Selene’s POVThe hallway was dark as I made my way to Ronan’s room. The tension from earlier still clung to the air, as thick as the scent of rain before a storm. I hesitated outside his door, my knuckles hovering just above the wood before I finally knocked.A muffled voice came from inside. "Come in."I pushed the door open to find Ronan sitting at the edge of his bed, his elbows resting on his knees. His shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, his hair slightly disheveled as though he’d been running his fingers through it for hours.His eyes flickered to me, but his usual intensity was subdued, clouded with something I couldn't quite place."You look like hell," I said lightly, closing the door behind me.Ronan huffed out a humorless laugh. "Funny. My father said the same thing earlier."I crossed my arms and leaned against the door. "Have you heard from Elias?"He exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face. "Not yet. But I know he’s gone to see the witch."A shiver ran down my spine. The w
Keiran’s POVDinner had just ended, and the dining hall was emptying out as everyone retreated to their own rooms. Nelly stood from her seat, her fingers gripping the edge of the table as if grounding herself. I watched her, noticing how she always seemed to shrink into herself whenever my father was present. But tonight, he was gone.It was the perfect time.I stood and moved toward her before she could escape. "Nelly," I said quietly, stopping just in front of her.She stiffened, her wary eyes meeting mine. "What do you want?"I glanced around, ensuring we were alone before responding. "I need to talk to you. In private."Her shoulders tensed, hesitation flickering in her expression. "I don’t—""It’s important," I cut in, my voice firm but not unkind. "Just hear me out."For a moment, she looked ready to bolt. But after a deep breath, she nodded. "Fine."I led her to the sitting room just off the main hall, closing the doors behind us. The fireplace crackled softly, casting warm sha
Selene's POV The darkness was suffocating. The air felt thick and heavy, pressing against my skin like an unseen force. My breath came in short gasps as I ran through an endless forest, my heart pounding so loudly it echoed in my ears.Something was chasing me.I couldn’t see it clearly, but I could hear its ragged breathing, the guttural growls that sent shivers down my spine. My legs burned, but I pushed forward, leaping over fallen branches and dodging trees that seemed to move on their own.A deep, menacing snarl erupted from behind me.I turned my head just enough to catch a glimpse of a massive shadow with glowing red eyes, its hulking form moving unnaturally fast. My stomach twisted in fear.I wasn’t going to make it.Suddenly, the ground beneath me shifted. My foot caught on something, and I crashed forward, my hands scraping against the rough earth. I barely had time to push myself up before the beast was upon me.A powerful force slammed into my back, pinning me down. Hot b
Selene's POV The air was thick with tension as I entered the dimly lit sitting room where Luka waited. The flickering candlelight cast shifting shadows on the walls, but it was his presence that made the atmosphere heavy. His dark eyes met mine, unreadable yet unwavering.Ronan lingered just beyond the doorway, his energy a silent warning. I knew he wouldn’t hesitate to step in if things went sideways.Luka’s lips curved into a knowing smirk. "I assume you won’t be sitting down?"I crossed my arms. "I don’t intend to be here long."He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "Always so guarded, Selene. Do you really think I came all this way just to play games?""You tell me," I shot back.His expression sobered. "I came because I need your help. And whether you like it or not, you need mine too."I narrowed my eyes. "That remains to be seen."Luka exhaled, leaning forward, his fingers steepled together. "My clan has suffered ten abnormal deaths in the past month. And several more hav
Selene's POV The night air was cool as Ronan and I walked back to the house in silence. The weight of our conversation with Luka still clung to me like a second skin. The revelations about the mysterious deaths, the disappearances, and the unnatural transformations had left me unsettled. Even now, my instincts screamed at me not to trust him. As we stepped inside, Ronan shut the door behind us and let out a heavy sigh. "That went better than I expected," he muttered. I shot him a skeptical look. "Better? We just agreed to an alliance with the most unpredictable alpha we know." Ronan ran a hand through his hair. "I know, but he’s right about one thing. This isn’t just his problem. It’s happening everywhere, Selene." I frowned. "What do you mean?" He hesitated before answering. "Strange things have been happening in this clan. My scouts have reported missing wolves too, though not as many as Luka claims. There have also been… unusual kills." A chill ran down my spine. "Unusual
Keiran's POV I took Nelly’s hand as we descended the stairs, my grip firm but not forceful. She had been unusually quiet since last night, and I knew she was still processing everything I had told her. I wanted to give her space, but at the same time, I couldn’t let her pull away from me completely.Halfway down, I spotted my father standing at the base of the staircase, his sharp gaze locking onto us immediately. My spine straightened instinctively. Magnus Blackwood wasn’t a man to ignore suspicion, and I could see the question forming in his mind before he even spoke."Where are you going?" His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. A warning."Out," I said evenly, keeping my expression neutral.His eyes flicked from me to Nelly, then back again. "Out where?"I forced a casual shrug. "Just for a drive. Needed some air."I could feel Nelly stiffen beside me. I hadn’t told her what I planned yet, but she was smart enough to know I was keeping something from my father. And so wa
