Emily's POV I woke up hearing sounds from outside the cave that I was in. I jumped up in fear as I heard footsteps approaching. “Oh my God,” I gasped and stumbled back.“Emily, it's me.” My heart raced but as I looked at who it was, my heart rate calmed. It was Penelope, the woman in the rogue pack Emilianna created.“Penelope, what are you doing here?” I gasped, curious as to how she found me.“We found the letter the Alpha dropped in her cave after she died. We found out Maron was the one who killed Emilianna's daughter but she didn't want to ruin Maron because of it so she withheld the truth from us. Anyway, we saw the dead body of Emilianna and Maron so we wanted to know what really happened so we came out here looking for you.”“For me, really?”Penelope nodded.“Yes. In the letter we found, Emilianna said we should treat you as her daughter and her heir.”“Why would she want to do that to me? I was nothing but a burden to her?” I broke into sobs. “If it wasn't for me, she'd s
Emily's POV “Fine, let's say you're Princess Alexa's maid, I'll take you back to the palace and I'll let these disgusting non-humans go. But you'll have to explain to the princess how you came across these people.”I looked at the man carefully. I could just kill him afterwards. The most important thing was that Penelope and the others could survive.“Deal.” I said. The man held up his hand.“Let them go.”One of his men looked hesitant. “But Sir—”“—Do as I say. I'm not going to retract my order.”“Okay, sir.”I looked at Penelope and Adam. “Go.”“What about you?” Penelope asked.“I’ll be fine, I promise.” I looked to Adam. “Tell everyone Emilianna died well. Don't worry about me. You all can move on like I never came to your pack.”“What are you talking about? I'm glad Emilianna died well but she told us to treat you as her heir.” Adam said while trying to cling onto me inspite of his own wounds.“Then listen to my first and last order. Adam, you take over the pack and lead everyo
Emily's POV I walked out of the bathroom feeling embarrassed. If the white-haired man was really the one who really cleaned me up then he saw everything, didn't he?“Emily, be real. The white-haired guy probably didn't…”I sighed. Why was I worrying more than expected? I could just ask him this question and get over it.Out of curiosity, I walked down the corner to another area and saw that it was the kitchen. It was nice and it had a storage behind it. I walked over to it and saw that it contained food.Outside, under the bamboo roof, I saw the white-haired man sitting while reading a book. He seemed so into the book and this made me curious. What was he reading?I walked over to him and took the seat in front of him. I didn't even know why I did that. I could have easily escaped but instead I was sitting in front of him. Maybe it was because I knew he wouldn't harm me. If he was going to harm me, he would have done so already. I might as well figure out how to repay the favour he d
Emily's POV How long would I have to live here while wondering about the white-haired man? He was a man of a few words alright, but that didn't matter. He should be willing to talk to me more since he rescued me. Why wasn't he taking responsibility for his actions? I scoffed. Then I realized something. I could as well be the one to initiate the conversation between the two of us.And one day, I went to the kitchen and made a meal for the both of us. The white-haired man was sitting outside as usual under the bamboo roof. I walked to him with the pot containing pork soup and placed it on the table.He looked at me as though asking ‘What are you doing?’I gave him a simple smile.“I saw some meat in the kitchen and decided to make us something with it.”“Really?” He said, which made me frown.“You don't like it?”“You… don't have to.” He responded.“I want to. To repay you for your kindness. By the way, what's your name? I don't know your name.”The white-haired man grabbed a spoon and
Emily's POV “You can keep him in the backyard of my house,” he said and I jumped up happily. When I noticed what I was doing, I stopped jumping and caressed the cute rabbit in my arms.“You hear what Fayne said? I can keep you in the backyard. We'll be together.”I heard a sound in front of us causing me to avert my gaze from the rabbit to In front of us where an antelope was walking while sniffing the grass for a bite to eat.Fayne pulled forth his bow and arrow and shot the antelope's side. The antelope immediately started to limp away but Fayne shot its leg and it started bleeding out, then it lost its consciousness.“That's it, we have meet for the day.” I said.Fayne went to grab the antelope. He pulled out the arrows from its side and leg before swinging the antelope over his shoulder.“Let's go.” He told me and we headed home.When we went back, Fayne went to the kitchen to butcher the antelope while I sat there on the kitchen stool swaying left and right.I stared at the rabb
Emily's POV “So you don't think humans kill each other under false pretense all the time?”“Humans are not perfect and they go against each other a lot of time. That doesn't mean that this time, a berserker isn't responsible for their deaths.”“Do you believe in this so much, Fayne?”He nodded, “I do.”I clenched my fists. No matter what I said, he wouldn't believe me. Which meant that I should keep my being a berserker away from him as it was unlikely for him to support me if I told him that.I kept my head bowed. “I'm going to bed, Fayne.”Fayne looked at me with parted lips, then he nodded. I went to my room and laid on the bed while sobbing myself to sleep. I was healing… I remembered everything that I had gone through and it made me feel overwhelmed and emotional.I wiped my tears but I couldn't forget any of what I had to go through. Maybe that was why I was here. To heal from the pains of the past.My parents… if only they cared about me as much as I was inclined to care abou
