RyleeMy panic feels exposed under the warm light. I don’t know how to react. Eight pairs of eyes focus on me, their faces brimming with enthusiasm and expectation. Overwhelmed by so many unfamiliar relatives, I clutch my skirts tightly, unsure of what to do next.“But it’s not my birthday…” I stammer, my teeth chattering.Hera smiles gently. “I know your birthday already passed, just last month. But today marks the start of your new life and a family reunion. Which are worth celebrating. We want to throw you a belated birthday party.”Before I can respond, a middle-aged man with silver hair, striking green eyes, and a stocky build suddenly appears with a birthday hat. He plops it onto my head without warning. He looks familiar. Before I can think who he is, he pulls me in for a hug, tears glistening in his eyes. “You look just like your mother!”I freeze, overwhelmed, but his warmth is comforting.Hera sees my embarrassment and gently chides him. “Jason, stop. You’re scaring her.” Th
RyleeThe Dewey's living room feels cozy, a world away from the luxury style of the Gonzales Mansion. The leather sofas are so big and soft that sitting on them is like sinking into a cloud, making me sleepy. Soft lighting spills onto the floor, wrapping the room in a warm glow. Everything here is so beautiful.Jason and Nina have taken the kids to play, leaving the house quiet for a while. Oliver is helping me set up my cell phone, adding everyone's numbers. Even little 8-year-old Ivy has her own phone in the Dewey household! I watch him curiously as he connects me to the Wi-Fi.“You know, Rylee?” Oliver says with a relaxed tone as he works, “Ivy knows how to use these electronics better than I do. You really need to learn from her.”“Haha, looks like I need to ask her for lessons.” I reply with a smile.Just then, Hera sits beside me, her face gentle with a smile. “How are you feeling?” she asks, concern in her tone.“Fine and relaxed,” I respond. “I didn’t realize everyone would be
CarlSame Time, Dark Moon Pack“Alvar, that’s enough.” I yank the whiskey bottle from his hand. It’s his third one today. Even with his Alpha resilience, no one can keep this up.“Give it back to me.” Alvar clutches his head and stumbles to his feet, trying to grab the bottle. The study is pitch black. He knocks over a piece of empty bottles, then trips over a table leg and collapses to the floor.“Give it back,” he mutters, trying to rise but falling again.“Look at you,” I snap, flipping on the light. The brightness floods the messy den, making Alvar wince. He shields his eyes, groaning, “Turn it off… damn it.”Ignoring him, I toss the bottles aside and haul him up. “Alvar Gonzales. Do you remember who you are? You’re falling apart over a woman. Forget about your pack? Your family?”“Family?” His hair hangs in his face, and he reeks of alcohol. He laughs bitterly, “I don’t have a home anymore. My dad doesn’t have a home. My whole family has no home.”He’s repeating nonsense and bull
Rylee“We’ll leave the day after tomorrow,” I answer Lucas as I fold another shirt. He’s standing by the bed, watching me pack with a pout on his face.“Can’t you take me with you?” he begs. “I’ve never been to the States. Please, Rylee, you’re my favorite cousin!”I turn and gently squeeze his chubby cheeks. “Lucas, this isn’t a vacation. It’s dangerous. Your brother and I are going on a scouting mission. He knows herbalism, healing, and geology. What can you offer?”Lucas frowns, flexing his arms. “I’m strong! I can help fight off the bad guys!” He strikes a pose, showing off his muscles.I laugh and push him away playfully. “You can’t even beat me in a fight, muscle boy. And you’re still waiting for your wolf. Get back to me when you’ve got one.” I turn to organize my desk, grabbing a book to take with me—studies can’t be neglected, even on a mission.“Rylee, Grandma said to send you to the living room,” Lila says, bursting in. She glances at Lucas and smirks. “You’d just slow them
Rylee“What’s wrong?” I ask, stepping out of the car to join Zen and Oliver in surveying the area. I scan the surroundings but see nothing unusual. “Why do you say that?”Oliver points to the ground, where the dark earth bears fresh tire marks. “Look at these tracks—there’ve been a lot of vehicles through here, and they’re headed straight toward Greenvale. And...” He takes a deep breath, his nose twitching. “I smell something off. A lot of different scents.”Zen strides over and examines the tracks. “There must’ve been at least a dozen cars here. Does Greenvale even have that many vehicles?”A chill settles over me. Greenvale’s a small, secluded pack with few visitors and even fewer cars. Who were these people? And why are they heading toward Greenvale? Could they be a threat to my plan?We exchange glances, silently agreeing to proceed with caution. “We’ll bypass the border and enter from the north side,” I instruct.Zen has brought ten men with him, seasoned warriors and scouts. One
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
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
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