Jack's POV The meeting hall was already bustling when I arrived, and I could immediately sense the tension thick in the air. I still didn't know what happened, but I had been right to assume it was something bad.Some Alphas were pacing around nervously, while some where arguing quietly with each other. Anger, frustration, and fear was all the emotions I could sense and I was becoming nervous to find out why. I spotted my gamma, Richard, in the corner, already waiting for me. He looked fucking terrible. Ever since Violet had left him to go with Tamara, everything had gone downhill for him. His business, the one Violet used to run, was struggling without her, and his new girlfriend was a disaster, that rude girl was spending his money faster than he could keep up.I honestly didn't understand why he wanted to leave Violet for her, but it wasnt my place to judge, after all, i had made the same mistake with Kate."Rough day?" I muttered, catching Richard’s eye as I joined him."That’
Jack's POV Even though most of the Alphas seemed to start believing that I wasn't behind the attack, the room was still tense and everyone was staring at me like I was about to vanish without giving them answers. I understood that Every alpha was on edge, waiting for me to say something that could reassure them that their packs were safe from Dante. But how could I say that when I wasn't sure of what was even going on.But despite that, I sat up straighter, feeling their eyes bore into me, while knowing that I couldnt let them see my own doubts. I needed to assure them that I wasn't their enemy, that the last thing I’d ever do was bring harm to the rest of my family, especially not my grandmother.But explaining that to them without giving away my secrets was like walking on a knife’s edge. “I vow to you all, here and now,” I finally said firmly, “I had nothing to do with an attack on Alpha Dante’s mother. Not a single order came from me for anything like that. Whoever told you ot
Jack's POV “Kate,” I said, trying to keep my tone even, though my mind was racing with the possibilities of why these men were in my house, and whether or not Kate had done something as stupid as poisoning their drinks. I knew her impulsive streak, and the last thing I needed was for her to have done something rash. “Could you excuse us for a moment?” I told her. Kate's smirk faltered, and she crossed her arms, clearly not thrilled with the request. “I don’t see why I should. They were perfectly fine talking with me before you came.” “Kate, please,” I said, my tone firm. “This isn’t up for debate.” She hesitated, but my annoyed expression must have convinced her. With a huff, she spun around and left, casting one last glare over her shoulder. Once she was gone, I focused on the two warriors, keeping my tone steady. “What are you doing in my home?” The taller of the two men, a grizzled warrior with a scar down his cheek, met my gaze steadily. “I'm General Luther and this is Lie
Jack's POV Later the day, Mike my Beta, -- who I didn't always carry around because of his devote loyalty to Tamara -- plus Richard, and I approached the mansion Adrian has bought in my pack.I immediately noticed that he had designed the place to be a Beautiful fortress. There were Warriors and mercenaries standing guard at every corner, with their eyes sharp and weapons within easy reach. The mansion was beautiful and imposing, and it seemed Adrian intended to make it his stronghold here in my pack, like he was preparing to come and stay in my pack very frequently. Mike whistled in surprise beside me, "Looks like he’s not just here for a short friendly visit. With all these weapons and warriors, it's obvious that the guy’s gearing up for something serious." "Yeah," I said, glancing around. "If I had any doubts about Adrian’s intentions for war against the north, they’re definitely gone now." I grumbled.It's true that I'd always wanted Dante out of my way, but I’d never imagined
Jack's POV The room felt colder as his words sank in. "Then who are you talking about?" I asked in confusion. Adrian’s eyes suddenly darkened even more, but somehow still managed to flash a dangerous glint. "Tamara." Adrian finally said. "I was talking about Tamara." I stared at him, completely stunned and confused.What was he talking about?. "You’re joking right?. Are you saying you want to go to war because of my fiance?" i gasped and Adrian frowned."Ex," He corrected. "She's your Ex fiancé.'"Whatever!" i snapped. "When you and I first got into this partnership, you told me it was supposed to be about revenge. You wanted Dante taken down for stealing Amanda from you, and you blamed him for your father’s death. That was the deal. Now you're suddenly saying it's because of Tamara?" I was completely confused. "Yes, you're right about all the reasons I told you, but that’s how it started," he admitted, voice low. "I wanted Dante gone but I wasn't planning to go to war over those
Dante's POV As I waited in the suite with Tamara, I tried to keep the proud grin off my face. Despite everything—the accusations from the corrupt elders, the ridiculous summons to court trying to accuse Tamara of attempting to hurt my mother—nothing could tear down the happiness I felt. Every time I looked at Tamara with my ring on her finger, it was like a shock of joy surged through me. She was mine. Not because she had to be, but because she wanted to be. Proposing to her had been the right decision. I’d never felt this way, not even with Amanda. I’d always thought Amanda was it for me, and when she disappeared, I’d shut down, closed myself off to the idea of ever wanting anyone else. But Tamara had broken through, had shown me that it was possible to love again—and even stronger this time. I was hers, and she was mine, and no one could take that from us. We’d been getting… well, creative, to say the least, in coping with the fact that we couldn’t properly claim each other unt
