My men and I set out for the Black Basin pack, reaching its border just as the sun began to rise.“Stay alert,” I instructed, my voice firm. “We’re entering the Black Basin territory. Keep your guard up.”Rubbing sleep from their eyes, my warriors straightened up and nodded. As our convoy crossed into the territory, the imposing gates of Loren’s pack loomed ahead.Standing at the entrance, dressed in an elegant burgundy suit, was Loren himself. His face was plastered with a welcoming smile, but I wasn’t fooled. I noticed the subtle clench of his jaw, the way his teeth ground together when he thought no one was watching. He still hadn’t forgiven me for confiscating the $20 million he’d handed to Hilary. Beneath his polished façade, I could feel the simmering hatred.“Jack, it’s been a while,” Loren said smoothly as I stepped out of the car.“Thank you for hosting us. It’s an honor to attend this year’s Alpha meeting,” I replied with equal politeness, masking my suspicion behind a compo
The day had been like any other at the hospital. With Jack away for the Alpha meeting, I took the opportunity to meet Andrea after work—a routine I had grown fond of in his absence.Andrea had been struggling with her math assignments lately. The increasing difficulty was starting to frustrate her, so I made it a point to help her whenever I could. That evening, I headed straight to Lydia’s house to check on her and help Andrea finish her homework.As I approached the house, I noticed an unusual commotion in the streets. Werewolves were rushing out of the pack, some shouting frantically. Even the guards had abandoned their posts, their voices echoing with panic.“What’s going on?” I called out, grabbing the arm of a woman running past me.She barely glanced at me, her face pale with fear. “Something serious is happening near the forest!” she exclaimed, jerking free from my grip and disappearing into the chaos.Confused and uneasy, I quickened my pace toward Lydia’s house. Surely, she
The streets were alive with chaos as werewolves rushed toward the forest beyond the woodside. Andrea and I blended into the crowd, keeping a low profile. Everyone seemed preoccupied with their own urgency, barely noticing us as they pushed forward. A few wolves glanced our way but quickly dismissed us, overtaking us in their frantic race deeper into the forest.“Rose, this is so strange,” Andrea said, her voice tinged with curiosity. “Why is everyone running in different directions?”“That’s not our concern,” I replied firmly, gripping her hand. “We need to keep moving.”Whatever had sparked the chaos wasn’t enough to deter me from our escape. I’d made up my mind. This was our chance to break free, and I wasn’t going to waste it.We veered away from the crowd, heading south toward the edge of the Blue Lagoon pack’s territory. The moment we crossed the border, freedom would be ours.I had it all planned out. We’d make our way to Westwood, where Andrea could finally pursue her love for
I steered the car through the dense forest bordering the Blue Lagoon pack. My vision blurred from the pain radiating through my abdomen, but I kept driving, gripping the wheel tightly. Every second felt like an eternity. As I neared the pack’s territory, I sent out a mental link to Marvin, who was holding down the fort in my absence.“Marvin, I’m in the forest east of the border. Bring reinforcements immediately and get me out of here. I’m seriously injured, and there’s a chance someone is pursuing me.”Marvin’s reply was swift, his voice steady despite my grim tone. “Understood, Alpha. We’re on our way.”I pressed down on the wound in my abdomen, trying to slow the bleeding, though the effort felt futile. Each breath was labored, my strength ebbing away. I’d been through worse, but for the first time in a long while, fear crept into my heart—not just fear of death, but of leaving behind unfinished business.I’d fought for freedom once, for myself and for my pack, but now, I realized
Rose’s point of view I was a fool. A complete, hopeless fool.I was the princess of the Maroon Hill pack, the daughter of a proud Alpha, yet here I was, running back to the very place where my nightmares were born. Running back to save the man who had destroyed everything I held dear.The road to freedom had stretched out before me, a gift wrapped in chaos and chance, yet I had thrown it away.Andrea clung tightly to my back as I carried her through the forest, her small arms draped around my neck. She was exhausted from hours of running, her breaths shallow against my shoulder. I pushed forward, each step weighing heavier with regret.Why had I turned back? Why had I let myself care? Jack had killed my father, torn my pack apart, and enslaved me. I owed him nothing but vengeance. And yet, his face—those dark, piercing eyes, the rare moments of vulnerability he let slip—haunted me.He was cruel, but he was also a man burdened by something deeper, something I didn’t understand. The th
I had done everything within my power to save Jack, but my efforts seemed futile. His body lay motionless on the table, growing colder with every passing second. The monitor beside him showed a flat, unwavering line, a grim confirmation that life was slipping away from him.We had tried every method at our disposal—defibrillation, resuscitation, blood transfusions. Nothing worked.One by one, the doctors began stepping back, their faces etched with despair. A heavy, suffocating silence descended over the room.“Jack is our Alpha,” Samuel whispered hoarsely, sinking to the ground. His grief-stricken face was streaked with sweat, and his gray hair gleamed under the fluorescent lights, making him look older, defeated. “He’s a stubborn man. He’s survived so much—his childhood, the wars. He turned this pack around. How could he die now?” His voice cracked with anguish.Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to cry. I refused to let this be the end.Jack couldn’t die.Not after everything I had
