Phoebe's POVI scrubbed the counters harder, the veins in my hands bulging.They were clean but I didn't stop.Mark sat behind me on a swing chair and I could feel his eyes almost drilling a hole on my back. He cracked open a beer.He took a swig tossing the empty bottle at my feet. It shattered on the floor, but I didn't flinch. I already knew he was just trying to get me to retaliate so he could get me into trouble.Since I moved in with my uncle, his father three months ago, he made it his mission to make my life unbearable.โHurry up, you jinx.โMark said behind me.I didn't bother to look back at him. I kept scrubbing.Going back and forth with him was useless. I was here because his father, my uncle, was a good man. Even if he didn't try to defend me or call Mark to order.He picked a brush from the floor and threw it at me. I tilted my head away.โI've done nothing wrong to you, Mark. Leave me the hell alone,โ I snapped, clenching my fists. He walked towards me angrily, his ey
Nathanielโs POV Phoebe pulled her arm away quickly.โI donโt know this Alec guy youโre talking about," she said, her voice steady.I stared at her, unable to look away. There was something about herโher sharp eyes, the stubborn tilt of her chin, the way her voice stayed calm even though I could tell she was nervous. My wolf stirred inside me, growling softly in approval.There was an undeniable pull between us.I gulped and asked, my voice low. โYou felt it too, didn't you? We are mates.Phoebeโs lips pressed into a thin line. โI know what I am,โ she said, meeting my eyes. She looked away from me, rubbing her hand unconsciously. I wanted to hold her hand and tell her to relax.โItโs impossible for someone like me to be your Luna. Iโm an outcast. Iโm ready for your rejection.โShe said suddenly.I didnโt see that coming. I did so much to get her to come to me, that's not what I wanted to hear. When I thought about all this because of Duncan, I started to get angry. But I'm one of t
Phoebe's POV When I got back home, Uncle was sitting by the counter, going over his old notebook. It was filled with his notes about stock and finances for the cafeteria. He looked up when I entered, his eyes going to the red stain on my arm that'd appeared there from Nathaniel's strong grip earlier.โWhat happened, Phoebe?โ he asked, concern lacing his tone.I tried to sound casual. โI got hurt while training. Itโs no big deal. Itโll heal soon.โUncle didnโt look convinced. He got up and walked closer, his brow furrowed deeply. โYou shouldnโt push yourself too hard. Training isnโt worth getting injured like this.โโIโm fine,โ I said quickly, trying to brush it off. โReally.โHe stared at me for a long moment, then sighed. โYouโve always been stubborn,โ he muttered.I hesitated before speaking again. โUncle, please let me pay rent. Iโm staying here, eating your food, and working in your cafeteria. Itโs only fair.โHe shook his head firmly. โI told you before. I canโt take your rent.
Nathaniel's POV The whip cracked against my back, and I clenched my teeth to keep from making a sound. My father, Alpha of one of the strongest packs in the region, stood before me, fury radiating from him. This wasnโt the first time Iโd been on the receiving end of his anger, but it didnโt make it any easier.โHow dare you make such a decision without consulting me?โ he barked, his voice echoing in his study. I didn't speak until he was done venting his angerWhen the punishment was done, he tossed the whip aside and crossed his arms. โStand up and explain yourself.โI pushed myself to my feet, my back throbbing with each movement. My fatherโs eyes bored into mine, demanding an answer. โI did it because it was the best decision for the pack,โ I began, keeping my voice steady. โFather, youโve been planning to take control of other packs gradually. But with every new territory we gain, management becomes harder. There have already been signs that our resources are stretched too thin
Nathaniel's POVI walked into the pack house, Phoebe was sitting on the couch, staring out the window. Her hair caught the light, and she looked peaceful. I hadnโt expected her to be here or to have her wait here for me, but seeing her there made me stop for a moment."Phoebe... how're you doing?โ I asked, stepping closer. "Looks like Iโm okay,โ she said with a shrug.Before I could respond, she cut me off, her words sharp and to the point. โWhat is this all about, Nathaniel?โ Her tone wasnโt just questioningโit was desperate, demanding.I stopped in my tracks, raising one eyebrow in question and she rolled her eyes. I knew she meant the mating ceremony. I didnโt want to talk about it. Admitting I had planned to mate with someone else would only make things worse. So I kept my face calm and walked closer to her. โWhat do you mean?โ I asked, She scoffed, โDonโt play dumb. The mating ceremony. You didnโt plan this, did you? Or were you just waiting for the perfect moment to humilia
Phoebe's POVI woke up feeling like my head was spinning. For a few seconds, I didnโt know where I was. The ceiling above me was unfamiliar, and the bed felt different. Panic crept in as I tried to sit up, but my body felt heavy. Where was I?I closed my eyes and tried to think. Slowly, pieces of the previous day came back to me. Nathaniel. His face. His lips on mine. His arms held me as he guided meโฆ somewhere.Before I could figure it out, there was a knock on the door. I froze, unsure of what to say. A moment later, a maid stepped in, carrying a tray.โGood morning, Miss Phoebe,โ she said politely, placing the tray on a small table beside the bed.I rubbed my eyes and pushed myself up. โWhy am I here?โ I asked, my voice cracking.The maid hesitated, her hands fiddling with the edge of her apron. โYou were at the dinner table with the alpha's family last night, Miss,โ she said carefully. โLord Nathaniel brought you here so you could rest.โโYou wereโฆ.um, you had a little too much
