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
Phoebe’s POVThe packhouse was quiet in the afternoon light, but my thoughts were loud. There was an unsettled feeling in my chest, something I couldn’t shake no matter how much I tried to distract myself. Ever since Alexander left, that feeling had only grown stronger. Mia had been restless in my mind all day, her presence more insistent than usual.“Something is wrong,” she murmured.I agreed. But I had no proof, no real reason to act. It left me feeling powerless.I turned a corner, still lost in thought, and nearly ran straight into Elizabeth.She didn’t move out of the way. Instead, she stood there, her arms crossed, eyes burning with something that I knew was more than just dislike. It was closer to hatred.“This is your fault,” she spat.I blinked, my mind catching up to the sudden hostility. “What?”Elizabeth took a step forward. “Because of you, the Moonfury Pack refused the alliance. You’re the reason we’re vulnerable now.”I didn’t flinch. I didn’t even let her words sting.
Phoebe’s POVThe packhouse walls felt like they were closing in on me. The day had been exhausting, and my mind refused to rest. Every thought led back to Alexander leaving, Elizabeth’s accusations, and the uneasy feeling deep in my gut that something bad was coming.Mia stirred in my mind, restless. Run. You need to run.I agreed.Slipping quietly out of my room, I padded barefoot down the hall, careful not to make a sound. The packhouse was silent, most wolves already asleep. As soon as I stepped outside, the crisp night air hit my skin, bringing an instant sense of relief. The sky stretched above me, dark and endless, the moon a quiet witness to my escape.Without a second thought, I shifted.Mia took over, our paws hitting the ground in an easy rhythm as we darted into the trees. The scent of damp earth filled our nose, the whisper of wind through the leaves a soothing hum against our ears.This was what we needed—freedom.For a while, we ran without direction, letting our instinc
Phoebe’s POVI threw a punch, my knuckles slamming against the padded target. The impact sent a sharp jolt through my arm, but I didn’t stop. My muscles ached, sweat dripped down my back, and my breaths came fast, but I welcomed the exhaustion.“Again,” I muttered to myself, shifting my stance.Mia urged me forward, pushing me to move faster, hit harder. We needed to be stronger. The unease from last night hadn’t left me. If anything, it had settled deeper in my bones. Something was coming, and I had to be ready.I lunged, throwing a high kick, following it up with a quick strike. The training dummy rocked under the force, but I didn’t pause. My body knew these movements too well. I had trained for moments like this. For survival. For battle.Nathaniel stood nearby, arms crossed, watching. He wasn’t training today, just observing. I could feel his gaze, sharp and unrelenting, as I moved.Finally, he spoke. “You fight like a warrior who's been to many battles.” His voice was calm, but
Phoebe’s POVI woke with a jolt, my breath coming in sharp gasps. My body was covered in sweat, and my hands trembled as I pushed myself upright. The room was dark, silent except for the faint chirping of crickets outside. I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing, but the images from my dream clung to me like a heavy weight.Flames. Blood. Bodies strewn across the ground. And Alexander—standing tall, his lips curved into a cruel smile, surrounded by rogues and enemy wolves. His confidence had been unnerving, his eyes glinting with something dark and victorious. Even in a dream, the sight of him had made my stomach twist.“It wasn’t just a dream,” Mia, my wolf, growled inside my head. “He’s not just visiting a friend. He’s planning something and you've just seen something close in your dream.”I pressed my hands against my forehead, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling. Mia wasn’t one to overreact. If she was certain Alexander was up to something, then I couldn’t ignore it. I
Phoebe’s POVThe training grounds were alive with movement. Warriors clashed, the sound of bodies hitting the ground mixing with the sharp crack of fists meeting flesh. The air smelled of sweat and dirt, the usual scent of a pack pushing itself to be stronger. I tightened the wraps around my hands, rolling my shoulders as I prepared for my next sparring match.Nathaniel stood nearby, his arms crossed as he observed the other warriors. His sharp gaze followed their movements, assessing their strengths and weaknesses. He had always been an exceptional fighter, but he was also a careful leader. He never missed a mistake, never overlooked a flaw in technique.He turned his head slightly, his eyes meeting mine. "Ready?"I nodded. "Always."A smirk tugged at his lips as he stepped forward. "Then let’s see if you’ve been keeping up."We moved at the same time, our bodies reacting out of habit. I ducked under his first strike, twisting to the side before aiming a hit at his ribs. He caught my
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
Duncan's POV The war room was quiet except for the crackle of the fire burning in the corner.I sat at the large wooden table, staring at the map spread out before me. My fingers drummed slowly against the table’s edge.The map showed the territories of the nearby packs, the old paths between them, and the places where battles had been fought long ago.But I was not really looking at the map.My mind was full of other thoughts.Thoughts of her.Phoebe.I clenched my jaw and forced myself to focus.I knew Antonio would come soon. I could feel his anger in the air, even before I heard his heavy footsteps outside the door.The door swung open without a knock.Antonio stepped in, his face tight with frustration.I leaned back in my chair and watched him silently.He crossed the room in a few long strides and stopped at the other side of the table."You made a mistake," Antonio said, his voice low but sharp.I raised one eyebrow but said nothing."You let Nathaniel walk away," he went on.