Chapter: Chapter 164I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. My 21st birthday, and I felt like a whale. Seven months pregnant, and I was huge. I puffed out a sigh, running my hands over my swollen belly, as I was told to expect popping soon since my babies had Alpha growth.Pups, they called them."I look like a hippopotamus," I muttered, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes.Chase appeared behind me, his arms wrapping around my waist. "You're the most beautiful woman in the world," he whispered, his lips brushing against my ear.I rolled my eyes. "You're biased."Chase chuckled. "Maybe, but it's true. You're glowing, Elodie. You're perfect."I turned to face him, my eyes searching his. "You really think so?" I sniffed my tears back.Chase nodded with a boyish grin. "I do. You're carrying our child, and that makes you even more beautiful to me."I felt a lump form in my throat. Chase had been my anchor throughout this pregnancy. He'd moved his work home, spending every day with
Last Updated: 2024-11-18
Chapter: Chapter 163_Chase’s POV_I sat beside Elodie's hospital bed, my eyes fixed on her pale face. It had been a week since she'd been admitted, and still, she lay unconscious, her body hooked up to machines and oxygen tubes. The beeping of the monitors and the hiss of the ventilator were the only sounds that broke the silence. My heart ached with every beat, my soul torn apart by the sight of her fragile form.I reached out, taking her hand in mine, feeling the warmth of her skin, but it was a faint warmth. I’d tried to reach her wolf a number of times, but she too was very weak.It was like grasping at smoke. She was there, somewhere, deep within her, but she was weak, so weak. I poured all my energy into the connection, willing her to respond, to stir, to come back to me. But there was only silence.The hospital had provided a bed for me beside hers, and I'd spent every waking moment by her side. I woke up every morning with her hand in mine, and slept every night with her fingers intertwined with
Last Updated: 2024-11-17
Chapter: Chapter 162Chapter 162_Chase’s POV_I paced back and forth in front of the barrier, my mind racing with every possible scenario, most of which I’d rather not recount lest they became real. Elodie had been in there for what felt like an eternity, and I was starting to lose my mind. I tried crossing the barrier again, but it was like running into a brick wall. I was pushed back, my body slamming against a nearby tree."Dammit!" I cursed, my fists clenched in frustration.Laila approached me. I’d seen more empathy in her eyes in the last few minutes than I’d done in my entire life, and if it were under any other circumstances, I would have laughed and asked her if she was losing her touch."Chase, calm down. You're going to hurt yourself,” she placed her hand on my shoulder, and from her misty eyes, I could tell how hard she was trying to control her tears.I turned to her, my eyes blazing with anger. "Calm down? You want me to calm down? Elodie's in there with a man who’s capable of doing……God k
Last Updated: 2024-11-17
Chapter: Chapter 161My mind was a jumble of emotions as I stood there, frozen in shock. But as I gazed into the face of the man before me, a memory long buried rose to the surface. I was a child again, sitting on my father's lap, listening to his deep, rumbling voice as he read me a bedtime story. His eyes sparkled with amusement, his hands making animations, and his smile was warm and gentle. I felt safe, loved, and cherished."Elodie, my little star," he whispered, his breath tickling my ear.His voice cut through the daze, and I felt like I was dreaming. I wanted to believe I was dreaming. But as I looked into his eyes, I knew it was real. He was really there, standing in front of me, unchanged since the day he...since the day he died.I stumbled backward, my mind reeling. It couldn't be. My father was dead. I had mourned him, blamed myself for his death. The pain and guilt had haunted me for years.But there he was, not a day older, not a single strand of gray hair. His eyes, his smile, everything wa
Last Updated: 2024-11-16
Chapter: Chapter 160Chase's face contorted in rage, his eyes blazing with fury. "I'll never let you go in there alone!" he thundered, his voice echoing through the night. My heart broke at the desperation in his eyes, and I rushed back to him, wrapping my arms around his waist."Chase, please," I whispered, burying my face in his chest. "I'll be fine. I promise."But he was beyond reason, and his body trembled with anger. "You're not going in there!" he shouted, his voice hoarse. "I won't let you!"He lightly pushed me away, his eyes scanning the warehouse as if daring the lone wolf to come out. "You want her?" he yelled, his voice carrying across the distance. "You want my mate? Come out and face me, you coward! If you think you're man enough!"The others tried to calm him down, but Chase was unstoppable. He paced back and forth, his eyes blazing with fury, the veins on his neck and forehead pulsing so hard I feared they would erupt. I tried to reason with him, but he wasn't listening."Chase, please,"
