Clara’s POV It was a beautiful evening, and the air seemed serene, although there was still a strange aura that hung low, permeating the serenity. It’s been around since all these things have been happening… I was taking a stroll around the Estate with Lydia, trying to get some air, and filter my thoughts, exercise a little also, as my pregnancy require I walked around every now and then, but it wasn’t really working, because this strange aura in the air made me feel uneasy. Edward was barely speaking to me, and although I understood that it was because he was really busy, it still kind of annoyed me. Plus I wasn’t feeling my best these days, all thanks to the pregnancy. I let out a deep sigh, wishing that everything would go back to how it used to be before. Before the pregnancy. Before the attacks. Before all these calamities. “Luna, are you okay?” Lydia’s voice rang out beside me, infiltrating my thoughts, and I turned to look at her. “Hmm?” She pressed on, her brows
Clara’s POV The night of the ball was already upon us, and I stood at the front of the hall, my gaze sweeping across it. The security tonight seemed really tight, tighter than ever, and before anyone came into the hall, they were properly scrutinized and checked by the guards at the door. No one without an authentic invitation would be let into the hall, that had been the instruction. And once the ball starts in full session, the doors will be shut. I exhaled, already in good spirits, because it seemed like we’d executed a good plan this time. And everything seemed to be going smoothly so far… Tonight will be good, for a change. I glanced at Edward, who stood beside me in a polished tux, his displeasure still very evident in his face. But I was sure that displeasure would only last a while, as he would be duly impressed with how things turn out tonight. “You look beautiful,” he whispered, still keeping his eyes at the entrance, and I smiled at how observant he was, even wh
Edward’s POV I whirled around, my heart shattering into thousand tiny splinters. “What did you say?” I ground out, my jaw ticking terribly. “T-the Luna,” Jacob stuttered, keeping his head bent. “She’s missing.” Oh, no, no. This had to be a joke. Was this a surprise Clara had prepared? I could barely contain the blinding rage that coursed through my veins, setting me on a dangerous brink, and grunting, I rammed my feet into the table in my office with so much rage that it went flying against the chair in the corner, breaking in two. Jaxon and the few guards that stood around scooted to the side, avoiding being hit by my destructive anger, their faces twisted into sad expressions that somehow pissed me off even more. This was not the time to be sad. No. “Tell me,” I pointed at the guards, my fingers trembling, “where is my wife?” No one said a word in response to my question, instead scooting further backwards, a mixture of fear and sadness clouding their features.
Clara’s POV I slowly regained my consciousness, my eyelids quivering as I struggled to peel my eyes open. I was numb all over, weak to my bones. Sharp rays of sunlight hit my eyes as they peeled open, and I tried to move, getting away from the sharp rays. That was when I realized I couldn’t move. Looking down, I saw that my hands and feet were tied, and slowly, it all came back to me. The gas leakage at the ball, the choking, the coughing. The strange man. And now, I was here. In this strange place. Dread filling my chest now, I glanced around fearfully, trying to figure out where I was. But the environs were unfamiliar, or was it the grogginess, still? My heart was pounding so fast now, at the prospect of being in potential danger. My baby… Oh, no, no. I started to struggle against the ropes tied around my ankles and wrists, trying to get free, trying to get away from this dreadful place, but my efforts proved futile. Just then, the door to my right pushed open, and
Edward’s POV I paced about my office, not any less agitated than I’d been since I was informed that Clara was missing. Almost twelve hours later, and she still hadn’t been found. There were no leads about her whereabouts yet, no sniff of her, whatsoever. I was losing my mind now, no doubt, knowing so well that she was not safe wherever she was. She, and the baby. Anything could happen, anything at all, and if things turned worse than they already were, and something happens to her, I would never be able to forgive myself. Ever. A knock sounded on the door just then, and I whipped my gaze to the door, hoping that whoever was there bore some news about my wife. “Yes?” I called out, and a second later, the door opened, and Henry stepped into the office. Sighing in disappointment, I whipped my gaze away from him, pushing my fingers through my hair as the agitation spiked higher. “What are you doing here?” I demanded, my tone cold. He scoffed, pulling out a seat and sin
CLARA’S POV Violent coughs tore through me, leaving me weaker with each passing second. I rolled onto my side, tears streaming down my face as sobs shook my body. I had screamed for hours, but the gag muffled every sound. Eventually, exhaustion took over. Now, all I could do was cry for myself, for my baby. I hadn’t eaten or had a sip of water in hours. My head swam, my throat raw and dry. I swallowed, but there was nothing left. The door creaked open. I lifted my head just enough to see him—wearing the same mask, the same smug smirk. Hatred twisted in my chest. “Oh, Clara,” he cooed, crouching beside me. He pushed my hair from my face with mock tenderness. “Is your baby okay? Can you feel it?” I couldn’t answer, not with the gag still in place. Realizing that, he leaned in and yanked it down. “Go on,” he murmured. “Let’s hear that sweet, sultry voice of yours.” “You’re a coward,” I rasped, my throat burning. My glare was sharp, even as my body trembled. “Why else
Edward’s POV I sat in my office, cradling my head in my hand, sifting through my thoughts for answers. Where the hell was Clara? Who had taken her? A knock on the door interrupted me, and I lifted my head slightly, a dull ache spreading across my forehead. “Come in.” The door opened almost instantly, and Jaxon stepped inside, his face etched with devastation. Lydia followed closely behind, looking just as shaken. I fixed my gaze on Jaxon, waiting. He cleared his throat. “We’ve searched every warehouse in the pack, Alpha,” he reported, exhaustion clear in his voice. “Still no sign of her.” “For fuck’s sake,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair as frustration and fear tore through me. Where was she? Who had my wife? Was she even still alive? That last thought sent a fresh wave of dread crashing over me. In the chaos of searching, I hadn’t truly let myself consider that possibility. I pushed to my feet, staggering slightly as the weight of it hit me. “Alpha,”
Clara’s POV I ran through the thick bushes, panting hard, glancing back to see if my abductor was catching up. He was fast, too fast. My energy was running out quickly. “You better stop right there!” he shouted. His voice sounded farther away than he actually was. I pushed myself to go faster, shoving twigs and branches out of my way as they scratched my skin. A twig snagged in my hair, and as I turned to pull it free, my foot caught on a rock. I stumbled and hit the ground hard. Before I could get up, rough hands clamped over my nose from behind. In a second, I was yanked to my feet. He had caught me. He dragged me across the forest floor, leaves and twigs crunching beneath me as I kicked and screamed, trying to break free. But he was too strong. Way stronger than me. Desperation took over, and I kicked out wildly—my foot landing hard against his groin. He grunted in pain, then spun around and slapped me so hard my vision blurred. “Fucking stop, bitch!” he roare
Nate’s POVI glanced over at the ginger-haired woman with an average bump, my jaw ticking as I contemplated if she was the right fit for the job.No—if she could execute the plan the way to my satisfaction.I cleared my throat loudly, drawing her attention.“So,” I started, “let’s go over the plan one more time.”She nodded, turning to me.“First off,” I pulled up my sleeves, counting off on my fingers, “you barge into any news network and demand to have an interview. Now, why do we need an interview?” I spread my palms, “to expose me,” I added almost immediately, in response to my question, as I pointed at my chest.She nodded, following closely.“When an interview is granted,” I continued, “you’ll claim to be carrying my child, and I’ve been sending just $10,000 monthly, for support.”“Obviously,” I scoffed, “the amount is outrageous already, and people would think you’re just being selfish, but that’s not the point here.” “The point is,” I drew closer, “to show that I have a baby o
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