Chapter 7Willow’s POVI slammed the door behind me harder than I should have, my hands trembling as I leaned against it, trying to gather myself. My mind was racing, my heart was pounding, and I felt like I was going to explode. How dare they? How dare they just waltz back into my life like they hadn’t destroyed everything? Like they hadn’t rejected me when I was at my most vulnerable like they had any right to walk in here and start calling the shots again.I kicked off my shoes angrily, muttering to myself as I paced the small living room. My chest was tight, and tears stung at the back of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I was done crying over them, done letting them have that power over me. Aiden, Axel, Asher, those arrogant, self-assured triplets who thought they could control everything and everyone. They had treated me like I was disposable back then, and now they thought they could just walk back into my life like nothing had happened.I wasn’t that same girl anymore.
Willow's POV I couldn’t shake the unease as I parked my car outside Jason’s house. My hands gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white as if clinging to any semblance of control I had left. Today was the day. After eight years of trying to forget, I would face them again. The triplets. Asher, Aiden, Axel. Just their names made my stomach churn with a mixture of dread and anger.I glanced in the rearview mirror at my twins, Daniel and Ella, who were sitting quietly in the backseat. They had no idea what was going on, and I intended to keep it that way. Jason’s house would be their sanctuary for the day, far removed from the tension I was about to dive into. The last thing I needed was for them to sense my anxiety. "Alright, kiddos. You’re going to have so much fun with Uncle Jason today!" I plastered a smile on my face, though it felt fragile, like glass that could shatter with the wrong word.Daniel grinned, showing off his missing front tooth. "Can we play with the new game he bough
Asher's POVThe ink was barely dry on the documents when my phone buzzed in my pocket, the vibration cutting through the atmosphere like a knife. I glanced at the screen, at my assistant, Leo. He never called unless it was urgent. I answered, trying to ignore the heaviness in my chest that had settled after meeting Willow."Asher, you need to get back to the pack. Your father is expecting some important guests. He wants all of you there," Leo said, his voice brisk and professional, though I could hear a hint of concern woven in.“Got it. We’ll head back now,” I replied, pocketing my phone and turning to the other boys, who were still gathered around the table, their expressions a mix of satisfaction and apprehension."Looks like we have to leave," I said, my voice carrying a weight that felt heavier than it should. “Dad wants us back at the pack. I just got off the phone with Leo.”Aiden’s brows furrowed in concern. "What’s this about? What kind of guests?”I shrugged, not having the
Asher's POV The morning light barely filtered through the thick curtains of our room, but the rumble of footsteps outside told me the day was already in full swing. I cracked open an eye and saw Axel sprawled in the bed across from me, dead to the world. For a moment, I considered going back to sleep, pretending that today wasn’t important. But that nagging reminder of what was coming crept in, Father’s guest. The Alpha of some nearby pack was due to arrive, and Father expected us to be on our best behavior. He was to have arrived yesterday but only his councilmen and the rest of his entourage had, he would be arriving this morning with his daughters and the mere thought of it made me cringe. Of course, that wasn't happening. At least not in the way Father envisioned.Axel groaned and rolled over. “What time is it?”I glanced at the clock. “Late enough that we should’ve been downstairs by now.”“Perfect.” He smirked the devilish grin that told me he was already plotting something.
Willow's POV The sunlight streamed through the windows of the shopping mall, casting warm, golden light across the busy stores. Jason walked beside me, pushing the cart as we strolled through the aisles. His easygoing nature always put me at ease, but today, there was a slight tension in the air. Maybe it was just me. I tried to push the feeling away as we navigated through the aisles, Jason’s hand occasionally brushing against mine as we walked.We were out shopping for Daniel and Ella, who had outgrown nearly every toy in the house. Jason had been sweet enough to come with me, even though I knew he didn’t enjoy shopping all that much with someone. As we rounded the corner into the toy section, a voice called out to him from across the store."Jason!" a girl’s voice rang out, high and bright.We both turned to see a young woman, tall and pretty, with blonde curls framing her face. She waved eagerly as she made her way over to us. Something about the way she moved and the way her eye
Chapter 12Stuck in utter agony Asher's POV I sat in my room, staring out the window, lost in thought. The walls of the palace always felt like they were closing in on me, but today it was worse. I had been avoiding Father all morning, knowing full well what was coming. His disapproval always hung in the air like a storm cloud, ready to rain down on us at the slightest mistake. And today, I made a big one.A knock at the door snapped me out of my thoughts. My heart sank. I knew it was him before he even walked in. Father stepped into the room, his face twisted in anger. His eyes bore into me, filled with the kind of disappointment that had become all too familiar."Asher," he began, his voice low and dangerous, "why are you out to embarrass me?"I sighed, running a hand through my hair. I should have known he’d be furious. "Father, I didn’t mean to. I was just..." "You were just what?" he snapped, cutting me off. "You overslept, missed the meeting, and when you eventually decided t
