Sirella’s povThe great hall of the Alpha’s estate was colder than usual, though the fire in the hearth blazed high. The scent of burning cedar filled the room, but it did nothing to mask the weight in the air—the suffocating pressure that came when someone powerful was measuring your worth.Alpha Donovan sat at the head of the long wooden table, fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest of his chair. His golden eyes, sharp and unreadable, were locked onto me.I kept my back straight, my expression smooth. Unshaken.Even as my pulse roared in my ears.“Sit,” he said finally, voice as calm as it was commanding.I obeyed, lowering myself onto the chair across from him, keeping my hands folded in my lap. The room was dim, only the fire casting light between us, shadows dancing across his face.“I’ve been thinking,” Donovan began, his voice measured. “About you.”I forced a small, polite smile. “I didn’t know I was such an interesting subject.”His lips twitched, but there was no h
Sirella’s povI barely had time to react before the door slammed shut behind me. Damien’s grip on my wrist was iron-tight, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. “What the hell were you doing with him?” His voice was low, dangerous. I yanked at my arm, but he only squeezed harder. Pain shot up my wrist, but I refused to flinch. “With who?” I asked, forcing my voice to stay steady. His jaw clenched. “Don’t play stupid, Sirella.” I didn’t answer. I just stared at him, my heartbeat steady, waiting. “You think I don’t know?” His eyes darkened. “The guards talk. They see you sneaking off with that bastard Kieran.” I kept my face blank. I knew this was coming. Damien was always possessive, even when I was nothing more than a servant in his pack. But now? Now, I was a threat. And he knew it. “I asked you a question,” he growled, stepping closer. I didn’t move. I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. His hand shot out, grabbing my other arm, shaking me. “Answer me
Sirella’s povThe palace was unusually tense today. I felt it the moment I stepped into the halls. The guards were stiffer, more alert. The servants moved faster, their voices hushed. Something was wrong. I had learned to trust my instincts, and right now, they were screaming at me. I turned a corner, nearly bumping into a man I didn’t recognize. He wore dark clothes, simple but neat, with the mark of the Bloodmoon Pack stitched onto his sleeve. My stomach twisted. One of my father’s men. The messenger strode past me without a glance, heading toward the private wing. I didn’t have to guess who he was looking for. Keiran. I hesitated for only a second before following. I found him in an empty corridor near the training grounds. The messenger had already handed him a letter—sealed with my father’s crest. Keiran broke the seal and unfolded the paper. His eyes scanned the words, his face unreadable. But then… his fingers tightened around the letter. His jaw clenched.
Sirella’s pov The traitor knelt before me, hands tied behind his back, head bowed. His breathing was uneven, shallow. He knew what was coming. I did too. Alpha Donovan stood beside me, arms crossed. His expression was unreadable, but his words weren’t. “Prove your loyalty.” The dagger in my hand felt heavier than it should. Cold. Unfamiliar. I had trained for this. I had been taught how to kill—where to aim, how to make it quick, how to make it hurt. But this was different. This wasn’t a training dummy. This wasn’t a lesson. This was a man. I could hear his heartbeat. Could see the sweat beading at his temple. He was afraid. My grip tightened around the handle. I wasn’t sure how long I stood there, but it must have been too long because Donovan spoke again. “Do it.” I swallowed. I could feel Keiran watching me from a few steps away, silent as ever. I didn’t look at him. I couldn’t. I wasn’t weak. I wasn’t weak. Then, for the first time, I met t
Sirella’s povThe scent of whiskey clung to the air, thick and suffocating. Even before I turned, I could feel him.Damien.His gaze burned into the side of my face, sharp as a dagger, desperate as a dying man’s prayer. He had been watching me like this for days—silent, brooding, unraveling. Each night, he drowned himself in liquor, and each morning, he woke up more hollow than before.He was losing control.The once-golden heir of the pack was coming undone before their very eyes, but no one spoke of it. They only whispered. Have you seen him? Has he lost his mind? What if he isn’t fit to lead?I could hear them even now, their hushed voices weaving through the grand hall, their laughter laced with malice. But Damien didn’t seem to notice them. He only saw me.I didn’t give him the satisfaction of looking back.Instead, I turned my attention to Alpha Donovan, who sat beside me at the head table. His expression was unreadable, but I had spent enough time in his presence to know when h
Sirella’s pov The fire burned low in the hearth, casting flickering shadows against the cabin walls. The air between us was thick—heavy with something unsaid, something sharp.Keiran sat across from me, one arm draped lazily over the chair, his expression unreadable beneath the dim glow of the flames. He looked as he always did—calm, unaffected, like none of this touched him. But I had spent enough time with him to know better.His stillness was dangerous.“You’re quiet,” he mused, tilting his head slightly. “I expected screaming. Maybe some threats.”I let out a breath, slow and controlled. “Would that change anything?”He didn’t answer.I stared at him for a long moment, searching his face for something—anything. But Keiran was an expert at revealing nothing.A laugh—low, bitter—slipped past my lips.“So my father wants me dead too?”The words felt foreign even as I said them. As if some part of me still refused to believe it. But why should I be surprised? I had never truly been h
