Evans' povSomething ancient, something alive, was thick in the ruins' heavy air. Draven moved closer, his silver eyes shining with a mixture of patience and hunger, and I stood motionless. My fingers were twitching at my sides, and my pulse was pounding in my ears. He said, "I have something to show you," The want to turn away was part of me. To give him a punch and run away. However, another aspect—the one that initially brought me here—kept me grounded. I required clarification. With his fingers hovering just above my temple, Draven raised a hand. Softly, "Let me in, Evans," he urged. "See for yourself." With a constricted throat, I swallowed. All of my instincts told me to turn him away and to fight whatever he was attempting.“You should stop that, you think it's that easy right?” My voice barely above a whisper as I cringed gradually. “I know it's not gonna be easy for you that was why I called here, Evans,” he moved closer to me, closing the distance between u
Evans’ POV“Can you hurry up with those dishes?” Kim’s voice cut through the silent tension of the pack house kitchen like a sword, making me jolt in fear. The plates in my hands already felt weighty, my fingers trembling as I forced myself to keep working.“Yes, ma’am, I just have a few left.” I replied, keeping my pitch as submissive as possible, my eyes resting on the work at hand to avoid her wrath.I knew better than to test her patience. One more problem, delay or response would involve those hands of her into doing something drastic. The sting of her palm across my cheeks was something I had experienced several times before.Living here in Dawnshade had been more of a nightmare. A life I never choose for myself, yet one I was forced to endure. Sixteen years ago, my life filled with its merriness but was thwarted by the death of my parents. My parents—strong, honorable Gammas—were all I ever had. But that world became a disaster the day they died in that ghastly car crash. F
EVANS POVI made my way back to the kitchen to serve the food after the spilling of the former one.“Alpha Kian wants to see you at his chamber.” A familiar voice resonated behind me. It was Kim. I stood in confusion, trying to fathom what possibly might be the reason. I had never been summoned by anyone except Kim. But now Alpha Kian. “I will be there soon.” I exclaimed, my tone quivering in fear. “I am finished.” I whispered. The moon beams casting silvery streaks of light through the large window of Alpha Kian’s chamber. The air was thick with tension, affection, and something that the both of us couldn't yet mention. His intoxicating scent dominates my senses.“You sent for me.” I said, covering my already trembling hands. He gave no response, not until when his lips brushed against my skin, sending a jolt that made all reason abandon me.“I know you have always wanted this, Evans?” His voice low, husky, laced with a possessiveness that sent Liesendra whimpering in desire and
Evans' POVThe cold air of the pack clunged to my skin as I stepped out of Kian’s chamber, my trembling legs struggling to make its way on the ground, my heart heavier than its normal. The scent of our night together still glued to my skin, mixing with the faint traces of his intoxicating scent that connected us. But there was no warmth left. Only an unbearable and painful hollowness gnawed deep inside of me.He commanded me to leave. No remorse. No hesitation. Just a cruel command that required immediate response, as if what we shared was absurd.The venom of his rejection wasn't immediate—it infiltrated slowly, creeping into my bones as I walked through the silent passages of the packhouse. My fingers clutched at the hem of my clothes, my body throbbing from his touch, my soul shrieking for the mate who had already dismissed me in disdain.“Why didn't he mark me?” Liesendra whimpered inside of me, her presence weak and concerned.I was always aware of Kian’s past—his acts were whi
Evans' POV The world turned blur to my vision as I stood at the centre of the grand hall, my body numb, my mind reeling in disbelief. This was the point. The moment that would break me forever. Kian’s words still resonating in my ears, cutting deeper than two edeged sword. “And you can use the door. Excuse us, your kind isn't meant to be here. Continue serving our guests.” he said with a tone of confidence as he fluttered his arms on Amelia's waist. It dawned on me. It wasn't just rejection. It was erasure. A declaration that I was a nobody—a non-existing being that had no place in this world. Liesendra whimpered, her pain folding into mine. The bond that had connected both I and Kian, weak as it had always been, was now shattering strand by strand. I could feel it breaking, pulling at my soul with sharp, gut-squeezing agony. I clenched my fists, nails biting into my palms. He had to feel this too. He had to. I lifted my gaze to him, hoping and holding on to the
