Helios POV Starlight is playing with me. I know it. I can see it in the way she looks at me, her eyes glinting with quiet amusement whenever I struggle. The worst part? She isn’t even trying.She just exists, and somehow, that alone is enough to unravel me. I, Helios Blackwood, Alpha of the Moonlit Pack, the strongest of my generation, am falling apart. And she is watching it happen.The worst part of all this, I can’t escape her. I hear her heartbeat in my sleep. I breathe her in even when she’s nowhere near me. I don’t need to see her to know she’s close because my body reacts to her presence before my mind even registers it.This bond is supposed to make her submit. Instead, it’s doing the opposite. It’s making me weak. And Starlight? She revels in it, and shamelessly so. She acts as though she feels nothing. But I don’t believe it. In fact, I refuse to believe it.The truth is that this is a game I can't win. It happens again the next morning. I stand in the hallway, waiting for
Helios’ POVI paced my chamber, my hands clenched at my sides, my breath coming in short, sharp bursts. Submit to her? The very thought made my wolf, Hades, snarl in protest, the sound reverberating through my skull. "We cannot," he growled, his voice thick with fury. "We are Alpha. We rule. We do not kneel."My jaw tightened. I knew that. I had been raised on that truth, had built my entire life upon it. I was Helios, Alpha of the Moonlit Pack. My word was law. My strength was absolute. I did not bow. Not to anyone. Not to anything. And yet… "She is our mate."That cursed thought whispered through my mind, sinking its claws deep into my resolve. Starlight. My mate. My Omega. The girl I had wronged. The girl who had suffered under my hand. And now, she stood before me, head held high, telling me to submit.A cruel, twisted sense of irony settled in my chest. I had broken her, shattered her spirit piece by piece. And yet, she had emerged from the ashes of my cruelty stronger. Not broke
Starlight’s POVI crossed my arms and watched Helios kneel before me, his broad shoulders squared, his head held high, despite the undeniable tension in his body. He was resisting, even if only instinctually, but I could already see the mate bond working against his will. He needed me, and craved my presence in a way that no amount of pride or stubbornness could undo. Good."First of all," I said, my voice firm and commanding, "you will address me as 'Dom' or 'Star' at all times. You will not use my name unless I give you permission to do so."Helios's golden eyes locked onto mine, unwavering. Then, after a moment, he dipped his head in a slow nod. "Yes, Dom." I felt satisfaction spread in my heart."Secondly," I continued, pacing slowly in front of him, letting the tension stretch. "You will obey my commands without question or hesitation. If I tell you to do something, you will do it immediately."His jaw tensed, the Alpha in him bristling at the very notion of submission. But even
Starlight’s POVI couldn't help but smirk as I strode toward Helios, my amusement barely concealed. His sharp eyes followed my every move, brimming with curiosity, and a hint of unease."I'm glad you're ready," I said, my voice dripping with satisfaction. "Because your punishment is going to be... interesting."Helios stiffened, his mind clearly racing to figure out what I had planned. I stopped just inches from him, tilting my head slightly as I let the moment stretch."You're going to wear a collar," I announced, watching his expression shift from confusion to outright disbelief. "A collar with a leash. And you're going to wear it everywhere you go."His eyes widened, his Alpha pride flaring up instantly. I could practically hear the protest forming on his tongue, but then he hesitated. Smart. Because when he looked into my eyes, he must have realized something, I wasn’t just teasing him. I wasn’t bluffing. I was in control, and he knew it.After a long pause, he swallowed hard and
Starlight’s POVHelios knelt before me, his bare skin illuminated by the dim light filtering through the room. He was holding himself together with sheer willpower, every muscle in his body tense as he waited for my next command. I could feel his wolf clawing beneath the surface, restless and needy, but Helios was learning. Slowly.I dragged my fingers through his hair, tugging just hard enough to make him tilt his head back and meet my gaze. "You did well," I murmured, my tone deceptively soft. "But obedience isn’t a single act, Helios. It’s a state of being." His lips parted slightly, his breath uneven. "I understand, Dom.""Do you?" I mused, trailing my fingers down his jaw, feeling the tension there. "Because I see resistance still lingering in you. An Alpha’s pride. It’s natural. But you will learn to set it aside." He swallowed hard, nodding. "I’ll learn, Dom." A fleeting smile passed through my lips as I murmured, "Good boy."A shudder passed through him at the praise, his wolf
Starlight’s POVHelios may have accepted my rules, but words were meaningless without proof. I stood over him, savoring the sight. The once-mighty Alpha of Moonlit Pack, kneeling at my feet, his golden eyes searching my face for any sign of mercy. He’d find none. Mercy had never been afforded to me, why should I grant it now?"You say you regret everything," I murmured, tilting his chin up with a single finger. "You say you’ll do whatever it takes to make it up to me." "I will," he said without hesitation.A few months ago, Helios wouldn’t have even acknowledged me. Now, he was desperate to please. Desperate to stay close. I could feel it in the bond that pulsed between us, how his wolf clawed at him, how the thought of losing me made him weak.Good. "Then prove it," I said simply. I turned and walked toward the chair in the corner of the room, sinking into it with ease. Helios didn’t move, waiting for my command. That, at least, he had learned. "Strip."I heard the sharp inhale of br
