Liana POVI had heard that Alpha Darius rarely ate in the main hall, preferring his private quarters. An invitation to join him was special – and slightly terrifying."Of course, Alpha Darius," I managed, quickly checking my reflection. My eyes were slightly red.His private dining room felt warm and intimate. The table could seat four, though he usually ate alone. My heart melted a little when he pulled out my chair – not as a formal gesture, but something natural and protective."I heard about what happened in the hall today," he said after we'd started eating.I focused very intently on cutting my steak. "It was nothing important.""Liana." His voice was gentle but firm, and something in me unraveled at the sound of my name on his lips. "The mate bond might be new, but I can feel your distress. You don't have to pretend with me."I set down my utensils, still avoiding his eyes. "It's silly. I shouldn't let her get to me.""It's not silly if it hurts you." His large hand covered min
Darius POV For days, I told myself I would send word to Rowan and Victor. Letting them know I had Liana would stir the chaos I needed to press my advantage. Rowan’s fury and Victor’s desperation would weaken their defenses, giving me room to strike where it hurt most. It was the logical move, the strategic one.But I couldn’t do it.Every time I picked up the pen to write the message or ordered Kaden to dispatch a messenger, something stopped me. Or rather, someone.It wasn’t just me—it was my wolf. It growled in protest, pacing in my head like a caged beast, snapping at the idea of giving her up. Not yet, it seemed to say, as if the creature had its own plan. And maybe it did.Rumors and bounties were galore. The reports from my warriors only complicated things further. Rowan’s pack was scouring every inch of their territory and beyond, hunting for her. Desperation had twisted Rowan into a man obsessed, but it was Victor’s move that surprised me.“A bounty?” I muttered, reading the
Liana POV Darius clenched his teeth as he listened to my plan as his shoulders tensed. I continued, “My father, he—” I didn’t know how to start on how vicious my father was, but I guess this was a good time. “Father hasn’t been very good with his pack members. They are afraid of him and are scared to go against him. Some, who are very close to him have formed such a closed group that they don’t let others speak with him. He has been very cruel all this life. Many of our pack members have disappeared overnight and no one is brave enough to ask about them. He feels that the she-wolves should only be breeders. Their position in society is lower than that of a pet dog.” “I’ve tried many times to reach him in the hope that he would at least listen to me or my ideas about the pack's progress, but he is so rigid that he dismisses me every time. It’s like I am not worthy enough to be his daughter, when I am the alpha heir. Just because I am his daughter, he feels I’m a burden whose only purp
Elara POV Liana was a thorn in my side from the moment she arrived. Darius was mine, or he would be if not for her. I was so close to marrying him. Nero had asked me to be patient because there was no other she-wolf in the Midnight Claw pack that was as beautiful and smart as me. Darius was thirty and I was twenty-seven. We both hadn’t found a mate because the goddess had plans for us. Ever since that wretched fake bond, she walked around the pack as though she belonged, stealing glances from the pack members and, worse, from Darius himself. The other night when she was with him in the garden, so close to kissing, my blood boiled. If it had been for me, I would have ripped her away from him, gouged her eyes and thrown them to vultures. And after that, the way she answered me, I felt like slapping her. One thing was clear—Liana was not dumb. But what she didn’t know was that I could easily outsmart her. Moreover, it wasn’t just about Darius, though—she threatened my position and re
Darius POV I sat in my office, tapping my fingers on the oak desk. The accusations against Liana were weighing heavily on my mind. Elara's words played like a broken record. She had raised suspicions, planting doubts in my mind. Was she manipulating? I don’t think so. She was Nero’s sister and one of the trusted pack members. As Alpha, my primary job was the safety of my pack. That meant I couldn’t ignore anything suspicious. The evidence found in Liana’s room was serious: important pack papers with defense plans were hidden there. It was hard not to think she might be guilty, even though my heart didn’t want to believe it.Nero’s words echoed Elara's sentiments as he said, “We can’t trust her, Alpha Darius. She has ties to our enemies.” He had met me in private after Elara’s accusations. “What if she’s a double agent, planted by Rowan or her father?” he had asked. “You’re letting your feelings cloud your judgment, Alpha Darius.”“Nero!” I growled, not liking his remark. He immediat
Liana POVI sat on my bed, fuming. The audacity of Darius to accuse me after everything I had endured. The betrayal I felt was like a knife to the heart, twisting deep. But I couldn’t let the hurt consume me. I needed to focus on clearing my name. If I sat down to mope on what Elara had done to me, I was sure she would take more advantage of my vulnerability. My mind raced through the events of the past week. Someone had deliberately planted evidence to frame me—I was sure of it. The real traitor was hiding in plain sight.I stood abruptly, determination replacing my despair. If Darius wouldn’t trust me, I’d have to prove my loyalty without his support. Then why was it that through our bond I could feel his concern for me. “Those emotions are forced!” I said to myself aloud. I couldn’t rely on his concern because for him I was a business arrangement, a tool, a means to an end. And he was the same for me. I started by retracing my steps, recalling anyone who had access to my room or m
