Chapter Thirty-fiveFaelen’s POVThis became our secret routine.Every time I brought Hunter tea or came to do something else for him, my heart would race as I walked down the hallway towards his office, knowing what would happen there.My hands would tremble slightly, and my heart throbbed with the feeling of guilt. It wasn’t just about the tea, or the pretense of needing me for some task… those were just excuses, really.We both knew why I was there, why he always asked for me specifically. I’d step into the office, quiet and shy, like always. And he’d be there, standing behind his desk or by the window, waiting.The moment our eyes met, it was like the rest of the world just disappeared. We wouldn’t say much, barely even spoke. Words felt useless when our gazes locked.There was always something in the way he looked at me, and it made my skin crawl and my breath unstable.He’d walk up to me, slowly, and every inch of my body would be on edge from his presence. I would just stand th
Chapter Thirty-sixFaelen’s POVLater that evening, when I got the message that Hunter wanted to see me in his bedroom, my heart skipped a beat.This wasn’t like our usual routine in his office… this was something different. Something more intimate I sensed, or devastating.I couldn’t stop my hands from trembling as I walked down the corridor, the cool stone floor beneath my feet doing nothing to calm the heat building up inside me.Why his bedroom today?The question kept spinning in my mind, but I already knew the answer. I felt it in my bones. Ever since that first kiss and touch, we’d been dancing around each other, pretending there were limits. But I felt those limits were soon about to break.I reached the door and knocked softly, my heart thudding in my chest.“Come in,” came Hunter’s deep, commanding voice from the other side. The sound of it sent a familiar shiver down my spine.I opened the door slowly, stepping inside. The room was as I remembered it the last time I was he
Chapter Thirty-eight Faelen’s POVI stepped into the kitchen, feeling a wave of relief wash over me as I noticed it was empty. The maids hadn’t reported for work yet, which gave me a moment of peace.But I knew it wouldn’t last long. They’d start pouring in soon, with their whispers, their suspecting glances and piercing gazes. I needed to keep busy to distract myself from the weight of everything that had happened with Hunter last night.I wanted it to seem like I had woken up before everyone else to begin my task for the day, there was no time to truly prepare. The tension from last night still remained in my body, a reminder of our steamy moment, the heat that had burned between us.I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away.Grabbing a rag and some cleaning supplies, I decided to head to the dining room. It was always good to stay ahead of the work before the day truly started.As I made my way through the door, my mind spinning with plans of a possible escape and ways o
Chapter Thirty-nineHunter’s POVI sat back in my chair, maps and papers scattered on my desk, yet none of it held my attention.As usual, my mind was occupied totally by thoughts about Faelen.She had left my chambers only moments ago, but already, the space felt empty without her presence... Both in the room and in my heart.“What in the name of the moon goddess is happening to me?” muttered underneath my breath.I’d always prided myself on being a man who never let emotions dictate my actions. Love was a weakness I could not afford, especially as Alpha.But here I was, feeling as if part of me had been torn away the moment she walked out that door. Her shy and naive smile still flashed in my mind.Her scent, even though she was just a slave, was intoxicating to me, and it filled the room with a warmth I hadn’t realized I needed.Running a hand through my rough hair, I exhaled sharply, the frustration boiling beneath the surface.I forced myself to look at the maps again, detailing
Chapter FortyFaelen’s POVLater towards the end of the day, I got into doing dishes, and as I finished scrubbing the last dish in my hands, I wiped my hands on my apron and glanced out the window.The sky was starting to darken, signaling the approach of night. My heart beat a little faster, knowing that in just a few hours, I would be meeting the strange spy girl.I still couldn’t shake the feeling of unease about her sudden appearance. Why now? And why through the Steeprock pack, of all places?But as much as the impending meeting with her occupied my mind, I couldn’t help but think about Hunter.I hadn’t seen him all day, after I left his chambers, and the silence from him strangely felt unsettling.I had expected him to send for me at some point during the say, half expecting for one of the guards to appear and tell me that the Alpha needed me.But nothing, up till now. I’d caught myself pausing in the middle of my tasks more than once, imagining what it would be like to go back
Chapter Forty-oneFaelen’s POVThe sound of the clock bells from the estate watchtower echoed through the entire compound. Each struck made my heart pound harder in my chest.I let out a shaky breath, feeling a mix of relief and nervousness all at once. “This is it.” I murmured.The time had come, and there was no turning back now. Fear crept in as I thought about what I was doing… sneaking out in the dead of night to meet with a stranger, a spy no less.The danger was obvious, but so was my determination. I needed to know what this girl’s presence meant, for me and for the mission. This meeting was crucial, and I couldn’t afford to let fear stop me. That just wasn’t an option.The bells stopped, dragging the estate back into the heavy silence of the night.I slowly slid out of bed, my legs tense with both excitement and fear. My heart kept pounding hard in my chest.My bare feet hit the cold floor, which sent a shiver up my spine, but that didn’t make me hesitate any bit.Quietly, I
