“Did you reach him yet?” Zarek asked as Zade called Gideon repeatedly without a response from him. Zade shook his head saying no. “He’s out of reach,”“Where the hell did he go off to? The punk wouldn’t even answer his damn phone.” Zarek ran a hand through his hair, feeling frustrated. He glared at Cassia, who was busily crying at the corner after what happened at the Blackwood mansion. Deep down, he was happy, hell, she deserved worse. “Can you at least get your shit together and go back to your brother’s pack?” He asked, a brow coming up annoyingly. He hated the crocodile tears she was shedding. Cassia could never change, no matter what the reason was. And he knew the tears were most definitely fake.Cassia sniffed and returned the glare. “I’ll never leave, I’m not selfish.” She quipped stubbornly.Zare smirked, “That’s quite rich coming from you.”Zade ignored him as usual and focused on driving them home. A part of him tried to figure out where the hell Gideon was and why he was
_Astrid’s POV_I stared at my reflection in the mirror, trying not to cry.The maids had spent hours painting my face with shimmers and brushing my lips with deep crimson. My hair was curled into elegant curls, pinned with stones that gleamed under the light. The white gown I wore was smooth and silky, too pretty for something that felt like a funeral to me.I didn’t recognize myself.I looked like a bride but I felt like a sacrifice.I blinked fast. I couldn’t cry. I couldn’t ruin the makeup the Lycan maids had done so proudly. They kept calling me “His Majesty’s Luna.” I didn’t correct them. What was the point?The truth was a curse I couldn’t speak.I was about to be married off to Alpha Valerian.And the worst part?The twins never came for me.Not Zarek. Not Zade.They really didn't come. They were probably with Cassia and planning their wedding or something. Even after everything we’d been through. After every word, every look, every moment of madness and closeness… they still
The car pulled into the driveway of the Blackwood mansion and Zarek alighted from the vehicle before anyone else.Just at the entrance of the mansion, three figures stood, two in all-black suits and the other in a white flowery dress.The woman had the same facial features as the twins and it was enough to prove that she wasn’t just a relation, but their birth mother. The moment her gaze met her son’s dark ones, a smile appeared at the corners of her lips. Zade slowly climbed out as well, refusing to help Cassia out of the car.For someone who was going to become their future Luna, they didn’t even care about her. Cassia begrudgingly pushed her door open and climbed out of the car, at the same time smoothening her facial features to avoid a negative reaction from her future in-laws.“Zarek, Zade, you came!” Luna Hinary smiled at her children, taking a step forward. But her steps faltered when her gaze landed on the woman that just climbed out of the car. “What is she_”“My Luna, pl
Zarek groaned with each passing minute as time ticked by. He glanced at the entrance of the mansion again, wondering what the hell was keeping that woman in there. Today was a very unfortunate day, why? Because their father, Alpha Vincent, had requested that the twins bring their future Luna to him. The moment he heard that the boys chose a wife, he had informed his wife happily, thanking the goddess for finally touching their hearts. He had urged them, together with their mother, to settle down with one of those women they kept moving around with. Also, they could settle with anyone, except for the human girl they brought home. He had heard so many stories about them already.Zarek’s foot tapped a furious rhythm against the gravel as he leaned against the black SUV again, arms crossed, jaw tight.“She’s been in there for a goddamn hour,” he growled again, glaring at the front doors of the mansion like they personally offended him. “What the hell is she doing in there, applying a
