ARES' POV2 YEARS LATERThe guards bowed respectfully as I walked past them, heading deeper into the underground dungeon. The same cold, stone prison where William and Elsa had been held for the past two years. Two long, brutal years of relentless punishment. I had told little Leister everything about Elsa's fate, and she didn’t hesitate in her judgment—Elsa was to be punished alongside William. And that’s exactly what happened.Now, it was time to close that chapter of our lives. To let go of the final thread tying us to that darkness. I descended the final steps and was met by Jason and a few guards standing solemnly at the door."What happened?" I asked, already sensing the answer in the stillness of their expressions.Jason turned to me and exhaled heavily. "They didn’t make it through last night’s session. Guess two years of pain was enough to finish them off."I gave a slow nod. "Karma is indeed a diligent bitch."A part of me felt relief—not just because they were gone, but bec
NOAH'S POV"And that was how the Alpha King slayed the evil rogue that had been terrorizing the pack. Just like your dad did," I finished, gently rubbing my baby bump as I whispered to my child.Penny once said it was creepy—talking to a baby still in the womb—that he or she couldn't hear me. But I never bothered arguing. Because I knew my baby could. Maybe not in words. But in spirit. And I wanted them to know their roots, their story, and the strength that pulses in their blood. And not end up like me. Clueless.Unlike humans, werewolf pregnancies last only three months. And now, well into my second, my bump was visibly obvious, and the hormones... they were a battlefield of their own. Some days I was glowing. Other days, I felt like biting someone's head off. But I pushed through. For us.The rest of the guys had been trying to decode the strange tug in my mate bond after I went into heat two days ago—unexpected and, overwhelming. Gavin had to sedate me before I lost control. That
ARES'/REX' POVThe night breeze swept across my bare arms, teasing the hem of my gray shirt as I leaned heavily on the balcony rail. From this height, I could see the entire Silver Moon Pack. Smaller than Crescent Moon, yes, but still quite large for a mid-tier pack.The lights from their homes flickered warmly, laughter rising faintly from the streets below. Peaceful. Happy. Alive.A dull ache pierced through my chest at the contrast. My people had known that peace once—when I was still on the throne. When I breathed, ruled, and bled beside them. Now?Now they were under William. A man who didn't deserve their loyalty.I could almost see the cracks spreading across Crescent Moon Pack. Penny, trying to smile through the pain, clinging to scraps of hope. Jason, my brtay, probably sobbing in silence, burdened with strength he was never meant to carry alone. My warriors—torn between anger and submission. And then…Noah.Little Leister.I refused to imagine what she was going through. The
ARES’ POVDarkness used to be peaceful.But not this time.This time, it was fire. Not the kind that burned skin, but the kind that scorched the soul. My insides twisted with a torment I couldn’t describe—like something ancient was crawling under my skin, trying to claw its way out, screaming to be free.Then—light.A gasping breath tore out of my lungs as my eyes flew open, my chest jerking like I’d been drowning and had finally breached the surface.Air. Gods, I could breathe again.My muscles were heavy, forged from stone and pain. My bones ached like they had been shattered and glued back together. The ceiling above me was rough stone, nothing like the polished archways of Crescent Moon Castle. This place wasn’t familiar.It wasn’t home.I tried to sit up. Every joint screamed. I clenched my jaw and pushed through the pain, groaning low as I forced myself upright. My hand instinctively moved to my chest, brushing against the Alpha-Luna mark that now pulsed with heat.Noah.The bon
SEBASTIAN’S POVThe room was too neat. Typical a Lutz's tradition Polished hardwood floors. A bookshelf arranged by color. Curtains drawn back at perfect symmetry. The air held a sterile stillness that quite suit my brother's usually calculated energy.Typical Jason—always trying too hard to be what people needed. I do wonder if it doesn't tire him out. But then again, he's a beta. I chuckled dryly and sank into one of the plush chairs near the fireplace, letting the silence wrap around me like a cloak.He’s going to blow a fuse when he sees me here. I can already picture the fury on his face. And honestly? I was going to savor it.I stood and wandered toward the balcony. The doors creaked as I pushed them open, and a gust of cool wind slapped against my face, carrying with it the scent of pine and something else—something sour. Decay? Despair?Below, the castle grounds buzzed with activity. Workers moved in clockwork rhythm, efficient and fast, but utterly robotic. Their faces bore
NOAH’S POVThe wind was soft this morning. Still, it carried enough chill to make me shiver slightly as I stood alone before the tombstone, my hand resting over the barely-there swell of my belly. The granite slab was cold and firm, just like the truth etched into it:Lucas LeisterBig Lu.I let the name sink in like it hadn’t already been burned into my soul. My throat tightened. This was the first time I’d visited since waking up… since everything.Call me a bad sister, I wouldn’t even fight you. It’s not because I didn’t care. It’s because coming here meant admitting that he was really gone. That I wouldn’t get to hear his scolding voice or feel his warm hair kisses ever again. And that was a pain I wasn’t sure I could live through.But here I was.“I’m sorry,” I whispered, fingers brushing the carved letters like they were his skin. “I should’ve come sooner. I just... I couldn’t.”A gust of wind blew past, stirring the curls around my face. I glanced back. Gavin stood a few feet a