DARIUS’ POVMorning came too fast.The camp was silent, but not the peaceful kind. It was the heavy, suffocating quiet that followed bloodshed. The only sounds were the soft murmurs of men hauling away bodies and the occasional crackling of a dying fire. The scent of blood still lingered in the air, mixed with the sharp sting of burned wood.Sylas had made his orders clear—none of the attackers were to leave alive. Those who tried to retreat had been hunted down like animals. It was brutal, but necessary.I sat inside my tent, my fingers brushing against Emmeline’s arm as she leaned into me. She hadn’t said much since last night. Her body was still tense, but I could feel her slowly relaxing under my touch.I hated seeing her like this.“I’m fine,” she mumbled, though her voice lacked conviction.I exhaled, pressing a kiss against her temple. “You don’t have to be.”She didn’t respond, just curled in closer.The moment felt fragile, like something I needed to protect. But, of course,
EMMELINE’S POVI thought Sylas would take at least a day or two to think it over. Maybe argue some more, try to poke holes in the plan, or drag his feet just to be difficult. But barely two hours had passed when he called Darius and me into his tent.And when he said the words, I almost didn’t believe him.“We’re moving,” Sylas announced.I blinked. “Wait… what?”He exhaled, as if he couldn’t believe he was saying it either. “You heard me. We’re moving to the Estate.”I turned to Darius, half expecting him to laugh and say I was dreaming. But he just smirked like he’d seen this coming.“Sylas,” I started, my voice unsure, “are you… are you sure?”He folded his arms and gave me a look. “Do I look like I’m joking?”I grinned. “Not really, but—”“I’m not doing this because I suddenly like the idea,” he interrupted. “The raid proved that we’re vulnerable here. My job is to protect these people, and that means making tough choices. I don’t like relying on anyone outside of my command, but
EMMELINE’S POVThe night air was thick with tension as we began our journey. No one spoke above a whisper, and the only sounds were the rustling of fabric and the occasional creak of the supply truck’s wooden panels.Darius had planned this carefully, making sure everything went smoothly. He was in a separate car up ahead, making sure no one would stop or search the trucks. The Lycans—my people—were hidden in supply compartments, concealed beneath tarps and crates. Every precaution had been taken, but I still couldn’t shake the unease twisting in my gut.I sat in the back of one of the trucks, surrounded by women and children. The space was cramped, the air stifling, the scent of sweat and fear thick around us. Every time the truck hit a bump, someone gasped or clutched onto the person next to them.Sylas had insisted I ride with them—to keep them calm, to make sure no one panicked and did something reckless. He’d made it sound like a simple task, but now, sitting here, I realized jus
EMMELINE’S POVThe ride back was way too quiet.I sat there, staring out the window, my body heavy with exhaustion, but my mind wouldn’t shut off. The past few days had been a whirlwind—planning, moving, making sure no one got caught. Now that we were finally done, I expected relief to flood in. Instead, unease settled deep in my gut.Every single thing that had happened tonight was still rattling around in my head—the move, the tension, the risk. Even now, I kept wondering if we had made the right call. If something would come back to bite us.Darius sat behind the wheel, gripping it so tight his knuckles were white. His eyes were dull with fatigue. He hadn’t said a single word since we left. Not that I blamed him. I was too damn tired to talk, and I knew he was too. We both just wanted to get back, take a breath, maybe sleep for a few hours before we had to deal with anything else.But the second we pulled up to his home, I knew something was wrong.The Estate was too quiet.Not the
EMMELINE’S POVDarius didn’t let up.Michael was still pinned against the wall, his smirk faltering as Darius’s forearm pressed against his throat.“Listen carefully,” Darius growled, voice low and steady—the kind of dangerous calm that made my skin prickle. “If you ever try to take what’s mine again, I won’t be so fucking patient.”Michael let out a breathy chuckle, though I could tell he wasn’t as amused as he wanted to seem. “You really think threats are gonna scare me?”Darius’s grip tightened. “It’s not a threat. It’s a fucking promise.”Michael’s smirk twitched back into place, but there was something mischievous about it now. “I don’t have to take anything, cousin. Your own pack is already handing it over.”My stomach clenched.Darius didn’t move. His expression barely shifted. But I saw it—the flicker of barely contained rage in his eyes.“Bullshit,” he said.Michael hummed, tilting his head slightly. “You’ve been so busy, Darius. Distracted. And while you were gone, your peop
DARIUS’S POVI wanted to put my fist through a fucking wall.The moment Michael walked out of that room, I knew this wouldn’t just be a fight—it was a war waiting to happen. And if he already had people backing him, that meant this shit had been brewing for a while.I couldn’t afford to ignore it.So I did what I had to. I called a meeting.Within half an hour, my most trusted warriors filled the war room, their faces were tense, their eyes sharp. Dawson, my Beta, stood beside me with his arms crossed. Emmeline was there, too, sitting near the edge of the room, though her expression was quite unreadable. But I knew her well enough to see the gears turning in her head.I leaned forward, placing both hands on the heavy oak table. “Let’s not waste time,” I said. “You all saw what happened. Michael challenged me. Now I want to know how deep this shit runs.”There was silence. Then, finally, one of my warriors, Cade, spoke up. “Michael isn’t an idiot. He wouldn’t challenge you unless he t
