Tamara's POV I couldn’t fucking believe it. Alpha Dante is my mate. Holy shit! How?! I stared at the towering figure of the man standing in the doorway. It couldn’t be true—it couldn’t be him. My mind raced, flipping through every memory I had of Alpha Dante, the ruthless leader of the North, the very man I had wanted to kill more than once. How many times had we crossed paths in the past? Too many. And every time, his eyes had burned with a hatred so fierce it could’ve set me on fire. I thought he wanted to kill me, and frankly, I wanted him dead too. But now... this? I took a step back instinctively, my heart pounding in my chest as I remembered the cold stares, the lethal tension that crackled between us during every encounter. We had been enemies in every sense of the word. So how in the world could we be mates? How could the universe think it was a good idea to bond me to the man who had destroyed my life? I glanced up at him, and that’s when I noticed the way his eye
Tamara's POV I hadn’t seen Violet since the attack. My heart raced as I followed the nurse from earlier down the long, sterile corridor. I couldn't stop thinking about the look of terror on her face yesterday when she saw me—when she saw my red eyes. The memory sent a pang of guilt through me. Was she still scared? What if she didn’t want to see me now? After everything we’d been through, the thought of her pushing me away was unbearable. Violet was all I had left. The nurse stopped in front of a door and gestured for me to go inside. I hesitated, my stomach in knots. What if she didn’t want me here? I could barely breathe as I pushed the door open. My mind was filled with worst-case scenarios, but what I wasn’t prepared for was the sight of Violet’s face lighting up the second she saw me. "Tamara!" she gasped, her voice full of relief and joy. I blinked, frozen in place for a moment before the tension in my chest released. I couldn’t hold back the tears that suddenly fi
Violet and I sat silently as the car made its way toward Alpha Dante’s palace. The closer we got, the heavier my heart felt, knowing that whatever was waiting for me inside could change everything. For good or bad, I didn't know yet, I was about to find out. I glanced at Violet, her wide eyes betraying the nervous energy I knew she was trying to hide behind a brave face. She had insisted on coming with me, despite my protests. This girl was a fucking gem! I was more than glad for her support, but I couldn’t help but wonder if bringing her along was a mistake. When the palace finally came into view, both of us gasped in unison. The structure was fucking massive! its towering spires cutting into the sky like gigantic spears. It was more than just a palace; it was a fortress, built with cold, gleaming stone and adorned with intricate carvings and banners. Despite its intimidating size, i thought it was undeniably beautiful, powerful and dangerous, just like its owner alpha Dant
Standing in that grand hall, with all those cold, disapproving eyes on me, I realized something that made my stomach churn—Alpha Dante wasn’t just playing politics with me. This was more than a simple marriage for power. If I wasn’t careful, if I stepped out of line even once, he wouldn’t just destroy me. He’d kill everyone I cared about. My pack, my friends—Violet. I couldn’t afford to make any mistakes. The elders weren’t happy with Dante’s announcement, and their dissatisfaction was obvious. They were greedy, calculating men, each of them thinking about how they could benefit from this union, how they could manipulate their daughters into positions of power. I could see it in the way they looked at me, in the way they spoke about Ana. Finally, after some heated murmuring among them, one of the elders stood up. He was a stout man with a sharp face, and he addressed Dante with a formal tone, though the impatience behind his words was unmistakable. “Alpha, while we understa
As I stepped through the grand doors of my new quarters, I could barely believe my own eyes. Holy shit! The room was fucking enormous! it was far bigger than anything I’d ever seen before, even bigger than the master bedroom back at my pack. The bed in the center of the room was gigantic- for lack of a better word, plus it was practically drowning in plush bedding and embroidered pillows that looked softer than anything I had ever touched. Maya, my wolf chose to snicker at that moment, “imagine how amazing it would feel being pressed between it and our mate.” She sighed and I blushed bright red. “Control yourself woman!” I playfully scolded her, “we are here to fulfill our purpose for rebirth, not to have naughty thoughts about that sexy man— I mean alpha Dante!” I quickly caught myself but Maya noticed and snickered before going quiet. I looked around and noticed there was a sitting area by the fireplace, with rich, luxurious sofas arranged neatly around a low table. “God dam
I took a deep breath, squaring my shoulders. There was no way I was going to let these women intimidate me. No matter how hostile they were or how much they already seemed to hate me, I wouldn’t back down. Not today, not ever.“Hello,” I said, stepping forward with a polite smile. “I’m Tamara, and I’m really not here to make your lives difficult. In fact, I hope we can all get along.”The five women, who had been glaring at me just moments before, exchanged surprised glances. Clearly, they hadn’t expected me to be this… nice. It seemed they had already made up their minds about who I was before I even stepped foot in the palace.The tall woman with long dark hair, the same one who had been rude earlier, narrowed her eyes at me. “We’ve heard things about you. People say you’re harsh. Controlling.”I forced myself to keep my expression calm. So that’s what they thought of me? It wasn’t surprising, considering the rumors that must’ve spread about me after everything with Jack, Kate, and