Starlight’s POVI had expected resistance. In fact, I wanted resistance. I wanted him to snarl, to argue, to fight back, because that would make it easier. That would make it feel like I was still powerless, still the runt no one cared about. That would give me an excuse to push harder, to punish him the way I had once been punished.But Helios wasn’t fighting. He stood there, bare and obedient, his storm-gray eyes locked onto mine. His body was tense, every muscle drawn tight like a bowstring, but he wasn’t resisting. And that was dangerous. Because if he wasn’t fighting me, if he was willingly giving me his submission, then I had no excuse.No excuse for the way my heart pounded in my chest. No excuse for the fire licking through my veins as my gaze dragged over him. He was my mate. And my mate was beautiful.I had spent years avoiding looking at him, forcing myself to see only the cruelty, the dismissiveness, the way he had ignored me, the way the entire pack had ignored me. I had
Starlight’s POVI could feel it, the way he struggled beneath the surface, his wolf clawing for dominance, his instincts raging against submission. Yet, he stayed still. For me. It was intoxicating.Helios had never once spared me a second glance before, never acknowledged me as anything more than a nuisance. And now, the mighty Alpha, the god among wolves, knelt before me, his muscles taut, his breathing uneven. His need, restrained only by the force of his will, called to something deep inside me, a hunger, a reckoning.But I wasn’t done yet. “You’re learning, Helios,” I murmured, my fingers still on his chin, tilting his head so he had no choice but to meet my gaze. “But you haven’t earned my forgiveness. Not yet.”His jaw clenched, but he said nothing. I could feel the weight of my words pressing down on him. Good. “Tell me, again, ” I continued, trailing my nails down his throat, feeling the way his pulse jumped beneath my touch. “What do you regret the most?”His gray eyes darke
Unknown POV Helios stood on the balcony just outside their private wing. The morning sun bathed the palace in gold, but his mind was a storm. He had seen enemies turned to ash, not by war, not by warriors, but by newborns wrapped in silken cloth.Star approached quietly, barefoot, hair down, a soft robe draped around her as if the cosmos had woven it. Her aura pulsed gently, no longer shy or hesitant, but commanding and calm, a sovereign in spirit. “You’re still thinking about it,” she said softly. Helios turned. “I failed to see it before. Who you really are. What you carry. What they carry.”“You didn’t fail,” she murmured. “You saw me when no one else did. Even when I didn’t see myself.” His throat tightened. “I submitted to you... because it felt right,” he admitted. “Even when everyone mocked me. Even when I thought you were just an omega... I felt your strength. But now...”Star stepped closer, cupping his cheek. “You don’t need to submit anymore, Helios.” He blinked. “I—what?”
Star's POV Later that evening, after the moonlight celebrations quieted and the palace halls glowed with soft amber light, I stood before the High Council in the Star Chamber. It's a vast circular room walled with crystal and etched with lunar glyphs. The King was seated at the head of the crescent table, his expression unreadable. The advisors whispered amongst themselves, still dazed by the roaring approval the public had shown me and the twins. But I was calm. Focused. Changed.“My Queen,” the King began, his voice warm yet formal. “Tonight you have earned the devotion of a kingdom. The people called you Moonborn... and I believe they were right to.” I inclined my head with measured grace. “I am honored, Your Majesty. But before we speak of titles and formalities, I have a request.”The murmurs quieted. The King studied me. “Speak it.” I glanced at Helios, who stood near the chamber doors in silence. Unlike the other alphas, he wore no medals, bore no sigil. Just quiet strength a
Star's POV The days passed in a hush of healing, quiet awe, and growing light. For five full days, I rested, by order of everyone from Helios to my newly found dad to the Oracle herself. The twins never left my side. Their tiny breaths, their moonbeam fingers curling around mine, anchored me to this new reality: I was no longer the girl who once flinched from her own shadow. I was a mother now. A Luna. A sovereign in the making. And on the sixth day, we rose.Hesperion’s jet cut through the sky like a blade of polished silver. We flew above the cloudline, my newborns cradled in my arms, Helios seated beside me, tense but proud. The seats were stitched with ancient sun emblems, embossed with the Hesperion royal crest. Still, nothing felt heavier than the silence between Hesperion and his queen.“She has been kept in isolation,” he said, not looking at me. “No one has seen her since the Oracle’s declaration.” I didn’t respond immediately. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to face the woman
