Rylee
The pack’s prison is an old warehouse that used to be a chicken pen. It still smells like chicken poop and feed. My hands are tied behind my back, and whip marks cover my body. They dumped me on a stiff, musty pile of hay. Tiny stalks of grass dig into my skin, stinging and bleeding.
I want to scream, but I don’t. I’m pretending to be unconscious.
In Greenvale pack, thieves get 40 lashes, executed by Gamma. Anto, that brutal dog, loves to play dirty. I fainted and woke up in pain several times during the torture. At the 35th lash, I thought I was going to die. But then I saw Syd rush over and pull Anto’s whip. He got another 10 lashes for that.
Thanks to Syd, I survived. Then I thought pretending to be unconscious was a good idea. Anto likes to see the look on my face when he tortures me. If I don’t react, he might give up sooner.
“Go see if she’s dead,” I hear Anto say to his men. Footsteps approach me, and I hasten to make my breathing soft and even. A hand comes up to my nose and probes.
“Still alive. She just passed out,” Anto’s henchman says.
“She might be faking it.” Anto walks over and kicks me in the face. I imagine I’m a pile of straw, a piece of turf, something inorganic. I don't need to breathe. I don’t react. I can’t feel the pain.
Then Anto kicks me hard in the chest.
I’M STRAWS! A TURF! A FEEDER!
I clench my teeth to keep from groaning. Anto’s kick sends me rolling off the haystack, landing face down on the cold, hard ground.
Terrible pain surges through my chest. Are my ribs broken?
No. He’s watching me. I can’t move.
After a few seconds, I hear Anto say, “Looks like she really passed out. Let’s go.”
The men’s footsteps fade away, and I hear the warehouse door close.
I start counting silently: 1, 2, 3... After about two minutes, Anto returns. Seeing me still in the same position, he curses and leaves.
Ten more minutes pass. Making sure it’s safe, I groan and roll over.
The wounds on my face hurt badly and my skin is burn and bleeding. Blood drips onto the floor. My arms are numb from being tied up so long. My chest aches dully. When I move, it hurts like hell; more than one rib must be broken.
Gasping for air, I struggle to move myself back onto the pile of straw. It stinks, but if I spend the night on the cold ground in this condition, it would be my corpse that stinks worse tomorrow.
I collapse into the straw, whimpering in pain. My stomach is empty and protesting.
I try to distract myself.
I try to distract myself. I think about the potatoes I didn't have time to eat for lunch. I imagine them perfectly baked and jumping into my mouth. I picture kicking Luna out of the packhouse, hogging her 4k screen, and soaking in her hot tub. I imagine people turning off the lights to surprise me with a birthday song, bringing me roast chicken and lemon cake. Wait, that smell...
I open my eyes. There’s really roast chicken and lemon cake in front of me!
Syd covers my mouth. “Shh, don’t scream, it’s me.”
I nod, signaling for him to put his hand down.
“Hurry up and untie me. I can’t feel my hands anymore,” I say weakly.
Syd’s rough movements intensify my pain. Beads of sweat break out on my forehead. I grit my teeth and say, “Be gentle. If I’m not beaten to death, you’ll waste me. My ribs seem broken.”
“Ribs? Shit, Anto dares to abuse lynching! When I become Beta, I'll make him suffer.” Syd softens his movements. He unties the ropes, picks me up, and cradles me. “I’m late. I got someone to trick the warehouse guard into drinking before I dared to come.”
“Water?” he asks. I nod. He feeds me small sips from a bottle. I can’t take my eyes off the lemon cake.
Syd understands. He picks up a piece and brings it to my mouth. I don’t mind his dirty hands and take a bite.
Lemon cake is the best thing in the world!
After a while, I feel better. My body, though fragile, recovers faster than the usual wolves. It’s probably the only good thing my parents left me. I tell Syd to let go and start enjoying the roasted chicken with my back against the wall. Syd sits next to me, eating too. In no time, we wipe out all the food.
It’s early morning, and time for Syd to go. Soon, the omegas will be up and working. He risks being spotted on his way back.
But Syd sits still. Moonlight spills over his young face through the fence at the top of the warehouse. I see confusion glinting in his brown eyes.
