~ Luciana's POV~In the dim moonlight, Luciana found herself deep within a dense forest, surrounded by towering trees that seemed to reach up to the sky. The moon's gentle glow managed to seep through the thick foliage, creating a mystical atmosphere. As she darted through the trees, the silver light danced upon the ground, casting eerie, shifting shadows that played tricks on her eyes.Her heart pounded in her chest, pounding like the bass of her favorite song at full volume. With every step she took, the sound of her own rushing footsteps reverberated in her ears, a constant reminder of her urgent mission. The air felt heavy and thick, making it hard for her lungs to fill with oxygen. Her breaths came in short bursts, as if she was blowing out candles on a birthday cake, desperately trying to catch her breath in between.Sweat poured down her forehead, dripping onto her eyelashes, creating an annoying sting that made her want to rub her eyes. But there was no time for that. She had
Luciana's POV"He really doesn't care... I mean, for him to invite me to his mating ceremony after having two mates already... the guy has absolutely no Shame," Alister scoffed.Reed had actually extended a personal invitation to Alister for his upcoming mating ceremony? The shocking revelation instantly filled her with a wave of anxiety, causing her chest to tighten as she grappled with the implications of this newfound information.She had the letter currently hidden in the deepest parts of her closet, so how was that even possible. How did he find out about the invitation.A whirlwind of emotions engulfed her, a mix of fear, worry, and a hint of anger. Her throat felt constricted, making it difficult to steady her shaky breaths.Luciana fought to regain control over her emotions, brushing away a stray tear that rolled down her cheek. She refused to shed tears over Reed. "Wait a minute! He invited you personally?" Elijah questioned."Yeah... though I guess I can still decline since
~ Alister's POV~As Luciana joined the group, Alister sensed that trouble was brewing. He observed the reactions of the other pack members gathered there. For most of them, it was their first time seeing Luciana in her wolf form, and they likely didn't realize that she was their Luna. However, just as he had experienced the first time he witnessed her valiantly fighting off a pack of wolves, they too were captivated by her stunning white fur and became instantly intrigued. It ignited a twinge of jealousy within him.Alister let out a deep growl, demanding their attention. Typically, he would deliver a lengthy speech before each run, but this time, he decided to keep it brief. The eager wolves were already itching to venture into the woods."Try to avoid getting yourselves seriously injured out there. Keep control over your wolves and remember that the wolf beside you is your pack mate! And not your competitor," he thundered, his voice carrying authority and warning. He watched as the
Alister's POV"She's your mate..." Elijah's voice carried a resigned tone, acknowledging the difficult position Alister was in."...you think I don't know that! I can't do anything!..." Alister's frustration spilled out in his words, his anger mixing with a sense of helplessness."Alister... the pack would understand..." Elijah pleaded, attempting to offer solace.Alister shook his head, aware of the understanding his fellow warriors might possess. They would comprehend his need to protect his mate, but they would also recognize that he was willing to defy every pack rule for her, and that could breed resentment towards her."She can handle herself in a fight..." Alister insisted, a glimmer of hope in his voice."Against Ava?" Elijah snorted, a hint of skepticism in his tone."...she said so herself. You saw the determination in her earlier, didn't you?... Believe that she can do this... believe in the possibility of a miracle..." Alister shared his conviction with Elijah, who blinked
~ Elijah's POV~Elijah observed as Ava hobbled her way into her house, her injured leg causing her visible discomfort. He let out a sigh, noticing how she brushed off her mate's attempt to assist her. Frustration etched across her mate's face, causing him to stomp off into the kitchen, muttering disgruntled words under his breath.Ava continued her limping journey, making her way into the house and collapsing onto the couch in the living room. It was as if she didn't even acknowledge Elijah's presence, her eyes shutting as she leaned her head against the back of the couch.Elijah stood there, his arms crossed over his chest, silently observing the scene unfold. Meanwhile, Ava's mate emerged from the kitchen, carrying an ice pack. He walked over to where Ava was and gently placed it on her bruised leg.To Elijah's surprise, Ava swiftly kicked the ice pack away, her voice barely audible as she muttered, "Leave me alone." Her eyes remained closed, shutting herself off from the outside wo
~ Luciana's POV~Luciana slowly regained consciousness, feeling a small hand gently holding hers. For a moment, she wondered if she had entered another realm, perhaps the intense fight with Ava had sent her to the world beyond. However, as she caught Omar's familiar scent, she realized she was still alive.She opened her eyes slowly, wincing as her body throbbed with pain. But the sight of Omar's bright smile instantly brought comfort to her. His concern was evident in his uncertain gaze."Hey, Omar," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath."Are you okay?" Omar asked, his young eyes filled with worry.Luciana nodded, mustering a smile. "Yes, I am," she reassured him, glancing around the room. A wave of relief washed over her as she recognized her surroundings. She was in her own room, which meant Alister must have carried her home. It was a clear indication that the fight had ended without any fatal consequences.However, she couldn't help but wonder how Ava was doing. The la
