Keira POVWhile laying on the hospital bed, I decided on one thing. To never return to the same bedroom I shared with my husband. So I sent Yara ahead to quickly move my things to the other master's chamber. Conan would help her be discreet so that other staff did not see and spread rumors. He and Uncle Felix were silent when we walked out of the hospital. The latter was brooding. I tried not to pay attention as he turned back around to go meet Nox. He either wanted to ask what we discussed or he was about to play the jealous husband. I didn't care, so I didn't mind him.If uncle noticed, he didn't show it. I was grateful for the silence because I didn't want to talk to either of them. The fact that he, my uncle, knew about Liam's infidelity and didn't say a word was something I couldn't forgive quickly. I was no longer sure if he was on my side. And that was worse than the actual crime for me.We reached home soon. The moment we entered the pack, I missed the woods on such a beauti
To my horror, I couldn't answer Mrs. Hill's question right away. Instead, my mouth hung open as Liam's words echoed in my head. '''She was showing me something on her laptop when you walked in.'''The older female went on,"Hard to believe you saw it, Luna. He respects you too much, you know that."Another male spoke,"Allow me to add, my Luna, that you have a duty to the Spring Moon. And that duty comes before your feelings, dear! What would Alpha Nox do if he hears that there's trouble with the First Family? We may be one of the four major packs, but we are not above invasion and conquest, Luna. I'm sure you know what I mean!"Yeah, I knew what he meant. I was female and basically without a wolf. I was more or less a figurehead leader. The blood of my father was the one thing keeping me here."I don't have to stay married!" I insisted."Oh, yes, you do, dear Keira." The chief rose and the rest of them with him except for my uncle. "Unfortunately, you do have to stay married. Especia
Keira POVI didn't save Nox's number the last time we talked. But as I stared at my screen, I knew he was the one calling me. Liam strained his neck to see my phone screen, asking,"Who's that?" I held the phone away, and, ignoring the question, I proceeded towards my newly furnished bedchamber. 'Ignore this call, Keira,' I pleaded silently with myself. Yet I was almost running in order to make it into the room before the ringing stopped. Once I was far from Liam and all other ears, I stared at the screen while recalling my meeting with the elders moments ago.Their words with Liam and my uncle's echoed in my head. How I needed someone to talk to. Not necessarily about my messy life though. Merely to talk with someone so I would feel less lonely. I slid the answer button before shutting the door and resting my back on it."Hey, Keira," came the sultry baritone of Nox's voice.I breathed in gently before replying,"Hello, Alpha Nox.""How are you?" His tone was so gentle. The que
Nox POVKeira stared at me with something resembling horror. Like it was utterly disgusting for someone like her to be fated to me, a lycan. The look caused a pang in my chest. Of course, the idea of being mated to my kind would horrify her. I knew and expected this reaction, so why did I feel annoyed and offended? Not only that, there was another deeply unpleasant feeling in my chest that I couldn't describe. "If we're mated, I... I would know!" She argued lamely. "No matter what you are, I would feel it too. What sort of game is this?"No matter what I was? She didn't consider me flesh and blood like her, did she?"You don't feel it because of what's wrong with you," I told her calmly. She moved away from me. I stifled the urge to reinforce our proximity by moving closer."You think you know me?" "Not really, not yet, but I know I'm right," I replied, hating both our tone. Moments ago, we'd been almost friendly. I detested the fact that she was withdrawing from me yet again."T
Keira POVUncle Felix waited patiently as I stood staring at Nox's retreating figure. I didn't care about the seriousness in his manner and the frown with which he watched me. My insides tingled with a mix of different emotions, owing to the bomb Nox had just dropped.He turned back to glance at me before exiting the hallway with Conan. I was going to look away, but what was the point? He already caught me. Uncle began speaking, but I cut him off,"Uncle Felix, I'm a little busy.""I can see that," he replied. I went back into my study. He followed me. His manner had grown from patient to urgent now."Morris was here moments ago. Why did you call him?" he asked."You know why!"Then he switched to mindlink, 'Yes, I know, but I meant you should've been discreet. Why did you get him to come see you with everyone watching? In broad daylight for that matter.'He shut the door and waited near it."Listen, uncle. I don't want you to waste your breath. You want me to listen to the elders
Keira POVNox was the notoriously cruel Lycan of the East. I should be keeping all of my problems a secret from him. If I had an enemy on this side of the world, it would be him. All other threats were far outside the borders of this vast region. '''I wish you'd stop thinking I'm out to get you, Keira.''' He'd said these words to me before his brief visit.I should take heed of them, especially because of everything going on. I should give him the benefit of the doubt and reach out for his help. At this thought, I stood up, grabbed my jacket, and headed out with one destination in mind.Once I entered the forest, I sensed Conan with other warriors lurking about. They were on their usual morning patrol. He saw and rushed to meet me."Luna, where are you off to?""Just out for some fresh air," I said without stopping.He followed a few feet behind, sticking between trees. I didn't protest because it would be a waste of energy. As my first Gamma, he stuck with me within the woods at all