I know what he’s confused about. Since this morning, I’ve known it. This is a gift from the moon goddess. We have to live with it. I understand what he thinks about me. I know how he feels. I understand him. I suffer the same way he does. But I have something I desire more and I can’t accept my fate. He doesn’t know that...
“I...” He hesitates.
“Give it to me,” I whisper.
“What?” He blinks, dumbfounded.
“My birthday present.” I spread my hands. “Don't hide it. I saw it this morning in your pocket.”
“How do you know it’s for you? What if it’s not?” He grimaces but pulls the box out and hands it to me. “I was going to give it to you at dinner, but then I wanted to say happy birthday sooner. So I went to the dining hall to find you, but Anto...” He pauses. “Anyway, happy birthday.”
“Thanks.” I open the box. It’s a necklace with a moon carved from wood, rough and handmade. Clearly from an apprentice’s hand.
Syd blushes slightly. “I know you like looking at the night sky, so I thought you especially like the moon... I carved this myself...”
I look at him, and he averts his eyes uncomfortably. “How did you guess I was giving you a present?”
“Of course I did.” I sigh, stroking the still unpolished back of the carved moon. “Because I’m your mate.”
“WHAT?!” He freezes, his expression as rigid as a statue.
“You knew that a long time ago,” I turn my head and smile at his already frozen face. “Didn’t you?”
RyleeSyd sits frozen, as if rooted to the ground. Silence spreads under the moonlight.Every werewolf gains the ability to sense their mate on the day they come of age, and I was no exception. This morning, the moment I saw Syd, I felt our mate-bond. But it was weak, and I couldn’t smell Syd.My wolf hasn’t come yet.Syd came of age six months ago. He should have known I was his mate, but he never told me. I can guess the reason easily: my status embarrasses him.I am the pack’s slave, and he is the future Beta.We don’t trust each other; we don’t accept each other. That’s why our mate-bond is so weak. That’s why I can’t smell him.Syd suddenly jumps to his feet. “When did you know?” he asks, his breathing fast. “What... what are you going to do?”Without waiting for my answer, he paces anxiously. “No, this isn’t the time for discussing that. I need to get you out of here first.” He crouches down, trying to pick me up. “I heard them talking about selling you, and the buyer is... Alva
RyleeI used to wonder what "fated" meant. How can you fall in love without knowing each other and stay together forever? Now I get it. It's a soul-deep pain, like a part of you is being ripped away.I have to stuff straw in my mouth to stop myself from screaming. Syd looks in worse pain. He can't stay human, shifts into a wolf, and collapses. The brown wolf convulses, his mouth opens wide, looks about to cry, but he only whimpers silently. After ten minutes, he stumbles up, giving me a deep look. Then, he turns and disappears into the darkness.I breathe a sigh of relief, wipe my tears, and collapse onto the haystack.It's over.Great, one step closer to leaving this pack.Syd is tall, handsome, capable with a pretty-boy face. We grew up together. He’s the only one who cares about me. If I wasn't Rylee Green, I might fall in love with him so easily and deeply. But our bond is doomed. He has a bright future, and I'm the pack's sinner.18 years ago, my birth took away my high-blooded m
AlvarThat scratching sensation was back again. The closer I drew to Greenvale, the stronger my nameless desire became.I couldn't quite place it. It had only started a week ago—my wolf, Blade, had been urging me to head north, insisting there was something crucial waiting for us. But what could it be?Greenvale Pack had been settled in the north for ages. Once an ancient tribe with great renown, its glory days were long gone. Alpha Steve, the current leader, was a mere survivor whose pack’s brief prosperity was largely due to his ex-wife.There was nothing there worth coveting. So what was Blade trying to tell me?Recently, Alpha Steve had been trying to strike a deal with Carl, my Beta. He wanted to borrow money or sell us slaves. I sniffed. He’s not qualified to talk business with my pack.Carl reminded me that Alpha Steve’s ex-wife was a descendant of the Madonna and that they had a daughter who likely inherited healing powers. Our army was in desperate need of a medic, so I told
