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
Leo’s POVKeiran’s father sat behind his desk, the deep frown on his face making the lines on his forehead more pronounced. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest of his chair, a clear indication that something was bothering him. I leaned casually against the wall, watching him with mild amusement.“You look like hell,” I remarked, crossing my arms over my chest. “What’s got you so worked up?”His eyes snapped to mine, sharp and calculating, but there was an undeniable hint of frustration behind them. “It’s Keiran,” he muttered. “He’s too damn soft.”I raised a brow. “Soft?” That was an interesting choice of words for someone like Keiran. “What do you mean?”“He’s been treating that pet of his—Nelly—like she’s something more than a mere possession,” he sneered. “I bought that girl to be broken, not cherished. And yet, he refuses to do what’s necessary.”A smirk curled at my lips. So that was the problem. Keiran, ever the loyal son, was apparently growing attached to his l
I led my sentinels through the dense woods, my senses on high alert. The moon cast long shadows over the towering trees, the night air thick with the scent of damp earth and pine. We had been patrolling for over an hour, but something felt off. A tension lingered in the air, an unsettling silence broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves."Stay sharp," I murmured, scanning our surroundings. My sentinels nodded, gripping their weapons as they moved in formation beside me.Suddenly, a stench assaulted my nostrils—metallic and pungent. Blood. I raised a hand, signaling my men to halt. My heart pounded as I followed the scent deeper into the woods.Then we saw it.A body lay sprawled across the forest floor, lifeless eyes staring into the void. Strange symbols were carved into its flesh, glowing faintly under the moonlight. The markings were unlike anything I had ever seen before, intricate and deliberate, as though they held some dark meaning. My stomach twisted."What the hell is
Elias’ POV The sun had barely begun its descent when I arrived at Gazelle’s home. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, the aftermath of an afternoon drizzle settling into the land. I knocked once on the wooden door before pushing it open. Gazelle wasn’t one to keep her door locked, especially not from me. Inside, the scent of herbs and burning incense filled the air. She sat by the fireplace, stirring something in a clay bowl, her gnarled fingers moving with practiced ease. Her silver hair was braided to one side, and her deep-set eyes flickered at me the moment I stepped in. "You’ve come," she murmured, not looking up from her work. "Of course," I said, stepping forward. "You didn’t think I’d forget about you, did you?" She let out a dry chuckle, but there was no warmth to it. "No, child. I know you wouldn't." I studied her for a moment. Though she sat in the same chair she always did, something was different. The usual serenity she carried was replaced by a tension
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
Luka's POVA heavy silence filled the room as I sat across from my father, watching him with a gaze that had been hardened by years of unanswered questions. For so long, I had held resentment toward him, blaming him for the misfortunes that had plagued our family. But now, after spending more time with him and hearing pieces of our past, I felt the uneasy weight of uncertainty pressing down on my chest."You were just a boy when it happened," he said, his voice carrying a deep sorrow that I had never noticed before. "You couldn't have understood what truly went on that night."I clenched my fists, trying to brace myself for whatever truth he was about to reveal. "Then explain it to me," I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended. "No more secrets, Father. I deserve to know everything."He exhaled slowly, his eyes clouding with memories that clearly pained him. "That night… the night your mother died… it wasn’t the accident you’ve always believed it to be. It was something else. Some
Nelly's POVThe abandoned room smelled of dust and forgotten memories. I hesitated in the doorway, my heart pounding in my chest. This place had been untouched for years, left as a relic of the past. My sister’s past. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I stepped inside, the floorboards creaking under my weight. The dim light from the moon filtered through the cracked window, casting eerie shadows across the room.I ran my fingers over the old desk, brushing away the layer of dust that coated its surface. My sister’s belongings lay scattered, untouched, and frozen in time. I knew I had to find something, anything, that could explain what happened to her. Then, as I pulled open a drawer, a folded piece of parchment caught my eye.My hands trembled as I picked it up, carefully unfolding the aged paper. The writing was faint, hurried, almost desperate.They know. Keiran’s father knows. Trust no one.A chill ran down my spine. My sister had left this message behind, one last attempt to warn
