Andrew’s POVElara’s dagger had nearly sliced my throat.I could still feel the rush of air against my skin, the fraction of a second between life and death. And the way her eyes—dark, wild—had looked right through me before she stumbled back in horror.She hadn’t meant to.That should have made me feel better. It didn’t. It only meant we've a big problem on our hands. It's good thing we didn't go back to the pack. She might get tripped off and mistakenly kill someone.“Elara,” I said, my voice sharp. “Tell me what the hell is going on.”She shook her head, backing away, hands trembling. “I—I don’t know.”This was what she kept doing since yesterday. Whenever I got too close, asking her if she is okay, she will retort fine.Now, it was more than obvious that she lied.I strode toward her, heart still hammering, fear burning behind my ribs. Not for myself. For her.“You almost killed me.”Her breath hitched. “I didn’t mean to.”I knew she didn't mean to but it does not dispute the fac
Elara’s POVThe voice comes mostly at night. That's why I now find it difficult to sleep. I've been up most of the night refusing to shut my eyes for a second.But there was only so much my body could take, despite being a werewolf. I had done some intensive training that has my muscles screaming. Soft. Seductive. Twisting through my mind like smoke, slipping into the cracks of my thoughts before I can push it away."You’re afraid, aren’t you?"I squeeze my eyes shut, gripping the edge of the blanket, willing it to stop. I've already had enough of this damn voice in my head."You’ve seen the truth. You know how this ends."I shake my head, burying my face in the pillow, as if that will drown it out. But it doesn’t. Andrew had promised everything was going to be fine. I wanted to believe that."He’s going to die, Elara. Unless you do something about it." Die? I would never let that happen. I would never let such a thing happen, even if the last thing I do.My breath shudders out of
Elara’s POVThe fire crackles between us, throwing flickering shadows against the trees. Andrew and Michael went somewhere together, leaving just Lora and I, wrapped in silence. She watches me carefully, her sharp blue eyes searching my face like she’s trying to piece together a puzzle.“You’ve been different lately,” she says finally, shifting on the log beside me.The memory of the day the being spoke to me flashed in my mind. His proposal and and my choice.I force a small smile. “Not sleeping well.”It wasn't a lie after all. The voice’s appearance has been bothering me for a long time. Making sleep a bit difficult.Lora snorts. “Try again.”I glance down at my hands, flexing my fingers. I can still feel it—the voice curling around my thoughts, waiting, whispering. I’ve kept it at bay for now, but it’s getting harder.He was adamant to get his way and I was losing. In the game of wills, I was losing and I was scared of what I would do when everything gets out of hand.She leans fo
Andrew’s POVThe moment I heared the commotion some distance away, I knew something was wrong.I had decided to go for a walk with Micheal to discuss matters concerning Elara, the Blood Moon and Dorian.I didn't want to involve Elara because I was worried it will be a trigger to her volatile self, and the last thing I wanted was her getting upset or worked up.That was why I left her in Lora's care but it seems that was just a waste a time. Even though I had left the vicinity of our space, I paid attention to my surrounding and that included where Elara was.That was why, when I heard unusual noise that sounded like a fight, sprinted through the woods right back to our camp.What I didn't expect was the sight in front of me; where Lora was on her hands and knees, coughing. Michael was already beside her, gripping her arm as she struggles to push herself up.His face was cloudy, anger filling his expression. It had all the signs that if it wasn't Elara, he would've personally hunted th
Andrew’s POV“Elara.”Her name left my lips as a whisper, and a plea, but she didn’t react. Looking at her as she stood their, fear almost made my heart go cold.She stood in the clearing, motionless, the dark energy twisting around her like living shadows. It coiled over her arms, her shoulders, flickering like flames—but colder. Her glowing eyes locked onto mine, dark and unfamiliar.And certainly not hers. My chest tightened. As I stared at her, I mentally kicked myself. This was all my fault. If I hadn't pushed her to grow stronger, we wouldn't be having this mess in our hands.In my attempt at trying to help her protect herself, I pushed her into the hands of the dark.“Elara,” I tried again, stepping closer. “It’s me Andrew.”Still, nothing. How come she can't recognize. For crying out loud, I'm her mate. I could practically see my wolf pacing up and down.It was feeling my desperation, regrets and fears. I wish I could control my feelings, but that was just impossible. Especia
Andrew’s POVThe second the darkness around her rose, I moved. When I said I was going fight for her, I hoped it will trigger something in her.But it turns out that I was wrong. She really wants me dead. I had no plans of letting that happen.Elara’s shadows lashed out, writhing toward me like living chains, and I had barely dodged in time when it touched me. The energy burned against my skin, cold and unnatural, leaving a lingering numbness where it grazed my arm.“Elara, don’t do this,” I breathed, my pulse thundering. This was getting out of hand and I knew if I didn't stop her, it could get worse.She doesn’t answer. And I'm worried. Why won't she answer?Instead, she lifted her hand, and the air shifted. Does magic powers come with the veiled sight? I thought it only had to do with the senses as the name suggests but from where I stood, I could see there was more to it.A force slams into my chest, sending me skidding backward. I barely keep my footing, my boots digging into th
