Kayla’s POVThe council chamber was packed now—wolves shoulder to shoulder, murmurs echoing through the high ceiling. The weight of so many eyes on me pressed against my skin, making me want to shrink into the floor. My hands were clammy as I Ingrid, and the others sat beside Adrian at the front.Councilman Augustine strutted onto the stage like he owned the place, his cloak trailing behind him. His smug grin already told me this wasn’t going to end well.“Ladies and gentlemen of the council,” he began, raising his voice for dramatic effect, “we are gathered here not just to talk about a mere case of fire set on the palace, but to address a far more dangerous problem. That problem…” His eyes landed on me, sharp and cruel. “…is this rejected, problematic ex Luna.”The words hit me like a slap. The crowd murmured and nodded, some faces hard with judgment.“She has brought nothing but trouble to our Alpha and to the South,” Augustine continued, pacing slowly like a predator. “Since the
Kayla's POVFor the first time in weeks, I woke up warm. Warm happy and safe, cocooned in strong arms that held me like I might disappear if he loosened his grip. For a second, I didn’t know where I was. My eyes blinked against the morning light spilling through the curtains, and then I remembered. Adrian. I shifted slightly, careful not to wake him, but his arm instinctively tightened around me, pulling me closer. My face pressed against his chest, and I heard the slow, steady beat of his heart. It was almost unreal. For weeks, I’d been caught between anger, betrayal, fear… and now, for the first time, I felt… giddy. Happy. Because I was his. Truly and completely his. I had been Marked and claimed by my mate. My fingers itched to trace the spot on my neck, the spot that still tingled from where his teeth had claimed me. But instead, I let my hand travel slowly up to his face. He was still asleep, his sharp features softened by the light of morning. I traced his jawline with the
Kayla’s POVI didn't sleep well that night either because I had yet another night mare. The nightmare felt so real that I could almost taste the metallic tang of blood on my tongue. Adrian’s body lay crumpled at my feet, his eyes wide and lifeless. Logan was sprawled across the ground, chest ripped open. Ingrid’s scream echoed in my ears as her hand slipped from mine, leaving nothing but blood staining my fingers. And all of it… all of it was because of me. My hands were drenched in red. My claws—my claws, not Xavier’s, not anyone else’s—dripped with the lives of the people I loved most. “No!” I screamed in the dream, my throat tearing raw. “I didn’t mean to! Please—don’t leave me—” But they didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. Didn’t forgive me. And then Rogan’s voice slithered through the darkness, cold and triumphant. “You see? This is what happens when you deny me, little one. This is what happens when you fight what you are and can be. Join me, and you’ll save them. Refuse me… an
Kayla's POV I slowly lowered my hands, staring at Xavier through blurry eyes. And in that moment, something I had never anticipated shifted inside me. I didn’t feel hate or anger at Xavier anymore. I didn’t feel the sharp, burning rage that had fueled me for so long. Adrian had already pulled me out of that darkness. He had helped me heal wounds I thought were permanent scars but Xavier's words had now closed that chapter of my life for good. All I felt now… was pity for the man I used to love. Pity for this broken man kneeling before me, who I now realized had also lost everything he had cared for and desired. I felt Pity for the Alpha who had once been a boy with ambition, with laughter, with dreams. I still remembered him from years ago —the handsome Xavier I had fallen for long ago, before power and cruelty corrupted him. And my heart ached, not with love, but with sadness for what he had become. I sighed, my chest heavy, and whispered, “Stand up Xavier. I don’t hate
Kayla's POV I sat there frozen as I stared at Xavier— Alpha Xavier—kneeling on the ground in front of me. His shoulders were hunched with his palms flat on the floor and his head bowed so low it almost touched the rug. I blinked, sure my eyes were deceiving me. But they weren’t. Alpha Xavier, the proud, arrogant, cruel, cold hearted Alpha Xavier… was crying on my floor. “What… what are you doing?” My voice cracked. He lifted his head slightly, and the sight made my stomach twist. His eyes were red, wet with tears, his face streaked, his lips trembling as though each word cost him a piece of himself. “I’m sorry Kayla,” he choked out. “I’m so, so very sorry, for everything I have done. I've been a fool and my greatest regret will forever be loosing you. Please I'm too ashamed to even beg for your forgiveness. I just want to tell you how sorry I am Kayla."His unexpected words hit me like a blow and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. He pushed forward on his knees, like a man cra
Kayla's POV “Watch your fucking tongue!" Adrian growled. But Augustine ignored him, striding closer. “The council was concerned you might have been actually hurt. But seeing you well puts one worry to rest.” He paused, then added, “Though another arises." I frowned. “What do you mean?” He folded his hands behind his back, his expression cold. “The council is now certain that you started the fire yourself. To draw sympathy to yourself, mask all the trouble you have been causing and strengthen your ascension as future Luna.” The air seemed to vanish from the room. “What?” I whispered, hardly able to process it. Adrian shot to his feet, fury radiating off him. “You dare accuse her of this?!” I pressed a trembling hand to my mouth, exhausted, furious, and just utterly fed up with Augustine’s constant attacks. Adrian was fuming now but Augustine ignored him to focus on me. “I have to admit that Setting fire to the Alpha’s chambers to gain sympathy is pretty smart? You reall