Helios’ POVI was going to kill her. Not literally, of course. But this woman, this infuriating, intoxicating woman, was driving me insane.I could still feel the ghost of her lips on my cheek, the warmth of her breath when she whispered those two damn words: Good boy. I should have hated it. I should have put her in her place. But instead?I was sitting here like some obedient pet, fists clenched, jaw tight, and an ache in my chest that had nothing to do with anger. What the hell was she doing to me?She stood there, watching me with way too much amusement, her arms crossed over her chest. She was enjoying this. Enjoying me. "You look like you're about to explode," she said casually. I huffed. "You think this is funny?""I think you're struggling," she countered. "Which is interesting, considering how easily you crushed Hutchins like a bug earlier." My growl was instinctive, a sharp reminder that I was still Alpha, still dangerous, still not to be toyed with. But she didn’t flinch. I
Helios' POVShe was getting too good at this. Too good at playing me. Starlight was perched behind me, fingers working over my shoulders, her touch deceptively soft. She knew exactly what she was doing. And worse? I was letting her. Actually, I was enjoying it.I closed my eyes, exhaling slowly as her fingers moved lower, teasing, testing… punishing. "You're not as unshakable as you like to pretend," she murmured, voice dripping with amusement.My lip curled. "Careful, little moon," I warned, "you might just wake the beast." She laughed softly. "Oh, Helios," she cooed, voice laced with mock sympathy. "The beast? That thing that growls at my every word and then obeys me anyway?"A growl rumbled in my chest. She was playing with fire and she knew it. The problem was, so did I. Which is why, when she leaned in, her breath warm against my neck, and whispered, "Good boy." I snapped. Fast and instinctual.Before I could stop myself, I had twisted, grabbing her wrist, yanking her forward. In
Star’s POVHelios was enjoying this. I could see it in the way his lips curled at the edges, in the way his shoulders remained loose even as I loomed over him. It irritated me. No, it enraged me.I had expected resistance, expected him to snap, growl, or at least pretend he still had the upper hand. Instead, he stood there, arms folded, eyes watching me with quiet amusement, as if he were indulging me. Like I was the one being tamed.I needed to remind him that wasn’t the case. "You disobeyed me," I said, my voice sharp as a blade. Helios tilted his head, feigning innocence. "Did I?"I stepped closer, grabbing his collar and yanking him down. He didn’t resist. He let me. My fingers clenched the fabric of his shirt, my nails digging into his skin beneath it."You lied to me," I hissed. "I told you to stay in the chambers. I told you to rest. And what did you do?" "I took a walk," he said smoothly. "Hardly a crime, little Luna." I slapped him.A gasp left my lips the second my palm conn
Star's POVThe room was silent, the only sound the rapid pulse of my heart in my ears. He was laying there, like he didn’t have a care in the world, like he wasn’t the one who had pushed me to the edge. And yet, he was waiting for me to make the next move. He wanted me to break him.Part of me, the part I hated, wanted to give him what he wanted. He had become my rock, the only thing solid in this swirling, chaotic storm of emotions. Every time I thought I could break free of his grip, he pulled me back in, stronger than ever. But there was still that rage inside me. That unforgivable rage."Get up," I commanded, my voice barely above a whisper. Helios didn’t flinch. He simply raised an eyebrow, as if my command wasn’t important enough to warrant anything more than an idle glance. “You heard me,” I repeated, this time with more force. He didn’t move.I clenched my fists at my sides. "You think I’m going to let you lie there while you try to break me, Helios?" I growled. "You think I’m
Star's POVI wasn’t sure what I was expecting when I walked out of that room, but it certainly wasn’t the flush of heat spreading through my body, or the pulse of anticipation thrumming in my chest. I felt like I was walking on a fine line, balancing on the edge of something I couldn’t quite understand.I could still feel him, Helios, lingering in the room, his eyes, his smirk, the way he had been so damned certain that he would get under my skin. That bastard. But then, why did it feel so different? Why did it feel like I had just opened a door I couldn’t close?Shaking my head, I walked through the hallway, not really sure where I was going. My mind was racing, replaying everything that had just happened between us, and my skin still tingled from his touch. I had given him a glimpse of power, but now he was in my head, twisting everything.Why did he have to be so damn charismatic? “Star, wait!” I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. The deep, commanding tone of Helios’ vo
Star's POVThe next day, the energy between Helios and me was different. Tense, charged with something neither of us could fully define yet. He’d accepted the punishment, the silence between us stretched, almost tangible. But it wasn’t just silence. It was an understanding of sorts, an unspoken agreement that things had shifted between us.I could feel his eyes on me constantly, the weight of his gaze more than just a presence. He was watching me, studying me, like he was waiting for something. But whatever he was waiting for, I wasn’t ready to give it yet. Not fully.I stood in front of the large mirror in our shared quarters, my fingers tracing the edges of the ornate frame. The reflections stared back at me, eyes dark and hard, expression unreadable. Who was I becoming? The woman who pushed people away. The woman who held the reins but also had to let go at some point. I needed answers.
