Star’s POV
Helios thought I couldn’t see through him. I watched him carefully, my golden eyes locked onto his face as he spoke, feigning defeat. His shoulders slouched, his tone softer, his gaze lowered in supposed submission. It was an act.He thought if he played along long enough, I would lower my guard. That I would welcome him into my arms, let him mark me, let him reclaim the control he had lost. He thought he was being clever. But what he didn’t realize was that I wasn’t just watching him. I was watching Hades, too. His wolf had already betrayed him.Helios had made a grave mistake in thinking he could lie to me. Hades might have been bound to him, but the moment Helios defied the mate bond—the moment he sought to control rather than protect, Hades had turned against him.I folded my arms, tilting my head slightly as if I were considering his words. “You understand now?” I asked, mHelios’s POVI had seen battles before. I had led them. Won them. But nothing had prepared me for this.The rogues attacked just before dawn, their numbers swelling like a shadow over the Moonlit Pack’s borders. It should have been an easy fight. We were stronger. More organized. But something was different. They fought like they had nothing to lose.By the time the last rogue fell, Moonlit warriors stood bloodied but victorious. The air smelled of iron and damp earth, and my limbs felt heavier than they should have. I had fought as I always did, on the front lines, taking down enemies with precision.But now, standing in the wreckage of the battlefield, something was wrong. My body wouldn’t heal.The claw marks across my chest still oozed blood. My broken ribs burned with every breath. My wolf, Hades, was silent, not guiding me, not helping me recover as he s
Star’s POVThe pack begged. One by one, warriors, omegas, elders, all those who had once scorned me, dropped to their knees and pleaded.“Please, Luna.”“Don’t abandon us.”“Save our Alpha.”Their voices mixed together, were a desperate chorus echoing in the morning air. But I didn’t flinch. I didn’t even slow my steps. My decision was made.I walked through the heart of the pack I had once called home, my only belongings packed into a small bag slung over my shoulder. The sun was just rising, casting golden light over the pack house as the scent of breakfast wafted through the air, fresh bread and roasted meat, but I tasted nothing but the bitterness of my resolve. My fingers curled tightly around the strap of my bag as I stepped through the entrance, my feet light but my heart was heavy. It was early, and the dining hall was packed. Warriors sat at long woode
Helios’ POVThe world around me was slipping. At first, I thought it was just the weakness from my wounds, the slow-healing injuries that should have closed by now but remained stubborn, festering. But the moment my wolf, Hades, let out a soul-crushing howl inside my mind, I knew something was wrong.No, something was gone. A deep, hollow ache, spread through my chest, a pain far worse than any wound. My limbs turned to lead, my body burning and freezing all at once. My breathing hitched, coming in shallow, desperate gasps.And then it hit me. She left. My mate, my Luna, and my Starlight had left. The bond… our pack bond… was severed. I felt it vanish, like a tether that had been keeping me grounded suddenly snapping. And with it, my already failing body collapsed.A strangled noise escaped my throat as I felt my connection to everything fade, my pack, my wolf, my very soul. Hades howled
Star’s POVThe motel room was dim, the flickering bulb above casting weak light across the peeling wallpaper. It was a cheap place, nothing like the cold, grand halls of the Moonlit Pack’s estate. But here, I was alone and Free. Or so I thought.The pain hadn’t left. If anything, it had worsened. My limbs ached, my wolf, Sky, was eerily silent, and my head pounded like a war drum. I lay curled up on the bed, my breath shallow. I didn’t regret leaving. But my body did.A soft knock on the door startled me. My fingers curled instinctively, muscles tensing despite the exhaustion. No one should know I was here. Cautiously, I pulled myself upright and walked to the door, pressing my ear against it. “Star,” a familiar voice whispered. “Please, child, open the door.” My breath hitched. Celeste.I yanked the door open, and there she stood, the mystical healer of the Moonlit Pack. Her silver hair shimmered under the hallway’s dim light, and her w
Star's POVI stood there at the threshold of the infirmary, my eyes trained on Helios. His eyes flickered open, meeting mine with a mixture of confusion, weakness, and... something else I couldn’t quite place.I felt the flicker of recognition deep within me. But it was buried beneath layers of everything he’d put me through, every insult, every cold look, every time I was cast aside as insignificant. This was Helios. The future alpha. The man who thought the world revolved around him. But I wasn’t here to coddle him.The murmurs from the pack grew louder, like a tide of anxiety slowly rising. They had been watching me, waiting for me to make my move. But I had already made it. I stepped forward, my heels clicking against the sterile floor, the sound echoing through the room like a declaration of war.The pack was behind me, outside the infirmary, in the corridors, in the hallways, all of them waiting for a sign. Waiting for me to give t
Star's POVThe atmosphere was still with tension. The moment I stepped into the infirmary, the entire pack felt it, their gazes trained on me like hawks, waiting for a sign, a reason to breathe. Helios was still unconscious, his body pale and fragile, a shell of the man he once was. But the moment my feet hit the cold floor, a strange sense of relief washed over me.It wasn’t for him. It wasn’t even for the pack. It was for me. I could feel the shift in the air, like everything was aligning for this one moment. Helios was no longer the mighty, untouchable alpha. He was broken, vulnerable, and the only way to save him, to save this pack, was for me to mark him.The bond we had always been reluctant to embrace would now define us. But not in the way he’d imagined. His body was weak. He barely moved as I approached him.“Helios,” I whispered, leaning over him, my breath cold against his skin
Helios' POVThe burning sensation from her bite was still fresh against my skin, but something more profound had shifted deep within me. The pack was silent, their collective gaze heavy on my body as the mark she left on me began to glow faintly.It wasn’t just my skin that was healing, no, it was deeper than that. My entire being was mending itself, like a broken chain slowly knitting itself together, stronger than before. The pain I had been enduring for days, the weakness I had grown accustomed to, began to fade. The bruises from the rogue attack, the lingering fatigue, everything started to feel less oppressive, less life-threatening.I could feel her wolf, powerful and proud, weaving into my veins like a fire spreading through dry wood. The surge of power was intoxicating, and I could sense her all around me, her energy more potent than anything I had ever experienced.
Helios' POVThree days. That was all it took. The mark she left on me had done what nothing else could. It healed me, body, mind and soul. I could feel the strength surging through me, the healing coursing through my veins, but I knew it wasn’t the mark itself. It was the power she held over me, the power I had tried to deny. Now, it was undeniable.I stood at the edge of the pack house, feeling the immensity of the transformation I had gone through. Once, I had been the untouchable future alpha, the one everyone looked up to and feared. But now? Now I was different. And I was okay with it. No, I was more than okay with it. For the first time, I realized that this wasn’t weakness. This was power. True power. The kind that didn’t need to be flaunted or demanded. It was hers. And I was hers.I could still feel the residual pull of her, like a thread wrapped around my soul, pulling me towa
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