Kai“What would you do if he decided to surrender, Kai?” Darius asked, his voice steady, probing. We had just checked into the hotel suite. I met his gaze, unsure of where he was going with this.“If he chooses to relinquish, what then? You know as well as I do, it’s a crime to go after his life once he surrenders. But that look in your eyes every time his name comes up—it's pure hatred. Murder.” His words hung in the air like a challenge, forcing me to confront the truth. He wasn’t wrong.The rage inside me felt like a living thing, twisting and coiling every time I thought of Randy. Every time I thought of the marks he left on Adasha.“He marked her in the most painful way,” I said, my voice low, raw. The weight of those words was suffocating. Every scar, every tear she had shed, was etched into my mind. Randy hadn’t just hurt her physically; he’d carved his cruelty into her very soul.Darius stepped closer, placing a firm hand on my shoulder.“And you will heal her heart, Kai,” he
KaiDraco was already seated at the venue when we arrived, so there was no need for formalities or separate greetings.The space was set with the Twelve in mind—a show of hierarchy and exclusivity.Twelve high-backed chairs loomed over the rest of the room, reserved for the leaders of each family. Below them, simpler chairs were arranged for the betas accompanying us, a stark reminder of the power dynamic in play.This wasn’t a gathering for outsiders. Even those who had brought their lunas were required to leave them behind—either at the hotel or in the private rooms Draco had prepared. This meeting was as exclusive as it was intense.Abraham was present, as expected. His family’s long-standing place within the Twelve made his attendance inevitable.He wasn’t just a member—he was the chairman of the council, a figurehead whose presence commanded respect, whether or not you liked him. His sharp eyes scanned the room, his aura calm but unyielding, like a predator patiently observing it
Kai"Thank you, Alpha Bouras, for receiving us on such short notice," Abraham continued, his tone measured but with a weight that demanded attention. "I won’t waste time getting to the matter at hand.There are two issues we need to address: the original issue that brought us here and a new one that arose two days ago."He paused for a moment, letting the room settle into silence before continuing. "The original issue is one we’ve discussed quietly for some time—the fact that leadership remains concentrated among only three families.Suggestions have been made to rotate leadership among all the families to create a balance of power."Murmurs rippled through the hall immediately, discontent brewing in hushed tones. Before anyone else could speak, Draco was on his feet, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade."And have lazy, unfit alphas ruling regions in the name of equality?" Draco scoffed, his disdain clear.He leaned forward, his presence filling the room. "Leadership has
Kai"Coming to the second subject matter," Abraham continued, his tone taking on a sharp, accusatory edge as he fixed his gaze on me."This one ties directly to you, Alpha Malachi. It concerns your blatant disregard for an agreement made by the Twelve to ensure the safety of our people."I stiffened, already anticipating where this was headed."You have a moonchild in your employ," Abraham said, his voice heavy with judgment. "And you refuse to allow us to carry out justice as agreed."The room grew tense. Randy shifted in his seat, his entire demeanour changing. For someone who had remained uninterested during most of the meeting, he suddenly seemed unnervingly alert.His eyes darted to me, and I could feel the intensity of his gaze, his interest in this subject palpable."A Moonchild in your employ?" Randy asked, his voice laced with curiosity and suspicion.His sudden engagement struck me as odd, considering he had barely spoken about the rotation issue earlier. I glanced at him, w
KaiMay’s recounting of those events had left me angry and bitter, and now, that anger was bleeding into the room.These men wanted to cling to old fears and twisted truths, but I wasn’t going to let them use those lies to justify another injustice. If they wanted to push the matter, they’d have to go through me—and they all knew what that would mean.“Kevin broke a rule. Had he followed the law, that menace wouldn’t have been unleashed on him and his family. It’s Kevin’s fault,” Linus said sharply, his tone dismissive.His words barely had a moment to settle before Randy growled, the sound low and menacing.“This is a very stupid and time-wasting meeting,” Randy said, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.“I support Malachi on this one. This woman isn’t a direct descendant. She’s his people, and he has the right to decide what to do with her. This relentless hunting of Moonchild descendants is nothing but cruelty.”He leaned forward, his expression dark, his passion evi
AdashaLiving in a gilded cage—this is my reality. For some of us, life becomes an inescapable trap, bound by invisible chains that are too tight, too complex to break. No matter how hard we try to free ourselves, we remain ensnared.At eighteen, I was chosen to be Luna of Woodshire. What should have been an honour quickly turned into a waking nightmare. Back then, Randy—my husband and Alpha—had seemed perfect. He was charming, attentive, and loving during our courtship. Everyone envied me, even to the point of jealousy. I lost friends over it, but I didn’t care. We weren’t fated mates, but I told myself love could grow.For the first year, it did seem like a dream. Then the dream soured. Randy revealed a darker side—jealous, controlling, violent. Every attempt I made to leave only worsened the situation.He wielded his power like a weapon, threatening to eliminate my parents if I tried to escape. It wasn’t an empty threat; Randy controlled the entire western territory and had the me
