Ava's povWhat I read was far different from the take I knew. The scroll talked about betrayals, secret alliances, villages burnt down and innocent people that were slaughtered.It wasn't by the enemy that we had all grown up knowing— the humans, but by the werewolves themselves.My stomach twisted the more I read. The werewolves hadn't fought for survival rather they had planned and caused the chaos, killing thousands to be the dominating race.They lied about it all. They changed history to benefit them, they painted themselves as noble survivors who had to do what they needed to survive. They buried the atrocities they had committed.The scroll mentioned names I didn't know, leaders who had made the ultimate decision that led to the death of thousands. My hands trembled as I turned the pages, it described the brutal tactics they used, merciless strategies that were created.Now I understood the warning written on the door as the weight of the truth pressed down on me.I kept readin
Ava's pov After taking my bath, I sat on my bed and thought about everything I had discovered. The truth plagued my mind, I had always known that the werewolves were monsters but this took things to a whole new level. Does Xander know? I wondered. He could know or not. The chamber looked like it hadn't been used in ages, I doubt he knew. He seemed to believe what he was raised with. Regardless, that doesn't make him innocent in all this. I hadn't seen or heard from him all day, not sure why that bothered me instead of making me happy. Madam Mary. I stood up so fast that the world spun around me. Once steady, I grabbed my shoes, put them on and headed out the door. I still wore my maid's outfit because I wasn't sure I was allowed to wear anything else. I had a mission: find Madame Mary and talk about the offer she had given me when I first arrived. Joining the humans in whatever they had planned. I wasn't entirely sure what this said plan entails but now that I was hea
Ava's pov“No.”“Because you've got this… fire in you. Burning hot and that's the kind of spirit we need if we are ever going to be free from the werewolves.” She continued. “I'm sure you've heard whispers about the rebellion, no?”“Yes, just a little bit. There is some tension between the humans and werewolves so it was bound to happen.” I replied.My mind flashed back to the truth I knew but I bit my tongue.Madame Mary let out a dry laugh. “Some tension? That's putting it lightly, dear. There is a full on war brewing between both races. We are tired of being treated like tools or livestock ready to be used and discarded as these monsters please. We've had enough.”I remained silent as she spoke.“The storm has gathered and is slowly moving towards us. Once the time is right, it will be a downpour. We want a change and we will get it, at all cost.”My heart skipped a beat, it was a lot more intense than I had imagined. “How long has the rebellion been going on?”“Years, child.” Mada
Ava's POVHe held my hand firmly yet gently as he led me down a series of hallways. He moved fast so I didn't have time to memorize all the hallways and corners we rounded.He was tense. I could feel the tension radiating off him in waves. His eyes were fixed ahead, determined.I wonder where he's taking me. I thought.We walked past servants occasionally, humans and omegas alike. Although they dropped their gaze as we walked past them, I could feel their eyes burning into my back once they were behind us.A fresh set of whispers would start, that's certain but Zander didn't seem to notice or care as he focused on the path ahead.Finally, we got to a secluded part of the castle. This part was a bit different from the others, the walls were painted a beige color, it has a lot of potted plants and windows that let in the light from the sun.This part was more feminine, it felt ethereal. He took a deep breath then reached out and pushed the door open.My breath hitched at the sight befor
Xander's povI watched as different emotions went through her until it finally settled on confusion. “What exactly does the prophecy say? What is my role in all this? Is that why you brought me here?”“Yes,” I admitted. “Because you needed to see this. I wanted to see what would happen. Do you know what roses mean?”She shook her head.“Roses signify balance and harmony. According to history, when a petal shatters it means chaos is near but when it stands firm, healthy and shines it means there's hope.”There was more to Ava than meets the eye, my mind traveled back to what had happened in the morning.I woke up determined to get answers and there was only one place I could get it, the oracle. Oracles are a few people blessed by the moon goddess with the ability to see visions.I walked down the path leading to her house, it was one I knew very well but hadn't walked through in years. She loved being away from the bustling activities of the pack, she settled deep in the forest remaini
Xander's pov “Guide her through everything. She doesn't know who she truly is but she will find out soon and when that time comes, she will need you more than ever.” The oracle finished. I gave her a nod, Ava was now my top priority. This was a serious duty that I had to uphold. “Is there any other thing I should know?” The oracle hesitated, her eyes went blank for a second before she returned and searched my face. “There is one thing, betrayal. The prophecy talks about a great betrayal which will test the bond between you and Ava. Be vigilant, Zander. You must not let this betrayal get between you both, note everyone wants to see this prophecy come to pass.” I felt the weight of her warning settle on me. “Thank you.” I said, standing up. She rose from her seat as well then pulled me into a warm hug. I have been so busy over the years and rarely came to visit her, I missed this. “Be strong and brave, my child. The road ahead is a rocky one and won't be easy to get through b
Vanessa's pov The pain was a constant reminder of what Xander did to me. My arm had healed but it was scarred, an injury caused by an alpha never goes away completely. The scar may be small on the outside but inside— in my pride, it was longer and ran deeper. The incident didn't just cause me a physical injury it also caused me my standing in the pack, the humiliation was great. He chose her. A human, over me. The thought alone made my blood boil. Ava was a weak and insignificant creature who had crawled her way into the pack and was beginning to leech on it and the first person she latched onto was the alpha. My alpha. I paced in my room as I thought of ways to return the favor for what she did to me. I had to be smart and strategic this time so as not to allow history to repeat itself. They all used to love me but now they had started to whisper and the whispers were growing louder, some pitied me while others mocked me but one thing was constant, they all talked about Ava.
