“I’m not going to let this matter go, Selena,” Zander growled, his voice resonating with fury. “I don’t care if she’s your mother. She will answer for her actions.”Panic surged within me. Zander’s anger was palpable, and I knew my mother wouldn’t stand a chance to explain herself to him. She wouldn’t even try. If my suspicions were correct—if her reason for erasing my existence was to ensure harmony in the Lunar Realm—then she should have come to me, discussed it with me, not taken such drastic measures without my consent.“Zander,” I said softly, placing a hand on his chest in an attempt to soothe him. “I will talk to Mother first and find out her reasons. Let me understand her actions before you confront her.”His jaw tightened, his stormy gaze fixed on mine. “No, my mate,” he argued, his tone unyielding. “I will question the High Priestess myself. She altered our lives without permission, and she must face the consequences.”Oh, no. This could turn into a disaster if the two most
*Zander*The night was pitch-black, and my footsteps quickened as I descended the stairs to the basement. Hidden deep within the pack house, this was my sanctuary—my secret chamber. No one dared to enter this area, not that many even knew it existed. Only a select few, trusted members from the old guard, were aware of its presence.Reaching the heavy door, I pushed it open and slipped inside, shutting it firmly behind me. My heart pounded like a drum, loud enough to echo in the silence. It had been years—years since I’d dared to do this. Years since I’d faced HIM.My movements were deliberate, each step bringing me closer to the wall-sized mirror shrouded in a heavy black cloth. Stopping just before it, I reached out, my fingers curling around the fabric. A deep breath steadied me before I pulled it away, revealing the mirror.But there was no reflection staring back at me. Only an endless void of darkness.This was no ordinary mirror. It wasn’t meant to reflect the physical world. It
‘Zander, why did you let him go?’ Lyon’s voice echoed in my mind, frustration lacing every word.I didn’t reply. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t have an answer. He wouldn’t have stayed even if I had tried to stop him. He was selfish and wicked, and as much as I hated to admit it, he was a part of me. My shadow.The power I was born with came with a curse, and he was that curse. If Lyon, the most powerful wolf, was my boon, then the demon was my bane, my shadow tethered to me since birth. I had grown up surrounded by dark energies, energies that undoubtedly made me the most powerful alpha in the world.But no one knew about him—not even my mother. My demonic shadow had been cunning from the very beginning, careful to conceal himself while slyly shifting the blame for all his mischievous deeds onto me. At first, I thought I could manage him, control him. But as time passed, his darkness grew stronger, more insidious.He didn’t just want to exist within me—he wanted to
*Selena*I woke up to the sound of birds chirping and golden morning sunlight filtering softly through the window. Yet, Zander still hadn’t returned since last night. A pang of worry crept into my chest, but my rumbling stomach quickly reminded me of my other priorities.I placed a hand on my belly, soothing my unborn child as I thought about my elder son. Austin must be waking up soon. Determined to push through the morning, I quickly took a warm shower, dressed, and stepped out into the hall. The aromatic fragrance of freshly cooked bacon, eggs, cupcakes, and coffee wafted through the air, making my stomach growl louder in anticipation.I caught sight of an omega and asked her to bring breakfast to Austin’s room while I went to help my little boy get ready for kindergarten. His laughter brightened my mood as I brushed his hair and adjusted his uniform. Moments later, breakfast arrived, and we enjoyed the meal together—Austin giggling through mouthfuls of cupcake crumbs while I sippe
“No!” I shook my head in disbelief, my mind rejecting everything I had just heard. “No! Tell me you’re lying,” I said, trying to laugh it off as a cruel joke.But her silence, paired with the helpless gloom in her eyes, told me otherwise. She wasn’t lying. She had planned the day of my demise even before bringing me into this world.“How could you do this to me, Mother?” I mumbled, my voice trembling as my lips quivered. A silent sob escaped me. I didn’t even know if I should call her ‘Mother’ anymore—not after hearing how cruelly she had condemned her own child.“I am sorry, my child,” she said in a pleading voice. “I had no other choice but to sacrifice you to save the world.”A tear escaped my eye as flashes of my life flickered before me like a relentless movie reel. Memories played on repeat, and I wanted so badly to rewind to the part before I met Zander—before I fell in love. Because now, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t imagine leaving him to bear the unbearable pain of
When I returned home, I found Zander waiting for me in our room. His arms were crossed, and his expression was a mixture of relief and concern.“Where were you, mate? I was worried. I couldn’t reach you,” he said, his voice gentle but laced with unease as he closed the distance between us in two quick steps, taking my hands in his. The bond from our mating mark had been restored, reestablishing our connection and allowing us to mind-link once more. The link with the pack had also returned. But when I was in the Lunar Realm, the mind-link didn’t work. That made it clear: hiding my visit to the Lunar Realm was a bad idea. He’d know if I lied in a heartbeat.We had promised each other we wouldn’t keep secrets anymore. So, I took a deep breath and told him the truth.“Zander, I went to see my mother,” I admitted.His eyes sharpened, instantly more attentive. “And?” he prompted, his tone calm but firm, knowing I would have had serious discussion with my mother.I hesitated, searching for
