Ralph The crowd parted, and a familiar figure stepped into the light. His hair was silver with age, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's, and his face creased with lines of wisdom and experience. It was Jasper, My elder brother, believed to have perished in the war between the Greyhound and Moonlight packs. My mouth fell open in shock, my heart racing as I tried to make sense of this impossible scene. "Jasper?" I whispered, my voice hoarse with disbelief. Jasper, dead for years, yet here he was, as real and alive as ever. My brother, my right hand, the one I had lost to that accursed war. How could this be? I could feel the gazes of the pack burning into my skin, watching and waiting for my reaction. But I was frozen, my heart in my throat, as I tried to reconcile this reality with the one I thought I knew. "Jasper," I repeated, my voice stronger now. My mind drifted to Otsana, I noticed as she collapsed to the ground, her body quaking with relief. She buried her face in her hands, wee
~RalphI downed my eighth glass of whiskey, the burn doing little to quell the anger simmering inside me. The situation at hand was infuriating, and I tried to pour myself another glass, only to realize I'd finished the bottle."Callan!" I yelled.He rushed over quickly. "Yes, Alpha?" he responded, his voice respectful but tinged with concern."Get me a new bottle of whiskey. This one is finished," I demanded.He looked at me with a mix of worry and hesitation. "Are you sure, Alpha? Not that I'm questioning your wishes, but you've already drunk an entire bottle. You have a meeting with the elders soon," he reminded me gently.I groaned at the thought of the meeting, feeling my frustration mount. "Are you defying me? You know the consequences, right? And yet, you dare to go against me?"Callan's eyes widened slightly, but he didn't back down. "No, Alpha, I would never defy you. I just thought you might want to be at your best for the meeting. But if you want more whiskey, I'll get it f
~Otsana *TWO WEEKS LATER*Everything in the pack had settled back into a routine, and it had been two weeks since Ralph last called for me. I was relieved and secretly hoped things would stay this way forever. He barely seemed to notice me these days, lost in his endless work. I often found myself bored and yearning for something to occupy my time. Being a maid was challenging, but it had its moments of camaraderie with the friends I had made.“You should get down from there, Otsana. The Alpha will be upset if he sees you up here,” Kate said, her voice filled with concern.I was lounging on the balcony, and her warning made it sound like a grave offense, but I knew she was just looking out for me and trying to keep me out of Ralph’s way.I nodded in agreement and headed back to my room, only to find a sparkling, glittery bag placed on my bed. I stared at it, puzzled about who might have left it there for me.Turning to Kate, I asked, "Who brought this bag? I don’t remember ordering a
~Otsana*AT THE PARTY*We got out of the car, and immediately, everyone’s attention was drawn to us. The stares from all around made me feel extremely uncomfortable. I clung tightly to Ralph’s arm, as if afraid the wind might whisk me away if I let go.I swallowed hard, trying to process the situation. The way people, especially women, were looking at us made me feel self-conscious. I knew Ralph was popular, but I had never realized just how much until now.I felt Ralph’s breath on my neck as he leaned in and whispered, “Don’t overthink it. Just stay close to me, and we’ll get through this night together.”I nodded in response, realizing I had no choice but to follow his lead. With no one else around and everyone’s eyes on me like I was an outsider, it felt like I had no other option.We walked into the main hall where the party was taking place. Since it was a charity event, the room was filled with wealthy and influential people.“Welcome, Alpha Ralph,” came a warm greeting.We turn
~RalphThe auctioneer stepped up with a list of items to be auctioned off for charity. As he entered the room, everyone, including me, applauded. He held a microphone in his hands, and the items he presented were stunning.“Thank you all for the warm welcome,” he said into the microphone. “As you know, this charity event is a well-established tradition, so let’s get started with the auction.”The crowd clapped again as he moved to the first item. He raised the microphone to his mouth and announced, “Our first item is a very rare vase. This piece has been passed down through generations and is considered an antique.”“Oooh!” the audience responded in awe.It was no surprise that people were excited; antique items always attracted a lot of interest. I could tell that everyone had heard the news and decided this was the perfect occasion to showcase such a valuable piece.“I’ll start the bidding at $250,” the auctioneer announced, addressing the audience. “Who’s willing to bid $250 for th
~OtsanaWe both flinched at the sound of Ralph's loud voice. I must have been so caught up in my emotions that I hadn’t even noticed he was there. The last thing I wanted was for Callan to get into trouble because of this.Ralph marched toward us, his footsteps heavy and filled with anger. It was clear from his body language that he was on the verge of losing his temper.“Um… I was just trying to protect her from the cold,” Callan said, his voice slightly defensive. “It’s really chilly out here, so I offered her my jacket to help her stay warm.”Ralph’s expression made it obvious that he wasn’t convinced, even though Callan’s explanation was entirely truthful. Ralph didn’t say a word at first, instead slowly raising his eyelids to regard us with a look of frustration.After taking a deep breath to steady himself, Ralph finally spoke. “Just get the car ready. We’re leaving anyway.”His tone left no room for argument, and it was clear that we needed to wrap things up quickly.Ralph walk
