Emily's POV “You dare, Matteo? I'm your sister! My wolf has nothing to do with this!”“You're not a full werewolf without your wolf, Emily. You better find a way to regain it before I abandon you to the devices of Galahad pack.” Matteo responded coldly.“And father? He didn't send you here to look after me either, then what about elder brother?”“Forget about it, no one cares about you. In fact, since you got married, you lost your value to Donovan pack. You should be grateful that I even bothered to come over here.”“You'll regret this Matteo, I know you will.”Matteo headed back to his carriage and rode off, leaving me alone.I fell to the ground, tears rolling down my cheeks.“You'll regret this, Matteo.” I repeated as tears fell from my eyes which I quickly wiped once I sensed someone coming over.The high that I once rode on completely shattered because of Matteo.“Hey, you okay?” I heard a familiar voice behind me.“Completely fine, now leave me alone.” I said only for the pers
Emily's POV “Ugly things,” I said, tracing the wound.“Luna, come with me.” Melissa said.“Just tell me where the Alpha is and I'll go to him, I have another task for you to handle.” I said.“Okay, what task is that?” She asked me softly.“Take Fayne here to the library.”Melissa hesitated but then she nodded, “Okay, I guess I can do that.”“Where is the Alpha?” I asked.“In the dinning room.” She responded.“Okay, I'll go to him. Make sure no one gets in the way of Fayne's study.”“Understood, but who is this Fayne exactly?” Melissa asked me. “He seems to be human.”“He is human,” I responded. “He used to be the human king's hunter but that is all in the past, Fayne is an helper to me so just treat him like you would treat me.”Fayne's lips parted but I decided to not pay him any attention. “I'm going to leave now.”I started to head back to the pack house.“But Luna, will you be alright?” Fayne asked me to which I nodded.“Yeah, just go.”I proceeded to walk forward while keeping m
Fayne's POV “The Luna told me to take you to the library. There's no problem with that, but since you're not a werewolf, it can be hard for you to keep your bearing there.”“Can you tell me what your name is?” I asked her.“Oh, it's Melissa.” she responded.I nodded. “Then let's go, Melissa. And, you can call me Fayne.”“I know, the Luna told me.”“I see.” I responded.“Come with me,” she said.I followed Melissa to the library where several maids passed by. I guess they were in the lowest of the hierarchy but somehow they were still higher than me. After all, they were werewolves.“Come on in,” Melissa ushered me and I looked around at the multiple scripts on the shelves in the library and sighed.“I'll be right by the door in case you need me.”I turned to her. “No, please go and tend to the Luna. I think she needs you more right now.”“You're in danger more, I'd like to guard you. You don't know how dangerous werewolves can be. You're just a human.”“I know I'll be fine.” I said a
Emily's POV Fayne looked at me, his gaze heavy. He just wouldn't understand.When I was in the water, I saw a flash of my wolf. I didn't know whether it was a vision or an imagination but it was definitely a message. I saw my wolf drowning. She was trying to tell me something but my senses seemed so short from it that I could barely understand it.“I’m sorry Fayne but I need to meditate.”I sat at the edge of the water and closed my eyes about to meditate but Fayne sighed. “No, your dress is wet. You're going to catch a cold if you stay in this for long.”“Well, you're right.” I responded. “But I feel that I might lose the moment to catch up with my wolf.”“No you won't.” Fayne was about to place a hand on his shoulder but then he pulled away.“The easier you are on yourself the more meditative state you'll be in, thus making it easier to connect with your wolf. Isn't it?”Although I didn't want to do what Fayne was suggesting, I felt it wasn't a bad idea. I was always indulging to a
Emily's POV I turned to Fayne and his lips parted. I looked further ahead and sighed, feeling my ability to smell come back to life. Suddenly, I was surrounded by floral scent which filled my senses.“Guess the drink you gave me worked, Fayne. My sense of smell is back.”“It is?” Fayne smiled at me and I nodded.“I would like to try and run in my wolf form.” I said.Fayne's eyes widened. “Alright.”He turned around, hiding his gaze from my body. I removed my outer robe and shifted into my wolf, tearing my inner robes into shreds. My wolf felt completely free and I ran into the woods, feeling the air soak me in completely. For the first time, I felt completely covered in my essence. I was finally in touch with my inner self.As my paws danced against the softness of the ground, I felt completely grounded and rooted.“Where have you been all this while?” I asked my wolf.“Although I was unconscious, I was always with you. Sorry I didn't connect with you sooner.”I sobbed internally whil
Emily's POV “Jacob, you're here. Have a seat.” I gestured towards a seat at the table.“Thank you,” He sat down on a chair at a table and I sat down with him as well.“What is going on?” I asked him.“I just wanted to talk to you.” He said.“Oh I see,” I responded. “About what?”I was fighting everything in me not to snap at him. I reminded myself that in order for me to get what I wanted, I needed to be strong but mostly calm and composed.“Well, I'm going to a trip to a Redstone pack for personal reasons. Would you like to come with me?”I thought about it. It could be a plan to get me to eat and drink in another location so he can poison me and blame it on others.“Actually, I want to explore this place a bit more so I'm not going.”“Are you sure?” He asked me.“Yeah,” I answered. “By the way, what are you going to do in Redstone pack?”“Well, just to build some connections that's all.”I hesitated. It sounded like a good thing to go to Redstone and make some connections but right