RyleeSometimes I want to applaud fate. Even on my birthday, it mocks me with its cruel sense of humor.Falsely accused, imprisoned, and then caught so easily after escaping. The man who caught me was so swift and powerful. I was tackled to the ground before I even had a chance to react.Fugitives go straight to death row. It's an eternal rule in the werewolf world. Blindfolded and shoved into the backseat of a car, I wait for my fate.Sometime later, the car door creaks open, and a man sits next to me. The space instantly feels cramped. Even though I’m blindfolded, his presence is enormous—definitely not one of Greenvale’s 67 werewolves.The man doesn’t speak. I can feel his intense gaze piercing through me. His heat is overwhelming, making me shiver. My teeth are chattering, but a small hope flickers: If he’s not from Greenvale, not killing me right away, could he possibly let me go?I clear my throat. “Sir…” As soon as I speak, he leans in, his body heat almost burning me. His hand
AlvarWhen I said my name, my kitten closed her eyes and pretended to faint. But her fluttering eyelids and rapid heartbeat gave her away.Is my name really that scary?I watch her with amusement.My mate is younger, more mischievous, stronger, and bolder than I expected.She dares to call me rude, make deals, and fake fainting right in front of me. The last person who challenged me got torn apart and fed to the dogs. But her antics don't make me angry; they make me feel... excited.‘Mark her RIGHT NOW!” Blade protests loudly. “You’re 28 and still don't have a wife! What the fuck are you waiting for? Grab her, bite her neck, make her ours! Then drag her to bed and make babies! If you can't do it, I will!’He’s really horny.Of course, I’m horny too. The moment I saw her, I wanted to fuck her. Her beautiful blue eyes made my cock swell up. I long to be inside her, to have her touch me. But her bruises and wary eyes calm me down.I reassure Blade to take it easy. She looks young, maybe
RyleeEating the bread and bacon Ruth hands me, I think about how to get out of this mess. Steve sold me, and now I’m Alvar’s sex slave.Being his sex slave won’t end well.After the meal, I look around the deck. The sea is beautiful. The waves roll in, big and small, and the sun is warm and comforting. But I can’t enjoy it. I think about jumping off the boat and swimming away, but we’re far from shore. There are about seven or eight werewolves on board, all big and strong. They’d scoop me up before I even hit the water.No chance. I have to wait.Clouds start to thicken, and the sky gets cloudy. Ruth shooes me back to my room.“Looks like rain’s coming. Damn winter rain and wind, it’s gonna be cold.” Ruth grumbles, pulling a wool coat from the closet. She says Alvar had my previous clothes and package sent ahead to Dark Moon Pack, and the ones I’m wearing are new.Whoo. Efficiency.I don’t feel cold. In Greenvale, it gets to -10 or -20°C in winter, and I’m often out in the wind and s
RyleeThe mansion’s courtyard surrounds the place, and the helicopter is parked on the tarmac in the northeast corner. As soon as we step off the helicopter, men in black rush over with umbrellas. I wade through the muddy grass and make my way to the mansion, still trying to take in the grandeur.I’m in awe. I’m sure my wide-eyed wonder looks silly, but I can’t help it.This place is incredible!It is an old-fashioned and gorgeous mansion; a style I learn a month later called Victorian. The mansion sits at the top of a hill, facing south, with expansive courtyards to the east and south. Except for the west, which is near a cliff. An iron fence encircles the property, with guarded entrances at every corner (I sigh again). In the center of the courtyard is an octagonal fountain pool, currently empty except for a small marble pedestal.To the north, there’s a parking lot. Now a few luxury cars sporadically parked in it. Beside it, there is an area that serves as a landing pad for helicop
AlvarI decide to cancel Greenvale Pack. I never cared about it before. It’s far north, poor in resources, and taking it over wouldn’t benefit our pack.But now, things have changed. I’m going to show them I don’t mess around. They’ll pay for how they treated my future Luna.Rylee’s asleep, so I ask Carl to take her back to the pack by boat. He’ll wait for her to wake up before taking the helicopter. After Carl leaves, I start digging into Greenvale Pack. By evening, all the details are on my desk.Green is an old family, but its descendants are ungrateful. The current Alpha, Steve, and his father are losers. Greenvale was in a mess. Steve has no ability, just luck. He married a good wife. Twenty-five years ago, he mated to the descendent of the Madonna, Sheila Dewey, Rylee's mother.Sheila was a powerful Luna with healing abilities, skilled in business and management. She kept Greenvale organized and thriving. She was loved by all. However, she struggled to get pregnant. So Steve che
