Avery’s POVThe morning began like any other, strained silence, stiff greetings, and stares that scraped against my skin like tiny blades. I dressed slowly, deliberately, bracing myself for another day of pretending not to notice the glares or whispers that clung to me like a curse.But I should’ve known today would be different. Worse.It started with the sharp clang of metal on tile, followed by a shout from somewhere down the hall. Then came the hurried footsteps, too many to count, echoing through the packhouse like an approaching storm.I stepped out of my room just in time to see the Beta whispering urgently to Alpha Callum, his face pale and tense. The Alpha’s expression darkened immediately, and his eyes, cold and empty, scanned the hallway until they landed on me.I froze“You,” he barked, his voice slicing through the air. “In the hall. Now.”Confused and wary, I obeyed. Guards quickly flanked me on either side, as if I were some dangerous criminal. My heart pounded harder w
Avery’s POV The morning sun filters through the windows, casting long streaks of gold across the marble floor. The silence in this house always feels heavy, almost as if it’s daring me to breathe too loudly. After the chaos of yesterday, the accusation, the whispers, I need air. I step outside, wrapping my shawl tighter around my shoulders as the wind brushes against my skin. The garden is quiet, unnaturally so. It’s early enough that no one else is out here, and I’m grateful for the solitude. The flowers are in bloom, colors bursting from every corner, their scent calming and familiar. For a moment, I allow myself to imagine I’m somewhere else, somewhere safe. Somewhere free. Somewhere with my son. I walk slowly, letting the soft crunch of gravel under my shoes ground me. My mind wanders to my son again. Is he safe? Is he thinking of me? Crying for me? I miss the warmth of his small hands, the sound of his laughter. I miss being his mother, not some caged pawn in someone else’s ga
Avery’s POVDays blur into weeks, and each one carves its own scar across my mind. The torment doesn’t lessen, it evolves. It becomes more subtle, more personal, calculated to wear me down without leaving a single visible mark.The servants “forget” to bring me meals. My clothes go mysteriously missing or are returned soiled. The once-pristine corner of the estate assigned to me is constantly vandalized, mud mud tracked in, linens slashed, mirrors cracked. No one speaks to me unless it’s to mock or command. I'm invisible unless they need someone to insult.Still, I endure.Every morning I wake up sore, tired, and dreading what new cruelty the day will bring. But I get up anyway. I dress with what little dignity they’ve left me. I hold my head high even when my knees want to buckle. I walk those halls as if I belong there, even though I know I don’t.I do it for him.My son.I haven’t seen him since the night I agreed to this cursed marriage. I don’t know how he is doing or who watches
AVERY "Run, Avery!" My friend Emma yelled, I took to my heels immediately, my feet began to hurt as I've run through an unknown part for so long. It's midnight in Greenville city, Emma and I were returning from a birthday party celebration, and on our way home we were attacked by rogues. Emma suspected them to be some of my father's enemies. I know we shouldn't have left the pack without some bodyguards to guard us. It was definitely a bad idea. After running for a long while, I fell on the hard ground, hitting my knees hard. I felt a warm liquid drip down my leg and I realized that it was my knee bleeding. It fucking hurts! Exclaimed inwardly. I looked around the dark street, Emma was nowhere to be found. We lost track of each other while running. I cut a part of my dress, using it to tie my wound as I attended to it. "Ahhh" I groaned. Immediately I pulled the piece and finished tying it. Now, I had to stand up and find Emma. I summoned my not-too-strong wolf. Trying
AVERY "Ahhh" I groaned as I was pushed on a huge bed inside a gigantic master's bedroom. The guard who dropped me turned to leave but I immediately ran after him. I couldn't allow them to lock me indoors, I didn't know their motive for bringing me here. I couldn't get to the door in time and he shut it before I could reach it. I immediately banged my fist hard on the door, cussing and yelling. "Let me out of here you bastards! My father will make you all pay for this!" I declared, hitting my fist hard on the door as I increased my yelling. I was in the room for an extra hour, I'm not sure how long it was but I've been locked inside for so long I assumed it must've been an hour. I was tired of hitting the door. No one would come and attend to me, I was exhausted already. I had no choice but to move to the bed to rest. Hopefully, when they're tired of me they'll let me go. I haven't done anything, I must've been kidnapped under a mistaken identity. As I laid on the bed, I felt my
AVERY A cold splash of water hit my skin and I jerked up from my sleep. My whole body was wet and freezing, I looked up to see a mean faced woman glaring at me disgustedly. "How dare you sleep at such an hour?" She scolded me. It almost felt like a dream since I didn't know who she was. "W.. who are you?" I asked her, staring around the room and I realized that I was still locked up. "How dare you ask who I am? Besides being dumb, do you have no respect?" The woman questioned me. Obviously, she hated me already. I don't even know who she is and why she came to me. She moved away from the bed where I was laying on. "Here, put these on," she instructed me. Throwing some clothes at me. I picked up the clothes from my body and on the bed, they were maiden uniforms. "What?" I exclaimed. "Why are you surprised? You are a maiden here now. It's late already so put those on and join your colleagues in the kitchen. I'll assign a duty to you son!" The mean woman explained before leaving
