LYRA'S POV"Get her!!"Leo's loud voice cut through like thunder, sharp and commanding, distorting the peace of the moment. Something about him was entirely different. I didn’t have the time to decipher what was going on as my body reacted before my brain could catch up. My legs immediately wheeled into motion driving me straight into the forest path.I ran so fast like my life depended on it. Dry branches stung my face and arms like a long whip, piercing my skin through my clothes as I raced through the thick forest. My lungs ached as I sprinted, pushing through the obstacles. The pounding of my heart and the quick loud gasps of air deafened my ears. They were louder than the snarls of guards chasing after me from behind. The guards were close. Too close. I looked over my shoulder, observing how close they were when my foot caught on a root. My hands flew up to brace myself, but it was too late. I stumbled, rolling over into a nearby ditch, till I got stopped by a huge root. I gro
JAKE’S POVThe lightning sent a bolt of charges across the sky followed by the roaring and loud drumming of the thunder as heavy rainfall splattered on the roof down to the floor. The streets were deserted, and only a few could be spotted running back to their homes. I stood on the balcony with a cup of hot coffee and milk covered with thick woolen robes and socks gazing far into the road.It’s been a week since I ordered surveillance to be mounted on Caspian Reed, yet till now, no tangible information has been collected about him- he was indeed a ghost, or possibly a chameleon, perfectly camouflaging and good at covering his tracks. I had hoped he could lead my men to find out who this Lyra was, but so far, it only led to dead ends.“It’s a cold night, Your Grace. Wouldn’t it be rather comfortable and more relaxing being in each other's arms other than standing out here alone, staring into the dead, cold night?” Ella asked, sneaking up on me from behind with a soft seductive tone. S
JAKE’S POV“How on earth is that possible? Blood Moon Pack?” my stomach churned with anger. “How were they able to sneak in and out of Shadowclaw, kidnap Lyra, and walk away freely and no one noticed?” I thundered, my chest rose and fell as I fumed.“I wish I had an answer to that, Alpha Jake,” Dmon replied evenly. “I was out on a business trip when the incident occurred. There couldn’t have been a way I would have known or suspected any malicious act was brewing under our nose,” Damon explained in a curt tone.I wasn’t ready to listen to what Damon had to say. My senses were clouded, my blood boiling. How could Lyra be scooped up by a neighboring Pack like some trash can? “I want to know the chief guard in charge on that day! This is the height of incompetence and I would not condone such a level of carelessness,” I barked.I turned sharply, my gaze fixed on Damon. “I need a message sent to Alpha Leo, declaring war! If he wants to play the dirty game of politics then I’m all out for
LEO’S POVI followed behind as Zephyr led the way to the temple. Our footsteps echoed softly through the tunnel as we moved with caution, careful not to draw attention.Lyra’s body hung limply over the guard’s shoulder. Her hands swayed from left to right as we walked down. My heart somehow bled at the sight of her in that state but, who cares? The voices in my head screamed for power.I turned my gaze to Aemond, who had been walking beside me in silence, his shoulders were square and unbothered, seemingly enthusiastic about the whole drama. As we drew closer, I felt my stomach twist. I bit hard on my teeth, tightening the muscles around my jaw. My fists remained clenched at my sides, so hard my knuckles turned pale.I had made my decision. Every moment I reminded myself: this was for the pack. For my legacy. I would never give away everything I fought so hard to gain on the altar of family ties. We finally arrived at the temple. The torches ignited along the corridor, trembling lik
ALPHA JAKE'S POVThe blades of the helicopter swirled rapidly with a deafening roar above us as we stepped down with our heads slightly bowed. The whirlwind created by the blades caused our hair to fly wildly across our faces. Squinting to avoid particles raised by the wind into our eyes, we all hurried towards the escort vehicle waiting at the extraction point. Damon and I trailed behind the extraction team who led the way with Caspian Reed.“Was there any casualty?” I asked, taking off my bulletproof vest. My breath was ragged, the adrenaline rush slowly began to fade off. It was indeed a close call for us.Damon reconnected his comms, fitting the buds back into his ears. “Eagle team can you hear me?” He spoke into the telecom hoping to get a feedback. The feed crackled for a moment until a response came from the other end.“Sergeant Mike here, this is the eagle team! Everything looks good over here. The boys are good, no casualty, just minor grazes, over!” Sergeant Mike informed u
JAKE’S POVFresh blood smeared my arm and chest as I hauled Lyra up. I quietly observed her wrist, feeling for any sign of life. Her radial nerve faintly pushed against her skin. She wouldn’t make it if we wasted any more time.“Hit the damn accelerator!” I thundered at the driver. Images of the day I had rescued her from the rogue attack at the pack came rushing back.“Please, hang in there!” I muttered almost inaudibly, tears building up in my eyes as I pressed a soft kiss on her forehead.“We need to call Selene over immediately. My cell is dead, it got broken back there,” Damon said, shifting his gaze between me and Lyra. His tone was laced with concern and urgency.He was right. Selene was the only option on this dead night. I held tight to Lyra as the car drifted, throwing us to the side of the car. Tires screeching, carbon puffing out from the exhausts, the headlight cutting through the thick fog of darkness as the driver turned into an untarred road I believed was a shortcut t
