ALANA’S POVMy heart pounded in my chest like a drum, its rhythm echoing the urgency of my steps. As I hurried away from Kai, thoughts of my children and their paramount safety pushed me forward in my search for them.As I got closer to the pack's house, their scent became more obvious. With a clenched fist, I tried to focus only on that while forcing my wolf to stop whining in my head.At this point, I don’t want to listen to anything she has to say about Kai. He is dead to me. He has been dead to us for years now; there’s no point in whining over it. Coming back here was a mistake, but my children have left me with no choice.For my part, I was acutely aware that returning to the Crimson Pack was a risk I had to take, especially considering the unresolved emotions that my wolf, Vel, still harbored for Kai. Despite everything he had done, he still held a piece of our heart in his grasp.His touch, his kisses—they were my weakness. They still haunt me, tempting me to forgive him. But

WILLOW’S POVThe world was a blur of darkness and agony. I had no idea how much time had passed since I lost consciousness, but it seemed like an eternity. As I gradually regained control of myself, my memory assaulted me with the nightmarish events of the night.The sight of Cameron’s unconscious body, the sound of my mother’s agonizing screams, the smell of death and blood that followed right after. They all came rushing back to me, making me wish I could slip back into ignorance.I felt hot tears sting my eyes and spill over, burning my skin as they ran down my face. I tried to stifle the sobs that rose in my chest, but they were too strong to contain.I loved my mother, despite her faults and wrongdoings. Her violent death filled me with hatred. What intensified my hatred even more was my father's inaction. He stood by, watching it unfold, not lifting a finger to stop Alana from killing her.But deep down in my heart, I also knew that my mother had brought this horror upon herself

ALANA POVIt was a hot, sunny day. The weather outside was the most intense I had ever experienced. The relentless sun scorched the earth, leaving me exhausted and devoid of energy. I sought comfort in the bathroom, where the cool water rejuvenated my skin and calmed my senses.Once I was done, I wrapped a towel around my body, feeling its softness against my damp skin, with another over my hair that was still dripping wet. It was the only thing that separated me from the harsh reality outside. I stepped out of the bathroom, hoping to find some peace in the bedroom. But as soon as I opened the door, I was confronted by an unexpected sight.Kai was standing there, his tall figure blocking the doorway. He looked at me with a piercing gaze, making me feel exposed and vulnerable.I gasped, "Kai? What are you doing here?" I asked, feeling panicked and embarrassed.He walked into the room and said, "I need to talk to you, Alana. Please hear me out." After closing the door behind him, he lo

ALANA’S POVI felt Luke’s words hit me like a slap in the face. He had just reminded me of my duties and promise to the Oceanic Pack elders, as if I didn’t know them by heart.He had meant to be helpful, but sometimes he could be a bit too overbearing. I hated entertaining any of it, especially when I was not in the mood.I knew he was only trying to protect me and the oceanic pack, but he had no idea what I was going through at the moment.He failed to comprehend the burden of leading the pack or the heartache involved in persuading my children to abandon their birthplace for a land that wasn’t rightfully ours.He simply couldn’t understand me, and while I don’t expect him to, I also don’t want to feel pressured by him.“Luke, I’m perfectly aware of the importance of returning home before the night of the full moon. Perhaps you haven’t noticed, but my son, Cameron, was attacked. His full recovery is necessary before we can embark on any journey. If we don’t make it home before then,

Willow’s POV“Ow! Ow! Ow!” I screamed at the top of my voice, curling up in a fetal position on my bed. “It hurts so much!” I groaned.As dawn broke, I found myself writhing in my bed, clutching my stomach as if it were about to burst. My cries echoed through the silent house, piercing the early morning calmness.Unwilling to disturb the entire household, I suppressed the impending sob that threatened to escape my lips. I swiftly called at my mates through our mind link, Cameron and Chase, who were asleep in the adjacent room. In no time, they both rushed into my room. Their faces, marked with worry, scanned my trembling form.“Shit, shit, shit!” Chase cursed, rushing to sit beside me.“What’s wrong, love, bunny?” They asked in unison, their voices filled with worry.“I don’t know,” I managed to gasp out between clenched teeth. “I just don’t know! It feels as if something is tearing me apart from the inside!”"Okay, okay, calm down!" Cameron said, grabbing my hand. "We're here; we're