LOGINAnnastasia POVFive years later... The garden was alive with laughter.I sat on the stone bench beneath the old oak tree, watching the scene unfold before me. The afternoon sun was warm and golden, filtering through the leaves. The air smelled of flowers and fresh grass and the faint sweetness of the cake the servants had brought out earlier."Mommy! Mommy, look!"My daughter, Alora, came running toward me. Her dark hair bounced with every step. Her small legs carried her across the grass with the fierce determination of a child who had inherited both her father's stubbornness and her mother's fire. Her wolf pup bounded beside her, a tiny gray ball of fur with bright golden eyes."What is it, my love?" I asked, opening my arms.She crashed into me, wrapping her little arms around my waist. "Daddy is chasing Uncle Marcus again! Uncle Marcus climbed a tree!"I laughed. Some things never changed."Did he now? And what did Uncle Marcus do to deserve that?""He put a frog in Daddy's crown
Annastasia POVThe pain was unlike anything I had ever felt.It came in waves, crashing over me like a storm at sea. Each contraction stole my breath. Each surge made me grip the sheets until my knuckles turned white. Sweat poured down my face. My body was on fire."You are doing so well, my Luna," Lena praised me. She was no longer maid but my bestfriend. She stood beside me, dabbing my forehead frantically with a cool cloth. "Just a little more."I wanted to scream at her. I wanted to scream at everyone. But I could barely breathe, let alone form words.Outside the door, I could hear Hector pacing. His heavy footsteps echoed through the hallway like a drumbeat. And with every step, his voice rose in frustration."Why is it taking so long? Is she all right? Should I go in there?""Calm down, Hector." That was Marcus. "She is strong. She will be fine.""Do not tell me to calm down! My mate is in there giving birth to my children! I have every right to be worried!""Worried? You are ab
Annastasia PoV We stumbled through the door, still laughing. The celebration was still going on behind us, but we had slipped away like teenagers sneaking out of a party. Hector's lips were on my neck before the door even closed. My fingers were already working at the buttons of his shirt."Someone might see us," I giggled, tugging at his shirt seductively. "Let them look," he murmured huskily against my skin. "I am the King. I can do whatever I want."I shook my head. "That is not how being a king works, Alpha." "It is tonight." He smirked. He kicked the door shut behind us and pulled me deeper into the room. Our clothes fell in a trail across the floor. His royal robe. My shoes. His necklaces. My gown. By the time we reached the bed, we were both breathless and half undressed.He lifted me easily and laid me on the bed. The sheets were cool against my heated skin. He hovered over me, his dark eyes gleaming with desire."You are beautiful, my luna," he groaned. His voice was rou
Annastasia POVThe grand hall had never looked more beautiful.Banners of deep crimson and gold hung from the rafters. Flowers spilled from every surface. Crystal chandeliers casting warm light across the faces of the gathered crowd. Music echoed in the air, soft and warm. Every Alpha in the territory had come. Every Luna. Every elder. Every warrior of note. Every high-ranking wolf. They filled the hall to bursting, their voices rising and falling like the tide.Today was the day.Today, Hector would be crowned Alpha King! I stood at the edge of the hall, my hand resting on my growing belly. The baby was barely visible beneath the flowing white gown I wore, but I knew it was there. I could feel it. A tiny life, waiting to be born into a world at peace.Lena appeared at my side. She was glowing. Truly glowing. Her eyes sparkled. Her smile was wide and bright. "My Luna. You look beautiful."I smiled at her. "Thank you, Lena. So do you. But I suspect that has something to do with a cer
Hector's POVMate.The word echoed through me. It vibrated in my chest, in my bones, in my very soul. The bond was there. Fully formed. Alive. It pulsed between us like a second heartbeat, strong and undeniable.Anna was my mate She had always been my mate.And I had been too blind to see it.I stared down at her. She was so pale. So fragile. Blood stained her lips and her chin. But her eyes were open. She was looking at me. And despite everything, she was smiling."Took you long enough," she whispered.A sob tore from my throat. I gathered her into my arms and held her against my chest. The tears came freely now. I did not try to stop them."I am sorry," I choked. "I am so sorry. I should have known. I should have felt it. I should have—""Shh." Her hand cupped my face. "It is all right. I understand.""No. It is not all right. I told you I might never love you. I pushed you away. I made you feel like you were not enough. And the whole time, you were my mate. My true mate. I am so
Anna's POVThe ward was silent.The full moon hung heavy in the night sky, visible through the large window. Its light spilled across the floor like liquid silver. The ritual circle had been drawn around Hector's bed. Candles burned at every corner. Herbs smoked in copper bowls. The air was thick with the scent of sage and something older. Something ancient.The seer stood at the head of the bed. Her milky eyes were closed. Her hands were raised. She had been chanting for hours, her voice rising and falling like the tide.My mother stood in the corner, her face pale with fear. My father and Leo beside her. Kassian watched with worried eyes. Ethan, Marcus, Felix, Grayson, and Dorian formed a silent wall by the door. Kael stood apart, his expression unreadable.The seer opened her eyes. "It is time."I stepped forward. My heart was pounding. My hands were shaking. But my resolve was absolute."Remember, child," the seer said. "If you fail, Hector will be gone forever. And you may lose y
ANASTASIA.The entire room fell into a suffocating, dead silence. The music seemed to fade into a dull hum as hundreds of eyes turned to focus entirely on us. Out on the floor, Bella and Andrei actually stumbled, nearly losing their balance mid-step as they stared at Hector standing in my shadowed
Anastasia pov. As if she knew I was there, Bella’s eyes opened. Over Andrei’s sweating shoulder, she looked directly through the crack of the door. She looked straight at me. And while my boyfriend poured himself into her, Bella smiled. A slow, cruel, victorious smirk. I stood frozen in the do
ANASTASIA. The pack mansion has been awake since before dawn. Loud footsteps echoed through the halls, dishes clattering, servants rushing in every direction, voices overlapping like a storm that refused to settle. I groaned softly and pulled my blanket over my head.Today was Bella’s twentieth bi
HECTORThe rain was drumming a relentless, irritating beat against the bulletproof windows of the SUV."I still don't get it, Alpha," my Beta, Ethan, muttered from the passenger seat, staring out into the dark pines bordering the Red River territory. "Why are we wasting our time going to a minor pa







