JAKE
After Prisca left I sat back down on my chair and released a heavy sigh I didn't even know I was holding in. She was so damn difficult sometimes.
The hard truth is I was indeed still stressed out about everything that had happened. I didn't know how to deal with the truth, that I wasn't really who I thought I was. That the evil bastard was my brother and that I was a royal. All of this new information changed everything, it meant my whole life was about to make a big turn.
I had my mate now even though she was damn stubborn and naive most of the time. She didn't fully understand the wild ways of our werewolf culture and life. It really shook me how she actually thought completing the mating ritual was an option she could get out of after I marked her. Maybe I would have to fuck some sense into her, I smirked at the idea. I shook my head and my thoughts went back to the 'change' my life was going to go through.
I didn't want to face this big change, the only damn good thing that came out of this was me being a royal. The rest of the truth was all bullshit to me, all I needed and all I have ever wanted was power. I got what I wanted and now all I had to do was use it to my advantage. I dialled my beta's number and he answered immediately.
"Alpha..." he said waiting for my command
"Gather up the whole pack, I have a few announcements I would like to make in the next ten minutes"
My beta cleared his throat "sure, I will get right to it now."
I hung up the phone and made my way back to my bedroom. Right as I got in I was bathed in my mate's beautiful scent.It was stronger than ever.This only meant the full moon was very close. Closer than I had even expected.
The cold shower took longer than normal because of a particular reason but it was calming. It didn't matter if I made it to the pack grounds a few minutes late, no one would question me about it. Nobody had the guts to anyway. I wore my black formal trousers, a grey plaid shirt and I decided to brush my hair a little just to look a bit neater.
I arrived at the pack grounds ten minutes late. I was glad my beta had managed to actually gather everyone up. My wolf was quick to catch our mates scent and I quickly scanned the crowd. I spotted her standing next to Sophie, they looked as if they had just come back from training.
Prisca caught my stare and visibly blushed, I smirked and stood in the middle of the whole crowd to make my announcement.
"I am glad everyone could make it here today because I have got important announcements to make that will change everything involving this pack," I said firmly "As you all know a lot of unfortunate events took place recently and those events brought out a lot of revelations. Part of those revelations included me finding out I am of royal blood. A hybrid first of my kind." I looked at my pack and watched their reaction carefully. Most of them gasped in shock and some of them just waited for me to say more.
My beta who stood beside me rolled his eyes and silenced some of the pack members who began whispering probably some bullshit, "Silence, the Alpha is still speaking!"
"This doesn't make me the Alpha king if that is what you are wondering but however this does make me a Prince of the Scottish pack. It is my birthright..."
"Does this mean you will abandon Silverstone!" a young woman shouted from the crowd and I tried badly not to growl at her for disturbing me while I spoke, however, my beta didn't hold back his growl.
I sighed "I will not abandon my pack, I am not stupid enough to abandon what's mine. However, I will be taking over the Scottish pack and this will grow our territories worldwide. There will be a change of rules, training and more. I have made this announcement so none of you will be surprised by the changes that will take place. If anyone tries to defy me there will be consequences-you will not like them at all"
I looked at my beta and nodded for him to take over. He stepped forward as I walked away, "You may all get back to your respective places!"
"Jake!" I heard Prisca call out to me as she walked towards me and I stopped.
I raised an eyebrow at her "yes, mate." I said scanning her small figure. She looked good in her training outfit.
"Do you really think it was wise announcing to the whole pack that you are a royal. Now everyone will know, even the other packs and the King!what if the change that comes with this whole situation isn't what you expect?" she asked with wide eyes, she definitely wasn't happy about this.
I started walking towards the pack house, I wasn't in the mood for another argument with my hormonal mate especially when we were in the mating season and the full moon was only a day away.
"Don't you dare walk away from me Jake!" she shouted at me. I kept walking."you coward!"
