Kayla’s POV "Kayla right?" A voice suddenly said behind me. I turned around to see Hector's handsome face beaming at me.That was the first time we bumped into each other. After that, I turned around and walked back to my room, still fuming about seeing Adrian and Candice. But after that day, I still kept bumping into him.like right now, This was the third time but I was getting really tired of bumping into Hector. It was like the universe had some sick sense of humor, forcing me into these run-ins with Adrian’s insufferably charming brother. And worse? Hector took full advantage of it. Like right now. I had just stepped out of the pack’s administrative office after helping Ingrid with some paperwork when I turned a corner— And smacked straight into a firm, muscular chest. A familiar chuckle rumbled in front of me. “Well, well. If it isn’t my favorite little distraction.” I knew that voice. I didn’t even have to look up. Hector. Of course. I took a deep breath, schooli
Adrian’s POVI didn’t like the way Hector was looking at Kayla.And I hated the way she didn’t immediately pull away.It made something sharp twist in my chest, something dark and possessive.And then Hector had the audacity to grin at her and say, “We should continue this conversation later, Kayla. Maybe over dinner?”Absolutely not.Before she could respond, I stepped forward, putting myself directly between them. “She’s busy.”Hector’s smirk widened. “Oh? I don’t recall you being her schedule manager, brother.”I clenched my jaw. “She’s busy,” I repeated, my voice leaving no room for argument.Kayla blinked, clearly startled by my tone.Hector, on the other hand, looked amused. He glanced at Kayla. “Well, if you ever find yourself not busy, you know where to find me.”I exhaled sharply, my patience thinning. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be?”Hector chuckled. “Fine, fine. I’ll back off… for now.”I didn’t respond. I just turned to Kayla. “Come with me.”She hesitated for a seco
Adrian’s POV The knock at the door was like a slap to the face.I almost kissed her.I almost had her in my arms.And then—this.I clenched my jaw, my hands tightening at my sides as I forced myself to take a deep breath. Stay calm. Don’t snap.But I wanted to snap.Because for the first time in a long time, I had felt something—something real, something undeniable. And now it was gone.Kayla took a small step back, her face flushing as she turned toward the door.I didn’t move.Didn’t even breathe for a second.The knock came again.I exhaled sharply, forcing myself to step away before I did something reckless like rip the damn door off its hinges.Then the door opened, and Connor stepped inside, his expression tense.“Alpha sir, Sorry to interrupt but I have urgent news.” His voice was all business, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced with concern. “The council is holding an emergency meeting. They’ve requested your presence immediately.”I sighed, already knowing exactly who was
Author's note: Hii, If you are enjoying this story so far, please leave a comment so I can keep it up. Thanks in advance.Kayla’s POVThe second Adrian left, I slumped against the nearest surface and covered my face with my hands.My heart was still pounding.I could still feel his touch.His fingers had barely grazed my skin, but it was enough to send shivers down my spine. And it wasn’t just his hands.It was the way he looked at me—like I was something precious, something worth protecting. No one had ever looked at me like that before, not even Xavier who had pretended to love me.My face burned as I slowly lowered my hands.I almost couldn't believe that just happened.I had almost kissed Adrian. Or he had almost kissed me. Either way, Connor had ruined it.I let out a frustrated breath, my mind replaying the moment over and over. If Connor hadn’t knocked on that door, would Adrian have actually done it?Would I have let him? I swallowed hard when I realized the answer.Yes.The
Alpha Adrian’s POVThe moment I stepped into the council hall, I knew something was wrong.The air was thick with tension.The entire council was present, plus some noblemen were seated in their usual spots, their faces grim and unreadable. But the person who made my stomach tighten in unease was the man positioned in the entrance of the room—Alpha Brandon, my father-in-law to be that showed up without notice.He smiled at me and said it was time we spoke but I brushed him off. I had bigger issues waiting inside the council hall.Because this obviously wasn’t a normal council meeting.This was an ambush.“Alpha Adrian,” one of the elder councilmen, Augustine, spoke first. “We’ve called you here because a concerning matter has come to our attention.”I stiffened. “What matter?”Augustine folded his hands on the table. “We’ve been informed that you intentionally do not wish to marry and continue the succession, thereby forfeiting your rights as Alpha. Is that true?I blinked, momentaril
Kayla's POV I could barely keep up with the guards as they led me down a long, dimly lit corridor. My hands were clammy, my stomach a tangled mess of knots, and my heart pounded so hard I could feel it in my throat.I had no idea why I was being brought to the council hall, but the way the guards flanked me on either side, their expressions blank and unreadable, made my nerves skyrocket.Something was wrong.Terribly wrong.When the large double doors at the end of the hall finally loomed ahead, my steps faltered. The guards didn’t stop, and before I knew it, they pushed open the doors, revealing the council hall in all its intimidating glory.I froze.The room was huge—far bigger than I could have ever imagined a pack would have. Grand marble pillars stretched high up to the domed ceiling, the intricate golden chandeliers casting a regal glow over the long, crescent-shaped table where more than a few dozen councilmen were seated.And every single one of them was staring directly at