EMMELINE'S POVI wasn’t trying to eavesdrop.Not really.But when two warriors started whispering about Michael and some deal right next to me, what was I supposed to do? Just walk away and pretend I didn’t hear it?Yeah, no chance in hell.When you live in a house full of dominant wolves plotting against each other, it’s hard not to pick up on things.And right now, standing at the corner of the hall just outside the training grounds, I was picking up on something bigSo I slowed my steps, pretending to fix the strap on my boot while keeping my head down. My heart pounded as I strained to hear every word.“…said he’s got it locked in,” one of them muttered. “An Alpha from outside. Big pack, strong. He’ll bring warriors in exchange for—”The other one shushed him sharply. “Not here, dumbass.”My stomach twisted into a tight knot.Michael was bringing in outside help?That wasn’t just a power move. That was a fucking declaration of war.I forced myself to keep walking, staying just far
EMMELINEI barely had time to react before the door shut behind him.Michael stood there, his sharp gaze locking onto me like a predator who had just found his prey. His lips curled into a slow, knowing smirk as he leaned against the doorframe, completely blocking my only exit.“Looking for something?” he drawled.My grip on the letter tightened behind my back, my mind racing. He knew. Maybe not exactly what I had found, but he knew I had been searching for something. And now, he had me cornered.I forced my expression to remain calm, lifting my chin slightly. “Just curious,” I said evenly.Michael chuckled. “Curiosity can be dangerous,” he murmured, stepping toward me. His eyes flickered with amusement, but there was something darker lurking beneath the surface—something cold and calculating. “Especially for someone like you.”I swallowed but held my ground. I couldn’t let him see me panic.He took another slow step forward, tilting his head as he studied me. “You’ve been spending a
★DARIUS’ POV★My gut twisted tighter with every second Anastasia worked. She moved fast, thank the goddess, her hands a blur as she crushed herbs, mixing them into some kind of paste, then adding liquid. It felt like an eternity, though. Every rasping breath Emmeline took, every weak tremor that still ran through her tiny body was a hammer blow to my chest. Hurry, damn it. Please, just hurry.Finally, Anastasia held up a small, dark vial. "It's ready," she said, her voice calm but her eyes holding a flicker of urgency that mirrored my own fear.I knelt beside the cot, my heart in my throat. Gently, so damn gently, I lifted Emmeline's head, supporting the fragile weight with my hand. Her skin was still too pale, her lips almost blue. Anastasia carefully brought the vial to her mouth.The first few drops went down, and Emmeline coughed, a weak, pathetic sound that tore right through me. My jaw tightened. Swallow, Em. Please, just swallow. Anastasia waited patiently, then tried again. Th
★EMMELINE’S POV★My head felt like it was stuffed with cotton, heavy and distant. Every breath was a struggle, a shallow, rattling thing that didn't seem to bring enough air. I was floating, drifting somewhere between here and... well, somewhere else. Somewhere quiet and dark. It felt peaceful, in a terrifying sort of way. Like I was letting go."Emmeline? Stay with me. Please."Sylas. His voice. It sounded tight, strained, like he was trying not to break. I wanted to answer, to tell him I was trying, but my tongue felt thick and useless. I managed a small, weak squeeze of the hand he was holding. His grip tightened instantly, almost painfully."She's fading, Sylas," a softer voice said. Anastasia. The healer. I could feel her cool fingers on my wrist, checking my pulse. "The damage... it's spreading faster than I can counter it without the proper herbs."Fading. Yeah, that felt about right. Like a candle sputtering out. The pain was a dull throb now, constant and heavy, but almost se
★DARIUS★Hours. It had been damn hours. My body screamed with every step, every bend, every time I had to push aside a thorny branch that clawed at my already torn clothes and skin. The Crying Woods lived up to its name; the wind seemed to moan through the trees, and the shadows felt heavy, pressing down on me. And for what? Nothing. I hadn't found a damn thing.My eyes scanned the forest floor, blurry with exhaustion and pain. Silver plants, they said. Surrounded by thorny roots. Sounded like something out of a twisted fairytale, and right now, I felt less like a prince on a quest and more like a broken-down mule lost in a maze.I stumbled, catching myself on a tree trunk, the rough bark scraping my cheek. "Son of a bitch," I muttered, leaning my forehead against the cool wood. My lungs burned, my muscles felt like they were tearing, and the dull ache in my ribs was a constant reminder of the fight I'd barely survived. This was insane. I was running on fumes and sheer, unadulterated
