Rosalee's Point of View Lunch is filled with warmth, the kind I haven’t felt in a long time. The sound of soft laughter and lighthearted conversation surrounds me, creating an atmosphere that is oddly comforting. Piper and Natalie do most of the talking, the words flowing effortlessly between them. They talk about anything and everything, how good the food is, the upcoming alliance meeting, and even a bit about Natalie’s work. "I swear, sometimes the paperwork around here is worse than a battlefield," Natalie says with a dramatic sigh, rolling her eyes playfully. Piper chuckles, shaking her head. "At least you get to sit down while doing it. I’d take that over morning sickness any day." "Okay, you win," Natalie concedes, raising her hands in surrender. "I’d rather drown in reports than be sick all the time." Josh and I mostly listen, occasionally adding our own thoughts. "You think paperwork is bad now?" Josh chimes in with a smirk. "Wait until the alliance is formed, Jen
Jensen's Point of View The scent of ash and burnt wood lingers in the air as Marcel and I walk through what remains of the Nightshade Pack’s land. The ground beneath us is littered with charred debris, broken beams, scorched bricks, remnants of lives that once thrived here. The destruction is absolute. As I survey the ruins, a single thought gnaws at me: this alliance meeting can't come soon enough. We need to put a stop to Crimsonclaw before it’s too late. Before more packs suffer the same fate. Marcel’s voice pulls me from my grim thoughts. His tone is steady, but there’s an undeniable weight behind his words. "I think it would be better just to tear down the packhouse and rebuild from nothing than to try and fix this." I glance over at him as he kicks at a piece of charred wood, watching as it crumbles into dust. He’s right. There’s no saving this structure. I nod my head in agreement. "Yes, that would be easier. You and your pack are welcome to stay at Dark Moon for a
Rosalee's Point of View As Jensen and I walk back towards the house, guilt gnaws at me. I never meant for Josh to worry, it wasn’t my intention to run off without explaining myself. I just needed some space. I needed to breathe, to run. But now, with the cool night air brushing against my skin and my heart no longer racing, I regret not reassuring him sooner. The porch light casts a warm glow, illuminating the front of the house as we approach. Josh stands there, his posture straightening the moment his eyes land on me. His expression is a mix of relief and quiet concern, though he says nothing at first. I offer him a small, apologetic smile, my voice gentle as I say, "I’m sorry, Josh. I didn’t mean to worry you. I just… needed to run, to clear my mind." Josh studies me for a moment, then gives a small nod of his head, his shoulders relaxing just slightly. Before he can say anything, Jensen speaks up beside me. "Thank you, Josh. You can take off for the night, I’ve got it fro
Jensen's Point of View As I stir awake, a rare excitement hums through my veins. Last night, Rosalee and I truly connected for the first time, a shift in the air between us, a step forward. I can feel it. She’s finally letting me in, and I won’t let this opportunity go to waste. With that thought, I immediately reach out through the pack’s mind link. "Morning, Ronan. I’m taking the day off to spend with Rosalee. If anything important comes up, let me know." His response is almost instant. "On it, Alpha." Next, I reach out to Josh. "Hi, Josh. Just letting you know you don’t need to shadow Rosalee today." "Thank you, Alpha," he replies without hesitation. One last thing. I connect with Nyx. "Morning, Nyx. Rosalee won’t be training today. You can continue with her sessions tomorrow." Nyx’s answer comes just as fast. "Sure. Her muscles could use a day of rest anyway." With everything handled, I push back the covers and get out of bed, already looking forward to the day ah
Rosalee's Point of View As we step into the lake, hand in hand, I brace myself for the shock of cold water, expecting the usual chill that comes with stepping into a natural body of water. But to my surprise, the temperature is perfect, cool enough to be refreshing but warm enough to feel like a gentle embrace against my skin. I turn to Jensen, curiosity flickering in my eyes. “How did you know the water wouldn’t be cold?” He shrugs nonchalantly, his dark brown hair catching the sunlight in reddish streaks. “It just always is the perfect temperature.” I frown slightly, tilting my head. “Haven’t you ever wondered why?” A smirk tugs at his lips, and I already know he’s about to say something teasing. “Well, there’s this legend in my pack that this lake’s water is infused with magic.” I let out a small chuckle at that, the idea sounding almost too whimsical. Jensen’s smirk fades into a playful frown. “What? Lycans, werewolves, and even hybrids can exist, but you draw the lin
Jensen's Point of View The tension in the room is thick as we go over the last minute details, everyone keenly aware of how crucial today’s alliance meeting is. The air hums with silent anticipation as I scan the faces of the warriors standing before me. "Are you clear on where you will be stationed for the meeting? I want everyone in sight so they don’t feel ambushed." My voice is steady, firm. Josh and the four other men nod their heads in unison, their expressions resolute. They understand the importance of making the werewolf packs feel safe enough to even consider working with us. I turn my attention to Marcel and Piper. “I want you standing with us. I know you’re only here to testify to Crimsonclaw’s cruelty, but I don’t want any surprises.” Marcel nods his head without hesitation, his voice carrying the weight of experience. “Understood. This meeting is too important to let it go sideways because of a misunderstanding.” With the plan set, we make our way outside to t
