EvaSitting in the protection chamber at the council headquarters feels like being trapped in a pressure cooker. The cold stone walls press in around me, and the dim light barely penetrates the thick tension hanging in the air. I glance at Sophia, who’s sitting next to me, her small hands clutching her teddy bear as she swings her legs absentmindedly. She seems calm enough, but I can see the way her eyes dart around, searching for some kind of reassurance. And I’m supposed to be that reassurance.But I’m barely keeping it together.Nero and Osiris are in with the council now, discussing what comes next. After everything that’s happened with Darius, after everything I had to say in front of those cold, judgmental council members… I just want this to be over. I want to be free of Darius and his pack, free to finally live my life and raise Sophia without the constant threat of him looming over us like a dark cloud.I squeeze my hands into fists in my lap, my nails digging into my palms
OsirisThe SUV moves through the dense forest, and I grip the steering wheel harder than I should, my knuckles turning white. Eva’s in the back, her eyes darting between me and Nero, her body tense like she’s bracing for a storm. I can feel it, too. The rage boiling beneath my skin, simmering, waiting for the right moment to explode. The motherfucker took her daughter. He crossed a line, and once we set foot on his land, all bets are off.Nero is in the passenger seat, quiet but focused, probably running through the plan in his head and relaying it to the warriors waiting for us. He’d been the one to calm Eva down when she wanted to storm Darius’ pack and get Sophia back herself, and thank fuck for that. We needed the council’s green light to hit him with everything we’ve got. After Nero laid it all out to them, they gave us the go-ahead, which means one thing: Darius is about to find out just how fucked he is.But Eva doesn’t want to wait. She’s on edge, practically buzzing with de
OsirisDarius barely has time to react before I lunge at him, my fist connecting with his jaw with a satisfying crunch. He stumbles back, blood spilling from his mouth, but I don’t stop. I can’t. I grab him by the collar, slamming him into the pack house wall so hard the plaster cracks.“You fucking piece of shit,” I growl, my face inches from his. “You think you can lay your hands on her and get away with it?”Darius spits blood, glaring at me. “She’s mine. She’s my Luna. You have no right—”“I have every fucking right!” I roar, slamming him into the wall again. “You’re done, Darius. I promised you'd be dead if you touch her again, and I always fucking keep my promises.”Nero steps up behind me, his expression dark and lethal. “Get him outside, Osiris. We’re ending this right here.”I haul Darius toward where the rest of his pack is gathered, my grip like iron as I drag him behind me. Eva follows, her eyes wide, still in shock from everything that’s happening.His pack has gathered a
EvaSophia’s small body feels like a featherweight in my arms as she sleeps, her soft breathing the only sound in the quiet of the SUV. My heart is racing, but for the first time in years, it’s not because of fear or anxiety. It’s because of the strangest sensation, something I haven’t felt in so long that I hardly recognize it.Relief.Darius is dead. He’s gone for good. He can never hurt me or Sophia again. We’re free.I lean back into the seat, my fingers still playing with Sophia’s hair as I look at the man who fought so hard to protect us, who did the unthinkable to save me and my daughter. There’s relief in knowing Darius is dead, knowing he can never come after us again. But the tension in Osiris’ body, the quiet rage simmering just beneath the surface—it scares me.He’s not okay. Not right now, at least.As the SUV pulls up to the pack house, I see Nero glance over at Osiris, his brows furrowed with concern. Nero kills the engine, and for a moment, no one says anything.I turn
OsirisThe sun is warm against my back as I settle down on the picnic blanket with Sophia, the grass under us freshly cut and smelling sweet. I pull out a few sandwiches and juice boxes from the basket, laying everything out while she fiddles with her teddy bear beside me. I’ve never been this nervous in my entire life, not even when I went on the first date with Eva. Facing off against rogues, fighting in bloody pack battles—that’s the usual for me. But this? Asking a six-year-old for permission to marry her mother? That’s a whole new kind of nerve-wracking.Sophia grabs one of the sandwiches, nibbling at it as she watches me with those wide, curious eyes. She’s gotten used to me being around, which is a relief, but today is about more than just me being present. I need her blessing, because I’m not just asking Eva to be mine—I’m asking Sophia to trust me with both their lives.“So,” I start, leaning back on my hands, watching her carefully. “I wanted to talk to you about something
I buried Zane Monroe years ago. Buried the memories, buried the pain. The mate who rejected me, the one who couldn’t live with being bonded to a man, left me to pick up the shattered pieces when he took his own life.I found his body. I saw the blood. I felt the agony of our bond being severed. He was supposed to be gone—forever. Then I saw him again. Alive. Breathing.And running one of the darkest, bloodiest wolf-fighting rings in the country.Now, I’ve been sent to Las Vegas to help bring down the operation, alongside Alphas Arkyn and Creed. But how the hell am I supposed to focus when the ghost of my past—the mate who broke me—is pulling the strings? Worse, Legacy, Arkyn’s own son, is financing the whole thing.I buried him once—how the hell do I bury him again when he’s standing right in front of me?Orion's story starts now. Daily updates.
