LYRA’S POVI was caught In a dilemma; walking out of the door or going back to get answers. My gaze shifted to Lisa who stood completely stunned. Just a few weeks ago she had suspected I was pregnant but I waved it off. I instinctively held my hand over my belly not sure what to feel or say. Why is everything going into total disarray in the twinkle of an eye? I was about to walk out that door and never return, now this? What if this was another lie to keep me from leaving? A jumble of thoughts clashed in my mind like the waves of a troubled sea.I shifted my gaze to Selene. She had been in charge of me since I started noticing these changes but I felt it was just my wolf abilities stirring it up. If this was true, she could have told me before now, I thought.Secondly, somehow Lisa had seen it, but I refused to believe it. What have I gotten myself into? “Tell me this is not true. Jake is lying right?” I asked with my brows furrowed and my voice low and etched with mixed emotions.
LYRA'S POVMy hands shook as I pressed them against my belly, a subconscious act of protection, trying to feel my baby's presence.I'm such a terrible mother. How couldn't I have known I had a life growing inside of me? "I'm so sorry my sweet little pea," I muttered to my foetus, clutching on my belly.A knock at the door snapped me from my thoughts, breaking the mother-child moment I was having. I didn’t need to look up to know who it was. Her ayurvedic scent already gave her off. Selene. I redressed myself in an upright position.She stepped in without waiting for me to grant her access, her expression unreadable as always. I clenched my jaw with a serious look. I wasn’t in the mood for another lecture, and I certainly wasn’t in the mood to hear her try to justify Jake’s actions“I don't want to see anyone!” I snapped at her.“I guess there are exceptions to who you wouldn't want to see,” Selene responded as she walked into my room.“Why are you here?” I retorted, visibly angry.“We
ALPHA LEO’S POV>>>>>>“Where is she? I say where is she? My uncle, Logan's voice thundered through the night.Logan was my father's junior brother whom I grew up to know as a man of the people, a peace lover, and most of all, my father's trusted Beta. He had taught me my combat skills and today, I stand face to face with him, not as my loving uncle but as a villain who wanted so dearly to rule over the werewolf clan.“What do you want from my sister?” I shot back at him, ready to pounce at any moment. My hands trembled as he slowly walked towards me with a sinister smile on his face.“This is not your fight, boy. All you have to do is tell me where Lyra is and I'd walk away and you'd still have blood running through your veins,” he said, tapping my shoulders. His voice was low but laced with every bit of evil. My stomach twisted, swirling violently, and I almost threw up. The metal scent of blood oozed all over him as he drew closer to me. I looked around to see the whole p
ELLA'S POVBetrayal had never been a choice—it had been a necessity. My father once said that adage to me. It never made sense then, but I think it does now.My father had informed me weeks back that the Blood Moon Pack had stormed Arakis, my home. My father, Alpha Ben, had fought, but it hadn’t been enough. Alpha Leo took everything—our land, our people, our freedom. But worst of all, he took Jimmy, my little brother.To save his life, I had to carry out a difficult task. Was it that difficult? Somehow not! Mating to Jake was more of an arranged marriage that did little to save my pack when it mattered the most. I had to give him in.The cold breeze of the night bit at my skin as I slipped past the boundaries of Shadowclaw Pack, careful not to be spotted by the security guards. I had applied mint to help mask my scent from the ferocious watchdogs that guarded the border. I properly tucked my hair into the black hoodie I wore, and a long black cloak to blend my shadows with the dark.
ELLA'S POVLying had never been difficult for me—it was survival, but at this point, everything eluded me. I stood speechless. My brain struggled to construct a meaningful sentence.I kept my breathing even, my expression carefully crafted as I stood before Jake. His sharp gray eyes glued into mine, both burning with suspicion. He stood, crossing his arms, his stance unyielding. What was I going to say? I can't be quiet. He also cannot know where I'm coming from. How do I untangle myself from this? Different thoughts clashed in my head.“Are you going to start talking? Or do you want me to drill the words out of you?” He thundered at me. “You know the rules, nobody gets back here by 10pm! Not you, Not even my mother!” Jake growled with anger. Why is he this bitter? Does he know anything about my whereabouts? I was sure not to let anyone hear my conversations. My heart raced as I dug through my head for a perfect lie.I felt something click in my head, a quick way out. “I went for a r
ELLA'S POV The morning rays peered through my window into my eyes. I winced, adjusting to its brightness. I reached for my phone which laid on the bedside cupboard behind my bed lamp. "8:30am!" I groaned in a sluggish tone, shaking off the remnant of sleep but somehow, all my brain seemed to start the day with, was the conversation I had last night with Jake."I love Lyra. I never stopped loving her," Those words were in no way supposed to get me worked up, but somehow they did. It felt like a sniper shot to my chest. The way the words rolled out so effortlessly without remorse, as if my presence had never mattered, made my chest swell in anger. I quickly shoved off the edgy feelings and focused on the task at hand.Slowly, I rolled off the blankets from my body and stood, shaking off the remaining stiffness, before sliding my feet into my comfy flip flops and headed to get a shower. The moment the warm water hit my skin, I let out a sigh, allowing the tension in my muscles to ease.
