Zara’s POV The weight of the letter sat heavily in my pocket as we moved through the dense forest, each step crunching against the fallen leaves. The night air was thick with tension, and though none of us said it aloud, we all felt the same thing. We were being followed. James walked ahead, his steps sure and silent, as if he knew this land better than anyone. Ryker stayed close beside me, his hand never straying far from his dagger. Seris, on the other hand, moved like she had no care in the world, humming under her breath as if we weren’t running for our lives. I couldn’t shake the feeling that the note—Trust no one—wasn’t just a warning. It was a test. And I wasn’t sure any of us would pass. We reached the ruins of an old stone outpost deep within the forest, hidden by thick vines and moss-covered walls. It looked like no one had been here in centuries, but James insisted it was safe. “Stay inside,” he ordered. “I need to check the perimeter.” “I’ll go with you,” Ryker sa
Zara’s POV The silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. My mind raced as I stared at the woman standing at the edge of the pit. Elena. James’s supposed sister. I could feel the tension rolling off James in waves. His fists clenched at his sides, his entire body rigid as if he were trying to hold himself together. “You’re lying,” he finally said, his voice cold and detached. “I don’t have any other sister besides the twins.” Elena arched a brow, unimpressed. “Believe what you want, brother, but denying the truth doesn’t change it.” James took a step forward, his jaw tightening. “If you’re my sister, where have you been all these years?” She smirked. “Now that’s the right question.” Before James could press her further, Ryker cut in. “As fascinating as this family reunion is, maybe get us the hell out of here first?” Elena let out an exaggerated sigh. “Fine. But don’t say I never did anything for you.” She turned and disappeared from view. A moment later, a rope la
Zara’s POV The battles, the betrayals, the endless running—it all had to stop. I was tired of looking over my shoulder, tired of losing people I loved. The Keepers had haunted me my entire life, and now, with the truth about my family and our bloodline finally out in the open, I knew what had to be done. We had to finish this. The hidden sanctuary where we took refuge had become a war room. James, Elena, Seris, Ryker, and I spent days strategizing, gathering intelligence, and preparing for the final stand against the Keepers and the unknown traitor who had been lurking in the shadows. “I say we stop being on the defensive,” James said, arms crossed. “We go straight to their stronghold. End this before they get another chance to regroup.” Seris sighed, twirling a dagger between her fingers. “Direct, dangerous, and reckless. I like it.” Ryker glanced at me. “Zara?” I met his gaze and nodded. “No more hiding. We take the fight to them. But we do it smart. We set the trap th
Zara’s POVThe tension in the room was suffocating. Ryker stood in front of me, his eyes dark with frustration, his jaw clenched so tightly I could see the muscles twitch. I had just refused his offer—his invitation to join the Crescent Moon Pack.Silence stretched between us, thick and heavy, as if we were standing on opposite sides of a battlefield. And in many ways, we were.“You’re serious about this,” he finally said, his voice low, almost dangerous. I crossed my arms, my chest tightening. “Yes, I am.” His nostrils flared. “You really want to stay away from the pack? From me?”My throat tightened at his words, but I forced myself to stand tall. “I don’t want to be part of a pack that cast me out so easily, Ryker. That turned its back on me when I needed them the most. When you—” I cut myself off before I could say it, before I could let the pain show.But it was too late. He heard it in my voice.Regret flickered in his eyes. “Zara…”“No,” I interrupted, shaking my head. “I c
Zara’s POV The morning sun filtered through the trees as I stood on the porch of our new home, watching James and Elena argue over how to stack firewood properly. “You’re doing it all wrong,” Elena huffed, crossing her arms. James rolled his eyes. “I’ve been doing this for years, Elena.” “Yeah? And yet, somehow, you still suck at it.” Seris sat on the steps beside me, chewing on an apple as she watched them bicker with mild amusement. “It’s like watching toddlers fight over a toy.” I smiled, a real, genuine smile. It had been weeks since the war ended, and for the first time in a long while, life felt… normal. It wasn’t easy, learning how to live without the constant threat of battle. I was so used to running, to fighting, to surviving, that the concept of simply existing felt foreign. But every day, I was slowly adjusting. And Ryker was helping. Even though I refused to return to the Crescent Moon Packhouse, he had been nothing but supportive, never pressuring me, never pus
Zara’s POV For weeks, I had finally found some semblance of peace. The pack had apologized, I had my family back, and Ryker was proving to me every day that he was no longer the man who had once cast me aside. But peace never lasted long in my life. And this time, the storm came wearing a familiar face. I had just finished sparring with James when Elena ran up to us, her expression tight with frustration. “You won’t believe who just showed up at the house,” she said, crossing her arms. Before I could respond, a voice I hadn’t heard in a long time—one that used to mirror my own—cut through the air like a blade. “Well, well, sister, you’re looking… surprisingly alive.” I turned, my breath catching. Mia. She stood at the edge of our property, her lips curled into a smirk. She looked exactly as I remembered—long dark hair, piercing blue eyes like mine, except where mine held pain and resilience, hers held cruelty and malice. James and Elena tensed beside me. Seris, who had bee
Zara’s POV One of the Crescent Moon Pack members lay on the ground, claw marks slashed across his chest. My heart pounded as I realized the truth. Mia had already begun her attack. And this time, she wouldn’t stop until she had destroyed me completely. The scent of blood hung heavy in the air. The fallen pack member groaned in pain as James and Ryker rushed to his side, their faces grim. Elena and Seris stood on high alert, their eyes scanning the darkened forest for any sign of movement. But I already knew. Mia wasn’t hiding. She wanted us to know she was here. My stomach churned. This wasn’t just a threat. It was a declaration of war. The pack warriors arrived within minutes, helping carry the wounded man back to the packhouse. He was still conscious, barely, his breathing ragged. “What happened?” Ryker asked, his voice sharp with authority. The injured man, Samuel, coughed, wincing as blood dripped from his lips. “She came out of nowhere,” he rasped. “I ba
