"She was rejected. He was destined. But fate has a way of setting fire to the past." Karen Lukeman has spent her life as an omega—unseen, unheard, and utterly disposable. When her arrogant first mate, Alex Scott, cruelly severs their bond before it even began, she flees, determined to carve out a new life far from the humiliation and heartbreak. The Shadow Moon Pack offers her sanctuary, a place to bury her pain and embrace her gift as a healer. But the moment she crosses paths with Jackson Bonnet, the young Alpha King with a reputation for not taking no for an answer, her world tilts on its axis. Having being raised in a loving home with siblings and parent who live for each other, Jackson dreams to find a mate he can completely dot on. The moment their eyes lock, the mate bond ignites with an intensity that terrifies her. Karen is determined to resist, convinced love is just another kind of surrender. But Jackson refuses to let her push him away. He’s a king who is determined to love what he wants, and what he wants is her—body, soul, and the shattered pieces of her heart. But as their passion deepens, so do the threats. Alex, consumed by regret and a twisted obsession, will stop at nothing to reclaim what he threw away. Rival packs circle like vultures, hungry for the power Karen possess, while dark secrets claw their way to the surface, threatening to destroy the fragile trust between Karen and Jackson. In a world where loyalty is tested and love is a fragile thing, Karen must decide: Is she strong enough to claim her destiny? Or will the ghosts of her past devour her future before it even begins?
Lihat lebih banyakXAVIER’S POV
Twenty years.
That’s how long it had been since I last saw my brother’s face. Twenty years ago, my brother Silas was banished.
Our father, the Alpha King at the time, had no choice but to enforce the laws of our pack. Silas had committed a crime—one so severe that exile was the only punishment. The laws were clear: those who betrayed the pack, those who violated the sacred rules, had to be cast out. And Silas, my brother, had crossed a line that couldn’t be undone.
His exile was meant to last twenty years, a punishment for his actions, and no one had heard from him since.
I still remember the day he left. "You know the laws, Silas," Father had growled, his voice like gravel, heavy with the weight of duty. "You betrayed your own blood."
It wasn’t the angry shouting, the curses from our father, or even the tear-filled eyes of our mother. It was the look on Silas’s face—a mix of defiance and regret.
He knew he had messed up, but he also knew the laws. I saw him turn and walk away, his silhouette disappearing into the distance, and I never thought I’d see him again.
But now, after all these years, I was holding a letter from him. "See you soon, Xavier." The words sent a chill down my spine.
For twenty years, Silas had been a ghost—his name rarely mentioned, his existence almost forgotten. But now, out of nowhere, he sends me a letter, telling me he’ll be seeing me soon. I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that gripped me. How could he be coming now? Why, after all this time?
And why now, of all times, when I’ve lost my Lycan?
I ran my fingers over the letter again, the words burning into my mind. Silas’s return could mean anything. He could have come back to take what he thought was his—our father’s throne. Or maybe it was to exact revenge for being banished all those years ago. Or perhaps he had other plans entirely.
I didn’t know what to think. All I knew was that I was powerless right now. The Lycan inside me—my strength, my connection to the wolf that made me who I am—was gone. And it left me vulnerable, more vulnerable than I had ever been in my life.
I had to find a healer. I had to find someone who could help me, someone who could restore what I had lost. The longer I waited, the closer Silas got, and the more uncertain I became about what his return would mean. I wasn’t ready for this. I wasn’t ready for a confrontation when I couldn’t even shift anymore.
The thought made my stomach tighten with fear. But I couldn’t show that fear to Hannah, to my kids, to anyone. They needed to think I was still strong. But inside, I was unraveling, piece by piece. And Silas was coming. I had no time to waste.
I had to find that healer, and fast. The clock was ticking, and Silas was closing in on me, on my family. I just prayed it wouldn’t be too late to fix what had been broken.
I could hear the rustle of movement behind me, and a soft voice pulled me from my thoughts. "Xavier?"
