Ranon’s POV The drive back was quieter, but the air between us crackled with unspoken words. I could still feel the warmth of her breath from when I’d leaned in, the phantom touch of her fingers grazing my shirt.Damn her.She thought she had won this round.She was wrong.I kept my grip firm on the wheel, my expression unreadable. But inside? My wolf was restless, pacing, demanding that I do something. He wanted her.Needed her.The scent of her was still all over me, taunting, intoxicating. My hands itched to pull over again, to finish what we started—what she wanted to start.Instead, I exhaled slowly. Controlled. Calculated."You're awfully quiet now," she mused, turning slightly in her seat. "Did I take all the fight out of you?"I let out a low chuckle. "Sweetheart, if you think that was me losing, you have a lot to learn."Her smirk deepened. "So teach me."Fuck.My hands tightened on the wheel. "Careful what you ask for, Elowen."She hummed, tilting her head. "You keep saying
Elowen's POV The night air was crisp against my heated skin as I stood there, watching Alaric walk away. His steps were stiff, his shoulders taut with tension. I should’ve felt satisfaction; after all, I'd gotten exactly what I wanted.He kissed me.Not because he wanted to—but because he couldn’t help himself.My lips still tingled from the force of it, from the way his wolf had surged to the surface, possessive and raw. It was the crack in his armor I'd been waiting for. A moment where the mask slipped and the cold, untouchable Alaric revealed the chaos raging beneath.I should’ve been thrilled.But as his scent lingered in the air, sharp with frustration and something darker, my chest ached in a way I didn’t expect."He's falling for it," I whispered to myself. "Just like I planned."My wolf stirred inside me, uneasy. She didn’t share my triumph. She didn't want Alaric broken—she wanted him whole, strong, and... ours.I shoved that thought away and turned back toward my dorm. Ever
Elowen's POV Alaric's hands slid to my waist, pulling me against him with a ferocity that left me breathless. His mouth claimed mine again, and this time there was no restraint. The night seemed to hold its breath around us, the rustle of leaves and the distant river forgotten in the wake of his touch. "Elowen," he rasped against my lips. "Tell me to stop." "Don't stop," I whispered. With a growl, he lifted me effortlessly, and my legs wrapped around his waist. He moved toward the soft mossy ground near the riverbank and lowered me with a gentleness that contradicted the hunger in his eyes. His fingers traced along my jaw, down my neck, igniting a fire beneath my skin. "This shouldn't be happening," he said, more to himself than me. "It already is," I answered. He smiled, his thumb tracing my lower lip. "You're beautiful, Elowen. Beautiful and maddening." "Are you calling me crazy?" I teased, my breath catching as his hand moved to caress the bare skin of my thigh. "Only in
Elowen's POV By the time we reached the academy, Alaric’s fingers were still laced with mine, his grip strong and unwavering. He looked down at me with a satisfied smirk, his golden eyes gleaming with something possessive. The way he had held me last night, the way he had whispered my name—it still lingered in my mind, making my cheeks flush. But the moment of quiet bliss shattered like glass. A sharp voice sliced through the morning air. “You bitch!” I barely had time to react before Lisa stormed toward us, her heels clicking against the pavement with each furious step. Her face was a mask of pure rage, lips curled in disgust, her manicured nails clenched into fists at her sides. “How fucking dare you?” she seethed, her voice trembling. “You stole my boyfriend, you disgusting whore!” The courtyard fell silent. Heads turned. Curious whispers spread like wildfire. I took a step back, caught off guard by her sudden outburst. My heart pounded, but I refused to look away.