Dante's POV That was all the permission my wolf needed. My hands roamed over her body, cupping her round ass, feeling the warmth of her skin, the softness under my fingertips. Her own hands traced down my chest, over my nipples, her touch sending a jolt through me. I kissed her harder, unable to hold back any longer, and felt her respond just as fervently.I backed her up against the wall, my hands slipping under the fabric of her dress as she wrapped her legs around my waist, pulling me closer. Her clothed pussy pressed against my dick, making me growl with need."You feel so good baby girl" I moan as I begin to hump her, pressing my hips against her until she gasps in pleasure.The urgency in our movements made every touch, every kiss, feel more intense, more electric. I could feel her heart racing, matching my own, as we lost ourselves in each other.But just as we were both getting lost in the moment, she pulled back, her breath ragged, a teasing smile on her lips. “Dante,” sh
Dante's POV "Ah, so I finally meet the woman responsible for all this trouble." My mother said in a very unimpressed tone and I immediately feel Tamara stiffen against me. As my mother stared at Tamara, her expression as hard as stone, I could feel Tamara’s tension building beside me. I decided to quickly step in before things could get any more uncomfortable for her. “Mother,” I began, moving closer to Tamara and resting my hand on her shoulder. “I’d like to introduce you to Luna Tamara.” I lifted my chin slightly, pride swelling in my chest. “She’s the Luna of the Winter Pack…and my fiancée, i know people have been telling you a lot of lies about her, but I wanted you to meet her yourself and realize that she's an amazing woman who would never raise a finger against you.” My mother’s eyes flickered with surprise, but she quickly masked it, her face as cool as ever. She looked Tamara up and down before fixing me with a pointed gaze. “You're right son, I’ve heard rumors,” s
Kayla's POV I really didn’t know where I was going at first. Not really. My feet just kept moving, dragging me farther away from the palace, from the pack... from Adrian. Every step felt more gut wrenching than the last, like my body wanted to turn back even though my heart refused to. Where do I go? I paused in the shadow of an old bakery, pressing my back to the cold brick wall as I hugged the jacket tighter around me. My breath was beginning to puff visibly in the cold evening air, and the wind cut through my clothes like icy knives.I would go to mountain, I finally decided. It was the only place I knew where I would be accepted by someone.I obviously couldn't go back to Xavier's pack but it was the only other place I knew, so the Oracle's sanctuary was my best vet.Plus If there was any place I could find answers—or strength—it was with her. Maybe I could even finish my training. Maybe I could finally understand why I was… this. Why I couldn’t control my power or trust my
Kayla's POVI sat on the cold marble floor, clutching one of Adrian’s shirts to my chest, tears streaming down my face like a damn faucet I couldn’t turn off.How could he do this to me? After everything. After all his promises to always fight for me. To never let me feel alone again.He spent the night with her.Candice.It took one fight, one misunderstanding, and he ran straight to her. I didn’t even need to ask anyone. The moment Connor hesitantly told me the truth, I saw it. Clear as day. The shattered pieces of my heart lay scattered around the room like the vases I’d broken last night.The bed smelled like him. The sheets, the pillows — all of it haunted me. His scent, his warmth... gone. Just like that.“He was never going to choose you,” the necklace whispered in that low, silky voice that made my skin crawl. “Men like him choose women like Candice. Pretty, obedient. The kind that don’t challenge them.”“Shut up,” I muttered, dragging myself up to the bed to unzip the duffe
Adrian's POV I tried hard to remember last night but my head soon began to hurt from the effort and I still came up blankPanic was quickly beginning to seize me until I suddenly heard Candice's voice. "Relax Alpha," she said from across the room, her legs tucked under her in a chair by the window with a mug in her hand. "You don't need to try hard to remember what happened last night.""Huh?" I asked in confusion.Candice smiled. "I can read your emotions on your face, and what I meant to say was Nothing interesting happened." I blinked blearily at her. "What...?" "You passed out last night after drinking that extra bottle I told you not to drink," she said simply. "I didn’t want the entire palace gossiping about how their great Alpha can’t hold his liquor so I brought you to the guest room in my quarters. I just brought coffee for you this morning." She gestured to the tray on the table. I let out a breath of relief. I didn't betray Kayla because nothing had happened between us
