CHAPTER TWENTY-THREELEXA POINT OF VIEW For several heartbeats, nobody moved. The entire pack stared at Cross in his changed form, his fangs gleaming in the sunlight, his red eyes burning. I stood beside him, frozen in shock just like everyone else.Then Elder Marjorie broke the silence. The old wolf pushed herself to her feet, her ancient face lit with wonder."The prophecy," she whispered, her voice growing stronger with each word. "The ancient prophecy speaks of this day!"At her words, the other elders stirred. Elder Thomas, the oldest among them, stood shakily."Could it be?" he asked, his voice trembling with emotion. "After all these generations of waiting?"Elder Marjorie nodded, tears streaming down her wrinkled face. "A hybrid of three bloodlines, werewolf, lycan, and vampire. The one who will lead our pack to greatness. The one who will protect us from the coming darkness."A murmur spread through the crowd, growing louder with each passing moment. Confusion gave way to ex
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOURDAMIAN POINT OF VIEW I sat by the window of Mother's private quarters, my body rigid with fury as I watched the distant clearing where the pack still celebrated Cross's wedding and revelation. My fists opened and closed without my conscious control, matching the rhythm of my churning thoughts.A hybrid. My half-brother was a hybrid. Part werewolf, part lycan, part vampire, a mix of bloodlines that should have been impossible. And instead of rejecting him for his unnatural nature, the pack embraced him. Worshipped him. My own father knelt before him like a common wolf.The sound of shattering glass pulled my attention back to the room. Mother had thrown another vase against the wall, adding to the growing pile of broken objects at her feet."A hybrid!" she spat, her face twisted with disgust. "A filthy mix of bloodlines! And they worship him like some god!"I said nothing. What words could possibly capture the magnitude of what had happened today? Everything we'd w
LEXA POVThe white dress strangled me like chains. I stood frozen in the small room at the back of the ceremonial hall, my hands trembling as my father's pack helper stabbed the last pins into my hair."Stop fidgeting," she snapped, jabbing a pin into my scalp.I bit my lip until I tasted blood. Pain was nothing new these days. What was a little more?Through the window, I watched pack members file into the ceremonial grounds. Their faces glowed with joy and excitement, emotions that felt like foreign languages to me now. This wedding wasn't my celebration. It was my prison sentence."Your father will be here soon," the helper said, her eyes sliding past mine like I was already a ghost. Nobody looked at me directly anymore. Not since Sara's "accident." Not since I became the replacement bride.My stomach twisted into knots. What could I possibly say? That every fiber of my being screamed to run? That the thought of marrying a man who loathed me made me physically sick? A man whose hea
LEXA POVMorning light stabbed through the curtains, yanking me from what little sleep I'd found. For one blessed heartbeat, I forgot. Then reality crushed me, the cold, empty space beside me, the strange bedroom, the gold band that felt like a shackle on my finger.I was Damian's wife now. His unwanted burden.The cabin stood silent as I dressed. No sign of Damian, just messy blankets on the couch proving he'd been there at all. A note sat on the kitchen counter: *Pack meeting. Be there by 10.*No "good morning." No "please." Not even my name. Just orders.I checked the clock, 9:30. My stomach knotted so tight I thought I might be sick. Pack meetings meant facing everyone. Facing *her*.The walk to the main pack house felt like walking to my execution. Pack members froze when I passed, their whispers following me like poison. I kept my eyes glued to the ground, counting steps, begging my lungs to keep working.The main hall buzzed with noise when I arrived. Pack members huddled aroun
DIAMIAN POINT OF VIEWThe empty hospital corridor echoed with my footsteps as I walked toward Sara's room. Morning light spilled through the windows, making long shadows on the shiny floor. Each step felt heavier than the last.I checked my watch, 6:15 AM. Too early for other pack members to visit. Perfect. I needed these moments with Sara to be private, away from prying eyes, away from my mother's watchful gaze, away from the wife I never wanted.I stopped at her door, my hand frozen on the handle. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes. These visits drained me more than any pack fight or territory run ever could. But I came anyway, day after day, pulled by equal parts love and guilt.I pushed the door open.The sharp smell of hospital cleaner mixed with the soft rose oil the nurses rubbed on Sara's skin. The machines beeped steadily, counting each heartbeat, each breath she took in her endless sleep. Three months like this hadn't dimmed her beauty. Her golden hair spread across the
LEXA POINT OF VIEW My fingers bled as I pushed the last white rose into place. Three hours spent arranging flowers for the territory gathering, my back screaming in protest. It had to be perfect. Everything had to be perfect. "They're just flowers. No one will even notice." Damian's voice made me jump. He stood in the doorway, arms crossed, watching me with cold eyes. "I notice," I said, straightening. "And your mother will tear me apart if anything's wrong." He shrugged. "Why bother? Mother will find fault no matter what you do." His words cut because they were true. Still, I had to try. Damian walked around the table, studying my work. "Sara would have used blue flowers. They match the pack colors better." Always Sara. Every breath, every moment circled back to my half-sister. Sara who was better. Sara who was wanted. "The flower seller had no blue ones," I said, swallowing hard. "Did you?" Doubt dripped from his words. "Or did you simply not try hard enough?" I bit my to