ALPHA KANE "Alpha, we've just got a message from Alpha George" Beta Alex informed me immediately he entered my office. Last night, I had my men send Alpha George a message, informing him that I had his daughter with me. Since then, I've been impatiently waiting for his response. I pulled the letter from his hands and I read it. "What the heck?" I exclaimed. I stared at Alex, he was as confused as I was. Alpha George sent us a blank message. What did he mean? Did he really not care about his daughter?. She is his own blood for goodness sake! I was so angry, I folded the letter in my fist and I crushed it. I threw it away and I stormed out of the room. Since Alpha George didn't care about his daughter, I'll have to take care of that myself. I went into.the room I had assigned for her and I didn't meet her there. It's almost nighttime, she is supposed to be inside her room now after doing the day chores. Where is she? I was curious. I couldn't help but think that she had tried
Avery“let me out” I wail in frustration, banging the door with all the energy I can muster, hoping someone would be sane enough to free me. Of course that’s just delusion because the moon goddess definitely finds my torture entertaining, if not I wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place. Out of all the people I could possibly be fated with, it just had to be my father’s rival? Just lovely.I sit down on the alpha’s king-sized bed. I have to admit the room looks magnificent. Decorated with different paintings and dark lighting. I am drawn to the dark haunting feel of the room, if only I wasn’t trapped I maybe would have enjoyed the view properly.The door opens and I’m jerked out of my thoughts. Before I see him, I can smell him, a mixture of cedar and pure dominance, sense his overwhelmingly powerful prescence. I hate that his presense makes my wolf purr in excitement, I hate that I can feel the magnetic pull, I hate that I am his fated mate and I hate him in general.As soo
Avery’s POVDays blur into weeks, and each one carves its own scar across my mind. The torment doesn’t lessen, it evolves. It becomes more subtle, more personal, calculated to wear me down without leaving a single visible mark.The servants “forget” to bring me meals. My clothes go mysteriously missing or are returned soiled. The once-pristine corner of the estate assigned to me is constantly vandalized, mud mud tracked in, linens slashed, mirrors cracked. No one speaks to me unless it’s to mock or command. I'm invisible unless they need someone to insult.Still, I endure.Every morning I wake up sore, tired, and dreading what new cruelty the day will bring. But I get up anyway. I dress with what little dignity they’ve left me. I hold my head high even when my knees want to buckle. I walk those halls as if I belong there, even though I know I don’t.I do it for him.My son.I haven’t seen him since the night I agreed to this cursed marriage. I don’t know how he is doing or who watches
Avery’s POV The morning sun filters through the windows, casting long streaks of gold across the marble floor. The silence in this house always feels heavy, almost as if it’s daring me to breathe too loudly. After the chaos of yesterday, the accusation, the whispers, I need air. I step outside, wrapping my shawl tighter around my shoulders as the wind brushes against my skin. The garden is quiet, unnaturally so. It’s early enough that no one else is out here, and I’m grateful for the solitude. The flowers are in bloom, colors bursting from every corner, their scent calming and familiar. For a moment, I allow myself to imagine I’m somewhere else, somewhere safe. Somewhere free. Somewhere with my son. I walk slowly, letting the soft crunch of gravel under my shoes ground me. My mind wanders to my son again. Is he safe? Is he thinking of me? Crying for me? I miss the warmth of his small hands, the sound of his laughter. I miss being his mother, not some caged pawn in someone else’s ga
Avery’s POVThe morning began like any other, strained silence, stiff greetings, and stares that scraped against my skin like tiny blades. I dressed slowly, deliberately, bracing myself for another day of pretending not to notice the glares or whispers that clung to me like a curse.But I should’ve known today would be different. Worse.It started with the sharp clang of metal on tile, followed by a shout from somewhere down the hall. Then came the hurried footsteps, too many to count, echoing through the packhouse like an approaching storm.I stepped out of my room just in time to see the Beta whispering urgently to Alpha Callum, his face pale and tense. The Alpha’s expression darkened immediately, and his eyes, cold and empty, scanned the hallway until they landed on me.I froze“You,” he barked, his voice slicing through the air. “In the hall. Now.”Confused and wary, I obeyed. Guards quickly flanked me on either side, as if I were some dangerous criminal. My heart pounded harder w
