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
Jack's POV I stared at Tamara's beautiful picture in my hands, my thumb gently tracing the outline of her face. Tamara. She was smiling in the photo, her eyes shining with that spark that used to light up my entire world. Dear Goddess I love her so much. How did things get so twisted? How did I lose her so fast? The pain of the memory pressed down on my chest, suffocating me as I struggled to breathe. God I fucked up! The sound of the door creaking open barely registered. I didn’t even turn when I heard the sharp intake of breath behind me. “Jack,” Kate’s voice cut through the air, laced with fury. “What the fuck are you doing?” I clenched my jaw, not looking up. “Nothing.” I sneered with a grimace, Damn, how did I let her find me? “Nothing?” She scoffed, storming over and snatching the picture from my hands. “This doesn’t look like fucking nothing! You’re sitting here staring at her again. She’s gone, Jack! Get over it!” My blood boiled at her words, and I shot up from the c
Tamaras POV I’d been here for days now—days of awkward tension between me and Dante. True to his word, that man hadn’t touched me yet. Not even a brush of his hand, and despite everything I should have been grateful for it. But instead, it was beginning to become frustrating. I kept telling myself it was for the best. I didn’t need any more complications in my life, especially not with him. But every time he looked at me with those intense, stormy eyes, something in me shifted. My wolf, Maya, had been teasing me nonstop since I got here, and I was running out of excuses to explain the way my heart skipped whenever he was near. Today, though, was different. Dante had told me we were going out—some sort of picnic to keep up appearances with the pack. He said they needed to see us together, happy, bonded. The word “bonded” had made me tense. it was like having PTSD. But here I was, standing in front of the mirror, smoothing down the pale green dress Sophie had picked out for me
As I sat with Dante under the shade of a large oak tree, the peaceful sounds of nature surrounded us. The picnic had been perfect— but this was even better, a basket full of food, and the sun gently warming my skin. Dante was leaning back, watching me with his intense, dark eyes, and for a moment, I almost forgot why I was uneasy. But then, the nagging thought that had been at the back of my mind all day resurfaced. I had to ask. “So, you never really told me about your fated mate,” I said casually, though the weight of my words felt heavier than I intended. Dante’s expression shifted slightly. The relaxed, flirtatious look he’d been wearing faded. “That’s not something I want to talk about,” he said, his voice low. That wasn’t the response I was hoping for. My stomach twisted. He didn’t trust me enough to tell me? “Why not?” I pressed, trying to keep my tone even. Dante ran a hand through his hair, clearly uncomfortable. “It’s complicated.” I frowned, irritation bubb
Tamara's POV I spent most of the day sulking, pacing around my room while replaying that bitch Lucy’s words in my head. “Dante just fucked me so hard, I don’t think I’ll be able to walk tomorrow.” She had said. “Sniveling little bitch.” I sneered under my breath. Just who the fuck did she think she was? I couldn’t stop thinking about her stupid smug smile, and the way she tossed out those hurtful words like she knew they would cut me deep. And the worst part? They fucking had! I glared at the roses sitting on my bedside table. Yea, remember the same ones that had made me smile earlier that morning? They now felt like a cruel reminder of how stupid I had been. Like How had I actually thought Dante might feel something for me? Dear Goddess! I was so foolish. How could I have let myself get wrapped up in his charm like that? I was so freaking pissed, that Before I knew it, I grabbed the vase of roses and threw it into the trash can with more force than necessary, the g
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
Kayla’s POVAfter my conversation with Candice, I felt a strange mix of emotions. A part of me was still frustrated with her, but another part couldn’t shake off the pity I felt. Her father treated her like she was nothing more than a disposable pawn, and I couldn’t imagine how that must have shaped her into the person she had become.I sighed, pushing the thoughts aside as I made my way to Adrian’s quarters. I didn't know if he was back but I needed to see him. Not just because he had a way of grounding me, but because I wanted to be near him after such a long, exhausting day.When I reached the door and opened it, I froze in surprise.The room was bathed in soft, golden light from several candles placed strategically around. A small dining table sat in the center, elegantly set for two, with a delicious-looking meal arranged neatly on the plates. A bottle of wine rested beside the dishes, and the scent of roasted meat, herbs, and something sweet filled the air.Adrian was waiting
Kayla’s POV I blinked, trying to process what she had just said. She took my funds? On purpose? Candice was the first to react, gasping loudly. “But why?” Lady Catherine didn’t look the least bit guilty. If anything, she seemed pleased with herself. “I needed to see how Kayla would handle a crisis. Unlike you, I already knew she had the skills to manage the funds well, given her past experience as Luna. So, I upped the challenge.” My mouth opened slightly in shock. “You knew about my work in my former Pack?” Lady Catherine smirked. “Of course. You think I wouldn’t do my research? I needed to test whether you could handle unexpected setbacks. And you outperformed my expectations. A test is not just about what you can accomplish with plenty of resources—but how you handle things when they are taken away." I swallowed, still processing what she had done. I had been thrown into that situation with no resources, and instead of crumbling, I found a way to help the orphanage. My frust
