Elara's POVI slammed the door to my room behind me and leaned against it, my breath coming in shallow, uneven gasps. "Why can't he just trust me?" I whispered to no one, my voice cracking.The silence that followed was deafening, and in that silence, a chilling thought crept into my mind. If Andrew wouldn't tell me the truth, how could I ever be sure of where his loyalties truly lay?The room was dark, except for that dim light of the afternoon sun that managed its way through the curtains. I lay in bed, the happenings of the day filling my head and weighing upon my chest. Andrew's silence, his secrets, everything bothered me, swirling inside like a storm. As much as I wanted to stay angry, eventually sleep overcame me. It dragged me down into a world too real to feel like it had been nothing but a dream.I was back in the forest, the smell of earth and pine heavy in the air, the wind howling sharp and biting, carrying with it an unusual sound that I couldn't understand. I was baref
Andrew's POVElara stood in the dim light of the hallway, her face pale, her eyes with something in them so much heavier than a dream. My chest was tight as I watched her. Her hands shook, clutching at her robe, and her voice was hoarse from the fear she'd felt when she woke me just moments before."Tell me everything," I said, stepping aside to let her in.She hesitated at the door and stepped inside in slow, faltering steps. The moonlight filtering through the window fell across her profile and outlined the thin film of sweat on her forehead.The moment I closed the door behind her, I could feel the weight of her presence, the invisible burden she carried that had threatened to consume her at any time. And all I wanted was to take her in my arms and help her forget everything.It wasn't just a dream," she started, speaking no louder than a whisper as she sat on the edge of my bed. "It felt. real."I sat next to her, not too close but close enough to indicate I was listening. "What d
Elara's POV As soon as Andrew handed me the journal, I grasped it firmly against my chest. I could feel the essence of it, not just the leather and paper, but all the knowledgeable wealth in it. His father's thoughts, warnings, and secrets. I knew this would be the key to understanding my powers, yet a feeling of unease couldn't shake itself loose.Andrew had said little as I left, only that I should rest and read when I was ready. His face had been unreadable-a storm of thoughts behind his calm exterior.Now, sitting in my room, with the journal open before me, I couldn't focus. The whispers I had heard in Andrew's room still replayed dully in my ears. They felt. familiar, yet not in a comforting way, more like a shadow of a memory I couldn't place.That spirit?He had promised to deal with me if I don't kill Andrew. As it happens, I won't be needing him, but can I really stop him when he finally shows up?I traced my fingers over the words on the page. They were in Andrew's father'
Andrew's POVThe pack alarm suddenly burst through the trees-a battle cry that shot chills down my spine. Michael and I ran through the twists and turns of the forest paths in the direction of the northern border. My body was racing, and my mind tagged along as my heart boomed against my ribs.Daytime. Whoever was bold enough to breach our territory in broad daylight either didn't care for their life or thought they had a chance against us.Michael kept pace beside me, his face tense. "Who do you think it could be?" he asked, the mist of his breathing bounding into the crisp air.This is one question that I didn't even know where or how to start answering."I don't know," I said, my voice crisp as I paid attention to the path ahead. "But whoever it is made a mistake coming here.""They will have a hell lot pay for when it turns out they came with some unruly ideas." Micheal threatened."There's something bothering me.""What could that be?" Michael asked still running at a steady pace
Andrew's POV Hearing what Deveriud said about coming for Elara snapped something in me. Who the hell does he think he is, coming to my pack to make demands and worst of all, he was referring to my mate.Though it was obvious he didn't know but I doubted he would've cared anyway. It infuriated me that he had the audacity to come to my park unannounced to lay claims.However, one thing was clear, she was going nowhere with this man.“What do you want with Elara?” I asked as I clenched and unclenched my fists. Anything to control the rage within.“I don't believe my use for her is any concern of yours.” He stated stepping a bit forward as his jewels jingled between his thighs. “I would like to leave here without any fight or bloodshed. But if you push me, I don't mind getting dirty.”The guts to threaten me in front of my pack and in my own territory for that matter. I gritted my teeth, my wolf just below the surface pushing me to relinquish control over to him.“You must be a fool to t
Elara's POV Today was supposed to be an ordinary day. I was meant to run simple errands, mind my business, and make it back to my little corner without incident. I wasn’t aiming to be noticed, especially by the pack members who always made it their mission to remind me where I stood—or, rather, where I didn’t. But sometimes, I wondered if staying out of their way only made them seek me out even more.I pulled my hood up and ducked my head, hoping the less they saw of my face, the better. The market was busy, filled with laughter and chatter, and I hoped the noise would hide my presence. I had to pass by a group of wolves, talking loud and carefree, completely absorbed in their own conversations. My steps were quiet, deliberate.But luck wasn’t on my side.“Hey, isn’t that Elara?” The voice was sharp, familiar. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was—Mira, the pack’s reigning queen bee and self-proclaimed guardian of everyone else’s business.I ignored her, quickening my steps.
