Lyra's POVAs soon as Rylan left, silence filled the tent. I felt the absence of his presence immediately, as though the air had grown thinner and the walls closer. The only sounds were the faint crackle of the campfire outside and the rustling of the wind through the trees. My hands rested on my belly, feeling the subtle shifts of the twins within. They had been restless earlier but now lay still, as if sensing my thoughts.โHeโs handsome,โ Snow, my wolf, purred in the back of my mind, breaking the quiet.I let out a sigh.โSnow, I donโt have the energy for this.โโOh, come on,โ she teased. โYou felt it too. The way his voice softened, the way he looked at you. Donโt tell me you didnโt notice.โHeโs just being kind, I replied firmly. Weโre allies. Thatโs all this is.โKind?โSnow scoffed, her voice laced with amusement. โLyra, allies donโt look at each other like that. And donโt even get me started on how his wolf feels about me. Thereโs something there, whether you admit it or not.โ
Eloisa's POVI stood in the grand hall of the Blood Nest Pack's manor, the glow of moonlight streaming through the tall windows. My reflection danced in the polished marble floors, my regal figure ruined only by the turmoil in my eyes. Lyraโs shadow loomed in my mind, making me restless.Damian, as predictable as ever, had spent the evening brooding in his study, drowning in paperwork. Since Lyraโs departure, his aloofness had hardened into a shield, one I couldnโt pierce. The icy distance between us increased my resentment, but tonight, I had no time for pity. My plans demanded action.โAre the preparations complete?โ my voice, sharp and low, broke the silence as my confidant and maid, Ilena, emerged from the shadows.โYes, Luna,โ Ilena replied, her tone laced with reverence and caution.โThe scouts have confirmed Lyraโs location. Sheโs been spotted near the borderlands with the rogues.โMy heart skipped, but my face remained composed.โAnd the distraction?โโIโve made plans to have
Lyra's POVThe soft rustling of the tentโs fabric against the night air made me restless. It was as though the world outside called to me, yet I was trapped inside the confining walls of the tent.The news of the impending attack had sent ripples of unease through the rogue camp, even if the attack itself never came. My mind raced with the fragments of what had been sharedโDamianโs pack had been spotted close, dangerously so.The guard stationed outside my tent was a silent reminder of the danger. Rylan had placed him there, his presence solid and protective. While I understood the necessity, his watchfulness made me feel like I was caged. I sat on the thin cot in the corner of the tent, my hands resting on my rounded belly. The babies within me stirred gently, as if sensing my worry.โItโs okay,โ I murmured softly, tracing circles with my fingertips.โWeโre safe here.โBut were we?The question tore at me as the minutes crawled by. Inside the tent, every sound came sounding louderโth
Lyra's POVThe weight of their words pressed heavily on my chest as I remained frozen where I stood, hidden in the shadows just outside Rylanโs tent.What was I going to hear next? Would the next words that followed the silence be worst than the last I'd just heard.Worst, they might get around to convincing their Alpha to send me away from the pack for the greater good and for their own safety. They had their own ambitions and it didn't align with mine.I refused to let myself panic.The silence stretched for a moment, taut and suffocating, before Rylanโs voice broke through, steady but simmering with restrained anger.โI wonโt allow Damian to touch her,โ he said firmly, each word measured and forceful.โShe came to us for help, for safety. Sheโs a woman in distress, carrying children, and I will not turn her away.โHis words warmed me. His empathy was one that was worth emulating, the conviction in his tone was both reassuring and also worrying.What if they turned against him? He w
Lyra's POVThe night air pressed cool and damp against my skin as I crouched behind the large jar meant for collecting rainwater. My heartbeat was loud in my ears, enough that I feared the pack members leaving the tent would hear it. I held my breath, clutching the edge of the jar for balance as the rogues exited Rylanโs tent. Their conversation continued, low and bitter, their frustration thick enough for me to feel even from where I hid.โShe doesnโt belong here,โ one of them muttered as their footsteps grew louder in my direction. โRylanโs lost sight of what we stand for. Protecting her isnโt our fight.โโAnd it never shouldโve been,โ another grumbled. โIf we keep her here, weโre putting our pack on the line for someone who has nothing to do with us. This isnโt what weโve been fighting for.โTheir voices faded as they moved further into the camp, but their words stayed with me, their weight sinking deep into my chest. Each step they took felt like another layer of doubt settling ov
Lyra's POVI stepped into the dimly lit tent, weary and ready to have a proper night rest for a while without having to bother about a lot of things that I had on my mind lately.I sighed once I was inside. I was alone, finally.Or so I thought.A figure emerged from the shadows, a womanโ surely Alexis the beta, the one whoโd been so vehement about my departure. She was standing near the far corner of the tent, her presence like a sharp needle pricking through the darkness.I froze, my heart skipping a beat. She was even more striking up close, her features sharp and angular, her dark hair pulled back in a tight braid. Her clothes were plain, ruggedโa soldierโs uniform, worn and weatheredโbut they couldnโt hide the beauty in her face.โDonโt be scared,โ she said softly, her voice surprisingly gentle.I swallowed hard, the panic bubbling in my chest making it hard to speak.โWhat are you doing here?โ I managed, my voice weak.Alexis took a step closer, her eyes narrowing.โIโm Alexis,
