VIOLET POV Darkness.Darkness was all I could see, with people yelling, my father's voice, and the crowd erupting.I'm being held by something.No, someone.The liquid didn't stop burning-no, as a matter of fact, it seemed to have extended all through my body.Aria was whimpering. She was moving. I could hear her in my head."What's this drink?" she whimpered.I could barely answer. Her movement, plus the liquid's movement, was more like pain after pain."Violet, I'm trying to hold this... I'm trying... It's making me want to do things. Things... Violet. Fuck! I can't hold this anymore..."A ragged breath left me as my heart slammed against my ribs.Her voice gave a sharp cry, a sharp howl. A breathless gasp left me.My heart thudded heavily, my head was a haze. But I could still see darkness.A golden mist began to form.Chandeliers rattled, glasses shattered, and even the person holding me let go.Suddenly, my eyes were open and everything went to hell, my entire body was on fire..
VIOLET POV Darkness.Darkness was all I could see, with people yelling, my father's voice, and the crowd erupting.I'm being held by something.No, someone.The liquid didn't stop burning-no, as a matter of fact, it seemed to have extended all through my body.Aria was whimpering. She was moving. I could hear her in my head."What's this drink?" she whimpered.I could barely answer. Her movement, plus the liquid's movement, was more like pain after pain."Violet, I'm trying to hold this... I'm trying... It's making me want to do things. Things... Violet. Fuck! I can't hold this anymore..."A ragged breath left me as my heart slammed against my ribs.Her voice gave a sharp cry, a sharp howl. A breathless gasp left me.My heart thudded heavily, my head was a haze. But I could still see darkness.A golden mist began to form.Chandeliers rattled, glasses shattered, and even the person holding me let go.Suddenly, my eyes were open and everything went to hell, my entire body was on fire..
VIOLET POV "The drink," I repeated, knowing full well that I had started feeling the liquid's movement immediately after taking a sip."You know what? Just rest. I'll have someone attend to you. I need to take care of this," my dad said, referring to the chaos outside.I nodded, my heart still pounding frantically. I was trying-desperately-to process what he had just revealed. The fact that I was a Valenwood.I was really hoping it would all make sense. No matter how hard I tried to piece the chessboard together, I couldn't.I have the purest form of power? Let all of this make sense. I'm trying to process the fact that I was practically standing on that gala podium, and everyone was bowing to me. The chandelier was shaking for me.I'm trying to process all of this.Could this be a fucking dream? And if it is, when will I wake up from it and snap back to the real world?I'm fucking livid. Fucking pissed at everything. Why does everything suddenly have to be so damn dramatic?A few mi
ADRIAN POV You know that restless feeling when you've committed a crime so deep, yet all you can do is watch and try to explain-but no one listens? That was me. I tried. Every fucking time. Every fucking day, I reached out to Violet. Calls, text messages... None of it fucking worked.And when I couldn't bear the guilt and the waiting any longer, I showed up at her house. Same fucking story. She wouldn't see me. Her father made damn sure of that.But I didn't stop. I kept pushing. Kept fighting. Kept hanging around.Ares had been a mess. I had been a fucking mess. These days without her were hell. Sleep wasn't peaceful anymore-it was a haunting reminder of the way she used to lay close to us, how I'd inhale her scent like it was the only air I needed.Fuck. Fuck. Fuck and Fuck. I've messed up, a thousand times, a fucking million times. Is it too late to repair all the damges.I wish she could give me the chance to redeemy mistake. If only she could give me one more shot at second chan
VIOLET'S POVI'm not sane. How could I be?First, the drink. Then, the dream. And now... Lunarbane?What in the name of the Moon Goddess was all this?My eyes follow my father as he steps out, shutting the door behind him. The room falls silent again, and I'm back to staring at the ceiling, my mind spinning with thoughts I can't seem to grasp.A knock on the door startles me, pulling me out of my daze. Before I can respond, Adrian walks in. His face is tight with worry, his sharp eyes scanning me as if searching for any sign of injury. When he exhales in relief, I almost laugh."Are you alright?" he asks, his voice laced with concern. The same question my father had asked me.I glare at him. I want to scream at him to leave me alone, to stop acting like he cares. But no words come out. Because deep down, a traitorous part of me does want his comfort. I want to rely on his shoulder, just for a moment.But for how long?How long can I pretend he doesn't have a wife waiting for him at ho
Violet POV Mason.Alpha Mason strode into my room like he owned the damn place. Not even a knock. The sheer audacity.He didn't turn back despite seeing the position Adrian and I were in. Instead, he closed the door behind him and took steady strides toward us, the sound of his boots heavy against the floor.His gaze locked onto Adrian-those killer eyes, sharp and unyielding, speaking volumes about their enmity.I could only wonder what he came here for.I wanted to speak up, but he beat me to it."We need to talk," he said, his voice calmer than usual. His gaze softened slightly when it landed on me.I wanted to tell him to leave, but I needed to hear him out. As much as I craved peace and rest, I couldn't ignore him.His gaze flicked to Adrian, then back to me, his expression unreadable-except for that look. The one that silently questioned whether Adrian knew about my pregnancy. About Harry. Of course, Adrian didn't know Harry existed. All he knew was that I was carrying a child.
