Alexanders povI spun around to see Adam standing in the doorway, his eyes wide with terror. A masked figure, clad in black, loomed behind him, a knife protruding ruthlessly from Adam's chest. Time seemed to slow as Adam crumpled to the ground, his lifeless body blocking the entrance. Olivia gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Alexander, who is that?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Stay behind me," I commanded, gently setting Olivia down and stepping forward, my body poised to protect her at all costs. My heart pounded as I locked eyes with the masked figure, trying to gauge their intent. Even from a distance, I sensed the danger emanating from him. Their eyes, visible through the slits of the mask, bore into mine with an intensity that made my blood run cold. For a moment, neither of us moved, like two predators sizing each other up. "Who are you?" I demanded my voice a low growl filled with authority. The figure tilted their head slightly as if considering whether or n
Olivia's POV As the cold night air hit my face, my mind continued to whirl with questions that seemed impossible to untangle. Alexander's grip tightened around me, protective and unwavering, but the weight of uncertainty pressed down relentlessly. Cassandra followed closely, her steps silent but her presence loud in the back of my mind. Every time I glanced at her, a gnawing suspicion grew stronger. How could she have shown no fear amidst all this chaos?Everything screamed at me that Cassandra had been working with Adam, and there was no way I would let her get away with it. She needed to be stopped before she hurt anyone else. I wanted to tell Alexander right then and there, but I knew that now wasn’t the time. We still weren’t out of danger, and if I told him in front of her, then there was a chance that she could escape, or worse, Alexander wouldn’t believe me. So I pushed the thought down and told myself that I would tell him everything I knew as soon as we found Reed and Ethan
Victor's POV The forest air was thick with tension, each breath tasting of fear and pine. My heart pounded fiercely in my chest as I followed Olivia's scent, an unnerving dread twisting in my gut. I moved swiftly, the pads of my paws sinking into the damp earth with every step. Olivia's scent grew stronger, pulling me deeper into the forest. I prayed silently, begging the Moon Goddess for her safety. Going alone was a risk, but I couldn’t afford to leave Lidia and the twins unguarded back at the hotel. The thought of them helpless if something went wrong gnawed at me, so here I was—alone. The scent was leading me toward an old, decrepit building. It stood hauntingly against the backdrop of towering trees, its walls cracked and windows shattered. I shifted back to my human form, ignoring the rush of cold air against my skin. Picking out a worn pair of shorts from my emergency pack strapped to my leg, I slipped into them for the sake of decency. A faint light glowed from one of the
Olivia's POV "We're close," Alexander whispered, his tone both reassuring and alert. The shed loomed ahead of us, partially hidden by thick underbrush and shadow. The air felt charged as though it held its breath, waiting for us to make our move. Every sound made my heart beat faster in my chest. Aura was on full alert. I could feel her stirring within me, ready to show herself at any second. "Stay behind me," Alexander repeated, moving with grace and assurance. I nodded, swallowing hard as we neared the shed's entrance. The moonlight cast a silver glow on the rough wooden door, and my heart pounded louder with each step. Just as I was about to follow Alexander inside, his hand shot out, gripping my arm with a strength that was both tender and unyielding. "Let me go in first," he commanded, his eyes scanning the area for any hidden dangers. I hesitated, feeling the buzzing tension in the air, but ultimately, I relented. "Okay," I whispered back, stepping aside to let him enter. He
Olivia's POV A figure stepped out, shrouded in darkness. My muscles tensed, ready to spring. But as the figure came into the moonlight, my heart leapt with recognition. "Victor?" I let out a breath I didn't realise I was holding. The relief was nearly overwhelming. Victor's eyes were wide with equal parts worry and relief as he hurried towards me, pulling me into a tight embrace. "Olivia! Are you okay?" His voice was filled with desperation, his arms wrapping around me protectively. "I'm okay, Victor. Really," I said, my voice muffled against his chest. His scent was familiar and grounding, a reminder that we still had a chance to survive this nightmare. Victor turned his attention to Alexander, Ethan, and Reed. "Thank you," he began, his voice thick with emotion. But Ethan, struggling to stand, shook his head and stopped him. "We failed. I failed," he muttered, eyes downcast. The weight of his perceived failure was evident in every line of his body. I turned to Ethan, seeing t
Olivia's POV Returning to the hotel was a mixed relief: we had survived the ordeal, but the dark shadows of the past still haunted us. Lidia came rushing out to greet us, and as soon as she saw Ethan, she rushed towards him, fussing over him. "Ethan, you should rest," she urged, concern etched on her face. "I'm fine, Lydia," Ethan replied, his voice rough but steady. As I watched them, I couldn't help but smile. In this chaos, they had found solace in each other. It warmed my heart to see their connection growing stronger. A shiver ran down my spine, and I turned to see Cassandra standing across the room. Her eyes bore into mine, an unsettling mix of malice and intrigue. Her lips curled into an evil smirk, twisting her features into a mask of malcontent. Without a word, she turned and walked away, leaving me with a sickening feeling in my gut. Alexander strode over, his presence instantly calming. "I need to clean up. I'll come see you later," he whispered, brushing a strand of