Keira POVNox's Beta shook hands with Elder Ron as the latter smiled. Excitement shone in his eyes while they moved from the Beta to the lycan Alpha. Mrs Faust and the female elder spoke softly, nodding in agreement. Something was very wrong with this picture. Why would Zoey Faust and two elders of Spring Moon pack visit the Lycan Alpha of the Autumn Moon? They could only have come here to discuss one thing. And that is to get rid of their weak Luna. As I watched, the three members of my pack nodded cordially to Nox and his Beta. Then they went their way. Nox began to head back inside but stopped. He must've sensed someone watching. His gaze moved to where I stood. I ducked behind a thick shrub, holding my breath and trying my best to shield myself mentally. Thankfully, his guests did not use the woods to return to the pack. They headed towards the main road. A car was likely waiting for them.My heart felt like it was being stabbed with sharp needles. I turned away and began to
Keira POVAn unpleasant heat surrounded Liam as he marched into my study. He was seething with anger. Holding out the papers in his hand, he asked, "What the fück is this?" We both knew what it was. Morris delivered the divorce papers to him like an hour ago. His reaction was a little confusing now because he already knew this was coming. He was there when I first gave Morris the instruction, wasn't he?"I'm busy, Liam," I said with a sigh. "I asked you a question!" "You know what it is. Just sign it so I can get things moving, okay." I had an equally big problem waiting for my attention. I got back to scrolling on my contact list when, without another word, he lifted the papers. With a dramatic show, he tore it in two, then four, and so forth, until the pieces scattered all over the floor. Then he called out, "Yara!" My maid replied from outside the hall, "Yes, Alpha." When she entered, he said with his eyes on me, "Clean this up." Yara quickly went away to get the broom a
Nox POVWhen Aria first spotted me, she snarled viciously as she struggled to get up and defend herself.I ran to her, vaguely noting the blood trails that led away from her spot into the woods. She seemed too weak to move."Aria," I dropped to my knees before her.She began to relax. There was blood all around her. From the scent, some of it was hers. My heart was in my throat. I was shaking from fear and rage, and unsure what to do.She looked toward the woods, and I glanced Pavlov's way, who immediately shifted and took off in that direction. I ripped my shirt as she began to shift back into her human form. It strained her to do it. She gave up trying and sighed, shutting her eyes. I let out my wolf, then lifted and carried her into the woods to race back to her pack.I could feel her healing from whatever wounds were inflicted on her. But she exerted herself in the process. It was too much of an effort.When I entered the pack's main building, Doctor Servius ran towards me. I wh
Nox POVMy heart dropped at the news of Liam's escape. My fist tightened on the cellphone. Ramos' breathing was heavy on the other end of the phone. I knew he was anxious about my reaction and enraged by his mistake."He's coming my way, you said. Which way? The Autumn Moon?" "No. Spring!" He replied. My mind immediately went to Keira. She was out in town. Outside the pack, though not too far. I recalled the look on Liam's face when I told him that Aria was awake. A she-wolf whom he would never have the pleasure of knowing even though they were once mated. If he was on his way here, rather than to take revenge on me, which would be foolish and suicidal, he was definitely coming to get Keira. "I don't understand, Ramos," I said. "How's it possible that he escaped? He had two werewolves guarding him." Not to mention that one of them was Ramos Vargas, a warrior of the North. "I am ashamed, Prince Nox," he replied. "We were distracted by those damned rogues. I let my guard down. B
Keira POVI stood a few feet inside the large office, staring at Liam Rudd, my ex-husband. The sound of the door latching behind me was a distant, irrelevant sound at that point. Even the Winter Moon's elder's voice was insignificant. My mind raced with various explanations for Liam's presence."How are you here?" I asked him.The smirk faded from his face and was replaced by a look that made me recall the days before the full moon, when he'd assaulted and tried to force himself on me. I remembered how I'd locked myself up in a guest chamber to avoid him until the full moon. The look on his face now was exactly the same as that time. I grew anxious and quickly looked behind me, only to find the elder standing with his back to the locked door. As if were standing guard."It is so good to see you again, my wife," Liam said. "My Luna. And I'm glad you're happy to see me too."I heard the door give another click sound behind me and turned. The elder was smiling at Liam's sarcastic remark
