Catherine's POV I felt as though I were imprisoned in some sort of hallucination as everyone around me began to blur. The news that Philip had wed another person came as a shock to me. Everything he told me was so unbelievable."My new wife." My heart wrenched as I heard the words again in my head. My system took a tremendous jolt from it, and I was experiencing uncontrollable emotional outbursts. The man I had been searching for with all of my heart and thoughts would provide me with answers and closure had not only walked away from me but had also started a fresh home.I walked out of the area because I couldn't stand to be around Philip and Lizzie, who had become his new wife. My chest was in anguish, and my mind was racing. How would he have treated me like this?I quickly went back to my new room, where Rose was waiting for me. I was unable to remain in that house any longer due to the rage, hurt, and humiliation that were coursing through me. I had to get away from the unpleasa
Catherine’s POVMy life had been a mess. It started from my childhood when I discovered my wolf-less form. I became ridiculed by everybody in the pack, including my parents. So, I felt useless because of that. I then decided to show them how important I could be by taking my sister’s place as Philip’s wife. That was the biggest mistake I had made in my all life. There I was trying to be the best of myself had landed me in a worse situation. I had been humiliated all my life, but Philip had shown me the highest of them all. I wondered how I finally ended up in that kind of situation.After I argued with Philip I had no other choice but to fall into his trap. Trapped as a surrogate mother, who had given up her dignity just to be with her daughter. Philip left me in a situation where I couldn’t make my own decisions. I finally decided to stay and protect my daughter from anyone who might want to harm her. It was Saturday evening and I had been trying so hard to avoid dining at the same
Lizzie's POV It was a cool evening, so I briefly took my bath and prepared to have my dinner with Philip. So after I came out of the shower. I went straight to the mirror in the room while I tied myself with a white towel. I needed to dry my hair so I looked for my hair dryer. When I found it I quickly dried up my hair. I applied some of my skin oil on my face after I had dressed up ready to move downstairs for my dinner. So as I step outside the room to the hallway leading to the stairs. I heard faint cries coming from Catherine's room. Catherine and I haven't been able to have a nice conversation ever since she joined the family. I knew Philip and Catherine had some complicated past. But I knew I was the right mate for Philip knowing fully well he had married at his family's request. So we got married after he left Catherine. Now he needs to take care of his child and I'm fully ready to help him. The cries I heard were Ana's voice, I noticed a web of concern wash over me while I w
Philip's POVAfter I came back from the office, I decided to dine with Catherine. I noticed she had been avoiding me lately, so I decided to spend a little time with her by eating close to her. Eating next to Catherine was like fighting on a battlefield. I noticed she never welcomed my presence which I sensed was because of the past we had together. She felt uncomfortable having me next to her and she did everything possible to make me notice that. conversations were not interesting due to the cold response I got from her. While we were still eating though she was almost done with her meal before we heard Ana's cry. So as soon as I was about to tell them about what I had heard she stood up immediately and headed to the room. Rose stood up immediately and followed her leaving me alone on the big dining table. As continued eating my food with a feeling that Catherine had gone to take of the crying child. A few moments after Catherine left I lost my appetite so I decided to go upstairs
Catherine's POV The mood in the room with Anastasia and Rose after a few minutes of Lizzie's departure remained strained while I sat there. I still vividly recall seeing Lizzie carrying Ana, and the anxiety surrounding the circumstance weighed hard on me. I prepared myself for the talk that Philip would have with me about what had happened since I knew Lizzie would probably tell him about our encounter.The door swung open loudly and abruptly not long after I thought of Philip. Philip came inside the room. Looking at his face I noticed an expression of frustration and rage written all over his face. He walked towards me with determined, heavy-footed strides while keeping his eyes on me."Hey Catherine, what have you done to Lizzie?" He asked an edge of wrath in his voice. "She is angry and refuses to talk to me. And I think it has something to do with you. So tell me, what did you do to her."I gave him a chilly expression and met his eyes with a fixed, unyielding stare. I answered
Lizzie's POV I became increasingly uncomfortable with Catherine's presence as time went on. My last encounter with her was the only nightmare I had any time I closed my eyes. I couldn't help but feel as though Catherine was the reason why our family was under assault. I had first welcomed her into our house because Ana was Philip's kid and we both had parental responsibilities for her. My early kindness, nevertheless, had given way to a never-ending remorse.Although I was aware of Catherine's status as Ana's mother, there was obviously no more to it than that. It was the covert ways that she had influenced each aspect of our life. She served as a continual reminder of their past, and I understood I would never replace the bond she shared with Philip.Even though Ana played a huge role in our life, my affection for Philip and readiness to be Philip's supporter had been my original inspirations. Because of Ana, I had come to terms with the fact that Catherine was always going to be a