Cassandra's POV As I stormed away from Olivia and Alexander, I allowed my mask of calm to slip, replaced by a scowl that twisted my features. I was seething with anger, a tight coil of rage that throbbed in my chest. Oliveless and her endless meddling made me want to scream. Every fibre of my being screamed for vengeance. Without wasting another moment, I closed my eyes and let my senses extend outward, seeking the familiar connection. **"Meet me where we always do. Now,"** I mind-linked my mate, my thoughts laced with urgency. Almost instantly, his voice resounded in my mind, **"I'm already waiting, Cass. Hurry."** I didn't need any further prompting. Storming through the dimly lit halls of the hotel, I rushed out into the night. The crisp air did little to cool my fury as I headed towards our clandestine meeting place. My steps were swift and purposeful, the shadows of the city passing in a blur. When I arrived at our meeting place, he was tall and dark, and his presence comman
Alexander’s POV It had been a few days since everything happened, and I spent as much time as I could watching over Olivia and the twins, too scared to take my eyes off them in case something happened to them. I still hadn’t had the chance to talk to Cassandra. I'd hardly seen her at all, and I knew that she wouldn’t be so stupid to do something right now, not when everyone was on high alert. I made my way to Victor's room. I had told him this morning that I needed to talk to him about something. He greeted us with an expression that bordered on relief and curiosity. "I need to talk to you, Victor," I said, trying to keep my voice steady while the power within me surged. Victor nodded, "Of course. What’s going on?" Walking into his room, I took a seat. "Something happened when Adam made me stab myself. The wounds should have killed me, but they didn’t. Instead, this symbol appeared," I said, holding up my hand for him to see. Victor stepped closer, eyes narrow with scrutiny. The
Olivia's POVA month had passed since Reed’s death, and today was a day of celebration, joy, and new beginnings. I sat in front of Lidia, watching as she gazed at herself in the mirror. She was breathtaking, wearing a beautiful white dress that made her look like a vision of grace. The dress shimmered in the light, the delicate lace and satin fitting her perfectly, reflecting every bit of joy she held within. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, but there was a certain peace about her now, a calm that I hadn’t seen before."You’re beautiful," I said, my voice full of pride and affection as I took in the sight of her. "Are you ready?"Lidia turned to me, her smile wide. "I was ready for this day years ago."Her words hit me right in the heart. Lidia had been through so much, yet here she was, standing on the verge of her greatest happiness. My heart swelled with joy for her.The music began to play softly, a sweet melody that filled the room. The carriage doors opened, and the twins were
Alexander’s POVThe sun had barely risen, casting its first rays across the kingdom as I returned to the palace. The long night of searching had yielded nothing—no sign of Reed, no trail to follow. My muscles ached, exhaustion creeping into every inch of my body, but the rage inside me burned hotter than ever. He had gotten away again. It felt like I would never catch him. I could feel the frustration tightening in my chest, my teeth grinding together in a low growl.As I stepped through the gates, Olivia came rushing toward me, her face full of concern. Her eyes were wide, but there was a calm in her that I couldn’t quite understand. When she reached me, I didn’t have time for pleasantries. The anger inside me needed an outlet.“He got away again,” I snarled, my voice low and heavy with frustration. "I couldn’t find him. I searched every inch of the kingdom."She reached out to me, her hands gently cupping my face, grounding me with her touch. The softness of her skin against my face
Olivia's POVThe kingdom felt eerily quiet as I stood guard over it. Alexander and the others had gone after Reed, and it was my job to make sure the kingdom remained safe in their absence. The night stretched on, filled with an unsettling stillness, but I knew I had to stay strong. The twins were my priority now.I made my way up to their room. My footsteps light on the stone floor. I could hear the soft murmur of voices as I approached the door. When I pushed it open, Ethan held his finger up to his lips, signalling for me to be quiet. I nodded, my gaze drifting toward the twins, peacefully sleeping in their bed.The sight of them, their little faces serene in the moonlight, brought a sense of calm over me. But my eyes didn’t stay on them for long. I turned my attention to Lidia, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, her hand resting lightly on one of the twins. And then, I saw it—the ring on her finger. A rush of happiness filled me, and it took every ounce of restraint not to sc