Lyra's POVMy heart pounded in my chest as I packed my belongings. I kept my movements quiet, careful not to wake anyone in the pack house. The words Alexis had spoken earlier that night echoed in my mind, sharp and unyielding.โMaybe leaving is a way of accepting defeat. You probably shouldn't,โ Snow tried to cajole me.I couldnโt argue. But I knew my presence had only complicated things. The unrest among the rogues was evidence enough. As much as I hated being cast out, I knew Alexis wasnโt entirely wrong. If my leaving could keep the rogues united, then I would bear the pain of it.โWell, unless she actually has eyes on Rylan and you're a threat to what she feels for him.โ Snow insisted.โNo way,โ I muttered to myself as I got on with packing a few important items.โNo way would the warrior lady have eyes on her Alpha.โโHe's only a werewolf like her. She's allowed to,โ Snow purred.I shook my head, rejecting the thought. I'd never seen her close to him in a way that was suggestiv
Rylan's POVLee didn't let me have time alone without his small voice inside telling me what to do and what not to do.I didn't get any sleep the entire night before we moved camp, because it was one of those nights that I felt way too much apprehension to be fully settled.The camp stirred with its usual chaos, packing up, arguing over who stole whose share of supplies, as the members packed up for us to move camp.But there was something wrong. Something I couldn't ignore.My eyes swept the crowd, looking for her unmistakable figure. When I didnโt see her, a cold weight settled in my gut."Have you seen Lyra?" I asked Finn, the wiry kid who always seemed to know everyoneโs business.He blinked up at me, his expression confused."No, Alpha. I thought she was in her tent."I didnโt respond, already moving toward her tent. The dread in my stomach only deepened when I reached it. It wasnโt just emptyโit was stripped clean, every trace of her gone. It was as if sheโd never been there at a
Rylanโs POVThe sky was darkening when Damian and his men arrived at the WhiteMoon pack. I was already waiting by the gates, watching them walk toward me. There was no fanfare, no noise, just the solid sound of their boots hitting the dirt. Damian moved with purpose, as he always did since I'd grown familiar with him. His eyes scanned the surroundings, taking everything in like he had to make sure everything was in place. He had been gone for some time. Now, he was back.He stopped in front of me, his gaze steady as always. โItโs done,โ he said.I nodded. I knew what that meant. โKaius?โโDead,โ Damian said without hesitation. โIlena poisoned him. She tried to take control of the Blood Nest. She failed.โI didnโt need to ask what had happened to her. I already knew. It wasnโt hard to figure out. โAnd the pack?โ I asked.โSecured,โ Damian replied. โThe traitors are gone. The loyal ones remain.โI took a breath and glanced around. The WhiteMoon pack was in better shape than I thought it
Lyraโs POVThe WhiteMoon pack was only just beginning to get past the chaos of war. The battle was over, but the scars it left behind still lingered. The dead had been buried, the wounded tended to, and the pack was trying to move forward, but the unease was still there. A shadow of what had been lost.And yet, there was one thing left unfinishedโone loose end that needed to be dealt with.Eloisa.I didn't think I wanted to have her executed, despite all she'd done to me and what she'd tried to do to my babies. She was someone I'd loved but who had also turned around to hate me with all her might. Damian wanted her dead so she would not cause any more harm, Rylan said it was completely up to me to do whatever I wanted to do with her since I was the one who had defeated her anyway. My softness was getting the best of me. I didn't want to hurt Eloisa, the knowledge of what she'd tried to do to me didn't change this either. The moment I could, I made my way to the pack dungeons. The g
Damian's POVThe journey back to the Blood Nest pack felt like it took forever. My mind was clouded with thoughts of everything that had transpired. The battle at WhiteMoon had been brutal, but we had won. Lyra had proven herself time and time again, and the victory was ours. Still, there was a gnawing feeling in my gut, the knowledge that things were not yet over. The fight for power and control had only just begun.When we finally arrived at the Blood Nest pack, I felt the tension in the air. There was a heaviness in the atmosphere, a thick sense of uncertainty hanging over everything. My pack had been through so much in the last few days, and now, with me back at the helm, there was no time to rest. I needed to find out what had happened in my absence, and I needed answers, fast.I had no idea what I was about to walk into.As soon as I entered the pack house, I was met by one of my most trusted men. His face was grim, his posture stiff with the weight of the news he had to deliver
