Phoebe's POVI had never paid much attention to Alexander before. He had always been there—watching, waiting, brooding in the background—but I had kept my focus on my own struggles. Now, I couldn’t ignore him. There was something about the way he carried himself lately, the way his frustration seemed to grow with each passing day.Nathaniel dismissed him as a sore loser, still bitter about the challenges, but I wasn’t so sure it was just that. There was something else, something darker.So, I started watching.I didn’t make it obvious. I wasn’t foolish enough to let him or anyone else know what I was doing. I simply paid attention—where he went, who he spoke to, how his expression changed when he thought no one was looking.At meals, I noticed how he barely ate, his fingers tapping against the table like he was thinking too much. When he trained, his movements were sharp, aggressive, as if he was holding back anger.At night, when most of the pack had gone to sleep, I listened. The pa
Phoebe's POVI knew I couldn’t wait. Waiting would be a disaster. I had to inform Nathaniel of what I'd found. But then, when I snuck back into the pack house and back into our took successfully, I knew it would be unwise to try to wake him up and tell him what I'd just found out. But at the same time, I knew he was always up very early and would soon be out in the training grounds or in his office to finish whatever work he might have not finished the previous day.My heart thumped wildly in my chest as I laid next to him, hoping that the day would come fast so I could tell him what I'd learned. My wolf growled at the back of my mind. “Going out was perhaps the best decision you've made in a while.”I nodded. Without argument, it was the smartest thing I'd done on impulse, for a while now. As soon as the sun rose, I found Nathaniel in his office, sitting behind his desk. He looked up when I entered, his expression softening for a brief moment before he saw the look on my face. Hi
Phoebe’s POVScreams tore through the night. The clash of metal, the growls of wolves, the thud of bodies hitting the ground—it was chaos. My breath came fast, my muscles tensed as I stood amidst the battle. Warriors fought around me, defending the pack, but something about this attack felt wrong.This wasn’t just a random ambush.Then I saw him.Alexander.He stood away from the battle, near the treeline, watching. He wasn’t fighting. He wasn’t even moving. His posture was too relaxed for someone whose pack was under attack. His arms were crossed, and while warriors around him struggled, he remained untouched.Not a single enemy had gone for him.That was no coincidence.Realization struck me. This wasn’t just an attack. It was a betrayal.A rogue lunged at me before I could process it further. His blade aimed straight for my throat. I ducked, twisting my body, barely avoiding the slash. I grabbed a fallen dagger from the ground and drove it into his ribs before he could react. His b
Nathaniel’s POVThe battlefield was littered with bodies. Some groaned in pain, others lay still. Blood soaked the ground, the scent thick in the air. My warriors had done their job, forcing the rival pack back. But the fight wasn’t over.I saw Alexander slipping away.He moved quickly, staying near the shadows of the trees, trying to disappear while everyone else was still caught in the chaos. He thought I wouldn’t notice.He was wrong.I started after him, my strides long and determined. My blood boiled at the thought of what he had done. He had betrayed us, let our enemies into our home, watched as our warriors bled and died. And now, he wanted to run.Not a chance.I caught up to him just as he reached the edge of the forest. He stopped when he heard me, but he didn’t turn around.“Going somewhere?” I asked, my voice cold.Alexander let out a slow breath before facing me. His expression was calm, too calm for someone who had just lost. “It’s over, Nathaniel.”“You’re right. And yo
Phoebe’s POVSleep wouldn’t come. No matter how many times I turned over or adjusted my pillow, my mind refused to quiet. Every time I closed my eyes, the memories came rushing back—Alexander’s betrayal, the attack. I had caught myself trying to make excuses for Alexander, for why he could want the downfall of his own pack simply because his younger brother was the alpha, but the more I tried to make those excuses, the more ridiculous it became to even me. “Envy is sure to tear a people apart,” I muttered under my breath. Mia scoffed inside me. “Alex has always never loved his brother as you like to think. He never did, not since they were kids.” I sighed. It was easy to believe. Nathaniel looked more handsome, had his way with people and generally charmed people. He was also smart, their father would ask his opinion on certain pack issues but Alexander never gave equally genius opinions on things and so didn't get the attention that Nathaniel got from their father and other pack
Phoebe’s POVThe chaos was dead and Elizabeth and Alexander had been put in their rooms under heavy watch. Nathaniel didn't let me just go to the room and sleep. He said he wanted to take me to his escape so I could have a good time, away from the troubles. It hadn't even helped that Elizabeth and kAlexander now hated me more than anythingIt felt different here, away from the packhouse, away from the weight of everything that had happened.But despite the silence, my mind refused to rest.I lay beside Nathaniel, our bodies pressed close, his warmth seeping into me. It should have been comforting—it was comforting—but it wasn’t enough to quiet the thoughts spinning in my head.Everything had changed so quickly.The battle. The betrayal.Elizabeth and Alexander’s hatred for me had been simmering for a long time, but now it burned hotter than ever. And I knew—it wasn’t over. Not really. They would never forgive me for exposing them.A shiver ran through me, even though I wasn’t cold.N
