Emily's POV When I stripped out of my clothes, I got into the pond and sighed from how refreshing the water felt against my skin.“Peace,” I whispered. The fatigue of the travel slowly unraveled from me. I wondered where Fayne was but I knew I didn't have to worry as he was probably going to be somewhere around here.I felt a bit guilty as I'd told him that I'd protect him but right now, I was nowhere anywhere around him. ‘It's okay though, he'll be fine. He's capable than you think.’ my wolf came into the surface, calming me down.I soaked my hair in the water and continued to enjoy the soak, then I heard a growl behind the pond.I leaned forward, gasping while trying to listen closely for any sound. Then I sensed a presence behind me.I turned around in the pond and saw a dark brown wolf with some clothes in its mouth. I got out of the pond and looked at the wolf, somehow feeling some sort of understanding towards it. It just felt like I knew it somehow.“Who are you? And why are
Emily's POV “But Alpha, what is your plan exactly?” Adam asked.“In due time, you'll know.” I responded.“By the way, you and Penelope should get going. Have the others retreat and leave. When my brother's warriors arrive, it'll be hard to leave.”“Your brother?” Adam asked.“Yes, my brother Matteo is from the Donovan pack. He has some influence there.”“Oh, I see.” Adam responded.“By the way, how do we reach out to you?”“In Galahad clan. You just have to find the chance. I'll leave the packhouse every red moon so you can find me by that time.” I responded.Adam sighed. “It really is so glad to see you again, but the jewels you gave are not enough to build a pack house.”“I'll send you more when you come to Galahad clan. But please, be very careful and don't put your life in harm's way. Walk in groups so you won't be targeted.”“Okay, thank you Alpha.”“You should get going now.” I said.“Yes,” Adam turned away while Penelope hesitated and turned towards me. “Can I hug you?”I cr
Emily's POV “So, let's go.”“Okay.” I responded to the Alpha of Crystal pack who led the way.Fayne looked at me and followed behind me slowly.We headed to the woods and Matteo sniffed the air.“Oh no, something's wrong.” He said.“What?” I raised a brow.“Before, I sensed some scent around here but now it's not the same. Do you think the rogues left?” Matteo looked to the Alpha of the crystal pack.“Well, I'm unsure what is going on but we'll find out won't we?”“There's land at the forefront, maybe if we go there we'll find some clue.” The Luna of Crystal pack said which led me to smile and nod.Internally, I was nervous. I hoped they did not catch Penelope, Adam and the others. If they did, I was unsure if I would be able to help them.Goosebumps covered my skin as we got to the land at the forefront, there was a running wolf that was spotted and his wolf felt very familiar to me.“There's one,” Matteo whispered. He then brought out his bow and arrow that he was keeping around hi
Emily's POV “I'll leave it then to you.”The warrior was about leaving when all of a sudden, Fayne leaned to the left and his leg hit a thistle on the ground causing a sound to be made. The warrior's ear tilted to the side and he looked towards where Fayne and I were hiding.Fayne looked at me with guilt evidently written on his face.“You stay here,” I said with a definite smile on my face. “I'll go face whatever needs to be faced.”Fayne shook his head no but I ignored him and walked out of our hiding place and looked between the carriage rider and the warrior.The carriage rider turned to the warrior and said, “Go, this is between me and the Luna Emily down. If she is to die, at least her honour must be preserved.”“Yes sir,” the warrior said and left me alone with the carriage rider.I looked at my nails and blew on it gently. “So you're not just a carriage rider, huh?”The carriage smirked at me. “My name is Viper, I am a trained assassin for master Matteo.”“I see. So he has yo
Emily's POV “Emily…” he trailed off.I ignored him and led him into the the carriage and once he was seated, I looked at his hand. The blood had permeated through the fabric which I had used to tie his hand.“Fayne,” I whispered and then ripped apart another layer of my dress and tied his hand.“You do not have to do any of this.” He said.A sigh escaped through my lips. “Why are you so stubborn, Fayne?”I ignored him and turned around to leave when I suddenly felt his grip on my hand.“Fayne,” I said as I faced him.“Kiss me,” he said. “Kiss me before I die.”I stood there in confusion and shock. “Fayne, you don't mean that—”He grabbed me closer to him and before I knew it, I leaned forward out of instinct and our lips pressed onto each other.My eyes widened as I stared at Fayne whose eyes were filled with desire and many more emotions that I'd never noticed before.Fear and passion took over me all at once. Did Fayne like me?I pulled away from the kiss, stunned and filled with a
Emily's POV I was about to leave when I heard him murmur, “Don't go, Emily. Don't leave me.”I looked at him painfully and smiled, “It's alright, Fayne. You'll be fine. You're a strong man.”Then I walked out of my room and flipped my hair back.Beth was outside, tapping her feet against the ground firmly.“I’m ready,” I told her.“Good.” She accessed me from head to toe and then shook her head.“No. Something's wrong.”“What's wrong?” I asked her.“Your outfit.” She responded.“Come on with me, I think I have something good to sneak you into. Although it might not be the best but it is something.”I entered the hut with her and she led me to her room. She opened the closet and handed me a dress that was green and soft looking.“Change into this and meet me outside,” she told me.I collected the cloth from her and changed into it and then looked at my reflection in the mirror. I looked like the way that I did when I was living with Fayne. So young and innocent.When I walked outside
