CHAPTER 23ATTACK RORY'S POV His eyes darkened, his grip tightening just enough to make my pulse spike.โIt does matter, Rory,โ he said, his voice low, controlledโbut I could hear the anger beneath it. โWho is the father?โI lifted my chin. โItโs none of your concern.โHis chest rose sharply. For a moment, I thought he might explode, but instead, he exhaled through his nose, stepping back like he was forcing himself to stay in control.โYouโre getting rid of it.โMy stomach dropped. I stiffened. โWhat?โHis gaze was cold, unyielding. โYou heard me.โโNo,โ I said, my voice shaking but firm. โI wonโt.โHis jaw clenched. The silence between us stretched, thick and suffocating. Then he spoke, his voice lower this time.โIf the council finds outโฆโ He exhaled sharply, raking a hand through his hair. โMy kingdom will be at risk.โ His eyes flickered with something dangerousโsomething close to desperation. โAlpha Renzo's mate carrying a humanโs child? Do you know what that means?โI said not
CHAPTER 24After warRORY'S POV I woke up feeling like my body had been trampled by a thousand wolves. My limbs ached, my throat burned, and my head pounded. The room smelled of herbs and something strongerโRenzo.He was sitting beside the bed, watching me. His expression unreadable, but his eyesโฆ dark, calculating.โYou are not dead. I wish you were.โHis voice was quiet, almost thoughtful, as if he were considering it. Then he leaned in, pressing a kiss against my hand. A mockery of tenderness.I jerked my hand away, my heart pounding. โThen why save me?โHe didnโt answer immediately. Instead, he picked up a cup from the nightstand and held it out to me. โDrink.โI hesitated, but my throat was dry, and I needed strength. I gulped it down, the liquid thick and bitter.Renzo stood, his silhouette blocking the dim torchlight. โYour wolf is not a fighter,โ he said. โOnly a healer.โ He scoffed, shaking his head. โWeak.โI clenched my fists. โWhy save me, then? You donโt need me. You cou
CHAPTER 25.ZikeRORY'S POV"Pleaseโฆ help me," I stuttered, barely aware of who else was in the room. The pain was unbearable.He stepped forward, a strange smile playing on his lips."I will gladly help you," he said.Before I could react, he lifted me and placed me on a chair. His gaze dropped to my legs, and when he saw the blood, he let out a dramatic gasp."Youโre losing a child.""Noโฆ noโฆ" My breath hitched, panic choking me.He smirked. "Itโs okay. Youโll make more."With a casual ease, he wiped the blood away, as if it meant nothing."Whoโฆ who are you?" My voice was barely a whisper."Youโll get to know soon enough."His grip tightened slightly. "But first, you need to wash the blood off."Without another word, he picked me up again, carrying me to Renzoโs bathroom. He set me down, then turned and walked out, leaving me trembling in silence.And just a few minutes later, I heard itโgrowls, snarls, the crash of furniture breaking. The room shook with the force of bodies collidi
CHAPTER 26HeirRENZO'S POVI paced the room, fists clenched, rage burning beneath my skin. Zike wasnโt supposed to be here. None of this was supposed to be happening.A loud bang on the door yanked me from my thoughts.โIn,โ I ordered, voice sharp.Elijah stepped in, his face tight with urgency.โThe council is gathered. They want you there.โI exhaled slowly, already knowing the reason. Zike.โIโll be there shortly.โI left the room, tension coiling in my chest like a storm ready to break. As I moved through the halls, my senses flaredโher scent hit me before I even saw her. Rory.She stood in the corner, her posture stiff, her eyes wary as they met mine.โFollow me to the council,โ I commanded.Her expression twisted in protest. I knew that lookโshe wanted to fight me on this.โNow.โHer lips parted, probably to argue, but she mustโve seen the warning in my gaze because she stayed silent. She always tries to counter me.Inside the council chamber, the tension was thick enough to ch