Nox POVKeira was a hard worker. Efficient, too. She was focusing on her family business and did not seem bothered by my existence. I was highly bothered by her walking around like I didn't exist. I had spent the whole morning shamelessly following her about. I didn't bother peeking this time. There was no point. I'd let everyone know that I was watching and following her, hoping to earn a reaction.But she had not even spared me more than a few seconds' glance. The time flew by too fast, and Theo came to find me, reminding me of the pressing matters that demanded my immediate attention. At the same time, my phone rang. It was Conan, who had just delivered my message to the former members of Spring Moon Elders Council.Zoey Faust, who was not a former member but was grouped with them, had caved first, according to Conan. She was ready to meet me face to face and talk. I decided to return to the pack for now. Keira Gray didn't live at the Pine, I consoled myself. She would return to
Keira POVNox was here. Not just in the building, he was nearby. Every now and then, I would feel him watching me. Today was the first time he came in here since the day he handed the wine company back to me.My morning had been going on smoothly when I sensed him. I'd almost forgotten that my arrest could come at any time. Blame that on the fact that no one stopped me from leaving the building this morning. Not only that, Liam had been taken far away to be punished. All thoughts of my troubles at home were far from my mind. After Nox's cruel words to me, spying on me was the last thing I expected from him. So when I first spotted him, I thought he'd come to kick me out of here. Maybe he would order the warriors around to drag me back to my chamber. Or the prison he'd prepared.I'd spent every single minute of the early hours with the nagging thought that I could be escorted out of here any moment. But until the middle of the day, work continued to go on smoothly despite his watchful
Nox POVI watched as Liam was escorted out of the building. He was not my primary reason for perching by the window of my office. Keira was passing through the foyer with Pavlov behind her. She stopped shot and stiffened as she sensed her ex far behind.The fact that she could feel him like that made my stomach turn. My father resumed talking, making me recall that I had the phone to my ear. I didn't hear the last thing he said."Nox!" He snapped."I'm right here, your majesty," I returned."Good. He is MY prisoner! Now, I know this goes without saying, but Ramos knows your scent quite well. He wouldn't mistake it for another."My fist tightened on the receiver. Apparently, King Cyrus could read minds. He knew what I was thinking. That was no surprise. He was the father who raised me, so I was more like him than anybody else. He knew me like the back of his hand. "If you go after the guy to murder him on the way, Ramos will know it's you no matter how you disguise yourself. And I w
Keira POVI took the hand Ramos Vargas offered and was going to say welcome to my home but caught myself. "Nice to meet you, Mister Vargas," I said instead.Breakfast went on smoothly and seemed to be ending on a good note. No unpleasant talk came up. We were nearly done when the newcomer finally mentioned Liam."I feel like you ought to hear it from me," he said. "Actually, King Cyrus asked me to inform you personally as this is your household. I'm taking Liam Rudd to the Northside. We're leaving in a few minutes."My heart jerked as the news."He confessed to attempting high treason against the Prince," he went on. "That makes him an enemy of the North and the Lycan King's prisoner. Alpha Nox is not allowed to do him any more harm than he already did. The one who gave him the poison will face their punishment here. As soon as we find out who. But I've been asked to bring Liam with me immediately.""I see," I replied lamely, not knowing what else to say.I couldn't stomach the rest
Keira POVThis was the part where I defended myself and screamed that I had no part in Liam's plan. To tell him that I intended to refuse when next the talk came up.But I did not say a word. I would hate to sound defensive. I had every right to try to take back my pack, did I not?Even if I wanted to speak up right now, my throat was closed as a result of the pain caused by his words.I did not expect him not to retaliate the attempted attack. After all, he was a wolf. A mutant, but a wolf nonetheless. Revenge was part of his genetic makeup. Moments after he went out of my private chamber, I stood waiting. Pavlov or another warrior would barge in any moment to drag me to the dungeon below the building. I would be locked up with the others like a common criminal. In a pack where everyone called me Luna.My palms grew sweaty as I waited. Maybe they would take me to the Autumn Moon. I decided that would be better than being imprisoned here Hours or what felt like it went by, and nothi
Keira POVWolfsbane and silver powder. If they found that among Liam's things, then surely, that was the poison he meant to use.Nox was waiting for my response. I searched for the words to dodge his question. When I opened my mouth, all I could say was,"Wolfsbane? Like the poison?""Yeah. Like the poison," Nox's tone was impatient and unrecognizable. I did not want to look at his face, so I kept my eyes on the tiny transparent bag in his hand. Then he closed his fist around it."I asked you a question, Keira," he said. "Or should I call you Kiki? Did you know he had this with him?""I..." My brain wouldn't work because of the way he was looking at me. Then, I grew annoyed at the intimidation. "You broke into our home, Nox!" How I hated the defensiveness in my voice. How I hated the fact that I was losing my composure."OUR home?" His eyes darkened with anger and something else that was too comfusing to name. "You're on his side, are you? In his possession is the same poison that'