I stopped immediately at the insult and turned around dangerously slow. Nobody has ever dared to call me, one of the strongest Alpha's in America a coward! I glared at her and she almost managed to hold my glare but she suddenly looked away in fear.
"Say that again, I dare you," I said in a dangerously low tone. I wasn't going to hurt her for insulting me but I was definitely going to punish her for it.
She looked up at me "Walking away from your problems is a coward's move and you know it."
I walked towards her and squeezed her bottom lip lightly between my index finger and my thumb. She widened her eyes and jumped a little in shock."Your little loud mouth is going to get you into a lot of trouble, I suggest you learn to hold back some of those rude remarks of yours. Remember, things have changed and that includes how this relationship is going to work. You ought to respect me and whatever decisions I make."I told her squeezing her bottom lip a bit harder making her squirm a little and she tried removing my hand from her lip forcefully.
"Let go of me Jake!" she demanded and I smirked.
I removed my grip from her lip, " Of course my love but next time choose your words carefully. Maybe I will even reconsider going soft on you tomorrow night. I might not even take you in front of the whole pack..."
"WHAT! What do you mean by that? That is so animalistic and disgusting, why would you even consider that? Did you actually think I would go with it you dumb fuck!" she screamed at me and some of the pack members who were close by gasped in shock as they quickly passed by.
I growled, grabbed her and quickly threw her on my shoulders. I furiously stormed into the pack house, I have had enough of her disrespect, so punishment it is.
Prisca's POV"Jake!Put me down right now!"I screamed at him as he carried me upstairs over his broad shoulders.He slapped my ass hard and it burned,this only fueled my anger."Behave yourself and your punishment won't be as bad as I have planned."he said casually,like this whole scenario was a normal thing.I tried kicking him which earned me another hard slap on my ass,I growled in anger. Me and my wolf were both very pissed off at the moment,our mate was being a total jerk! "You are being very barbaric right now,what is your damn problem?"He opened the door to his place and entered before replying me "I am being barbaric because you have forced me to act this way. You constantly defy me,oh let's not forget how you used your tricky magic on me this morning and then you dare raise your voice at me in front of my pack!Oh dear mate you have been asking for it a lot today and you are going to get It"he said his voice filled with mirth.I swallowed hard,he was right I have been acting ou
PRISCA’S POVAfter taking a long, much-needed shower, Sophie and I decided to wind down by watching the final season of *Game of Thrones*. Khaleesi had taken a dark turn, becoming more ruthless, and it was starting to annoy me. "Maybe her dragons should just burn her and turn to Snow," I commented, tossing a handful of popcorn into my mouth.Sophie gasped, still glued to the screen. She was far more addicted to the show than I was. "Girl, don’t even start! Those are her babies. Like, why would they abandon her for that shorty?"I rolled my eyes, "Oh, please. Don’t even dare insult Snow. He’s the real king—hot, too!"Sophie laughed. "You know nothing, team Snow. Just watch—our Queen will burn down every wretched city!""I hope she fries herself in the process," I scoffed. I loved Khaleesi, but she was being a total bitch this season.Sophie groaned, throwing popcorn at the screen. "Bitch, shut up! Stop hating and let the Queen rule.""Fine, fine. Whatever you say, woman." I fidgeted in
Pain—that's all I could feel as my eyes fluttered open. I tried to untangle myself from Jake so I could go pee, but the man didn’t budge an inch. Instead, he just groaned and squeezed me tighter. If I were human, I would have been suffering from a few broken bones.I sighed and took this opportunity to breathe in his scent and memorize every feature on his face. He looked so peaceful asleep, his lips pouty, swollen, and a deep cherry red from all the kissing we did last night. I blushed at the thought of it.Lord have mercy, last night was unbelievable. How could I have done all that? Never in my entire life did I dream of doing the things I did. I stared at his long dark eyelashes—his were longer than mine—lucky jerk. He looked too adorable for his own good, with his dark wavy hair falling all over his face.He needed a haircut. His hair was growing too long. His large muscled arm was holding me like I was his personal teddy bear. I smiled at how cute he was. He had a black werewolf