Emily's POV I rushed out of the room and went to Beth.“Beth, help me. My friend passed out.”Beth gave me a look. “What? But he should be fine now if he wakes up.”“He did wake up and then he passed out while we were talking.”“Maybe he was just too sleepy and then he passed out.”“Please come check him out.”Beth sighed, “Okay.”Then she walked to the room Fayne was in with me rushing behind her.When she went to check him, her eyes widened and she seemed a little panicked.“Why? What's going on?” I asked her and she shook her head at me.Then she continued to check Fayne's body as well as his pulse. When she eventually untied his wound, she sighed as she turned to me.“He seemed to have been poisoned.”“Poisoned?”I thought of how Fayne was shot and then remembered how brutal Matteo was. If he intended to kill me then he wouldn't let my slave live either least he try to avenge me if something should happen to me.“Can you cure him?” I asked her.She sighed. “The poison seemed to h
Emily's POV “Going somewhere?” She asked me.“As a matter of fact, yes. But I'll be back soon.”Beth looked at me from up to down. “Well, you can go but be careful, there might be some cruel werewolves lurking about.”“Don't worry about it, I'm pretty cruel myself.”I winked at Beth and went to the horse and carriage not far from the house and began to lead it into the woods. I found some carrots on the ground and I fed it to the horse as well as some water. When I was done, I walked where Viper had been killed and saw that his body was still there. I removed his body away from the tree and checked his pockets only to see a purse. I grabbed it and checked it only to see that it contained silver. I kept the purse in my dress pocket and found something I could dig the ground with. Then I buried Viper in a far away distance and headed back to Beth's hut. By now, it was dark and Beth was standing outside looking worried.“Finally, you came back.” She told me, looking nervous.“Of cours
Emily's POV Just as Melissa and I stood together, the weight of my possible pregnancy still hanging in the air between us, a sudden shout echoed through the courtyard.“Alpha Emily!”I turned toward the voice, watching as one of our younger scouts sprinted up the path, breathless and flushed from the run. He held something in his hand—a sealed letter marked with a familiar wax insignia. My heart clenched the moment I saw it.The Donovan crest.My family’s sigil.I stepped forward, took the letter from his trembling hands, and nodded my thanks. He bowed and quickly turned to leave, clearly uneasy being near such heavy tension. Melissa’s eyes widened as I turned the envelope over in my hand.“That’s from them, isn’t it?” she asked softly. “From your brother?”I didn’t respond. My hands already moved on their own, tearing open the seal, unfolding the thick parchment.I read.And as I read, the knot in my stomach grew tighter.Dear Sister,I suppose congratulations are in order—Alpha of
Emily's POV As the fire crackled in the background, we stood together, watching the festivities unfold. The night was warm, and the scent of the forest surrounded us, creating a peaceful atmosphere. I felt a weight lifted from my shoulders, a sense of peace that I hadn’t realized I’d been longing for."Tonight is perfect," I murmured to Fayne, my voice soft.He smiled, his eyes glinting with affection. "It is. But it’s only the beginning."I glanced at him, wondering what he meant. He always had a way of making the future feel like something we could tackle together. "What do you mean?""I mean," he said, leaning in slightly, "that now that we’ve committed to each other, we can do more. Together. As Alpha and mate. We’ll build something strong here, Emily. And I’ll be by your side through it all."His words were comforting, but they also stirred something in me. A part of me had always feared the future—feared what would happen if I failed. But with him by my side, it didn’t seem as
Emily's POV The day had come. The day I never thought would happen, not in this way. I stood in front of a simple altar, the sun’s soft light filtering through the trees around us. The soft whispers of the wind were the only sounds that filled the air, creating an almost surreal sense of calm. For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn’t entirely burdened by the weight of leadership. I wasn’t worried about what the pack would think or how they’d react. I was simply here, in this moment, with Fayne.I had never expected this to happen so soon, but when I looked at him, standing by my side, I knew it was the right thing. The bond we had forged over time had only grown stronger. The trust, the respect, the love—though it had been a slow burn, it had become something unshakable.Fayne’s hand was warm in mine, steady and unwavering. He looked at me with such intensity, his expression soft but filled with purpose. I could see it in his eyes—he was here with me, for me. And that g
