CADEL'S POVThe next day, I called for a meeting with my brothers and the elders of the pack to decide what to do about Zane.He had been locked up in the dungeon long enough and Carson had thoroughly tortured him too, it was time to decide what to do with him.We also needed to discuss how to keep Zeus out of our territory and prepare to counter any of his surprise attacks."Alphas I would like to suggest Zane be publicly executed." First Elder said and a murmur arose among the elders."Yes I support First Elder, A public execution will serve as a deterrance to any other disloyal werewolf of our pack and keep them in check." Third Elder said in support.Only the Second Elder had a disapproving look on his face."Although, Zane committed a lot of crimes, he was still once a Beta in this pack and had even brought you the Alphas up. Killing him would make our people question the Alphas humane feelings." He said."However, his demerits outweigh his merits." First Elder argued."He has to
ANNE'S POVI stretched my arms as I lay in bed, the rays of the rising sun filtered in, giving my room a warm glow.The sonorous chirping of birds rang melodiously outside my window and the sweet smell of the flowers Cadel had given me swept across the room.Although I had placed them in water, they were starting to dry and I made a mental note to ask Cam for more.It was obvious he was the source of the flowers even though Cadel had given them to me.Zane's execution had taked place yesterday but I was not in attendance.Cadel had said he didn't want me to witness the scene and I had also not been introduced to the pack as their mate so I just stayed in my room all day.I wasn't particularly happy about Zane's death but I felt even more pity for Lucas who had to be banished for his father's crime.My stomach rumbled and I dragged myself out of bed to bath.When I was done bathing, I picked out a flowery yellow dress that reached down to my knee to wear.It had an overlapping neckline
ANNE'S POV"Who's there." I called out, looking around the forest trees frantically.I was in the middle of a forest that stood between the pack house and the borders where Emily lived.It was a thick forest that was dark because of the trees that blanketed it, blocking out the rays of light."Who's there? Show yourself." I shouted out again.A cold voice cackled in laughter and a short man with a scar that ran across his face walked out.I recognized him from the pack house, he had a roadside stall where he sold handmade bracelets and jewelries and Nicole and I had visited his stall once when we went out shopping.That day, I had gotten some jewelries which I had gifted to Lydia and some of the other maids who worked in the kitchen.The scar on his face was unmistakable and he had given me an extra bracelet that day so I remembered him very clearly.But why was he here?And why was he following me?He walked towards me and I retreated a few steps back from him."Aren't you the man fr
CAMERON'S POVAfter breakfast, I headed to my study to get some work done.I had been negligent with the matters of my company nowadays, I worked for a long while and was about studying some paperwork when I realized that I hadn't seen Anne all day.She had told me earlier at the breakfast table that she wanted to come up to my greenhouse today but I hadn't seen her since then.A smile grazed my lips as I thought back to the question Nic had asked me earlier.Contrary to what Anne thought, I wasn't lying.She had looked extra pretty today and I was captivated by her looks.Although I tried to deny it to myself on several occasions, I was incredibly attracted her.Besides the mate bond that drew my attention to her initially, I was starting to fall in love with her.'See I was right from the start.' My wolf rang out from within me."Shut up, nothing is going on." I linked back my cheeks heating up at my obvious lie.'Until when are you going to lie to yourself, you ache for her, you wa
LUCAS POV"Alpha, I am a rouge werewolf that was banished from my pack, you may know my father Zane, he was an ally of yours who was murdered when he planned to overthrow our pack." I said as I bowed before the Alpha and leader of Blackmoon pack and their council."I know you, you're Lucas, Beta of the Lakeshore pack, your father was a good friend of mine. A pity he's now dead." The leader Zeus, the former Alpha of the pack and the father of the current Alpha said, shaking his head regretfully as he did so.Standing there, I waited for him to continue."So what is your reason for coming all the way here when our packs have a feud." He asked and the rest of the people in the room turned to look at me suspiciously, especially the one they called Alpha.I had guessed he was Zeus son due to their striking resemblance and I was right.A stillness washed over the room as they all waited for me to speak up.It felt like the calm before a storm and I had to take a deep breath before continuin
ANNE'S POVIt had been few weeks after the incident that happened when I had visited Emily's home.I woke up this particular morning feeling extremely tired and gloomy.It felt like all the energy had been drained from my body overnight."Good morning." Nicole's cheery voice rang out as she barged in and I groaned out loud, dragging the covers up over my head."Wake up sleepyhead, it's bright out already." She said, as she dragged the curtains apart, allowing light to flood into my room and I squinted my eyes at the sudden invasion of light."Nicole, please just let me sleep some more." I rasped out, my voice dry and croaky."No, you've slept enough. Now get up, you look like a sexy mess." Nicole said, wrinkling her nose at me.Before I could respond, she went up to my closet and dragged it open."Now let's see which outfit would look good enough for today." She chirped noisily and I groaned even more, looking over in her direction.She was seriously rummaging through my closet, picki
