Bruce's Point of View The morning sun filters in through the window of my office, casting long golden rays across the floor as I finish tying the laces of my boots, ready to head out and lead the pack's morning training session. It's a routine I’ve come to appreciate, a moment of calm discipline before the day’s chaos inevitably begins. But today, chaos doesn't wait. A sharp, forceful tug ripples through my consciousness, a mind link, urgent and heavy with fear. I immediately open myself to it, and Alpha Celine’s voice slams into my mind, frantic and breathless. “Bruce! Call Alpha Jensen and prepare to fight… Crimsonclaw is here!” Her words are like ice down my spine, but before I can even respond, the link cuts off, gone, severed in an instant. My body moves before my thoughts catch up. I surge to my feet and open a mind link to the entire Shadow Vale pack, projecting my voice with the full force of my authority. “We are under attack! Everyone get in your positions. Th
Jensen's Point of View The SUV jerks to a stop in front of the Shadow Vale pack house, the tires crunching over broken debris and blood soaked gravel. My door is open before the engine even cuts off. I step out into the chaos, my eyes sweeping over the scene with a sharp, assessing gaze. The damage is extensive. The front of the pack house is scarred, scorch marks along the outer walls, shattered windows gaping like broken eyes, and the heavy front doors have been splintered inward. The scent of blood clings thick in the air, heavy and metallic, intermingling with the faint tang of smoke and raw earth. Bodies, some covered with tarps, others already being tended, are scattered across the lawn and walkways. But despite the carnage, movement is everywhere. Shadow Vale wolves are already working, clearing debris, carrying the wounded, cleaning away what they can in the wake of violence. Victor got here just in time. It could have been so much worse. I’m just about to step forw
Rosalee's Point of View The house feels like it’s holding its breath. The late afternoon light filters through the curtains in long golden shafts, stretching across the floor and casting everything in warm, deceptive calm. But inside, my nerves are raw. I’ve paced the living room more times than I can count, the same worry gnawing at me like a steady drumbeat. Freya’s not answering. Jensen’s still not back. Something is wrong. I move to the kitchen, grabbing a cold bottle of water from the fridge, the coolness barely cutting through the heat simmering beneath my skin. Just as I twist off the cap, the unmistakable sound of the front door creaks open. I freeze. Turning slowly, heart in my throat, I see him. Jensen. He steps through the doorway, still in the clothes he left in, his boots marked with dried mud, his shirt wrinkled and torn near the shoulder. His hair is a mess, swept back like he’s been running his fingers through it all day. But it’s not the state of him that
Rosalee's Point of View I can still feel the weight of Nyx’s gaze like a physical pressure on my back, even though I haven’t looked in her direction again. It takes everything in me to keep my expression neutral, my body relaxed, like I don’t feel her eyes dissecting every flicker of movement I make. Then Jensen’s voice cuts through the tension. “Nyx and Ronan will show you to your rooms where you can stay the night.” A few heads nod, others exchange glances, the kind that speak volumes in silence. Nyx finally breaks her stare and turns with Ronan to begin leading the others out. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. As the crowd starts filtering through the door, the room becomes quieter, emptier, but not less tense. Jensen turns his attention to a man lingering by the file cabinets. “Bruce, I will personally show you to your room later. For now, we need to talk.” Bruce gives a curt nod of his head, calm but alert, his posture still rigid from everything th
Nyx Point of View The halls of the Dark Moon pack house are quiet as I walk alongside Alpha Lillian. The sun has set the moonlight filters through the windows, casting long shadows across the polished wooden floors. She walks with the confident grace of someone who has seen her fair share of wars but carries them well. When we reach her room at the end of the guest wing, she turns to me. “Thank you,” she says simply, her voice calm and steady. I give her a respectful nod of my head and a polite smile. “Of course, Alpha.” She closes the door gently behind her, and I turn, the heels of my boots clicking softly as I make my way down the corridor. The calm of the night is a sharp contrast to the chaos that erupted earlier in the day. The house feels heavier now, burdened by the weight of loss, suspicion, and unanswered questions. When I finally reach my office, I exhale and close the door behind me, relishing the stillness. The small desk lamp casts a pool of warm light across my
Jensen's Point of View I gesture toward the chair across from my desk, and Bruce steps forward, his movements a little slower than usual, still clearly burdened by the weight of everything that’s happened. He takes his seat, his shoulders squared despite the exhaustion evident in his eyes. I lower myself into the chair behind my desk, the familiar leather creaking quietly as I settle in. “Let’s start by getting everything in order,” I say, folding my hands together on the desk between us. “For tonight, you can stay here. That way, you’ll be present for the alliance agreement signing tomorrow. Do you need additional accommodation until you can rebuild your pack?” Bruce shakes his head, his voice calm but firm. “No. It was mostly just the pack house that took the brunt of the damage. We still have other housing options, guest quarters and some of the family cabins are untouched. Until the main house is repaired, that will do. Besides…” he pauses for a second, his expression tighten
Rosalee's Point of View As I step off the porch, the morning sun peeks just over the tops of the trees, casting a soft golden glow across the clearing. The cool air brushes against my skin, crisp and invigorating, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. It settles some of my nerves, though not all. I spot Josh walking towards me from the direction of the pack house, his posture relaxed, a slight smile already on his face. “Good morning,” I say with a smile of my own. “Good morning to you too,” he replies warmly, falling into step beside me without missing a beat. Our footsteps crunch lightly on the gravel path as we begin our walk towards the training center. The silence between us is comfortable, but my thoughts aren’t nearly as calm. I can already feel the tight knot of anxiety beginning to form in my chest. Training with Nyx has never exactly been easy, but after yesterday, after the way she kept looking at me, analyzing me, it’s worse. There’s something about her gaze t
Jensen's Point of ViewAlpha Lillian sits across from me, calm and composed, the last of the Alphas I need to speak to in my investigation. Her posture is confident, but not defensive. She answers each of my questions clearly, directly, and more importantly, without hesitation. Everything about her tells me she has nothing to hide. Just like all the others.It’s frustrating.None of the Alphas seem to be the leak. I can’t ignore the fact that someone is feeding information to our enemies, but the trail keeps running cold.I shift the conversation. “Alpha Lillian, I was hoping you might spare one of your wolves to help train Rosalee, in her wolf form. We’ve been working on her human combat, but I want her to be able to defend herself fully. She’s a strong wolf, but she needs real practice with someone experienced.”Lillian taps her fingers lightly against the armrest of the chair, thoughtful. Then she gives a small nod of her head. “Of course. I’ll take a look at my warriors and see wh
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