Ronan's POVThe night air was crisp as I stepped outside, the cool breeze brushing against my skin like a fleeting whisper. I needed this walk, to clear my mind, to sift through the tangled thoughts that had taken root since my conversation with Gazelle.She had warned me about rivals, about the possibility of losing Selene to someone else. The idea had gnawed at me ever since, an unfamiliar feeling of unease settling deep in my chest. I wasn’t one to dwell on emotions, but something about Selene’s presence had started to unravel me in ways I didn’t fully understand yet.I walked aimlessly through the compound, my boots crunching softly against the gravel path. The moon cast an acastsver glow over the landscape, making everything seem both surreal and hauntingly beautiful. I had always enjoyed the quiet of the night, but tonight, my mind refused to settle.Rounding a corner, I nearly collided with someone. I instinctively reached out to steady them, my hands finding soft, warm skin.S
Ronan’s POVI sank into the worn leather of my study chair and allowed myself a rare moment of private amusement. The soft lamplight played across the pages of the old journal on my desk, but my thoughts were elsewhere, lost in the memory of Selene’s startled reaction the other night. I could still see the way her eyes had widened when I mentioned that it was time for me to secure a mate. The surprise, the mixture of indignation and uncertainty on her face, had sent a thrill coursing through me. I couldn’t help but smile to myself as I replayed that moment, a private indulgence that warmed me in ways few things ever did.It was a heady mix of triumph and longing, the sort of feeling that made me forget for a moment the heavy responsibilities I carried as an alpha. I was a man who had built his strength on discipline and control, yet at that moment, all my carefully constructed barriers had seemed to crumble, replaced by a vulnerability I wasn’t sure I wanted to confront. Still, it was
Keiran's POVThe house was eerily quiet when I walked in, the absence of Nelly’s usual soft humming and my father’s authoritative presence instantly putting me on edge. I stepped into the hallway and found one of the maids adjusting the curtains in the sitting room.“Where’s Nelly?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral, though my chest tightened with unease.The maid straightened up and turned to me with a polite nod. “Miss Nelly left a few hours ago, sir.”I frowned. “With my father?”“No, sir. She left alone.”That caught my attention. Nelly rarely ventured out by herself unless she had a solid reason. “And my father?”“He left shortly after, sir.”Something about that made me uneasy. The timing was too convenient, too suspicious. My father wasn’t the type to involve himself in trivial matters, which meant he was up to something. The question was, did it involve Nelly?I strode past the maid and made my way upstairs, shrugging off my jacket. The moment I entered my room, I pulled out my
Nelly’s POVThe club loomed before me like a dark monolith, its neon lights pulsing against the night sky. I stepped out of the cab, my heart pounding in my ears. Tonight, I wasn’t here for the usual distractions or fleeting pleasures; I was here to find answers about my sister, Nikki. The thought of her being lost in this wretched world, her whereabouts unknown, sent a chill through my veins.I paused a moment on the cracked pavement outside the club, taking in the imposing atmosphere. This place was even larger and more foreboding than the club Keiran had taken me to before. Its massive facade and the thrum of bass that vibrated through the walls made me feel both small and insignificant. I shook off the sense of dread and made my way to the entrance, my steps resolute despite the fear that gnawed at me inside.Inside, the club was a cacophony of sound and motion. Music blared from massive speakers, and the air was thick with smoke and the mingling scents of sweat and expensive colo
Luka’s povThe engine of my car rumbled to a stop in front of the grand yet eerily quiet mansion. The place that once felt like home now seemed like a distant memory, a shadow of the past I had vowed never to return to. Yet here I was, gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white.I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly, trying to steady my nerves. Why the hell did I come back?It was Lawrence’s last visit. His words had stuck with me, nagging at the edges of my mind, forcing me to reconsider. I had initially thought of coming here just to mock my father, to throw in his face how much I had built myself up without him, how little I needed him. But now, as I sat in front of the house, staring at the imposing gates, that confidence wavered.Still, I shoved those thoughts aside and stepped out of the car. The moment I did, the house staff turned toward me, their eyes widening in surprise before quickly bowing their heads in greeting.“Welcome back, sir,” one of them said