Jensen's Point of View I take a steadying breath, my gaze sweeping across the alphas gathered around me. The weight of their stares press against me, a mixture of skepticism, curiosity, and a deep rooted distrust. The tension in the clearing is thick, but I push forward. "I know how all of you feel about Lycans," I begin, my voice firm yet measured. "But now is not the time to let old grudges dictate our future. This threat is bigger than all of us. Crimsonclaw is growing bolder, more ruthless with each attack. They started by attacking Lycan packs unprovoked, small strikes at first, taking just enough lives to weaken them without drawing too much attention." I pause, letting the words settle, watching their reactions. Some remain impassive, but others shift slightly, their interest piqued. I glance toward Marcel, gesturing towards him as I continue. "A few days ago, they took it a step further. They attacked Alpha Marcel’s pack and wiped out nearly half of his people. Innocent
Rosalee's Point of View The walk back to the SUVs is quiet, the weight of the meeting still lingering in the air. The only sound is the rustling of leaves beneath our feet and the distant call of birds in the trees. The meeting had gone better than expected, but the tension hasn’t fully lifted. Once we climb into the SUV, Jensen takes the driver’s seat, Marcel settles into the front passenger side, while Piper and I slide into the back. The familiar hum of the engine rumbles to life as Jensen starts the car, and we begin the long drive back to the pack’s territory. For a while, no one speaks. The road ahead of us stretches out, winding through the dense forest, the sunlight filtering through the trees in streaks of gold. I rest my head against the cool glass of the window, watching as the trees blur past in shades of deep green and earthy brown. Marcel is the first one to break the silence. “Well, that went a lot better than I expected it too.” Jensen lets out a small chuck
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.“Nyx, Ronan—please meet me in my office.”Their responses are almost immediate, overlapping with precision.“On my way.”I close the link and sit back in my chair, fingers laced in front of me as I gather my thoughts. This plan could change everything—or backfire spectacularly. One wrong move, and we risk everything we’ve built, everyone we’ve sworn to protect.A sharp knock pulls me from the spiral.“Come in,” 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.“We’ve got a situation,” I begin.
Rosalee's Point of View The walls feel like they’re closing in on me as I pace the living room again. I’ve 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 it’s going. What if they turn on him because of me? What if I’ve ruined everything? I glance out the window, Nyx and Josh are still there, casually keeping watch like I’m a prisoner in my own home. I know they’re 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 Celine’s words, expecting anger, blame, maybe even a demand that we disband the alliance entirely. But what she says takes me completely by surprise. “I have seen firsthand what Crimsonclaw is capable of,” she says, her voice steady despite the residual weakness in her frame. “So I will do anything to stop them. If that means overlooking what Rosalee did, then Shadow Vale will join the alliance too.” For a moment, I can’t speak. Relief washes over me in a heavy wave, loosening the tension in my shoulders. I incline my head towards her, grateful beyond words. “Thank you, Alpha Celine.” 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 Celine’s words might sway them. But Elias explodes. He shoves back from the table so violently his chair screeches across the floor. “You’re all idiots,” he spits, eyes flashi
Jensen's Point of View It’s 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 there’s 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 Vale’s pack house. They are stil rebuilding after Crimsonclaws last attack. It’s 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. He’s calm on the surface, but I can sense the same unease rippling through him. I ask, “How do you think they’re going to take it?” Ronan exhales through his nose, eyes flicking towards the windshield before meeting mine. “I really don’t know,” he admits. “Getting them
Jensen's Point of View I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of their eyes on me, Ronan’s expectant and unreadable, Nyx’s sharp and already narrowing like she’s halfway to the truth. I look between them and then to Rosalee. She won’t 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 I’m the one who has to say it out loud. “I need to tell you both something,” I begin, voice low but steady. “And I need you to hear all of it before you react.” That gets Nyx’s 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. “Rosalee… has been leaking information. To Crimsonclaw.” Nyx’s face hardens instantly. Ronan’s jaw ticks. “But...” I raise a hand to stop them before they can speak, “she didn’t know it was Crimsonclaw.” Nyx scoffs under her breath, but I push through. “She 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 can’t 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 can’t bring myself to care. Not now. She doesn’t understand the depth of what she’s done. I thought we were building something real. I thought we had a connection. But now, it feels like a sick joke, and I can’t 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... it’s gone. Just like that. She opens her mouth again, probably to lie, to make excuses, and I can’t 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 can’t quite believe what he’s 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. "It’s true," I choke out, my voice breaking completely now. "But I promise you, Jensen, I didn’t 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 Nyx’s 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 didn’t 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 Celine’s 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 can’t be, I think desperately. It’s just a common name. It doesn’t 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 they’re being shredded apart.Jensen's voice cuts through the pounding of my heart."That’s 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. I’ll never be able to forget