LYRA'S POVThe sweet songs of the morning birds laced with chit-chats and footsteps of pack members lolled me up. I grunted up from bed, stretching out to shake off the sluggishness I felt. “One can never have a moment of peace in this hell hole" I muttered, my tone laced with irritation. Instinctively, I rested my hands on my belly. A small, sad smile curved my lips."Hey, pumpkin!" I moved my hand around my tiny baby bump. "How are you doing?" I whispered. "Mummy has been going through some difficult moments and is going to be forced to make some tough decisions. Someday you'd get to understand some hard decisions I'm about to take," I said, my tone low, almost inaudibly.I had spent the entire night tossing and turning, contemplating what the future held for me. Shadowclaw was not conducive for me, not anymore. The moment Jake had rejected me, I had been stripped of any real protection here. Selene had already warned me someone was likely going to come after me. I can't trust anyo
LYRA'S POV"Where did I drop my phone?" I muttered under my breath, flipping the bedsheets over in search of it. "Arhh...!" I groaned in frustration as I reached for my bedside drawer pulling it open. "I was just with it a few minutes ago. Where could I have dropped it?" I asked myself, searching through my brain to remember where I dropped it.Just then, I felt a sharp pull in my pelvic area. Was it pregnancy or my bladder had just refused to hold urine for a minute? I thought to myself. It was the umpteenth time I had gone to the bathroom today. Às though called upon, a beep message from my phone rang from the toilet. "Right!" I blurted out. Why wouldn't it be in there, I live in the toilet more than I live in this room these days. Rolling my eyes, I stepped into the restroom to ease myself before picking it up from the automatic hand dryer where I had dropped it earlier.I sighed in relief the moment I crawled back into bed. I swiped my phone, flipping through my contacts for Lisa
AEMOND'S POVWalking through the halls of the pack house felt different this time. I could hear the whispers of my name through every wall I walked past. No one dared to look me in the eyes. Everyone scrambles off at the sight of me.I was headed to the cell when one of the guards ran up to me, hastening his steps to meet up with my pace.“I was informed you called for me Beta Aemond!” He said, gasping for breath.Did he just address me as Beta? What insolence! I stopped abruptly, clenching my fist with a twisted face and slowly turning around with my jaw twisting.“I am going to forgive your ignorance,” I said slowly, raising my eyes to meet that of the guard. “Next time!” I continued with a slow, dragged tone. “You don't address me as Beta! I am Alpha Aemond! And you, along with everyone else, will address me as that!” I hissed.The guard trembled as he bowed his head, apologizing for the misconception. “I am sorry, Alpha Aemond!” He pleaded.I scoffed, waving it off. “I need you to
AEMOND'S POVI paced up and down what remained of the temple, my mind racing with words Valkyrie had told me in the trance. I had to get everything from that little bi**h. I never thought things would go south and now I have to go an extra length to get her. I growled in frustration, turning to Zephyr who stood motionless staring at me.“He offered me everything, Zephyr,” I muttered, sitting on the stone ledge beside the large window, staring into the dying twilight. “All, I have to do is get the damn bond broken and everything...I mean everything will be mine!" I voiced out with every sense of certainty.Zephyr shook his head in what seemed like disbelief.“You are totally out of your damn mind!” he barked, clawing his head in frustration. “No one strikes a deal with Valkyrie and walks out whole! That’s like shaking hands with the goddamn devil. You will lose everything and I mean every single thing!” he growled in a low tone, cautious not to have anyone hear him.A low growl rumbled
LYRA’S POVJake's face twisted in anger as he sprang from his seat, pointing towards Alpha Benson. Veins, lining the side of his forehead. His eyes, once filled with warmth, now brimmed with something heavier; rage, hurt, and betrayal. I could feel it roll off him like a tidal wave. Every person in that hall instinctively held their breath.Hauling Alpha Benson in what seemed like an arm drag, Jake stepped forward slowly, his voice deep and controlled, echoing through the grand hall. “Alpha Benson of the Arrakis Pack,” he began, eyes locked with Alpha Benson. “You were once considered an ally, a partner, and a friend," he growled with a low, yet steady tone. "A father figure in diplomacy. A man I once trusted to walk beside me in strength and wisdom,” he said, holding up his chin.Alpha Benson looked up from where he knelt, sweat pooling on his forehead. He didn't dare speak. Nobody dared intervene at this moment, not even me.“But instead,” Jake continued, squeezing hard on Benson's
