Zarek's POV Do you think Sage is going to be okay?” I asked, my voice soft as we walked back through the town. I was trying to get Kaidon to calm down before we got too close to other people. He was still being overtly protective, his body tense like a coiled spring.Kaidon shrugged, his lips pressing into a thin line. “I don’t know. I hope he gets something out of this. Sage is strange for an Alpha. Unless his wolf takes over, like when you first met him, he’s very non-confrontational. Honestly, he acts more like a Beta or even an Omega with how calm and laid-back he usually is. Before you showed up, he and Astrid were the peacemakers in the pack house,” he explained, his voice softening as he spoke about his friend.I frowned, trying to piece that together. “How is he a top warrior if he acts like an Omega?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.Kaidon chuckled, a sound that warmed me despite my confusion. “Love, we don’t care about biological status here. If an Omega wan
Zarek's POV I woke up with a jolt, Aegis's voice ringing loudly in my head."Get up! Now!" he ordered, making me sit up abruptly, groggily pulling away from Kaidon’s warm embrace."Why are you just lying there?! Go!" Aegis barked, his tone sharp and urgent.I blinked a few times, the haze of sleep still heavy. "What’re you going on about?" I mumbled, yearning to curl back into Kaidon's arms and drift off again.Aegis growled, his frustration palpable. "Astrid's wolf contacted me! She’s going into labor, and Axel is on patrol tonight! She won’t make it back in time!” His voice was frantic, panic evident.My heart sank, the gravity of the situation hitting me. Astrid needed help, and fast. My heat was still a few weeks away, and Kaidon and I had decided we’d mate during that time. But until then, I couldn’t use the pack link and had to rely on Aegis or stay close to a packmate.Scrambling out of bed, my sudden movement stirred Kaidon. He blinked up at me, his voice groggy. "What’s goin
Zarek's POV The sun was high in the sky by the time Kaidon and I got dressed in the woods. He’d taken me to where we’d left our clothes earlier, and we quickly slipped back into them. Kaidon had received word that Astrid had given birth, and now that the pack had their future Alpha and Luna present, she was eager for us to bless her pups.“How many did she have?!” I asked, practically bouncing with excitement. “Are they named yet? Do they look more like Axel or Astrid? How soon—”“Calm down, Zarek,” Kaidon said with a small laugh, his eyes sparkling as he looked at me. I could tell he loved seeing this side of me, the excited, confident one that rarely came out. “We don’t want to bombard them with questions.”I huffed, glaring at the ground. “Fine,” I grumbled, though I wasn’t really mad.Kaidon laughed again, and his voice carried a note of pride. I knew what he was thinking—how much stronger I’d become. I wasn’t scared of him anymore. In fact, I looked for any opportunity to tease
Zarek's POV"I want to get a job," I said once Kaidon and I were alone in our room, watching a movie. “Is that possible to do?""If you want to,” Kaidon replied, his eyes half-closed. "You're going to have tasks once you're officially the Luna.”"But that doesn't come until a couple of weeks after my heat, though,” I responded, resting my head on Kaidon's chest and looking up at my tired mate. "So it's still roughly a month away, and I feel useless laying around all the time while you do your Alpha stuff and I just hang out around the house.”Kaidon hummed in response. "Do you have anything in particular you want to do?" he asked, his voice a little slurred as he drifted toward sleep."I don’t know... all of my jobs in the Red Claw pack were laborious, and the things I was good at went unnoticed,” I said, not caring that he was falling asleep while I spoke. "Does Zara need any other employees?”"You can ask her,” Kaidon mumbled through a yawn. "She’s always looking for help and new ta
Zarek's POV I couldn’t believe it. All this time, I'd never found this small field behind Zara’s café. The sunlight filtered through the trees, casting a golden glow over the grass. It felt like a secret haven—one filled with the playful sounds of pups shifting and chasing each other. The field was tucked far enough into the territory that it was safe, a perfect place for pups to practice without fear.Even though I didn’t have experience with my own pups, I’d always had a soft spot for kids. They were so full of joy, their laughter infectious, their hope untainted. Watching them, I couldn’t help but wonder if Kaidon felt the same way. One day, I hoped we’d share that joy together—with our own children.“Zarek! I mean, Luna!” Zara’s voice called out, pulling me from my thoughts. I turned to see her walking out from the back of her café, her apron dusted with flour. She looked surprised to find me sitting in the field, watching the pups play. “What’re you doing here?”I grinned, though
Zarek's POVI had never seen Akiri and Zara's adopted sons in their wolf forms before. Truth be told, I’d barely seen them in human form either. Whenever I did, they’d shrink behind their mothers or vanish into their room at the café like frightened little shadows. I always figured it was just their nature.So when I stumbled upon Kaidon playing with two wolf pups, I didn’t immediately realize who they were. They seemed happy enough at first, rolling and nipping at each other’s fur. But when I took a step closer, they froze. Panic flared in their wide, innocent eyes, and then—before either of us could react—they bolted. Straight into the woods. My stomach dropped. Of all places, they picked the woods? The most dangerous place for two little pups?"Those were Zara's pups!" Corban's frantic voice rang through my head, his tone sharp with urgency. "Jade’s already on my case because of it. We’ve got to find them—fast! Especially since our mate spotted an unknown wolf nearby earlier!"The
