Rosalee's Point of View The faint glow of dawn fills the kitchen, slightly dispelling the dark of the night and the quiet hum of the early morning welcomes me as I step inside. The hotel is still asleep, the halls silent, except for the occasional creak of the old building settling. It’s peaceful, but my mind is anything but. I didn’t sleep much last night. I kept tossing and turning as my thoughts refused to quiet down. The run in the woods had helped, though, only briefly, because as soon as I returned to my room, Jensen’s presence, his words, his eyes, everything about him seeped back into my thoughts like an unshakable shadow. That’s why I’m here now, in the kitchen, st the break of dawn, long before anyone else has arrived. I needed something to do, something to occupy my hands and quiet my restless mind. I slip on an apron and tie it securely around my waist, taking comfort in the familiar routine. The kitchen is cool and still, the faint scent of flour and spices still ling
Rosalee's Point of View I freeze midstep, my breath catching in my throat as Jensen’s words cut through the air like a blade. "I saw you shift." Shock floods my system, leaving me feeling cold. My mind starts to race, telling me that I need get out but I am still frozen in place as my body refuses to move. He saw me. He knows what I am. All the effort I’ve put into hiding, all the walls I’ve built, have crumbled in an instant. Slowly, I turn to face him, my expression guarded even as my heart pounds in my chest. “And?” I say, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside of me. I brace myself for the inevitable, his rejection, the disgust, the word monster hurled at me like a weapon. But what happens next is something that I never dreamt of, even in my wildest dreams. “You can’t play dumb anymore, Rosalee,,” Jensen says, his tone firm but not cruel. His eyes lock onto mine, burning with an intensity that makes it impossible to look away. “I know you know what I am to you
Jensen's Point of View Her words echo in my mind, sharp and cutting. "A monster. An abomination. A freak of nature." I stand there, frozen, as the weight of her pain crashes over me. She truly believes that about herself. My chest tightens, anger rising, not at her, but at whatever has made her think this way. She’s no monster. She’s my mate. I shake my head, snapping out of my daze. I can’t let her leave like this. I can’t let her believe she’s anything less than extraordinary. Without another thought, I turn and stride out of the kitchen, following the faint trace of her scent. The rain outside has dulled it slightly, but the pull of our bond is unmistakable. It tugs at me, guiding me through the halls of the hotel, straight to her. When I reach her room, the door is slightly ajar. I pause for a moment, steadying myself before I step inside without bothering to knock. Rosalee is standing by her bed, her back turned to the door. She is hurriedly packing clothes into a worn duffe
Rosalee's Point of View As we sit on the bed, I force myself to really look at Jensen. His face is open, sincere, and free of the fear or disgust I had braced myself for. Instead, I see worry and sorrow etched into his features, as though my pain is his pain. It’s a look I’ve never seen directed at me before, and it’s enough to make me realize there’s no point in hiding anymore. I take a deep breath, steadying myself for what I’m about to say. “I guess it’s time you knew everything,” I begin, my voice soft but resolute. “I have to face my past, and I’ll start by telling you my story.” He nods his head, his expression gentle, encouraging me to continue. “I never knew my family,” I say, my gaze dropping to my hands as I fidget with the hem of my shirt. “From what little I’ve been told, my mother left me at a werewolf pack when I was just a baby. I don’t know why, and no one ever told me. I was raised in the pack house, but... it wasn’t much of a life. As soon as I was old enough
Jensen's Point of View“What happens now?” Rosalee’s question, lingers in the air between us. Filled with uncertainty and vulnerability. I rise from the bed, offering her my hand as I say with a soft smile, “How about we get to know each other a little better over breakfast?” Her lips curl into a small, tentative smile as she nods her head, placing her hand in mine. The touch sends a familiar spark up my arm, but I focus on keeping things light and casual. Together, we leave her room and make our way back to the kitchen, where the plates she prepared earlier still sit waiting. Each of us grab a plate, and as Rosalee looks around the dining area, she suggests, “There’s a nice, quiet table outside. It’s private and... peaceful.” I nod my head in agreement, following her out onto the small patio. The morning sun shines brightly, casting a golden glow over the world, and the scent of yesterday’s rain still lingers faintly in the air. The atmosphere feels fresh, a perfect setting for t
Ronan's Point of View The call with Jensen had barely ended when Nyx comes sprinting toward me, her expression sharp and urgent. My instincts kick in immediately, and I step forward, my voice firm as I ask, “What’s wrong? What happened? Did you find something?” I fire questions at her, as I quickly look her over, ensuring she is okay. Nyx shakes her head, but the urgency in her eyes tells me there’s no time to waste. “We got a report,” she says quickly, slightly out of breath. “A nearby pack is under attack. If we leave now, we might be able to get there before they cause too much damage.” I nod my head, my heart starts to pound as adrenaline surges through me. “Let’s go,” I say, already turning toward the SUV parked nearby. Nyx falls in step beside me, and we sprint across the gravel lot. We climb into the vehicle, and I waste no time starting the engine. As the car roars to life, I glance over at Nyx, who’s already pulling up the details on her phone. “Where are we heading?” I a