RyleeThe strangest thing in the world is seeing your aunt, who isn’t much older than you, kissing your ex-boyfriend’s best friend in front of your whole family.It’s hard to describe the feeling, but it’s kind of comforting to have someone else embarrassed with me under the porch.As soon as Nina and Carl meet, they shout “Mate” and kiss, making it obvious they’ve found each other.Everyone heads back into the living room. They sit scattered around, except for me and Hera on the biggest couch. Carl and Nina sit across from us, holding hands.Ohh, from the look on Carl’s face, he’s really embarrassed. In all the time I’ve known him, I’ve never seen him look so shy. I can feel Hera and Jason almost scrutinizing him with their eyes.“You guys are so cold here; it’s really much colder than Malibu!” After introducing his family and income, Carl rubs his head and makes a silly comment.“That’s what we have here.” Nina smiles sweetly, her eyes still glued to Carl. “You’ll get used to it lat
CarlSince Alvar goes to Europe, he gets weirder by the day. This guy actually quits drinking! He was an alcoholic for a month, downing drinks like water, so it blows my mind when he says he won’t touch alcohol anymore. I tell Kristen about it, and she says seriously, “It’s called lovesickness, Carl. What do you know about love when you’re as straight as a rail?”What a joke! Who wants to know that much about love? What’s so great about love anyway? Look at Alvar—he’s an Alpha who turns into a fool for love! And Cecilia? She gets beaten with twenty lashes for love, thrown out of the mansion, and her father punished. If you ask me, this kind of thing should be as far away from me as possible.Meg tells me that Alvar actually asks for the ring back! The next day, he says, “Carl, get the private jet ready to pick up Rylee.” I am shocked. “Huh? You just got her back?”Alvar’s face is expressionless, but I can feel his excitement. Instead of answering me directly, he continues, “No, she wi
RyleeI grimace. “A date? Alpha Alvar, you think too highly of me. I'm just an Alpha from a nameless pack. It's already a great honor to have dinner with you; how can this be a date?”Alvar sighs, as if he anticipated my reaction. “Rylee, Greenvale pack is not some nameless pack. You don’t have to tease me. I know what I did before wasn't right. I’m just trying to have a calm conversation with you.”I study his expression and realize I’m a little overwhelmed by the softness in his gaze. This Alvar is different from the usual demanding Alpha I remember. Instead of snarling in anger, he looks like a wounded coyote, desperately seeking understanding.As I think this over, a nameless flame ignites in my heart. Nina said this was called “gaslighting,” and his gentleness makes me feel a flicker of shame.“I... I’m just speaking the truth.” I unconsciously raise my voice, trying to mask my inner turmoil, but unease seeps into my tone.“I know,” Alvar replies seriously, his gaze deep. “But th
RyleeAlvar really does have a good eye. The ambiance of this restaurant is breathtaking.The gorgeous crystal chandelier softly sheds its light, gilding the entire dining room with a dreamy glow. Classical French paintings adorn the walls, and the table is covered with a snow-white tablecloth. Silver cutlery glistens in the candlelight. A faint aroma of vanilla and lemon fills the air, mingling with the melodious piano music drifting from afar. As I step through the restaurant door, I feel as if I've entered another world.A flicker of regret washes over me. Am I dressed too casually? This is my first time eating at such a fancy place, and my simple outfit of bland jeans and a knit shirt seems out of place here.Luckily, the restaurant is empty, and no one makes fun of me for being a hick redneck. The only other guest is… Alvar.He wears a well-tailored black suit, with a tie hanging loosely across his chest, revealing a hint of casual elegance. That suit makes him look even taller a