I shoved Dante back with more force than I intended, my heart racing and my temper rising. “I’m not one of your concubines, Dante,” I snapped, glaring up at him. “If you’re so desperate for sex, why don’t you go to Lucy? She’s your favorite, isn’t she?”His brows lifted, and that infuriating smirk spread across his face. “Lucy? Oh, she’s alright.” He chuckled, stepping closer again. “But if you want, Tamara, you can be my favorite.”I glared at him, my stomach twisting. “I don’t want to share my man with anyone else.”Dante’s laugh was low and deep, clearly amused by my outburst. “Are you jealous?” he teased, his eyes gleaming.I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes at him. “I’m not jealous. I just… I made that mistake once. I’m not doing it again.”That wiped the smirk off his face. His teasing faded, replaced with curiosity. “You made that mistake before?” he asked, his tone gentler, as if he were trying to figure me out.I swallowed, feeling the familiar sting of that old betrayal cr
"I still can't believe you fucking tricked me." I glared at him, feeling betrayed. Dante’s eyes flashed with an emotion I couldn't describe as he took a step closer. His voice was low but firm when he spoke. “I didn’t trick you, Tamara,” he said, his tone carrying a barely restrained hint of frustration. “All I did was because I knew I had to encourage you to marry me quickly, or else Jack would succeed in starting a war between our packs." I narrowed my eyes as the choice of his words he used sank in. “Encourage me?” I repeated with disbelief. “You freaking manipulated me into believing I had no other choice. You forced my fucking hand!" I yelled at him. Alpha Dante's jaw tightened, but he didn’t back down. “I did what I had to. If I hadn’t taken action, Jack would’ve won. He was using you, Tamara, to destroy everything. I couldn’t let that happen.” I paused, torn between grating anger and an uncomfortable realization.... As much as I hated to admit it, Dante was right. Jac
Adrian’s POVMy heart still pounded from my situation with Kayla, but I pushed the thought aside as I raced toward the border. Logan ran beside me, his jaw tight with frustration. The moment the border guards had sounded the alarm, I knew it couldn’t be anything good."Who the hell would be bold enough to get this close?" Logan muttered, keeping pace."I don't know," I said, my voice sharp. "But if they think they can just waltz into my territory, they're about to learn a painful lesson."The moment we neared the tree line, I caught sight of a figure standing at the edge of our land. My stomach twisted into a knot.Xavier.Or at least… I thought it was Xavier.The stance, the cocky smirk—it was all the same. But something was off. His face seemed… distorted. For a split second, his features blurred, like I was staring at a reflection in rippling water. My wolf bristled, sensing something unnatural."Adrian," Logan said warily, stepping up beside me. "That—" He hesitated. "That doesn’t
Adrian’s POVI didn’t plan on letting her go.Not tonight. Not ever.I held Kayla’s face between my hands, staring into those stormy eyes that I had come to crave more than anything else in this world. I had meant every word—I wasn’t letting her leave this room until she told me the truth.But deep down, I knew I wasn’t just talking about tonight.A dark part of me, the part that had already lost too much, whispered that I would never let her go at all.And I felt guilty for it.Kayla wasn’t some possession to be kept in a cage. But I couldn’t shake the possessiveness curling in my chest, the absolute refusal to lose her too.Not after what I’d already lost.She was shaking now, her breaths coming out in sharp, uneven gasps. Her hands clenched at her sides as if she was fighting some invisible war within herself.And she looked scared.That’s what threw me off the most.What the hell was she so afraid of?"Kayla," I murmured, my fingers tracing over her cheekbone. "Talk to me."Her li
Kayla’s POVI couldn't stop thinking about last night.The way Adrian had held me. The way his hands had traced my skin, setting every nerve in my body on fire.And the way he had stopped.He had looked at me like I was something precious, something he was too scared to take before I was ready.I had never known a man like him before.Adrian was dangerous, feared, and yet with me, he was patient. Protective.I was falling for him. Hard.The realization terrified me. I had spent so long guarding my heart, convincing myself that love—real love—was a luxury I would never have again. And yet, here I was, aching for him in a way that had nothing to do with the mate bond.I needed a distraction, something to clear my mind.Which was why I was now standing outside Lady Elizabeth’s home again, my heart hammering as I raised my hand to knock.She had asked to see me privately, and though I had agreed, I wasn’t sure I was ready for whatever she had to say.But something told me I needed to hear
