DAPHNE The dining hall was quieter than usual, but the tension in the air was suffocating. I had been summoned here by one of the maids....a formality, they said, as the Alpha wanted all members of the household present for a formal announcement.I tried to keep my head down as I entered, clutching the hem of my simple dress. The long table was already filled with pack members of importance.....Betas, advisors, and, of course, Fiona. She sat at the head of the table, her posture perfect, her gaze sharp as a blade. She was every bit the Luna elegant, composed, untouchable.As my eyes swept across the room, I realized that Alpha Enzo wasn’t there. My heart sank. I didn’t know why his absence bothered me so much, but it did. I didn’t have much time to dwell on it because the moment Fiona’s cold gaze landed on me, my skin prickled with unease.“Ah, the breeder decides to join us,” Fiona said, her voice sweet but laced with venom.The room fell silent. Every head turned in my direction, e
DAPHNE The moonlight spilled through the large windows of the Alpha’s study, casting a silvery glow on the polished wood floors. I had been summoned to bring him tea, though I suspected it was more of an excuse than a need. My heart raced as I approached the door, balancing the tray in trembling hands. I hated the effect he had on me, but it was something I couldn’t control.He hadn’t spoken to me much since that night, not beyond clipped instructions or curt acknowledgments. And yet, I caught him staring when he thought I wasn’t looking. It was a tug-of-war between his duty to Fiona and whatever it was that burned between us, a tension so palpable it left me breathless.I pushed the door open quietly and stepped inside. He was seated behind his large desk, his head bowed over a stack of papers, one hand resting against his temple. Even in this moment of stillness, his presence filled the room, commanding and unyielding.“Alpha,” I murmured, keeping my voice soft.His head snapped
FionaI sat in front of the ornate mirror in my quarters, carefully applying the crimson lipstick Enzo once said suited me best. My hands were steady, my reflection unflinching, but the storm inside me was anything but calm. Ever since she had arrived, I couldn’t go a single moment without thinking about her.Daphne. The breeder.Even the word churned my stomach.When Enzo first brought up his plan to bring someone into the pack to bear his heir, I’d thought it was just that.....a plan, a hypothetical idea. But when he sat me down in his office and spoke the words aloud, I realized this wasn’t a passing thought for him. He’d made his decision.“It’s the only way,” he had said, his voice calm and final, as though he were discussing strategy. “The pack needs an heir, Fiona. You know we’ve tried everything.”I remember sitting there, stunned, my fingers gripping the edge of my chair so tightly I thought I might break it. “We could keep trying,” I had said, my voice low and trembling, tho
Fiona My grip tightened on the windowsill as the thought echoed in my mind: What if I’d already lost him?No. I refused to entertain that possibility. Enzo and I had been through too much, endured too many battles, shared too many scars, for him to abandon me now. He was loyal to me, to this bond, to everything we’d built together.And yet, the doubt lingered like a poison, spreading through my veins and seeping into every corner of my thoughts.I turned away from the window and began pacing the room, my heels clicking against the floor. This wasn’t me, I wasn’t the type to wallow in insecurities or allow emotions to rule me. I was strong, composed, and deliberate in every action I took.But she...Daphne had changed everything.I hated her for it. Hated her for the way she invaded my life, my home, and, most unforgivably, my marriage. She didn’t do it intentionally, but that made it worse. If she had been conniving or manipulative, I could have confronted her. I could have fought he
Daphne I stepped cautiously down the grand staircase, my hand brushing lightly against the polished oak railing. Beside me was Tobias, the pack doctor, his warm laughter filling the air as we descended together. His company was easy, his charm disarming. After everything I had endured these past weeks, our conversations felt like a small pocket of peace.“…and that’s when the Beta decided to challenge the Alpha to a drinking contest,” Tobias was saying, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement. “Let’s just say I spent the rest of the night trying to cure their hangovers while they argued over who actually won.”I chuckled softly, the mental image of a tipsy Alpha and Beta was too ridiculous not to laugh at. “And who did win?”“Neither of them,” Tobias said with a grin. “I confiscated the bottle halfway through.”I laughed harder this time, clutching the railing for support. It wasn’t often that I laughed these days, but Tobias had a knack for pulling it out of me. His humor was effortl
Enzo The moonlight spilled into my office, casting a pale glow across the room. I sat behind my desk, fingers steepled under my chin, staring blankly at the documents in front of me. They were urgent matters for the pack, requests, updates on patrols, and reports on rogue activity but none of it held my attention. My thoughts had veered far from my responsibilities.Her face refused to leave my mind. Daphne.The way her eyes sparkled when she smiled. The sound of her soft laughter, something I’d heard only a handful of times. And that kiss, gods help me, that kiss. I could still feel the warmth of her lips on mine, the way she’d melted against me like she was made to fit there.I slammed my fist against the desk, the sharp crack breaking the silence of the room. The papers scattered, but it didn’t matter. None of it mattered.She wasn’t supposed to get under my skin. She wasn’t supposed to make me feel… this.When I brought Daphne into this pack, it was for one purpose: to give me an
