Rosalee's Point of View The walk back to the SUVs is quiet, the weight of the meeting still lingering in the air. The only sound is the rustling of leaves beneath our feet and the distant call of birds in the trees. The meeting had gone better than expected, but the tension hasn’t fully lifted. Once we climb into the SUV, Jensen takes the driver’s seat, Marcel settles into the front passenger side, while Piper and I slide into the back. The familiar hum of the engine rumbles to life as Jensen starts the car, and we begin the long drive back to the pack’s territory. For a while, no one speaks. The road ahead of us stretches out, winding through the dense forest, the sunlight filtering through the trees in streaks of gold. I rest my head against the cool glass of the window, watching as the trees blur past in shades of deep green and earthy brown. Marcel is the first one to break the silence. “Well, that went a lot better than I expected it too.” Jensen lets out a small chuck
Jensen's Point of View The air in my office is thick with concentration, the only sounds being the rhythmic clicking of the keyboard and the occasional rustling of papers. Nyx, Ronan, and I are gathered around my desk, working on finalizing the alliance agreement. The document displayed on the computer screen outlines the terms we’ve spent hours debating, a pact between werewolf packs and Lycans, a united front against a common threat. Crimsonclaw. Ronan leans back in his chair, running a hand through his dark hair. His expression is thoughtful, yet resolute. "This alliance will be the turning point for the war between our two species," he says. "Once other packs learn about it, they might be more inclined to join too." I nod my head, my eyes still scanning the screen as I fine tune the wording of a particularly delicate clause. The agreement needs to be solid, binding. Trust is fragile, and we can't afford any misinterpretations that could cause rifts down the line. Nyx, who h
Rosalee's Point of View I stir awake, my mind clouded with thoughts of last night. The guilt feels heavier today, sitting deep in my chest like a stone. The more time I spend with Jensen, the more I start to doubt everything I have believed up until now. The war, the werewolves, the Lycans... what if I have been seeing this all wrong? I sigh, rubbing my hands over my face. This spying needs to end. Today, I’ll gather as much information as I can about the alliance agreement, and if Freya’s so called “friends” don’t want to join, then I’m done. No more secrets. No more betraying Jensen. The decision brings a strange sense of relief, even as the weight of it settles on my shoulders. With a reluctant sigh, I throw back the warm covers and step out of bed. My feet hit the cold floor, jolting me fully awake. I move to the closet, pulling out my usual training attire, black tights, a fitted sports bra, an oversized t-shirt, and my trainers. This has become my go to outfit for my
Jensen's Point of View I exhale deeply, rolling my shoulders to ease the tension that has been building in my neck throughout the morning. The alliance meeting was a success, but there is still so much uncertainty, especially when it comes to Crimsonclaw. I sit at my mahogany desk, a satisfied smile tugging o my lips as my fingers fly over the keyboard as I type a quick yet professional response to Alpha Lillian’s email. *** To: Alpha Lillian From: Alpha Jensen Dark Moon Pack Subject: Re: Alliance Agreement Signing Alpha Lillian, Thank you for confirming your attendance. We are very pleased to have the Crescent Moon Pack stand with us in this alliance. The official signing will take place on Monday at 12:00 PM at the Dark Moon Packhouse. Upon arrival, my Beta Ronan will direct you and your team to the meeting hall, where we will finalize the agreement before the official signing. If you require any accommodations or security measures, please let me know in advance.
Rosalee's Point of View As Jensen and I make our way back toward the pack house, an uneasy feeling twists in my gut. Why would he ask if I’m okay? Did I say something to make him suspicious? Did Nyx say something to him? I swallow down the panic threatening to surface. I have to end this. This spying mission was never mine to begin with, and if I’m being honest with myself, I’ve never been good at it. Jensen is too kind, too open, too trusting. Each time I give information to Freya, it feels less like duty and more like betrayal. I take a slow breath. Just a little longer. I just have to fake it a little longer, and then I’m out. As soon as we step into the dining hall, the scent of roasted meat, fresh bread, and warm spices fills the air. The room is buzzing with energy, the sound of clinking dishes and overlapping conversations creating a lively atmosphere. I force a bright smile as Jensen and I step into line. He grabs a plate and hands it to me. I take it with a g
Celine's Point of View The steady glow of my computer screen casts a soft blue light over my office, the only sound being the rhythmic tapping of my fingers on the keyboard. The scent of freshly brewed coffee lingers in the air, mixing with the faint scent of the old oak furniture. It’s just another day, until I feel the familiar tug of a mind link as someone attempts to connect. With a sigh, I open the link, and Owen’s voice comes through, slightly tense. “Alpha. There is a woman at the border gate. She won’t give us her name, she just keeps insisting that she wants to talk to you.” I frown, my fingers pausing over the keyboard. “Tell her to state why she is here, and if she won’t, then she should leave.” “We’ve tried that, Alpha, but she refuses to leave. She says she will only speak to you and she won’t leave until she does.” Annoyance creeps into my tone. “Fine. Escort her in. I will send her away myself.” “On it, Alpha.” I cut the link and lean back in my chair, st
