ALEXANDER’S POVHOURS EARLIERI stood at the top of the stairs watching Eliza’s retreating figure as well as Derek and his new woman as they walked away, leaving the castle.As soon as Eliza got into a car and drove away, I turned around, entering the building once more with my thoughts running through some things.As I walked through the hallways back to the throne room, I reflected on recent events.Pride swelled in my chest when I thought of Eliza's growth.She had evolved into everything I'd hoped for in a mate - her strength and determination apparent in every calculated move she'd made against Derek's corruption.The punishment from the King for Derek was disappointingly mild in my opinion compared to what he had done to Eliza but it was something.Letting Eliza move forward with her plans to rebuild her pack and also sharing the assets that they shared as he saw fit was a good blow to Derek’s ego.Yet I couldn't deny that his hubris had presented an unexpected gift - a chance t
ELIZA’S POV"What is going on here?!" The commanding voice filled up the room, making us freeze in our tracks but still turn to see who stood there.It was Alexander.He stood in the doorway, his broad shoulders filling the frame.His grey eyes, sharp as steel, took in the scene before him – Derek's aggressive stance, my defensive position, Lily's reddened wrist, and the scattered documents between us.His gaze held authority, the kind that made even the most dominant wolves yield.A gaze that made even me stop in my tracks."I asked a question," Alexander's voice dropped lower, more dangerous as he looked between us."Would someone care to explain why a simple property settlement meeting has devolved into this?"The air had thickened with authority the moment Alexander entered the room.My wolf stirred, releasing a pleased rumble deep in my chest at his arrival.I hadn't expected him here at Crescent Moon Pack, but I couldn't deny the sudden feeling of security his presence brought.
DEREK’S POVI paced in my quarters, my hands shaking with barely contained rage.This wasn't how today was supposed to go.When I had walked into that settlement meeting, I had expected Eliza to grovel at my feet for mercy, to show some kind of desperation.Instead, that bastard Alexander had swept in like an avenging angel and turned everything on its head.I was the one who left empty-handed and with shame hanging over my head.Three million dollars.The number echoed in my mind like a death knell. I sucked at my teeth, wondering how this had happened.I was an Alpha of the pack for God's sake.A celebrated general, personally praised by the king for my efforts in the war, and yet I found myself in debt to the woman I had cast aside.It wasn't fair.If Alexander hadn't shown up when he did, then I might have been able to convince the auditor.The memory of Alexander's arrival made my blood boil.The way he had strode into that room, emanating power and authority, had immediately shi
ELIZA’S POVI caught Lily's eye across the room as the settlement papers were signed. A subtle nod passed between us – it was time.My heart pounded as I stood, knowing what came next would change everything."I request all pack members to gather immediately," I announced, my voice carrying the authority I'd earned.I watched as Derek's face contorted in confusion, clearly not expecting this turn of events."You don't have the right to request such a thing. You are no longer the Luna of the pack and therefore the pack no longer answers to you.""I never addressed the pack when our marriage was annulled. It was my right and since I never did that, I request to do it now." I shot back, but Derek scoffed."You lost that right when you...""You mean when you had an affair and brought back another woman to the pack?" Alexander butted in. I was thankful for the backup but he needed to let me fight my own battles.Due to these words, Derek's lips went into a straight line, the poke at his ow
ELIZA’S POVMy heart constricted as I stood before what remains of my childhood home.The pack house, once proud and magnificent, now stood in haunting ruins.Crumbling walls told stories of neglect, while weeds thrust through cracks in the courtyard stones like nature's slow-moving revenge.The sight brought tears to my eyes, but I forced them back. I couldn’t show weakness, not now. I walk through the ruins until the pack members and I reach a suitable place in the middle of it all, my back turning to the home I left behind to address my new pack.The gathered wolves watched me with expectant eyes as I began to speak. My voice trembled at first, but grew stronger as I recounted the tale that had haunted my dreams for years."It happened on a night like any other," I told them, the memories fresh as yesterday's wounds. "My father was holding council with the pack elders. My brother was training the younger wolves. None of us saw the Western Plains attack coming."A young wolf, barely
ELIZA’S POVI wandered aimlessly through the pack grounds, trying to calm my racing heart after that encounter with Alexander.His scent still lingered in my nostrils, making it impossible to think clearly. I shook my head, trying to clear my mind and focus on what is actually important to me. Saving my pack."You're acting like a teenage pup with her first crush," my wolf teased, her tone light and playful. "We're a strong, independent Alpha female. We should be enjoying our freedom, not running away from an attractive male.""I'm not running," I muttered, though my hasty retreat said otherwise."Oh? So what do you call that graceful sprint just now?" She laughed. "Face it, his Alpha aura affects us. Affects you. There's nothing wrong with that.""It doesn't affect me. I just need to stay away from him for some time." I retorted, not liking what she was hinting at."We're single Eliza. We have no mate. Isn't it unfair that Derek has a new plaything and we are left to wander through t
