Daniella stood by the lake for a few moments longer, ensuring that Arianna was completely unconscious. Her heart raced, but not from fear or guilt—no, it was the thrill of finally putting Andrew’s plan into motion. This was the moment she had been working toward ever since she arrived at Winter Moon, and soon, everything would fall into place.Quickly, Daniella composed herself, putting on the mask of a worried, frightened mother-to-be. She was about to play the role of her life—one of innocence and concern, all while hiding the wicked truth. Taking a deep breath, she headed back toward the packhouse, her pace deliberately fast but not too frantic. She had to appear panicked, but not suspicious.As she neared the packhouse, Daniella’s face contorted with a mixture of false distress and exhaustion. Her breathing became heavier, as if she had been running all this time, searching for Arianna. This was all part of the act. When she stepped into the packhouse, she spotted Xavier sitting i
Daniella sat on the edge of her bed, staring out the window of the room the Winter Moon pack had so graciously given her. The evening light filtered through the curtains, casting long shadows across the floor. Her lips curled into a slow, deliberate smile. The pack members were so easily deceived—especially Arianna. Playing the vulnerable, wounded woman had been almost too easy.But tonight, her mind was buzzing with new possibilities. Andrew was already dealing with Arianna, which meant she wouldn’t be an obstacle for much longer. Arianna would die, Xavier would be left devastated, and Daniella would be right there to pick up the pieces. She let out a soft laugh, her fingers tracing lazy circles on the bedsheet as her mind raced ahead, planning every detail."Raymond is gone," she whispered to herself, her tone low and contemplative. "But Xavier… Xavier could be mine."In truth, she never loved Raymond. She had used him, manipulated him, bent him to her will to rise in the ranks of t
Daniella’s wicked grin spread as she eyed the layout of Arianna and Xavier's room. Now she needed to make her next move: seduce Xavier. She was willing to do whatever it took, no matter how risky. If it meant becoming the Luna of Winter Moon, she would stop at nothing. Her mind raced as she considered the next step of her carefully crafted scheme. Andrew had given her the tools she needed, but he wasn’t the solution to her long-term success. Xavier, on the other hand, could secure her place. And with Arianna out of the way, it would only be a matter of time before she slid into the position of Luna, right at Xavier’s side. Standing in Arianna's room, Daniella made sure everything was in place. She grabbed a towel, undressed, and stepped into the shower. The water cascaded over her skin, and as she stood there, her mind spun with how she’d execute her plan. She knew Xavier would be back soon, and all she had to do was make it look like an innocent misunderstanding. Once her shower
Xavier sat at the edge of the bed, his head resting in his hands. The empty space beside him gnawed at his heart, a constant reminder that Arianna was gone. His chest tightened as he thought of her—her laughter, the way her eyes lit up when she teased him, the warmth of her body next to his. It had been too long since he’d last held her, kissed her, and Gray, his wolf, was losing control without her.'She’s out there', Gray growled in his mind, pacing restlessly. 'We have to find her.'Xavier clenched his fists. His wolf’s impatience mirrored his own, but he had to be careful. Whoever had taken Arianna knew how to cover their tracks. They’d searched everywhere, but the trail kept going cold, and the frustration was starting to eat at him.But there was something else—something that had been bothering him since the night Arianna disappeared. Daniella.Xavier narrowed his eyes, his jaw tightening. Daniella’s behavior had been suspicious from the moment she claimed Arianna had vanished.
