NORA POVAs I giggled under the protective embrace of Justin, I heard my mother's loud howl echoing through the morning air. It carried all her hidden excitement and praise to the Moon goddess for soaring me.In less than a minute or so, several howling followed in unison in acknowledgement. I smiled, feeling the warmth of my mother again.“ Come, let's go inside before we go to see the Alpha," my father beckoned, eager to hold me in his arms.At the mention of the Alpha, I knew he was talking about Carlos. “ I met him already."“ Huh? So soon?" My father asked, surprised.“ Seeing Justin here means he knows. No wonder he was quick to come here," my mother pointed out.My father nodded, then moved closer to me. He pushed Justin aside, lifting me up before placing me on his shoulders. I giggled as we all got into the house.I was back to the only family I had known all my life. As we sat down, my parents exchange a glance, and then my father begins to speak. "Nora, we want to know wh
Nora's Pov " Father, please-”" I knew there was something more to what happened that night. Tell me everything, Nora. And I promise to help you.”My heart swelled with emotions, making my tears fall freely. I narrated everything that happened to me that night six months ago. As the story poured out of me, my father's emotions riled up a hundred fold. His eyes turned darker and I could hear his wolf howling in anger." Father, please. I want to do it my own way. Can you keep it from mom and Justin until I am through with my plans?” I pleaded, trying to steer my father's anger away." He dared to plot against my daughter?" His anger swept around the whole study and my body stood on edge.How could I forget my father was also a beta? His aura was powerful.“ Dad, please. I want to do it my way.,” I pleaded, hoping he would understand.He was quiet for a while before sighing deeply. You have my support, Nora. We will face it together."I felt a wave of gratitude toward my father, but a
Nora POV As I turned around to see who just spoke, I sensed her presence. The words mixed with undeniable grudges and the ferocious aura filling the entire place. Aria Davies. His chosen mate. She is the daughter of Elder Davies and she was my sworn rival who also had a crush on Carlos. I found out from my father that he accepted her after the coronation. Aria was the perfect choice for a strong Luna. She was a fierce warrior who could protect alongside her mate. She was the one he had replaced me with. I could feel her eyes on me, burning with anger and jealousy.Aria had made my life a living hell alongside her minions when she found out I was without a wolf. She was always envious that Carlos gave me attention way back. I kept my head down, trying to avoid her gaze. But I could sense her approaching me. Her steps were light, but her presence was heavy with tension.“ Isn't this the pathetic wannabe Luna?" She sneered, her eyes were an embodiment of envy. I wondered why she was
Nora POV“ I am still waiting, Nora."With a jerk, the familiar voice woke me up from my deep slumber. I cursed under my breath as I seemed to be running late. I had fallen asleep after I finished dinner. “ It had better be a good reason or I promise to kill you!" I swore, getting ready to sneak out. I brought out another potion that Elder Silvarum had given me and poured it all over my body.He called it an invisibility potion.I snuck out so I could get to the border before midnight. My mind was filled with different reasons why Karen would come to the border. Was something wrong over there?At exactly five minutes later, I saw a shadow perfectly hidden in the dark. If I hadn't trained under his supervision, it would have been impossible to spot him out. Except I was an Alpha or high ranking Lycan.“ Karen-"“ Shush!" He whispered, staring around the vicinity. After he was sure I wasn't followed or being watched, he beckoned to me.“ Can't it wait?" I asked as soon as we got to a s
CARLOS POVAfter I left her in the hallway, I took Aria with me. I wanted Nora to feel hurt, seeing me with another woman but that damn woman didn't bulge. Infact, she looked mockingly at me with Aria.I growled, pushing Aria away as soon as we got out of Nora's sight. I still can't believe I was trying to make my ex-mate jealous. I was supposed to fucking move on.“ Carl, why are you so mean to me?" Aria asked, her eyes suddenly becoming glassy.“ And what exactly do you mean?" I flared, casting her a stern look." It's her, right? She is your mate…" Aria said bitterly, her lips tightly clasped in anger.“ Aria!!" I growled, hiding the obvious truth. Was it that obvious that Nora was my mate?“ Stop shoving me off with your threats, Carl. I know everything. You obviously rejected her and she committed-"“ If you don't shut the hell up, I won't mind separating your body from that foul mouth of yours!" This time, I held her throat tightly as she struggled.My eyes bore through her stub
