"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?
View MoreXAVIER’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 POVSomething was wrong.I’d been staring at the same damn patrol report for ten minutes when the feeling hit me—that twisting in my gut, the one that always comes right before shit hits the fan. My pen snapped between my fingers.Where’s Karen?The house was too quiet. Normally, by now, she’d have brought me coffee or at least poked her head in to ask when I’d be done. But nothing. Just this… silence.I was out of my chair before I realized I’d moved. Our bedroom door creaked when I shoved it open.“Karen?”It was empty.The bed was made too neatly—the way she only does when she’s anxious. My chest tightened as I checked the bathroom. Still empty. The closet—half her clothes gone.No. No no no.My hands shook as I pulled out my phone. Straight to voicemail. Of course. That’s when the fear turned to anger. Hot, bitter anger that burned my throat.She promised. She fucking promised she wouldn’t do this.I was moving before I could think, storming out of the house like a man p
KAREN’S POVThe minutes dragged by so slowly, it felt like time had stopped. Every tiny sound made me jump—the groan of the floorboards, the wind tapping against the shutters—it all had my nerves fraying at the edges. I crouched behind the old cabinet, clutching my mother’s journal to my chest like it was the only thing keeping me grounded. I couldn’t let myself imagine what would happen if I got caught. I just had to keep still… wait for Salma to come back.But then—something changed.It wasn’t footsteps I heard next. It was a voice. Low. Calm. Too calm. And way too familiar.“I know you’re here, Karen.”I froze. My stomach twisted into knots.Alex.I slapped a hand over my mouth before the gasp could escape. He wasn’t yelling. He wasn’t barking out orders like he used to when he was angry. No—his voice was calm. Controlled. That was worse. It meant he didn’t think I was here.He knew I was.“I could smell you the second I stepped into the hall,” he said, getting closer. “You never d
It had been three days.Three painfully long days where every second felt like it dragged me deeper into helplessness. I couldn’t just sit around doing nothing—not while the people I loved were falling apart. Not when the answer might be hidden somewhere in the past I’d tried so hard to escape.Jackson wouldn’t approve. I already knew that. He’d never let me walk into danger, not willingly. He loved me too much. But this wasn’t about me anymore. It was about his father—about saving a man who had always put his family and pack first. A man who didn’t have much time left.So I made up my mind.That morning, I kissed Jackson goodbye like everything was fine, like I was just heading to my office to sort through some work. The truth? I was trying to throw him off my trail. I needed him not to worry, not to ask questions.Once the sun started setting, I doubled back to our room and packed a small bag—just the basics. No note. No goodbye. If he found out what I was planning, he’d try to stop
XAVIER’S POVThe door shut with a soft click behind Jackson and Liam, but somehow, it sounded louder than it should have. The silence that followed was thick, almost weighted. It pressed in on me, making my ears ring. The air smelled sharp—blood and tension—and my heart pounded so hard, my pulse echoed in my skull.Silas stood by the window, dabbing at his split lip with a silk handkerchief. My handkerchief, actually. That damn smirk never left his face, like he wasn’t bothered in the slightest. Like he hadn’t just crossed a serious line.“You touched my son’s mate.” My voice was calm—too calm—but the threat in it was clear.He gave a low, lazy laugh, as if I were overreacting. “You say it like I bit her or something,” he said, tossing the bloody cloth onto the table like it was nothing. “I just held her wrist.”My hands twitched at my sides. I could feel the old wolf in me stir—the part that used to rise without hesitation. It wasn’t as strong anymore, but the instinct remained.“Tha
JACKSON’S POVI wiped sweat from my forehead, still breathing hard from sparring with Laila. She grinned and punched my shoulder."Almost had me that time, brother."Before I could respond, a sharp snap stung my arm. Liam stood there grinning, holding a rolled-up towel."Maybe fight like an Alpha next time instead of a clumsy pup," he teased.Our parents chuckled nearby. I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help smiling. "You’ve been spending too much time with Uncle Luke. His bad attitude’s rubbing off on you."Laila flipped her braid over her shoulder. "Or maybe you’re just getting slow." She sauntered off, leaving me shaking my head.That’s when I saw Karen.My smile died instantly.She stood rigid, arms wrapped tight around herself. When our eyes met, she quickly looked away.Something’s wrong.I crossed the yard in three strides. "Karen," I said quietly. "What happened?""Nothing," she said too fast, gripping her elbows tighter.But I knew better. I could smell it—fear, distress… and an
HANNAH’S POVThe second I smelled their scents mixed together—his bitter like old whiskey, hers sharp with fear—my blood boiled. I didn’t think, just moved, my bare feet silent as I stormed toward the kitchen.Then I saw them.Silas stood too close, his fingers wrapped around Karen’s wrist like a chain. His voice was low, smug, the kind that makes your skin crawl. And Karen—God, Karen—looked terrified. Pale as fresh snow, lips pressed tight, body stiff like a rabbit caught in a trap.Something inside me broke.“Let. Her. Go.”My voice came out rough, dangerous—the kind that makes grown men step back.Silas turned slow, that stupid smirk on his face, but his grip loosened just enough for Karen to yank free. She stumbled back, rubbing her wrist, breathing too fast. I didn’t wait—stepped right between them, putting myself between Karen and him, my pulse roaring in my ears.Touch her again. I dare you.Silas tilted his head, grinning like this was funny. “Hannah,” he drawled, saying my na
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