Authors note: Thank you to everyone that left a comment, I read each and every one of them, and it was so uplifting. I'll do my best for you too. ,💕Adrian’s POV My training session the next day was brutal, but I barely felt it. My mind was elsewhere. Xavier. That fucking asshole. Logan had reported earlier that the bastard had been snooping around, and then I actually CAUGHT him talking to a certain pack member. That alone was enough to put me on edge. Xavier wasn’t here for resources—he was here to stir up trouble, I knew that, but I didn't know what to do about it yet. As I wiped sweat from my brow, Logan approached. "You’re distracted Sir," he noted. "I’m fine," I muttered, tossing my towel over my shoulder. Logan didn’t look convinced. "I didn't want to bother you, but You should know—Xavier was seen talking to some more of Hector’s former allies." Not again! Did that asshole ever learn? Did I have to break his neck for him to stop? My entire body went rigid with a
Adrian’s POV Logan entered my office with a grim expression, shutting the door behind him. "We have a problem," he said, his tone clipped. I leaned back in my chair, already feeling the tension coil in my muscles. "Wait, I know, Let me guess. it's Xavier." Logan nodded. "He's been snooping around, talking to certain pack members. And not just any members—Hector’s old allies. The ones on the council who didn’t want you as Alpha." My jaw clenched. Of course, Xavier wouldn’t waste time to piss me off. The bastard was here under the pretense of collecting resources, but I knew better. He was testing boundaries, looking for weaknesses. And now, he was making nice with the same men who had fought against my leadership. I stood, grabbing my jacket. "Where the fuck is he now?" Logan sighed. "In the west courtyard. He’s been real friendly with Councilor Marcus and the others. Too friendly." Rage burned in my chest, but I kept my voice even. "Let’s go." --- The moment I stepped into
Kayla’s POVThat evening, I sat on the edge of the bed, still turning Hector's mother's words over in my mind. "Hide this. If the wrong people see it, you’ll be in danger." What did she mean? Who was she afraid of? I traced my fingers over the faint glow of my mark, my mind buzzing with unease. Beside me, Adrian was quiet, lost in his own thoughts. After a long moment, he finally spoke. “You’re thinking about Lady Elizabeth's warning.” I nodded. “It felt serious, Adrian. She genuinely looked scared.” He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. “I don’t think Hector's mother is a threat, if that’s what you’re worried about. She’s always been a good woman. If anything, I sincerely believe she’s just concerned for you.” I bit my lip. “But why? And why did she say she could only tell me in private?” Adrian’s jaw tensed slightly, but he didn’t argue. “I really don’t like that part. I don’t like the idea of you going anywhere alone, but I don't think she'll hurt you.” I rolled
Adrian’s POVXavier arrived exactly when he said he would. His caravan of vehicles rolled up to the packhouse gates like he was some kind of noble returning home, which was laughable considering he had no home here. The moment I saw him step out, dressed in a crisp black shirt and slacks as if he were attending a business meeting instead of setting foot in enemy territory, my mood soured even further.I didn’t trust him. Not even for a second. And I was starting to wonder why I ever gave him the alliance in the first place.Then I remembered that I had done it in exchange of Kayla.I descended the steps of the palace, my posture rigid as I met him in the courtyard. The guards were on high alert, positioned around the perimeter, watching his every move. Logan stood at my side, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable, but I could feel his impatience radiating off him.Xavier took his time surveying his surroundings before his gaze shifted—up, toward the highest tower of the pal
Xavier’s POV The candlelight flickered against the damp stone walls of the abandoned outpost. The place reeked of old wood and mildew, a far cry from the luxury I was used to, but it was secluded—safe from Mia and mother's prying eyes. The man called Desmond sat across from me, his usual smirk in place. Again I noticed that he was always amused by something, like he knew more than he let on. As usual It pissed me off and put me in a bad mood, but again, I had to remind myself that I needed him. He leaned forward, drumming his fingers against the table."Have you done what I asked you to do?" He asked and I nodded.He grinned coldly, "Then it's finally time to get your woman Xavier. If you truly want Kayla back as much as you say you do, you need to make a serious and very intense move. I have set things in motion, but She won’t be this vulnerable forever." A sharp heat curled in my chest at the mention of her name. Kayla. Mine. Always mine. I forced a calm breath. "Yes, yo
Authors note : Hi, if you are still reading, please comment so I know and will keep going.Adrian’s POV Kayla had been through too much lately. I could see it in the way she carried herself—her shoulders tense, her lips pressed together in thought, her eyes shadowed by exhaustion. Every time she closed her eyes, I knew she wasn’t finding peace.She was dealing with the the thoughts of Ingrid and Hector’s possible betrayal plus whatever the hell that glowing mark on her wrist meant, and on top of it all, my mother had lashed out at her like she was the root of every problem in our pack.It was too much.I wasn’t going to let her drown in it. Not today.She needed a break, and I was going to give it to her.---I found her in the courtyard, sitting on the stone bench, staring at the garden. She was absently rubbing her wrist, the mark still faintly glowing in the afternoon light.“Hey,” I said, stepping beside her.She looked up, her expression softening when she saw me. “Hey.”We'll t