Reed’s POVMy heart was a frantic drumbeat in my chest, each desperate breath pushing me further into the abyss of terror. I couldn't outrun this. I couldn’t escape whatever hunted me in this cursed forest. The air was thick with an overwhelming presence as if I were being suffocated and cornered by some unseen beast.Every noise around me felt amplified, every shadow threatening to swallow me whole. The dry leaves scattered on the forest floor crunched louder than they should have, and every snap of a twig seemed like a warning. I dragged myself forward, my one good leg buckling with every movement, my body weak, exhausted, and broken.The growl echoed through the trees again, sending waves of ice through my veins. My mind raced, trying to make sense of the madness around me, but my thoughts were jumbled, a mix of dread and confusion. The cold air cut through me like a blade, making it harder to breathe. There was no escape from this thing.Then, the voice came again—soft at first, a
Reed’s POVRage filled my body as I rode through the dark, the stolen horse galloping hard beneath me. Nearly losing my balance with every stride, but it didn’t matter. I couldn’t stop. I had to get away, had to get out of this cursed kingdom before they could find me. If I hadn’t been crippled, if I had both of my legs, I would have succeeded. I would have gotten close to the twins while everyone else celebrated their false victory. But now... now I was weak. And that weakness had cost me everything.I gritted my teeth and pushed the horse harder, the wind whipping past my face, the trees rushing by. I knew they would be coming after me soon. Alexander, that damn Alpha, would never let this go. He would hunt me down, and in my weakened state, there was no way I could protect myself.I could feel the panic rising in my chest as I rode deeper into the forest. The quiet was suffocating, and then... it hit me. The feeling. I’d felt it before, but this time it was stronger. The creeping s
Ethan's POVI rushed the twins to their room, heart pounding in my chest. Protecting them was the most important job right now. I had to make sure they were safe, but every instinct inside me wanted to be out there with my Alpha, hunting Reed down. I couldn’t stand the thought of him being out there, a threat to everything we had fought for.But for now, the twins were my responsibility. As they sat on the floor, playing with their toys, I glanced at Lidia, who was sitting next to them. She was watching them intently, but I could see it in her eyes—the worry. She was trying to hide it, but it was impossible to mask. She was strong, stronger than anyone had ever given her credit for, but I could feel the unease radiating off of her.She looked over at me, and for a moment, everything else faded away. Her beauty overwhelmed me. In that instant, I realised just how much I had come to love her. How had I not seen it sooner? The nervousness I had felt before, the uncertainty about asking h
Alexander's POVThe scream pierced the air, a sound of pure terror that immediately jolted me into action. My body tensed, my instincts kicking in as I spun toward the source, my eyes scanning the ballroom in a blur. Panic spread like wildfire as guests looked around in confusion, but there was no time to waste."Ethan!" I shouted, my voice sharp, commanding. "Get the twins out of here, now!"Without waiting for a response, I turned to Olivia, her face strong and determined as she met my gaze. She was by my side in an instant. She had no fear in her eyes; she was stronger than I was and had better control of her emotions than I did.The triplet alphas, Victor and Allen, appeared at my side in mere moments, all of them standing tall, their faces etched with grim determination. This wasn’t just a disturbance—it was a threat. And I knew exactly who it was.Someone came rushing toward us, their breath ragged, panic filling their eyes. "He’s here," they gasped, their voice trembling. "He’s
Olivia's POVThe entire kingdom seemed to be on edge, the weight of the triplet alphas' news lingering like a storm cloud over the day's celebrations. Every conversation, every glance felt heavier, charged with anticipation for what might come. Reed's shadow loomed over us all, and even though I knew he was weak, I couldn't shake the sense of unease that gripped me. If he chose to strike, we would fight, and we would win. But that didn't make the waiting any easier.I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the final touches of my gown. It was for the victory ball, a night of celebration that should have been joyful, but tonight, it felt like an uneasy truce, as though the weight of what we knew was too much to fully relax into. Still, I dressed for the occasion, knowing that the people needed to see their spirit wolf strong, even if the future felt uncertain.As I turned to make sure everything was in place, the door opened, and Alexander stepped into the room. His gaze immediately m
Olivia's POVThe tension in the room thickened as Cole spoke, his words carrying the weight of a disturbing revelation. "Two of our pack members were on their way here a few days ago with gifts for your victory celebration, but they never arrived. When we got word that they hadn’t made it, we sent out people to search for them." His voice faltered for a moment as if the next words weighed heavily on him. "What we found was not what we had hoped. One of them was dead, the other missing, and the carriage was gone."A chill ran down my spine. I couldn’t bear to hear this. The situation was growing more dire than I’d imagined."Two days ago, we found the carriage," Cole continued, his gaze hardening as he recalled the grim discovery. "It wasn’t far from here. And this morning, we found the other missing pack member."My heart pounded in my chest. "Where did you find him?" I asked, my voice almost whispering, desperate for any hope.Cole's gaze flickered to the others before he spoke again