AdashaThe slap came without warning, a crack of force that sent my head snapping to the side. Pain blossomed across my cheek, sharp and stinging, leaving me disoriented. My breath hitched, caught somewhere between shock and fear. I stumbled backward, my body colliding with the cold, unyielding wall behind me. There was nowhere to go—not that escape was even an option.“Randy, please,” I whispered, my voice trembling, barely audible over the pounding of my heart. My hands lifted instinctively, palms out, a futile gesture of defense. His fury was palpable, radiating from him in waves that seemed to thicken the very air. His chest heaved, his jaw clenched, and his eyes—those darkened, unrelenting eyes—locked onto mine with a promise I didn’t dare challenge.“Are you not happy here, Adasha?” he asked, his voice chillingly calm. Each word was measured, deliberate, slicing through the tension like a blade. But I knew better than to trust his composure. It wasn’t real. It was the mask
AdashaWhen Randy was finally done, I lay there, too broken to move. My body ached, my soul reduced to tatters.In his usual twisted way, Randy shifted from monster to caregiver, lifting me as though I were fragile, precious even. He cradled me against his chest, the contradiction in his touch as jarring as the bruises forming beneath my skin. Silent and shattered, I let him carry me to the bathroom. set me down gently, his hands careful now, as if to erase the brutality that had preceded this moment.The hot bath filled the room with steam, but I couldn’t feel its warmth. The water lapped at my skin, but all I felt was cold—an icy numbness that settled in my chest, spreading until it reached every corner of me. Cold and disgusted. Not just with him, but with myself.“You need to stop provoking me like this, Adasha,” he murmured, his tone soft, almost tender, as though he were comforting a wounded child. His hands moved the sponge over my battered skin with a gentleness that made
KaiMay’s recounting of those events had left me angry and bitter, and now, that anger was bleeding into the room.These men wanted to cling to old fears and twisted truths, but I wasn’t going to let them use those lies to justify another injustice. If they wanted to push the matter, they’d have to go through me—and they all knew what that would mean.“Kevin broke a rule. Had he followed the law, that menace wouldn’t have been unleashed on him and his family. It’s Kevin’s fault,” Linus said sharply, his tone dismissive.His words barely had a moment to settle before Randy growled, the sound low and menacing.“This is a very stupid and time-wasting meeting,” Randy said, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.“I support Malachi on this one. This woman isn’t a direct descendant. She’s his people, and he has the right to decide what to do with her. This relentless hunting of Moonchild descendants is nothing but cruelty.”He leaned forward, his expression dark, his passion evi
Kai"Coming to the second subject matter," Abraham continued, his tone taking on a sharp, accusatory edge as he fixed his gaze on me."This one ties directly to you, Alpha Malachi. It concerns your blatant disregard for an agreement made by the Twelve to ensure the safety of our people."I stiffened, already anticipating where this was headed."You have a moonchild in your employ," Abraham said, his voice heavy with judgment. "And you refuse to allow us to carry out justice as agreed."The room grew tense. Randy shifted in his seat, his entire demeanour changing. For someone who had remained uninterested during most of the meeting, he suddenly seemed unnervingly alert.His eyes darted to me, and I could feel the intensity of his gaze, his interest in this subject palpable."A Moonchild in your employ?" Randy asked, his voice laced with curiosity and suspicion.His sudden engagement struck me as odd, considering he had barely spoken about the rotation issue earlier. I glanced at him, w
Kai"Thank you, Alpha Bouras, for receiving us on such short notice," Abraham continued, his tone measured but with a weight that demanded attention. "I won’t waste time getting to the matter at hand.There are two issues we need to address: the original issue that brought us here and a new one that arose two days ago."He paused for a moment, letting the room settle into silence before continuing. "The original issue is one we’ve discussed quietly for some time—the fact that leadership remains concentrated among only three families.Suggestions have been made to rotate leadership among all the families to create a balance of power."Murmurs rippled through the hall immediately, discontent brewing in hushed tones. Before anyone else could speak, Draco was on his feet, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade."And have lazy, unfit alphas ruling regions in the name of equality?" Draco scoffed, his disdain clear.He leaned forward, his presence filling the room. "Leadership has