ELIZA’S POVMy first curled around the head of my knife ready to be unsheathed as I ran to the middle of the battlefield.My heart, pounding like the war drum sounding some miles away.An arrow, almost immediately, flew over my head piercing into the throat of the man standing before me and I watched as he fell to ground knees first as blood gushed out from his throat.'Run Eliza. Run!' I turned my head to the direction of the voice but the primal and brutal snarls surrounding me prevented me from seeing who it was.'Eliza! By the goddess run!' It was Mom's voice.This time, I didn't need any confirmation to know it was her.But what was Mom doing at the battlefield?I quickly turned to the direction of her voice and saw her standing in the middle of fallen warriors, her dress soaked in blood; blood so thick I could taste the coppery thang in my throat.'Mom, run!' I yelled but my shouts barely escaped my throat. Two men from her left and right were approaching her fast and she was un
ELIZA’S POVAfter the final financial meeting of the day, I collapsed into the plush chair behind my desk, exhaustion weighing on my bones. As the Luna of the Crescent Moon Pack, my responsibilities stretched far beyond internal management—I had to ensure the pack’s economic stability, too.It wasn’t easy. No mentor. No guidance. And as a woman, every decision I made was scrutinized.But I had to be strong—because my husband, Derek, Alpha of the second-largest werewolf kingdom, was fighting on the front lines for our people.As his Luna and his strongest supporter, I had to keep the pack safe and stable in his absence.And so far, I’d done well.Then, a searing pain erupted at my mating mark.Since my father and brothers had fallen in battle, the scar had ached under stress—but this was different. This felt like claws raking through my flesh.I winced, pressing a hand to the burning skin—"Luna!"An Omega servant burst in, eyes bright with excitement. "Alpha Derek has returned!"Derek
ELIZA’S POVMy first curled around the head of my knife ready to be unsheathed as I ran to the middle of the battlefield.My heart, pounding like the war drum sounding some miles away.An arrow, almost immediately, flew over my head piercing into the throat of the man standing before me and I watched as he fell to ground knees first as blood gushed out from his throat.'Run Eliza. Run!' I turned my head to the direction of the voice but the primal and brutal snarls surrounding me prevented me from seeing who it was.'Eliza! By the goddess run!' It was Mom's voice.This time, I didn't need any confirmation to know it was her.But what was Mom doing at the battlefield?I quickly turned to the direction of her voice and saw her standing in the middle of fallen warriors, her dress soaked in blood; blood so thick I could taste the coppery thang in my throat.'Mom, run!' I yelled but my shouts barely escaped my throat. Two men from her left and right were approaching her fast and she was un
ELIZA’S POVI wandered aimlessly through the pack grounds, trying to calm my racing heart after that encounter with Alexander.His scent still lingered in my nostrils, making it impossible to think clearly. I shook my head, trying to clear my mind and focus on what is actually important to me. Saving my pack."You're acting like a teenage pup with her first crush," my wolf teased, her tone light and playful. "We're a strong, independent Alpha female. We should be enjoying our freedom, not running away from an attractive male.""I'm not running," I muttered, though my hasty retreat said otherwise."Oh? So what do you call that graceful sprint just now?" She laughed. "Face it, his Alpha aura affects us. Affects you. There's nothing wrong with that.""It doesn't affect me. I just need to stay away from him for some time." I retorted, not liking what she was hinting at."We're single Eliza. We have no mate. Isn't it unfair that Derek has a new plaything and we are left to wander through t
ELIZA’S POVMy heart constricted as I stood before what remains of my childhood home.The pack house, once proud and magnificent, now stood in haunting ruins.Crumbling walls told stories of neglect, while weeds thrust through cracks in the courtyard stones like nature's slow-moving revenge.The sight brought tears to my eyes, but I forced them back. I couldn’t show weakness, not now. I walk through the ruins until the pack members and I reach a suitable place in the middle of it all, my back turning to the home I left behind to address my new pack.The gathered wolves watched me with expectant eyes as I began to speak. My voice trembled at first, but grew stronger as I recounted the tale that had haunted my dreams for years."It happened on a night like any other," I told them, the memories fresh as yesterday's wounds. "My father was holding council with the pack elders. My brother was training the younger wolves. None of us saw the Western Plains attack coming."A young wolf, barely
