Haylee's POVI am wrenched from a dreamless sleep by the smell of antiseptic and sickness. For a split second, I’m disoriented, the unfamiliar ceiling hovering above me sending a surge of panic through my system before the reality hits. The twins. The illness. Aiden's territory.I sit bolt upright, and peek at my phone. Ten hours. I have been sleeping for ten hours, while my children —The door to the infirmary room is cracked, low voices coming from it. I am there in a flash, my heart beating against my ribs."That's it, little one. Small sips." Aiden’s voice too, gentle in a way I haven’t heard it in years.I stop in the doorway and first take a look at the room. Aiden perches on the end of Kael’s bed, assisting Kael to sip on some water, as Elara checks Lior’s physical state."Mom?" Kael’s fever-bright eyes locate me, and his voice is hoarse but stronger than it was yesterday.Aiden twists his dad’s ring around his finger, something indecipherable passing his face before he sets it
Aiden's POVI hit the infirmary door at a run, my heart racing in my chest as Haylee’s scream for Lior still echoes in my ears. What I behold chills me to my core: my boys on the floor contort in agony, peculiar symbols inscribing their limbs.Haylee stands over Lior, panic written across her face as his eyes roll back. Kael struggles against the sheets, but the runes on his chest burn with unnatural brightness.“Get out of the way,” I snap, pushing my way through, and Elara is hot on my heels. The sound of my Alpha voice materializes without any intentional action and Haylee takes a step backwards on instinct, her eyes clouded with terror.I touch each boy’s chest, right over the glowing symbols. Old knowledge bubbles up within me—the pack lore passed down through generations of Alpha Fenrirs but unused until the present.“Sanguis patris, protego filios,” I mutter, as I feel power begin to flow through my veins. "*My blood, come back to me. *""What are you doing?" I can hear Haylee’
HAYLEE’S POV“Congratulations, Luna, You’re three weeks pregnant.” The doctor said and I felt my heart stop for a moment as tears of joy welled up in my eyes.Pregnant? I’m pregnant! I really am pregnant!My excitement knew no bounds as I felt a sensation in my guts, my stomach muscles contracted with a delightful tingling sensation.“I—” I paused to catch my breath, my fingertips trembling as I clutched the test results in my hands, “I’m pregnant?” I asked again to be sure I’m not just hearing things.“Yes, Luna.” The pack doctor responded and that warm delight spread through my stomach, engulfing me in its fuzzy feeling as the pleasurable quiver ran through me.I still couldn’t believe it. It’s been three years since I got married to Alpha Aiden Fenrir of the Shadow pack, one of the strongest packs.Three years since I became Luna of a pack that was once strange to me. I touched my stomach as a smile crept up my lips and I felt a bottomless peace within me.“Thank you, Doctor.” I sa
HAYLEE'S POVHis words ‘barren’ in my head roll around like it’s my death sentence. Each word slices more deeply than any sword could ever. I freeze and my hand flies to my stomach where our baby—my only baby—grows, unaware of what its father is doing.“You can’t be serious,” I whisper on a shaky breath. "Three years, Aiden. Three long years.”Aiden laughs, yanking his pants on nonchalantly. “And what have those three years got me? An empty nursery, and a wife who can’t even keep her most basic promise.”"Basic duty?" The words are bitter in my mind and poison on my tongue. "Is that all I am to you? A breeding machine?""Among other things." He shrugs, his gaze cutting to Arielle who is still sitting on our bed—my bed—in nothing but the sheets around her pale, naked body.My lady in waiting smirks as the victory shines in her eyes. “Alpha Aiden deserves a Luna that can bear him heirs Luna Haylee. Someone like me.""You?" I laugh, though it rings hollow even in my ears. “The woman who t
