Duncan’s POVI sat in the dimly lit hall, fingers drumming against the wooden armrest of my chair, my mind restless. Antonio stood beside me, arms crossed over his chest, his jaw tight with tension.A scout had arrived moments ago, breathless and covered in dust, bringing urgent news—rogues were gathering near our borders. The situation was worse than we had anticipated.I exhaled sharply. "How many?"The scout wiped sweat from his brow. "At least thirty, Alpha. More could be hiding beyond the hills. They’ve been seen moving in small groups, but they are organizing. If we don’t act soon, they’ll strike first."Silence settled heavily in the room.Antonio turned to me, his expression grim. "We can’t afford heavy losses. Our warriors are strong, but we need a real strategy. This isn’t just a random attack—it’s planned."I clenched my jaw. I had been so focused on getting Phoebe back that I hadn’t given enough thought to our defenses. Now, the pack was vulnerable."Have they attacked yet
Nathaniel’s POVThe meeting had dragged on longer than expected. I sat at the long wooden table, arms crossed over my chest, as Alpha Tommen continued talking about alliances. The room was dimly lit, the glow of lanterns casting flickering shadows over the warriors and advisors gathered around.“The Silverclaw Pack has finally pledged their loyalty,” Tommen said, his voice measured. “They hesitated at first, but I convinced their Alpha that our side is the strongest.”I gave a slight nod. Silverclaw had been cautious for weeks, watching and waiting for any sign of weakness. Their support would give Tommen more influence, but it wasn’t enough. There were still packs hesitating, still others that could tip the balance if they made the wrong decision.“And the Darkrun Pack?” one of the advisors asked.Tommen’s expression darkened slightly. “They’re still weighing their options. Alpha Kieran doesn’t trust us fully.”That was a problem. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. “Da
Phoebe’s POVI folded another tunic, smoothing out the fabric before placing it carefully into the wooden trunk at the foot of my bed. The room was silent except for the soft rustling of cloth and the occasional creak of the old floorboards beneath my feet.This wasn’t how things were supposed to go.I reached for my cloak, draping it over my arm, my movements controlled despite the storm brewing inside me. The sooner we left, the better.A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.Shirleen.She stood in the doorway, her expression unreadable. Gone was the polite mask she had worn when we first arrived. There was no forced friendliness now, no need for pretended kindness.This time, she wasn’t pretending.I didn’t speak. I simply waited. If she had something to say, she would say it.Shirleen stepped inside, her steps slow and deliberate, like a predator closing in. “You’re leaving sooner than I expected,” she said, her voice s
Nathaniel's POV The journey back to Moonhowl was quiet. The tension from our last moments in Moonfury still sat heavy on my shoulders. Phoebe rode beside me, silent but alert. I knew she was thinking the same thing I was—something was very wrong.The trees stretched high around us, their branches shifting with the wind. The dirt path was worn from years of travel, but today it felt longer. Every few minutes, I glanced back, making sure we weren’t being followed. The feeling of being watched hadn’t left me since last night.By the time we reached the Moonhowl Pack’s borders, the sun was already sinking. The guards at the entrance recognized us immediately and stepped aside. No questions, no hesitation. But their faces were tense. Word must have already spread that things hadn’t gone as planned with Tommen.Phoebe and I rode through the main path leading to the pack house. Wolves moved about, some stopping to look at us before continuing on their way. There was no cheerfulness, no reli
Nathaniel's POVPhoebe and I settled back into our routine, but nothing felt the same. There was a tension in the air, not just between us but throughout the entire pack. We all knew an attack could come at any moment, and there was no room for mistakes. I spent most of my time reinforcing defenses, making sure the warriors were ready, and setting up new patrol routes. Every decision had to be perfect.What surprised me the most was how involved Phoebe had become. At first, I thought she was just curious, but then she started making suggestions—ones that were too good to ignore. She pointed out weak spots in our patrols, suggested different formations for defense, and even spoke about battle strategies that weren’t common knowledge. Some of the things she said were the same ideas I had considered, but others were things I hadn’t even thought about.The first time she corrected one of my plans, I assumed it was a lucky guess. But then it kept happening. She wasn’t just throwing out ide
