NAIAWhat?I finally look at him, eyes wide, throat tight. “Silas, what the hell are you talking about?”He’s not looking at me. His eyes are fixed on the forest floor, jaw clenched like the truth hurts to say out loud. Maybe it does.“I always had what he didn’t,” he says softly. “Not because I wanted to steal it… but because it came to me anyway. People trusted me more. Followed me easier. And when you came back, when you chose me after everything—he snapped.”My breath catches.“I didn’t choose anyone,” I whisper. “I didn’t even know I had to.”“You didn’t.” He finally meets my eyes. “But that’s the thing, Nai. Kaius has always been the one with the world in his hands, but you were the one thing he never knew how to hold.”I flinch. That truth… it hurts more than the cold.“He looked at me and saw everything he wasn’t for you. And then you…” He exhales, shaking his head. “You looked at me like I was someone worth loving. He couldn’t handle that.”“I don’t—” My voice cracks. “I didn
NAIAI grunt aloud at the ridiculous request my brother—also the Alpha—just made."What was that?" Lorein, his mate, asks, stepping forward to slap me. I close my eyes, preparing for the impact, but it never comes."I said no bruises. She needs to be well and ready for the King." Luke stops, his tone final.What King? Is he going to sell me?I swallow, my voice cracking with disbelief. "What King?" It's not fear in my voice—at least, not yet. But I’d rather be dead than show even an ounce of fear to my asshole of a brother or his idiotic mate."You know, you really make it hard not to slap you, sissy," Luke sneers, and I roll my eyes, utterly disgusted."Just go and clean the damn toilets in the assembly room," Lorein orders, dismissing me with a wave of her hand.I turn and head to the assembly room, clutching the toothbrush she gave me to clean the toilet.I don’t even get paid for this.As I scrub away in the grimy space, the sound of voices entering the room catches my attention. I
NAIAThe moment I step outside, my heart pounds in my chest. I head straight for the gates, but my stomach sinks when I see two guards stationed there.Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.Panic threatens to take over, but my eyes dart around, searching for a way out. That’s when I spot Helen, a maid carrying a platter of food."Hi, Helen, I’ll take care of this," I say quickly, snatching the platter from her hands. She gives me a side-eye but doesn’t protest.I turn around, rolling my eyes as I approach the guards."Hi, boys. Hungry?" I ask with my sweetest smile. Their stances shift immediately, muscles tensing at the sound of my voice.They don’t answer, just glare at me suspiciously."I was ordered to hand these out," I say, motioning to the cupcakes on the platter. "The Luna didn’t want them, and you know how she gets when food is not of her liking."Their suspicion lingers, but hunger wins. One of them grabs a cupcake, then the other. I make sure to snag two for myself, biting into one to sell the
SILAS“It’s almost midnight, let’s go for a run!” Thal, my Lycan, snaps impatiently."Why are you so worked up about this run, anyway? You’ve never been this excited to hunt in the Dark Forest," I grumble, heading outside. The cold night air greets me as I start to jog lightly."Just go, will you?" he urges, his tone sharp yet brimming with urgency."Fine," I mutter.As I leap mid-stride, my body begins to shift effortlessly. My bones crack, reforming as I surrender control to Thal. He takes the lead, his large paws pounding against the damp earth as I let my consciousness drift, my eyes closing briefly to rest.After a while, Thal stops abruptly.“I’m shifting back,” he warns, giving me little time to prepare.As I regain control, the fatigue clings to me like a weight. But just as I clear my head, something hits me.A scent.It’s unlike anything I’ve ever encountered. Sweet and intoxicating—wild honey, night-blooming jasmine, and a faint, lingering trace of fresh rain. It’s so poten