ANNE'S POVOnce Celyn was done talking to Lydia, all three of us headed down to the living room to wait for the brothers again.While we waited, Nicole got impatient and went off to find them herself.I was left all alone with Celyn and I sized her up and down from the corner of my eye and got a feeling that she was also doing the same."So Anne, how long have you been here?" she asked suddenly, interrupting the silence in the room and I looked up at her."It's been a long while." I replied and kept shut after.After a few seconds of silence, I spoke up again, "Nicole is really enamoured with you."She smiled softly at my statement, " Yes she is and I absolutely adore her too." She said."She has been my best friend ever since we were kids and no one can replace her importance in my life or mine in her life." She added and although I tried not to see it as such, her words still felt like snide remarks.I grabbed my phone and started scrolling across the entertainment news, refusing to
CELYN'S POVAfter we came back from touring around the city, I headed up to the room I had been assigned to drop my things and went to sleep.The room was right beside Nicole's room but farther from the rest of the Alphas.Then, the next morning I woke up and freshened up and decided to unpack my luggage, I hadn't been able to do that yesterday since Nicole had been dragging me up and about when I came.I had been delighted at Nicole's excitement to see me after years of being apart and Cameron and Carson were happy to see me too.Only Cadel had been a little aloof.He had always been like that towards me and I always wondered why.Based on the bubbly and soft personality I always showed to people, no one had ever had a reason to dislike me.The elderly adored me and the young always wanted to be friends with me.Although I had told Nicole that I was back home because Stephen wanted me home, that wasn't the entire truth.Part of the reason I came back was because of Cadel.Ever since
Epilogue Anna’s POV: We were married for two and a half years. I lived with the brothers and our kids in one house, while Nicole and Lucas had their own homes nearby. I had a son with Cadel, a daughter with Cameroon, and was expecting a baby with Carson. But when the time came for the baby to arrive, something went wrong. The brothers waited outside the medical center, worried. Carson, especially, looked really concerned. An hour later, we got the sad news that the baby didn't make it. Carson couldn't hold back his pain and let out a howl of sorrow. Carson was devastated for months after we lost the baby. Cadel and Cameroon allowed us the time and space to heal. They didn't mind that I was spending more time with Carson than them. They didn't even mind that they had to look after the kids most of the time. Nicole did help us out a lot with looking after her nephew and niece. Slowly, Carson and I found comfort in each other's company. After a while, our intimacy rekindled,
Anna's POV:Inside the Alpha quarters, in the confines of the large living room, only three of us remained: Nicole, Lucas, and me. We hoped those who went after Cecilia's killer would return any moment, having faced little challenge in capturing him. But we were wrong. A primal roar shattered the silence around us twice. Nicole stood up abruptly. “That must be Bryan.”I joined her. “He's calling for his pack.”“What could have possibly gone wrong?” Lucas asked as he rose too."Let's go after them!" I declared.Lucas nodded, and we left the house, heading towards the forest. As we went after Bryan and the others, more pack members joined us, all responding to the Alpha's call. As we reached the edge of the forest, the scene before us made my blood run cold. Bodies lay strewn across the ground, the metallic scent of blood mixing with the earthy smell of the forest. The moon cast an eerie light over the carnage, illuminating the torn remains and the still forms of bodies.Nicole gaspe
Carson's POV:We moved swiftly through the pack house grounds, slipping back into the dense forest where the killer had disappeared. The night air was cool, and the scent of wet wood and damp earth filled my nostrils. Each step sent jolts of pain through my body, but I gritted my teeth and pushed on."Where did you last see him?" Collins asked, his voice low but urgent.I pointed towards the slope where the spears had shot out. "Down there. He triggered the trap and vanished."Cameroon led the way, carefully going down the slope and each of us descended after him. As we reached the bottom, I paused, sniffing the air."He's close. I can still smell him," I said, my voice a growl.“Isn't that strange?” Collins mused.“What is?” I asked. “If I killed my Luna, I wouldn't be lurking around still,” Collins said, with a thoughtful expression. “What if we are working into a trap?”Pausing briefly, I replied, “Well we outnumber him five to one. I say we get this son of a bitch, regardless.”W