KIERAN’S POVThe rhythmic scratching of my pen on the paper was the only thing that hung on the room’s silence when the door burst open. My Gamma Ferdinand, rushed in, his breaths gasping in quick not to escape from his lungs. My grip on the pen tightened in what looked like fear at the unexpected intrusion. Ferdinand had never been one to act without a cause.“What is the problem?” I asked, my voice cool but firm.He pressed a hand against my wooden office desk trying to catch his already escaped breath. “Rogues. We found them at the borders of the pack.” A cold sensation swirled thrugh my chest. The last time we had rogue invasion sent Alpha Silver to his current state if paralysis. We couldn't afford another attack, not when our enemies were watching for a flick moment of weakness.“Prepare the warriors for a patrol,” I ordered, rising from my sit. Ferdinand nodded, and within minutes, we were already shifting to oir wolves. I led the patrol team into the thick woods that serve
Evans POVKieran's words filled the already tensed air, weighty like a load of venom that stinged my skin. “What do you mean by that?” I continued. “So that is all you have to say.”“Can you just shut that gutter you call a mouth and stop disturbing my peace.” Kieran’s words, sharp and primal. I froze at his words, my fingers growing sweaty as I clenched at the bedsheet that belonged to the bed I was sitting on. The tension seemed like it was on the verge of its break. My heartbeat racing in speed against my ribcage as someone who I thought would be my savior was now acting like a brute.“Don’t tell me to shut up, Kieran.” I said, with the last ounce of confidence that suffused my mind.“How dare you talk to me in that manner.” His stern tone echoed as I felt the collision of his palms on my cheeks, heavy which sent me sprawling on the floor. I swung my hands to my cheek, trying to hold the tears from having its way on my face to prove my vulnerability.“You are a brute, Kieran.” I
Kieran POVThe tug of looking for Evans kept throbbing at the back of my ribcage. Not this very moment. But when the scout kept sprawling on the ground below me, his breath running escaping gasps as his eyes rippled with panic, I knew for sure that all wasn't alright.“Beta. Beta….” His words caught in his throat.“What is it? Calm down and talk to me,” I exclaimed, trying to hide the panic that had already started growing deep inside me.“Beta Kieran,” he rasped, bending over to hold the remaining breath in his lungs. “We found something near the western border.”The words sent a shot of jolt down my spine, making me uneasy. I wiped the already forming sweat on my forehead and nodded sharply, signalling for him to continue.“The route to the Nightclaw pack,” he said. “Deep, large footprints. Fresh. And something that doesn't look like rogues. There's something eerie about them.”The thought of Alpha Chris’s paralysis flashed through my mind. Our strong and fierce Alpha who became par
Evans' povSomething ancient, something alive, was thick in the ruins' heavy air. Draven moved closer, his silver eyes shining with a mixture of patience and hunger, and I stood motionless. My fingers were twitching at my sides, and my pulse was pounding in my ears. He said, "I have something to show you," The want to turn away was part of me. To give him a punch and run away. However, another aspect—the one that initially brought me here—kept me grounded. I required clarification. With his fingers hovering just above my temple, Draven raised a hand. Softly, "Let me in, Evans," he urged. "See for yourself." With a constricted throat, I swallowed. All of my instincts told me to turn him away and to fight whatever he was attempting.“You should stop that, you think it's that easy right?” My voice barely above a whisper as I cringed gradually. “I know it's not gonna be easy for you that was why I called here, Evans,” he moved closer to me, closing the distance between u
Kieran’s POV I sensed something wasn't right as soon as I entered Evans' vacant tent. The air was unspoiled and stuffy. The linens were still silky and unaltered, and the bed was still made. My chest coiled with a keen stiffness. I whirled around, looking around the pitch-black camp for her in the moonlight. My nostrils strained, searching for her aroma of wild rain and warm cedar, but it was too subtle. Lost. My throat rumbled with a roar. "No."With my heart hammering my ribs, I bounded out. She wouldn't have left me in the dark. Not after everything. Unless... I felt my stomach tighten with a horrible conclusion. She had gone to meet Draven. Just hearing the name made my blood boil. I pushed through the branches, moving quickly, my claws aching to reach farther. Every second since she had met him, every time I had witnessed her hesitating, every glimpse of something unreadable in her eyes—all of it was replayed in my head. I didn't want to accept it. Refu
Evans’ POV The smell of pine and damp dirt filled the cold night air. Long shadows were created over the thick woodland by the crescent moon, which was low in the sky and covered in floaty clouds. I didn't stop even though every step felt heavier than the one before. I was unable to stop from the moment the door slammed closed against me.Kieran walked in, as though my thought had beckoned him to return. But what I expected was a smiley face, only for what seemed like a cold expression shot back at me. “Evans, I have something for you.” He said, moving closer to me. A paper clenched at his hand. “What is that?” I asked, my eyes rested on the paper that he held.“She is now acting as though it is a surprise. But it's fine.” His voice was laced with mockery.“What are you talking—-” I was stunned by what caught my eyes. “Draven.” I muttered, taking the letter from Kieran's hands.“Ya, that's it!” I could not get Draven's message out of my head. L"Come to the ruins with me. By myself.
