I turned to see one of the servants standing at the door. "Al
Tiara's POV He didnât waste any time. Nicholas stood up and turned to his warriors. His voice rang out strong, cutting through the chaos in the hallway. âSearch the pack house,â he commanded, his tone firm. âFind whoever entered this pack and attacked someone under my protection. They are not to touch anyone here.âThe guards, sharp and ready, nodded and quickly dispersed, moving throughout the pack house to search every corner. The air seemed to hum with energy as they went to work, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the walls. My mind was still reeling from the attack, and I couldnât help but watch them, hoping theyâd find whoever had hurt me. Nicholas had spoken with such confidence, such authority, that I knew he wasnât going to let this go.Nicholas turned his attention back to me. He crouched down beside me, his presence suddenly more intense. His golden eyes found mine, and for a moment, I felt like he was looking right through me. âDid you recognize their voice?â he ask
Tiara's POV The noise around me was overwhelming. Guards were shouting, trying to make sense of the situation, but their voices only added to the confusion. My mind was still spinning, still trying to grasp what had happened to me. My body felt weak, and the fear Iâd felt earlier still lingered in my chest, making it hard to think straight.I could barely make out the words of the guards. They were speaking to Phoebe and Luna Victoria, trying to get them to back away, to calm down. But nothing seemed to stop the chaos until a deep, commanding voice rang out, cutting through the noise like a knife.âEnough.âIt was Alpha Nicholas. His voice, calm and powerful, immediately silenced everyone in the hallway. I looked up, startled by how quickly everything had quieted down. I wasnât sure how much time had passed since Iâd first collapsed to the ground, but it didnât matter now. The moment Nicholas stepped forward, his presence seemed to settle the air around us.His golden eyes swept over
Tiara's POV I rubbed my arms, trying to calm the frantic thoughts that raced through my head. The cold floor beneath me only made me feel more vulnerable. I wanted to cry, to scream, but no sound came. My throat ached from the cloth that had been shoved into my mouth, the harshness of it still making it difficult to swallow. The taste of it lingered, bitter and foreign, and the fear still gripped my chest.Just as I was about to gather the strength to stand, I heard the sound of hurried footsteps coming down the hallway. I froze, holding my breath. Who could it be? The footsteps grew louder until a voice called out my name.âTiara!âIt was Phoebeâs voice, sharp and worried. I turned toward the sound, trying to focus, but my vision was still blurry. I couldnât see her, not clearly. I could only hear her footsteps getting closer, and then, before I could react, I felt her hands on my shoulders. She crouched down next to me, her grip firm but shaky.âOh my God, tell me what happened!â P
Tiara's POV That evening, I felt a tight knot in my stomach as I walked through the dimly lit hallway. The air around me was quiet, almost too still. The house was unusually calmâmost of the packâs warriors were either out training or resting after a long day, leaving the halls empty and echoing. I had been walking in silence for what felt like ages, my footsteps soft against the cold stone floor. The goal was simple. Find Alpha Nicholas, tell him everything, and make sure he understood the threat I was feeling.I was nervous. I couldnât deny that. But the thought of Ryker and whatever he might be planning made the worry seem small. I needed to speak to Nicholas. I had to. If Ryker was truly dangerous, I couldnât let him get away with it. I had to trust my instincts, even though everything inside me screamed that something was wrong. My steps were measured, careful, as I neared the entrance to the training ground. The heavy wooden door was only a few paces away, but something in the
Tiara's POVWhat if I was just overthinking things?I had to admit that the whole situation felt wrong, but I didnât know how to explain it. Was Ryker a threat? Or was I being paranoid? And then there was Phoebe. I couldnât help but wonder what was really going on between her and Ryker. Was she flirting with him? Was there something more sinister happening? My wolf growled uneasily at the thought, but I didnât know what to make of it. I couldnât confront Phoebe or Ryker directlyâwhat if I was wrong? What if I was overreacting?I heard the soft creak of the door, and I looked up to see Nina standing there. Her face was soft, filled with concern, and she stepped inside without a word. I gestured to the bed beside me. âHey, come sit.âShe crossed the room and sat down next to me, her eyes taking in my tense posture. She didnât say anything at first, but I could tell she could tell something was off. âWhatâs going on, Tiara?â she asked quietly.I let out a deep breath, trying to gather my
Tiara's POVRyker was still everywhere I went.It was becoming harder to ignore him. His presence, his eyes, had followed me everywhere. At first, I thought it might be paranoia, but now, I was sure. He was always there, lurking in the background, making me feel uneasy.I had tried to avoid the places where I had noticed him beforeâavoiding the garden, the packâs dining hall, and even the training grounds. But it never worked. No matter what path I took, he seemed to be waiting somewhere, always too close, his watchful eyes on me. The more I tried to ignore it, the more it seemed to consume my thoughts.So, today, I decided to take a walk through the park. The fresh air, the open spaceâit usually helped clear my mind. The scent of flowers filled the air, and the soft rustle of leaves above me was soothing. For a moment, I allowed myself to relax, letting my guard down. The sun was shining through the trees, and I could feel its warmth on my face.I took a deep breath, inhaling the swe
Tiara's POVFor days, I felt the pair of eyes on me each time I stepped out of the house.Ryker, one of the guards, seemed to be everywhere I went. At first, I brushed it off. He was a guard, after all. It made sense that he would be around, keeping an eye on things. But the longer it went on, the more I realized it wasnât just a coincidence. Every time I turned around, I caught him looking at me. Sometimes he pretended to be busy, talking to other guards or inspecting the grounds, but his eyes always followed me. I could feel the weight of his gaze, and it made my skin crawl.I was walking with Nina in the fields, I stopped for a moment, taking in the view of the open field.Ryker was behind me now, and I could sense him standing off to the side, his watchful eyes never leaving me. It was as though no matter where I went, he was always there, lurking in the background. My wolf stirred uneasily, a quiet growl rising in the back of my throat. Something about it didnât feel right.âYouâ
Tiara's POVI sat by the window in my room, nursing a mug of coffee. I kept replaying the events of the night before, over and over again. I couldnât dismiss the way his eyes had lingered on me, the softness in his voice when he told me to go to bed.But I wasnât sure if it meant anything. Nicholas wasnât the type to show weakness, and I had no idea if what I had seen in him was a sign of something more or just a fleeting moment.âTiara, youâre quiet today,â Nina said, settling down across from me with a wide smile on her face. She looked at me, practically glowing with excitement, her eyes bright and expectant.I took a deep breath, setting my mug down, and met her gaze. âItâs nothing,â I muttered, trying to dismiss the thought. But Nina wasnât about to let me off the hook that easily.âYouâve been thinking about last night, havenât you?â she asked, leaning forward eagerly. âYou canât hide it from me, Tiara. I know you. I can see it on your face.âI bit my lip, unsure of how to respo