VLADIMIR’S POVI slipped into the chamber, my boots silent on the damp stone, the air heavy with mildew and the faint hum of power. The Selene Cult’s meeting hall stretched before me, a cavernous hollow carved beneath New Orleans’ underbelly, its walls jagged and torchlit, shadows dancing wild. The long table sat crooked, its wood scarred, ringed by figures draped in cloaks—representatives from the Ashworth, Blood Wagon Pack, Black Pack, and half a dozen other factions, their voices rising, sharp and frayed. I took my seat at the far end, my hands folding in my lap, my eyes scanning slow, steady, taking it all in. I’d always stayed quiet here, a shadow among the loud, letting their words spill while I weighed them, measured them.Vladimir stood at the head, his broad frame tense, his graying hair swept back, his cloak billowing as he braced his hands on the table. His jaw clenched tight, his eyes darting, catching the heat aimed his way. The room buzzed, restless, the air thick with y
OLIVIA’S POV I stood in my room, the night pressing thick against the windows, the curtains still, the air heavy with quiet. The bed loomed behind me, its sheets crisp, untouched, the duvet folded back from earlier when I’d decided—alone tonight. No more shuffling between Damien and Lucien, no more nights tangled in their arms, their breaths warm on my neck. They’d insisted since I’d moved here—since Lucien had too, his suits now hanging in the closet down the hall—always one of them with me, guarding, hovering. I had a room, my own space, but they’d never let me use it, not since that night weeks ago when I’d clawed my way free from hands I couldn’t name. Tonight, I’d drawn the line, shut the door, and claimed the solitude I craved.I slipped off my socks, my bare feet brushing the hardwood, cool and smooth, and tugged my tank top straight, my shorts riding low. My stomach growled faint, but I ignored it—no dinner, no urge to face them downstairs, their whispers and silences too mu
LUCIEN’S POVI sat on the couch, my elbows braced on my knees, my hands clasped tight, the living room dim under the flicker of a single lamp. Damien sprawled across from me, his boots kicked up on the coffee table, his dark hair falling into his eyes, his fingers tapping restless on the armrest. The clock ticked past midnight, the house silent except for the low hum of our voices, the air thick with tension and the faint scent of whiskey we’d poured earlier. We’d been at it for hours, hashing out Daiki—his wounds, his fight, his survival.“He’s tougher than we thought,” I said, my voice low, my gaze flicking to Damien, catching the shadow of relief in his nod. “Saw him today—Blackbeard’s got him patched up good. Breathing steady, talking shit like always.”Damien smirked, faint, his hand scrubbing his jaw, stubble rasping under his fingers. “Yeah—Fenri’s mercy, that bastard’s still kicking. Took three of Alaric’s goons down before they got him. Doc says he’ll pull through.”I leaned
DAMIEN’S POV I stood in Olivia’s room, the air thick with her fading sobs, my boots planted firm on the hardwood, my hands flexing at my sides. Her screams still echoed in my skull, sharp and wild, pulling us from downstairs where we’d been dissecting Daiki’s survival. She clung to Lucien now, her arms tight around his neck, her face buried in his chest, her dark hair spilling over his shoulder. His hands smoothed her back, his voice a low murmur, calming her, and my chest tightened, a hot twist of jealousy coiling deep. She’d chosen him again, her body seeking his comfort, not mine, and it stung, raw and bitter.Lucien glanced at me, his green eyes steady, his jaw set. “I’ll stay with her,” he said, his voice quiet, his arms still cradling her as she slumped, exhaustion claiming her. “She might wake up screaming again—better if I’m here.”I nodded, slow, my throat dry, my gaze lingering on her—her tear-streaked face, her trembling hands, all tucked against him. “Yeah,” I muttered,
