Alyssa’s POVThe way he says my name.Everything inside me breaks.I turn slowly, my heart shuddering so loud I can hear it in my ears. There he is. Zev.But he’s not my Zev anymore.He stands there like a stranger—dressed head to toe in Fenrath armor, the black and silver plates gleaming under the torchlight.A wolf insignia sits proudly across his chest, sharp and cruel, the mark of everything I’ve feared. He looks like one of them—a soldier, a commander, a man who doesn't belong to me.The air leaves my lungs.“Shadow,” I whisper, but my wolf is already howling inside me, full of rage and betrayal. Her wrath crawls under my skin like fire. I don’t think—I move.My fist crashes into his jaw with everything I have. The sound echoes in the cage. He stumbles back, eyes wide, but he doesn't defend himself.Hands grab me. They pull me off him roughly, trying to hold me down, but I twist and scream like a wild thing.“You traitor!” I cry, my voice shaking with pain. “You betrayed me! You
Alyssa’s POVIt’s been a month since the invasion of the Grove.Thirty days since the world I thought I was building crumbled to ash around me.They have moved me from the cage to a room—not lavish, but quiet, with a window that lets in slivers of moonlight.I get escorted on daily walks through the stone courtyards, always with two guards close behind. I’m not mistreated, not starved or beaten. But I’m not free either. I’m a wolf in a gilded cage, waiting for the verdict of fate.Waiting for the Moonborn Pack to claim what’s left of me.I sit by the window, fingers tracing the frost-lined glass. My breath fogs the air. My heart feels hollow.Alpha Conan wants me back. He’s made it very clear through whispers that echo through these walls. Through the looks the soldiers give me. Through the silence that follows me everywhere.But even as I brace myself for that nightmare—his nightmare—my thoughts are stuck somewhere else.They slip backward, like leaves carried by a stream, to four w
Zevs POVShe’s walking toward us now. Alyssa. Her hair is braided back in that neat, Moonborn way—tightly woven, almost regal.It pulls her face back, shows the sharp edges of her cheekbones, the quiet strength in her jaw. Her expression is calm.Too calm.She almost looks peaceful, like this isn’t a death march. Like she’s already accepted whatever fate we’re marching her toward. But I can see the tension in her shoulders. The way her hands twitch at her sides. She won’t look at me. Not even once. And gods, I deserve that. She passes through the middle of the soldiers.They part just enough to let her through.The silence around her is thick, watchful. Everyone's pretending not to judge her, but we all know they are. Whispering in their heads. And still, she doesn’t look up. Doesn’t look at me. “She's just one person, Kira,” I say, my voice low. “Do we really need all these soldiers here?” Kira strolls over to me, the curve of her lips smug. She’s wearing leather and steel to
Alyssa POVI’m walking. One step after the other. My legs ache, but I keep going. I refuse to stop. Not for him. Not for anyone.The sun hangs low in the sky, casting gold over the trees, but I barely notice it. My focus is ahead—straight, unbending, cold.Soldiers walk around us, some whispering, others staring like I’m some wild beast they’ve caged for the first time. Maybe I am.I can feel Zev behind me.His presence wraps around me like smoke—heavy, suffocating, familiar. I grit my teeth.My fists curl. Every part of me is begging to turn around and leap at him, tear into him, scream into his face and make him bleed the way he made me bleed.But I don’t.I walk.Because if I’m going to die—if this is the end—then I will do it with my head held high. With pride in my spine and fire in my heart.“Alyssa,” he calls. His voice is quiet, but I feel it like a blade between my shoulder blades.“Alyssa… please. Talk to me.”I don’t. I keep walking. He’s not worth it. Not anymore.“
Zevs POVThe scent of antiseptic clings to the air as I walk beside him. My boots hit the sterile floor in a slow rhythm, echoing down the long corridor.The lights above flicker slightly, casting pale shadows on the hospital walls. Every step I take feels heavier, like something is building in the space between us. Something unspoken. Something dangerous.My father, is silent at first. His jaw is tight, his shoulders squared, the way they always are when he’s holding something back.“You need to tell me who she is, Zev.”His voice is low. Steady. But there’s a tension in it that wasn’t there before. A weight that tightens my chest.“What do you mean, Dad?”We round a corner, passing a nurse who lowers her eyes when she sees us. He doesn’t answer right away. Just breathes through his nose and keeps walking.He stops. Turns to face me fully.“Zev, I’m not joking.” His eyes—dark and sharp—cut into mine. “What is she?”I blink. “I don’t know what you mean. She’s… she’s an omega. That’s a
Alyssas Pov The world feels distant. My body is heavy, like it’s been dragged through stone and fire. Every breath is a struggle. Pain tugs at my ribs. My eyes flutter open to blinding white light, and I blink slowly, willing the blur to sharpen. For a moment, I just lie there. Listening. Breathing. Then I feel it—that familiar ache in my chest. Not the wound. Something deeper. I turn my head and see Zev sitting in the corner, his arms crossed, his jaw tense. He looks like he’s carrying the weight of ten wars. When he notices I’m awake, he stands, but he doesn’t come closer. "How are you feeling?" he asks. I stare at him, throat dry, voice thin. "Why do you care?" He doesn’t answer right away. Just sighs and shifts his weight. "You saved lives, Alyssa," he says. "That’s not nothing." "Does that mean I get to leave?" "I don’t know." His voice is quieter now. "It’s not up to me." Before I can ask what that means, the doors swing open, and everything changes. Boo
