Adrian’s POV As expected, it took me half an hour before reaching the place. The place stated in the secret message was known to be an old loggers’ cabin. It was only about a fifteen-minute drive from Craigwood Mountain so it was quite understandable why it had gotten the name. It was a historic hotel in a very traditional style. Marion Hotel was small and quiet, perfect for a relaxing night after strolling the woods of Craigwood Mountain. The structure was made out entirely of wood. I also heard that this hotel was already 103 years old, so the place was understandably rustic but very cozy. I was welcomed with a wraparound porch and a pair of wooden sculptures of a bear at the side of the entrance door. It wasn’t your typical chain of hotels or motels as the looby was giving a normal living room vibe to it with all the furniture and antique decorations. The hall bookcase was filled with interesting books. It also has a brick fireplace and an antique upright piano on the side. The

Aria’s POV Werewolf alphas are special. They have this extraordinary ability to impose their authority on other werewolves using their auras. Some say it has something to do with our genes, but some say it was supernatural in origin. Regardless of who or how they were able to have this gift, one this remains. Once they use this on you, you can’t do anything but submit! My wolf cowered in fear. I could see her curled up into a ball while covering her eyes in the back of my mind. I always thought that this special ability would only work specifically to pack members. Technically, I wasn’t part of Darkwood. And yet here I was with tensed muscles and an accelerated breathing rate. “You think you’re the only one who was affected by Peter’s passing? What about us? Do you think we didn’t grieve for him? I had known him for fifteen years, Aria! Fifteen years!” Nixon looked sideways while Luna Sheila bowed her head. At this point, I wished I had not uttered those words but it was too late

Aria's POV Growing up, I always associated my mom with the moon goddess. Whenever I hear bedtime stories about our deity, I would always put my mom’s face to the divine character inside my head. My mom was a typical she-wolf in my eyes, only better in every angle. Having a square-shaped face gave her a chiseled jawline which made her look athletic and sporty. Her long curls were as bright as the summer sun with eyes reminded me of the sea. Cassie was a spitting image of her, except for the color of their eyes. Cassie has hazel brown. But still, no one can deny that my mom was probably the prettiest girl in the pack in her prime. I heard that she was more beautiful than Adrian’s mom. I looked at the same figure that was standing a few inches away from me. It only had been two years since I last saw her but she looked around ten years older. My chest tightened when I had a glimpse of the bags under her eyes. She was probably not having a good night's sleep since I left. I can’t blam

Cassie’s POVIf there was one emotion that I was not familiar with, that would be the state of being nervous. In my world, it doesn’t exist. And yet…Walking into a lodge called Castle Creek, my heartbeat was in my head. This Tudor-style lodge is around two miles from the entrance of Mount Craigwood and about a two-mile drive from Moon Valley. I was not used to traveling outside the borders of our pack alone but I was left without a choice. It was Alpha Vladimir’s orders so I would be forced to follow him even if I didn’t want to. To be honest, I just couldn’t make sense of why we have to meet in a place like this to discuss some “pack business” but who am I to complain? Though I was an important figure in Moon Valley, I was still under my alpha’s rule. I bit my lower lip recalling that last statement. My life was a whole lot better when Adrian was still the regent of Moon Valley. I just don’t understand why he had to come back and act like the god to everybody. We hate his presenc

Adrian’s POVLast night, I prayed to the moon goddess to shower us with her mercy. I asked her fervently to remove the cup of violence from our pack, to make my father cohere to the ancient laws. I clung to the fulfillment of my plea up to the point when my father started to deliver his speech. But alas, the deity did not confer on my wishes. And now, I found myself in a situation no father or son would want for themselves. What a way to celebrate my birthday! An hour after the formal challenge was accepted, we found ourselves standing in the sacred land of our ancestors. We called this the “Lycan Hills”, a flat-floored valley where our Lycan ancestors used to settle their disagreements through blood. As time passed, this had become the venue for those who wanted to challenge their current alpha for their position within the alps of the eastern region. The people of Moon Valley gathered to witness this fight to our deaths. Yes, I knew that this fight would not be over unless one of