I stand on the balcony, looking out at the lush darkness that stretches forward. Mom did not elaborate and later send a text message only mentioning the time, and place to meet. The hour was odd, after midnight, almost after everyone goes to bed. I don’t know what anyone who notices me slipping out will think. I go inside the room and take a few essential things with me in a small bag. Just for safety.As I slip out in the night, weaving my way through the shadows so that no one would notice me immediately, I can't seem to shake off the weight of my concerns. Azriel is seemingly on the path to marriage, and I can't help but wonder why he never shared this news with me. The thought of him marrying someone else, while keeping me in the dark, gnaws at my heart.Azriel has always been an enigma, a force of nature that demands attention and admiration. His commanding presence, chiseled features, and piercing eyes have a way of captivating anyone who crosses his path. I thought, well, doub
The morning starts rather normally and as I prepare myself for the day after returning from a run, I go over what I should be doing, and what work I have to assign to Aysel. A smile comes over my lips as I contemplate if I should spar with her again. The realization that she is becoming more and more significant to me and that she is becoming someone whose involvement is crucial in my life scares me and makes me feel warm all over at the same time. I am about to leave the room when there’s a series of knocks on the door. The insistence and sharp raps make me wonder if something urgent has cropped up. I frown and open the door. James stands on the other side and going by her pale face, my earlier guess is correct. “What happened?” I ask with an exasperated sigh. Goddess, the day has not even begun and problems have already started. I wish for once, I could live in peace. “Beta Aysel,” he begins and all of a sudden, I am on high alert. “What about her?” I ask sharply. “Well, she i
My gaze darts toward the date at the top right of the screen. It’s been two days since I have seen Aysel. Two days since my world had managed to turn upside down again, despite me not wanting. But when has fate been kind to me, when has it been ever good enough for me to enjoy my pathetic life? Just when I think that my life has shaped the way I want, life throws in a curveball that I can never seem to be prepared for. I sigh, typing away the reply to another email, another request from a puny Pack about them wanting to strike a deal with, of their desire to see me soon taking the throne.“Alpha? You look tired. Let me take care of the emails,” I hear Sarah’s soft voice coming from beside me. When I look up, she standing beside me, a tad bit closer than I would like. I shake my head. “No. I can do it. You can leave. Work hours are done,” I murmur. “But—”“Leave,” I order, not up for sweet talks. The omega in her soon obeys but I glance to see her linger, her human side, rearing to
[Three months later….]I wake up early, the sun barely peeking over the horizon. Today is the day I start my new job as a pack doctor of the Verity Pack. It's a position I have been dreaming of for years, and now that it's finally here, I can't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness coursing through my veins. I take a deep breath and remind myself that I've worked hard for this opportunity and won't let anything hold me back.As I make my way to the pack's medical center, the scent of the forest fills my nostrils, soothing my racing mind. Our house is a short distance away from the main territory.The pack I will be working with is known for its tight-knit community and a strong sense of camaraderie. They have welcomed my mother and me with open arms, and I am eager to be a part of their healing team. Despite being such a closed community, they have helped me get back on my feet and even offered me a position as a doctor here after I told them I used to be a medical student
The ache in my heart never seemed to subside, just like the relentless pounding in my head. Kai was gone, and I couldn't come to terms with how it happened. It was like he disappeared into thin air, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions. But my mother, who had never cared for us much, refused to provide any explanations. Her indifference only fueled my desire to find the truth.“I cannot tell you anymore because that’s what I know and then I had to deal with you,” she had grumbled before leaving the room, not even glancing back when I fell on the floor. But I knew that there has to be more about this because I somehow didn’t believe that he died. Even my wolf doesn’t believe this or we might just be in denial. I can only seem to recollect a few parts, of my life with Kai, and then as if someone had erased every memory I had with him. Each time I tried to recollect the moments leading up to Kai's disappearance, my headaches intensified. It was as if my mind was shielding me
[2 months earlier]All resources had been exhausted, but Aysel was nowhere to be found. The familiarity of this kind of pain wrapped around me like a worn-out blanket that was too hideous to be used. I sat at my desk, the journal opened to the page where I had written that Aysel wasn’t scared of me.The bottle of bourbon was half empty and my glass was half full. Unfortunately, liquor does nothing to numb the pain, not when it came to a werewolf. I wished I could be like those humans who could drink and drink and drink, so much so that they would be blissfully ignorant of their shitty realities for a while at least. I wish…I took the bottle instead, opened the cap, and chugged down the contents. The sweet liquid glided down my throat. A bitter chuckle left my lips as I regarded the now-empty bottle.“You shouldn’t have come into my life,” I muttered.Initially, when I found the letter or note, I thought that she must have been abducted by someone. As the days turned into weeks and th
The moment I set foot inside the I sensed her presence. My gaze darts from one face to another until I find her, staring at us, or me as we enter. Sarah’s fingers tighten around the crook of my elbow, making me glance at her. She peers at me through her lashes, a feat that doesn’t appeal to me at all. The emerald gown she is wearing and the jewelry to go with it make her look beautiful, but her beauty fades in front of the one who stands among the crowd as just another spectator of this engagement.I glance at Aysel again. She looks in awe and something about her expression unsettles me. However, I can’t deny that she looks stunning in her blue evening gown. Her side-swept braid bares the tantalizing curve of the neck. Her small pendant sits between her clavicles and the diamond drops adorning her ears twinkle now and then. She looks ethereal, and it is then that my gaze takes in the man beside her.A sudden jealousy flares up in my gut. Is he her boyfriend? Mate?“Alpha, shall we pro
The days following the engagement pass in a daze, the images of the celebration and Alpha Azriel's enigmatic presence lingering in my mind. The way he accused me as if he really believed that I was doing something wrong, had he known something? I hiss as yet again a dull ache shoots through my temples. The headaches have been persistent ever since I came back, but Mason has been managing and taking care of that. Yet, beneath the surface, a deep sadness clouds my heart.I can't help but feel a twinge of jealousy and confusion every time I think of Alpha Azriel getting engaged to someone. Why does it bother me so much? I barely know him, and he's practically a stranger. Still, the inexplicable bond that seems to connect us gnaws at my thoughts, leaving me restless and uncertain.“Dr. Knight?” I hear someone call me. My train of thought comes to a halt. I look up to find a nurse patiently waiting with a clipboard. I offer a sheepish smile. “Ah, I am sorry.” She shakes her head and han