Liam's P.O.V.The corridor was silent except for the sound of my footsteps, and the muffled chatter of students hanging around in corners farther down. My fists were clenched at my sides, my jaw clamped, and every nerve in me was ready to go. Too many days had been wasted watching Henry toy with Niylah, and his thinking he could just continue to walk all over her-thinking he could just claim her at any time-managed to boil my blood.I found him leaning against the wall beside the lockers like he didn't have a single care in the world. He was at ease, but there was something beneath that smug veneer-something dark. When he saw me approach, a smirk curled the corners of his mouth and he straightened, clearly enjoying this about as much as he could.Liam," he drawled, tone mocking. "To what do I owe this? pleasure?"I held his gaze, letting him see the anger simmering in my eyes. "We need to talk, Henry. About Niylah."His smirk grew, and he cocked his head to one side, feigning curiosit
LIAM'S POVThe assembly hall was full of students, their voices becoming one of a soft murmur of chattery and giggling. I sat next to Niylah, who was focused intently but calmly on the throng, with her hand just a few inches away by my side on the armrest between us. There was an uncanny feeling of peace that would wash over me whenever she was nearby as if the world could be an absolute catastrophe, but she was still locked in the ocean of it.Then, a light tap on my shoulder pulled me from my thoughts. I turned, expecting to see one of the guys or maybe a classmate from pack training, but the sight that met my eyes left me speechless.“Hello, Liam.”Evelyn Grant, my first crush, the girl I’d spent endless days and nights thinking about, the one who had once held my whole world in her hands.“Evelyn?” I managed to say, barely a whisper.She smiled, the same wry smile that I remember, a hint of a smile to a sward position as though she perceived some desired effect she was having on m
I felt the wave of melancholy wash over me, mixed with relief, as Evelyn walked away. The stirring of those memories was part of seeing her again, a sense of touching things I hadn't in so long, that I had thought were locked away. Yet, those memories seemed to be an echo from another life, a life I no longer wanted to hold onto. My eyes drifted to Niylah beside me. Her searching gaze was steady and warm, a sense of home.She didn't need to say anything. It was sufficient that her hand had touched mine, to put me in my place. I leaned into her, my fingers instinctively giving her hand a light press as if to reassure her that maybe this was where I was supposed to be: here, now, with her.The rest of the assembly passed in a blur, with all those announcements and speeches no person listened to. My mind kept wandering back to the strange encounter, that out-of-place reminder of a past I thought I had long since outgrown. I couldn't get Evelyn's words out of my head, especially: *"Some t
IVORY'S POVAnger bubbled in my skin, the small room a cell that confined me as I paced its length. Each step fell with frustration, echoing through and feeding the fury that twisted in my gut. It had been days since Niylah shamed me before everybody, yet somehow the image of her smug face still wouldn't leave my head.“Enough is enough," I muttered to myself, stopping in front of the window. I balled my fists full of the urge to shatter something-anything-just to let out the pent-up rage. However, breaking things wasn't going to sort this out. What I needed now was a game plan-something that would hurt her where it hurts.A gentle rap at the door swept me from my reverie, and Hilda slipped inside. Dark eyes sparkled roguishly as if she already knew what was about to come from my mouth. Hilda had been my closest friend forever. She alone could understand things about me that nobody else ever did, and more importantly, she shared my deep-seated aversion toward Niylah."I'm guessing you
IVORY'S POV I watched Hilda leave the room, a feeling of thrill still buzzing in my veins while pacing back and forth, imagining every step of our plan falling into place. My mind was a turmoil of pictures of Niylah's face, proud, self-assured smile faltering as she realized that everything around her was slipping away.The more I contemplated it, the better it sounded. I had to watch her for too long walking around like she was greater than everyone else, like she was some sort of untouchable princess. She wasn't different from any of the rest of us, though. And I would be the one who'd make her see that.I couldn't wait to get started, but I knew I had to tread with caution. I couldn't afford for one single moment to raise suspicion that it was Hilda and I behind it all, or else we'd face the punishment instead of Niylah. That thought alone was enough to make me slow down, take a deep breath, and rethink every step in my head."Patience, Ivory," I said slowly, my fingers tightening
NIYLAH'S POV I sat alone in the quietness of the library, trying to get into the book in my hands, but my brain just would not stay off Liam. I couldn't help it. He has been so distant lately. He rarely spoke to me during training, and anytime we saw each other, he would make a reason to leave quickly, skirting around me.It stung more than I cared to admit. I was used to his smile, to the way he could always get me to laugh or lighten the world by his presence. Now, it was as though there was this invisible wall between us, there even when it could not be seen, beginning to be felt because of its heavy, suffocating feeling. I tried telling myself it was all in my head, that maybe he was busy, stressed, or whatever; nonetheless, that feeling just would not budge.I let out a sigh, setting the book down on the table and resting my head on my hand as my mind began to wander. What was going on? Had I done something wrong? Was he mad at me?"Hey, Niylah.”A familiar voice stirred me from
