EMMA’S POVIt wasn’t hard to hear the whispers. Servants always talked, their voices carrying through the stone halls like wind through cracks in a door. And lately, those whispers were all about Lady Claire.I was walking past the main hall when I caught the tail end of a conversation earlier tonight.“She’s been sneaking out again,” one of the younger maids whispered to the butler. “And to think, it’s Vladimir. Of all people.”I slowed my pace, my ears pricking.“It’s not just rumours anymore,” the butler replied in a hushed tone. “One of the night patrols saw her. If the Alpha finds out—”The sound of a door slamming shut cut off the conversation, and I hurried on, pretending I hadn’t overhead. But the words stayed with me, a slow-burning fire of tension in my chest.Now, as I stood near the corner of the hallway leading to Alpha Aaron’s quarters, I felt that fire spread. He stepped out of his room abruptly, his expression hard and unreadable. His fists were clenched, and the way h
OLIVIA’S POVI stirred awake to the soft glow of morning light seeping through the curtains, the ache in my head throbbing like a drumbeat. My eyelids fluttered open, the ceiling above me unfamiliar and strange. Confusion weighed heavy on me, and as I shifted to sit up, a sharp, searing pain shot through my skull. A soft yelp escaped my lips before I could stop it.The sound startled Nana and Ben, who were slumped on the chairs beside my bed. Nana’s head jerked up first, her eyes wide with concern. Ben stirred moments later, his face creased with exhaustion and worry.“Olivia!” Nana was by my side in an instant, her hand brushing my forehead to check my temperature. “Oh, thank the goddess, you’re awake!”“How are you feeling?” Ben’s deep voice was soft but tinged with worry as he sat on the edge of the bed.“I…” My throat felt like sandpaper, and I grimaced as I tried to speak. “What happened?”Nana’s gaze darted to Ben, as though asking for permission to speak. Finally, she sighed. “
LUCIEN’S POVThe sharp chill of the morning air bit into my skin as I ran deeper into the woods, the sound of my feet crunching against the frost-bitten leaves drowning out my thoughts. Or at least, trying to. The roar of my own Lycan—Zephyr—echoed in my head, his voice filled with rage and torment.“Let me take control!” Zephyr growled. His voice, gravelly and raw, pierced through the haze of my mind.“No,” I hissed aloud, the word rasping against my dry throat. My breath came in ragged gasps, and my legs burned with every step, but I couldn’t stop running. I didn’t deserve to stop.The images of last night flashed before my eyes—Olivia’s tear-streaked face, her desperate pleas for me not to push her away again. And then the curse taking hold, the dark tendrils of magic wrapping around me like chains, wrenching control from me.I stumbled, my foot catching on an exposed root, and fell to my knees. Clutching a nearby tree for support, I doubled over, heaving for breath. The memory of
OLIVIA’S POVThe silence in the car was deafening. I sat with my head tilted against the window, watching the scenery blur as we drove past. My chest felt hollow, my mind replaying the events of the morning on a loop. Lucien’s cold words echoed in my head, each syllable stabbing deeper into my heart. He wanted me gone. Again. Three months ago, I thought I’d come to terms with him pushing me away, but this? This was worse. This time, I had seen a glimpse of him—the real him, the one who held me so tenderly, who whispered my name like it was sacred. And yet, just as quickly, he’d locked that part of himself away, shutting me out as if I were a threat. Tears welled in my eyes as I leaned further into the glass. Why was he doing this to me? Why did fate find joy in ripping me apart? I hated how much I cared, how much I felt for him despite everything. Admitting it to myself felt like succumbing to a sickness, but it was the truth. I felt safe in his hands, I felt like a child without an
ALPHA AARON’S POVThe heavy oak door to my study clicked shut behind me, drowning out the noise of the world beyond. The room was dim, illuminated only by the golden glow of the chandelier hanging above my head. Yet, even surrounded by grandeur, I felt like a fraud. The man reflected in the polished glass cabinet wasn’t the Alpha, the patriarch of the Black family, or the aristocrat that everyone revered. He was just a hollow shell of who he once was. I loosened my tie and ran a hand over my face, the stubble on my chin a reminder of the sleepless nights that had stretched into tears. My mind couldn’t shake Olivia’s tear-streaked face as she stepped out of the car earlier today. She hadn’t said much, but her silence spoke volumes. She despised me—and I deserved it.“Go find my mother and bring her back.” Her words echoed in my head, sharp and unforgiving. I sank into the leather chair behind my desk, grinning the armrests as if the weight of her plea might knock me over. Natalie.H
LUCIEN’S POVThe house was quiet when I returned from the woods. Too quiet. The type of silence that settles in after a storm but just before the next wave hits.I pushed the door open, stepping into the dimly lit hallway. The faint scent of lavender and vanilla—Nana’s favorite candles—lingered in the air, but it did little to calm the whirlwind inside me. The long hours of solitude I had spent in the woods had done nothing to ease the weight pressing against my chest. As I made my way to the living room, I saw her pacing. Nana, in her floral night robe, barefoot on the carpet, worry etched into every line of her face. Her hands wrung together nervously, her eyes darting to the clock on the wall every few seconds. When she noticed me, her steps faltered, and relief swept across her features.“Lucien,” she whispered, her voice trembling.I forced a smile and rubbed my face with my palm, trying to mask the turmoil bubbling beneath the surface. “Why are you still up, Nana?”She shook he
OLIVIA’S POVThe soft hum of silence cocooned me as I slept, but it was a restless sleep—one marred by fits of tossing and turning. I must have cried myself into this pitiful exhaustion because the soreness around my eyes confirmed it. My dreams had been cruel, replaying memories and fears on an endless loop, only to snap me awake in a cold sweat.Then it happened—the noise.A sharp clink, the unmistakable sound of glass meeting glass. My eyes snapped open, heart racing in the suffocating darkness of my room. I blinked a few times before my hand instinctively reached for the lamp by my bed. A soft glow filled the room, chasing away the shadows but doing little to ease my thundering heart.My eyes darted to the clock on the bedside table. 7:23 PM. A sharp sigh escaped my lips. Six hours. I’d been asleep for six long hours. That explained the dry, scratchy sensation in my throat and the heaviness in my limbs. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, wincing slightly as the cold floor
DAMON’S POV The taste of her lips caught me off guard—a heady mix of salt and sweetness that sent my thoughts spiraling. One second, I was rooted in disbelief, and the next, her soft hands were gripping my collar, pulling me closer, tethering me to the moment I wasn’t prepared for. “Help me get my mind off things,” she whispered, her voice trembling yet determined, her lips hovering inches from mine. My body froze, but my wolf roared in approval, clawing at the confines of my mind. Mate. She’s ours. Take her. I pulled back just enough to search her face, my breath uneven. “Olivia… are you sure?” My voice cracked, barely above a whisper. Her eyes met mine—those deep, stormy eyes that always held so much pain, but now, they flickered with something else. Desire. “Yes.” She didn’t hesitate. Her voice was resolute, but the vulnerability in her expression cracked something inside me.I couldn’t fight it anymore. My restraint, my logic, my carefully constructed walls—they all crumbled
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