LOGINVictor’s POV Before I stepped anywhere near the black SUV, I took out my phone and dialed Arielle's number. It barely rang twice before the line connected, and the sound of frantic breathing filled the space between us. "Michael?! Victor?!" Arielle’s voice cried out through the speaker, high and trembling with sheer panic. "Oh my god, are you okay? What happened? We heard screaming and breaking glass!" Hearing the sheer terror in her voice made my chest ache with guilt. She was carrying our child, and forced to listen to chaos while helpless to do anything about it. "Arielle, baby, breathe," I said, softening my voice as much as I could. "I am here. We are both okay." "You're okay?" Arielle whispered, her voice still shaking as she tried to catch her breath. "Victor, what was that noise? The call just died. We thought... we thought someone attacked you." "A few rogues tried to cause trouble with some travelers inside the diner," I explained quickly, keeping the details simple s
Victor’s POV The background noise of the roadside diner faded into white noise the second the call went through. Sitting across from Micheal at the laminate booth, I nursed a cold drink while he chatted with his mate, leaving his phone on speaker between us on the table. Hearing Arielle’s voice through the speaker soft, warm, and tinged with the quiet worry she was trying so hard to hide, sent a familiar, grounding warmth straight through my chest. Knowing she was home, safe with her family, and carrying our unborn child was the only thing keeping my frayed edges together. We had crossed into territory ruled by an Alpha who made no secret of his methods: filling his pack ranks with desperate, unpredictable rogue wolves to build a brutal standing army. The air in the town felt thick, sour with tension, but right now, listening to Arielle ask about me, the rest of the world faded away. "Is Victor with you? How is he?" Arielle's voice hummed over the speaker. Michael smiled acro
Arielle's POV It has been days since we got back to the pack, and I’ve only heard from Victor once. The silence hung heavily over me, trailing behind my steps like an unwelcome shadow. Every time a phone rang in the distance or a door clicked open, my heart jumped into my throat, desperately hoping it was news from my mate. I knew he was on a dangerous path searching for his father, but knowing he was out there somewhere in uncharted territory did nothing to soothe the quiet ache in my chest. My anxious train of thought came to a sudden halt when the pack physician cleared her throat, gently pulling my focus back to the room. "Luna" Dr. Clara asked, her voice calm and patient. She set her clipboard down on the small metal tray beside her examination bed and looked at me with a small smile. "Do you feel any nausea in the mornings, or have you noticed any sudden fatigue?" I blinked, taking a second to process the question before shaking my head. "No, nothing extreme. Just a li
Victor's POV The morning sun rose over the camp, throwing bright light across the tents. All around us, the sounds of activity filled the air as pack warriors rolled up their sleeping tents, packed supplies, and prepared the cars for the journey back to the pack territory. Inside our tent, everything remained quiet until I felt Arielle stirring beside me. She whispered that she was going to see her parents and slipped out of her sleeping bag. Her steps were quiet and light, and she gave my hand a gentle squeeze before stepping outside into the cool morning air. I took a deep breath to collect my thoughts before stepping outside as well. I walked toward the center of the camp, where several of our fighters were standing by the cars. "Alpha," Gideon said, smiling broadly as I approached and patted my shoulder. "The troops are packed and ready to move. We have finally defeated Helen and Rowan. The threat to our land is gone, and the path is clear. You can finally step up and lead
Arielle's POV The fire crackles softly, casting dancing shadows across the tent walls. Outside, I hear the sounds of the camp settling in for the night Michael's low voice giving orders, Leo's laughter at something Gideon said, the rustle of leaves in the night breeze. But inside this small space, there's only Victor and me. He's been quiet since we made camp, his eyes distant, his mind clearly elsewhere. I watch him from across the tent, my arms wrapped around my knees, waiting for him to speak. "Victor," I finally say, my voice soft. "What's wrong?" He looks up, and I see the weight in his eyes. The grief, the guilt, the desperate hope that's been simmering beneath the surface since Selene told us about his father. "I can't stop thinking about him," he admits, his voice rough. "My father. He's been alive this whole time, and I didn't know. I mourned him, I avenged him, and he was just... there. Suffering." I cross the tent, settling beside him, my hand finding his. "We'r
Victor's POV The chains groan as I pull against them, the metal biting deep into my wrists. Blood drips down my arms, warm and slick, but I don't stop. I can't stop. Somewhere above me, the ritual is beginning. Somewhere above me, Arielle is fighting for her life. "Victor, you'll tear your hands apart!" Selene cries from the adjacent cell. "Stop!" "I can't stop!" I roar, throwing my weight against the chains. "She's up there! They're going to drain her, and I'm down here like a caged animal!" The stone behind me cracks. I feel it a hairline fracture spreading through the ancient rock. I pull harder, ignoring the pain, ignoring the blood. My wolf is howling inside me, desperate and furious, pushing me beyond my limits. "Your father did the same thing," Selene says quietly, her voice barely audible over my grunts of effort. "When they came for him. He fought so hard. He almost broke free." Her words hit me like a physical blow. "What?" "He was captured before you were born
Arielle's POVThe guy had a phone pressed to his ear but I didn't hear what he was saying. I just didn't care. I was too focused on his piercing blue eyes and his biceps standing out through the shirt he wore. He had that look that could make even the toughest pussy drip. I even had to squeeze my t
Arielle's POV"I'm taking the pink hoodie too."The sales receptionist, a slim young lady, smiled and stretched out her hand. "Let me take your card."She swiped it and waited, then swiped it again."This isn't working." She kept her voice professionally flat. "You can pay with another card.""That
Arielle’s POVThe iron gates groaned open as the car rolled up the long driveway, and the mansion came into view the same way it always did. It looked too large, too quiet, too full of things that didn’t move. Every topiary trimmed to the same perfect angle. Every window was gleaming. Nothing was
Arielle's POVWhen I woke up, Victor wasn't on the bed.I got up slowly, still feeling the ache in my lower abdomen from last night. I hadn't showered after, I still smelled like Victor’s strong cologne and sex.Memories from last night rushed through my head, fuck! I had to admit that Victor did t