★DARIUS' POV★The air tasted like blood and dirt, thick and metallic. This bastard, this rogue Alpha, was fast, I'll give him that. He came at me, claws out, a snarling mess of muscle and rage. My own snarl ripped from my throat, a low rumble that promised pain. He swiped, a blur of grey fur. I ducked under it, the wind of his miss whipping past my ear. Instinct took over. My jaws snapped shut, finding purchase on his hind leg. God, the feel of tearing muscle and sinew... it sent a jolt of brutal satisfaction through me. I yanked hard.He howled, a sound that was music to my ears, stumbling, off-balance. That was my chance. Don't hesitate. Never hesitate. I surged upward, putting everything into it. My claws raked across his face. I felt the warm, wet spray of blood, heard his shriek of agony as one eye was taken. Good. Let him see what happens when you cross me.He didn't back down though. Credit where it's due, the son of a bitch had guts. His rage doubled, making him sloppy, predic
★DARIUS’ POV★Damn, that place was even worse than the stories. The Crying Woods… they weren’t kidding with the name. The air hung thick and heavy, clinging to my skin like a shroud. It reeked of stale blood, rot, and something else… despair, maybe? Twisted trees clawed at the perpetually grey sky, their branches like skeletal fingers. It was unnervingly quiet in some ways, but the silence was punctuated by sounds that made the hairs on my arms stand up – distant growls echoing through the suffocating woods, the rustle of unseen things in the undergrowth.And the eyes. Glowing pairs of them, tracking me from the deepest shadows. Yellow, green, cold pinpricks of hate watching my every step. The rogues. They said rogues were just mindless beasts, driven mad by isolation. Bullshit. Those bastards were smart, cunning. They were hunting me, I could feel it. Packs of them, flanking me, testing my path, waiting for an opening.Being alone sucked right then, made every shadow seem like a thre
★EMMELINE’S POV★I woke up slowly, the dull ache in my body a familiar companion now. But something else felt wrong. Deeper. Colder. I reached out instinctively, my hand searching the space beside me in the bed. Empty.Darius wasn’t there.That wasn’t unusual. He was the Alpha, always busy. But this felt different. The bond, the constant hum of his presence in the back of my mind, felt… distant. Like a faint whisper across a wide, empty space. Not gone, not broken, but stretched thin, strained.Panic, cold and sharp, pricked at me. I pushed myself up, ignoring the protest from my aching muscles. “Darius?” I called out, my voice raspy from sleep.No answer.I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my feet finding the floor. I pulled on a robe quickly, my hands fumbling with the tie. Where was he? Why did the bond feel so… far away?I opened the door to our chambers. A maid was outside, tidying the hall.“Where is the Alpha?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.She curtsied. “Good
★DARIUS’ POV★The morning after Finn died, the air in the pack house felt heavy, thick with grief and unspoken fear. Six of my men, gone. Just like that. Torn apart in those cursed woods. It should have made me stop. Made me rethink. Made me listen to the fear that was gripping the pack.But it didn’t.It only made me harder. More determined. If my best warriors couldn’t get those herbs, if the Crying Woods was too much for a trained team, then there was only one person left who could go. Me. The Alpha.I didn’t waste time. I called Sylas into my study first. He was the most skilled, the bravest of my advisors.He walked in, his face etched with the sorrow of the previous night. He knew why I’d called him. He could probably smell the grim resolve on me.“Alpha,” he said quietly.“Sylas,” I nodded, getting straight to the point. No need for pleasantries. Not now. “You know what happened last night.”He closed his eyes for a brief moment, a flicker of pain crossing his face. “Yes, Alpha
★DARIUS’ POV★I stood before them, my best warriors. Their faces were grim, expectant. They knew something was wrong. My mate was sick, and when the Alpha’s mate is sick, the pack feels it. The air in the room was thick with unspoken worry.“Listen up,” I began with a rough voice. “You know the situation with Luna Emmeline. The healer says there’s a way to help her, a tonic. But the herbs needed… they’re in the Crying Woods.”A ripple went through the group. The Crying Woods. Even the bravest among them shifted uncomfortably. They knew the stories. Everyone did.“Yeah, Alpha,” one of them spoke up. “The Crying Woods. That place is a shithole. Full of rogues.”“Exactly,” I confirmed, meeting each of their eyes. “Not just any rogues. These are the ones who lost their minds. Banished, twisted by rage and isolation. They live like animals in there. Savage. Violent. They kill anything that crosses their path.”I held up the parchment Anastasia had given me. “The healer gave me the descript
★DARIUS’ POV★“There has to be something.” My voice was low, a dangerous rumble I barely recognized. I stood over Anastasia, the healer, my fists clenched at my sides. Her face a roadmap of wrinkles, but her eyes held a weariness that wasn't just age. It was the look of someone who had seen too much, too many things go wrong.She sighed, a thin, reedy sound. “Alpha Darius, I understand your… distress. But I have told you. A hybrid pregnancy is… unnatural. The child grows too fast. It takes too much from the mother.”“Unnatural?” I scoffed, the sound sharp. “She’s carrying my child. There’s nothing unnatural about that.”Anastasia flinched slightly but held her ground. “With respect, Alpha, the mixing of bloodlines this strong… it creates complications. The child’s wolf nature is dominant, even in the womb. It draws on the mother’s life force to fuel its growth. It’s why… why hybrids are so rare now. The mothers…” She trailed off, her gaze dropping to the floor.“The mothers what?” I p