Nateโs POV I pressed the button in the arm of the door, the window rolling downwards. I inhaled sharply as the wind hit me in the face, natural and soothing. More like itโฆ The car radio static cackled then, a female voice drifting through. โโฆLuna of the territory has been found and rescued, following her kidnap that happened a few days ago.โ โTurn that up,โ I quickly instructed, and the driver leaned forward and turned up the volume of the radio. โShe was found in good shape and health, despite a few injuries,โ the broadcaster continued, โand the perpetrator is still at large, no traces of them found.โ I scoffed, shaking my head. So sheโd survived, after all. That was quite disheartening, because for a while, Iโd really thought this would be her end. But somehow, she keeps surviving. My jaw ticking, I lifted my fingers and pushed them through my hair, a bit unsettled by this information Iโd just come across. We still had a few unsettled scores between us, Clara, Ed
Claraโs 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. โLydia?โ I called without turning. โItโs me, Luna Clara,โ 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. โWhat happened?โ She hesitated, then walked closer, lowering her voice. โI heard somethingโฆ from Jaxon.โ She said, looking nervous. โHe said I couldnโt tell you butโฆ..itโs important.โ My stomach tensed. What on earth would be so important that Jaxon didnโt want me to know? My heart pounded fast, my mouth dry as I tried not to think that something bad had happened to Edward. โWhat did he say?โ I asked. โIs Edward okay?โ Lydia glanced toward the hallway, like she was checking to make sure we were al
Claraโs 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 Edwardโs 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. โEdwardโฆโ I whispered, my voice breaking as the weight of fear settled heavily in my chest. โGet the doctor!โ Edward suddenly yelled, his voice sharp with panic. A guard rushed in, looking confused. โAlpha?โ โGet the doctor, now!โ Edwardโs voice was desperate, and his panic spread across his face. He bolted to his feet, lifting me into his arms with a gentleness that didnโt match the urgency of the situation. Without hesitation, he carried me out of the room, half-sprinting down the hall to his own room. โEdward,โ I whimpered, my ches
Nateโs POV โHenry 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.โ I stared at the T.V screen, rage and agitation coursing through me, my eyes burning. โThis happened earlier today,โ the broadcaster continued, โafter the culprit had moved into the estate and harassed the Luna, threatening to killโโ 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 meโฆ I couldnโt deny that I was scared, really scared, especially after this news Iโd 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 Sterlingโฆso it had been him
EDWARDโS 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 territoryโAlphas 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
NATEโS POV I got home late, the weight of the day still hanging off my shoulders. Amandaโs 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 wasnโt the biggest disappointment of the year. I didnโt wait for her to notice I was home. โYouโre done,โ I said flatly as soon as I entered. She looked up at me, confused for half a second. โWhat?โ And then, like she suddenly remembered I was just coming back, she stood up, drawing close to me. โYouโre late today. Work must have been stressful.โ She moved to touch my face but I hit her hand away. โYouโre leaving tonight.โ I told her firmly, trying not to sound irritated as I felt. โYou failed to do the one thing I kept you here for. Youโre useless now.โ She paused, as if trying to make sense of what I said. โExcuse me?โ โYou couldnโt
CLARAโS POV I leaned against the balcony railing, looking down at the patio below. For a brunch weโd 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 theyโd 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 lookedโฆ perfect. I ran a hand over my dress, taking in the scene when Lydiaโs voice suddenly cut through my thoughts. โLuna,โ she said from behind me,
CLARAโS POV I leaned against the balcony railing, looking down at the patio below. For a brunch weโd 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 theyโd 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 lookedโฆ perfect. I ran a hand over my dress, taking in the scene when Lydiaโs voice suddenly cut through my thoughts. โLuna,โ she said from behind me,
Claraโs 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. โFine. Iโll tell you, since youโre so desperate to know.โ I couldnโt help the small sigh of satisfaction that slipped from me as I leaned back in my seat, folding my arms. โIโm all ears.โ โBut first,โ he said, smiling, โWhy are you so covered up?โ He raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. โLet me guess, you donโt want to be seen with me?โ I shot him a glare, my lips pressing into a tight line. โThatโs not important right now.โ 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 soโฆ off. There was something unsettling about him with each se
CLARAโS 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 thatโฆ my wolf? Lying against Edwardโs 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. Yesโฆ that was truly my wolf. โClaraโฆโ 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. โIs everything okay?โ I nodded shakily, rubbing my palms against my chest to steady myself. โYeah, Iโฆ I think I just heard my wolfโs voice.โ My words were breathless, disbelief still clinging to them. Edwardโs eyes widened, and he quickly propped himself up. His hand gently covered mine, his touch warm and comforting. โAnd I think I can feel her too,โ I added, my voice barely a
CLARAโS POV I leaned against the balcony railing, looking down at the patio below. For a brunch weโd 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 theyโd 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 lookedโฆ perfect. I ran a hand over my dress, taking in the scene when Lydiaโs voice suddenly cut through my thoughts. โLuna,โ she said from behind me,
CLARAโS POV I leaned against the balcony railing, looking down at the patio below. For a brunch weโd 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 theyโd 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 lookedโฆ perfect. I ran a hand over my dress, taking in the scene when Lydiaโs voice suddenly cut through my thoughts. โLuna,โ she said from behind me,
NATEโS POV I got home late, the weight of the day still hanging off my shoulders. Amandaโs 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 wasnโt the biggest disappointment of the year. I didnโt wait for her to notice I was home. โYouโre done,โ I said flatly as soon as I entered. She looked up at me, confused for half a second. โWhat?โ And then, like she suddenly remembered I was just coming back, she stood up, drawing close to me. โYouโre late today. Work must have been stressful.โ She moved to touch my face but I hit her hand away. โYouโre leaving tonight.โ I told her firmly, trying not to sound irritated as I felt. โYou failed to do the one thing I kept you here for. Youโre useless now.โ She paused, as if trying to make sense of what I said. โExcuse me?โ โYou couldnโt
EDWARDโS 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 territoryโAlphas 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
Nateโs POV โHenry 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.โ I stared at the T.V screen, rage and agitation coursing through me, my eyes burning. โThis happened earlier today,โ the broadcaster continued, โafter the culprit had moved into the estate and harassed the Luna, threatening to killโโ 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 meโฆ I couldnโt deny that I was scared, really scared, especially after this news Iโd 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 Sterlingโฆso it had been him
Claraโs 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 Edwardโs 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. โEdwardโฆโ I whispered, my voice breaking as the weight of fear settled heavily in my chest. โGet the doctor!โ Edward suddenly yelled, his voice sharp with panic. A guard rushed in, looking confused. โAlpha?โ โGet the doctor, now!โ Edwardโs voice was desperate, and his panic spread across his face. He bolted to his feet, lifting me into his arms with a gentleness that didnโt match the urgency of the situation. Without hesitation, he carried me out of the room, half-sprinting down the hall to his own room. โEdward,โ I whimpered, my ches
Claraโs 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. โLydia?โ I called without turning. โItโs me, Luna Clara,โ 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. โWhat happened?โ She hesitated, then walked closer, lowering her voice. โI heard somethingโฆ from Jaxon.โ She said, looking nervous. โHe said I couldnโt tell you butโฆ..itโs important.โ My stomach tensed. What on earth would be so important that Jaxon didnโt want me to know? My heart pounded fast, my mouth dry as I tried not to think that something bad had happened to Edward. โWhat did he say?โ I asked. โIs Edward okay?โ Lydia glanced toward the hallway, like she was checking to make sure we were al