Zane's P.O.V.As I stared at Karen's entrancing stride toward the Aeges stone, a chill of dismay and confusion crossed my mind. What in the world had pushed my sister to such an extent of yearning for power?I thought back to our childhood, growing up together in the pack. Karen had always been ambitious, but a sense of loyalty and duty to our family and pack had tempered her drive.But as time wore on, Karen's ambition soured into a hungry lust for power. Karen became a cruel, anything-to-reach-her-goals kind of person who didn't value anyone else that stood in her way.Was this some dark magic she had been reading about, or was there more to this? Had Karen always been like this, and I hadn't seen it?I just stood there, frozen in contemplation, with Karen's words echoing through my head: "The power of the Aeges stone will soon be mine." I knew that I had to thwart her, but another voice within me asked what could make even my sister go that way.Was it for the validation, for the r
Selena's POVI couldn't help but drop the container of my fertility pills when I saw the text. It wasn't terrible news, or something that shocked me to the core, but rather, it was a strange message that I couldn't have imagined coming at such a time.I tried not to not focus on the spilled pills littering the kitchen floor, and read the message again and again until I could fully understand what it was trying to tell me.‘6PM. Our secret spot.Wear that sexy black lingerie. I'll be waiting. R.’I took in a shaky breath, not wanting to let excitement get the better of me. There was only one person that had enough audacity to send me such a suggestive message, although I wondered why he didn't simply use his own number. Maybe he wanted things to be more . . . mysterious?“Hey, Selena—” Raven walked into the kitchen while dragging a brush through her thick ginger hair. She halted in her tracks when she saw the pills on the floor. “What's wrong?”The concern in her expression made me
Selena’s POVThe man simply licked his lips and grabbed my waist roughly, pulling me to him. “Come on, baby.”“No!” I screamed, pushing him away so hard that he stumbled backwards.Quickly, I picked up my clothes and hastily put on my coat, irritated at the way I felt like curling up in a ball and crying. Never could I have imagined such a thing happening to me today, especially when I had expected to see Rowan.Did Rowan know about this? That some strange man had come into our most sacred place and put his hands on my body?I didn't want to believe that he could have done such a thing, but I couldn't make sense of the whole situation at all.Without sparing another glance at the strange naked man, I rushed out of the secret garden I had once found safe.——Much to my displeasure, Rowan didn't pick up his calls. I needed to talk to him about what I had faced earlier, but with the way things were, the only way I might have been able to do that was driving over to the pack office myself
Selena's POVIt was like I had gone deaf. People kept cheering for Rowan and the woman by his side, but I couldn't understand what was even happening before my eyes. I turned to Raven by my side, surprised to even see her among those clapping. I held her hand tightly, like it was the only piece of floating wood that could save me from drowning.“What's happening?” I asked her, hoping that she at least had some answers. I expected her to burst into laughter and tell me that the lady Rowan was holding was some kind of distant relative that he was welcoming, or that they were trying to play an elaborate prank on me, but she didn't say anything of the sort. No, instead, she pulled her hand out of my grasp, and her face contorted into a sneer. “Why don't you go ask him? He's right up there,” she said, pointing up to the stage where Rowan stood.He and the woman stood too close. The woman kept looking at him with such adoration in her eyes that definitely couldn't have been mere familial
Selena's POVHis words pierced my heart. I had never felt a more terrible pain in my life. Not even when I was insulted and mocked by my pack’s members. Because I had always known that their words didn't make me, and therefore couldn't break me.Now, however, hearing those same words from the man I had wholly given my heart to felt like a thousand needles in my ribcage. It got difficult to breathe, and nausea rose up in my throat again, reminding me of the child in my belly. I looked up at Rowan, and placed a trembling hand on my still flat belly. Anything could happen to me, but I had to think like a mother expecting a child. “I'm pregnant, Rowan.”“Are you so desperate that you would try to bring that up as well? Have you no shame?” he said. I reached into my bag and brought out the pregnancy kit test that I had been keeping. It was truly pathetic that I had to use it for this reason; to prove something rather than to celebrate with my husband. I lifted it and got up to my feet s
Selena's POVWeighing on the guard's hand, I helped myself out of the car. My hair clung to my sweaty face and my heart beat faster as we slowly approached the gate that marked the border of my pack--my former pack.As we made our way towards the large silver gate, I felt the piercing gaze of the pack members around pour down upon me. Looking at them, my stomach churned as I sighted one of the pack elders standing in their midst. I felt his unwavering gaze on me as I passed by them, a hushed conversation erupting within the crowd.It was the whole world against me. As I approached the gate, I took one last look at the mansion up on the hill miles away. I clenched my fists, my jaws tightening as the image of Raven's smirk returned, igniting me with rage and pain. "You will regret this," I muttered under my breath as one of the guards rushed towards me, locked his arms around mine and pulled me towards the gate. "YOU ALL WILL REGRET THIS!!!" The guard by my side sent a blow to my bac