Chapter Forty-twoFaelen’s POVI thought we were finished, but it turned out there was more. Raven’s smirk faded as she glanced around, her eyes narrowing.She turned to face me and spoke in a low whisper. “Alpha Zodd has allies in Steeprock. They helped me sneak here.” She paused, looking at me up and down before she continued. “But you already suspected that, didn’t you?”I didn’t respond, my throat tightening as the reality of the situation became clearer to me every second.Steeprock’s presence here wasn’t a coincidence. They had a plan, and I was part of it, whether I liked it or not.“What have you learned?” Raven asked, her voice sharp and expectant.I hesitated. My heart raced as my mind flashed back to everything I had discovered since my arrival.But should I trust her with it? I had no choice. For now, she was my only link back to my pack, to completing the mission I had started months ago. I took a deep breath and began.“Howle Wulf is probably on the verge of war,” I whi
Chapter Forty-threeFaelen’s POVSunlight pierced through the kitchen windows as I busied myself with my daily tasks the next morning.But my mind was far from the duties of cleaning and cooking. It was beyond even the present.The meeting with Raven last night had stirred something inside me. At first, seeing her had filled me with unease.Her sudden appearance made me seriously question my own position. Was she here to replace me? Or worse, expose me?But after she left, those fears had faded, replaced by a strange sense of purpose. If her story was to be believed, then Alpha Zodd hadn’t forgotten me after all.He still needed me. And that meant something.I scrubbed the kitchen countertop harder, my hands working automatically as my thoughts circled on Alpha Zodd.It was almost amusing to think of him as the person who had my loyalty. He wasn’t the kindest, or the most compassionate of persons. To the world, he was a power-hungry and ruthless Alpha. I’d seen the way he treated his
Chapter Seventy-fourFaelen’s POV That night, I lay in bed, turning over every possibility in my mind, knowing Alpha Zodd wouldn’t let his recent defeat here go unanswered.I couldn’t shake the thought that he’d already heard of my defection. Someone must have informed him by now, and I knew the rage he’d feel.I could even almost picture it… Zodd’s eyes blazing, his infamous rage twisting his face as he unleashed his anger on anyone nearby.I used to stay far from his wrath, feeling an instinctive survival need to avoid setting him off, yet now, the very idea of him made me feel only disgust.I wondered how I had spent so much of my life under him, convincing myself I could tolerate it, or that it was simply the way things were.And now, lying in the safety of the Howle Wulf pack, I felt something I’d barely dared to hope for back in Belladonna… a fierce gladness that I’d escaped.I knew I might have stayed in Zodd’s shadow forever, accepting his cruelty, believing I had no choice.
Chapter Seventy-threeHunter’s POVSeated alone in my office that morning, I tried to focus on the endless papers spread across my desk, yet all my mind seemed capable of doing was going back to last night with Faelen.A faint smile tugged at my lips as I recalled every detail… the way her hair fell in waves across the pillow, her soft laughs, the warmth of her body against mine.I’d left her early, quietly slipping out to keep up appearances and make it to the office without drawing attention. But the memory lingered, a welcome distraction from my usual routine.The door creaked open, and I looked up to see Caleb stepping inside, his expression serious. My smile faded as I straightened, noting the urgency in his eyes.“What’s going on, Caleb?” I asked, gesturing for him to come in.He closed the door behind him and stepped forward. “I have news from the scouts and spies,” he began, his voice low and wary. “The Belladonna Pack… They’re regrouping for another attack.“What?” I asked, r
Chapter Seventy-twoHunter’s POV Waking up in Faelen’s bed, I lay still for a moment, letting the early morning sun which pierced through the window settle over us. The warmth of Faelen’s body beside me was a reminder of the steamy night we’d shared, every detail printed into my mind.Her bare shoulder peeked out from under the sheets, her red hair spilling around her face like fire against her pillow.Laying there, she looked almost unreal, soft and breathtaking… like an angel… in her sleep.My fingers itched to reach out to her again, but I held back, not wanting to disturb the rare peace that she had in this moment.Slowly, I shifted, slipping out of the bed with a careful, measured silence. I gathered my clothes and moved away slightly.I glanced over at her every few seconds, as if to check that she was still there, that last night hadn’t been some hazy dream.As I pulled my shirt over my shoulders, I couldn’t help but recall the warmth of her touch against my skin, or the swee
