Julian’s Point Of View“Julian, what are you doing out here?” came Sophia’s voice, calm and sweet on the surface, but I could hear the edge beneath it.That practiced edge.That calculating undertone she always masked with her delicate smile and carefully chosen words. I didn’t turn around immediately. I stared ahead into the garden, where the cold night breeze whispered through the trees like ghosts murmuring truths I didn’t want to hear.I was still reeling. Still burning from the confrontation with Avery and Kaiden. Still drowning in the suffocating realization that I had lost her.No… thrown her away.“Can’t I have a moment to myself?” I muttered, my voice flat, jaw clenched as I finally turned around to face her.Sophia stood there in a tight emerald gown that shimmered under the moonlight, her golden curls cascading down one shoulder like she’d stepped out of a painting. But there was nothing soft in her gaze tonight. Her arms were folded tightly across her chest, and her eyes,
Julian’s Point Of ViewI stormed down the corridor, each of my footsteps echoing like thunder in the empty hall. My fists clenched at my sides, my nails digging into my palms until I felt the sharp sting of broken skin.I had never… never… felt this kind of rage before.It wasn’t just anger… it was a living, breathing beast, gnawing at my insides, clawing its way up my throat. My blood boiled. My vision swam with red haze. Every fiber of my being screamed for destruction.Kaiden.That bastard. The Alpha King. He didn’t just destroy my pack, didn’t just rise like a phantom and erase everything I had built with his so-called justice.No.Now he had taken her. My mate. Avery. I should’ve ripped his throat out right there. I should’ve snapped his neck and burned down everything he owned. Alpha King or not, I’d die trying before letting him keep her.I punched the nearest wall, the stone cracking beneath my fist. Pain tore through my knuckles, but it did nothing to calm the inferno in my c
Kaiden’s Point Of ViewThe ballroom was alive, buzzing with conversations, forced laughter, clinking glasses, and the undercurrent of politics that always slithered beneath the surface at gatherings like this.Golden light from the massive crystal chandeliers bathed the hall in a soft glow, glinting off the marble floor like fire scattered across ice. Wolves from every region stood tall in their tailored suits and regal dresses, fangs hidden behind diplomatic smiles. But I wasn’t fooled. I could sense the ambition, the hunger, the bitterness masked behind silk gloves and polished boots.I stood amidst a cluster of Alphas, my posture composed, shoulders squared with authority. My black tuxedo hugged my frame perfectly, not a wrinkle in sight. A glass of aged whiskey rested in my hand, untouched.Caspian, my Beta and one of the few people I trusted implicitly, leaned in closer to me. His voice was low but firm, designed not to draw unnecessary attention. “The Eastern borders have been t
Avery's Point Of View I could barely breathe. The second I turned away from him, I felt the weight of everything crash into me at once—the ballroom, the stares, him. Julian. What was he even doing here? Of all the people in the world to show up tonight, why did it have to be the one person I never wanted to see again? My feet moved faster now, the sharp click of my heels echoing in the quiet hallway as I left the terrace behind. The wind cooled the sting of emotion on my skin, but my chest still burned. Every step I took, I fought the storm building in my heart. I should be celebrating tonight. I should be standing beside Kaiden, smiling as the world learned of our bond. But no. Julian had to ruin that too. I bit my lower lip to stop it from trembling. He had no right to follow me, no right to speak my name like it still belonged to him. “Avery, please... wait!” His voice chased me down the corridor like a shadow I couldn’t outrun. I didn’t stop. Not until I felt his hand
Julian’s Point Of ViewThe ballroom buzzed with hushed whispers and heightened murmurs, voices rising and falling like crashing waves, all centered around the sudden, violent outburst of the she-wolf, Maya.But I couldn’t care less.The chaos she created didn’t register in my mind, not even as warriors and guards rushed to subdue her, not even as gasps filled the air and scandal clung to every breath in the room.All I saw… was her.Avery.How on earth is she here?My heart was a battlefield… rage, confusion, longing, all clashing like swords in a war I didn’t even know I’d been drafted into. The longer I watched her from across the hall, standing beside Kaiden like she belonged there, the deeper my hatred for the Alpha King festered.That smug bastard. He knew what he was doing. He had to. This wasn’t just politics. This was personal. Avery Smith… as the Alpha King’s mate? No. No, I refuse to accept that.The scent of her was faint beneath the room’s perfume and sweat, but to me, it
The grand ballroom glittered with a thousand flickering chandeliers, the walls draped in deep crimson and gold... the colors of power and tradition. The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfumes and the murmur of restless nobles, but none of it mattered to me.I stood near the back, my posture rigid, jaw clenched tight enough to taste blood. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t be here, not tonight, not at this pompous display.But the Alpha King had spoken. Attendance for all Alphas was mandatory. No excuses. And the reason? To announce his Luna.His Luna.I hated those words.My eyes locked on the Alpha King... Kaiden, standing at the head of the room like some god on his throne. His dark hair gleamed under the chandeliers; his sharp features were carved from cold stone. There was a smile playing at the corner of his lips, but I saw nothing kind or warm there. Only the calculating, ruthless ruler who had destroyed my pack, my family, my life.Just you wait, Kaiden.You’ll pay fo