Rosalee's Point of View I walk across the training mat toward Nyx, my heart pounding slightly in anticipation. I extend my hand toward her, offering a small but determined smile. "Hello, my name is Rosalee," I say. Nyx takes my hand in a firm grip, nodding her head as she studies me with a sharp, assessing gaze. "Hello, Rosalee. Itโs nice to officially meet you. My name is Nyx, and Iโll be in charge of your training. For today, I just want to get a sense of your strength and endurance so I can put together the right training plan for you." I nod my head, signaling that I understand. Nyx folds her arms and tilts her head slightly. "Have you ever done any combat training before?" I shake my head. "No, Iโve never trained before." Nyx nods her head again, her expression unreadable. "Alright, letโs start with something simple." She lifts her hands in front of her and gestures for me to do the same. "Make fists with both hands." I follow her instruction, curling my fingers ti
Rosalee's Point of View The walk toward the pack house is quiet, the only sound being the rhythmic crunch of gravel beneath our feet. Josh walks slightly ahead of me, his posture straight and disciplined, his eyes scanning the area with the watchful precision of a trained guard. I hesitate for a moment before deciding to break the silence. If Josh is going to be protecting me, the least I can do is try to be friendly, maybe even make a friend. Quickening my steps, I move up beside him and glance up at his stoic face before asking, โHave you always been a part of Jensenโs pack?โ Josh glances down at me, his expression neutral but not unkind, and gives a small nod of his head. โYes, I was born into the Dark Moon Pack.โ I nod my head in response, thinking of what to say next. Small talk has never really been my strong suit, but I push forward anyway. โSo, do you have a mate?โ Joshโs face softens slightly as a small smile tugs at his lips. โYes, I have a mate.โ The warmth in
Jensen's Point of View The quiet ticking of the clock on the wall draws my attention away from the documents scattered across my desk. I glance at it and realize how late it has gotten. Rosalee is still at Marcusโs house. I exhale, running a hand through my hair before opening a mind link to Josh. โJosh, can you please go to Marcusโs house and get Rosalee? Escort her to my office.โ His response is immediate. โOn my way.โ I cut the link and immediately open another to Marcus. โIโm sorry, Marcus. I didnโt realize how late it had gotten. Josh is on his way now to bring Rosalee back to my office.โ Marcus acknowledges my message with a simple โUnderstood,โ before the link fades. With that handled, I return my focus to the folder in front of me. Itโs a detailed report on pack business, territory disputes, security concerns, supply management, and diplomatic efforts with neighboring packs. The first section outlines the territory patrols and border activity. There have been
Jensen's Point of View A heavy silence settles over us, thick with unspoken tension. The weight of Ronanโs words lingers in the air, but thereโs no time to hesitate. โLetโs go,โ I say, my voice firm. Ronan and I stride toward the door, but I notice Rosalee isnโt moving. I stop and turn to her, searching her face. โDo you want to come with us, or would you prefer to stay here?โ She hesitates, her expression torn between uncertainty and determination. Then, her eyes harden with resolve. โI want to go with you.โ I nod my head, acknowledging her decision. This isnโt something she has to see, but if she wants to, I wonโt stop her. As we step outside, Nyx is already waiting by the truck, her arms crossed over her chest, her usual unreadable expression in place. Without wasting any time, I take the driverโs seat while Ronan slides into the front passenger side. Nyx and Rosalee climb into the back, the quiet tension between us all growing thicker. I fire up the engine, and
Jensen's Point of View I reach down and offer Rosalee my hand. She takes it without hesitation, her fingers warm as they wrap around my hand. As she rises from where she had been crouched beside an injured pack member, she looks up at me, concern evident in her eyes. โIs something wrong?โ she asks, brushing a few stray strands of hair from her face. I sigh as nod my head, my expression grim. โRonan and Nyx found the trackers, two of them are dead, the other two are still alive, but injured. They are on their way back now.โ Rosaleeโs lips press into a thin line, her shoulders tense as she shakes her head. โI hate this. All of this. All this destruction, the pain... The loss. And what is it all for? Power? Land?โ Her voice is tight with frustration, the same helpless anger thatโs been gnawing at me for weeks. I shrug slightly, though the weight of the situation makes it feel heavier than it should. โI really wish I knew, what the point of all this is.โ For a moment, we stand
Rosalee's Point of View The drive back to Dark Moon Pack is eerily silent. No one knows what to say after witnessing such devastation, so we simply sit in the quiet, each lost in our own thoughts. I lean my head against the cool window, watching the trees blur past, trying to process everything. The air is thick with exhaustion and grief, but also a determination to help in whatever way we can. When we finally pull up to the packhouse, Nyx turns to me, her expression unreadable but soft. โWould you like me to ask Josh to take you home, or do you want to wait here?โ she asks. I shake my head immediately, sitting up straighter. โNo, I want to help. I worked at a hotel for two years, I can get rooms ready for our guests or assist in any way needed.โ Nyx nods her head in appreciation. โThank you. That would be a huge help.โ As I step out of the truck, I move to the back door and offer Luna Piper a hand. She takes it with a grateful smile, one hand instinctively resting on her r