Liana POV I turned my face away to look outside the window. Swallowing the lump of emotions down my throat, I said, “Darius, I can’t assert enough that Rowan is a demon. He is a psychopath. I was running away from him, and when I came to your pack, someone saved me and took me to Kaden’s house. I wish I knew that wolf. He would have attested my situation, my desperation. And I’m not Rowan’s ally!” Darius froze for a moment. Then he stepped closer, his towering frame imposing, but his expression conflicted. “I want to believe you,” he said, his voice softening just slightly. “But this pack is my responsibility. I can’t ignore evidence, no matter how much I wish it weren’t true.”The admission hurt, and my anger flared. “Wish it weren’t true? That’s rich, coming from someone who hasn’t been honest with me either. You knew Rowan and my father were planning something, didn’t you? And you said nothing.”His eyes narrowed, his guilt barely concealed. “I was going to tell you. But nothing’
Liana POV The bond between us flared to life, sending a rush of warmth through my body. It was overwhelming, consuming, and completely thrilling, something I’d never experienced before. For a moment, nothing else mattered—not the accusations, not the betrayal, not even the danger lurking outside the pack.When we finally broke apart, both of us were breathing heavily. Darius rested his forehead against mine, his eyes closed as if trying to regain control.I stared at him, my heart pounding. “What are you doing?” I whispered, my voice shaky. “What are we doing?” His eyes opened, filled with a mix of regret and longing. “Something I shouldn’t,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. But he didn’t let go.I pulled away slightly, my emotions in turmoil. “You can’t just kiss me to fix this,” I said, my voice firm despite the tremor in it. “You accused me of betrayal, Darius. That doesn’t go away because of this.”His jaw tightened, and for a moment, he looked like he wanted to ar
Liana POV I knew that voice. I knew that laughter. It was the bane of my existence. Elara. The woman who did everything in her own twisted way to keep me away from my mate while she enjoyed her mate. And even became pregnant with his pup. A shudder ran down my spine when I remembered how she pegged it on Darius. Gritting my teeth, I followed the sound, stepping deeper into the dungeon. When I reached her cell, I found her lounging against the wall, her hair disheveled, his clothes tattered and her face gaunt. She looked like a ghost from the past. Her cell was stinking with rot and mold and uneaten food. With my heart hammering in my chest, I went to stand in front of her prison just to tell her that this was her karma. But some people never learn, do they? “Elara,” I smirked. “You look perfect here.” "How cruel of you, Liana," she purred, her voice dripping with venom and helplessness. "To throw a pregnant woman into the dungeons. The Luna of the Midnight Claw Pack, no less. Wha
Liana POV “Liana?” Darius’s sleepy voice reached my ears. “What’s up, love? Come back,” he murmured and pulled me back in his arms. His hard cock pressed against my belly’s side and I knew that my husband was already seeking to get inside me. Without another word, he rolled me on my back with him on the top, pressing me on the mattress. As soon as I opened my legs, he was inside me in one thrust. He groaned, his eyes flashing golden as if his wolf wanted to come out. “Fuck,” he muttered. “I could live all my life inside you.” Saying that he began to thrust at a punishing speed, making me whimper. His balls slapped against my pussy and the only sound in the room was that of our sex slapping each other. He buried his face in the crook of my neck and licked his mark. The action was enough to send shivers of lust down my body. My pussy clenched so tightly that stars burst in my vision and orgasm hit me in waves. I cried his name as he increased his pace, and within a few seconds, he fo
Liana POV The journey to the Midnight Claw Pack felt long, even though we were traveling in cars. I sat beside Darius and my fingers gripped the edge of my seat as the trees blurred past the window. His hand was on my thigh and as if sensing my anxiety, he gently squeezed it. “What is it, baby?” he asked. I leaned my head on his shoulder and his arm instinctively curled around my shoulders. Why did I feel like my old home was behind me now, and ahead lay a new beginning—a place where I would be Luna? Why did I feel like I won't be returning as Alpha Liana but as Luna Liana? “I don’t know what lies ahead?” I said with a sigh. “I’m scared of the future.” Darius pressed a kiss on the top of my head. “Lia, I can understand your anxiety, love. But why don’t you think that it is a new beginning of our life? Our enemies are defeated and our packs are going to flourish. I will make sure that our pack members get the best they deserve.” My eyes went to the driver who was driving our car. H
