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 The energy in my office is focused and efficient as the final preparations for the alliance signing falls into place. Papers are neatly stacked, chairs arranged, and the soft light filtering through the windows gives the room an unusual calm before the storm look. Nyx is standing near the window, her arms crossed as she updates me. “We’ve prepared the rooms on the fifth floor just in case anyone needs to stay overnight,” she says, her voice calm. I nod my head, “Thank you, Nyx.” Turning to Ronan, who stands on the other side of the room by the small table covered in maps and files, I raise an eyebrow. “I went on a border run myself this morning,” he says, his posture straight, his voice steady. “I didn’t see anything suspicious, but I’ve doubled our patrols for today. Just to be safe.” Another nod from me. “Good. It seems everything is in place. Now we just have to wait for them to show up.” Nyx and Ronan both give a single, synchronized nod, the
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
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
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
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?”