Jensen's Point of View The pack house looms ahead, a beacon of familiarity after what has felt like an endless drive. The weight of exhaustion settles over me, but thereโs no time to dwell on it. As soon as we step out of the vehicle, Ronan, Marcel, and I move with purpose, heading straight for my office. Inside, the warm glow of the desk lamp casts long shadows against the walls. The air is thick with the scent of aged wood, paper, and the faint lingering traces of whiskey from previous nights spent strategizing here. I reach for the bottle on the shelf, pouring three glasses of the rich amber liquid. Wordlessly, I hand one glass to Ronan and the other one to Marcel. They both nod their heads in thanks, and together, we take a heavy swig, the burn running down my throat and settling deep in my chest. Breaking the silence, I say, โThis has been a draining day. Letโs get some rest tonight. We can form a plan for our next move in the morning.โ Ronan and Marcel nod in agreement,
Rosalee's Point of View A faint sound pulls me from the depths of sleep. I frown, confused about what the sound was until I realize it's a soft knock at my door. My eyes flutter open, and I slowly sit up, blinking against the early morning light filtering in through the curtains. For a moment, I feel disoriented as I glance around the room, recognizing the familiar space, but my last memory is of sitting in the chair beside Piperโs bed. How did I get back here? Then it hits me, the scent of the forest after the rain, laced with dark chocolate. Jensen. A small smile tugs at my lips as I realize he must have carried me home. The thought warms me in a way I canโt quite explain. Another knock at the door snaps me from my thoughts. This time, I donโt hesitate. Throwing back the blankets, I climb out of bed and pad softly across the floor, pulling open the door. Standing there, Jensen greets me with that familiar, steady presence, a tray of food balanced in his hands. His eyes
Jensen's Point of ViewThe early morning light spills through the office windows in soft gold streaks, casting long shadows across my desk. The house is quiet, save for the ticking of the clock on the wall and the subtle creak of old wood beneath the walls. I take a deep breath, rubbing my hands together before opening a mind link.โNyx, Ronanโplease meet me in my office.โTheir responses are almost immediate, overlapping with precision.โOn my way.โI close the link and sit back in my chair, fingers laced in front of me as I gather my thoughts. This plan could change everythingโor backfire spectacularly. One wrong move, and we risk everything weโve built, everyone weโve sworn to protect.A sharp knock pulls me from the spiral.โCome in,โ I call.The door opens and Ronan steps in first, Nyx right behind him. They both move with purpose, slipping into the chairs across from me without a word. Their expressions are focused, waiting.I don't waste time.โWeโve got a situation,โ I begin.
Rosalee's Point of View The walls feel like theyโre closing in on me as I pace the living room again. Iโve already circled the coffee table at least a dozen times, my fingers fidgeting with the hem of my sweater as my thoughts race. I can't sit still. I tried. The silence is too loud, too accusing. Every second that ticks by just feeds the knot in my stomach. Jensen is at that alliance meeting right now, and I have no idea how itโs going. What if they turn on him because of me? What if Iโve ruined everything? I glance out the window, Nyx and Josh are still there, casually keeping watch like Iโm a prisoner in my own home. I know theyโre just doing their job. Jensen asked them to. But it still stings. That after everything, I still need to be watched. Suddenly, a sharp knock at the front door freezes me in place. My heart leaps into my throat. For a second, my breath catches, did something go wrong? Did Jensen send someone back? My feet move before my thoughts can catch up, and I
Jensen's Point of View I brace myself for the sting of Celineโs words, expecting anger, blame, maybe even a demand that we disband the alliance entirely. But what she says takes me completely by surprise. โI have seen firsthand what Crimsonclaw is capable of,โ she says, her voice steady despite the residual weakness in her frame. โSo I will do anything to stop them. If that means overlooking what Rosalee did, then Shadow Vale will join the alliance too.โ For a moment, I canโt speak. Relief washes over me in a heavy wave, loosening the tension in my shoulders. I incline my head towards her, grateful beyond words. โThank you, Alpha Celine.โ Her nod is small but resolute, and it carries more weight than anything said in this room so far. I glance towards Dorian and Elias, hoping, maybe foolishly, that Celineโs words might sway them. But Elias explodes. He shoves back from the table so violently his chair screeches across the floor. โYouโre all idiots,โ he spits, eyes flashi
