« CLARA » The air in the corridor of the pack house becomes thick with tension. "Shantel, why don't you mind your business and leave this place," Ravenanna snaps at her, stepping forward in front of me. Seeing her defending me, I feel a wave of gratitude toward my best friend, but the situation seems to be spiraling out of control as Shantel scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest. She’s standing a few feet away from me, her gleaming green gaze settling on me, and her lips curling into a sneer. "Ravenanna, are you openly going against me because of this evil wolf?" she spits, her eyes narrowing on me. I stiffen, hearing her directly calling me an ‘evil Wolf’ causes a chill to run down my spine. Surely, the news about who I truly was was beginning to spread so fast like wildfire in the Rogue pack. If not, how did she know? "Stop, Shantel!" Ravenanna's voice cuts through my thoughts, and she snaps angrily at her. "I know Clara, she's not an evil wolf, so stop spreading rumors."
«CLARA» I lower my head, visibly relieved that it has all ended.Ravenanna limps over to me, her arm still pressing against her wound. "Are you okay?" she asks, concern softening her face."I should be the one asking you that," I reply softly, reaching out to touch her arm. "Rav, you got hurt because of me, I beg you not to ever do it again.""Clara, Shantel is a bitch!" She snaps, still fuming. "I won’t stand by and let her or anyone talk about you like that."I sigh. "Thank you, Rav. But I need to figure this out on my own. If staying here puts the people in danger or makes enemies within it, I’ll leave. I won’t let anyone get hurt because of me, I'm not worth it."Ravenanna grounds her teeth but doesn’t argue further with me. Instead, she nears me, careful not to jostle her injury. "Come on, let's get you settled in."I nod but before leaving, I turn my wheelchair and face Brandon. "If you don't mind, could you please bring the first aid box for me?""Of course, I don't mind," Bra
«CLARA» The silence in the room is deafening. Staring down at the book, my hands tremble I brush my thumb over the drawing on the page. It's the drawing of a crescent red moon, the very mark that has defined my fate for as long as I can remember.Traveling my eyes downward beneath the drawing, I carefully read every word written below, each one seeping deep into my chest.Years ago, before the arrival of the next generation, a prophecy foretold the coming of a special child born under the red Moon. She's born of true selflessness and love and would possess a unique power capable of uniting and strengthening all the werewolf packs. She shall bear the crescent red moon mark on her arm. Not everyone will have it, as the mark is rare, special, and powerful.Wait… what?I gasp, shocked, my heart pounding so hard I think it might burst out of my chest.My breath hitches as I reread the words, trying to make sense of them. Could it be true?“This…” I trail off, murmuring to myself, shak
« ADRIAN »Tonight is the annual pack celebration, a grand event that brings together alphas and their packs from across the countries.The cool evening air brushes against my face as I walk toward the Pack Hall with long strides, one hand in my pocket and the other absently scrolling through my phone. As I approach the entrance, the pack guards bow deeply at me. I pocket my phone and nod at them before stepping inside.The grand hall is alive with music and laughter. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling, casting a warm glow that reflects off the polished floors and glittering decorations.The moment I enter, the chatter dies down, and all eyes turn to me. One by one, they stop what they’re doing and bow, showing their respect to me… the Alpha King.My black tailored suit and towering build make me stand out among the crowd. I exude authority as I move through the hall, exchanging brief pleasantries with other alphas. My senses are sharp, picking up every sound and movement around me.
« THIRD’s POV »Ophelia slips back into the bustling grand Hall, her eyes searching for Adrian, but she can't find him.Earlier, she had expected him to run after her when she deliberately ran away. She wanted Adrian him to chase after her. But he didn't. Disappointment rises in her chest.For once, she had believed that their relationship had improved. Or was it all her illusion? Does Adrian still think about Clara?Ophelia's eyes turn cold at the thought of it. Just then, she catches sight of her mother walking towards her from across the hall. Tiara reaches her daughter, her eyes full of concern. “Ophelia, where have you been?”With a flick of her wrist, Ophelia quickly wipes away any signs of distress from her face. She doesn’t want her mother, or the guests, to notice anything out of the ordinary. “Nothing, Mother,” she replies with a forced smile.Tiara sighs and begins to redo Ophelia’s hair. “Your father and I have been looking for you. Where is Adrian?” she asks, her ey
« CLARA »Days pass, and I am finally getting better. My legs have healed, and I no longer need the wheelchair. It feels good to stand on my own again, to walk without help. Savanna and Ravenanna have been by my side through it all, making sure I recover well. They never leave me alone, always making sure I eat, rest, and heal properly. I am grateful to have them. Without them, I wasn’t sure how I would get through this.Now, I am in the rogue pack’s library, surrounded by books loaded up high on the wooden table in front of me. I have been coming here every day since I learned the truth about the crescent moon mark on my arm. Everything I had been told, everything I had suffered for a month now, was built on lies. I wasn't the evil Wolf but someone else was. But that is not enough. Although I'm getting closer to the truth, I could sense there was more to the story, I can feel it in my bones. For some reason, I’m curious to know who she is and I'm bent on finding out. I narrow