OrionAs soon as I step off the plane, the dry heat of Vegas slams into me, but it barely registers. I’m too focused. I don’t know if it’s the mission itself or knowing Zane is here, but my heart is already racing, my blood heating in my veins.I see the guy who’s supposed to pick me up standing at the edge of the tarmac. Tall, broad, dressed in black, and wearing sunglasses that don’t hide the fact that he’s one of Arkyn’s men. He gives me a short nod before walking over, tossing a black bag my way.“Sorry, Alpha’s orders,” he mutters. “Blindfold goes on. It’s the only way to the Vega pack.”I smirk, knowing Arkyn isn’t one for unnecessary risks. “Not the most welcoming greeting, but whatever keeps your secrets safe.” I pull the fabric over my head without argument. I could fight this, of course, but that would just be a waste of time. And right now, I don’t have time to waste.I hear the man grunt in response before I feel his hand on my shoulder, guiding me. “Let’s go. We have a lo
OrionI sit in the back of the SUV, my eyes scanning the desert landscape as we drive toward the fight. It’s not far from the Vegas strip, but the location is hidden enough that only those with inside knowledge can find it. I feel the weight of the night pressing down on me—Zane’s name ringing in my ears like a fucking drumbeat. I force my mind to settle. Focus, Ri.Legion Vega is sitting beside me, his sharp gaze fixed ahead. He’s Arkyn’s youngest, the one who doesn’t carry the baggage of Legacy’s reputation. He looks to be about eighteen or nineteen; tall and lanky. He has long blond hair, a stark contrast to Legacy’s black hair, and when I first saw him, the color of his eyes surprised me.One is the red of his Lycan, the other is purple. “His hybrid status is still in question,” Arkyn had said. “We’ve met his Lycan and tailed beast, but that doesn’t explain the purple eye.”Well, then.While Legacy’s been making a name for himself as a loose cannon, Legion has kept his head down
OrionNero’s office has the kind of quiet tension you can feel in your bones, the kind that comes after months of chasing shadows and uprooting every twisted part of that ring. Osiris and I are settled across from him, listening intently as he wraps up the conference call with Arkyn and Creed. My brother’s voice is steady as he discusses the last few details. It’s taken months to dismantle, but here we are, finally piecing everything back together.“Look,” Creed’s voice crackles over the line, blunt as ever, “everyone’s been dealt with. But Legacy’s name hasn’t come up in any interrogation or confession, not even once. He’s protected. Everyone’s too fucking scared to name him.”Nero sighs, fingers rubbing at his temples. “He’s the one wild card. Every single person higher up has been captured, but Legacy? Silence. And we all know silence from someone that powerful isn’t accidental.”“Leave Legacy to me,” Arkyn’s voice cuts in, dark and simmering with barely contained fury. “He’s still
OrionThe cool earth beneath us grounds me as I lay there, my arm draped over Zane, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest. His scent—apples and something inherently him—fills the air around us, mingling with the sharp, raw scent of our freshly marked bond. The ache of his mark on my nape throbs in time with my heartbeat, a constant reminder that he’s real, that he’s here.I trail my fingers down his arm, feeling the warmth of his skin, the familiar shape of him that I thought I’d lost forever. Everything about this feels surreal, like I’ve stepped into a dream I can’t bear to wake from.“We should probably… head back,” I murmur, though the thought of leaving this spot, leaving him even for a second, feels impossible. But there’s a part of me that knows we can’t hide here forever, that we owe it to my family, to everyone who believed Zane was gone, to know the truth. “They’ll want to know what happened.”Zane chuckles, a low, familiar sound that makes something tighten in my c
OrionI hold him, my arms wrapped so tightly around him I’m half-worried I’ll break him. But I can’t let go. My mind’s struggling to process this, and I keep expecting to blink and find the empty forest around me, cold and alone again. But he’s here, solid and warm in my arms, and his scent fills the air—apples, fresh and grounding, just like it always was. Just like home.“Ri,” he murmurs, his hand moving to rest against my chest, fingers splayed over my heart like he’s memorizing the feel of me. “You look like you’re seeing a ghost.”“Maybe I am,” I admit, my voice low, rough. “I don’t know if I’m going to wake up any second and realize this is all just… wishful thinking.”I pull back slightly, my eyes searching his face, taking in every detail, every line and scar I’d memorized so long ago. My fingers tremble as they brush over his jaw, his cheek, his lips, as if I’m trying to convince myself this isn’t some twisted trick. “You’re… you’re really here,” I murmur, my voice catching
ZaneMy eyes flutter open, and I find myself surrounded by mirrors, an endless maze of reflections that stretch in every direction. I blink, disoriented, confusion settling in as I try to make sense of where I am. The last thing I remember is Orion’s hand tightening around my neck, the darkness closing in as everything faded away. So why am I here? Why am I … still here?A soft voice, melodic and soothing, echoes behind me. “Welcome, Zane.”I turn slowly, my eyes widening as I see her. She’s walking toward me, an ethereal glow surrounding her, golden light radiating from every step. Her long, flowing blonde hair cascades over her shoulders, and a beautiful gown drapes around her in waves, moving as if it’s part of the light itself. Her eyes are a shade of gold that feels ancient, otherworldly, yet warm. A black teardrop pendant hangs from her neck, glinting softly in the glow that envelops her.My heart skips a beat as realization dawns, and my knees buckle, pulling me to the floor.
