Rosalee's Point of ViewI quickly make my way back to the tree where I left my clothes, the pads of my paws brushing lightly against the earth. With a soft huff, I shift back into my human form, stretching my sore limbs as I reach for my wrap dress. I pull it on quickly, tying it snugly around my waist, and slip my sandals onto my still tingling feet.Walking back into the clearing, I see Nyx standing there, a cool bottle of water in her hand. She tosses it to me with easy precision, and I catch it, feeling the blessed coldness against my palm. I unscrew the cap and take a grateful sip, the water refreshing after the morning’s intense training session.Peyton joins us a moment later, after shifting back and getting dressed. Nyx hands her a bottle too, and Peyton accepts it, taking a long drink before turning to me with a bright smile."You did a really great job today, Rosalee," Peyton says, her voice genuine, her praise warm. "I’m glad to see you’re improving, next time will be even
Rosalee's Point of ViewAs I sit in front of my mirror, staring at my reflection, I can’t shake the heaviness pressing on my chest. My eighteenth birthday should feel monumental, but instead, it feels hollow. My life, nothing about it feels worth celebrating.The girl in the mirror doesn’t look like someone turning eighteen. Her eyes are tired, her shoulders slumped as if carrying invisible weights. I trace the edge of the vanity with my fingers, trying to ignore the faint noise of voices downstairs.A sharp knock at my door pulls me out of my thoughts. I don’t even have to guess who it is. Dameon.“Come in,” I mumble, but before the words fully leave my mouth, the door swings open.I glance at him through the mirror, frowning. “And what if I’d been indecent?”He grins, leaning casually against the doorframe, completely unbothered by my irritation. “Oh, come now. I knew you’d try to wiggle out of today, so I’m not giving you the chance.”I turn to face him fully, crossing my arms. “Do
Jensen's Point of ViewI sit in my office, the soft glow of the desk lamp casting long shadows across the room. Stacks of paperwork litter the surface, most of it outdated reports and formalities I’ve been putting off for weeks. But one name keeps appearing in the documents, gnawing at the edges of my thoughts "Crimsonclaw Pack".With a frustrated sigh, I close the folder and lean back in my chair, dragging a hand over my face. The Crimsonclaw Pack has been a thorn in our side for months now, their actions growing bolder and more reckless with each passing week. This latest report only confirms what I’ve feared, they’re spiraling out of control.I open a mind link to my Beta, Ronan, and my Gamma, Nyx. “I need both of you in my office. Now.”Their responses come almost instantly, their tones sharp and alert. “On our way.”It takes only a few minutes before there’s a knock at my door. “Enter,” I call, sitting up straighter as the two step inside.Ronan, ever the stoic, moves with precis
Rosalee's Point of ViewAs I stare at the man standing in the hotel lobby, his presence seems to command the very air around him. He’s beautiful, dark hair framing a chiseled face, his piercing eyes locked onto mine. But it’s not his appearance that has me frozen in place.It’s the word he just uttered.“Mate.”No. No, I must have heard wrong. He couldn’t have said mate. My heart pounds erratically in my chest, and I feel the blood drain from my face. For two years, I had convinced myself that I would never hear that word, and I had prayed, even begged, the Moon Goddess to make it so.But now, standing here, I can’t deny the truth. The way his eyes burn with recognition, the magnetic pull I feel toward him, it’s undeniable. He is my mate.Suddenly, I’m not in the hotel lobby anymore. I’m back in the Silver Ridge Pack, two years ago, on the morning of my sixteenth birthday.I remember waking up that day with a strange mix of excitement and hope. I knew I wouldn’t be getting a party or
Jensen's Point of ViewI stand frozen, my heart pounding in my chest as I watch her retreat into herself, her expression a mixture of shock and horror. The word "mate" still lingers in the air between us, a truth I’ve waited my entire life to discover, yet her reaction is nothing like I imagined.Taking a cautious step forward, I reach out, my fingers brushing her shoulder. I hope the contact will ground her, draw her out of whatever storm is raging in her mind. The moment my hand touches her, warmth floods through me, the bond sparking to life as if it has been waiting for this exact moment.Her body stiffens under my touch, and I watch as her bright blue eyes snap back to mine, the haunted look in them replaced by something else, shock, confusion, and maybe even a hint of fear."Are you okay?" I ask softly, my voice barely above a whisper.She shakes her head, stepping back quickly, breaking the contact. The moment her shoulder leaves my hand, it’s as though all the warmth is sucked
Rosalee's Point of ViewI sit on the edge of my bed, staring at my reflection in the small mirror across the room. The faint glow of the bedside lamp casts soft light over my features. My striking blue eyes meet my gaze, a color so vivid they almost seem unnatural. My dark hair falls in soft waves over my shoulders, framing a face that Dameon and his mother have often called beautiful.Beautiful.The word feels hollow to me. Beauty doesn’t matter, not when someone discovers the truth of what I am. A hybrid. A creature that doesn’t belong in either world. If he that man from earlier realizes what I truly am, all of this will be over. The life I’ve carefully built here, the fragile sense of safety I’ve managed to hold onto, it will all come crashing down.I tilt my head slightly, studying my features. There’s no visible trace of the monster within me, no hint of the beast that lies beneath my skin. My reflection doesn’t betray the truth.But my scent might.I’m surprised he didn’t pick