Emily's POV “What would you like to eat?”“Give me something light.” I said.“Okay. Maybe something like pudding and salad?”I thought about it for a moment.“I'll just have a sandwich and a drink.”Fayne nodded, “Okay.”Then he walked down the hallway. I entered my room and sighed, waiting for Fayne to come back.When he arrived, I stared at him.“Thank you for the sandwich.”I took a bite from the sandwich and placed it back onto the plate.“By the way, are you doing okay, Fayne? You've been working for me for so long and…”I trailed off.“Anyways, you can go. I'll talk to you tomorrow.”“Yes, Emily.”Fayne picked up the tray and walked away then closed the door to my room. I sighed when he was gone. Then I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.*** The next dayI woke up to the lights from the window creeping into the bedroom. I sighed and yawned, gently stretching. When I was done, I ran my fingers through my hair and smiled.“What a good day.”Then I remembered that I had to ge
Emily's POV “That's nice of you, Esther. I wonder if the Alpha is going to give you a rank because of how you treated him.”“I don't need a rank. I'm fine just the way that I am and besides I'm a nurse, I do well for myself.”“Hmm, are you sure?” I asked her and she nodded.“Of course, the Alpha has always been very generous and respectful of all. Anyway, I got to go now.”As Esther turned away, my breath hitched in my throat.I wanted to grab her and tell but instead I watched her leave. Then I went back into Jacob's office and looked through all the books and articles. I ended up spending the entire day there.The next day, i was in my room meditating. When I was done, all of my wolf's senses were restored to me which made me feel happy. All I had to do now was go into the woods and strengthen my instincts for hunting.I heard a knock on my door which made me happy. I opened the door and was very elated to see Melissa. She had her hair in a bun. Usually she would let her hair down.
Emily's POV The days that followed felt golden.The castle, often a place of endless decisions and strategy, settled into a rhythm that was almost domestic. It wasn’t that there weren’t matters to attend to — of course there were. Packs still needed watching, alliances still needed tending. But the urgency that had once ruled every breath was gone, replaced by something warmer, deeper.Trust.Aerlyn spent her mornings training patrol groups, her voice sharp and sure as she called out orders in the training fields. She was growing into her power in a way that made my heart ache with pride. Some mornings I would watch her from the balcony, sipping tea while the wind carried her laughter up to me.Kael had thrown himself into studying — a surprise to all of us. He was determined to master governance, battle strategies, herbal remedies, everything he could get his hands on. It was as if, after the talk about leadership, he had decided to prove he was ready for more.Sometimes, I would fi
Emily's POV “We’re not as young as we used to be,” I murmured, feeling the ache in my bones with a smirk.“But we’re better,” he said. “We know when to stop fighting the world.”I turned toward him, resting my head on his shoulder. “This is what we fought for.”He didn’t answer with words, just pressed a kiss to my forehead.Eventually, reluctantly, we returned home.As we rode into the castle gates, our cloaks damp and hair wild, the guards blinked at us like we were forest spirits returning from myth. We waved them off before they could ask questions, and made our way back to our private quarters, still grinning like fools.We’d barely stepped out of the bathing chamber when there was a knock at the door. This time, it wasn’t a guard. I knew the rhythm.“Come in,” I called, already smiling.Aerlyn entered first, her braids freshly redone, her uniform pristine. Behind her, Kael followed, taller than before, but still hiding part of his face behind his curls when he felt uncertain.“
Emily's POV “Was hoping you'd think I was unconscious,” he mumbled into my hair. “So you wouldn’t make me move.” I laughed softly and turned toward him, our legs tangling naturally. He looked younger in the morning light, softer. As if the weight of his past had stepped back, if only for a few hours. I brushed my fingers across his brow, smoothing back a strand of hair that had fallen in his eyes. “I don’t want to move either,” I whispered. “Then don’t,” he said, pulling me closer. “We’ve earned one morning.” It was a strange thing—stillness. Foreign, almost. Our love had bloomed in war, grown through hardship, deepened through leadership. Most days, it felt like we were always on the edge of something: a threat, a decision, a moment too big to breathe through. But today… Today, we were just Emily and Fayne. Not Alpha. Not demon. Not legend. Just two people who had made it through the storm and still chose each other. He kissed the top of my head. “Still thinking about Kael?”
