Elowen’s POV The night was silent, except for the distant crackling of fire where the remnants of Adrian’s kingdom still smoldered. The air was thick with the scent of burnt magic, but I no longer felt its oppressive weight pressing down on my chest. It was over. He was gone. And now, there was only one person I needed to see. I made my way through the quiet forest, my heart pounding in my chest. The moonlight guided me, silver and soft against the trees. The path was familiar, one I had memorized as a child when my mother and I lived in hiding, when I had been too weak to fight back. But I wasn’t weak anymore. I pushed open the door to the small cabin, my breath catching when I saw her. My mother sat near the fireplace, her long dark hair cascading over her shoulders, her emerald-green eyes meeting mine the second I stepped inside. She looked tired but at peace, as if she had been waiting for me. “Elowen,” she whispered. I swallowed hard. “It’s done.” Her eyes se
Elowen’s POVThe night was cold, the scent of smoke and blood still lingering in the air as I walked away.I didn’t look back.Not at the ruins of the kingdom I had destroyed.Not at the three brothers I had shattered.Not at the ghosts of what could have been.This was what I had wanted—revenge.So why did it feel so hollow?I walked aimlessly, my boots sinking into the damp earth. My heart pounded, but my mind was louder."We chose you, Elowen."Theron’s words wouldn’t stop echoing in my head.I clenched my fists, shaking my head. No. They don’t get to say that. Not after everything."You still want them."My wolf’s voice was quiet but firm in my mind.I stopped, my breath catching in my throat.No, I don’t."Liar."I gritted my teeth, anger curling in my chest.They ruined me."And yet your heart still beats for them."I sucked in a sharp breath. You’re wrong."Am I?"A gust of wind howled through the trees, carrying the scent of rain. A storm was coming.I pulled my cloak tighter
Elowen’s POVI didn’t know what I was expecting after giving them a chance.Maybe some grand gesture. Maybe a sign that things had changed.But as the day went on, I realized something—They weren’t just saying they wanted to prove themselves.They were showing it.Theron was the first.At lunch, I found myself cornered by some students still bitter about my role in destroying Adrian’s kingdom. Their whispers were sharp, their stares sharper.“She’s dangerous.”“She betrayed the pack.”“She thinks she’s better than us just because she’s a She-Alpha.”I had heard worse before. I could handle it.But before I could respond, a familiar voice cut through the tension.“If you have something to say, say it to me.”Theron.His presence was enough to silence the entire courtyard. He stepped beside me, his tall frame blocking the whispers from reaching me. His jaw was clenched, his posture rigid.The students paled, quickly finding excuses to leave.I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow at him
Alaric’s POV I never thought I would be the kind of man who chased after someone. But here I was. Trying. For her. Elowen had given us one chance—just one. And I wasn’t about to waste it. The next morning, I found myself waiting for her outside the academy’s main building, leaning against the cold stone pillars. The early morning breeze was crisp, but my nerves made it hard to focus on anything else. I was never nervous. I was never the one doubting myself. But Elowen made me feel things I didn’t understand—things I didn’t deserve to feel. And now, for the first time in my life, I wanted to be better. I saw her before she saw me. She walked with quiet determination, her dark hair catching the morning light, her sharp eyes scanning the campus like she was expecting another fight. She had spent too much of her life fighting. And a large part of that? It was my fault. I clenched my fists, exhaling slowly. I had spent years being a bastard to her, humiliating her, making
Alaric’s POV I watched Elowen walk away, her back straight, her head high—like she hadn't just torn through every inch of my defenses with a few simple words. "If you really want to change, Alaric, prove it." She didn’t believe me. And why would she? I had given her every reason to hate me, every reason to walk away without looking back. But I wasn’t giving up. Not this time. I needed to prove to her—and to myself—that I was more than the bastard she remembered. That night, I didn’t sleep. I kept replaying every mistake I had made, every cruel word I had thrown at her, every time I had stood by and done nothing while my father, while we, made her life hell. Regret burned in my chest like a poison I couldn’t shake. But regret wasn’t enough. I had to act. Next day I was already in the training ring when Elowen arrived. She paused when she saw me, her brow furrowing in suspicion. “What are you doing here?” she asked, crossing her arms. I picked up a wooden training sword
Alaric’s POV The rain soaked through every inch of our clothes, but I didn’t care. Elowen was in my arms, her body pressed against mine, her lips moving in perfect rhythm with mine, and for the first time in my life, I felt whole. She was fire and ice, soft and fierce, a storm raging against my skin, and I wanted more. I traced my fingers along her jaw, feeling the warmth of her skin despite the cold rain. Her breath hitched when I tilted her head, deepening the kiss, our mouths moving with raw, unrestrained hunger. She gripped the front of my shirt, her fingers tightening as if she was afraid to let go. Good. Because I wasn’t letting her go. I pulled back slightly, just enough to look at her—her lips swollen, her golden eyes dazed, her breath uneven. Beautiful. Utterly beautiful. “Elowen…” I murmured, brushing my thumb over her bottom lip. Her lashes fluttered, her body still pressed against mine as if she didn’t trust herself to stand on her own. She swallowed, her voi
