Kira's POV. I nod, eyes wide with trust and anticipation. Julian wastes no timeโhe climbs over me, his body hovering just inches above mine. I feel the heat of him pressing into me. He pulls the cover away, and suddenly a jolt of awareness rushes through me. I'm completely naked all this time. But... when did he remove the dirty robe and lingerie I was wearing? My heart skips a beat, because I missed the moment he undressed me and my cheeks burn with sudden embarrassment. And he must see it on my face because he leans in, voice low and reassuring. โDonโt worry. I didnโt look... not like Iโm about to.โ His arms cage me in, muscles taut as he leans closer, eyes dark and intense. โOkayโฆ but just be gentle,โ I whisper and he chuckles lightly. โDon't worry red, your wish will always be my command,โ He smiles softly before bending down, placing another searing kiss on my lips. Julian's tongue delves into my mouth, exploring every corner. My fingers trace the muscles of his back, m
Kira's POV. Julian looks momentarily taken aback but recovers quickly. His expression turns soft and understanding as he offers a reassuring smile. "I thought so," he says gently, trailing light kisses down my cheek. "We'll go very slow and whenever you want to stop, just say so. Okay?" Relieved by his patience, I nod eagerly. Kneeling between my spread legs, he guides his rock-hard length towards my entrance. My entrance resists him initially, unused to receiving anything of this size, but he works patiently, stroking and stretching me with a steady rhythm. Slowly, inch by torturous inch, his impressive length breaches me, filling me completely. A sharp hiss escapes my lips at the unfamiliar sensation- pain mixes with pleasure, creating an addictive sensation that leaves me craving more. Julian pauses mid-stroke, sensing my discomfort. His concerned gaze finds mine. "Are you alright?" โYes,โ I manage a weak nod, breathing through the initial ache of penetration. "It hurts, b
Damian's POV. (Meanwhile back at the palace) My father's office is suffocating. The towering shelves filled with old scrolls and battle trophies loom over me like judges, silent and severe. I stand before his massive desk, my hands clenched behind my back, with the sting of Kiraโs rejection still humming beneath my skin like a wound that refuses to close. He hasn't said a word in over a minute and the silence stretches unbearably between us, heavy with the weight of the truth I could no longer keep hiddenโnot after everything thatโs happened at my mating ceremony. Father just stares at me, those cold, unforgiving eyes stripping me bare. Finally, he speaksโhis voice low, sharp, and laced with barely contained fury. "So, let me get this straight. You searched every neighboring pack for your fated mate... and when you finally found her, you brought her back as a servant?" His words strike sharper than a blade... I open my mouth to explain myselfโbut what can I even say th
Katie's POV. I rip the pins from my hair, flinging them across the room like tiny weapons. One bounces off the mirror and clinks to the ground. My reflection stares back at meโperfect curls ruined, mascara smudged from tears I refuse to admit I shed. My white wedding dress feels like a noose around my throat. This was supposed to be my happy day and my rise to be crowned Queen Luna of the realm. But that omega Kira and Julian of all peopleโruined it. I tear the dress off, the expensive lace ripping with a sound that feels way too good. I donโt care. Let it burn. I was humiliated in front of the whole pack. And for what? An omega fated to my man? I pace the room barefoot, my heart pounding and my chest tight with rage. This isnโt real. It canโt be. Not after everything Damian and I planned... Suddenly, the door slams open behind me, and I turn to find Damian storming in. His jaw is tight, eyes blazing, fists clenched like heโs ready to rip someone apart. โWell, what did
Kira's POV. I stir beneath the soft sheets, blinking against the afternoon sunlight streaming through the open window. My body aches in a way that's entirely new to meโsore but completely satisfied. A lazy smile tugs at my lips as I shift, feeling the heat of Julianโs body beside mine. His arm is draped possessively over my waist, and for the first time in so long, I feel... safe. After everything, Iโm officially his. Weโre fated. Second chance mates. It still feels like a dream. I roll onto my side to face him, propping myself up on my elbow. โJulian,โ I murmur, trailing my fingers lightly down his bare chest, โwhose house are we in?โ He blinks his bright eyes open, a slow, lazy grin spreading across his face. โItโs my motherโs house,โ he says, voice rough from sleep. I gasp, pretending to be scandalized. โSo... we just made love in your momโs bedroom?โ Julian throws his head back and laughs, the sound rumbling through the room. I laugh too, unable to resist him. He shakes h
Julian's POV. For the first time in what feels like forever, I feel whole and complete as I run through the trees with Kira at my side after spending an amazing day with her... Our wolves can't help but brush against each other playfully. It fills a place inside me I didnโt even know was empty. In all honesty, it feels great to be mated, it makes my heart swell with pure bliss because I never thought I'd get a second chance after my first mate fiance left me because I had become a cripple overnight and didn't want to spend the rest of her life caring to a cripple. I glance sideways at kira, a playful growl rumbling in my chest, ready to tackle her just to hear her beautiful laughโBut thatโs when I sense a scent so strong of silver waft in the air. I skid to a halt, my ears pinned back. โKira!โ I call through the bond. โI smell it,โ she responds, her body tensing as her nose twitches, already on alert... But before we can find out who is trailing us with silver, theyโre o