Avery’s POVThe knock on my chamber door came just as I finished brushing my hair. I froze, my brush hovering mid-air as the door creaked open without waiting for permission. A guard stepped in, stiff and silent, before motioning for me to follow. I didn’t ask where I was being taken, there was no point. In this place, it was obvious my questions didn’t matter.The halls were cold and we walked in silence, past stern-faced servants and curious pack members who didn’t bother hiding their judgment. I kept my head high. I would not let them see me crumble.He was waiting for me in what looked like a private study, dark wood walls, a roaring fireplace, and shelves lined with books no one had touched in decades. The old Alpha Callum stood by the window, his hands clasped behind his back as if he were some noble monarch greeting a war prize. I didn’t need to be told who he was. His presence bled power… and something colder. Something decayed.He turned slowly, his gaze sweeping over me like
Avery’s POVAfter wandering the huge mansion, I found my way back to my new room.But as the door creaked shut behind me, and I turned around, I almost couldn't believe what I saw.The room I left in a perfect condition was now a battlefieldMy clothes were ripped and strewn across the floor, some of them stained with what looked like ink or wine. The once-pristine bedsheets had been slashed through as if by claws, and the headboard bore deep, angry gouges. The mirror above the dresser was cracked right through the center, and scrawled in what appeared to be red lipstick were the words: "Whore. Traitor. Unfit."My heart dropped. A sharp sting bloomed behind my eyes, but I forced myself to blink back the tears. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction, not them, not her, not this cursed place.I stepped forward cautiously, my bare feet brushing against the soft fabric of my ruined dress. Every corner of the room screamed defiance. This wasn’t a warning, it was a declaration. I was not wel
Avery’s POVThe journey is long, but the silence is longer.No one speaks. Not the guards. Not the driver. Not me.The carriage rattles along uneven roads, every bump jostling my body, but I barely notice. My mind is far, far away, from this damned seat, from the silk choking my skin, from the future I never chose. I stare blankly at the passing trees, watching the shadows stretch and shift across the landscape like specters, as if the forest itself mourns what I’ve become.A prisoner.Not in shackles or chains, but something worse.A prisoner of circumstance.A daughter traded like livestock. A mother who gave up her freedom to save her child. A girl who once dreamed of love… now promised to a stranger whose name she only speaks in fear.By the time the carriage creaks to a stop, dusk is bleeding into the sky. I don’t even realize we’ve arrived until the door is thrown open.“We’re here,” one of the guards grunts, offering no hand as I step down onto the cold stone.I glance up.The
Avery’s POVThe walls of this room are beautiful, golden drapes, antique chandeliers, polished floors, but to me, they’re nothing more than a gilded cage.I pace the length of the room, my bare feet whispering against the rug as my thoughts spiral out of control. It’s been hours since I was dragged away from the hall. Hours since I last saw anything but these suffocating walls.But not a single moment has passed without me thinking of him.My son.Where is he? Is he hurt? Is he afraid? Every possibility, every awful scenario my mind conjures feels like a blade carving deeper into my chest. I’ve screamed myself hoarse, threatened every guard who dared bring me food, even clawed at the locked door until my nails splitbbut it was useless. No one would tell me where he was. No one would help me.I’m trapped. Powerless.And alone.Until evening comes.A knock. Then the door creaks open, and I stiffen.Two guards enter. Behind them… my father.He walks in like a king inspecting his property
Avery’s POVI awoke to the acrid scent of burning wood and thethe suffocating weight of captivity. My head throbbed with every shallow breath I took, and for a brief, disoriented moment, I couldn't tell if I was dreaming or still unconscious.But then I saw it, the high ceilings, the dark stone walls, the elaborate chandelier casting flickering shadows across polished floors.I knew this place. It looked all too familiarIt was my father’s packhouse.No. No, no, no…Panic flared in my chest as I bolted upright. The plush bedding beneath me mocked the terror clawing at my throat. My limbs felt like lead, my wrists sore and bruised. I stumbled off the bed, feet unsteady, and the world spun before my vision steadied. My eyes darted around, desperate.Where was he?“My son…”The words barely made it past my lips, dry and cracked from disuse. I staggered toward the door, yanking the handle, but it was locked. I slammed my fists against the heavy wood, screaming louder this time.“Where is
Avery’s POVThe evening air is crisp, the scent of rain lingering as I walk hand in hand with my son. Lisa walks beside us, chatting about work, laughing at a story about a clumsy customer spilling coffee everywhere.For a moment, I allow myself to believe that this is my life now, normal, safe, free.But the feeling doesn’t last.A familiar unease curls in my stomach, growing heavier with each step toward my apartment. The hairs on the back of my neck rise, but I force myself to smile as Lisa turns to me.“You okay?” she asks, eyes filled with concern.I nod quickly. “Yeah, just tired.”She hesitates, studying me like she knows I’m lying, but finally offers a small smile. “Get some rest, okay? Call me if you need anything.”“Thanks, Lisa. Goodnight.”Somehow I am always lucky enough to meet good people wherever I go.I push open my door, guiding my son inside. The second the door clicks shut behind me, I freeze.Something is wrong.The apartment feels too quiet. Not the usual comfort