AYLA'S POV I couldn’t remember the last time I felt warm. The damp, cold cell pressed against my skin like a second layer of punishment, seeping into my bones. My body was weak, trembling from the lack of food and water. I had stopped crying hours—or was it days?—ago. Time was meaningless in this prison, the darkness swallowing every second and replacing it with an endless stretch of misery. Steve hadn’t been here in what felt like an eternity. Neither had my stepmother. At first, I had rejoiced in their absence. No sneering remarks, no threats. But now, I wondered if their silence meant something worse. Perhaps they had forgotten about me. Perhaps I would die here, alone, unloved, and unwanted. I slumped against the wall, my energy all but spent. My wrists ached from the shackles, and the rough stone bit into my back. My wolf had gone silent, her strength buried too deep for me to reach. “I can’t do this anymore,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I’m done. I don’t
Days passed in the pack house, each one colder than the last. Jake hadn’t spoken to me since he brought me back, his stoic walls firmly in place. When I tried to find him, he was always busy, shuffling between meetings or disappearing into his office with a curt “not now.” The bond between us, once a thread of warmth and potential, now felt like a frayed rope. Worse, whispers followed me wherever I went, quiet murmurs that cut like knives. “She’s just an omega. What does she know about being a Luna?” “She can’t even protect herself.” “Jake deserves better.” I tried to ignore them, but their words clung to me, festering in the quiet moments when I was alone. The pack, which had once welcomed me with open arms, now seemed to regard me with suspicion. My presence in the halls was met with polite nods, not the warmth I’d grown used to. Even Fatima had grown distant. She was always quick to make excuses—“I’m busy, Ayla. I’ll come find you later”—but she never did. I spent mos
The morning light streamed through the windows of the packhouse, warming the cool wooden floors beneath my feet. I sat curled up in an oversized chair by the large glass windows, my knees pulled to my chest as I stared out at the forest beyond. The pack was awake and bustling—warriors training, young pups playing, omegas moving through their chores—but it felt as though I were on the outside looking in. Jake had left this morning without so much as a word. “Pack business,” one of the warriors had said casually when I’d asked where he’d gone. Those two words haunted me now, echoing in my mind. Jake had a way of disappearing whenever things got complicated between us, like avoiding me was easier than facing whatever this was. Whatever *I* was. I sighed and rested my chin on my knees. I wasn’t angry—not really. I understood why he might need space after everything that had happened. But that didn’t stop the ache in my chest or the tiny voice in my head whispering that I didn’t belo
I still couldn’t move. My legs felt like lead, and my chest ached like I’d been punched. Joseph’s words echoed in my head on a vicious loop: *“You don’t belong here.”* My ears were still ringing with the sound of Tammy’s bags hitting the floor as she moved into the packhouse like she owned the place. This couldn’t be real. This couldn’t be happening. Around me, murmurs had broken out among the pack members. I could hear them whispering, the words sharp and cutting as they floated through the air. “An omega? Really?” “She lied about who she was. Joseph’s right—this pack deserves better.” “This is embarrassing for all of us. The other packs will laugh at us.” I swallowed hard, trying to block it all out, but the words dug into me like shards of glass. My vision blurred as tears threatened to spill, but I refused to cry. Not here. Not now. Tammy was still standing in the center of the room, a picture of smug perfection. Her golden hair caught the light from the chandelier a
I sat on the edge of the couch, silently seething as Tammy barked yet another order at the packhouse staff. This girl was a nightmare incarnate, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could sit here and watch her act like she owned the place. “Is it really that hard to get a cup of tea *hot*?” Tammy snapped, holding up the porcelain cup like it was contaminated. “This is lukewarm. Disgusting. Take it back.” The young omega standing in front of her flushed crimson, clutching the tray nervously. “I-I’m sorry, Miss. I’ll fix it right away.” “Fix it?” Tammy scoffed, waving her hand dismissively. “You can’t fix *incompetence*. Get out of my sight.” The poor girl fled the room, her head bowed low. I had to grip the cushion of the couch tightly to stop myself from launching off it and grabbing Tammy by her perfectly curled blonde hair. Fatima, standing next to me with her arms crossed, muttered under her breath, “If I have to stand here and tolerate this girl for another hour, I’m goi
If I thought Tammy’s first day in the packhouse was unbearable, I was woefully unprepared for day two. She made her presence known as soon as the sun rose, barking orders at anyone who crossed her path. I sat in the kitchen with Sophie, trying to drink my tea in peace, when Tammy’s grating voice echoed through the halls. “Where is my breakfast? Do I have to starve in this house?” Fatima, standing by the counter, groaned audibly. “I swear if she calls me one more time, I’ll—” “Calm down,” Sophie muttered, rubbing her temples. “Let’s just get through this without any bloodshed.” The door burst open, and Tammy strolled in like she owned the place. Her hair was perfectly curled, and she wore a bright pink dress that screamed *look at me*. She stopped in the middle of the kitchen, putting her hands on her hips. “Oh, good, you’re all here. Maybe now I can finally get some service around here.” Fatima’s grip on the counter tightened, and Sophie leaned over to whisper, “I’ll hol