CHAPTER 27Written RENZO'S POV โYou see why you canโt be Alpha of this pack?โ Zike sneered. โYou ruin every woman you touch.โ His gaze flicked to Rory. โIsnโt that right, little mate?โRory stiffened, but I didnโt react. Not yet.An elder grunted, his fist tightening on the armrest.I let out a slow breath, my voice calm. โMy mate isnโt ruined.โ I turned my gaze to Mira. โOr at leastโฆ let her speak.โZike scoffed. โDoes it even matter? Youโve already broken her.โI clenched my jaw. He was pushing me, testing my control.โEither way,โ I said, my tone cold, โIโm not going to argue over this. This pack belongs to me.โZikeโs smirk didnโt waver. โWe both know thatโs a lie. It belongs to both of us.โHe stepped closer, lowering his voice. โSo, make your choice. Give upโฆ or we split the pack.โHis eyes gleamed with challenge. โWatch me ruin you a second time, brother.โThen he turned and stormed out.I shifted my gaze to Rory. She stood still, her eyes distant, lost in thought.โAre you o
CHAPTER 28TouchRENZO'S POVThe witch stood in my chambers, her face hidden under a dark hood. She smelled of earth and something old, something unnatural."You called for me, Alpha?" Her voice was rough, like dried leaves in the wind.I folded my arms. "I need a barrier around my pack. One that keeps everyone outโhumans, vampires, anyone who doesnโt belong."She tilted her head, a slow smile spreading across her lips. "That kind of magic isnโt simple. It comes with a cost."I stepped forward. "Name it."She lifted a thin finger and traced strange symbols in the air. A heavy energy filled the room, raising the hairs on my arms. The walls seemed to breathe, shifting ever so slightly. Then, she stopped. Her eyes darkened, as if she had seen something terrible."Your brother," she whispered.A cold feeling settled in my chest. "What about him?"Her voice dropped lower. "He let them in. The vampires. The humans. Zike."The room felt smaller. Tighter. I clenched my fists as Rory sucked in
Chapter 29FracturesRORYโS POVIt was late at night, and the castle was eerily silent except for the distant howls of wolves. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and burning torches. Elara wasnโt in the room. I could hear Renzo humming softly from his chambersโcalm, at ease, as if he hadnโt just tried to break me.A pang of something sharp twisted inside me. I shouldnโt let him control me. And yet, no matter how hard I tried, my wolf refused to obey me. She craved something I refused to name.I needed to clear my head.Pulling my cloak tighter, I wandered through the dimly lit halls until I reached the study.Inside, Ayla sat with Zike. She was laughing at something he said, her expression light and carefree. For a moment, I hesitated. It was rare to see Ayla so happy.Still, I stepped forward.โHi,โ I greeted, my voice careful.Zikeโs expression soured instantly. He leaned back in his chair, regarding me with open distaste. โYou should excuse yourself. This is a family di
CHAPTER 30 The Challenge RENZO'S POV The night air was thick with tension. Every werewolf in the pack stood gathered in the clearing, their faces drawn with unease. The torches flickered, casting restless shadows over the assembled crowd. Zike stood at the center, shoulders squared, his gaze sweeping over them like he already owned them. "Our land is threatened," he declared, his voice ringing through the air. "Renzo can no longer protect us!" A murmur of agreement rippled through the pack. I clenched my jaw. "And you can?" I stepped forward, my voice steady. Zike smirked. "At least I wonโt let our enemies walk right in. Or have you forgotten? The vampires came because of you." A growl rose from the crowd. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, ready to strike. "Watch your tongue, Zike," I warned. "You speak of betrayal, yet it was the witch who revealed the truthโyou let them in." Zikeโs expression didnโt falter. "Lies. I would never endanger my own pack." I glanced at Rory. Sh