ELLA’S POV“What the hell is the noise about in this ungodly hour? Are we under some sort of an attack?” I grumbled as I grudgingly stood up from the bed, stretching off sleep from my weak limbs. I sat up quietly, staying calm for a moment trying to figure out what the commotion was all about but I got no clue. The dim glow from the glow-in-the-dark stickers on the wall shimmered in the darkroomI rolled over to the right side, tracing my way to the lamp on the side desk beside me. “There!” I muttered inaudibly with a sigh as my hand brushed through the dangling switch. I pulled it down, turning on the fancy lamp. Though not too bright, it was glowing enough light for me to find my way through the room.Grunting in frustration, I slid my feet into my footwear, reaching for my long nightie robe. I threw it on and groggily walked to the window.“God! Where are they coming from?” I snapped at the sight of guards rushing back and forth, car doors slamming, and voices raised. “Do they not
AEMOND'S POVMy eyes darted frantically at the aftermath of the chaos that just erupted a few moments ago. The temple was in total ruins! Bodies, broken relics, and artifacts, shards of glass laid all over the room. “How the hell was he able to get in here?” Leo questioned in a commanding tone, carefully stepping over the bodies and broken items on the floor. I shifted my gaze to Zephyr who stared back at me. “I wish I had an explanation, Your Grace,” I responded in a curt tone, tucking Lyra's crescent pendant properly into my rear pocket.The moment Jake and his men stormed in, I knew it was going to be a raucous visit. I reacted based on instinct, picking up the pendant which was the base of the ritual. The scent and sight of fresh blood filled our noses and eyes as we stepped into the open. “He was definitely accompanied by quite a number of people,” I said in a low tone, squatting over the trail of car tires, tracing it with my eyes till I lost sight of it.“Then if he did, the
LYRA’S POVThe mention of the name Caspian hit me like a punch in my stomach. Caspian? What would Jake likely be having with Jake? I saw the look on his face when he mentioned Caspian’s name early. It was clearly streaked with Jealousy. On second thought, what could the truth be? Are they brothers? Hell no! Because that would be totally ridiculous.I shot Jake a side-eye long look. “What could that be?” my brow rose as I queried.I felt unease beginning to creep up under my skin as Jake hesitated in giving me a response. His face fell to the ground without a word for what felt like a century. “Come on Jake! You don’t have to kill me with suspense before you let the cat out of the bag,” I nudged his shoulder slightly, with a soft smile slowly appearing on my face.Jake finally looked up, meeting my face with an unreadable expression. “I can see you’re in love with this guy. I can hear the excitement in your tone at the mention of his name, but you don’t have to rub it in,” he threw the
AEMOND'S POV “Sir..sir, I think we have a big problem!” A guard rushed in, panting like he had escaped an attack from a polar bear.I spun sharply. “Are you out of your damn mind?” I snapped, walking towards the guard. "How dare you barge into my chambers without knocking? I'm sure you want this day to be your last here in the pack house as a guard, right? I yelled into his face.The young man recoiled his eyes wide with fear. His face was pale, sweat gathering around his temples. “I…I’m sorry, Alpha Aemond! But it’s urgent. You need to come. Now,” he stuttered, leaning in a bow.I heaved a sigh, seeing how his body shook in fear. "And was that why you had to badge into the chambers like a mad man?” I queried him. My voice, softer and calmer than before.He didn't say another word, just words of apology. Took a long look at him and eased him off the tension in his body. "You may go. I'd be out there in a minute," I waved him off like a housefly, turning back to my seat. He wasted no
DON CARLITO'S POVI stood at my usual spot- The rooftop of my estate overlooking the city. It was past mid-afternoon, but today the weather wasn't harsh. It was windy, though not storm-like, but I couldn't sense it brewing, making me uncomfortable.Today seemed quiet, too damn quiet for a man like me. In my world, silence does not mean peace; it meant tension. It meant something was about to snap and I hated not being ahead of events.I viewed the city through my massive periscope, swaying it left and right, observing the street, which was the breeding site of chaos. "Any news from the head of the shadow boys?" I asked in a carefree tone, still looking through the periscope."Nothing, Sir. The last time I heard from Perez, he informed me the shipments are yet to arrive at the port," my assistant, Quavo, responded sharply. Quavo had been my eyes and ears around the city, sometimes I wonder why I hadn't given him the task of getting me the girl and the damn pendant."We are expecting
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