Elowen's POV The next morning, the academy buzzed with an energy that was both palpable and unsettling. I walked through the gates, my head held high despite the whispers that followed me everywhere I went. But today, there was something different—a presence beside me that commanded attention. Kael strode confidently by my side, his movements fluid and purposeful. His tall frame and sharp, chiseled features made him impossible to ignore. The way his dark hair fell over his forehead, slightly tousled, gave him an air of effortless charm. But it was his piercing silver eyes that caught people off guard, as if they could see straight through to your soul. The gossip started the moment we stepped onto the grounds. “Who’s that with Elowen?” “Isn’t he a rogue?” “They look… close.” “Did she finally move on from Alaric?” “No way. An omega with him?” My wolf growled softly in the back of my mind, but Kael remained unfazed, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He se
Elowen’s POV The library doors creaked softly as we pushed through them, the hushed atmosphere a welcome reprieve from the chaos of the hallway. My thoughts, however, were anything but quiet. Ranon’s words kept echoing in my head, his sneer, his derision, and Alisa’s mocking laughter slicing through my composure like a knife. “Don’t let them get to you,” Kael murmured beside me, his voice steady and calming. He placed a reassuring hand on my lower back as we walked further into the library. “I’m trying,” I whispered, gripping the strap of my bag tightly. “But it’s hard. Ranon... Alaric... Theron... they were supposed to be my mates. They were supposed to...” “To protect you,” Kael finished, his voice laced with quiet anger. “Instead, they’ve only caused you pain.” I bit my lip and nodded, feeling tears prick the corners of my eyes. “It’s like every time I think I’ve hit rock bottom, they find a way to dig me in deeper.” Kael stopped and gently turned me to face him, his si
Alaric’s POV The academy buzzed like a hive of gossiping bees, the whispers louder than ever as I made my way through the courtyard. My wolf was restless, pacing in my head, growling low and dangerous. I didn’t need to ask what everyone was talking about; I already knew. Elowen. And him. The moment I spotted her, walking through the crowd like she owned the place, my blood boiled. She was with him again—the newcomer. Kael. His presence was like a dark cloud hanging over everything, and the way he hovered protectively at her side, his body language screaming possession, made my wolf want to rip him apart. There she was, calm as ever, her chin held high, her expression serene like she didn’t have a care in the world. Like she hadn’t just walked out of the storm I created for her, unscathed. How could she be so calm? “Look who decided to grace us with her presence,” I called out, my voice dripping with venom as I stepped out of the shadows. Elowen froze, her posture stiff
Theron’s POV I leaned against the wall in the hallway outside the library, my arms crossed over my chest. My wolf paced inside me, restless and agitated after hearing the latest gossip swirling through the academy. Elowen and Kael. The image of them together was like a thorn lodged deep in my chest. Every whispered word, every stolen glance between them—it all grated on my nerves. But what made it worse was the look in her eyes when she saw him. That calm, guarded expression. It was like nothing we had done to her mattered anymore. She’s shutting me out, my wolf growled. And that outsider is taking advantage of her pain. I pushed off the wall and ran a hand through my hair, trying to control the anger bubbling just beneath the surface. The way things had spiraled out of control wasn’t how it was supposed to go. We were supposed to protect her, not drive her into the arms of another. "Ranon and Alaric are making this worse," I muttered to myself. Just as I was about to leave, th
Ranon’s POV I leaned back against the academy's stone wall, watching Alisa chatter away about something inconsequential. Her voice was sharp, grating on my nerves, but I kept the smirk on my face. She was a useful distraction—a way to dull the storm brewing inside me every time Elowen crossed my mind. Alisa’s laugh rang out, loud and fake, as she looped her arm through mine. “Ranon, are you even listening to me?” she pouted, batting her lashes. “Of course, darling,” I drawled, my tone dripping with mock sincerity. “Your every word is poetry.” She giggled, clearly pleased, and leaned closer. I barely noticed her. My attention was locked on the hallway ahead, where I could see her—Elowen—walking alongside that Kael. My jaw tightened. “What’s he doing here?” I muttered under my breath. “Who?” Alisa asked, following my gaze. Her eyes narrowed when she spotted them. “Oh, you mean Elowen and her new little pet? Honestly, it’s pathetic. Does she think parading him around will m
Elowen’s POV Kael stayed silent as we made our way back to the dorms, his presence steady beside me. The tension from the encounter with Alaric and Lisa still lingered in the air, wrapping around me like a suffocating cloak. When we finally reached my door, I paused, my hand resting on the doorknob. My thoughts were a chaotic mess, torn between anger, heartbreak, and a growing resolve to fight back. Kael leaned against the wall, watching me carefully. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked, his voice low. I nodded, though I knew the answer was far from the truth. “I’ll be fine.” He didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t press me further. “If you need anything, you know where to find me.” I gave him a small, grateful smile before stepping inside and closing the door behind me. The silence of the room was deafening, and for a moment, I just stood there, staring at nothing. The memory of Alaric’s words replayed in my mind, each one cutting deeper than the last. I couldn’t shake
Elowen’s POV The soft hum of night settled over the estate as I wandered through the quiet corridors. I had spent hours replaying the events of the day in my mind, grappling with the mix of emotions that threatened to overwhelm me. Kael’s presence had been a comfort, but it wasn’t enough to calm the storm brewing within me. I needed answers. The moment I reached my mother’s room, I hesitated, my hand hovering over the doorknob. Despite everything, a part of me was still adjusting to the idea that she was alive, that she was here. After a deep breath, I knocked softly and pushed the door open. She was seated by the window, her long silver hair catching the moonlight, making her appear ethereal. Her warm, knowing smile greeted me as if she had been expecting me all along. “Elowen,” she said softly, motioning for me to join her. I walked over and sat beside her, my hands clasped tightly in my lap. “Mother,” I began, my voice uncertain, “there’s so much I don’t understand. Abo
Elowen's POV The silence of my room swallowed me whole, but it wasn’t the kind of silence that calms. It was the kind that roars—loud and suffocating. The weight of my mother’s words had shattered any remnants of innocence I had left about the Triplets. They weren’t just ignorant boys with power—they were the legacy of betrayal, just like my father. My heart ached with the realization that I had fallen for their lies, their sweet words, their promises of love. They were no different than the monster that had destroyed my mother. I had trusted them. But how could I have been so blind? How could I not see that everything they said, everything they did, was just a performance? A calculated act to weaken me, to turn me into the submissive omega they all thought I should be. My thoughts raced back to that moment—the moment Alaric humiliated me in front of everyone. The way he had held me, pretending to be the perfect mate, only to expose me in front of my peers. And Ranon, who had ac
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