Catherine's POV The unspoken hostility between Lizzie and I had gotten worse as the family issue grew worse. Every conversation seemed like a possible conflict because of the tension I could sense in the air.Lizzie appeared to be making every effort to establish her supremacy inside the household. She started publicly criticizing my presence and raising issues with my conduct. She was getting into increasingly heated and regular altercations.We were all seated in the living room one evening when Lizzie decided to go a step further. She purposefully broached the subject of family issues knowing fully well that I would get sucked into it. She was trying my limits, therefore it wasn't a coincidence that she chose that subject.I could see Lizzie was trying to capture me as the talk went on. She questioned my ideas, mocked my solutions, and exposed my purported flaws. Her hatred was unavoidable, and every word she spoke was sharp like a blade.I made an effort to maintain my composure
Catherine's POV One afternoon, I was quietly looking over some packed paperwork in my bedroom when I heard a gentle knock at the door. I dropped the documents I was examining out of surprise and yelled, "Yes? Come in."One of the servants, Kent, pushed the door open and walked in with a kind grin. "Please forgive me for interfering with it," she responded with respect, "well, Alpha Philip had arranged a family meeting in the house and he said you should be there."As I heard what the servant said I had a wave of curiosity and discomfort. Family gathering? Given the recent tension in our home and the rarity of the event, I was forced to consider if Philip planned to address and tackle the problem we were currently facing, that he made a huge decision to assemble the family, and I realized it.I answered, "Thank you, Keith. I'll be down there soon."As he exited the room, he shut the door behind him as she nodded. I paused to gather my thoughts and consider what this encounter would e
CATHERINE'S POV As I entered the community meeting area, where pack members gathered for talks and declarations, I could feel a sense of anxiety in the air. As soon as I walked in, whispers and whispered talks stopped, and interested eyes looked at me. Skepticism and uncertainty weighed heavily on the air, like an unsaid query demanding a response.I felt the wave of unease that went through the group, a sign of their misgivings about my abrupt promotion to a leadership role. Many were confused by the swift change from a Luna behind confinement to a leader guiding the pack's future, and the doubt that pervaded the atmosphere was reflected in their gazes.The scrutiny became more intense as I got closer to the temporary platform where pack leaders normally addressed the members. The looks on the sea on faces ranged from mistrust to flat-out incredulity. It became very apparent how difficult it was for me to gain their trust.I inhaled deeply before going up on stage, with everyone in
CATHERINE'S POV I was faced with the enormous issue of bringing the pack together, which was weighing heavily on my mind. As two women propelled into roles of authority, Lizzie and I took the lead in this initiative, trying to mend the broken strands of trust and create a unity of sorts.Lizzie and I met in the large study, which was filled with expensive cherry furnishings and bookcases that held innumerable books. As we sat opposite from one another, the weight of duty falling on our heads like a thick blanket, the environment crackled with a feeling of purpose."I had not signed in for this one," Lizzie said, her resolve and doubt visible in her eyes. I sympathized with her; the unanticipated course of events had thrown us into unanticipated roles."Not a single of us did," I said, looking her in the eye. However, we have been given the responsibility of keeping this pack together. We must figure out how to make it function."The stone walls of the study, covered in the understand
CATHERINE'S POV The load of Philip's faith descended upon me as I neared the magnificent assembly hall, the scene of the pack's gathering for a funeral. Seeking a ray of light amid the ocean of sorrow, the weeping werewolves shifted their focus to me. I realized then and there that true leadership is a careful balance between sensitivity and power.I inhaled deeply, calling up the inner power, and entered the hallway prepared to face the obstacles that lay ahead. The mansion, which had once been a stronghold of authority, now served as a furnace whereby the pack's connections would be put to the proof and renewed.The force of the Luna cloak pressed down on me as I waited at the entrance to the magnificent assembly hall. The collective look of the pack, looking for guidance and comfort, made the weight of my newfound responsibilities even more real. I looked to my confidante, Lizzie, and saw tenacity and compassion in the deepest parts of her eyes.The weight of the mission ahead hun