The ballroom shone in black and red, filled with the finest of werewolf royalty. This was no ordinary event, it was the official masquerade ball held by the Elder Council. A rare occasion where all Alphas gathered not to battle, but to make peace.Zarek stood stiffly near the edge of the crowd, his mask barely covering the annoyed twitch of his jaw. Beside him, Zade remained calm, as always, though his eyes scanned the room with a calculating edge.Tonight, they were not here as warriors or rulers. They were here to apologize.Formally.It was the Council’s condition. If they wanted to be considered for the Gehman title, they had to win back the trust of the Alphas they had recently clashed with, either through bloodshed or cold disrespect.Zarek hated every second of it.He downed his champagne in one gulp and muttered, “This is a damn circus.”Zade smirked under his mask. “Play nice.”Before Zarek could respond, a voice rang out from behind them.“There they are! The future Luna an
_Astrid’s POV_I couldn’t remember how long I had been here.Days? Weeks? Time didn’t make much sense in this place. Valerian’s home, or prison, if I’m being honest, was cold, both in feeling and in spirit. The windows were large, but they didn’t open. The guards outside my door didn’t speak. And the silence that filled the halls screamed louder than any cry I’d ever let out.At first, I tried to stay strong. I told myself the twins would come. That Zarek, with his sharp tongue and wild temper, would burst through the door. That Zade would hold my hand again and quietly promise me that everything would be okay.But nothing came. I didn't know if they would ever come either, considering the letter I left on the table in the kitchen. The one Valerian had made me write. He had held me at gunpoint and made me scribble down the letter with shaky hands.And the worst part? Gideon had a hand in all these. It turns out that Valerian wanted me, Gideon wanted me to leave the twins. The best
_Zarek’s POV_“I didn’t understand back then. I was scared.” Cassia explained for the hundred and fourteenth time after cleaning my wounds.Zade sat there and watched her like she grew a second head or something.Cassia wouldn't stop begging us to take her back, that she was a changed person. But I would rather eat glass than believe she changed her foolish ways.“Cassia, just give up," I told her and ran a hand through my hair."Never! I'm not lying to you, I love you both! My brother… he’s made me see things differently. He’ll be here tomorrow, he just wants to talk.”I raised a brow at that last one. “Your brother?”She nodded. “Yes. Caelen is coming.” Yes, he shared the same name as Zade's wolf.Great. Just what I needed. Another high-ranking wolf in this fucking circus. “Alright, you can stay here for today, after the meeting with him by tomorrow, you’d leave with him.” I sighed and slowly stood up. I needed sleep, to let Creighton recharge a bit.Cassia tried to follow me, but
_Zarek’s POV_Blood. Fucking silver blood.It soaked through my shirt and burned like hell, and still I was standing, barely. Zade helped me to the car while I clenched my teeth so hard I thought they’d crack. The warehouse reeked of blood, death, and betrayal. We had wiped out every damn wolf who turned on us. Every single one.Except for that motherfucker Veyric. He ran like the coward he’s always been. Next time I see him, I’ll bury my claws in his damn throat.“Drive,” I growled, slumping into the back seat as Zade climbed in beside me. My whole body throbbed, but I didn’t care. Not yet.The second I opened my eyes to see who was in the driver's seat, my face fell. I saw Gideon, the same one who was supposed to be guarding Astrid. He was waiting in the car, blood splattered across his shirt but unharmed. Too fucking clean for a guy who was supposed to be protecting Astrid.“What the hell are you doing here, Gideon? Where is she?” I snapped, my voice cold.Gideon shifted in his sea
Gunshots and the sound of tearing filled the air.Zarek and Zade were covered in the blood of the men before them.When Zarek saw a van filled with more men arrive, he cursed under his breath and turned to Gideon. Now things have become horrible.“Fuck, Astrid, go!” Zarek’s voice was rough and wild, the sound of it filled with more command than fear. “Gideon, take her!”Astrid was frozen in place, her legs unwilling to move, even as her heart thundered in her chest. She didn’t want to leave. Not now. Not when the world was tilting sideways around her. Not when Zade and Zarek were already charging into a fight they didn’t start. What if something happened to them?Even in the middle of trying to survive, they only thought about her.“Zarek—” She called, her lips trembling and her voice cracking.That was when the shot rang out.It happened so fast, that she barely saw it. A flash of metal. A bang and a choked sound.Zarek stumbled slightly as the bullet hit him in the arm, blood bloomi