EDWARD’S POV The car rolled to a stop in front of the courthouse. As we stepped out, I pulled Clara close, keeping her shielded against the growing frenzy outside. Hundreds of reporters swarmed the entrances, cameras flashing. Onlookers bowed in respect as we pushed through the path made for us. “Alpha Edward!” Voices called out, desperate for my attention. I gave a curt nod to them, tightening my grip on Clara to keep her from being swallowed by the crowd. The guards at the entrance swung the doors open as we approached. I led Clara inside, our lawyer following closely behind. We took our seats at the front of the courtroom. I signaled to my lawyer, my voice kept low. “Any updates from Nathaniel’s legal team?” I asked, scanning the room for him. “None, Alpha,” he replied, shaking his head. Then, he added, “But you have nothing to worry about. This case will be over sooner than you think. Alpha Bennett will surely be convicted.” I gave a firm nod and turned away, reac
CLARA’S POV As soon as we stepped into Edward’s study and the door shut behind us, he lashed out, kicking the table with enough force to send it crashing across the room. I flinched, instinctively stepping back. My wide eyes took in his red face, the veins bulging along his neck. I had never seen him this angry before. Nate had done this. He had pushed Edward to the edge. Swallowing hard, I took slow steps toward him. He dragged a hand down his face, cursing under his breath, his eyes bloodshot. “Edward,” I called softly, my heart hammering. He didn’t respond, and turned his back to me, shoulders rising and falling. Carefully, I closed the distance between us and wrapped my arms around him, pressing my cheek against his back. He went still, the only sound in the room being his labored breathing. “It’s okay,” I said, my eyes slipping shut. I could feel his pain, the sting of being deceived, and humiliated in court because I shared it with him. Nate had outplayed us,
EDWARD’S POV I paced the hallway, fear coiling in my gut, my fingers shaking in panic. My eyes flicked toward the closed door, waiting and hoping for it to open. For the doctor or better yet, Clara. From the moment I found her in the bathroom, her face pale and hands around her stomach, I knew something was wrong. She hadn’t tried to hide it either, asking for the doctor immediately. We both suspected the same thing, though neither of us dared to voice it, afraid to get our hopes dashed. That had been over half an hour ago. Now, the doctor was inside, running the test, while I was left out here, my thoughts threatening to explode inside me. My heart pounded against my ribs, my hands clenched and unclenched at my sides. Every glance at my wristwatch only deepened my frustration. How long could it possibly take? I had imagined this moment before, countless times, but now that it was real, I was unprepared. I didn’t expect to feel this worried, my entire body thrumming with te
CLARA’S POV I watched as several maids entered the garden, carrying bags of gifts. “Oh, my,” I exclaimed, clapping a hand over my mouth as I picked up one of the gifts, examining it with joy. Edward sat across from me in the pavilion, watching intently as I admired the gifts, his smile mirroring my own. “I hope you like them,” he said. I glanced up, nodding eagerly. “I love them, Edward. Thank you.” I couldn’t believe he had gone all out, showering me with all kinds of gifts just to celebrate my pregnancy. I picked up another box from the pile in front of me and unwrapped it, my eyes widening at the sight of the most beautiful veil I’d ever seen. The silk tulle gleamed in the sunlight and I was sure it must have cost a fortune. Clutching it to my chest, I raised my head to meet Edward’s gaze, a wide smile spreading across my face. “Oh, Edward,” I gushed, shaking my head. “This is truly beautiful. Thank you so much.” He waved a hand dismissively, a smile tugg
EDWARD’S POV “People are reacting to the court case involving Nathaniel Bennett,” Jaxon said, stealing a glance at me over the papers in my hands. I sighed and sat up, tossing the documents onto the desk. No matter how hard I tried to steer clear of anything concerning Nathaniel, no matter the promises I made to myself to stay out of his mess, somehow, his name kept surfacing, circling back to me like a curse I couldn’t shake. It was exhausting. Groaning, I shut my eyes, a dull headache already starting to press at my temples. “What exactly are they saying?” I asked, looking up. “Is it serious enough that I should care?” He hesitated, clearing his throat, and I gave him a sharp look, silently urging him to get on with it. “Well?” I pressed. Jaxon shifted on his feet, clearly uneasy. “Some people… they’re blaming you for Serena Carter’s death.” My brows lifted, the muscles in my face hardening. “Blaming me?” I asked, my irritation rising. “And why the hell would the
EDWARD’S POV I felt agitation course through my veins as I paced about the hallway restlessly, keeping my eyes on the door and watching as nurses trooped in and out of the medical wing. I heard a sniffling sound just close to the doors, and I paused, listening closely. “Luna Clara, please get well soon.” It was Lydia’s voice, and it sounded like she was crying. “We have so much to do!” she cried, hiccuping in between. “That’s enough, Lydia,” Jaxon’s voice rang almost immediately. “Luna Clara is going to be okay. You’re crying a river like she’s dead.” “I’m just worried about her!” she whined, the tears still in her voice. “It’s not like you know a thing about being pregnant.” “Well, do you?” he returned, and that was when her crying got louder. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the wall, trying to shut out their voices. But I was just numb all over, the new development with Clara weakening me to my bones. I was feeling different emotions all at once. A
NATE’S POV I watched as my lawyer poured me a glass of wine, a satisfied smile tugging at my lips. “I told you my plan would work,” I said as he settled back into his chair, smoothing down his tie with the same smug expression I wore. He nodded, lifting his own glass. “Worked like a charm, just as you envisioned.” “You’re brilliant, my love,” Isla chimed in from the corner of the office. “Everyone’s talking about it across the territory. No one else could’ve pulled that off.” I rose to my feet, exhaling deeply as I ran a hand over my already slicked-back hair. “What can I say?” I said with a scoff. “Everything I’ve been working toward was achieved in a single move. It was so easy to get it done too.” I turned. “You’ve heard what they’re saying about Edward, right?” I asked, glancing down at my lawyer. He nodded. “People are talking about how he’s abusing his power, how his jealousy is driving him crazy. And your ex-wife? They finally see how bitter she really is.