Carson's POVCameroon and I chased after Cecilia's killer. He was fast, agile, and remarkably skilled at evasion. Just as my hands dove to catch him, he leaped over a massive log, and I ended up crushing an unfortunate firefly instead. I tossed it away in frustration.Cameroon lagged behind me, making me wish Cadel were here to assist in the chase. As we tore through the forest, which grew steeper with every step, the killer only seemed to get faster. We approached a particularly treacherous section of the forest, where he slid down a slope and pulled a lever. Suddenly, pairs of spears shot out, several piercing my body.“Argh, damn it, it hurts,” I yelled.“Whoa, whoa, whoa, careful!” Cameroon sang the last word, spreading out his arms to balance himself as he screeched to an emergency stop.I scanned the slope, but the killer had vanished after triggering his trap.“Wolfsbane,” I groaned. “The spears—”“It’s okay, I got you. I got you.” Cameroon pulled me back. “We need to head back
Anna's POV:Returning to my pack stirred up more trouble than I anticipated. Cecilia's disdainful remarks since our arrival only fueled my desire to leave. Yet, despite the ease of saying the words, I found myself lingering. Was it the twisted satisfaction of witnessing Cecilia and her mate's conflict over me that held me back?Alpha Bryan's decisive action, slamming the door on Cecilia, sent a strange thrill through me. I shouldn't feel this way; I didn't care for Bryan. Yet, his defiance of his Luna for hosting us made me feel oddly important."Hey, Anna, lost in thought?" Cadel's touch on my elbow brought me back."Yeah, just thinking about tomorrow." Damn, did I just lie to Cadel?He looked at me, towel hanging loosely. "What's happening tomorrow?""We won't be stuck in the alpha quarters forever. Eventually, we'll venture out, and I'll face werewolves who share Cecilia's resentment.""They can't all hate you. Collins and Bryan seem to support us.""Yeah, tell me about it."Cadel
Cadel's POVAfter Nicole's brash confrontation with Cecilia, the room fell into a thoughtful silence. Cecilia's eyes flickered with suppressed emotions as she briefly avoided meeting our gazes, perhaps acutely aware of the rift her actions had caused.Nicole, on the other hand, remained stoic, her expression guarded as she picked at her food, seemingly unfazed by the lingering hostility in the room. The tension between her and Cecilia stewed beneath the surface, threatening to spill over at any moment.Cecilia's fingers drummed impatiently on the table, her jaw still clenched with frustration. Finally, unable to contain herself any longer, she spoke, her voice sharp and cutting."You think you can come into my home and tell me how I should behave?" Cecilia's eyes blazed with defiance as she locked gaze with Nicole. “You came here unannounced and it's taking every fiber of my being not to kick you sorry lot out. So, while I begrudgingly extend my invitation, you all would do well to re
Carson's POV:As we stepped into the dining room, a space illuminated by mostly candlelights, Cecilia set a tray of potato fries on the table causing them to bounce with a soft thud. She pulled out the nearest seat and settled onto it, legs crossed in an ankle style. The hem of her silky nightdress revealed a tantalizing glimpse of her thighs. My gaze unintentionally lingered on the faint impression of her nipples against the fabric. “Hey, babe,” she purred, adjusting her dress as Bryan approached. “I’m really craving a proper massage after dinner.”Bryan slid into a seat beside her with a smirk. “Sure thing, I can be your masseuse. I just wished you'd pay me for it.”Cecilia playfully lifted her leg, resting it on his lap. “Oh, honey, I do pay you – just not in cash.”“Ceci, now is not a good time, please put your sexy creamy leg back down.”Cameroon and I shared a knowing look before settling down at the table, joined by Nicole, Lucas, Cadel, and Anna. With a coy smile, Cecilia
Cameroon POVSeeing my Uncle, Ben, had terrified me to a great length. He was easily the strongest werewolf I've ever met. I know this because I've seen him overpower even the strongest of adversaries with ease. His sheer strength and ferocity were unmatched. Even if my brothers and I were at the peak of our strength, we wouldn't have stood a chance against him, especially with five other werewolves backing him up. While grappling with Uncle Ben, we communicated through our mind link with Lucas, asking him to seek help in case we couldn't win. If we failed, the girls would be in need of rescue. Yet, I never dreamed we could stall Uncle Ben for so long. The Uncle Ben I knew, at his most aggressive, could have overwhelmed us within minutes.Was he growing weaker, or had we grown stronger? Regardless, he had us when it counted, but then Uncle Ben abruptly halted his assault and fled. Was it a change of heart, or did he detect a more pressing threat? His sudden departure left me both sur
Anna's POVThe forest trees blurred past us as Nicole and I ran for our dear lives. The sounds of growls and snarls echoed behind us. My heart pounded heavily in my chest, and dread enveloped me tightly as I stole a glance over my shoulder, catching sight of Uncle Ben and his pack tearing into the Alpha brothers ruthlessly. Was this going to be how I lost my mates? So much for going back home with three Alphas as mates. Please, moon goddess, don't let them die! "Nicole, why is your Uncle trying to kill us?" I gasped out between breaths, as we dodged between tall trees and bushes, hoping to escape our attackers. Nicole's expression was grim as she glanced at me. "Uncle Ben's desire to kill us comes from a deep-seated belief in the purity and superiority of the family bloodline. We come from a long line of werewolf alphas, with a family history steeped in the purity of our bloodline. Our father was only half werewolf, breaking the purity, and Uncle Ben, being full-blooded, resents us