Zara’s POV I sat on the edge of the bed, my hand instinctively resting on my stomach. The small life growing inside me should have been a source of comfort, but instead, it felt like an anchor tying me to an uncertain future. When Adrian offered me a place in his pack, I’d been so desperate for stability, for safety, that I hadn’t thought twice. I thought leaving my old pack behind, leaving Ryker behind, would mean leaving all the pain too. But life here wasn’t the escape I’d imagined. Selena’s betrayal had plunged the pack into chaos, and no matter how much Adrian reassured me, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was partly to blame. Her jealousy, her anger—it all seemed to revolve around me. And then there was the pregnancy. I hadn’t told Adrian yet how I feel. How could I, when I wasn’t even sure I wanted to stay? One evening, as I walked through the woods surrounding the pack, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned quickly, my heart pounding, only to find Lily. “You scared me
Zara’s POV For the first time in weeks, the pack felt calm. The air was no longer thick with tension, and laughter occasionally drifted through the packhouse. Patrols had been steady, with no reports of intrusions or sightings of Selena or her allies. It was as if the storm had finally passed, and we were basking in the first rays of sunlight. I found myself settling into the rhythm of pack life. Adrian had been patient with me, ensuring I felt comfortable while also encouraging me to take part in pack duties. I’d started helping Lily in the infirmary, organizing herbs and learning basic first aid. It felt good to have a purpose, to contribute to something bigger than myself. “You’re getting the hang of this,” Lily said with a smile one afternoon as we sorted through vials of tinctures. “I guess I’m a quick learner,” I replied, smiling back. She laughed. “You’ll be running this place in no time.” I felt a flicker of pride at her words. Maybe I did belong here after all.
Zara’s POV As the days passed, the sharp pain in my stomach became a dull ache, but the emotional weight of the attack lingered. I hadn’t just been fighting for my life—I’d been fighting for my child’s life, too. I rested a hand on my stomach, a soft wave of relief washing over me. The healer, after countless tests and reassurances, had confirmed the baby was unharmed. “Your pup is strong,” Lily had said with a small smile, but her words were bittersweet. Strong or not, my child’s safety now felt like a fragile thread, easily severed. Adrian stayed close, watching over me like a hawk. His constant presence was a comfort, but it didn’t erase the fear that gnawed at me. Someone in the pack wanted me gone—and they didn’t care that I was carrying an innocent life. One evening, as the fire crackled softly in the hearth of Adrian’s study, I found myself sitting across from him, cradling a warm mug of tea. The flickering light highlighted the worry etched into his features. “I’m gratefu
Zara's pov The moonlight spilled into the library, highlighting the dust motes floating in the air. I sat at a heavy oak table, surrounded by stacks of old books and scrolls Adrian had gathered for me. He thought immersing myself in the pack’s history might help me settle in, but the quiet only amplified the unease simmering in my chest. I flipped through a thick, leather-bound book with intricate silver filigree on its cover. The delicate craftsmanship caught my eye, but the words inside gripped my soul. "Born of strength and forged in pain, born of a gifted twin the heir of the moon shall unite the divided or cast the world into shadows. The bearer of the heir’s light must walk a path of trials, their choices shaping the fate of all packs." My breath hitched. The words echoed in my mind, filling me with a mix of awe and dread. Slowly, my hand moved to my stomach, where my baby grew stronger every day. Was this about my child? Could they truly be the heir the prophecy spoke of?
