Zara's pov Adrian’s gaze was steady as he sat across from me at the small kitchen table, his hands folded in front of him. His green eyes glimmered with determination, but there was an unspoken promise he didn’t dare voice yet. “Zara,” he began, his voice low but resolute, “I want you to come with me to my pack.” I blinked, startled by the offer. “What?” He leaned forward slightly, his presence commanding yet comforting. “My pack is strong, loyal, and far from the mess Ryker has dragged you into. You could start over there—live like the queen you’re meant to be. No fear, no running, just freedom.” His words hung in the air, tempting and sweet. For a moment, I let myself imagine it: a life surrounded by wolves who would respect and protect me, a place where I could reconnect with the part of myself I’d been forced to suppress for so long. But then the memories surged back—the rejection, the pain, the severed bond with my wolf when Ryker had cast me aside like I was nothing.
Ryker's pov The crackling of the fire in my office did little to warm the icy pit of regret in my chest. I stared at the reports scattered across my desk, each piece of information unraveling the web of lies I’d been blind to for far too long. Mia. Her name left a bitter taste in my mouth now. I’d believed her, trusted her, even let her whispers cloud my judgment about Zara. For years, Mia had portrayed herself as the perfect candidate for Luna—strong, supportive, and everything a pack could want in a leader. But now, piece by piece, the truth was revealing itself, and it was far uglier than I could have imagined. The first red flag had come from one of my top scouts. Mia had been patrolling the pack lands, loudly declaring herself as the Luna—my Luna. She even started giving orders to omegas, reshuffling responsibilities, and taking liberties only the Luna was entitled to. When I confronted her about it, she brushed it off with her usual charm. "I was only trying to help,
Mia's pov The pack house was quiet as I walked through its grand halls, my heels clicking softly against the polished wooden floors. The portraits of past Alphas lined the walls, each one staring down with an air of authority. Soon, my portrait would join them. The thought sent a thrill down my spine. For years, I had played the role of the sweet, innocent girl. The fragile one. The healer. The one who was never a threat. And it had worked beautifully. Zara, with her irritating self-righteousness, had always been too predictable. She wanted to save everyone, to be loved and adored. But me? I didn’t need their love, I wanted their respect. Their fear. And now, I was so close to having it. It hadn’t been hard to sway Ryker to my side. His guilt over Zara’s supposed betrayal had made him weak, his anger blinding him to the truth. A few carefully planted lies, a few strategic tears, and he believed every word I said. “She always wanted to be Luna,” I had whispered to him, my voice t
Zara’s POV: The air was cold as I stepped out of the dance studio, the sound of my footsteps echoing against the pavement. The city had an eerie stillness at this hour, the hum of distant traffic the only sign of life. It had been a long day, and my body ached in ways I hadn’t thought possible before. Adjusting my coat around my growing belly, I clutched my bag tightly and headed toward the bus stop. A faint sense of unease prickled at the back of my neck, but I pushed it aside. The city was unfamiliar, but so far, nothing terrible had happened here. You’re just tired, Zara, I told myself. But the unease didn’t fade. Halfway down the street, I realized I hadn’t seen a single other person. The quiet had shifted into something unnatural, and every instinct I had screamed at me to get to safety. My wolf, if she were still with me, would have been growling by now, warning me of danger. But the absence of her presence left me vulnerable and exposed. As I turned the corner, I caught si
Zara's pov The quiet hum of the car engine filled the tense silence as Adrian drove us deeper into the forest. My hands rested protectively over my belly, my thoughts spiraling as I tried to make sense of everything. Adrian had been clear earlier: “You’re not safe here, Zara. The human world can’t protect you. But my pack can.” It wasn’t the first time he’d mentioned his pack, the Silver Haven Pack, but now it carried a different weight. Adrian wasn’t just a helpful stranger or a Beta—he was the Alpha. The revelation had stunned me, but after everything that had happened, it somehow didn’t feel entirely out of place. Still, the idea of throwing myself and my unborn child into another pack’s hands filled me with apprehension. Packs weren’t safe, not for someone like me. I’d learned that the hard way. “Are you sure about this?” I asked, breaking the tense silence. Adrian glanced at me, his jaw tight. “Yes. My pack will protect you, Zara. No one will hurt you there. Not while I’m t