Ryker’s POV The scent of Zara’s blood still lingered in the air. It clung to my skin, burned into my memory like a curse I would never escape. I sat in my office, my fists clenched so tightly my knuckles turned white. The rage inside me simmered, barely contained, and no matter how many deep breaths I took, it refused to settle. Mia had dared to touch my mate. She had dared to spill Zara’s blood right under my nose, and I had let it happen. I slammed my fist against the desk, the wood splintering under my strength. This was my faul all of it. If I hadn’t been so blind, if I hadn’t believed Mia’s lies all those years ago, Zara would have never been cast out. She would have never been forced to fight for her life, never had to build herself back up from nothing. And now, even when she had come back, even after I had sworn to protect her, I had failed her again. Mia was a sickness, a poison that had embedded itself deep in our pack, and I had been too much of a fool to see it
Zara’s POV The road back to Atlas’s pack felt surreal. For six months, I had lived in a distant pack, training and healing, away from the chaos of my past. No threats, no whispers of Mia, no enemies lurking in the shadows. But I had been restless. Something inside me ached, not with fear, but with longing. I wanted to belong. And I knew where I belonged. The closer I got to Atlas’s territory, the more my wolf stirred inside me. She had been restless, urging me to return to the man who had once claimed me. Atlas had given me the freedom to leave, never demanding my return, but I knew he had never given up on me. I stood at the border, inhaling the familiar scent of pine, fresh rain, and something uniquely Atlas. A warmth spread through my chest. Then, a deep, commanding voice rang through the trees. “Zara.” I turned to see him. Atlas. He stood there, powerful and unwavering, his golden eyes locked onto mine. My heart skipped. He was the same man I had left behind—broad shoul
Zara’s POV The whisper echoed like a breath across my skin, soft and cold, raising goosebumps along my arms. My eyes snapped open, the velvet shadows of the room pressing in close, and yet… nothing moved. Atlas slept beside me, steady and unaware, his arm draped protectively across my waist. My breath caught. I sat up slowly, careful not to disturb him, and stared into the moonlit darkness that filtered through the windows. No footsteps. No movement. No sign of life beyond these walls. But I had *heard* it. A voice. Not imagined. Not dreamt. Real. Find me. My hands trembled slightly as I swung my legs off the bed, quietly tiptoeing toward the balcony. The breeze outside kissed my skin, stirring my nightgown as I gripped the stone railing. The forest beyond looked as peaceful as ever. And yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something—*someone*—was calling to me. Not a threat. Not Mia. Not Selene. This felt… older. Familiar in a strange, bone-deep way. “Zara?”
Zara’s POV The road back to Atlas’s pack felt surreal. For six months, I had lived in a distant pack, training and healing, away from the chaos of my past. No threats, no whispers of Mia, no enemies lurking in the shadows. But I had been restless. Something inside me ached, not with fear, but with longing. I wanted to belong. And I knew where I belonged. The closer I got to Atlas’s territory, the more my wolf stirred inside me. She had been restless, urging me to return to the man who had once claimed me. Atlas had given me the freedom to leave, never demanding my return, but I knew he had never given up on me. I stood at the border, inhaling the familiar scent of pine, fresh rain, and something uniquely Atlas. A warmth spread through my chest. Then, a deep, commanding voice rang through the trees. “Zara.” I turned to see him. Atlas. He stood there, powerful and unwavering, his golden eyes locked onto mine. My heart skipped. He was the same man I had left behind—broad shoul
Zara’s POV The air was crisp as I stood at the edge of the territory, my heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and nervous excitement. It had been six months. Six months of silence. Six months of peace. No threats, no whispers of Mia, no shadows lurking in the corners of my mind. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I was free. And I was ready to go home. Atlas stood before me, his golden eyes burning with unspoken emotion. He hadn’t changed—still as strong, still as breathtakingly commanding as the day we met. But there was something softer about him now. Something that told me he had waited for this moment, hoping, yet never forcing me into a decision I wasn’t ready to make. But I was ready now. “I never thought I’d see the day,” Atlas murmured, his voice deep and rich. “Zara, you’re back.” I stepped closer, inhaling his familiar scent—pine, rain, and something uniquely his. “I never should have left in the first place.” His jaw tensed, his hands
Zara’s pov I didn't sleep that night. Mia’s face haunted me—her rage, her twisted conviction, the chilling emptiness that had replaced the sister I once knew. Her words echoed in my mind, each syllable a thorn I couldn’t dislodge. By morning, I felt hollow, a shell of nerves and guilt. The sun broke through the window of my cabin, washing everything in harsh, indifferent light. The pack was already stirring outside, but their presence felt distant. I didn't know what to do. Arcturus’s warning weighed heavy on my chest. Mia’s threat was real, and if I didn't stop her, Black Ridge—everyone I cared about—could be dragged into the chaos she was willing to unleash. And yet, the thought of raising a hand against her, of becoming her executioner, twisted my stomach into knots. I forced myself to the training grounds, hoping that physical exhaustion might drown out the conflict in my head. Wolves of all ages gathered in clusters, sparring and practicing, their laughter and banter cut
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