Anita’s POVAs the first rays of dawn filtered through the curtains of my small room, I blinked awake, momentarily disoriented. The soft light bathed the walls in a gentle, warm hue, a stark contrast to the cold dread that had settled in my chest the night before. I sat up slowly, my heart pounding with a strange mix of fear and confusion.I was supposed to die today.The thought hit me like a wave crashing over my head, pulling me under. My mind raced, trying to piece together the events of the past two weeks, the fear that had gripped me, and the acceptance that I had finally forced myself to embrace. The night before, I had lain awake, staring at the ceiling, waiting for the inevitable. I had prayed to the Moon Goddess, asked for forgiveness, and prepared myself to face whatever fate awaited me. But now, in the pale light of the morning, I was still here. Still breathing. Still alive.I threw off the covers and swung my legs over the side of the bed, my bare feet touching the cool
Alpha Orion’s POVThe days after Anita’s miraculous survival had been a whirlwind of confusion and tension within the pack. Rumors spread like wildfire, and everyone seemed to be on edge. The whispers grew louder with each passing day as everyone wondered why Anita was still alive when the curse should have taken her. Some believed that the Moon Goddess had shown her mercy, while others thought something far more sinister was at play.For my part, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had settled in my gut. I knew something was wrong. It wasn’t just Anita’s unexpected survival; it was everything. The attack on our borders, the disappearance of our children, and now the strange message I had received just this morning.I held the small piece of parchment in my hand, staring at the hastily scrawled words. It had arrived at dawn, delivered by a messenger who had vanished before anyone could stop him. The message was simple, but it sent a chill down my spine.**I’m coming back. We h
Anita’s POVThe days that followed Darius’s unexpected appearance were a blur of confusion and unease. The atmosphere in the pack was thick with tension, everyone on edge as if waiting for the other shoe to drop. Alpha Orion had been relentless, increasing patrols and setting up defenses as if preparing for an inevitable attack. As for me, I was still grappling with my own whirlwind of emotions. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was caught in the middle of something far bigger than myself, something that had been set in motion long before I ever joined the pack. And then, there was the man from the stream.I couldn’t get him out of my mind. His shadowy figure had appeared that morning after I was supposed to die, and his presence had been like a ghost haunting me ever since. I knew I had seen him before. He was the same man who had appeared at the stream the day Alpha Orion had saved me. But who was he? And why did he seem to be following me?I decided that it was time to find out
Darius’s POVThe night was quiet, the kind of stillness that seemed to swallow all sound. The air was thick with tension, an invisible weight that pressed down on everything, making it hard to breathe. I stood in the shadows, my eyes fixed on the pack house in the distance, my mind racing with thoughts of what was to come.I had returned to the Starbunt Pack with a purpose. A mission that required precision, cunning, and a bit of luck. I had no intention of getting caught up in petty conflicts or unnecessary violence, but Alpha Orion had left me no choice. He was standing in my way, and I needed to make him understand that my return was inevitable.The pack was restless, I could feel it. The disappearance of the children, the strange occurrences that had plagued them recently, all of it pointed to something bigger, something more sinister at play. And at the center of it all was Anita. The girl who had survived the curse, defying the odds and putting herself directly in the line of fi
Alpha Orion’s POV I sat at my desk, staring blankly at a stack of reports that demanded my attention, but my mind was elsewhere, tangled in thoughts that wouldn’t let go.The events of the previous night replayed over and over in my mind. Darius bursting into my chambers like a storm, his fists flying in a fit of rage, his face contorted with anger. At first, I had been furious at his intrusion, but as the night wore on and the adrenaline faded, a different emotion began to creep in: doubt.How did Darius and Anita know each other? Why had Darius been so protective of her? And more importantly, why hadn’t Anita seemed surprised to see him?I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples as I tried to piece together the puzzle. It didn’t make sense. Darius had been banished from the pack years ago, and Anita had only joined us recently. There was no logical reason for them to have any sort of relationship. Yet, there was something there, something I couldn’t quite grasp. The way Anita
Anita’s POVThe days had been long and sleepless since the night Darius burst into Alpha Orion's chambers, fists flying in a misguided attempt to protect me. That night replayed in my mind like a haunting melody, each note filled with confusion, guilt, and something else—something I couldn't quite put into words. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Darius's face. His expression when he saw me crying, the raw anger and protectiveness that flashed in his eyes, and then the confusion when he realized he had misunderstood the situation. It was like a whirlwind, and I was caught right in the center of it.I sat on my bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind a tangled mess of thoughts and emotions. I didn’t understand why Darius cared so much. Why he would risk himself like that for me. What did he see in me that made him want to protect me, to stand up to Alpha Orion in such a fierce and reckless way? I hadn’t known him long enough for him to feel this strongly about me—or had I missed somethi
Darius’s POV The tension in my chest had been building for days, a gnawing frustration that I couldn’t seem to shake.Ever since my confrontation with Alpha Orion, I had been restless, unable to focus on anything other than Anita. I couldn’t stop thinking about her—the way she had looked at me, the fear and confusion in her eyes. She was caught in the middle of something far bigger than she realized, and I couldn’t stand the thought of her being hurt.I knew I shouldn’t be here. I knew I should leave the pack grounds and put as much distance between myself and Alpha Orion as possible. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t leave Anita behind, not when I still had so many unanswered questions.Why had Alpha Orion rescued her from her pack? And what was he doing with her now? The idea that he might be using her, that he might be taking advantage of her, made my blood boil. I needed to know the truth, and I needed to know it now.As the hours ticked by, I watched the pack house, waiting for the rig
Anita’s POVThe days following Darius's comforting words were some of the most confusing and emotionally charged of my life. Every time I thought I had a handle on what was happening, Darius would do something that would throw me off balance, making me question everything all over again.He was relentless in his kindness, always finding new ways to show that he cared. At first, it was the small things—a smile in passing, a gentle touch on my arm when he spoke to me, his eyes always seeking mine across the room. But then his gestures became more pronounced, more deliberate, and it was impossible to ignore the growing tension between him and Alpha Orion.I didn’t know what to do or how to feel. My mind was a jumble of confusion and guilt, a whirlwind of emotions that I couldn’t sort through. On the one hand, Darius’s attention made me feel seen, made me feel like I mattered in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time. But on the other hand, I knew that his actions were causing friction in the