Zara’s POV The moment Arcturus vanished, a strange silence filled the room. The weight of his words lingered in the air, pressing down on me like an unseen force. "When the time comes… you must be the one to end her." Mia. My own sister. My greatest enemy. I exhaled sharply, trying to steady my breathing. Ryker was watching me, his golden eyes unreadable. “Are you okay?” he finally asked. I wanted to say yes. I wanted to pretend that the knowledge of my fate didn’t shake me to my core. But I was shaken. Because deep down, I knew the truth. Mia wasn’t just going to fall. She was going to take everything with her if I didn’t stop her first. The eerie silence didn’t last long. Because a second later, a deafening boom shattered the air. The walls trembled. The glass windows cracked. Ryker and I exchanged a sharp look before sprinting toward the door. Outside, chaos had erupted. The night sky was painted red with flames. Smoke billowed from the w
The air in the room shifted, thickening like the moment before a storm. I felt it before I saw him—a strange, pulsing energy that made the hairs on my arms rise. The dim candlelight flickered wildly, shadows stretching unnaturally along the walls. Then he appeared. A tall, lean figure cloaked in white, standing in the doorway as if he had materialized from thin air. His presence was overwhelming, radiating an aura of raw power that sent a shiver down my spine. His long white hair cascaded over his shoulders, his silver eyes piercing into mine with an intensity that made it impossible to look away. I clutched the baby tighter to my chest, my heartbeat hammering in my ears. He stirred in my arms, but he didn’t cry. It was as if even he could sense the weight of the presence before us. “Who are you?” I demanded, my voice firm despite the fear coiling in my gut. The man took a single step forward, his gaze never wavering. “My name is Arcturus,” he said, his voice deep and stead
The air in the room shifted, thickening like the moment before a storm. I felt it before I saw him—a strange, pulsing energy that made the hairs on my arms rise. The dim candlelight flickered wildly, shadows stretching unnaturally along the walls. Then he appeared. A tall, lean figure cloaked in white, standing in the doorway as if he had materialized from thin air. His presence was overwhelming, radiating an aura of raw power that sent a shiver down my spine. His long white hair cascaded over his shoulders, his silver eyes piercing into mine with an intensity that made it impossible to look away. I clutched the baby tighter to my chest, my heartbeat hammering in my ears. He stirred in my arms, but he didn’t cry. It was as if even he could sense the weight of the presence before us. “Who are you?” I demanded, my voice firm despite the fear coiling in my gut. The man took a single step forward, his gaze never wavering. “My name is Arcturus,” he said, his voice deep and
Zara's pov I froze at the top of the stairs, watching in horror as Mia tumbled down. She hit the floor with a sickening thud, a deep claw mark across her chest bleeding uncontrollably. My hands trembled, clutching the pregnancy test results I had fought so hard to hide. Panic consumed me, and before I could stop it, my wolf had surfaced. My claws had struck her. My sister. Ryker, my mate the one I had loved since childhood, the one I had always dreamed of standing beside—was by Mia’s side in an instant. His face was a storm of fury, his jaw clenched as his piercing eyes locked onto mine. In that moment, he wasn’t just my Alpha, the leader of our pack; he was the man I had spent my whole life longing for, trusting, and cherishing. But the words he spoke shattered me. “What have you done, Zara?” he roared, his voice echoing with raw anger. “How could you be so cruel?” I flinched as though he had struck me. His accusation, his disbelief in me, cut deeper than any wound ever could.