RyleeThe cell phone in my hand feels like it’s burning, so I shake it away in a hurry. I touch my flushed face, unsure why I react this way.Even though we’ve been apart longer than we were together, seeing his message signed Your Mate floods my mind with his face and that familiar knitted smile."His wolf is just as shameless as him," Flash says disdainfully. "How disgusting. Tell him if he sends it again we’ll blackmail him."I change Alvar’s note. I just can't face the words Your Mate directly.I type: [Flash says to tell Blade to stop sending hairs. Otherwise I will block you.]In no time, he replies: [Okay. I’ll send you something else.] He follows it up with an aggrieved wolf head emoji.I can’t believe he uses such a cute emoji. Before I can throw my phone away, another text pops up: [I’ll give you a gift.]I almost type a firm no, but another message comes through: [I have the Greenvale guys here. I can give them back to you, but I have a condition.]Okay, I take back calling
RyleeJason shushes me along the way. He says he can always drag Oliver and Zen down to teach Alvar a lesson if I get upset. Zen doesn’t agree with him. He insists that he won’t go. He believes that even combined, he and Jason are no match for Alvar, and Oliver is also a piece of cake.I shake my head weakly. I say there’s no need fighting him. Carl should have relayed my words to him by now. And Zen's men are still captured by him. I think soon he and I will meet. We need to talk.We return to the airport in Riverside, then back to Europe. Once home, I collapse into bed and sleep for the rest of the day and night. Flash wakes me with her voice the next day, saying she smells a hint of MATE and urges me to come downstairs to see what’s happening.Thinking it’s Alvar, I nervously gather myself and head downstairs, only to find a package delivered. Inside is the same cell phone he gave me earlier (the one he gave me in Dark Moon pack) and... a handful of black hairs that Flash claims sm
AlvarTaking down the Greenvale pack doesn’t take long. The pack’s population is mostly old, sick, with few armed men. Syd's group puts up a fight, but they’re outnumbered and quickly defeated. I don't waste time on this man—he's not worthy of being my enemy. Once I have him under control, I find Anto on the east side, standing with the Luna of the pack and the Alpha's son beside him. They are preparing to escape.I ask Joanne where Steve is. She’s scared out of her wits, clutching her son and insisting she doesn’t know.Anto challenges me to a duel. As Greenvale’s Gamma, he has decent strength, but he weakens midway. He says the Alpha is dead, the leadership of Greenvale has changed, and he’s no longer the Alpha's Gamma.I glance over at the kid shielded in Joanne’s arms. Is he the new Alpha? I'm ready to rip out his throat, but Joanne drops to her knees and begs me. She says the boy's name is Sion and that he’s hers and Anto's son, not Steve’s. She pleads for his life.Hah, I can’t
RyleeSteve growls, “No way! It’s never possible! How can an omega be an Alpha?”He clings to his ridiculous theory, but he looks like a clown now, oblivious to how pathetic he appears.The challenge takes effect, forcing Steve to shift. He’s much larger than Flash, with sharper teeth. But despite his size, he's neglected his workouts—fat and weak. Anto and Syd are both stronger than him. They probably never challenged him because the Alpha of Greenvale can only be from the Green family. Relying on this, Steve thought he was secure in his Alpha position, never expecting his own daughter to challenge him.Oliver and Zen retreat, one to the window and the other to the bedroom door. Flash bends her body, ready to attack.Steve’s tail tucks between his legs as he tries to escape, but he’s trapped—both the window and door are guarded.I've been training under Jason this past month. As a Royal Knight, he taught me a lot of fighting techniques. I share all my memories with Flash. She moves s
RyleeSteve's face pales instantly, his pupils dilating in fear. He denies what I said right away. "What? What are you babbling about? Of course your mom died giving birth to you."Oliver's voice is laced with anger. "Rylee, let's kidnap him. Jason has ways of making him spill the truth."I shake my head. As much as I want to, as much as I hate him, Steve is still the Alpha of Greenvale. The people here still need him. I can't drag innocent people down with me—they deserve to live.Steve shudders at the mention of Jason, the man who’s usually all smiles with me but clearly terrifies Steve. "You... you found the Deweys," he says incredulously.I offer a false smile. "More than that. I'm living with them." I gesture for Zen to snatch his backpack away. Steve fights for a moment but loses."Okay... fine." He cringes. "I'll tell you."I hold my breath, watching as his eyes dart around. "Your mom found out about Joanne and me and got mad. She fell down the stairs by accident, so she had a