Phoebe's POVNathaniel left with his father and two brothers early in the morning. I had watched him mount his horse, his face set in a serious expression. The treaty with the Moonfury pack was important, and the Alpha wanted all his sons to be involved in the negotiations.Nathaniel was leaving me with people who didn't even like me. I took a deep breath.โIโll be back by evening,โ Nathaniel had whispered as he came to stand next to me. .I nodded. โGood luck. I hope the peace treaty lasts.โBefore he could leave, Elizabeth stepped forward, arms crossed. โWhat about our training today in the fields, Nathaniel? You promised to help me today.โ He sighed. โElizabeth, Iโll help you tomorrow. Today is important. We have to leave with father in a matter of minutes.โโYou always say that,โ she snapped. โBut you never follow through. Fine, let Phoebe help me instead.โNathanielโs brows furrowed. โNo, IโโโItโs settled,โ the Alpha interrupted, his deep voice cutting through the conversatio
Nathaniel's POVI returned to the pack house after the meeting at Moonfury pack, and I hoped Elizabeth hadn't given Phoebe a hard time. The warriors guarding the house were tense, whispering among themselves. One of them approached me, his expression grim.โNathaniel,โ he said, his voice low, โthere was an attack.โMy heart sank. โWhat happened?โโRogues,โ he said. โThey ambushed the group at the training grounds. Elizabeth and Phoebe are missing. The others with them seemed to have escaped together and got back here.โI didnโt wait to hear more. How could the ones I'd left to take care of Phoebe and Elizabeth come back unhurt when the people I'd charged them to protect were missing. Without a word, I shifted into my wolf form and raced toward the training grounds. My brother followed, and soon, other warriors joined us. We raced for the training grounds and for the first time, I caught myself wondering how in the world the training grounds happened to be so far away from the royal
Phoebe's POVI made my way out of the pack house, the cool morning air brushing against my face as I walked toward the training grounds. My thoughts were a tangled mess, but there was one thing I needed to do. I had to talk to Kara. She was still an enigma to me, and there was so much I didnโt understand about her. What I did know was that something wasnโt adding up. She had access to information about Nathanielโs movements, and that, to me, was far too suspicious to ignore any longer.I had to ask her. I had to know what she was hiding.When I reached the training grounds, Kara was there, practicing with a few of the warriors. Her movements were sharp and precise, every strike a calculated one. I watched her for a moment, not saying anything. She hadnโt noticed me yet, and part of me wasnโt sure if I wanted to interrupt her. There was something about the way she moved, like she wasnโt fully part of the pack, but more like she was doing this because she had to.The sounds of blades hi
Phoebe's POVI made my way out of the pack house, the cool morning air brushing against my face as I walked toward the training grounds. My thoughts were a tangled mess, but there was one thing I needed to do. I had to talk to Kara. She was still an enigma to me, and there was so much I didnโt understand about her. What I did know was that something wasnโt adding up. She had access to information about Nathanielโs movements, and that, to me, was far too suspicious to ignore any longer.I had to ask her. I had to know what she was hiding.When I reached the training grounds, Kara was there, practicing with a few of the warriors. Her movements were sharp and precise, every strike a calculated one. I watched her for a moment, not saying anything. She hadnโt noticed me yet, and part of me wasnโt sure if I wanted to interrupt her. There was something about the way she moved, like she wasnโt fully part of the pack, but more like she was doing this because she had to.The sounds of blades hi
Duncan's POVThe light filtering through the curtains barely reached my bed, and the faint, cold touch of morning was already creeping across my skin. My head felt like it was being crushed between two stone walls, the weight of the previous night pressing on me. I groaned, feeling the ache in my skull, the headache so sharp I could barely open my eyes. Slowly, I dragged myself into a sitting position, trying to fight the dizziness that swept over me.The events of last night were still a blur, a combination of frustration, too much alcohol, and anger that I couldnโt seem to shake. Antonio and Stephanie were still nowhere to be found, and the pressure of not knowing where they were or what they were doing felt like a constant weight in my chest.A soft sound caught my attention. I glanced to the side, my eyes finally opening to see the servant girl standing by the door, a tray in her hands. She didnโt say anything, just silently approached me, setting the tray down on the small table