LEXA POINT OF VIEWA scream tore through the pack house, ripping me from sleep. I bolted upright on the couch, my heart hammering against my ribs as footsteps thundered down the hall. Damian burst from the bedroom, yanking on a shirt. "What's happening?" I gasped, but he was already gone, the door slamming behind him. More shouting. More running feet. Something huge was happening. I jammed my feet into shoes and chased the noise. Pack members rushed toward the hospital wing, their faces tight with fear and hope. No one noticed me trailing behind, invisible as always. Outside Sara's room, a crowd packed the hallway. I stood on tiptoes, trying to see past bodies. Through tiny gaps, I caught flashes of movement inside. "It's a miracle," someone whispered, voice trembling. "After all this time," another added. My stomach twisted into a knot. Only one thing could cause this much excitement. "Let me through!" Alpha Gregory's voice boomed as he shoved through the crowd. Linda follow
LEXA POINT OF VIEWHarsh light stabbed through the tiny window, jolting me from broken sleep on the freezing cell floor. Every muscle screamed as I pushed myself up, my mouth dry as sand.Today was my trial. Probably my last day alive.The door banged open. Two female pack warriors entered, faces hard as stone."Get up," the taller one ordered. "Clean yourself before the trial."They marched me to a small washroom, watching my every move as I splashed icy water on my face and tried to untangle my hair with trembling fingers. The mirror showed a ghost, sunken eyes, cracked lips, hollow cheeks. Was this really me?"Hurry up," the second guard snapped. "Everyone's waiting."I patted my face with a rough towel. "Will I get to speak? To defend myself?"The women exchanged looks that made my stomach sink."The Alpha decides who speaks," the first one said, not meeting my eyes.They led me through dim underground hallways toward the main pack hall. The normally busy corridors stood empty, ev
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOURDAMIAN POINT OF VIEW I sat by the window of Mother's private quarters, my body rigid with fury as I watched the distant clearing where the pack still celebrated Cross's wedding and revelation. My fists opened and closed without my conscious control, matching the rhythm of my churning thoughts.A hybrid. My half-brother was a hybrid. Part werewolf, part lycan, part vampire, a mix of bloodlines that should have been impossible. And instead of rejecting him for his unnatural nature, the pack embraced him. Worshipped him. My own father knelt before him like a common wolf.The sound of shattering glass pulled my attention back to the room. Mother had thrown another vase against the wall, adding to the growing pile of broken objects at her feet."A hybrid!" she spat, her face twisted with disgust. "A filthy mix of bloodlines! And they worship him like some god!"I said nothing. What words could possibly capture the magnitude of what had happened today? Everything we'd w
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREELEXA POINT OF VIEW For several heartbeats, nobody moved. The entire pack stared at Cross in his changed form, his fangs gleaming in the sunlight, his red eyes burning. I stood beside him, frozen in shock just like everyone else.Then Elder Marjorie broke the silence. The old wolf pushed herself to her feet, her ancient face lit with wonder."The prophecy," she whispered, her voice growing stronger with each word. "The ancient prophecy speaks of this day!"At her words, the other elders stirred. Elder Thomas, the oldest among them, stood shakily."Could it be?" he asked, his voice trembling with emotion. "After all these generations of waiting?"Elder Marjorie nodded, tears streaming down her wrinkled face. "A hybrid of three bloodlines, werewolf, lycan, and vampire. The one who will lead our pack to greatness. The one who will protect us from the coming darkness."A murmur spread through the crowd, growing louder with each passing moment. Confusion gave way to ex
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWOLEXA POINT OF VIEW The clearing buzzed with whispers as I stood before Cross, my hand in his. The Alpha spoke the ancient words that would bind us together as mates, but I barely heard them. All I could focus on was Cross's face, the way he looked at me as if I were the most precious thing in the world.From the corner of my eye, I saw Linda and Damian sitting stiffly in the front row. Linda's mouth was pinched tight, her eyes burning with hatred. Damian stared straight ahead, his jaw clenched so hard I could see the muscle jumping under his skin. Their rage was a physical thing, filling the space around them.I noticed two empty seats where Sara and Catherine should have been. Their absence spoke louder than any protest they could have made. They couldn't bear to watch me become what Sara had always wanted to be, Luna, mate to the Alpha's heir.My father stood off to the side, his hands clasped tightly in front of him. Though his face remained calm, I could see th