ELIZA’S POVI caught Lily's eye across the room as the settlement papers were signed. A subtle nod passed between us – it was time.My heart pounded as I stood, knowing what came next would change everything."I request all pack members to gather immediately," I announced, my voice carrying the authority I'd earned.I watched as Derek's face contorted in confusion, clearly not expecting this turn of events."You don't have the right to request such a thing. You are no longer the Luna of the pack and therefore the pack no longer answers to you.""I never addressed the pack when our marriage was annulled. It was my right and since I never did that, I request to do it now." I shot back, but Derek scoffed."You lost that right when you...""You mean when you had an affair and brought back another woman to the pack?" Alexander butted in. I was thankful for the backup but he needed to let me fight my own battles.Due to these words, Derek's lips went into a straight line, the poke at his ow
DEREK’S POVI paced in my quarters, my hands shaking with barely contained rage.This wasn't how today was supposed to go.When I had walked into that settlement meeting, I had expected Eliza to grovel at my feet for mercy, to show some kind of desperation.Instead, that bastard Alexander had swept in like an avenging angel and turned everything on its head.I was the one who left empty-handed and with shame hanging over my head.Three million dollars.The number echoed in my mind like a death knell. I sucked at my teeth, wondering how this had happened.I was an Alpha of the pack for God's sake.A celebrated general, personally praised by the king for my efforts in the war, and yet I found myself in debt to the woman I had cast aside.It wasn't fair.If Alexander hadn't shown up when he did, then I might have been able to convince the auditor.The memory of Alexander's arrival made my blood boil.The way he had strode into that room, emanating power and authority, had immediately shi
ELIZA’S POV"What is going on here?!" The commanding voice filled up the room, making us freeze in our tracks but still turn to see who stood there.It was Alexander.He stood in the doorway, his broad shoulders filling the frame.His grey eyes, sharp as steel, took in the scene before him – Derek's aggressive stance, my defensive position, Lily's reddened wrist, and the scattered documents between us.His gaze held authority, the kind that made even the most dominant wolves yield.A gaze that made even me stop in my tracks."I asked a question," Alexander's voice dropped lower, more dangerous as he looked between us."Would someone care to explain why a simple property settlement meeting has devolved into this?"The air had thickened with authority the moment Alexander entered the room.My wolf stirred, releasing a pleased rumble deep in my chest at his arrival.I hadn't expected him here at Crescent Moon Pack, but I couldn't deny the sudden feeling of security his presence brought.
ALEXANDER’S POVHOURS EARLIERI stood at the top of the stairs watching Eliza’s retreating figure as well as Derek and his new woman as they walked away, leaving the castle.As soon as Eliza got into a car and drove away, I turned around, entering the building once more with my thoughts running through some things.As I walked through the hallways back to the throne room, I reflected on recent events.Pride swelled in my chest when I thought of Eliza's growth.She had evolved into everything I'd hoped for in a mate - her strength and determination apparent in every calculated move she'd made against Derek's corruption.The punishment from the King for Derek was disappointingly mild in my opinion compared to what he had done to Eliza but it was something.Letting Eliza move forward with her plans to rebuild her pack and also sharing the assets that they shared as he saw fit was a good blow to Derek’s ego.Yet I couldn't deny that his hubris had presented an unexpected gift - a chance t
ELIZA’S POVI felt a familiar presence brush against my mind as I initiated a mind link with Lily.If the financial auditor wanted to see the evidence that I had then he would get it all.The connection from the link with my former assistant hummed with urgency as I sent my silent command."Luna Eliza. What do you need me to do?" Lily asked me as soon as she felt the link, not wasting time to question why I was even contacting her in the first place."I need all the financial documents that record how much of my money and investments that I have put into the pack," I told her."You mean the secured documents?" She tried to confirm. I feigned a nod and replied."Yes. Those documents.""I'll have them up shortly," Lily informed me before I ended the link and paid attention to the scene in front of me.I didn't bother to tell Lily where I was because within minutes, she appeared at the door, clutching a thick folder of financial records to her chest.The link worked in a way that whoever
ELIZA’S POVMy heels clicked across the tiled floor as I entered the damned building once more.My last home in the Crescent Moon Pack.Yes, I had come back to fulfill some rites and although it was needed, I couldn’t fully say that I wanted to be here.I walked through the lobby, getting some looks and or greeting from some of the staff that passed.I was about to make my way to the guest room when one of the staff walked up to me, her head bowed in respect.“Luna, uh, I mean…” She stuttered, not really sure what to call me again when the news of my annulment from the Alpha had spread far and wide in the pack.“Eliza will do.” I informed her, not wanting to put her in such a difficult situation. She seemed to calm down with my words and looked up at me.“Alpha Derek’s mother, Mrs. Diana, wishes to see you in her chambers.” She told me.“Now?” I asked her, frustrated that I was being summoned when I just got here.The woman gave me a nod that made me frown.“Very well then. Can you he