Adrian’s POVI'm an idiot, I know that. I'm an idiot who's hopelessly in love with a woman but still too scared of his feelings for her.These last few days have really wrecked my mental state and drinking with Candice made me forget my worries for just a few hours.But even that, didn't last long. Because once my eyes landed on Kayla, everything came flooding back.She had made lunch and brought it to me, which meant that she had been thinking of me and probably tried to reach me earlier but I had blocked her.I just wanted time to process thoughts without interruptions or guilt. But that turned out to be impossible because the second I saw the look on Kayla’s face when I refused the food she brought, a bitter knot formed in my stomach. Her smile faltered and was replaced by something smaller, tighter. Hurt. She held the tray down carefully, almost as if she were afraid it would shatter if she moved too quickly.Then she offered to make dinner but I turned it down too and I could
Kayla's POV "It's not any of your concern Kayla. I suggest you drop it... for your own good."What nonsense was he saying. Xavier was my ex husband and very obvious enemy of Adrian. What did he mean it was non of my concern?I was very confused now. Didn't Hector say he had nothing to do with Xavier? Didn't he say he was going to change his relationship with Adrian for the better? What was he hiding now? I pressed on. “You know meeting with him, especially after everything that happened, is only going to make things worse with Adrian. Do you really want to make things more complicated?” He turned his head toward me, his expression hardening slightly. “I don’t care anymore what Adrian thinks. He’s never cared about what I’ve done, and he never will. Besides, I don’t see the problem with talking to someone who actually listens to me.” I felt my heart twist in my chest. “I know you’re upset, Hector, but you promised me—even before I stopped Adrian from banishing you—that you’d stop w
Kayla's POV I couldn’t get Xavier’s smug face out of my mind as I stormed down the hall. I needed to get away from him. From all of it. Adrian, Candice, Xavier... everything felt like it was crashing down. But I still had something to do. I walked briskly toward the holding cells, tray of food in my hands, trying to ignore the flutter of doubt and anger in my chest. I had come this far. I wasn’t going to let Xavier’s words, or my own jealousy, ruin everything. When I reached Hector’s cell, I paused for a moment. The guards were standing nearby, looking bored as usual. They didn’t even seem to notice me at first, so I took the chance to slip past them. But then one of them suddenly stepped in my path, a scowl forming on his face. “Where do you think you’re going?” he sneered. I blinked. “Excuse me?” “You can’t bring food to him,” the guard snapped, his tone rude and dismissive. I frowned. “Actually, I can. And I will. I’m Lady Kayla the Alpha’s fiancée, and I’ll bring food to
Kayla's POV My heart sank at Adrian's words. He didn't even want to talk to me this morning but he was here laughing his ass off and eating with Candice.I forced a smile, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “Of course,” I muttered. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Candice beamed at me, clearly in a much better mood than I was. “It’s good to see you again. I’ve really missed you,” she said, taking another bite of her food. I stood there, frozen, trying to ignore the bitterness that crept into my thoughts. Why was she so comfortable here? Why was she eating with him like they did this every day? And why had Adrian invited her to his office when he wouldn't even talk to me?Candice noticed the awkwardness and tried to bridge the tension. "Come sit with us! We have so much to catch up on, but we also have all the time in the world since I'm back living at the palace now!"That made me freeze.“What?” I asked, voice a little higher than I intended.Candice beamed. “Alot happened when you were aw
Kayla's POV Adrian had left so early this morning that I didn’t even get a chance to really talk to him and find out if he was okay. He came back drunk last night so I was really beginning to worry.I calmed myself down by telling myself that maybe he just needed some time to cool off after last night, but when noon came and he still wasn’t back, a sick feeling started growing in my stomach.I paced around our room like a caged animal, glancing at the door every few seconds, hoping to hear his footsteps. Breakfast came and went. Then lunch. Still nothing.He wasn't even bothering to eat. Was he that hurt?Finally, I gave up waiting and tried to mind-link him."Adrian? Have you eaten yet?" I asked softly, sending the thought across our bond.Nothing.I tried again."Please answer me. I'm worried about you."This time, I could feel the block. Solid and cold, like a wall had been thrown up between us. I gasped quietly, clutching my chest. He never blocked me before. Not even during ou
Adrian's POV I was waiting for Logan's answer but he was hesitant to look at me."Logan? Why shouldn't I talk to her?"“Because I don’t trust her,” he finally snapped. “You shouldn’t either.” I leaned back in the chair, watching him. “No that's not it... I think You hate her. But I what I want to know is why?” Logan crossed his arms, his whole body tense. “Because I don’t like women who choose power and money over love.” For a second, I just stared at him. That was… personal. Before I could ask more, he shook his head like he regretted saying anything and muttered, “Do what you want, Alpha. Permission to patrol the border sir!" He requested. I waved him off and called for a guard. “Send for Candice. Now.” Logan cursed under his breath but didn’t stop me. Candice arrived not long after, dressed too perfectly for the late hour, her blond hair in place and a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “You called for me, Alpha?” she said sweetly, walking in with a little too much sway in