Andrew's POVAnger snapped through the air like a live wire-hot, dangerous. I was pacing my study, my fists firmly at my sides. It was claustrophobic in here; the walls were closing in while my thoughts spiraled inside my brain. Michael stood leaning against the door frame in the corner, his expression unreadable. It was the casual way he stood that finally set my anger ablaze.“How the hell did this happen?" I exploded, sharply turning myself back around to face him.Michael's brow rose, and his lips quivered with what I suspected, to be amusement. "You'll have to be more specific, Andrew. What do you think?”"Elara!" I said, my voice a little higher than I had intended. "How could the pack rally in an attack against her when you're supposed to be there keeping an eye on them?"He shrugged-a maddeningly indifferent motion. "Perhaps because she does not belong here, and they know it.".It led to an uncomfortable silence in the room, my chest heaving as I fought to control my breath.I
Andrew's POVCrossing back to the window, I watched through the curtain, my hands clutched on the edge such that some fabric tore off. Below, Elara stood at the center of a circle of my pack members. Her shoulders hunched, her hair stuck to her face as she mopped the muddy training grounds. Voices rose around her, mocking, and laughing."You missed a spot, witch," said one jeeringly.Another kicked water over her clean patch, laughing as the mud splashed her legs.But she didn't say a word.My jaw clenched. This was not the Elara I knew. The Elara I knew would have fought back, her words flying through the air like knives-sharp, cold, deadly-deadmise dancing in her eyes. She didn't take a problem with fighting against me, challenging my authority whenever she got the chance. But now? She said nothing. She just stood there, taking their jeers.Why?The question filled my mind, annoying and unrelenting. My frustration swelled in my chest, mixed with the growing anger toward my pack. Cru
Elara's POVThe silence in my room was deafening; the weight of my thoughts was my only companion. I sat cross-legged on the small cot, my fingers tracing the rough fibers in the blanket, staring at the wall.No different was Andrew's pack from Grimshade, I thought sourly. Cruelty, it would appear, goes wherever I go. The laughter from earlier still rang in my ears, each jeer slicing deeper than I should let it.Part of me wondered where I got the right from, caring in the first place. This wasn't my home, it wasn't my people. Yet their words still got under my skin. The way they looked at me though-like I was something dirty, something less … it was too familiar. It brought me back to Grimshade, to nights spent nursing bruises and swallowing my pride.Was I better off here?My door suddenly flew open, banging backward against the wall, sending me upright; my heart shot up in my throat, as I clenched my fists ready for another attack.Andrew leaned on the doorway, casual in his pose,
Elara's POVI shifted uncomfortably in the passenger seat of the Jeep, as it continued to bump its way along the dirt trail. The silence was a thick, heavy hanging between Andrew and I, broken only by the sound of crunching tires over gravel and the occasional howl of wind through the trees. Greg sat in the back quiet, his eyes scanning across the woods as if anticipating danger to leap from the appear at any moment.I still didn't know why I was here.Andrew said it was training, but what kind of training required dragging me to the edge of the pack's territory with no warning and no explanation? He hadn't spoken much since I'd met him downstairs-just barked orders at Greg and tossed me into the Jeep like some kind of inconvenient luggage."Why am I even here?" I finally asked, breaking the silence.Andrew didn't look at me. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, knuckles white. "You'll see soon enough.""That's not an answer."He glanced at me then, his sharp eyes glinting wi
Elara's POVMy ears rang as I tried to focus on Andrew's voice yelling my name. My chest heaved with my gasping for breath as my heart pounded against my ribs as if it would burst from them at any moment. Before I could wrap my mind around what had just happened, they came.Someone darted toward us with inhuman speed, followed by two more figures. The attackers didn't hesitate—they lunged with snarls that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up."Stay behind me!" Andrew barked, his voice sharp and commanding as he moved in front of me.Greg was already shifting, his body changing as fur erupted along his arms. Claws extended from his fingertips, glinting in the moonlight. Andrew followed suit, but he didn't transform fully yet, it was just as swift and deadly. The air was thick with the scent of power and aggression, a mix of Andrew's dominance and Greg's vicious anger.I had little time to watch the power they exhibited. One attacker dove directly for me, and I barely dodged, my
Andrew's POVCarrying Elara in my arms felt like carrying the world's most fragile treasure. She was too still, her body limp against mine. Blood seeped through my shirt where her head rested, warm and sticky, and I could not tell if it was hers or mine. Every step to the medical center seemed like eternity, yet I moved faster than I ever thought possible.“Move!" I barked as we approached the main hall. Pack members scrambled out of my way, their faces pale as they caught sight of the blood.Greg was right behind me, his claws still out and his breathing heavy. "We've got to get her stabilized," he said, his voice tense."I know," I snapped, though I didn't mean to. My chest felt too tight, my head too full of the memory of her losing consciousness in my arms.As we burst through the doors of the medical center, Mirabel, the head healer, was already waiting, her sharp eyes assessing the situation."Get her on the table, now!" she commanded, her voice rising above the chaotic situatio