Dinner that evening was a battle of patience—a battle I was clearly losing. The packhouse dining room was bustling, filled with chatter and the clinking of plates and utensils. Jake sat at the head of the table, his usual unreadable expression fixed firmly in place. I sat a few seats away, trying to focus on my plate and ignore the trainwreck that was Tammy. Tammy, however, had other plans. “Jake, could you pass me the salt?” she asked sweetly, leaning forward just enough to emphasize her chest. Her voice was coated in syrup, and the way she said his name made my teeth ache. Jake didn’t even look up. He grabbed the salt and handed it to her without a word, his attention still on his plate. “Thank you, Alpha,” she purred, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. Fatima, sitting across from me, kicked my shin under the table. When I glanced at her, she gave me a look that said, Do you see this nonsense? I barely resisted rolling my eyes. Tammy wasn’t just trying to f
The morning started like any other, though I had spent most of it dodging Tammy. Somehow, that girl could find you no matter where you hid, and she always had a reason to make you want to slam your head into a wall. Today, she was sporting yet another dress that looked more like lingerie, with her chest nearly spilling out and her skirt barely brushing her thighs. She pranced around the packhouse like she was in a beauty pageant, but really, she was just a walking disaster waiting to happen. I managed to stay clear of her for most of the day until, unfortunately, the universe decided to punish me. I was on my way to the kitchen when Jake came in from training, shirtless, his body slick with sweat, muscles flexing with every movement. My traitorous eyes raked over him, noting the way his abs looked like they were carved from stone and his arms bulged as he wiped his face with a towel. Focus, Ayla, I told myself, swallowing hard. But before I could pretend I hadn’t noticed him,
I woke up only to find Jake not beside me in bed. To be honest I wasn't very shocked . It was kind of like a trend now ,he acts like this and then tries to pretend like it didn't happen. I tried to understand him even though it was highly annoying and it also hurt like a lot. I wanted us to be a normal couple ,normal mates full of love and understanding but Jake still felt guilty . It's as if letting me in meant he would be betraying Prisca or the twins but honestly I felt like she would want him to move on. And from my dreams I believed she wanted what's best for him and the twins . He was punishing himself, maybe he believed he didn't deserve any love or a second chance . Maybe he believed this was a test because honestly I once believed that too at first . I would be patient but not forever. A healthy relationship between us wasn't only good for us but also good for the twins . They needed to be surrounded by love and happiness. I decided to drown myself in the happy things li
Got it! I’ll make sure to keep Alaric’s character intense, dominant, and ruthless while making the scene as steamy and intense as possible from Vanessa’s perspective. Here’s the chapter:My body ached, but it was a different kind of ache. The kind that sat beneath the skin, pulsing, twisting, almost alive.I blinked against the dim light in the unfamiliar room, my breathing shallow. The last thing I remembered was blacking out after trying to make my way to the door, my body too weak from all the blood they had drained from me. But now… now I felt different.Stronger. Aware. Too aware.I sat up slowly, expecting the usual dizziness, but it never came. Instead, everything around me sharpened. The distant ticking of a clock echoed in my ears like a drumbeat. The scent of fresh rain drifted in through the open window, so strong it almost overwhelmed me. And then—Alaric.I felt him before I saw him. A dark, consuming presence that called to something inside me. The bond. The mark. Whatev
The morning was quiet, more peaceful than usual, but there was a weight in the air that made me uneasy. I had spent the entire night with the twins, feeling their soft breaths and hearing the gentle rise and fall of their chests as they slept peacefully in my arms. The bonds we shared were undeniable—these two tiny beings held my heart in a way I never thought possible. But it wasn’t just their innocence and love that kept me up at night. It was the danger, the growing threat I could feel surrounding them, even though no one spoke of it out loud.I spent most of my time trying to keep them safe. Jake and I had our differences, but one thing I was sure of was that he cared for them. The issue wasn’t his love for them—it was the ever-present doubt that clouded his judgment. He didn’t trust me fully, nor did he trust the visions I had seen in my dreams. Those dreams, those warnings, they weren’t just random—they were real.Today, however, I was trying to push those thoughts aside, trying