Star’s POVThe silence between us was heavy and almost palpable, but it wasn’t the kind of silence that suffocated. It was the kind of silence that left a lingering electricity, a promise of something more. Helios had agreed to my terms, albeit reluctantly, but I could see it in his eyes. There was a flicker of something, something he hadn’t realized he needed until I forced him to face it.I wasn’t sure what had changed. Maybe it was the punishment I had dealt him or maybe it was the way I refused to let him off the hook so easily. Whatever it was, something had shifted.I leaned back against the bed, staring at the ceiling as the faint glow of moonlight filtered through the window. I had spent years building walls around my heart, layers upon layers of ice and steel. But with Helios, those walls were starting to crack. I hated that it was happening, but a
Star’s POVThe scent of damp earth and pine spread through the night air, as I strode toward the abandoned training grounds. My pulse pounded against my skin, but it wasn’t fear that drove me, it was fury. Helios thought this was a game. He thought that if he pushed hard enough, if he played his part well enough, I’d break.I wouldn’t. Actually, I couldn’t. Not after everything. I stopped in the middle of the clearing, my breath steady despite the fire raging inside me. This was where I used to train alone, where I’d beaten my fists against the dirt, where I’d bled and clawed my way into becoming more than the pack’s discarded omega.Memories surfaced like ghosts, whispering in my ears."Know your place, Omega.""You should be grateful we let you stay at all.""Helios will never choose you."I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing the voices away. I wasn't that girl anymore. I was stronger now. I was something Helios had never expected me to become, his equal, his challenge, his reckoning. F
Star’s POVThe courtyard was awash with tension as the pack gathered. Their murmurs were a low hum of uncertainty. The challenge with Hutchins had ended, but the unease lingered like a storm cloud.Helios stood beside me, his face unreadable, his fingers curled into tight fists. Hutchins had not only challenged his authority but had done so under someone else's influence. Someone far more dangerous. And though the battle was won, the war was far from over.Helios exhaled slowly before addressing the pack. “Hutchins made his choice. He didn’t act alone. And though he lost, his actions threatened the unity of our pack.” His voice was strong, unyielding. “For that, I have no choice but to banish him.”A ripple of shock coursed through the crowd. Banishment was a harsh punishment, but it was necessary. Toren, one of the senior warriors, stepped forward. “Alpha, is there no other way?”“No,” Helios said firmly. “He betrayed us by allowing himself to be a pawn. Ravena has been pulling the
Star’s POVMy body shuddered with unprecedented unease, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something worse was coming. As much as I wanted to trust in the strength of our bond, there were too many unknowns, too many things about Ravena and Hutchins that lingered like a shadow over us.Helios had grown quieter in the days following the challenge, his once-unshakable confidence now tempered with a cautious wariness. And I couldn’t blame him. I, too, felt the weight of it all. The sense of danger that had been growing like a storm on the horizon.That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Helios called for a pack meeting. It wasn’t unusual to gather the members of the Moonlit Pack, but tonight felt different. The air was filled with anticipation, the usual warmth of pack camaraderie replaced by an undercurrent of tension.I stood beside him, my hand firmly clasped in his, trying to offer him whatever strength I could, though I could feel my own anxiety tightening in my chest.