Author’s POV.In the dim, oppressive air of the dark den, the Dark Alpha’s voice echoed with a chilling resonance. "Damon, your army is useless. It didn’t help me terrorize Alpha Zander Blake,” he sneered, his tone dripping with mockery.Damon stood amidst the flickering light of a ritual circle, the golden trident in his grasp glowing faintly. He had been channeling its ancient power, weaving warlock incantations to strengthen himself for the inevitable day of destruction. The interruption was unwelcome, his irritation evident in the way his shoulders tensed.“Don’t blame my army for your incompetence!” Damon roared, his deep voice reverberating through the chamber as his concentration shattered. The dark energy around him flickered, momentarily unstable, as his fury took hold.The Dark Alpha smirked, his hulking figure barely visible in the shadows. “Hah! Then who should I blame?” he retorted, his voice laced with mockery. “Alpha Zander’s efficient warriors, perhaps? Or is it his cu
*Selena*I was still confused, trying to piece together what was going on in Zander's mind.“Baby, just sit and relax,” he said, his tone calm but firm. “Leave the rest to me.”Easier said than done. How could I possibly relax when I knew our lives—and the fate of so many others—hung by a thread?“Zander, I still don’t get it,” I pressed, suspicion creeping into my voice. “How is it that you’ve found Damon but still haven’t caught him? What are you not telling me?”His jaw tightened slightly, but he met my gaze with steady resolve. “I haven’t pinpointed his exact location yet, but I’m close,” he replied, his voice laced with determination.Before I could question him further, Maddox entered the room.“Alpha,” he greeted, touching his heart and bowing respectfully. Then his eyes shifted to me. “Luna.” He repeated the gesture with the same reverence.I gave him a soft smile and a nod in acknowledgment, though my mind was already racing.“What’s the update, Maddox?” Zander asked, cutting
*Maddox*I was already worried to death, and my naïve little mate seemed to love driving me insane by constantly throwing herself into danger. Was it so damn difficult for her to understand how much I loved her? We werewolves, especially Alpha and Beta males, were instinctively protective of their mates—we treasured the goddess’s gift more than our own lives. And for me, Blair was my heart, my reason to breathe. Seeing her in trouble made me want to set the world on fire just to keep her safe.“Little mate!” I growled, throwing her onto our bed. “You should know better than to put yourself in danger. Or do you need me to remind you just how brutal your punishment can be, huh?”Her doe-like eyes blinked up at me innocently, and for a moment, I nearly abandoned my plan to teach her a lesson.“But I just wanted to help you, honey,” she pouted, and damn it, I wanted to devour those red lips right then and there.I shook my head, forcing myself to resist the temptation she was stirring wit
Lyon and Micah’s presence alone was enough to strike terror into the witches’ eyes. Before anyone could blink, the wicked witch was ripped away from Blair with savage force as Micah’s massive paw slammed into her, sending her flying through the air. She crashed to the ground with a loud impact, a pained hiss escaping her lips.Before Blair could hit the hard ground, Micah was already beneath her, his soft fur providing a cushion to break her fall. He let out a low, reassuring growl before gently nudging her to safety.Then, without hesitation, Micah sprang to his feet and joined Lyon. Both wolves prowled toward the witches, their deep, menacing growls vibrating through the air—a deadly warning of the storm about to come.The two witches staggered back, fear flickering across their faces, but they hadn’t accepted defeat just yet. Their expressions hardened, and I could see the determination to fight still burning in their eyes.Lyon and Micah prowled around them, circling like predator
“Blair, I’m telling you, this is a bad idea,” I said, following her reluctantly as she led me down an unknown path along the outskirts, carefully avoiding the main routes where guards patrolled.“Trust me, Selena, I’ve done this plenty of times,” Blair replied confidently, pushing aside a low-hanging branch. “Back when my father was the alpha, I used to sneak out all the time to escape his dictatorship.”I rolled my eyes. “That was years ago, Blair. The pack’s security isn’t the same now.”She glanced back at me, realizing I had stopped in my tracks and sat down in the middle of the narrow trail, exasperated.“What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice softening with concern. “Are you tired? If you need to rest, we can, but we don’t have much time if we want to help our mates.”I sighed and got back to my feet. “Blair, I still think this is a terrible idea. If Zander finds out we took this route, he’ll be furious.”Her lips curved into a confident smirk. “If he finds out,” she said, her tone