Zarek’s POV“Your... what?” Kaidon asked in a dark tone, his words breaking the heavy silence that filled the room.Sage, standing beside me, almost seemed like he would cower under Kaidon’s gaze, but he stood strong. “My mate,” he said softly, glancing nervously from Zarek back to Kaidon. “He’s trying to change, and he wants to be accepted into our pack and...”Kaidon didn’t even let Sage finish. He rushed at Zarek, slamming him against the wall, his fist closing around Zarek’s throat.“Get the pups out of here,” Zarek ordered Akiri and Zara, not wanting them to witness their Alpha attacking his own packmate. “Kaidon, stop!”But Kaidon didn’t listen. I could practically feel the rage radiating off him. His Alpha aura was suffocating, and I had to fight the instinct to drop to my knees and show my neck to appease him.“What do you mean he's your mate?” Kaidon asked, his voice so calm and quiet that it was even more terrifying than his roar had been. “How long have you known?”“Alpha,
Zarek's POV “Kaidon….”“No,” Kaidon cut me off gruffly the moment we were in our room. “I’m not negotiating this.”I clenched my fists at my sides, fury boiling under my skin. “You told me when I got here that no Alpha would ever control me again!”“No Alpha is controlling you,” he snapped, sitting down on the edge of the bed, his eyes tired but sharp as they locked onto mine.I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, glaring down at him. He wasn’t listening again. I knew Kaidon was worried, especially because of Ryker and his vile intentions. But I wasn’t some helpless pup. I could protect my pack.“You’re controlling me!” I snarled, climbing onto the bed and standing over him.Kaidon raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. “Are you trying to intimidate me?” His voice was calm, almost too calm, and I hated it.“Stop trying to distract me!” I snapped. “That plan is the only way to protect our pack! Why can’t you just stop being stubborn and let me do this?”Kaidon sighed and lea
Kaidon's POV I raised my sword as soon as Slade called for the fight to begin, stepping into the battle circle with Ryker standing about ten feet across from me. We were both circling each other, neither of us making the first move. The tension in the air was thick, and I could feel the eyes of both packs on us, waiting for the inevitable clash.I wondered what Ryker was thinking right now. He always had that smug look on his face, but now it was laced with something darker. He was trying to provoke me, and I could feel it.“I wonder what you're thinking right now,” Ryker said, his smirk widening as he took a step closer to me. “I know what I’m thinking—about how hard I’m going to fuck my Omega when this is all over.”My anger flared, but I kept it in check, hoping to provoke him into making the first move. “Funny you say that,” I shot back, trying to hide the venom in my voice. “From what I’ve heard, your Omega, your mate, is dead.”Ryker’s smirk faded instantly, and I could see the
Kaidon’s POV"Come on, defeat me!" Kane roared, his voice shifting into a growl as his body contorted. His bones cracked, reshaping as thick fur spread across his skin. In a matter of seconds, he had shifted into his wolf form—a massive beast with razor-sharp fangs. He lunged at me with terrifying speed. I barely had time to react before he knocked the short sword right out of my grip. The blade clattered to the ground, and before I could even think about retrieving it, Kane stood in front of it, his chest rising and falling with controlled breaths. His sharp canines gleamed under the moonlight as he grinned at me in his wolf form. "Ryker will have your head in thirty seconds!" he taunted. "Stop talking!" I snapped, trying to focus. But Kane wasn’t done messing with me. He circled me like a predator sizing up its prey, his piercing eyes locked onto me as if he was calculating his next move. His muscles coiled, ready to strike. "Focus, then!" he barked through the mind-link,
Kaidon's POV After a long day of training, all I wanted was to get home. My body ached from the drills, and my mind was already occupied with thoughts of my mate, Zarek. He still had a few months left in his pregnancy, but it was torture leaving him alone for so long. Every moment away from him felt like I was missing something important. The pack house buzzed with activity—parents collecting their pups, warriors discussing patrols—but I didn’t see Zarek anywhere in the room. A frown formed between my brows as I scanned the area. I stopped Astrid on her way out. "Have you seen Zarek?" She nodded. “He’s in his room with Andre and Leo, watching movies.” Relief settled in my chest, but I didn’t waste any more time. I strode toward our room, eager to see him. When I stepped inside, I found the two pups sprawled out on the bed, their faces illuminated by the glow of the television. But my mate wasn’t there. “Have you two seen Luna Zarek?” I asked, drawing their attention away fr