KaiDraco was already seated at the venue when we arrived, so there was no need for formalities or separate greetings.The space was set with the Twelve in mind—a show of hierarchy and exclusivity.Twelve high-backed chairs loomed over the rest of the room, reserved for the leaders of each family. Below them, simpler chairs were arranged for the betas accompanying us, a stark reminder of the power dynamic in play.This wasn’t a gathering for outsiders. Even those who had brought their lunas were required to leave them behind—either at the hotel or in the private rooms Draco had prepared. This meeting was as exclusive as it was intense.Abraham was present, as expected. His family’s long-standing place within the Twelve made his attendance inevitable.He wasn’t just a member—he was the chairman of the council, a figurehead whose presence commanded respect, whether or not you liked him. His sharp eyes scanned the room, his aura calm but unyielding, like a predator patiently observing it
Kai“What would you do if he decided to surrender, Kai?” Darius asked, his voice steady, probing. We had just checked into the hotel suite. I met his gaze, unsure of where he was going with this.“If he chooses to relinquish, what then? You know as well as I do, it’s a crime to go after his life once he surrenders. But that look in your eyes every time his name comes up—it's pure hatred. Murder.” His words hung in the air like a challenge, forcing me to confront the truth. He wasn’t wrong.The rage inside me felt like a living thing, twisting and coiling every time I thought of Randy. Every time I thought of the marks he left on Adasha.“He marked her in the most painful way,” I said, my voice low, raw. The weight of those words was suffocating. Every scar, every tear she had shed, was etched into my mind. Randy hadn’t just hurt her physically; he’d carved his cruelty into her very soul.Darius stepped closer, placing a firm hand on my shoulder.“And you will heal her heart, Kai,” he
KaiLeaving Adasha behind to head north felt like wrenching a part of myself away.I wished more than anything she could have come along, but the stakes were too high, and Randy’s presence meant I needed to figure out the situation before making any move. It wasn’t just the uncertainty that gnawed at me—it was the fact that we were heading straight into Draco’s territory.That alone was a storm waiting to happen. I had to make sure she stayed safe, far from the chaos of the Twelve. With May and Mirabel by her side, I could breathe a little easier, but not much.Gabriel was left in charge, and I trusted him to keep her secure—especially with Ingrid in the house, lurking like a shadow in the dark. Magnus, on the other hand, was a gamble. He’d already let me down once, and while I was giving him another shot, my faith in him was thin. Too thin.The drive north was endless, a slow grind through open stretches of nothingness. The thought of returning the same day felt laughable, especially
AdashaMay sighed deeply, the sound heavy with unspoken thoughts. I could tell she had something important to say, so I stayed silent, giving her the space she needed to speak. I knew her well enough by now to understand that if I pushed, she might retreat into herself.After what felt like an eternity, she finally broke the silence.“I need to discuss something with you, Miss,” she said, her voice tinged with urgency.Her words immediately grabbed my attention, but it was what followed that made my stomach twist uneasily.“In fact, this is the only reason I’m glad to be back,” she continued, her tone edged with resignation. “Even though I know… the situation is temporary. I might be arrested again.”My chest tightened at her words.She had piqued my curiosity, yes, but she’d also sparked a flicker of worry.May had always been kind to me, but she had never crossed the line into something personal.Her manner had always been one of quiet professionalism, her kindness warm but distant.
AdashaIt hadn’t been long since I’d returned to my room after a long day of sightseeing with Mirabel when a gentle knock sounded on the door. The soft rap was hesitant, almost uncertain.It couldn’t be Kai—this was his room, and he could enter anytime without needing permission. I doubted it was Mirabel; she rarely knocked unless it was something urgent. And it certainly wasn’t Laura, not while she was locked up.Ingrid was another possibility, but after this morning’s debacle at breakfast, I couldn’t imagine her approaching me so soon.“Come in,” I called out, curiosity tingling at the edges of my thoughts.The door opened slowly, and to my surprise, May stepped in. She looked freshly showered, her hair still damp and falling softly around her shoulders.Her uniform was crisp, and her posture was composed, but her presence felt lighter—like someone who had just cast off a heavy burden.I blinked in surprise. “May, you’re back,” I said, my voice tinged with excitement. I hadn’t expec
Kai “That night…” May began, her voice barely audible, weighed down with grief and hesitation. “Families came to check the baby, to see for themselves if she was truly gone.” She spoke with a wariness that hinted at the pain these memories carried, her words slow and deliberate. “She was blue in her cot, unmoving. They were satisfied. They believed she was dead, and so they left.” May’s hands trembled slightly as she clasped them in her lap. “I was given the duty of burying her,” she said, her tone thick with sorrow. “Emmanuel Westwood didn’t take it well. He couldn’t even bear to look at her. He would have protected his granddaughter if there had been any hope, but to him… she was gone.” She paused, taking a shaky breath before continuing. “Austin refused to touch the… the body. He was devastated. So, Emmanuel tasked me with the burial. It fell to me to lay her to rest.” Her voice cracked, and she wiped at her eyes, the tears falling freely now. “She was such an innocent baby. S