Theron's POV Elowen’s breath hitched, her entire body rigid in my arms. Her gray eyes locked onto mine, stormy and filled with disbelief. “H-how do you know?” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the soft music playing around us. A smirk tugged at my lips, but there was no amusement in my expression—only certainty. “I’ve always known,” I murmured, my fingers grazing the bare skin at the back of her neck. “From the first moment I laid eyes on you.” She shook her head slightly, her brows knitting together. “That’s impossible. No one knows. No one can know.” I tightened my grip on her waist, pulling her even closer. “You forget, Elowen—I see things others don’t. I feel things others ignore.” My voice dropped lower, barely above a whisper. “I’ve watched you hide behind that omega mask for so long, but you can’t fool me.” Her breathing grew uneven, her pulse quickening against my fingertips. “I—I don’t understand,” she admitted, her voice laced with panic. I leaned
Theron’s POV I stood there, staring at the empty space where she had been moments ago, my pulse still thundering in my ears. The auditorium felt eerily silent now, as if the universe itself had paused to let her words sink their claws into my soul. I will destroy your family, Theron. And I’ll make sure you watch every second of it. A sharp exhale left me, my hands clenching into fists. She hated me. She hated all of us. And yet, the taste of her was still on my lips, the ghost of her warmth lingering on my skin. Damn it. I raked a hand through my hair, forcing myself to move, to breathe. But the weight in my chest refused to ease, pressing down with a force that made it hard to think. I had known she was angry. That she felt betrayed. But I hadn’t expected that level of hatred. That raw, burning need for vengeance. And the worst part? I understood it. Hell, if I were in her position, I’d want us dead too. I turned sharply on my heel, storming out of the auditorium, my m
Theron’s POV I found her behind the academy, in the secluded garden where the scent of damp earth and moonflowers filled the night air. She sat on a stone bench, her head bowed, her shoulders shaking as muffled sobs tore through her. The sight of her—Elowen, the girl who had just sworn to destroy me—completely broken—made something sharp twist inside my chest. I had never seen her like this. She was always fire, always defiance, always ready to fight the world with her sharp tongue and sharper claws. But now? She looked small. And it killed me. I swallowed hard, stepping closer. My boots crunched against the gravel path, but she didn’t move, didn’t even lift her head. “Elowen.” Her breath hitched, but she didn’t look up. “Go away, Theron.” I didn’t. I sat beside her instead, leaving just enough space between us that she wouldn’t feel cornered. Silence stretched between us, thick and heavy. The only sound was the uneven rhythm of her breathing, the quiet sniffle
Theron’s POV The words blurred for a moment as I tried to process what I was seeing. Promised to the Nightbane bloodline. Not just as a mate— But as a queen. My pulse thundered as I flipped through the pages, searching for more. The records were old, some sections nearly faded beyond recognition, but the truth was undeniable. Elowen’s lineage wasn’t just powerful—it was sacred. A true She-Alpha. A ruler by birthright. A direct threat to my father’s reign. And he had tried to erase her. No wonder he destroyed her pack. No wonder he wanted her dead. If Elowen had grown up knowing who she truly was—if she had been raised to claim her throne—she could have united the remaining Whitefangs and taken control of everything. She could have challenged the Nightbanes. She could have won. My father had always been ruthless, always willing to eliminate anyone who stood in his way. But this— This wasn’t just a strategic move. This was fear. He had been afraid of
Elowen’s POV The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension. We all knew Ezekiel wouldn’t wait long before making his next move. He was patient, but not the kind to let an opportunity slip through his fingers.Theron drummed his fingers against the table. “We need to figure out what he wants beyond your blood, Elowen. If it was just power, he could have gone after any strong Alpha or pack. But he’s fixated on you.”Alaric’s jaw clenched. “Because she’s more than just a werewolf.” His gaze flickered toward me, something unreadable in his expression. “She’s the last of a bloodline that threatens him. He doesn’t just want her power. He wants her erased.”The weight of his words settled over me like a suffocating blanket. I had always known my existence was dangerous, but hearing it spoken so plainly was… unsettling.Ranon leaned back in his chair, his expression deceptively calm. “If he wants her erased, we make sure she’s untouchable.” His smirk turned sharp. “We make sure he fears
Elowen's POVThe clearing fell into a suffocating silence.Then, a slow, deliberate clap echoed through the air.My blood ran cold.From the darkness, a figure emerged, stepping into the faint glow of the moon.Tall. Broad. Wrapped in a long, dark coat that billowed slightly in the night breeze.His face…Sharp, angular features, high cheekbones, and a chiseled jawline that could have made him almost handsome—if not for the sinister, predatory gleam in his icy gray eyes.He smirked, revealing a hint of elongated canines, a cruel mockery of the Alphas before him.His hair, dark as ink, was slicked back, emphasizing the deep creases lining his forehead. He looked like a man who had spent a lifetime in war, a man who had crushed everything in his path without remorse.But it was his presence that sent a chill through my bones.Power radiated off him like a storm waiting to break."You’ve been quite the troublemaker, haven’t you, Elowen?" His voice was smooth, velvety—deceptively calm.Al
Elowen’s POV The air outside was thick with tension. The night was eerily silent, except for the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind. My heart still pounded from the encounter with the rogue.I knew their uncle wouldn’t stop. He was getting bolder.I needed to be ready.I walked toward the training grounds behind the mansion, my mind racing. The darkness wrapped around me, but it felt comforting. Familiar.Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind me.I didn’t have to turn to know who it was.Alaric.“You shouldn’t be alone right now,” he said, his voice calm but firm.I scoffed, crossing my arms. “I’m not helpless, Alaric.”“I never said you were,” he murmured, stepping closer. His warmth seeped into my skin, even with the space between us. “But that doesn’t mean I’m letting you out of my sight.”I turned to face him, searching his expression. His golden eyes burned into mine, intense and unwavering.“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked, my voice softer than I intended.Ala