Jensen's Point of ViewAs the first rays of sunlight filter through the curtains, I stir awake, blinking against the soft morning light. Stretching, I feel a lingering calm from last night’s run. The rain had been relentless, but it had done wonders to clear my head. The storm outside had mirrored the storm within me, and running through it had been exactly what I needed.Sitting up, I rub my face, the memory of Rosalee’s horrified expression flashing through my mind. My mate. The one I’ve waited for my entire life. And yet, she seems to want nothing to do with me.I shake my head, willing myself to focus. I can’t let this distract me, not completely. There are still matters at hand that need my attention.Standing, I pull on a fresh shirt and jeans, then lace up my boots. As I button my cuffs, I open a mind link to Nyx and Ronan.“Meet me in the dining hall for breakfast. We need to talk about next steps.”Their replies come quickly, Nyx’s sharp and efficient, Ronan’s gruff but agree
Rosalee's Point of ViewThe soft morning light filters through the curtains as I smooth the last corner of the bed, making sure it’s neat and perfect. The room smells faintly of fresh linens and the lavender cleaning spray I always use. After what happened last night, focusing on the familiar task and the familiar scent helps keep my nerves in check and helps me to keep my mind from wandering to stranger and the implications of what he said. I'm still focusing on my task, bending down and making sure the bed linen is absolutely perfect, when there is a quick knock on the door and it opens. I glance up to see him, the stranger from last night, standing in the door.His intoxicating scent hits my nose, overwhelming the familiar scent of the room and my heart skips a beat, but I quickly plaster a polite smile on my face, hiding the storm of emotions brewing inside of me. Play dumb, I remind myself. That’s the plan. Maybe if I act like I don’t know what he’s talking about, he’ll get bored
Rosalee's Point of ViewI quickly make my way back to the tree where I left my clothes, the pads of my paws brushing lightly against the earth. With a soft huff, I shift back into my human form, stretching my sore limbs as I reach for my wrap dress. I pull it on quickly, tying it snugly around my waist, and slip my sandals onto my still tingling feet.Walking back into the clearing, I see Nyx standing there, a cool bottle of water in her hand. She tosses it to me with easy precision, and I catch it, feeling the blessed coldness against my palm. I unscrew the cap and take a grateful sip, the water refreshing after the morning’s intense training session.Peyton joins us a moment later, after shifting back and getting dressed. Nyx hands her a bottle too, and Peyton accepts it, taking a long drink before turning to me with a bright smile."You did a really great job today, Rosalee," Peyton says, her voice genuine, her praise warm. "I’m glad to see you’re improving, next time will be even
Rosalee's Point of ViewI start to stir awake, my mind already heavy with the thought of today’s training session. With a frustrated sigh, I sit up in bed, running a hand through my hair. I never imagined training in my wolf form would be this difficult. Yesterday’s talk with Jensen gave me a little sliver of hope that I’ll get there eventually, but right now? It still feels impossible.Letting out another groan, I throw the covers off and swing my legs out of bed, forcing myself up. I shuffle into the bathroom, turning on the cold water and quickly brushing my teeth, trying to shake off the lingering tiredness. I splash my face with water, patting it dry, then walk back into my room feeling only slightly more awake.Standing in front of my closet, I frown, chewing the inside of my cheek. What do you even wear when you know you’ll be shifting? I don't want to destroy another perfectly good outfit. After a moment’s debate, I settle on a wrap dress, easy to slip off before shifting, and
Rosalee's Point of ViewI hear Jensen’s voice call out, "Come in," and I take a deep breath, pushing the door open carefully with one hand while balancing the tray with two plates in my other. I step into his office, smiling at the sight of him behind his desk, looking up at me with surprise quickly turning into something softer. Using my foot, I nudge the door closed behind me as I say, "You missed lunch again. So, I thought I would bring some lunch to you, and that maybe we can eat lunch together in your office? If you want too, of course." I say, smiling nervously at him.Immediately, Jensen stands from his chair, brushing a few papers and files aside to clear space on his desk. "Of course, I want too. Thank you. That sounds lovely," he says, his voice warm.A genuine smile spreads ascross my face and I quickly make my way to the desk. I set the tray down gently, feeling the tension between us ease into something more comfortable as I pull a chair out and sit across from him. At fi
