Alyssas PovCara goes silent.She stares at me like she’s forgotten how to speak. Her lips part slightly, but no words come out. Her shoulders slump, and I see it—the fear, the guilt, the pain. Something inside her collapses.“What is it?” My voice cracks. “Cara… what happened to Zev?”I already know I won’t like the answer. My heart pounds against my ribs, loud and frantic. I taste blood at the back of my throat. The silence stretches, suffocating me.Then the Moonborn girl laughs—a sharp, cruel sound that slices through the stillness.“Come on,” she says, pushing off the ground and standing tall like she hasn’t been locked in the same cage we are. “Tell her. Tell your precious queen where her brave little mate is.”Cara doesn't move. Her eyes flicker, her hands tremble.“Cara?” I whisper again, my throat closing. “Please.”The Moonborn girl tilts her head, mockery dripping from every word.“Oh, Omega. Your boyfriend’s fine. Strong, alive, proud. It’s amazing, really… you still don’t
Alyssa’s POVThe way he says my name.Everything inside me breaks.I turn slowly, my heart shuddering so loud I can hear it in my ears. There he is. Zev.But he’s not my Zev anymore.He stands there like a stranger—dressed head to toe in Fenrath armor, the black and silver plates gleaming under the torchlight.A wolf insignia sits proudly across his chest, sharp and cruel, the mark of everything I’ve feared. He looks like one of them—a soldier, a commander, a man who doesn't belong to me.The air leaves my lungs.“Shadow,” I whisper, but my wolf is already howling inside me, full of rage and betrayal. Her wrath crawls under my skin like fire. I don’t think—I move.My fist crashes into his jaw with everything I have. The sound echoes in the cage. He stumbles back, eyes wide, but he doesn't defend himself.Hands grab me. They pull me off him roughly, trying to hold me down, but I twist and scream like a wild thing.“You traitor!” I cry, my voice shaking with pain. “You betrayed me! You
Alyssa’s POVIt’s been a month since the invasion of the Grove.Thirty days since the world I thought I was building crumbled to ash around me.They have moved me from the cage to a room—not lavish, but quiet, with a window that lets in slivers of moonlight.I get escorted on daily walks through the stone courtyards, always with two guards close behind. I’m not mistreated, not starved or beaten. But I’m not free either. I’m a wolf in a gilded cage, waiting for the verdict of fate.Waiting for the Moonborn Pack to claim what’s left of me.I sit by the window, fingers tracing the frost-lined glass. My breath fogs the air. My heart feels hollow.Alpha Conan wants me back. He’s made it very clear through whispers that echo through these walls. Through the looks the soldiers give me. Through the silence that follows me everywhere.But even as I brace myself for that nightmare—his nightmare—my thoughts are stuck somewhere else.They slip backward, like leaves carried by a stream, to four w
Zevs POVShe’s walking toward us now. Alyssa. Her hair is braided back in that neat, Moonborn way—tightly woven, almost regal.It pulls her face back, shows the sharp edges of her cheekbones, the quiet strength in her jaw. Her expression is calm.Too calm.She almost looks peaceful, like this isn’t a death march. Like she’s already accepted whatever fate we’re marching her toward. But I can see the tension in her shoulders. The way her hands twitch at her sides. She won’t look at me. Not even once. And gods, I deserve that. She passes through the middle of the soldiers.They part just enough to let her through.The silence around her is thick, watchful. Everyone's pretending not to judge her, but we all know they are. Whispering in their heads. And still, she doesn’t look up. Doesn’t look at me. “She's just one person, Kira,” I say, my voice low. “Do we really need all these soldiers here?” Kira strolls over to me, the curve of her lips smug. She’s wearing leather and steel to