NAIAI cup the creature’s massive face in my hands, my fingers sinking into the thick, luxurious black fur. He’s warm, solid, and utterly mesmerizing. I trace the lines of his jaw with my thumbs, marveling at his sheer magnificence.“What is this creature called?” I ask my wolf over our link, my voice barely above a whisper.“I do not know,” she replies, her tone almost dreamy. “But he is gorgeous.”A soft giggle escapes me as I nod in agreement. He truly is.The creature stares at me, his emerald eyes watching my every move. He doesn’t growl, doesn’t flinch—just stands there, letting me admire him as if he’s as curious about me as I am about him.Then, without any warning, he shifts.I gasp, stumbling back a step as his enormous form shrinks and transforms. When the shift is complete, I’m struck dumb by what I see.The man standing before me is... breathtaking. His deep green eyes seem to glow faintly in the darkness, framed by sharp cheekbones and a strong jawline. His dark hair is
SILASHer hands are small, trembling slightly as they cup my Lycan’s face. Her touch is hesitant but curious, her fingers grazing my fur like she’s trying to memorize every detail. It’s… intoxicating.I’ve never been touched like this before. Not with awe. Not with care.“What is this creature called?” she asks aloud, though her words aren’t directed at me.Her voice is soft, melodic, and I have to fight the urge to close my eyes and savor the sound. My Lycan rumbles with approval, standing perfectly still as though he’s afraid to scare her off.“I do not know, but he is gorgeous,” I hear her wolf purr through the link, her tone dripping with admiration.Her next words surprise me. She smiles—a warm, genuine smile—and nods as though agreeing with her wolf.Beautiful. Stunning. Utterly unafraid.I’ve faced warriors, rebels, even kings who’ve cowered before me. But here she is, looking at me like I’m something to be marveled at, something worth touching, worth knowing.She’s my mate. My
NAIAThe Lycan sir, tugs me behind him in a protective stance, and my heart swells with something unnameable but undeniably warm.Admiration? Awe? For someone I met mere minutes ago?His grip on my shoulder eases, and he gently pushes me forward. I glance back at him, my brows furrowed in confusion.“It’s my beta, love. No worries,” he says, flashing me a smile so devastatingly charming it almost makes me forget the situation.Love?My cheeks heat as my wolf, Kyra, howls in delight.“I’m his love!” I whisper to her over our bond, and she purrs in response.SILASCarl appears, his footsteps halting abruptly when he catches sight of Naia at my side. His eyes widen, and he rubs them as though to confirm he’s not seeing things.“She’s real,” I tell him through the link, my voice brimming with pride.Carl’s gaze flicks between Naia and me before he speaks through the link. “Your mate?”“My mate!” I confirm with a booming growl that leaves no room for doubt.Carl’s expression softens, his li
SILASI placed Naia in my bed hours ago, her small frame curling into the warmth of the blankets as she drifted off. Watching her sleep had been a battle of restraint; my Lycan, Thal, wanted nothing more than to stay, to hold her close and revel in the mate bond. But duty called, and I left her to meet with Gamma Ben and Beta Carl in my office.“So, tell me,” I urge them, setting down glasses of bourbon on the small table between us. The alcohol barely registers on my senses, but it’s more about the ritual than the drink.Ben leans forward, his expression grim. “In the deeper part of the forest, there are two packs. I went to both in secret and found something interesting. Apparently, your brother has been visiting one of them.”“Eclipse Hollow,” Carl adds. “And guess what? The Alpha there isn’t just any Alpha. He’s our Luna’s brother. And from what I’ve gathered, he’s been mistreating her for her entire life.”The room falls silent, the words settling heavily in the air. My grip tigh