Starlight’s POVThey think I’m resting. But how could I sleep when my soul is wide awake? Even in my fragile state, I feel the shift in the air, a hum of reverence outside these walls. As if the land itself recognizes me now. My body aches, my mind swims between exhaustion and euphoria, but I am not broken.I am reborn. Two tiny lives rest beside me, their warmth tethering me to this world. Each pup has my scent... and yet something more. One burns like fire, another shimmers like the sea, and hums with stardust and shadows. Our children are not ordinary. And neither am I.The door creaked open, and I didn’t need to look up to know who it was. His scent always preceded him, cedarwood, smoke, and something deeper now... regret, maybe? Or reverence. “Helios,” I whispered, and he froze mid-step, as if hearing his name from my lips physically struck him.He knelt beside the bed, eyes rimmed red, cheeks stained with silent tears. “Star… I still don’t understand how you survived. How you b
Helios’ POVMy tears soaked the hem of her blanket, and for a moment, I forgot who I was, Alpha of the Moonlit Pack, future High Alpha, ruler of thousands. All I could feel was that I was hers.“I don’t deserve you,” I whispered, voice cracking as I pressed my forehead to her knee. “You almost died bringing life to this world, to give me something I didn’t even know I needed.”Star shifted slightly in the hospital bed, a wince escaping her lips. I immediately sat upright, guilt flooding my chest again. “Don’t move,” I said quickly, brushing her damp hair off her forehead. “I’ll get the healer.” She caught my wrist.“No,” she said softly. “Just stay here… with me. Our babies are asleep. This moment belongs to us.” Her fingers were weak, yet her grip on my soul had never been stronger.I sat on the edge of the bed and lifted one of her hands to my lips, kissing the back of it. “Star, I swear on my life, from this day forward, my only purpose is to protect you. And them.” She smiled gent
Helios’ POVIf someone told me a year ago that I would be kneeling before the same wolf I once called a runt, I would have laughed in their face. But now… Here I am. On my knees. My heart a raw, pulsing thing in my chest.I remember the first time I laid eyes on her. Star. A frail little thing, bones too sharp, eyes too big for her face, always moving around like she didn’t belong. An omega, I believed. The lowest in our pack. I never spared her more than a glance.Why would I? I was Helios Bloodfang, the heir to Alpha Killian. Born into power. Groomed to command. I’d been told my mate would be strong. Respected. A fierce she-wolf that would rule by my side.When the bond snapped into place one cold morning, locking me to Star, that trembling, insignificant omega, I rejected it in my heart before the words even formed on my lips. I hurt her. Damn, I did worse than hurt her. I made her life unbearable. And she… she kept living. Kept breathing. Kept saving me, even when I didn’t deserve
Starlight’s POVThe tension in the hospital room was palpable. I could feel the magnitude of my father’s fury, the suffocating shame of the pack, and the trembling submission of Helios at my side. But more than that… I felt something awaken within me. A warmth, no, a power, older than bloodlines, older than crowns and packs. It pulsed inside my chest.My gaze swept over the room. The warriors who used to shove me aside. The Elders who called me worthless. The Luna who turned a blind eye as my skin bruised and my heart hardened. Even Killian, Alpha in name alone, couldn’t meet my eyes.The beast within me stirred.Not the frightened pup they had raised in shadows. But the wolf born of Ayana’s line, of witches and royals. A true Lunaby right. The ultimate Luna.The power surged, and before I realized it, a deep, primal growl rumbled from my throat. It wasn’t rage, it was command. A sound layered with centuries of dominance, carried in the blood of Moon-Gifted wolves. It vibrated through
Starlight’s POVWarmth. It started in my paw. A strange, tingling warmth that crawled up my limbs like sunlight breaking through the cold, heavy fog of sleep. I wanted to stay there, in the dark, where nothing hurt, where no one could reach me. In that place, the world was quiet. Safe.But something, no, someone, called to me. A tether, gentle yet impossible to resist, tugging me from the depths of nothingness into the harsh, aching light of life.The last thing I remembered was protecting my pups. The pain, sharp and merciless. The voices that followed, Ayana. Griselda. Their words still echoed, filling the hollow places I thought would never heal. You are Starlight. A name, a promise. Mine.I wasn’t sure when my eyelids fluttered open, but when they did, the light was too bright, and my body… my body felt strange. Lighter. Stronger. A quiet hum of something new coursed through my veins, something ancient and powerful that settled beneath my skin like a shield.My fur… gone. I sat up
Hesperion’s POVWhen we touched down, I had barely waited for the door to open before I stepped out, my feet hitting the ground with a purpose I hadn’t felt in two decades. My guards had called after me, but their voices were swallowed by the pounding of my heart.At that time, I couldn’t explain the pull in words. It was a tether, ancient, unyielding, long silent, now tugging with violent urgency. A bond reawakened after twenty long, empty years. It led me like a silver thread through the darkness, through the pack grounds I barely registered, toward her.I remember that as I moved, people parted in silence, falling to their knees. A sea of bowed heads. I didn’t look at them. Couldn’t. My focus was sharp, cutting through the haze of the world. The bond had spoken. My daughter… lived.I hadn’t felt this connection since the night Ayana was stolen from me. A thread of my soul ripped away by treachery, leaving a hollow ache no crown, conquest, or council could ever fill. I had searched