LOGINNicole’s POVMy heart pounded in anticipation.And something else, something too close to fear. Something felt off.Wrong.There was an eerie stillness to Talia, one I’d never seen before. One that looked nothing like the stubborn woman I knew.My wolf felt uneasy.‘We have to be quick’ I mindlinked Mason. Something feels off.’‘Let’s do this then’ he responded immediately.I pressed harder on the gas. Mason had taken the woods along with several of his warriors.The plan was to take out any patrol and cause a distraction so the warriors would be far away when the council inevitably called for back up. While I head to the pack house in the midst of the chaos to release Aloha Black and any ally currently locked up.Should be easy right? I rolled the windows down, letting the night air touch my skin.The air smelt familiar, nostalgic.The was the place I’d been born, the place I’d grown up. My home.And I’d been driven away from it.My fingers tightened around the steering wheel.
Talia’s POVI knew before I got there, smelt it from a mile away, felt it. But I kept moving.There were no guards to interrupt—exactly how we had planned it.The pack house was empty just as Damien had promised.No single person was in the area. Except one.Kira.I felt her before I caught sight of her. The air felt heavy, wrong. Like it had been poisoned with a darkness. She stood at the center of the training field, her hair catching in the wind, her posture unnaturally still. Her skin was pale, dark veins weaving up her neck like vines. Her dark eyes found mine immediately, and filled with that familiar dark contempt. We stood a distance away from each other, just staring. Both carrying so much anger. The air was tense, quiet.“You made it,” she rasped, her voice low, sickly.“Yeah.”She smiled—a slow, twisted curve of her lips. “I’ve been waiting for this day,” she breathed, “waiting… waiting for the day you finally step your foot on this territory. I watched everything
Talia's POVThe day had finally come.I didn't feel fear, or panic, or anticipation.I felt calm.Too calm.My wolf was silent in an eerie way.I glanced up at the moon, sending a final prayer to the goddess."Luna?" A voice called.I didn't move. I already sensed him coming."The coronation is happening at the back of the pack house," Damien informed, his voice heavy with anticipation."The pack members have evacuated the building," he added. "The council wanted it private."Private.I nodded slowly."Is everything set?" I questioned, my voice sounding unrecognizable—even to my own ears.Damien nodded."Yes," he responded. He paused, eyes flickering to the woods behind me, where the trees whispered in the night. "I got Dimitri to spread the word." He explained carefully."Lena and Mira testified to your existence."Huh.Lena, who had forsaken me during the trial.And Mira."Earlier today," he continued, his voice sharpening with something, something that sounded too much like hope, "
Cassian's POVCoronation day.It was finally time for Melissa to be marked as Luna.The council members were in good spirits, Melissa was over the moon, Kira was eerie as ever.But me.I felt rage."Are you ready?" Jarek asked, his eyes on me. After that day at my office, the council members watched me like a hawk.Dimitri had been locked up—accused of treason and the other two Omegas had completely disappeared. "Almost," I muttered, forcing lightness to my voice. I picked up my tie, then paused. Noise drifted to my ears. A loud chant. "What?" I whispered, my brows furrowing.Jarek's eyes sharpened on me, then slowly slipped to the window. The chants were getting louder with each passing second.I moved."I don't think you should—" Jarek warned but I was already at the window.My breath caught in my throat.Hundreds of pack members stood outside, their faces dark with anger, their eyes wide with determination and defiance—chanting one word.One name.Talia.Warmth settled in my
Talia’s POV“So this is it,” Katherine said, a solemn look settling on her face.I nodded.The memory from yesterday lingered vividly in my mind—Nicole’s laughter, Mason’s quiet presence, even Magnus sitting there like he hadn’t just been dragged into chaos.It softened something in me, blurred the heaviness hanging in the air.“Tomorrow it all ends,” she added.I nodded again.My chest tightened.“I’ll finally put an end to everything,” I whispered.The words felt heavier now.Final.Katherine cracked a smile.Or tried to.“I wish you the best of luck,” she said, lifting her hand in a half wave before hesitating. “I hope everything works out for you.”I swallowed the lump in my throat.“You’re a brat,” I muttered, forcing lightness into my voice. “Don’t get all serious on me now.”Her smile came easier this time—real, stretching across her face.“It’s a rare moment,” she said. “You should appreciate it.”A laugh slipped past my lips—the sound soft, real. She didn’t say anything else
Talia’s POVI lifted the bottle in the air. “We’re musketeers!” Kathrine stood, shaking her head. “No,” she corrected, snatching the bottle from my hand. “We’re the three muskeet!” Nicole sighed. “You two don’t know anything,” he sighed again, grabbing the bottle from her. “We’re the three!”I glanced at Kathrine, then we both burst into laughter, clutching our stomach. “You’re so dulll,” she snickered, pointing at Nicole. Nicole huffed, settling back on the ground. I ruffled his hair.“Don’t worry, someday you’ll catch up to us.” I reassured. “Catch up to what exactly?” A deep voice asked. We all froze, dread creeping up our spines.Slowly, we turned, as if in sync.“Mason.”“Mason.”“Mason.”We greeted at the same time. Mason’s face twisted. His eyes swept through us, then finally settled on Nicole—softening. “Whose bright idea was this?” He sighed, stepping closer to Nicole. “Your mate.”Nicole gasped, turning to me with a hand covering his mouth. “Traitor!”I snor
The silence was heavy, almost too heavy. "Luna." Mrs. Alanna's voice broke through the fog. The older woman stood at the edge of the field, her expression polite but sharp as ever. Right, she hadn’t been there to witness whatever just happened. "Training is concluded,” she glanced around bef
The suite was dim when I walked in; the faint scent of sandalwood lingered.Was he … I whipped around, my heart thrumming in excitement.He was sitting on the edge of the couch, jacket off, sleeves rolled, head bowed like he'd been waiting a while. The sight froze me where I stood.Cassian.For a h
By the time I stumbled back to my room, the "organic courage" had mostly worn off, leaving behind a pounding headache and a vivid highlight reel of every stupid thing I'd said. The image of Cassian's faint smirk was the worst of them all. I’d declared him mine. In front of everyone. I groaned
I woke to find the spot beside me empty. Of course, he was gone. What had I expected from a man who'd spent years tormenting me? My mind drifted back to the night before, the way he'd taken me with such fierce intensity, as if claiming something he'd always wanted but never dared to admit. By the







