Xander's povWait, what am I doing?... I wondered.Why do I suddenly care if a human gets hurt due to her own words? She knows not to test me, this should serve as an example to the others.“Magnus, Kane.” I called out through the pack link.“We're on our way.” Magnus replied.“Don't bother, it's nothing to fret over. I simply overreacted.” I told them.“Are you sure? You sounded desperate, alpha.” This time it was Draven who spoke.“Don't question my decision!” I yelled at them growing irritated at their hesitance. “When I give an order you follow, it's as simple as that.”I stood up and dropped the girl on the floor and watched as she bled, something tugged inside me but I chose to ignore it. I am not going to fall for whatever witchcraft these petty humans have dabbled in.I grabbed her hand then dragged her limp body out of the room back to the throne room. I felt eyes on me, the human servants.I turned to face them and watched as their faces paled in horror, their eyes widened a
Xander's povIt was the next day and I was in a study trying to finish up some work that I couldn't do the previous night due to the constant pull to go check up on Ava.After giving her the vial the tug and pain in my chest stopped and I could finally think. A knock sounded at my door breaking my train of thoughts.“Come in.” I ordered without looking up from the documents on my desk.There was a good shortage in silverclaw pack due to the harsh winter so I needed to get more food for them.“Good morning, your majesty.” The person said to make me look up and I saw that it was Mary. “Go ahead?” I calmly said, shifting my gaze to what I was doing. “The servant, Ava, miraculously survived through the night and some of her injuries are gone. Although, the major ones like her leg aren't completely healed.” She said,“Good, have her meet me in the dining hall.” I said in a dismissive tone and went back to my task.I paused when I realized that she was still in my office and hadn't moved
Ava's povI cursed him with everything in me, I hated him. The flesh in my leg that had started to heal ripped opened as I knelt down next to him.I knew he could smell my blood, they all did. I was in excruciating pain, my mind kept wondering back to the night of the incident. He looked like he regretted what he did before I blacked out but I guess that was just my mind playing tricks with me because the man before me didn't even have an ounce of regret.I bit my lip to hold back my cry of pain, tears welled in my eyes but I refused to let a single one fall. My belly rumbles in hunger as I hadn't eaten since I woke up because the alpha had requested my presence.They were talking and laughing as though a girl wasn't bleeding onto the floor right now, they were really disgusting. I tried my best to tune them out, it wasn't even hard because I had the excruciating pain to focus on.“Ava.” I heard him call out, I had hoped he'd choke on his food and die.I didn't look up as Madam Mary h
Ava's povI felt a burning sensation in my chest, something weird, I don't know. What is wrong with me? I simply bowed my head. Maybe if I hadn't been so defiant I wouldn't be here suffering this much.I gathered the alpha's dishes in my arms and began limping to the kitchen leaving a trail of blood in my wake, other servants began to pack up the rest.I was almost at the servant's entrance to the kitchen when I heard, “wait.”It was the alpha, again. I had barely been a day since I had been chosen as his personal entertainer and I was about to kill myself.With great difficulty I turned to him, his gaze wasn't on me but on Vanessa. “Who is she?” He asked.Everyone paused to watch, confused at what was going on. “What do you mean, Alpha?” Vanessa asked.“I don't like to repeat myself.” He replied.“She's your personal entertainer.” Vanessa replied.“That she is. Don't ever make the mistake of telling her what to do ever again, Vanessa.” He told her, his tone was calm and low but carr
Ava's povI watched as Heather applied an ointment to my leg, it burned but not that much. Then she crushed the herbs in her palm and sprinkled it.The herbs brought a cool relief to me and I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.“It feels nice, right?” She asked.I could only nod, the door opened and Thomas walked in with some sticks in hand. He knelt beside Heather and handed the sticks to her, she lifted my leg and placed it on her thigh.The movement caused me a great deal of pain but I sucked it in.“Hold this.” She said to Thomas as she placed the sticks on either side of my leg then began wrapping it with a cloth.Tears spilled out of my eyes and I cursed the day the alpha king was born, it would have been best if he wasn't born.“All done.” Heather said then gently placed my leg on the floor.She crushed some herbs, “open your mouth.”I did as she instructed then she poured the herbs in my mouth, they were bitter and slightly minty. I chewed against my disgust then swall
Ava's pov Everyone let out a breath around me. Heather quickly collected the skewed meat from me and helped me stand up, she washed my hands then gave me my crutches. “Quickly.” She said ushering me out of the kitchen. Thankfully the king had stopped to speak to a guard in the hallway and I noticed that the beta was with him as well. I quickly walked over to him, he casted a glance at me as I got close to him then his gaze drifted to my crutches and lingered for a second before he turned back to the guard who gave him a nod then returned to his duty post. I felt eyes on me and I turned to see that the beta was looking at me with something like curiosity in his eyes. Beta Magnus Kane, I have heard about him. He is quiet and reserved due to something that happened in his childhood, he is also ruthless when need be. Other than the alpha king, he is someone that I do not want to cross. The king began walking and I followed behind him and the beta. They got to the grand stair
