Serena’s POVThe snow had not stopped falling in days, yet the border fortress never slept. Warriors trained from dawn until dusk, regardless of the cold, their swords slicing the air, their roars echoing against the stone walls.I watched them every morning from the battlements — rows of men and wolves sparring with brutal precision, their movements sharp and disciplined. They were fierce, relentless, and united under one Alpha. Under him.Alexandro was always at the center, calm and commanding, moving like a shadow through steel and sweat. He didn’t just bark orders — he fought with them, taught them, earned their respect by bleeding beside them. I saw how they looked at him. With loyalty. With reverence.And I wanted to understand that.Not just from the edge. But from within.That morning, I climbed down from the battlement steps, my cloak trailing behind me as I stepped into the courtyard where the warriors were lining up for drills.Alexandro stood in the middle, his shirt cling
Serena’s POVThat night, I could hardly look at him.The kiss still lingered on my lips, warm and haunting, long after we had returned from the cliffs.It wasn’t just a kiss. It wasn’t just a stolen moment beneath the moonlight.It was something far deeper—something that had awakened parts of me I never knew existed.And now, trapped within the tiny room and the even smaller cot, with the fire throwing flickering shadows across the stone walls, all I could feel was the racing of my heart and the warmth that returned every time I thought of his mouth on mine.He had said nothing on the ride back. Neither had I.It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence—it was loaded, thick with unspoken questions and breathless anticipation.But now that we were alone again, I didn’t know what to do with myself.I crossed the room to hang up my new fur coat, tugging it off slowly, pretending to fiddle with the clasp longer than necessary.I could feel his presence behind me like a force of gravity. Steady. Qu
The morning sun was pale and cold, casting long blue shadows across the snow as Alexandro saddled the horse himself.The castle walls loomed behind them, massive and unyielding, but beyond the gates, the world opened into rolling white plains and frozen forests — and a small village nestled quietly at the base of the hills.Serena watched him work, her cloak wrapped tightly around her shoulders, her breath misting in the crisp air.When he turned to her, there was a rare softness in his eyes."Come," Alexandro said, offering his hand. "We’re going to the village. You need a real fur coat before the weather worsens."Her heart jumped at the simple gesture — his large hand steady, waiting, inviting.She placed her smaller one into his, and he lifted her easily onto the black stallion.For a moment, she struggled to find balance, gripping the saddle awkwardly.Without a word, Alexandro swung up behind her, settling into the saddle with a natural grace that made the powerful horse shift i
Serena’s POVThe fire had burned low by the time Alexandro emerged from the bath, steam still rising faintly from his skin.I shifted nervously on the cot, tugging the furs up around my shoulders as he crossed the room toward me.He wore only a pair of loose black pants, his chest bare, muscles rippling under the low firelight.I swallowed hard, feeling my cheeks flush.The cot creaked alarmingly as he lowered himself onto it.It was small—far too small for two people to share without touching.Alexandro lay on his back, hands folded behind his head, his body warm and solid beside mine.For a long moment, neither of us moved.I stared at the rafters above, listening to the howl of the wind outside and the frantic beating of my own heart.His presence filled the room, heavy and comforting.Slowly, hesitantly, I shifted closer, drawn to his warmth.He said nothing—just opened his arm slightly, inviting me without pressure.I moved carefully into his side, resting my head against his sho
Third Person POVThe night was colder here.In the heart of the border castle, where the walls were thick and the fires struggled to warm the air, Serena sat on the edge of the small cot, waiting for Alexandro to return.It was nothing like the royal chambers back at the Blood Moon palace—no sprawling bed draped in velvet, no private fires, no heavy curtains to block the draft.This room was narrow, practical.The cot creaked slightly under her weight, and she realized with a flutter of nerves that it was barely large enough for two people.Tonight, their bodies would almost certainly brush as they slept.She twisted her hands in her lap, her heart hammering against her ribs.Am I ready for this?Her gaze dropped to her flat stomach, and for a terrifying moment, she imagined it swollen with life.A child.His child.The thought should have thrilled her. Should have filled her with joy.Instead, fear crept in like a slow, cold tide.She was still so young.Still learning how to be a Lu
Serena’s POVThe palace buzzed with quiet tension the next morning.Servants hurried through the halls, preparing supplies for the journey—loading saddlebags with dried meats, cloaks, weapons, and healing salves. The atmosphere had changed overnight; the laughter and music that usually filled the corridors were gone, replaced by grim whispers and quick, furtive glances.War was no longer a distant threat. It was knocking on our doors.I stood near the tall windows of our chamber, twisting the hem of my tunic between my fingers.Today, I would ride into danger beside Alexandro.Today, everything would change.The door opened behind me with a soft click, and I turned to find him there—already dressed for travel.He wore a dark leather tunic reinforced with steel at the shoulders, black trousers tucked into sturdy boots, and a heavy cloak pinned with a silver clasp shaped like a wolf’s head—the symbol of the Blood Moon Pack. His sword hung at his hip, gleaming wickedly even in the soft m