The day started like any other, or so I thought. I was in the kitchen with Sophie and Fatima, the twins playing on their mat nearby. Logan was chewing on a stuffed wolf while Lily babbled at a block tower she had just demolished. Sophie was sipping her coffee, a mischievous glint in her eye, while Fatima busied herself cutting fruit, humming softly. “Jake left early today, huh?” I asked casually, glancing at Sophie. “Yep, gone all day,” she said with a wave of her hand, her tone far too nonchalant. I didn’t think much of it, trusting Sophie’s word. If Jake was gone, I could relax a little—no risk of him brooding in the corner, silently making me question everything with one smoldering glance. I had planned to take a long shower, one of those therapeutic ones where I let the water wash away the stress of everything. Except, when I turned the knob in my bathroom, nothing happened. Not a drop. “Seriously?” I muttered, fiddling with the handle as if sheer willpower would summon
The day started peacefully, a rarity in my life. Sophie had insisted on taking the twins for the day, giving me a break. At first, I was hesitant, but her persistence—and the mischievous sparkle in her eyes—wore me down. Something told me she was up to no good again, but I decided to take the time for myself anyway. Jake had gone out earlier for pack business, leaving the estate quiet and calm. I wandered outside and found myself staring at the pool. The crystal-clear water glistened under the sunlight, looking impossibly inviting. Why not? I went to my room and pulled out a bikini I hadn’t worn in years. It hugged my curves perfectly, the vibrant teal complementing my skin. Normally, I wouldn’t wear something so revealing, but since it was just me, I threw caution to the wind. The water was cool and refreshing as I dove in, swimming a few laps before floating on my back, basking in the warmth of the sun. I felt free for the first time in ages, completely at ease. A lot had h
Sophie was pacing the living room when I walked in, her vibrant auburn hair bouncing with every step. She had that mischievous glint in her eyes that always made me wary. I folded my arms, leaning against the doorframe as I observed her antics."Alright, Sophie," I said, breaking the silence. "What’s going on? And don’t tell me ‘nothing’ because that look on your face screams trouble."She froze mid-step, turning to face me with an innocent smile that didn’t fool me for a second. “Trouble? Me? Never. But since you’re asking…”I sighed and sat on the couch, gesturing for her to spill whatever was on her mind. Sophie didn’t need much prompting.“I’ve been thinking about Jake,” she started, her tone casual, though I could tell she was about to drop something big. “And about you.”“What about us?” I asked cautiously.She plopped down beside me, resting her chin on her palm. “Ayla, it’s been months. You’ve been amazing with the twins, a great Luna, and honestly, you’re the best thing that’
I woke up drenched in sweat, my body on fire. Every inch of me felt alive and sensitive, like the air itself was brushing against my skin with tantalizing heat. My silk sheets clung to me in a way that was maddening, teasing me as I shifted uncomfortably. What was wrong with me? My body felt like it was betraying me, a pulsing heat building low in my stomach. I staggered out of bed and headed straight to the bathroom, desperate to cool down. Turning on the cold water, I stepped under the icy stream, gasping as it shocked my overheated skin. For a moment, it helped, but the relief was fleeting. The fire inside me roared back to life the moment I stepped out. Downstairs, I found Sophie already awake and making breakfast for the twins. She looked up as I entered the kitchen, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Morning, Ayla,” she said, her tone far too cheery for my current state. I grumbled a response, trying to ignore the way my body was still thrumming with need. Sophie smi
The morning sun filtered through the curtains, warming my skin as I stirred awake. I felt the weight of an arm draped over me, and my heart fluttered. Memories of the night before surged through my mind—his hands, his lips, his body against mine. I blushed furiously, burying my face in the pillow. Jake. The Alpha who had consumed my every thought had also been my first. I wasn’t sure what had come over me, or him, for that matter. The mate bond had finally won, and we’d given in to the pull between us. And now, here I was, tangled in his arms, feeling something I hadn’t in years—contentment. I shifted slightly, turning to look at him. His face was relaxed, softer in sleep, and I let myself admire him for a moment. I had no idea how long I lay there, but eventually, my own eyelids grew heavy, and I drifted off again. When I woke up a second time, the bed was cold. Jake was gone. I sat up, the disappointment hitting me harder than I expected. My fingers trailed over the empty sp
The past few days had been unbearable. I avoided Jake at every turn, retreating to the nursery or anywhere I could find peace. Every glance from him was like a dagger, a cruel reminder of his dismissiveness and the cold rejection that had left me shattered. He’d made it clear I was nothing to him—nothing more than an inconvenience, a burden he regretted sharing his bed with. But no matter how much I wanted to distance myself, I couldn’t. The twins were my anchor, their innocent faces and soft giggles pulling me back to my purpose. Sophie and Fatima tried to cheer me up, offering kind words and teasing smiles, but I could barely muster the energy to respond. My heart was heavy, and my mind was constantly replaying Jake’s cutting words. One night, exhaustion finally claimed me as I lay on the couch in the nursery, the twins sound asleep in their cribs. I drifted into a restless sleep, my dreams quickly consumed by something vivid and strange. Prisca. She stood before me, radiant
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
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 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
