Jensen's Point of View I make my way over to Nyx and Ronan, who have been waiting for me near what remains of the pack house. Their expressions are serious, their postures tense from hours of searching through the wreckage. As I approach, Nyx is the first to speak, her voice softer than usual. “Is she okay?” she asks, nodding her head slightly in Rosalee’s direction. I follow her gaze. Rosalee stands amidst the ruins, her arms wrapped around herself, staring at the remains of what was once her home. There’s something unreadable in her stance, pain, grief, but also something darker. Something that makes my chest tighten. I exhale, running a hand through my hair before answering. “I believe she will be.” I hesitate, my eyes still locked on Rosalee as she takes a slow step forward, as if she’s walking through memories. “This used to be her home. This pack raised her. They treated her very poorly, but for most of her life, this was the only home she knew.” Nyx and Ronan exchange
Freya's Point of ViewThe wind rushes past me as I run, my paws pounding against the forest floor, each step bringing me closer to her. The trees blur around me, but my thoughts are clear, after all these years, I am finally going to go see my daughter.The Silver Ridge Pack looms ahead, its scent growing stronger with each passing moment. My heart races, not from the run, but from anticipation. What if she hates me? What if she doesn’t remember me? But I push those thoughts aside. I need to see her.As we near the edge of the forest, I slow my pace before finally coming to a stop. With a deep breath, I shift back to my human form, the familiar pull and stretch of muscle and bone over in mere seconds. Beside me, my second in command, Ravena does the same.We are here.I glance around, my sharp eyes scanning the area. Clothes. We need clothes. Most packs keep them hidden near shifting points for moments like this. I spot a tree with a small stash nearby, a sign that the Silver Ridge wo
Jensen's Point of View The stench of blood and smoke still lingers in the air as I help Ronan and Nyx finish burying the last of the bodies. The freshly turned earth is dark and damp, the final resting place for what remains of the Silver Ridge Pack. Ash drifts in the breeze, settling over the ground like a haunting reminder of the massacre that took place here. Nearby, the last of the fires smolder, small wisps of smoke curling into the sky. We had put out most of the flames, ensuring the destruction wouldn’t spread into the forest beyond. The land has already suffered enough. I straighten and take one final long look at the devastation surrounding us. Burned out structures, crumbled walls, the faint metallic scent of death still thick in the air. “There’s nothing left for us to do here,” I say, turning toward Ronan and Nyx. “Let’s head back to our pack and regroup. Crimsonclaw is getting out of hand, and we need to put a stop to their attacks before they start another war.” Nyx
Rosalee's Point of View As I wake the next morning, a sense of calm settles over me. I feel well rested, though still a little groggy. The events of yesterday linger in the back of my mind, but for the first time in a long while, I don’t wake up in fear. I sit up in bed, blinking the sleep from my eyes as I take in my surroundings again. The room is simple but comfortable, neutral colors, soft bedding, and just enough space to feel cozy without being cramped. A small window lets in the early morning light, casting a soft glow over everything. Deciding that a shower might help me shake off the last remnants of sleep, I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and stand, stretching slightly. I grab my toiletries bag from my duffel before making my way into the ensuite bathroom. Inside, the air is cool against my skin as I step onto the tiled floor. I turn on the shower, letting the water warm up before stepping under the stream. The sensation of hot water cascading down my back immedi
Rosalee's Point of View As I wait for Jensen to come back down, I decide to tidy up a little. I take the dishes from the island and place them in the basin, rinsing them quickly. Even if someone will come by later to clean, I feel better doing something with my hands. It’s a habit, one that’s hard to break. Just as I place the last dish in the sink, Jensen walks back into the kitchen. He’s dressed in a pair of dark jeans and a black button-up shirt, the sleeves rolled up slightly. He smiles when he sees what I’ve done, shaking his head slightly as if amused. I feel a small blush creep onto my cheeks as I return his smile. I’m so used to working, it feels strange to just sit back and do nothing. “Are you ready to go?” Jensen asks, his voice gentle. I nod my head, though my stomach tightens with nerves. I don’t know what to expect, but the possibility of getting answers about my past outweighs my fear. We leave the house and head towards the car. As we drive, I take in more of the
Jensen's Point of View The council chamber is dimly lit, the heavy wooden table at the center is surrounded by the pack’s highest ranking members. The air is thick with tension as we discuss what we saw at Silver Ridge, the destruction, the brutality, and the undeniable truth that Crimsonclaw was getting out of control. I lean forward, rubbing my temples as I listen to the murmurs of the council. A war is coming. And I need to prepare my people. “I’ve already called a pack meeting after this,” I announce, my voice steady despite the weight of responsibility pressing down on me. “I want everyone to know about Rosalee, and I need them to keep the truth about my title from her, at least until she’s ready.” A few of the elders nod their heads in agreement, though I can feel some hesitation in the room. My Beta, Ronan, meets my gaze but says nothing. He trusts my judgment, even if he doesn’t fully understand it. Just as the meeting is about to wrap up, a sudden pressure fills my mind.