The night air was heavy, thick with the kind of silence that made my skin crawl. Ever since the attack on the twins’ room, I hadn’t been able to rest properly. Something was off in the packhouse, and I could feel it in my bones. I paced the room, arms crossed tightly over my chest as my mind reeled over everything that had happened in the past few days. The failed kidnapping attempt, Jake finally agreeing to take the twins' safety seriously, and the ever-present tension between us. And then there was the dream. Prisca’s voice had been clearer than ever, guiding me, warning me. But about what? I needed answers. I exhaled heavily, glancing at the sleeping twins. Their soft breaths filled the space, a reminder of why I couldn’t afford to be careless. I reached for a blanket, tucking it around them before stepping away. That’s when I saw it. The smallest draft of air… coming from the far wall of the room. My eyes narrowed. That didn’t make sense. The room was closed—wind
I sat on the edge of the bed, watching over the twins as they slept soundly in their cribs. Their tiny chests rose and fell in a steady rhythm, their peaceful faces untouched by the chaos around them. They had no idea how much danger lurked in the shadows, how many people wanted to harm them simply because of what they were. It made my chest ache.Jake might not believe in my visions, but that didn’t mean I would stop protecting them.I ran my fingers through Lily’s soft curls, her tiny hand twitching in her sleep as if reaching for something. My heart swelled with love, but also with fear. How far would these enemies go?The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from a small lamp by the dresser. I leaned back in my chair, exhaustion pulling at my limbs, but my mind refused to rest.Then I felt it—an odd sensation, like an invisible pull. It made the hair on my arms stand up. I glanced around, my eyes narrowing on the twins’ blankets.A chill crept down my spine as I moved closer,
The packhouse had never felt this tense before. Warriors moved in and out of the main halls, security was on high alert, and whispers followed me wherever I went. Ever since the attack on the twins, things had changed. The pack was afraid, and Jake—Jake was furious.He had been working nonstop, investigating, interrogating, and making sure every single security measure was doubled. He barely slept. I wasn’t sure if he even ate. He was always moving, always planning, and always avoiding me.But I wasn’t going to be ignored. People acted like I was weak especially after they found out I was an omega ,they thought they could just lock me up and make me a babysitter instead. Whenever I tried talking to Jake he acted all busy and asked how the twins were. The worst part was Fatima and Sophie also thought it was best I don't get in harms way. They didn't say straight up but it's the way they tried to make sure I was occupied indoors like some housewife.If he thought I was just going to si
I sat in my office, staring at the wall as the weight of everything threatened to crush me. My mate, my unborn child, my pack—everything was hanging by a thread, and I felt powerless. Prisca had finally told me the truth, and it shattered me in ways I couldn’t put into words. She was given an impossible choice. One where no matter what she decided, she would lose something—either our child or me. How the hell was I supposed to accept that? My fingers clenched into fists against my desk as a growl rumbled low in my chest. No. I wouldn’t accept it. Fate had already tried to take too much from me. I had lost warriors, friends, people who depended on me to lead them. But my family? That was where I drew the line. There had to be another way. I pushed back from my desk and stood, my muscles tense as I made my decision. I couldn’t sit here and wait for fate to take its course. I had to act. I walked out of my office and made my way down the dimly lit halls of the packhouse. Most o
The room was dark and silent as I drifted in and out of a restless sleep. My body was heavy, but my mind was uneasy, tugged by an invisible string that wouldn’t let me rest. I heard the voice again, soft yet urgent, piercing through the haze of my dreams. “Ayla... wake up. Go to them.” It was Prisca. My eyes flew open, and I sat up in bed, my heart pounding. The room was cold, the night air chilling my skin, but it wasn’t the temperature that sent a shiver down my spine. Something was wrong. I threw on my robe and bolted out of the room, my feet carrying me down the hallway toward the twins’ nursery. As I approached, the sight of the guard slumped against the wall froze me in my tracks. “Lance?” I whispered, shaking his shoulder. He didn’t respond. His breathing was steady, but he wouldn’t wake up. It wasn’t normal sleep—it was too deep, too unnatural. Fear gripped me as I turned toward the door. It was ajar, and the faint light from inside spilled into the hallway. Slowly
The morning sunlight streamed through the nursery windows, casting a warm glow over the room as I sat on the floor with Lily and Logan. Their giggles filled the air, and despite the ache in my chest from my last conversation with Jake, I couldn’t help but smile. Being with the twins was the only thing that gave me peace now. They didn’t judge or lash out. They didn’t push me away. They simply existed in their innocent, joyful world, and I was grateful to be a part of it. Today was bath day, and I had everything set up: warm water in the tub, towels neatly folded, and a small bottle of lavender-scented baby soap. Logan crawled toward the tub, babbling incoherently, while Lily followed with a determined look, her tiny fists clutching the edge of the tub as she tried to pull herself up. “All right, you two,” I said with a laugh, scooping them both up. “One at a time. You’re not running this show.” Logan went first, splashing the water with glee as I lathered him up. His little hand