Phoebe's POVA loud howl ripped through the night, jerking me awake. My breath came in sharp bursts as the sound echoed through the pack house. Another howl followed, then another—this time, a warning.Nathaniel and I had not shared the same bed for a while now because I said I preferred to sleep in my bed again. I didn't know what exactly was happening outside the pack house but I knew it could not be anything good. The room was dark but I could see flashes of light outside and that was all that I needed to know that there was real trouble.Intruders.I was still trying to make sense of the dreams and visions I've been having and then this happened. I could feel my heart thumping wildly.I threw off my blanket and sprang to my feet, my heart pounding with urgency. I pulled my hair back instinctively and had it tied to my neck as I rushed over to my wardrobe and threw on a jacket and pants that would leave me more comfortable if I stepped out there and there was an actual war to be f
Phoebe’s POVThe night was far from over. Though the battle had ended, the weight of what had happened still hung in the air. Warriors tended to the wounded, the pack house filled with quiet murmurs and the occasional pained groan. Blood stained the ground, the scent of it still thick around us.Nathaniel stood near the main hall, his face tense as he watched the last of the injured wolves being taken inside. I stood beside him, exhaustion creeping through my limbs, but my mind refused to rest. We hadn't been defeated, But that didn't mean we enjoyed the war. Every pack wanted to stay at peace, it didn't matter their prowess in war and how easily they could eliminate other packs. They still wanted peace in the end. “We need answers,” Nathaniel finally said, his voice low but firm. He turned to one of the warriors. “Gather the top fighters. Now.”The warrior nodded and hurried off. I looked at Nathaniel, knowing what he was thinking.“It was him,” I said. “You know it.”Nathaniel clen
Duncan’s POVThe room was dimly lit, the wooden desk between us covered in scattered reports. I picked up my cup of water more than once, but each time, I set it back down before my lips could touch the lid of the cup. I wasn't about to get myself distracted from important business, yet, my mind called for that very distraction. I sat back in my chair, watching Antonio as he flipped through one of the papers. The scent of ink and old parchment filled the office, but my focus was elsewhere. The attack on Moonhowl had shaken things up, and I knew this was the moment to act. If we were ever going to get some power over them, this was their trying period and it was the safest time to launch an attack that will be completely successful. This was the one chance.Antonio set the paper down and met my gaze. “You called me here for a reason.”I nodded, leaning forward. “Moonhowl was attacked. Alexander failed, but he managed to weaken them. Every pack is weakened after a war and this is their
Duncan’s POVThe morning was quiet, but I knew better than to think peace would last in this house. From the very first time I had made the step of going to get Phoebe, sending men and then eventually going in person, a lot had changed. Some things that could not be fixed had broken and I wasn't sure I really cared yet. Not when I had still not gotten what I was out for.I sat in my office, looking through reports and playing with my cup once again when Antonio walked in. I waited for him to walk from the door and reach me and in those few seconds, I tapped my hand on the desk, almost too anxious to hear what he had come to say this time. It didn't look like he was exactly coming with some exciting news, but I waited as he reached me and mumbled a word of greeting that I barely acknowledged, too focused on the matter he had come to discuss, as he was. He placed a paper on my desk and leaned against the chair across from me. “You might want to deal with your mate.”I didn’t look up.
Nathaniel’s POVPhoebe and I took a stroll around the pack in the evening. Near the edge of the field, two younger warriors faced off. Their movements were eager but lacked precision. I observed closely as one hesitated just before delivering a strike, his uncertainty giving his opponent the opening to counter. The blow landed, weak but effective, throwing the first warrior slightly off balance.“They should stop soon,” Phoebe said beside me, her voice firm but calm.I kept my gaze fixed on the warriors, arms crossed over my chest. “They need to train harder.”“They’ve been training all day,” she countered, her tone unwavering. “They need rest.”“If Alexander attacks again, we can’t afford weakness.”Phoebe let out a slow breath, crossing her arms as well. “Exhaustion is also a weakness, Nathaniel. If they’re too tired to fight properly, they’ll make mistakes.”I clenched my jaw, unwilling to admit she had a point. The pack couldn’t afford mistakes. But neither could we afford warrio
Nathaniel’s POVThe crackling fireplace was the only sound in my office as I studied the map spread across the table. The scent of burning wood mixed with the lingering metallic tang of blood on my clothes. Tonight’s small battle to keep the jerks away had been a little too brutal, I hadn't expected it to take such wild turn, but we had driven the enemy back. For now, we had won. But I knew Alexander. He wouldn’t stop. He’d retreat, regroup, and strike again. He was forming alliance with as many packs as he could. He was getting them on his side so he could come back and take the Moonhowl pack. He would not stop until he was sure that the Moonhowl was completely broken and he could come and take over what was left. My fingers traced the western border of our territory on the map, where his forces had attempted their ambush. It had been a foolish move—rushed and reckless. But the next time, he wouldn’t be so careless.A sharp knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.“Come in,” I
Nathaniel’s POVA week had passed since the letter arrived, and the pack had not relaxed for a moment. Every wolf knew what was at stake. The attack had nearly cost us everything, and Alexander’s message had made it clear—something worse was coming.We strengthened our borders, reinforced our watchtowers, and doubled the patrols. Every available warrior trained harder than ever. Some even trained past exhaustion, determined to be prepared. Even the civilians were more cautious, moving in groups and keeping their children close. Fear lingered in the air, thick like an approaching storm.Phoebe and I spent hours on the training grounds, pushing ourselves beyond our limits. She was relentless, her strikes sharp and precise. I could see the exhaustion creeping into her, but she never complained. She was more useful than everyone else I had come to know in battle for the past few years. Now I was beginning to understand that aside once being mated to alpha Duncan, she had been an asset wh
Nathaniel’s POVI was focused on the reports in front of me, going over the ones I'd seen before and trying to get myself to fully focus again. Sean was very conscious in my mind. He shared my distress and I couldn't keep my troubles away from him even if I wanted to. He was my one true friend, the one in always in my mind who understood the problem before I shared it. “The attacks might not come anytime soon. Better to pay attention to the things you have to do now. These won't wait until you're in the mood to do them.”I sighed. That was correct. I had to do my administrative duty as alpha, it didn't matter if I was in the mood for it or not. That is why it was duty. Just then, a knock sounded on the door.Without looking up, I exhaled sharply and rubbed my temples. “Come in.”The door opened, and the moment I caught Phoebe’s scent, I knew this wasn’t just another routine visit. She stepped inside, closing the door behind her, her posture tense. I placed the reports down and gave
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