OrionThe path to Natasha’s hideout is a blur, every step a pulse of barely controlled rage. The air hums with the charge of dark magic, a twisted energy that beckons me, taunting me. My hands tremble with the beast’s fury, simmering just beneath my skin, but I haven’t let it loose yet. Not fully. There’s a strange clarity to my anger—a focus that makes every sense sharper, every movement precise.The moment I reach the edge of the hideout, I don’t stop to think. I kick down the door, wood splintering under the force of my boot, and I step inside, feeling every ounce of anger, every piece of heartbreak, flood through me like a dam breaking. The witches turn, eyes wide with shock, but I don’t give them a chance to scream.The first one goes down without a sound, my hand gripping her neck as I lift her off the ground. She thrashes, her mouth opening in a silent plea, but I don’t hesitate. I twist, the snap echoing through the room, and drop her to the floor like the insignificant piece
OrionI’m trapped, locked inside my own body as I watch my fists swing, my legs move, every calculated hit landing with ruthless precision. But it’s not me—not really. I can’t stop it. Can’t control it. All I can do is watch from somewhere deep inside, helpless as I fight against the people I swore to protect.Nero’s face twists in pain as my fist connects with his ribs. Osiris tries to grab me from the side, but I counter, landing a brutal blow to his shoulder, hearing the sickening crunch. They’re all holding back—I can feel it in their strikes, in the way they hesitate just before their fists meet flesh. They’re trying to save me, trying to fight me without hurting me. But I don’t feel that same mercy. Whoever is controlling my body… they’re enjoying this.Two Alphas should have me on my knees by now, but Natasha planned this perfectly. She knew they wouldn’t give it everything; she counted on it. And the part of me that’s still here, watching, feels every bit of the twisted ple
ZaneThe past three days have been a hell I can barely stomach. I’ve been confined to Nero’s territory, shackled by suspicion, and only allowed out of the locked room to help strategize. And I am trying—I’m trying everything I can think of. But it’s never enough. No matter what I say or how much I beg them to let me help, they’re always watching me, waiting for some slip that proves them right.Today, it’s worse. Nero had used his Alpha Sight on me, sifting through memories and thoughts, and I didn’t fight him. I let him dig, let him see everything, hoping he’d find something that could give us an edge. But there was nothing—nothing useful, anyway. Just more dead ends.Nova’s been working nonstop, her face growing more exhausted with each passing hour, trying spell after spell, looking for anything that could point us to Orion’s location. The tension is mounting, everyone on edge, barely able to look at each other without a fight breaking out.I’m pacing the war room, barely hearing
ZaneThe sound of heavy footsteps echoes in the hallway outside my locked room, and I know it’s Nero before he even steps inside. There’s a weight to his presence, a dark edge that fills the space long before he even opens the door. When the lock clicks and the door swings open, he’s standing there, arms crossed, his expression a storm of anger and something I can’t quite read.He doesn’t say anything at first, just stares at me, and I feel the hostility radiating off him like heat. He’s still angry—hell, probably furious—and I know exactly why. This isn’t just about what’s happening now. It’s about everything I did to Orion, every lie, every betrayal.“Start talking,” he finally says, his voice low and controlled, but I can tell it’s taking every ounce of his restraint not to rip into me right here and now.I take a breath, trying to steady myself, and meet his gaze. There’s no use in holding anything back now. It’s time for him to know the truth—the whole, brutal truth.“She’s goin
ZaneThe jet touches down with a low rumble, and I can already feel the tension in the air as we approach Nero’s territory. This is Leonetti land, and stepping onto it feels like walking into the lion’s den. I know the reception I’m about to get isn’t going to be friendly.As soon as the door opens and I step out, the familiar scent of pine and earth fills my senses. But that sense of home is quickly overshadowed by the heavy tension that hangs in the air like a storm waiting to break. Nero is already waiting for us at the landing site, and the second he lays eyes on me, his expression darkens.Before I can react, he’s moving toward me, his eyes blazing with fury. Every muscle in his body is tensed, ready to tear me apart, and for a second, I wonder if I’ll even survive the next few minutes.“Zane!” he snarls, his voice echoing across the open space. “You’ve got some fucking nerve showing your face here.”I don’t move. I can’t. I’ve expected this, and part of me knows I deserve it. Bu