Elara's POVMy head felt like it was stuffed with cotton, heavy and slow. Voices murmured somewhere nearby, but I couldn't make out the words. My eyelids felt like they were weighed down with something heavy, but I forced them open, blinking against the harsh light.The first thing I was aware of was the scent-antiseptic and herbs mingling in the air. It hit me like a punch to the face, and it didn't take long to figure out where I was. A hospital. No, not just any hospital-a pack infirmary. The faint markings of the crescent moon symbol etched into the beams above confirmed it.What the hell happened?I tried to sit up, but pain ripped through my side, sharp and wicked. A gasp escaped my lips before I could stop it, and my hands instinctively pressed against my ribs. That's when I noticed something else: I wasn't alone.In the corner of the room, hardly seen under the dim light of the lamps hanging from the ceiling, was a figure. First, I had thought him to be one of the healers, but
Andrew's POVI caught her scent before I saw her. That faint trace of lavender and something totally hers—something I couldn't name but had burned into my memory. It pulled me like a magnet to the hallway outside her room, an invisible hold I couldn’t break even if I tried.Elara.Two days. Two damn days since she'd been discharged, and it was like she'd vanished. Sure, the healers had said she needed rest, but avoiding me? That wasn’t part of the prescription. And she was avoiding me—I was sure of it.The weight of unanswered questions bore down on me as I leaned against the cold stone wall, debating whether to knock. My knuckles hovered an inch from the door, hesitation holding me back. What if she didn't want to see me? What if she had her reasons, reasons I wouldn’t like? But just as I decided to let the moment pass, the door creaked open, and there she was.Her hand rested lightly on the doorframe, her lips slightly parted in surprise. Her hair framed her face, loose strands catc
Elara’s POVThe room was loud again, chatter and the scraping of chairs filling the room as everyone prepared for the meal, but my mind was anything but calm. My hands trembled under the table, and I clenched them into fists to stop the tremor.This couldn’t be happening.The word “mine” echoed in my head like a haunting reminder of it meant. My wolf’s voice—the voice I thought I’d never hear again—had claimed Andrew, of all people. The Alpha I had spent weeks resenting. The man I had plotted against.It was almost hilarious, but there was nothing funny about it. It was crazy. A sick game played by fate.Why now? I demanded to myself hoping for an answer from my wolf. Why him?But there was only silence. The same maddening silence that had been my companion for such long I sometimes forgot I was a werewolf. My wolf had stirred just long enough to wreck my plans and then gone quiet again, leaving me to face the implications alone.I glanced up, my eyes following Andrew as he moved with
Elara’s POVThe dining hall was alive with the sounds of the pack—laughter, chatter, and the occasional clinking of plates. It was an odd sort of connection, one that always made me feel like an outsider. Sitting at a corner table farthest from the others, I kept my head low, tracing idle patterns on the wooden surface with my fingertip.The hall was warm from the large hearth near the center, but I felt cold. I always did.A harsh smile tugged at my lips as I imagined the scene playing out in my head—Andrew and his pack members seated at their table, eating heartily without a care in the world. And then all of a sudden, the food turns to poison in their mouths, their smug smiles changing into expressions of agony as one by one they fell. Andrew would fall last, his golden eyes wide with shock and helplessness.For a moment, the thought brought a cruel satisfaction. A cursed wolf like me had no place here. They’d made that abundantly clear from the start. So why should I care what hap
Andrew’s POVI didn’t answer immediately. Dorian’s smug grin and hidden threats still remained in my mind, but it was Mira’s sharp words about Elara that stuck with me the most. Her malicious tone, the way she spat out the word “Omega” like it was a curse—it had grated against at my very core like nothing had in a while.Michael’s voice broke into my thoughts. “You noticed Mira was the one doing most of the talking, right? Dorian barely had to say a word. She’s like his mouthpiece, stirring the pot while he stays clean.”I nodded, my jaw tightening. “I noticed. It’s a calculated move, as always. Keeps his hands clean while the rest of us are left dealing with the fallout.”Michael shifted in his seat, leaning forward slightly. “Speaking of fallout… why did you let her get under your skin like that?”I frowned, my gaze snapping to his. “What do you mean?”He leaned back again, his tone consciously casual. “I’m talking about Mira and her little comments about Elara. You were ready to bi