Axel's POVAs I left my brothers behind in the room, their faces grim with resignation, I braced myself for the conversation I was about to have. My father’s summons had never meant anything good. It was always some manipulation, some scheme to bend us to his will. Today, I could feel it in the pit of my stomach, this wasn’t just about the girls waiting for us in the garden. It was something deeper, more sinister. When I reached his office, the heavy oak door creaked open. He sat at his desk, a smirk already curling at the edge of his lips as he watched me approach. He didn’t bother with pleasantries, just motioned for me to sit. His eyes were sharp, and calculating, as always."Sit down, Axel."I took a seat, leaning back in the chair and folding my arms across my chest, waiting for whatever ultimatum he was about to deliver. His smirk grew wider as he leaned forward, placing his hands on the desk."One of the girls," he began, his voice smooth but laced with control, "has already t
Asher's POV The moment Axel returned from a meeting with our father, I knew something was off. He had a look about him, a kind of tightness in his jaw, a stiffness in his movements. But instead of pressing him, I decided to wait. We were all under enough pressure as it was, and there would be time later to discuss whatever had gone down between him and our father.Throughout the day, Axel’s behavior became even more unusual. He was pretending to be charming, playing the part our father expected from him, especially with the eldest of the girls. It didn’t sit right with me. I knew my brother; he had never wanted anything to do with these women or the alliances our father was so determined to build. Axel despised being manipulated into a future, not of his own making, yet here he was, putting on a show for everyone. Something serious had happened in that conversation, and it involved more than just political matchmaking.When we finally got rid of the girls, who were pleasant enough bu
Chapter 114Plans on the WrongJason's POVThe sound of my boots echoed in the empty hallway as I made my way to the dungeon. Each step felt heavier than the last, but I kept moving. My chest burned with anger, humiliation, and something I couldn’t quite name. Asher’s words from earlier replayed in my head, each one sharper than the last. “Illegitimate bastard.” I clenched my fists, the memory of his taunt making my blood boil. He had said it so casually like it was a fact everyone knew but dared not voice. Not in front of our father. He wasn't scared of the old man and I wondered how he was able to do that. Knowing that my mother had been nothing to my father unlike the rest of the woman in his life hurt me deeply. It was almost like I had made a mistake and for years I thought that. Not until my father had reached out to me to claim me as his son out of the blues. Asher had mentioned that father was not someone who does anything without something else behind it. But Asher had
Chapter 113The Ultimate FusionWillow’s POVThe first thing I felt was the pressure. The weight of the earth above me pressed against my chest, making every shallow breath a struggle. I opened my eyes to total darkness, the realization sinking in that I was still buried. For a split second, panic clawed at my mind. My instincts screamed to thrash and claw my way out, but I forced myself to remain calm. I wasn’t the same Willow who had been laid in this grave three days ago. Closing my eyes, I drew in what little oxygen I could and reached out with my mind. Before the moon realm, connecting to anyone via mind-link had always been a challenge for me, requiring intense focus and effort. Now, it felt as natural as breathing. Lina. Her response was immediate, her voice clear and steady in my head. "Willow! You’re awake! Hold tight; we’re coming to get you." I could feel the ripples of excitement emanating from her wolf and I could only imagine how worried she must have been before
Chapter 112Truth UnfoldingAsher's POVRegret settled deep in my chest, as heavy as a mountain. I stared at the cold stone floor of the dungeon, my arms bound tightly behind me. The air was thick with despair and the coppery scent of blood. I should never have come here. My impulsive decision to confront my father had not only put my life at risk but had also escalated his wrath to levels I hadn’t anticipated. Six-pack members were already dead. I flinched as another agonized scream echoed through the chamber, cutting through the silence like a blade. My father, Alpha Thane, stood tall and imposing, his silver-streaked hair glowing in the dim torchlight. Beside him was Elana, his loyal, sadistic partner-in-crime, a twisted grin etched on her face. Each scream ended the same way, an abrupt, eerie silence that signified another life extinguished. “Asher,” my father said, his voice dripping with mockery as he turned to me, “do you enjoy the sound of their suffering? It’s all bec
