LOGINEmber's POVI never thought I would be holding a gun while rescuing my sister from a madman's compound. But life had a funny way of destroying careful plans.The ropes finally came loose and Luna slumped forward. I caught her before she hit the ground and felt how light she had become."Can you walk?" I whispered."I can run if I have to." Her voice was weak but determined.Footsteps pounded down the corridor outside. Shouts echoed through the compound as guards realised something was wrong."We need to move now," I said and pulled Luna toward the door.My hands would not stop shaking. The gun felt heavy and foreign in my grip despite two weeks of training with Marcus.Two weeks ago I had been living my quiet human life and planning my future with Marcus far from supernatural conflicts.Then Ryan took Luna and everything changed. You did not abandon family no matter what powers you did or did not have.Marcus had mapped the entire compound using surveillance and contacts in the rogue
Luna's POV Pain exploded through my skull the moment consciousness returned. My head throbbed with each heartbeat and my mouth tasted like copper and chemicals.I tried to move but my wrists burned. Rope bit into my skin and bound me to something cold and metal behind me.My eyes fought to open. The darkness pressed in from all sides and smelled like mould and decay and fear.Where was I?The memories crashed back in fragments. Walking with Aria through the human sector. People everywhere. Then hands grabbed me and something sharp pierced my neck.My heart hammered against my ribs. I forced myself to breathe slowly and assess the situation without panicking.Cell. Underground maybe. Concrete walls. Single dim bulb hanging from the ceiling. No windows. Heavy metal door.I reached for my mate bond with Aria and nearly sobbed with relief when I felt it there. Strained and stretched thin but alive.She knew I was alive. That meant rescue would come.But how long would it take? And what w
Ryder's POVThe war room filled within minutes of my call. Every alpha in the family stood around the table with faces grim and ready."Ryan Parkins is not just targeting us randomly," I said. "He has been planning this for years."Kai leaned forward. "How long?""Since his exile. He blames our family for everything he lost."Phoenix appeared beside Aria and his presence made the air hum with protective energy. "What exactly did he lose?""His position as Alpha Prince. His reputation. His future." I pulled up old records on the screen. "When he harassed Mom decades ago Dad made sure the entire supernatural community knew what he had done."Ash held Stella's hand tightly. "He was humiliated.""Worse than that. He was erased. No pack would take him and no alpha would ally with him. He became nothing."The room fell silent. We all understood that kind of fall and what it could drive someone to do."So he wants revenge," Aria said quietly. "By taking what matters most to us.""Mates and c
Ash's POVThe rogues circled us and my mind raced calculating odds. Six against one with Stella injured and holding our newborn son.I shifted my stance putting myself between them and my family. The bond pulsed with Stella's determination even through her exhaustion."You picked the wrong targets," I growled.The lead rogue laughed. "Did we? You look pretty vulnerable to me."He lunged and I met him halfway. My fist connected with his jaw and sent him sprawling backwards.Two more came at me from different angles. I blocked one and kicked the other hard enough to hear ribs crack.These were not random rogues. They moved with coordination and purpose like someone had trained them specifically for this.Behind me, I heard Stella snarl. I glanced back and saw her fighting one handed with Ross wrapped tight against her chest.She took down one rogue with a vicious kick to the knee then slammed her elbow into another's face.Pride surged through me mixed with terror. She had just given bi
Stella's POVThe healer confirmed it three days after I first felt the presence. I was pregnant and it had happened impossibly fast."This is unusual," the healer said while studying her notes. "Even with our accelerated reproduction pregnancy does not typically occur immediately after mating."Ash gripped my hand tighter. "But is it possible?""Possible yes. The strength of your bond combined with compatible genetics created ideal conditions. Your bodies wanted this."My stomach twisted. My body wanted this but I was not sure I did.I had just accepted being a mate. I was not ready to be a mother, either.The ride home was silent. Ash kept glancing at me through the bond and I felt his emotions mixing with mine.Excitement underneath his nervousness. He wanted this baby even though it was too soon."Say something," he finally said when we reached the cabin."I do not know what to say. This was not part of the plan.""We can handle this. Together."I pulled away from him. "You do not
Ash's POVThe ceremony was held in neutral territory between our packs under the full moon. Both families came and the tension in the air was thick.I stood waiting and my hands would not stop shaking. I had fought battles and survived corruption but this felt bigger than all of that.This was forever. This was binding my life to Stella's and I could not mess it up.She walked toward me through the gathered wolves and my breath caught. She wore simple ceremonial robes and her silver hair hung loose down her back.Her eyes were fierce and beautiful and locked on mine. She was not nervous at all and that steadied me somehow.The elder officiating the ceremony spoke the traditional words. I barely heard them over the pounding of my heart."Do you Ash Hawkins claim Stella Crowe as your mate before the moon and your pack?""I do." My voice came out stronger than I felt."Do you Stella Crowe claim Ash Hawkins as your mate before the moon and your pack?""I do." Her voice was clear and certa
Chapter 30: The MarkingRoss's POVI had imagined this moment a thousand times in my mind but reality was overwhelming in ways fantasy could never capture. Skylar our mate was offering herself to us willingly and her scent was thick with desire and trust that made my wolf howl with triumph.Myron a
Myron's POVThe pack house transformed into a war room within hours of Ethan leaving.Alpha Rhys summoned his commanders and his elite warriors and anyone with combat experience who could help us prepare for what was coming in three days or less.Ross and I were included
Skylar's POVMyron told me about Ethan's offer and my reaction was immediate fury that burned through my chest like acid. I would not be bargained with like property or traded like some prize between alphas who thought they could control my choices."Absolutely not,"&n
Skylar's POVMy mind reeled as Ethan's words sank in and shattered everything I thought I knew about my life and my father and the truth of who I really was beneath the surface."You are lying," I said but my voice shook with uncertainty. "My father would never keep so