Andrew’s POVThe tension in my office was almost a tangible thing, thanks to the presence of another Alpha. Dorian reclined in one of the leather chairs opposite my desk, his posture casual, but his eyes were anything but amused. Mira sat next to him, her legs crossed and her smirk sharp enough, it rubbed me off the wrong way. Behind me, Michael stood like a guard, his arms folded across his chest.The confrontation outside had left a bitter taste in my mouth. My wolves disobeyed me, Elara took a beating and probably hates me—though it’s the least of my concerns. Now, I had to deal with Dorian's smug face in my territory.I didn’t bother with pleasantries. “What’s so urgent that you had to discuss it in private?”Dorian’s smirk widened as if he’d been waiting for me to ask. “Ah, straight to the point. I like that about you, Andrew.”I didn’t respond. My patience was already at its last stretch.“Well,” he drawled, leaning forward, “some weeks ago, you came to my pack and... let’s say,
Elara’s POVThe sun was dipping low, casting long shadows across the packhouse as I stepped outside. The air was cool and filled with the earthy scent of the woods. My heart raced as I moved quickly down the stone path, my boots crunching against the gravel.I didn’t bother looking over my shoulder as I had no time to waste. Every step away from the packhouse made my heart beat faster as I set the plan swirling in my mind into motion.As I walked deeper into the woods, it shrouded me in semi-darkness, the tall trees blocking the last rays of sunlight. My fingers brushed the rough bark of a tree as I leaned against it, to take a deep breath and check if I was being followed. I needed to hurry before anyone sees me. What I needed can only be found in the northern borders of the pack.The northern borders weren’t far, but I couldn’t afford to be seen. My movements were fast and sure, rushing between trees, while making sure my steps were quiet.Every snap of a branch or rustle of leaves
Elara's POVThe silence that followed was heavy, and loud. Lora’s shoulders sagged, and she looked at me as if she didn’t recognize the person towering over her.“I just… I don’t want to see you hurt again.”Her words were soothing and annoying at the same time but I was tired of her trying to look out for me like I was some helpless kid.That's Lora for you. Always trying to look out for me but right now, it was the least of my concerns.I sighed, trying to rein in my anger. I was tired of talking. “I know, Lora. I know you mean well. But I can’t keep hiding. If I do, they’ll win. And I won’t give them that satisfaction.”She opened her mouth to respond, but I cut her off with a raise of my hand. “No matter how you feel, it doesn't matter if you want me protected from hurt, I will always get hurt.”And that was the truth of the whole matter. She doesn't know how I so much want to protect myself from all the hurt in the world, but that's impossible.“That's a wrong notion and you know
Elara’s POVI stood frozen for a moment, watching Andrew disappear into the building with Dorian, Mira, and Michael. His broad shoulders radiated the authority of an Alpha, yet his departure left a hollow space in my chest that I couldn’t ignore.The pack lingered briefly, murmuring amongst themselves. Some looked at me with pity, others with disdain. I didn’t care to what their expressions really was. Max and Tom, still crouched on the ground nursing their injuries, shot me dark glares before dragging themselves to their feet and limping away.I thought they would say something else to me. They knew better.Cowards. That's what they were.When the rest of the pack finally began dispersing, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. My muscles ached as I straightened, the sharp sting in my ribs and the dull ache of my split lip served as a harsh reminder of the ordeal I've been put through.With a deep breath, I turned toward the packhouse. Each step felt heavier than the las
Andrew’s POVThe moment I stepped outside, a sight that made me go blind with rage met my eyes.Elara was on the ground, dirt smeared across her cheek, her lip split, blood trickling down her chin. She didn’t cower, didn’t beg, she just glared up at those who put her in that situation, fury burning behind her eyes.I had already seen what was going on from my office at the top but seeing up close made my blood boil.Max and Tom stood over her, smug and laughing, their fists still clenched from the blows they had landed.My vision went even darker.“What’s going on here?” I asked, my voice slicing through the air like a knife.The laughter died instantly. The gathered warriors stiffened. Even the ones who hadn’t taken part in the attack looked uneasy now.My Scar-jawwed pack member, Max hesitated before stepping forward, clearing his throat. “Alpha, we were just—”The other one, Tom, whose eyes were unnaturally dark smirked, cutting in. “Teaching her a lesson.”A lesson.I felt my hand
Elara’s POVI rushed forward, my pulse pounding in my ears, but before I could get any closer, two warriors stepped into my path.What do they want this time?I didn't have the time to start interacting with them. I had Andrew to catch up to and I knew if I didn't get to him in time, I would miss out on whatever Dorian had to tell him.They stood tall, their bodies rigid, blocking my way like a pair of immovable guards. Their expressions were unreadable, but the tension in their stance was clear.I could already smell the sweat they worked up while training with the other warriors. And I was already tired of inhaling it as I wrinkled my nose at them.I narrowed my eyes. They obviously had an issue with me. I really don’t have time for this."Move," I said, my voice firm and clear. I didn't want to get involved with them but if they tried to stop me…The warriors didn’t budge. One of them, a broad-shouldered man with a scar running down his jaw, crossed his arms. His companion, taller