HAYLEE'S POV"Help!" I croak weakly, another bolt of pain shooting up through my stomach. My legs buckle from beneath me and I fall to the ground, arms wrapped around my stomach. "Please, not my baby."I fumble and tremble to grab my phone, needing to phone someone — anyone — who can give me a hand. But who? The pack doctor communicates directly to Aiden. My lady in waiting is naked in my bed with my husband right now. I have no allies here.There’s a rap on the door that startles me. "Luna Haylee? I mean... Miss Haylee? I'm here to make sure you're packing."I know whose voice that is—Mia, one of the younger pack who sometimes works in the house. Naïve, sweet, and completely loyal to the Alpha.I’m all right,” I shout, my voice steadier than I am. ” Tell Alpha Aiden I’ll be gone in the hour as commanded."Are you sure you're okay? You sound—""I said I'm fine!" I snap, wishing I weren’t so rough. "Please, just go."Silence, and then the padding of footsteps away. I let out a sigh of r
HAYLEE’S POV.FIVE YEARS LATER.It’s been five years since my separation with Aiden and although the first few months haven’t been easy with my pregnancy and duties as Pack Luna, I pushed myself and worked hard to balance both.My hard work paid off because the moon goddess blessed me with two beautiful boys and not just that, my pack, the Ragnar Pack, was more successful than ever.I’d made sure to follow up on the Shadow Pack, and that was how I got to know of their misfortune. I sighed as I recounted all that happened in five years.The Alpha of the Shadow pack, Aiden Fenrir, hadn’t been able to keep up with his share of the monthly challenges and being the Luna of the pack that stands on top, I had no choice but to strip him of his position as alpha.Aiden has been trying over the past ten months to get a meeting with me and after thorough consideration and the elder’s contribution, I decided to grant him the opportunity to plead his case.How will he react when he sees that I’m th
AIDEN’S POV“GET YOUR HANDS OFF OUR MOMMY!” The identical twins right in front of me said before one of them kneed me really hard.My jaw dropped as my mouth hung open but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t bring myself to say anything because I was too stunned, too taken aback.“Are you okay, mommy?” They asked and I watched as they both turned towards her to make sure that she was fine, Haylee flashed them a smile and nodded.“Mommy is fine,” she assured them, stroking their heads and not taking her eyes off me for a second. My heart ached, I felt like I’d been stabbed really hard in my chest.The misery of losing her still haunted me and I felt the permanent sorrow that I’d learned to live with begin to weigh me down.Touching her had ignited something in me and I felt as though a fire had been stoked in my heart. I have never felt so lonely, so heartbroken and also so shocked in my entire life.Haylee is the Luna of the Ragnar pack, she is Haylee Wolf and not just that, there a
HAYLEE'S POVI sense Xavier before I even see him. He sweeps into the hallway like a tidal wave, imposing and fierce. Relief washes over me as Aiden solidifies and a sound escapes from Xavier’s voice."STEP AWAY FROM HER!" “HEAAUGH!” shouts Xavier, and his voice reverberates in the enclosed space of the corridor.My heartbeat drums in my ribcage and Aiden slowly twists his body to glance at Xavier. Their tension hangs in the air, heavy enough to slice through with a knife. I can almost see their wolves glaring down the other, looking to snap at any given opportunity.“This is not your business,” Aiden mutters tensely again, his jaw set in a line.Xavier laughs and it’s a cold, hollow sound as he steps closer, eyes lit with a dangerous amber. All of Haylee worries him, he says, his voice dropping to low, menacing growl. "Now, I won't repeat myself. Step. Away."I see their auras collide, no one willing to give way. The tension is now so thick you can cut it with a knife, and I can feel
