LOGINHarley’s P.O.V.We left the Laynox castle just as the sun dipped toward the horizon, staining the sky in deep shades of crimson and gold colors, too beautiful for a goodbye that felt this heavy.The iron gates loomed before us, tall and imposing, as if silently reminding us that once we crossed them, there would be no turning back.My chest tightened at the realization that I would never be able to step foot here ever again. So much had happened within those walls, and leaving it all of a sudden felt so abrupt, like a part of my soul was ripped away from me. Pain, fear, warmth, kindness, and every emotion tangled together until I could barely separate them. Despite everything Henry had done, despite Lucian’s cruelty, Carlos’s family had carved a space in my heart, especially Aunt Freya. It would be nice to see her one last time.I slowed my steps unconsciously, my eyes scanning the vast courtyard to search for the people who made me feel at home. No Freya, no Aaron, or Arnold to bo
Harley’s P.O.V.The atmosphere inside Lucian’s study was suffocating. Carlos and I stood side by side before the massive oak desk, like criminals awaiting judgment from the court. Lucian sat behind it, his back straight, hands folded neatly. His sharp gaze was fixed on me with unsettling intensity. He didn’t offer us seats. He didn’t even acknowledge Carlos at all. Instead, he just stared. Staring at us with a piercing gaze continuously. My palms grew damp. Inside me, my lycan stirred restlessly, pacing and sensing danger. “Be ready,” Raven warned, her voice low and alert, filled with so much intensity and authority. The silence stretched unbearably until Carlos finally broke it, tired of unnecessary suspense.“Why did you call us here now?” He asked, his tone calm but firm.Lucian’s eyes flicked to him slowly, then he narrowed them at us. “You know very well why I called you here.”I glanced at Carlos, worried and tense. Carlos squeezed my hand briefly, a silent reassurance, and
Harley’s P.O.V.Carlos’s voice was so raw, so unguarded that it pierced straight through my heart. I could feel his guilt and pain as my own, his every word dripping with raw honesty. He wasn’t an alpha or a calculative leader while pouring his heart out in front of me. In that moment, he was just Carlos. The man whose one glance captivated me completely at the moon bar that night.He spoke in a shaky voice, his tone deep yet laced with countless emotions.“You remained patient with me, Harley. You compromised; you gave me chance after chance to become better.”His jaw clenched as his crimson eyes darkened. “But in the end, I couldn’t change. I didn't have the guts to improve. What everyone says is true. I am a monster, Harley.” My breath hitched at his words filled with self-hate and disgust. That was what I feared the most. The darkness tended to engulf Carlos as a whole whenever he hated himself.His hands slipped from my shoulders as he stepped back, dragging a shaky breath from
Harley’s P.O.V.Silence!“I asked where Carlos is,” I repeated it when no one answered me, hoping to get a reply. Honestly speaking, I meant to say it calmly, but it didn’t come out that way. A low, thunderous growl rolled out of my chest, vibrating the air, rattling the glass on the windows.Everyone in the room froze at once.Lena’s smile vanished. Freya stiffened. Her sons gawked at me wide-eyed. Only Derek was the one who took my growl normally.He reacted first and straightened slowly, his gaze sharpening. It was not on my face but on my eyes. His pupils dilated, his body tensing as his wolf surged forward.“Wait a minute,” he muttered under his breath. “That aura… it's compelling.”He looked directly into my eyes, and then his body shook uncontrollably.Gasping loudly, Derek took a step back as if struck by lightning, his shoulders bowing. His head lowered instinctively, spine bending in a way I had never seen before.Submission.My stomach dropped at once. “Derek?” I asked, pan
Harley’s P.O.V.Pain was the first thing I felt when I opened my eyes. My vision was blurry, and my head hurt from the dull ache I was feeling. That ache was not sharp enough to make me scream, nor dull enough to ignore. It lived inside my bones, deep and relentless, as if my body had been torn apart and stitched back together by unskilled hands. A weak groan escaped my lips when I tried to move, “Did I get run over by a truck or ten of them?” I muttered hoarsely as the pain completely settled in. My eyes were still knitted close from the pain. And before I could open them fully, a voice reached me from within my head as a whisper.“Relax.” A chill ran down my spine as it sounded like me. Like it was my voice, my tone, but stripped of all the warmth. It sounded cold, controlled, and almost inhumane.“The pain will subside,” it continued calmly, “You are awake now.”What the hell?My heart thumped as my eyes flew open in panic. I was in my room, the familiar stone walls
Carlos’s P.O.V.The world seemed to stop altogether as I looked down and found an obsidian-tipped arrow jutted from Harley’s back. Black veins spread rapidly through her fur where it pierced flesh, making my heart pound crazily against my rib cage. It wasn’t even a mystery to me who would be so cruel to attack my innocent mate like that!“No!” I yelled in agony and grabbed the other arrow hurled at her midair, my body shaking with fear. Fury erupted like a storm inside me, my vision staining red as I spun and spotted my Grandpa Lucian from some distance. He stood there with his elite guards, holding that deadly bow with poison laced arrows. I groaned, “He has to come now! Why can’t I just protect my mate from my own family?”The words tore out of me in raw frustration as I felt Harley’s weight sag fully against my arms. My heart pounded violently, every instinct screaming to shield her, to undo the damage that had already been done.Carefully, I lowered her to the ground, easing he




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