KAREN’S POVThe sound of heavy footsteps faded upstairs as the boys disappeared to shower. I wrapped my hands around my coffee mug, letting the warmth soak into my skin while Luna Hannah worked at the stove. The smell of sizzling bacon mixed with the rich coffee aroma, the fat popping like little firecrackers in the pan.Just as I was relaxing into the cozy kitchen atmosphere, Laila's voice cut through the air—sharp and full of attitude."Ugh, boys."She marched in, her long braid swinging behind her like a whip. Her workout clothes were covered in dirt and grass stains, like she'd just come from war—though knowing Laila, a simple training session might as well be a battlefield.She flopped onto the stool next to me with an exaggerated sigh and grabbed a cookie."You'd think Jackson would learn by now not to steal someone's victory cookie just because he got the last hit in," she grumbled, taking a big bite.I hid my smile behind my coffee cup. "So you let him win?"Her grin turned wi
KAREN’S POVThe dress fit me like it was made just for me—soft as clouds, light as air, the fabric swirling around my knees when I moved. It wasn’t just clothes. It felt like becoming someone new. Or maybe... finally becoming myself.I stepped out of the dressing room, smoothing the fabric with shaky hands. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it. Would Jackson like it? Did I care? Yeah. I cared way too much—more than I was willing to admit.Jackson’s head snapped up the second I walked out. His lips parted slightly. For a long moment, he didn’t move or speak—just stared at me with those dark eyes growing even darker.“Damn.” The word came out rough, like it got stuck in his throat. He shook his head slowly. “You look...” He took a step closer. “Perfect.”My face burned. “You have to say that—you’re my mate,” I teased, but my voice cracked.His fingers brushed my cheek as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, so gentle it made my chest ache. “I’m saying it because it’s true
JACKSON’S POVThe door clicked shut behind us, sealing away the warmth of the evening sun. Karen’s fingers slipped between mine, her skin humming with the lingering thrill of our time in town. She swayed slightly, her laughter still fresh in the air between us—sweet and light, like the scent of wildflowers clinging to her hair.We’d barely taken three steps into the house when I felt it—that shift in the air.Karen stilled beside me. “Jackson…” she whispered.My eyes snapped toward the living room.That’s when I saw him.A man stood there, right in the center of the room like he fucking belonged here—like this was his house and we were the guests. His presence was wrong. Not rogue-wrong. Not Alpha-wrong. Something older. His aura curled around the room, heavy and dark, sending a ripple through my wolf.Tall. Lean. Silver threads streaked through his black hair, but his back was straight, and his presence screamed danger. His eyes, though—those eyes were the same deep green as my fathe
XAVIER’S POVThe study door closed behind me with a quiet click, but nothing could quiet the storm raging inside my head. My heart pounded so hard I could feel it in my throat, each beat screaming one name: Silas.After twenty years of nightmares, after decades praying to forget him—he was back. And this time, he was staying.I ran a shaky hand through my hair, gripping it tight. My study usually calmed me—the smell of old books and leather—but now the air felt too thick to breathe. My heart pounded inside me, restless and angry. The fire crackled like it sensed danger too.Then I heard the door open softly.Hannah.She stood there in her robe, gripping it so tight her knuckles were white. Her face was pale, but her eyes… her blue eyes burned with quiet fury."He can't stay, Xavier."No begging. No questions. Just steel in her voice.I braced myself against the desk, my fingers digging into the wood. "I know," I rasped.She stepped closer. Normally, her strawberry scent soothed me. No
LAILA’S POVDinner used to be warm. Loud. Filled with laughter, teasing, and the occasional scolding when Jackson or Liam tried to sneak an extra dessert before finishing their veggies. But tonight? Tonight, dinner was cold—despite the food being hot.I sat stiffly at the end of the table, picking at my potatoes like they had personally offended me. My eyes flicked around the room, noting the tension in every set of shoulders, the silence that weighed heavier than any words could. And then there was him.Silas.He was seated directly across from me, already on his third helping, eating like he hadn’t had a meal in years—which, to be fair, might not have been too far from the truth. Still, the way he shoveled food into his mouth with so little shame made my stomach turn."Mmm!" he said between bites, slapping the table like this was the best restaurant in town. “Now this is what I missed! A good home-cooked meal. Not that processed crap they serve in exile.”No one responded.Jackson k