Kayla’s POV The sun dipped below the horizon as Ingrid and I left the orphanage.But the cool evening air doing little to clear the fog in my mind because The old woman’s insistent voice still rang in my ears. "I'm sure I remember you. You stayed at my orphanage once, didn’t you?" I had been too stunned to respond properly at the time. Now, as I replayed the conversation in my head, it still didn’t make sense. I had never lived in an orphanage. I knew that for a fact. After my parents died, I was taken in by Alpha Xavier’s family—not lovingly, not as one of their own, but as a maid. There certainly had been no orphanage. No kind old woman watching over me. So why had she been so sure? Maybe she was just mistaken. I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away. The woman was old, and memories could blur with time. That had to be it. "Lady Kayla?" Ingrid’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. "Hm?" I turned to her, realizing she was staring out the window with a frown. She po
Kayla’s POVMy money was stolen.Only my money.I stood there, my mind racing, my hands shaking as the weight of it settled in. The test had barely started, and someone had already made sure I failed.I looked at the guard, my throat tightening. "It was only mine?"He nodded. "Yeas ma'am. Lady Candice’s money is still safely locked away, plus she has guards safeguarding it."A cold wave of realization hit me. Candice planned this. And now I was furious at myself for not expecting something like this."That snake," I hissed, clenching my fists.Ingrid crossed her arms. "It’s obvious she’s behind this. Who else would want to sabotage you like this?"I barely let her finish before storming off to get my money back.I found her in one of the palace meeting rooms, standing with a few of her followers. She looked up just in time for me to march straight up to her."Where is it?" I demanded.Candice smirked. "Where’s what?""My money!" I snapped. "Don’t play dumb."She tilted her head, feig
Kayla’s POVI woke up before sunrise, my nerves already getting the best of me.Today was the first day of training and The first test.I had no idea what to expect, and the thought of failing in front of Lady Catherine— and worse, having my bad report sent to the council—made my stomach twist uncomfortably.I sat up, rubbing my face, when I felt the bed shift beside me.Strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me back into the warmth of Adrian’s chest."You’re up too early," he murmured, his voice still thick with sleep.I sighed. "I have to be. I don’t exactly want to start my first day with your mother by being late."Adrian hummed, his lips brushing against my shoulder. "You’ll be fine, Kayla."I wasn’t so sure. "What if I mess up?""You won’t," he said, confident as ever. "And I’ll even check in on you later to show my support."That made me pause. "Really?"He nodded. "I want to see how you’re doing."Something warm settled in my chest at that.Adrian kissed my temple before
Kayla’s POVLady Catherine's gaze was sharp, cold, and unwavering.Even without her saying another word, I could already tell—this conversation wasn’t going to be a pleasant one.She wasn’t here for pleasantries.She was here to tackle something that had to do with me."You may have manipulated your way into getting engaged to the Alpha of the South," she said evenly, "but that does not make you an acceptable Luna of my pack yet, so don't go around town parading yourself as one."I swallowed. She must have heard about our outing.Beside me, Adrian’s body tensed. "Mother—"She raised a hand, silencing him effortlessly.I had never seen anyone talk to Adrian in that tone before. He must have a lot of respect for her.Lady Catherine turned back to me, her sharp eyes raking over my form as if she were already judging every flaw I had."Custom demands that all women who wish to become one of the Alpha's wives must undergo training," she continued. "You and Candice will both be instructed,
Kayla’s POVA slow warmth curled around me, pulling me from sleep. The bed was too comfortable, the scent surrounding me too delicious.It was Adrian, cuddling me without shame, and I was letting him.I could feel his gaze before I even opened my eyes."Are you awake, or are you pretending?"His voice was teasing, husky with amusement.I blinked my eyes open, only to be met with his smug expression.Adrian was close—leaning over me, his smoldering eyes full of mischief."You’re staring," I mumbled sleepily.He grinned. "Can you blame me? you're free to stare back."I scoffed and turned my face into the pillow. "You’re annoying.""And yet, you were seeking my touch in your sleep."I froze.My eyes snapped back open, and Adrian’s grin widened as he leaned even closer."Not like that," he added, his voice wicked. "Yet."I smacked his chest, my face burning. "You’re impossible!"Adrian laughed.Then, before I could retaliate, he sat back and stretched. "Come on. Get up. I have plans for u
Kayla’s POVI couldn’t stop thinking about it.Leo’s words echoed in my head like a haunting melody I couldn’t shake."I know your secret.""You’ll go missing, just like all those wolfless girls before you."My stomach twisted.How did he know?Who else knew?How long had they known?And worst of all—how much danger was I really in?I kept my face blank as Adrian led me out of the council hall, but my thoughts were anything but calm.I needed to figure out what to do.Fast.I barely noticed the drive back to the palace. My mind was still tangled in a mess of worry when Adrian’s voice suddenly cut through the haze."You’ve been quiet," he said, his golden eyes flicking to me with a hint of concern.I forced a small smile. "Just thinking about somethings. It's nothing to worry about."Adrian didn’t look convinced. "About what?"I hesitated.Should I tell him?Should I tell him that Leo knew everything—that he had practically threatened to make me disappear?The words were on the tip of