MAYOR LARRY’S POVI sank into the chair, my hands trembling as I gripped the sketch, the rough paper crinkling under my fingers, Natalie’s face staring up at me—those wide eyes, that sharp jaw, frozen in ink, unchanged from the girl I’d last seen decades ago. The cabin’s dim light flickered overhead, casting jagged shadows across the table where Damien and Lucien loomed, their broad frames tense, their gazes piercing. My breath hitched, my lips quivering, my chest tight with a flood of memory and shock. I couldn’t look away, couldn’t steady the shake in my bones, the mug of coffee forgotten, cooling beside me.Damien leaned forward, his hands braced on the table, his voice low and firm. “Explain, Larry—how’s she your sister? You’re human. She’s a werewolf, you’re not. Start talking.”Lucien nodded beside him, his green eyes narrowing, his arms crossed, waiting. I swallowed hard, my throat dry, my tongue thick as I cleared it, the sound raspy in the quiet. My fingers tightened on the s
OLIVIA’S POVI woke to the soft clatter of pans downstairs, my stomach growling loud, pulling me from the tangle of sheets. The room glowed faintly, the morning light slipping through the curtains, my head heavy from last night’s dream. I rubbed my eyes, sleepy grit clinging to my lashes, and swung my legs over the bed, my bare feet brushing the cool hardwood. Hunger gnawed at me sharp and insistent, and I shuffled to the door. “Damien? Lucien?” I called, my voice hoarse, cracking as I leaned over the banister, peering down the stairs. The kitchen hummed—pots banging, something sizzling, but no answer came, only steady rhythm of movement. I frowned, my toes curling in fear as my hand gripped the rail tighter. Could be them—or someone else, or maybe an intruder. My pulse kicked and as quickly and lightly as I could I crept down, each step creaking soft, my breath held as I rounded the corner. The kitchen sprawled ahead warm and bright, and in the middle of it stood Nana, her gray cur
ASLAUG’S POVI sat on the edge of my bed, my knees pulled tight to my chest, my arms wrapped around them, the room dim and silent except for the faint hum of the estate beyond my door. The curtains hung heavy, blocking the midday sun, casting long shadows across the hardwood, my sanctuary since I’d fled back here a week ago—back to Father’s sprawling mansion, away from Ben, away from the sting of his absence. My phone lay dark on the nightstand, ignored, its screen blank after days of dodging his calls, his texts, his voice pleading through the static. I’d locked myself in, told the maids no visitors, no exceptions, my heart a knot of anger and ache I couldn’t untangle.My mind drifted, restless, circling back to her; Olivia Black, her dark hair, her easy laugh, the way she pulled Ben’s gaze like gravity I couldn’t fight. I’d felt it years ago, long before the mating ceremony tied me to him, long before the Moon Goddess paired us in that crowded hall. Back then, I’d been sixteen, tra
LUCIEN’S POVI sat alone in Damien’s library, the late afternoon sun slanting through the tall windows, casting golden streaks across the hardwood. The air hung still, thick with the scent of old leather and dust, the shelves towering around me, their spines a quiet army of knowledge. My slippers rested on the ottoman, my jeans stretched tight, a heavy tome splayed open on my lap—The Lycan Chronicles, its pages yellowed, ink faded, a map of what I’d become. “Lucien?” Olivia’s voice floated in, soft but sharp, cutting through the silence, pulling my head up.“In here,” I called, my voice echoing off the walls, my hands pausing, the book heavy on my thighs.The door creaked, and she stepped in, her bare feet padding light on the floor, her presence felt like a sudden jolt to the quiet. I froze, my breath catching, my eyes locking on her—red bikini top, barely there, clinging to her curves, the bottoms slung low on her hips, strings dangling, her dark hair loose, brushing her shoulders.