Adrian POV A gala. A fucking gala. The Moon Goddess knew I couldn't contain my excitement when I received the invitation to Violet's gala.Ares gave a howl of joy. My heart was beating frantically, and you should have seen the way I smiled-like a child being given candy. I mean, this was my fucking breakthrough. My way out of this entire mess.I just hope she listens to me again. I just hope she gives us a chance again.Because the Moon Goddess knows that we fucking miss her. That we want to hold her in our arms again.Staring at my wardrobe, I scanned through for a decent outfit. I mean, it's not every day I get invited to a Valenwood gala event-where several elite Alphas, Lycans, and hybrids would be attending. And it's not like I want to make an impression.But of course, not when I have our girl to steal.I dressed in a stunning suit, paired with shiny shoes. My hair was already on point.I got Reynold, and we left.Lest I forget, Emily had already signed the divorce papers, and-
Violet POV We were all at the crime scene-Adrian, Mason, Reynold, and me. Well, I hadn't intended to get out of bed... but a part of me felt like I needed to be there. Aria felt that too. We needed to be there."The Heir must die?" The words keep echoing in my head. Am I that heir? Where's all this going? I'm trying to place all these pieces together, to unravel this mystery.Staring at the victimized body, my own body suddenly goes pale. My hands are clammy, shaking. I mean, this is the first time I've seen a dead person. The body is brutalized in an unnatural way-deep claw marks, but no blood, as if something drained the victim dry.I run a weary hand through my hair as I observe each feature of the mark engraved so deeply on the skin.My stomach churns with fury. Aria's growl comes slowly.She does this whenever she is damn furious. My gaze sweeps to Adrian and Mason; they have the same terrified look on their faces.Am I terrified? No. As a matter of fact, what I'm seeing feels l
Violet POV I wake up feeling sore but utterly satisfied. My body aches with the remnants of last night, Adrian's touch still lingering on my skin. A soft smile tugs at my lips as I stretch, expecting to feel his warmth beside me. But when I turn, the bed is empty.Frowning, I sit up, wrapping the sheets around me. Where did he go?Before I can call out for him, the door creaks open.Adrian steps in, dressed in only sweatpants, his toned chest bare, his dark hair still damp from a shower. But what catches my attention is the small velvet box in his hands.My breath hitches.He walks toward me with that confident stride, his piercing eyes locking onto mine. My heart starts hammering in my chest."Adrian?" My voice is barely above a whisper.He stops in front of me, and without a second's hesitation, he sinks down to one knee.I gasp, my hand flying to my mouth."Violet," he begins, his voice steady but thick with emotion. "From the moment you came into my life, you've been my greatest
Violet's POVI barely have a moment to catch my breath before Adrian lifts me into his arms, his grip strong and possessive. My body is still trembling, my mind hazy from the pleasure he just wrung out of me, but the hunger in his eyes tells me he's far from done."We're not finished," he growls, his voice thick with desire.I shudder at the dark promise in his tone.Adrian strides out of the pool, his muscles flexing with each determined step. Water drips from his body, soaking me in the process, but I don't care. My fingers tangle in his damp hair, my lips pressing against the curve of his jaw, his neck. I can't get enough of him.His grip tightens around me as he carries me through the pack house, ignoring the startled glances from a few passing pack members. My cheeks burn, but Adrian doesn't slow down. His focus is solely on me-on us.By the time we reach his room, my arousal is pulsing all over again. He kicks the door shut behind him, then pins me against it.His lips crash aga
ADRIAN POV I pulled my finger out from her already wet dripping pussy, and she squirms.My cock aches, hard and pulsing, but I hold back, watching her beneath me. Violet is trembling, her breath coming out in soft, desperate gasps as she squirms against the wall."You enjoy teasing me, don't you?" I murmur, dragging my lips down her throat, my teeth grazing her pulse. Her body shudders, her nails digging into my shoulders."Adrian..." she breathes, her voice laced with frustration.I chuckle darkly. "No, sweetheart. You don't get to say my name like that-not after the hell you put me through."She glares at me, her stubbornness flashing in those beautiful eyes, but the desperation in them is unmistakable. She wants this. She needs this.I press my knee between her thighs, spreading her legs wider, feeling the heat radiating from her core. My fingers glide down her stomach, teasing the waistband of her shorts."I can smell you, Violet," I whisper, my fingers just barely ghosting over