Zara's pov Despite Adrian’s reassurances, I couldn’t shake the feeling that danger was closing in. Every glance in my direction, every hushed whisper, felt like a dagger aimed at my back. Adrian insisted I attend the pack council meeting with him that day. It was a rare invitation, considering I wasn’t officially part of the leadership. As we walked into the grand hall, the weight of countless stares bore down on me. Some gazes were curious, others cold and unwelcoming. “Stay close,” Adrian murmured, his hand brushing mine. The meeting began with routine discussions about territory disputes and alliance updates, but the atmosphere changed the moment Elizabeth, one of the senior pack elders, spoke. She was a sharp-eyed, formidable she-wolf whose voice always carried an air of authority. “I’ve been hearing troubling whispers,” Elizabeth began, her tone measured but cutting. “Whispers about Zara’s child being the one mentioned in the Prophecy of the Moon’s Heir.” A heavy sile
Zara's pov The days following the fire were marked by an uneasy calm. The charred remains of the eastern wing of the packhouse were a reminder of the danger lurking within our borders. Adrian had doubled patrols, and every member was on edge. Yet, despite the tension, life carried on. The pack had a way of enduring, no matter the storm. I tried to focus on my duties in the infirmary, helping Lily tend to the injured and maintaining the herb stores. But the lingering suspicion that someone among us had betrayed the pack weighed heavily on my mind. Every glance, every stray word, seemed like a potential clue. It was during one of these quiet afternoons in the infirmary that Elizabeth appeared. She swept into the room like a storm, her sharp gaze immediately landing on me. “Zara,” she said, her tone dripping with false civility, “may I have a word?” Lily stiffened beside me but said nothing. I nodded, wiping my hands on a cloth. “Of course.” Elizabeth gestured for me to follow her
Zara's pov The days since Elizabeth’s escape had been tense. Patrols were relentless, and Adrian was on edge. The packhouse, once a lively haven, felt like a fortress under siege. I tried to go about my routine, focusing on small tasks and my growing bell. That morning, as the pack gathered in the main hall for Adrian’s daily briefing, an unfamiliar scent wafted through the air. It was faint at first, but it grew stronger, accompanied by gasps from the crowd. “She’s back,” someone whispered. I turned to see Elizabeth standing in the doorway, her head held high and her eyes scanning the room like she owned it. She was in human form, her long hair neatly braided and her clothes immaculate, as if she’d strolled back from a vacation rather than fleeing for her life. Adrian stepped forward, his expression unreadable, though the tension in his jaw betrayed his simmering anger. “You’ve got some nerve showing your face here,” he said coldly. Elizabeth inclined her head, her voice smoo
Zara's pov After the chaos of the trial and Elizabeth’s shocking accusation, life in the pack felt like walking on thin ice. Trust was a fragile thing, easily broken and hard to rebuild. I tried to focus on my routines—helping in the infirmary, preparing for the baby, and supporting Adrian in his role as Alpha—but the weight of suspicion lingered over me like a dark cloud.Elizabeth hadn’t been punished outright; Adrian had decided to keep her under close observation instead. It was his way of preventing her from causing further division within the pack. But her presence in the packhouse was unnerving. I often caught her watching me with that calm, calculating expression that made my skin crawl.One evening, as I helped Adrian organize patrol schedules in his office, a knock at the door interrupted us.“Come in,” Adrian called, his tone clipped.It was one of the pack’s scouts, a young wolf named Caleb. He stepped in, his face pale and his hands trembling.“Alpha,” he began, his voic
I stood in the doorway, watching my mother, Victoria, confront Ethan. Her words were sharp and filled with malice, stirring a familiar dread in my stomach. “There’s a rumour you’ve found your mate and plan to leave the packhouse. Is that true, Ethan?” she demanded rudely. “Yes, Mom. I found my mate last night and was going to tell you and Dad later,” Ethan replied politely. “How many times do I have to remind you that I am not your mother?” she said harshly. “I’m sorry, ma'am,” Ethan replied, looking down. I could see he was affected by our mother’s cruel treatment. His once bright eyes were now dull and lifeless. I felt a crushing sense of worthlessness too. Anger surged within me towards our mother. How could she be so cruel? Didn’t she realize she was hurting her own family? It pained me deeply that she refused to accept my brother. My mother was always cold and calculating, focused solely on power and control. She loves me, but mainly because I am her son and the future al
I stood in the doorway, watching my mother, Victoria, confront Ethan. Her words were sharp and filled with malice, stirring a familiar dread in my stomach. “There’s a rumour you’ve found your mate and plan to leave the packhouse. Is that true, Ethan?” she demanded rudely. “Yes, Mom. I found my mate last night and was going to tell you and Dad later,” Ethan replied politely. “How many times do I have to remind you that I am not your mother?” she said harshly. “I’m sorry, ma'am,” Ethan replied, looking down. I could see he was affected by our mother’s cruel treatment. His once bright eyes were now dull and lifeless. I felt a crushing sense of worthlessness too. Anger surged within me towards our mother. How could she be so cruel? Didn’t she realize she was hurting her own family? It pained me deeply that she refused to accept my brother. My mother was always cold and calculating, focused solely on power and control. She loves me, but mainly because I am her son and the fu
