Liana POV Darius took a deep breath and turned his face away. A muscle ticked in his jaw. He sat across from me, his back resting against the rough stone wall while I sat leaning against the headrest. “You don’t want to know,” he said in a low voice. The lines of tension etched on his face. It made me want to reach out and smooth them away, but instead, I repeated the question that had been burning in my mind.“I really want to know. Why are Rowan and Alpha Victor your enemies?” I just couldn’t contain my curiosity at this point. Darius’s blue eyes met mine, flickering with a mix of hesitation and pain. For a moment, I thought he might not answer my question, but instead, he let out a heavy sigh and ran a hand through his dark hair. “It’s a long and ugly story,” he said. “Something I keep buried in my past.”“Please Darius,” I said. “I just want to know why you are helping me against my father.” There had to be something more than his instincts conjured because of the witch bond be
Chapter 33Liana POV Darius returned half an hour later. Concern was etched on his face. He ran his fingers in his hair as he came to sit at the edge of the bed. “Everything okay?” I asked, sensing his worry through the witch bond. He shook his head. “The traitor has run away. My warriors chased him till the edge of my pack’s territory, but after that he disappeared in the deep forest.” “He?” I asked, bewildered because all the while I thought it was Elara who had betrayed us. He raised his eyebrow as he nodded tightly. “Why?” I shook my head. Who was I to accuse Elara of something as massive as this when I didn’t have any evidence. “I— It’s just… nothing.” Darius didn’t push me further. “I want you to stay here for two more days, just to be sure that everything is okay before we return.” “But do you think Rowan is going to stop after this?” “No,” he sighed. “His warriors have retreated for now, but I’m sure that he will come with even a bigger force along with his mentor nex
Liana POV I took a step toward her and in a firm voice said, “I need you to leave, Elara. And I’m done with your bullshit.” She shook her head like a stubborn ass. “I know where your confidence has come from. Just because Alpha Darius has invited you to stay in his room, don’t think that you can stay here forever. This is my place and I will be the owner of his bed.” “Oh, so now you are saying that he invited me?” I chuckled. “Earlier you said that I forced myself in. Decide, Elara, decide,” I replied with sweetness. She seethed. “Fuck you!” “No. Fuck you! Don’t come back to speak with me ever again because I feel—” I assessed my words. “No. Because I know that you somehow tipped Rowan about my presence in the Midnight Claw pack.” Elara’s lips thinned into a straight line. For a moment, it seemed like she might lash out, but she sneered. “You’re bold for someone who will leave soon,” she said. “How dare you accuse me of something this big without evidence? I am a loyal pack memb
Liana POV In the evening when I was looking at the map on which several pack territories were marked, I couldn’t help but feel an unease rising inside me. It was like something was about to happen. Maybe it was my anxiety and how Rowan called Darius, but my wolf was practically growling inside me, feeling restless. She wanted to come out and run to spend her energy. I couldn’t blame her. She was an alpha wolf. Darius had gone to meet some warriors who were patrolling the borders. After the attack from Rowan, he had increased patrolling. He returned an hour later, and I discussed with him the points on the map which I felt were vulnerable. Just as we were in the midst of a strategic discussion, Kaden stepped inside, his expression grim. “Alpha Darius, we have a situation,” he said.“What is it?” Darius asked, in a clipped voice.Kaden glanced at me before answering. “Rowan’s sent a group of warriors. They’re outside the northern border. And they are demanding Liana’s return.”My hear
Liana POVThe loud boom shook the pack grounds, making my heart leap to my throat. I stumbled, clutching Darius for support, as the walls shook.“What was that?” I gasped, rushing inside the pack’s gate. Kaden ran before us, and so did the warriors. A few of them formed a circle around us for protection. “It’s Nero’s house!” Kaden shouted, looking at a message on his phone. “The explosion took place in his house!” A chill ran down my spine. How did Nero’s house explode? When we neared his house, we noticed how smoke billowed from his house. People screamed, running in all directions. My chest tightened in fear as I scanned the chaos.“Liana!” Darius’s voice boomed behind me. I turned to see him striding toward me. His eyes were sharp and filled with urgency.“An explosion,” I said, pointing to the thick cloud of smoke. “Who could’ve done this?” He nodded grimly. “I want you to go back home. It is just too dangerous here.” “What? No!” I retorted. “I will stay here and help.” A l
Liana POV “Father,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. He called me after so many days and this was how he started the conversation. He was such a cold-hearted, cruel wolf, who knew how to make his near and dear ones feel unwanted. “How are you?” I asked, my voice trembling despite my effort to sound strong. “My daughter defied my order and ran to my enemy. What do you expect, Liana?” he scoffed. “No one sane would let their daughter be marked by that demon!” I retorted. “You knew he had killed she-wolves for his entertainment, and yet you forced me to be marked by him. So dear Alpha Victor, tell me, what do you want?” I asked as rage bubbled inside me, replacing my fear. After a pause, he chuckled, a cold, menacing sound. “It’s simple, really. Return to Rowan’s pack, or face the consequences.”My stomach twisted into knots, and I glanced at Darius, who was watching me intently. “I’m not going back,” I said, my voice firm. “Do you realize I am the only person who is blood re
Liana POVI found Elara in her room, sitting propped up on the pillows on her bed. She was reading a letter, and she flinched when I stepped inside, immediately hiding the letter behind her. “Elara?” I said cautiously.Her gaze snapped to mine, filled with anger and something else—fear? “What do you want?” she snapped in a sharp voice. “I just wanted to see if you’re okay,” I replied, trying to keep my tone gentle.“If you’ve come to show me your fake concern, then I don’t need your pity,” she spat. “Infact, by coming here, you can't hide what you are doing. I know what you’re doing.”I frowned. “What are you talking about?”Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t play dumb, Liana. This explosion? It’s all too convenient. You’ve been here for weeks, stirring up trouble. Maybe this was your way of taking over the pack.”“What the fuck do you mean?” I asked, rage bubbling in my chest. Why did I come to see her? “I mean, isn’t it clear that it was you behind the explosion.”My jaw dropped. “You th
Liana POVKaden’s words hung in the air like a heavy storm cloud.When Darius disconnected the call, I couldn’t help but stare at the phone. “A case?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. My heart thudded in my chest as panic settled in my bones.Darius’s jaw tightened as he glanced at me. “Yes,” he said in a low voice, taking a step away from me. He stabbed his fingers in his hair and I could feel his frustration through the bond.“This is absurd,” I blurted, pushing myself off the door. “How can Rowan claim I’m being held against my will? I mean just yesterday his gamma came to meet us. Did he give him an unfavorable report? And the Council is listening to him?!”“It’s Rowan,” Darius replied grimly. “He knows how to twist the truth to suit his needs. He’s trying to make me look like the villain.”I clenched my fists, my anger bubbling over. “Maybe I should talk to my father. He might—”“No,” Darius cut in sharply, his eyes blazing. “You won’t contact him.”“Why not?” I asked
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