Aiden's POVI hit the infirmary door at a run, my heart racing in my chest as Haylee’s scream for Lior still echoes in my ears. What I behold chills me to my core: my boys on the floor contort in agony, peculiar symbols inscribing their limbs.Haylee stands over Lior, panic written across her face as his eyes roll back. Kael struggles against the sheets, but the runes on his chest burn with unnatural brightness.“Get out of the way,” I snap, pushing my way through, and Elara is hot on my heels. The sound of my Alpha voice materializes without any intentional action and Haylee takes a step backwards on instinct, her eyes clouded with terror.I touch each boy’s chest, right over the glowing symbols. Old knowledge bubbles up within me—the pack lore passed down through generations of Alpha Fenrirs but unused until the present.“Sanguis patris, protego filios,” I mutter, as I feel power begin to flow through my veins. "*My blood, come back to me. *""What are you doing?" I can hear Haylee’
Haylee's POVI am wrenched from a dreamless sleep by the smell of antiseptic and sickness. For a split second, I’m disoriented, the unfamiliar ceiling hovering above me sending a surge of panic through my system before the reality hits. The twins. The illness. Aiden's territory.I sit bolt upright, and peek at my phone. Ten hours. I have been sleeping for ten hours, while my children —The door to the infirmary room is cracked, low voices coming from it. I am there in a flash, my heart beating against my ribs."That's it, little one. Small sips." Aiden’s voice too, gentle in a way I haven’t heard it in years.I stop in the doorway and first take a look at the room. Aiden perches on the end of Kael’s bed, assisting Kael to sip on some water, as Elara checks Lior’s physical state."Mom?" Kael’s fever-bright eyes locate me, and his voice is hoarse but stronger than it was yesterday.Aiden twists his dad’s ring around his finger, something indecipherable passing his face before he sets it
Haylee's POV I fold a tiny t-shirt that still bears faint puke stains, with hands that won’t stop shaking and try to lose myself in the simple step, pretend I’m not surrounded by madness. Kael's favorite stuffed wolf. Lior’s dog-eared book of wolf legends. Medications that did not work. Blankets that retained the smell of home."This is insanity, Haylee." I am drawn out of my carefully organised packing by Xavier’s voice. He’s standing in the threshold of the girls’ room, arms crossed, emanating disapproval. “There is no way you are seriously considering this.’"I'm not considering it. I'm doing it." Without looking up, I slide the folded clothes into the duffel bag. “The boys need care I can’t provide here.”“So you’re running back to him? After everything?" The pain in Xavier’s voice is enough to make me flinch. Almost.“I’m doing what I have to do to save my children.” I finally meet his gaze. “This is not about Aiden or you or me. It's about them."Xavier marches across the room
Aiden's POVI walk back and forth in my office, unwilling to even glance at the stack of reports Beta Marcus has for me. However, two weeks past the time I returned from Haylee’s plane, and I am still experiencing the phantom pressure of little arms about my neck, the phantom sound of childish laughter ringing in my head.The twins. They seem eerie to me, even beyond the connection to Haylee. There’s an unidentifiable tug I can’t explain, as if there is an echo of a connection I never knew existed.Suddenly, there is a loud rap at my door.I call. "It's open." I straighten my shoulders and slip on my Alpha mask like the second skin it is.Our pack healer, Elara, pushes her way through, her silver-streaked hair pulled into a stiff bun. "Alpha, I just got a bad call from the Northern Ridge Pack."Haylee's pack. My interest snaps to attention. "What's happened?"“It’s all about Luna’s kids. Elara's expression is grave. "They have gotten sick with, with symptoms I find … they are troublin
HAYLEE'S POVThe tension in this office is a genuine-thickness claw. Xavier stalks by the window, his image shattered in the dusk light, with Aiden sitting on the other side of my desk, ankle on his knee. Two large and dominant Alphas, two pairs of eyes trained on me.“This is not working,” I say at last. “The way it is at the moment, it’s chaos for both packs.Aiden's face is still and neutral. “Our trade talks are close to complete. Another week and—""I’m not discussing the negotiations."I interrupt, crushing my hand around the crescent moon at my throat. “I mean, how you’re still here right now.”Xavier halts his pacing, a smile appearing on his face but he quickly schools his expression."Then what is it exactly that you are suggesting?" Aiden inquires, his voice belying nothing even as his scent wavers with concern.“You need to get back to your territory. We can carry on with the trade deal, only with more space between us.”“Distancing,” Aiden repeats, struck flat."Yes. You'v