Alyssa POVI’m walking. One step after the other. My legs ache, but I keep going. I refuse to stop. Not for him. Not for anyone.The sun hangs low in the sky, casting gold over the trees, but I barely notice it. My focus is ahead—straight, unbending, cold.Soldiers walk around us, some whispering, others staring like I’m some wild beast they’ve caged for the first time. Maybe I am.I can feel Zev behind me.His presence wraps around me like smoke—heavy, suffocating, familiar. I grit my teeth.My fists curl. Every part of me is begging to turn around and leap at him, tear into him, scream into his face and make him bleed the way he made me bleed.But I don’t.I walk.Because if I’m going to die—if this is the end—then I will do it with my head held high. With pride in my spine and fire in my heart.“Alyssa,” he calls. His voice is quiet, but I feel it like a blade between my shoulder blades.“Alyssa… please. Talk to me.”I don’t. I keep walking. He’s not worth it. Not anymore.“
Zevs POVThe scent of antiseptic clings to the air as I walk beside him. My boots hit the sterile floor in a slow rhythm, echoing down the long corridor.The lights above flicker slightly, casting pale shadows on the hospital walls. Every step I take feels heavier, like something is building in the space between us. Something unspoken. Something dangerous.My father, is silent at first. His jaw is tight, his shoulders squared, the way they always are when he’s holding something back.“You need to tell me who she is, Zev.”His voice is low. Steady. But there’s a tension in it that wasn’t there before. A weight that tightens my chest.“What do you mean, Dad?”We round a corner, passing a nurse who lowers her eyes when she sees us. He doesn’t answer right away. Just breathes through his nose and keeps walking.He stops. Turns to face me fully.“Zev, I’m not joking.” His eyes—dark and sharp—cut into mine. “What is she?”I blink. “I don’t know what you mean. She’s… she’s an omega. That’s a
Alyssas Pov The world feels distant. My body is heavy, like it’s been dragged through stone and fire. Every breath is a struggle. Pain tugs at my ribs. My eyes flutter open to blinding white light, and I blink slowly, willing the blur to sharpen. For a moment, I just lie there. Listening. Breathing. Then I feel it—that familiar ache in my chest. Not the wound. Something deeper. I turn my head and see Zev sitting in the corner, his arms crossed, his jaw tense. He looks like he’s carrying the weight of ten wars. When he notices I’m awake, he stands, but he doesn’t come closer. "How are you feeling?" he asks. I stare at him, throat dry, voice thin. "Why do you care?" He doesn’t answer right away. Just sighs and shifts his weight. "You saved lives, Alyssa," he says. "That’s not nothing." "Does that mean I get to leave?" "I don’t know." His voice is quieter now. "It’s not up to me." Before I can ask what that means, the doors swing open, and everything changes. Boo
Alyssa’s POVIt’s been weeks.Weeks of living in this nightmare. Of dragging my feet through the filth of Fenrath’s training fields, of scrubbing blood-stained blades I didn’t wield, of hauling weapons I’ll never be trusted to use. My hands are blistered.My back aches every night. But it’s not the labor that breaks me—it’s the waiting. The silence. The unknowing.Arthur… the others… what if Zev was right? What if the shuck attacks really are getting worse?I try not to let the panic settle in my chest, but it creeps in anyway. I haven’t seen Zev in days—not that I’m looking. And when I do see him, he avoids my gaze like a coward. Kira, on the other hand, never misses a chance to remind me of what I am.Alyssa the Omega.The servant.The entitled traitor.I’m crouched behind the smithy, catching a breath, the scent of iron and smoke still thick in my nose. My fingers rub absently at the small scar along my wrist. A reminder that I am a survivor.“A penny for your thoughts?” Cara’s voi