Emily's POV “Well, why are you suddenly curious about me?” Fayne asked.“I do know that there's something about you that should be known other than the fact that you're the King's hunter.”Fayne ran his fingers through his hair.“Why would you want to know anything about me other than the fact that I rescued you. It's not like you're going to live here forever.”I swallowed. He had a point. I'd never thought that far ahead. I had nowhere to go so I had subconsciously taken this place as a home in my heart.“You’re right, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to live here but I just want to know more about my saviour.”“The only thing you need to know about me is that I'm Fayne and will forever be no matter what happens to me.”“You are Fayne,”I placed my hand on his cheek while staring into his eyes. After a long second, Fayne removed my hand from his face.“Fine,” he said. “I'll tell you.”“My parents were killed by wolves. Then I was rescued by a group of wolf hunters who taught me
Emily's POV Fayne's look was aggravated and angry which made me stare at him with raised brows. I'd never seen him this unsettled. It made me wonder if there was more underneath the surface.“The king wants you to give him an explanation.” Liam said to Fayne. But then Fayne's wandering eyes caught mine.I cleared my throat nervously and walked over.“Here are the stuffs you requested.”I placed the pieces of papers and ink on the desk.Liam stood on his feet and bowed to Fayne. “Sir, I'll get going now.”Fayne said nothing and watched Liam leave.I looked at Fayne and hesitated. Should I really be saying something to Liam right now?“Are you okay?” I ended up asking, then I realized that he must see that as a stupid question. He was obviously not doing well. I was about to change the direction of the conversation but Fayne looked at me with a gentle smile.“I’m fine.”I was taken aback by Fayne's smile.“What's wrong with you?” I looked at him hesitantly. I'd rarely seen him smile.
Emily's POV The table was simple tonight — fresh bread, grilled meat, and platters of fruits and cheeses. No servants, no formalities. Just us.Fayne poured drinks while I set out the plates, and before long, laughter began to fill the air — the natural, effortless kind that only comes from people who know each other too well. "You’re heavy-handed with the wine, old man," Kael teased, raising his cup at Fayne.Fayne gave him a mock glare. "I’m making up for all the times I had to deal with your troublemaking.""Ah," Aerlyn smirked over the rim of her glass, "he means the time you tried to tame a wyvern in your second year of training."Kael groaned. "I will *never* live that down.""You were brave," I said, unable to hide a chuckle, "but extremely foolish.""And slightly singed," Fayne added, lifting his cup toward Kael with a wink. "To Kael, the bravest fool we know."We all laughed and raised our glasses together, the clinking sound ringing through the open air.The conversation
Emily's POV The days that followed were spun from sunlight and laughter.After breakfast one morning, Fayne clapped his hands together and grinned wickedly. “Time for a family sparring match,” he announced, eyes gleaming. “No backing out!”Aerlyn immediately brightened, already stretching her arms behind her head. “I’m in.”Kael gave a loud, theatrical groan. “Do I have to? I almost died last time!”“You stubbed your toe last time,” I said dryly, sipping my tea. “Hardly a near-death experience.”Still, when we gathered outside in the practice yard, Kael bounced on his toes with nervous excitement. The sun was high, the breeze carried the scent of wildflowers, and the whole pack seemed to watch from the edges, smiling at the scene unfolding.We split into teams — Fayne and Kael against Aerlyn and me."Unfair," Kael complained immediately. "Mother and Aerlyn are terrifying!""You wound me," I said with a grin, circling him slowly. "But I’ll take it as a compliment."The match began w
Emily's POV The days that followed felt golden.The castle, often a place of endless decisions and strategy, settled into a rhythm that was almost domestic. It wasn’t that there weren’t matters to attend to — of course there were. Packs still needed watching, alliances still needed tending. But the urgency that had once ruled every breath was gone, replaced by something warmer, deeper.Trust.Aerlyn spent her mornings training patrol groups, her voice sharp and sure as she called out orders in the training fields. She was growing into her power in a way that made my heart ache with pride. Some mornings I would watch her from the balcony, sipping tea while the wind carried her laughter up to me.Kael had thrown himself into studying — a surprise to all of us. He was determined to master governance, battle strategies, herbal remedies, everything he could get his hands on. It was as if, after the talk about leadership, he had decided to prove he was ready for more.Sometimes, I would fi
Emily's POV “We’re not as young as we used to be,” I murmured, feeling the ache in my bones with a smirk.“But we’re better,” he said. “We know when to stop fighting the world.”I turned toward him, resting my head on his shoulder. “This is what we fought for.”He didn’t answer with words, just pressed a kiss to my forehead.Eventually, reluctantly, we returned home.As we rode into the castle gates, our cloaks damp and hair wild, the guards blinked at us like we were forest spirits returning from myth. We waved them off before they could ask questions, and made our way back to our private quarters, still grinning like fools.We’d barely stepped out of the bathing chamber when there was a knock at the door. This time, it wasn’t a guard. I knew the rhythm.“Come in,” I called, already smiling.Aerlyn entered first, her braids freshly redone, her uniform pristine. Behind her, Kael followed, taller than before, but still hiding part of his face behind his curls when he felt uncertain.“
Emily's POV “Was hoping you'd think I was unconscious,” he mumbled into my hair. “So you wouldn’t make me move.” I laughed softly and turned toward him, our legs tangling naturally. He looked younger in the morning light, softer. As if the weight of his past had stepped back, if only for a few hours. I brushed my fingers across his brow, smoothing back a strand of hair that had fallen in his eyes. “I don’t want to move either,” I whispered. “Then don’t,” he said, pulling me closer. “We’ve earned one morning.” It was a strange thing—stillness. Foreign, almost. Our love had bloomed in war, grown through hardship, deepened through leadership. Most days, it felt like we were always on the edge of something: a threat, a decision, a moment too big to breathe through. But today… Today, we were just Emily and Fayne. Not Alpha. Not demon. Not legend. Just two people who had made it through the storm and still chose each other. He kissed the top of my head. “Still thinking about Kael?”
