The halls of the packhouse feel quieter now, the distant hum of voices and footsteps a faint backdrop as I make my way through them. It’s strange, wandering here free without having to worry about being thrown into a grimy cell. That doesn't stop the way the wolves I pass by glance at me—some quickly avert their eyes as if looking too long will provoke me, while others don’t bother hiding their blatant stares. They’re suspicious, of course. The rogue who’s somehow walking free in their territory...Guess I have Octavius to thank for the protection or, essentially putting a target on my back. I mean what better way to make every hate you, or give them one more reason to do so?I huff as I keep my face impassive, my chin high, ignoring them all. Let them look. Let them judge. It doesn’t change the fact that I’m here, alive, while so many of their so-called warriors couldn’t hold a candle to me. Still, I can’t shake the strange sensation creeping along my spine. It’s not fear—it’s nev
We all stare at Audrey, all of being able to see how nervous she is to have walked into the kitchen. I step forward, keeping my arms crossed as I analyse her, now recalling the way I snapped at her earlier, and how she didn't deserve any of that, especially when she was just trying to be friendly."Hey Audrey," I reply, my tone softer than usual, hoping that it makes her relax and makes her see that I'm not hostile.She hesitates for a moment, her hands fidgeting with the book in her hand as she hesitantly she steps further into the room. I can feel the others watching us, their curiosity almost tangible and I'm sure they're wondering why she is so nervous around me."I'm sorry if I interrupted your discussion... I just wanted to..." Audrey starts, clearly terrified, her voice trembling slightly.Before she can finish, I step forward, meeting her gaze directly. "Audrey," I say, my voice firm but not unkind..."I'm sorry." I finally say, allowing my shoulders to relax as I let out a de
I shrug, stepping closer despite the warning in her glare. "Following your scent. Thought I'd see what had you storming out of the kitchen like that...""Well, you've seen enough," she says, wiping her face angrily. "Go away." she then points in the direction I came from, but even as she tries to command me, her voice breaks and her eyebrows crease. I can tell she is struggling to fight back the pain she is feeling...As so I don't move. She growls softly, her wolf rippling just beneath the surface. "I mean it, rogue. Leave." She orders.But I don't. Instead, I walk forward, leaning back against a tree and continue to watch her with a solemn expression."What are you doing?" she asks sharply, her voice cracking slightly as she shakes her head at me."Not leaving," I reply simply, shrugging right before letting my shoulders relax.Her glare deepens, but there's no real heat behind it. She looks more tired than anything,
The packhouse is dead quiet now except for the faint echoes of my footsteps as I wander through the endless, polished hallways. After my conversation with Miyuki, I feel like her and I have reached a level of understanding and at least going forward things, I hope that things will be civil between us. I hate how pristine everything looks. Perfect walls, perfect floors, perfect furniture. It screams control, order, and everything I've avoided for years. But now, I'm stuck in it, suffocating under the weight of their stares and whispers. The wolves I pass don't bother hiding their glances. Some look at me like I'm about to explode, their unease clear as they step aside to let me pass. Others—bolder ones—stare openly, their expressions a mix of suspicion and disgust. It doesn't matter. Let them look. Let them think whatever the hell they want. But boredom is gnawing at me like an itch I can't scratch. I've walked these halls for what feels like hours, trying to find something—a
"Octavius…” I try to say firmly but instead, my voice comes out quiet and weak and I hate that he’s doing this, making me feel things I don’t want to feel…He keeps his head by my neck but doesn’t do anything, his breath continues to fan against my next. His grip on my waist tightens for just a moment, like he's debating whether to listen. He then pulls away and looks me in the eye, his icy blue eyes bore into mine, his face impossibly close. My wolf stirs again, clawing at the walls of my mind, eager to close the space between us."Octavius," I say more sharply this time, narrowing my eyes up at him just as I feel his fingers on my chin, delicately lifting my head up as he makes me look at him.“Tell me stop, Kaida…” he whispers to me and I look up at him, contemplating actually giving into temptation as soon as I hear the way my name rolls off his tongue, but soon I get a hold of myself and shut my eyes for a moment, breaking away from his gaze.”“Stop…” I say quietly, right before
I can still feel him.His words, his hands, the stupid way he managed to get under my skin without even trying. Octavius.I shake my head, forcing the thought of him out of my mind as I walk through the halls of the packhouse. I hate that he's still lingering there, like some ghost I didn't ask for. My mind keeps trying to replay that moment, the tension between us, the way he didn't back down, the way I didn't back down... It's infuriating.I pick up the pace, my boots clicking against the floor as I try to lose myself in the routine sounds of the packhouse. But every hallway feels the same—cold, polished, suffocating. And every wolf I pass can't seem to keep their eyes to themselves.They all do the same thing: a glance, a quick flicker of recognition, and then a look that says everything. Rogue. Intruder. Outsider.It makes my wolf stir, restless under my skin. I roll my shoulders, straightening my posture. If they want to stare, let them. I'm not about to cower for anyone. Miyuki