Phoebe's POVI felt restless. No matter what I did, the feeling wouldn’t go away. It had been there for days, an itch under my skin, a pull toward something I didn’t fully understand. It wasn’t just the tension in the pack or the looming threat of an attack. It was something personal, something deeper. It made my body feel too tight, my mind too loud.Mia, I called out to my wolf, hoping for some kind of answer.Train. Prepare.Her voice was calm but firm, steady as always. She never panicked, never wavered.Train. The thought settled inside me like a decision I had already made. It made sense. I needed to move, to push myself, to let out whatever was building up inside me.The next morning, I stepped onto the training grounds without hesitation. The sun had barely risen, but the warriors were already there, practicing their drills. They didn’t notice me at first, too focused on their sparring. That changed when I walked toward the sparring ring.A few heads turned. The murmurs starte
Nathaniel's POVI moved carefully, my body tense, waiting for her next strike. Phoebe stood across from me in the training ring, her breathing steady, her stance firm. She had already landed a hit to my side, and I could still feel the force of it. She was fast—faster than I expected. I knew she had skill, but this was something different.She didn’t hesitate. The moment I shifted my weight, she moved again, coming at me with a sharp precision that forced me to stay on the defensive. I blocked her first strike, but she twisted around me, trying to take me down. I barely caught her wrist in time, using my strength to hold her back.She gasped, her breath warm against my skin as I pinned her arm behind her back. For a moment, neither of us moved.The scent of her wrapped around me, making it hard to think. Her body was pressed against mine, her chest rising and falling quickly. I could feel every inch of her, the heat between us impossible to ignore.I should have stepped away.Instead,
Phoebe’s POVBreakfast was quieter than usual, but I could feel the tension underneath. The warriors had trained hard the previous day, and many of them ate in silence, too tired for chatter. Nathaniel sat beside me, focused on his plate, while Elizabeth sat across from us, her usual smug expression in place.Then, Alexander cleared his throat.“I’m leaving for a few days,” he announced, his voice calm. “I’ll be visiting some friends in a neighboring pack.”The words sent a chill through me. I put down my spoon and turned to look at him, my stomach twisting with unease.Nathaniel didn’t react at first. He kept eating, as if this wasn’t news to him. I leaned in, lowering my voice. “You can’t let him go.”Nathaniel sighed, setting his fork down. “He’s not a prisoner, Phoebe. I can’t stop him from visiting other packs.”I clenched my fists under the table. “He’s up to something.”Nathaniel met my eyes, his expression unreadable. “You don’t have proof.”That was the problem—I didn’t. But
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
Duncan's POV I couldn’t sit still. I had to move, had to find the answers. The weight of everything pressing down on me was unbearable. Antonio, Stephanie, the sorceress—everything felt like a lie. I needed to confront the source of it all, and for that, I had to find the sorceress.She had been the one who planted the seed in my mind. She had been the one to tell me about Phoebe’s importance. And now, after everything I overheard, I couldn’t let it go. I had to know the truth.I stormed out of my office and made my way through the pack house with hurried steps. The hallway stretched ahead, but nothing felt as familiar anymore. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how little I actually knew. How easily I had been manipulated.I reached the stables quickly, where my horse was kept. I didn’t need anyone’s help; I didn’t care for the usual formalities. I grabbed the reins and mounted with swift movements, the saddle creaking under me. My heart burned with frustration and ang
Duncan's POV The hallways of my estate were quiet as I walked through them, the silence pressing in around me. I had not slept much since the confrontation with Antonio. Too many thoughts ran through my mind.I paced slowly, my mind still locked on Phoebe. The anger, the determination, they felt as sharp as ever. But there was also something else creeping into my mind now: doubt.What if Antonio was right? What if I was letting my emotions cloud my judgment?The thought was maddening. The whole reason I kept pushing forward was for Phoebe. She was my focus, my everything. Without her, nothing mattered.I reached the end of the hall and paused, hearing a low murmur coming from a nearby room. It was coming from Antonio’s office.Curious, I stepped closer, listening carefully.It wasn’t long before I realized the voices were of Antonio and Stephanie. They were speaking in hushed tones, too low for me to understand fully.I paused, just out of sight, and pressed myself against the stone