Evelyn's POVThe loud buzz of the hallway was reassuring for the sole fact that it was familiar chaos. I adjusted my backpack, looking around at all the new faces of my classmates. It was great to finally be here, but the nerves still humming in my body were hard to ignore. I wasn't sure how it would feel after so much time away from Liam.Then, there he was.Standing by his locker, Liam looked no different yet was somehow different. His expression was a little more somber, like something inordinately heavy weighed upon his mind, yet at the very sight of him, a smile crept onto my face. I pushed through the crowd, walking up to him, and couldn't help the laughter that bubbled up as I greeted him. "Hey, stranger!”Surprised, he turned, and then his face lit up. "Evelyn?" he said, his voice full of incredulity and a delight I hadn't seen in ages. "What are you doing here?""Surprise!" I chimed, throwing my arms playfully. "I transferred here. Guess you're stuck with me now.Liam's smile
Hilda's POVI glanced down at the photo on my phone, a sly smile spreading across my face. Liam and Evelyn in a warm embrace. The minute I saw them in the hall, I knew this would come in handy. Less than a minute at our school, and Evelyn's already getting all chummy with Liam. What she didn't know, though, was there was a little more to this story than she could have known.I quickened my pace, till I reached Ivory. She was waiting by the library, hidden behind one of the high shelves, her arms wrapped over her chest, and a look of impatience on her face. When she saw me, she raised an eyebrow, expecting me to tell her just what I had discovered."Well?" she asked in a quiet yet commanding voice.I held up my phone, showing her the picture of Liam and Evelyn. Her eyes widened just a bit, and a satisfied smirk formed on her lips. She took the phone from me, studying the image, then looked up, her gaze sharp."Perfect," she whispered to herself almost. "This will be exactly what we nee
Niylah stood on the grand stage, her fingers poised elegantly above the ivory keys of the majestic piano, her heart pulsating in rhythm with the gentle hum of anticipation that filled the concert hall. The atmosphere was electric—a myriad of emotions swirled around her as the audience filled the seats, awash with admiration and expectation. A soft glow illuminated her from above, casting her in a shimmering light, and she could feel the warmth coursing through her, reassuring her that this moment was hers.Breathless, Niylah smiled as she scanned the crowd, her eyes landing on her parents, their faces glowing with pride, and Nina, her little sister and her lifelong confidant, sitting in the front row, grinning widely. They had journeyed together, navigating the chaotic currents of life, and now they shared in this triumphant moment.After everything that had happened—the rejections, the pain, and the eventual acceptance of her true self—she finally stood here, ready to fulfill her dre
Henry’s POVThe moon hung high above the clearing, a majestic witness to life unfolding beneath its hushed glow. Henry stood at the edge of the gathering, an outsider looking in, gnawing on regrets that clawed at his insides. Guilt twisted in his chest as he witnessed the celebration of unity after the chaos that had once reigned over their lives. His gaze drifted to Niylah, resplendent and fierce, commanding the attention of the pack with her newfound Alpha presence. She had shed her insecurities like a snake shedding skin, and the magnificence of who she was now practically radiated. Memories of their past flashed through his mind, filling him with remorse.He had been such a fool—disregarding her, underestimating her strength, and acting out of selfishness. The recollection of that day haunted him, the burning shame of how he had rejected her publicly, how he had chosen to embrace Ivory instead of nurturing what he could have cherished with Niylah. The memories of their time toge
Liam’s POVThe soft glow of the moon bathed the forest in ethereal light as Liam walked through the clearing. Each step felt lighter than the last, buoyed by an overwhelming sense of gratitude. He paused, inhaling the cool night air, feeling its crispness fill his lungs and awaken the very essence of him. The moon goddess had blessed him with a gift he had never anticipated—a mate, Niylah. And with that blessing, he had discovered not just love but a profound truth about himself.As the future Alpha, he felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders to embody strength and resilience. Yet, despite his natural gifts, there had always been an undercurrent of confusion guiding his path. He had lived under the constant fear of failing those he cared about, the fear of not being the leader they deserved. But with Niylah, everything changed.He thought back to that fateful night when their souls intertwined beneath the moonlit sky. It had been such a vulnerable moment when she had unlea
