Andrew’s POVIt was never my intention for things to end the way they did with Elara. But what was I supposed to do when the entire pack seemed to be against her?I stood at the window of my study, swirling the amber liquid in my glass as I stared into the night. The moon was high, casting a cold glow over the land, but the unease in my chest refused to settle. It was like a growing tumor trying to choke me.Even though I had never planned to form any emotional attachment to her, I couldn’t shake the way she made me feel. And that was dangerous. More dangerous than any enemy lurking outside our borders. And it seemed I had more than a few.Letting her into my bed was a mistake. Now, she was in my head, haunting my thoughts like a ghost I couldn’t exorcise. Even now, just the memory of her scent, the way her body felt against mine, had my blood heating, sending it straight to my lower region, giving me a boner.If there's anything I learnt early in life is to never form any close ties
Andrew’s POVThe moment we stepped into the storeroom, the sharp scent of blood hit me. It clung to the air, metallic and thick mixing with the damp, musty smell of the enclosed space. The dim light flickered above, casting shadows across the concrete floor.In the center of the room, slumped in a chair, was our prisoner—the source of the blood. I wasn't expecting much but seeing someone who looked so young being held prisoner for torture and questioning by my pack enforcer surprised me.“Is that him?” I asked.“Yes. Don't be fooled by what you see. He is much tougher than he looks.” He stated. “My fists can testify to that.” He added showing me his bloodied knuckles.How much beating did he have to give that boy to get his hands looking like that. Normally, people break after taking a few punches from Greg.With a nod, I took slow, measured steps toward him, my boots quiet against the hard ground. His head hung forward, chin resting against his chest, his body limp.I crouched, gripp
Andrew's POVThe dim light from the single, flickering bulb overhead cast shadows across his face, making the sweat on his brow glisten. His wrists were bound behind him, his breathing labored, and the smell of blood still hung thick in the air.I leaned forward, my voice low but edged with danger. “Are you going to talk, or should I pick which limb comes off first? Maybe your hand… or your leg?” I tilted my head, considering the options as I let my fingers trail over the cold metal of the chainsaw in my hand.For a brief second, I saw the hesitation in his eyes—the flicker of fear—but then he steeled himself, his expression hardening into defiance.“You can all go to hell,” he spat. “I’m not telling you anything.”I exhaled slowly, feigning disappointment. “Very well then. Suit yourself.”With an indifferent shrug, I gripped the chainsaw’s handle and yanked the cord. The engine roared to life, its sharp teeth glinting as I took a step toward him. The scent of burning fuel filled the
Elara’s POVIt had barely been a few hours since Andrew left, and yet, I already felt the empty ache of his absence.I shouldn’t.I shouldn’t feel anything for a man I was destined to kill, yet here I was, doing the exact opposite. It was pathetic. Worse, it was dangerous. Dangerous for me. After his departure, I quickly had a shower to wash away the dirt and aches as well as to clear my mind. But as I laid on my bed few minutes later, sleep eluded me. Now it's the wee hours of the morning and I knew I was going to be dull due to my lack of sleep.The realization that I was going through this because Andrew pissed me off.Especially after the words he had thrown at me.“I don’t need you pointing out how my pack should or shouldn’t act,” he growled. Then his voice dropped, colder than ice. “Especially not from a cursed wolf.”His pack. The same pack that was inefficient enough not to notice when their Alpha was in danger. The same pack that was close by but was unable to do anything
Elara’s POV"What the hell are you doing?" I spat, my hand still pressed to my stinging cheek. My face burned from the blow, but I refused to let it show. Not to Mira.Her smirk still in place, she stepped deeper into my room like she owned the place. Behind her, the two girls I didn’t recognize followed closely, their eyes filled with malice. If they were with Mira, I already knew they were trouble."So, this is what the Salientmoon Pack gave you?" Mira mused, glancing around with fake admiration. "How nice of them."I clenched my fists, forcing my breathing to stay even.One of the girls, a blonde with sharp features, sauntered closer. She tilted her head, studying me like I was some rare item. "So, this is the famous Elara I’ve heard so much about." Her lips curled into a smirk. "Honestly? You don’t look like much.""Is that why you’re here?" I asked coldly. "To see the cursed wolf?"Blondie snorted. "Yes, actually. But Mira also said you know how to take a good beating. I was bank
Elara's POVAs I stood there, still contemplating where I could've gotten this strength from, Mira stirred. Before I could react, the other two were also coming to consciousness.It seems we will have to go again. Clenching my fists, I noticed the foreign energy in my body was gone.For a moment, my heart dropped to my stomach. What am I to do?But then it struck me; they didn't know the power had dispersed. They still think my strength was still there.I thought they would attack again once they set their sights on me but as they looked up, they shrunk back as if they had just seen a monster, their expressions ones of pure terror.Good. Just my luck, I thought as relief washed over me They should be scared.This is nice for a change. I got the chance to give them a taste of their own poison.I took a deliberate step toward them, watching as they cowered. Mira, still groggy from the hit, tried to sit up, but her hands shook. Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but no w