Phoebe’s POVThe sky was still dark when we returned to the packhouse. The cool air clung to my skin as I stepped inside, my body heavy with exhaustion. The weight of the night still pressed on me, but a strange sense of peace followed.Nathaniel walked beside me, his presence steady. He hadn’t let go of my hand since we left the woods, and even now, his grip was warm, grounding.When we reached the door of his chambers, I hesitated. My fingers curled slightly against his. “Nathaniel…”He turned to me, eyes searching. “What is it?”I glanced down, suddenly uncertain. “Maybe I should go to my own room.”Nathaniel didn’t let me pull away. Instead, he cupped my face, his thumb brushing over my cheek. “Stay,” he murmured.It wasn’t a demand. It wasn’t even a request. It was a quiet promise—one I didn’t have the strength to deny.I nodded.Nathaniel led me inside, closing the door behind us. The room was dimly lit, the air warm and familiar. I had been here before, but never like this. Nev
Phoebe’s POVI sat on the edge of my bed, gripping my phone tightly. I had been staring at the screen for a while, debating what to do. My uncle was still in the hospital, recovering, and even though Nathaniel had told me not to worry, I couldn’t help it. He had handled everything, from the medical bills, getting the best doctors and the best care—but I needed to see for myself that my uncle was okay.I took a deep breath and scrolled through my contacts until I found the name I was looking for.Mark.I hesitated for a second before pressing the call button. The phone rang a few times before he finally answered.“Phoebe?” His voice sounded uncertain, as if he hadn’t expected me to call.“Hey,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I want to visit Uncle. Are you free?”There was a pause. “You want to go today?”“Yes.”Another pause. Then, “Alright. I’ll meet you there.”I exhaled, relieved. “Thanks.”After ending the call, I got up, grabbed my coat, and stepped out of my room. Natha
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 didn’t understand about her. What I did know was that something wasn’t adding up. She had access to information about Nathaniel’s 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 hadn’t noticed me yet, and part of me wasn’t sure if I wanted to interrupt her. There was something about the way she moved, like she wasn’t 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 didn’t understand about her. What I did know was that something wasn’t adding up. She had access to information about Nathaniel’s 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 hadn’t noticed me yet, and part of me wasn’t sure if I wanted to interrupt her. There was something about the way she moved, like she wasn’t 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 couldn’t 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 didn’t 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: “Nothing yet, Alpha.” It was enough to make my blood boil, but I couldn’t 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. “Alpha,” he began cautiously. “Perhaps we need better informants. Someone who knows Antonio's habits, his movements. Someone who might know where he’s hiding.”I didn’t
Nathaniel’s 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 we’d 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.“Did you see anyone who fits this description?” 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. “Can’t say I’ve seen anyone like that. But there’s a lot of strangers passing through these parts.”I thanked him and turned to the others. “Let’s keep moving. We’re not getting any closer here.”We 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 wasn’t
Nathaniel’s 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.“We got something,” he said. His voice was low. He looked around once before speaking again. “It’s from our contact. The one in the west neutral zone.”I stood up slowly. “What did they say?”He 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.“Alexander was seen. Not far from the southern ridge. Traveling through the neutral zone. He has a woman and a man with him.”I
Phoebe’s 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 it—my 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 didn’t feel tired. My eyes were open wide, and my mind wouldn’t stop moving.The words Kara had said kept playing in my head like they were on a loop. Duncan wasn’t the same. He was getting worse. People were afraid of h
Phoebe’s 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 didn’t 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.“Is this far enough?” she asked, stopping near a small patch of grass. A few flat stones were nearby.I looked around, then gave a short nod. “Yeah. This is fine.”She sat down first, brushing leaves away from the rock before resting on it. I stayed standing for a moment longer, unsure. I didn’t feel that tightness in my chest like I usually did when she was near. My hands weren’t curled into fists. My thoughts weren’t racing. I slowly sat down on a rock across from her. It was cool and smooth under me.“I didn’t think you’d agree to this,” she said after a long pause. Her voice was low and even.“I almost didn’t,” I replied. “But I guess I’m tired of
Phoebe's POV I stood outside Alpha Darius’s 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 wasn’t sure what this meeting would be about.I knocked once, firm and clear.“Come in,” 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 didn’t sit down. He stood tall, his arms resting on the desk, like he had been waiting.“Phoebe,” he said, his tone calm.I gave a short nod. “Alpha Darius.”He gestured for me to come closer. “You did well.”I blinked. “Sir?”“During the attack,” he said, folding his arms, “you kept things steady. You helped th