Anabelle smiled at me kindly, but there was something sad about that smile. It’s like she knew something I didn’t know, but I ignored that thought. I was just being paranoid again. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Anabelle.”“It’s nice to finally put a face to all the great stories I’ve heard about you from Sophie here and a few pack members. Word travels fast. I’m sorry about your loss, though,” she said with a frown.I smiled at her—she seemed like a really nice person. “It’s okay, Anabelle. I’m just trying to leave the past behind and move on.”Anabelle nodded with a smile that reached her eyes, brushing her pale white, flawless manicured hand through her extremely long straightened red hair—it literally reached her ass. It was thick with volume, and her fringe suited her so well.She looked like a Vogue magazine model, with her slim body dressed in a bold red summer dress and green wedges. “You can call me Bella. I’m happy you’re moving on, and you smell just like Jake now,” she sa
I watched with wide eyes as he took her hand,he didn't even protest or look shocked as he pulled her close to his side. I didn't know what to do, it was as if I was glued on my spot,my jaw felt as if it was going to drop all the way down South.I just watched silently in shock as everything took place."I know this is a shock to everyone,"he said and I felt like rolling my eyes at the understatement "But part of the changes I had talked about include me being mated to a royal...a pure born lycan. It is rare for mixed species to mate and produce an heir and an heir is something I need plus the pack as well."he explained. I almost passed out at that moment,thank God Sophie held me up,I looked at her and she looked as if she was witnessing the biggest joke of all times."The fuck is wrong with him!I cannot believe this is happening right now.Did he hit his head on a wall or something and lose his fucking mind?"she said in shock but I couldn't reply her. I was speechless,I cannot believe m
Fifteen minutes later I was walking out of his office in his large shirt which covered me like a huge knee length dress.I was walking back to the pack house in shame,he didn't even stop me after we had both released. This sex was filled with anger and frustration,I looked at my bloody fingers and sighed. Maybe I shouldn't have ripped his back skin open.After we were done with each other he looked as if he was in pain,I had just grabbed his shirt which he didn't protest against since he was the one who ripped my cloths to shreds.He just stared at me still clouded with lust as I walked out. Alpha's had major problems controlling their sexual appetite and he had just proved it. It took him so much self control to let me walk out but he eventually did after I threatened to burn down his office.I had made up my mind though,I was leaving and he could have Bella all to himself. Jake was just too much for me to handle,too possessive,dominant,short tempered ,wild,bi-polar and just insane. I
London,I was finally here and it was amazing. I have never felt so free and satisfied. A whole year had passed with so much drama and fights but finally I had gained the courage to move away from it all.I was gazing at the large office buildings and malls while the taxi driver drove me to my new apartment. My mother had it all planned out before I could even protest,my plan was to not involve anyone in my quest for a new beginning but my mother rebuked me from excluding her in my life. She won the argument by bringing up how lonely she was especially after losing my dad.I breathed in deep "you can do this Prisca,you can do this."I reassured myself. We arrived at my apartment complex,it was really nice, nothing fancy just simple and neat. I entered the brown building and the owner of the property showed me to my apartment. Her name was Mrs Rosa Lewis Adelaide. A short red headed middle aged woman,she wasn't bad at all just a little bit talkative and she was also Spanish."So just make