I turned to find Hannah standing in the doorway, her expression a mixture of concern and love. Her presence brought a small sense of comfort, but even her warmth couldn’t shield me from the storm brewing inside me.
She stepped closer, her voice gentle. "You’ve been quiet ever since Liam brought that letter. What’s going on?"
I didn’t want to tell her. I didn’t want her to worry, to see the fear in my eyes that I’d been hiding for so long. But it was getting harder and harder to keep the truth from her, and with Silas’s return imminent, I knew there was no hiding anything anymore.
I exhaled sharply, leaning against the stone railing. "It’s Silas. The person who sent that letter. He is my brother!"
Hannah’s brow furrowed, the name clearly unfamiliar. "Silas? Your brother?"
"Yes," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I never mentioned him because he’s been exiled for twenty years, but now he’s coming back. He sent me a letter, and now he’s coming to see me as soon as his exile expires."
Her hand found mine, squeezing it as she stepped closer. "I don’t understand. Should we be worried about his return?"
"I don’t know," I admitted, running a hand through my hair. "But I’m afraid he’s coming to take something. Maybe even to destroy everything we’ve built."
Hannah’s expression paled, the worry in her eyes intensifying. "Xavier, maybe he is coming back because he misses you. But I guess losing your Lycan is enough to make you wary of others."
I forced a smile, though it didn’t reach my eyes. "I’m not worried about me, love. I'm more worried that I can’t protect you, or the kids, without my Lycan. And Silas... I can’t predict what he’ll do when he arrives."
She stood there for a moment, silent, and then pulled me into an embrace. "We’ll find a way to make this right. We’ll figure this out, Xavier. You’re not alone. And the kids are stronger than you think."
I held her tightly, savoring the warmth of her touch, even as the fear continued to claw at my insides. But then, the reality hit me harder than ever.
I couldn’t protect her. I couldn’t protect our family if I couldn’t shift. If I couldn’t regain the strength of my Lycan, Silas’s return would be my downfall—and that of my family.
I pulled back from the hug, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. "I need to find a healer, Hannah. I need to get my strength back before Silas arrives. He’s dangerous, and I won’t be able to stop him if I’m powerless."
Hannah nodded, her gaze unwavering. "I’ll help you. We’ll find one. You’re not giving up."
Her words gave me a little more strength, but the fear still lingered, gnawing at the edges of my resolve. How could I face Silas again when I was so vulnerable? What if he was stronger than ever?
JACKSON’S POVThe moment Liam’s eyes fluttered open, the room erupted in a wave of pure, unfiltered joy—like sunlight bursting through storm clouds, warm and golden, washing away the fear that had clung to us for days.He’s awake. He’s really awake.A choked laugh escaped me as I gripped his hand, my fingers trembling. "Liam—" His name was all I could manage before emotion clogged my throat.Our parents rushed forward, their faces streaked with tears, their laughter mingling with mine. Mom cupped Liam’s face, her voice breaking. "Oh, my baby…"Liam grinned weakly, his voice hoarse but alive—so alive. "Did I miss anything?"I let out a shaky breath, ruffling his hair. "Just a few days of us losing our minds worrying about you, idiot."The air smelled like antiseptic and salt—tears, relief, the lingering fear finally dissolving. For the first time in days, I could breathe.Then Liam’s eyes flickered past me, searching. "Where’s Karen?" His voice softened, grateful. "I need to thank her.