Elara’s POVBlood.It stained Andrew’s fingers as he clutched his side, his breathing uneven. His knees nearly buckle, but he stays on his feet, even now—even after I hurt him.No.No, no, no. This wasn't part of the plan. I wanted to be strong to protect him now hurt him.I stumbled back, my hands shaking. I don’t remember striking him. I don’t remember moving at all, but the wound is there, deep and dark and real.Just as I didn't remember knocking Lora out. I thought I was doing the right thing by running, by giving in to the voice within and get stronger.I was so wrong. Now Andrew was hurt because me.“Andrew,” I whispered, my voice barely there. I couldn't think, talk more of speak.He didn’t answer. In between the time I impaled him with my claws, he had turned ashen.He was supposed to be healing right now. Why wasn't he healing already?Michael and Lora crashed through the trees. Lora’s gaze landed on Andrew, and she gasped.Despite the fact that I hurt her as well, I was ver
Andrew’s POV“Elara!”I pushed forward, ignoring the searing pain in my side. My body protested, my wound screaming, but none of it mattered.It was supposed to be healing but I didn't understand why it wasn't. I had a theory but this wasn't the time to indulge such thoughts.She was on her knees, gripping her head, her body trembled like she was fighting something I couldn't see.The shadows twisted around her again. Dark tendrils lash out, rising from the ground like living things, curling around her wrists, her throat—pulling her back.No. I won’t lose her. I won’t let this thing take her away from me. I asked her to train and now it has contributed to her changing into someone I didn't recognize.How was I supposed to live without her? She was my mate, my ride or die and I wasn't ready to live the rest of my life without her.“Elara, listen to me!” My voice was raw, desperate. I stumbled to her side, grabbing her shoulders. Her skin is ice cold. Her breath ragged. And when she lif
Elara’s POVI spat blood into the dirt, wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, and glared up at the monster in the skin of a man I thought I knew. Elder Harrow.He looked down at me with calm cruelty, not a single hair out of place. His knuckles were smeared with my blood, his robes singed at the edges from the power I'd thrown at him earlier. But he was still standing—tall, smug, unshaken.“You disappoint me, girl,” he said smoothly, pacing in a small circle around where I lay. “All that fire, wasted on stubborn pride.”I pushed up on shaking arms, breath ragged, ribs burning like someone had lit a match under my skin. My legs trembled as I forced them beneath me, rising despite the scream in every muscle.“You were supposed to bring change,” Harrow continued. “Not rebellion.”“You were supposed to be dying in a rocking chair,” I snapped, teeth clenched, “not stabbing us in the back like a damn coward.”That earned me a vicious backhand. Stars exploded in my vision as I hit the st
Andrew’s POVPain ripped through my skull as I opened my eyes.It was like claws scraping the inside of my head, dragging through my thoughts. I blinked, chest heaving, lungs burning, and sat up fast. Too fast.My stomach flipped.“Elara.”Her name burst out of me like a gasp of air after drowning. I looked around, panic rising. The room was bright, too bright. Familiar, but wrong.Like I wasn't meant to be here.This wasn’t the last place I remembered. This wasn’t where I last saw her. I was bleeding on the ground when she came to my aid. But then I remembering moments I slipped in and out of consciousness.It was the infirmary. At the packhouse.What the hell—“Easy, Andrew.” A voice to my right.I turned. Greg.He stood by the door, arms crossed, jaw tight. His eyes were red-rimmed, but he wasn’t the kind of man who cried. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days.“What happened?” My voice cracked. “Where is she? Where’s Elara?”Greg didn’t speak right away. And that told me everyth
Elara’s POVI stared at the figure in the doorway, my breath snagging in my throat.Elder Harrow.He stepped into the cell with the kind of quiet confidence that didn’t belong in a man I’d always believed was half a breath away from death. His back wasn’t hunched. His steps didn’t drag. And the cane he used since the day I knew him, was nowhere in sight.My stomach twisted.I couldn’t speak for a second. Couldn’t move either. The chains still held my arms, but this revelation had me rooted deep in shock than any physical restraint ever could.He looked at me like I was a child who had disappointed him. “Elara,” he said. “You were always… too curious.”What was that supposed to be? All I've ever wanted was protect the pack from Dorian and his croonies.But it turns out that we always had enemies in the pack. How could I've known.No wonder it felt too suspicious when Andrew was recovering and this so called elders decided to take control.“You?” My voice cracked. “No. No, that’s not—”
