Lena's PovI stared at Kyler, my heart tangled in knots, my tongue tied in my mouth.Before I could even begin to sort through the storm inside me, the car pulled into the long driveway of the pack. The driver stepped out and opened the door.Kyler held out his hand to me, his touch sending a shiver down my spine. I hesitated, but then I placed my hand in his, and the warmth of his skin made my pulse race. He helped me out, and we walked toward the packhouse, silence stretching between us.“They’re holding hands.”“Does this mean he’s finally accepted her?”“I thought he didn’t want a mate.”“To even think about it, she divorced her former mate just to be with him.” I heard the distant murmurs and whispers from the omegas who couldn't focus on their work as we passed.I swallowed hard, my fingers twitching in Kyler’s grip, but he held me tighter, his grip reassuring.We were almost at his chambers when Elder Elijah stepped into our path.The old man’s face lit up with a wide smile, h
Kyler's Pov I shut the door behind me, pressing my back against it as I tried to catch my breath.What the hell did I just do?My lips were still tingling from the kiss, my body still burning with the way Lena had melted against me. I could still hear her whisper my name, and I could still feel her fingers in my hair.I clenched my fists, forcing myself to breathe. That shouldn’t have happened.I had been so stupid and reckless to expose my vulnerability to Lena.My entire body was strung with shame.I was under no obligation to treat her like a wife. I shouldn't have kissed her gently and hungrily as though she meant the world to me.But the way she had looked at me, the way she had trembled in my arms, made me lose control.I shook my head and pushed off the door. I needed to clear my mind. I needed to put distance between us before I did something I would regret.But then, the hoarse voices from the other room made me freeze suddenly.The voices were muffled through the walls, but
Kyler's PovShe let out a loud, thunderous laugh; the sound crawled under my skin, slithering into my bones.“I want you to always feel the same pain I felt when you rejected our mate bond.”“I want you to know the same agony I knew when the mark of our bond led to my death.”I let out a mocking chuckle. It had been a decade since Serena died, but she hadn't healed yet.I had caught her cheating on me with my beta after a day I marked her.Due to my rejection, she had been in severe bondage and later died even after performing every ritual to appease the moon goddess.Because I never accepted her back, the Moon Goddess had caused me and the Silverfang Pack as a whole.But Serena?She had died because I had just newly marked her when she decided to betray our bond so the consequences of my rejection couldn't be denounced.“I should have killed you myself.” I scoffed.Her expression didn’t falter. If anything, her lips curled into a knowing smile.“You did,” she murmured, taking anothe
Lena's Pov I ran until my legs could no longer carry me, my heart heavy with the weight of betrayal from my past.Painful memories clawed at my mind, each one striking me with the force of a thousand stones.Their words echoed in my ears, as if the wind itself carried their voices, whispering their accusations over and over again. The sting of their cruel words cut deeper than any wound, leaving scars no one could see.My mind raced with painful images from the past; each charge hit me like a ton of rocks.As I thought about the mean comments that have been said about me in the past, the pain in my chest grew worse. It “Murderer...” they would call me, and their words would hurt me so much more than any hit.It all started when my parents died.After my parents’ deaths, Theo’s family took me in. They insisted I was too young to survive on my own in the Blackwood Pack, and they had pleaded with the pack to take me along.At first, everything seemed perfect.Theo’s parents welcomed me
Lena's PovThe walls of the hall seemed to close in on me as I tried to steady my breath.Luna Helena’s eyes, swollen and red, bore into me with a hatred that sent a sharp chill down my spine. Tears clung to the edges of her lashes, but they did nothing to soften the hard lines of her face. The baby was still in her arms, its tiny form wrapped in blankets.Alpha Damian stood beside her, his fingers twitching as though barely holding back the urge to kill me. His jaw clenched in anger, his teeth gritting, which made me shiver in fear.From the look on their faces, I was sure I had landed myself in trouble.My legs trembled as I approached, each step feeling like I was walking into an abyss. “Lena, come here.” She ordered as she dragged me towards her by my hair.I opened my mouth to speak, but before a single word could leave my lips, her hand shot out, landing a thunderous slap on my face.Before I could react, she grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked me forward. Pain shot throug
Lena's Pov“Burn the witch!”“She killed the baby!”“She deserves death!”Their voices crashed over me like thunder, each word laced with venom.I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block them out, but the hate-filled chants burrowed into my skin like fire.“She doesn’t deserve to see another daylight!” someone sneered.“Why kill an innocent child?” A fragile female voice butted in, but it was drowned by another harsher one.“Oh, poor child!”“Not to think that Luna Helena had always treated this witch so well!”A sharp pain seared through my scalp as a hand yanked my hair, forcing my head up. My blurry gaze met the angry mob, their faces twisted with rage.Tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Maybe they were right. Maybe I deserve this.The guards dragged me down the stone corridors, their fingers digging into my arms like steel chains. My body ached from the beating, every step sending fresh waves of pain through me. My breaths came in short gasps, my mind reeling.