Ryker's POV The early morning sunlight filtered through my office window, reflecting on the dark wooden desk in front of me. The packhouse was alive with the usual hustle and bustle, yet my mind was anything but settled. For days now, I had been wrestling with the whispers around the pack, the new dynamics that Mia seemed to be orchestrating, and the quiet persistence of my mother. “Ryker, you should at least give Mia a chance,” my mother had said over breakfast that morning, her tone as soft as it was insistent. I sighed, leaning back in my chair, the memory of her words lingering. “She’s really changed, you know. The pack is beginning to warm up to her. She’s doing everything right. Hosting pack dinners, helping with the younger wolves’ training sessions, even volunteering to mend relationships with neighboring packs.” My mother had paused, her sharp eyes locking onto mine. “She’s proving she’s Luna material.” But I wasn’t convinced. Not yet. Mia’s sudden transformation had ca
Ryker’s POV The morning was unusually quiet, too quiet for my liking. The stillness felt suffocating, as though the air itself was conspiring to tell me something I didn’t want to hear. Lukas walked into my office, his expression uncharacteristically grim, holding a folded piece of paper. “Ryker,” he began, his voice hesitant. “What is it?” I asked, already bracing myself for the bad news. He handed me the note, his eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite place—pity? Regret? I unfolded the paper, the words scrawled in neat handwriting blurring as I read them: Alpha Adrian has officially welcomed Zara into his pack as an honorary member. For a moment, I thought my heart had stopped. The paper fell from my hands, fluttering to the floor as the weight of those words hit me like a tidal wave. “Adrian,” I muttered, the name tasting like ash in my mouth. Lukas cleared his throat. “We’ve confirmed it. Zara is in his territory. She’s… safe.” Safe? The word clawed at me.
Zara’s POV Adrian’s pack was nothing like what I’d expected—it was warm and welcoming, a sharp contrast to the fractured, tension-filled environment I’d left behind. Still, no matter how kind everyone was, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was an outsider trying to fit into a puzzle where I didn’t quite belong. But I was determined to try. “Zara, over here!” one of the younger wolves called as I helped unload supplies from a truck near the packhouse. I turned, smiling at Lily, a teenager who had quickly latched onto me like a younger sister. She waved enthusiastically, her energy contagious, and I found myself smiling despite the knot of unease that still lingered in my chest. “I’m coming,” I called back, setting the last of the boxes down. Life in Adrian’s pack had been an adjustment, but I’d slowly started finding my footing. I joined in on community efforts, helped with organizing pack events, and even sparred with some of the warriors during training. Adrian encourage
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
Zara's pov 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 was 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 a
Zara’s POV The words were carved into the wooden training dummies like a message from the dead. ZARA HIDES A SON. WHAT ELSE IS SHE HIDING? I stood there, frozen, as the pack murmured around me. My heartbeat pounded so hard in my chest that I felt like I couldn’t breathe. A son? My son? It wasn’t the first time I had felt this ache—this emptiness inside me, like something was missing, like a piece of me had been stolen. Because it had. The memory was gone. Ripped from my mind like a page torn from a book. But my heart knew. Somewhere, deep in my soul, I had always known. I had a son, and I had lost him. “Zara?” Ryker’s voice cut through my thoughts. His hand was on my arm, grounding me. “Are you okay?” I wasn’t. I could barely hear him over the pounding in my skull, the whispers of something just out of reach, something that I should have remembered but couldn’t. I turned to him, my throat dry. “Who wrote this?” His jaw clenched, his fury barely rest
Mia’s POV Darkness suited me, I thrived in it. While my dear sister basked in the light of her so-called redemption, I worked in the shadows, planting the seeds of her destruction. She didn’t see it coming. None of them did. But soon… they would. It had only been three days since I sent the anonymous letter, but already, I could hear the whispers spreading through the Crescent Moon Pack. Doubt.,Suspicion and Fear among the pack members. The pack had welcomed Zara back, but deep down, their trust in her was fragile. They had turned on her once—why wouldn’t they do it again? I sat at the edge of the forest, hidden from sight, watching as a group of elders gathered outside the packhouse. Their faces were lined with concern, their voices hushed. “She came back different,” one of them muttered. Another nodded. “She survived too much. And she never speaks of where she was or how she became so powerful.” “And that power,” a third elder whispered, “it’s unnatural.” I grinned, Pe
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,
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