LYRA'S POVMy sight blurred, I could feel something dripping down my nose but I barely paid attention to it. I bent down over Ella, my hands gripping her neck. She squirmed beneath me, making gurgling sounds, her hands feebly hitting my wrists. I didn't mind I had just gone through a painful evacuation process, I damned every sting of pain I felt in my body. All I sensed was the fire within my soul, the sting of betrayal seeping through my fury."LYRA! STOP!"Selene's voice struck through the thick rage in my head like a clap of thunder. My head jerked up, hair tousled around my face, nostrils widening. I turned towards the direction of the voice and noticed her sprinting towards me. Her face was drained with fear of what I might do to Ella."Stop Lyra, You're bleeding!" she yelled, pointing down.Bleeding? The words got to me. I must have stressed my healing body with magic. I noticed my body has been slow to heal likely due to the fact Aemond was wielding part of my powers and the
LYRA'S POVI watched Jake snatch the medical reports from Selene, frantically. His eyes scanned through each line and paragraph. As soon as his hands and shoulders dropped, I realized this was not a joke.“No, No!,” I whispered, shaking my head in disbelief. "This is not true," my voice broke as I spoke. "Nothing is wrong with my child. He's healthy and fine," I stuttered, placing my hand over my stomach, hoping to protect my baby from the unbelievable news I was hearing.My vision gradually began to blur as warm fluid rushed into my eyes. I pressed down on my lip trying to stop it from rolling off my eyes but my lip trembled. I felt a string in my heart snap, as my chest constricted. The weight of Selene's announcement pressed on me, sinking me into an abyss.“Wh…What did you just say?” I asked in a low tone, my voice shaking. Somehow I hoped Selene was mistaken, maybe the scan results weren't for me.I slowly turned my attention to Jake, staring into his eyes. For the first time, n
ELLA’S POVThe sun hadn’t yet made an appearance when I exited my room, the morning chill gnawing at my skin through my cloak. I could barely see the person approaching me due to the thick morning dew. My boots lightly struck the marble floor of the corridors, each step resonating a bit more than I wanted it to. I glided like mist, sneaking by guards still on their morning duty, and past maids who wiped the sleep from their eyes and didn’t question my unusual movement this morning.I barely closed my eyes to sleep all through the night. I knew the moment Lyra woke up I would be doomed. Aemond had turned on me, I had no ally. While my mind roamed, an idea clicked in my head. Tasha, my friend from college. Maybe she could help. She owed me a favor after I helped her set up her fiance's former girlfriend so he could date her.I made my way quietly into the infirmary which was still enveloped in the silence of early morning. The scent of disinfectants filled the atmosphere, reaching my n
LYRA'S POV“Um, I think this is my cue to leave now,” Lisa chuckled nervously, making me break off from the intense lip greeting Jake and I were having. “I'd get myself hooked up with an activity around the house, probably come back to check up on you later,” she said, holding on to little Jayden who wanted to break loose from her grip and play around.“It's alright,” I nodded with a smile, biting softly on my lower lip, my face flushed with embarrassment. We both watched her step out of the room, shutting the door behind her.I heaved a deep sigh, shifting my attention back to Jake who never took his enchanting gray eyes off of my face. The deafening silence stretched for about a minute before we broke it off.“So, tell me…,” we both chorused in unison. One would think it was a rehearsed moment. “You go ahead,” I said to him. My voice was barely above a whisper with my face growing warm as I smiled softly, shifting my gaze away from his face.“I know you have a ton of questions to a
LYRA'S POVI jerked up from the bed, the heart monitors beeping faster than normal. There was chaos at the instant. Voices and chatter of people sounded muffled. My eyeballs rolled behind my head and out.“Charge! Apply pressure!” I heard a voice yell in the background, followed by a charge sent through my chest.I jerked up a couple of times before I felt calm in my body. Everything returned back to normal.“Lyra? Lyra, can you hear me?” A familiar voice rang in my ear. I groaned, slowly opened my eyes, squinting until everything shifted into focus. Turning to the right, a weak, yet soft smile curved on my lip.“Selene?” I called out faintly, heaving, weak, and slow breathing. “What happened?” I asked faintly.“You were having a heart attack. You almost drew mine into an episode too,” she teased with a smile. “Jake would have had my head on a spike.” I frowned at the mention of his name. “How did I get here? How did you find me? I made sure not to inform anyone where or how to find
LYRA'S POVI dragged myself up onto my knees, coughing against the thick smoke that rose from the crater Aemond and I had been flung away from. Tara charged towards the figure even before I could make out what it looked like.The figure gradually twisted into focus. It was tall, regal. His eyes gleamed crimson against the silver twilight of this place, a cruel smirk etched across his horrifying face. I could have mistaken him for Medusa with the manner in which his hair curled and twisted behind him; this time not snakes, but streaks of molten flames.A total contrast from Iris. Folktale had it that Valkyrie was banished from the clouds for practicing dark magic causing the world to live in chaos.Aemond writhed in pain next to me, his hair messy as he turned onto his side and coughed harshly. “Damn it,” he muttered quietly, cradling his sides. “What is he doing here?!” he growled"What is he doing here?" My face twisted in disbelief. How on earth did Aemond know him? Was this real or