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
SILAS’S POVThe other day, I watched Laila celebrate like she’d just slain a god. Her laughter rang through the training grounds, sharp and bright, her chest heaving from exertion, sweat glistening on her skin like victory itself. She raised her fists in triumph, grinning at the others as if she’d done the impossible—as if she’d truly beaten me.Oh, little wolf. If only you knew. I grinned to myself. I could have shattered her. One twist of my wrist, one shift of my weight, and I would’ve had her on her knees, gasping, her pride crushed beneath my boot. But I didn’t—not because I couldn’t, but because this was just the beginning.Let them all believe what they wanted—that I was the long-lost brother, humbled by exile, softened by time, maybe even sorry. Let Xavier stroll around like he still held the world in his palms, his pack surrounding him like loyal little stars. Let them grow comfortable. Let them forget what I was really capable of.Let them think the wolf is tame.The morning
JACKSON’S POVLater that day, just as I thought I had everything under control at last, I got summoned to my father’s study.The door slammed open before I could even knock.Father stood there, his massive frame filling the doorway, his dark eyes burning with a rage I hadn’t seen in years. The air around him pulsed with barely contained power—even without his Lycan, he was terrifying.“You let her fight him?” His voice wasn’t a shout. It was worse—low, controlled, and deadly.I straightened, keeping my own voice steady. “I tried to stop her. But you know Laila—once she sets her mind to something—”“I don’t care how stubborn she is!” His fist slammed down on the desk, making the wood groan. “She’s fifteen, Jackson! And Silas is a trained killer!”I didn’t back down. “She won, Dad. She beat him fair and square.”That only made it worse. His nostrils flared, his chest rising and falling like a bull about to charge. “The fact that he even challenged her—that he thought for one second he c
JACKSON’S POVThe second Karen walked out, the room felt too small. I couldn’t breathe right. My feet started moving before my brain caught up, pacing like a trapped animal, my boots scraping against the old wood floors. The door hadn’t fully closed—a thin line of light from the hallway cut through the dark.Maybe she’ll come back when she cools off. But it was a dumb thought because she never did. I stood there and watched her storm away, thinking, Maybe she’d turn around, burst back in, and tell me she found another way. That she didn’t have to go back to him.Alex.Just his name lit a fire in my blood. My hands clenched so tight my nails dug into my palms. I could still see the way he looked at her at the border—like she was his to take back. Like he still owned her.Not while I’m breathing.But then, my father. The strongest man I knew. The one who’d led us through every fight without flinching. Now? His hands shook when no one was looking. His voice cracked when Silas’ name came
KAREN’S POVXavier didn’t speak at first. He just stood there by the window, his massive frame tense, staring at the darkening sky like it held all the answers. The study smelled like old books and the coming storm, heavy with things neither of us wanted to say out loud.When he finally turned to me, his dark eyes weren’t just tired—they were haunted. The kind of worry that sinks deep into a person’s bones and stays there."My brother being back... it changes everything," he said, his voice rough like he’d been shouting for hours.A chill ran down my spine. Silas. Just thinking his name made my heart skip.Xavier clenched his fists, the muscles in his arms standing out sharply. "He’s dangerous, Karen. More than you realize." His voice dropped to a growl. "I’ve kept this from the pack—even from my own kids—because I thought we had more time. But now..."He let out a heavy breath, his shoulders sagging like the weight of the world was crushing him. "I need my Lycan back. I need to be st
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