Lena’s Pov"I... I don't want to die," I struggled to sputter, my voice barely above a whisper, only meant for Theo’s ears.His grip on my arm tightened for a brief second before he stole a glance at me. Then, with his head held high, he turned to the crowd."Did you kill the baby?"His voice carried over the restless murmurs, and for a moment, everything stilled. Then, as if on cue, the crowd erupted again."What kind of question is that?" someone sneered."Even if she did, do you think she’ll openly admit it?" a woman scoffed."This is pointless!" a man barked. "We already know the answer!"Theo raised his hand, demanding silence. The authority in his voice was enough to make the mob hesitate. "Wait," he commanded, his tone steady, unwavering. "Before you carry out your so-called justice, hear what I have to say."The crowd muttered, shifting uneasily. Some looked toward the Alpha, waiting for his permission. Others glanced at Luna Helena, her face carved from stone, her lips presse
Lena’s POV I sat stiffly on the edge of the small cot, my hands balled into fists on my lap.The final execution had been postponed to two weeks.That was all the time I had before my final fate would be decided.Two weeks to prove my innocence or I die.A heavyweight sat on my chest, pressing down until it became hard to breathe. They nearly killed me today. If it weren’t for TheoMy fingers trembled in fear.But why had he saved me?Initially, he had acted as though he was enjoying the scene.He acted as though he was happy watching me die.But why had he saved me all of a sudden?I should be grateful that Theo had spoken for me. Grateful that he had stopped them from killing me on the spot. But instead, my mind spiraled with thoughts I couldn’t control.What if the real killer was never found?What if I was truly meant to die?I squeezed my arms around myself, trying to quiet the panic rising in my chest. The pack hated me. The Alpha had practically sentenced me to death the mome
Alison's POV“Do you call this a manicure? My dog has better grooming than this,” I snapped, flicking my freshly polished nail at the trembling maid’s face. “Fix it—unless you enjoy being completely useless.”“I don't want my edges jagged...”“Yes...Luna...”The poor girl stammered, her hands trembling as she adjusted my fingers. I didn’t even flinch when I slapped her lightly with the back of my hand. She needed to remember her place.I leaned back, a satisfied smirk curling my lips. It felt too good to be the future Luna, the mother of Alpha Kyler’s heir. Everyone was finally treating me the way I deserved.I have already been assigned personal maids, and Elder Thomas had ordered my belongings moved into Kyler’s room.Because of course, I needed to be close to the father of my child. That was the proper tradition in the pack.I rubbed my stomach slowly as I felt the warmth of my unborn pup.I couldn't wait until it started kicking. I wasn’t just carrying a pup. I was carrying power
Lena's Pov “Trust me..”"I never meant to—" he started.I stared at him with disgust.What exactly does he take me for?Dropping my black bag on the floor and my mysterious arrow, I turned my face to him, desperate to let him see how much he had hurt me."Save it, Kyler," I said, my voice trembling with the sting of every memory. "You meant every second of it."His jaw tightened. "You don't understand.""I understand enough," I snapped. “I understand that I was locked away in the dungeon you put me in; you were out here... busy rubbing your fluids on your lover ." My voice was thick with disgust. "Is that not what you were doing?""Lena, it isn't what you think," he said, his voice low.I shoved the arrow into the bag roughly, trying to ignore how much it hurt to even look at him.Talking to him made me sick.He doesn't expect me to believe him."Don’t insult my intelligence," I retorted. I wanted to tell him everything I was feeling, but instead, tears welled up. You should’ve th
Lena’s POV"You know you can't reject me, right?" Kyler said, his voice low and cruel as he fixed his gaze on me."Think of what the pack would say..."He took a step closer, and I stood there frozen like a fool, clutching my bag tighter."You want to leave, right?" he continued, a mocking smile spread across his lips. "Close your eyes, Lena. Just imagine the news spreading... Imagine how the pack media would eat this up."He leaned in like he was sharing a secret, and his voice sank deep into my skin."Imagine the names they would tag you…“They will drag your reputation through mud….”“Imagine how all the pack members, even the lowest of the low omega, would call you a slut who can't hold onto her bond.""They would say you can’t stick to a man. You’re jumping from one mate to another like a lost little girl.”He chuckled, and it cut deeper than any knife."Take a moment to think of how Alison would laugh so hard she might choke on her spit."Without knowing it, my bag slipped fr
Kyler's POVWithout wasting another second with Alison, I sprinted off to Lena’s room like my life depended on it.It barely took me three minutes before I arrived at Lena’s room. My heart sank deep into my stomach as I flung the door open only to find her packing a few clothes into a small bag.I could hardly tell if she noticed my presence or not, as she didn't even acknowledge it, not even with a mere glance at me.I stood at the door silently, watching her tie her hair into a messy ponytail. Then she turned slightly to look at herself in the mirror, adjusting the strands that escaped.As she played around with her reflection in the mirror, a strange sense of pride washed over me.I couldn't even deny it.Goddess!.This girl was an angel.I mean, she was damn beautiful, like a bride who was about to walk down the aisle, so gorgeous enough to kill a man.I found myself moving closer without thinking.My hands shook slightly as I leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to the back of her