Emily's POV The echo of my children’s voices still lingered in the corridor even after I walked away. Something had changed—subtly, but powerfully. Kael and Aerlyn had finally found a rhythm, however fragile. That mattered more than any council, any throne. I drifted into the quiet of our chambers, the familiar warmth of it greeting me like a gentle tide. Fayne stood near the window, bathed in moonlight, his arms crossed as he stared into the distance like he always did when his mind wandered too far. He turned when he heard me, and his crooked smile instantly softened everything in me. “They’ll be alright,” I said, sinking into the edge of the couch. He raised a brow. “Kael didn’t burn down anything?” “Not today,” I teased. Fayne chuckled and walked over. “Then we’ll call that a win.” There was silence for a beat, one that didn’t demand to be filled. We were getting good at this kind of peace—the quiet between the wild. The world outside always turned, but we had carved out
Emily's POV I nodded. “Exactly. A joint council. One that unites the packs and keeps decisions balanced. Aerlyn will lead the Galahad and Red Cross packs, yes. Kael will govern Donovan when the time comes. But their power won't lie in their territories. It’ll lie in their ability to come together for decisions that affect all of us.”“Smart,” Fayne admitted, brushing a hand across my shoulder. “Give them shared stakes so there’s less room for rivalry.”“And more room for respect,” I added. “We’ll train them to make decisions together. Mediate conflicts. See each other as equals, even when their paths differ. We’ll show Kael that his role isn’t smaller, just different. He’ll grow into a protector, a strategist, a voice for the more volatile edges of the packs.”Fayne gave a small smile. “That sounds like you’ve been planning this for years.”“I have.” I turned toward him fully, letting the weight of my thoughts settle. “Because I know what it’s like to be raised in a world that pits s
Emily's POV The sun had dipped low, brushing golden light across the glass windows as I stood at the edge of the balcony, overlooking Galahad’s inner gardens. The breeze was gentle, tugging at the silk of my robe, and in the distance, I could hear laughter—Aerlyn training the younger wolves again, just as she always did.Behind me, I heard Fayne’s footsteps, quiet but heavy with thought. He came to stand beside me, his arms folded, gaze cast out toward the horizon. For a moment, we stood in silence, listening to the world we had carved out together. The peace we had fought for. Bled for.I sighed. “We have a family.”Fayne looked at me, his expression softening.“There were nights,” I continued, voice low, “when I didn’t think that would ever be our truth. That we’d ever survive long enough to see it. But now we have two children. A daughter who's strong enough to lead, and a son with a heart that's still learning to shape itself.”His hand slid gently over mine, warm and grounding.
Aerlyn’s POV I sat at the edge of the long stone table, the parchment map spread before us rippling with age and memory. Every scar on its surface marked a past battle, a lesson etched in ink and blood. Now it was my turn to leave a mark.Alpha Dante from the southern border was mid-sentence, proposing a joint patrol with his fastest wolves. Normally, I would’ve deferred to my mother—but today, I leaned forward.“That route won’t hold,” I said, surprising even myself with how calm my voice was. “The rogue movements I tracked followed wind pockets and low paths. They’re avoiding open terrain. We’d be leaving our flank exposed.”The room went still. A few of the elders exchanged glances. One even scoffed under his breath. But my mother said nothing. She didn’t have to. Her silence was her faith in me.Dante grunted, pointing at a different section of the map. “Then you suggest we close in here?”I nodded. “And reroute the scouts to this ridge. It’s narrow but provides full visibility.