Cecilia POVThe neon lights washed the bar in a soft haze, the pounding music syncing with the turmoil in my heart.I unbuttoned the top of my shirt in a futile attempt to relieve the frustration within me. My friends laughed and drank nearby, but their joy couldn't scrub away the image of Julian with those twins.I wondered what they were doing right now."Why should I care?" I muttered, swirling the liquid in my glass aimlessly."Can I buy you a drink?" a deep voice interrupted my thoughts.As I looked up, I was startled to see a tall and handsome man standing in front of me. He had golden hair and high cheekbones. Although he was smiling, his icy eyes seemed to peer directly into my soul.I paused, eyeing my half-empty glass, but before I could respond, he was already signaling the bartender."Another one for her," he said, turning back to me with a smile that momentarily quickened my pulse."You seem like you could use some fun tonight," he remarked as he handed me the
Julian POVSeeing Cecilia's jealous expression earlier had doused my anger in an instant.I had called her more than ten times that night, but she didn't answer. I then realized she had left her phone in the room and was nowhere to be found.When I noticed Zara and Lamar were also missing, it became clear Cecilia had likely joined them. Still, sneaking out and breaking orders wasn't like her. After all, she had always adhered strictly to rules.The possibility of her being jealous of those twin sisters hadn't crossed my mind.The next morning, after a meeting with several generals, I asked Mario to linger as the room cleared."Did you bring in those twin sisters to drive Cecilia away intentionally? She has been a significant asset to us. Why do you harbor such hostility toward her?" I demanded."I don't hate her. I'm just preparing her for the reality of what it will be like when you find your mate," Mario responded nonchalantly, his demeanor unrepentant."I've waited over tw
Cecilia POVMy body quivered as I felt my wolf's strength swell within me, fueled by Nana's fervent desire to engage in battle. Casting one last glance at Julian, I raced to the balcony, leaped into the darkened sky, and landed deftly on the ground below. The cacophony of the ongoing battle enveloped me, the scent of the Rogues' pack sharp in my nostrils as I sprinted through the streets. By the time I dashed toward the battlefront, the werewolf soldiers behind me growled.I was their leader; victory was the only acceptable outcome.Yet, as I approached the fray, poised to shred the Rogues with tooth and claw, I sensed Julian's presence close behind, his protectiveness casting a long shadow over me. I pushed him away, urging him to concentrate on his own skirmishes.Zara's presence on my flank provided a comforting reassurance. As a night warrior, her movements were lethal and swift. Lamar was on my other side. As he growled under his breath, he swiftly shifted. Toweri
Vahn POVAs I stood on the balcony of the manor, I watched the clouds shift and swirl in the sky. Below, the wheat fields of the Thorn Pack shimmered golden, heralding the season of harvest—a joy I found myself unable to share.I remembered the days when I returned from the battlefield, buoyed by victory and the thrill of driving the sports car Hogan had gifted me. Back then, Freeda and I were brimming with spirits, but now, I was but a shadow of that vibrant young commander.The weight of being twenty million dollars in debt was crushing, stifling my breath. Investments came with risks, indeed. However, their returns seemed to be worth it. Freeda and I had once thought that venturing into entrepreneurship would be straightforward, especially when juxtaposed with the dangers of war. Moreover, our wedding had drained our family's savings, pushing us into a desperate need for more income.Thus, we ventured into crowdfunding, raising twenty million to invest in a vineyard-th
Vahn POVI had Evan, my Beta, rally 500 soldiers from both the Thorn Pack and the Blade Pack. They were instructed to march through the night, heading directly for Ashfall.Freeda and I departed from Black Stone immediately. Any delay could mean the slip of 20 million through our fingers."Don't worry. We'll make it there in less than 24 hours," Freeda reassured me."Are you kidding me? The Ashfall airport is still out of commission?" I exclaimed in frustration after checking the flight schedules. "Looks like we'll have to land in the nearest city and drive the rest of the way.""It's no big deal. Once we prove ourselves in this battle, we can ask Hogan for a helicopter as part of our reward.""You're right!" I squeezed her hand, feeling the rush of confidence that always came before a fight.The past few months had been a whirlwind of drama. Between the divorce, remarriage, and our floundering hotel venture, Freeda and I were constantly at odds.Her jealousy flared unpredictab
Cecilia POVAfter more than a month apart, seeing Vahn again stirred little emotion in me.With everything that had happened, whatever tangled feelings we once had were now nothing but distant memories. Besides, there was hardly anything worth remembering between us; our connection had been superficial at best.During our divorce, all I sought was respect and fairness—qualities Vahn failed to offer. I had to fight for them myself, and now, we were settled, even.But Freeda was a different story. Her actions were indefensible—abusing Josh, torturing prisoners of war, and possibly playing a role in my family's death. Such atrocities couldn't remain unpunished.After everyone left the conference room, Julian pulled me aside, trying to calm me down. "I know you hate Vahn and Freeda, but we only have that video. It's not enough. Freeda could easily argue it was Norman who ordered the abuses.""I don't hate Vahn. The divorce is old news. I just despise Freeda's cruelty. "Before I
Cecilia POVAfter Julian assigned the tasks, we headed to the camp to lead our respective units in drills.As we exited the room, Freeda's eyes bore into me with a venomous glare.Julian and Alonzo walked beside me. Once we reached the training grounds, Julian announced to my uncle's former troops, "Starting today, Cecilia is your commander. You will follow her orders on the battlefield! Any disobedience will be met with military discipline!""Roger!" the soldiers roared, their voices echoing throughout the camp.The morning sun bathed Julian's face in a warm golden glow, reminiscent of a mythical god of war.Aware of my inexperience, I practiced even harder than the average soldier. By evening, I enlisted Alonzo's help to familiarize myself with Ashfall's terrain and the battle strategies previously employed by my uncle."Cecilia, it's almost midnight. Can I please head back to rest?" He yawned as he spoke."Sorry, I lost track of time." I glanced at my watch."I'm getting
Cecilia POV"Don't take her words to heart," Julian comforted me as he walked me back to my room."I understand," I replied, managing a faint smile.Noticing he seemed reluctant to leave, I gently nudged him toward the door. "I've trained all day, and I'm exhausted. It's time for bed.""No goodnight kiss? I did stand up for you, you know," Julian said, pointing to his lips with a playful pout.I gave him a quick peck on his left cheek."The captured Rogue woke up tonight, but he's too weak. We barely got a few words out of him before he passed out again. If he's better tomorrow, we can interrogate him," he said, his tone shifting to a more serious note."Got it. Goodnight!" I replied, giving him another peck on the right cheek before closing the door.The next evening, after finishing my training, I headed to the mess hall for dinner. Just as I reached the entrance, the sounds of a commotion caught my attention.Rather than breaking it up, the soldiers had formed a circle, eag