Elowen’s POVThe rain continued to pour, soaking through my clothes, making my hair cling to my skin. But I barely noticed. My mind was a storm, twisting and turning with emotions I didn’t want to name.I had already given them a chance.Yet, standing here now, with all three of them staring at me, I felt suffocated.Alaric had just kissed me—again. And I had let him.Theron stood there, his jaw tight, his hands curled into fists, his body tense as if he was holding himself back.And Ranon…Ranon watched me like he always did—like he was waiting for me to run just so he could chase me down.I exhaled sharply, my chest tightening. “Why are you all looking at me like that?”Theron ran a hand through his drenched hair, his expression unreadable. “Because we know you’re about to run.”I let out a humorless laugh. “And what if I am?”Alaric stepped closer, his fingers brushing against mine, tentative, careful. “Then we’ll follow.”A lump formed in my throat, and I hated how much those word
Elowen’s POV The next day at the academy, the corridors felt colder than ever. I moved through the halls with my head held high, yet every step was weighted with lingering doubts and memories that I’d rather forget. The storm from last night had passed, but the thunder of my conflicted heart still rumbled beneath my ribs. I arrived at the courtyard early—hoping to catch a few moments of solitude—only to find them already gathered in a tight, tense circle near the ancient fountain. Theron stood in the center, his dark eyes scanning the horizon as if searching for an answer. Alaric leaned casually against a stone pillar, his usual cocky demeanor replaced by a pensive, almost guarded look. Ranon, quiet and intense, stood close by, his gaze fixed on me with an unreadable expression. I paused at the edge of the group. Their eyes followed my every step, and I felt as though I were being dissected by memories of every cruel word, every act of humiliation they’d once inflicted upon me. Ye
Elowen's POV The air in the hallway, just beyond the opulent warmth of the dining room, felt surprisingly cool against my flushed cheeks, a silent, almost ghostly whisper against my skin. I hadn’t even registered the frantic pace of my breathing until Alaric stepped directly in front of me once more, his strong hand still a firm, grounding presence on my arm, his usually sharp expression unreadable in the flickering, diffused light cast by the ornate chandelier overhead. “I know you’re overwhelmed, Elowen,” he said softly, his voice a low, steady anchor in the turbulent sea of my emotions, “but please… don’t shut us out. Not now. Not when we’re all trying so damn hard to hold ourselves together, for you.” My lips parted, a jumble of conflicting words and feelings caught behind an invisible wall in my throat. He looked too sincere, too rawly exposed. This wasn’t the familiar, cocky smirk Alaric often wore like a suit of armor, a shield against vulnerability. This was the man beneath
Elowen’s POV The grand dining room of the Blackthorn mansion, a space usually echoing with the confident pronouncements of alpha lineage and the clinking of expensive silverware, was bathed in the warm, almost syrupy golden glow emanating from the ornate crystal chandeliers suspended high above. The light cast long, dancing shadows on the dark, polished marble floor, making the already imposing room feel both opulent and slightly theatrical. The massive mahogany table was laden with an extravagant spread, a testament to the Blackthorn family’s formidable status and their almost ritualistic adherence to providing the best. There were platters piled high with glistening roast meats, bowls overflowing with vibrant steamed vegetables, fragrant mounds of spiced rice, and, my secret indulgence, a basket overflowing with that subtly sweet, honey-glazed bread that I could never quite resist. But despite the tempting array before me, food was the furthest thing from my mind. The air in the
Elowen’s POV Later that evening the sky was a breathtaking canvas, painted in the soft, fading hues of lavender bleeding into rich gold as the quiet hush of dusk gently draped itself over the sprawling academy grounds. The usual cacophony of training—the sharp clangs of metal colliding, the echoing shouts of students pushing their limits—had long since faded into the peaceful silence of twilight, leaving a serene stillness in its wake. I sat on a small, surprisingly soft patch of grass near the edge of the main sparring field, my knees drawn up to my chest, my fingers absently plucking at a stray blade of grass, its delicate texture a small distraction from the swirling thoughts in my head. I wore one of Ranon’s sweatshirts, a familiar comfort—oversized, incredibly warm, and carrying his unique, intoxicating scent, a blend of spice and something wild. The cool evening breeze whispered across the open field, sending a slight shiver through the exposed skin of my neck, but it wasn’t