Zara's POV When I woke up, the world around me was disturbingly quiet, punctuated only by the hum of fluorescent lights. The antiseptic smell infiltrated my senses, and my body felt as if it were weighed down by a thousand bricks. My chest ached—not just from physical pain, but from the void left behind by my wolf, compounded by the heavy guilt pressing down on me. As I blinked until my surroundings came into focus, I noticed the cramped room clearly wasn’t designed for a long stay. As my surroundings came into focus, I took in the cramped room around me. The walls were stark white, bare except for a small, outdated clock ticking quietly above the door. A single narrow window let in a sliver of pale light, partially obscured by blinds that hadn’t been adjusted in years. The bed I lay on was stiff, the thin mattress offering little comfort, and the faint scent of antiseptic in the air. Most wolves healed quickly; places like this weren't built for a slow recovery. “Zara,” a fa
Zara’s pov As soon as Ryker stormed out, slamming the door, the silence felt suffocating. I stood there, heart breaking all over again. “I knew it,” I said softly to Luna Diana. “He never loved me—just saw me as a friend. I thought I was different, but I was wrong.” Luna Diana's expression softened, allowing me to continue. “Even when we were younger, I convinced myself it wasn’t personal. But now, I see he never really saw me. And now…” I touched my stomach, where our child grew. “I need to leave this pack,” I said firmly. “Not just for me, but for my baby. If I stay, we won’t survive.” Luna Diana’s eyes widened, but she nodded. “What do you need, Zara?” “I have some savings from part-time work when i was in the university. It’s not much, but it’s a start. I just need help getting to the human world, somewhere I can hide and raise my baby.” After a long moment, she sighed. “I’ll help you. There’s someone I know at an art institution looking for someone with dance e
Zara's POV When I woke up, the world around me was disturbingly quiet, punctuated only by the hum of fluorescent lights. The antiseptic smell infiltrated my senses, and my body felt as if it were weighed down by a thousand bricks. My chest ached—not just from physical pain, but from the void left behind by my wolf, compounded by the heavy guilt pressing down on me. As I blinked until my surroundings came into focus, I noticed the cramped room clearly wasn’t designed for a long stay. As my surroundings came into focus, I took in the cramped room around me. The walls were stark white, bare except for a small, outdated clock ticking quietly above the door. A single narrow window let in a sliver of pale light, partially obscured by blinds that hadn’t been adjusted in years. The bed I lay on was stiff, the thin mattress offering little comfort, and the faint scent of antiseptic in the air. Most wolves healed quickly; places like this weren't built for a slow recovery. “Zara,” a fami
Zara's povThe rest of the flight passed in a blur, my thoughts consumed by the frozen bank account. I couldn’t relax, couldn’t enjoy the fleeting sense of calm that Adrian’s company had offered. I kept replaying the notification in my mind, the words administrative action echoing like a warning bell. Someone had deliberately blocked my access to the money I needed to survive here. I fought the urge to open my phone again, to check for any updates, but I couldn’t afford to let my guard down. There were too many unanswered questions. Who had the power to freeze my account? And why now, of all times? As the plane began its descent, I made a mental list of people who might be involved. Ryker was an obvious suspect—he was always protective of me, but his need for control had pushed him to do some dangerous things in the past. Then there was Mia, whose relationship with me had become more strained with each passing year. But no matter how hard I tried to think it through, there was one
The air in the room shifted, thickening like the moment before a storm. I felt it before I saw him—a strange, pulsing energy that made the hairs on my arms rise. The dim candlelight flickered wildly, shadows stretching unnaturally along the walls. Then he appeared. A tall, lean figure cloaked in white, standing in the doorway as if he had materialized from thin air. His presence was overwhelming, radiating an aura of raw power that sent a shiver down my spine. His long white hair cascaded over his shoulders, his silver eyes piercing into mine with an intensity that made it impossible to look away. I clutched the baby tighter to my chest, my heartbeat hammering in my ears. He stirred in my arms, but he didn’t cry. It was as if even he could sense the weight of the presence before us. “Who are you?” I demanded, my voice firm despite the fear coiling in my gut. The man took a single step forward, his gaze never wavering. “My name is Arcturus,” he said, his voice deep and
The air in the room shifted, thickening like the moment before a storm. I felt it before I saw him—a strange, pulsing energy that made the hairs on my arms rise. The dim candlelight flickered wildly, shadows stretching unnaturally along the walls. Then he appeared. A tall, lean figure cloaked in white, standing in the doorway as if he had materialized from thin air. His presence was overwhelming, radiating an aura of raw power that sent a shiver down my spine. His long white hair cascaded over his shoulders, his silver eyes piercing into mine with an intensity that made it impossible to look away. I clutched the baby tighter to my chest, my heartbeat hammering in my ears. He stirred in my arms, but he didn’t cry. It was as if even he could sense the weight of the presence before us. “Who are you?” I demanded, my voice firm despite the fear coiling in my gut. The man took a single step forward, his gaze never wavering. “My name is Arcturus,” he said, his voice deep and stead
