LOGINFrederick’s POVThe night after the first strike felt heavy, too quiet, too dark. Even the moon, swollen and red, seemed to be watching us.Our pack had survived the ambush, but not without scars. Four injured, one dead. And worse, Jacob Ashbourne knew where we stood now.He’d test our defenses again, and next time, he wouldn’t send rogues. He’d come himself.I stood on the balcony outside the Alpha’s quarters, the cool air cutting against my skin. The metallic scent of blood still clung to me, no matter how hard I scrubbed. The sound of the forest wolves shifting, sentries pacing filled the night.Blaire stood behind me, her reflection flickering in the glass. She wore one of my shirts, too large for her shoulders, her hair damp from washing away battle grime. Yet, even after blood and fire, she looked radiant. Powerful.“You haven’t spoken since we returned,” she said softly.“There’s nothing to say.”She stepped closer, the faint touch of her hand tracing the scars down my spine. “
Blaire’s POVBy sunset, the forest no longer felt like home.The familiar whisper of leaves had been replaced by the growl of tension — the low rumble of wolves on alert, the metallic tang of sharpened blades and oil. The entire pack moved like one living creature, restless and waiting.I stood near the western ridge with Lanny and Orion, scanning the treeline as the last light faded from the sky. The air was still, heavy with a silence that screamed warning.“They’re close,” Orion said under his breath. His nostrils flared, eyes flicking gold. “I can smell them.”“Jacob?” I asked.“Not him. Not yet.” His gaze shifted, sharp as a blade. “Scouts. Testing our defenses.”Fredrick’s orders had been clear — we don’t strike first. But if Jacob’s men were here, it meant the war had already started.My hand tightened around the dagger at my waist — the same one Fredrick had given me before nightfall. Its handle was wrapped in black leather, the silver blade engraved with the moon sigil of our
BlaireThe morning air was cold and sharp, biting through the thin fabric of Fredrick’s shirt that I still wore. It smelled like him — cedar and smoke — a comfort I didn’t want to let go of. But comfort wasn’t something we could afford now. Not with Jacob closing in.Fredrick’s words from the night before still echoed in my mind. He trusted me. Finally, fully. But trust didn’t mean he wasn’t still scared for me.I wasn’t scared, though. Not anymore.I’d spent too many years under my father’s shadow. Too many nights wondering what freedom would feel like. Now that I had it — now that I had Fredrick and this pack — I’d die before I let Jacob take it from me.The sun barely peeked over the treetops when the pack gathered in the clearing. Fredrick stood at the center, his brothers flanking him like a wall of muscle and loyalty. I took my place beside him, lifting my chin as the wolves turned their eyes to us.They didn’t look at me with doubt anymore. Not after the way I stood beside Fred
FredrickThe moon was still high when I woke, though dawn wasn’t far off. Sleep had been impossible after Selene’s warning. My mind churned with plans and possibilities, each more dangerous than the last.I slipped from the bed carefully, not wanting to wake Blaire. She stirred anyway, her body curling instinctively toward the warmth I left behind. Even in sleep, she sought me. The thought stirred something deep in my chest — a fierce, protective ache.I leaned down, brushing a kiss to her temple. “Rest, Blaire,” I murmured. “I’ll handle this.”I wasn’t sure if I was reassuring her or myself.The house was silent as I moved through it. My brothers were already awake, gathered around the long wooden table in the main room. Orion leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his expression grim. Caspian stared into his untouched mug of coffee like it might give him answers. Tony paced restlessly, his jaw tight.They all looked up when I entered.“We’ve got trouble,” Tony said without preamble.
BlaireThe moment the unfamiliar howl pierced the night, the warmth of the fire and the laughter around us died. The air shifted — the comforting scents of smoke and food were drowned out by something sharper. Something wrong.Fredrick was on his feet in an instant, his body tense, his eyes flashing silver as his wolf stirred beneath his skin. His hand lingered on my arm for a moment, grounding me, before he stepped forward. The pack fell silent, waiting.Another howl echoed, closer this time.I stood slowly, heart pounding. A cold weight settled in my stomach. This wasn’t a stray wolf or a lost traveler. This was a message.Fredrick’s voice was low, steady. “Orion, Caspian — perimeter. Now.”His brothers didn’t hesitate, disappearing into the shadows without a sound. The rest of the pack stirred uneasily, some rising to their feet, others lowering their heads, ears pinned back in submission.I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “Fredrick… do you think it’s him?”Jacob. My father.Fredric
FredrickThe sun hung low in the sky, casting warm amber streaks over the clearing as the pack worked. The air smelled of sawdust, smoke, and sweat — but beneath it all was something else. Determination. Hope.My muscles ached, and my body screamed for rest, but I couldn’t stop. Wouldn’t stop. Not until every broken wall was mended and every last wolf had a roof over their head.This wasn’t just about rebuilding our home. It was about proving that we weren’t broken. That Jacob Ashbourne’s attack hadn’t shattered us.We were still standing — and stronger than before.I leaned against the frame of what used to be our meeting hall, now little more than charred beams and splintered wood. Caspian and Tony argued nearby over the best way to brace the new supports. Their voices blended into the background hum of the pack’s work.My brothers were loud, stubborn, and exhausting — but damn if I wasn’t grateful for them.“Fred!” Orion’s voice cut through the noise. I turned to see him jogging to







