Sky POVThe fire crackled, casting flickering shadows across the clearing, painting everyone in shades of gold and sin. Laughter and music tangled in the air, the deep bass vibrating through my bones, amplifying the delicious burn of alcohol in my veins.I was floating.Weightless.For the first time since coming back, I wasn't thinking about Neo's plans, about Zeke's betrayal, about how much of a mistake this homecoming was.Right now, I was just here.And so was he.I wasn't thinking. I wasn't overthinking. For once, I was just feeling.Mr Interested—whose name I still didn't know and didn't care to ask—had his hands on me, and I wasn't stopping him. His dark eyes burned into mine, his fingers flexing on my waist as we swayed, our bodies dangerously close but not quite touching. The way he moved—confident, assured—told me he was used to getting what he wanted."You dance like trouble," he murmured against my ear, his breath hot and laced with whiskey. I smirked, tilting my head
Sky's POV"Mate, mate, mate!" Evie screamed in my mind, her voice a desperate, purring melody of need. She was practically rolling over in submission, her excitement vibrating through me as if she were pacing just beneath my skin."We are finally here, right where we belong," she sighed happily, her voice thick with longing. "Just a little more, Sky. Feel how he shudders? How his pulse is racing? He wants us—take what's ours!"I exhaled shakily, refusing to give in completely. "Not yet." I breathed. I had given him a taste, but if Zeke wanted more, it was his move now. This game of chess we played had rules—rules I refused to break.I let my lips hover over his, close enough that our breaths mingled, but I didn't close the gap. I wouldn't. He had to do that.But he didn't move.His body was taut, his hands gripping my waist with barely restrained control, but he stayed utterly still, his jaw locked as if holding himself back from something dangerous. A lesser girl might have pulled a
Zeke's POVSky's lips hovered over mine, her breath teasing me, her scent filling my lungs like a drug I couldn't quit. My body was a war zone—wanting, needing, but holding back. If I took her now, I wouldn't stop. I wouldn't let her walk away from me again. And how would that help either of us?I waited.I wanted her to say something—anything. Why did she run? Why did she leave me to face the wreckage of what we could have been alone?But she didn't.Instead, she let her tongue flick out, tasting my lips like a slow, torturous promise. I shuddered, my restraint snapping thread by thread. My hands tightened on her hips, fingers pressing into soft curves that once belonged to me. That should still belong to me.Her smirk was a weapon, sharp and deliberate. She knew exactly what she was doing, rolling her hips against mine, testing, teasing, taunting.And I let her.For a brief moment, it was just us—fire and fury, unspoken words hanging between us, begging to be set free. I wanted to d
Sky's POVPeeking into the large dining room that was once filled with joyful family moments, now felt cold and stiff. Neo sat at the head of the table, swirling his wine lazily, his face the perfect mask of feigned patience. The room was filled with murmured conversation and the clinking of silverware against plates, but I knew everyone was waiting for me.I smirked to myself.Let them wait.By the time I finally strolled in, my hair slightly mussed from the wind and my eyes burning with the thrill of defiance, the entire room fell silent. All eyes turned to me. Some amused, some cautious, and some downright nervous."Did you enjoy your tantrum?" Neo asked as he took a slow sip of his wine, his lips curving at the edges."Immensely." I rolled my eyes, stepping further into the dining hall. "You should try it sometime—might get rid of that stick up your ass."Several pack members inhaled sharply. A few exchanged glances, some even smirked behind their glasses, but no one dared to laug
Zeke's POVI sat at the table, my body rigid, my jaw clenched so tightly it felt like my teeth might crack under the pressure. My eyes never left Sky, tracking her every move with the precision of a hunter—not for prey, but for protection.She was playing a dangerous game, one only she seemed to think she could win.Neo swirled his wine, his face an impassive mask, but I knew better. His patience had limits, and Sky was testing every single one of them. The pack members ate cautiously, avoiding eye contact, all hyperaware of the tension thick enough to suffocate the entire room.Sky sat there like she owned the damn place. Picking food off plates, tossing taunts like they were casual conversation, all the while smirking at Neo like she knew exactly how close he was to snapping.I had to give it to her. She wasn't afraid.Or maybe she was, but she refused to show it.That terrified me.I kept my posture relaxed, pretending to sip from my glass, but my attention was split between the tw
Sky's POV"Your brother is always watching! You know that!" Zeke uttered breathlessly against my cheek as I continued my exploration of his body, my fingers teasing over every hard muscle, every heated inch of skin.I smirked, dragging my nails lightly down his stomach, my lips grazing his jaw."Let him watch," I whispered, my breath fanning over his pulse point."It's the most action he's gotten in a while, from what I've heard.""How do you know that?" Zeke exhaled sharply, a laugh buried somewhere deep in his chest as he tilted his head slightly, eyes burning into mine. "You've only just got back." His brow lifted as I grinned, shifting against him just enough to make his breath hitch."I'm not the only one with connections in this pack, Z," I purred, my hand trailing dangerously lower. "And maybe if he did get some, he wouldn't be such a cock.""You might be right about that." Zeke let out a slow exhale, his lips quirking as he watched me with something unreadable, something dark
Sky POVZeke stared at me, his chest rising and falling in sharp, ragged breaths as I basked in my victory, savouring the power thrumming between us. His lips were parted, his pupils blown wide with barely restrained hunger, his hands twitching at his sides like he was debating whether to grab me or force himself to walk away.Then he moved.Fast.His hands shot out, reaching for me, but I was faster.I seized his wrists and twisted, using his own weight against him as I spun him around and slammed him back against the wall of the alcove. His back hit the cool stone with a dull thud, my body pressing flush against his, caging him in, keeping him right where I wanted him.The growl that tore from his throat was deep, raw, dominant—furious.And it wrecked me.My heart slammed against my ribs, my stomach clenched, and my thighs tightened involuntarily. I felt the strength in him, the way his body coiled beneath mine, letting me have this moment—but only for now.Deep down, I knew I was p