Emily's POV The echo of my children’s voices still lingered in the corridor even after I walked away. Something had changed—subtly, but powerfully. Kael and Aerlyn had finally found a rhythm, however fragile. That mattered more than any council, any throne. I drifted into the quiet of our chambers, the familiar warmth of it greeting me like a gentle tide. Fayne stood near the window, bathed in moonlight, his arms crossed as he stared into the distance like he always did when his mind wandered too far. He turned when he heard me, and his crooked smile instantly softened everything in me. “They’ll be alright,” I said, sinking into the edge of the couch. He raised a brow. “Kael didn’t burn down anything?” “Not today,” I teased. Fayne chuckled and walked over. “Then we’ll call that a win.” There was silence for a beat, one that didn’t demand to be filled. We were getting good at this kind of peace—the quiet between the wild. The world outside always turned, but we had carved out
Emily's POV I nodded. “Exactly. A joint council. One that unites the packs and keeps decisions balanced. Aerlyn will lead the Galahad and Red Cross packs, yes. Kael will govern Donovan when the time comes. But their power won't lie in their territories. It’ll lie in their ability to come together for decisions that affect all of us.”“Smart,” Fayne admitted, brushing a hand across my shoulder. “Give them shared stakes so there’s less room for rivalry.”“And more room for respect,” I added. “We’ll train them to make decisions together. Mediate conflicts. See each other as equals, even when their paths differ. We’ll show Kael that his role isn’t smaller, just different. He’ll grow into a protector, a strategist, a voice for the more volatile edges of the packs.”Fayne gave a small smile. “That sounds like you’ve been planning this for years.”“I have.” I turned toward him fully, letting the weight of my thoughts settle. “Because I know what it’s like to be raised in a world that pits s
Emily's POV The sun had dipped low, brushing golden light across the glass windows as I stood at the edge of the balcony, overlooking Galahad’s inner gardens. The breeze was gentle, tugging at the silk of my robe, and in the distance, I could hear laughter—Aerlyn training the younger wolves again, just as she always did.Behind me, I heard Fayne’s footsteps, quiet but heavy with thought. He came to stand beside me, his arms folded, gaze cast out toward the horizon. For a moment, we stood in silence, listening to the world we had carved out together. The peace we had fought for. Bled for.I sighed. “We have a family.”Fayne looked at me, his expression softening.“There were nights,” I continued, voice low, “when I didn’t think that would ever be our truth. That we’d ever survive long enough to see it. But now we have two children. A daughter who's strong enough to lead, and a son with a heart that's still learning to shape itself.”His hand slid gently over mine, warm and grounding.
Aerlyn’s POV I sat at the edge of the long stone table, the parchment map spread before us rippling with age and memory. Every scar on its surface marked a past battle, a lesson etched in ink and blood. Now it was my turn to leave a mark.Alpha Dante from the southern border was mid-sentence, proposing a joint patrol with his fastest wolves. Normally, I would’ve deferred to my mother—but today, I leaned forward.“That route won’t hold,” I said, surprising even myself with how calm my voice was. “The rogue movements I tracked followed wind pockets and low paths. They’re avoiding open terrain. We’d be leaving our flank exposed.”The room went still. A few of the elders exchanged glances. One even scoffed under his breath. But my mother said nothing. She didn’t have to. Her silence was her faith in me.Dante grunted, pointing at a different section of the map. “Then you suggest we close in here?”I nodded. “And reroute the scouts to this ridge. It’s narrow but provides full visibility.
Aerlyn’s POVThe gates of Galahad came into view just as the sun began to rise behind them, casting long gold shadows across the valley. Home. Safe. But not for long—not if what I found in Hollowpine was any indication.I dismounted quickly, handed my reins off to a stable guard, and headed straight for the central hall. My clothes were caked in dust, and my mind still raced with what I saw, what I *felt*.Guards nodded as I passed, their expressions shifting from relief to concern when they caught sight of my face. I must’ve looked like I hadn’t slept in days. I hadn’t.At the doors to the throne room, I didn’t wait to be announced.“Open the doors,” I told the sentries.They did.Inside, Mother stood near the map table, Fayne beside her. The room fell quiet as I entered, scroll still sealed in one hand, and a bloodied sash from Hollowpine in the other.Emily’s eyes locked on mine. Calm, but alert. “You’re early.”I dropped the sash onto the table. “Because Hollowpine isn’t there any
Emily’s POVThe stars were starting to blink into the sky when I found her in the training yard, alone, her sword still strapped to her back. She was sitting on the edge of the stone bench, shoulders relaxed now, legs swinging softly like she had when she was younger. She heard me before she saw me—her ears were always sharp—and looked up with those fierce, storm-hardened eyes I’d given her.“You handled it well,” I said, stepping toward her.“I wasn’t sure I did,” she murmured, eyes flicking back to the horizon.I sat beside her, our shadows stretching long behind us. “You didn’t lash out. You didn’t act for pride. You made a decision, and you stuck by it. That’s leadership, Aerlyn. It’s not always about winning—it’s about keeping everyone alive long enough to understand what the game even is.”She tilted her head, a small smirk curling her lips. “I sounded like you today. I said something and immediately thought, ‘that’s something Mom would say.’”I laughed softly. “Is that a compli