-AURORA’S POV- Three weeks had passed since the arrival of the stranger. Diego had fulfilled his promise by bringing a doctor to tend to the injured man, and Alpha Riel had been informed about the situation. His orders were clear. We were to take care of the young man, nursing him back to health so that we could later question him. During this time, I had made an effort to get to know all the omega slaves and create a sense of comfort around me. I managed to make a few friends among them, although many still harbored resentment, likely due to the fact that I had replaced their previous mistress. It took time, but I also managed to restore the house to its former state. I had established a few nurseries, and even Alpha Riel was impressed when he came to visit. His greatest admiration was reserved for the fact that I had formed bonds with the omegas and made them feel cherished and cared for. When Alpha Riel organized a search party to locate Bella's foster parents, he had intended t
-3rd person pov-A man navigated the streets, his face concealed by a stolen piece of cloth, making his way past the surrounding buildings. He moved with evident difficulty, nearly limping, clutching his side as low grunts of pain escaped his lips. It was clear he was suffering.Finally, he had located the woman he had been assigned to track down, and it had been surprisingly straightforward. He couldn't help but wonder if he should thank the stars for the attack by those wolves on that fateful night. Now, all that remained was either to safely return her to her mate or, if circumstances took a darker turn, to inform him of her whereabouts.The sun still hung high in the sky, and he was fully aware that he needed to act quickly to avoid getting captured. The last thing he wanted was to be apprehended and face the consequences of trespassing in enemy territory. He understood that a single mistake could cost him his life, and he was determined to avoid that fate.Sweat d
—Alpha Hawthorne’s POV—I stood before a man, the whip firmly held in my hand, as I gazed at him with a furrowed brow. His back bore the marks of the lashes, and a mixture of sweat and blood trickled down his skin. His eyes were filled with resentment as he glared at me.He was one of the wolves I had managed to capture, the unfortunate soul who had passed out within my house, only to wake up to the sound of my whip. Despite enduring weeks of torture, he remained mute, never uttering a word, and accepting his grim fate. The thrill of tormenting him sent shivers of excitement coursing through my veins.He was fully aware he wouldn’t be saved by his companions. After all, it was simply impossible to kill me unless well executed. This was their only regret and the reason they had to retreat. Despite everything and being abandoned, he chose not to speak.He was the stubborn one, and I knew I would take pleasure in breaking him and making him talk. I had removed my shirt and handed i
Walking out of the basement, I wiped my blood stained hands with a handkerchief, a deep frown on my face, while Ryan followed suit in silence.I had hoped that Ramon would have provided us with a more useful information but again, I was wrong as he only ended up telling us how his family got abducted and he was forced to join if he wanted to see them again.The narrative seemed similar to the tale of the girl locked upstairs in one of the guest rooms. I did not trust Ramon, so I made the decision to confine him in the basement, ensuring he couldn't escape.Alex had informed me that Vera was inside the mansion, eager to engage in a conversation with me. She soon appeared, her eyes briefly assessing my exposed skin before diverting her gaze toward Ryan.She appeared much better compared to before, with a heartwarming smile gracing her lips, and her hands concealed behind her back. As I approached, she curtsied gracefully.“Alpha Hawthorne.“ She began to speak before meeting my gaze. I n
—Aurora's Pov—Seated with a cup of coffee in hand, I couldn't help but think about the recent encounter with the stranger. It was getting dark and the absence of any feedback from either Diego or George continued to weigh heavily on my mind. Xavier's laughter filled the corner of the room as a maid playfully interacted with him. Outside the house, a light fog had settled in, and the cold air seeped through the window.A crackling fire blazed in the fireplace, consuming the logs as it danced and flickered in response. My worry had consumed me, and I found myself losing track of time, my thoughts consumed by Hawthorne.I instinctively touched my neck, picturing the necklace he had gifted me, now missing after my escape from the mansion.“Miss Aurora?” My butler's voice jolted me from my thoughts as he approached, drawing my attention back to the present. I arched a brow, waiting for my butler to deliver his message. He leaned in, his hands concealed behind his impeccably tailor
—Alpha Hawthorne's pov— As I walked through the garden, my brows furrowed as I looked at the battle site where I had fought with the rogues. I still couldn't come to terms with the betrayal of one of my staff members. Despite everything, I had ordered for Ramon's body to be sent back to his family, a gesture of respect even though he had attempted to kill me along with his rogue associates. The sun was setting, giving way to the approaching night, and I crouched down to pluck a rose, reminiscing about how Aurora used to like them. She had always had a fondness for these flowers, and I had caught her stealing roses on more than one occasion. I brought the rose to my nose, inhaling its fragrance, which reminded me of her scent. A smile crept onto my face as I thought about our unborn child and hoped they would resemble their mother. "Alpha Hawthorne?" A guard's voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned to him, not bothering to reply verbally. "You have a guest," he informed me. I initia