Sirella’s pov The taste of Keiran still lingered on my lips—blood and fire, war and ruin. My breath was uneven, my heart an unsteady drum in my chest.I should have shoved him away sooner. Should have never let it happen in the first place.But I did.And now—A growl tore through the air, raw and seething.I barely had time to react before the cabin door slammed open so hard the hinges screamed in protest.Damien.His presence crashed into the room like a storm—wild, furious, uncontrolled. His chest heaved, hands clenched into fists at his sides. But it was his eyes that held me captive.Not the golden warmth I once knew.This was something else.Something feral.“What,” he rasped, voice thick with barely restrained violence, “the fuck did I just see?”Keiran didn’t move. Didn’t flinch. He stood beside me, too still, too calm, like he had been expecting this.I forced myself to meet Damien’s gaze. The air between us vibrated, heavy with rage, with something raw and ugly clawing its
Sirella’s povDamien is losing his mind.I see it in the way he walks—too fast, too angry, shoulders tight like he’s carrying a weight he can’t put down. His men notice it too. They stand stiff when he enters, their heads low, hoping he won’t notice them.But Damien notices everything.Today, he snaps.It happens in the training yard. The sun is high, heat pressing down on us. The warriors are supposed to be sparring, training for battle, but no one is focused. They’re too busy watching Damien.He paces like a caged animal. His dark hair is messy, sticking to his forehead. His jaw is locked. I know that look. He’s waiting for something—an excuse to break.Then one of his guards, a man named Jonas, makes a mistake.He drops his sword. It clatters against the dirt.Damien turns fast, eyes sharp. The yard goes silent.Jonas picks up the sword quickly, gripping it tight. “Sorry, Alpha.” His voice is steady, but I see his hands shake.Damien tilts his head, slow, calculating. Then, without
Authors povThe march had begun.Wolves padded through the forest in a silent train, barely stirring the leaves as they traveled single-file behind their Alpha, Salvatore. The war was upon them. Hot breath streamed from their nostrils making white puffs that hung in the stagnant air. No one spoke, their thoughts too occupied with what was coming.Salvatore was proud of this movement. Minus the last time he had attacked, this would be an official battle that would drive those idiots to the edge and he would have the chance to take them down. He smiled within himself as he knew that there was no use in lying to himself. He would make sure they regretted coming to him for anything. He would destroy them.But Kieran had other plans.He stopped walking and dropped back until he was near the rear of the group. Then he walked up to Salvatore, his voice low.“Alpha, I have to leave. There’s something important I need to do.”Salvatore turned, his eyes narrow slits. He couldn’t believe that h
Kieran’s POVThe cheers in the war room were still ringing in my ears. My face stayed neutral, but inside, I felt sick.They had no idea.None of them did.Not Salvatore. Not his trusted generals.And yet they all clapped for me, thinking I was one of them.I stared at the map again, the valley, the forest… the places I had just mentioned.I was marking death zones — but not for the people they thought.Everything I said in that room would help my allies, not Salvatore’s army.“Excellent idea,” Salvatore said with a slight smirk, standing and clapping my shoulder. “You’re sharp, Kieran. You remind me of myself when I was younger.”I forced a smile.I wanted to punch him.But not yet.Later that NightThe packhouse was quiet, except for the guards at the doors and the distant hoot of an owl. I moved quietly down the hallway, my footsteps light on the stone floors.My room was dark when I entered, just how I liked it. But I didn’t rest. I couldn’t. Not with the war coming.I sat at my d
Authors povThe generals slapped Kieran on the back.Warriors grinned and shouted his name. But Kieran only smiled a little.Inside, he had plans of his own.He wasn’t really fighting for Salvatore. He was just humoring him.Everyone went on to talk but said nothing important.Meanwhile, in Donovan’s territory...Inside Donovan’s war room, the tension was palpable.There was a large map on the wall.Candles were burning.Donovan sat at the head of the table, his arms crossed.Beside him stood his son, Damien.The war Generals, strong wolves with cold eyes, were around them.“Let’s begin.” Donovan said.One of the generals opened a scroll.“My Alpha,” he said, bowing, “the spies have all returned.“And what did they discover?” Donovan asked quietly.The general pointed at the map.“They found Salvatore’s traps in the forest. They found guards by the river. But they also found a weak spot.”“A weak spot?” Donovan asked, leaning forward.“Yes, here,” the general said and he pointed to
Kieran’s povI snuck out of the barn, as silent as I possibly can as I made my way walking and slightly jogging.I got to the edge of the pack and zipped away with my super speed. The trees blurred by as I moved without holding back.I had to get out of Donovan's land and fast. I ran, and ran until I found myself at the borderlands between my pack's territory.I didn’t stop there either. I kept moving until I saw an old broken-down building far ahead.It was dark and there were no people around, perfect.As I ran, I got a call from someone as I halted and listened to the call. The allies I had sent messages to were at the building waiting for me. Good.I then walked up to the building and I noticed a couple of shadowy figures standing at.They were not moving, their gaze anchored to the shadows.I approached them with stealthy steps.They saw me and relaxed a little. “You made it,” one of them said.“Yeah,” I panted. “I’m here.”“And no one saw you?”“No,” I said. “I’ve been careful.