Jensen's Point of View I lean back slightly in my chair, feeling the tension in the room finally beginning to loosen now that we have a solid plan in place. With everything settled, my mind drifts to another important subject, and I turn my attention to Nyx. “How is it going with Rosalee’s training in wolf form?” I ask, keeping my tone casual but genuinely curious. Nyx shrugs, a small, almost amused smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “She’s trying her best. She’s strong, very strong, and fast. But her balance isn’t great. You can tell she hasn’t spent much time in her wolf form. She’s not used to moving on four legs yet. Well aside from running.” I nod my head, having expected as much. I’ve seen glimpses of her determination and stubbornness. I know she’ll keep pushing herself. “When is her next training session?” I ask, tapping my fingers lightly on the desk. “Tomorrow,” Nyx answers easily. “We are alternating her sessions. Every second day is in wolf form, then in
Jensen's Point of View Two weeks later. I sit behind my desk, elbows resting on the smooth surface, hands steepled in front of me as I stare blankly at the stack of papers that haven’t moved in hours. The sun filters through the office windows, casting golden lines across the floor, but even that warmth doesn’t ease the tight knot in my chest. It’s been two weeks since the alliance agreement was signed. Two weeks of stillness. No information leaks. No attacks. No whispers in the wind. On the surface, everything appears calm... too calm. I know better than to trust this peace. It feels like the inhale before the scream. Like the pressure building in the earth before it splits open. The calm before the storm. And deep down, I know, when Crimsonclaw resurfaces, it won’t be like before. It’ll be worse. A full-scale reckoning. My instincts have never failed me before, and they’re screaming now. I close my eyes for a beat and open a mind link. "Nyx, Ronan, please come to my offi
Freya's Point of ViewThe moment I hear Rosalee say the word cameras, my stomach drops.Cameras.The entire attack was caught on tape.I don’t hear another word she says. My pulse spikes and my vision narrows with rage. Without thinking, I take my phone and hurl it across the room. It smashes against the wall with a violent crack, splintering to the ground in useless pieces. The sound it makes is deeply unsatisfying. I clench and unclech my fists, my jaw tight.“Great… just great, why didn't I think of that,” I mutter through gritted teeth, pacing the floor now, trying to rein in the storm building up in my chest.The door swings open, and Ravena steps inside. She looks around the room and her brows pull together as she takes in the shattered remains of my phone on the floor. “What’s wrong?”I turn towards her, barely containing the frustration vibrating through me. “Rosalee just called. Apparently, Shadow Vale had cameras... cameras Ravena, installed all over their pack grounds. The
Rosalee's Point of View As Josh and I step into the pack house, the hum of conversation and the comforting scent of home surrounds us. I glance over at him just in time to see his eyes glaze over briefly, the telltale sign of a mind link. When his eyes return to normal, he offers me a small smile. “Piper is in the dining hall,” he says. I smile back, grateful. “Thank you.” We make our way through the familiar halls until the wide double doors of the dining hall come into view. I’m about to thank Josh again when he cuts me off gently, clearly reading my intention. “I’m going to go shower,” he says with an easy shrug. “But if you need me, just ask anyone to mind link me.” I nod my head with a grateful look, and with that, we go our separate ways. As I step into the dining hall, my eyes immediately find Piper. She’s at a table near the far wall, the soft afternoon light pooling around her like a warm halo. She looks relaxed, her hands resting on her belly as she gazes down
Rosalee's Point of ViewAs Josh and I walk back to the house after training ended, the silence between us is heavy but not uncomfortable. Still, I can feel a tight knot in my stomach, growing with every step we take. I know what I have to do, and the thought of it makes my fingers twitch and my heart race.As we near the front door, I turn to him and say, “I just want to grab a quick shower and then I want to go and find Piper.”Josh nods his head easily, his expression unreadable. “I’ll be waiting. Take your time.”“Thank you.” I give him a small, distracted smile before slipping into the house.The moment the door closes behind me, I don’t head for the shower like I said. I go straight to my room. I can’t put this off anymore. If I wait, if I let doubt creep in, I might never go through with it. And I need to go through with it.I grab my phone off the nightstand, my hands already trembling as I dial Freya’s number. My feet carry me in slow, restless circles around the room, pacing
Rosalee's Point of View Jensen and I are still sitting across from each other at the kitchen table, the warmth from breakfast lingering between us like a quiet comfort. Our plates are mostly cleared, just a few crumbs of pancake and the faint scent of coffee hanging in the air. The morning light filters in soft and golden, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I don’t feel the weight of secrets pressing on my chest. At first, when he started asking about Crimsonclaw, the leak, and Shadow Vale, I felt that old familiar knot of fear tightening in my stomach, afraid that maybe he suspected me. But as we talked, that fear started to dissolve. He wasn’t accusing, he was reaching out, needing someone to talk to. And the fact that he chose me… it means more than I can put into words. Now, I feel like it’s time to give something back. Trust for trust. I’ll call Freya later today and tell her I’m done. No more spying. I’ve found something here that I don’t want to lose, a place