Arianna’s head felt heavy as she slowly came back to consciousness, her eyelids fluttering open. Her body was sluggish, her mind clouded, and for a moment, she wasn’t sure where she was. The cold, unfamiliar scent in the air sent a shiver down her spine as she tried to sit up. Every muscle ached, but the adrenaline slowly building inside her forced her to move.The room around her was grand but dark, with towering ceilings and heavy curtains blocking out most of the light. The air was thick with a strange, foreboding energy. As the fog in her mind cleared, panic began to creep in. She wasn’t at the Winter Moon packhouse. This place was different—oppressive, suffocating.Her heart pounded as she pushed herself to her feet, wobbling slightly before regaining her balance. A sickening dread settled in her stomach, and her mind raced, trying to piece together what had happened. The last thing she remembered was being with Daniella at the lake. Then... darkness.Her pulse quickened. 'Daniel
Xavier paced restlessly in his office, his mind swirling with thoughts of Arianna. It had been days since her disappearance, and every passing hour without her was driving him insane. Gray, his wolf, was dangerously close to the surface, pushing him to tear apart anyone who stood in his way. But there was a bigger problem at hand: Daniella.Her constant presence was starting to feel like more than just coincidence. Every little thing she did was suspicious—too sweet, too perfect. And tonight, she was making her boldest move yet.Xavier had noticed the way Daniella lingered around him, how her touches had become more deliberate, and her words carefully crafted to make it seem like she cared about his well-being. It was all part of her plan, and for now, Xavier had decided to play along. He would give her enough rope to hang herself.“Xavier…” Daniella’s soft voice came from the doorway of his office.He looked up, finding her standing there with her usual innocent expression. But behin
Arianna's POV I could hear the faint hum of whispers in the distance, the cold stone beneath me sending chills through my skin. My eyelids remained shut, and I kept my breathing steady, pretending to be under the spell they had cast. Andrew and Lydia had underestimated me—grossly underestimated me. I wasn’t as weak as they thought. Aurora stirred within me, her presence calming yet fierce, as she remained alert to every movement around us. 'They’re fools, thinking we can’t feel or sense them. We have more power than they’ll ever know.' I wanted to smirk at her words, but I held back. She was right. Everything was going according to plan. Daniella’s act, the so-called vulnerable mother-to-be seeking protection from me, was laughable. I knew her game from the start, but playing along was the only way to reach Andrew. I needed to end this… for good. I recalled the moment at the lake, her false tears, her trembling hands as she asked me to accompany her. Aurora had growled in my min
Xavier’s POV The weight of Arianna’s absence hung over me like a heavy cloud. Each day that passed without her felt like a century. Gray was restless, prowling within me, his sharp instincts screaming that something was wrong. We both knew it, but without any tangible proof, I had no choice but to wait. The door to my office creaked open, and my head snapped up. Seraphina stepped in, her face serious and her eyes gleaming with something urgent. Gray stirred in response, his focus sharpening. Seraphina rarely visited without good reason, and the look on her face told me this was important. "Xavier," she greeted, her voice calm but purposeful as she took a seat across from me. “Seraphina,” I acknowledged, sitting up straighter. “What brings you here?” Her eyes met mine, and she didn’t waste any time. “I’ve come to talk to you about Arianna.” I felt Gray surge inside me, his anxious energy threatening to burst forth. “What about Arianna? Do you know where she is?” Seraphina nodded
Hey Readers! So here we are done with the book. Thanks for all the love you guys gave to the book. Thank you so much! Love you all!
Arianna’s POV “Come on, Uncle Ben! Auntie Alice! Let’s goooooo!” Amara’s high-pitched squeal of excitement echoed through the hallway as she tugged impatiently at Ben’s hand. Her little face was lit up like it was Christmas morning, her blue eyes shining with mischief and anticipation. Ben chuckled, ruffling the soft curls on top of her head. “Hold your horses, princess. We’ve got all day.” “All dayyyy!” Amara mimicked him, bouncing on her toes as she swung their intertwined hands back and forth. “Mommy said I can get whatever I want!” Alice laughed as she slipped on her jacket. “Did she now? Well, we’re going to have a lot of fun spoiling you, then.” Amara grinned wide, already envisioning the mountains of toys and dresses she would collect. “I’m gonna get all the toys, Auntie Alice! And maybe a unicorn!” “Well, let’s see what we can find,” Alice said, smiling down at her favorite little niece, the one who had everyone in the pack wrapped around her finger. “Maybe we can
Arianna’s POV"Xavier!" I shouted, hands on my hips as I surveyed the mess in the kitchen. Flour was everywhere—on the floor, the counters, and even the ceiling, for goddess’s sake. In the center of it all stood my three-year-old daughter, Amara, her chubby cheeks smeared with frosting, holding a wooden spoon like a sword. And beside her, just as guilty, was my mate, my supposedly mature husband, Xavier, looking way too proud of himself.Amara turned to me with her big innocent eyes, the same brilliant blue as her father’s, and giggled. "Mommy, we made a cake for you!"I couldn’t help but sigh. "This looks more like a cake explosion, sweetheart.""It’s... a work in progress," Xavier said, trying to stifle his laughter as he wiped flour off his brow. "We were just... experimenting."I gave him a hard look, crossing my arms. "By 'experimenting,' you mean turning the entire kitchen into a disaster zone?"Amara beamed up at me. "Daddy says it's called 'creative freedom'!""Creative free