Xander's Pov) “Are you okay, alpha?” Magnus asked me as we left the study. “I am fine, it's just…” I trailed off, I didn't know how to explain it to him. “Just what?” He pushed. “The girl, there's something about her. It bothers me.” I finally said. “What exactly?” Magnus asked. “I can't exactly explain it but my body reacts to her in a way it shouldn't. I have a theory in my head but it's not possible, it can't be.” I was talking about the possibility of Ava being my mate. “Care to share?” He asked. “No, not until I have confirmed my other suspicion. I plan on getting to the bottom of it today.” I told him in a bid to end the conversation. He was silent for a while as we continued on our walk to the barracks, I needed to discuss something with one of the captains. “What exactly is this suspicion?” He broke the silence, I was surprised by his curiosity as Magnus is usually one to mind his business. Seeing as he won't let the matter go, I stopped in my tracks and turned to hi
Ava's pov) “I'll take you to the infirmary now.” The princess said to me. “No don't, your highness.” With the little bit of strength I had left, I freed myself from her grasp and fell to the floor. She reached out to help me but I held out a hand stopping her, “Don’t. I need to clean the king's study before he gets back.” “You need to see a healer!” She screamed. “Please.” I pleaded, tears welled up in my eyes. I was disgusted at my weakness, less than a week after being selected I had become weak. “You can't work in thi—” I cut her off, “yes I can!” I picked up my crutches and hauled myself up with great difficulty, then I remembered who I was talking to. “I'm sorry for my outburst, your highness.” I carried my bloody body to the storage closet to get some supplies. I stood for a moment wondering how I was going to hold them and walk not to talk more of going up a flight of stairs. “Please, let me help. It's the least I can do.” I heard the princess say from behind me. “Okay
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
Lyra’s povI don't know how long we sat there but I had droned out their conversation as I watched the burning fire. Suddenly, I felt the air shift. It wasn't the regular shift.But this time, it was different.Tense. Sharp.I knew why.I could feel it, their eyes were on me.And they deserved answers.I just wasn’t sure I had the strength to give them.Rowan came even closer, a steady wall beside me, his warmth grounding. He hadn't spoken much, just held my hand quietly under the blanket we shared. It should’ve comforted me more than it did. But the guilt clung to me, curling in my chest like a shadow that refused to be exorcised.I peeped at Ava across the fire, her knees were pulled to her chest, arms loosely wrapped around them. Xander had stood up and was standing just behind her, arms crossed, his gaze unreadable as it flicked from person to person—though it lingered on me more often than not.I was almost certain I could go the night without a word being said. That they’d keep
Lyra’s POVThe crackling of the campfire sounded distant just like the faint sound of voices laughing and talking. Familiar voices. Ones that once meant comfort and strength. Now, they sounded foreign and distant, like echoes bouncing off the thick stone walls of guilt I had built around myself.I sat wrapped in my cloak, hood drawn low, body leaning into Rowan’s side. His warmth was steady, grounding. I could feel his heart through the fabric, steady as a drum, but there was a tension in the way he held me. He didn’t trust me—not entirely. I didn’t blame him.They had every right not to.Ashville was ruined. The war was over. And I had helped start it. They just didn't know that.I didn’t know how to look them in the eyes, not after what I had done.Ava’s laugh echoed through the air, loud and carefree, like birds chirping and singing during the summer. She teased Vanessa about how she once fought her over Xander. Vanessa rolled her eyes but smiled, her fingers tangled with Kael’s. I
Ava's povThe fire crackled in the center of our circle, its warm glow and embers floating up to the dark sky above us. The scent of roasted meat and earth filled the air. It was the first night in what felt like centuries that I didn’t have to look over my shoulder or hold a weapon while I slept.We had won.The war was over. Zerathos was gone alongside his shadows and forge. It was a tough battle but we won in the end and that's all that mattered. The camp was quiet, solemn in places, and slowly coming back to life in others. Rebuilding had started before the ashes were even cold.We’d spent the entire day helping—healing, carrying, burying. Holding hands that trembled with grief. Offering words to those who could still barely believe they’d survived. It was exhausting in a new kind of way—no longer physical, but emotional.And now, for the first time in weeks, we sat around a fire without dread thick in the air. Just six of us. Allies through it all. Survivors of chaos.Ava sat bes
Ava’s POVThe morning after the final battle was a strange kind of quiet. Not silence, exactly—there were still murmurs, the crackle of the early fires, the low sobs of those mourning their fallen, and the laughter of those too happy not to laugh. It was a quiet that came after chaos, the kind that felt borrowed, fragile, as if the world was holding its breath, unsure if the war was truly over.But it was.Zerathos was gone. His shadows had dispersed, leaving behind only the smell of ash and blood.I stood at the edge of the ruins that had once been the main part of our camp, the place where strategy was whispered and sleepless nights were passed in tense silence. Now it was littered with broken weapons, scorched earth, and fat too many lifeless bodies.Kael called out names from a growing list, his voice steady despite the tremble in it. Vanessa stood beside him, her hand in his, as they honored each name with a nod and a moment of silence. Rowan knelt by the body of one of his falle