When the meeting finally wraps up, Octavius dismisses the gathered wolves with a curt nod just as I watch everyone disperse around me. The tension in the room doesn't fade completely, though. Everyone knows the stakes tomorrow, and no one wants to be the one who screws it up… and I don’t want that to be me.I hang back, not quite ready to face him, but knowing I don't have a choice. My mind is still reeling from hearing that name—the Tyro Pack.Of all the damn packs.Lucas glances at me, his brows knitting together when he notices my silence. "You okay? You've been awfully quiet."I then look to him, finding him looking down at me curiously, right before I shake my head and try to keep my head together."I'm fine," I answer, a little sharper than I intended. His frown deepens, but he doesn't press me. I'm grateful for that, at least at him and the others don’t give me as much trouble as before.“I’ll see you later Lucas,” I tell him, walking off before he even has the chance to respon
Morning comes too soon, sunlight spilling through the curtains in soft, muted streaks. I stretch, my muscles tight and still a little sore from yesterday, though I feel sharper today. Rested. Focused.As I sit up, I glance around the room still failing to believe that Octavius really changed my room to something much nicer, and if I’m being honest, I haven’t been in a place this comfortable since I’ve been on the run.I swing my legs off the bed and walk over to the wardrobe, figuring now would be a good time to prepare for the day. I then tug the doors open of the wardrobe open and immediately feel a frown form on my face. Inside is a collection of black combat attire. Practical. Fitted. Perfect. There is other clothing in here as well mostly dark colours and some whites and greys. My eyebrows rise in surprise, not expecting Octavius to know my taste in clothing. There’s also lotion and different perfumes in there, leaving me even more surprised with the lengths he’s gone to just to
K A I D AI find Jace on the other side of the room, leaning against the table like they have all the time in the world. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think they were completely relaxed. But I do know better. Even with their casual stances, I can feel the tension hanging over them like a storm cloud. They’re on edge.And considering the conversation we’re about to have, I can’t really blame them.Jace notices me first, a slow smirk forming on his lips as I approach. “You really couldn’t do without getting on Octavius’ nerves?” I ask.He chuckles in response. “You say that like it’s a challenge. I think I've come to like getting under your mate's skin...”"One day he's going to snap and I won't be able to stop what he'll do to you." I tell him seriously just as I finally reach them, my expression being enough to tell them that I mean all business.“Fine, fine... backing off.” He says casually, pushing off the table and standing up straight, his arms crossing. “What’s on your mind?”
K A I D AOnce the meeting ends, everyone disperses around the room, some warriors leaving to go about their business while everyone else remains lingering behind, each of us discussing the meeting, and what each of us is going to do now. Warriors, strategists, and allies scatter in different directions, each preparing for the battle ahead. The Raven Moon Pack is on edge, and the Xarano Pack, though powerful, is still an unfamiliar presence among us...They are still my people, but I'm now with the Raven Moon, I'm Octavius' mate, therefore the Luna of this pack. But I can't help but think what will happen when this is all over...I exhale deeply, rubbing the back of my neck as I step outside the meeting hall, my mind spinning as I think of everything happening.So much is riding on this.Lucien. Victor. My sister... Korra.I clench my jaw, swallowing the wave of emotions threatening to choke me. There’s no room for fear. No room for doubt.But still… it feels like too much.A familiar
K A I D AThe tension in the air hasn't simmered down since with started. Though no one is exchanging words currently, there's still the underlying feeling of the people in the room not liking each other. I sit at Octavius’ right, my arms crossed as I scan the room. Jace and the Lycans from my pack sit across from us, their expressions watchful as they pay careful attention to what's happening.. Lucas, Miyuki, Samson, and Cole are seated closer to us, across the conference table. Octavius and I thought that would be the best way to keep the peace. And so far it seems to be remaining. My mind begins racing, as we draw closer to figuring out what the hell we're going to do about Lucien.We’ve lost too much already. Every single person sitting here. Lucien has given us all a reason to want him dead. He has done nothing but destroy... my pack, my family, and now my people here. The recent attack still lingers in the air, the memory of blood and loss gnawing at the edges of my mind. The p