Last Updated: 2024-11-16
Chapter: Chapter 159As we stepped out of the office, the crisp night air enveloped us, carrying the scent of damp earth and the distant howl of feral wolves that made my heart squeeze painfully. "We'll need to be discreet," Chase said, his voice low. "Let's shift."I nodded, the pain momentarily giving way to a thrill of excitement. My wolf stirred within me, eager to be free. I closed my eyes, focusing on the transformation. My body began to shift, my bones snapping, my muscles stretching. My senses heightened, and my skin itched as my fur grew.But as I opened my eyes, I realized everyone was staring at me. Laila's eyes were wide with wonder, and even Gideon's gruff expression softened. I felt a flush rise to my cheeks, but Chase's gaze was the only one that mattered. His eyes shone with pride, his face radiant with awe."Elodie," he whispered, his voice husky. "You're...breathtaking."My wolf, pure white and majestic, stood tall, her fur glistening in the moonlight. I felt a surge of power, of freedo
Last Updated: 2024-11-16
Chapter: Chapter 57Ryker looked like he had more to say, but decided against it. He took one last glance at me, his eyes lingering on my face before he turned and walked away. I watched him go, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. I was relieved that he was gone, but at the same time, I couldn't shake off the feeling that he had been trying to tell me something important.I couldn’t understand why he was acting the way he was doing. Why he was acting like he hadn’t been avoiding me for days up until now.His shoulders slumped in defeat as he walked away and I couldn’t help but think something had changed with him. I could see it in his eye, but I couldn’t tell what that was.As soon as Ryker disappeared from view, I let out a shaky breath and felt a wave of tears wash over me. I had been holding them back for so long, but now that I was alone, I couldn't stop them. I felt so confused, so alone. I was in a coma and now I found out I was bedridden and my legs couldn’t move. I didn’t know what was
Last Updated: 2025-01-31
Chapter: Chapter 56I stared at the doctor, my eyes wide with shock. "An accident?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. "A coma?" How? How was that even possible? One minute I was shopping for groceries with Claire and the next minute, they were saying I had been in a coma, not for one, but for three whole days?!How on earth was that even possible? I didn’t want to believe it, but as the scent of antiseptic kept hitting my nostrils, I was filled with dread at the realization it might not be so far from the truth.The doctor nodded slowly. "Yes, Miss Arianna. You've been in an accident, and you've been in a coma for three days." He spoke slowly, enunciating each word as if he feared I might mishear.I felt like I had been punched in the gut. The air seemed to have been sucked out of my lungs, leaving me gasping for breath. I didn't remember anything. And even when I tried to remember, all I heard was a loud screeching sound that seemed to pierce through my brain. I rubbed my temples, trying to
Last Updated: 2025-01-31
Chapter: Chapter 55I slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. I didn't know where I was. All I knew was that I was on the ground. I could tell that much from how hard the surface was. I didn't know how I found myself there or even what I was doing there. I felt pain all over, like I had been in one cramped position for an unhealthy amount of time.As I struggled to sit up, the sun pierced my eyes painfully. I winced at the pain and struggled to cover my eyes. I blinked a few times to get used to the bright beams, and when I eventually did, I looked around and was shocked to find out where I was. I was in an open field, and that was all I could see for miles. No buildings, no animals, no humans. It was like I was just between the earth and the sky.I stood up shakily, trying to remember how I had gotten there. But no matter how hard I stressed my brain, I kept drawing a blank. I didn't even know where to start from. I tried to call for help, but all I got was the sound of my voice echoi
Last Updated: 2025-01-31