CHAPTER 33LONGER NIGHT.ELARA'S POV He slowly moved down to my legs, gently spreading them with his hands. His lips brushed against my skin, starting from my stomach and trailing down. I couldn't stop trembling. His eyes never left mine.Before I could take another breath, his full lips were right between my thighs. His tongue circled my clit, slow and warm.I gasped, searching for air.โElijah, I can't breatheโฆโI whispered, my body shaking. I felt him smile against me, and it only made everything worse. Or better. I didnโt know. I just knew I was falling apart under his touch.My body trembled the moment his tongue touched my clit. He moved slowly at first, circling it like he had all the time in the world. My breath hitched. It felt like he was tasting every drop of me, savoring it like a starving wolf finally getting his prey.His left hand found my breast, kneading it softly, then firmer, like he knew exactly how to pull every sound from my lips. I moaned helplessly, lost in hi
CHAPTER 32ELARA'S POV USIt was night. Quiet. The only sound was the distant howl of wolves. The Alpha had ordered calm in the pack and hadnโt left his room since. No one spoke. Even the warriors moved with silence, their steps soft and slow.Rory still hadnโt woken up.My sister. Always sweet. Always selfless.A small smile broke on my lips, and then tears followed, falling fast.โIโm so sorry about your sister,โA soft voice spoke from behind me. I turned quickly. It was Mira, Alphaโs youngest mistress.โThank you,โ I said quietly, turning back to the moon.โWe loved her,โ she said.I nodded slowly. โI know.โShe stepped closer and gently placed her hand over mine.โI wish she didnโt have to die that wayโฆโโWhat?โ I turned sharply, pulling my hand away from hers.โMy sister isnโt dead.โโSheโs been like this for three days. Everyone says sheโs gone.โโAnd you think that means sheโs dead?โ I snapped, my voice hard.โYou all hated RoryโฆโโYou think I hated her?โ Her voice shook a li
CHAPTER 31ELARA'S POVFEAR.โYou killed my sister!โI screamed at Alpha Renzo. No one else dared to speak to him like that. But I didnโt care. I had waited for this moment. Waited to finally say it to his face.Rory lay still on the bed. Her eyes were pale, her chest barely rising. Ayla, that strange woman and Renzoโs sister, sat beside her, checking her like she understood anything.โSheโs dead because of you!โI shouted even louder. My voice cracked as hot tears rolled down my cheeks.For a second, I saw it. Pain in Renzoโs eyes. Fear, even. But then it disappeared. Just like that.โYou need to act like a wolf and stop screaming like a human.โHe said it coldly and walked closer to Rory.โYou can say that because you donโt know what it means to love someone.โI snapped back.He looked at me. His eyes were red, glowing like fire. But he said nothing. He just looked away.I turned back to Rory and knelt beside her. Her hand felt cold in mine. My heart ached. I didnโt understand why s
CHAPTER 30 The Challenge RENZO'S POV The night air was thick with tension. Every werewolf in the pack stood gathered in the clearing, their faces drawn with unease. The torches flickered, casting restless shadows over the assembled crowd. Zike stood at the center, shoulders squared, his gaze sweeping over them like he already owned them. "Our land is threatened," he declared, his voice ringing through the air. "Renzo can no longer protect us!" A murmur of agreement rippled through the pack. I clenched my jaw. "And you can?" I stepped forward, my voice steady. Zike smirked. "At least I wonโt let our enemies walk right in. Or have you forgotten? The vampires came because of you." A growl rose from the crowd. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, ready to strike. "Watch your tongue, Zike," I warned. "You speak of betrayal, yet it was the witch who revealed the truthโyou let them in." Zikeโs expression didnโt falter. "Lies. I would never endanger my own pack." I glanced at Rory. Sh
Chapter 29FracturesRORYโS POVIt was late at night, and the castle was eerily silent except for the distant howls of wolves. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and burning torches. Elara wasnโt in the room. I could hear Renzo humming softly from his chambersโcalm, at ease, as if he hadnโt just tried to break me.A pang of something sharp twisted inside me. I shouldnโt let him control me. And yet, no matter how hard I tried, my wolf refused to obey me. She craved something I refused to name.I needed to clear my head.Pulling my cloak tighter, I wandered through the dimly lit halls until I reached the study.Inside, Ayla sat with Zike. She was laughing at something he said, her expression light and carefree. For a moment, I hesitated. It was rare to see Ayla so happy.Still, I stepped forward.โHi,โ I greeted, my voice careful.Zikeโs expression soured instantly. He leaned back in his chair, regarding me with open distaste. โYou should excuse yourself. This is a family di