Kayla’s POV I sat stiffly in the grand council hall, my hands gripping the edges of my chair so tightly that my knuckles turned white. My head was still spinning, my heart racing so fast that I could barely think straight.This couldn’t be real.It had to be some twisted form of a joke.But the murmurs around the room, the weight of the councilmen’s gazes, and the thick tension in the air told me otherwise.I was truly trapped.Marry Alpha Adrian. Share him with Candice. Bear his child or get sent back to the abusive husband and his mistress who killed your child, rejected you, turned you into a maid and sold you off after trying to rape you.The choice was easy but not at all fair or humane.It sounded like something out of a cruel joke, except no one was laughing. Least of all me.I wasn’t afraid of the part about being forced to have children for a man I had just recently met. Because I knew something none of them did and that was that I couldn’t have them.The real problem? If I
Kayla’s POV I must have misheard him. There was no way Adrian just said what I thought he did. I blinked at him, trying to process the words that had just left his mouth. “I’m sorry—what?” Adrian stood in front of me, his face annoyingly unreadable as he repeated himself. “You’ll be staying in my room tonight.” I choked. “Are you serious?”Adrian let out a low chuckle. “Oh, I'm very serious.”"Is this really necessary?” I pulled away and crossed my arms, feeling a little too exposed under his sharp gaze. “I mean, come on, do they really expect us to actually start so soon—” “Yes,” Adrian interrupted, his voice calm but firm. “They do.” I frowned, my heart pounding. “But why? It’s not like the council is going to stand outside the door and—” “They don’t need to but-" He stepped closer, his eyes never leaving mine. “They already suspect that our marriage isn’t real. If they think I’m just using you to avoid a political match or avoid your banishment, they’ll find a way to force
Kayla's POV The Oracle’s sanctuary was unlike anything I’d ever seen. Nestled between jagged cliffs and fog-kissed forest, it looked like something out of a dream—an ancient village carved into the side of the mountain, hidden by thick trees and magic I could feel in the air. The wind here didn’t just whistle—it whispered.Inside the stone structures, warm fires crackled, glowing crystals lined the walls, and soft voices murmured in languages I didn’t understand. The women—so many women—moved with laughter and freedom. Some were young, barely teenagers. Others carried themselves like warriors, scarred and strong.“These women…” I whispered as I helped one of the girls settle into a room with a cot and thick wool blankets. “They’re like a tribe.”“They are,” Ingrid said softly beside me. “They protect those who can’t protect themselves. Most of them were once like the girls we brought in. Broken. Scared. Hunted.”The girl we tucked in—her name was Lyra—clung to my arm as I tried to
Adrian's POV I jolted awake from the nightmare, heart pounding, drenched in sweat.“Kayla!” I gasped, reaching for her—only to grab empty sheets.The nightmare still clung to me like a second skin. Her voice echoed in my ears, accusing, devastated."You didn’t protect me, Adrian. You left me. you let them take me."Her eyes… they had looked so real. So broken. I sat at the edge of my bed, head in my hands, trying to shake off the chill that settled into my bones. It wasn’t just a dream. It was a warning of the future or guilt of that night, or maybe both.A loud knock came at the door. Logan entered without waiting.“Alpha, They’ve summoned you... Immediately,” he said grimly. “They are at the Council hall and Augustine’s leading.”Of course he is.I stood without a word, already pulling on my shirt. Logan followed behind, tension radiating off him.“What are they charging me with now?” I muttered.Logan hesitated. “They’re saying you're emotionally compromised. That Lady Kayla has m
Kayla's first person POV Suddenly, out of nowhere, There was a strange surge of power, an energy I couldn’t explain, rushing through me. The air crackled with raw force, and suddenly, the ground beneath my feet seemed to pulse. I focused all my energy into a single thought: protect them. Protect my loved ones. A barrier of shimmering light exploded outward from me, knocking the wolves back with a deafening crash. The force of it sent the creatures sprawling, but they began to recover slowly, snarling and trying to get up. My heart pounded in my chest, but I didn’t back down. This energy—it was like I knew how to use it, like it had always been there, waiting for me to tap into it even though I didn't know what it was. Hector and Ingrid stared at me, their eyes wide with disbelief. I couldn’t explain what had just happened, but the sensation of power was overwhelming. “You… You did that?” Hector’s voice was tight, almost fearful. I nodded, still trying to catch my breath. “I d