« THIRD POV »After Ravenanna was out, neither of them spoke and silence filled the office. Clara’s palms became sweaty, and her mind couldn’t stop wondering what kind of man had saved her that fateful night. The stories she’d heard painted this man in front of her as a cold-hearted monster, yet he had shown her mercy by saving her life when she needed it most.But could he be any more ruthless than Adrian Blackwater?Impossible. Adrian was known to be the most inhumane and ill-tempered man to ever walk on earth. His fame as the King Of Wolves wasn't for decoration. “How have you been faring?” Lusaka finally asked, looking at the woman in front of him but this time, his voice was surprisingly softer than before.Clara blinked, caught off guard by the gentlemanliness in his tone. Had she heard correctly? The same man who exuded dominance and cold authority just now sounded… gentle? Gone was his coldness, now he suddenly appeared approachable. Does he have a double personality di
«CLARA»I stare at Lusaka, my breath catching in my throat.Did I hear correctly?"You can't be serious," I whisper, staring at him like he has lost his mind.But the way he looks back at me, calm, unwavering, completely sure of himself tells me otherwise."Oh, I am serious," he smirks, leaning forward in his chair and staring at me piercingly. Shaking my head, I try to process his words. Be his mistress? Bear his pups? I came here expecting a casual conversation. But this? This is something else entirely."You want revenge, don't you?"I swallow hard.Yes, I want revenge. I want to see Tiara and Ophelia crawl on their knees, begging for mercy. I want Adrian to feel the same heartbreak he made me suffer. I want the entire world to burn for what they did to me.But at what cost?"I can give you power, my protection, my resources, but everything has a price," he continued leisurely. I clench my fists, my nails digging into my palms. A price.And that price is me.Without hesitation,
«THIRD POV»"Adrian, wait!” That was Clara’s voice, speaking to Adrian’s wolf. However, Magnus was already blinded by resentment, so much all he yearned for was to get his revenge on Marcus Wolf! Meanwhile, Marcus lay flat on the ground outside the hall, bleeding and barely breathing. His once-proud wolf form now looked weak, trembling and broken. Blood soaked into the dirt beneath him, and his fur was ripped in many places. “Haha, scared to kill me?” He growled lowly, his voice full of tease, but the sound held no strength.“I want to torture you so hard you'd beg for death before I kill you, Marcus…” Magnus stood tall above him. His body was huge, muscles stretched tight with rage. His eyes glowed gold, wild and burning with fury. His chest rose and fell heavily, breath coming in rough puffs. He wanted to kill. To end this. To rip Marcus apart just as Marcus had done to his father! He lowered his head, lips pulling back to reveal long, deadly teeth.One bite. That’s all it w
«THIRD POV»Marcus froze in place, his eyes growing wide with fear as Adrian walked into the hall. “T-this is impossible,” he stammered, voice shaking. He took a slow step back, like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.The other alphas standing beside him also started backing away. Their proud faces turned pale, and their bodies tensed as if danger had just entered the hall. Disbelief was written on their faces. Clara noticed their sudden change. Confused, she looked from one alpha to another. Why were they scared of Adrian so intensely? Could something have happened before they attacked the Dark Howl pack? Something she didn’t know yet… Andromeda, who always looked calm and full of control, suddenly snapped. “This can’t happen!” she shouted, her eyes sharp with anger and shock as she rushed toward Adrian. “How did you get out of the silver chains?!” Clara gasped loudly, her eyes jumping to Adrian. “Silver chains?” she whispered to herself in disbelief. Fear and then wor
«CLARA’S POV»The hall was growing heavy with silence.“I don’t have to explain anything to you!” Jasmine snapped, standing tall again. Then I caught her hand twitched toward her knife. BANG. My bullet tore through her shoulder before she could move. She screamed, collapsing against the wall. "YOU CRAZY—""Next one goes between your eyes," I said calmly. "Talk." Lusaka eyess widened in realization and he stormed forward, his claws out. "Who else knew?" Jasmine's bloody grin was answer enough. "Too late." Shit. We'd walked right into a trap! Before I could reply, another voice entered the hall.“Well, well, well…”Magnus.He walked in with slow, confident steps like he owned the world. His hands behind his back like a man going for a leisure stroll. Behind him, more footsteps followed. Heavy boots. I felt the ground vibrate as they came closer.The rest of the Alphas walked in after him, one by one, their pack warriors surrounding us from all sides.Alpha Cyrus from the Nor