“Jack is now out of danger,” I informed Lucy, my voice steady despite the exhaustion weighing on me. “The rest depends on his next treatment, but for now, you can relax. We’ll do everything we can.”Lucy let out a visible sigh of relief, her body unwinding. “Really? That’s such a relief.”Her composure returned quickly, but her reaction piqued my curiosity. Lucy wasn’t usually this emotionally involved.“Lucy, why are you so worried about Jack? You and he aren’t particularly close.” I tilted my head, studying her expression.For a moment, hesitation flickered in her eyes, but she quickly masked it. “We all live in Jack’s territory now,” she said, raising her eyebrows. “If he dies, do you think we’ll have any chance of living comfortably here? Besides, the entire Blue Lagoon pack is anxious about him. It wouldn’t be right for me to act indifferent, would it?” She added a playful wink, as if trying to downplay her concern.“That makes sense,” I muttered, leaning heavily back into the ch
I was trapped in a dream—a long, agonizing one.The darkness of the dungeon engulfed me, bringing with it the cold bite of chains and the cruel gleam in James’ barbaric eyes. The screams of my pack members echoed endlessly, their cries piercing through my chest like daggers.Then I was on the battlefield, fighting faceless enemies, surrounded by chaos. The ground beneath me was soaked in blood, its scarlet hue spreading like wildfire. I kept fighting, but no matter how many I defeated, the blood kept rising, drowning me inch by inch.And then, darkness.I didn’t know how much time had passed before a warmth wrapped itself around my body. It was unlike anything I’d felt before—hot, almost burning, but soothing, like sunlight piercing through the darkest storm clouds. It rushed into my abdomen, stemming the endless bleeding. I wanted to open my eyes, to see the source of this miraculous sensation, but I didn’t have the strength.I could hear voices faintly—Samuel’s broken sobs, and Rose
Rose’s Point of ViewI had stabbed Jack. My hands hadn’t trembled, my body hadn’t hesitated—but inside, a storm raged.Jack was my friend. Every memory I had with him remained crystal clear in my mind. I knew I shouldn’t have hurt him, and yet, I had. I had fought against it, tried to resist, but my will was no longer my own.Every fiber of my being was bound to Aaron. His words shaped my reality, and his commands controlled my actions. I was a prisoner in my own body, trapped in a nightmare where I was forced to obey.Each day bled into the next, an endless cycle of torment, confusion, and emotions I couldn’t control.That NightI awoke to a sudden pressure over my mouth. My body stiffened, but then a familiar voice whispered against my ear.“It’s me.”Aaron.He slipped under the covers, his arms encircling me as his lips traced soft kisses along my cheek and neck. My first instinct was to push him away, but my body betrayed me.He owned me.“And what if we had a little fun?” he murm
Aaron’s Point of ViewTo keep Jack from suspecting anything, I carefully orchestrated a small skirmish between my soldiers and the Blue Lagoon Pack’s forces. For several days, we engaged in battle, just enough to make it seem like I was struggling. Then, when the timing was right, I staged my defeat and released Rose.Before letting her go, I gave her one final command—find an opportunity to kill Jack and escape to the Wouri River Pack. Jack trusted her completely, which meant getting close enough to strike wouldn’t be difficult.That night, the storm raged on. Lightning slashed across the sky, illuminating the darkened streets for fleeting moments, while thunder shook the earth beneath us. Rain pounded against the trees, drenching everything in its path.I waited a short distance from the hotel where Rose had checked in, my car idling in the shadows. The minutes stretched on until, finally, a figure emerged from the darkness.She ran toward me, soaked to the bone, her white dress cli
Jack’s Point of ViewWhen I woke up again, the storm was still raging outside. Thunder rolled across the sky, rattling the windows as rain pounded against the glass. I was lying in bed, my chest wrapped in thick layers of gauze, my body stiff with lingering pain.Marvin was sitting on the sofa nearby, his gaze sharp and alert. The moment he noticed I was awake, he immediately rose and approached my bedside.“Mika is resting in another room,” he informed me. “She exhausted herself using too much of her healing power. Alpha, you were stabbed directly in the heart. You should be dead, but thanks to Mika’s abilities and quick treatment, you survived. She told me it was Natalie who attacked you?”Marvin’s expression was grim, his voice unusually severe. He had always been the level-headed Beta, the calm strategist of the pack. But now, his tone was edged with something rare—anger.“It’s true,” I confirmed, my voice steady despite the weight of my words. “Aaron drugged her.”I glanced down