Elara's POVThere was a silence so thick you could almost hear everyone’s heartbeat without even trying. Andrew Galway’s gaze cut through the crowd like a blade, cutting away the jeers and smirks, leaving only the raw tension hanging in the air.Mira, who’d been so confident a moment ago, faltered. She tried to recover, her voice losing a bit of its edge as she said, “Oh, Alpha Galway, it’s nothing. Just… handling a bit of discipline.”Discipline. The word tasted bitter as I repeated it in my mind, feeling the sting of gravel still digging into my knees. She really would say anything to cover herself, twist anything to suit her version of the story. And if I tried to argue, to explain, she’d only use it against me. I knew how this game went; I’d lost too many times before.Andrew didn’t seem convinced. His eyes moved from Mira to the others still gathered around, lingering on each of them just long enough to make them uncomfortable. There was something different about him, a low power
Elara's POVI stared at Andrew, my heart pounding in my chest, feeling as though the ground beneath my feet had just crumbled away. He was really doing this, claiming me, offering me a place in his pack. It felt surreal, like something out of a dream, so unexpected that my mind couldn’t fully comprehend it. And yet, here he was, standing before me with an air of calm resolve, as if this decision was as natural to him as breathing.“Gather your things now!” he commanded, his voice steady and firm. “Meet me at Alpha Dorian’s cabin in half an hour.”I opened my mouth to speak, then closed it, utterly lost for words. The reality of the moment was too overwhelming. My thoughts swirled in a chaotic mix of disbelief, hope, and terror, each emotion crashing against the other like a turbulent storm. I nodded mutely, unable to form a coherent response. Andrew didn’t wait for another word; without a glance back, he turned and walked away, his confidence unshakable, something only an Alpha could
Andrew's POV Hearing what Deveriud said about coming for Elara snapped something in me. Who the hell does he think he is, coming to my pack to make demands and worst of all, he was referring to my mate.Though it was obvious he didn't know but I doubted he would've cared anyway. It infuriated me that he had the audacity to come to my park unannounced to lay claims.However, one thing was clear, she was going nowhere with this man.“What do you want with Elara?” I asked as I clenched and unclenched my fists. Anything to control the rage within.“I don't believe my use for her is any concern of yours.” He stated stepping a bit forward as his jewels jingled between his thighs. “I would like to leave here without any fight or bloodshed. But if you push me, I don't mind getting dirty.”The guts to threaten me in front of my pack and in my own territory for that matter. I gritted my teeth, my wolf just below the surface pushing me to relinquish control over to him.“You must be a fool to t
Andrew's POVThe pack alarm suddenly burst through the trees-a battle cry that shot chills down my spine. Michael and I ran through the twists and turns of the forest paths in the direction of the northern border. My body was racing, and my mind tagged along as my heart boomed against my ribs.Daytime. Whoever was bold enough to breach our territory in broad daylight either didn't care for their life or thought they had a chance against us.Michael kept pace beside me, his face tense. "Who do you think it could be?" he asked, the mist of his breathing bounding into the crisp air.This is one question that I didn't even know where or how to start answering."I don't know," I said, my voice crisp as I paid attention to the path ahead. "But whoever it is made a mistake coming here.""They will have a hell lot pay for when it turns out they came with some unruly ideas." Micheal threatened."There's something bothering me.""What could that be?" Michael asked still running at a steady pace
Elara's POV As soon as Andrew handed me the journal, I grasped it firmly against my chest. I could feel the essence of it, not just the leather and paper, but all the knowledgeable wealth in it. His father's thoughts, warnings, and secrets. I knew this would be the key to understanding my powers, yet a feeling of unease couldn't shake itself loose.Andrew had said little as I left, only that I should rest and read when I was ready. His face had been unreadable-a storm of thoughts behind his calm exterior.Now, sitting in my room, with the journal open before me, I couldn't focus. The whispers I had heard in Andrew's room still replayed dully in my ears. They felt. familiar, yet not in a comforting way, more like a shadow of a memory I couldn't place.That spirit?He had promised to deal with me if I don't kill Andrew. As it happens, I won't be needing him, but can I really stop him when he finally shows up?I traced my fingers over the words on the page. They were in Andrew's father'
Andrew's POVElara stood in the dim light of the hallway, her face pale, her eyes with something in them so much heavier than a dream. My chest was tight as I watched her. Her hands shook, clutching at her robe, and her voice was hoarse from the fear she'd felt when she woke me just moments before."Tell me everything," I said, stepping aside to let her in.She hesitated at the door and stepped inside in slow, faltering steps. The moonlight filtering through the window fell across her profile and outlined the thin film of sweat on her forehead.The moment I closed the door behind her, I could feel the weight of her presence, the invisible burden she carried that had threatened to consume her at any time. And all I wanted was to take her in my arms and help her forget everything.It wasn't just a dream," she started, speaking no louder than a whisper as she sat on the edge of my bed. "It felt. real."I sat next to her, not too close but close enough to indicate I was listening. "What d
