ALPHA JAKE The first thing I noticed when I woke up that morning was her scent. It lingered everywhere. In the hallways, in the kitchen, even in my office. Sweet and maddening, like wild jasmine after a rainstorm. It clung to my clothes, settled in my mind, and refused to let me focus on anything else. Ayla. The second chance mate I never asked for. The second chance mate I didn’t deserve. I sat in my office, nursing my second glass of whiskey before the sun had even set. It wasn’t helping. It never did. The anniversary of Priscilla’s death loomed over me like a shadow, pulling me back to memories I fought to bury every single day. Her laugh, her scent, her touch—all of it had been mine, and then it was gone in a flash of blood and betrayal. And now, the Moon Goddess had the audacity to throw Ayla into my life. A woman who looked at me like I was something worth saving, who smiled as if the world hadn’t chewed her up and spat her out. I didn’t want her smiles.
AYLA'S POV When I woke up, the first thing I felt was the searing ache on my neck. The bond. The bond that wasn’t supposed to happen. I shot up in bed, my hand flying to the spot where Jake had marked me the night before. The skin was still tender, the faint impression of his teeth unmistakable. I groaned, running my fingers over it as flashes of last night flooded my mind—his lips, his growl, the way he’d claimed me with such primal certainty. I’d always thought being marked would feel magical, like a spark lighting my soul, but this? This was chaos, heat, and hunger. 'What have you done, Jake?' What had 'I' done? I stumbled out of bed, pulling my hair over my shoulder to cover the mark. Maybe no one would notice. Maybe it would all go away. But it wouldn’t, because I could feel him now. His emotions, his turmoil—it all pressed against my consciousness, as if a part of him had rooted itself inside me. Even though he was avoiding me, I could feel his tension
The morning air carried the usual bustle of the packhouse, and yet, I felt on edge. Ever since Jake marked me, my emotions had been a storm. The bond was a constant hum in the back of my mind, connecting me to him in ways I didn’t fully understand. And while Sophie was her usual cheerful self, others—like Fatima—seemed to be watching me with something closer to disdain.I couldn’t quite blame her. She’d been so close to Priscilla, the former Luna, and now I was here, unasked for and unwanted, wearing a title that clearly didn’t sit well with her.Still, I had to try.Carrying a basket of herbs, I stepped into the kitchen, determined to help prepare breakfast for the pack. Maybe contributing would show them that I wasn’t here to replace anyone—that I only wanted to help.Fatima stood by the counter, chopping vegetables with a precision that bordered on aggression. Her eyes flicked to me briefly before returning to her task.“Good morning,” I said, forcing a smile.Her response was a lo
The packhouse was unusually quiet as I sat on the plush carpet in the twins’ nursery. The sun streamed through the wide windows, bathing the room in a soft golden glow. Elias and Elara were sprawled out on their tummies, giggling at the ridiculous faces I was making to entertain them. “Come on, you two,” I cooed, lifting a soft toy in the air and shaking it playfully. “Are you going to crawl for me today? Or are you just going to laugh at my efforts, hmm?” Elias responded with a squeal, his tiny hand smacking the floor enthusiastically, while Elara’s green eyes sparkled with mischief. My heart swelled as I watched them. They were growing so quickly, and every moment spent with them felt like a gift. The sound of the door opening made me glance up. Sophie walked in, her ever-present warmth lighting up the room. “There you are,” she said with a smile. “I was wondering where you’d gone off to. What’s happening here?” “Just the usual,” I said with a grin. “Trying to convince these
The room buzzed with warmth and laughter, the kind that felt rare and precious in the packhouse. Sophie had just finished recounting a ridiculous story about tripping over her own feet during a pack hunt, and Fatima, for once, wasn’t biting back a cutting remark. Instead, she chuckled softly while rocking Lily, who was half-asleep in her arms. “This is nice,” I said, letting my head rest against the arm of the sofa. Logan, in Sophie’s lap, was gnawing on a teething ring, his little fists gripping it with determination. “It is,” Sophie agreed, her hair glowing in the soft lamplight. “We don’t get many moments like this, do we?” Fatima nodded, though her expression turned more serious. “And we probably won’t if we don’t address the elephant in the room.” I frowned. “What do you mean?” Fatima looked at me pointedly. “Jake. The twins. Whatever it is you think is going on with them—don’t you think he deserves to know?” I tensed immediately. “I don’t know if he’ll even listen to
The eerie stillness of the night was what woke me. At first, I thought it was just a bad dream, a shadow of paranoia lingering from Jake’s harsh words earlier. But there was something else—an unmistakable heaviness in the air, like the quiet before a storm. My heart began to pound, my wolf restless beneath my skin. Something wasn’t right. I swung my legs over the bed, pulling on a light robe as I crept toward the door. The hallway was quiet, the packhouse wrapped in the kind of silence that felt unnatural. As I neared the nursery, the faintest noise—a shuffle—set my nerves ablaze. I froze, straining to hear. There it was again, like someone deliberately trying to move quietly. My breath hitched. Without thinking, I pushed the door open just enough to peer inside. The sight sent a jolt of terror through me. A dark-cloaked figure stood by the twins’ cribs, their posture predatory. “No!” I burst into the room, my voice trembling with both fear and fury. “Get away from them!” Th
I sat in my room, staring blankly at the wall, the heavy silence pressing down on me. My eyes burned from crying, my throat ached, and my wolf whimpered weakly in the back of my mind.A sharp knock shattered the quiet.“Ayla, open the door!” Sophie’s voice was firm, edged with frustration.I froze, my heart hammering. I didn’t want to face her, not like this.“Ayla, I know you’re in there. Don’t make me break this door down,” she threatened.Reluctantly, I shuffled to the door, cracking it open. Sophie pushed her way inside without waiting for an invitation.Her arms were crossed, her brows furrowed in anger. “Why?” she demanded.I blinked at her. “Why what?”“Don’t play dumb with me,” she snapped. “Why didn’t you tell me?”“I—I didn’t think it mattered,” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.“Didn’t matter?” Sophie’s voice rose, incredulous. “You’re an omega, Ayla! That’s not something you just sweep under the rug!”I flinched, the words cutting deep. “I was afraid,” I admitt
The morning sun peeked through my window, casting a warm glow on the walls. I turned my head on the pillow, but the ache in my chest remained unbearable. I missed the twins so much it physically hurt. Their laughter, their little hands reaching for me—now, it all felt like a dream I had woken up from too soon. Maybe Sophie and Fatima were right. Maybe I should apologize to Jake. Even if he didn’t forgive me, I had to at least try. I couldn’t bear this silence anymore, this emptiness. I got out of bed, straightened my clothes, and ran a brush through my tangled hair. As I made my way through the corridors, rehearsing what I’d say to Jake, a voice stopped me in my tracks. A voice I hadn’t heard for quite some time now she was here it could only mean trouble. “Please, Alpha,” she said, her tone desperate. “I didn’t know. I swear, if I had known, I would never have allowed her to come here.” I froze, my heart plummeting into my stomach. It was her. My stepmother. My hands trem
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
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