Emily's POV After my talk with Link, I lingered in my chambers longer than usual. My hands rested on the stone windowsill, eyes locked on the horizon, even though I couldn’t see a damn thing. My mind was elsewhere—down the hall, behind a door where a man I never expected to trust had begun to unravel all my fears and guards.I knew what I wanted. It wasn’t power or strategy or legacy—not in this moment. It was him.I left without calling for anyone. My guards knew better than to question me now, and I walked straight to Fayne’s quarters, my heart thudding with every step. He’d been healing well since that fever, stronger every day. But this—this would be the start of something new. A commitment not born out of war or alliance, but something far more terrifying: choice.I knocked once, then opened the door.Fayne was sitting near the fire, half-dressed, reading through a scroll. His expression lifted the moment he saw me.“Emily?” he said, surprised but warm.I stepped in and closed t
Emily's POV The silence in the room wasn’t peaceful. It was the kind that pressed against my ribs like a weight.I sat at my desk, the flames from the candles flickering softly across my scattered notes. I’d been reviewing reports all evening—territory defenses, supply counts, schedules for the warriors. The usual duties of an Alpha. And yet, none of it held my focus.Fayne.That man had slowly become more than just a complication. He was an ache I had grown used to. And worse, I was beginning to crave the ache.Link had noticed. Of course he had.He hadn’t always been in my circle. In fact, Link only truly became my right hand after I became Alpha. I chose him. I needed someone sharp, dependable, loyal. Someone who didn’t know the old me too well—someone who could adapt to the version of Emily I was creating: cold, strategic, unflinching.And Link fit that perfectly. Until recently.Now, there was something in his eyes when he looked at me—some emotion I never invited but couldn’t f
Emily's POV I watched Link walk away, shoulders tight with unsaid words and silent wounds. The door clicked shut behind him, and the silence he left behind weighed heavy on my chest.He’d always been loyal—my right hand, my shadow. He never asked for more than orders. Never demanded space in my heart. But tonight, he had. And I didn’t know how to answer him.Because I wasn’t the same woman I used to be.And part of that… was because of Fayne.Fayne, who’d woken something I’d buried deep. Not just desire, but the terrifying ache of being wanted—not as Alpha, not as a weapon or symbol—but as *me*. I found myself walking to his room again, steps slow, unsure. It was past midnight, the pack settled in sleep. I told myself I was just checking on his recovery. That I was still Alpha, and this was just duty.But my heart was louder than logic.When I pushed the door open, Fayne was awake, sitting at the edge of the bed. His torso still bandaged, eyes dimmed with exhaustion, but he looked u
Emily's POV The days grew quieter, the once-unruly tension that plagued the halls of Galahad now reduced to a soft hum beneath the daily rhythm of leadership. For the first time in weeks, I felt as though I could breathe. There were no intrusions, no visitors at the gate demanding answers about Jacob, no crises to solve before breakfast. The air smelled of pine and freedom.Fayne’s recovery had been slow but steady. I made sure he was well-fed, had the best healers watching over him, and—more often than I’d like to admit—I found myself checking in on him personally. I told myself it was part of my duty. But the truth was simpler.I missed him.I missed the way his eyes softened whenever I walked into the room. I missed the quiet loyalty in his words, the strength in his silence. I even missed the foolish little smirks he gave me when I tried to maintain my mask of indifference.We never talked about what had happened—the kiss, the fevered declaration that I was his wife, the night I’
Emily's POV The truth of his words sat heavily between us. I didn't confirm or deny it.“You read me too well,” I said.“Only because I’ve spent every waking second trying to.”His words should’ve unnerved me. Instead, they warmed something inside me that I hadn’t allowed to feel in a long time.That night, I couldn’t sleep.Not because of nightmares. But because I was starting to crave the quiet presence of a man I once saw as a threat.Over the next few days, he made it worse—in the best way.He brought me coffee in the morning. Not just any coffee. The kind I liked—black, strong, with a hint of cinnamon. He never asked how I took it. He just knew.One night, during a strategy session, I was so tired I nearly fell asleep mid-sentence. Fayne didn’t say a word. He took the papers from my hands, led me to the chair by the fire, and wrapped a blanket around my shoulders. His hand brushed my cheek so briefly it might’ve been a ghost of a touch—but I felt it for hours after.I started fi
Emily's POV The silence between Fayne and me had grown roots—thick, winding vines that curled between glances and swallowed every word we didn’t say.Weeks of brushing past each other. Weeks of watching him from across the training field, his arms slick with sweat, his blade catching sunlight like it had something to prove. Weeks of pretending that I didn’t notice the way he stood a little straighter when I approached, the way his gaze never dropped until I made it.But I felt it.All of it.And I hated the ache of not knowing what lingered behind his quiet loyalty. Or worse—what lingered in me.Tonight, I couldn’t take it anymore.It was late. Most of the pack was asleep. Only the night guards remained, posted at the perimeter under a silver-stained moon. I moved through the stone hallways with purpose, each step echoing like a heartbeat down the corridor.I stopped in front of his room.The door wasn’t locked. I pushed it open without knocking, just as I always did when I wanted to