LOGINAuthor's POVThe mountain lodge was supposed to be a quick stopover. Eleanor and Thaneus had been traveling back from a meeting with the Northern council when the weather turned. The sky opened up, pouring down freezing rain that turned the mountain passes into mud."We aren't making it back tonight," Thaneus said, his voice clipped. He pulled the truck off the main road and into the sheltered driveway of a small, wooden lodge."Is it safe?" Eleanor asked, looking out at the dark, swirling mist."It’s better than the cliffside," he replied.Inside, the lodge was small and cozy. A massive stone fireplace dominated the main room. Thaneus quickly built a fire, and soon, the scent of burning pine filled the air. Outside, the wind howled, rattling the heavy log walls, but inside, the world felt small and private.Eleanor stood near the fire, trying to dry off her jacket. She felt restless. The isolation of the mountain was doing strange things to her senses. Every time Thaneus moved, she f
Author’s POVThe woods surrounding the Newton estate were dark and thick. Owen moved through the brush like a shadow. He didn't care about the laws of the land. He didn't care about treaties. He only cared about the woman who had been stolen from his life.He reached the outer perimeter of the Newton wards. He had spent days studying the energy patterns. He found a weak spot near the old creek, a place where the barrier flickered just for a second."Just let me see her," Owen whispered to himself.He focused his wolf energy. He pushed against the shimmer of the ward. It burned his skin, but he forced his way through. With a sharp crack, the barrier gave way. He stepped onto the private grounds, his heart pounding in his chest.He didn't get far.A low, vibrating growl echoed from the trees ahead. From the shadows, three large wolves stepped out, blocking his path. They were warriors of the Del Caspian pack—Thaneus’s elite guard."Stop right there, alpha Belmont," one of the wolves sai
Owen sat in the dim light of his office. The air smelled of old paper and dust. He had been awake for two days, going through every financial file he could find. His eyes were red, but he didn't care. He was looking for the truth.He turned another page. His breath hitched. There it was, a transfer of money from the pack’s emergency fund to a private account in a city hundreds of miles away. It was dated last autumn. That was the same month Susana had claimed she needed money for a secret surgery."She lied," Owen whispered. His voice was hollow. "Every single word."He kept digging. He found more transfers. More lies. Susana hadn't just been "helping" him; she had been draining the pack's resources to fund a life he knew nothing about. She had used his trust to steal from his own people.A soft knock at the door made him jump. Susana walked in, holding a tray of food. Her face was calm, the same practiced look of concern she always wore when she wanted something."Owen, you haven't e
Eleanor's POVNewton estate was buzzing with life. Servants moved quickly, setting up long wooden tables and hanging banners of silver and blue. I watched from my balcony. My heart felt like it was racing. Today, everything changed.Thaneus walked up behind me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder. His presence was warm and steady."Are you nervous?" he asked. His voice was a low hum against my skin."A little," I admitted. I leaned back into him. "It’s been a long time since I stood in front of the pack like this.""You aren't the same woman you were years ago," he said. He turned me around to face him. His eyes were dark and encouraging. "You are stronger. You have survived, Eleanor. Remember that."I nodded. "I will."He leaned down and kissed my forehead. "I'll be right beside you. Always."By evening, the courtyard was filled with wolves. They came from all over the Northern Territories. Some were pack leaders, others were warriors, and some were
Author's POVInside the main house, the atmosphere was heavy.The rain outside had eased into a soft drizzle, but the storm inside the drawing room had only begun. A fire crackled quietly in the stone fireplace, yet it did little to warm the tension hanging over everyone present.Eleanor sat on one of the large cream-colored sofas, her fingers tightly intertwined in her lap. Her thoughts refused to settle. Ever since the doctor confirmed her pregnancy, relief and fear had been fighting for space in her heart.Across the room, Alpha Newton paced slowly over the polished wooden floor, his boots echoing through the silence. Every few steps he would stop, rub a hand across his beard, then begin walking again.Her mother stood near the tall windows, watching the rain slide down the glass. Though she appeared composed, the way her hands remained tightly clasped betrayed her worry.Near the entrance, Thaneus stood with his arms folded across his chest.He hadn't spoken since they entered.Hi
Author’s POVThe penthouse was quiet. It was the kind of silence that felt heavy, like a physical weight on Owen’s chest. He sat in his office, staring at the empty chair where Eleanor used to sit. It had been weeks since she left. The house still felt like her. Her scent was fading, and that realization made his skin crawl.Eleanor would be begging him to lay and watch the stars with her if she would have been here.He picked up his phone. He dialed her number for the hundredth time. “The number you are trying to reach is currently unavailable.”He slammed the phone onto the desk. "Damn it, Eleanor! Just answer!"He stood up and paced the room. He felt the phantom pull of the mate bond, but it was just a faint, cold echo now. He drove his car to the border of the Newton estate that afternoon, desperate for just one look at her.“Eleanor… I will get you back. You shall come back with me and beg me for forgiveness.” Owen’s heart was beating nonstop as he drove his car. But his deadly
Eleanor THE morning after the gala, the penthouse was suffocatingly quiet. Owen hadn’t come home. He had stayed at the pack hospital monitoring Susana’s condition. I didn't pack a bag this time. I didn't want to trigger any alarms. I dressed in a simple pair of jeans and a hoodie, h
Eleanor THE Grand Hall was filled with the scent of expensive cologne and roasted meats. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a bright glow over the hundreds of pack members dressed in their finest clothes. Tonight was the annual Silver Crescent Gala. As the Luna, I had to be t
Eleanor THE silence of the kitchen was louder than the argument we just had. I stared at the door where Owen had disappeared. My chest felt hollow, the mate bond giving a dull, rhythmic throb of rejection. I couldn't sleep. My mind was spinning. Susana was back, she was wear
Eleanor THE dining room was silent, save for the ticking of the grandfather clock. I didn't cry. I just picked up the plates of cold steak and dumped them into the trash. The sound of the bin lid closing felt like a period at the end of a very long, painful sentence. My name is El