Luka's POVI sat on the edge of my bed, rolling a glass of whiskey between my fingers, watching the amber liquid swirl under the dim lighting of my room. The night air seeped in through the slightly open window, but the chill did nothing to cool the anger that simmered beneath my skin. My mind was restless, torn between the impending alpha meeting and the chaos creeping into my territory.A sharp knock on my door made my jaw tighten. Before I could respond, the door creaked open, and I didn't need to turn to know who it was.Lawrence.I let out a slow breath, setting my drink aside as he stepped into the room. His presence was unwelcome, as always, yet he carried himself with the same air of importance that grated on my nerves."What do you want?" I asked flatly, not bothering to mask my irritation.Lawrence shut the door behind him, his gaze unwavering. "Is that any way to greet your guest?"I scoffed, finally turning to face him. "Guest? You lost the right to call yourself that the
Nelly’s POVThe car ride was suffocating.As Keiran drove through the streets, my body tensed at the sight of familiar buildings, each one a marker of a painful past I had fought to bury. My breath hitched when we passed an old warehouse, one of the many places where I had been held captive. The memories clawed at me, demanding to be felt, but I forced them down.Not now. Not when I needed to keep my head clear.Keiran must have sensed my distress because his hand reached over, brushing against mine. His warmth was grounding, a silent anchor in the storm brewing inside me."You okay?" His voice was soft yet firm like he was ready to pull over the second I said no.I swallowed hard, forcing a small nod. “Yeah. Just… memories.”Keiran didn’t push. He just gave my hand a small squeeze before returning it to the wheel. That simple gesture meant more than I could express.The car slowed, and I snapped out of my thoughts, looking up at the massive structure before us. A brothel.My stomach
Elias POV The sun beat down hard on the courtyard as I stepped over the last of the flattened corn stalks. A stupid fight, two neighbors screaming over who planted what too close to the other’s side. As usual, it fell on me to mediate. The great Elias, Alpha-in-training, mediator of crop wars.I sighed and dusted my palms on my trousers, glad it was over. I was already thinking about heading back to my quarters when I heard her. Light steps, that irritating sway in her stride.Lora.I groaned without even turning. “Why won’t you leave me alone, Lora?”“Because I’m not going anywhere,” she said behind me with that sharp little scoff of hers. “You should get used to seeing me around. I plan on being a permanent fixture in your life.”I turned to face her, brows raised in disbelief. “You’re delusional.”She smiled, smug and too confident. “We’re getting married, Elias. It’s only a matter of time.”“I’m not marrying you,” I said flatly, arms folded across my chest. “You need to sink that
Keiran's POV I was just about to leave the dining room, having pushed around more food than I’d actually eaten when the front door creaked open. The scent hit me before the sound of his boots on the tile did, smoke, blood, and something I couldn't quite name. My father.Of course, he hadn’t returned last night.I straightened, wiping my mouth with a napkin more out of habit than need. He entered the room like nothing was out of place as if walking in after a night of god-knows-what was normal. His coat was slung over his shoulder, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, and that unreadable look he always wore sat neatly on his face like a well-rehearsed mask.“Good morning,” he said, voice calm, even. “Is Nelly awake?”I paused mid-step. “Why do you want to know?”He raised an eyebrow at me. “Watch your tone, Keiran. I’m still your father.”“I know,” I replied, my voice sharp but level. “But lately… I’ve been questioning a lot of things. You’re asking about Nelly all of a sudden, and you
Ronan's POV I knew she was trying to avoid me, and I know it's entirely my fault; I treated her like garbage yesterday. I just wanted to talk to her and to know what is running through her mind so we can talk things out and patch things up.I remembered what my mom said earlier on and what she said last night and I totally agree with it since Elias has not laid his claim on her. I can do as I please without thinking about him or thinking if I am trespassing.I watched as the door opened and she walked in with a book in her hand, immediately I stood up and walked over to her “What is that and where did you get that book?’ She looked at me and shook her head. “I remember telling you I was going to the library so of course I got it from the library. Is that a surprise to you?” she asked.“So what is it about? Have you gone through it?” I found myself asking, trying to make little conversations as she walked over to the chair and sat down. “I think this is something you and the other