Kieran’s POVMy thoughts were loud, yet the forest was quiet. Even after leaving Evans last night, the pressure of what she had said still weighed heavily on me. *Something inside me responds to him.* The words that had escaped Evans lips earlier.The talk still hurt no matter how many times it resonated deep inside me repeatedly. No amount of reason or anger could make the deep, sluggish ache in my chest go away. All my life, I have been a warrior. Killed rogues. Killed wolves. Stood fearlessly in the face of monsters. However, this? In ways I never anticipated, this was shattering me. I leaned against the training post behind the barracks and clenched my fists, my claws cutting into my palms. I had to strike something. Shatter something. Anything to calm the raging tempest in my brain. But before I could, I felt a presence coming. I turned my faze to rest on the old woman, holding a walking stick. It was Briony. Even though she walked lightly, her presence was si
Evans’ POV Silence was thick in the night. That was not a calm kind. The kind that weighed heavily on my chest, stifling me and being dense with unsaid words. I could still feel Kieran's absence like a deep ache, even though his footsteps had long since gone into the night. Even though my wrist was no longer glowing, it continued to burn, as though the last of the power connected to Draven would not let me go. I placed my hand against it, like I could erase it, muffle the connection. But I was unable to since it was real and not in some sort of delusion. And I had told all the lies I could. I turned abruptly when a rustle of leaves pierced the stillness, my heart thumping. Standing at the edge of the clearing, partially obscured by shade, was Kieran. His stiff, inscrutable posture was characterized by his arms folded across his chest. I was shivering because of the intensity with which his eyes—those storm-filled, black eyes—were fixed on mine. He had returned. But w
Evans’ POV Even though the woodland was quiet once more, the storm inside of me continued to rage. My body buzzed with the lingering strength that wasn't really mine even after th scuffle was over and the Eclipse warriors had fled like shadows slipping through night crevices. I didn't know if it had ever existed. The heat that was still seething beneath my skin was not much relieved by the chilly night air. I had to fight every breath I took to suppress the energy, act as though nothing had changed, and ignore the fact that my wrist was still burning. However, I was aware that I wasn't the only one that noticed. Kieran was keeping an eye on me. His eyes, like twin shards of ice, had been fixed on me since the end of the battle, penetrating the darkness. It weighed heavily on my back, and I could feel the tension between us churning with unanswered questions. Focusing on the firm weight in my hand, I strengthened my hold on my dagger. I'll do anything to get grounde
Evans’ POVIt was too quiet at night. Silence was a predator that lurked just before turmoil broke out, but I had learned to trust it. The smell of pine and damp earth filled the air, but there was something more there as well. A hint of deterioration. A caution. Every muscle in my body tensed like a spring as I gripped my daggers tighter. The others gathered around me, anxious, anticipating. The warriors of Eclipse were near. I sensed it—a weight against my flesh, an invisible force scuttling through my bloodstream. A glimmer of motion. In between the woods, a shadow passed my vision. I whispered, just loud enough for the warriors beside me to hear, "Remain vigilant." I heard knives unsheathing with a gentle click. A few feet away, Kieran's presence served as a reassuring anchor despite the stress from our previous conflict at his room. However, I was unable to consider that at this time. A sigh. A change in the atmosphere. Then….A haze of movement. The ini
Evans' POVI could sense a problem as soon as I entered Kieran's quarters. He was standing by the fireplace, the walls framed by sharp shadows from the flames. He had his back to me, his fists clenched, his shoulders tense. The tense atmosphere in the room was oppressive. I gulped the lump that had formed in my throat, hoping my heart would calm down. With caution, I whispered, "Kieran," scarcely raising my voice above a whisper. He didn't look around. His eyes still blazed to the outskirt of his room. There was a dense, oppressive silence between us. I stepped closer, but his voice sliced through the silence like a sword before I could get close. "For what length of time were you going to conceal this from me?" I went cold. He spoke in a tone that was worse than anger. It was tinged with pain, treachery, and an untamed, raw quality that was hidden beneath the surface. I took a swallow. "What did I keep from you?" He laughed sharply and without humor. "Evans,
Evans PovTension permeated the war chamber's atmosphere. The weight of the revelation seemed to descend upon us like an unbreakable storm cloud, and the walls, adorned with faded banners and old maps, appeared to close in. Standing in the middle, Lucien's glittering eyes were piercing with power. Even though he was always an imposing presence, there was something about his posture today that seemed different—tense, cautious, as though even he wasn't sure how to say the words that would make all the difference. Briony's face next him was unreadable. She had always been hard to figure out, a lady who kept secrets like weapons and was selective about when and how to reveal them.They had both decided to share one of the most deadly realities of all tonight. With a calm but foreboding tone, Lucien started, "The return of the Eclipse King is not merely a possibility." "It is unavoidable." I tightened my jaw. "And what does that mean exactly?" Briony remarked, her emerald ey