Autumn POVAs I ran, I realized I could not catch him in my human form; he was much too fast. Quickly, I shifted into my wolf form, the cool night air brushing against my fur as I set off in pursuit of Kavan.The woods were dark and foreboding, the canopy of trees above covering most of the moonlight.My senses, though heightened compared to my human form, were not as sharp as those of an Alpha wolf. I hurriedly followed his fading scent, but it was quickly becoming a challenge.A sense of annoyance filled me; Kavan was much too fast, much too big; my wolf could not compare; it would take hours to find him; should I lose his trail now; and still, as much as I hustled to catch up, it was looking dreary.Not to lose hope I continued to run, although his trail was growing colder. With each passing moment, I could feel him growing farther away from me and my frustration mounting. Kavan's speed was truly formidable; as an omega, although I respected this, I struggled to keep up. As a hum
Autumn POV The moon hung in the night sky high above me, casting meacing shadows over the maze of the forest trees. I could feel Kavan's massive wolf towering over me. Its fur bristled, its eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. Kavan's wolf regarded me with a piercing gaze, its ears perked up in interest. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. I could feel my heart racing in my chest as I tried to remain calm, despite the overwhelming fear that threatened to paralyze me. I was worried about Dax and what Kavan would say seeing us together, but I soon discovered that Dax had already disappeared into the shadows.I remembered that Dax was still an Alpha wolf, even though he was rogue, so he possessed heightened senses and speed. And as Kavan's wolf nuzzled against me, offering me comfort and solace, I felt a sense of peace settle over me despite the dangers that I feared lay ahead. I knew that time was of the essence. I had to keep Kavan's attenti
Autumn POV I opened my eyes as the first rays of sunlight filtered through my curtains, casting a golden stream of light across my room.I had barely slept, my mind racing with thoughts and worries from the previous night. A niggling feeling of guilt lodged in my heart as I thought of my deception to both father and son.After the previous night's discussion with Dax, I decided to go visit the healers in the hope that they could get more accustomed to me, a crucial step to getting closer to completing my mission.I took a deep breath, trying to calm the fluttering in my chest. If all went well tonight, I would be one step closer to achieving my goals and being free from Dax.I would no longer have to deceive and lie to Kavan, hopefully.“You can do this, Autumn,” I whispered to myself, pumping my fist as I jumped out of bed.I dressed quickly, pulling on a pair of jeans and a white tee—a simple yet neat outfit. I didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention to myself; I just wanted t
Kavan’s POVI pounded my fist on the desk, the sound resonating across the quiet of my workplace. Reversing the incident on the training grounds over and over in my memory sent a surge of irritation over me. Why had Autumn been defended? Why had I enabled Marcus's comments to irritate me? She was a liar, a manipulator, a lady with a covert goal, I knew. Still, the sight of her weak and alone self had set off a basic need to guard her from the poisonous remarks of my packmates.I ran a hand through my hair, the motion not helping much to release the tension coursed through my body. Tucked between allegiance to my pack and a forbidden attraction to a lady who might bring about its demise, I was a wolf imprisoned between two worlds.Marcus walked in when my door cracked open, his face a mask of disgust. With contempt in his voice, "What was that all about?" he asked. "Defending that gold digger in front of the pack as a whole?"Marcus's charge hung in the air, heavy with his contempt. I
Autumn’s POVThe nursery had been a swirl of laughs and fat cheeks, a brief haven from the constant stress that pervaded the packhouse. Even the pups' pure delight, though, couldn't completely divert me from the agony churning inside.Leaving the nursery, my steps carried me towards the training area. There were loud commands from the coaches and the repetitive thuds of sparring. My eyes followed the image until they landed on Kavan, moving through a set of fluid, practiced moves. His every action demonstrated his military might; his strength and grace were hypnotic.But he had a shade in his eyes, a diversion that seemed to draw his attention off the current work. Our eyes locked across the training pitch, and he looked with a flash of recognition. He pulled away from his sparring partner, striding towards me with a smile that fell short of his eyes.But Mathias materialized at my side, his arm defensively brushing over mine before he could get to me. Kevan's smile wavered, then gave
Autumn’s POVTension permeated the air, a physical cold that crept into my bones. Originally a cozy refuge, the packhouse felt foreign and chilly. Usually the happy conversation filling the hallways had been replaced with quiet murmurs and cautious looks. Their criticism felt as weighty as it was stifling me.Cold glances and unpleasant comments greeted me as I moved through the packhouse. Some pack members even made disparaging comments about my parenting, their words like venomous daggers cutting my heart.I tried to ignore them and concentrate on the current work, but their judgment was so weighty it was destroying. I hadn't felt so alienated or so alone. The outcast, the pariah, was the reason this pack might fall apart.I caused two strong leaders, the Alpha and the Lycan King, conflict. Their once-unwavering friendship had fallen apart, replaced by a simmering resentment that might explode into overt warfare at any time.From the inside out, the regret and shame tore at me like
Autumn’s POVThe day wore on, each hour bearing a weight on my shoulders. I scarcely remembered the material Elara taught as I rushed through her courses. The approaching meeting dominated my thoughts, a maelstrom of anxiety and expectation.A dull ache throbbed in my temples as the afternoon light started to dim; a handy justification started to develop on my tongue. I held my stomach, a convincing scowl wriggling my face. "Mrs. Pott," I tapped her, giving her a sign, "I'm not feeling well. I ought to lie down, too.Mrs. Pott's expression showed instant and real concern. She whirled about me, her hands dancing like anxious birds. "Oh, dear!" You poor thing, she clucked gently. "Let me help you to reach your room."Her worry radiating warmth like a consoling hearth, she led me to my rooms with a light hand on my back. Once inside, she made sure I got into bed and tucked the sheets about me with a motherly compassion I hadn't known in years.She said, "You just rest now, dear," strokin
Autumn’s POVAs I gradually came to my senses, the smell of moist ground and stale urine assaulted my senses. Head throbbing with a dull discomfort, my vision swirled as I tried to concentrate on my surroundings.My limbs hurt, and my body was battered head to toe as I lay on a cold, hard floor. If you could call it that, the room was faintly lighted by a flickering fluorescent lamp that exposed grubby graffiti-covered walls and a single, barred window far over my head.I battled to sit up, my muscles protesting with every action. My eyes flew about the space, looking for my captors. But I was alone, my only friend, the stench of putridity filling the air and the silent echo.The darkness smushed in on me like a smothering blanket that took my breath and chilled my head. I was in an odd, foreign environment when consciousness gradually came back. The strong stink of rotting trash and stale urine hung thick in the air, making my stomach turn over.I blink, my eyes straying to meet the