Daphne The moment Enzo disappeared around the corner, I felt my knees wobble, and I gripped the railing for support. My heart was still racing from the encounter, and my mind was spinning with confusion and a whirlwind of emotions.What was that about?I replayed his words over and over in my head. “You’re mine.” The possessiveness in his voice, the way his dark eyes had bored into mine, it was like he was claiming me all over again, not as some duty-bound breeder, but as something... more.And yet, as quickly as it came, the moment had ended. He left me standing there, a storm of emotions swirling in my chest.I exhaled shakily and turned to continue down the staircase. Tobias’s earlier kindness had been a fleeting comfort, but now it felt overshadowed by Enzo’s brooding presence.When I reached the ground floor, the packhouse seemed quieter than usual, the air heavy with unspoken tension. A part of me wanted to retreat to my room, to process what had just ha
Fiona The first spark of anger lit inside me as soon as Tobias delivered the news.“She’s healed,” he said, his tone calm and professional as though he hadn’t just ruined my day. “There’s no longer any reason to delay.”I stood in the shadows of the hallway, watching as Tobias informed Enzo. My husband nodded, his expression unreadable, but I knew him well enough to recognize the subtle shift in his posture. He wasn’t just relieved—he was… pleased.My blood boiled.The idea of her, that omega being in his arms, taking what was meant to be mine, was unbearable. For weeks, I’d convinced myself this situation was temporary. A breeder, that’s all she was. A necessary evil to ensure the future of the pack.But the look in Enzo’s eyes told me otherwise.I bit my lip, holding back a growl as I spun on my heel and stormed toward my room. The heels of my boots clicked sharply against the floor, echoing through the quiet hall.This wasn’t supposed to happen.When Enzo first proposed the idea o
Enzo The door slammed shut behind me, Fiona’s sharp words still ringing in my ears. My jaw clenched as I strode down the hallway, my boots hitting the wooden floor with heavy thuds. This wasn’t the life I had envisioned. I had always known Fiona to be territorial, but the presence of Daphne had ignited something far worse.This was why I had resisted the idea of a breeder in the first place. A simple plan, an heir to break the curse and ensure the survival of my pack. No attachments, no emotions. But nothing was simple anymore.I turned a corner and froze. Tobias was standing near the staircase with Daphne.They were talking, their heads tilted toward each other, smiles tugging at their lips. Daphne’s delicate laughter floated through the air, soft yet vibrant, and for a moment, I was rooted to the spot.Jealousy surged through me like wildfire.The way Tobias looked at her, it was too familiar, too comfortable. And Daphne... She seemed happy. Not the subdued, cautious woman I had co
Daphne The hours after Enzo left the garden felt like a lifetime. The crash had sent a ripple of unease through the pack house, and though I didn’t know the source of the chaos, I could feel the tension thickening in the air.I lingered in the garden for as long as I could, hoping that the fresh air might calm my racing heart. But when the sun dipped below the horizon, and the cold began to seep into my bones, I reluctantly made my way back inside.The pack house was eerily quiet as I walked through the halls. Normally, I’d hear laughter or the low murmur of conversation, but tonight, there was nothing but the faint creak of the wooden floorboards beneath my feet.As I approached the staircase leading to my room, I heard voices drifting from the dining hall. Curious and more than a little apprehensive, I crept closer, careful to stay out of sight.“You’ve gone too far this time, Fiona,” Enzo’s voice growled, low and dangerous.“I’ve done nothing but protect this pack,” Fiona snapped
DaphneThe days had grown colder, and with them, the atmosphere in the pack house. The rogue’s words lingered like a curse over everyone, and while no one dared to speak openly about it, I could feel the weight of their suspicion.I tried to distract myself with small tasks, arranging the books in the library, helping in the kitchen, even wandering the gardens when no one was around but nothing could ease the knot in my chest. Every time I passed someone, their gaze lingered a second too long, and the whispers started before I was even out of earshot.It was Fiona, of course, who made her disapproval the loudest."Careful with the silverware, Daphne," she said one morning as I placed the polished knives on the dining table. Her tone was sweet, but her smile was sharp. "We wouldn’t want you to cut yourself. Or anyone else."My cheeks burned as the pack members sitting nearby chuckled under their breath. I wanted to snap back, to tell her to mind her own business, but I bit my tongue an