Liana POV The scent of blood hung thickly in the air as we rushed the human girl to the hospital. The doctor led the way, his eyes focused on her, while Kaden and Kaycee walked by the stretcher’s side that was carrying her fragile body. I followed closely behind, along with Darius with a pounding heart.The moment we entered the hospital, the doctors sprang into action. They took her to a private ward where the head healer, an older man, examined her with urgency. He pressed against her wounds, checking the severity. "She has suffered significant blood loss. It looks like someone assaulted her and left her to die," he informed us grimly. He narrowed his eyes and lifted her hands. As he examined her fingers, he said, “It looks like she struggled against that person.” He sniffed her nails and gasped. “She fought against a werewolf and managed to survive. Now that’s interesting.” Shock rippled. A dangerous growl emanated from Kaden as Kaycee curled his hands into tight fists. The hea
Liana POVThe next day as the morning sun filtered through the windows of the Silver Moon Alpha house, I couldn’t help thinking about Kaden’s words. But this was an issue that needed to be addressed as soon as possible. I wanted to stay with Darius, but I also wanted to stay with my people. They had just been released from my father’s tyrannical rule, and they had a lot of expectations from me. “What are you thinking, love?” Darius asked as he kissed my temple. I was sitting on the balcony and staring at the forest ahead while sipping my morning fuel. I closed my eyes, leaning into his touch. Sighing, I replied, “Was thinking about how to go further from now.” I took a ragged breath. “We both just started with the good times for our packs and why do I feel like we will stop the growth of our packs by this union?” He sat beside me and took my coffee. Sipping it, he turned toward the forest, his gaze unfocused. “I have a solution, Lia, but for that I need your consensus. If you agree
Liana POVWhen I woke up the following morning, our room was bathed in soft golden light, filtering through the sheer curtains of our room. I stirred first, my body instinctively seeking the warmth beside me. Darius lay on his side, his arm possessively draped over my waist, his breathing slow and even. For the first time in a long while, there were no battles to fight, no immediate threats looming over them. Just peace. Just us. Just bliss.I turned in his embrace, resting my palm against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. The sight of his relaxed features made my chest tighten with emotion. This was my mate. My husband. My Alpha.“Are you watching me sleep, little moon?” Darius’s deep, sleep-rough voice sent a shiver down my spine. His eyes were still closed, but a small smirk tugged at his lips.“Maybe,” I admitted, tracing a slow line over his bare shoulder. “You look different when you’re sleeping. Less scary.”He cracked one eye open. “Scary?” He rolled on to
Chapter 67Liana POVWe were both so desperate that the moment we were in my room, we were removing each other’s clothes. Darius couldn’t wait and ended up pulling my top in a way that it’s hook ripped from its place. He pushed me to the bed and I thought he would lie on me. Instead, he flipped me to my belly. When he sank his teeth into my butt cheek, lightly sinking his fangs, I breath burst from me. I let out a whimper and then he started peppering my back with kisses. He sucked and grazed my back in between his kisses. “Goddess, I can't get enough of you!” he rasped. Once he had touched every part of my bare skin at the back, he flipped me onto my back. His face was drawn into a tight expression with so much possessiveness that it was almost feral. His chest rumbled and his eyes flashed golden which meant that his wolf wanted to come out. He moved his hand to my thighs and pushed them open. When he pressed me with his body weight, latching his mouth on my nipple, I gasped. My bre
Liana POVThe air was cold and sweet with the scent of pine and moonflowers as I stepped out of the car. And the moment I stepped out my breath caught at the sight before me. The Moon Temple stood tall, shimmering under the soft glow of the full blood moon. It felt magical in a way I’d never experienced before. When I was a pup, mom would come here often with father and they would perform sacred rituals praying to the goddess to give strength to my father, but nothing to my mother. A shudder ran down my body as I realized how my father abused my mom in every possible way. I was so glad that he was rotting in Darius’s dungeons. Shoving those thoughts from my mind, I focused on the temple which was adorned with garlands of white roses and ivy. Lanterns lit the pathway, casting a golden glow on the faces of our pack members who had gathered to witness my marriage with Darius. My heart swelled with emotion as I saw familiar faces smiling at me, their eyes warm with affection. This wasn’
Darius POV When I went to hunt Rowan in the forest yesterday, every step I took into the dense forest only increased my frustration. Rowan’s scent was faint, barely a thread to follow in the cold woods. I wanted to catch him, wanted to end this game of deceit he played with all of us, wanted to kill me with my bare hands. The knowledge that he had been so close, hidden like a snake—burned in my chest. How could we not sense him? But Rowan was cunning. His trail led me over streams, which masked his scent. It wasn’t long before I realized he had planned his escape well and he sacrificed his mate for that. By the time I reached the edge of the human territory, the trail was cold. He was gone.I let out a growl, the sound reverberating through the silent woods. My fists clenched as unease settled deep in my chest. Rowan might be gone, but he wasn’t finished—not yet. And that knowledge gnawed at me as I turned back toward the manor.As I walked, my thoughts shifted to Liana. She was my