Chapter 6Selena's POVI had expected my breathing to quicken and my heart to race when I read the wordings on the sign but surprisingly, none of that happened. I knew about Moonstone pack and I knew that I had every right to fear the sign as the rogue but I felt no fear. Their Alpha, Alpha Zane, was ruthless and he ruled the pack with an iron fist, killing every rogue that made it to his pack boundaries. Something told me to turn back, but I knew the rogue was still out there, waiting for me to step out. And besides, where was I to go? My fate was basically the same any other way, so I couldn't care less about what was going to happen to me. My stomach still rumbling and my throat parched from my lack of water, I turned from the fence and ventured deeper into the territory, fully aware that I was venturing into the lions den. The trees around me stretched endlessly, their crooked branches causing the shadows around me to be contorted and misleading. I had never felt so watched befo
Zane's POVMy grip on my reins tightened as I slowly rode into the forest. The entire forest seemed to have been enveloped in a cloak of silence as even the winds were hushed, but I knew something lurked in the quietude. That was why I had decided we go on a rogues hunt."Reports came in from the warriors at the east borders yesterday, Alpha Zana," Gara, my gamma, commander of my wolf army, said as he looked up at me. "The entire east coast has been stained with litters of rogues and they threaten to move further into the pack territory." "Deploy more soldiers there and have them all wiped out," I answered, my tone cold and unwavering. Rogues had no place within my borders, and I was not willing to tolerate any threat to my pack. The uprising of the rogue had begun not too long ago after they had gotten word of the Aegis stone, rumored to be the source of my powers. They tried endlessly to find their way into my pack but none of them ever lived to make it in. But now, the rogues see
Zane's P.O.V.As I stared at Karen's entrancing stride toward the Aeges stone, a chill of dismay and confusion crossed my mind. What in the world had pushed my sister to such an extent of yearning for power?I thought back to our childhood, growing up together in the pack. Karen had always been ambitious, but a sense of loyalty and duty to our family and pack had tempered her drive.But as time wore on, Karen's ambition soured into a hungry lust for power. Karen became a cruel, anything-to-reach-her-goals kind of person who didn't value anyone else that stood in her way.Was this some dark magic she had been reading about, or was there more to this? Had Karen always been like this, and I hadn't seen it?I just stood there, frozen in contemplation, with Karen's words echoing through my head: "The power of the Aeges stone will soon be mine." I knew that I had to thwart her, but another voice within me asked what could make even my sister go that way.Was it for the validation, for the r
Zane's P.O.VI whirled, my heart racing as Karen's voice cut into the silence. "Zane!"Her eyes narrowed, her brow furrowed in worry as she took in my form standing before the stone Aeges. The calm after the storm."What are you doing here?" I tried to sound composed instead of surprised.Karen's eyes darted to the stone and back to me. "I might ask you the same thing," she said, an accusation laced into her tone. "You know this is a sacred place."A surge of wariness entered my mind as Karen seemed to stare into mine as if she could read into them. "I came to meditate," I said, trying to remain neutral.Karen raised an eyebrow. "Meditate? With the Aeges stone?" Her voice just oozed skepticism.I steeled myself and looked right at her. "I needed direction," I said matter-of-factly.Karen's face was a little softer then, but more of a calculative expression. "Direction?" she repeated. "From the Aeges stone?A prickle of apprehension rose as Karen drew closer, her eyes bright with curio
Zane's POVDeep in thought, walking further along the gardens, thinking deeply of Karen, then Selena and also the pack Moonstone. But somewhere somehow my consciousness urged and called for my appearance in front of the hidden cave which held Aeges.I had not been in the cave for ages, and I did not know why this sudden urge had overcome me to go there. Yet, something in the serenity of the garden and the quietness of the evening called me toward the cave.I made my way out of the garden and through the palace grounds, my feet carrying me with a sense of purpose to the cave. The sun was much lower now, casting long shadows across the ground, illuminating the trees in warm, golden light.As I walked, the trees grew closer together, and the air grew cooler and damper. I could hear the sound of running water up ahead, and I knew that I was getting close to the cave.Finally, I came out from behind the trees and had the entrance to the cave before me. The opening was a huge, yawning mouth