Julianโs POV."Enough," I breathe, my whole body trembling. "Iโll do it."The words taste like ash on my tongue, but I force them out.If Damian wants the throne so badly heโs willing to kill for it, then he can have it. For now."Iโll go back โ but on one condition," I say louder, lifting my head to glare at them."Iโll stand before my father and the council and refuse the title. In return, you donโt lay a single hand on Kira again."The leaderโs smile stretches wider, smug and cruel. "So long as you keep your word, I will keep mine," he replies smoothly."Then itโs a deal," I grit out, clenching my jaw so hard it aches.The leader signals for my release.One of the same bastard who had been stabbing Kira โ unchains me roughly, the silver cuffs burning deep into my flesh as they are yanked away.My knees hit the cold stone floor beside her."Red," I whisper, brushing the blood-matted hair from her forehead with trembling fingers.Her eyelids flutter weakly at my touch, and a soft gas
Julian's POV. "Damian, excuse us. I need to speak with your brother alone," my father says after a long pause, voice leaving no room for argument. Damianโs smile tightens at the edges, but he nods politely. I can see the twitch in his jaw, though, and when he brushes past me toward the door, his voice slithers into my mind. โRemember, choose wisely, brother... you know what's at stake.โ My hands clench at my sides, blood roaring in my ears. I donโt react. Not yet. But now I know without a doubt โ it is him. He set the trap so that I can give up the Alpha king title. And if Kira dies because of him... no title in this world will save him from me. The door shuts softly, and the tension in the room sharpens like a knife. My father's sharp gaze pins me. "Now, tell me, Julian," he says, walking back to his chair and sits, fingers steepled. "Why the sudden change of heart? Hours ago, you publicly announced you would reclaim what was rightfully yours in front of the high ra
Julian's POV. My stomach turns because in as much as I want to tell my father that I want the throne, he canโt know I just watched the girl I love vanish off a cliff and that all I want is to fall apart and scream until the world bleeds with me because of the title. โI stand by my decision I made last evening,โ I say. โI donโt want the crown.โ The words cut deeper than I expect especially while Damian is still watchingโฆ and smiling. Father stiffens. Just for a moment. A flicker of disappointment flashes in his eyes. Thenโฆ itโs gone. He nods once. Sharp. Dismissive. Very well,โ he says. And just like that, itโs done. Years of training, expectation, legacyโ Dropped with a shrug and a lie. Damianโs grin grows, but I donโt look at him again because I might act on instinct and do something stupid for everything he has done to Kira. โIf that's all, Iโm heading up,โ I mutter. โYeah, clean yourself up before the court sees you,โ my father says coolly as I pass already clim
Julian's POV. โKira!โ Her name tears from my throat as I watch her slipโ One second sheโs there and the next she is gone. The image burns itself into my skull: her wide eyes, her howl, and the blur of her falling body vanishing into the mist below. My heart stops. The rogue wags his tail before turning half human to torment me. "You lose, prince," he sneers, spitting blood. "I have killed her like we were toldโ" But before he finishes the sentence, I see red, and lunge at him with a roar that splits the sky. Our bodies crash together with a thud that echoes through the trees. I dig in firstโclaws sinking into his side, as my weight knocks him off balance. He growls, and tries to twist away, but Iโm already tearing into him. Fur rips. Blood hits my tongue. He snaps at me but he catches air. I go lower, clamp down on his leg, and shake until I hear the crack. He stumbles, tries to drag himself backโbut I donโt give him the chance. I lunge again. He rolls, despera
Kira's POV. Julian actually came back for me and as his warm hands glide over my skin, helping me into the hoodie and jeans he brought, I canโt tear my eyes away from himโespecially now, after heโs told me to shift and run the moment he gives the word. Itโs a reckless planโฆ for a man so dangerously outnumbered. My heartโs a war drum in my chest. And like on cue, he squeezes my hand once more. 'Run!' he tells me and then all hell breaks loose. I rip out of the clothes he gave me, bones snapping, fur breaking through skin in a flash. My paws hit the stone floor and Iโm gone, bolting through the corridor like my life depends on it. Because it does. Voices scream behind me. One howls louder than the rest: โDonโt let her escape! This time, kill her!โ Itโs him. The rogue leader. But I donโt stop. I push harder even though my lungs sear in pain and my legs burn. Trees blur around me as I break out of the cavern and into the open forest. I leap over fallen logs, skid down muddy ba