Jensen's Point of View I'm standing outside in the garden waiting for Rosalee to finish working so we can have lunch together when my phone starts to ring. I pull it from my pocket, glancing at the screen. Ronan. My eyes move to the sliding doors, and I see Rosalee still standing in die dining room talking too an elder guest. I turn my back to the door, taking a few step further away, just incase someone comes out and over hears me. "Ronan? An update already? I thought you were still investigating. Or did you call me to tell me some good news? Did you find something at the site of the attack that could lead us to them?" I ask and I hear Ronan sigh on the other end of the phone. "No, unfortunately we didn't find anything, but... Well, we have a problem, Jensen. A big one... While we were still investigating the site we got a report that another pack was under attack. We rushed over there as soon as possible, but we were to late. The attack was over and they were long gone." He goe
Rosalee's Point of View I stumble out of the dining room, my legs barely carrying me as I press my back against the cool wall of the hallway. My chest rises and falls rapidly, but no air seems to fill my lungs. My hands tremble as I clutch them at my sides, trying to ground myself, trying to hold on to the life I have built here. This isn’t happening, it can't be. Everything I’ve tried to escape, everything I’ve worked so hard to leave behind, is closing in around me. I was just beginning to warm up to the idea of having a mate, of allowing someone in, and now I find out that Jensen is part of the most feared Lycan pack in existence. And not just any member, he’s a warrior, a leader, someone powerful enough to track a rogue werewolf pack. What does that make me to him? A mission? A threat? My heart pounds so hard it hurts. My body shifts into a full-blown panic attack, my breaths coming in shallow, rapid gasps. My vision blurs. My hands feel numb. My chest tightens like an iron f
Jensen's Point of ViewAlpha Lillian sits across from me, calm and composed, the last of the Alphas I need to speak to in my investigation. Her posture is confident, but not defensive. She answers each of my questions clearly, directly, and more importantly, without hesitation. Everything about her tells me she has nothing to hide. Just like all the others.It’s frustrating.None of the Alphas seem to be the leak. I can’t ignore the fact that someone is feeding information to our enemies, but the trail keeps running cold.I shift the conversation. “Alpha Lillian, I was hoping you might spare one of your wolves to help train Rosalee, in her wolf form. We’ve been working on her human combat, but I want her to be able to defend herself fully. She’s a strong wolf, but she needs real practice with someone experienced.”Lillian taps her fingers lightly against the armrest of the chair, thoughtful. Then she gives a small nod of her head. “Of course. I’ll take a look at my warriors and see wh
Rosalee's Point of View As I step off the porch, the morning sun peeks just over the tops of the trees, casting a soft golden glow across the clearing. The cool air brushes against my skin, crisp and invigorating, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. It settles some of my nerves, though not all. I spot Josh walking towards me from the direction of the pack house, his posture relaxed, a slight smile already on his face. “Good morning,” I say with a smile of my own. “Good morning to you too,” he replies warmly, falling into step beside me without missing a beat. Our footsteps crunch lightly on the gravel path as we begin our walk towards the training center. The silence between us is comfortable, but my thoughts aren’t nearly as calm. I can already feel the tight knot of anxiety beginning to form in my chest. Training with Nyx has never exactly been easy, but after yesterday, after the way she kept looking at me, analyzing me, it’s worse. There’s something about her gaze t
Jensen's Point of View I gesture toward the chair across from my desk, and Bruce steps forward, his movements a little slower than usual, still clearly burdened by the weight of everything that’s happened. He takes his seat, his shoulders squared despite the exhaustion evident in his eyes. I lower myself into the chair behind my desk, the familiar leather creaking quietly as I settle in. “Let’s start by getting everything in order,” I say, folding my hands together on the desk between us. “For tonight, you can stay here. That way, you’ll be present for the alliance agreement signing tomorrow. Do you need additional accommodation until you can rebuild your pack?” Bruce shakes his head, his voice calm but firm. “No. It was mostly just the pack house that took the brunt of the damage. We still have other housing options, guest quarters and some of the family cabins are untouched. Until the main house is repaired, that will do. Besides…” he pauses for a second, his expression tighten