Celine's Point of View Freya stalks around me like a predator, her movements slow and deliberate. Her bright blue eyes glow with excitement as if she’s savoring the tension, waiting for me to strike first. But I don’t. I stand my ground, my muscles coiled and ready. The moment stretches, and I see her smirk falter, frustration flickering across her face. She wanted me to lunge, to give her an opening. Not happening. With a sharp exhale, she moves. Her punch comes fast, aimed directly at my face. But I’m ready for her. I sidestep, letting the momentum of her strike carry her forward. She stumbles into my desk, her hands slamming against the wood to catch herself. Freya spins around, her eyes now burning with something wilder, more dangerous. She lunges again, this time aiming a series of rapid punches at my ribs and face. I raise my arms, blocking, absorbing the impact. A stinging pain spreads up my arms, but I don’t falter. The moment I see an opening, I counter, a sh
Freya's Point of View The moment I hear the sickening crack of Celine’s skull against the tree, I shift back into my human form. My breath comes in ragged gasps, my body battered and bloodied, but I keep my balance, even as my broken leg trembles beneath me. I take a step forward, wincing as pain shoots up my limb, but I don’t stop. Celine lies motionless in the dirt, her body twisted at an unnatural angle. Blood seeps into the earth beneath her, pooling around her like a dark, scarlet halo. I stare at her, my chest rising and falling in shallow breaths, waiting for any sign of life. Nothing. The Alpha of Shadow Vale is dead. A slow, satisfied smile creeps onto my lips, but before I can relish my victory, a familiar tug at my mind interrupts me. Ravena’s urgent voice rings out through the pack link. “We have company. Retreat.” Her tone is sharp, a warning laced with urgency. I immediately open a private link to her. “I need your help. I’m in a clearing, about a
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
Jensen's Point of View I stir awake, a soft breath leaving my lungs as I blink against the morning light filtering through the window. For the first time in what feels like days, I feel... grounded. Not entirely at ease, but focused. Yesterday, the alliance agreement was signed. The plan to root out the mole is in motion. And today... today, I’ll cross one more name off the list. I’ll talk to Rosalee. With that goal settling like a quiet resolve in my chest, I throw back the covers and swing my legs over the side of the bed. The floor is cool beneath my feet as I rise and stretch, working out the stiffness in my shoulders. My steps are purposeful as I walk to the closet and grab something simple to wear, dark jeans and a fitted charcoal t-shirt. Comfortable, clean, unassuming. Today’s not about appearances. Once dressed, I take a moment to run my fingers through my hair, smoothing it back before I open my bedroom door and head down the hall. The house is quiet, the kind of silence
Jensen's Point of View The fresh night air feels grounding as Rosalee and I walk side by side, leaving the hall and all the tension behind us. The stars are out, scattered across the sky, and the cool breeze is a welcome relief from the stuffiness of the signing. I feel lighter now that it's over, one major task off my shoulders, but there's a heaviness that settles just beneath the surface, pressing into me with every quiet step. Rosalee walks beside me, her arms relaxed at her sides, her face soft in the moonlight. She seems... happy. At ease. There’s no trace of the weight I carry visible in her expression, and for a moment, I envy that kind of calm. I want to believe this peace is real. That she’s exactly who she seems to be, gentle, curious, and trying to find her place here. But my thoughts twist back to Nyx’s words, and Ronan’s warning. Nyx doesn’t throw out suspicions lightly. Her instincts are sharp, honed over years of dealing with situations others would miss entirely.
Rosalee's Point of ViewI wander aimlessly through the house after having lunch with Jensen, my fingers trailing along the edge of the walls and furniture. I’ve tried reading one of his books again, something to quiet the noise in my mind, but the words keep blurring together. My thoughts are too loud, too restless. I consider calling Freya, but what would I even say to her? There’s nothing new to share, nothing she doesn’t already know about.With a sigh, I find myself drawn to Jensen’s home office. The space smells like cedar and old paper, a now familiar, welcoming smell. I slip into his chair behind the desk. The leather feels cool beneath my fingers. My eyes wander and I spot some blank paper and pencils nearby. Without much thought, I pick one up and begin to sketch.At first, it’s just random lines, soft, swirling shapes, but soon it becomes more intentional. I let the pencil move on its own, trying to capture this tight feeling in my chest, the sense of being watched and quest
Jensen's Point of View The door clicks shut behind the last person I had to question, and I let out a long, frustrated sigh as I lean back in my chair. That was everyone. Every Alpha, every Beta, every representative from the alliance meeting. And none of them, none, gave even a hint that they could be the mole. Either I’ve spoken to the world’s most talented liar, or… it’s someone else entirely. Someone I’ve overlooked. Someone hiding in the shadows. The thought gnaws at me, and I sit up straighter, reaching out through the Alpha’s mind link. "Marcel, can you please meet me in my office?" "Sure. I just entered your pack lands again. I’ll be there soon." I cut the link and sit in the silence, my turning over every interaction, every detail. Nothing adds up. A few minutes pass before there’s a knock at the door. “Come in,” I call. Marcel steps inside with a slight smile, but it fades quickly as his eyes lock onto mine. His brows knit with concern. “Is everything okay?”