Jensen's Point of View Itโs 08:45 when Ronan and I pull up in front of Shadow Vale. The morning air is sharp, still laced with the earthy scent of damp soil and pine, but thereโs a tension coiled in my chest that has nothing to do with the cold. As I scan the area, I spot several vehicles already parked, members of the alliance packs arriving early, likely just as anxious as we are. I let my gaze linger on the structure of Shadow Valeโs pack house. They are stil rebuilding after Crimsonclaws last attack. Itโs quiet now, but I know inside there will be questions, possibly accusations, and it all starts with me. With what I have to say. I turn to Ronan in the passenger seat, watching him as he takes in the scene. Heโs calm on the surface, but I can sense the same unease rippling through him. I ask, โHow do you think theyโre going to take it?โ Ronan exhales through his nose, eyes flicking towards the windshield before meeting mine. โI really donโt know,โ he admits. โGetting them
Jensen's Point of View I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of their eyes on me, Ronanโs expectant and unreadable, Nyxโs sharp and already narrowing like sheโs halfway to the truth. I look between them and then to Rosalee. She wonโt meet their eyes. She sits with her shoulders drawn in, fingers still twisting in her lap. I can feel her fear radiating off her, and I hate that Iโm the one who has to say it out loud. โI need to tell you both something,โ I begin, voice low but steady. โAnd I need you to hear all of it before you react.โ That gets Nyxโs full attention. Her arms cross, jaw tight. Ronan leans forward slightly, eyes flicking from me to Rosalee. I run a hand down my face, then continue. โRosaleeโฆ has been leaking information. To Crimsonclaw.โ Nyxโs face hardens instantly. Ronanโs jaw ticks. โBut...โ I raise a hand to stop them before they can speak, โshe didnโt know it was Crimsonclaw.โ Nyx scoffs under her breath, but I push through. โShe met her mother th
Jensen's Point of View I watch as Rosalee reaches out to me, her hands trembling, her expression full of fear and regret. But I canโt bring myself to let her touch me. I step back, shaking my head, the words slipping from my mouth before I even think about them. "No... Just... No.. I can't do this." The moment those words leave my lips, I see the fear in her eyes, and for a split second, I feel a flicker of doubt. But the anger and the betrayal have clouded everything, and I canโt bring myself to care. Not now. She doesnโt understand the depth of what sheโs done. I thought we were building something real. I thought we had a connection. But now, it feels like a sick joke, and I canโt stand the thought of it. The betrayal is one thing, but what really stings the most is that what Rosalee and I could have been... itโs gone. Just like that. She opens her mouth again, probably to lie, to make excuses, and I canโt take it. I shake my head, my anger rising again. "I have to go." I need
Rosalee's Point of View Jensen shakes his head slowly, his movements stiff and mechanical like he canโt quite believe what heโs hearing. Then he pushes up from his chair so abruptly that it scrapes loudly against the floor, the sound making me flinch. He stays behind his desk, putting a solid barrier between us, but his eyes, those familiar, steady eyes, are stormy now, clouded with disbelief and something that looks dangerously close to hurt. Tears blur my vision, and I lift my hands in surrender, my body trembling so hard I can barely stand still. I shake my head too, desperate to make him understand, to make him believe me. "Itโs true," I choke out, my voice breaking completely now. "But I promise you, Jensen, I didnโt know I was giving information to Crimsonclaw." His jaw tightens, muscles ticking furiously under his skin. When he speaks, his voice is low, hard. "Rosalee, what did you do?" I wrap my arms around myself like I can somehow hold myself together,
Rosalee's Point of View Nyxโs words hit me like a slap across the face, each one cutting deeper than the last. She doesn't even blink as she stares me down, her voice sharp and accusing. "How could you, Rosalee? Jensen trusted you. We took you in as one of our own, and this is how you thank us? By giving inside information to our enemy." I feel the sting of tears before I even realize they're falling, blurring my vision, making it harder to keep looking at her. I shake my head desperately, my voice cracking as I say, "No, Nyx, it's not like that. I didn't know. I promise you, I didnโt know." But she just shakes her head right back at me, disbelief and disappointment carved into every hard line of her face. "Why would you share private information with anyone? No matter the circumstances." The shame weighs down my shoulders, makes me feel so small. I hang my head, barely able to get the words out. "I thought I was making a difference," I whisper, my voice thick with
Rosalee's Point of ViewThe moment the word "Freya" leaves Alpha Celineโs lips, it feels like my entire world tilts sideways.Panic slams into me, sudden and violent, and my heart starts hammering so loudly in my ears that I almost miss what comes next.No, it canโt be, I think desperately. Itโs just a common name. It doesnโt have to mean anything.I fight to keep my breathing even, my expression blank, because out of the corner of my eye, I catch Nyx watching me. Watching too closely.I force myself to focus, pulling my face into a neutral mask even though my insides feel like theyโre being shredded apart.Jensen's voice cuts through the pounding of my heart."Thatโs great. Can you describe her?"His tone is calm, steady, as if he has no idea that the ground beneath me is crumbling into dust.Alpha Celine nods her head, her voice steady as she starts,"She is about my height, maybe a few inches taller. She has long pitch black hair and striking blue eyes. Iโll never be able to forget