CLARA’S POV “Congratulations, Luna Clara,” Luna Patricia said, towering over me with a wide smile on her face. “Thank you,” I replied, smiling back as I reached up to take the gift she offered. I was still very sick, my head pounding. I shouldn’t have been out of bed yet, but this was something I had to do before the upcoming banquet, which was only a few days away. Edward had wanted to cancel everything, but I refused. I didn’t want anyone to question his place as Alpha or damage his reputation just because of a little gift rite that every Luna has successfully done. As Luna Patricia stepped away, another woman walked up, her face tight with a dry smile. “Congratulations, Luna,” she said, handing me a wrapped box. “Thank you,” I said again, rising slowly to take the gift. But the moment her eyes dropped to my stomach, her forced smile vanished. I accepted the gift without saying anything, pretending not to notice her reaction. Even during a celebration, there were
Clara’s POV Henry and I stared at each other for what felt like forever, my eyes burning with anger, his full of something else. Maybe surprise that I wanted to see him. Finally, he sighed, leaning back with a shrug. “Fine. I’ll tell you, since you’re so desperate to know.” I couldn’t help the small sigh of satisfaction that slipped from me as I leaned back in my seat, folding my arms. “I’m all ears.” “But first,” he said, smiling, “Why are you so covered up?” He raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Let me guess, you don’t want to be seen with me?” I shot him a glare, my lips pressing into a tight line. “That’s not important right now.” He shrugged again, biting back a laugh. He signaled the waitress, ordering an iced coffee and a bagel, then leaned forward, clasping his hands on the desk. I watched him, trying to decide if I could trust anything that came from the mouth of someone so… off. There was something unsettling about him with each se
CLARA’S POV A rush of adrenaline coursed through my veins. My eyes flew open, and I could feel something stirring deep inside me: a soft, steady thumping. Was that… my wolf? Lying against Edward’s chest, I lifted my fingers to my neck, gently caressing the bite mark. Then my hand drifted to my chest, pausing over my heart, feeling the pulse beneath my skin. Yes… that was truly my wolf. “Clara…” A faint, almost whispering voice called to me, and I jolted upright, clutching my chest as my heart hammered wildly. Was that her voice? Edward stirred beside me, his gaze sharp and cautious as he watched me. “Is everything okay?” I nodded shakily, rubbing my palms against my chest to steady myself. “Yeah, I… I think I just heard my wolf’s voice.” My words were breathless, disbelief still clinging to them. Edward’s eyes widened, and he quickly propped himself up. His hand gently covered mine, his touch warm and comforting. “And I think I can feel her too,” I added, my voice barely a
CLARA’S POV I leaned against the balcony railing, looking down at the patio below. For a brunch we’d thrown together just days ago, the turnout was incredible. Like Lydia suggested, I had to put myself out there before launching my company and the first step was this brunch for women in business. Lydia had sent out invitations and they’d shown up in numbers. More than I expected. More than I could have hoped for. I was impressed and grateful. And, if I was being honest, a little on edge. The patio was packed with at least two hundred women, maybe more, each one a business owner from different packs. Soft music drifted from the speakers, mingling with the low hum of conversation. On one side, rows of neatly arranged tables stretched out, white cloths draped over them, wine glasses catching the sunlight. The whole setup looked… perfect. I ran a hand over my dress, taking in the scene when Lydia’s voice suddenly cut through my thoughts. “Luna,” she said from behind me,
CLARA’S POV I leaned against the balcony railing, looking down at the patio below. For a brunch we’d thrown together just days ago, the turnout was incredible. Like Lydia suggested, I had to put myself out there before launching my company and the first step was this brunch for women in business. Lydia had sent out invitations and they’d shown up in numbers. More than I expected. More than I could have hoped for. I was impressed and grateful. And, if I was being honest, a little on edge. The patio was packed with at least two hundred women, maybe more, each one a business owner from different packs. Soft music drifted from the speakers, mingling with the low hum of conversation. On one side, rows of neatly arranged tables stretched out, white cloths draped over them, wine glasses catching the sunlight. The whole setup looked… perfect. I ran a hand over my dress, taking in the scene when Lydia’s voice suddenly cut through my thoughts. “Luna,” she said from behind me,
