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
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