DaphneThe morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the pack house, warming my skin as I stepped into the dining hall. It should have been a peaceful morning, but the air was thick with unease. Whispers rippled through the pack like wildfire. I couldn’t ignore the furtive glances sent my way or the abrupt silences that fell whenever I entered a room.I tried to push it aside, focusing on my daily tasks, but the tension wrapped around me like a suffocating blanket. Something was wrong.It wasn’t until I heard the distant howls, sharp, desperate cries that sent a shiver down my spine that my fears solidified. My heart raced as I hurried to the window, peering out to see a group of patrol wolves carrying a prisoner between them.A rogue.My pulse quickened as the Alpha’s commanding voice boomed from outside. Enzo was in his element, his tone calm yet laced with authority. As much as I wanted to stay away from the commotion, curiosity tugged at me. Before I could talk myself
Daphne Enzo's hand moved gently up my back, his touch warm and steady, as though he were trying to reassure me of something he couldn’t yet say. His strength enveloped me, but it wasn’t suffocating. It was protective, anchoring. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this safe, this… seen. The storm of my thoughts began to quiet, leaving only the sound of our breaths mingling in the cool night air.“You confuse me,” I whispered, daring to meet his intense gaze again. His dark eyes seemed to gleam under the soft light of the moon, full of emotions I couldn’t decipher.“How so?” he asked, his voice low and husky, sending a tremor through me.I hesitated, unsure how much of my heart I wanted to reveal. But something about this moment, this man, made it impossible to hold back. “One moment, you’re distant, cold—like you can’t even stand to look at me. And then, you’re here, holding me like I mean something to you.”He let out a deep sigh, his hand moving to cradle the back of my head.
Daphne The moonlight spilled through the sheer curtains of my room, casting a soft, silvery glow on the walls. I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my hands, my thoughts tangled in the chaos of the last few days. Fiona's accusations still clung to me like a suffocating shroud, even though Enzo had believed my innocence. I didn’t know why, but the memory of the way he had hugged me lingered in my mind, warming me in a way I didn’t want to admit.The garden was serene under the glow of the full moon, its soft light reflecting off the dew-kissed petals of the roses. The gentle rustling of leaves and the chirping of crickets filled the night air, creating a sense of calm that contrasted sharply with the storm inside me. I had come here to think, to escape the weight of everything that had happened over the past few days.But I wasn’t alone.I felt his presence before I saw him. That familiar scent of cedar and musk drifted toward me, sending a shiver down my spine. My heart quickened
Enzo The weight of the moment lingered with me as I stepped out of Daphne’s room, the door clicking softly shut behind me. My heart was still pounding, and for a fleeting moment, I leaned against the wall, closing my eyes to steady myself.What was I doing? How had I let this happen?Daphne wasn’t supposed to matter. She was here to serve a purpose, nothing more. I had told myself that from the beginning, drilled it into my head so thoroughly that it had become my mantra. But somewhere along the way, her quiet strength, her unyielding spirit, had cracked through the walls I had built. And now, I couldn’t look at her without feeling the weight of something deeper, something I wasn’t sure I wanted to name.I took a deep breath, straightening up. This wasn’t the time to dwell on feelings I couldn’t afford. There was a more pressing issue at hand, someone in my pack had set Daphne up. Someone had planted Fiona’s necklace in her room, knowing the chaos it would cause. And there was no dou
Enzo The room felt suffocating as Daphne stood before me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Her small frame trembled under the weight of the accusation, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. The tension in the air was thick, and I hated every second of it."I didn’t take it, Alpha," she finally said, her voice breaking. “I don’t know how it ended up there. You have to believe me.”The sincerity in her voice was like a knife twisting in my chest. For a moment, I stood still, my jaw tight, watching the way her hands wrung together in front of her. I wanted to believe her, I did believe her but the evidence was damning, and Fiona's accusations only added to the fire."Explain, then," I said, my voice harsher than I intended. "How does Fiona’s necklace end up in your room? It doesn’t just appear there by magic, Daphne."Her head snapped up, and for a moment, I saw a flash of defiance in her eyes. “I don’t know!” she cried. “I swear on my lif
Fiona The first spark of anger lit inside me as soon as Tobias delivered the news.“She’s healed,” he said, his tone calm and professional as though he hadn’t just ruined my day. “There’s no longer any reason to delay.”I stood in the shadows of the hallway, watching as Tobias informed Enzo. My husband nodded, his expression unreadable, but I knew him well enough to recognize the subtle shift in his posture. He wasn’t just relieved—he was… pleased.My blood boiled.The idea of her, that omega being in his arms, taking what was meant to be mine, was unbearable. For weeks, I’d convinced myself this situation was temporary. A breeder, that’s all she was. A necessary evil to ensure the future of the pack.But the look in Enzo’s eyes told me otherwise.I bit my lip, holding back a growl as I spun on my heel and stormed toward my room. The heels of my boots clicked sharply against the floor, echoing through the quiet hall.This wasn’t supposed to happen.When Enzo first proposed the idea o