Star’s POVI watched as the dust settled, the echoes of the challenge still hanging in the air. Hutchins, bruised and bloodied, was helped away by a few loyal pack members. His defiance had been met with force, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.Helios stood tall, his back straight and unyielding, but his eyes betrayed him. The weight of being Alpha, of leading with both strength and the uncertainty that came with it, was heavy on his shoulders. His hands clenched, then unclenched at his sides, like he was trying to rein in something. "Star," he said, his voice low, but steady, "We need to talk."I nodded and followed him to the balcony, away from prying eyes. The cool night air brushed against my skin, but it wasn’t enough to chase the heat gathering in the pit of my stomach. This wasn’t just about Hutchins. This was about everything.“I don’t und
Unknown POV A few months prior, Hutchins had been humiliated in front of the entire pack when Helios effortlessly defeated him in a challenge. It was a public spectacle, and Hutchins’s pride had taken a brutal blow. Since then, he had been hiding in the shadows, licking his wounds and plotting.But now, his behavior had changed. He was bolder, almost reckless. Why would someone who had just been crushed so easily return to challenge the Alpha again? It wasn’t just arrogance or pride. It was something deeper, something dangerous.Unbeknownst to most of the pack, Hutchins had struck a secret deal with a powerful ally, someone who had resources and influence that even Helios couldn’t easily disregard. This mysterious figure was, Ravena.Ravena had never been content to live in the shadow of others, but her deepest resentment came from her unrequited love for Killian, the former Alpha of the
Helios's POVThe room was filled with unspoken challenges as Hutchins turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The tension in the room was palpable, but I refused to let it crack me. His words that were meant to wound, only strengthened my resolve. I could feel the eyes of the pack on me, waiting, watching, assessing.But I wasn’t about to let them see weakness. Not now. Not ever. Star stood close beside me, still tense, her fingers brushing mine. I felt the connection between us, the pulse of the bond that had only grown stronger. But I could also sense her hesitation. I didn’t blame her. Hutchins had struck deep.“Are you alright?” I asked, my voice soft, though I was keenly aware of the gravity of the situation. She nodded, but her eyes betrayed a quiet storm inside her. “I’ll be fine,” she said, though the uncertainty lingered in her tone.“I won’t
Helios's POVThe day after Mordecai's challenge, the Pack house felt suffocating with unspoken tension. The servants moved quietly, their eyes darting nervously, the heavy weight of yesterday's events still hanging over us. I couldn’t escape the sensation that the pack, the very kingdom itself, was watching my every move.Star stayed close, though I could feel the walls she built around herself. Despite the bond, despite everything we had shared the night before, she remained cautious, as if she were afraid of being swept away by the current between us.She was beautiful, as always. But today, there was a sharpness to her gaze, a flicker of determination in her eyes that I hadn’t seen before.As we walked the corridors together, side by side, the tension in the air between us was palpable. She kept her distance, but I could sense the pull, the magnetic force of our bond tugging at her, at both of us.The silence was broken by the sound of footsteps approaching, heavy, purposeful. I tu
Helios’s POVI could detect the scent of deceit lingering in the air before Hutchins even spoke. My cousin stood to the side, his expression carefully neutral, but I wasn’t fooled. The moment I stepped into the gathering hall, I could feel the tension, the waiting eyes, the unspoken challenge crackling like a storm about to break. Then, my gaze landed on him. Alpha Mordecai.A towering brute of a man, all brawn and arrogance, his sharp eyes assessing me with an amused glint. He leaned back in his chair, arms draped casually over the sides, a smirk playing on his lips. The room had gone quiet. Too quiet.“You’ve grown soft, Helios,” Mordecai drawled, his voice laced with false sympathy. “Mating an Omega… what a shame.” A low growl rumbled in my chest, but I kept my posture relaxed, my expression unreadable.Mordecai chuckled. “Then again, I suppose it makes se
Star's POV I woke up to the warmth of Helios's body wrapped around mine, his gentle breaths a soothing melody in my ear. For a moment, I forgot about the world outside, about the expectations and responsibilities that weighed on me. All that mattered was the quiet, peaceful moment we shared.As I stirred, Helios's arms tightened around me, holding me close. I felt his lips brush against my shoulder, sending shivers down my spine. It was a gentle, reverent touch, one that spoke volumes about the depth of his emotions.I turned to face him, our eyes meeting in the soft morning light. For an instant, we just looked at each other, the connection between us pulsing like a living thing. Then, Helios smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and my heart skipped a beat."Good morning, my love,"he whispered, his voice husky with emotion.My response caught in my th
Helios POV I was on my knees, yet, I had never felt more powerful. Not because I had submitted. No. Because she had chosen me. Because she wanted me here, wanted me suffering for her. And I would. Happily.Every fiber of my being screamed for her. The scent of her heat wrapped around me like a noose, tightening with every breath I took. My muscles ached with restraint, my body shaking with the effort to remain still. But I would not move. Not unless she allowed it.She was toying with me, her fingers running over my skin, her lips grazing my throat, her breath teasing the shell of my ear. She knew exactly what she was doing, testing my control, pushing me to the brink of madness. And I loved it.I had spent my life in command. Of my pack. Of my warriors. Of my own damn instincts. Yet here, with Star, I had no control. She had taken it, stolen it from me with nothing but her voice, her to