Tamara’s POVLater that night, I had Dante's arm wrapped lazily around me, his fingers gently stroking through my hair as he inhaled my scent softly.We were lying together in the warmth of his large bed and I snuggled deeper into his chest, feeling his steady heartbeat under my ear. Being in his arms always made me feel safe, like nothing else in the world mattered but the two of us, like Jack wasn’t trying to kill me and take my pack, like Ana, Lilly and other women weren’t trying to hurt me. It was perfect.“You know,” Dante’s deep voice finally broke the comfortable silence, “I’ve been thinking… I want you to meet my mother and, brother and sister. I think it’s about Time.”His words instantly sent a thrill of excitement through me, but that excitement was immediately followed by a wave of nerves. I tilted my head back slightly to look at him. “Really? You… you want me to meet them?”Dante chuckled softly, his hand continuing to run through my hair. “Of course. They’re the
Dante's POV I woke up with the morning light filtering through the curtains, casting a beautiful halo around Tamara’s face as she slept beside me. I smiled before giving into temptation and leaning over to press a kiss on her lips. Her eyes fluttered open with a smile, but then she paused and there was a hesitation in her gaze that was unmistakable. It was like she didn’t want to kiss me back right away, and it made my heart sink a little.“Good morning,” I whispered, trying to keep my voice light.“Morning,” she murmured, but there was a tightness to her smile.I leaned back, studying her for a moment. Ever since yesterday, when she accidentally bit me, something had shifted between us. I hadn’t thought much of it at the time—maybe she had just gotten a little too excited at the time and it didn’t bother me—but now, I could tell it must have been a problem to her. She kept withdrawing, pulling away whenever I tried to get close until I finally sighed.“You’re still thinking about
Tamara’s POV This morning, as I watched Dante drive away, the sudden pang of heartache that hit me hard, caught me off guard.I mean, I knew he was only supposed to be gone for two days, but the way the thought of him being away made my chest tighten, you would have thought he had dumped me. This wasn’t the first time we’d been apart, because it was not so long ago that I was giving him the silent treatment over Ana, but this separation felt different today. It felt much much worse.I returned to our room and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the door he had just walked through, realizing how much I had grown attached to him. Wasn’t it a little too much? Like, it was just a few weeks ago that I was vowing off men for good, and now it felt like I was addicted to his presence. Was this just a reaction from the mating bond, or something more?It has to be the bond, I told myself, frowning slightly.But my wolf stirred within me, her voice brushing against my mind with disb
Dante’s POV I stood on one side of the room, fuming, while Reuben sat across from me, his eyes still burning with that same arrogant glare. He had always been like this, stubborn, competitive —testing my patience, pushing buttons he knew would set me off. But this time, it wasn’t just about him getting under my skin. It was about Tamara. And no one dares disrespects her in my presence, not even my own brother.“Enough!” Our mother’s sharp voice cut through the tension like a knife. “You two are acting like rotten children! Is this how an Alpha and a nobleman behave? Even your sister Ciri is more matured than both of you knuckle heads!”I glanced at her. My mother, Lady Regina was standing tall, her eyes narrowed with disappointment, the regal air around her commanding attention. Even Reuben’s glare faltered under her gaze. She never had to raise her voice, but when she was angry, you felt it deep in your bones.“Reuben,” she said sharply, turning her attention to him, “how dare y
Tamara’s POV I walked out of the hospital with Violet by my side, the annoying confusion from Dr. Laura’s was words still bugging me. She said the person who could help me understand all these was My anchor. Now Who could that be? The thought ate at me, making my steps feel heavier.“Don’t overthink it,” Violet said, her voice soft, sensing my inner turmoil. “You’ll find out who your anchor is soon. Dr. Laura said you’ll definitely meet them.”I sighed, running my fingers through my hair in frustration. “No, she said I should have already met them, But who is it then? Jack, Kate, Richard? It can’t be them. If they knew I was reborn and I remembered their plans to kill me, they’d have already tried something. They’re still acting out the same old routines from before... like they haven’t changed at all.”Violet frowned. “That’s a good point. If one of them were your anchor, they wouldn’t be playing the same roles they did last time.”I let out a frustrated breath. “Darn it! I h
Tamara's POV After the delicious, knee curling, intimate night with Dante, I lay cuddled against him, listening to the slow rhythm of his heartbeat. His warm muscular body pressed against me, his strong arm pulling me closer as I rested my head on his chest. A sweet feeling of peace settled over me, something I really hadn’t felt in a long time. It was like being in his arms could chase away all the uncertainties I had swirling in my mind.I looked up at him, smiling softly. "How did your meeting with your mom go?"Dante shifted slightly, the faintest shadow crossing his face before he replied. “It went well enough, I suppose. My mother is always one for lectures, but we came to an understanding. She’s just... concerned about the future.”I raised an eyebrow, catching the subtle way he danced around something. There was always more to the story with Dante, but I didn’t push. “I can imagine. I’m a little nervous to meet her,” I admitted.His expression softened. “You’ll be fine. She’