Carlos POV I was still fuming with anger as I walked through the dense forest.“ I see no reason why you are still so angry, Carlos." That was Kyle, his words making the anger escalate. "Are you kidding me, Kyle? What was she thinking, coming out here alone at night? Doesn't she have any idea how dangerous it is? Rogues lurking around every corner, just waiting to pounce... and she just waltzed in here without fear?” I blurted out, angry at no one in particular.She is damn too careless, so reckless... It's like she wants to get herself killed!“ You hated her, right? Aren't you being hypocritical?" Kyle continues questioning me."I-I never said I hated her. Besides, I just can't stand by and watch her getting killed? Let her stay safe, but no, she just keeps putting herself in harm's way... it's like she is trying to punish me or something!”Kyle let out a scoff." Punish you? You are just something else, Carlos. Stick to the perfect mate you want and leave Nora alone.”And then he
CARLOS POVAs soon as I left the office, I made my way to Roseflower apartment with Justin who was already fully awake. “ Carl, what if your mate sees us? Your mate is damn scary." He feigned a look of fear, as he stared around. I rolled my eyes at him. “ She has a name, Justin. Could you stop calling her my mate?”Listening to people referring to Aria as my mate had always pissed me off for no obvious reason. It was indeed my choice to choose her, but why was I so against her?" And she is your mate, too. You know, you are the first person I have seen who vehemently denies his mate after accepting her.”I ignored his ranting, making my way inside the apartment. There was a dimly lit hallway inside the apartment that leads to the main area. As soon as I walked through the long hallway, the sound of blaring music filled the air. It was a secret clubhouse. I walked briskly to a secluded spot with enough view to see all
NORA POVThe rays from the morning light hit me hard as my eyes fluttered open. I yawned, stretching my tired body but a grinning face made me jump from my bed.“ Jay!" I grunted, giving him a morning glare. “ You scared the shit out of me."“ Did I?" He grinned wider.“ Isn't it obvious? And what the hell are you doing in my room so early?" I scolded, sitting my ass on my bed.“ Early? Nora, the sun had risen more than two hours ago." He rolled his eyes, sitting down comfortably on my couch.“ Don't you have work to do?" I asked, trying to get him out of my room.“ I will soon be off. I just came to remind you that your training starts tomorrow morning. You can rest only for today." His tone was final. Why does everyone want me to train badly? “ I think I would just go and jog first." I responded, yawning again. I had woken up a little late after what happened last night. After getting home last night, I snuck back into my room. And not until the early hours of today, did I fall as
Griffin Her questions were becoming annoying. I wished I could just ignore it. That perhaps you hope to earn her gratitude. Her affection." Kathryn's voice was gentle but firm. "If so, you should know it's unlikely. She loves Carlos, whatever problems they may have." "I'm not a fool," I snapped, then immediately regretted my tone. "I know she loves him. I'm not doing this to win her over." "Then why?" I stared at the floor, struggling to articulate what drove me. "Because I failed her once before. I won't make that mistake again." Kathryn seemed satisfied with this answer. "Very well. I'll need time to prepare properly." I rose to leave, but paused at the door. "Kathryn... thank you." She shook her head. "Don't thank me yet. This may kill you more quickly than the sorceress's curse. Plus, I'm not assuring you that it is going to work." "At least it will be my choice," I said quietly. "For once." As I left the room, I felt the hunger gnawing at me again, stronger
GRIFFIN POVI felt it the moment it happened—a pulse of energy so distinct it nearly knocked me off my feet. I steadied myself against a tree, drawing in a sharp breath as recognition dawned.Nora had connected with her wolf.After all these years, after everything that had happened. She had found Reika again. Although it was a good thing, the implications were staggering—and terrifying. Those hungry powerful beings probably felt it too and their quest for Nora's blood would intensify. "Damn it," I muttered, pushing away from the tree and striding toward the pack house. Elder Silvarum needed to know immediately. Carlos too, though I doubted he'd take the news well.I'd barely made it halfway across the grounds when the first wave of pain hit. It started as a burning in my chest, then spread outward like wildfire through my veins. I stumbled, falling to my knees as my vision blurred."Griffin."The voice echoed in my mind, sickeningly familiar. The sorceress. My mistress. My curse."