~ Alister's POV~Alister was in the middle of tidying up the messy boys' bathroom when his phone suddenly rang. Startled, he answered the call, not expecting who would be on the other end. He had been goofing around with the kids in the bathtub, and things had gotten a bit out of hand. Water splashed everywhere, and soapy bubbles filled the bathroom. He knew Luciana would be furious if she found the bathroom in that state, so he was trying to clean up quickly.After witnessing Luciana's intense fight with Ava, he didn't want to add any more stress to her plate. She was putting on a brave face, but he could sense that the fight had shaken her. Nonetheless, he couldn't ignore the phone call."Hello?" he blurted out, curious and slightly apprehensive about the person on the other end of the line."Alpha, Elder Wilson has just arrived at the pack," the person on the other end of the line informed him.Alister's eyes widened in surprise. "What? When did he get here?" he asked, trying to g
Alister’s POVAs they settled inside the house, Alister guided Wilson to the living area while Luciana excused herself to the kitchen. The atmosphere was filled with laughter as Wilson engaged with the boys. Suddenly, he raised his head and inquired, "Where's Elijah?"Ophelia scoffed playfully, "Oh, I've already sent someone to find him. He'll be in for a big surprise," she shared with a mischievous smile.Wilson nodded in understanding, eagerly awaiting Elijah's arrival. However, before he could dwell on it further, Omar blurted out a question that had been on his mind, "If you're an Elder, does that mean you'll take me to the council?"Wilson's expression softened as he turned his attention to Omar. "Have you seen yourself at the council?" he asked, seeking to understand the source of Omar's curiosity.Alister held his breath, anxious to hear Wilson's response. During their previous conversation, Wilson had mentioned that he would assess the boys during his visit to determine the b
I year later The wind blew again, this time stronger than the first. Alister adjusted the thick fur cloak on Luciana’s shoulders and smiled as she buried her head in the crook of his arms. In her condition, she wasn’t supposed to be there but she was as stubborn as him. “Do you think she’s looking down on us and regretting what she did?" Luciana mumbled. Alister sighed; he knew that Ophelia regretted what she did and that was why she had killed herself, but he didn't know whether she had found peace in the afterlife. “I hope she found peace after all”, he mumbled. “ I miss her…the kids too” Luciana said. Alister nodded. He wouldn’t admit it, but he also missed her. He had forgiven her for what she did and would have loved it if Ophelia knew that she was forgiven. They stayed that way for a while before someone cleared their throat behind them. He knew who it was even before he turned to face the person. Elijah was standing there with a white rose in his hands, Ophelia’s favorit
Alister’s POVThe fight is in full force, and so far, the Black Moon pack seems to be holding their own. He looked around the fighting ground once again and couldn’t spot his uncle Helster. He knew his uncle’s wolf by now. If Helster’s wolf wasn’t on the battlefield, then where was he?A rogue charged at him, and he pounced on the wolf, tearing its spine away from its body and killing it instantly. The more Rogues they fight and kill, the more additional Rogues charge out of the woods.He saw Elijah finishing off another rogue, and his mind linked to him.“Helster is not here; why?”Elijah turned around and shifted into his human form. He ran back to where Alister was standing, already shifted into his human form.“I wouldn't want to believe that he’s hiding." Alister said.Elijah shook his head and said, “He wants the pack; he’s not hiding. I think he wants to sneak into the pack from another border. Catch us unawares." he said.Just then, as Alister wanted to respond, Peter’s
Luciana’s POVElder Haruto is dead. Wilson had said to her last night after he had returned to his house. He was now the head of the council and would preside over their case. She felt relieved that things were indeed working in their favor.Luciana shifted in her chair. She was waiting for their case to be called, like every other person who was there. She looked around, trying to see if Alpha Reed was already there, but she didn’t see him.Maybe it was a good thing that they would meet inside and not out in the open, she didn't know if she could control herself if she saw him out there in the open.“Black Velvet Pack!" a werewolf standing by the door called.She saw an Alpha stand up and walk into the room where the hearing was being held. Their case was the next one; she had seen the order earlier when Wilson had spoken to her.She pulled the folder out and held it firmly on her lap. The future of their pack depended on her, and as much as she had been the one who had caused all th