Rylan's POVThe battle was over. The dust had settled, but the air still carried the heavy scent of blood, sweat, and destruction. The WhiteMoon pack was battered and bruised, but they were alive. And that, at least, was something to hold onto. We had won, but at what cost? The warriors were all tired, their faces painted with exhaustion, their wounds still fresh. The camp was in disarray, but we had managed to push the enemy back.I found myself walking along the outskirts of the camp with Caspian and Finn. The battlefield felt quieter now, the distant sounds of the survivors tending to their injured and picking up the pieces of what was left. The weight of the day sat heavy on my shoulders. The fight had been brutal, and while I was glad it was over, it didnโt feel like a victory just yet. The aftermath was always the hardest part.Damian had gone back to the Blood Nest pack to reclaim his position as Alpha. There was no question about it. Kaius had taken control while Damian was go
Damian's POVThe fight had ended, but the air was thick with tension. Blood, sweat, and dirt mixed together, leaving the battlefield in a grim haze. The clashing of weapons had died down, and the warriors around me began to gather, taking stock of what was left. The battle was won, but it wasnโt over yet.Eloisa lay on the ground, her wolf form battered and bruised but not defeated entirely. She wasnโt dead. She wasnโt going to dieโnot by my hand, not by Lyraโs. But she had lost. Her fortification had crumbled, and her strength had faltered under the weight of Lyraโs relentless defense. Still, she lay there, struggling to breathe, her gaze fixed on us with a defiant hatred.I stood beside Lyra, watching her. She had been the one to bring down Eloisa, the one to push her to the edge. But Lyra had stopped short. She didnโt want to kill Eloisa. As much as Eloisa had tried to destroy us, to destroy her, Lyra had shown mercy."Donโt," Lyra said, her voice steady. "We donโt need to kill her
Lyraโs POVThe battle raged on around me. I could hear the clash of swords, the roar of warriors, and the sounds of werewolves fighting for their lives. But it was all distant noise. I wasnโt focused on the battle around me; my attention was fixed on one thingโthe one thing that mattered more than anything right now.Damian.I had sneaked out of the safety of the pack house, determined to be where the fight was. A guard had tried to stop me, insisted that I stay hidden, but I couldnโt. I couldnโt just stand back and wait while the people I cared about fought. I needed to be there.But then, I saw her. Eloisa.The sight of me stopped Eloisa in her tracks.Eloisa was in her wolf form, her body was unusually large and fortified with the power she had gained through her twisted ways. I could see the raw strength emanating from her, and it was clear that she wasnโt just fighting to win. She was fighting to break Damian. Eloisa was more than just a rival. She was a woman bent on destro
Damianโs POVThe battlefield was madness. The air was thick with the scent of blood, sweat, and death. Wolves lunged at each other, claws tearing through flesh, growls and screams blending together. The sound of steel meeting steel rang out as warriors fought with everything they had. The ground beneath us was already stained red, bodies littering the area.I fought my way through the chaos, blade in hand, striking down anyone who dared to stand in my path. My wolf snarled within me, pushing me forward, demanding vengeance. Rylan fought beside me, moving with the same deadly focus. We had battled side by side before, but this time, it was different. We werenโt just fighting an enemyโwe were fighting our own.Something was wrong.I could see it in the way some of the WhiteMoon warriors moved. Their attacks were slower than usual, hesitant, as if they werenโt truly trying to kill. Otmes barely lifted their weapons, stepping back instead of forward. And then tmee were the ones who did no
Rylan's POVThe battlefield was a scene of pure chaos. The air smelled thick with blood and smoke. Wolves fought, teeth bared, fur flying. The sound of swords clashing with flesh echoed around me, drowning out all but the screams and roars. The earth was soaked with blood, and bodies littered the ground in every direction. I could hear the growls of shifting wolves, mixed with the clash of steel, the air alive with tension and fury.I moved quickly through the battle, my feet light but my strikes deadly. My blade cut through the enemies with the precision of a wolf on the hunt. My body felt alive with adrenaline, muscles coiling and releasing in perfect rhythm as I fought beside Damian. His movements were just as fluid, just as fast. We were a team, working together like we had done so many times before.But despite the intensity of the battle, something didnโt sit right.I noticed it immediatelyโthe hesitation in the movements of some of the WhiteMoon warriors. They were faltering, t
Eloisa's POV The battlefield was exactly as I had imaginedโchaotic, brutal, and perfect for my victory. The scent of blood and sweat filled the air, thick and intoxicating. The ground trembled beneath the weight of charging warriors, their roars mixing with the clash of steel and the growls of shifting wolves. It was a beautiful sightโone I had long waited for.From my position on the hill, I could see everything. My forces, my carefully trained warriors, moved with purpose, cutting down those who stood against me. Their strikes were swift, precise, efficient. Every blade that sank into enemy flesh was a step closer to my rightful place.I had planned this well.I had spent months planting the seeds of doubt, whispering truths and lies into the ears of the weak-minded within the WhiteMoon pack. And now, those whispers bore fruit.The hesitation in the steps of some warriors, the uncertainty in their eyesโI saw it all. Some barely lifted their weapons, while others stepped back from t