LOGINZahra's POVHe opens his door as the others open theirs, then hurries around the truck to open mine.Xander and Tobias move to the truck bed to get the bags as Lincoln leads me towards the front steps of the cabin. Every wolf in the vicinity has stopped what they're doing and is watching us.An elderly man kneeling in the dirt by the steps stands, brushing his hands on his trousers."Alpha!" he says with a bow."George, how are you?" Lincoln asks, shaking the man's hand."Well, thank you, Alpha. We've missed you. It's good to have you home."His eyes flick to me with open curiosity before returning to Lincoln."It's good to be home. George, can you ask Janice to prepare a good dinner tonight? I have an announcement to make to the pack."Lincoln beams at me before George smiles too."Of course, sir." He bows again, then hurries off around the house."George is in charge of the house and grounds, and his mate, Janice, is in charge of the kitchen and household staff.""He seems nice?" I
Zahra's POVWe drive up through the mountains, the road winding through the trees and under large rocky outcrops. For some reason, I wasn't expecting Shadow to be this high. My ears keep popping as we drive; the altitude is surprising. I find myself focusing on the climb, on the endless bends in the road, anything to stop thinking about what waits for us at the end of it. We're not far from Night howlers and the Royal Pack, but they aren't at anywhere near this kind of elevation.I'm so nervous, the butterflies in my stomach are having a field day. Every time my mind drifts to what's about to happen when we arrive, I feel sick.I'm in the front seat next to Lincoln, who's driving Xander's truck. Xander and Tobias are behind us. Tobias's hand has been on my shoulder the whole journey, and from time to time, when he feels my anxiety ratcheting up, he massages it gently. Xander's hand finds my arm where it rests on the centre armrest, and Lincoln's hand finds my knee.We talked and talke
Max's POVI continue; "Anyway, last summer I started dating Zahra. We spent a few weeks together at Royal Pack, while I was at camp and she was training with the task force. It was the best summer of my life. I fell in love."I can't keep the smile off my face as a tear slips out."But then in the autumn, she was kidnapped by those rogues who were taking girls."I look up and see them both giving concerned nods, and I manage to swallow the sob down."She was missing, tortured and abused for months. Nearly six months."My voice breaks."She escaped and came home to Bloodmoon.""Is she alright?" my grandfather asks gently.I nod."She'll get there. It's been tough on her. So much has happened, and now..."I trail off and inhale deeply."On her birthday, we discovered we were mates."I decide to leave out the whole knowing she was my mate for a year and the poisoning debacle. It's just too much drama."But she also recognised Xander as her mate."They inhale sharply."At first, I was oka
Max's POVMy uncle holds the door open for me as I enter the office, my grandfather behind me. I had hoped to do this without him, but I guess that's not going to happen."Take a seat, Max," my uncle says, indicating a sofa against the wall facing two armchairs.They both claim the chairs, and I internally groan. Looks like this will be an interrogation then. This move is one of Lucas's favourites for an initial soft interrogation before the dungeons are called for.Great."Start from the beginning. What's going on?" my uncle says, and I frown, playing innocent."What do you mean?"He scoffs."We've not seen you in years. Your family made it pretty clear we weren't welcome in your life, and now you turn up here out of the blue, an Alpha and with a strange scent."I sigh, resting my face in my hands."I had no idea my parents told you that you weren't welcome in my life. I was told you didn't want to be in my life, that you didn't agree with Mum's choice to mate a Beta.""What?" Granda
Max's POV"My turn," my uncle says as we reset.I throw a punch towards him, and like me, he deflects it exactly as we'd been shown before slipping to my outside in one smooth movement.We separate."Can I show you a variation we use?" I ask.He raises an eyebrow but nods.I settle back into my stance, and he comes at me again.Years of drilling the movement take over before I even have to think. This time, I use the edge of my hand to deflect the strike. It's a sharper blow against his forearm and creates just enough separation for me to wrap my hand around his wrist as I slide his arm across my chest and step to the outside. By the time I'm behind him, I have one hand controlling his shoulder and the other pinning his wrist behind his back.One small shift in leverage is all it takes to force him to his knees.He doesn't even have a chance to resist."Ooh, I like that," Gamma Jon says as my uncle stills beneath my grip."Fuck... it's a tiny adjustment, but it makes all the differenc
Max's POVThe dining room is alive with chatter and movement as people settle onto benches carrying plates of food, line up at the serving hatches along one wall, and flit across the room greeting one another.Rows of long tables and benches fill the room, all facing a raised dais at the far end, where a large table is set out. I assume it's for the pack leadership and their families.No one seems to notice me as I enter the room, the hustle and bustle of the early morning proving distraction enough. But as I reach the middle of the room, heads begin to turn.A hush ripples outwards as the people closest to me notice the unfamiliar face. Conversations falter, and whispers follow in my wake.I hold my head high and ignore them.My grandmother smiles as I approach the table."Good morning, Max darling."She stands and presses her cheek to mine.I almost flinch back in surprise, but instead warmth settles in my chest. I can't remember the last time someone greeted me with any kind of aff
Zarha's POVI blink up at the harsh fluorescent lights overhead. My head feels heavy, like it isn’t fully attached anymore. My vision swims in and out of focus. Somewhere nearby, water drips, the sound slowly seeping into my awareness.Then the memory hits me like a ton of fucking bricks.Hands hold
Edwardo's POVI pace the corridor, boots squeaking on the polished stone every time I pivot. The noise scrapes at my nerves. Not enough to truly grate, just enough to make me aware of the time they’re wasting.The council chamber looms beside me, doors sealed. Of course, they’re late.Fucking typic
Lincoln's POVThe sun is already scorching and it is barely eight thirty in the morning. Today is going to be hot. The kind of heat that presses down on you and makes everything feel heavier. I hope they let us have a swim later, though I doubt it.I watch as a trickle of sweat slides down the back
Zahra's POVMy face flames. I stare at the sheets because I cannot possibly look him in the eye after that thought.But then I feel his breath again, warm and minty, ghosting across my mouth. I glance up, and he is leaning in—eyes fixed on my lips, nose a breath away—waiting, asking.I close the g