Elowen’s POV I should have moved.Should have pushed him away, reminded him that this wasn’t real—that whatever was happening between us was a mistake.But I didn’t.Instead, I stood there, frozen as Alaric’s fingers trailed down my cheek, his warmth seeping into my skin like a slow-burning fire.His golden eyes locked onto mine, filled with something dangerous—something possessive.“Say it,” he murmured, his voice like a dark promise.I swallowed hard. “Say what?”“That you don’t want this.” His lips were so close now that I could feel his breath ghosting over my skin. “Say you don’t feel it.”I opened my mouth, but the words refused to come out.Because it was a lie.I felt it—the pull, the unbearable tension, the need that curled deep in my chest, warring with the logical part of my brain that told me this is wrong.But nothing about Alaric had ever been logical.His hand slid around my waist, pulling me closer, until our bodies were flush against each other. “You think you can ke
Alaric’s POVElowen's body trembled against mine, her breathing uneven. I could feel the heat of her wound against my skin, the scent of her blood sending my wolf into a frenzy.She was hurt.And she had the audacity to think she could handle this alone.I gritted my teeth, my arms tightening around her as I lifted her effortlessly. “We’re going home,” I said, my voice leaving no room for argument.She stiffened in my hold. “Put me down, Alaric.”I ignored her.“Elowen,” Ranon growled, stepping beside me. “This was reckless. Even for you.”Theron, still in his wolf form, let out a low, dangerous snarl. He was furious. We all were.Her fingers weakly curled into my shirt. “I had to do this. I had to—”I stopped walking and glared down at her. “You had to get yourself killed?” My voice was ice, but beneath it, there was something darker. Fear. The thought of losing her, of watching her slip away, unraveled me.Her lips parted, but she had no answer.She knew I was right.Theron shifted
Elowen's POVThe first rays of dawn barely kissed the horizon when I slipped out of the mansion’s grand entrance. The night’s chaos still lingered in the air, but inside, the house was eerily silent. They were exhausted, too busy recovering from the rogue attack to notice me slipping away.I pulled the hood of my cloak over my head, hiding my face as I moved swiftly through the damp forest. The earth was still soaked from last night’s rain, making my footsteps almost soundless.My body ached from my wounds, but the pain was a reminder—I had no time to waste.I had spent too long trapped in that mansion, caught between Alaric’s possessive nature, Theron’s silent protectiveness, and Ranon’s infuriating smirks. They thought I was fragile. They thought I needed them to keep me safe.They were wrong.I wasn’t running away.I was hunting.Their uncle wanted my blood, and I wasn’t going to sit around and wait for the next attack. If I could track him first, if I could end this before it esca
Elowen’s POV The warm water streamed down my back, easing the stiffness in my muscles, but it did nothing to clear the storm brewing in my mind.I leaned forward, resting my palms against the cool tile, letting the steam swirl around me.Last night had been a mistake.Or had it?The way Theron had held me, his touch both possessive and gentle, had left a mark on me deeper than I wanted to admit. It was dangerous—allowing myself to feel anything for them when the past still bled fresh wounds.I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. Focus, Elowen.The real enemy was still out there. Their uncle. The bastard who sent those rogues after me last time.And he wasn’t done yet.I turned off the shower, stepping onto the cool floor. After drying off and dressing quickly in fitted jeans and a simple black top, I tied my hair up and glanced at my reflection.I needed to be strong.Because war was coming.The moment I stepped into the dining room, three pairs of eyes locked onto me.Alaric sat at th
Elowen’s POV The weight of war loomed over us, but for now, the mansion was silent. After the meeting, everyone had gone to their rooms, but sleep wouldn’t come to me.I stepped out onto the balcony, letting the cool night air wash over me. The sky was pitch black, the moon hidden behind thick clouds. A storm was brewing, both in the sky and within me.“You should be resting.”I turned at the deep voice, finding Theron leaning against the doorway. His silver eyes reflected the faint glow of the lanterns.“So should you,” I countered.He stepped closer. “I couldn’t. My mind is a mess.”I sighed, turning back to the horizon. “I know the feeling.”Silence stretched between us, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. There was something about Theron that felt… grounding.After a moment, he spoke again. “Are you afraid?”I exhaled slowly. “Not for myself. But I know what’s coming, Theron. And I know it won’t end without blood.”His jaw tightened. “We won’t let anything happen to you.”I turned to fa
Elowen’s POV The discussion continued long into the night. Maps were spread out across the grand dining table of their mansion, books piled high, and notes scribbled across parchment as we tried to piece together the truth behind their uncle’s obsession with my blood.I leaned forward, elbows resting on the table, scanning the worn-out pages of an ancient book. “It says here that witch blood from a royal lineage has the power to either strengthen a bloodline… or destroy it.”Theron’s gaze darkened. “That means he’s not just after power—he’s afraid of what you can do.”Alaric clenched his jaw. “That bastard always knew. That’s why he sent those rogues after you.”Ranon exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair. “And if he gets his hands on you, he’ll use that blood for a ritual. Either to enhance himself or to wipe us out completely.”A chill ran down my spine. I already knew my blood was a threat to their lineage, but I hadn’t realized just how much power it held over them.I closed