Neo’s POVThe dining hall was silent, save for the distant clatter of dishes being cleared away. My grip tightened around the delicate stem of my wine glass, my patience hanging by a thread.Sky had been back for less than a day, and already she was making me look weak.I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to keep my posture relaxed, but inside, I was seething.The way she walked into dinner—smirking, dishevelled, deliberately testing me in front of my pack—was infuriating. And that wasn’t the worst part. No, the worst part was how they had looked at her.They weren’t just amused.They were watching.Assessing.Wondering if maybe, just maybe, my control over her wasn’t as absolute as they once believed.And that? That was dangerous.Sky had always been trouble, but this—this was different. She wasn’t just being difficult; she was being defiant. And in this world, defiance was a challenge. A test of dominance.I drained the rest of my wine and rose to my feet, my movements slow, deliberate
Zeke POVI didn't say a word when I pulled her into the hallway, her mouth still warm under my palm, her eyes fire and betrayal and all the things I hated seeing aimed at me."Stop shouting at me," I told her, my voice more pain than command. "And fucking listen."But she wasn't done. Not even close."It's NOT what it seems... you have to believe me." I sighed, looking at her with the kind of weariness that comes from years of pretending not to care."Then what is it, Z?" she snapped, stepping back, seething. "Because to me, it looks like you have all thrown the women under the bus to save your hides. That you've allowed this pack to go centuries back in time. You've allowed it to become a fucking prison for women while men thrive."Her eyes burned into me, and all I could see was every bit of fury she had every right to feel. Every ounce of pain I hadn't stopped."I need air," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "Come with me."I didn't give her time to argue. I just started
Sky POVI didn't remember leaving Neo's office. Not really.All I remembered was the sound of blood pounding in my ears, the phantom sting of his twisted words wrapping around my throat like a noose, and the violent ache behind my ribs that refused to fade.I stormed through the halls, shoulders tense, jaw tight, rage lighting up every inch of me like wildfire.I needed to find Zeke. Now.He would know the truth—had to know the truth. And if he did, if he knew what Neo was doing to the women of this pack and said nothing...I didn't know if I could forgive that."Sky!" someone called out.I didn't stop. Another voice, different this time, whistled through the corridor."Hey, hell of a show out there today!"I froze. Slowly, I turned to face them. Three warriors—mid-rank, Delta-tier—stood clustered near the hallway arch, sweat-stained from their own training but wearing smirks that made my skin crawl."It's been a long time since we saw a female fight like that," one laughed, nodding w
Neo POV Something wasn't right. It amazed me, really, how quickly Zeke had started crumbling. All it took was Sky walking back through the gates, flipping her hair, whispering his name like he still mattered. I'd spent years moulding him into the Beta I needed, and she'd undone it with one fucking look. He had forgotten who made him. Who owned him. And now? Now, he looked at her like she was salvation. Idiot. Then there was Sky. The moment Sky used that Alpha-bred command to dismiss my men from the room, I felt it—like a shift in the air. Something primal stirred beneath her voice. It shouldn't have been there. She shouldn't have that power. And yet, they'd obeyed her. Not me. That command had weight. The kind only a born Alpha had the right to wield. How? I hadn't stopped thinking about it. Hadn't stopped wondering if Father had buried more secrets in her than even he realized. I'd ignored her existence for years, content to let her rot on the outside, thinking she was a broken littl
Neo POV Something shifted in the room—and I didn't like it. I felt it the second the words left her mouth. "Out." The command was not loud, but it landed like a pulse of raw energy, rippling across the space with invisible force. It didn't come from her lungs—it came from somewhere deeper. Deeper than it should have. The enforcer flinched. The advisors froze, eyes darting toward me for confirmation. But it wasn't me they moved for. It was her. They obeyed her. I watched in silence as they dropped everything and left without a word, the door clicking shut behind them like the final note of a song I didn't write. My fingers tightened around the armrest. That tone—the weight behind it—I recognized it. I'd used it. Father had, too. But Sky? She wasn't supposed to have it. The Alpha Command didn't run through just any blood. It was rare. Inherited. Born. Not earned. And definitely not hers. I studied her more closely now, my expression calm, but something cold slithered down my spine. How
The sting in my muscles was sharp and constant, but I welcomed it.Pain meant progress.I moved through the drills like a woman possessed—duck, punch, twist, block—my body moving on instinct now. My bruises had faded to soft yellow and green patches, and though my ribs still ached when I pushed too hard, I didn't slow down. Couldn't.Zeke stood across the field, watching. He didn't come near me. Not once.Not like before. He gave orders to the others, sparred with Kade, checked stances, but when it came to me? He kept his distance. He didn't correct my posture. Didn't spar with me. Didn't even brush past.I wasn't upset by it.Or jealous.I got it.This was him playing it smart—keeping up appearances. Playing good Beta to a tyrant Alpha. Neo was always watching, and Zeke knew the cost if he stepped too close, lingered too long. We both knew.So I trained harder.Every move, every breath, every slam of my body into the dirt was a middle finger to Neo's idea of who I was supposed to be.
