Tamara's POV With one last glare, Reuben turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him. The moment he was gone, the tension in the room seemed to lift, but Dante was still visibly shaken, his fists trembling. He turned to me, his face softening. “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have had to hear any of that. I never wanted him to treat you this way.” I managed a smile, reaching up to cup his face. “It’s okay, Dante. I’m fine. I know he doesn’t believe me, but that’s his problem, not ours.” Dante pulled me close, his arms wrapping around me as he buried his face in my hair, breathing in deeply. I felt the tension draining from him, slowly being replaced by the calm I hoped he’d find in my presence. We stood there in silence for a long moment, letting the weight of Reuben’s words dissipate, piece by piece.“You don’t deserve any of this,” he murmured finally, his voice thick with regret. “Reuben’s wrong, and he has no right to speak to you like that.” He pulled back just enough to loo
Tamara’s POV After Reuben stormed out, the air felt different, lighter somehow, but the tension still hung around us like a thick fog. Dante and I exchanged weary glances, both of us still processing the confrontation. I could see the resolve in his eyes, and it made me feel a little safer, even in the midst of all this chaos. That evening, we gathered in the hotel’s garden for what felt like our first real meeting since everything had blown up. The soft glow of lanterns illuminated the space, casting flickering shadows on the neatly trimmed hedges. The scent of blooming flowers filled the air, a stark contrast to the tumultuous emotions we were all grappling with. As I settled onto a bench, I couldn’t help but notice how much more relaxed Sophie and Violet seemed. Their cheeks had a healthy glow, and there was a brightness in their eyes that hadn’t been there before. I exchanged a glance with Dante, who raised an eyebrow, mirroring my surprise. “Looks like they’ve been pampered a
Tamara's POV The night wrapped around me like a heavy shroud, an uneasy silence that settled deep within my bones. I tossed and turned in bed, the sheets tangling around my legs as my mind raced through a thousand thoughts, each more troubling than the last. Just as I thought I might finally slip into sleep, I was plunged into a nightmare that felt all too real. Flames engulfed the world around me, the sky an angry red. The ground cracked beneath my feet as I stumbled through the chaos, desperately calling out for Dante. “Dante? Where are you?” My voice was swallowed by the roar of the fire, panic rising like bile in my throat. I needed him; I needed my friends. “Violet? Casper? George?” My calls echoed through the inferno, but all I could hear was the ominous crackling of burning wood and distant cries of despair. I pressed forward, heart pounding, feeling the heat of the flames licking at my skin. The air was thick with smoke, making it hard to breathe. Then, as if summoned by m
Tamara's POV The morning sun peeked through the curtains, but I felt anything but rested. The remnants of my nightmare clung to me like a heavy blanket, suffocating in their familiarity. I lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to shake off the unease that had settled in my chest.Just then, I felt the bed shift beside me, and I turned to see Dante, still groggy from sleep, pushing back the sheets. His hair was tousled, and for a moment, I couldn't help but smile at how effortlessly handsome he looked, even in his sleepiness.“Good morning, baby girl,” he murmured, voice deep and slightly rough from sleep. He blinked a few times, focusing on me, his brow furrowing slightly. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. What’s wrong?”“Nothing,” I replied, a bit too quickly. I turned my gaze back to the ceiling, not wanting to burden him with my worries.Dante wasn’t fooled. “Liar. I can see it on your face. Did that nightmare come back again?”I sighed, remembering I had told him I had a ni
Tamara's POV “Dante…” I hesitated, the uncertainty swirling around me. My instincts screamed at me to be cautious, but I couldn’t bring myself to step away. What the hell was going on?? “This isn’t funny, Dante. You’re scaring me.” I stepped back instinctively, feeling the chill of uncertainty wash over me. “Seriously, where are you taking me?” He paused, taking a deliberate step toward me, his expression unreadable. The way he looked at me made my stomach twist. “Remember when you accused me of manipulating you into our marriage?” His voice was low, almost conspiratorial, as if we were sharing a secret, and my breath hitched. I forced a laugh, trying to lighten the mood despite the flutter of nerves in my stomach. “That was in the past. I was wrong about you. You’re not... that kind of man.” His smile faded slightly, replaced by an intensity that made me uneasy. “You weren’t very wrong about me, Tamara.” “Wait, what are you talking about?” My heart raced even faster now
Tamara's POV As the ring sparkled on my finger, it felt surreal. I barely had time to process what had just happened when Sophie and Violet rushed over, their eyes wide with excitement. “Oh my God, Tamara! You said yes!" Sophie exclaimed, her voice a mix of disbelief and joy. I nodded, still a bit dazed. “Yeah, I did.” Violet practically squealed, “Let me see the ring!” She grabbed my hand, pulling it closer to her face. “It’s beautiful! The color is just like your eyes!” I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. “Thanks! But you guys saw all of that?” “Of course, we did! We were here the whole time!” Sophie chimed in, her grin wide enough to light up the dark room. “Dante didn’t want you to see us, so he made sure it was dark enough. But he got us these artificially enhanced goggles so we could see everything!” I couldn’t help but laugh at Dante’s overdramatic behavior. “Only Dante would think of something like that.” My heart swelled with affection. “It was a pretty romanti
Tamara's POV We made love until I passed out, and by the next morning, I wwas lost in the delicious warmth of Dante’s touch, the softness of the sheets wrapping us as the morning light began to seep through the curtains. The events of the previous day felt like a dream—full of surprises, revelations, and the promise of a future. But as I lay there, nestled against his chest, all I could think about was the way he looked at me and how he made me feel.Dante stirred beside me, his breath warm against my skin. I tilted my head up to meet his gaze, a smile creeping onto my lips. “Good morning,” I whispered, my heart fluttering at the sight of him.“Good morning, baby girl,” he replied, a teasing grin forming on his face. He leaned down, pressing his lips against mine in a soft, lingering kiss that quickly deepened.With a groan, he pulled me closer, his hands roaming my sides, igniting a fire within me. The world around us faded, and it was just us—wrapped up in each other, lost in the
Jack's POV"Damn it!" I groaned as the faint buzz of my phone jolted me awake in the early morning light, casting long shadows across the dark room.I blinked, trying to shake off the grogginess, but the persistent notification light blinked continuously. I reached over, snatched my phone off the nightstand and looked at it.When I read the contents, my eyes widened immediately and all trace of sleep disappeared.It was a message marked "EXTREMELY URGENT!! An emergency meeting… for all the alphas in the East?" I read our loud.What the hell?!That couldn't be good. They never gathered us together this suddenly unless something serious had happened. And that serious thing was never ever any good news.Worry ate at me, and a hint of suspicion crept in. I really wasn't in the mood for any more problems, but experience told me that this had to be more than just another minor skirmish or territory dispute. Whatever it was, it was big.I slid out of bed, took a shower and dressed up quick
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