ALEX’S POVThe iron door slammed shut behind me with a deafening clang, the sound vibrating through my bones like the toll of a death knell. My body hit the stone floor hard, the impact jarring my ribs and sending a sharp ache radiating through my chest.The metallic scent of blood filled my nose—mine, from the split lip my father had given me. The taste of copper lingered on my tongue, bitter and accusing.Fucking traitor.The word echoed in my skull, louder than the guards’ retreating footsteps. Their silence was worse than any taunt. They didn’t need to speak. My father had made his judgment clear.I rolled onto my side, gritting my teeth against the sting of raw skin where my wrists were bound behind me. The manacles bit into my flesh, cold and unyielding, but the pain was nothing compared to the fire in my chest.Laila.Her name was a blade twisting in my gut. I could still see the terror in her wide, dark eyes—the way her fingers had clutched at my shirt like I was the only thin
KAREN’S POVI slipped out of bed, my bare feet silent against the cool wooden floor. The moment my arms circled his waist, pressing against the heat of his skin, he didn’t startle. Instead, his hand came up, fingers threading through mine, pressing my palm flat against his chest.Thump-thump. Thump-thump.His heart was racing.“I thought I’d never see you again,” I whispered, my voice breaking. The words were raw, scraped from the deepest part of me. “When I was there… all I could think about was you. What it would feel like to touch you one last time. To say goodbye—”He turned so fast I barely registered the movement. His hands cradled my face, his thumbs brushing away tears I hadn’t realized had fallen. His eyes—dark, intense, terrified—searched mine.“Don’t.” His voice was rough, like gravel. “Don’t say that. Don’t ever think it.” His grip tightened, just enough to make me feel the desperation in his touch. “Promise me, Karen. No matter what happens… you won’t leave my side again.
KAREN’S POVThe room smelled faintly of lavender—Laila’s favorite. The scent should have been soothing, but now it clawed at my lungs like a cruel reminder of everything I’d destroyed.I sat curled up in the corner of my old room—the one Laila and Sarah had lovingly decorated just for me. The lavender curtains, the soft pillows, the twinkling fairy lights overhead… they were all supposed to make me feel at home. Now, they just reminded me of everything I didn’t deserve.Tears slipped down my cheeks without pause, burning hot against my skin.This was all my fault.Laila was gone—taken. Liam… Goddess, Liam might not make it. And Jackson… I hadn’t seen him, hadn’t heard his voice. He hadn’t come. He probably hated me. And honestly, I couldn’t blame him. Because none of this would’ve happened if I hadn’t gone back.“I ruin everything,” I whispered, burying my face in my hands. The ache in my chest was unbearable, like my heart was trying to tear itself apart from the inside. I couldn’t b
JACKSON’S POVThe sharp, sterile scent of antiseptic burned my nostrils the moment I pushed through the medical wing doors. It was too quiet—the kind of suffocating silence that made my skin crawl, like the air itself was holding its breath, waiting for disaster.My boots were heavy against the tiled floor, my heart even heavier. I hadn’t rested, not even for a second. I couldn’t. Not when Liam was fighting for his life. Not when Laila was still missing. Not when I had failed them both.I rounded the corner to Liam’s room, and there she was—my mother—curled over the edge of his bed, her hand wrapped tightly around his. Her voice was soft, broken, muttering, “Please don’t die… please.”I froze at the door.Liam looked pale, too pale, almost as if all the color had been drained from his face. Wires and tubes surrounded him, beeping machines tracking the faintest flicker of life left in him. My baby brother. My best friend.This shouldn’t have happened. If I’d just moved faster… if I had
LAILA’S POVMy breath seized then. I couldn’t breathe. Everything happened so fast. One moment, I was sleeping—safe, or at least feeling safer than I had in days—and the next, the door exploded open, and the room flooded with strangers.No… not strangers. Guards. Blue Cross guards.And then I saw him.Noah. Alex’s brother. He looked straight at me, like he’d known I’d be here all along, hiding in his room. His smile sent a shiver down my spine. Cold, triumphant, and cruel.My body froze, but my heart didn’t—it slammed against my ribs, a frantic, terrified rhythm. Alex was in front of me in an instant, shielding me, and I clutched the back of his shirt without even thinking. My fingers curled into the fabric, holding on like it was the only thing keeping me from falling apart.Noah’s laughter filled the room, but Alex didn’t move. He stood like a wall, solid and unyielding.And then… footsteps.I didn’t have to see him to know who it was. The air changed. It felt heavier, thicker. Like
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