Lucien's POV“Alpha,” Elder Marcellus began, his voice low but firm. “This is getting out of hand.”The council chamber was thick with tension as I stormed in, the heavy oak doors slamming behind me. The elders sat around the long table, their faces grim and weathered, but none of them dared meet my eyes. I could feel the weight of their disapproval, their whispered conversations trailing behind me like ghosts. I didn’t care. They could sit and murmur all they wanted. My path was set.I turned my glare to him, my hands gripping the edge of the table. “Out of hand? You dare say that to me?” I growled. “Do you have any idea what Damien has done? What he took from me?”Marcellus raised a placating hand. “We all understand your grief, Alpha. But it has been months since you lost Luna Seraphina. The pack has been at war with Alpha Damien ever since. And for what? Revenge? Revenge will not bring her back.”My vision darkened, and I slammed my fist onto the table, the wood cracking under the
CHAPTER 74Lucien’s POV“No excuses,” I barked, my voice cutting through the crisp morning air like a blade. “You’re here to become warriors, not fragile pups crying over sore muscles. Now, on your feet!”The training field was alive with activity. Warriors scrambled to obey, sweat dripping down their faces, bodies trembling from the brutal pace I had set. The sun had barely risen, casting long shadows across the dirt, but the atmosphere was already charged with tension.Kael, one of the younger wolves, dared to speak. “Alpha, with all due respect, some of us haven’t rested in days. Maybe… maybe we could—”“Rest?” I snapped, my eyes narrowing as I stalked toward him. The entire group went silent, all eyes on us. “You want rest, Kael? Fine. Rest when you’re dead. Until then, you train.”Kael’s face reddened, but he held his ground. “Alpha, we’re giving it everything we’ve got. But if we push too hard, someone’s going to get hurt.”“Good,” I growled. “Pain is a lesson. If you’re hurt, i
Lucien’s POVI just sat on the chair and looked intensely at Damien. My hands rested on the armrests, fingers drumming lightly as I tried to keep my composure. Ryder stood behind me, silent but poised, one hand on the hilt of his weapon, his eyes never leaving Damien. This wasn’t an approved meeting—the council didn’t need to know. They wouldn’t have understood. This wasn’t diplomacy; it was personal.Damien leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. His casual demeanor only fueled my anger.“So,” I said finally, my voice calm but cold, “let’s start this meeting. I’m all ears.”He tilted his head, feigning amusement. “You’re looking well, Lucien. Though, I have to say, this war seems to be taking its toll on both of us. Do you really want to keep this up?”I raised an eyebrow. “You asked for this meeting, Damien. Speak plainly.”His smirk widened. “Fine. I’ll get to the point. Give up this fight, Lucien. It’s costing you too much. The losses your pack has suffered… they’re
Lucien’s POVI paced my office, my mind racing. Damien’s words echoed like a haunting refrain, each syllable gnawing at my sanity.“Someone close to you. Someone in your pack.”What did Damien mean? Was he trying to mess with my head? My wolf growled in frustration. He was just trying to twist the knife deeper. Or was he?“Lucien, you’re overthinking this,” Thorin muttered in my head, his voice heavy with irritation.“And you’re not thinking enough,” I shot back. “You heard what he said. How am I supposed to ignore that?”Thorin huffed. “Damien’s a liar. He’s always been a liar. You’re letting him get under your skin. That’s exactly what he wants.”I clenched my jaw, stopping by the window and staring out at the moonlit forest. “What if he’s not lying?”“He’s lying,” Thorin growled. “Seraphine is dead, Lucien. Dead. Let it go.”The mention of her name brought a familiar ache to my chest. My fists tightened at my sides. “Don’t you think I’d want to let it go? But what if he’s telling t
Lucien’s POVI woke up to the faint light of dawn seeping through the heavy curtains of my room. My head throbbed, not from drink but from the weight of everything. The silence felt suffocating, though it was occasionally broken by the soft breaths of the four she-wolves sprawled across the bed. My chest tightened as I looked at them, their faces peaceful and unaware.What the hell had I been thinking?“Get out,” I growled, my voice low but laced with command.The closest woman stirred, her hazel eyes fluttering open as she blinked at me sleepily. “Alpha?” she murmured, her voice soft.“I said, get out,” I repeated, louder this time. The other three began to wake, confusion and hesitation evident in their expressions.“Lucien, is something—” one of them began, but I cut her off with a sharp glare.“I don’t want to hear a single word. Get dressed and leave. Now.” My tone left no room for argument.They exchanged nervous glances but obeyed, gathering their scattered clothing in silence.