Kira’s POVWhat just happened???The words fly out of my mouth before I can stop them. My voice echoes through the training yard, sharp, stunned, furious.Did that really just happen?“Looks like we just got beat by an omega,” Gwen mumbles beside me, her tone quiet… too quiet.I spin to face her, my eyes blazing. “Shut up, Gwen!”She flinches but doesn’t back down. “I’m sorry, Kira, but it’s true. Did you hear that howl? We have to admit it. There’s something different about Alyssa.”I clench my fists. “There’s no such thing. She’s just lucky. That’s all. Next time, I’ll teach her to bow when she’s told.”I storm off before Gwen can say another word. I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want anyone to see me like this—shaking, embarrassed, boiling inside.I head straight to the only place that ever brings me peace. The only place that ever makes sense.I don’t knock.I barge into the house, the heavy door slamming behind me. The place is spotless—too spotless. Not a cushion out of place,
Alyssa’s POVIt’s been weeks.Weeks of living in this nightmare. Of dragging my feet through the filth of Fenrath’s training fields, of scrubbing blood-stained blades I didn’t wield, of hauling weapons I’ll never be trusted to use. My hands are blistered.My back aches every night. But it’s not the labor that breaks me—it’s the waiting. The silence. The unknowing.Arthur… the others… what if Zev was right? What if the shuck attacks really are getting worse?I try not to let the panic settle in my chest, but it creeps in anyway. I haven’t seen Zev in days—not that I’m looking. And when I do see him, he avoids my gaze like a coward. Kira, on the other hand, never misses a chance to remind me of what I am.Alyssa the Omega.The servant.The entitled traitor.I’m crouched behind the smithy, catching a breath, the scent of iron and smoke still thick in my nose. My fingers rub absently at the small scar along my wrist. A reminder that I am a survivor.“A penny for your thoughts?” Cara’s voi
Alyssas Pov The world feels distant. My body is heavy, like it’s been dragged through stone and fire. Every breath is a struggle. Pain tugs at my ribs. My eyes flutter open to blinding white light, and I blink slowly, willing the blur to sharpen. For a moment, I just lie there. Listening. Breathing. Then I feel it—that familiar ache in my chest. Not the wound. Something deeper. I turn my head and see Zev sitting in the corner, his arms crossed, his jaw tense. He looks like he’s carrying the weight of ten wars. When he notices I’m awake, he stands, but he doesn’t come closer. "How are you feeling?" he asks. I stare at him, throat dry, voice thin. "Why do you care?" He doesn’t answer right away. Just sighs and shifts his weight. "You saved lives, Alyssa," he says. "That’s not nothing." "Does that mean I get to leave?" "I don’t know." His voice is quieter now. "It’s not up to me." Before I can ask what that means, the doors swing open, and everything changes. Boo
Zevs POVThe scent of antiseptic clings to the air as I walk beside him. My boots hit the sterile floor in a slow rhythm, echoing down the long corridor.The lights above flicker slightly, casting pale shadows on the hospital walls. Every step I take feels heavier, like something is building in the space between us. Something unspoken. Something dangerous.My father, is silent at first. His jaw is tight, his shoulders squared, the way they always are when he’s holding something back.“You need to tell me who she is, Zev.”His voice is low. Steady. But there’s a tension in it that wasn’t there before. A weight that tightens my chest.“What do you mean, Dad?”We round a corner, passing a nurse who lowers her eyes when she sees us. He doesn’t answer right away. Just breathes through his nose and keeps walking.He stops. Turns to face me fully.“Zev, I’m not joking.” His eyes—dark and sharp—cut into mine. “What is she?”I blink. “I don’t know what you mean. She’s… she’s an omega. That’s a
Alyssa POVI’m walking. One step after the other. My legs ache, but I keep going. I refuse to stop. Not for him. Not for anyone.The sun hangs low in the sky, casting gold over the trees, but I barely notice it. My focus is ahead—straight, unbending, cold.Soldiers walk around us, some whispering, others staring like I’m some wild beast they’ve caged for the first time. Maybe I am.I can feel Zev behind me.His presence wraps around me like smoke—heavy, suffocating, familiar. I grit my teeth.My fists curl. Every part of me is begging to turn around and leap at him, tear into him, scream into his face and make him bleed the way he made me bleed.But I don’t.I walk.Because if I’m going to die—if this is the end—then I will do it with my head held high. With pride in my spine and fire in my heart.“Alyssa,” he calls. His voice is quiet, but I feel it like a blade between my shoulder blades.“Alyssa… please. Talk to me.”I don’t. I keep walking. He’s not worth it. Not anymore.“