KAREN’S POVThe house was too quiet—not the comfortable kind of quiet, but the kind that made my ears ring. Like everyone was holding their breath, waiting for something bad to happen. I sat curled up in Jackson’s armchair, a book open in my lap, but I hadn’t read a single word in the last twenty minutes. My fingers kept tracing the edge of the page, restless.Silas.Just thinking his name made my skin crawl. That man—it wasn’t just the way he watched everyone with those sharp, knowing eyes, or how he walked around like he already owned the place. It was the way the air turned cold when he entered a room.I swallowed hard and forced my eyes back to the book. Focus, Karen. You’re safe here. But the thought didn’t help. The pack was strong. Jackson’s family had wrapped me in warmth and protection—Luna Hannah’s kind smiles, Alpha Xavier’s steady presence. But underneath it all, something ugly slithered through the cracks, like the first frost warning of winter.The door creaked open.My
LAILA’S POVThe afternoon sun beat down on the training arena, baking the sand under my bare feet until it burned. My knuckles were raw, my muscles screaming, but I didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop. Marcus—one of our best fighters—circled me, his dark eyes locked on mine as we traded blows.Every punch I blocked, every hit I landed, proved what I already knew—I belonged here just as much as any of them.Then I felt it. That icy crawl down my spine.Silas.I didn’t need to look to know he’d shown up. His presence was like oil in water—slick, unnatural, impossible to ignore. I kept my focus on Marcus, but my next block came half a second too slow, sending me stumbling back."Well, well," came that smooth, mocking voice from the sidelines. "Look at the little she-wolf playing soldier. How... adorable."My teeth ground together so hard I tasted copper.Marcus hesitated, his eyes flicking past me. I didn’t turn. Wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.Silas’s laugh was like nails on a chalkboard. "N
XAVIER’S POVTwenty 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
LAILA’S POVThe afternoon sun beat down on the training arena, baking the sand under my bare feet until it burned. My knuckles were raw, my muscles screaming, but I didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop. Marcus—one of our best fighters—circled me, his dark eyes locked on mine as we traded blows.Every punch I blocked, every hit I landed, proved what I already knew—I belonged here just as much as any of them.Then I felt it. That icy crawl down my spine.Silas.I didn’t need to look to know he’d shown up. His presence was like oil in water—slick, unnatural, impossible to ignore. I kept my focus on Marcus, but my next block came half a second too slow, sending me stumbling back."Well, well," came that smooth, mocking voice from the sidelines. "Look at the little she-wolf playing soldier. How... adorable."My teeth ground together so hard I tasted copper.Marcus hesitated, his eyes flicking past me. I didn’t turn. Wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.Silas’s laugh was like nails on a chalkboard. "N
KAREN’S POVThe house was too quiet—not the comfortable kind of quiet, but the kind that made my ears ring. Like everyone was holding their breath, waiting for something bad to happen. I sat curled up in Jackson’s armchair, a book open in my lap, but I hadn’t read a single word in the last twenty minutes. My fingers kept tracing the edge of the page, restless.Silas.Just thinking his name made my skin crawl. That man—it wasn’t just the way he watched everyone with those sharp, knowing eyes, or how he walked around like he already owned the place. It was the way the air turned cold when he entered a room.I swallowed hard and forced my eyes back to the book. Focus, Karen. You’re safe here. But the thought didn’t help. The pack was strong. Jackson’s family had wrapped me in warmth and protection—Luna Hannah’s kind smiles, Alpha Xavier’s steady presence. But underneath it all, something ugly slithered through the cracks, like the first frost warning of winter.The door creaked open.My
LAILA’S POVDinner used to be warm. Loud. Filled with laughter, teasing, and the occasional scolding when Jackson or Liam tried to sneak an extra dessert before finishing their veggies. But tonight? Tonight, dinner was cold—despite the food being hot.I sat stiffly at the end of the table, picking at my potatoes like they had personally offended me. My eyes flicked around the room, noting the tension in every set of shoulders, the silence that weighed heavier than any words could. And then there was him.Silas.He was seated directly across from me, already on his third helping, eating like he hadn’t had a meal in years—which, to be fair, might not have been too far from the truth. Still, the way he shoveled food into his mouth with so little shame made my stomach turn."Mmm!" he said between bites, slapping the table like this was the best restaurant in town. “Now this is what I missed! A good home-cooked meal. Not that processed crap they serve in exile.”No one responded.Jackson k
XAVIER’S POVThe study door closed behind me with a quiet click, but nothing could quiet the storm raging inside my head. My heart pounded so hard I could feel it in my throat, each beat screaming one name: Silas.After twenty years of nightmares, after decades praying to forget him—he was back. And this time, he was staying.I ran a shaky hand through my hair, gripping it tight. My study usually calmed me—the smell of old books and leather—but now the air felt too thick to breathe. My heart pounded inside me, restless and angry. The fire crackled like it sensed danger too.Then I heard the door open softly.Hannah.She stood there in her robe, gripping it so tight her knuckles were white. Her face was pale, but her eyes… her blue eyes burned with quiet fury."He can't stay, Xavier."No begging. No questions. Just steel in her voice.I braced myself against the desk, my fingers digging into the wood. "I know," I rasped.She stepped closer. Normally, her strawberry scent soothed me. No