Elara’s POVPain brought me back first. A dull, aching throb in the back of my head. My arms were numb. My mouth dry as sand. I tried to move, but metal bit into my wrists, cold and tight.Chains.Again.My eyes fluttered open, heavy with whatever they’d drugged me with. The room was dim—stone walls, a single torch flickering from a place near the door. Shadows danced across the floor. I was sitting against a wall, ankles bound too, arms chained above my head.Not the infirmary. Not home.I didn’t have to ask where I was. The stench of blood and damp earth was enough. Dorian’s stronghold. His dungeon, probably. How poetic.It was easy to notice where I was. I've been here on different occasions. But thinking about it felt like a lifetime ago.Footsteps echoed before I could gather my thoughts.I lifted my head. Slowly. Dorian’s shadow emerged from the dark corridor like something from a nightmare. Tall. Composed. That familiar smirk stretched across his face like he’d won the damn war
Michael’s POVWe moved fast.The second the sun started to rise, Lora and I were already past the east part, slipping past the border into the dense pine thickets beyond the territory lines. There were no patrols, or guards. Lora stayed a few steps behind me, light on her feet but tense. She hadn’t spoken much since Greg gave us the order to follow up on Mara and Rhea’s movements. I didn’t blame her. The silence between us was laced with suspicion neither of us wanted to say out loud yet.Mara and Rhea. Trusted pack members and protectors.Or so we thought.“They escaped during the fight” I muttered, glancing at the tracks in the dirt. “Didn’t say a word.”Lora grunted. “And stole the ancient relic. That’s what tipped Andrew off.”“Smart of him,” I said.“Too late,” she replied quietly.Yeah. It was. We were playing catch-up, and with Dorian breathing down our necks, every second mattered.We followed the trail for another mile before the forest gave way to an old hunting cabin. It l
Elara’s POVI knew something was wrong the second I stepped into the east wing.The air was too quiet. The silence too deep.I picked up my pace, boots tapping softly against the stone floor as I rounded the corner. The scent of blood hit me hard—sharp, coppery, unmistakable. My pulse spiked.“Andrew,” I whispered, and broke into a run.Then I saw him.Slumped against the wall. Blood smeared down his jaw, his shirt torn, one arm bent at a sick angle. Greg was kneeling beside him, pressing cloth to his ribs, while Michael stood nearby, sword still drawn, face pale and furious.“Gods,” I breathed, dropping to my knees beside him. “What happened?”“He was ambushed,” Greg said without looking at me. “Two attackers. One escaped. The other…” He jerked his head toward the body behind him. “Didn’t make it.”Andrew coughed, his eyes fluttering open as I gripped his hand.“Elara?” His voice was raw, barely a whisper.“I’m here,” I said. “You’re okay. Just breathe.”“You’re late,” he rasped, try
Andrew’s POVElara’s words echoed in my skull like a blade dragged across stone.“Maybe I’m already a traitor to them.”She hadn’t looked back when she said it. Just walked off into the cold air, leaving me frozen there like an idiot.I didn’t chase after her. Maybe I should have. But gods, I was too tired of chasing people and questions. We were all bleeding from wounds no one wanted to talk about.By the time I reached the main hall, Greg was already waiting for me with that same grim look he always wore these days. He handed me a letter unfolded.I scanned the contents fast. Border movement. Enemy signs. Dorian.I exhaled through my teeth. “How close?”Greg stepped back and let the tension crackle between us before answering. “Too close. We have scouts reporting unusual gatherings. Clusters of his soldiers shifting along the northern part. Tactically scattered, but coordinated.”“How many?” I asked.“Don’t know yet. But enough to stir up real fear. And we’re not exactly standing on
Elara’s POVThe forest was quiet.I didn’t move. Didn’t even blink. Kieran’s voice still lingered in the air like smoke, sweet and poisonous.He stood before me, filled with arrogance, wearing that half-smile like he owned the godsdamn moon. He was dangerous—that much hadn’t changed. But something in his eyes tonight was different. I didn’t like it.“You’re serious,” I said.“Deadly,” he replied. “And if you’re smart, you’ll stop wasting time and start fighting them.” He flicked his fingers toward the east. The council chambers. The heart of everything rotting in this pack.Andrew’s voice was low, controlled. “You think Elara’s going to join you after everything you’ve done?”Kieran didn’t even look at him. His eyes stayed on mine. “I think Elara’s smart enough to know the rules were written to break her.”I clenched my jaw.Michael was already moving. “Enough. You’re under arrest—step away from her now.”Greg followed with his sword drawn, boots crunching on the leaves. I didn't eve
Andrew’s POVI couldn’t sleep again. Not after that message.The relic belongs to me now.Dorian didn’t have to sign his name—we all knew who sent it. The words were enough. No other person knew about the relic we had in our possession. Elara hadn’t said a word since we returned. She sat at the edge of the firepit behind the west wing, where the grass still bore bloodstains from last night’s attack. She stared into the flame like she could will herself to burn, or maybe disappear into it.I stayed back at first. Watching. Thinking.Then I finally walked over, crouched beside her.“You don’t have to go.”She didn’t even look up. Just flicked her eyes toward the flame, lips pressed tight.“Elara,” I tried again, softer this time. “You don’t have to leave.”She turned slowly. There was something unreadable in her face—tired, proud, uncertain.“You saw what the council did,” she said quietly. “They made up their minds before I even walked in the room.”“I don’t care what they decided,”