I didn't think. I just reacted. With a mighty growl, I ran toward him and grabbed him by the shirt, raising him up as I moved us toward the nearest wall. I slammed him against the wall as hard as I could. Again and again, I repeated the action. Raising my left hand, I threw a blow that had blood spurting out of his nose. I heard the distinct sound of someone calling me, but I didn't stop. I continued hitting him hard, anywhere my hands wanted to go. “Alpha! Please stop… you're going to kill him if you don't stop now.” I slammed the motherfucker harder with each passing hit. I didn't care about the warning, nor did I care what the repercussions would be. “You! How dare you try to come between me and my mate!” I gritted out as I once again landed a hard blow to his head. I hit his face, raised my knee to his balls, and kicked hard. I heard him groan in pain, but my brain wasn't registering that I should stop now before he passed out. “Alpha, please!” Again, that voice came, but
RUBY.I didn’t know if I should believe him. My heart wanted me to listen, while my mind wanted me to leave. I knew my heart wanted to be mended, but my mind was telling me it couldn’t be mended—that it was impossible. I didn’t know which to trust, so I just kept quiet and allowed him to hug me.“Please, baby… I can explain,” he muttered. “Should I go on?” I nodded once. He sighed deeply, rubbing his chin on my head. The gesture was oddly comforting, but I’d be damned if I admitted it.He fell silent for a moment, and just as I began to worry that he might change his mind, he cleared his throat.“I wanted to introduce you to the pack as my mate right after we arrived, but I thought you needed more time. With everything that’s happened to you, I believed you needed a break. That’s why I was upset when you wanted to start training the day after we came home.”Home. It was the only word my brain registered. He said after we came home. Does that mean he saw this as my home? I left his
Training went as expected. Unlike the other days, I refused to spar with Gamma Eric. I still wasn’t over their betrayal. I understood they were following orders, but I was their Luna, even if not officially. That should have counted for something.Instead, I asked to train with other wolves. First, a male, then a female—neither of whom matched my strength. Despite going through the motions, my heart wasn't in it. How could it be when my mate was hiding something from me? I didn’t believe what he said about needing more time, but I chose to let it go. If not for my sake, then for Falcon’s.I couldn’t afford to lose her again. Not after the stunt she pulled when we were banished from the Oakwood pack. The memory still burned, and I didn’t want a repeat.As I stood alone, hands on my waist, my eyes wandered over the group of wolves—some laughing, others still sparring. That’s when I felt a tap on my shoulder.The scent of jasmine filled my nostrils. I turned to find Louis standing there,
Clinton and I had grown closer since the day I was initiated into the pack. I wanted to give him another chance to redeem himself, and he had been making a sincere effort to improve.He'd bring me breakfast in bed, give me surprises, and make out with me in the bathroom. I had never had shower sex before and boy was it amazing. It was everything. Like, literally! What authors write can't compare to the glorious moments I had. Clinton told me that Alpha Kael informed him that he cut Dawn and Beta Alvin's head off as punishment for killing his father. I was shocked he did that because when he thought I was the murderer he only banished me. Now his own cousin, he had her head. I was happy with the news, that way, I can live in peace. Last night, I had a conversation with my mate. I told him that I wanted to start working. I couldn't stand the way I was living in the pack house, leading the life of a princess. It didn't suit me. All my life, I had trained to rule—it was in my DNA. But s
Shock hit me like a lightning bolt, freezing my breath and leaving my thoughts in a tangled storm.What?! Fiancée?No. No. No. It can’t be possible. Absolutely fucking not possible.Or… was it?With a swift move, I turned toward Clinton, who still stood rigid, glaring at his mom and the woman—his fiancée.I expected him to refute his mother’s words, to at least try and defend himself, but he didn’t. He simply glared at them, like he had been the one betrayed.And that was when it started to sink in. The realization hit me like a freight train, so strong I nearly stumbled.The truth had been there all along, but I had been too blind to see it. He was using me. He claimed me as his mate but not as his Luna or Queen. Clearly, he had another woman outside who would fit into that role. For all that was worth, I was just an ordinary wolf to him. One with a terrible past that he couldn’t see a future with.“Did the Alpha mention anything to you this morning before he left?” The Gamma's words
CLINTON. I stood frozen in place as I stared at the Seraphina. Mother invited her over. So, she was the gift she had been talking about? Oh shit, why was I so stupid? I knew who my mom was… knew what she was capable of doing. Yet, it didn't occur to me that she'd be bringing Seraphina over. I could feel everything Ruby was feeling through the bond. Even though we hadn’t marked each other yet, the bond had slowly activated the moment we made love. I knew she had no idea I could feel it all—otherwise, she would’ve blocked me out. But instead, her rage, anger, and disappointment came crashing down on me like a tidal wave. It was overwhelming, so much that I couldn’t move or speak.Seraphina and my mom had a triumphant look on their faces. They did this one, hadn't they? They planned this together. I was clear to them both that I was done with Seraphina, yet, they still didn't want to let me be. Ruby removed my hand holding her, her fingers trembling. That was when my senses returned
RUBYI had two options.Remain here in his penthouse or reject him and his pack and leave.I tugged my hair as a scream escaped from my mouth, my body landing on the bed. I flailed my legs in the air as I rolled from side to side.After my conversation with Kiara, I returned to my old room. I wanted to be alone for some time, and she respected my wishes after making me promise her that I wouldn't hurt myself.Now, after being alone for a while, I still wasn't able to come to a conclusion. I knew going back to the packhouse was a no-no. I couldn't return there with Clinton's fiancée right there and his mom too.And also because I hated Clinton.He broke my heart without even blinking, and I knew he had already forgotten about me. He hadn't come after me to feed me his lies like he used to.“You don't hate mate. You love him… we love him, Ruby!” Falcon huffed. “He loves us too, I'm sure of it.”“I don't love him—”I began, but she cut me off. “Oh, you do, alright. But that's aside for n
CLINTON.“Can I at least explain everything to you now?” I asked Ruby, releasing a sigh of frustration. I could see the anger in her eyes, and it was piercing my heart. As soon as I received the information that she was with Kiara, I informed my Beta about the good news before running here. By the look on her face when I arrived, it seemed like she knew I was coming because she was prepared. “I already gave you a platform; you can choose to lie to me like you have always done,” she answered nonchalantly. I was going to tell her that I had never lied to her, but I knew it might raise more walls between us, and that was something I didn't want to happen. “Seraphina and I were childhood friends turned lovers. We took a dark oath…” The words just left my mouth. I didn't want to say these words, but they were out already, and there was nothing I could do. She froze where she stood, a whirlwind of emotions swirling in her eyes—panic, betrayal, and anger. I could see when realization h