I agreed to his plan; it seemed foolproof. But my only worry lingered—there was still no sign of Oliver, my half-brother. If the rest of my family was alive, then surely Oliver must be alive as well. The thought sent a shiver through me as I remembered what Zander had told me about him and the depths of my family’s darkness.I struggled to accept that my entire family could be so corrupt, so deeply involved in criminal activities… except my mother. How could I have come from such a twisted lineage?“What’s wrong, mate?” Zander asked, his voice gentle yet concerned, as if sensing the storm brewing inside me.I hesitated, unsure of how to express the turmoil in my heart. What would he think of me—his mate—coming from such a wicked family? “Umm... Zander, I was thinking about Oliver,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “There’s still no trace of him.”Zander nodded knowingly. “I’ve thought about that too. Don’t worry,” he assured me, his tone steady. “My people are already looking
*Selena*I was still confused, trying to piece together what was going on in Zander's mind.“Baby, just sit and relax,” he said, his tone calm but firm. “Leave the rest to me.”Easier said than done. How could I possibly relax when I knew our lives—and the fate of so many others—hung by a thread?“Zander, I still don’t get it,” I pressed, suspicion creeping into my voice. “How is it that you’ve found Damon but still haven’t caught him? What are you not telling me?”His jaw tightened slightly, but he met my gaze with steady resolve. “I haven’t pinpointed his exact location yet, but I’m close,” he replied, his voice laced with determination.Before I could question him further, Maddox entered the room.“Alpha,” he greeted, touching his heart and bowing respectfully. Then his eyes shifted to me. “Luna.” He repeated the gesture with the same reverence.I gave him a soft smile and a nod in acknowledgment, though my mind was already racing.“What’s the update, Maddox?” Zander asked, cutting
Author’s POV.In the dim, oppressive air of the dark den, the Dark Alpha’s voice echoed with a chilling resonance. "Damon, your army is useless. It didn’t help me terrorize Alpha Zander Blake,” he sneered, his tone dripping with mockery.Damon stood amidst the flickering light of a ritual circle, the golden trident in his grasp glowing faintly. He had been channeling its ancient power, weaving warlock incantations to strengthen himself for the inevitable day of destruction. The interruption was unwelcome, his irritation evident in the way his shoulders tensed.“Don’t blame my army for your incompetence!” Damon roared, his deep voice reverberating through the chamber as his concentration shattered. The dark energy around him flickered, momentarily unstable, as his fury took hold.The Dark Alpha smirked, his hulking figure barely visible in the shadows. “Hah! Then who should I blame?” he retorted, his voice laced with mockery. “Alpha Zander’s efficient warriors, perhaps? Or is it his cu
When I returned home, I found Zander waiting for me in our room. His arms were crossed, and his expression was a mixture of relief and concern.“Where were you, mate? I was worried. I couldn’t reach you,” he said, his voice gentle but laced with unease as he closed the distance between us in two quick steps, taking my hands in his. The bond from our mating mark had been restored, reestablishing our connection and allowing us to mind-link once more. The link with the pack had also returned. But when I was in the Lunar Realm, the mind-link didn’t work. That made it clear: hiding my visit to the Lunar Realm was a bad idea. He’d know if I lied in a heartbeat.We had promised each other we wouldn’t keep secrets anymore. So, I took a deep breath and told him the truth.“Zander, I went to see my mother,” I admitted.His eyes sharpened, instantly more attentive. “And?” he prompted, his tone calm but firm, knowing I would have had serious discussion with my mother.I hesitated, searching for
“No!” I shook my head in disbelief, my mind rejecting everything I had just heard. “No! Tell me you’re lying,” I said, trying to laugh it off as a cruel joke.But her silence, paired with the helpless gloom in her eyes, told me otherwise. She wasn’t lying. She had planned the day of my demise even before bringing me into this world.“How could you do this to me, Mother?” I mumbled, my voice trembling as my lips quivered. A silent sob escaped me. I didn’t even know if I should call her ‘Mother’ anymore—not after hearing how cruelly she had condemned her own child.“I am sorry, my child,” she said in a pleading voice. “I had no other choice but to sacrifice you to save the world.”A tear escaped my eye as flashes of my life flickered before me like a relentless movie reel. Memories played on repeat, and I wanted so badly to rewind to the part before I met Zander—before I fell in love. Because now, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t imagine leaving him to bear the unbearable pain of
*Selena*I woke up to the sound of birds chirping and golden morning sunlight filtering softly through the window. Yet, Zander still hadn’t returned since last night. A pang of worry crept into my chest, but my rumbling stomach quickly reminded me of my other priorities.I placed a hand on my belly, soothing my unborn child as I thought about my elder son. Austin must be waking up soon. Determined to push through the morning, I quickly took a warm shower, dressed, and stepped out into the hall. The aromatic fragrance of freshly cooked bacon, eggs, cupcakes, and coffee wafted through the air, making my stomach growl louder in anticipation.I caught sight of an omega and asked her to bring breakfast to Austin’s room while I went to help my little boy get ready for kindergarten. His laughter brightened my mood as I brushed his hair and adjusted his uniform. Moments later, breakfast arrived, and we enjoyed the meal together—Austin giggling through mouthfuls of cupcake crumbs while I sippe