Kyler’s POVWhen Lena stormed out, nearly every elder immediately excused themselves and ran after her like moths chasing a flame.Except for Elder Yuri and Christine whispering inaudibly words I couldn't fathom, the whole place had turned empty.It was obvious no decision could be taken at this moment, so the meeting had been postponed.I just stood there frozen, Elijah's last words before he walked out on me ringing in my ears.“You missed presenting your mate in the past full moon; you aren't going to miss this one, and as it appears, your sexual promiscuity might cause you more harm than you ever imagined.”I heaved a heavy sigh, trying hard to keep calm.This was just too much.I wondered what had led me to have sex with her.How could she be pregnant at this critical time?And how the hell had she managed to get herself on my bed that very night?How exactly?It seemed as though this was the worst moment in my life, and undoubtedly it is.I had never experienced such chaos and c
Lena’s POVI took another deep breath, then reached out and pushed open the heavy council chamber door.The room fell into complete silence immediately after I walked in.Every elder turned their head toward me like I was a ghost walking in.Some had their mouths wide open in shock, while a few stood halfway, their eyes wide in disbelief. The air was so thick with tension that you could easily slice it with a butter knife.As soon as Kyler sighted me, he sprang up from his seat immediately and rushed towards me, his eyes wide open in disbelief.“Lena!”“You’re awake,” he whispered into my hair. “Are you okay? Does anything hurt? I was—”Without waiting to have a direct conversation with him, I shoved his hands away immediately.His brows furrowed instantly. “Lena—?”“No.” I took a step back, squaring my shoulders. “Don’t ‘Lena’ me. What did I just hear? What in the name of the Moon Goddess is going on here?”Kyler looked stunned.And then—ugh—she opened her mouth.Alison.The she-goat
Lena's Pov “Yo, yo!“Just kidding!” Karin whispered inside of me.A wave of instant relief surged through my veins instantly.I could hear her voice now, and I could also feel her strength.Thank Goddess!My wolf wasn't a mere illusion.“Finally!” Her voice rang in my head, filled with excitement and warmth.I gasped, a wild grin breaking across my face. “She’s real,” I said aloud, staring at Theo and Jax with wide eyes. “She’s genuine. I have a wolf!”“What?” Jax blinked, clearly confused. “Wait, are you saying—?”“My wolf is no longer weak...” I said breathlessly. Theo’s facial expression was “Have you gone nuts or something...?”But I knew what I was saying; I wasn't mad yet; excitement had only gotten the better part of me.I looked down and noticed the arrow lying next to me, which was glowing faintly. Tentatively, I reached for it. The moment my fingers wrapped around the shaft, a jolt of heat surged through my veins. It wasn't painful, but it seemed like something had awaken
Lena's Pov I stared at the glowing white wolf, my lips trembling as I reached toward it. My hand hovered inches from its muzzle, my heart beating loud and fast like a war drum in my chest.“Who… who are you?” I whispered again, my voice dry and cracking.The wolf stepped closer, its eyes locking with mine. “Stop being pathetic,” it said, a hint of amusement in its voice. “Don’t you recognize me?”I flinched, confused. “W-What?”“I’m your wolf,” it said gently, but with firmness. “You can call me Karin.”My eyes widened, my mouth parting in shock. I took a step back. “N-no… That’s impossible. I don’t have a wolf! The Moon Goddess never gave me one—”Karin chuckled, a deep, haunting sound that still managed to soothe me. “You are doubting Thomas.”I stared at her, and my lips twitched.“This isn’t funny. If you’re my wolf, then where the hell have you been all this time? Why did you never speak to me before?”“I wanted to,” she said softly, her glowing body sitting down like a majestic
Kyler’s POVI wiped the sweat from my brow, the cold breeze doing nothing to alleviate the exhaustion and fear clinging to me like a second skin. It had been almost eighteen hours since Lena collapsed, and she lay there lifeless and still.She hadn’t moved yet, not a whisper or even a sound from her.Just the shallow rise and fall of her chest, as if the threads keeping her tethered to this world were thinning with every passing second.Theo was crouched beside her, his hands working furiously as he applied yet another layer of healing herbs to her bare back. The scent of crushed wolfsbane and moonroot hung thick in the room, a sickening reminder of how close she was to death.The sight of my Lena, my fated mate, lying motionless on the floor made my heart crack.I knelt beside her, brushing a stray lock of hair from her pale face. My heart clenched painfully at the sight of her closed eyes, her lashes still damp with tears she hadn’t had the strength to wipe away.“She’s still burnin