The Alpha's Only Weakness

ELARA’S P.O.V. ‘The Shadow Wolf was meant to save us, but he became our curse.’ My eyes traveled over the line repeatedly. I had read it a million times, but I was no closer to finding the answer now than when I first found my mother’s journal. The Shadow Wolf. He was the key. The key to finding my parents, finding the truth, and proving they weren’t traitors. Everyone thought they had betrayed the pack, but I knew better, and I would find the Shadow Wolf and prove their innocence if it was the last thing I did. Yet, in every place that my mother described the mysterious man, there had been nothing to tell me where to go to find him or who he was. Sweat beaded along my forehead as I heard someone approaching, their steps growing louder, and I eyed the open window to my right. I had done this enough times, looking for answers, but the adrenaline and fear was still momentarily crippling. If anyone found out I had broken into the Alpha’s office to read my mother’s journal, I

ELARA'S P.O.V. “NO!” Alpha Broderick shouted, turning his back to me and Luna Raine. His body was shaking, on the verge of shifting, and I glanced down to his claws at his side. He was ready to attack. He had just lost his mate and his son… he had nothing left to lose. “You can’t take her, too!” It was just the distraction I needed. I would not let someone die when I had the power to save them. I closed my eyes, focusing on the poison and damage it had caused. Without her attacker sitting inside the poison, driving it to her heart and brain, it was easy to control it now, and I pushed every bit of strength I had into her. A bead of sweat dripped down my temple as I felt the darkness lick at my ankles before slowly slithering up my legs. It felt so very warm compared to the cold room, and I tried to ignore the hold the darkness had on me as I focused on the Luna. “You’re meddling with my work, healer.” Death warned, the low growl in my head making me lose my focus as my wolf pu

ELARA’S P.O.V. Talons dug into my skin as the woman examined my mark, holding me like prey as more pack members flooded into the room. They surrounded us, all wanting to get a good look at the burning wound on my shoulder blade. I hated it. I felt like a show dog on display, being examined, measured, and judged. The shock and horror from them made my stomach turn over. “That can’t be his. The last time…” “She’s doomed.” “That’s not a claim, that’s the marking of death.” Every time I tried to stand to get away from them all, the woman over me would tighten her hold, keeping me down. It was humiliating to be forced to remain on my hands and knees as strangers gawked at me. I moved to stand once more, but her nails dug into the flesh of my collar as she continued to talk to the old man. “This has to be able to be removed.” She insisted, but while I agreed with her on that, I was losing my patience. “The mark couldn’t have been intentional. He can’t…” “Release me,” I deman

ELARA’S P.O.V. The warmth vanished the moment he released me, leaving me chilled to my bones. It took everything I had not to shiver as the stabbing ache in my soul intensified with every step he took away from me. I could feel the eyes of the pack burning into my back with curiosity, but mine were still on the man before me. Frustration and exhaustion flooded me, and I sucked in an angry breath through my nose before speaking. “I refuse to be taken down by something as stupid as a mark.” I snapped, glaring at him, but a surge of guilt washed through me as he clenched his jaw at the word ‘stupid.’ The muscle in his cheek ticked, and I had to look down, away from his piercing gaze, to his broad chest to hide my regret as soon as the word left my mouth. The mate bond was a blessing from the Moon Goddess, Selene. It was far from stupid. It was sacred. I had dreamed of having a mate my whole life, but not like this. It might have been petty and vengeful, but the word had slipp

LUCIEN’S P.O.V. My hands gripped the sides of my head as I paced back and forth behind my desk, listening to the darkness calling for Elara, begging to go back.  I couldn’t let it have her, though.  That wasn’t the deal I had made. She should have been safe from it.  Her soul wasn’t mine to take. She wasn't even dead. A roar ripped from my chest as the pull became too much, and I swiped the laptop and papers off my desk, hearing them slam into the wall across the room.  “Fuck!” I shouted, blinded by rage. It wasn’t just the darkness closing in. A red haze clouded the edges of my vision, and I could feel my wolf clawing its way to the surface beneath my skin.  He wanted to be near Elara, to ensure she was safe.  As long as she had that mark, she could be taken at any time. I wasn't the only reaper out there, but I was one of the strongest. If it weren’t me, it would be another. Still, I couldn’t risk being so