~Otsana "Excuse me?" he repeated, his tone laced with confusion. In that moment, I felt completely foolish. My mind went blank, and I couldn't string together a single coherent sentence. Embarrassment washed over me, especially after my impulsive outburst. Before I could even attempt to recover, Ralph appeared, walking over with an air of authority that only added to my anxiety. “What’s going on here? I hope you’re not bothering my guest, Otsana?” he asked, his voice sharp enough to make me jump. Guest? My mind reeled at the word. Just yesterday, Ralph and this man had seemed like sworn enemies, yet here they were, acting like old friends. The shift was so sudden that I struggled to comprehend it. The man beside me chuckled softly, diffusing the tension. “Oh, she’s not bothering me at all,” he said, his voice smooth and reassuring. “We were just talking about the bracelet. I wanted it, but I suppose losing to you wasn’t so bad after all.” I looked up at him, surprised by his unex
~Otsana I stared at him, puzzled by his strange response. His voice had carried an unsettling tone, and I was unsure how to react. Suddenly, he burst into laughter, shaking me from my confusion. Seeing his amusement, I couldn’t help but laugh along, though I was still bewildered by his behavior. “You should have seen your face,” he chuckled. “You looked like I was about to eat you or something. Seriously, calm down. I don't have time for all this drama.” With that, he dropped the bow and arrow and walked away, leaving Kate and me exchanging puzzled glances. His odd behavior was starting to get on my nerves, and I wondered how long he’d be around. “Such a weirdo,” I muttered under my breath, returning to my practice as I tried to shake off the strange encounter. “You're getting better at this,” a familiar voice said, causing me to turn and see Ralph walking toward us with his hands tucked into his pockets. Oh no! Was he going to punish me for practicing archery? He had no idea I’
~OtsanaSitting at the long, polished mahogany dining table, I stared down at my plate. Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and a vibrant assortment of steamed vegetables were arranged neatly, but I had no appetite. Across from me sat Noah, his piercing eyes fixed on me as he ate in silence. I could feel the weight of his gaze, but he hadn’t spoken a word to me since we sat down.The tension between us was noticeable, lingering like a storm cloud. After what had happened between us—his sudden Nate oull, the forceful way he brought me here—I knew he was struggling to bridge the silence, but I didn’t intend to make it easy for him.Noah’s fork clinked against his plate as he set it down. He gestured to one of the chefs standing nearby. “Bring more food,” he ordered. “She needs energy for the mating ceremony ritual tomorrow.”I froze, my fork halfway to my mouth. “What mating ceremony?” My voice was sharp, my heart hammering in my chest.He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms as if th
~RalphThe knock on the door was sharp and insistent, jolting me out of my brooding. I turned sharply, already irritated. “Who is it?” I barked, my voice carrying the edge of frustration that had been simmering all day.“It’s Lilith,” came the soft reply from the other side of the door.I froze. Lilith? I hadn’t seen her in dsys, not since the debacle with Grayson. What the hell was she doing here? I yanked the door open, and there she stood, a shadow of the woman I once knew. She had lost so much weight; her once-bright eyes now seemed dimmed with exhaustion. “Can I come in?” she asked softly, her voice almost timid. It was a far cry from the fiery woman I remembered.I nodded stiffly. “Sure.”She stepped inside, and I couldn’t help but stare as she walked past me. Her frame was frail, her movements careful, as if she feared breaking. She made her way to the sofa and sat down, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She took a deep breath before speaking.“I know you’re surprised to s
~RalphIt had been seven days since Otsana disappeared. Seven excruciatingly long days. I kept replaying the last moments I saw her, hoping for a clue, something I’d missed. Each passing second felt like a failure. The guilt gnawed at me like a ravenous beast. Now, driving back to the Greyhound Pack after helping Jasper secure the Silverwaters Pack, my patience was wearing thinner than ever. The car hummed softly as it sped down the winding forest road. Jasper, seated next to me, had been trying to strike up a conversation for the past twenty minutes, his voice grating against my already frayed nerves. “Ralph, I appreciate you stepping in back there,” he said cautiously, testing the waters. “I couldn’t have claimed Silverwaters pack without you.” I didn’t respond, my eyes fixed on the road ahead. He tried again. “It’s good to see you in action, you know. Reminded me of the old days, back when—” “Stop,” I snapped, cutting him off mid-sentence. My hands tightened around the st
