Tamara’s POVThe courtroom buzzed with tension, the air thick as Lord Jarek droned on, hammering away at Dante’s reputation. his accusations were sharp and too deliberate, designed to paint Dante as a fucking dictator. My blood boiled with every word he spoke.I couldn’t sit still any longer. As Jarek raised his voice, calling Dante a threat to peace, I shot out of my chair.“I object!”The room fell silent. Every head turned to me, and I could feel the weight of a hundred shocked gazes. Even Dante looked stunned as I stepped forward and planted myself between him and the Elders.“Tamara,” Dante hissed softly, his voice low with warning. But I ignored him.“This entire trial is a farce,” I said, my voice firm as I looked directly at Lord Jarek. “You’re not here to seek justice. You’re here to destroy Alpha Dante’s reputation, and everyone in this room knows it.”The collective gasp from the council echoed like thunder.“Outrageous!” Lord Jarek snapped, his face reddening. “You dare a
Tamara’s POV The early morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, painting golden streaks across the bedroom. I stretched lazily, already anticipating the hopefully not shitty day ahead. Today, I was heading to Alpha Jonathan’s pack to prove Dante’s innocence. There was no room for error. Sliding out of bed, I moved quietly, trying not to wake Dante as I grabbed my clothes and headed to the vanity. But before I could even finish brushing my hair, I felt strong arms wrap around my waist. “Where do you think you’re going?” Dante’s voice was husky, still thick with sleep, as he pulled me back against him. I rolled my eyes, smiling despite myself. “You know exactly where I’m going. Alpha Jonathan’s pack. I told you last night.” “You could stay,” he murmured, his lips brushing against my neck. “Just a little longer. The sun’s barely up.” I laughed softly, shaking my head as his kisses grew more insistent. “Dante, you’re impossible.” “Guilty,” he said, spinning me around to fac
Tamara’s POVThe jet hummed softly as we soared through the skies, but I could barely focus on anything other than the constant unease churning in my stomach. I thought I had shaken it off earlier, but as the minutes dragged on, the nausea returned with a vengeance. I barely made it to the restroom before I found myself doubled over again, the contents of my stomach spilling out.“Tamara?” Sophie’s worried voice came from outside the door.I rinsed my mouth quickly and splashed cold water on my face before unlocking the door. Sophie was standing there, her brows furrowed in concern.“You don’t look fine,” she said bluntly.“I’m fine,” I insisted, leaning on the doorframe for support.Sophie wasn’t buying it. “You’re pale as a ghost. Sit down before you fall over.”I allowed her to guide me back to my seat, my legs trembling slightly.“You haven’t eaten all day,” she said, already rummaging through the small kitchenette on the plane. “You’re probably weak. Let me get you something.”“S
Tamara’s POVThe world spun violently as I felt my legs give way beneath me. Distantly, I could hear Alpha Jonathan’s voice barking out orders.“Call the doctor! Now!”No. The thought pierced through the fog clouding my mind, sharp and urgent. I couldn’t let them call a doctor.Thoughts of my secret abnormalities flashed in my head—the strange way my wolf’s thirst for blood surged uncontrollably at times, the lingering sensations I sometimes felt after drinking the potions, even though it shouldn’t affect me. Then there was the fact of my rebirth I couldn’t risk anyone examining me too closely incase they see these things. Gritting my teeth, I forced my eyes open and willed myself to sit up.“No doctor,” I croaked, my voice weak but firm.Alpha Jonathan’s expression twisted in irritation as he hovered over me. “Tamara, you nearly collapsed. You need help.”“I’m fine,” I lied, my breath still shaky. “I just need rest.”Jonathan crossed his arms, his jaw tightening. “What the hell was
Tamara’s POVJonathan had offered Sophie and me separate rooms, but I’d insisted we stay together. I needed her close. Sophie had been a rock through everything, and despite my condition, I could tell something was weighing on her mind.The room we were given was luxurious, with a massive bed draped in silk sheets, a plush sitting area, and a balcony overlooking the dense forest surrounding Alpha Jonathan’s packhouse. Sophie helped me settle in before sitting at the edge of the bed, her brow furrowed in concern.“Luna Tamara, this isn’t right,” Sophie began softly, her voice laced with worry. “We should go back home. You’re not well, and it’s getting worse. What if something happens to you here?”I sighed, leaning back against the pillows. “Sophie, you know I can’t leave. Dante means the world to me, and I’ll do whatever it takes to protect him.”She opened her mouth to argue but stopped, her shoulders slumping. “I know how much he means to you. I just… I’m scared, Tamara.”I reache
Tamara's POV The tension in the room felt suffocating as the alphas settled into their seats. The long table stretched across the room, and Jonathan sat at the head, his face hard with the sobering situation. I stood at his side, feeling the weight of every eye on me. juding, scrutinizingThis wasn’t just a meeting; it was a chance to prove that my Dante was being framed, and I had to do everything I could to expose the truth. Jonathan banged his fist on the table, signaling the start of the meeting. "We all know why we're here. Let's get to the point," he said, his voice carrying authority. The alphas murmured their agreement, their eyes flickering to the prisoner still shackled in the center of the room. He looked disheveled, his clothes stained with dirt and blood. His eyes were wide with fear, and he trembled under the scrutiny of the alphas. One of the older alphas, his graying hair making him appear even more imposing, spoke up first. "We’ve all been attacked by strange wa