The past few days had been unbearable. I avoided Jake at every turn, retreating to the nursery or anywhere I could find peace. Every glance from him was like a dagger, a cruel reminder of his dismissiveness and the cold rejection that had left me shattered. He’d made it clear I was nothing to him—nothing more than an inconvenience, a burden he regretted sharing his bed with. But no matter how much I wanted to distance myself, I couldn’t. The twins were my anchor, their innocent faces and soft giggles pulling me back to my purpose. Sophie and Fatima tried to cheer me up, offering kind words and teasing smiles, but I could barely muster the energy to respond. My heart was heavy, and my mind was constantly replaying Jake’s cutting words. One night, exhaustion finally claimed me as I lay on the couch in the nursery, the twins sound asleep in their cribs. I drifted into a restless sleep, my dreams quickly consumed by something vivid and strange. Prisca. She stood before me, radiant
The morning sun filtered through the curtains, warming my skin as I stirred awake. I felt the weight of an arm draped over me, and my heart fluttered. Memories of the night before surged through my mind—his hands, his lips, his body against mine. I blushed furiously, burying my face in the pillow. Jake. The Alpha who had consumed my every thought had also been my first. I wasn’t sure what had come over me, or him, for that matter. The mate bond had finally won, and we’d given in to the pull between us. And now, here I was, tangled in his arms, feeling something I hadn’t in years—contentment. I shifted slightly, turning to look at him. His face was relaxed, softer in sleep, and I let myself admire him for a moment. I had no idea how long I lay there, but eventually, my own eyelids grew heavy, and I drifted off again. When I woke up a second time, the bed was cold. Jake was gone. I sat up, the disappointment hitting me harder than I expected. My fingers trailed over the empty sp
I woke up drenched in sweat, my body on fire. Every inch of me felt alive and sensitive, like the air itself was brushing against my skin with tantalizing heat. My silk sheets clung to me in a way that was maddening, teasing me as I shifted uncomfortably. What was wrong with me? My body felt like it was betraying me, a pulsing heat building low in my stomach. I staggered out of bed and headed straight to the bathroom, desperate to cool down. Turning on the cold water, I stepped under the icy stream, gasping as it shocked my overheated skin. For a moment, it helped, but the relief was fleeting. The fire inside me roared back to life the moment I stepped out. Downstairs, I found Sophie already awake and making breakfast for the twins. She looked up as I entered the kitchen, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Morning, Ayla,” she said, her tone far too cheery for my current state. I grumbled a response, trying to ignore the way my body was still thrumming with need. Sophie smi
Sophie was pacing the living room when I walked in, her vibrant auburn hair bouncing with every step. She had that mischievous glint in her eyes that always made me wary. I folded my arms, leaning against the doorframe as I observed her antics."Alright, Sophie," I said, breaking the silence. "What’s going on? And don’t tell me ‘nothing’ because that look on your face screams trouble."She froze mid-step, turning to face me with an innocent smile that didn’t fool me for a second. “Trouble? Me? Never. But since you’re asking…”I sighed and sat on the couch, gesturing for her to spill whatever was on her mind. Sophie didn’t need much prompting.“I’ve been thinking about Jake,” she started, her tone casual, though I could tell she was about to drop something big. “And about you.”“What about us?” I asked cautiously.She plopped down beside me, resting her chin on her palm. “Ayla, it’s been months. You’ve been amazing with the twins, a great Luna, and honestly, you’re the best thing that’
The day started peacefully, a rarity in my life. Sophie had insisted on taking the twins for the day, giving me a break. At first, I was hesitant, but her persistence—and the mischievous sparkle in her eyes—wore me down. Something told me she was up to no good again, but I decided to take the time for myself anyway. Jake had gone out earlier for pack business, leaving the estate quiet and calm. I wandered outside and found myself staring at the pool. The crystal-clear water glistened under the sunlight, looking impossibly inviting. Why not? I went to my room and pulled out a bikini I hadn’t worn in years. It hugged my curves perfectly, the vibrant teal complementing my skin. Normally, I wouldn’t wear something so revealing, but since it was just me, I threw caution to the wind. The water was cool and refreshing as I dove in, swimming a few laps before floating on my back, basking in the warmth of the sun. I felt free for the first time in ages, completely at ease. A lot had h
The day started like any other, or so I thought. I was in the kitchen with Sophie and Fatima, the twins playing on their mat nearby. Logan was chewing on a stuffed wolf while Lily babbled at a block tower she had just demolished. Sophie was sipping her coffee, a mischievous glint in her eye, while Fatima busied herself cutting fruit, humming softly. “Jake left early today, huh?” I asked casually, glancing at Sophie. “Yep, gone all day,” she said with a wave of her hand, her tone far too nonchalant. I didn’t think much of it, trusting Sophie’s word. If Jake was gone, I could relax a little—no risk of him brooding in the corner, silently making me question everything with one smoldering glance. I had planned to take a long shower, one of those therapeutic ones where I let the water wash away the stress of everything. Except, when I turned the knob in my bathroom, nothing happened. Not a drop. “Seriously?” I muttered, fiddling with the handle as if sheer willpower would summon
I sat at the edge of the pack garden, watching the twins play in the soft grass. Lily was babbling in her high-pitched toddler voice, pointing at the sky as a bird flew by. Logan, quieter than his sister, reached for a dandelion, his tiny fingers closing around the fluffy stem. Their laughter floated toward me like music, momentarily lifting the weight that had been pressing down on my chest. Tammy stood beside me, her expression soft but tinged with something else—a quiet sadness, perhaps. It had been a week since Joseph’s imprisonment, and Tammy had spent most of that time in reflection. She was different now, no longer shadowed by her father’s overbearing influence. “They’re incredible,” Tammy said quietly, her voice tinged with awe. “They are,” I agreed, smiling as I watched Logan stumble toward Lily, his balance still wobbly but determined. “They’re my everything.” Tammy turned to me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “Thank you,” she said, her voice barely above a whi