NAIAWhat?I finally look at him, eyes wide, throat tight. “Silas, what the hell are you talking about?”He’s not looking at me. His eyes are fixed on the forest floor, jaw clenched like the truth hurts to say out loud. Maybe it does.“I always had what he didn’t,” he says softly. “Not because I wanted to steal it… but because it came to me anyway. People trusted me more. Followed me easier. And when you came back, when you chose me after everything—he snapped.”My breath catches.“I didn’t choose anyone,” I whisper. “I didn’t even know I had to.”“You didn’t.” He finally meets my eyes. “But that’s the thing, Nai. Kaius has always been the one with the world in his hands, but you were the one thing he never knew how to hold.”I flinch. That truth… it hurts more than the cold.“He looked at me and saw everything he wasn’t for you. And then you…” He exhales, shaking his head. “You looked at me like I was someone worth loving. He couldn’t handle that.”“I don’t—” My voice cracks. “I didn
NAIAThe moment I’m out of the room, I bolt.Down the hall. Around a corner. Through a door I don’t even register. I don’t care where I’m going—I just need out. Away from them. Away from everything. My lungs can’t breathe in the same air as Kaius right now.My footsteps echo in the silence, loud and messy. There’s a storm in my chest, a scream clawing up my throat that I won’t let out—not here. Not where anyone can see me.I push through the back doors of the packhouse, into the cold night air. It hits my face like ice, biting and sharp, but it doesn’t calm me.Nothing does.I keep walking. Past the training grounds. Past the trees. Into the woods.The moon lights my path, full and cruel, and all it does is remind me of what I’ve lost—of what I never got to become.An Alpha. A protector. A daughter worthy of her family’s name.But no. I’m just… broken.A broken girl trying to hold herself together with shaking hands and a mouth full of silence.I collapse near a tree.Not gracefully—m
NAIAMy life is shit.Like, actual, flaming, otherworldly-level shit.I’m pissed. Then relieved. Then pissed again. And then it hits me like a damn tidal wave—how sad I am.I’m all over the place. Like my soul is yanked in ten different directions and none of them lead to peace.I don’t even know what to say to Silas or Kaius. What can I say?Oh, hey, thanks for almost dying, and hey, thanks for being the reason he almost died?I was told—actually informed like a punch to the face—that Kaius tried to kill his own twin.His. Own. Twin.Like… how messed up do you have to be?And Astra—don’t even get me started—she apparently swooped in like some dark angel because she’s half-witch, half-Lycan, and full-time chaos.My life is one giant, spiraling mess of secrets, betrayals, and near-death experiences. And I'm the one left standing in the fallout, wondering if any of it is even real.But even with all that swirling in my chest, burning like wildfire, one emotion shoves its way to the fron
SILASPain drags me back to consciousness like barbed wire tearing through my skin.My head is pounding. My body feels like it’s been hit by a truck, set on fire, then tossed into a frozen lake for fun. Everything aches—but there’s this heavier pain in my chest. Not from any physical wound. Nah, this one’s internal.Emotional.Like something important just cracked open and bled all over me.I blink against the hospital lights. Ugly green fluorescents buzz above me, and for a second I wonder if I’ve woken up in hell. If I have, it’s not the fiery kind—it’s sterile, freezing, and smells like bleach and regret.“About time, Sleeping Beauty,” a voice says dryly.I turn my head slightly—every movement feels like punishment—and spot Astra sitting in the corner, arms crossed, legs propped up like she owns the place. Her face is pale, her lips tight. But her eyes… I know that look. That flicker of worry she’s trying to hide under layers of sarcasm.She’s guilty.Good. She should be.We’ve kno
KAIUSI can't find Naia!I searched the whole fucking ground for her, but fucking nothing."Duncan, how are things on your side?" I ask through the mind link."Nothing, Boss. No sight of her. I triple-checked the underground safe bunk. Also, my men are searching the other parts of the kingdom. Other packs, but nothing." He sighs, "What if she was burnt by the fire too?"The thought hits me like a punch to the gut. I try to ignore it, but it's there, gnawing at the edge of my mind. I can’t afford to lose her. Not like this."Don't say that." My voice cracks despite my attempt to remain calm. "She's alive, Duncan. She has to be. Keep searching."I close my eyes, trying to block out the overwhelming panic that threatens to take over. I need to stay focused, but my thoughts keep spiraling. Naia could be anywhere—could be in danger. I think back to when I saw her last, before everything turned to chaos. The soft warmth of her hand in mine, the way her eyes lit up when we spoke...I can’t l
