hing bag. Sweat dripped down her brow, her jaw clenched as she struck the bag repe

oncerned expression. "Today is Tob's Remembrance Day

e caught her breath. "I will... when I'm done," she muttered befo

fateful day in the Moon Shadow

shb

isted in fury as he glared down at Kiara. "How dare you do that to Sele

she sobbed. Her hands gently cupped the slight curve of

said, her voice quivering as she looked around, eyes desperate for sympathy. "How could you, Kiara

y for causin

themselves, their expressions tw

nster," one

o such a thing?"

her," a woman muttered, crossing her a

ing. "I swear, I didn't do it! She's lyin

"I permitted you to stay in this pack despite the horrible things you did to

"Is it because I rejected you? Is that why

twisted in rage and disgust. "Kiara, you

r father, her voice trembling. "Dad, you know I didn'

r eyes pleading, her heart breaking as she lo

regret ever calling you my daughter. how could you do this to you

lled, put he

, Jace Damon, Alpha of the Moon Sh

f this pack. If you retu

ng to her knees. "Alpha Jace, please

u saying your Luna is lying?

ther whispered, s

Take her to the cells. No food o

ged her mother away. Please! Leave my mother out of this

her mother away. Please, Alpha, don

, her eyes desperate.

n. "Jace! The baby!" she gasped, clutching her bel

up and leading her to his chamber, his

her to the border. Throw he

ey dragged her out, her mothe

g her as she screamed and struggled. "Ple

at the pack's border. Before she co

nd again until her knuckles bled. Tears mingled with s

? she whispered, her voice b

mory flashed th

voice said. "What do we have here

es a little plaything, one

ered, backing away as her eyes dar

ues leering down at her. Don't worry, sweetheart. We'll

scrambling back. I don't ha

r, sinking deep into the chest of the rogue holding her. His eyes wi

t a lady like that," a

an with dark hair and piercing green eyes. He stepped out from

hissed, their face

m down one by one. His movements were swift and brutal.

iara, his expression so

sed herself against the wall. "Please... don't hur

hed Tob's lips. I w

rd her, his eyes search

ad, wiping her tea

d, a warm smile touchi

ia

aded?" Tob asked,

her voice breaking.

id. I live in the human w

ed but nodded

-

ring buildings and bustling streets. When they arrived at Tob's mansio

" Tob said, op

stairs, yawning. Hey, Tob.

aying with us from now on. And Kiara, this is James, my frien

yes softening as he met K

ng room when Lily came down the stairs, yawni

, and Tob rushed in. "Where?"

at Kiara. "

g his eyes. "Lily, you

is eyes. "Lily, this is Kiara. You wer

t be the only girl anymore? Yay! She rushed to Ki

. Maybe, just maybe, she co

ing starts in ten minutes. After training, you can order breakfast, he said, hi

what I mean? Being the only girl among boys is terrible. T

s and went on. That reminds me, Lily,

feel like going to school, she said

w set. You will, and y

his mouth to p

snapped. "Now, to

to training. Maybe they'll let me order breakfast while they're b

when Kiara's soft voic

eyebrows ra

n the training? I want to learn how to defend myself... to

art sank at his silence. "I'm sorry," she

. surprised. You're the first girl I've met who wants to learn how

her apprehension. I want to be strong. I want to pr

softened. Why did

enched, her gaze falling to the floor. It's okay.

forcing a small

is tone shifting. "Let's he

keep up with the intense regimen, sweat drenching her body as she pushed through each gruel

rd yet impressed. "Good. Again," he said as Ki

up sat in a circle, panting and gulping down water. Tob's gaze

t have any. My father never allowed me to go to school. But I r

owed. Why would y

warned, hi

rcing a weak smile. I shoul

plained her past, her father's cruelty, h

ry. Your father is awful. And your ex-mate..." She reached over and

ered, and she no

you want to become in the future

e small. I want to study

t up. "Really?

'll go to Lily's school and speak with the pr

dened. "Thank y

clapping her hands. "Yay!

Lily. Speaking of school... you'r

rumpled into

your life? Tob demanded, crossing hi

. "Makeup. I want to

t's not a career. Pick some

not going to school today. Kiara and

spend too much," he muttered, rubbing the bridge of his

ten minutes, Lily called out, pulli

ack to the present. After drying off, she slipped into a black fitted turtleneck, black skinny jeans, and a pair o

Kiara said,

e ride. No one said a word, each lost in their thoughts. The only soun

y that matched the somber mood. Lily walked forward, her hands trembling as she held the bouquet o

other, my father, my brother, my sister... You were everything. I miss you, Tob. I

ts Ltd. I wish you were here to see your baby sister all grown up, I wish I coul

she sobbed. Xander and I were cry

fixed ahead, struggling to hold back his tears

ly to her feet. "We'll be in the

in front of Tob's grave, her shoulders shaking as the memories came flooding bac

day to become stronger, faster, and more resilient. Over time, she honed her skills, becoming a

attack that changed everything. Xander, on the other hand, was once a rogue himself. His pack had banished him after accusing him of murdering his parents and sister, a crime he d

n going well until

ne and damp earth filling the air. The wind whispered through the tre

llness. The birds stopped singing. The wind died. And then

behind, his claws digging into her arms as he yanked h

rough the forest as he stepped fo

ster grin. "Tob," he sneered, his yellow eyes gleaming. "After all these ye

o this!" Lily cried,

his fists clenched, but t

ng taunted, pressing a knife t

screamed, tears streaming down her face. I'm grateful for the time I had with you al

ed his jaw, his shoulders slumping as he took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Kiara," he

ped to his knees be

ing with satisfaction. You finally surrender

one of his men released a poison-tipped arrow. It wh

truggling desperately as the rogue pin

mile forming on his lips. I'm sorry, Kiara, he

is eyes cold and merciless as he

ing against the rogue's grip. But

d into Tob's chest, ripping out his heart. Blood splattered acro

s, sobbing uncontrollably as the rogue kin

ay with all her strength. She collapsed beside Tob, pulling

s spilling onto his lifeless face. No!

ck and forth, her heart shatteri

calm. I can't let you all go. Tob needs company in t

signaling to his m

, untamed power surged through her, shaking the very ground beneath her feet. Thunder roared across the

e a clap of thunder. Why did yo

im because he killed my son for that little bitch over there, he spat. My son just wanted to have some fun with her, and h

faster than a streak of lightning. She seized his throat, her claws diggi

son slaughtered Tob's pack. And he still wanted Lily dead. Both you and your son are monsters. You said Tob n

ll be the one to escort Tob. And you'll join your son soon en

a drove her claws into his chest, piercing his heart. Blood gushed forth, staining her hands as th

brutal end, howled in terror and scattered int

eath her feet, and the blinding light in her eyes flickered before

onth

was bathed in soft morning light, and

ed, rushing to her side.

blurry. "What... what happened

ard, his jaw tight

ss body, the blood, the rogue king's taunting grin. "No..." she

d his head. "I'm sorry, Kiara. We lost him

ed her face in her hands. The guilt gnawed at her like a relentless

e ruthlessly, driven by a thirst for vengeance. Depression swallowed her whole, and

o had once hated training, became a fierce fighter. The four of them formed a merciless

was thei

Kiara clenched her fists. I miss you, Tob, she whispered, her voice br

ng beside her, his eyes filled with pain. It wasn't your fault, Kiara, he

eaned against James, her sobs ec

them huddled together, grieving for the brother