JACKSON’S POVThe door clicked shut behind us, sealing away the warmth of the evening sun. Karen’s fingers slipped between mine, her skin humming with the lingering thrill of our time in town. She swayed slightly, her laughter still fresh in the air between us—sweet and light, like the scent of wildflowers clinging to her hair.We’d barely taken three steps into the house when I felt it—that shift in the air.Karen stilled beside me. “Jackson…” she whispered.My eyes snapped toward the living room.That’s when I saw him.A man stood there, right in the center of the room like he fucking belonged here—like this was his house and we were the guests. His presence was wrong. Not rogue-wrong. Not Alpha-wrong. Something older. His aura curled around the room, heavy and dark, sending a ripple through my wolf.Tall. Lean. Silver threads streaked through his black hair, but his back was straight, and his presence screamed danger. His eyes, though—those eyes were the same deep green as my fathe
KAREN’S POVThe dress fit me like it was made just for me—soft as clouds, light as air, the fabric swirling around my knees when I moved. It wasn’t just clothes. It felt like becoming someone new. Or maybe... finally becoming myself.I stepped out of the dressing room, smoothing the fabric with shaky hands. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it. Would Jackson like it? Did I care? Yeah. I cared way too much—more than I was willing to admit.Jackson’s head snapped up the second I walked out. His lips parted slightly. For a long moment, he didn’t move or speak—just stared at me with those dark eyes growing even darker.“Damn.” The word came out rough, like it got stuck in his throat. He shook his head slowly. “You look...” He took a step closer. “Perfect.”My face burned. “You have to say that—you’re my mate,” I teased, but my voice cracked.His fingers brushed my cheek as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, so gentle it made my chest ache. “I’m saying it because it’s true
KAREN’S POVThe sound of heavy footsteps faded upstairs as the boys disappeared to shower. I wrapped my hands around my coffee mug, letting the warmth soak into my skin while Luna Hannah worked at the stove. The smell of sizzling bacon mixed with the rich coffee aroma, the fat popping like little firecrackers in the pan.Just as I was relaxing into the cozy kitchen atmosphere, Laila's voice cut through the air—sharp and full of attitude."Ugh, boys."She marched in, her long braid swinging behind her like a whip. Her workout clothes were covered in dirt and grass stains, like she'd just come from war—though knowing Laila, a simple training session might as well be a battlefield.She flopped onto the stool next to me with an exaggerated sigh and grabbed a cookie."You'd think Jackson would learn by now not to steal someone's victory cookie just because he got the last hit in," she grumbled, taking a big bite.I hid my smile behind my coffee cup. "So you let him win?"Her grin turned wi
KAREN’S POVI woke up slowly, blinking against the morning light coming through the curtains. The bed was cozy and warm, the sheets wrapped around my legs. Still half-asleep, I reached out, expecting to feel Jackson's solid body beside me, his arm draped over my waist like usual. But my hand only found empty sheets.The spot where he'd been was still warm, though—the mattress keeping the shape of where he'd slept. I took a deep breath and could still smell him—that wild, woodsy scent that was all Jackson.He was gone.Sitting up, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and noticed a folded note on his pillow with my name written in Jackson's messy scrawl. I smiled as I opened it:"Went to pack training. Didn't want to wake you—you looked too cute sleeping. Left clothes from Laila's closet for you. Thought you'd want something comfy. See you soon. —Jackson"My chest got all warm and fuzzy reading it. Of course he'd think of something like this.Next to the note was a neatly folded green hoodie
Hannah’s POVMy fingers curled into fists. His pack doesn’t fight fair. “They go for the throat when no one’s looking,” I said, my voice tight.Xavier nodded, that grim expression he wore before battles settling over his features. “Jackson knows. He’s already sworn to protect her.”I stood abruptly. My boy—my fierce, reckless boy—was just like his father at that age. All pride and protectiveness, with more courage than sense. “What if he—”Xavier closed the distance between us, cutting me off with that quiet certainty of his. “He’s not just my son, Hannah.” His calloused hand cupped my cheek, thumb brushing the curve of my jaw. “He’s yours too. That means he’s got your brains and my stubbornness. He’ll keep her safe.”I searched his face—those dark eyes that had seen so much, the scars he wore like medals. The absolute faith in our son shining through. My breath left me in a slow exhale. “…You trust him that much?”“With my life.” His thumb traced my cheekbone. “And Karen? She’s tough