Zevs POVShe’s walking toward us now. Alyssa. Her hair is braided back in that neat, Moonborn way—tightly woven, almost regal.It pulls her face back, shows the sharp edges of her cheekbones, the quiet strength in her jaw. Her expression is calm.Too calm.She almost looks peaceful, like this isn’t a death march. Like she’s already accepted whatever fate we’re marching her toward. But I can see the tension in her shoulders. The way her hands twitch at her sides. She won’t look at me. Not even once. And gods, I deserve that. She passes through the middle of the soldiers.They part just enough to let her through.The silence around her is thick, watchful. Everyone's pretending not to judge her, but we all know they are. Whispering in their heads. And still, she doesn’t look up. Doesn’t look at me. “She's just one person, Kira,” I say, my voice low. “Do we really need all these soldiers here?” Kira strolls over to me, the curve of her lips smug. She’s wearing leather and steel to
Alyssa’s POVIt’s been a month since the invasion of the Grove.Thirty days since the world I thought I was building crumbled to ash around me.They have moved me from the cage to a room—not lavish, but quiet, with a window that lets in slivers of moonlight.I get escorted on daily walks through the stone courtyards, always with two guards close behind. I’m not mistreated, not starved or beaten. But I’m not free either. I’m a wolf in a gilded cage, waiting for the verdict of fate.Waiting for the Moonborn Pack to claim what’s left of me.I sit by the window, fingers tracing the frost-lined glass. My breath fogs the air. My heart feels hollow.Alpha Conan wants me back. He’s made it very clear through whispers that echo through these walls. Through the looks the soldiers give me. Through the silence that follows me everywhere.But even as I brace myself for that nightmare—his nightmare—my thoughts are stuck somewhere else.They slip backward, like leaves carried by a stream, to four w
Alyssa’s POVThe way he says my name.Everything inside me breaks.I turn slowly, my heart shuddering so loud I can hear it in my ears. There he is. Zev.But he’s not my Zev anymore.He stands there like a stranger—dressed head to toe in Fenrath armor, the black and silver plates gleaming under the torchlight.A wolf insignia sits proudly across his chest, sharp and cruel, the mark of everything I’ve feared. He looks like one of them—a soldier, a commander, a man who doesn't belong to me.The air leaves my lungs.“Shadow,” I whisper, but my wolf is already howling inside me, full of rage and betrayal. Her wrath crawls under my skin like fire. I don’t think—I move.My fist crashes into his jaw with everything I have. The sound echoes in the cage. He stumbles back, eyes wide, but he doesn't defend himself.Hands grab me. They pull me off him roughly, trying to hold me down, but I twist and scream like a wild thing.“You traitor!” I cry, my voice shaking with pain. “You betrayed me! You
Alyssas PovCara goes silent.She stares at me like she’s forgotten how to speak. Her lips part slightly, but no words come out. Her shoulders slump, and I see it—the fear, the guilt, the pain. Something inside her collapses.“What is it?” My voice cracks. “Cara… what happened to Zev?”I already know I won’t like the answer. My heart pounds against my ribs, loud and frantic. I taste blood at the back of my throat. The silence stretches, suffocating me.Then the Moonborn girl laughs—a sharp, cruel sound that slices through the stillness.“Come on,” she says, pushing off the ground and standing tall like she hasn’t been locked in the same cage we are. “Tell her. Tell your precious queen where her brave little mate is.”Cara doesn't move. Her eyes flicker, her hands tremble.“Cara?” I whisper again, my throat closing. “Please.”The Moonborn girl tilts her head, mockery dripping from every word.“Oh, Omega. Your boyfriend’s fine. Strong, alive, proud. It’s amazing, really… you still don’t