CATHERINE'S POV The devastating news that brought shivers of sadness through the Blood Slashing Pack was heavy on every stride, and the vast house resounded with solemn tones of loss. With sad heart, I made my way through the corridors, dodging the sea of dejected expressions and muffled cries that seemed to permeate the space. The pack was enveloped in grief as word of Philip's passing raced like lightning.The group was in disarray after learning of Philip's alleged death, and their souls were left with a chasm that could not be filled by words of sympathy. I felt the burden of the pack's sorrow bearing toward me as Luna, and I had a duty to stand as a rock of support at this time of sharedThe somber tones of sadness filled the vast estate, resonating through the enormous hallways and passages like an eerie sonata of sorrow. As Luna, I felt the weight of duty bearing upon me, the sorrowful news that had covered the whole Blood Slashing Pack in sorrow weighing down on myself with e
CATHERINE'S POV Every day that passed seemed like a lifetime spent inside the confines of my room. What had previously felt like a golden prison had become a painful expanse of loneliness over two weeks. Furnished with opulent furniture, the room had turned into a haven and a jail.With Ana, my darling little daughter curled up in my arms, there was only one thing to feel better in this stuffy environment. Her innocent look was blind to the struggle swirling inside of me as I attended to her needs, the burden of duty pressing down on me. Even with the room bathed in a subdued brightness from the glowing sunlight filtering through the drapes, the cold that persisted in my heart persisted.The loud ticking of the elaborate wall clock reverberated throughout the room, serving as a constant reminder that time was passing at an excruciatingly slow pace. Two weeks had passed between my fingers like sand grains, and I was left entangled in the opulent maze of affluence that had become a res
LIZZIE'S POVI jumped through the table, my chest still thumping from the rage, and the opulence of the mansion's dining room vanished behind me. I was drawn outside by the scent of the neighboring garden in the evening air. To process the storm of feelings Philip's plea had unleashed inside of me, I wanted the comfort of wide-open spaces.Stepping out of the warm shelter of the evening, I was met by the expansive estate stretching before me. The sky was tinted pink as well as orangeas the sun sank low in the horizon, creating a pleasant glow. I took cover from the deluge of contradictory ideas on a seat tucked away in the garden, the calming sounds of the natural world providing a moment's reprieve.My thoughts raced with questions as I sat down on the bench. What made Philip decide to stage his death t
PHILIP'S POV The sound of my footsteps reverberated across the lavish area, which was opposed to the secret choice I had chosen. Lizzie was sitting at the dining table staring at me expectantly and with anxiety in her eyes.I said, quietly but firmly, "Lizzie, we need to talk."A frown began to develop on her eyebrows as she lifted her head from her plate. Our dining room was spacious and well-furnished, which only served to heighten the significance of the talk that was about to take place."What's happening, Philip?" she said, searching my eyes for information.I sat down across opposite her, the enormity of the speech I intended to utter amplified by the oppressive quiet of the room. "I've accepted a choice, and that's significant because it includes the pack's safety and the possibility of Stanley's treason."Lizzie's eyes narrowed, a mixture of worry and fascination. "Exactly what somewhat choice?"Leaning forward, I placed my palms on the shiny dining tabletop. "I'm about to fa
PHILIP'S POV As I left my house and the small comforts of the family behind, I was met by lengthy shadows from the rising light and relentless trials ahead. Dissatisfaction echoed like spirits in the air, and the familiar smells of the complex told narratives of a pack in disorder.I couldn't stop thinking about Catherine's captivity in our house; the conflict between my responsibilities as an Alpha and a parent kept me restless all the time. I was having trouble sifting through the complicated web that had been created by the pack's requirements, Stanley's lurking danger, and Catherine's deceit.I could hear the pack members' disgruntled whispers as I strolled around the complex. With each second of hesitation that went by, the once-unwavering loyalty that held us together appeared to wane. As the second mate to Philip, I found myself in a difficult position where my loyalty was needed to balance the pack's expectations with Philip's unclear objectives.Beneath my skin was a seethin
LIZZIE'S POVMy wolf was aware of my uneasiness and was restless, just like me. An eerie silence had descended upon the pack ever since Catherine's duplicity was exposed, leaving me to deal with the unnerving fallout from my choice to reveal her.I had known all along just what I wanted to do: expose Catherine's betrayal, provoke Philip's fury, and see as he banishes her, cutting the treacherous thread that jeopardized the cohesion of our pack. However, when the days grew into evenings, the anticipated removal never occurred. Rather, Catherine stayed imprisoned within our Alpha's house, a live symbol of the treachery that hung over us like a shadow.My thoughts were tinged with doubt. Why was Philip so attached to Catherine, the beast who had woven a false web to get within our pack? Was he unaware of the threat she created, or was perhaps a more nuanced reality at play that I was unable to discern?I walked erratically into the center of the courtyard, a raging sea of questions racin