Tamara's POV I could feel his tension still lingering in the air from the words I knew he was holding back. I wanted to ignore but I couldn't when It ate at me, like this.Why was distance and silence the first defense he tried to put between us when I mentioned his brother?I pressed my lips to his bare shoulder before sitting up, turning to face him with a serious look."We promised to always tell each other the truth," I reminded him, my voice soft but firm. "No secrets, remember? We’re strong enough to handle anything as long as we’re honest."Dante sighed heavily, his eyes flickering with conflict. He brushed his fingers through his hair, the muscles in his jaw tightening as if he was struggling with what to say. Finally, he looked at me, his gaze filled with both love and something darker—guilt, maybe."Tamara... my brother, Reuben... he hates you. He wants you punished for what your parents did. That’s why I didn’t bring him up earlier."I froze, the weight of his words sinki
We walked into the dining room, the warm scent of breakfast filling the air. Casper and Violet were already there, seated comfortably at the long oak table. They seemed lost in conversation, but as soon as we entered, Violet’s eyes lit up mischievously. ”Wow, you and Dante really took your precious time this morning, I wonder what made you so late,” Violet mind-linked me, her teasing tone making me blush immediately. I could feel my cheeks heat up as I glanced at her. ”Well what can I say, Dante... is very fond of me,” I replied, trying to keep my thoughts calm and composed, but it was hard when Violet was grinning like a cat who just caught a mouse. ”Fond of you? That’s one way to put it,” she teased, her grin widening as she raised an eyebrow suggestively. ”You’re glowing, Tamara.” I bit my lip, trying to suppress a giggle as I took my seat next to Dante. I couldn’t deny it—I was glowing, and it was all thanks to him. But I wasn’t about to admit that to Violet, at least not n
Adrian’s POVI stared at Kayla, my back still pressed against the wall where she had thrown me.That wasn’t possible.I was an Alpha. Stronger than anyone in this pack. No one—not even a Beta—should have been able to push me back like that.And yet, she had.Kayla.The same woman who told me she had no wolf.The same woman who had claimed to be powerless.She was standing in front of me, her hands still trembling, her eyes filled with confusion and regret."I… I didn’t mean to do that," she stammered. "I don’t know how that happened."I didn’t say anything.I couldn’t.My mind was spinning, trying to make sense of it.Had she lied to me? Was she trying to manipulate me?Had she made up that whole story about losing her wolf just to gain my pity?"She tricked us," my wolf growled, angry and betrayed."Did you lie to me?" I asked coldly, my voice barely above a whisper.Kayla’s eyes widened. "What?"I took a step toward her, my fists clenched. "You told me you didn’t have a wolf anymore
Adrian’s POVMy mind couldn't stop racing.Even after leaving Connor and Logan, my anger refused to settle. My wolf was restless, growling in the back of my mind, demanding answers, demanding Kayla."She’s still in love with him.""You don’t know that," I shot back at my wolf."Then why is she avoiding us? Why does she look guilty every time you’re near?"I gritted my teeth, refusing to give in to my own insecurities. It was ridiculous. Kayla was mine. Xavier had abandoned her. Thrown her away. There was no reason for her to still have feelings for him.And yet…The way she had been avoiding me after the kiss, the hesitation in her eyes whenever I got too close—it was driving me insane.I had tried to be patient. Tried to give her space before the attack. But patience wasn’t my strength, especially not when it came to her.I needed answers.I stormed out of my office and headed straight for our room where Kayla had been sleeping since the attack.The guards I had now stationed outside
Adrian’s POV The attack on Kayla wasn’t a coincidence. Someone had planned it. Someone had sent those men after her. And I was going to find out who. I sat in my office with Connor and Logan, my fingers drumming against the wooden desk. The air in the room was thick with tension. Neither of them spoke, waiting for me to say something first. "Any leads?" I finally asked, my voice sharp. Logan leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. "Not much. The men who attacked her didn’t have pack symbols or identifying marks. That means they were either rogues or hired mercenaries." "Rogues don’t usually work in such planned groups unless they’re getting paid well with food or something else," Connor added, his expression dark. I clenched my jaw. "So you're saying someone paid them?" "Exactly." There was silence for a moment as I processed the information. "And the only one who’d want to take Kayla instead of just kill her is—" Logan exchanged a look with Connor before finishing, "Alp