Alyssa’s POVIt’s been weeks.Weeks of living in this nightmare. Of dragging my feet through the filth of Fenrath’s training fields, of scrubbing blood-stained blades I didn’t wield, of hauling weapons I’ll never be trusted to use. My hands are blistered.My back aches every night. But it’s not the labor that breaks me—it’s the waiting. The silence. The unknowing.Arthur… the others… what if Zev was right? What if the shuck attacks really are getting worse?I try not to let the panic settle in my chest, but it creeps in anyway. I haven’t seen Zev in days—not that I’m looking. And when I do see him, he avoids my gaze like a coward. Kira, on the other hand, never misses a chance to remind me of what I am.Alyssa the Omega.The servant.The entitled traitor.I’m crouched behind the smithy, catching a breath, the scent of iron and smoke still thick in my nose. My fingers rub absently at the small scar along my wrist. A reminder that I am a survivor.“A penny for your thoughts?” Cara’s voi
Kira’s POVWhat just happened???The words fly out of my mouth before I can stop them. My voice echoes through the training yard, sharp, stunned, furious.Did that really just happen?“Looks like we just got beat by an omega,” Gwen mumbles beside me, her tone quiet… too quiet.I spin to face her, my eyes blazing. “Shut up, Gwen!”She flinches but doesn’t back down. “I’m sorry, Kira, but it’s true. Did you hear that howl? We have to admit it. There’s something different about Alyssa.”I clench my fists. “There’s no such thing. She’s just lucky. That’s all. Next time, I’ll teach her to bow when she’s told.”I storm off before Gwen can say another word. I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want anyone to see me like this—shaking, embarrassed, boiling inside.I head straight to the only place that ever brings me peace. The only place that ever makes sense.I don’t knock.I barge into the house, the heavy door slamming behind me. The place is spotless—too spotless. Not a cushion out of place,
Kira’s POV,The stone beneath my boots echoes with each step. I pace the corridor like a caged animal, fury burning in my chest.Nora was right. Everything she said—it’s happening. Slowly, yes. But surely. The web is tightening. And Cara? The perfect little thread, dangling right where I need her. The girl barely knows she’s being used.Pathetic.I hear footsteps—fast, uneven. I turn sharply.Cara.She stops in front of me, breathless, her eyes wide like she’s run all the way here.“Why are you here, Cara?” I snap. “Don’t just stand there like a frightened rabbit. Speak.”“I—” she swallows, “I don’t think your plan is working, Kira.”I narrow my eyes. “What do you mean?” My voice comes out colder than I intend. But I don’t care. I’m tired of excuses.“I just saw them.” Cara sucks in a breath. “Zev and Alyssa.”My heart skips. My nails dig into my palm.“What. About. Them.”“They were—kissing,” she says. “Outside. In the open. I don’t think she was even upset when I told her about the
Alyssa’s first-person POVI walk through the training yard with my thoughts louder than the clatter of swords and stomping boots around me. My head spins trying to make sense of it all.My mother… Could it really be Nora?I don’t want to believe it. Not her. Not the woman who’s done nothing but glare at me, doubt me, push me like I’m a mistake she’s desperate to erase. The goddess must have a twisted sense of humor. Why would she curse me with her?I remember the General’s voice, quiet but firm: “You mustn’t tell anyone. Not yet. Especially not Nora.”I shiver, not from cold but from fear. What if Nora finds out? What would she do to me? What has she already done?“This is bad,” I whisper to myself.I try to shake the thoughts away as I hear boots approach behind me.“Are you ready?” Cara asks, falling in step beside me.I give a small nod. “I think I am.”She smiles, wide-eyed, as she looks around at the crowds forming near the main gates. “I still can’t believe it. So many werewolve
Zev’s POVFear is a strange thing.It creeps in slow, like a fog at the edge of your vision. You don’t notice it at first—just a weight in your chest, something crawling behind your ribs. Then it wraps around your spine, and you can’t breathe quite right.That’s what I feel now.I’ve heard these stories my whole life. The ones they tell around firepits during long winter nights. Of cursed bloodlines and dark druids. Of the end of the world coming not from war—but from within.They always felt like stories.Something passed down to keep us sharp. To give meaning to all the training, the secrets, the silence.We were preparing… but none of us ever really believed it would happen.And now… it’s here.“Father,” I ask, my voice quieter than I expect. “Are you sure?”The general doesn’t flinch. His eyes are cold and clear. “Didn’t you ever wonder why Blood Clan’s grown so bold? Why they strike even inside territory lines?”He pauses, letting the silence press against us. “Every pack needs
