AYLA’S POV The morning sun poured through the windows, casting a warm glow on the packhouse. I tried to distract myself by keeping busy. Jake was off in his office handling pack business, and the twins were with Fatima, who had taken them outside to play. I should have felt at ease, but Tammy’s presence was like an itch I couldn’t scratch. As I passed through the hallway, I spotted Tammy lingering near the staircase. She looked perfectly composed, her face set in that usual mask of practiced politeness. But when her gaze shifted to me, her expression flickered—just for a second. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but I caught it. A flash of contempt. I couldn’t figure her out. There was something beneath the surface, a simmering hostility she worked hard to hide. And then there was her father—Joseph. The way he spoke to her, the way he seemed to control her every move. It made my stomach churn. But Tammy? Tammy didn’t want my help. She made that crystal clear. I spen
Ayla’s PerspectiveThe sun was just starting to rise when I made my way downstairs, the warmth of the early morning spilling into the packhouse. For once, it was quiet—a welcome reprieve from the constant chaos that seemed to follow Tammy around like a shadow. I hadn’t seen her yet, and I was fine with that. Peace wasn’t something I took for granted anymore.The twins were already up, their tiny giggles echoing from the playroom. I couldn’t help but smile as I stepped inside and found Lily and Logan sitting on a blanket surrounded by toys. Fatima knelt beside them, laughing as Logan proudly showed her a block he’d stacked.“You two are early risers today,” I said, dropping to the floor next to them.“Lily dragged him out of bed,” Fatima said, shaking her head. “She’s got too much energy for this time of the morning.”Lily beamed at me, her tiny hands grabbing for a stuffed wolf. She held it up proudly, her bright eyes sparkling.“Is that Alpha Jake?” I teased, pointing to the stuffed
The packhouse was quiet, the air heavy with the stillness of mid-afternoon. I wandered through the halls, my thoughts swirling with the events of the past few days. Tammy’s sudden disappearance, Joseph’s unsettling words, and Jake’s stoic indifference—it all weighed on me like a storm cloud that refused to break. I tried to distract myself by spending time with the twins, but even their laughter couldn’t pull me out of the haze I was in. I didn’t know what I was looking for, but I found myself walking toward Jake’s office. Maybe I just needed to see him, to ground myself in something familiar. The sound of muffled voices stopped me in my tracks. “…you’re overthinking it,” Tammy’s voice, soft and sickly sweet, drifted through the partially open door. I peeked inside, my heart sinking at the sight of her leaning over Jake’s desk. She was too close, her hand brushing his as she pointed to something on the papers in front of him. Jake didn’t move away, but he didn’t look particula
It had been a month since Tammy and her father stormed into our lives, and the tension in the packhouse had reached unbearable levels. Every day felt like a test of patience, as Tammy hovered around Jake, playing the perfect lady in front of the council while subtly undermining me whenever she could. Everyone in the pack, including me, expected Jake to kick her out as soon as the month was up. Yet, here we were—still stuck with her. And Jake? He was unreadable as ever, his thoughts locked behind that stoic expression. Was he really going to keep her around us? It's not like he was naive. Jake knew she was up to something ,he knew she didn't have good intentions ,but yet the girl was still here hovering around like an evil spirit. Despite me feeling sorry for her and whatever she was going through with her very suspicious abusive father, my wolf didn't like that Jake was tolerating her maybe a bit too much. He was my mate whether he liked it or not . The suffocating atmosphere was
Jake left early in the morning for a meeting with the neighboring packs, taking Joseph and some of the council members with him. The air in the packhouse felt lighter in their absence, though I could hardly complain about Jake leaving—it wasn’t like he was much of a presence lately, anyway. Tammy, surprisingly, had kept to herself after their departure, though I was sure she had some scheme brewing in her mind. Still, the silence was a welcome reprieve, and I was determined to make the most of it. The day started peacefully enough. I spent my morning with the twins, reading stories to Lily and Logan while they babbled excitedly, pointing to the pictures. Their laughter was contagious, and for a little while, it felt like nothing could disrupt the calm. But, of course, peace never lasts long in this house. It started with a soft cough from one of the pack pups playing in the courtyard. I didn’t think much of it at first—kids cough all the time, right? But then another child cou
The days felt longer without Jake around. The house was quieter, save for the usual buzz of activity from the workers and the occasional giggles of Lily and Logan. I hadn’t realized how much I’d grown used to Jake’s brooding presence until it wasn’t there anymore. But something else had shifted in the packhouse—Tammy. After her unexpected show of competence and kindness during the pack’s little health scare, she seemed... different. Or maybe it was just that I was seeing a different side of her, one that wasn’t cloaked in sarcasm and thinly veiled malice. That morning, I found her in the kitchen, of all places. She was chopping vegetables, her movements precise and efficient. “Good morning,” I said cautiously, half-expecting a snarky reply. To my surprise, she glanced up and nodded. “Morning.” I hovered near the counter, unsure of what to do. “What are you making?” “Soup,” she said simply. “For the kids. Some of them are still recovering.” “Oh.” I wasn’t sure what else
The packhouse was alive with energy as Jake returned. His presence brought a sense of reassurance and authority that everyone seemed to crave in his absence. The air seemed to buzz differently when he was around, and as much as I hated to admit it, I felt it too.I caught a glimpse of him as he strode through the main hall, nodding curtly at the pack members who greeted him. He paused briefly to speak to Sophie and Fatima, who were waiting with updates about everything that had happened while he was gone. His expression was as stoic as ever, but his eyes softened slightly when Lily and Logan ran up to him, their little legs moving as fast as they could.I stayed back, watching the scene unfold. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to greet him—I just didn’t know how to. After everything that had happened before he left, the tension between us felt like a physical wall.Tammy’s return to her old self was almost immediate. Whatever kindness or vulnerability she had shown during Jake’s absence s
The day started like any other. The twins woke me up before the sun had fully risen, their excited chatter filling the room as they begged for pancakes. Logan tugged at my hand, his bright eyes wide with anticipation, while Lily clutched her stuffed wolf, nodding along silently. “Alright, alright,” I said, feigning exhaustion as I got out of bed. “Let’s get those pancakes going.” By the time we made it to the kitchen, Sophie was already there, sipping coffee and scrolling through her tablet. She raised an eyebrow at my disheveled state but said nothing, smirking as I attempted to wrangle the twins into sitting still while I cooked. “You’ve got syrup in your hair,” she commented casually, sipping her coffee. I groaned, swiping at my hair with a dish towel as Logan giggled. “This is what I get for trying to be nice,” I muttered, glaring at the sticky twins. The morning passed peacefully, the kitchen alive with laughter and the occasional crash as the twins’ enthusiasm got the b
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