Alister’s POVIt was hard. Knowing that his mate was somewhere in the council, doing what he was supposed to be doing, was hard. It had been hard letting her go, and even now, he had to restrict himself from entering a car and driving to the council." Daddy… I want to pee." Keita said, tapping his leg.Alister rolled his eyes, looking down at the boy. “You just did that like five minutes ago”, he mumbled.Keita frowned. “I know, but I still want to go. Mom would be upset if I peed on myself,” he said, pouting his lips.Alister shook his head. Either Keita was missing his mother and didn’t know how to communicate his feelings, or he was trying to be difficult and frustrate him. He suspected it was both.“Fine, let’s go”, he said, picking Keita up. The moment he moved to leave, Omar jumped up from the chair and followed them. Alister sighed. It was going to be hard trying to pull Omar away from him when the time came to defend the pack, and Luciana was not yet back.Thankfully, the re
Reed’s POVReed arrived at the council the next morning. He could feel his victory, and that gave him the confidence to enter the council building. He still had time before the hearing, so he decided to pay a visit to Veronica, his mother.Her office was not far from the academy. He climbed the stairs and walked down the hallway until he got to her door.He knocked twice and waited for her response before pushing the door open and entering the small office. His mother was sitting behind her desk, and she looked like she had never aged since he last saw her.Veronica lifted her head and the surprise on her face was obvious. He didn't blame her for being shocked at him standing in her office; he too would be shocked if he were in her position.Growing up, they never had the best mother-son relationship. She was more like a figure who was just there beside his father. He hated her for that—for not loving him like every other mother loved their children.She pulled the glasses off her fac
Luciana’s POVLuciana closed the zipper of her luggage with a sigh. She was ready to leave, but her heart couldn’t bear to see them all as she was leaving. She could hear the different voices gathered in her living room to bid her goodbye.She sighed and dragged her luggage out of the room, walking down the stairs.“Oh Lucia." Ophelia mumbled, coming up to her to envelope her in a huge hug. Luciana buried herself in the hug.It wasn’t that she was going away from the council for long. Hell, she was just going to be gone for two or three days, so she didn't understand why they were all acting like she was going to be gone for a year.“Take care of yourself and my boys,” she muttered close to Ophelia’s ears.Ophelia nodded her head and released her. “I will. Stay safe,” she said, taking the luggage from Luciana and carrying it outside towards the waiting car.Alister was the next one to come up to her. He was holding Omar, who had refused to let him go and was clinging to him.“You can
Reed’s POVReed was restless. That was the only word sufficient to describe his state of mind and how he was feeling right now. He hated when things were not within his control.He sighed, dragging his fingers through his hair for the umpteenth time as he paced in front of his desk. A few more days and he would get his heart's desire—the land he had desired for years—and even though it was now within reach, he hated the fact that it was not within his control.Helster was coordinating everything, and the rogue Alpha had warned him to stay put until he gave the command.He checked the time, and as if in sync, someone knocked on his door. He took a deep breath and waited.“ Come in," he answered.The door opened, and a man entered his office, closing the door behind him. Just the person he had been waiting for.“You're late…" Reed fired.The man sighed. “I'm sorry, Alpha, it took a great deal of trying to navigate my way to your pack and to avoid being noticed,” he replied.Reed rolled
Luciana's POVShe recoiled in shock. Even though there was a possibility that Alister must have told Elijah about Alpha Reed, she didn’t think he would tell Elijah about Keita’s real father too.Elijah shook his head and said, “I deduced it myself. Don’t think Alister told me. The day Alpha Reed visited the pack, on his way out, he bumped into Keita,” he said.Luciana felt her heart race as her breath hitched. What? Alpha Reed had met Keita. No one told her that. She felt angry that she had not been there to protect Keita from the Alpha.A different kind of fear enveloped her as she thought of Alpha Reed discovering Keita's true identity. He wouldn’t have noticed that Keita was his son, right? She looked at Elijah, noticing now that her eyes were blurry.“He didn't...” she started to ask, but Elijah reassured her by shaking his head."no, I didn't let him touch Keita. However, he noticed how their scents were familiar. Everything started to make sense then. why you would hide the lett
Luciana’s POVIt was at the break of dawn when Luciana left her home in search of the one person who could help her achieve her goal. She had not bothered discussing her decision with Alister that morning; she already knew what he was going to say to her.She was not surprised when she entered the office building and saw people already on the ground floor. They were preparing for an attack, and everyone was on alert.She strolled up the stairs to the alpha’s office floor and gently closed the gap between Alister’s office and Elijah’s office. She could see light coming out from under Elijah’s door and knew immediately that the beta was around.Luciana gently knocked on the door, and when she heard a grunted reply, she turned the handle and entered the office.Elijah was currently sitting behind his desk and had not looked up at her since she entered. She walked over to the front of his desk and stood there. When it was clear that he was busy with what he was doing, she cleared her thro