Andrew's POVThough I intended to meet up with Dorian immediately after leaving the storehouse, things didn’t go as I had hoped.Upon reaching the southern borders, I expected to find him before he entered the pack, but instead found nothing. No scent, no sign, and no sound aside from the gentle rustling of leaves beneath a clear blue sky.He must have already gotten inside.A curse escaped my lips as a shiver ran down my spine. I couldn't help but feel anxious. I don’t trust him. We’ve been fierce rivals for years, constantly watching each other, waiting for a chance to clash. The fact that we hadn’t gone to war yet is nothing short of a miracle.Taking out my phone, I called Michael. Typically, I’d howl, relying on the pack’s natural instinct, but I didn’t want to create any unnecessary tension at that moment."Hey, Michael. I can't seem to find Dorian anywhere around here," I said, my voice strained. "Can you track him down on your end?""Are you serious? Give me a second, I’ll che
Elara’s POVFor one long moment, I just stood, my breath coming in long, controlled exhales as I stared at the space where Andrew, Dorian, and Mira had barely left.I shut the door behind them, leaving me in the kind of silence that made me uncomfortable especially after the conversation that just went on. What unfinished business could Dorian possibly have with Andrew?My mind replayed every interaction we’d had, searching for any sign, any hints I might have missed while everything was going on. Dorian had always been calculative, always playing a game only he knew the rules to. I didn’t doubt for a second that whatever he wanted had nothing to do with goodwill.Knowing who he is, he has an ulterior motive. There has never been any love lost between. Everything is just a game.I ran a hand down my face, pressing my fingers against my temple, suddenly feeling weary from everything.It is too early in the morning for this.Sighing, I walked toward the window, pulling apart the thick
Elara's POVThe name on the note stared back at me like a ghost from the past. Kieran. There was something about it that set me off. Was the veiled sight reacting to the name?My pulse pounded in my ears like I had been running some kind of marathon. I tried to concentrate on the way I was reacting to this but I came up blank.What was it with this name?I had never met him, and the name looked as foreign to me as a language I had no idea even existed. But judging from their faces, they knew who he was. “Mind telling me who this Kieran guy is?” I asked holding up the paper to them. “I've never heard of him before but for him to get you in this mood, he must mean something.”Despite the turmoil going on inside me, I had opted for casual tone to avoid getting them any more agitated.Lora nodded like she knew who this guy was. Was I the only one who didn't know him? I came to this pack before her yet she seemed know more than I ever did.But my guess was Michael had filled her in on who
Elara’s POVThe tension in the air was thick enough to choke on. After the council had made their decision, it felt almost irreversible.But then Andrew stood at the center of it all—torn, conflicted, silent when I needed him loud. His hesitation was a wound that cut deeper than the accusations against me.Apart from the time he spoke up about me being watched closely, he hadn't said much. Not that it mattered now.I didn’t have time to dwell on it. There was so much to think about than a broken bond and a falling relationship.Three days. That was all I had before the trial, and I wasn’t going to sit around and wait for them to decide my fate.I needed answers. And I needed them fast. It's a good thing I enlisted the help of Micheal and Lora. With me under the kind of scrutiny I was, it would be difficult to look into certain matters without getting in trouble.It seems the troublesome duo didn't account for the fact that I would still have people willing to assist despite the accus
Andrew’s POVThe council chamber was suffocating. I can't remember the last time I had entered this place.If I was being sincere, it was probably my father died and I kicked Mara out. The council wanted to put me under trial but after some thought, they dropped everything.The former alpha had been acting off in recent times but none of them had the gal to call him out.I just had to take matters in my hands.I stood at the front, Elara beside me, but we felt miles apart. She hadn’t looked at me since last night. Not really. Not the way she used to.I didn’t blame her. I kind of—okay I actually let her down when I couldn't back her up when she needed me.But then I was still confused about how I felt about her. The bond between us was broken, and I felt the absence of it like a missing limb. But that wasn’t an excuse for my silence. I should have fought harder for her.I would. I had to. At least to make for yesterday. I just hope this turns out. At the end, It was my fault we were h