Jack’s point of view:Rose stabbed my chest with a dagger, sinking the sharp blade into me without an ounce of hesitation. She acted quickly and decisively, as if she were doing a daily task.I pressed the wound in a hurry, the bloodgushing out of my fingers. I forced myself to endure the acute pain. Raising my head, I looked at Rose in disbelief, my lips pursed in a sinister frown.Because she was my love, I had lowered my guard.Suddenly, Rose’s empty eyes widened slightly. Pain, shock and horror passed through them for a brief moment. However, a fraction of a second later, they returned cold and insensitive. She then abruptly removed the dagger from my chest. "Rose.." The colour dissipated from my face as it turned pale. I called Rose’s name weakly by instinct but I never wanted to blame her. I knew she had done this because she was under Aaron's control.Outside, thunder rumbled and heavy rains fell on the earth."Just... stay here! You're not going anywhere." I quickly noticed
Jack’s point of view:I withdrew from the territory of the Wouri River Pack with my army and I started the trip back to the Blue Lagoon Pack.As we still had distance to go to reach the territory of the blue lagoon pack and Rose looked a little exhausted, we settled in a hotel in a nearby small town for the night.I took Rose to the room. She sat on the bed without saying anything. She looked absently out the window with crazy eyes."Do you want to shower first?" I handed her a bathrobe, squatted next to her and gently grabbed her cold hands. My eyes lingered on the dark circles under her eyes. "You must have been exhausted these last few days. Take a shower and go to bed early, okay?"Rose’s empty gaze finally passed from the window to my face. She didn't recognise me in any way, but stared at me."I seem a little familiar to you?” I stuck a little smile on my face and placed her cold palm on my cheek, hoping that it would awaken a memory.Rose nodded submissively, but she said nothi
Jack’s Point of ViewThe battle raged on for days, each hour stretching longer than the last. The Wouri River Pack, already weakened from our previous confrontation, struggled to hold their ground. Meanwhile, the Blue Lagoon Pack had deployed nearly all its forces, pressing forward with relentless force. Victory was within reach.As my army neared the entrance of the Wouri River Pack, the gates suddenly creaked open. Aaron stepped forward, his posture tense, his exhaustion evident in every movement. His clothes were torn, his face hollow with fatigue.“Jack, stop!” His voice was raw, stripped of its usual arrogance. “What will it take to end this war?”I sat in my car, watching him through narrowed eyes. Without hesitation, I lowered my window, my tone colder than ice.“Return Rose.”Silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. Neither side moved, the battlefield momentarily frozen in a fragile truce.Aaron let out a slow, weary breath. His hands curled into fists at his sides
Jack’s Point of ViewDays after issuing the declaration of war, I led my army to the borders of the Wouri River Pack. The tension in the air was thick, charged with the promise of battle. Aaron and his forces stood in our way, waiting for us. Even at a glance, I could tell his numbers were insufficient.My gaze swept across his ranks, searching. But Rose wasn’t among them.I stepped out of my car, my boots pressing into the rough, scattered stones beneath me. Every move I made exuded the silent fury brewing inside me. My voice was cold, edged with barely restrained rage.“Aaron. Hand over Rose. Now.”Aaron sat lazily in his car, clad in a sharp gray suit, exuding nothing but smug arrogance. He arched an eyebrow and let out a mocking scoff. A silver gun rested casually in his hand, as if he had already won.“I won’t be giving Rose to you,” he said smoothly. “She belongs to me now.” A twisted smile curled his lips as he flicked his fingers, signaling his men.A heartbeat later, Rose was
Aaron’s Point of ViewThe dense forest stretched before us, towering elms lining the road as we drove through the quiet night. Rose sat silently by the window, her gaze fixed outside, lost in thought. I, on the other hand, was reveling in my victory, pleased with how smoothly everything had gone.That satisfaction shattered the moment my phone screen lit up with Olivia’s number. The call interrupted my navigation, and immediately, my mood soured.Why the hell was this woman calling me now of all times?“What is it?” I answered curtly, irritation lacing my voice.“Aaron, where the hell are you? What’s going on?!” Olivia’s furious voice exploded through the speaker. “Didn’t you say you were negotiating a truce? The Blue Lagoon Pack just declared war on us! They’re demanding we hand over their Luna, or they’ll annihilate us!”Her anger burned through every word, but it was the accusation that followed that truly caught my attention.“You didn’t—tell me you didn’t kidnap Rose again! What
Jack’s point of view:I went to Rose’s dormitory and knocked on the door, which was opened by Bianca. My sudden arrival shocked her."Jack? What are you doing here at such a late hour?""I came to see Rose. Is she awake?" When I entered the room, I expected Rosse to still be there. My eyes swept the room and I realised that there was no one else here except Bianca and me. Rose was no longer in the room."Where is Rose, Bianca?” I turned to look at her and asked her in a tense voice."She's fine. She woke up some time ago. An hour ago, she received a phone call and went out to meet a friend. But, she was behaving a little strangely, and she was pompome, as if she was preparing for a date," Bianca replied with a craving stuck between her teeth."I don't think she went to meet a friend." I took a few moments to think carefully.An hour had passed since Rose had left the dormitory. I walked to the window and noticed the cosmetics placed on the table that she had used. My mind thought back