“Get the nurse ready! Alpha has been hit!” Ryder’s voice roared through the chaos, the sheer volume cutting through the pounding in my skull. His tone was urgent, desperate, but I couldn’t fully process it. Everything felt hazy—the world spinning, the sharp pain radiating from my shoulder, and the metallic taste of blood in my mouth.“Hold him steady,” Ryder barked, his voice nearing as I felt hands gripping my shoulders. I winced, the touch sending a fresh wave of agony through my body. “Lucien, stay with me. Don’t you dare pass out on me now.”“Ryder,” I managed to mutter, my voice hoarse and weak. “Damien… he’s…”“Save your strength,” Ryder cut in sharply. “We’ll deal with him later. Right now, you need to focus on not bleeding out.”The guards holding me shifted, and I felt my feet dragging against the ground as they half-carried, half-hauled me inside the packhouse. My vision blurred, but I could make out flashes of faces—worried eyes, panicked expressions, blood-streaked cheeks.
Lucien’s POV“Lucien, you are a murderer,” the voice came again, cold and sharp, slicing through the thick silence like a blade. My heart pounded in my chest as I twisted my head, trying to locate the source. The voice echoed, disorienting, as if it were bouncing off the walls around me.“Who’s there?” I demanded, my voice hoarse, barely above a whisper. “Show yourself!”The room was impossibly dark, the only light coming from a single candle flickering far ahead. The shadows danced ominously, their shapes twisting and morphing, feeding my growing unease.“Lucien, murderer,” the voice repeated, more insistent this time. My body tensed as a chill ran down my spine. The tone was painfully familiar, and a knot tightened in my stomach as recognition dawned.“Seraphina?” I whispered, my voice breaking.“You remember me?” The voice laughed bitterly, the sound laced with anger and sorrow. “How thoughtful.”I tried to move toward the candlelight, but something held me back. I looked down and
Lucien’s POV“Can I come in, Alpha?” I turned my head toward the door at the sound of Ryder’s words. “Sure, Ryder, come in,” I said, even as he pushed the door open and stepped into the room. The nurse had left a few minutes ago after telling me I was steady, though still weak. I had asked for Ryder as soon as I’d gathered my thoughts. There were things I needed to know, and Ryder was the one I trusted most. “Alpha, how are you feeling?” he asked, his tone holding just the right mix of worry and respect. “I’m getting better,” I said, shifting myself slightly on the bed. My body felt like it weighed a ton, but I wouldn’t let that show. “Weak for now, but I’ll be out of this bed soon.” “That’s good to hear, Alpha,” Ryder said, a faint smile touching his lips. “We need you on your feet.” I nodded, then leaned forward slightly. “How are our troops doing?” I asked. Ryder’s face turned serious. “As you instructed, they’ve all pulled back and are staying in their quarters. The soldier
Chapter 136 Seraphine’s POV The wolf hesitated. “Minutes. Maybe less.” “Shit.” Damien ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every movement. He turned to his men, barking out orders. “Double the perimeter. Get everyone ready. We hold our ground.” I watched him for a moment before speaking. “You have no idea who they are?” Damien exhaled sharply. “If I did, I wouldn’t be standing here wasting time.” Lucien chuckled. “Well, this is a nice change. Damien, the all-knowing, actually clueless for once. Feels good, doesn’t it?” Damien snapped his gaze to him, his teeth clenched. “Do you ever shut up?” Lucien grinned. “Not when I’m enjoying myself.” I ignored them, my mind racing. This wasn’t right. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I came here to kill Damien, to end this war once and for all. But now? Now it felt like something much bigger was coming. Something we weren’t prepared for. I took a deep breath, trying to push down the unease creeping up my spine. “If we don’t
Lucien’s POV The silence that followed Seraphina’s retreat was deafening. I could still feel her claws against my skin, the ghost of her grip lingering like a brand. My throat burned where she had nearly ended me, but it wasn’t the pain that rattled me—it was the look in her eyes before she let go. Damn her. I sat up slowly, wincing as my ribs protested the movement. The battlefield stretched out around me, chaos still raging in the distance, but for the first time, I wasn’t focused on the war. I was focused on her. She had every reason to kill me. Hell, she wanted to. But she didn’t. Why? I ran a hand through my hair, letting out a bitter chuckle. I already knew the answer. She might have convinced herself she hated me, that she wanted me dead, but the bond between us told another story. Seraphina still felt it. Even after everything. A sudden snarl snapped me out of my thoughts, and I barely had time to roll out of the way before claws slashed through the space where I’d bee
Seraphine's POVI stood there, my breath ragged, my heart hammering against my ribs. The blood, the smoke, the chaos around us—it all faded into the background. It was just him and me now.Lucien.His name tore from my throat before I could stop myself."Lucien!" I shouted, my voice shaking with rage.His head snapped up. His golden eyes locked onto mine, burning through the darkness. A slow smirk pulled at his lips, even with the blood dripping from his temple. "Seraphina," he called back, voice deep, mocking. "You finally came. Took you long enough."I clenched my fists. "I would’ve come sooner if I knew you'd still be breathing."He chuckled low, shaking his head. "You always were impatient."I took a step forward, my grip tightening on my dagger. "I’m not here for Damien. I don’t give a damn about this war. You think I’m fighting for him? You think I care who wins?" I let out a bitter laugh. "I came here for you, Lucien."His smirk didn’t waver. "Is that so?""You killed my parent