NATE’S POV I got home late, the weight of the day still hanging off my shoulders. Amanda’s arrival had gone smoother than I expected, and now it was time to deal with the loose ends. One, in particular, had overstayed her welcome. Isla. She was on the couch, curled up like she owned the place, watching TV and eating grapes. As if she wasn’t the biggest disappointment of the year. I didn’t wait for her to notice I was home. “You’re done,” I said flatly as soon as I entered. She looked up at me, confused for half a second. “What?” And then, like she suddenly remembered I was just coming back, she stood up, drawing close to me. “You’re late today. Work must have been stressful.” She moved to touch my face but I hit her hand away. “You’re leaving tonight.” I told her firmly, trying not to sound irritated as I felt. “You failed to do the one thing I kept you here for. You’re useless now.” She paused, as if trying to make sense of what I said. “Excuse me?” “You couldn’t
EDWARD’S POV Just as more emergency vehicles were pulling into the hospital wing of the Estate, I rushed in through the main entrance, feeling even more frustrated. I hurried into the wing, my eyes quickly catching the panic in the air. I looked around the hallways, filled with people groaning on both my left and right. Most of them were throwing up badly, dropping to their knees. It was complete chaos in here. I saw some doctors and nurses helping the poisoned victims who were too weak to move, guiding them into the wards. As I moved quickly through the hallways, I noticed almost every ward was packed full of sick people. This was horrible. What made it even more disturbing and upsetting was that most of the people vomiting so terribly were important figures in the territory—Alphas and Lunas of high ranks. I shook my head at the sight, my fingers curling into fists at my sides, wanting nothing more than to catch whoever was behind this. Even while I was worried ab
Nate’s POV “Henry Sterling, cousin to Edward Sterling, the Alpha of the territory, has just been arrested as the culprit behind the kidnap of Luna Clara, and the sabotaging events that had taken place these past few weeks.” I stared at the T.V screen, rage and agitation coursing through me, my eyes burning. “This happened earlier today,” the broadcaster continued, “after the culprit had moved into the estate and harassed the Luna, threatening to kill—“ I switched off the television, not wanting to hear any more of that. I let out a huge sigh, tapping my feet against the floor. What the hell was going on? I mean, generally, and with me… I couldn’t deny that I was scared, really scared, especially after this news I’d just seen. How come things kept going well for Edward and Clara? They had somehow discovered the person behind her kidnap, and I was scared now that they might catch up to me soon enough. My mind was not at ease, at all. Henry Sterling…so it had been him
Clara’s POV I stared down at the blood trickling down my thighs, my heart pounding. My eyes blurred, and tears began to fill them, making it hard to see. What was causing this blood? Why was I bleeding so suddenly? Where was it coming from? I slowly turned my gaze up to Edward’s face, seeing that he looked just as shocked and scared as I felt. His eyes widened as he took in the sight of my bloodied thighs and the soaked sheets beneath me. “Edward…” I whispered, my voice breaking as the weight of fear settled heavily in my chest. “Get the doctor!” Edward suddenly yelled, his voice sharp with panic. A guard rushed in, looking confused. “Alpha?” “Get the doctor, now!” Edward’s voice was desperate, and his panic spread across his face. He bolted to his feet, lifting me into his arms with a gentleness that didn’t match the urgency of the situation. Without hesitation, he carried me out of the room, half-sprinting down the hall to his own room. “Edward,” I whimpered, my ches
Clara’s POV I stretched slowly, letting my body ease into the morning. The soreness in my muscles reminded me that since I became pregnant, I barely exercised. I reached up, rolling my shoulders back, when I heard the door open behind me. “Lydia?” I called without turning. “It’s me, Luna Clara,” she answered, her voice sharper than usual. I glanced over my shoulder. She stood just inside the doorway, her face drawn tight as she bit her bottom lips. I straightened up. “What happened?” She hesitated, then walked closer, lowering her voice. “I heard something… from Jaxon.” She said, looking nervous. “He said I couldn’t tell you but…..it’s important.” My stomach tensed. What on earth would be so important that Jaxon didn’t want me to know? My heart pounded fast, my mouth dry as I tried not to think that something bad had happened to Edward. “What did he say?” I asked. “Is Edward okay?” Lydia glanced toward the hallway, like she was checking to make sure we were al