Rosalee's Point of ViewThe silence in the car is suffocating.I sit stiffly in my seat, my arms crossed over my chest as I stare out the window, watching the trees blur past us. My mind is racing, but at the same time, I feel… empty. Numb.Jensen lied to me.He had so many chances to tell me who he was, but he didn’t. He let me walk into this blindly. Let me trust him, let me feel safe, when all along, he was keeping the biggest truth from me.The King of the Lycans.I clench my jaw and grip my arms tighter. I should have seen the signs. The way everyone deferred to him. The respect, the obedience. The way he gave orders so effortlessly. But I had been so distracted by everything else, the fear, the uncertainty, the unknowns about my past, that I never stopped to question it.Now I feel like a fool.Jensen hasn’t said a word since we got in the car, but I can feel his glances, brief, hesitant, filled with tension. He knows I’m angry.Good.I let the silence stretch, let him sit with
Jensen's Point of View I watch in silence as Rosalee walks away from me, her shoulders tense, her every step filled with unspoken anger. She doesn’t look back at me, not once. I want to follow her, reach out to her, say something to her, anything, that might make this right. But I know better. She needs space. So instead, I step onto the porch, leaning against the railing, my eyes locked on her as she disappears into the dense forest. The moment she’s out of sight, I release a slow breath and open a mind link to my patrolling pack members. "There will be a large black wolf running in the west side of the forest. Just leave her be, she is my mate." Almost instantly, I receive a response. "Of course, Alpha. We’ll keep our eyes on her but maintain our distance." "Thank you." With that, I cut the link. But the unease remains. I rake a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply. This is not how today was supposed to go. I had planned to gradually ease Rosalee into everything, to prot
Rosalee's Point of View I stay seated at the table, my fingers absently tracing the edge of my plate as I watch Jensen leave. My ears focus on the fading sound of his footsteps, waiting until I hear the distinct thud of his boots hitting the ground outside. The moment I’m sure he’s gone, I push back my chair and move quickly towards my room, my heart pounding harder than it should. Once inside, I immediately head for the nightstand, pulling open the drawer and rummaging through it. My fingers brush against a few miscellaneous items, but my phone is nowhere to be found. Frustration flares in my chest as I turn to the other nightstand, yanking it open and rifling through its contents. Still nothing. I move to my bag, digging through every pocket, every crevice, searching for any sign of my phone. My breath comes faster as I search the entire room, under the bed, inside the closet, even between the couch cushions. But it’s not here. I sit heavily on the edge of the bed, pressing my
Jensen's Point of View I sit in silence, watching Rosalee as she absently traces patterns on the table with her fingers. She’s distant and quiet, too quiet, as if lost in thought. I’ve spent the last hour trying to piece together everything she told me, but I still don’t have the clarity I need. I don't want to doubt her but something isn’t adding up. Pushing my chair back, I stand, breaking the tense silence that has settled between us. Rosalee looks up, her blue eyes unreadable. “I need to go to my office to get some work done,” I tell her, my tone firm. “I’ll send someone to keep an eye on the house... just in case.” Her expression shifts, a flicker of resistance, the slightest narrowing of her eyes. I know she’s about to argue, but I don’t give her the chance. I turn on my heel and stride toward the door, feeling her gaze boring into my back as I leave. The moment I step outside, I open a mind link. “Keep an eye on my house.” “On my way, Alpha.” I cut the link and inhale dee
Rosalee's Point of View I take a deep breath, steadying myself before I start the story I rehearsed with Freya. "After I shifted I was lost in thought as I made my way over to the diner. I walked inside, not realizing it was filled with werewolves. When I realized it, it was already to late so, I tried to play it cool, hoping they wouldn’t see me as a threat. I asked the waitress if I could use their phone. I wanted to call Dameon and ask if he could come get me, but someone else was using it, so I had to wait. I took a seat near the door, keeping my head down, just waiting for my turn to use the phone. And that’s when someone joined me at my booth." Jensen’s sharp eyes narrow. He’s hanging onto every word. "The woman that took you. Do you know who she was?" he interrupts. I shake my head, keeping my expression neutral. "No, I have no idea who she was." The first lie. I can feel my pulse quicken, but I force myself to stay calm. I continue. "As I was saying, this woman