Seraphine's POVIn no time, I was at the borders of Lucien's pack. Just as I predicted, some of Damien's forces were still here, waging war. The air was thick with smoke, the scent of burning wood and blood mixing into something sickening. My eyes watered as I tried to see through the haze, but it was near impossible. The war had turned everything into a living nightmare. The pack walls—what was left of them—stood in jagged, crumbling ruins. Stones lay scattered like broken bones, pieces of wood charred black, barely holding onto their original form. The once-proud gates that had stood tall and strong were now reduced to splinters, torn apart by the endless battle.I swallowed hard, my throat dry. Was this the same pack I had once called home? The same pack where I had walked as a Luna? It was a skeleton of its former self, a ghost town caught in the middle of destruction. Bodies lay sprawled across the ground, warriors from both sides fallen where they fought. The walls, once meant t
Seraphine's POV131I moved quickly through the camp, my head low, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. The voices, the clatter of weapons, the scent of burning wood—all of it blurred together in my mind. My heart pounded, my mind racing."None of this is my business," I muttered under my breath. "I need to leave. I need to get back to my mission.""Lucien is the only thing that matters." Fiona's voice was sharp in my head, her growl vibrating through my bones. "These people? They’re just collateral damage."I swallowed hard, my steps slowing. Fiona was right. My hatred for Lucien burned hotter than anything else. The people here—his pack, his warriors, even the children—they weren’t my concern."I understand," I whispered. "I do. But…"I stopped, my fingers digging into my palms. My chest felt tight. My body was telling me to turn around, to leave, to find Lucien and finish what I started. But my heart—the part of me I had buried deep inside—hesitated."Don’t tell me you’re feel
Seraphine's POVThe night was colder than I remembered, the wind sharp against my skin as I moved through the thick bushes. Every step I took was slow and careful, my ears sharp for any movement. I had been walking for hours, maybe even days—I couldn't tell anymore. My body was exhausted, but I had no choice. I had to get to Lucien’s pack.I finally caught sight of the tracks, the ones I knew too well. My breath hitched as I stopped and stared at them."I know this place," I muttered, my fingers brushing against the rough bark of a tree beside me."You should. This is where Ryder tried to kill us," Fiona growled in my head, her voice full of anger. "The bastard thought we wouldn’t survive."I swallowed hard, memories rushing back like a flood. The cold grip of fear, the feeling of betrayal, the pain—everything came back at once. I clenched my fists, shaking my head."That was the past," I whispered. "Right now, I have something more important to do."The ground was uneven, covered in
Seraphine's POVA sharp pain shot through my skull as something hard slammed into my face. My body hit the ground with a thud, my already injured side screaming in agony. My vision blurred for a second before I forced my eyes open, blinking rapidly to clear them."Hey... Who the hell is this?" A rough voice growled above me.I barely had time to register what was happening before another kick landed on my ribs, forcing a strangled gasp from my throat. The pain was sharp, burning, and I curled in on myself, trying to breathe.Shit. Rogues.I forced my body to stay still, heart pounding as I looked up. There were three of them, all looking down at me like I was nothing more than a piece of meat. Their clothes were torn, covered in dirt, their faces rough with scars. Their eyes glowed dimly under the moonlight, their wolves just beneath the surface, ready to rip me apart."What do you have on you?" The tallest one demanded, crouching down and grabbing my arm roughly."N-nothing," I cough
Seraphine's POVI waited for the perfect time to make my escape. I knew it had to be just right. If I made one wrong move, Kieran would wake up, and I wouldn’t get another chance.I waited for 3 a.m.Even as I peeked outside the tent, I saw him. He was sitting by the fire, his back straight, his arms crossed over his chest like he was forcing himself to stay awake. His eyes fluttered shut for a second, then snapped open again. He shifted, rubbing his face, trying to shake off the exhaustion.But he was losing the battle.I stayed at the mouth of the tent, watching him. The fire cast flickering shadows over his face, making the bags under his eyes look even darker. He was really trying. Trying so damn hard.For me.My chest tightened.This was the guy who saved me. When Lucien and Ryder tried to kill me weeks ago, he was the one who pulled me out of that mess, the one who stood in front of me when I couldn’t even stand for myself. And now I was sneaking away like a coward.I tried to j
Seraphine's POVI couldn’t wait anymore. I needed to fight. I wanted Lucien dead, and that was exactly what I was going to do. Kieran wouldn’t allow it, I knew that. He always tried to hold me back, always said it was too dangerous. But I didn’t care. I was going to sneak out tonight, no matter what. I had already made up my mind.These thoughts ran through my head even as we made our way back from hunting. The sun was still high, though the afternoon had started to fade into evening. The forest around us was quiet except for the distant calls of birds and the rustling of leaves in the wind. I should have been paying attention, but my mind was elsewhere. My grip tightened around the bow slung over my shoulder.“Seraphina?” Kieran’s voice cut through my thoughts.I blinked, realizing I had been staring blankly ahead, lost in my own head. I turned my gaze to him, but I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. If I opened my mouth, he’d know. He always knew when something was off with me.He fro