Chapter: Chapter 54_Ryker's POV_I drove quickly to the hospital, my heart racing with every mile I covered. I couldn’t believe it. She was right there. Right under my nose, literally, and I never say it.When I finally arrived at the hospital, I rushed out of the car and sprinted towards the entrance. I burst through the doors, my eyes scanning the hallway as I covered the distance to Arianna's room in long strides..As I entered the room, the little girl perked up and waved at me, a shy smile on her face. I scowled in return, and her smile slipped off her face. For a moment, I had totally forgotten about her.I ignored her and walked deeper into the room, my eyes fixed on Arianna. She lay motionless on the bed, her chest rising and falling with each breath. I felt my heart clench, and I had to swallow hard to keep my emotions in check.Jason was standing in the corner, his eyes fixed on me. I nodded at him, my voice barely above a whisper. "Thanks for watching her, Jason. I owe you one."Jason nodded
Last Updated: 2025-01-31
Chapter: Chapter 53_Ryker's POV_I made a beeline for the restaurant, shoving people out of my way as I did. When I reached Jason, I slapped some hundred dollar bills on the table, not even bothering to count them. "Jason, I have to go," I said hastily.Jason looked up at me, his brows knitted in surprise as he looked around probably to see what was chasing me. "What's going on, Ryker? You look like you've seen a ghost."I didn't have time to explain. I just shook my head and told him, "Take care of Arianna, I'll be back shortly."Jason's eyes widened in alarm. "Ryker, what's happening? You're scaring me."I didn't respond. I just turned to him and asked with my hands stretched out. "Give me your keys."Jason hesitated for a moment like he was weighing whether his car was safe with me in my current state or not. But he eventually pulled it out and I yanked it from him. "Ryker, what's going on?" he asked again, his voice laced with worry.I just flipped him off and rushed out of the restaurant, leaving J
Last Updated: 2025-01-31
Chapter: Chapter 52_Ryker's POV_As I sat there, my thoughts kept drifting back to and hovering around the birthmark. I kept staring at it, kept touching it. Could it be her? I reasoned, and the more I thought about it, the louder my heart beat in my chest.I shook my head, not wanting to think too much about it when I would find out shortly. My private investigator was the best in the game and could dig up anything about anyone in a matter of minutes.Instead, I focused my attention on Arianna again, wondering when she would wake up. She wasn’t even moving or anything, and that scared me. The only proof of life in her was her chest rising and falling slightly, but I still placed my finger under her nose to occasionally confirm it. I couldn’t be too sure.She looked too still and that scared the crap out of me.As I sat there staring at Arianna, I felt someone else staring at me. I looked up with a deep scowl, and the little girl snapped her eyes shut, pretending to be sleeping. I didn’t even know wheth
Last Updated: 2025-01-31
Chapter: Chapter 5I stood before the mirror, hardly recognizing the person staring back. The reflection showed a transformed woman, a far cry from the frail, broken girl I once was.Gone was the soft, rounded face, hidden behind layers of fat. My cheekbones now stood defined, my jawline sharp.Gone were the baggy clothes, concealing my body. My new wardrobe accentuated my curves, showcasing toned arms and legs.I’d gotten rid of the bangs, and my long, curly hair cascaded down my back, framing my determined face. My hazel eyes, once dull and lifeless, sparkled with a newfound fire.I gave myself one last one-over before slinging my bag over my shoulder, and walking out of the room.Downstairs, my family awaited. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon filled the air, enticing me to join them."Hey, sweetie, you look amazing!" My stepmom, whom I called mom, exclaimed, as I entered the kitchen. Her eyes shone with genuine pride.Dad had married her after my mom died when I was born, and she
Last Updated: 2024-09-27
Chapter: Chapter 4_Max’s POV_I leaned against the rooftop door, watching Kae teeter on the edge. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her face stained with tears.Yes, I knew her name, and even though I’d never bothered to talk to her –or anyone else really– I couldn’t help but ne fascinated by how her eyes lit up whenever she spoke about something that interested her.I’d watched her long enough to know.But as I stared at her now, that spark was gone, replaced by soulless depths.I'd seen desperation before.But this?This was something else.A deep-seated pain that seemed to consume her.I didn't do emotions.Not anymore.But something about Kae's brokenness intrigued me.Maybe it was the way she seemed to surrender to the darkness.Or maybe it was the spark of defiance still flickering within her.Whatever it was, I couldn't look away.As I approached her, Kae's eyes flashed with wariness.But I didn't reassure her.I didn't coddle.That wasn't my style."You've got more to lose than you think," I said, my v
Last Updated: 2024-09-27