Kayla’s POVThe whole getting pregnant thing was scary, but I had a bigger issue.Avoiding Adrian was getting harder. Every time I saw him, he looked more and more hurt, and it made my chest tighten with guilt. But what was I supposed to do? I didn’t know how to face him after what happened between us. The kiss… the way he held me… the way I ran away like a coward. I knew I shouldn’t keep pushing him away. I knew it wasn’t fair to him. But I didn’t know how to deal with it. So I did the only thing I could—I kept avoiding him. That was until that traumatizing event happened. — I was walking back to our quarters late in the night when I felt it. A prickle at the back of my neck. The unmistakable feeling of being watched. I frowned, glancing around. The hallway was empty, and yet, something felt… off. My instincts were screaming at me that I wasn’t alone. I picked up my pace. I wasn’t supposed to be afraid here. I was in the palace, one of the safest places in the pack. But n
Kayla’s POV I had been avoiding Adrian ever since the kiss. It wasn’t easy since we share a room. Plus even though The palace wasn’t exactly small, Adrian had a way of finding me no matter where I tried to hide. I kept making excuses—suddenly feeling too tired for dinner, claiming I had errands to run, or pretending to be deep in conversation with someone whenever he walked into the room. I knew it wouldn’t last forever, but I needed time. Time to process what was happening between us. Time to figure out what I was supposed to do now that I had let myself get closer to him. But that time ran out when his mother—Lady Catherine—decided that Candice and I needed to go to the hospital for pregnancy vitamins. "You’ll both be wives soon," she said over breakfast, her tone firm but polite. "You need to take care of yourselves, and that starts with making sure you’re healthy enough to conceive." I nearly choked on the juice we were served in her quarters. Candice, sitting beside me,
Adrian’s POVI should have already expected today would be hell the moment Hector showed up at my door with that smug grin on his face.I hadn’t wanted Kayla to go with him. Every part of me had screamed to keep her close, to pull her into my arms and refuse to let her out of my sight. But she had given me those soft, reassuring eyes, promising she’d come back to me.So, against my better judgment, I let her go.And I had hated every second of it.The moment they left, I had stormed back into my room, slamming the door shut like some sulking teenager. Logan and Connor had been waiting for me in the lounge, and of course, they had taken one look at my face and burst into laughter."That bad, huh?" Logan smirked, leaning back on the couch, arms crossed.I shot him a glare. "Shut up."Connor grinned. "You’re sulking.""I am not sulking.""You totally are," Logan added. "It’s hilarious."I scowled, pacing the room. "I just don’t trust Hector. He’s up to something."Logan exchanged a look
Kayla’s POVThe afternoon passed in a blur of laughter and easy conversation.Hector, for all his teasing and flirting, had actually behaved himself for the rest of the day.After our serious conversation, he had lightened the mood by joking about the way I eat strawberries—claiming I looked way too elegant for something so simple. I had thrown one at him in response, which only made him laugh harder.The picnic had been nice. No pressure, no drama. Just two people talking, enjoying the sun, and forgetting, for a little while, that there was a whole world waiting for us beyond the little patch of earth we had claimed.By the time Hector led me back to the palace, I felt warm and content—until I spotted Adrian, glaring at us.He was standing at the entrance, arms crossed over his chest, his dark eyes locked onto me with a storm brewing behind them.I swallowed.Yeah. He was mad.Hector must have noticed too because he let out a low whistle. “Oof. He looks like he’s about to rip my head
Kayla’s POVThe cool morning air streamed through the windows, but instead of feeling refreshed, I felt trapped.Adrian still had his arms wrapped around me, holding me against him as if he was trying to physically keep me from leaving. I hadn’t even tried to get up yet, but judging by the way his grip tightened every time I moved, I knew he was still dreading today.“Adrian,” I murmured, tilting my head up to look at him. His jaw was clenched, his dark eyes stormy with emotions he hadn’t voiced yet. “You’re holding me hostage.”“Good,” he muttered, his voice rough with sleep. “Then stay.”I sighed, lifting a hand to run my fingers through his hair. “You know I can’t. You promised Hector to let us spend the day together.”“You don’t have to go,” he countered, shifting to hover over me slightly. “Just say the word, and I’ll make up some excuse for you.”I smiled at his stubbornness, even if it was a little ridiculous. “You can't be the Alpha who goes back on his words. You know that’s
Kayla’s POVAdrian’s entire body was tense as we stepped out of the room. His grip on my hand was firm, his usual confident posture stiff with barely concealed irritation. I knew him well enough to recognize that he was already prepared for a fight.Hector stood at the end of the hallway, arms crossed, wearing a smirk that immediately set Adrian on edge. He was too relaxed, too amused, like he was waiting to provoke a reaction.“Kayla,” Hector greeted smoothly, his eyes flickering to me before shifting to Adrian with a knowing glint. “You’re looking lovely tonight.”Adrian’s grip on my waist tightened instantly, and I swore I could feel the heat of his glare. “Watch it Hector,” he snapped, voice low and full of warning. "She's Lady Kayla to you."Hector chuckled. “Relax, brother. It was just a greeting.”“That’s not how you greet her when I’m standing right here,” Adrian growled.I sighed, placing a calming hand on Adrian’s chest before this spiraled into another heated argument. “A