"What took you so long?" I asked, rolling my eyes as I locked the door behind me and walked out. Fatima stood there, looking effortlessly gorgeous.She was dressed to kill: black skintight leather pants that hugged her curves, a see-through grey tank top that showed just enough to turn heads, and black biker boots that made her look like she had just stepped out of a fashion shoot. Her makeup was flawless, with smokey eyes and bold red lipstick that matched her fierce attitude. She had her long, dark hair tied back in a high ponytail, giving her an air of power and danger."I'm only thirty minutes late, geez," she huffed, giving me a once-over. "But damn, you look beautiful. Yummy, even." She smirked as she gave me a playful wink.I laughed, shaking my head. "Thanks, you look hot too. Every guy at that club is going to be drooling all over you."She grinned mischievously. "And I’ll smack every single one of them if they even think about messing up my outfit." She slid into the driver'
I didn’t sleep that night. Even after Jake had walked me back to my room, his touch still lingered on my skin, and my mind was a storm of emotions I couldn’t untangle. What had we done? What did it mean? I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, my fingers grazing my lips, remembering the way he had kissed me in the lake. He had pulled me close. Held me like he didn’t want to let go. Kissed me like I was something more than just the woman forced into his life. But when we left the lake, he didn’t say much. He had been quiet, almost thoughtful, his gaze flickering toward me more times than I could count. I wanted to ask him what he was thinking, but I was afraid of the answer. What if it meant nothing? What if it had just been the heat of the moment? I rolled over with a frustrated sigh. My body was exhausted, but my mind refused to shut off. Somehow, I must have dozed off at some point because when I opened my eyes, the room was bathed in soft morning light. I was still
The heat was unbearable. Even inside the packhouse, where the walls were thick and shaded, the air felt suffocating. Sweat clung to my skin, and I could feel my clothes sticking to me uncomfortably. The heatwave had settled over the territory like a thick, oppressive blanket, and it didn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon.Sophie had already declared war on the sun, dramatically flopping onto the couch and refusing to move, while Fatima had gone to the kitchen, attempting to make some kind of iced drink that wouldn’t melt within seconds. The twins were in their nursery, the coolest room in the house, surrounded by enchanted ice packs to keep them comfortable.I, however, was suffering.Standing by the open window, I fanned myself uselessly, hoping for a breeze that never came. My hair was damp at the nape of my neck, and my tank top and shorts felt like they were trapping the heat against my skin instead of providing any relief.“I swear, I’m melting,” Sophie groaned from the couch.
Jake's office was exactly what I expected—neat, organized, and painfully impersonal.The large wooden desk was stacked with reports and maps, the shelves lined with books and ledgers. The only thing that seemed remotely personal was a framed picture on the far wall. Even from here, I could tell it was of Prisca.I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced myself to look away.Jake was already at his desk, flipping through a folder. "Close the door behind you."I did as he asked, stepping further into the room. "So, what’s the plan?"He didn’t look up. "We need to tighten security. I want to know how someone got past our patrols and drugged the guards."I crossed my arms. "That’s obvious. But do you have any leads on who’s behind this?"Jake finally met my gaze. "Nothing solid. But whoever it is, they’re getting bolder."A chill ran down my spine. "Then we don’t have time to waste."He nodded. "Which is why I want you to go over the patrol routes with me. I need a fresh set of eyes."