Tamara's POV The meeting was finally wrapping up and the tension in the room dissolved when Alpha Jonathan declared it adjourned. The alphas murmured amongst themselves, some exchanging lingering glares while others offered me congratulatory nods. I tried to shake off the exhaustion from the day’s revelations. Dante’s name had been cleared, but the fight wasn’t over yet. There was still Reuben and whatever dark game he was playing. I had stood up to leave when the strange scent hit me—a sweet, intoxicating aroma that wrapped around my senses and pulled at something deep within me. It was unlike anything I had ever smelled before, a blend of honey and cedarwood, warm and inviting, yet completely disorienting. My steps faltered, and I felt an invisible string tugging me toward the door. The room blurred around me as I moved, as if the scent itself was a spell, clouding my mind. I tried to think of Dante, to ground myself in his image, but for some reason, his name slipped t
Tamara's POVAdrian’s lips were on mine before I could process what was happening. The warmth of his touch, the press of his mouth—it all felt so familiar, yet completely new. It was like he knew every corner of my soul, every unspoken wish and hidden desire. The kiss was perfect, achingly perfect, and for a moment, I found myself melting into him, letting the world blur away.I didn’t mean to enjoy it. But I did.It wasn’t just the way he kissed me—it was the way it felt right, like coming home to something I’d been searching for my entire life. His hands cupped my face with such tenderness, his scent wrapping around me, pulling me deeper into the moment. My heart thundered in my chest, and for a second, I thought maybe—Dante.His voice broke through the haze like a sharp blade, shattering the spell.“Tamara,” Dante’s voice echoed in my mind, tinged with urgency and confusion.Reality crashed over me. My mate. My love. My Dante.I shoved Adrian away so hard he staggered back. “What
Kayla's POV The door creaked as I pushed it open with a little dust puffing into the air. It was obvious that not a lot of people used this room.The space was small and cluttered.It was more of a glorified storage room than a real Library or archive of history. Shelves sagged under the weight of worn-out books, and loose papers were scattered across tables and floors like autumn leaves.Nothing was arranged or labeled, but I was supposed to somehow be able to magically find the books I was looking for. Great. I rubbed my temples, trying to decide where to even start. Then I heard a rustle. My head snapped to the corner, where a stack of books shifted ever so slightly. I took a cautious step forward. Someone was hiding there.My heart began to race. Was it those shadowed rogues? Had they tracked me here?Had I put the orphans in danger with my presence? “Hello? Who's there?” I called while reaching for my necklace in preparation for a fight. "I know you're there so you bett
Kayla's POV I literally couldn’t stop staring at the photograph. The picture had frayed edges and timeworn colors, but the woman in it, standing close to Adrian's fatger… she looked like me. No.. she looked a little Too much like me to just be normal.And It wasn’t the kind of resemblance you could shrug off as coincidence. It was the same eyes. The same shape of the mouth. Even the same stubborn, haunted expression. And to make matters even more confusing was the fact that Standing beside her with one hand gently resting on hers, was the man Elara had just told me was Alpha Dominic. Adrian’s father. How was this possible? What did this mean?My legs suddenly felt too heavy to carry me so I sat in the corner of the common room with the photo clutched in my hands, trying to make sense of it. “Elara,” I called quietly. The tall, broad-shouldered woman glanced over from where she was searching through the drawers for other things. She came over and lowered herself beside me. “La
Kayla's POV After breakfast, I insisted on helping the staff with chores—cleaning the tables, washing dishes, folding laundry. I needed to do something with my hands that would keep my thoughts from spiralling intodark thoughts.Plus I was eager to start helping the children as fast as possible. The funny thing was that the kids followed me around, asking questions about where I came from, if I had a wolf, if I’d ever seen the Alpha in real life. I smiled and answered as vaguely as I could, not ready to explain the chaos I’d run from. But for the first time in days, I felt a strange sense of peace.Like I was right where I should be. I was hanging laundry out back when one of the staff—Elara, a tall woman with sharp gray eyes and a strong build—approached me. “You’re quite the helper Miss Kayla,” she said, nodding with a basket on her hip. “I needed something to keep me busy,” I replied. She glanced around before adding, “You know, Lady Anna swears you’ve been here before.”
Kayla I ended up spending the night at the Orphanage and it was one of the most restful nights I've had in weeks.Sure, I might have had one or two night mares where I saw Adrian kissing Candice in her room while my body wrecked with painful sobs, but hey, it was better than the nightmares I usually had about the darkness that was trying to take control of me.I knew that I would finally be able to get rid of the problem when I finally get to the Oracle's sanctuary, but I just had to wait until the guards weren't searching for me so persistently.To be honest, I'm surprised that Adrian was putting that much effort into finding me now when he had been ignoring me for the last few days.Hadn't Candice satisfied him enough? Or was he so greedy that he wanted the two of us at the same time?Men! I should have known better than to let myself trust them again. Especially after how Xavier treated me.I had stupidly let myself become a fool for love again! How pathetic!I definitely won't le
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