CHAPTER 28TouchRENZO'S POVThe witch stood in my chambers, her face hidden under a dark hood. She smelled of earth and something old, something unnatural."You called for me, Alpha?" Her voice was rough, like dried leaves in the wind.I folded my arms. "I need a barrier around my pack. One that keeps everyone outโhumans, vampires, anyone who doesnโt belong."She tilted her head, a slow smile spreading across her lips. "That kind of magic isnโt simple. It comes with a cost."I stepped forward. "Name it."She lifted a thin finger and traced strange symbols in the air. A heavy energy filled the room, raising the hairs on my arms. The walls seemed to breathe, shifting ever so slightly. Then, she stopped. Her eyes darkened, as if she had seen something terrible."Your brother," she whispered.A cold feeling settled in my chest. "What about him?"Her voice dropped lower. "He let them in. The vampires. The humans. Zike."The room felt smaller. Tighter. I clenched my fists as Rory sucked in
CHAPTER 27Written RENZO'S POV โYou see why you canโt be Alpha of this pack?โ Zike sneered. โYou ruin every woman you touch.โ His gaze flicked to Rory. โIsnโt that right, little mate?โRory stiffened, but I didnโt react. Not yet.An elder grunted, his fist tightening on the armrest.I let out a slow breath, my voice calm. โMy mate isnโt ruined.โ I turned my gaze to Mira. โOr at leastโฆ let her speak.โZike scoffed. โDoes it even matter? Youโve already broken her.โI clenched my jaw. He was pushing me, testing my control.โEither way,โ I said, my tone cold, โIโm not going to argue over this. This pack belongs to me.โZikeโs smirk didnโt waver. โWe both know thatโs a lie. It belongs to both of us.โHe stepped closer, lowering his voice. โSo, make your choice. Give upโฆ or we split the pack.โHis eyes gleamed with challenge. โWatch me ruin you a second time, brother.โThen he turned and stormed out.I shifted my gaze to Rory. She stood still, her eyes distant, lost in thought.โAre you o
CHAPTER 26HeirRENZO'S POVI paced the room, fists clenched, rage burning beneath my skin. Zike wasnโt supposed to be here. None of this was supposed to be happening.A loud bang on the door yanked me from my thoughts.โIn,โ I ordered, voice sharp.Elijah stepped in, his face tight with urgency.โThe council is gathered. They want you there.โI exhaled slowly, already knowing the reason. Zike.โIโll be there shortly.โI left the room, tension coiling in my chest like a storm ready to break. As I moved through the halls, my senses flaredโher scent hit me before I even saw her. Rory.She stood in the corner, her posture stiff, her eyes wary as they met mine.โFollow me to the council,โ I commanded.Her expression twisted in protest. I knew that lookโshe wanted to fight me on this.โNow.โHer lips parted, probably to argue, but she mustโve seen the warning in my gaze because she stayed silent. She always tries to counter me.Inside the council chamber, the tension was thick enough to ch
CHAPTER 25.ZikeRORY'S POV"Pleaseโฆ help me," I stuttered, barely aware of who else was in the room. The pain was unbearable.He stepped forward, a strange smile playing on his lips."I will gladly help you," he said.Before I could react, he lifted me and placed me on a chair. His gaze dropped to my legs, and when he saw the blood, he let out a dramatic gasp."Youโre losing a child.""Noโฆ noโฆ" My breath hitched, panic choking me.He smirked. "Itโs okay. Youโll make more."With a casual ease, he wiped the blood away, as if it meant nothing."Whoโฆ who are you?" My voice was barely a whisper."Youโll get to know soon enough."His grip tightened slightly. "But first, you need to wash the blood off."Without another word, he picked me up again, carrying me to Renzoโs bathroom. He set me down, then turned and walked out, leaving me trembling in silence.And just a few minutes later, I heard itโgrowls, snarls, the crash of furniture breaking. The room shook with the force of bodies collidi