Kayla's first person POV The journey through the mountains felt like it was never going to end. Ingrid never told me it was going to be this tough, if she did, I wouldn't have been as enthusiastic about coming here as I was last night. Nothing would have stopped me from coming here though. The air grew painfully thinner as we ascended, the crisp wind cutting into my skin like sharp needles. I soon found myself gasping for breath, feeling each step strain my muscles. It was exhausting, but the alternative—staying behind like a coward while Hector, Ingrid, and the others trekked up without me—was unthinkable. Plus I badly needed answers too. So, I pushed through, even though every part of me screamed for rest. “You alright?” Hector’s voice cut through the sharp mountain air, his face creased with concern as he glanced back at me. “I’m fine,” I lied, pushing myself harder, my boots scraping against the rocky ground. But I couldn’t help the way my chest felt tight with each
Kayla's POV I hadn’t realized how empty my heart would feel until the silence settled in.Days had passed—or maybe just hours—I couldn’t tell anymore. Time didn’t move the same without Adrian. Every second felt heavier, like it dragged its feet just to remind me that I was far away from him.I sat curled up on the cold cot in the far corner of the cave, arms wrapped around my knees, heart aching in a way I didn’t think was possible. I hadn’t spoken much since Hector and Ingrid brought me here. The girls were kind, but I was distant. Lost.I missed him.Goddess, I missed him.His scent. His voice. The way his arms wrapped around me like I was something precious. The way he said my name like it was his favorite word.Sleep didn’t come easily, but when it did, I dreamed of him. Always him. His voice in my ears, his lips brushing my skin, his arms holding me while the world fell apart around us.I woke up with tears on my cheeks more often than not.“You’re dreaming of him again, aren’t
Adrian's POV The torture chamber reeked of Xavier's blood, rust, and secrets. Xavier sat in the middle of it, chained to the chair like he had no care in the world. But his bloodied nose from where I punched him multiple times told a different story.His head was tilted back lazily against the wall to stop the blood flow.He had one leg bouncing, and that same smug smile plastered across his face like he wasn’t moments away from being torn apart again. “I’d ask if you’re comfortable,” I muttered, my voice low and venom-laced, “but I honestly don’t give a damn.” Xavier’s eyes flicked toward me, amusement dancing in them. “Adrian,” he said with mock warmth. “So tense. You really should relax. It’s not good for the heart. Or the woman you're sleeping with.” I nearly lost it right then. His casual mention of Kayla lit a fuse inside me, one I was desperately trying to smother before i personally drove out to burn down his entire pack house. “I’ll ask one more time,” I growled, step
Adrian’s POVSuddenly The battlefield is silent.Too silent.My chest rises and falls rapidly as I stand in the middle of the destruction, blood staining my hands, my claws still extended, my wolf barely caged beneath my skin. Around me, my warriors are shaken but alive, their eyes darting between the few bodies of the fallen rogue like creatures—if they could even be called that.The battle field is quiet not because we were winning, but Because the moment Kayla was taken… they suddenly vanished into thin air before our eyes.Not a trace of them left.My fists clench, rage surging inside me like wildfire.Kayla was gone too though.My woman had been taken by my stepbrother and Kayla's former assistant.“Hector,” I snarl, snapping my head toward Logan. “Where the hell is Hector?”Logan’s face is grim, his body tense as he watches me carefully. “We don’t know.”A growl rips from my throat, sharp and deadly. “Find them. Now!”“We tried.” Logan’s expression hardens. “The second she was t
Kayla’s POVPain throbs in my skull as I slowly open my eyes, my body aching like I’ve been tossed around like a rag doll. The last thing I remember is screaming Adrian’s name, reaching for him, only to be pulled away—taken by force. My heart clenches at the memory, and panic floods my veins.I jolt upright, my breaths shallow as I take in my surroundings.The room is dimly lit, the walls made of rough stone. A few small lanterns cast flickering shadows across the space, illuminating the frightened faces of young women who stand huddled together near the far end of the room. Their eyes are wide as they stare at me, like they’ve been expecting me.“Where am I?” My voice comes out hoarse, my throat raw from screaming.A rustling sound to my right makes me turn. My body tenses when I see Hector and Ingrid standing near the doorway. Hector’s arms are crossed, his expression unreadable, while Ingrid looks more hesitant, shifting her weight from foot to foot.I shove the blankets off and t
Adrian’s POV Kayla was trembling in my arms, her fingers gripping my shirt like she was afraid I’d disappear. I tightened my hold on her, pressing my lips against her temple, trying to ground her. "It’s okay," I whispered. "You’re safe." She didn’t respond. Her breathing was shallow, her entire body stiff. Something was wrong. Very wrong. I pulled back slightly to look at her face. Her pupils were dilated, her skin too pale. "Kayla," I murmured, brushing my thumb across her cheek. "Talk to me." She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, a howl ripped through the night. The pack alarm. Again! Shit. I snapped my head up, my instincts immediately on high alert. The howls multiplied, blending with distant shouts. My wolves were already gathering outside. We were under attack. For real this time. Earlier was just a warning from something that looked like Xavier.. but wasn't quite him. Kayla gasped, grabbing my wrist. "Adrian—" I cupped her face, forcing her to focus on