K A I D AThe air inside the packhouse is heavy. Heavier than usual.Jace and his people have been led inside, and though Octavius has accepted their presence for now, the entire Raven Moon Pack remains on edge. The Raven Moon wolves don’t trust easily, and the sudden arrival of outsiders, especially ones as strong as the Lycans from the Xarano Pack—has every wolf in the room on high alert. We make our way into the large meeting hall within the packhouse, a place where we can discuss things a bit more freely. The room quickly fills up as we all station ourselves around it. The quiet hum of low conversations carries in the air, but it’s the kind of quiet that’s too sharp, too strained. I can feel it in the way the warriors stand rigid, their bodies poised to react at the slightest provocation, their eyes glued on Jace and his people. Even Lucas and Samson, usually so composed, keep their gazes locked on Jace’s group with barely restrained suspicion.And then the doors swing open.Cole
K A I D AThe cool morning air settles over Raven Moon’s territory as I stand beside Octavius, my heartbeat steady but alert. The presence of Jace and his people is unexpected, and though I trust him to an extent, I can’t ignore the tension that crackles in the air like a brewing storm.Around us, several high-ranking Raven Moon wolves stand at attention, their eyes sharp, their postures rigid. Lucas, Miyuki, and Samson flank Octavius and me, their gazes trained on the group in front of us. Though they don’t outwardly bare their fangs or emit threatening growls, I can sense the barely restrained aggression simmering beneath the surface. After all, Jace isn’t just anyone... he's risen to be the leader of the Xarano pack. Though he is not outright calling himself an Alpha, I know he's stepped up where people needed him, where my sister nor I couldn't. He helped rebuild my pack when we weren't there, and for that, I owe him the utmost respect. However, his sudden arrival leaves me feelin
K A I D AStepping out of Octavius' room feels like the most difficult thing I've had to do in my life. I shouldn't be this nervous, right? I mean, people mate all the time. Back at my pack, there seemed to even be celebrations when two people finally completed the mating process. Everyone could actually tell when two people have finally mated.Great... just great... Meaning everyone in the house is gonna know I had my guts rearranged the night before."Just relax..." I hear Octavius voice snap me out of my thoughts, and that's when I remember that he is standing right next to me, and has been walking beside me this whole time as we make our way downstairs. I know my thoughts are probably too loud, and he can properly hear them..."Yeah, exactly..." He answers outloud and I sigh out of frustrattion and embarrasment as I look over at him."How are you so calm about this... Everyone is gonna know what we were doing last night..." I whisper to him, holding onto his hand for support as w
K A I D AWarmth. That’s the first thing I feel as I slowly drift into consciousness, my body tangled in the softest sheets, completely at peace. A firm, solid weight presses against my back, heat radiating from it in comforting waves. My muscles ache slightly, a deep, pleasant soreness that makes me shiver as memories of last night crash over me.Oh.My face heats instantly, but I don’t move just yet. I let myself soak in the moment, the slow rise and fall of his breathing, the way his arm drapes lazily over my waist, anchoring me to him. His grip is loose, but protective, as if even in his sleep, he refuses to let me go.I take a slow breath, inhaling his scent, deep, woodsy, and intoxicatingly masculine. The events of the night before are still so fresh, so vivid in my mind. The way he touched me, the way we moved together, the way he whispered my name like it was the only thing that mattered in the world. My body flushes at the memory, and I bite my lip, squeezing my eyes shut.I
My heart thumps harshly as I watch him pull away from me. His dark eyes glint with something wild, something untamed, and it sends a delicious shiver down my spine. My body is already aching, trembling, as I struggle to catch my breath. The heat between us is overwhelming, suffocating in the best possible way. I watch as he slips off his trousers, revealing the monster between his legs. It stares back at me, hard and throbbing, all for me... He moves closer to me, pressing the tip against my soaked entrance, forcing a desperate moan out of my lips, making me bit my lip slowly right before looking up at him."Just relax... let me take care of you..." He whispers to me, lowering himself to me and kissing me delicately as he presses his body against mine. Soon, I feel him push himself inside me, causing my entire body to tense at the foreign feeling. A frown forms on my face as I grip onto his face, my pussy stretching to accommodate his length."Oh s-shit... Octavius..." I gasp, my fin
K A I D AMy hands remain at the back of his neck as I continue to kiss him, every kiss becoming increasinly more heated that the last. His hands grip onto my waist possessively, matching the energy of my kisses as he fights for dominance, and eventually wins. His bare skin feels hot against mine, and all I want is feel more of him... all of him...I feel him bite my bottom lip slowly, forcing a low, sensual moan out of mouth, and he takes that as an opportunity to slide his tongue into my mouth. I listen as he grows deeply in satisfiedly as his tongue plays with mine, and suddenly, he reaches down and grabs my thighs, lifting me off the floor with ease as my legs immediately wrap around his waist. I gasp at how swift he is, pulling away from him for a moment to stare at him, meeting his piercing blue eyes that burn with desire. They lock onto mine, searching for something—hesitation, doubt, anything that might make him stop. But there’s nothing. Only certainty.My heart pounds as I t