OLIVIA’S POVThe hospital room smelled of antiseptic and fresh cotton, the faint beep of the monitor steady as I sat up in the bed, my hands resting on the thin blanket, my body aching but alive. Five months had stretched since that night in the cavern, my belly now a gentle curve beneath the gown, the baby kicking soft against my ribs. Lucien stood by my side, his hand warm around mine, his dark eyes glistening with unshed tears, his thumb brushing my knuckles. Damien lingered near the door, his arms crossed, his jaw tight, the weight of the past days etched into his face. Alaric slouched in a chair, his boots propped on the frame, while Mara hovered near the window, her gaze soft but watchful.My chest tightened, my breath shallow as I looked between them, the words I’d held back for too long clawing their way up. I squeezed Lucien’s hand, my voice trembling but firm. “Damien, I need to say something.”He straightened, his hands dropping to his sides, his eyes meeting mine, steady
DAMIEN’S POVThe hospital’s waiting room buzzed with a low hum, the fluorescent lights casting a sterile glow over the tiled floor where I stood, my boots scuffing the edge of a chair. Olivia lay beyond the glass doors, her breathing steady now, the doctors’ voices a faint murmur as they worked. Lucien sat beside her bed, his hand wrapped around hers, his shoulders hunched, tears glistening on his cheeks as he stared at her pale face. My chest tightened, a sharp pang twisting through me, jealousy flaring hot as I watched him—his fear, his love, raw and unguarded. Alaric sprawled in a chair nearby, his knife tucked away, his head tilted back, eyes shut, while Mara perched close, her gaze flicking between Olivia and the door.I leaned against the wall, my arms crossed, my jacket creaking as I shifted, the weight of it all pressing down. Lucien’s return had shifted everything—cracked open a truth I’d dodged for months. Olivia’s heart belonged to him, always had, and I’d known it deep dow
LUCIEN’S POVThe cavern reeked of blood and ash, the air thick with the metallic tang of death as I knelt beside Olivia, my hands slick with her blood, her body limp against the cold stone. The Lunar Eclipse’s red glow faded overhead, the torchlight flickering weak across the carnage—bodies strewn everywhere, cultists torn apart, the original Alphas reduced to lifeless husks, Selene’s shattered form a pile of dust in the center. Natalie lay steps away, her chest still, her blood pooling dark under her, Olivia’s claws having ripped through her in that final, wild surge. My breath hitched, my fingers pressing against Olivia’s neck, her pulse faint but there, her mouth stained red, her eyes shut as she’d collapsed after screaming for her mother.Damien dropped beside me, his pistol clattering to the ground, his hands shaking as he gripped her shoulders, his voice raw. “Olivia, come on, wake up.” I pushed her hair back, my own hands trembling, her skin clammy under my touch, but she did
NATALIE’S POVThe cavern pulsed with a low hum, the air thick with the scent of iron and damp stone as I sat chained to the jagged wall, my wrists raw from the iron biting into my skin. The Lunar Eclipse bathed the chamber in a sickly red glow, the light seeping through cracks in the ceiling, casting twisted shadows across the cultists’ hooded figures. Olivia slumped beside me, her pregnant belly straining against her shirt, her face pale and slick with sweat as the ritual began. The cult’s leader, Vladimir, a gaunt man with sunken eyes and a silver blade—stood over her, his voice rising in a guttural chant, the words foreign and sharp, slicing through the stillness.My heart pounded, my chains rattling as I strained forward, watching them carve symbols into the stone floor around her, their knives glinting in the crimson light. A bowl sat between us, its edges crusted with old blood, and they dragged a claw across Olivia’s arm, her gasp echoing as red welled and dripped into it. Pain
