Chapter Fifty-threeFaelen’s POV The day had been a blur of emotions for me. Thoughts of what happened in Hunter’s office still swirled through my mind, replaying in a continuous loop.I couldn’t shake the weight of it all. I had barely been able to breathe when it was over. The tension between us had been thick and suffocating, leaving me broken and confused.By the time the sun went low, I was in the garden outside the estate, trying to find some sense of calm amid the chaos. And that’s when I saw her… Raven.I froze, my heart racing. She stood between two large trees, her gaze cautious and piercing, as if she had been watching me for some time.“Faelen,” she called on to me softly, her voice cutting through the evening air.Glancing around to see if anyone was watching, I took a hesitant step towards her when I saw no one around, my pulse pounding in my ears. Raven’s presence always made my skin crawl with unease, a reminder of the danger I was putting myself in.“Yes?” I replied
Chapter Fifty-fourFaelen’s POV I slipped back into my room, moving as silently as I could manage. The familiar creaks of the floorboards felt more normal now as I snuck back in.Each step I took seemed to echo in my ears the weight of Raven’s words, and making my heart pound faster, louder.Once inside, I shut the door behind me and leaned against it, exhaling shakily. I tried to slow my breathing, but I couldn’t stop trembling.My mind was a mess of thoughts and emotions, tangled up completely, and I didn’t know how to manage it.They’re planning to attack. Hunter’s pack. I sank onto the edge of my bed, my hands clasped tightly in my lap.I couldn’t get the thought out of my head.Belladonna Pack. My pack, the one that had taken me in when I was alone and lost. I’d grown up among them, lived with them, served them. But after a while growing up among them… now I knew their plans were no good.I’d always known what Alpha Zodd was capable of, and it sickened me, but somehow I hadn’t
Chapter Fifty-fiveHunter’s POV I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The words had fallen from her lips, sharp and cold, like ice cutting into my chest.Faelen, who I thought I was beginning to understand… trusted even… was a spy. A spy, for the Belladonna Pack.And she had been playing me this whole time.I stood there, staring at her, barely able to process the weight of what she’d just confessed.It felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me. My pulse pounded in my ears, and every breath I took became shallow.“You’re with Belladonna,” I repeated, my voice low, as if saying it aloud would help me make sense of it. “You’ve been working for them this whole time?”Her face was pale, her eyes wide with fear, but she didn’t deny it. “Yes,” she whispered, like the truth was too much for even her to bear.My blood boiled. All the conversations we’d had, all the moments we shared… they had all been lies. And I had been too blind to see it.I was too caught up in my own growi
Chapter Fifty-sixCaleb’s POV I stood there, rooted to the spot, my heart hammering in my chest as Hunter’s footsteps faded down the hall.The weight of his words hung in the air, thick and heavy, pressing down on me. “She’s not as innocent as you’ve thought,” he had said.The way he spat those words, like venom… what could that mean?I turned toward Faelen, who was now curled on the floor of the cell, her face buried in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.My mind was spinning. I had to know what was happening. I had to know what Hunter meant.“Faelen?” I stepped closer to the bars, my voice softer than before, though still a little panicked. “Please. What’s going on? Why did Hunter bring you here? Why did he say that?”She looked up, her face soaked with tears, her eyes red from crying. The Faelen I knew… the gentle, kind girl who always seemed to carry an air of silent strength… was gone, replaced by someone that looked broken.She shook her head, not answering at first, as if the w
Chapter Fifty-sevenFaelen’s POV The cold stone floor felt unforgiving beneath me as I sat huddled in the corner of the cell, my knees pulled to my chest.The air was damp, cold, and I shivered, though I wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or the fear eating at my insides.My body ached from being thrown in here, but it was the weight of everything else that hurt more.Hunter’s face haunted me there in the cell… the way he had looked at me when I told him the truth.The hurt in his eyes was worse than any of the harsh words he had thrown at me. I had expected anger, but seeing the hurt behind his rage broke something inside me.He thought I was a traitor, that all I had ever been was a spy. And in some ways, he was right.But I hadn’t planned for this… none of it. I never meant to fall for him, or to feel anything for him or anyone in Howle Wulf.I was supposed to do my job, gather information, and report back to Raven. It should have been simple. But it wasn’t.I glanced around the
Chapter Fifty-eightFaelen’s POV I sat on the cold floor, watching the sunlight pierced through the small barred window above in the cell, my mind spinning with thoughts of everything.Since seeing Hunter the previous night, I couldn’t stop replaying the events in my head. Every word and look of betrayal in his eyes struck me as he questioned me.I had hoped… no, I had prayed… that talking to him again would at least make him see that I wasn’t his enemy, but now I wasn’t sure.The stone walls around me felt like they were closing in, and the weight of what I had done seemed heavier each passing moment.I then heard footsteps echoing down the hall. My heart leaped into my throat, and I pushed myself up from the floor, smoothing my dirty clothes with shaking hands.It was him. I knew it even before he appeared in front of my cell. Hunter stood there, his tall frame looming in the dim light, arms crossed and jaw clenched.His eyes met mine, and I could still see his anger just beneath
Chapter Fifty-nineHunter’s POV I stood by the window of my office, staring out at the horizon, where the forest and mountains loomed in the distance.My hands clenched into fists at my sides, a familiar reflex action of mine, the weight of everything Faelen had told us pressing down on my chest.Steeprock, backed by Belladonna. All part of Alpha Zodd’s plan to conquer all territories.Of course. I should’ve seen it. All the signs were there, but I had been too wrapped up in my own pride and feelings to connect the dots.Faelen had been playing me from the start, true, but now, knowing what she’d told me, the lines between truth and deceit were blurred.Did she genuinely care about me, or was she just trying to save herself from being caught up in the destruction of our pack?Caleb walked into the room, his face as grim as I felt inside. We hadn’t spoken much since we left the dungeons after seeing Faelen.He trusted her enough to consider her warning, but I wasn’t so sure.“Steeproc
Chapter Sixty Faelen’s POV The sounds of chaos woke me up at midnight, jolting me up in my small, cold cell.At first, I thought I was dreaming… hearing the distant clash of weapons, the sharp cries of warriors… But as the noise grew louder, I realized with horror that the attack had begun. The Steeprock pack had launched their assault.My heart pounded in my chest as I scrambled to my feet, gripping the bars of my cell. I could hear footsteps rushing past the dungeon entrance, the sounds of men shouting orders. Hunter’s pack was caught off guard. This wasn’t supposed to happen so soon, I felt. But that had been the plan all along.My stomach twisted in fear, for Hunter, Caleb, and everyone else in Howle Wulf.And here I was, locked away while everything I’d tried to prevent was happening right above me.I paced around in my cell, thinking quickly. I couldn’t just sit here and do nothing. Hunter might hate me, but I couldn’t let him and his people fall.Not like this. I had to fin
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