Zane's POVKaren had just opened her mouth to respond to my misgivings when a commotion at the entrance of the throne room diverted our attention. In strode a tall, towering figure in piercing blue eyes and jet-black hair, arresting all attention.Karen's eyes slitted as her gaze settled on the newcomer, curiosity and suspicion warring for dominance in her gaze. I, however, knew the emissary from the Moonstone pack, and I nodded in greeting."Hello, Zane," the envoy said in a deep voice that rumbled around the room. "I come bearing a message from the Moonstone pack's alpha, Rowan.Karen's eyes snapped to mine, a spark of interest igniting within them. "What does Rowan want?" she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of curiosity.Turning toward Karen, his manner was courteous but formal. "Rowan seeks the helping hands of your workers, Zane, to start the work of a new healing center, one for both our packs," he said. "He requests that you send a team of skilled workers to assist in the b
Zane's POVI sat on my throne, my eyes fixed on my sister Karen as she paced back and forth in front of me. Her face was twisted with anger and hatred, her eyes blazing with a fierce intensity."Zane, you have to do it," she said, her voice low and urgent. "You have to sentence Selena to death."I nodded solemnly, trying to keep my expression neutral. I knew Karen had no idea that I was the one who helped Selena on that fateful night. And I was not about to let that secret out now."I understand your concerns, Karen," I said, trying to sound as serious as possible. "But we have to make sure that we follow the proper procedures. We can't just sentence someone to death without a trial."Karen's face turned red with rage. "You're not taking this seriously, Zane," she spat. "Selena is a threat to our pack, to our very way of life. She has to be stopped."I nodded again, trying to appease my sister. "I understand that you're upset, Karen. But we have to be careful. We can't let our emotion
Selena's POVAs I struggled to get a hold of my composure, Elara's voice cut through the silence like a knife, snapping me into reality. "So Seer," she said, her eyes slightly narrowing as she turned toward me. "What is your intended course of action in our pack?A feeling of wariness rose up, as though there was something not quite straightforward about her question. I didn't immediately answer, taking a little extra time with my choice of words."I plan on helping the pack however I can," I said, trying to be as vague as possible. "I have certain. abilities that may be useful to the pack."Elara's eyes seemed to bore into mine, as if rummaging for any hidden motives inside me. "I see," she said, her tone dripping with skepticism. "And what makes you think you can help us, Seer? We have struggled with certain issues, and we have not been able to find a solution for them.I sensed that Elara was trying to probe me, testing whether I knew more than I was letting on. So I decided to pla
Selena's P.O.V.As we rode through the pack on horseback, Rowan took the lead on his own horse while I was on my horse right after him. The pack watched as we passed, curiosity and reverie upon their faces.He led the horse along twisting pathways, showing me landmarks and various other features. I followed him on horseback, scanning the surroundings.We passed a huge stone fountain where some of the young wolves were playing and laughing with each other. We passed several cabins built of wood, every one of them having various wood carvings with colors and bright tapestry.As we approached the Great Pack House, I could feel the strange energy emanating from that building-a sense of power and history that seemed to seep from the very stones themselves.Rowan drew rein, stopping us in front of a large pack house. Turning to me, his pride showed in his shining eyes. "Welcome to the Royal Pack House, Seer," he said, proud, his voice low. "This is the centre of our pack, our family home wh
Selena's POV"You've master the art of horse riding, I can tell," Rowan complimented as we approached the large gates of his pack. "There's more to you than a seer."I gave no reply to him as I silently led the horse to into the pack, trying hard to avoid the gazes of the people."The Seer's here. It's him," the pack members murmured as I rode alongside Rowan into the pack."The Seer would bring fortune and good tidings, blessings to you Seer," a little werewolf exclaimed, waving at me with full energy. I smiled down at her little face, memories of the pack I was born and bred flooding me. A wave of nostalgia washed over me at that point as i still galloped on the horse. The familiar buildings, scent damp earth and wildflowers enveloping me.I was home.Still on the horse, I closed my eyes, letting the memories flood into my heart and consume a greater part of me. I instantly recalled running through these woods as a young werewolf of the royal lineage, my paws pounding against the fa
Selena's POV"Why do you look bothered?" Rowan asked, peering into my eyes intently as he leaned closer to me."There's something I feel I should know, Seer."I couldn't hide my surprise at his question, and I quickly looked away, trying to compose myself. "I'm fine," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Just a little...preoccupied with the construction plans."Rowan raised an eyebrow, his eyes glinting with skepticism. "I see," he said, his voice dripping with doubt. "Well, if you're sure you're okay...then I'll let it drop. For now."I felt a shiver run down my spine at his words, and I quickly looked away, trying to hide my reaction. But as I glanced back at Rowan, I couldn't help but feel like he had seen right through me.And as I turned my horse around, preparing to leave, I couldn't shake the feeling that Rowan was watching me, his eyes boring into my back like a brand.I urged my horse forward, feeling a sense of relief wash over me as I put distance between myself and Rowan. B