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONEThe wedding dress felt heavy on my skin as I stood at the top of the grand staircase. White silk flowed from my shoulders to the floor, catching the light that streamed through the tall windows. My hands clutched a small bouquet of blue wildflowers, Cross had remembered they were my favorite.In just minutes, I would walk down these stairs and head to the ceremony clearing where everyone waited. Where Cross waited.I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves. The pack women who had helped me dress had left a few minutes ago to take their places for the ceremony. I'd asked for a moment alone to gather my thoughts before making my entrance.Voices drifted up from below—pack members chatting as they made their way to the clearing. Music played in the distance, a traditional wedding melody that had marked pack unions for generations. Today it played for me.I smoothed the front of my dress one last time and started down the stairs. One step. Two. The silk whispered around
CHAPTER TWENTYMorning light filled my room as I sat before the mirror, barely recognizing the woman looking back at me. My hair had been washed and styled, falling in soft waves down my back. My skin glowed from the scented oils the pack women had rubbed into it. The wedding dress lay on the bed behind me, waiting.In just a few hours, I would marry Cross. I would become Luna.A knock on the door broke my thoughts."Come in," I called, expecting one of the women helping me prepare.The door opened slowly. My heart stopped when I saw who stood there.Father.He hovered in the doorway, uncertain, his eyes taking in my appearance. "Lexa," he said softly. "You look beautiful."I turned back to the mirror, unwilling to let him see how his presence affected me. "What are you doing here?""I wanted to see you. Before the ceremony." He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. "To talk.""We have nothing to talk about," I said, picking up a hairbrush just to have something to do wi
SARA POINT OF VIEWI stared at Father, my mouth dry. His question hung in the air between us. Did I frame Lexa? How dare he even ask that?Before I could answer, Mother stepped forward, her face tight with anger."Stop this, Thomas," she said, her voice sharp. "Stop acting like you suddenly care about Lexa. Stop pretending to be a good father when you've treated her like an outcast her entire life."Father's face paled. His shoulders dropped as if Mother's words had physically hit him."You're right," he said quietly. "I have treated her badly. And that's something I'll regret for the rest of my life.""Then why the sudden change?" Mother demanded. "Why question Sara now?"Father ran a hand over his face, suddenly looking older. "Because I've been blind. Because I've let you two poison my mind against my own daughter for years.""Poison?" I repeated, finding my voice again. "We told you the truth about her!""Did you?" Father's eyes met mine, filled with doubt I'd never seen before. "
SARA POINT OF VIEW I threw the vase across the room, enjoying the crash as it shattered against the wall. Tiny pieces of blue glass scattered across the floor, glinting in the late afternoon sunlight."They're getting married tomorrow!" I screamed, my voice raw with fury. "Tomorrow! She'll be the princess! The Luna! My position! Mine!"Mother paced the room, her face tight with anger. "I know, Sara. I heard the news too.""How could this happen?" I grabbed another small ornament from the table and smashed it to the ground. The destruction felt good, something physical to match the storm inside me. "Just yesterday she was nothing. Less than nothing! About to die for what she did to me!""What she didn't do to you," Mother corrected under her breath. "Don't start," I warned her. "Not now."Mother rubbed her forehead like she had a headache. "We need to think, not break things. Breaking things solves nothing."I wanted to break more than things. I wanted to break Lexa's neck. Cross's s
CHAPTER SEVENTEENLEXA POINT OF VIEW I walked next to Cross as we left the meeting hall, my mind still trying to understand what had just happened. Free. I was free from Damian. Tomorrow I would marry Cross, the Alpha's firstborn son."Are you okay?" Cross asked, his voice low so only I could hear."Yes," I said, though my heart still beat too fast. "It's just... a lot to take in."He nodded, understanding in his strange golden-red eyes. "Do you want some time alone? To think?"The offer surprised me. Damian had never cared what I wanted or needed. "Maybe a little time, yes.""I'll walk you to your room," he said.We moved through the pack house, past curious eyes and whispered conversations. News of the dissolved marriage and upcoming wedding had spread fast. Some pack members looked away when they saw us. Others stared openly, trying to understand how the girl they'd nearly executed yesterday was now walking freely as the future Luna."Ignore them," Cross said, noticing my discomfo
CHAPTER SIXTEENDIAMIAN POINT OF VIEW I slammed the door of our private quarters so hard that the windows shook. My hands wouldn't stop shaking. The burn in my chest felt like I'd swallowed fire. How dare they? How dare he?"That man is not your father," Mother said, pacing the room like a trapped animal. Her face was red, her breathing fast. "No real father would humiliate his son this way. In front of the elders!"I kicked a chair, sending it crashing into the wall. The wood cracked, one leg breaking off. It didn't help. Nothing would help this feeling inside me."My wife," I said through gritted teeth. "He took my wife.""She was never worthy of you," Mother spat. "A nothing girl, a placeholder until Sara recovered. But the insult, the shame of it! To dissolve your marriage like it was nothing!"I grabbed a glass from the table and threw it against the wall. It exploded into shiny pieces. The sound matched how I felt inside, shattered, broken, sharp edges everywhere."And now he'l