Chapter: Chapter 3The next morning, I woke up with puffy eyes and a heavy heart. The memory of Jake's cruel words and Victoria's relentless taunts still lingered, making my stomach churn.As I dragged myself to school, the weight of my emotions threatened to suffocate me.The hallways, once familiar and comforting, now seemed like a never-ending gauntlet of ridicule.The school’s gossip mill seemed to be working overtime. The news of our breakup had spread like wildfire, and everyone seemed to be watching me, whispering, and snickering."Hey, Kae-pig, heard Jake finally realized he was dating a whale," someone jeered.I quickened my pace, but the comments followed me. They were everywhere."Looks like someone needs to go on a diet," another voice chimed in.Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.Not here.Not now.I spotted Emily, my former friend, whispering to a group of classmates."Did you hear Jake said she was too fat for him?" Emily giggled.The group erupted in
Last Updated: 2024-09-27
Chapter: Chapter 2We drove to the diner in silence, the tension between us thick. I tried to shake off the feeling of unease, attributing it to Victoria's cruel words earlier.But as we settled into a booth of our favorite diner, Jake's demeanor remained distant."Hey, can I get you something?" the waitress asked, breaking the silence.Jake ordered for us, his brown eyes never meeting mine.As the waitress left, Jake's gaze finally locked onto mine.But instead of warmth, I saw a cold calculation.“Is everything okay?” I asked, fiddling with my fingers under the table, an act I did whenever I was nervous."Kae, we need to talk," he said, his voice devoid of emotion.My heart sank.I didn’t like the sound of that."What's going on?" I asked, trying to sound calm despite the storm that was brewing inside of me.Jake leaned back, his eyes roaming over me."It's just...I don't think this is working out,” he gestured at the empty space between us.My mind reeled."What do you mean? We're fine, aren't we?" I
Last Updated: 2024-09-27
Chapter: Chapter 1The loud ringing of the bell shattered my daydreams, and I snapped my head up, packing my books hastily. The classroom emptied, and I followed, swept up in the sea of students flooding the hallway.It was the end of another torturous day in hell, and the hall was filled with boisterous noise and laughter.As I trudged through the the school hallway, the smell of stale sweat, fresh wax, and the faint scent of cafeteria food filled my nostrils. Lockers creaked open and shut, and the din of chatter and laughter enveloped me. I kept my head down, my bangs shielding my face like a curtain. Maybe if I remained invisible, they'd forget I existed.But fate had other plans.Victoria, the queen bee and my step-sister, strode toward me, her long legs eating up the distance. Her smirk was a warning sign, a precursor to the chaos that was about to ensue."Hey, fatty," she cooed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I see you're still struggling to fit into those jeans. Maybe you should try elastic w
Last Updated: 2024-09-27
Chapter: Chapter 153Six years later“And there you go,” I placed Adele's little plate in front of her.“Mama, give daddy some,” she said when she noticed I was yet to serve Ares.“Yeah, give daddy some,” Ares wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.“You're disgusting,” I laughed and swatted his arm before going back to the kitchen to get our own plates.Breakfast went by quickly with Ares asking the kids about their week in school, and light chatter went round the table.After breakfast, I sat on the couch, surrounded by the loves of my life. Ares snuggled beside me, his head on my shoulder, while the twins, Emily and Jackson, and their baby sister Adele, played on the floor. The room was filled with laughter and the sound of tiny feet pattering around.I couldn't help but think about just how lucky I was to have a complete family with the man I love. In the last six years, the pack has thrived to new heights, but no matter how busy he was, Ares always made time for his family and I couldn't be more gratefu
Last Updated: 2024-05-31
Chapter: Chapter 152I slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. I was in a hospital room, surrounded by beeping machines and sterile walls so white it made my head ache.I felt like I'd been run over a train many times and every part of me ached.Ares jumped up from where he was seating on the couch, grabbing my hand. His eyes were red-rimmed from lack of sleep, tugging at my heart painfully."Hey," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "Welcome back."I tried to speak, but my throat was dry and sore. He helped me sit up, and quickly handed me a glass of water, and I drank greedily, the cold water sliding down my throat and bringing life back to my body.“You're here,” I mumbled after handing the cup back to him.He nodded rapidly and clasped my hand with his, bringing it to his lips. “You're here too. You came back for me,” he kissed my hand.I brought my hand hooked with IV up and ran my fingers through his overgrown hair. His shoulders shook lightly and I knew he was crying.