Chapter Seventy-one Faelen’s POV When Hunter shared his decision to make me a full member of the pack, my first instinct was disbelief.I couldn’t quite grasp that he meant it, that he was willing to trust me so deeply despite everything I’d done.All I managed was a quiet, breathless thank you, hoping he could see just how much his faith in me mattered.As he watched me, the warmth in his eyes gave me something I hadn’t felt in years…hope. For the first time, I felt like maybe I could be more than a pawn in someone else’s game.The days that followed were filled with new routines for me as I tried to settle into my place among the pack.Hunter, of course, was never far. I would find him stopping by while I helped the pack with library work, hauling supplies, or tending to small tasks around the offices.His face held that half smile of his, and sometimes he’d shake his head at me, urging me to take a break.But I couldn’t. It wasn’t about proving anything to the others… it was abou
Chapter SeventyHunter’s POV The next few days, I set everything in motion to reinstate Faelen officially into the pack. I’d made the decision, and I’d stand by it, though I knew there were bound to be a few raised eyebrows.There’d been a lot of gossip circulating since the dinner, but I didn’t care. They came to respect her, but I knew they still didn’t see her as one of us, which I hoped to change.What mattered to me was ensuring Faelen knew her place here was solid… that she could trust us as much as I hoped to make everyone trust her as I did.Early the following morning, I gathered the pack elders and high ranking officers in the palace hall, where I intended to reveal my decision.The sun had barely set over the estate grounds when I had Caleb call the meeting, and the early morning light pierced through the window touching everyone who walked in there.My chest tightened nervously when I saw them all seated by the long table, shifting on my feet. I could see they were all ea
Chapter Sixty-nineHunter’s POV As I exited the restroom, I had one last look at myself to make sure I looked presentable. Satisfied, I then headed down the hallway.On my way, I passed a group of women going the opposite way. They looked at me strangely, but I wasn’t surprised why, seeing I’d just come out of the female restroom.Briefly smiling at them, I walked past and headed towards the dining hall. I couldn’t shake the rush within from what had just happened between Faelen and me.I had always been in control, always certain of myself, but not with her. The moment I saw her tonight, everything had shifted.Faelen had taken my breath away, standing there looking both fierce and vulnerable, like she belonged to some heavenly realm but had graced us with her presence.The memory of her lips, her touch… it all felt raw and tattooed into my mind.Raising my head high and squaring my shoulders, I forced myself to adopt the relaxed expression I knew everyone expected from me. Caleb c
Chapter Sixty-eightFaelen’s POV It was over in minutes, and as we adjusted our clothes, the weight of what we’d just done settled over me.My fingers paused on the loosened neckline of my dress, feeling a warmth still there from Hunter’s touch.When I glanced up, I saw him tucking his shirt back in, his eyes catching mine with a mischievous look.The reality of the moment hit us both… sneaking off in the middle of the dinner he’d arranged for me to fuck… and we couldn’t help but share a smile.He stepped closer, his breath brushing warm against my cheek, still heavy from our time together.Reaching up, he gently pushed a strand of hair from my face, his fingers lingering as they brushed my cheek. “That was amazing,” he murmured, voice low and satisfied.A laugh escaped me, soft and a little shy. I lowered my gaze, adjusting the fabric of my dress to buy a moment to collect myself, though my heart was still racing.“It was… amazing,” I admitted, feeling a blush creep over my cheeks.
Chapter Sixty-sevenFaelen’s POV As the laughter and chatter from the dinner filled the air, I couldn’t shake off the discomfort of the dress hugging my body.It was beautiful, a deep shade of blue that seemed to complement my hair, but every time I moved, I felt it tighten around me, making it hard to breathe.I needed a moment away from the table, a chance to gather myself and take a breath. Excusing myself from the lively conversation, I slipped out of the dining hall.Just as I turned to head towards the nearby restroom, I bumped into Caleb. He was leaning casually against the wall, a soft smile on his lips.“Faelen,” he said, his eyes brightening as they went over me. “You look absolutely stunning in that dress.”“Thank you, but I can barely breathe in it,” I admitted, giving a small laugh, hoping to mask my discomfort.Caleb chuckled. “You’ll get used to it. Besides, you’re supposed to look like a princess tonight. That’s the point.”I smiled back, but inside I felt strange. I
Chapter Sixty-sixHunter’s POV I stood in front of the huge mirror by my closet, giving myself one last look before leaving for the dinner.The reflection staring back at me was a complete difference to my usual rugged demeanor.My hair was neatly combed, my shirt crisp, the dark fabric complementing my tall frame. A sense of discomfort suddenly ran through me as I adjusted the collar.It was an unfamiliar feeling settling in my chest. I’d never felt the need to present myself this way for anyone before.Yet here I was, preparing for a dinner where Faelen would be the guest of honor, and somehow, it felt awkward.What the hell is wrong with me? I thought, running a hand over my face.I usually appeared anywhere with authority and confidence. But this was different… this felt personal.I shook my head, pushing the nerves aside, and stepped out of my chambers. I sighed as I closed the door behind me and walked.The dark corridor and stairs led me toward the dining hall, where I could a