His eyes remained fixed on me for a brief moment before he disappeared into the crowd, taking shelter among the partygoers. I might have been able to spot him if it hadn't been for the dimming lights, replaced by the glow of a disco ball.I had lost sight of him, but the awareness that he was here, right in this room, sent a shiver down my spine. The way he had glared at me gave me an unsettling feeling. It was as if he harbored a deep resentment towards me, as though I had committed some terrible offense against him."Aurora?" Monica's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I turned to look at her. She wore a concerned expression as she glanced in the direction I had been staring and then back at me. "Are you okay?" she asked, and I nodded with a smile."Of course, I'm okay," I replied, although the truth was far from it.Who would be okay, knowing that a threat was after them? Although I had initially assumed that Hawthorne might have sent the stranger, I wasn't entirely certain.
-3rd person’s pov-"Hi," Bella greeted her friend with a warm smile as she approached, her friend’s hair styled in pigtails. The two girls hugged each other tightly. As they pulled away from the embrace, Bella couldn't help but notice the imposing figure of the guard standing behind her friend, his expression showing no emotion. She knew he was her friend's personal guard, assigned to protect her by her father."You came?" Emily exclaimed in surprise, and Bella nodded, fully expecting the reaction. It had been a year since they became friends, and memories of their past encounters flooded in.Emily, the daughter of one of the wealthiest couples in the Manor, had gotten lost in the crowd during the annual Festival of the Moon, a celebration of the moon goddess. Bella had helped her find her way back then, and that's how their friendship had begun.It had been getting dark when Emily had bumped into Bella during that fateful night at the Festival of the Moon. Emily had alwa
-Aurora’s pov-We stood there for a while, and as he advanced toward me, I found myself gradually retreating while keeping a watchful eye on him. Even though we were both betas, I knew that in the event of a fight between us, the odds of my winning were quite slim."Come with me now, and I will make it easy for you," he said, confirming my suspicion.Hawthorne had indeed sent someone after me. The fact that he didn't inquire about Xavier indicated he probably wasn't informed about him or had simply forgotten. I took a step back, then abruptly halted, fixing him with a defiant glare."Why should I come with you?" I asked. He stopped in his tracks, and a sly smile slowly spread across his lips, as if he had been eagerly anticipating someone to pose that very question."Because I would hurt everyone you care about and still walk out of the manor undetected," he said with a harsh frown. "You should pray to your stars that nothing happens to my mate, or you would be…" He tr
—Alpha Hawthorne pov— The following morning, I took my place before the council, extending an invitation to Ryan to join us. An intense silence settled in the room as all eyes turned toward us, filled with anticipation. Vera's gaze lingered on Ryan, a mixture of curiosity and disappointment evident in her eyes. It was as though she questioned his presence at the meeting, but I paid no heed to her scrutiny. "I regret to inform you that in the past few days, our pack has fallen victim to a series of rogue attacks, resulting in the kidnapping and tragic loss of several of our brothers, myself and Vera included," I announced, and a collective gasp filled the room as the council members absorbed the shocking revelation. I proceeded to provide them with a detailed account of the attacks, beginning with Vera's experience and then recounting my own. However, I chose not to disclose certain information, specifically regarding the location of the captured wolves. Only Vera
Dressing in my suit, I meticulously adjusted my tie and retrieved my briefcase from the bed. My damp hair had been carefully combed, and although I had reservations about it, I felt compelled to investigate Vera's accusations. If Vera's claims about him weren't accurate, it would strain our friendship. However, even if her words were baseless assumptions, it was likely that my beta, Ryan, would never look at me the same way again. Alex and his associates remained imprisoned, and I was confident that, given time, one of them would break and begin to talk. They had all stuck to the same fabricated story as if rehearsed for moments like this, designed to mislead anyone who might capture them. Alex's story was a bit different, but in a situation like this, anything was possible. It was conceivable that, like the others, he had been deceiving me, or perhaps he had been truthful but omitted crucial details. Heading down the stairs, I surveyed my surroundings and observed the maids busily
-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
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
—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
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