Last Updated: 2024-05-31
Chapter: Chapter 151I gulped. The malice and anger in his voice were so palpable I didn't doubt him.He sneered, seeing his words had the desired effect on me before pulling away.My eyes followed him as he walked to the far end of the room and picked a sword from the wall.He let the sword hang loosely on his hand and the tip grated on the concrete floor, making a shrill sound.He stopped a few feet in front of me, and I clenched my teeth, looking as bold as I possibly could.“Jason, do we have to kill her?” Galia asked, biting her lips.He turned to her and his eyes narrowed in slits.“Don't tell me you're chickening out now,” he spat.She shifted her weight from one feet to the other, looking uncomfortable. “It's the Alpha we want. We don't have to kill her,” she repeated.“It seems like you've forgotten what this bitch did to you. To me!” He yelled. “Let me remind you.”I could see Galia's resolve breaking, but he was trying to get in her head.“She made you irrelevant. You lived in her shadows for y
Last Updated: 2024-05-31
Chapter: Chapter 150My eyes opened and the first thing I noticed was the banging pain in my head. The room was utterly dark and somewhere in the far corner, I could hear the steady leaking of water, and the putrid smell of the place hit me square in the face.I groaned in pain, as I tried to move the searing pain in around my chest and arms told me I was bound. The silver burned deeply into my skin, causing me to roll my eyes in pain, and stay still on the chair.I felt something cold trickling down the side of my face and one sniff in the air, I knew it was blood.I tried to remember how I'd ended up in this position and after a few seconds of trying, my memory came back to me in bits and pieces till I made sense of the whole picture.I gritted my teeth and tried to break out of my restraints, but the more I did, the more it burned my skin.I closed my eyes to stop the tears that were threatening to fall. Just when everything was beginning to fall in place, this happens.My mind went to Ares, and I tri
Last Updated: 2024-05-31
Chapter: Chapter 149The meeting was dragging on longer than expected, and I shifted uncomfortably many times in my seat.I sat at my place at the head of the table, staring blankly at the papers in front of me while the presenter’s voice grated at my consciousness.I was supposed to be attentive and giving my inputs on crucial business deal with the foreign investors, but my mind kept wandering and my wolf kept pacing, making me even more restless.Pulling out my phone, I dialed her number for the third time and clenched my fist around the device when I was sent straight to her voicemail.I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had been plaguing me all day.After a few minutes, I tried to focus on the numbers and figures, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Tabitha, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.I tried to mind-link her through the matebond, but all I got was silence.“Fuck!” I slammed my fist on the table.Some people jumped in fear and others looked up at me warily, concerned
Last Updated: 2024-05-31
Chapter: Chapter 148I woke up the next morning with a smile on my face, feeling like I was walking on air. I was back with Ares, and this time, they were mated. My fingertips traces his mark on my neck and I smiled at the tingly sensation. So this was what being bound to someone felt like.Nyx was as happy as she could be and I'd never felt at peace like I was doing now, in his arms, knowing we had overcome the hurdle that separated us, and I was his like he was mine.It had been two weeks since we got back together, but we still couldn't get enough of each other.We had spent the everyday in these two weeks snuggled up together, only leaving the bed to receive our food that Ares had ordered for, and when totally necessary, and these two weeks have been the happiest of my life.I felt closer to him more than ever now and understood him on a different level since I could now feel what he was feeling through the mate bond, and most times, those feelings were unholy ones that had us tangled underneath the
Last Updated: 2024-05-30