~OtsanaThe mate bond between us was undeniable, pulling me toward him with a force I could hardly resist. But my love for Ralph, my commitment to him, held me back.I quickly broke free from him, and gathered my clothes, my hands trembling as I dressed. "Noah, you need to leave," I said, my voice shaky but firm. "We can't do this."Noah's eyes searched mine, a mixture of longing and regret. "I'm sorry, Otsana," he murmured, standing up from the bed and dressing up. "I didn't mean to overstep."I avoided his gaze, clutching my clothes to my chest as if they could shield me from the whirlwind of emotions inside me. "Please, just go," I whispered.He hesitated for a moment, then nodded, turning to leave. As the door closed behind him, the weight of what had just transpired crashed over me. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I sank onto the bed, sobbing uncontrollably.Ebony, my wolf, stirred within me. "Why did you push him away?" she asked, her voice filled with confusion. "We both felt t
~NoahThe moment Otsana stormed out of the garden, I ran my hand through my hair in frustration. My heart felt like it had been split in two. How could she reject me like that, especially after the connection we just shared? My wolf, Fridolf, was restless, pacing in my head like a caged animal. "We can't let her go, Noah. She belongs to us," he growled, his voice edged with desperation. "Not now, Fridolf," I replied sharply, trying to keep my composure. "Now is the perfect time! Did you see her? Ebony wants me as much as I want her. You’re being ridiculous." Fridolf was in heat, and his longing for Ebony was making him impossible to reason with. I tried to calm him, but he wouldn’t stop. "You’re ruining this. Calm down, Fridolf! She’s not ready. I won’t scare her off," I said, trying to walk away from the pull I felt toward her. But Fridolf wasn’t having it. The mate pull between us was like a magnetic force, yanking me back every time I tried to resist. His thoughts becam
~OtsanaThe room was I was given was breathtaking. It felt more like a palace than a living space. Every inch of it screamed luxury, from the silk curtains that shimmered under the sunlight to the polished marble floors that reflected the glow of a massive crystal chandelier. The bed was grand, its headboard carved with intricate patterns of wolves and vines, draped with gold-threaded sheets. For a fleeting moment, I wondered if I even belonged here. The maids buzzed around me like worker bees, attending to every little thing. They had insisted on helping me bathe earlier, scrubbing my skin with oils that smelled of lavender and jasmine, washing my hair with the gentlest hands. Now they were fussing over my hair, styling it into elegant waves that cascaded down my back, and adjusting the gown they had chosen for me—a deep emerald green that hugged my figure perfectly, glittering faintly in the light. One of the maids stepped forward, holding a small golden crown in her hands, the
~RalphMy jaw clenched at the thought of Otsana, her image vivid in my mind. Where was she? Was she safe? Every scenario that crossed my mind made my heart ache with helplessness. I barely had time to collect myself when I noticed Jasper walking toward me, that ever-present smirk plastered on his face. His relaxed gait, the smug tilt of his chin, made my fists clench involuntarily. “Rough night, Alpha?” he sneered, stopping a few feet away. His mocking tone made my blood boil. “What do you want, Jasper?” I spat, not bothering to hide the venom in my voice. He extended a hand toward me, the gesture more mocking than genuine. “Here to help you up. You look like you could use it.” I stared at his hand for a long second before scoffing and pushing myself to my feet. “I don’t need your help,” I snapped, the words sharp and final. Before I knew it, my fist swung forward, connecting with his jaw. The satisfying crack echoed in the silence. Jasper stumbled back, his hand flying to
~OtsanaI never thought my life could spiral out of control so quickly. One moment, I was holding on to the fragile hope of a future with Ralph, and the next, I was being dragged into a nightmare by someone I once thought I could trust.It started with a message—a text that sealed my fate.My heart leaped as I saw Ralph’s name flash on the screen.Come to my study, I’m waiting for you.Relief flooded through me. I started typing a reply, my fingers trembling with urgency.But before I could hit send, Noah’s voice cut through the air. “Who’s that?”I glanced up, startled, and instinctively pulled the phone closer to my chest. “It’s none of your business.”His eyes narrowed, and in an instant, he was towering over me. “Let me see.”“No,” I said firmly, clutching the phone tighter.His smirk vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating expression. “Don’t make this difficult, Otsana.”I stood my ground, but before I could react, he snatched the phone from my hands with lightning speed.“Give
~RalphThe courtyard was suffused with a golden glow from the lanterns strung across the towering oaks. Every inch of the space screamed celebration, from the rows of white chairs adorned with garlands to the lavish buffet tables groaning under the weight of every delicacy imaginable. The scent of roasted venison mingled with the earthy aroma of the forest, a stark reminder of the traditions I detested. This wasn’t just a wedding; it was a statement, a spectacle designed to broadcast power and unity. My power. But I had no intention of letting it end the way they all hoped.My heart raced as I took my place near the altar. The ceremonial arch loomed ahead, an intricate weave of silver and gold ribbons that framed the full moon perfectly. It would have been beautiful if it weren’t a symbol of my impending doom. I smoothed the lapels of my jacket, trying to keep my breathing steady. Everything hinged on tonight.“Didn’t think you’d show, Ralph.” Grayson’s voice slid into my ear like an