KAEL'S POV "You need to get your head straight, Kael. You can't afford to be slacking now," Jayden whispers to me anxiously."I'm trying." But I'm failing so desperately.Alpha Zander always said the best way to attack a pack is by first dividing its people and turning them against themselves.I can’t help but feel this wedge between me and Diana. I can’t even stand touching her right now. I’m trying to breathe and see clearly, but I can’t.Everything and everyone feels so sensitive to me now. Doubt is all I feel whenever I speak to anyone. Who will betray me next?Is it her? It cannot be her.But I thought the same about Carden.I’m not ready. I’m not ready for this. I want to get out of this tank and scream to the goddess to take this doubt from me.I saw it. He kissed her—she didn’t kiss him—but my mind refuses to listen. It keeps telling me to leave before I get hurt again. I hear Carden’s voice against her every time I look at her, and I hate myself for it.I love her with every
DIANA'S POV“Where is everyone going?” Xiana asks as I lead her to the igloo.Enforcers and Omegas are moving towards the parked vehicles, packing in as much machinery and weaponry as we have.It’s two hours to the full moon, according to Kael. We need to be as ready and fully mounted as possible. Just two hours till I see Eric again after five years, till I see the male who raised Kael with such cruelty and, possibly, the female who's supposed to be his.“We're going for a visit. We’ll be back soon,” I semi-lie.She stares at me, not seeming to believe what I say, but nods anyway.“So why can't I follow you?! It looks like everyone is going.”“Everyone but the pups, and some females, including Doc Berny,” I counter as we walk down the stairs. “You'll stay with Doc Berny. She's with the other pups.”It’s important she stays with them, so if they invade this place and the children get injured, Bernice will be able to heal them all.“I hope Gabriel isn't going to be there?” she says, wr
DIANA'S POVI really want to punch Daemon in the face right now, but I’m frozen to the spot.The look in Kael’s eyes knocks the air out of my lungs. Nobody says anything. I don’t know if I should speak or not. I know how this must look to him.Kael swallows, looks away, and rubs his neck. “I guess I made a mistake thinking you needed my company. You look comfortable enough in his.”“Kael, I—”I barely finish my sentence before he turns around and storms off. I jerk at the sight of his bloodied back. It looks like someone clawed him.No, I need to explain things to him.“Diana,” Daemon calls as I take a step forward.My eyes darken. I turn around so hard I hear my bones crack. He’s looking at me innocently, like he didn’t just kiss me a moment ago.“Don’t you freaking call my name!” I snap. “I promise you, when I return, I’m going to kill you.”I run after Kael. When I get out the door, I stop—he’s nowhere in sight. Oh Goddess. How did he walk off so quickly?I run down the hallway lea
DIANA’S POVI pant, stretching on the bed. I know I’m ruining the sheets right now, but I don’t care, I'm so exhausted.Tomorrow is the night of the full moon, so preparations have been intense.No breakfast, no single moment of rest from dawn to dusk. The whole place has been filled with screams, groaning, and fear since morning.I had to escape from Vivian before I passed out.I grip my abdomen when pain hits me. Folding up, I groan. My whole body is a workload of pain.I really need to speak to Kael. Everyone needs rest, overworking them isn’t a good idea. At this point, I don’t think he’d listen to anything I say unless I force him down and remind him who I am, because I don’t think he recognizes anyone anymore.He snaps at everyone and everything. We haven’t slept together since Carden’s escape, which makes me wonder if he’s even slept at all.I know how he feels about all of this. Everyone else is agitated too, but I’m so worried about him. He needs to calm down and get some res
THIRD PERSON'S POVA male stood leaning against a small cabin, holding a burning cigarette in his hand.He had been waiting patiently for something… someone. People passing by looked at him strangely, they had never seen him in the pack before.Was he new to the pack?The male ran a hand through his short, scattered brown hair. Just as his patience was thinning, hope sprang into his eyes when he saw his target.Alpha Kael was walking through the forest, carrying his brat of a child on his shoulder.The male stood upright and slid his fingers into his pocket. The smile on both their faces darkened his eyes.Soon, he’d replace those smiles with sorrow. He knew the cause of such happiness, not just from both of them but from everyone here.Diana.Since she’d woken up and managed to brainwash Kael, he’d been doing things that his father would be ashamed of. He’d let a female penetrate his heart.A smirk appeared on the male’s lips. Well, he knew exactly how to get what he wanted now.He h
KAEL’S POV“Alpha Kael,” Eunice gasps in surprise when I step into the garden. “We... welcome.”All the pups' eyes snap toward me, some surprised, some scared, most a mix of both. Xiana looks at me, startled, but when our eyes meet, she quickly looks away and adjusts herself on her seat.Do I still have blood on me?I shift my gaze to Eunice. “Pardon if I interrupted your teaching.”She shakes her head quickly. “No, you didn’t. I just ended for today.”“Mhm,” I nod.She quickly glances at the pups, fidgeting. “Uh, don’t be bad pups. What did I teach you to do when you see an elder?”At once, they all stand. “Welcome, Alpha Kael!” they chorus, then bow their heads.“You may sit… thank you,” I respond firmly, though surprised.I look over at Eunice. “You’re doing a good job.”“Oh…” she bows her head. “It’s my honor.”“Look, her daddy is complimenting Teacher Eunice!” a brat whispers with a chuckle. “Xiana, he must not love your mummy anymore! My daddy never compliments any female but my