Elara's POVI slammed the door to my room behind me and leaned against it, my breath coming in shallow, uneven gasps. "Why can't he just trust me?" I whispered to no one, my voice cracking.The silence that followed was deafening, and in that silence, a chilling thought crept into my mind. If Andrew wouldn't tell me the truth, how could I ever be sure of where his loyalties truly lay?The room was dark, except for that dim light of the afternoon sun that managed its way through the curtains. I lay in bed, the happenings of the day filling my head and weighing upon my chest. Andrew's silence, his secrets, everything bothered me, swirling inside like a storm. As much as I wanted to stay angry, eventually sleep overcame me. It dragged me down into a world too real to feel like it had been nothing but a dream.I was back in the forest, the smell of earth and pine heavy in the air, the wind howling sharp and biting, carrying with it an unusual sound that I couldn't understand. I was baref
Elara's POVHe took another step closer, towering over her, his voice menacing and cold. "If I find out you've done anything, I mean anything to harm my pack, you won't walk away this time."Her jaw tightened, but she didn't back down. "I told you, I had no hand in it," she said, all steady-voiced now. "Believe me or don't. I don't care.”Andrew didn't utter a word, his eyes boring right into hers, the look of one searching for any trace of a lie. But Mara's face was a mask unreadable even to me. Finally, he let out a sharp exhalation, his chest heaving with barely contained fury. "Leave," he said, his voice final and not allowing room for argument.She hesitated a moment, her eyes darting between us. Then, with a sharp nod, she turned on her heel and disappeared into the shadows of the forest whence she had come.We stood there for a long moment, the silence around us deafening. My hands were shaking, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts."She's lying," he muttered to himself rat
Andrew's POVThe air between us was thick with tension, almost suffocating. It was the kind that claws its way under your skin and refuses to let go. Mara really knows how to get the atmosphere this way.My breathing was still a little uneven, though I hadn't come, the heat of my body was still high from the intimate moment I'd just shared with Elara. She was leaning against me, her red cheeks pressed to my chest as she tried to steady herself. For one fleeting second, I allowed myself to stay in that moment-to relax and let her presence ground me.But then Mara appeared out of nowhere.She walked out of a dark nook, an apparition with calculated movements, as if she had watched us for far longer than I could imagine and knew exactly where she was going. Her hooded eyes moved between me and Elara, a smug smile curling into that annoying I'd grown to despise.“Me?" she asked, my voice shaking despite her efforts to sound strong."Yes, you," Mara said, her smile steady, though colder th
Elara’s POVI didn't reply as I tried to break away from his grasp. But he proved to be stronger. “Let me go. You can continue having a good laugh at me.” “Don't be like that, it was just the spur of the moment.” He said his eyes dancing. “I'm sorry.” But the look on his face was anything apologetic.My temper flared and I tugged at my hand to get away from him but with one force, he pulled me back against his chest. Before I could protest, his lips crashed down on mine silencing whatever I had on my lips. Raising my hands to push him off, I ended up snaking them around his neck. Just as he deepened the kiss, I felt one his hands leave my hips to trace a path to my breast. Over the material of my clothes, he massaged it earning a gasp from my lips which were very much busy. As if that was the consent he needed, his hand slipped under my shirt and found its way to my globes. This time, he pulled it out of the bra and kneaded it, flicking at the nipples which sent a jolt through me a
Andrew's POVHer lips quivered against mine, the air catching in her lungs as I tugged her deeper, refusing to let the moment slip away. Fire and rebellion molded into one-and for a moment, I felt her defenses drop. But the softness there in the kiss was short-lived, replaced by a stubborn energy that I despised and loved.Don't ever do what?" she whispered.As I leaned back to respond, her stormy eyes bored right into mine; the pain I saw there was still fresh, raw."Don't ever run away from me like that again," I said, my voice low but razor-sharp. My hands were still firm on her waist, holding her close to me, as though letting go meant risking her disappearing from me forever.She raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a teasing smirk even as her chest rose and fell in uneven breaths. "And if I do?My jaw clenched, and my wolf bristled at the challenge in her tone. She always knew how to press my buttons, how to get me heated and raise every primal instinct in me. I leaned in cl