Xander's povThe sound of my boot on the stone floors echoed in the empty hallway. I was going to the council chamber, I had been summoned due to the incident with Vanessa and her friends.I was surprised and I was prepared. The council chamber was a large circular room, the walls were lined with guards and tapestries that told takes of the war and our history.My focus wasn't on them today but on the people seated behind the long table at the end of the room. The pack elders. Their expressions were neutral yet I saw annoyance and curiosity in some of their eyes.I scanned the table and my steps flattered when I saw him.My father.Against my will, my heart raced at the sight of him. Why did they call him? This is bad.No matter how hard I try, my father will always have his dark evil claws buried deep inside me. My heart beat picked up and I prayed that it wasn't loud enough for him to hear, I couldn't give him that satisfaction.My mind flashed to my bloody younger self on the floor
Ava's povI always thought pregnancy would feel magical. Glowing skin, cute bump, a sense of purpose, maybe even that mythical "pregnancy glow" everyone swore existed.Instead, it felt like I was being hunted… by my own body.“Move,” I growled at Xander, who stood directly between me and the basket of moonberry tarts I’d been craving since sunrise and asked the cooks to make.He turned slowly, blinking. “You’ve already had three.”I narrowed my eyes. “And?”“And… I love you,” he said quickly, stepping aside and lifting both hands like I was some scary creature.Which I kind of was.Pregnancy had changed me. It was like I had become Ava 2.0—crying over songs with puppies, getting irrationally upset when Xander didn’t refill the honey jar, then five minutes later curling against him like nothing ever happened. The mood swings weren’t just real. They were ruthless.The moonberry tart was cold by the time I got to it, but I didn’t care. I devoured it with all the speed of a starved animal
Xander’s POVThe moonlight spilled through the open balcony, casting soft silver over the sheets tangled at the foot of the bed. The fire in the hearth had died a while back, quiet and tired like the rest of the castle.The day has taken an unexpected turn which I loved so much. A twist that made my heart race and a smile light up my face.She was asleep.Ava.My mate. My Luna. My light.Her hair was fanned across the pillow, her face relaxed and peaceful—something I never took for granted anymore. I didn’t move, just sat at the edge of the bed, eyes watching the delicate rise and fall of her chest.Her unexpected words echoed in my head like a metal being hit by something.She’s pregnant.It should have been a simple announcement. But for me, it cracked something wide open.For weeks, I’d noticed something different in her scent. Not wrong—just new. I hadn’t placed it, not until she stood before me and told me herself. There had been no grand preparation. No expectations. Just her an
Ava's povSunlight spilled through the high windows of the grand hall, gleaming on the silver fixtures and dishware. For the first time in months, the hall wasn't empty. Laughter echoed all around me, mingling with the clinking of cutlery and the smell of warm bread and honeyed meats.I sat between Xander and Vanessa, my fingers curled around a steaming cup of tea. My stomach fluttered—not from nerves, but from something far newer. Something growing.The thought never failed to pull a smile to my face.I glanced around at the faces gathered at the table. Rowan was teasing Kael over a burnt piece of toast, Kaida sat beside him, her hand resting lightly on his wrist. Lyra was at the far end, wrapped in a thick shawl, her expression quiet but calm, a faint smile playing on her lips as she watched them. There was no tension in her shoulders.They were all here.All of them.And that meant more to me than any feast ever could.“Gods,” Vanessa said, stretching back in her seat. “It’s been f
Ava's povThe morning sunlight filtered in through the tall windows, casting soft golden glow across the stone walls of our chambers. The fire from last night had burned down to glowing embers, but I still felt warm—safe in the memory of the stars and the enormity of the secret I’d carried all night.I smiled, rubbing my tummy even though it didn't have a bump. It all still felt like a dream to me. I couldn't believe that I was carrying my child— out child— and would soon be able to hold him or her in my arms.This was like a reward from the gods for taking down zerathos. It was the most perfect gift.Xander’s scent hit me before I heard his footsteps. Woodsy. Earthy and a hint of citrus.He pushed the door open with ease, stridijg in, he was already halfway out of his ceremonial coat, his black shirt clinging to his chest beneath it. His eyes found me immediately—still seated at the edge of the bed, half-dressed, barefoot, lost in my thoughts.“There you are,” he said, his voice soft