Alyssas POV“Where are you going, Alyssa?” the general calls after me. “We haven’t even gotten to Cara.”I stop, my hand on the doorknob. My heart beats hard against my ribs. Fast, angry, and confused.“Please,” he says, quieter now. “Sit down. I promise you… Nothing you say will leave this room.”I hesitate. His voice isn’t as commanding as before. It’s different now—steady but not hard. Like he actually wants to help.I turn slowly and walk back. My steps are slower this time, like I’m wading through water I didn’t realize I’d stepped into.I sit down, the chair creaking beneath me. My spine’s stiff, but I let myself rest into the seat just a little.Zev reaches over, his hand sliding across the space between us. His fingers find mine. Gently. Like he’s asking permission.I don’t pull away.Not now.Not when my chest is full of questions and my throat tastes like smoke.I need him. Just for this.The general leans forward, elbows on his knees. “Tell me about Cara.”“I… I know what I
Alyssa’s POVThe sun hangs low, casting a golden light over the rooftops of Fenrath. I walk fast, my boots crunching over gravel as I head toward the general’s house. The wind tugs at my hair, cool against my cheeks, but it does nothing to cool the heat inside me.My thoughts are a storm. Cara. The shuck. The truth we buried. I can't ignore it anymore.“Alyssa!”I freeze at the sound of my name. Zev.I don’t turn. I quicken my pace.“Alyssa, please. Stop.”My feet stop before I even decide to. I sigh sharply, shoulders tensing.“What now?” I ask without looking back. My voice is sharp, tired, brittle.“Where are you going?” Zev walks up beside me, his brow furrowed like I’ve personally offended the air around us.“To see your father,” I reply, facing him now. “Or is that a problem?”“No,” he says slowly, his eyes narrowing as if trying to read between the lines. “But… why now?”I cross my arms. “That’s none of your concern, Zev.”His jaw tightens. And then he does it grabs my hand. No
Alyssa's POVThe air smells like dust and old sweat. The sun hangs high above the training court, beating down on my back like it wants to burn the truth into my skin. I wipe sweat from my forehead and try to focus. My hands tighten around the practice sword, but my mind… it’s far away.Someone is setting up troops to be hunted. The general’s words echo through my head. Not just killed… hunted.But who would do something like that? Someone here… in Fenrath? The thought turns my stomach."Pay attention, Alyssa!"Zev’s voice slices through the air like a whip.I blink and look up. He’s at the far end of the court, glaring at me like I’ve just betrayed him."The tournament’s not a joke," he says, walking toward me. "You could get seriously injured. Even die.""And why do you care, Zev?" I snap. My voice comes out sharp, like broken glass. I still can’t believe I agreed to this. Fighting in a tournament just to earn my right to leave. It’s insane.He stops a few feet away. His eyes burn w
Alyssas POVI’m walking back to the dorms, the cold night air biting at my cheeks and making me shiver. The moon hangs high in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the path ahead.Life in Fenrath seems fair, but I can feel how uneasy Shadow is within me, a restless energy that makes me hyper-aware of my surroundings.It’s like there’s something in the air, something I can’t quite put my finger on. A sense of unease wraps around me, and I feel as if I’m being watched, almost haunted by unseen eyes.As I step into the shadows of the trees lining the path, I suddenly feel frozen, as if the very air around me has thickened. My heart races, and I can’t move. What’s going on? Panic rises within me, and I scream, “Kira, is that you?”“No,” a deep voice replies, and I turn to see the general stepping out from the woods, his expression unreadable.“What is this?” I snarl at him, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger. “What do you want?”“It’s just a test, Alyssa,” the general says, h
Kiras POVNora’s face is as white as a sheet as she hands Cara a glass of water, her hands trembling slightly. “Drink this,” she says, her voice low and urgent. I can see the worry etched on her features, and it sends a chill down my spine.Cara takes the glass, her hands shaking as she brings it to her lips. She drinks it down quickly, and I watch, my heart racing. Almost immediately, her eyes widen in shock, and then she slumps forward, unconscious.“Oh, I should have known that’s what she did!” Nora exclaims, her voice rising in frustration. She runs a hand through her hair, her expression a mix of anger and fear.“Who?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper, but I already have a sinking feeling in my gut.“My sister, Astra… She must have followed me,” Nora says, her eyes narrowing as she glances toward the door, as if expecting Astra to burst in at any moment.“Mother, I need you to explain everything to me. Everything!” I scream, my anger boiling over. I can’t believe this is ha
Kiras POVThe sun hangs low in the sky, casting long shadows across my room as I pace back and forth, my mind racing with thoughts of Alyssa.I feel the weight of the world pressing down on me, and the air is thick with the scent of impending conflict. It isn’t just about the wedding; it is everything. Alyssa is stronger than I ever anticipated, and the thought of her being a potential threat to my plans sends a shiver down my spine.Gwen bursts through the door, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “So, when is the wedding?” she asks, practically bouncing on her toes.I snap, “I don’t know, Gwen.” The words come out sharper than I intend, but I can’t help it. Zev walked out during dinner, leaving me feeling frustrated and confused.“Wait, what?” Gen asks, her brow furrowing in surprise.“You heared me, girls,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “Now stop asking questions and help me figure out a way to get rid of Alyssa.” I watch as their faces brighten with smiles, and for a mome