Nyx Point of View The halls of the Dark Moon pack house are quiet as I walk alongside Alpha Lillian. The sun has set the moonlight filters through the windows, casting long shadows across the polished wooden floors. She walks with the confident grace of someone who has seen her fair share of wars but carries them well. When we reach her room at the end of the guest wing, she turns to me. “Thank you,” she says simply, her voice calm and steady. I give her a respectful nod of my head and a polite smile. “Of course, Alpha.” She closes the door gently behind her, and I turn, the heels of my boots clicking softly as I make my way down the corridor. The calm of the night is a sharp contrast to the chaos that erupted earlier in the day. The house feels heavier now, burdened by the weight of loss, suspicion, and unanswered questions. When I finally reach my office, I exhale and close the door behind me, relishing the stillness. The small desk lamp casts a pool of warm light across my
Rosalee's Point of View I can still feel the weight of Nyx’s gaze like a physical pressure on my back, even though I haven’t looked in her direction again. It takes everything in me to keep my expression neutral, my body relaxed, like I don’t feel her eyes dissecting every flicker of movement I make. Then Jensen’s voice cuts through the tension. “Nyx and Ronan will show you to your rooms where you can stay the night.” A few heads nod, others exchange glances, the kind that speak volumes in silence. Nyx finally breaks her stare and turns with Ronan to begin leading the others out. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. As the crowd starts filtering through the door, the room becomes quieter, emptier, but not less tense. Jensen turns his attention to a man lingering by the file cabinets. “Bruce, I will personally show you to your room later. For now, we need to talk.” Bruce gives a curt nod of his head, calm but alert, his posture still rigid from everything th
Rosalee's Point of View The house feels like it’s holding its breath. The late afternoon light filters through the curtains in long golden shafts, stretching across the floor and casting everything in warm, deceptive calm. But inside, my nerves are raw. I’ve paced the living room more times than I can count, the same worry gnawing at me like a steady drumbeat. Freya’s not answering. Jensen’s still not back. Something is wrong. I move to the kitchen, grabbing a cold bottle of water from the fridge, the coolness barely cutting through the heat simmering beneath my skin. Just as I twist off the cap, the unmistakable sound of the front door creaks open. I freeze. Turning slowly, heart in my throat, I see him. Jensen. He steps through the doorway, still in the clothes he left in, his boots marked with dried mud, his shirt wrinkled and torn near the shoulder. His hair is a mess, swept back like he’s been running his fingers through it all day. But it’s not the state of him that
Jensen's Point of View The SUV jerks to a stop in front of the Shadow Vale pack house, the tires crunching over broken debris and blood soaked gravel. My door is open before the engine even cuts off. I step out into the chaos, my eyes sweeping over the scene with a sharp, assessing gaze. The damage is extensive. The front of the pack house is scarred, scorch marks along the outer walls, shattered windows gaping like broken eyes, and the heavy front doors have been splintered inward. The scent of blood clings thick in the air, heavy and metallic, intermingling with the faint tang of smoke and raw earth. Bodies, some covered with tarps, others already being tended, are scattered across the lawn and walkways. But despite the carnage, movement is everywhere. Shadow Vale wolves are already working, clearing debris, carrying the wounded, cleaning away what they can in the wake of violence. Victor got here just in time. It could have been so much worse. I’m just about to step forw
Bruce's Point of View The morning sun filters in through the window of my office, casting long golden rays across the floor as I finish tying the laces of my boots, ready to head out and lead the pack's morning training session. It's a routine I’ve come to appreciate, a moment of calm discipline before the day’s chaos inevitably begins. But today, chaos doesn't wait. A sharp, forceful tug ripples through my consciousness, a mind link, urgent and heavy with fear. I immediately open myself to it, and Alpha Celine’s voice slams into my mind, frantic and breathless. “Bruce! Call Alpha Jensen and prepare to fight… Crimsonclaw is here!” Her words are like ice down my spine, but before I can even respond, the link cuts off, gone, severed in an instant. My body moves before my thoughts catch up. I surge to my feet and open a mind link to the entire Shadow Vale pack, projecting my voice with the full force of my authority. “We are under attack! Everyone get in your positions. Th
Rosalee's Point of View The house is unusually quiet today, a calm that’s almost deceiving. I'm curled up on one of the plush couches in Jensen’s living room, my knees drawn to my chest, flipping through one of his books on werewolf history. The book is old, the leather worn and pages slightly yellowed, but the content is fascinating, stories of the first Lycans, ancient alliances, blood feuds, and sacred rituals long forgotten by most modern packs. I lose myself in the pages, the soft ticking of a wall clock the only sound accompanying my reading. Today’s the day, the official signing of the alliance. By noon, every pack should be arriving. The thought brings a twist of nerves in my stomach, even though I’ve told myself time and again that I’m just an observer here. Still, I haven’t seen Jensen since early this morning. He left in a rush, saying he had final arrangements to handle in his office before the ceremony. Just as I flip to another page, something about a centuries old