NORA POVThe next one week flew by very peacefully. More peaceful than I ever expected. "Focus, Nora," Kathryn instructed, circling me as I struggled to maintain the small flame hovering above my palm. "You're letting your wolf nature interfere again."I gritted my teeth. "I don't have a wolf nature. That's the problem."Kathryn exchanged a glance with Elara, that same look they always shared when they thought I wasn't paying attention. It was infuriating."Your lycan blood is still part of you," she said carefully. "Even if you do not have a wolf. She looked down, busying herself with arranging crystals on the floor around me. I'd touched a nerve, I was sure of it."Whatever the case," Kathryn continued smoothly, "you need to separate your magical energy from your lycan energy. They conflict with each other."I'd been trying for days without success. The moment I called forth fire or water, I felt a resistance within me, as if something was fighting against the magic. My head would
NORA POVI woke with a gasp, my body jerking upright so violently that my kids nearly fell off the edge of the bed where they had been sitting.Silence stretched in the room for a long while. My kids hugged me, excited to finally have me back. After a while, Carlos came to sit beside me. "Nora!" His hands were on me instantly, checking for wounds that were no longer there. "Thank the Moon Goddess. You're awake."My head spun as memories flooded back —the attack in the forest, the children screaming, claws tearing into my flesh. I should be dead. By all rights, I should be dead.Carlos handed me a glass of cold water. "You need this." As I gulped the cool liquid, my eyes caught sight of something across the room a small form lying motionless on the floor, surrounded by my aunt. Blood pooled beneath her.The mute girl. "What happened?" I demanded, pushing the glass away. "Why is she bleeding?"Carlos followed my gaze, his expression grim. "She saved you. Took your wounds somehow."I
CARLOS POVMy heart stopped as I burst into the clearing. The scene before me was worse than anything I'd imagined.Nora lay in a growing pool of blood, surrounded by seven hooded figures. Their forms seemed to waver between solid and smoke, power radiating off them in waves that made my wolf recoil. Ancient beings. Powerful. Deadly."Get away from her!" I roared, my voice breaking with desperation.One of them turned slowly, revealing a face that wasn't quite human— eagyes too large, skin too pale. When it smiled, its teeth were needle-sharp."The mate arrives," it said, voice like breaking glass. "Just in time to watch her die."Rage exploded through me. I didn't care if they could kill me with a thought. I wouldn't let Nora die while I stood by. I charged forward, shifting mid-stride, claws extending as I leapt toward the nearest figure.I was still trying to think about my next move. I was confused about everything, and what step to take forward. But I was certain about one thing.
Carlos POVI moved towards my office window, and saw Griffin walking away from the pack house. I watched Griffin's retreating back, fighting the urge to slam him against the nearest wall. His arrogance was infuriating, but I needed to keep a level head. This wasn't about my personal dislike for the man—it was about protecting Nora and our pack.As soon as he disappeared around the corner, I pulled out my phone and called Elder Silvarum. I needed to speak with him personally. The message I sent to him was not even enough. The phone barely rang once before he answered."Carlos," his gravelly voice came through the line. "I've been expecting your call.""You always are," I said, a warm smile playing on my face despite the circumstances. "I need your counsel. It's about Griffin.""I know that already." I could hear the rustling of papers on his end. "You mentioned him in your letter."I moved to my table, keeping my voice low. "He's in love with Nora. I can use that, turn him against th
THIRD POVThe attack came at dawn, when the mist still clung to the ground and visibility was poor. Not with armies or weapons, but with whispers.The guards patrolling the pack borders heard them first—soft, melodic voices calling their names, luring them into the tree line. Two guards disappeared before the others raised the alarm.By mid-morning, the pack house was in lockdown. Carlos had doubled the guard, positioning his strongest fighters at every entrance. No one entered or left without his direct approval."We do not understand what happened. We just heard whispers, and some of the guards were already gone without trace," one of the guards reported to Carlos. Carlos's jaw tightened. "They're testing our defenses, looking for weaknesses.""But who are 'they'? We've seen nothing, no tracks, no scents."The pack was beginning to panic. They spent time trying to figure out what was going on and how to stop whatever danger was lurking. Carlos was more worried than everyone else.
THIRD POVGriffin leaned against the wall outside the dining hall, waiting. He'd been strategically positioning himself in Nora's path for days now, trying to catch a moment alone with her. He had become a regular face at the pack house. No one bothered themselves with his presence that much anymore. When she finally emerged, he straightened."Nora," he called, his voice softer than usual. "Can we talk?"She glanced his way, her expression hardening instantly. Without a word, she turned in the opposite direction."Please," Griffin said, catching up to her in a few long strides. "Just five minutes.""I have nothing to say to you," Nora replied coldly, quickening her pace.Griffin reached for her arm but stopped himself before making contact. "You've been acting cold towards me for no reason. If it's something I did wrong, then don't you think we should talk about it instead? Nora scoffed. "Talk about it?" She asked. "Why do you even think you did anything wring? I mean, no one has a
THIRD POVGriffin moved stealthily through the west wing of the house, keeping to the shadows. Three days of careful observation had finally paid off—he now knew the identities of at least four of the sorceress's spies embedded within Nora's pack. Most of them were unimportant, and I had not decided what to do with the knowledge yet. But the main spy, the one coordinating it all, remained elusive. It was more difficult to find out who it was. The sorceress and the main spy were being too careful with their interactions, so it was more difficult to find out. "Damn it," Griffin muttered, ducking into an alcove as footsteps approached. He'd been so close to discovering who was reporting directly to the sorceress, the puppet master controlling the others.As the footsteps faded, Griffin slipped out again, heading toward the garden where he could think without interruption. His head throbbed with the effort of keeping up appearances, pretending loyalty to the sorceress while secretly wor