Zara’s POV The moment Arcturus vanished, a strange silence filled the room. The weight of his words lingered in the air, pressing down on me like an unseen force. "When the time comes… you must be the one to end her." Mia. My own sister. My greatest enemy. I exhaled sharply, trying to steady my breathing. Ryker was watching me, his golden eyes unreadable. “Are you okay?” he finally asked. I wanted to say yes. I wanted to pretend that the knowledge of my fate didn’t shake me to my core. But I was shaken. Because deep down, I knew the truth. Mia wasn’t just going to fall. She was going to take everything with her if I didn’t stop her first. The eerie silence didn’t last long. Because a second later, a deafening boom shattered the air. The walls trembled. The glass windows cracked. Ryker and I exchanged a sharp look before sprinting toward the door. Outside, chaos had erupted. The night sky was painted red with flames. Smoke billowed from the w
Zara’s POV The moment Arcturus vanished, a strange silence filled the room. The weight of his words lingered in the air, pressing down on me like an unseen force. "When the time comes… you must be the one to end her." Mia. My own sister. My greatest enemy. I exhaled sharply, trying to steady my breathing. Ryker was watching me, his golden eyes unreadable. “Are you okay?” he finally asked. I wanted to say yes. I wanted to pretend that the knowledge of my fate didn’t shake me to my core. But I was shaken. Because deep down, I knew the truth. Mia wasn’t just going to fall. She was going to take everything with her if I didn’t stop her first. The eerie silence didn’t last long. Because a second later, a deafening boom shattered the air. The walls trembled. The glass windows cracked. Ryker and I exchanged a sharp look before sprinting toward the door. Outside, chaos had erupted. The night sky was painted red with flames. Smoke billowed from the w
Zara’s POV The moment Arcturus vanished, a strange silence filled the room. The weight of his words lingered in the air, pressing down on me like an unseen force. "When the time comes… you must be the one to end her." Mia. My own sister. My greatest enemy. I exhaled sharply, trying to steady my breathing. Ryker was watching me, his golden eyes unreadable. “Are you okay?” he finally asked. I wanted to say yes. I wanted to pretend that the knowledge of my fate didn’t shake me to my core. But I was shaken. Because deep down, I knew the truth. Mia wasn’t just going to fall. She was going to take everything with her if I didn’t stop her first. The eerie silence didn’t last long. Because a second later, a deafening boom shattered the air. The walls trembled. The glass windows cracked. Ryker and I exchanged a sharp look before sprinting toward the door. Outside, chaos had erupted. The night sky was painted red with flames. Smoke billowed from the w
Zara’s POV The moment Arcturus vanished, a strange silence filled the room. The weight of his words lingered in the air, pressing down on me like an unseen force. "When the time comes… you must be the one to end her." Mia. My own sister. My greatest enemy. I exhaled sharply, trying to steady my breathing. Ryker was watching me, his golden eyes unreadable. “Are you okay?” he finally asked. I wanted to say yes. I wanted to pretend that the knowledge of my fate didn’t shake me to my core. But I was shaken. Because deep down, I knew the truth. Mia wasn’t just going to fall. She was going to take everything with her if I didn’t stop her first. The eerie silence didn’t last long. Because a second later, a deafening boom shattered the air. The walls trembled. The glass windows cracked. Ryker and I exchanged a sharp look before sprinting toward the door. Outside, chaos had erupted. The night sky was painted red with flames. Smoke billowed from the western side of the pac
Zara’s POV The banner with Mia’s threat still hung at the entrance of the Crescent Moon Pack’s territory, a constant reminder that she wasn’t done. She wanted my son. She was willing to burn everything down to get him. But she would fail. Because I wouldn’t let her win. And she had underestimated one thing—my son wasn’t just any child. He was being protected by forces she could never understand. The moon was high in the sky when I finally allowed myself to rest. The pack had doubled their patrols, warriors were stationed at every corner, and Ryker had personally ensured the borders were sealed. Still, sleep didn’t come easily. I turned in bed, staring at the ceiling, listening to Ryker’s steady breathing beside me. The weight of the pack, the war that was coming, the fear of what Mia might do next—it all pressed down on me. I exhaled, closing my eyes, trying to force myself into sleep. Then, suddenly— A shift in the air. The temperature in the room dropped. And I felt
Zara’s POV The pack meeting was over, but the air still crackled with tension. I had done what needed to be done. I had told them the truth about my son, shut down their doubts, and made it clear that no one would question me again. But despite my victory, I couldn’t shake the unease settling in my bones. This wasn’t over, Not by a long shot. I barely made it halfway back to my house before I heard footsteps behind me. I sighed. “What do you want, Ryker?” He fell into step beside me, hands in his pockets, green eyes sharp. “You didn’t hesitate, did you?” I glanced at him. “Why would I?” He scoffed. “Most people would have softened the blow. Given the time to process.” “I’m not most people, Ryker,” I said simply. His lips quirked up slightly. “No, you’re not.” We walked in silence for a few moments before he spoke again. “I meant what I said back there, Zara. I won’t push you to tell me where he is.” I studied him carefully, searching for any deception. But all I saw was…
Zara’s POV For too long, I had lived in the shadows of my past—haunted by memories I couldn’t grasp, by an emptiness I couldn’t explain. But now, I remembered. I knew the truth about his whereabouts. I had a son. And no one—not Mia, not the pack, not even Ryker—could change that. My son was safe, hidden away where no one could reach him. And now, it was time to let the pack know the truth. Without fear. Without regret. “Call for a pack meeting,” I said firmly. Ryker’s head snapped up from where he sat at his desk. His eyes flickered with something between surprise and suspicion. “Why?” I crossed my arms. “I have something to say.” He leaned forward, studying me carefully. “Zara, if this is about—” “It’s not up for discussion, Ryker.” My voice was steady and controlled. “Call the meeting.” There was a long pause. Then, slowly, he nodded. “Fine,” he said. “We’ll meet in the clearing at sundown.” I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me. “You’re different,” he murmur