Xavier's POV "Look at her, Arianna," I whispered, completely in awe of the tiny figure bundled up in my arms. Our little Amara, our princess, was finally here. Her soft, pink cheeks and tiny fingers wrapped around mine, and I couldn’t believe how small and perfect she was. She looked so peaceful, her little face relaxed as she slept. Arianna smiled at me from the bed, exhaustion still evident in her eyes, but I could see the love and pride in her gaze. "She’s perfect," she murmured, her voice soft. "I can’t believe, She's finally here," Arianna finished, her voice filled with wonder. She reached out, and I carefully passed Amara into her waiting arms. Watching them together—my strong, fierce mate holding our tiny, delicate daughter—something inside me melted. "She’s everything," I said, sitting on the edge of the bed beside Arianna. "I never knew I could love someone so much, and yet here we are—with her." Arianna smiled as she gazed down at Amara, her fingers brushing o
Arianna’s POV"Xavier!" I gasped, clutching my stomach as a sharp pain rippled through me. It felt like someone had taken hold of my insides and twisted them. I stumbled against the doorway, my breaths coming in shallow pants. This wasn’t just a regular pain—this was the moment we’d been waiting for ever since the gender was revealed. Xavier rushed to my side in an instant, his eyes wide with concern. "Arianna? What’s wrong? Is it—""It’s time," I managed to breathe out, gripping his arm for support. "The baby… she’s coming."His face transformed from shock to determination in a split second. Without hesitation, he scooped me up in his arms, cradling me gently against his chest. "Hold on, love. We’re going to the hospital. I’ll make sure everything is okay."I could only nod, trying to focus on my breathing as the pain came in waves. My body felt heavy, but I knew I had to stay calm—for the baby, for Xavier, for both of us.The journey to the pack hospital felt like a blur. Xavier mo
Xavier’s POV "Xavier! Where’s my ice cream? You said you’d bring it hours ago!" Arianna’s voice echoed through the halls of the palace, a mixture of impatience and frustration lacing her words. I sighed, a smile tugging at my lips as I hurried down the corridor with a large bowl of her favorite chocolate ice cream. Pregnancy had brought out a side of Arianna that was both fierce and demanding, and yet, seeing her this way only made me love her more. She was carrying our pup—our future. The thought made my chest swell with pride. "I’m right here, love," I called out as I entered the bedroom. Arianna was sitting in bed, her swollen belly accentuating her radiant glow. Even though she looked frustrated, I could see the excitement in her eyes when she spotted the ice cream. She was a force of nature, a queen in every sense of the word, and even though her pregnancy had come with mood swings, cravings, and exhaustion, she handled it all with grace. Well, most of the time. "It’s about ti
Arianna's POV The air between us felt charged the moment we entered the room, and I could feel the intensity radiating off Xavier. His eyes darkened, filled with a hunger I knew all too well. My pulse quickened as he closed the door behind him, the soft click echoing in the quiet space. The only sound left was my heartbeat, racing in anticipation. Without a word, Xavier crossed the room, his gaze never leaving mine. He moved with that lethal grace, a predator watching its prey. Xavier crossed the room in a matter of seconds, his presence looming over me like a storm waiting to break. His eyes, dark with desire, pinned me to the spot as if I couldn’t move even if I tried. I didn’t want to. His raw power and intensity were magnetic, pulling me closer, and the bond between us hummed, alive with emotion and need. “Xavier…” I breathed, barely able to get the word out as my throat tightened with anticipation. He didn’t say a word as he reached for me, his hands firm but gentle a
In the days that followed, Arianna and Alice worked tirelessly to implement new training programs for the warriors, emphasizing unity and teamwork among the packs. They organized drills that showcased the unique strengths of each group, fostering camaraderie and respect.Arianna often found herself reflecting on her newfound role. As the Lycan Queen, she felt a deep sense of responsibility, not just to her own people but to all the beings in their realm. She was determined to honor Clara’s memory by ensuring that no more lives would be lost to betrayal and violence.One evening, as Arianna sat in her chambers, reviewing plans for the upcoming training sessions, she was interrupted by a soft knock at the door. Alice stepped in, her expression contemplative.“Arianna, can we talk?” she asked, closing the door behind her.“Of course, Alice. What’s on your mind?” Arianna replied, setting her documents aside.“I’ve been thinking about Daniella,” Alice began. “While I know we must keep a cl
Arianna took a deep breath, steadying herself against the wave of emotions crashing within her. “You’re right, Xavier. We need to handle this delicately. I’ll address the packs and reassure them of our commitment to justice and order.”“Let’s gather the council again,” Alice suggested. “We need to ensure that everyone is informed and on the same page.”With a firm nod, Arianna stood and led the way to the council chamber, Xavier and Alice following closely behind. As they walked through the grand hall, the weight of the impending announcement hung heavily in the air. Once inside the chamber, the atmosphere was tense. The council members exchanged worried glances, their voices hushed as Arianna took her seat at the head of the table.“Thank you for coming on such short notice,” she began, her tone firm yet compassionate. “I have urgent news regarding Alpha Henry. He has been found dead in his cell under suspicious circumstances.”The room erupted into murmurs of disbelief, and Arianna