"What brings you here, Alpha Hawthorne?" Ryan inquired, his expression a mix of surprise and curiosity as he locked eyes with me.I maintained my gaze on him, pondering his purpose in a location like this. My attention briefly shifted to his surroundings, where I detected a few of his guards watching me with evident bewilderment."I received an anonymous tip about rogue activity in this area, so I decided to investigate," Ryan explained, his response seemingly genuine. I nodded in acknowledgment, deciding to steer the conversation away from our unexpected encounter."So, where are the rogues?" I asked, my curiosity getting the best of me. I couldn't reveal my doubts to my friend.Ryan turned to look around. "When we arrived here, they weren't present," he replied, his expression mirroring my confusion.I fell silent, my mind racing with the possibility that I had been led into a trap. Panic surged through me as I realized I had left the omega alone without explanation. Without utterin
I tried to sit up as the bright morning light, flodded into the room but I was met with a sharp, piercing, pain from my side. A grunt involuntarily escaped my lips, and I clenched my teeth, biting down on my lower lip to stifle the pain. It was clear that I had sustained serious injuries during the battle with the rogues, and the pain was a stark reminder of the recent ordeal. Removing the duvet from my body, my gaze fell upon the bandage wrapped around my waist, concealing the gunshot wound. I diverted my attention away from my injury as the sound of approaching footsteps reached my ears. The familiar surroundings indicated that I was in the mansion, specifically my bedroom. "You're awake, Hawthorne," Ryan greeted with a faint smile as I attempted to sit up. The unease in his eyes became evident when I started to get out of bed. "You must rest; allow yourself time to heal," he advised, his words laced with genuine concern. "I'm fine," I responded, but Ryan didn't appear convinced a
Walking into a coffee shop with a bag slung over her shoulder, a young woman wearing a red leather jacket and sporting vibrant red hair took a seat in a corner. She observed the other customers before she gazed out the window at the white snowflakes falling from the sky. She was grateful that she had prepared for the snow and could enjoy her coffee in peace. Thirty minutes later, her phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen, letting out a sigh as she muted the call. She wanted to savor the tranquility of the moment. It had been twenty years, and she could barely remember anything. A soft smile graced her lips as she stared at a waitress approaching her, her nametag displaying the name 'Aurora.' "We will be closing soon, miss," the waitress informed her, and she nodded with understanding. "You can keep the change. Thank you for the coffee," she said, offering a reassuring smile as she handed the waitress some bills. "I used to know someone with that name," the red-haired woman sa
I found it difficult to wrap my head around what I had just heard, and I swallowed hard. The idea that Hawthorne might have been dying at the time he had wanted me gone was a heavy burden to bear. How could I have missed it if what he said was true? He had never shown any signs of weakness; he always appeared strong to me. Hawthorne let out a sigh and looked at me, while I stared back, not with pity, but with complete shock. "You were dying?" I asked, my tone making it clear that I wasn't readily accepting his explanation. Even if I considered the possibility that he was telling the truth, I couldn't forget how he had initially treated me, claiming me as his mate and then rejecting me. He had never seemed to care about my feelings despite being aware of them, so why should I care about his now? "Yes, Aurora, I was dying. I wanted to tell you how I truly felt. I love you, Aurora," he confessed, and time seemed to stand still. I couldn't tell if my hearing had failed me, as I struggl
_Aurora’s Pov_ Seated before the mirror, I absently combed my damp hair with one hand while clutching onto Jonah, the brown teddy bear that Bella had given me when I was sent away from the orphanage. It was the closest thing I had to her, and I wasn't ready to let go of it. Xavier remained in his crib while a maid attended to him. It had been weeks since Bella's death, and I was consumed with guilt. I blamed myself for her death, and my negligence was about to exact an even greater toll. I gently placed the comb on the table and brought the teddy bear up to my nose, inhaling its faint but comforting scent, reminiscent of Bella. A sigh escaped my lips as I gazed at the teddy bear's stitched right eye, and I carefully set it down on the table when I heard a knock at the door. "Come in," I said, and the door handle turned. I stood up and faced the maid, who had entered with a phone in hand. "You have a call," she informed me, and I nodded before reaching out to take