Selene’s POVThe scent of warm bread and herbs wafted up from the plate in front of me as I sat alone at the long dining table, slowly chewing through my breakfast. I’d woken up earlier than usual, my thoughts too jumbled to stay in bed. Sleep hadn’t been kind either; my dreams were murky and strange, almost like warnings I couldn’t decipher.I needed answers. Answers that no one seemed to have, or were too afraid to ask for.Today, I was going to the library. I wanted to understand more about the witches, why they were banished, what they did, and most importantly, whether letting Gazelle into the werewolf realm had unleashed something darker than we realized.I took another bite of my toast, already planning my route through the archives. The tension in my chest hadn’t eased since Gazelle performed the binding. The pull between all of us, the Alpha bond, felt… off. Too intense. Too entangled. Something was wrong. Deeply wrong.The sound of footsteps pulled me out of my thoughts. I
Luka’s POVI turned again.And again.The sheets were twisted around my legs like vines refusing to let me go. My pillow was flat and warm from the weight of my restless thoughts. I stared at the ceiling, watching nothing, thinking about everything.Sleep wouldn’t come. Not with the way my chest felt heavy. Like something was pressing against it, silent and unseen.I groaned and pushed the covers off, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. The clock on the wall blinked past 2 a.m., mocking me with its soft blue light.Maybe a drink would help.I grabbed a shirt, slid into my slippers, and padded quietly down the stairs. The whole house was dark except for a low golden glow coming from the kitchen.As I stepped in, the scent hit me first, not the sharp, burning scent of alcohol, but something more biting.Cigarette smoke.I froze for a second, frowning, then followed the trail of smoke to the dining area.There he was.Lawrence.Sitting with one hand wrapped around a half-empty bot
Selene’s POVBy the time I got home, I could barely feel my feet. Every joint in my body ached from the long day, physically, emotionally, mentally. My mind had been working overtime, running through everything that happened during the meeting with the alphas, the tension with Ronan, and worst of all, the deal with Gazelle. A binding spell. One I wasn't sure I had the strength or the clarity to deal with.The moment I stepped into the hallway, one of the maids approached with a polite smile.“My lady, dinner is almost ready. Should I have a plate sent to your room?”I gave her a tired shake of the head. “No. I won’t be coming down for dinner. Just... let Lady Eleanor and Ronan know. Please.”“Of course.”I managed a weak nod before heading to my room. I didn’t even turn on the chandelier light. The dim glow from the hallway behind me was enough to guide me inside.The door shut softly behind me, and I exhaled deeply. My heels came off first. Then I padded into the bathroom and strippe
Keiran’s POV The drive back home felt longer than usual. Maybe it was the weight of the night’s events or the silence that had taken root inside my chest. Either way, when I pulled up in front of the house and cut the engine, I sat there for a moment, staring at the front door like it might explode if I stepped too close. I finally pushed the door open and walked in. The lights were on, dim and golden, casting long shadows on the walls. Nelly’s footsteps echoed softly from the living room, back and forth like a pendulum. She was pacing, her arms folded tightly across her chest, brows knitted in deep thought. “Nelly?” I called gently, closing the door behind me. She turned quickly, eyes wide with that particular look she always had when something was eating her alive inside. “You’re back.” “Yeah.” I stepped into the room, shrugging off my jacket. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve been running mental laps around the house.” She let out a dry laugh, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
Keiran's POV The weight of the past few days pressed heavily on my shoulders as I grabbed my keys from the table. My mind was a storm of unanswered questions, but one thing was clear, I needed to meet with the alphas. They had to know about my father’s betrayal.I stepped out of the house, the night air cool against my skin. As I approached my car, a familiar voice called out behind me.“Keiran, where are you going?”I turned to find Nelly standing at the doorway, arms crossed, her eyes sharp with suspicion. I should have expected this. She was relentless, and after everything that had happened, she wouldn’t let me walk away without an answer.“I have a meeting,” I replied, keeping my voice even.“With who?” she pressed.“The alphas,” I admitted. “There are things that need to be discussed.”Her brows furrowed, and I knew she wanted to ask more. But I couldn’t tell her everything yet. Not until I was certain of the truth myself.“I’ll explain later,” I promised. “Just trust me.”Nell
Selene's POVThe air between us was thick with tension, a mixture of unspoken words and suppressed emotions. The training session had started as usual, swift movements, strategic attacks, and counterattacks. Ronan was relentless, pushing me harder with every strike, every dodge, and every forceful step. But this time, there was something different.Every time our bodies collided, I could feel the heat between us. Every time he corrected my stance, my pulse quickened. I had been trying to ignore it, to bury it beneath the weight of my responsibilities, but there was no denying the pull anymore.Ronan feinted left before sweeping my legs out from under me. I hit the ground with a frustrated grunt, panting as I stared up at him. He towered over me, his chest rising and falling with exertion. The moonlight cast a soft glow on his face, highlighting the sharp angles of his jaw and the intensity in his eyes.I was about to push myself up when he reached out his hand. I hesitated for a momen