Elowen’s POV The morning sun, a merciless, judgmental eye in the clear sky, beat down upon the ochre dust of the academy’s main training grounds, its harsh glare starkly illuminating the makeshift arena. A restless sea of students, their faces a mixture of apprehension and eager anticipation, swirled around the perimeter, their hushed whispers and nervous fidgeting creating a palpable hum of tension. The air itself felt thick and heavy, saturated with the mingled scents of sweat, tightly coiled nerves, and the barely perceptible undercurrent of latent magic that always permeated this place. I stood alone just outside the designated sparring circle, the worn leather of my training gloves feeling strangely alien against my clammy palms. Meticulously, I adjusted the straps, the familiar weight a small, tangible comfort against the frantic, erratic hammering of my heart. The tumultuous events of the past few days—the unsettling, intrusive encounter with Lysander, Alaric’s fiercely pos
Elowen’s POV Sleep had been a fickle, unwelcome guest, teasing the edges of my consciousness throughout the long, restless night without ever offering true respite. My mind had been a battlefield of conflicting emotions, replaying the charged moments of the previous day in an endless loop—Alaric’s possessive kiss, the raw, untamed fury that had blazed in his eyes when he’d finally turned away from Lysander, and the persistent, dull ache in my chest, a knot of anxiety that had stubbornly refused to loosen its grip. I sat on the edge of my bed now, the soft cotton of the sheets feeling strangely cold against my skin, watching the first tentative rays of sunlight tentatively paint the eastern sky in hues of pale rose and soft gold. The sprawling academy grounds outside my window, usually bustling with early morning activity, were still shrouded in a delicate, ethereal mist that clung to the shadowy edges of the ancient trees, lending the familiar landscape an almost dreamlike, otherwor
Alaric’s POV The sprawling halls of the academy, usually teeming with the restless energy of burgeoning shifters and the hushed whispers of arcane secrets, were quieter than usual, a deceptive stillness that belied the turbulent emotions churning within me. Distant echoes of lingering footsteps faded into the stone, the last of the students retreating into the relative sanctuary of their dormitories. I stood outside Elowen’s room, my fists clenched tightly at my sides, the rhythmic pounding of my heart a heavy drumbeat against my ribs. She hadn’t said much after I’d practically dragged her away from Lysander’s unsettling presence in the cafeteria. The words hadn’t been necessary. That look in her eyes—a complex tapestry woven with threads of confusion, a subtle hint of guilt, and an underlying current of frustration—haunted the edges of my vision. I knocked once. A soft, hesitant tap that felt strangely out of sync with the turmoil raging inside me. The heavy wooden door creaked i
Alaric’s POV My fists were still trembling, the residual adrenaline of the confrontation coursing through my veins. I could feel the dull throb of the scrape on my knuckles from where they’d connected with Lysander’s arrogant jaw—a sharp, satisfying impact that had barely scratched the surface of the consuming fury that still burned within me. How dare he touch her? How dare he look at her with that possessive glint in his eyes, as if she were some prize to be won, something to conquer? The possessive rage was a living thing inside me, a primal fire threatening to consume me whole. My wolf was clawing just beneath the surface, snarling and restless, demanding blood. Demanding retribution. Demanding justice for the blatant disrespect. But beneath the burning rage, a flicker of something colder, more unsettling, remained. She’d looked… scared. Not of him. Of me. I replayed the chaotic scene over and over in my mind as I stormed down the deserted corridor, the air around me prac
Elowen’s POV Next morning the academy's cafeteria hummed with the chaotic symphony of midday: the incessant clatter of ceramic trays against metal surfaces, the low murmur of countless conversations weaving together, punctuated by the occasional burst of unrestrained laughter erupting from various clusters of students. I had sought refuge at a secluded table near the far wall, a steaming cup of lukewarm tea clutched in my hands, my thoughts adrift somewhere between the intricate strategies discussed in Professor Vance’s tactics lecture and the stolen, breathless intimacy of our rooftop rendezvous. The triplets were currently immersed in mandatory combat training, a rigorous session reserved for high-ranking shifters, and I had deliberately chosen this quieter hour to slip away, craving a moment of solitary contemplation. For once, the relentless demands of academy life seemed to recede, leaving a fragile semblance of peace in its wake. That fleeting tranquility shattered the moment
Elowen’s POV Before I could even form a coherent response, he captured my lips with a fierce, possessive hunger, his hands moving with a renewed urgency, exploring every inch of exposed skin with a desperate need. The lingering tension from our sparring match dissolved into a raw, primal desire that mirrored my own burgeoning need. His knee nudged my legs apart with a subtle command, and he settled his weight more fully against me, the hard ridge of his arousal pressing insistently against the slick heat gathering between my thighs. A sharp gasp escaped my lips, my body arching instinctively into his, a silent plea for connection. I needed him, wanted him, with a ferocity that eclipsed anything I had ever felt before. With a low, guttural groan that rumbled deep in his chest, he entered me, filling me completely. His pace was slow, deliberate, each thrust a measured exploration, the rhythm designed to stoke the already blazing fires within me until they burned hotter than the midda