Ava's povPregnant.The word sat on my tongue like a secret not yet ready for the world to know. Heavy and new. Sacred. My hands trembled as I exited the healer’s wing, the soft glow of lanterns lining the path doing little to light the darkness within me.It wasn't a bad darkness, it was just confusion.The corridor behind me felt like it belonged to another world—a place of certainty and whispered truths. Healers always knew things, some that we wanted to hear and the ones that we didn't want to hear. Out here, beneath the dark sky things felt more real.Too real.I walked slowly, aimlessly, not ready to return to the castle after what I had just learned. Not ready to face anyone. Especially not Xander.Not yet.The gardens were quiet this time of night. Peaceful. A hush had settled over the grounds, as though the very earth was holding its breath. The petals of Kaida’s cherry blossom tree glowed pale pink in the moonlight, and I found myself drawn toward it. Toward the spot we alwa
Ava's povSunlight streamed through the tall windows of the Blackthorn castle, warm and golden as it spilled across the newly polished floors. I stood at the balcony just outside the council chamber, my eyes tracing the distant tree lines. Smoke no longer rose from the hills. Screams no longer echoed through the valley.Peace.It was strange how something we fought so long and hard for could feel so… quiet.I placed a hand over my stomach. That now familiar queasiness cane again, subtle but persistent. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, grounding myself the way I’d been practicing since taking on the Luna title. Calm. Poise. Grace.“Luna Ava?” A voice called gently from behind. One of the omegas.“Yes?”“Lady Vanessa and the others are waiting in the courtyard. You said you wanted to walk with them today?”“Yes. Thank you.”I smiled and nodded, but the moment I turned my back, the nausea returned—like it never left. I gritted my teeth and blinked back the faint dizziness. I've been
Xander's povThe night was quiet, save for the faint crackling of the fire still burning at the center of camp.But Ava… she had curled up beside me, her head on my shoulder, her fingers gently tucked against my arm. Her breathing slowed sometime between Rowan’s quiet jokes, Vanessa blushing with Kael teasing her and Lyra sitting in silence after her brief confession.She fell asleep there, in the circle of firelight and friends and whispered memories.I couldn’t bear to wake her.So I carried her.Her warmth pressed against my chest as I walked us to the chambers we’d been assigned in the temporary Ashville pack house. The bed was a bit small but clean, sheets tucked in and blankets folded. I laid her down carefully, brushing a stray strand of hair from her cheek before covering her with the blanket.I wanted to stay awake and watch over her. Zerathos may be gone but he has left a lasting trauma and fear of the shadows. I was scared that if I closed my eyes and opened it I would real
Rowan's POVLyra’s breathing had finally evened out beside me, a soft, steady rhythm that showed that she was finally at ease and I was glad. She didn’t say another word after I wrapped the blanket around her and sat by her side. She didn’t need to.I looked at her, really looked.Her face had lost weight in the past months, the edges sharper now—grief had carved out the softness she once had so effortlessly. The dark, sunken circles beneath her eyes told me she hadn’t been sleeping much. And even now, in the calm after the war, her body was tense beneath the blanket, like she was ready to spring awake at any given time if someone so much as touched her. .But she had opened up.That alone made something in my chest unclench for the first time in weeks.I tilted my head back, let my eyes gaze up to the stars, but even their beauty felt muted tonight. Everything felt… dulled. Like we’d survived the fire, only to emerge into the ashes.But she talked. She talked.And I’d take that over
Lyra’s POVThe fire had burned down to little fire, and one by one, they drifted off to sleep. Ava had fallen asleep curled against Xander’s chest. Vanessa and Kael were tangled up on a blanket near the edge of the camp, whispering and grinning like the war had never happened and they were in some sort of fairytale. Like they’d known peace all their lives.I was happy and envious of them so I forced myself to look away.Rowan had stayed with me.He always did.By the time the last bit of fire was snuffed and silence had settled over the camp, he rose, wordless, and offered me his hand. I took it, letting him guide me away from the others, deeper into the shadows where the weight of their stares couldn’t follow.We walked to a place in Ashville that we liked. It was a little hill above the camp where the entire land could be seen and the sky felt so close. The stars were particularly bright on that night, I just stood there and took a deep breath.The night air was cold, crisp, almost