NAIAFor some reason, as the daughter of an Alpha, I was taught from a young age what to do if I were ever kidnapped. It wasn’t a lesson wrapped in fairy tales or gentle warnings. It was brutal. Cold. Necessary. My father made sure of that. And David—my teacher, my mentor—he drilled it into me like it was survival itself. Because it was.So, I did everything he taught me.I counted the hours.I tracked every turn the van took.I memorized every word the women in the front whispered to each other, even the ones they thought were too quiet for me to hear.I traced patterns through the smudged glass of the van's window, marking trees, buildings, even the way sunlight hit the roads. Anything. Anything that could help.And I tried talking to Kyra. Goddess, I tried.But she’s still... off. Distant. Unreachable. Irresponsible.She won't respond. Not even a whisper in my mind. I wanted—no, needed—her to mindlink someone. Kai, Silas, anyone. I didn’t care who. I just needed her to do something
NAIAI sat curled against the cold, damp stone wall, holding two small pups tightly to my chest. Their tiny hands clung to my shirt like I was the only anchor they had left in a world unraveling around them. Their little bodies trembled, and I didn’t know if it was from fear or the cold. Maybe both. I wrapped my arms around them tighter.I wonder if their parents are here… or if they’re outside. My stomach churned at the thought. If they’re outside, they’re probably already—“Don’t think negatively, Naia,” Kyra, my wolf, warned gently in my head, her voice soft but firm, like a mother scolding a child without anger.“Sorry,” I whispered back. My throat burned.My heart pounded so loudly it echoed in my ears, but I forced myself to stay calm—for them. I needed to be strong, even if I was falling apart inside. I kept telling myself that Silas would come back. That Kaius would keep his promise. That we were underground, and the worst was above us. That here, we were safe.“Luna?”I looke
SILAS"Shit."The pack is in ruins. Smoke chokes the air. Flames devour the homes we built with blood and loyalty. The cries of the wounded echo through what’s left of the streets. Too many bodies. Too much loss. Warriors—some barely more than boys—have fallen into despair.The dragons are dead now. Illusions. Illusions that breathed real fire and burned real people. That kind of magic... it’s far beyond anything we’ve seen. Witches. It has to be witches.But what kind of witches leave their scent behind?It reeks of rosemary—fresh, sharp, deliberate. Not careless. A message.This was a trap.But I don’t care. Not anymore. I need vengeance. For the fallen. For the children who won't go home tonight. For the mothers and fathers who died screaming.I made a treaty. I begged for peace. I gave them land, gold, power. And this is how they answer?They will pay.“Group One, start collecting the corpses. Get them away from the fires.” My voice is hoarse as I speak to the warriors assigned to
KAIUS"Start the operation." I command Duncan through the mindlink.Moments later, I can still hear my brother's voice rumbling through the room—low and steady. But that peace doesn’t last.BANG. BANG.A loud knock slams against the door, sharp and hurried.“Come in,” Silas says, already rising from his seat.A warrior bursts into the room, panting heavily. Blond hair clings to his sweat-slicked forehead, and his blue eyes are wide with panic. He bows briefly, catching his breath.“Sire… they—there are dragons attacking the kingdom.” His voice cracks, fear raw in his tone.We both shoot to our feet. The air shifts. Even Silas is silent, stunned."Dragons?" Silas echoes, probably thinking what the hell freaking dragons would be doing here.My chest tightens. “Kael… how the hell did you bribe dragons?” I snap, voice rising with the weight of dread. My thoughts immediately flash to the kingdom… and to Naia.Kael doesn’t answer.Silas steps forward. “How many dragons?” he asks the trembli