Duncan's POVThe day had stretched long, and the news that came from my warriors only made the time feel heavier. No sign of Antonio. No word of Stephanie. I had expected a different report, maybe even a break in the hunt, but what I got was frustration. Over and over, I heard the same thing: โNothing yet, Alpha.โ It was enough to make my blood boil, but I couldnโt show it. Not yet. I had to keep my calm, had to pretend that it was all still under control.I paced the length of my chambers, my mind working through each possibility, each route they could have taken. Had they gone east? South? Were they hiding under my nose? Nothing made sense, and with every moment that passed, the anger inside me grew.One of my warriors dared to speak up. His voice had a tremor in it, like he knew he was treading on dangerous ground. โAlpha,โ he began cautiously. โPerhaps we need better informants. Someone who knows Antonio's habits, his movements. Someone who might know where heโs hiding.โI didnโt
Nathanielโs POVThe wheels of our vehicles crunched against the uneven ground as we pushed deeper into the neutral territories. The air felt heavier with each passing mile, thick with tension. I had hoped weโd be able to find Alexander by now, but the farther we traveled, the more uncertain the trail became. Every stop we made, we questioned locals and travelers, but the answers we got were always mixed, sometimes contradictory.โDid you see anyone who fits this description?โ I asked a man who was sitting near the side of the road, sharpening a blade.He glanced at the sketch in my hand and shook his head. โCanโt say Iโve seen anyone like that. But thereโs a lot of strangers passing through these parts.โI thanked him and turned to the others. โLetโs keep moving. Weโre not getting any closer here.โWe continued on, the air growing drier and the landscape more barren as we ventured into the heart of these lawless lands. I could feel the weight of the mission pressing on me. This wasnโt
Nathanielโs POVThe night was quiet, but I was not resting. I sat near the fire, watching the flames move. They made soft popping sounds as the wood burned. My men were nearby. Some were sitting like me, others were checking supplies. No one was speaking much. We were waiting.Then I heard footsteps. One of my scouts walked toward me. He looked serious, not rushed, but I could tell he had something important to say. He stopped a few steps away from me and gave a small nod.โWe got something,โ he said. His voice was low. He looked around once before speaking again. โItโs from our contact. The one in the west neutral zone.โI stood up slowly. โWhat did they say?โHe pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to me. I took it and opened it with both hands. The words were written in short lines. I read each one carefully, not skipping anything.โAlexander was seen. Not far from the southern ridge. Traveling through the neutral zone. He has a woman and a man with him.โI
Phoebeโs POVWhen I got back to my room, the door creaked a little as I pushed it open. I stepped inside and closed it behind me, turning the lock without thinking. The room was quiet. I could hear a soft hum coming from outside, maybe the wind or some insects still moving around.I stood still for a few seconds, looking around. Everything was just the way I had left itโmy bed neatly made, the blankets smooth, the pillow resting where it always did. My boots were near the wall. A glass of water sat untouched on the table beside the bed.I walked over to the bed and sat down slowly. My hands rested on my knees. I looked down at the floor, at the way the wood had little lines and marks from years of use. I had been hoping to rest, maybe even sleep for a bit, but my body didnโt feel tired. My eyes were open wide, and my mind wouldnโt stop moving.The words Kara had said kept playing in my head like they were on a loop. Duncan wasnโt the same. He was getting worse. People were afraid of h
Phoebeโs POVKara and I had another walk when she talked and I listened.As I followed, Kara glanced back at me, then looked forward again. She didnโt smile or frown. Her face was still. We moved toward the trees at the edge of the camp. A few steps more, and we were out of sight from everyone. No guards, no other pack members. Just us.โIs this far enough?โ she asked, stopping near a small patch of grass. A few flat stones were nearby.I looked around, then gave a short nod. โYeah. This is fine.โShe sat down first, brushing leaves away from the rock before resting on it. I stayed standing for a moment longer, unsure. I didnโt feel that tightness in my chest like I usually did when she was near. My hands werenโt curled into fists. My thoughts werenโt racing. I slowly sat down on a rock across from her. It was cool and smooth under me.โI didnโt think youโd agree to this,โ she said after a long pause. Her voice was low and even.โI almost didnโt,โ I replied. โBut I guess Iโm tired of
Phoebe's POV I stood outside Alpha Dariusโs office, my hands by my sides. The hallway was quiet, but my thoughts were not. Someone had come to find me a few minutes earlier, saying the old Alpha wanted to see me. No explanation, no message, just a request to come now. After everything that happened during the attack, I wasnโt sure what this meeting would be about.I knocked once, firm and clear.โCome in,โ came his voice from inside, steady as always.I pushed the door open and stepped in.Alpha Darius was standing behind his desk. His face, strong with age but still sharp, looked directly at me. His hair had more grey in it than before, but nothing about him had softened. He didnโt sit down. He stood tall, his arms resting on the desk, like he had been waiting.โPhoebe,โ he said, his tone calm.I gave a short nod. โAlpha Darius.โHe gestured for me to come closer. โYou did well.โI blinked. โSir?โโDuring the attack,โ he said, folding his arms, โyou kept things steady. You helped th