AlvarWedding preparations are going well. Carl reports that the Moon Goddess statue is secure in the warehouse on the second floor underground. I ask him to send a few more guards. I plan to move it out on the wedding day and place it on the altar, just like my parents did.The Dark Pack has traditions. Alpha and Luna need to have their wedding in the presence of the Moon Goddess statue on the altar, taking their vows, to strengthen their bond.But my parents were an exception.As far back as I can remember, my parents didn’t have a good relationship. My father had countless women, and my mother had her own male confidant. They always argued and sometimes fought. Their bond was weak, leading to a weakening of the pack, which fell into depression for a while.When I was ten, my mom died. After her death, my father sank visibly and unexpectedly. He dismissed all his mistresses and began spending his days guarding what was left of my mother. I thought it was ridiculous. How could a pack
Rylee"What the hell is this crap?" Alvar's voice cuts through the TV show playing.I keep my eyes closed, feigning sleep. "I'm tired," I mumble, not wanting to deal with him. Every conversation ends with us fleshes tangling with each other, and I'm just not in the mood tonight."Rylee Green, sit up and explain what you're watching." His voice carries a hint of anger as he yanks the covers off me.Reluctantly, I open my eyes and sit up. "It's a popular drama."Alvar is wearing a suit today. His dark hair is neatly combed and his hand is in his pocket. Handsomer than the hero of the TV behind him.Alvar, looking incredibly handsome in his suit, frowns. "What's it called?""Um... Alpha's... Runaway Bride..." I trail off as the TV characters argue.The male lead roars, ["Why did you leave me? Are you still in love with your ex-mate?"]The female lead screams, ["It's my freedom to love whoever I want! At least he doesn't imprison me like you!"]Then the two fight and fight their way to th
RyleeIn the parlor.I have Ruth bring in a nice afternoon tea. When she leaves, I close the parlor door."About the ankle. I'm sorry, Rylee, I..." Kristen says, fidgeting as she sits on the couch. "I can lie to other people. But through Alpha's link, I can't. No wolf in the Dark Moon pack can lie to Blade. He'd notice. So..." She sounds guilty."Hey, it's not your fault at all." I sit next to her and bump her shoulder. "I was the one who lied to you first, remember? And I got you beat up."I’ve explained everything to her."That's nothing. You must have had your own reasons to do so. Besides, I wasn't really hurt." Kristen's bright eyes are sincere. "And you offer me a day off and wonderful tea. It’s fair."Oh man. I'm so in love with her.We look at each other and smile. We grab our teacups and clink them.&nbs
RyleeAlvar paces over. "What were you guys talking about just now?"My breath hitches, and I try to compose myself. "Nothing." Did he hear the conversation?Cecilia snaps to her feet. She rushes to Alvar and quickly grabs his arm. "Alvar, you're here." she says with surprise, her beautiful earrings swaying with her movements.Wow, this scene looks like a newlywed wife running to her husband.Alvar frowns, his hand lifting but not immediately shaking hers off. He looks at me searchingly—is he waiting for my reaction? What reaction could I have?I bow my head. It seems like he didn't hear our conversation, or he would have snapped. He's been very sensitive to words like "run," "escape," and "leave" lately.Alvar shrugs off Cecilia's hand and sits in the chair. He links someone, and immediately, a staff member starts serving the food.He doesn’t say anything about Cecilia eating dinner with us. It seems like a common situation. They are close. I’m sure."I didn't know you guys knew each
RyleeCecilia can’t keep her sweet voice any longer. She screams, "What wedding? Why didn’t you tell me?!""Enough," Alvar says, annoyed. He stands and holds out his hand towards me. "Let's go. We still need to discuss some wedding details."I take a last sip of my pumpkin soup and stand up. "Okay." I wipe my mouth haphazardly with my napkin.“Wait!” Cecilia rushes over and stops him."Why?" Cecilia points her sharp nails at me. "You're marrying such a vulgar and ugly woman? Why, Alvar? On what grounds? Because she's the healer's daughter?""Cecilia, stop it. My patience is limited." Alvar pulls me towards him and puts his arm around my shoulders. "Come on."Cecilia lunges and grabs Alvar's other arm. She pleads, "Why can't it be me, Alvar? She's the healer's daughter, but I'm Gamma's daughter. Why can't it be me? Didn’t you promise my father you’d take care of me? Don’t you forget what I've done for you?"Wow, this is like a tearjerker episode of a TV show!I quietly peek around Alva
AlvarI've never felt this way. No one ever gives me such a headache. In the old days, things were simple. When I had a craving, I found someone to fuck. I never slept with a woman twice because I didn't want any trouble. My energies needed to be focused on more important things—the frontier, keeping my pack safe and flourish.But now Blade and I have a double headache together.‘What the hell is this!’ Blade lies down in my mind, howling at the screen for the hundredth time.I grimace, "Shut up, it's Rylee's favorite TV show. I'm trying to figure out what the hell she's thinking."‘So fucking boring. Might as well go kill some people for fun.’ Blade grinds his claws in boredom.I also find this TV show, "Alpha's Runaway Bride," incredibly boring. It's about a man who can't win his mate's heart, and she runs away from him. "Wimp." That's what I say about the male lead. "And a man like that deserves to be called an Alpha?" I scoff.What does Rylee even like it about? She's so hard to r
RyleeThe curtains in the parlor are all pulled up. The carpet and sofa covers have been replaced, and the bright light pouring through the windows highlights the intricate patterns on the decorations, making the room look especially gorgeous.Meg drops me off and leaves. Now, I'm alone. I sit anxiously on the couch, my mind racing with all sorts of thoughts. My legs shake involuntarily, and I fight the urge to pinch my nails. Meg said no pinching."Hera Dewey," I whisper, pronouncing my grandmother's name for the first time. Yesterday, Alvar showed me a picture of her—a stately lady in a bowler hat shaking hands with a royalty member. She looked serious, every wrinkle on her face exuding authority. Alvar said she's the head of the Dewey family now, very demanding and prickly. Would she recognize me as her granddaughter? Would she like me?Would Hera hate me if she knew my history?I've never wanted someone's approval so badly, not even Alvar's. But now, facing this relative I've neve
Rylee"Healer's powers are drastically diminished while pregnant. I know it. I’ve looked it up online." Tears spring to my eyes. I lower my head, wishing I could bury it in the ground. I've never hated myself more. "It's my fault. It's because of me that she stayed in Greenvale and got killed."In this moment, I loathe myself. If it hadn't been for me, Sheila could have left Steve without a second thought—or at least they wouldn't have had the chance to hurt her.Hera pats my hand. "Sweetheart, trust me, it's not your fault. Greedy people with rotten hearts would always find ways to hurt others, no matter what. And…" Her voice softens, her eyes glistening with tears. "...I'm sure she loved you. Just like I love her."My heart swells with a bittersweet emotion. Is this what they call love? Family love. It makes everything I've suffered feel like it has meaning.Drying my tears, I say, "I don’t think of Steve as a dad anymore. Before I knew about you, I thought I had no family. Now I fi