-Alpha Hawthorne-"Leave."I heard a stern command, and though my eyes remained closed, I recognized Ryan's voice. Opening my eyes, I saw his back turned to me as he carried a tray of food. He moved quickly to a nearby table, placing the food on it, and then made his way to the window.As I lay there, memories of the previous night rushed back, and I couldn't shake my annoyance at the fact that Ryan had sided with Vera against me. Nothing could change that reality.I attempted to sit up, but the intense pain in my side was impossible to ignore, and a pained grunt escaped my lips as my brows furrowed. Ryan tilted his head in response to the sound of my voice. He gazed out the window again before lowering his gaze to the window pane."I know you hate me right now," he admitted, and he wasn't far from the truth. The pain in my side was the only thing preventing me from getting up and venting my frustrations on him."You betrayed me!" I yelled at him, and he turned to star
—3rd person’s pov—As Vera and Hawthorne exchanged words, Ryan remained in the background, observing silently. He couldn't help but imagine the horror his best friend must have experienced upon discovering that he was seemingly working alongside the enemy.The reality, however, was quite different. Ryan had not willingly allied with Vera; he had been forced into this situation. During Hawthorne's prolonged absence, he had been left alone with Vera, and in that time, he had found his mate.His mate was an Omega wolf, and her innocence had drawn him in. Recognizing the undeniable mate bond between them, they had chosen to embrace their connection and had formed a relationship.Ryan's thoughts were consumed by his mate, and she had managed to capture his heart, holding it as her most precious possession. He was entranced by her beauty until the day she was abducted, while he was away for a meeting.He had searched tirelessly for her, vowing to annihilate anyone who played a role in her d
I was left utterly stunned by her words, unable to comprehend the situation as I scrutinized her face. The single question that dominated my thoughts was "how?" How was it possible that she was the same maid I had once sent to prison?Her brown eyes bore into mine with an intensity that felt like daggers ready to strike. I struggled to believe that the beta standing before me was the same woman who had worked for me in the past. It made no sense; why would her father allow his own daughter to work as a slave in my Mansion?"Then you were aware of your father's scheme?" I inquired, and her gaze wavered slightly as she took a step back. I continued, "Have you ever considered what kind of father would exploit his own daughter to achieve his goals?" I hoped to appeal to her sense of reason.Her voice cracked as she responded, "I had a choice, and I made it. He didn't force me into it." She looked up at me, her eyes once again filled with pain. "Our plan was to let him eliminate you and be
—Alpha Hawthorne’s POV—My eyelids fluttered open, revealing a dimly lit room with a single light bulb hanging directly above me. Panic set in as I realized I was securely strapped to a chair. My attempts to break free seemed futile. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead, and my body was drenched in sweat.My shirt had been forcibly removed from my body, and in the dim light, I could make out a table ahead. If I had to guess, I'd say I was being held here for the purpose of torture. The faint but unmistakable odors of blood and sweat hung in the air, indicating that someone had likely endured suffering in this very place before.Usually, breaking loose from these restraints wouldn't have been a big deal for me. But, my suspicions started to mount as I realized I was dealing with the effects of Wolfsbane poisoning. This poisonous substance could seriously weaken a wolf, and if it got shot straight into the bloodstream, it could even be deadly.I couldn't tell if it was d
For a few fleeting moments, silence enveloped the room as our gazes remained locked. I could feel a lump in my throat, and a strange, uneasy sensation settled in my stomach.I couldn't... I couldn't believe that all this time, my real father was actually alive and not deceased as my mother had told me. He sat right before me, his expression marked with regret and pain, while my eyes were undeniably blurred by the tears that had welled up.Should I call him Dad or Alpha Riel? This was the first time I had ever seen the Alpha show weakness. No, it wasn't weakness; he was emotional. I was stunned, unable to believe that I had been with my father all this time and had never once suspected it.But my mother despised my father so intensely. She told me how he had rejected her to be with another woman. She made it clear to me that she was mistreated by my father. No, she never concealed anything and had openly shared every negative thing he had done to her.I knew she was hurting, but she ha
-Aurora’s pov-I sat down on a chair, my head resting on my fist, one leg crossed over the other. The events of last night, and the fact that Bella was missing, weighed heavily on me. I had little appetite and couldn't bring myself to go to work.George had left with Diego to search for her, and Alpha Riel was also involved in the search. I wanted to go too, but Diego had asked me to stay behind for Xavier's sake. With Bella gone, it felt like only a matter of time before Xavier might disappear as well.Sitting there, I contemplated whether Hawthorne had any involvement in Bella's disappearance but dismissed the thought as it didn't make sense for him to target a girl who wasn't his. I pondered who could have taken her and for what reason."Ma'am," a maid called, bringing me back to reality. It was then that I realized warm tears were streaming down my cheeks.I found myself crying, tears streaming down my cheeks without my awareness. The maid offered me a cup of coffe