The room was quiet except for the soft, rhythmic breathing of the twins. The dim glow of the nightlight bathed everything in a warm, golden hue, making the moment feel strangely intimate. Jake was still standing close, his presence looming but not suffocating. For once, there was no tension, no sharp words or cold glares. Just him and me, existing in the same space without fighting it. I exhaled slowly, brushing my fingers through Lily’s soft curls. "I don’t think they’ll ever be truly safe, Jake." My voice was soft, barely above a whisper. "Not when someone out there wants them." Jake's jaw tensed, his arms still crossed as he stared down at the twins. "Then we make sure whoever’s after them never gets the chance to try again." The protectiveness in his voice sent warmth through me, but I quickly pushed it down. I had to focus on the bigger picture. I turned in my seat, looking up at him. "We still don’t know why they want them or who’s behind it." His gaze flickered to m
Jake’s thumb brushed against my cheek, slow and deliberate, as if memorizing the feel of my skin beneath his touch. My breath caught, my chest tightening with emotions I wasn’t ready to name.I could feel his warmth, his presence surrounding me, and for once, he wasn’t pulling away. He wasn’t running."Jake…" My voice came out softer than I intended, almost a whisper, as I met his eyes.He held my gaze, his expression unreadable, but I saw the battle waging inside him. The hesitation. The need. The conflict.For the first time, it felt like he was allowing himself to just be here with me, in this moment, without the weight of his past dragging him back.His fingers tightened slightly on my jaw, his body impossibly close to mine. "You make it hard to stay away."A shiver ran down my spine. "Then don’t."Something in his expression shifted, something raw and vulnerable flickering in his eyes before he exhaled heavily. "You don’t know what you’re asking for.""Yes, I do." My hand came up
The morning light streamed through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. I stretched slightly, feeling the warmth beside me before reality set in. Jake was still here. He hadn't left before I woke up like he usually did. My heart did an involuntary flip at the realization. I turned my head slowly, trying not to disturb him, and took in the sight of his face, relaxed in sleep. His usual stern expression was gone, and in its place was something softer, almost peaceful. I had seen him vulnerable only a few times, but never like this—so unguarded, so human. I swallowed hard, resisting the urge to reach out and brush my fingers along the sharp lines of his jaw. This was dangerous territory. Before I could think too much about it, his eyes fluttered open, dark and sharp, instantly alert. It was fascinating how quickly he transitioned from sleep to full awareness. "You’re staring." His voice was rough with sleep, deeper than usual. I felt the heat rise up my neck and imm
The man knelt in the center of the room, his face battered and streaked with blood. His shirt was torn, stained with sweat and fear. Behind him stood two of Alaric’s men, their grips firm, unyielding. And then there was Alaric. He stood before them, every inch the cold, untouchable king. His suit was immaculate, his presence suffocating. In his hands, he toyed with a sleek dagger, twirling it between his fingers like an afterthought. He didn’t speak immediately, letting the silence stretch unbearably thick. “so you think you can steal from me? ” Alaric’s voice was a death sentence, quiet but unwavering. The man trembled, his breathing ragged. “I-I swear, I didn’t take the money! I was framed, I-” The crack of Alaric’s palm against the man’s face echoed through the room. I flinched. The force of the slap sent the man’s head snapping to the side, blood trailing from his split lip. “I didn’t ask for excuses,” Alaric said, his tone calm, terrifying. “I asked if you knew why you were
I took a deep breath as I stood outside Jake’s office. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might jump out of my chest. I had been waiting for this moment—to finally have a real conversation with him, to get everything out in the open. But now that I was here, an odd sense of hesitation filled me. Would he listen? Or would he just shut me out like he always did?No. I couldn’t afford to second-guess myself. Not now.I pushed the door open without knocking. He was sitting behind his desk, scribbling something on a piece of paper, his expression cold and distant. At the sound of the door opening, he looked up. For a moment, something flickered in his eyes—something I couldn’t quite place—before he masked it with his usual unreadable expression.“What is it?” he asked, his tone clipped and impatient.I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay strong. “We need to talk.”“I’m busy.”My nails dug into my palms. “Too bad. I’m not leaving until we
I wasn’t sure what startled me awake at first. My body felt heavy, my limbs sluggish, and the warmth of my blankets begged me to stay curled beneath them. But something was wrong. The air around me felt… charged. A presence lingered in my room, unseen but **felt**, and a whisper brushed against my ears. **"Ayla… wake up."** My breath hitched, and my eyes snapped open. The room was dim, only faint moonlight streaming through the window, but I knew I wasn’t alone. My heart pounded as I pushed myself up, scanning the shadows. **Prisca.** I had heard her before, always in my dreams. But this time was different. This wasn’t a dream. **"Wake up. The twins."** Panic gripped me. I threw off my blankets and ran. The hallway was eerily quiet, the only sound my hurried footsteps as I rushed toward Lily and Logan’s room. Dread settled deep in my stomach, a horrible premonition clawing at my chest. When I reached the door, my heart stopped. The guard. He was slumped against th