DAMIEN’S POVThe pickup’s engine growled as I pulled into the cabin’s drive, the headlights sweeping across the gravel, cutting through the dusk’s heavy gray. Alaric slouched in the passenger seat, his boots propped on the dash, a half-empty beer can dangling from his fingers. We’d spent the day scouting the hills, chasing rumors of rogue wolves stirring trouble, but my mind kept drifting to Olivia—her pacing, her tears, the way she’d dodged my questions since Lucien showed up. The truck jolted to a stop, and I frowned, my gut twisting as her car came into view, parked crooked, the driver’s door hanging open.I climbed out, my boots crunching the gravel, the air cool and sharp against my skin. Groceries littered the ground—apples bruised and scattered, a milk jug leaking white into the dirt, a loaf of bread torn open by some critter. My pulse kicked up, my hands clenching as I scanned the yard, the cabin’s windows dark, the porch silent.“Olivia?” I called, my voice rough, bouncing of
OLIVIA’S POVThe cabin’s wooden floor groaned under my restless steps, my socks sliding as I paced the living room, the late afternoon sun slicing through the blinds in thin, golden bars. Lucien’s visit three days ago clung to me—his eyes shattering at the sight of my four-month belly, his voice low with apology, the way he’d turned and left with Mara shadowing him. My chest throbbed, a steady ache I couldn’t shake, and I paused by the window, my fingers brushing the frayed curtain, my breath fogging the glass in short, uneven bursts. Damien’s boots scuffed the kitchen floor behind me, his shadow stretching long, and I spun, pasting on a smile as he leaned against the counter, his brow creasing with that quiet worry he’d worn lately.“You okay?” he asked, his voice soft, hands buried in his jean pockets, his dark hair falling into his eyes. “Been pacing like a caged wolf all day.”I nodded fast, my hand drifting to my stomach, the baby’s faint kick pressing against my palm. “Fine. Jus
LUCIEN’S POVSleep wrapped me tight, the familiar hum of the house in Pine Hollow lulling me deep, my body sunk into the mattress. Three months had passed since I’d come back—three months of road trips with Little Lucien, Dad’s gruff jokes, Mom’s warm meals, and I’d found a rhythm, a peace I hadn’t known in years. Nana’s stern face flickered in my dreams, Mara’s laugh too, and Olivia—always Olivia—her shadow lingering no matter how hard I tried to let it fade. Mom’s voice echoed too, soft but persistent, urging me to forgive her, to hear her out. I’d nodded, let the words settle, decided in my heart to let it go, but my boots hadn’t crossed back to New Orleans.A howl pierced the night—sharp, wild, yanking me awake. I bolted upright, my heart pounding, the sheets slipping to my waist. The sound cut through the stillness, a wolf’s cry I hadn’t heard since I’d left the pack behind. I swung my legs over the bed, the floor cold under my feet, and stumbled to the window, shoving the curtai
OLIVIA’S POVDust swirled around the truck’s tires as Dad pulled into the clearing, the engine rumbling to a stop. I squinted through the windshield, my stomach twisting as the familiar jagged pines of Blood Wagon Park loomed ahead, their shadows stretching long in the late morning light. My hands gripped the seat, the leather creaking under my fingers, a chill creeping up my spine. I knew this place—too well—and Aslaug lived here, her presence a thorn I’d dodged for months. The last time we’d spoken, her voice had dripped with venom, accusing me of chasing Ben, her Ben, despite me swearing I’d never tried. That call with him two months back—his sharp words, our friendship cracking—had been the end. I’d stopped reaching out, letting the silence grow, but stepping into her territory now felt like walking into a trap.I turned to Dad, my voice tight, my foot tapping the floorboard. “I don’t want to be here. Let’s get out of here, please. I’m not comfortable.”He killed the engine, his
DAMIEN’S POVThe bed jolted beneath me, Olivia’s scream slicing through the quiet night, her voice raw and jagged. I bolted upright, my heart slamming against my ribs, the sheets tangled around my legs as I reached for her. She thrashed, her eyes squeezed shut, sweat beading on her forehead, words spilling from her lips—guttural, strange, a jumble of sounds I couldn’t grasp. Her hands clawed at the air, nails digging into nothing, and I grabbed her shoulders, shaking her gently, my voice hoarse. “Olivia. Olivia, wake up.”Her eyes snapped open, wide and unseeing, black voids staring past me, her breath ragged. She shoved me off, scrambling for the nightstand, her fingers snatching a pen and a scrap of paper from the drawer. I froze, my hands hovering, as she hunched over, scribbling fast—sharp, jagged symbols, loops and slashes that meant nothing to me. “Olivia,” I said, louder now, leaning closer. “You okay? Talk to me.”She didn’t flinch, didn’t look up, her pen scratching louder, f