Jensen's Point of ViewI make my way through the quiet hallways of the hotel, my steps purposeful as I head toward Rosalee’s room. I need to talk to her again, to try and make her see that I’m not here to hurt her. As I round the corner leading to her door, I stop in my tracks.There she is, slipping out of her room.Her movements are cautious, her eyes darting around as though she’s making sure no one sees her. Instinctively, I press myself against the wall, masking my scent and softening my steps. My years of training have taught me how to move like a shadow, and tonight, the light rain only adds to my advantage.I follow her at a distance, keeping to the edges of the hallway and then out into the night. She doesn’t notice me as she makes her way toward the forest, her coat pulled tight against the drizzle. Her movements are deliberate, each step carefully placed, as though she’s done this many times before.Once she reaches the edge of the forest, she pauses, looking around again t
Jensen's Point of ViewThe faint light of dawn seeps through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the room. I blink my eyes open, groggy and unrested. My body feels heavy, as if the weight of unanswered questions from the night before has settled into my bones. I had spent most of the night tossing and turning, my mind caught in an endless loop of possibilities, each more improbable than the last."What is Rosalee?" The question echoes in my head as I sit up, running a hand through my disheveled hair. I sigh deeply, frustration bubbling under the surface. Nothing is clearer this morning than it was last night.I swing my legs over the side of the bed, my bare feet touching the cool wooden floor. The chill jolts me slightly, grounding me in the present. I stand and make my way to the bathroom, my movements sluggish and deliberate. The bathroom is small but functional, with a simple shower stall, a mirror above the sink, and a stack of neatly folded towels on a shelf.Turning on th
Rosalee's Point of View The faint glow of dawn fills the kitchen, slightly dispelling the dark of the night and the quiet hum of the early morning welcomes me as I step inside. The hotel is still asleep, the halls silent, except for the occasional creak of the old building settling. It’s peaceful, but my mind is anything but. I didn’t sleep much last night. I kept tossing and turning as my thoughts refused to quiet down. The run in the woods had helped, though, only briefly, because as soon as I returned to my room, Jensen’s presence, his words, his eyes, everything about him seeped back into my thoughts like an unshakable shadow. That’s why I’m here now, in the kitchen, st the break of dawn, long before anyone else has arrived. I needed something to do, something to occupy my hands and quiet my restless mind. I slip on an apron and tie it securely around my waist, taking comfort in the familiar routine. The kitchen is cool and still, the faint scent of flour and spices still ling
Rosalee's Point of View I freeze midstep, my breath catching in my throat as Jensen’s words cut through the air like a blade. "I saw you shift." Shock floods my system, leaving me feeling cold. My mind starts to race, telling me that I need get out but I am still frozen in place as my body refuses to move. He saw me. He knows what I am. All the effort I’ve put into hiding, all the walls I’ve built, have crumbled in an instant. Slowly, I turn to face him, my expression guarded even as my heart pounds in my chest. “And?” I say, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside of me. I brace myself for the inevitable, his rejection, the disgust, the word monster hurled at me like a weapon. But what happens next is something that I never dreamt of, even in my wildest dreams. “You can’t play dumb anymore, Rosalee,,” Jensen says, his tone firm but not cruel. His eyes lock onto mine, burning with an intensity that makes it impossible to look away. “I know you know what I am to you
Jensen's Point of View Her words echo in my mind, sharp and cutting. "A monster. An abomination. A freak of nature." I stand there, frozen, as the weight of her pain crashes over me. She truly believes that about herself. My chest tightens, anger rising, not at her, but at whatever has made her think this way. She’s no monster. She’s my mate. I shake my head, snapping out of my daze. I can’t let her leave like this. I can’t let her believe she’s anything less than extraordinary. Without another thought, I turn and stride out of the kitchen, following the faint trace of her scent. The rain outside has dulled it slightly, but the pull of our bond is unmistakable. It tugs at me, guiding me through the halls of the hotel, straight to her. When I reach her room, the door is slightly ajar. I pause for a moment, steadying myself before I step inside without bothering to knock. Rosalee is standing by her bed, her back turned to the door. She is hurriedly packing clothes into a worn duffe
Rosalee's Point of View As we sit on the bed, I force myself to really look at Jensen. His face is open, sincere, and free of the fear or disgust I had braced myself for. Instead, I see worry and sorrow etched into his features, as though my pain is his pain. It’s a look I’ve never seen directed at me before, and it’s enough to make me realize there’s no point in hiding anymore. I take a deep breath, steadying myself for what I’m about to say. “I guess it’s time you knew everything,” I begin, my voice soft but resolute. “I have to face my past, and I’ll start by telling you my story.” He nods his head, his expression gentle, encouraging me to continue. “I never knew my family,” I say, my gaze dropping to my hands as I fidget with the hem of my shirt. “From what little I’ve been told, my mother left me at a werewolf pack when I was just a baby. I don’t know why, and no one ever told me. I was raised in the pack house, but... it wasn’t much of a life. As soon as I was old enough
Jensen's Point of View“What happens now?” Rosalee’s question, lingers in the air between us. Filled with uncertainty and vulnerability. I rise from the bed, offering her my hand as I say with a soft smile, “How about we get to know each other a little better over breakfast?” Her lips curl into a small, tentative smile as she nods her head, placing her hand in mine. The touch sends a familiar spark up my arm, but I focus on keeping things light and casual. Together, we leave her room and make our way back to the kitchen, where the plates she prepared earlier still sit waiting. Each of us grab a plate, and as Rosalee looks around the dining area, she suggests, “There’s a nice, quiet table outside. It’s private and... peaceful.” I nod my head in agreement, following her out onto the small patio. The morning sun shines brightly, casting a golden glow over the world, and the scent of yesterday’s rain still lingers faintly in the air. The atmosphere feels fresh, a perfect setting for t
Ronan's Point of View The call with Jensen had barely ended when Nyx comes sprinting toward me, her expression sharp and urgent. My instincts kick in immediately, and I step forward, my voice firm as I ask, “What’s wrong? What happened? Did you find something?” I fire questions at her, as I quickly look her over, ensuring she is okay. Nyx shakes her head, but the urgency in her eyes tells me there’s no time to waste. “We got a report,” she says quickly, slightly out of breath. “A nearby pack is under attack. If we leave now, we might be able to get there before they cause too much damage.” I nod my head, my heart starts to pound as adrenaline surges through me. “Let’s go,” I say, already turning toward the SUV parked nearby. Nyx falls in step beside me, and we sprint across the gravel lot. We climb into the vehicle, and I waste no time starting the engine. As the car roars to life, I glance over at Nyx, who’s already pulling up the details on her phone. “Where are we heading?” I a
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