Rune’s POVBy the time I finally returned to the pack, my body was beyond exhaustion. My muscles ached, my head pounded, and all I wanted was a moment of peace to collect my thoughts. The journey had been grueling, both physically and mentally, as I tried to salvage the crumbling alliances that once held the pack's power secure. But despite my best efforts, the Alphas I met with wouldn’t budge. They offered polite refusals, their eyes betraying a deeper reluctance, as if something unseen was forcing their hand. It was frustrating, maddening even, to see them speak with a strange mixture of regret and resignation, as if they were bound by chains I couldn’t see.I had barely stepped into the pack house when Sienna appeared, her presence like a viper in the shadows. She was draped in a silk robe that barely clung to her body, the fabric slipping down her shoulders in a way that was anything but accidental. Her lips curled into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, a predatory gleam ther
Alora’s POV I stood in front of the mirror, gently running my fingers over my baby bump. A smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I marveled at the little life growing inside of me. It was surreal, this feeling of anticipation and love that bubbled up inside me. Despite everything, the nightmares, this was something pure, something mine. A tiny heartbeat, reminding me that there was still something good in this world, even if it was just the two of us. I leaned back a little, studying the way my body had changed. My belly had grown more noticeable in the past few weeks, rounding out in a way that made it impossible to hide. Not that I wanted to anymore. This was my baby, my future, and for once, I allowed myself to feel a flicker of excitement. It was about time to start preparing for the little one’s arrival. The thought of shopping for baby clothes, cribs, and all the other necessities crossed my mind. I hadn’t done any of it yet, too preoccupied with the pack’s issues a
Rune’s POV I walked through the dense trees that led to the small wooden cabin tucked away at the edge of our territory, feeling the familiar crunch of leaves underfoot. The air was cool, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth, but none of that could ease the knot tightening in my chest. I hadn't visited the Prophetess in weeks, and considering the mess that my life had become, I had a feeling she'd give me hell for it. She was old—probably older than anyone in the pack knew. Blind too, but still stronger than most men. Her wiry frame moved like it carried the strength of three wolves, and no one doubted that the Moon Goddess had chosen her for a reason. Even though she could no longer see, she saw through all of us, and I had always appreciated that about her. No one could lie to the Prophetess.I knocked on the worn door, half-expecting her to shout at me before I could even enter. Sure enough, her raspy voice called out from within, “Took you long enough, pup. Thought you'd
Alora’s POV The nightmare came like a suffocating fog, thick and choking. I was trapped in it before I even realized I was dreaming. My surroundings shifted and blurred, a twisting mess of shadow and light. And there, in the distance, stood Rune. He wasn’t the Rune I once knew. He wasn’t the brother who’d doted on me in childhood, with his warm smiles and protective embrace. No, this Rune was a monster. His eyes glowed an unnatural red, piercing through the darkness. I tried to move, to run, but my body was frozen, as though invisible chains bound me to the ground. Panic surged through me, my breath quickening as I struggled against the invisible force holding me in place. Rune stepped closer, his presence swallowing up everything around me. The closer he got, the darker it became, until the world seemed to disappear entirely, leaving just the two of us. His eyes locked onto mine, and I could feel the weight of his gaze, heavy and cold. It seeped into my skin, curling around
Rune’s POVI woke up the next morning feeling more energized than I had in months. It was as if a weight had been lifted off my chest, and for the first time, I could breathe again. The meeting with the prophetess lingered in my mind, her words echoing in my thoughts. ‘Only Alora could break the curse.”I didn't know the full extent of what that meant, but I knew one thing: I had to find her. Wherever she was, whatever it took, I would bring her back. She must come back home. The surge of energy I felt now was something I hadn’t experienced in a long time. It coursed through my veins, igniting a determination that pushed me out of bed and into action. I wasn’t going to wait around for more packs to fall or for the curse to sink its claws deeper into my life. I was going to track Alora down, even if it meant going to the ends of the earth.Sienna had started avoiding me, which was for her own good. In the mood I was in, I didn’t know what I’d do if she crossed my path. I might end
Rune’s POVI paced in front of the hotel, my eyes scanning the crowded streets of the human city, but none of it registered. Not the hustle and bustle of the pedestrians, nor the horns blaring in the distance. My focus was singular, burning into my skull like a hot brand, Alora. My pulse raced with the frantic desperation that had plagued me for months on end now. Both from the broken alliances and my obsession. "Ethan, Jacob, you stay here," I said back at the hotel. They argued, but they couldn’t see what I saw, what I felt. My pack was crumbling under the witches' curse. My father could handle the battles, but this wasn’t something he could stop. The only way to stop this was to find her. Alora. If I didn’t... well, the witches wouldn’t stop until there was nothing left of us. I have no idea what has made them this angry all of a sudden but I need them to stop. The pack’s alliances had been shattering left and right, but that was the least of my concerns now. Witches were att
Rune’s POVI stood outside the restaurant, my body tense, heart pounding against my ribcage as if it was trying to break free. The street was alive around me, bustling with human activity… laughter, conversations, the clatter of dishes and cutlery from the nearby tables. But none of it registered. My entire focus was on what I sensed inside, on her. Alora.I could feel her. It was undeniable. The same pull I had felt for years, the connection that had once bound us so tightly it seemed impossible to break. Even now, standing here after weeks of searching, of wandering through the world without a clear direction, that connection flared to life inside me with a heat that nearly knocked me off my feet.How could I have thought I could stay away from her? Every second of the past few weeks had been a slow descent into madness without her presence. The city was just a blur around me, just another human environment that I didn’t care about, didn’t understand. All I cared about was what
Rune’s POVI stepped outside, my frustration boiling over as I walked aimlessly, trying to clear my head. The rush of people around me blurred, my senses dulled by the chaos of my emotions. I was desperate, my instincts on high alert. I had to find her. I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that she was close, too close for me to ignore. Too close for me to think I’m hallucinating. Then it hit me.I stopped in my tracks, my eyes narrowing as I glanced back at the restaurant I had just passed. No... behind me. My senses flared, a sharp pull in my chest, and without thinking, I turned around, nearly stumbling as I hurried back. My steps were so quick I almost tripped, even with my werewolf speed. My heart pounded in my chest as I approached the building, a new determination flooding through me. Something in me has snapped in place. This was it. She was inside. I could feel her.I reached another glass door, this one even busier than the last. People filled the place, moving about, ch