MasukRachel's POV The moment I stepped into the training grounds, the air shifted. Warriors who had been speaking in low, hushed voiced turned silent. Their gazes flickered toward me, then away just as quickly, as if my presence alone was an unwelcome distraction. I swallowed hard and forced myself to walk forward, keeping my shoulders squared. I wasn't imagining this. I had felt it growing for more than just a short while now - the tension, the hesitation, the way some pack members barely acknowledged me. And after the last attack, it had only gotten worse. Two warriors were sparring nearby, their movements sharp and aggressive. I recognized one of them - Jeremy, a seasoned fighter who had always been respectful before. As I passed, he stopped mid-swing and turned toward his partner. "If we had a real Luna, maybe this pack wouldn't be crumbling from the inside," he muttered, just loud enough for me to hear. A slow, burning anger twisted in my stomach. I halted in my tracks. "W
Damon's POV I didn't trust him. Every instinct in me had screamed to rip the rogue's throat out before he could say another word, but I had forced myself to hold back - for Rachel's sake. Her hand had barely left my arm since she told me to let her handle it, her touch the only thing keeping me from giving the order to end this bastard right here and now. A traitor in my pack. The words were poison in my ears. Rachel turned back to me, her expression unreadable, but I saw the tension in her shoulders. "We're done here," she said firmly. "Lock him up. I want him heavily guarded. No one sees him without my permission." The rogue only smirked, as if he'd won something. I was going to enjoy wiping that look off his face. Caleb and two warriors moved in, grabbing him roughly, but he didn't resist. He went willingly, his steps unhurried, as if he already knew how this was going to end. I waited until he was out of sight before turning to Rachel. "Talk." Her jaw clenched. "
Rachel's POV The shift in the pack was subtle at first. Averted gazes. Conversations that halted the moment I entered a room. Warriors who once offered nods of respect now barely acknowledged me. I ignored it at first, convincing myself that I was just imagining things. That I was just being paranoid. But the further the day stretched on, the more undeniable it became. Something was wrong. I stood in the training grounds, gripping my water flask tightly as I observed the warriors wrapping up their morning drills. Normally, they would have dispersed in groups, some joking, others strategizing. But today, they lingered in tight clusters, speaking in hushed tones. And whenever they glanced my way, their expressions weren't exactly friendly. A sinking feeling settled in my stomach. It was Maya. It had to be. After everything that had happened - the full moon, completing the bond, the rogue attack - Damon and I barely had time to breathe. And that was exactly what she had
Maya's POV The night air was crisp, biting at my skin as I slipped through the trees, my heart hammering in my chest. I had planned this carefully, down to the last detail. The patrol schedule. The blind spots in the territory's security. The precise moment to leave without raising suspicion. Damon should have been mine! I clenched my fists, forcing my steps to remain steady as I made my way toward the meeting point. The river marked the boundary between our lands and neutral ground, the perfect place for a deal like this. One that would change everything. A rustling sound came from the shadows ahead, and I halted, my pulse quickening. Then, he emerged. Vaughn. He was taller than I expected. Broader, too, with a presence that felt suffocating. He moved like a predator - calculated, controlled, exuding power. Even in the dim moonlight, his piece gaze locked onto mine, assessing, waiting. "You actually came," he mused, his tone dripping with amusement. His voice was s
Rachel's POV I woke to the warmth of Damon's body beside me, his steady breathing a reminder of the bond we had finally completed under the full moon. My wolf purred in contentment, but my mind was still tangled in uncertainty. There was no time to dwell on that, though. A sharp knock at the door shattered the quiet moment. "Alpha," Caleb's urgent voice rang through the room. "You need to come now. There's been a breach." Damon was already moving before I could fully process what was happening. He sat up, his muscles tense, and his presence instantly commanding. "What kind of breach?" Caleb hesitated. "A group of rogues crossed into our borders - but they didn't attack. They surrendered." My brows furrowed as I reached for my robe, pulling it tightly around me. "They surrendered?" That didn't make sense. Rogues didn't just give up - not unless they had an angle. Damon's eyes darkened. "Why would they do that?" Caleb shifted uncomfortably. "They have a message from Vaughn..
Rachel's POV The moment I whispered 'okay', something in the air shifted. Damon's breathing turned heavier, his grip on me tightening as if he was afraid I'd change my mind. But I wasn't running - not this time. The bond between us was electric, thrumming beneath my skin like an untamed current. The full moon bathed us in its glow, amplifying every sensation, every touch, every breath. Damon cupped my face, his fingers rough but his touch surprisingly tender. His golden eyes burned into mine, searching - warning. "This changes everything," he murmured, his voice low and thick with restraint. I swallowed hard, my hands fisting in the fabric of his shirt. "I know." And then he kissed me. It wasn't soft. It wasn't hesitant. It was claiming. Heat exploded between us the second our lips met. Damon's hands slid down my body, pulling me against him like he was afraid to let go. My fingers tangled in his hair, tugging as he deepened the kiss, his tongue sweeping into my