Chapter 111Ethereal Willow's POVI woke slowly, the weight of the world lifting from me as I blinked open my eyes. Except...these weren’t my eyes. They were sharper, keener. The colors around me were dazzling, the world a canvas of ethereal light and shifting hues. Streaks of gold, blue, and lavender rippled through the air, blending into shapes and patterns that seemed alive. I tried to move and realized I wasn’t in my human form. My paws pressed against the soft ground beneath me, my silver fur shimmering like liquid moonlight. My wolf senses were heightened beyond anything I’d ever experienced. The air hummed with energy, and every sound and scent was more vibrant than I thought possible. Where was I? Looking around, I realized this wasn’t the world I knew. This place wasn’t earth, it was something else entirely. It hit me like a thunderclap: this was the Moon Realm. The stories I’d heard whispered since I was a pup, were the eternal resting place for wolves like me, where
Chapter 110Held HostageAxel’s POVI hadn’t slept. Not properly. The grave where we’d buried Willow loomed in my mind all night like an unspoken challenge. Every time I closed my eyes, I imagined her struggling beneath the earth, reaching out, needing us, and we weren’t there. The hours dragged by and even the soothing light of the moon did little to quell the storm inside me. The others didn’t seem much better. Aiden stayed awake sharpening his knife, over and over, his face an unreadable mask. Kingston sat with his back against the oak tree, pretending to be calm, but his eyes betrayed him, they flicked toward the burial site every few minutes. And Lina? She hovered like a shadow at the edge of the clearing, muttering under her breath as if running through a list of problems I wasn’t privy to. I was desperate for movement, a sign, anything to indicate that Willow was okay. “Lina,” I said sharply, louder than I intended. She stopped pacing, turning to me with an annoyed expr
Chapter 109The Beginning of the EndAsher’s POVThe firelight flickered in the corner of my vision, but my eyes stayed locked on the shallow grave. None of us spoke. We’d all decided to stay outside, camped out beside the ritual spot where Willow lay buried under the moonlight. Each of us carried a weight that grew heavier with every passing second. Daniel and Ella had woken up earlier to ask for their mother. They were asleep now but it had taken a lot of convincing to get them to believe that Willow went to get them something and had not been captured by their father.Axel paced a few feet away, his boots crunching against the frost-covered grass. Aiden sat cross-legged, absently tracing patterns in the dirt with a stick. Kingston leaned against a tree, his arms crossed, watching the grave like a sentinel. I was seated on the ground, knees pulled to my chest, trying not to let the gnawing worry consume me. What if something went wrong? What if she needed us and couldn’t call ou
Chapter 108The Moon RitualLina's POV The fire crackled low in the hearth, casting flickering shadows on the walls of the living room. Everyone had gone to bed hours ago, but sleep was the last thing on my mind. My hands clenched the edges of the blanket draped over me, the voices of doubt from earlier replaying in my head.“Half-baked plans,” Axel had said. “Do you even know what you’re doing, Lina?” Asher’s voice, though softer, was just as sharp.It wasn’t the first time they had questioned my abilities as a wolf seer, but today, it had cut deeper than ever. I wasn’t just a part of this pack, I was their guide, their protector. To hear them doubt me made me feel smaller than I ever had before. I leaned forward, staring into the embers as if they held the answers I sought. The truth was, I didn’t have all the answers, not yet. But I would. I threw the blanket aside and rose from the couch, determination swelling in my chest. If they didn’t trust me to lead, I would prove to
Chapter 107A Call Out Willow’s POVThe house was unnervingly quiet, the kind of silence that made every creak of the floorboards and whisper of the wind feel amplified. The faint light of the television flickered across the room, illuminating the tense faces of those around me. It felt like we were waiting for something inevitable, something we couldn’t stop even if we wanted to. Asher sat closest to the TV, his arms crossed and his jaw set in a tight line. Aiden leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his usual calm veneer cracking under the weight of the situation. Axel placed near the window, restless energy radiating from him like a storm waiting to break. Lina and I sat together on the couch, her steady presence a comfort I didn’t know I needed. We were waiting for the broadcast. Waiting for Thane. The children were upstairs, blissfully unaware of the danger looming over us. I envied their innocence, and their ability to sleep soundly while the rest of us were drowning in u
Chapter 106Warrior LunaWillow’s POVThe silence in the house felt heavier than the walls pressing in around us. Everyone seemed lost in their own thoughts, weighed down by the uncertainty of what was to come. As the day dragged on, I found myself sitting cross-legged on the floor with Lina in a quiet corner of the house. Her eyes were intense, her voice steady, but her words were like sharp arrows aimed at my heart. “You know this isn’t something you can avoid, Willow,” Lina said, her tone leaving no room for argument. “The longer you wait, the stronger Alpha Thane becomes. He’s not just going to stop at the pack. He’s aiming for complete dominance. You heard him, he won't stop, once he was down here, he would be moving on while Jason took over from him.” I sighed, leaning my head back against the cool wall. “You make it sound so simple like I can just wake up one day and decide I’m ready to fight an evil Alpha who’s backed by dark magic. Lina, I don’t even know what I’m doing.