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
Mia’s POV Hatred wasn’t just an emotion for me—it was the very essence of my existence. It had been my constant companion, whispering in my ears since childhood, fueling the fire that burned inside me. Zara had taken everything from me. Our sibling’s love. The respect of our pack. The admiration of our people. Even Ryker, the Alpha who should have been mine. No matter what I did, no matter how carefully I laid my plans, she always found a way to survive. But this time… This time, I wouldn’t just break her. I would erase her. I sat in the dimly lit chamber of my hidden hideout, my fingers tapping against the wooden table, the rhythmic sound echoing through the silence. The scent of burning wax from a nearby candle filled the air, but even its warmth did nothing to cool the rage boiling inside me. I had done everything right. I had framed Zara for treason, turned the pack against her, and even manipulated Ryker into rejecting her. She had been exiled, thrown into the cold,
“Liam, it’s time for you to transfer to the Blood Moon Pack school,” my father declared, his voice steady. I stared at him, a storm of emotions brewing inside me. “But Dad, why? I don’t see why I have to move schools!” Confusion and anger tangled within me like vines, tightening with every word he spoke. My father, Alexander, known for his no-nonsense demeanor, explained, “It’s crucial. You need to learn from other packs. To become a great leader, you must navigate the complex world of werewolf politics.” He had a point, but even so, his words felt like a punch to my gut. There was no room for negotiation; it was a necessity. My father wanted me to sharpen my skills, and this new school seemed the perfect place for that growth. “Don’t worry, Liam. You won’t have to reveal your identity. I’ve arranged everything for you,” he continued, an edge of reassurance in his voice. But his words did little to ease my reluctance. “And Isabella, the daughter of Alpha Lucas from the Moon Sto
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