Julian's POV. Thereโs a long pause before I can hear the faint murmur of the other voice through Luna Cassandra's phone, but not the words. Her heels click against the marble floor in agitation. "Yes, Sophia was taken care of," she snaps, spitting the name like venom. "I saw to it myself." My blood runs cold. Could Sophia be Kiraโs motherโs name? Another pause and then Cassandraโs breath hitches sharply. "What do you mean... she left behind a daughter? This changes everything." Her voice rises an octave, panic leaking through the polished facade she always wore so well. A beat of silence. Then, a dangerous calm settles into her voice. "I see. Thank you for telling me." Her steps slow, and I swear I can hear the smile in her voice when she speaks again. "Donโt worry. Iโll take care of the daughter... just like I took care of the mother before any secrets come to light." What secrets is she so afraid of revealing? I grip the doorknob so tightly that it creaks under m
Julian's POV. "Damian, excuse us. I need to speak with your brother alone," my father says after a long pause, voice leaving no room for argument. Damianโs smile tightens at the edges, but he nods politely. I can see the twitch in his jaw, though, and when he brushes past me toward the door, his voice slithers into my mind. โRemember, choose wisely, brother... you know what's at stake.โ My hands clench at my sides, blood roaring in my ears. I donโt react. Not yet. But now I know without a doubt โ it is him. He set the trap so that I can give up the Alpha king title. And if Kira dies because of him... no title in this world will save him from me. The door shuts softly, and the tension in the room sharpens like a knife. My father's sharp gaze pins me. "Now, tell me, Julian," he says, walking back to his chair and sits, fingers steepled. "Why the sudden change of heart? Hours ago, you publicly announced you would reclaim what was rightfully yours in front of the high ra
Julianโs POV."Enough," I breathe, my whole body trembling. "Iโll do it."The words taste like ash on my tongue, but I force them out.If Damian wants the throne so badly heโs willing to kill for it, then he can have it. For now."Iโll go back โ but on one condition," I say louder, lifting my head to glare at them."Iโll stand before my father and the council and refuse the title. In return, you donโt lay a single hand on Kira again."The leaderโs smile stretches wider, smug and cruel. "So long as you keep your word, I will keep mine," he replies smoothly."Then itโs a deal," I grit out, clenching my jaw so hard it aches.The leader signals for my release.One of the same bastard who had been stabbing Kira โ unchains me roughly, the silver cuffs burning deep into my flesh as they are yanked away.My knees hit the cold stone floor beside her."Red," I whisper, brushing the blood-matted hair from her forehead with trembling fingers.Her eyelids flutter weakly at my touch, and a soft gas
Julian's POV. For the first time in what feels like forever, I feel whole and complete as I run through the trees with Kira at my side after spending an amazing day with her... Our wolves can't help but brush against each other playfully. It fills a place inside me I didnโt even know was empty. In all honesty, it feels great to be mated, it makes my heart swell with pure bliss because I never thought I'd get a second chance after my first mate fiance left me because I had become a cripple overnight and didn't want to spend the rest of her life caring to a cripple. I glance sideways at kira, a playful growl rumbling in my chest, ready to tackle her just to hear her beautiful laughโBut thatโs when I sense a scent so strong of silver waft in the air. I skid to a halt, my ears pinned back. โKira!โ I call through the bond. โI smell it,โ she responds, her body tensing as her nose twitches, already on alert... But before we can find out who is trailing us with silver, theyโre o
Kira's POV. I stir beneath the soft sheets, blinking against the afternoon sunlight streaming through the open window. My body aches in a way that's entirely new to meโsore but completely satisfied. A lazy smile tugs at my lips as I shift, feeling the heat of Julianโs body beside mine. His arm is draped possessively over my waist, and for the first time in so long, I feel... safe. After everything, Iโm officially his. Weโre fated. Second chance mates. It still feels like a dream. I roll onto my side to face him, propping myself up on my elbow. โJulian,โ I murmur, trailing my fingers lightly down his bare chest, โwhose house are we in?โ He blinks his bright eyes open, a slow, lazy grin spreading across his face. โItโs my motherโs house,โ he says, voice rough from sleep. I gasp, pretending to be scandalized. โSo... we just made love in your momโs bedroom?โ Julian throws his head back and laughs, the sound rumbling through the room. I laugh too, unable to resist him. He shakes h
Katie's POV. I rip the pins from my hair, flinging them across the room like tiny weapons. One bounces off the mirror and clinks to the ground. My reflection stares back at meโperfect curls ruined, mascara smudged from tears I refuse to admit I shed. My white wedding dress feels like a noose around my throat. This was supposed to be my happy day and my rise to be crowned Queen Luna of the realm. But that omega Kira and Julian of all peopleโruined it. I tear the dress off, the expensive lace ripping with a sound that feels way too good. I donโt care. Let it burn. I was humiliated in front of the whole pack. And for what? An omega fated to my man? I pace the room barefoot, my heart pounding and my chest tight with rage. This isnโt real. It canโt be. Not after everything Damian and I planned... Suddenly, the door slams open behind me, and I turn to find Damian storming in. His jaw is tight, eyes blazing, fists clenched like heโs ready to rip someone apart. โWell, what did