I stood in the doorway, watching my mother, Victoria, confront Ethan. Her words were sharp and filled with malice, stirring a familiar dread in my stomach. “There’s a rumour you’ve found your mate and plan to leave the packhouse. Is that true, Ethan?” she demanded rudely. “Yes, Mom. I found my mate last night and was going to tell you and Dad later,” Ethan replied politely. “How many times do I have to remind you that I am not your mother?” she said harshly. “I’m sorry, ma'am,” Ethan replied, looking down. I could see he was affected by our mother’s cruel treatment. His once bright eyes were now dull and lifeless. I felt a crushing sense of worthlessness too. Anger surged within me towards our mother. How could she be so cruel? Didn’t she realize she was hurting her own family? It pained me deeply that she refused to accept my brother. My mother was always cold and calculating, focused solely on power and control. She loves me, but mainly because I am her son and the future al
I stood in the doorway, watching my mother, Victoria, confront Ethan. Her words were sharp and filled with malice, stirring a familiar dread in my stomach. “There’s a rumour you’ve found your mate and plan to leave the packhouse. Is that true, Ethan?” she demanded rudely. “Yes, Mom. I found my mate last night and was going to tell you and Dad later,” Ethan replied politely. “How many times do I have to remind you that I am not your mother?” she said harshly. “I’m sorry, ma'am,” Ethan replied, looking down. I could see he was affected by our mother’s cruel treatment. His once bright eyes were now dull and lifeless. I felt a crushing sense of worthlessness too. Anger surged within me towards our mother. How could she be so cruel? Didn’t she realize she was hurting her own family? It pained me deeply that she refused to accept my brother. My mother was always cold and calculating, focused solely on power and control. She loves me, but mainly because I am her son and the future al
I stood in the doorway, watching my mother, Victoria, confront Ethan. Her words were sharp and filled with malice, stirring a familiar dread in my stomach. “There’s a rumour you’ve found your mate and plan to leave the packhouse. Is that true, Ethan?” she demanded rudely. “Yes, Mom. I found my mate last night and was going to tell you and Dad later,” Ethan replied politely. “How many times do I have to remind you that I am not your mother?” she said harshly. “I’m sorry, ma'am,” Ethan replied, looking down. I could see he was affected by our mother’s cruel treatment. His once bright eyes were now dull and lifeless. I felt a crushing sense of worthlessness too. Anger surged within me towards our mother. How could she be so cruel? Didn’t she realize she was hurting her own family? It pained me deeply that she refused to accept my brother. My mother was always cold and calculating, focused solely on power and control. She loves me, but mainly because I am her son and the future al
My new pack was quiet, far quieter than I had expected. Nestled deep in the northern mountains, it was isolated from the chaos of the outside world. After everything that had happened—the attacks, the betrayal, and the overwhelming presence of Ryker and Adrian—I had made the decision to leave. To truly be free of everyone and everything that had defined my life up until now. All thanks to Adrian who introduced me to their alpha and he willingly welcomed me without questioning me. I wasn’t running anymore, I just want to be free. This faraway pack, the Black Ridge Wolves, had no ties to my past, no knowledge of who I was or what I had endured. They didn’t care that I was the “chosen one” or that I was hunted by enemies I couldn’t fully understand. They only cared that I was willing to work. That was all I wanted. To work. To train. To become stronger than I had ever been. The training grounds here were nothing like what I was used to. There were no neat rows of equipment
My new pack was quiet, far quieter than I had expected. Nestled deep in the northern mountains, it was isolated from the chaos of the outside world. After everything that had happened—the attacks, the betrayal, and the overwhelming presence of Ryker and Adrian—I had made the decision to leave. To truly be free of everyone and everything that had defined my life up until now. All thanks to Adrian who introduced me to their alpha and he willingly welcomed me without questioning me. I wasn’t running anymore, I just want to be free. This faraway pack, the Black Ridge Wolves, had no ties to my past, no knowledge of who I was or what I had endured. They didn’t care that I was the “chosen one” or that I was hunted by enemies I couldn’t fully understand. They only cared that I was willing to work. That was all I wanted. To work. To train. To become stronger than I had ever been. The training grounds here were nothing like what I was used to. There were no neat rows of equipment
My new pack was quiet, far quieter than I had expected. Nestled deep in the northern mountains, it was isolated from the chaos of the outside world. After everything that had happened—the attacks, the betrayal, and the overwhelming presence of Ryker and Adrian—I had made the decision to leave. To truly be free of everyone and everything that had defined my life up until now. All thanks to Adrian who introduced me to their alpha and he willingly welcomed me without questioning me. I wasn’t running anymore, I just want to be free. This faraway pack, the Black Ridge Wolves, had no ties to my past, no knowledge of who I was or what I had endured. They didn’t care that I was the “chosen one” or that I was hunted by enemies I couldn’t fully understand. They only cared that I was willing to work. That was all I wanted. To work. To train. To become stronger than I had ever been. The training grounds here were nothing like what I was used to. There were no neat rows of equipment
My new pack was quiet, far quieter than I had expected. Nestled deep in the northern mountains, it was isolated from the chaos of the outside world. After everything that had happened—the attacks, the betrayal, and the overwhelming presence of Ryker and Adrian—I had made the decision to leave. To truly be free of everyone and everything that had defined my life up until now. All thanks to Adrian who introduced me to their alpha and he willingly welcomed me without questioning me. I wasn’t running anymore, I just want to be free. This faraway pack, the Black Ridge Wolves, had no ties to my past, no knowledge of who I was or what I had endured. They didn’t care that I was the “chosen one” or that I was hunted by enemies I couldn’t fully understand. They only cared that I was willing to work. That was all I wanted. To work. To train. To become stronger than I had ever been. The training grounds here were nothing like what I was used to. There were no neat rows of equipment or car