Sky POV"You sure you wanna go alone?" Zeke asked as I followed Neo's lapdog.His expression was carved from stone, but his eyes—those mismatched eyes I'd always loved more than I should—betrayed him. They were stormy. Uneasy. His jaw ticked with restraint, his hand flexing like he was stopping himself from reaching out."I'll be fine," I said.He didn't reply; he just stared at me, breathing hard through his nose like he hated every second of this. His chest rose and fell in slow, controlled movements—but I could feel the tension rolling off him like heat. Protective. Frustrated. Scared.Scared of Neo.When the hell did that happen?Zeke used to snarl at thunder and bite down on fear. But now? He looked like every other wolf in this place—cautious. Controlled. Tame."Unlike everyone else, he doesn't scare me." I offered him a wink and a smirk. And that was the truth. Neo might've been Alpha, but he bled red like the rest of us. He was a bully with a title, not a god. I hadn't even se
Sky POVThe smell hit me before I even opened my eyes—crispy bacon, buttery toast, and rich coffee. I shot upright in bed, my heart already fluttering.He did it again.My gaze fell on the tray and the note placed beside it, folded neatly. I didn't even need to read it again—I already had the words memorized.‘Training yard. Before 7. We'll go slow. Just us.– Z’A wide smile spread across my face as I grabbed the bacon and bit down with a satisfied moan. I ate fast, giddy with anticipation.This wasn't just about breakfast.It was about him listening.He understood my fear. My need to take control. He'd seen me at my weakest, and instead of pushing me away, he was giving me the tools to stand tall again.God, it felt good.I devoured everything—crunchy toast, creamy scrambled eggs—and licked a smear of grease from my thumb as I read the note again, my heart fluttering like a schoolgirl's.After scraping every last crumb from the plate, I kicked off the covers and padded toward the wa
Zeke's POV"Act normal," Payne warned, his voice a low growl in the back of my head. "Don't let him see the guilt."I swallowed hard, forcing my posture straight as I plated the last egg. My hands still trembled faintly from the weight of what I'd done to Wayne. I could feel the tension clinging to my spine like a vice."He'll sense it," I muttered mentally. "He always fucking senses it.""Then control it," Payne snapped. "Fake it. Smile. Be Beta. We can't afford a slip right now."My mouth opened to respond, but Neo's voice cut through the thick air like a blade."I asked you a question, Beta."I stiffened."As good as any." I shrugged, keeping my face neutral."You missed your duties." He smirked, stepping further into the room, hands tucked casually in his pockets."I handled them early," I shot back, keeping my tone even. "Had to make sure everything was set before training Sky.""You seem to be spending a lot of time with her."The way he said her name—Sky—was laced with somethin
Zeke POV I swallowed hard, forcing myself to turn slowly and push myself off the door, rolling my shoulders back and dragging in a deep breath. I didn't have time to wallow in guilt or question my choices. I had to focus on her.As I rounded the corner to the stairs, I nearly tripped over Wayne's body, sprawled across the floor.Fuck.For a second, I just stared down at him, my pulse still hammering like a war drum in my chest. He wasn't moving—completely out cold. A small smear of blood marked the floor where his head had hit it on the way down.Guilt punched me in the gut.I crouched down beside him, carefully checking his pulse—steady and strong, just like I knew it would be. But seeing him like this—broken and crumpled because of me—made my stomach twist into knots.This wasn't who I was. I wasn't supposed to hurt my pack. I wasn't supposed to let my emotions control me.I closed my eyes for a second, taking a deep breath to steady myself before grabbing Wayne under the arms and