Niylah stood beneath the pale glow of the moonlight, her heart racing with a mixture of fear and exhilaration. The night seemed alive with energy, vibrating in tune with the beating of her own heart. She had always been the Omega—the weakest, the underestimated, the one who bore the brunt of others' expectations and their scorn. Every day had been a battle against the tides of her reality, a struggle to carve a place for herself in a world that thrived on hierarchy and dominance. But tonight, everything was different.Memories flooded her mind as she took a deep breath. She could still remember the whispers that followed her, the laughter laced with cruelty echoing in the corners of her mind. “Niylah the weak, Niylah the expendable,” they'd call her. The other wolves in her pack had found their strength in their Alpha lineage, their fierce dominion solidified by blood and tradition. And then there was her—nobody. Just Niylah. The Omega.Her hands clenched into fists as she recalled th
Liam's POVThe confrontation had spiraled into a tumultuous battle of emotions that left me reeling. As Sophia’s revelation twisted around us, I could scarcely grasp the gravity of what she had confessed. The air crackled with uncertainty, but behind it all was a thread of betrayal that hung heavily in the silence. It ricocheted through each moment, wrapping the three of us in a storm.“She disguised herself as Evelyn,” I thought, the notion too surreal to digest. “Why would she go to such lengths?”Every detail felt like an incomplete piece of a broken puzzle I strained to assemble. This woven narrative hung precariously, every new thread threatening to unravel the ties that bound us together.“You played Evelyn,” I finally managed to voice, disbelief still clinging to my words. It felt surreal, as though I were watching a play unfold rather than witnessing the reality standing before me. “Why would you put yourself in that position? Why hide in plain sight?”“I did it for you!” Soph
Niylah's POVThe cool air was fraught with tension as Sophia revealed her truth, the revelation seeping into my consciousness like a slow poison. I tried to piece together the fragments of my emotions as I stood there, stunned.Sophia had been my confidant, a steadfast ally who had helped me navigate my darkest days. I had relied on her, unknowingly, while she had worn a mask so deceiving it felt as if the ground beneath me had shifted. It left me reeling, the foundation I thought our friendship was built upon cracking beneath the weight of her betrayal.“Evelyn,” I whispered, the name falling from my lips like a ghostly echo. “Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, remorse reflected in her gaze. I had justified my own insecurities through our bond; I had viewed our relationship as a sisterhood, one founded on support. To learn that Sophia had disguised herself as someone else—someone dangerously close to me—felt like a betrayal that ran deeper than mere deception; it threatened the v
Sophia’s POVThe moonlit clearing shimmered, casting elongated shadows that danced across the ground like phantoms from my past. My heart raced as I prepared to share my truth with Niylah and Liam. I could sense the tension that lingered in the air, the unspoken questions and the hazy remnants of doubt. It was time to shed my own skin, to remove the last pieces of the façade I had built to protect those I cared about most.We had all been through a crucible of conflict that had tested our bonds, but now we stood on the brink of revelation. As I gathered my thoughts, my gaze flickered to Niylah, her fierce determination a beacon of strength. I remembered all too vividly the moments when she had needed me most, how I had made it my mission to be her shield against the dark forces that threatened her.Would she understand how deep this deception ran? Would she see that my intentions had been guided by loyalty, even if my methods were misguided?"There's something you both need to know,"
Liam's POVThe night air felt heavy, charged with emotions still pulsating from the earlier confrontation. Sophia’s voice drifted through my consciousness like a haunting melody, testing the strings of loyalty and trust. She stood before Niylah and me, a woman who’d carried the weight of being our beta and yet had slipped in her duty to protect the very foundation she held dear.“But you think you can just... pull the wool over our eyes and pretend it’s for our own good?” The words were out before I had fully processed them. I felt a mix of anger and disbelief at her veiled intentions, but there was an underlying concern—what else lay hidden behind those secrets?“I thought I was doing what was best!” She cried, small and earnest, the vulnerability in her reflection stirring something inside me. “I know I’ve made mistakes; I laid a path of betrayal. But I wanted to shield you two from the turmoil happening outside our borders.”In that moment, I felt the weight of my initial fury shi
Niylah's POVThe wind howled through the trees, carrying the echoes of the fight we had just witnessed. Nothing felt right. As the moon painted the clearing in ethereal light, I could hardly believe the chaos that had descended upon us. Sophia's words swirled in my mind, but the anger within me felt justified. The betrayal was fresh; it still stung like an open wound.Why had she kept us in the dark? It was unfathomable. Trust was the foundation of our pack, and now those foundations seemed to be cracked and crumbling.“Betrayal,” I echoed Sophia’s words. “That’s what it feels like. You were meant to stand by us, to protect us. Instead, you chose to act secretly.”“Could you not see that it was for our safety?” She looked at me imploringly, and I could see the tremor in her hands as she spoke. Maybe I was too harsh; Sophia was our beta, and she wore that responsibility heavily. But that didn’t excuse her silence.“We’re all carrying our own burdens, Sophia,” Liam’s voice was steady, c