Sirella’s povI could feel their eyes on me all throughout the day as I got out of my room after having my bath. I knew some of the guards watched and followed me and I knew who had sent them.Even when I went to my room, sometimes I’d hear footsteps outside.I knew they had been sent by Donovan.The trust was gone. He didn't believe me anymore.And he wanted to follow me, to see if I made a mistake.I kept my head low, pretending not to see them.I was careful about everything I did.Finally the day got over. I was sitting in my room on my bed with an open useless book, just pretending to read it.The house was quiet now.Most of the wolves were asleep.Even the guards had relaxed a little, but I knew they were still there, hiding in the dark corners.Then my phone vibrated.I jumped a little.I quickly grabbed it and checked the screen.Kieran.My heart started to race.I opened the message. “I’m at the barn. Come.”I got up slowly, trying not to make any noise.It was risky but I h
Sirella’s povI as sirella sat on the dusty floor. Cracks lined the walls and I admired how quiet it was here. It was always cold and dark. That’s what I loved most about this place. I held the phone in my hand tightly as I called Kieran. My hands were shaking a little but I still pinched myself every now and then to be more confident in myself.Finally, after a few rings, he picked up. “Sirella?” Kieran’s voice came through the phone. It sounded worried.“Hey, I’m here,” I said as I looked around to make sure no one was listening.“Are you okay?” He asked. “What’s going on?”I took in deep breaths and closed my eyes for a moment.How could I tell him? How could I tell him what I had witnessed? How could I tell him Donovan and Damien were more evil than we realized? I was already tired of saying that to him and I was sure he knew.“I’m alright,” I said after a second, keeping my voice steady."Sirella," Kieran said slowly, like he didn't believe me. "Don't lie to me." "I'm not lyin
Kieran’s povI stabbed my fork into the meat harder than I needed to.I couldn’t get Donovan and how he was doing things in his pack out of my head.At first I had my doubts; perhaps he was just another greedy alpha like so many of the others. But now… now I knew something was deeper wrong. Stealing wolves? He was clearly using them against their wills.The way he acted.The way he smiled too much.The way he always had to be in control of everything and everyone around him. It made my skin crawl.I exhaled and lowered my fork.I glanced at my hands.I thought of Sirella and thought of her bruises I had seen.Bruises that appeared as if she’d been manhandled, thrown, injured.I haven’t asked her about it yet. I pushed it aside.Maybe I just didn’t want to hear her lie.Or maybe I just wasn’t ready to hear the truth.Something bad was happening to her and she was keeping it from me.“Why, Sirella?” I whispered to myself. “Why are you keeping secrets?”I sat back in the chair and rubbe
Kieran’s povI was so mad. I could feel my entire body shaking as it felt like I was on fire.With what I had learned, I knew that no knowledge should go to waste and I needed to know how to use this against them.Donovan and Damien.They were criminals.They were traitors.They were stealing wolves and plotting something dark, something evil.I stormed out onto the training grounds.The sun was high, the heat seeping through my thin, darker red robes not bothering me one bit. I had to get eyes on the guards. I wanted them ready.I got into the training grounds and what I saw made my skin crawl. Some of the guards were laughing. A few were even throwing stones at one another.They played like children in the park.My blood boiled hotter.This was no time to play. I quickened my pace, my feet pounding the earth.It quit when I got there. They looked up from their places around the fire and they froze.They stared at each other with wide, frightened eyes.I stood before them, arms cr
Sirella’s povI couldn’t sit still in my room.My heart. It was beating too fast.I had to do something.I had to tell Kieran.He needed access to every piece of information I gained access to. But I couldn’t speak with him from the packhouse.Someone might hear me.There could be someone listening.I needed to be smart.I needed to find a safe place. I went to my closet and got a black hoodie and put the hood on my head making sure no one could even see my face. I then got out of the room and headed out of the packhouse.Quickly, carefully, I walked down the halls, and out the back door of the packhouse. Cold air immediately hit my face when I stepped outside.I had the old abandoned house down not far from the packhouse. It had been empty for as long as I could remember.It was perfect.The minute I got in, I closed the door and shut it as I turned around to smell the air. It smelled of dust and wood.The floorboards creaked as I walked forward but I didn’t mind.I’d gone to the r