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 The pack had been restless for weeks. At first, the whispers were low, cautious, lingering in the corners of conversations when they thought their Alpha wasn’t listening. But dissatisfaction was like an infection, once it spread, it festered.The pack felt that Helios had changed. Ever since he was saved by that runt, the former punching bag of the pack, he had become... different.It wasn’t just that he listened to her. That, in itself, was disturbing enough. No, it was the way he deferred to her. The way he allowed her presence beside him, allowed her touch without reprimand. It was unnatural. Alphas ruled. Omegas obeyed. That was the way of things.And yet, here was Starlight, once weak, once beneath notice, walking alongside Helios as if she belonged at his side. As if she were equal. Some wolves tried to reason with it. “She saved him,” a few murmured. “Her blood made him strong. Maybe…” But others scoffed.“He was already the strongest Alpha in generations. Her bloo
Helios’ POVThe whole training ground was filled with the scent of blood and submission. Hutchins lay broken at my feet, his body trembling, his face battered beyond recognition. I barely spared him a glance. He had learned his lesson. The rest of them? They needed to hear it.I straightened, rolling my shoulders, feeling the intensity of my pack’s eyes on me. Some wide with shock, others downcast, afraid to meet my gaze. I had let them whisper. I had let them doubt. No more.I turned my gaze over the gathered wolves, my pack, my people. They had forgotten what it meant to be led by me. Forgotten what it meant to be bound by the will of the Moon Goddess herself."You think me weak." My voice carried easily, laced with the quiet fury still thrumming through my veins. “You think because I stand beside my mate instead of above her, that I am lesser.” No one spoke. No one dared.I let my power unleash, a slow, creeping force that wrapped around every wolf present. Some whimpered. Some bar
Starlight’s POVHelios fought for me. The words replayed in my mind like a heartbeat as I walked beside him, my fingers still entwined with his. I could still hear the echoes of Hutchins' body hitting the ground, the gasps of the pack as Helios made his stance clear. They had questioned his strength because he let me stand at his side, and he had shattered their delusions without mercy. He had always been strong. I had never doubted that. But tonight, I saw something different.He wasn’t just a warrior, a ruthless alpha who could tear through anyone who challenged him. He was my warrior. My protector. And yet, he did not cage me. Did not smother me. I was holding the reins in this strange, fragile thing between us, and he didn’t seem to mind. If anything… he was starting to enjoy it.As we entered our chambers, the heavy doors shut behind us with a finality that left only silence in its wake. The tension of the night still clung to me like a second skin, but it was not fear, not unea
Helios’ POVI had fought wars. Led countless warriors into battle. Torn apart those who dared to challenge me. And yet, here I was, seated in a damn chair, letting my mate toy with me like I was nothing more than a wolf cub. And I liked it. Too damn much.Star’s fingers moved lazily through my hair, her touch featherlight, almost teasing. If someone had told me a few weeks ago that I’d be sitting here, willingly allowing a woman, my mate, to hold this much control over me, I would have laughed in their face. But with her… I didn’t mind. Because it wasn’t control, not really. It was trust.She let her nails scratch gently against my scalp, and I exhaled, my body sinking further into the chair. The tension that had coiled in my muscles after the fight had started to unravel, but it wasn’t just her touch that did it.It was the way she looked at me now. Like she was finally seeing me. Not just as the feared Alpha. Not as the warrior others whispered about. But as hers.I cracked my eyes
Helios' POVI should have known better. I really should have. But there was something about Starlight, the way she held the reins of our relationship with quiet authority, the way she let me follow her lead without making me feel less of an Alpha, that made me reckless.I had never let anyone control me before. Never wanted to. Yet here I was, perfectly content to obey her every whim. Until I slipped up. Until my arrogance, the very thing she despised most about me, got the better of me.It started with something simple. We were walking through the packhouse, side by side. It had only been a few hours since I had beaten Hutchins into the dirt, and the atmosphere was still awash with the wave, of my victory.The wolves who had doubted me bowed lower than usual as we passed. None of them dared to meet my eyes. None of them dared to meet hers. It was exactly how things should be. Or so I thought.I smirked, letting my fingers graze Starlight’s wrist, testing her boundaries, enjoying 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
Star’s POVI was slipping. The walls I had built, the control I had wielded with such precision, were crumbling.It had started as a test. A way to remind Helios who held the reins. But ever since I let him mark me, the mate bond had tightened its grip, wrapping around my soul like chains I couldn’t break. Now, I wasn’t sure who was torturing whom.Helios stood before me, his chest rising and falling with slow, controlled breaths. His golden eyes burned with restraint, with hunger, with something far more dangerous. Something that made my pulse stutter and my skin prickle with anticipation.Between us, an electric energy pulsed. "You’re shaking," he murmured, his voice low, and rough. I clenched my fists. "No, I’m not." That was a lie. Helios took a single step closer, and I didn’t move away.I should have reminded him of his place, of the dynamic I had set. B