«CLARA’S POV»Night had fully fallen. The sky was dark like a giant black beast, spreading over everything.The air was cold and quiet. Every step we took was careful. Silent. The leaves under our feet barely made a sound.We had moved deep into the woods until we finally reached the Dark Howl pack border."Wait." I raised my hand to stop everyone. We crouched behind the tall trees. Up ahead, I could see the patrolling guards. Ten of them, walking slowly, talking in low voices, not alert at all."Finish them." One command from me and I nodded at the small group of rogues I had sent ahead. They moved like shadows. Silent and Quick. One by one, they crept up behind the ten patrolling guards. One guard stood watch, yawning. He never felt the hand clamp over his mouth. Never saw the blade flash in the moonlight. A quick jerk—sharp and deep. His body sagged before he could make a sound. Another guard turned, sensing something wrong. Too late. A rogue was already behind him. One hand
«CLARA’S POV»The sun was still up in the sky yet the woods were too quiet. I stepped out of the last SUV, my boots crunching on dry leaves.We had stopped at a hidden spot not too far from Dark Howl Pack. The trees were thick here, and the wind moved in the opposite direction, keeping our scents covered. It was the safest place to camp before the fight. The area we camped in was a wide clearing covered in dry leaves. There were at least fifteen black SUVs parked around, some with their doors still open. Warriors were already scattered around the place. Some were sitting on stones and old tree trunks, eating packed food. Others were talking in low voices, trying to keep their spirits high. A few were checking their weapons. One was even telling jokes, and the others near him laughed, though it was easy to hear the tension beneath it.I walked beside Lusaka as we headed toward the center of the clearing. The moment the warriors saw us, they stood quickly and bowed. Even the ones who
«ADRIAN’S POV»The sound of clashing swords and sparring feet paused the moment I stepped onto the training grounds. Everyone stopped. Every head turned. I didn’t waste time.“Listen up!” I shouted, my voice echoing across the open field. “First person to tell me where Ryan really is gets promoted to head guard!”I know am no longer Alpha of the pack but that doesn't mean I have no power. Anyone who knew Adrian Blackwaters know he's ruthless and can be just as cruel. The silence stretched too long.Then a small voice from the back: "They took him to the cells." My blood went cold. I stepped forward, locking eyes with the female warrior who spoke. “Who did?”The female warrior stepped forward too, shaking but determined. "Marcus. Three nights ago. Said Ryan was a traitor." I didn’t wait for anything else.I ran.The prison cells were buried deep under the east wing. They smelled like old metal and dried blood. The walls dripped with damp, and the air felt heavy.I didn’t bother w
«ADRIAN’S POV»I drove back to Dark Howl Pack in silence.The road felt longer than before. My hands stayed tight on the wheel, my jaw locked the whole time. I didn’t want to think. I didn’t want to feel. Not right now.Driving through the forest, the trees blurring past my window. The closer I got to Pack, the heavier my chest felt. Finally, I reached the border and slowed down. The delta patrolling guards standing watch looked uneasy. Their eyes shifted between each other before landing on me. One of them even staggered back a little. I frowned but kept driving. Maybe they were just surprised to see me. I had been gone for days without notice.Still, something felt off.When I reached the packhouse, the feeling grew stronger. People stopped what they were doing. A group of young wolves training near the field all turned to look at me. I saw gasps. Some of them even bowed late like they didn’t expect me. My pack never acted like this before. Just silence and… worry.I gradually par
«CLARA’S POV»The morning air was cool and gentle as I strolled around through the Rogue’s pack town. The grass was still wet from the early dew, and a faint breeze brushed against my skin.A few rogue members passed by, stopping in their tracks when they saw me. Heads bowed, respectfully.With each greeting, I nodded back with a small, forced smile.It still felt strange sometimes—to be looked at like that. With admiration. With trust. Because it hadn’t always been this way.Not long ago, they hated me.Back when I first came here… they feared me. They whispered behind my back. The cursed wolf. A danger. A mistake.I was the outsider. The doom-bringer. The one they wanted gone.Only a handful had treated me kindly. A few saw beyond the fear and stories. A few believed I was something more.Now, everything had changed.Now? Now they called me Queen of the Rogues.The irony wasn’t lost on me. They looked at me like I mattered. Like I belonged.Because I had proved myself. I had fough
«ADRIAN POV»My shoulders tensed, but I turned. Moonlight cut across Lusaka’s face, revealing an expression I’d never seen before—something almost like respect. "You’re really leaving?" He tilted his head, studying me. "Just like that?" I swallowed hard, my gaze flickering past him to where Clara still stood below in the training ground. "I told you. She’s yours to protect now."Lusaka surprised me then. He laughed—not his usual mocking chuckle, but something quieter. Almost tired. "Gods, you’re stubborn." He ran a hand through his hair. "You think I don’t see what this is costing you?"I didn’t answer. The truth sat like a stone in my throat: Everything. It’s costing me everything. Below us, Clara bent to pick up her water flask, her movements slower now. Exhausted. Lusaka followed my gaze, his voice dropping. "I’ll protect her, Adrian. You have my word." When I stiffened, he added, "Not because you asked. Because she’s worth protecting. After all, she's my wife." Something i