Rosalee's Point of View The moment I step into the bathroom, I turn the shower tap on, letting the water run until it’s scalding hot. Steam begins to rise, curling around the air like a thick mist. I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but my gaze is immediately drawn to the mirror above the sink. I look tired. My eyes, usually bright, seem dull and clouded. There’s dried mud on my legs, faint scrapes along my arms. My hair is tangled, wild from the time spent wandering through the forest. I look exactly how I should, like someone who had barely escaped, who had run until she had no choice but to keep going. It was the perfect illusion. I keep staring at my reflection, as if searching for something, maybe reassurance, maybe doubt, until the mirror completely fogs over, blurring the girl staring back at me. With a small sigh, I pull the oversized T-shirt over my head and step into the shower. The moment the hot water cascades over me, my muscles loosen, the tension
Jensen's Point of View As Ronan and I step out of the pack house, the early afternoon sun beats down on us, a stark contrast to the dim, artificial glow of the IT room we had been buried in for hours. I blink against the sudden brightness and raise my hand to shield my eyes against the sharp light, realizing just how long we had spent chasing dead end after dead end in the dark.The warmth of the sun does little to ease the tightness in my chest. We don’t waste any time as we walk straight to the truck. Ronan slides into the driver’s seat, the engine rumbling to life as I climb into the passenger side. The moment my door shuts, I pull out my phone and redial the last number that had called me, the waitress. My fingers feel stiff with tension, my breath shallow as I press the phone to my ear. One ring. Two rings. Then I hear her voice. "Hello?" she answers, uncertainty clear in her tone. "Hello, this is Jensen. I would like to talk to my friend, please." A brief pause. Then, he
Jensen's Point of View The small backroom of the gas station is dimly lit, the scent of stale coffee lingering in the air. The man behind the desk moves quickly, skipping through the security footage until the timestamp reads 6:00 PM. The screen flickers slightly as the footage fastforwards. We all stand completely still, eyes locked on the monitor, our breath barely audible over the faint hum of the old computer. The road on the screen remains mostly empty, just a few scattered vehicles passing by. My fingers curl into fists at my sides, impatience gnawing at me. And then... A dark blue car emerges from the diner’s side of the street. “Stop,” I say sharply. The man freezes the frame, and I immediately step closer, my eyes narrowing at the screen. The timestamp reads 06:20 PM. My pulse quickens. This has to be them. The vehicle appears unremarkable at first glance, no obvious signs of who might be inside. The image quality isn’t great, making it hard to distinguish detai
Rosalee's Point of View As I begin to stir, the remnants of restless dreams fade into the dim morning light filtering through the curtains. I blink up at the ceiling, my mind already racing. Sleep had been a battle, my thoughts constantly churning, questioning if I had made the right decision. But now, in the clarity of the morning, I feel a sense of resolve settle deep within my bones. This is the right choice. I am sure of it. If I can stop this war, if I can finally create peace, then maybe, just maybe, I can return to my life in Thornhill without the constant weight of fear pressing down on me. With newfound determination, I push the covers off and swing my legs over the side of the bed. My muscles protest slightly, sore from the exhaustion of the last few days, but I push through. Moving to the closet, I pull out some clothes, slipping into them quickly, ready to face the day and solidify my choice. As I step out of the bedroom and into the hallway, the rich, mouthwatering sce
Jensen's Point of View The crisp night air bites against my skin as Ronan, Caleb, Mira, and I step out of the diner. The warm lights from inside cast long shadows across the empty parking lot, contrasting with the cool, silver glow of the street lamps above. My heart pounds with urgency, each beat echoing the name I can’t stop thinking about, Rosalee. Mira takes the lead, her sharp gaze sweeping across the pavement as she follows the faint trail left behind. Ronan and Caleb flank her, noses slightly tilted upward as they take in the fading scent. I follow closely, tension knotting my muscles with every step. The only sounds are our footsteps crunching against the asphalt and the faint hum of distant traffic. They guide us toward the edge of the parking lot, right where I was standing when they first arrived. Mira crouches down, her fingers grazing over the surface of the ground. Her eyes narrow in concentration. A brief silence falls, heavy with anticipation. Caleb steps beside
Rosalee's Point of View "Well, you have had a pretty long day. I think it is time to head of to bed. We can talk some more in the morning. Let me show you to the bedroom." Freya says with a little smile as she stands up. I follow her lead, standing up before following her down the hall. She opens the door second to her right. "This is the bathroom, if you would maybe like to freshen up. There are some extra toothbrushes in the cabinet along with some toothpaste." She walks forward, opening another door. "And this is the bedroom you can use. There are some extra clothes in the closet. I will be right down the hall of you need anything." She says pointing to the last door at the end of hall. I nod my head at her, giving her a small smile. "Thank you." "It's my pleasure. Well, I think I am going to take a quick shower and then go to sleep. I am pretty wiped. Goodnight Rosalee." "Good night, Freya." She smiles at me, before disappearing into her room to grab her things. I open the do