Zarek's POV Days passed, and despite the weight of the situation, we were no closer to uncovering the full extent of Ryker's business within our pack. There had been no attacks or ambushes, and for the moment, everyone was safe. The pack had been vigilant, constantly checking on everyone, making sure we all knew our place, making sure we were where we needed to be.The outside world had gone quiet, as expected. Everyone had been ordered to stay inside unless they were warriors. The warriors had set up camp just outside the pack house and in the center of the village, ready to spring into action if the need arose. I couldn't help but feel a little restless. I was used to more action, more of a sense of purpose. But right now, all we had was waiting. In the midst of all this, Kegan and Astrid had turned the pack house into a makeshift daycare for the pups. It was a good way to keep the little ones occupied while their parents patrolled or trained. And they had even made rooms available
Kaidon's POV"We're under attack!" Axel screamed through the pack link into my mind.My heart skipped a beat as I shot up from beside my confused mate. Fear surged through me—panic, terror, the feeling of dread that something was terribly wrong. I couldn’t shift with Corban silent in my head, but I couldn’t just let my pack fight their battles for me. My role wasn’t to stand on the sidelines.“What’s wrong?” Zarek asked, looking at me in horror. His voice was filled with disbelief as his eyes locked onto mine.“Have you seen who’s attacking us?” I asked, my voice shaking slightly despite my efforts to remain calm. I moved quickly, locking the windows and scooping Zarek into my arms, rushing him to our walk-in closet. I laid him down gently, trying to hide him away from any potential threat. “How many are there?”“Kaidon! What’s going on?” Zarek’s voice was laced with worry.I didn’t answer right away. Axel and Astrid burst into the room, their two pups, Andre and Leo, trailing behind
Zarek's POV I woke up to a cold room. I didn’t open my eyes right away. Instead, I kept them closed, feeling around for a blanket. The air smelled like Kaidon, and I didn’t feel uncomfortable, so I convinced myself I was in my own room. But there was still that nagging confusion in the back of my mind, wondering why I was so cold.“Kaidon?” I whispered, but my voice barely escaped. It was almost like the words were stuck in my throat. My stomach felt tight when I realized there were hands gently resting there. The surprise hit me, and I gasped softly, trying to push the sensation away.I opened my eyes and saw Kaidon leaning against the wall, nervously biting his nails. The doctor was still hovering near me, her hands moving around my stomach with that careful, clinical precision.I remembered the conversation I had with Sage earlier, but I was holding onto hope that the doctor was finding out that I was okay—that everything was going to be fine. There was no way I could have been in
Zarek's POV I had never seen Sage look so distraught. His hands were shackled to the cold ground, the chains tight, leaving him barely any space to move. His neck was adorned with a thick collar, and I couldn’t help but notice the red marks around it—his attempts to rip it off were clearly unsuccessful. It looked like pure torture.“What's on his neck?” I whispered, looking up at Kaidon with a horrified expression.I couldn’t believe it. Sage was supposed to be a warrior, strong and fierce, but now he looked like he was on the edge of breaking. This was wrong. I had never imagined seeing one of our own treated like this, especially not Sage. I always thought he'd be able to handle anything thrown at him, but this was pure cruelty.Kaidon growled at Sage, a deep, guttural sound that filled the room. He wasn’t fazed by the state of the prisoner. "It overpowers his senses and weakens him. He can’t talk through any form of mind link or shift," Kaidon said coldly, making my jaw drop. I f
Kaidon's POVIt had been a month since Sage, Lyra, and Kane had been arrested and taken into custody. They refused to speak with anybody but Zarek and me, but I avoided them completely. Honestly, I was just plain scared I would snap the minute I even got close. I didn't trust myself enough not to kill them on the spot.The pack house had never felt so tense. There was no hum of activity, just silence, anger hanging heavy in the air. It weighed on everyone, even the children, who were too afraid to leave their parents' rooms. Even Astrid barely left her room, the anger in the house making everyone tense, as if the slightest spark could set off an explosion.Zarek hadn't been much better. He hadn't been out of his room much, either, but for different reasons. The pregnancy was exhausting him. His stomach was getting heavier with each passing day; the pups inside were becoming more and more demanding. He left the room only when it was highly necessary-to visit me in my office, to get some
Zarek's POV I barely stopped Kaidon from storming out of the room. “What’s going on? Kaidon, you need to talk to me,” I said, stepping in front of the door. “I don’t understand what you're saying. And if there’s an enemy in our land, calling a meeting will chase them away!”Kaidon shook his head, his focus entirely on the door. He was trying to move me out of the way. “It’s not safe here unless we find out who’s infiltrated!” he growled, reaching for the doorknob.Without warning, I surged forward, throwing myself into Kaidon’s arms. His body crashed to the ground, and I straddled him, holding him tightly so he couldn’t get up without taking me with him.“Let go,” Kaidon growled.I shook my head stubbornly, pressing my face against his neck. “No,” I murmured, feeling him relax a bit, but then tense back up. “I need you to explain what’s going on to me. Please, I can help.”“Fine,” Kaidon mumbled, standing up and lifting me off him before depositing me on the bed. His eyes stayed glue