AIDEN'S POVMorning sun is pouring in through the window of my office as I look at the trade agreement papers for the third time. Each line must be perfect - this is not just pack business, but my opportunity to impress Haylee."Two hours until meeting, Alpha," Marcus says, standing in the doorway. “Team is prepped when you are.”I nod without looking up. "And the other matter?""All is in order as was requested." His voice drops. “But I do think it’s still risky.”“There are some risks that are worth taking,” I argue and then meet his look of concern.Marcus shifts uncomfortably. "Carters won't appreciate it. If he suspects you're—"“I’m not trying to undermine him,” I cut in, and we both know that’s not really true. “Haylee and me, we have our thing, okay?“Her fiancé might prefer it not be commented upon.” Marcus crosses his arms. "Be careful. We don't have the numbers for another war with Silver Moon Pack.”I get up, adjusting my tie. “I wouldn’t have rebuilt this pack from nothin
XAVIER'S POVHe is on her skin when she walks through our bedroom door. Aiden's scent lingers on her subtly, as invisible a stamp as it is distinct. The wolf wakes under my flesh, not snarling but with a melt of worry and the instinct, again, to Protect."How was the meeting?" I say, my voice relaxed as I undo my tie.Haylee dumps the contents of the briefcase by the dresser, fatigue visible in the tilt of her shoulders. "Productive. Frustrating. The usual.""Did he behave himself?" I step up behind her, hands on her shoulders, inhaling her from a little closer. Yes, there it is — the woodsy tang that is his.She stiffens slightly at my contact. "As well as can be expected.""Meaning?" I press my fingers into the tense muscles at the back of her neck.Which means he crossed the line.” She walks away from the bed, heads out to the bathroom. "But I handled it."I do as I’m told, propping up against the doorframe while she washes her face. "What boundaries exactly?"She meets my gaze in
AIDEN'S POVI keep my eyes on Haylee across the conference room; her back is straight as steel, and she won’t meet my eyes. She’s perfected the art of ignoring me as if I don’t even have a pulse; directing whatever questions she has to my Beta or to the papers laid before us as if I’m not even there.“The southeast will need more patrols,” she says, tapping the map with a manicured nail. "Our scouts have picked up increased wind and rogue activity in the area.I can take my warriors," I lean in. "We're doing all our patrols up in the north. It's a simple extension."Haylee’s eyes meet mine for only a brief moment and then they shoot away. "That won't be necessary. Xavier’s boys are handling it.”My blood boils with a rush of anger when I hear his name but I conceal it well behind an emotionless mask."With respect," I say, trying to sound neutral, "but we've had _way_ more rogue incursions than my pack. The landscape on the southeast border looks like our territory.”“It’s not experie
HAYLEE'S POV“You were talking to him,” Xavier says, his tone deceptively light as he uncorks the bottle of wine sitting in our cabin.I take off my hiking boots, not meeting his eyes. Near the lookout we were standing when he approached me. "I barely managed to push him off the mountain."Xavier chuckles without amusement while pouring two glasses of merlot. “Oh, I would like to see that in it.”Tonight the cabin seems cramped, almost claustrophobic, despite the luxury. We are suffocated by the burden of the things left unsaid.“He is persistent,” Xavier adds, looking at me over the rim if his glass.“You know he was always stubborn,” I blurt out before I can stop myself.Xavier gives a half-squint of his eyes. "Indeed, you more than most would know that."I take a long sip of wine. That was another lifetime, Xavier. It hardly matters now.""Doesn't it?" He steps in a little closer, and his fingers follow the chain at my neck to the pendant underneath the thin fabric of my shirt. "Yo