Elara’s POVI turned to Andrew. He had supported me earlier. I was counting on that support again. I didn’t think. I didn’t hesitate. I just knew he would defend me, even though our mate bond was history.Even now, with the weight of Mara’s accusations pressing against my ribs like a vice, I thought—no, hoped—he would stand by me.At least for old times sake, he would stand beside me on this matter. But when I met his eyes, my stomach dropped.He looked at me, but not the same way he looked normally looked at me. I admit that ever since I broke our mate bond, I've been avoiding him but it was not like something I wanted.It was either that or cry over what was lost and I was done crying. And I hoped he understood but it was obvious he didn't. Hiving him a good look since the day I made the sacrifice, I noticed he had changed over the past few days. He didn't come to find me, he hadn't said anything to me even though I tried to stay away. But that aside, staring into his eyes, I wa
Elara’s POVThe room fell into stunned silence immediately the words fell from Mara's lips.Mara’s words hung in the air like a curse. How the hell did she know? I made sure no one was wiser about the incident.In fact it turned out to favor me even though I had to take the poison to save the pack.But I knew no matter how I explained it to this pack, they would never understand once they found out the truth.My pulse pounded in my ears, a roaring sound drowning out the whispers spreading through the gathered wolves. Heat rushed to my face, but not from embarrassment—rage burned through me, sharp and electric. But beneath it was fear. Because it meant there was someone monitoring me in this pack. And no, it wasn't Tom. There was another traitor.I took a step forward, my voice cutting through the tension. “That’s a lie.”There was no way I was admitting to trying to kill them. Before that day, they treated me like trash. How would they treat me if they knew the truth?Mara smirked, t
Andrew’s POVThe fire crackled in the center of the gathering hall, its warmth doing nothing to chase away the cold knot in my chest.I was alive. I should have been grateful. I was grateful. In fact I was happy about it.But I felt wrong. Everything felt wrong. My second chance at life felt incomplete like something was missing.It was almost like I’d been stitched back together, but some pieces were missing. Pieces that made life have more meaning.I barely remembered the moment I came back, but I remembered the emptiness. The way I’d looked at Elara and felt nothing where there had once been everything.I have lived long and content till I found out that she was my mate and now that I've lost the said mate bond, I didn't feel the same despite living without it long ago.Now, as I sat at the head of the long wooden table, surrounded by my pack, I could feel the weight of their stares. The questions in their eyes.I didn't exactly tell them that Elara was my mate, but now they knew d
Andrew’s POVBlinding pain. That was the first thing I felt. It was raw, searing, like fire scorching every nerve in my body. It ripped through me, dragging me back from the darkness, forcing breath into my lungs like I’d been drowning.I gasped, my body jerking, my heart pounding so hard it hurt. My chest ached, my limbs felt like lead, and my head throbbed with a sharp, splintering pain.But I was alive. How? I was very sure that I had seen the white light most people spoke about when they were about to die.I sucked in another breath, the scent of earth and rain thick in the air, grounding me. My fingers twitched against cool grass, and slowly, slowly, I forced my heavy eyelids open.Blurry figures hovered above me.Voices—soft, urgent—filtered through the haze.“Elara?” My throat was raw, my voice barely more than a rasp.Silence.Then a sharp inhale. A shuffle of movement as if someone was approaching.“Elara,” I tried again, forcing my body to move. My muscles screamed in protes
Elara’s POVThe world around me had blurred into nothing but Andrew. His face was too pale, his breath barely there, his body unmoving except for the shallow rise and fall of his chest—too slow, too weak.I pressed my forehead against his, my fingers trembling as they brushed over his cheek. “Stay with me,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “You promised, Andrew. You promised.”But he wasn’t responding.His lips were parted, his breathing ragged. His skin, which was always warm, always alive, felt cold beneath my touch. A terrifying stillness settled over him, and I felt something deep inside me crack.“We’re losing him!” Lora’s voice was sharp, urgent.I looked up, desperate, my vision blurred with unshed tears. “I think it's high time you start talking.”Michael’s jaw clenched. He didn’t speak. Didn’t move. Because he didn’t know how to tell me what I needed to know. I was about to grab him and make him tell me what I needed to know when someone else spoke up.A voice. Low, firm, fil
Elara POVDorian staggered back. I'm sure he didn't anticipate that move. Did he really think I was going to soak up all his words and leave just like that?Did he really think I was some dumb fool?For the first time, his face twisted in something that almost looked like shock. His shadows flickered, unstable, the thick, oppressive weight of his power suddenly less.My energy pulsed again, silver light pushing outward like ripples in a storm. The air between us cracked, charged with something beyond my understanding.And then, just like that, the grip of his power broke. I wasn't sure what I was doing but one thing I knew was: I tried to push his power back and it worked.Dorian took another step back, his lips parting slightly, as if tasting the change in the air. His smirk returned, but it was thinner now, tighter.“Well,” he murmured, brushing invisible dust off his sleeve. “That was… unexpected.”Just as I thought, he actually took me to be a dumb person. After all the shit he ha