ADRIAN POV The Rogue Alpha had stopped screaming a while ago. Now, he only groaned, barely clinging to consciousness as his severed fingers lay discarded on the cold floor. Blood pooled beneath him, I barely noticed.I crouched in front of him, gripping his chin and forcing his head up. His swollen, bloodshot eyes struggled to focus on me."I told you," I murmured, my voice eerily calm. "You were going to die a slow, painful death."His lips curled into a weak, mocking smirk. "Just kill me already,?" His breath hitched, his body convulsing from the pain.I narrowed my eyes, my grip tightening painfully. "You're already dead. It's just a matter of when."He let out a hoarse chuckle, but I was done listening. My fist connected with his jaw, the crack of bone satisfying as his body slumped forward.Without another glance, I turned and walked out of the dungeon, slamming the door behind me.The cool evening breeze was exactly what I needed to cool the heat Of battle still pulsing through
VIOLET POV The moment I open my eyes, my first thought goes to Adrian-the mate mark on my neck burning like a reminder.His voice reaches me, low and desperate, as he sits beside my bed, repeating over and over again, "Sit up. Don't die on me."It aches... watching him suffer, knowing his mate, the one he stood beside, waiting so patiently to wake up, didn't even recognize him.The Shadow Alpha... I'm glad he's beaten down. But why am I doing this? Honestly, I don't even know. The plan I made was half-baked, driven by instinct more than logic.But Mason? He's sharp enough to see right through me. He knows I'm just pranking him."You enjoy needling him, don't you?" Mason asks the moment Adrian storms out of the room, his heavy footsteps echoing down the hallway.I turn to look at him, the laughter I'd been holding back finally breaking free. "Did you see his face?" I chuckle, shaking my head. "He looked like he was ready to rip your throat out."Mason grins, lounging back against the
Adrian POV Three days.Three fucking days.But it doesn't feel like just three days of agony. It feels like a lifetime. Like I'm drowning in slow motion, gasping for air while the world watches and does nothing.Harry's been calling me Daddy like he's afraid I'll disappear if he stops. He's been jumping around, tugging at my hand, showing me drawings he made in the hospital's playroom. He even drew one of Violet, him, and me. A perfect little family, all smiles and holding hands.But that's a fucking lie.Because Violet had to pretend.After the doctors explained everything-her memory loss, the gaps in her mind that swallowed me whole-she agreed to go along with the truth for Harry's sake. Not mine. Just Harry's."Daddy, look! I made another one!" Harry beams, holding up a messy drawing of us with stick arms and lopsided smiles. "This is you, Mommy, and me! We're fighting bad guys together!"I force a smile. It feels fake. Stiff."That's awesome, buddy," I say, ruffling his dark hair
ADRIAN POV "Violet, I love you. And I promise to make everything right. Just give me this chance and come back... please." My bears frantically as I say these words. Ares is clawing right at me. It's another day of saying the same words, over and over again.I've battled demons that won't let me sleep. Nightmares. Guilt. Regret. But I refuse to break."I won't give up. No, I can't give up," I mutter, gripping her cold, lifeless hand like it's the only thing keeping me grounded.My body tingles from the contact, the familiar warmth of her skin, even in its fragile state. I miss her, we missed her. Ares and I. Her smiles... How her eyes sparkles... How she looks when she's angry and wants to deliver a warning. The soft looks of her eyes. I fucking miss all of it and more."Sweetheart, please," I whisper, brushing a loose strand of hair from her pale face. "Harry misses you so much. He won't stop talking about everything you taught him-the nasty tricks, too. Like how you'd seize his
Adrian POV It's been two days, and I haven't moved an inch away from where Violet lay. She was all I fucking had.I almost lost her. She almost died. I felt her die."Alpha, you need to rest," Reynold's voice cuts through the silence that was existing I'm the room. I turn my head slowly, blinking at him.Rest? That's an understatement. I don't want to move. I want to sit here, watch her breathe, and make sure her chest rises and falls every goddamn second.The doctor says she's in a coma and will need a few days to recover. I want to be the first person she sees when her eyes flutter open. The first person she calls. The first person to watch her smile again, bright and alive.No. I can't. I won't move from here."What about Alpha Valenwood?" I ask, voice hoarse from hours of silence. He'd checked up on her and had been staying in my pack house ever since."He's still there, bonding with Harry," Reynold reports, his gaze softening. "Speaking of Harry... he hasn't touched a bite of fo
Adrian POV Ares growls inside me, restless and furious. We're holding our mate in our arms, but she's lifeless. Whatever the fucker injected into that syringe had done its job, and now Violet's life is slipping through my fingers. He won't die easily. Not after this."Reynold," I mind-link, voice sharp as steel. "Capture that bastard. I want him rotting in the pack dungeon. No one touches him but me.""Understood, Alpha," Reynold replies, his tone matching my rage.By the time I storm into my pack's hospital, Violet's body cradled against my chest, everyone freezes. Gasps echo through the hallway, but I don't care. My only prayer is that Harry's still indoors, far from witnessing this nightmare."Alpha!" Dr. Lee rushes toward me, eyes wide."Get to fucking work! She's losing breath. She's dying, Lee! Do something!" My voice cracks as I lay her on the bed, the same damn bed I once bled out on.Dr. Lee doesn't waste a second. He mutters commands, nurses scrambling around like clockwork