Stephanie’s POV
The moonlight filtered through my curtains, casting soft patterns on the wooden floor. I sat at the edge of my bed, my mind racing. Every event, every conversation, every glance from Reyna or Diane seemed like pieces of a puzzle I couldn’t quite fit together.
The announcement at breakfast replayed in my mind. A moonlight party. Elders demanding mates be chosen. My stomach churned at the thought. There was something inherently political about these gatherings, a dance of power and influence that I’d never felt comfortable with.
A soft knock on the door startled me. Before I could answer, the door creaked open, revealing Reyna.
“Can’t sleep either?” she asked, stepping in without waiting for an invitation.
I shook my head, motioning for her to sit. “There’s too much on my mind.”
She sighed, sinking onto the chair by the window. “Tell me about it. Diane’s stares could burn holes in steel, and Jake…” She trailed off, her expression unreadable.
I arched an eyebrow. “Jake?”
Reyna glanced at me, then quickly looked away. “Nothing. Just… forget it.”
I didn’t press. We sat in silence for a moment before Reyna spoke again, her voice softer this time. “Do you ever feel like you’re being pulled in a hundred different directions? Like no matter what you do, someone’s always watching, waiting for you to make the wrong move?”
I nodded. “All the time.”
Her lips quirked into a small, bitter smile. “Figures. You and I aren’t so different, Steph. Everyone wants something from us, but no one really asks what we want.”
I studied her, trying to decipher the meaning behind her words. There was a vulnerability there, one I hadn’t seen before.
“What do you want, Reyna?” I asked gently.
Her gaze met mine, and for a fleeting moment, I thought she might actually answer. But then she shook her head, standing abruptly. “Doesn’t matter. Goodnight, Stephanie.”
And just like that, she was gone, leaving me with more questions than answers.
—
Jake’s POV
The moonlight party was still days away, but the preparations were already in full swing. The packhouse buzzed with activity-decorations being hung, food being prepared, and whispered conversations about who might be chosen as mates.
I stood in the training grounds, overseeing a group of younger wolves sparring. My mind, however, was elsewhere.
Reyna.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Her laughter at breakfast, the way she stood her ground against Diane, her confidence… it all lingered in my thoughts like a stubborn shadow.
“Alpha Jake?”
I turned to see Seth approaching, his expression serious.
“What is it?” I asked, straightening.
“We’ve received reports from the southern border,” he said. “Marcus’s men have retreated completely, but there’s something strange about it. It’s too sudden, too clean. I think they’re regrouping for something bigger.”
I frowned, considering his words. Marcus wasn’t one to give up easily. If he’d pulled back, it was only to bide his time.
“Double the patrols,” I ordered. “And keep an eye on any unusual movements. We can’t afford to let our guard down.”
Seth nodded. “Understood. And one more thing-about the moonlight party. Have you decided…?”
“I’ll decide when the time comes,” I interrupted, my tone sharper than intended.
Seth hesitated, then nodded again before leaving.
Alone once more, I let out a heavy sigh. The weight of leadership was one I bore willingly, but moments like this made it feel suffocating. The thought of choosing a mate, of tying myself to someone for the sake of duty rather than love, gnawed at me.
And then there was Reyna.
—
Marcus’s POV
The walls of my office seemed to close in around me as I paced, the phone call from my sentinels still ringing in my ears. Sarah had escaped, slipping through our grasp like sand through fingers. And now, the plan was unraveling faster than I could contain it.
Lexon sat across from me, his arms crossed as he watched my restless movements.
“We’ll find her,” he said, his tone calm but firm. “She won’t get far.”
“She’s already gone too far,” I snapped. “If she makes it to their territory, she’ll spill everything. And then it’s over.”
Lexon didn’t respond, his silence only fueling my frustration.
Before I could say more, my phone buzzed again. I snatched it up, my eyes narrowing at the caller ID. Jacob.
“What now?” I barked into the phone.
Jacob’s voice was strained, a mix of anger and desperation. “The plan failed. Sarah’s out there, and Ryan and Sally are useless. But we can still salvage this. I’ll get Reyna out of there, I swear.”
“You think I care about your promises?” I growled. “You’ve had your chance, Jacob. Now it’s out of your hands.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying the time you were given has run out. From now on, I’m handling this myself.”
Jacob sputtered a protest, but I ended the call, tossing the phone onto the desk.
“Who was that?” Lexon asked.
“Jacob,” I said curtly. “The idiot still thinks he can fix this. But it’s too late for that.”
Lexon leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “So what now?”
I met his gaze, my jaw tightening. “Now we play our next move. And this time, we don’t leave anything to chance.”
—
Stephanie’s POV
The atmosphere in the dining hall was charged with unspoken tension as I entered with Reyna. Diane’s glare was enough to set the room on fire, but I kept my head high, refusing to let her intimidate me.
John greeted us with a warm smile, gesturing for us to join him at the table. Jake was already seated, his expression as unreadable as ever.
“Thank you for coming,” John said as Reyna and I took our seats. “It’s important that we start acting like a united pack.”
Diane scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “United, you say? How quaint.”
John ignored her, turning his attention to Reyna. “I hear you’re quite skilled with a bow. Perhaps you could teach me a thing or two.”
Reyna laughed, her eyes sparkling. “I’d be happy to. But only if you can keep up.”
As they exchanged banter, I noticed Jake watching Reyna intently, his jaw clenched. It was a subtle thing, but it didn’t escape my notice.
“Stephanie,” John said suddenly, pulling me from my thoughts. “You’ve barely touched your food. Is everything all right?”
I forced a smile, though my appetite was nonexistent. “I’m fine. Just tired, that’s all.”
John frowned but didn’t press the issue as I excused myself from the table.
Once I was alone in my room, I sank onto the bed, my thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and unease. Something was brewing beneath the surface, something I couldn’t quite put into words. And I had a sinking feeling that whatever it was, it would change everything.