LOGINShare
4 | Chances
Last Updated:
2024-08-15 15:02:36*** Nailo’s POV
I slam into the ground, the impact knocking the wind out of me instantly. The cold, unyielding earth rises to meet me with an unforgiving force, jarring every nerve in my body. Before I can even register the pain, I’m tumbling, rolling down an embankment, the world spinning around me in a blur of dark shadows and cold, damp soil. Every bump, every jolt sends a shockwave of agony through my body, my mind screaming at me to stop, but there’s no stopping gravity. I have to keep going, have to fight through the disorientation, the pain. The wolfsbane is coursing through my veins, dragging me closer to unconsciousness with every passing moment, and I know—if I give in now, it’s over.
When I finally come to a stop at the bottom of the embankment, my body sprawled awkwardly across the forest floor, I’m gasping for breath, each inhale like shards of ice ripping through my lungs. The cold air burns, but it’s nothing compared to the searing pain that radiates from every part of me. My head throbs with a relentless ache, and I can feel the darkness creeping in at the edges of my vision, threatening to pull me under. But I can’t let it. Not yet. Not like this.
I force myself to stand, my body screaming in protest, the world around me tilting dangerously. Every muscle, every bone feels like it’s on fire, but I can’t stop. I have to keep moving. My knees buckle slightly as I push upward, the uneven ground beneath me shifting, making me stagger. A sharp, jagged rock digs into my palm as I steady myself, the sting grounding me, reminding me that I’m still alive—for now.
No one seems to be coming after me yet. Maybe they didn’t see me go over the wall, or maybe they think I’m already dead. Either way, I can’t waste this opportunity. I glance upward toward the ridge I tumbled from, my eyes straining to pierce through the canopy of branches overhead. The moonlight filters weakly through the leaves, casting fragmented shadows across the ground. It’s eerily quiet—too quiet.
Shit. I can do this. I have to do this. My heart pounds in my chest, a frantic rhythm urging me forward. I’m not even sure where I am. No wolf to guide me, no heightened senses to give me direction. Just me—human, fragile, and very, very breakable. But I know one thing for certain: I have to keep going. My ribs ache with every breath, a deep, sharp pain that makes me wince with every step. Broken? Probably. But the pain in my chest is nothing compared to the fire burning in my veins. The wolfsbane is a cruel enemy, relentless and unyielding, its poison tearing through me like molten lava.
I stumble forward, each step a battle against the weight dragging me down. My legs feel like lead, my head pounding with a fog that threatens to consume me. My thoughts are scattered, like leaves in the wind, but one word surfaces through the chaos: The thought is like a lifeline, a fragile thread holding me together in the storm raging inside me. Hematite can ward off the effects of wolfsbane. That single fact is the only thing keeping me from collapsing where I stand.
The Reginale region is rich in iron deposits, or so I’ve heard, and hematite is supposed to be easy to find in waterways with heavy iron content. But where the hell am I going to find a river out here? My mind reels, trying to make sense of the fragmented memories I can still hold on to. I think back to the maps I’ve studied, the terrain around the palace grounds. There was a river nearby, wasn’t there? A tributary that fed into the main waterways? I can almost picture it, the lines on the map swimming before my eyes.
If I can just get to that river, maybe I can find some hematite. Maybe I can survive this. I have to try.
My breaths come in ragged gasps as I push forward, the world around me a blur of shadowy trees and uneven terrain. My foot catches on a root, and I go sprawling, catching myself just in time to avoid another tumble. The sharp sting of scraped palms makes me curse under my breath, but I force myself up again, driven by sheer willpower. The thought of that river is the only thing keeping me upright, the only thing keeping me moving.
The wolfsbane is relentless, eating away at my strength with every passing moment. It’s a slow, insidious poison, dragging me down inch by inch, and I know I’m running out of time. My vision blurs, my balance falters, but I keep going. One step at a time, I tell myself. One foot in front of the other. I can’t stop now. I won’t stop now.
I’m not ready to die yet. Not like this. There’s still a chance, slim as it may be. And as long as there’s a chance, I have to take it.
Related chapters
Alpha's Hidden Chains 5 | Run Luna
*** Alpha Eamon's POVThere are perks to using a galley as a war room. Not the least of which is the smell. My mother had always said the scent of good food alone was better than most healing herbs.But for some reason, in this moment, the aroma that usually brought comfort and focus was doing the opposite. I felt… a huge sense of unease. Quickly, I scanned the room, my gaze landing on the spits being turned slowly by a steward. A surge of anger welled up in me, completely out of proportion to the scene before me.“What the fuck…” I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief. Why am I getting all worked up over roast beast?And then it hit me. “Ah,” I sighed, a grim understanding settling over me. “She’s awake.”I stood up and walked toward the door and stairwell that would take me down toward the infirmary and wards, my steps quickening with purpose.Just before I reached it, my gamma, Raven, appeared in the doorway, his expression conflicted.“Their Luna,” he began, hesitating as if sear
Last Updated : 2024-08-15Alpha's Hidden Chains 6 | Shrubbery
*** Nailo’s POVHow could I be so lucky to find a river so close—a shallow one at that? I nearly fell into it, crawling out into the water with the last of my strength. I flipped onto my side, lying fully in the shallow stream. With a trembling hand, I skimmed through the pebbles along the bottom. Lovely colors glistened up at me from the water—quartz, jasper, pyrite—all so beautiful, but none nearly as precious as the deep black hematite stones that came up in my first handful. Thank the goddess.Yelling in the distance— I could hear it. Not wasting a moment, I swallowed the whole handful of pebbles I’d scooped up. I wasn’t sure how much hematite I needed to counter the wolfsbane, but hopefully, this would do.I didn’t have the strength left to get back up, but I did have the strength to crawl and float. As quietly as I could, I scooched farther out into the stream and started making my way on my belly downstream. After a short distance, the water began to get deeper quickly, and the
Last Updated : 2024-08-16Alpha's Hidden Chains 7 | Wolfsbane
*** Nailo’s POVI was almost asleep when I heard it—the sound of nothing. Winter sounds are limited, but there’s always the slight hum of nightlife, even in the dungeons. The scurrying and scampering of small creatures, the distant rustle of leaves. But the sound of silence? That always woke me up—it usually meant they were close.I felt that familiar sense of dread creeping up on me now. Peeking out from my hiding place under the evergreens, I saw that the moonlight had revealed the start of snowfall. Such luck; it could cover my tracks.Tentatively, I slipped out from under the branches, testing the strength in my legs. Surprisingly, I had some. Hematite might just be my new favorite “jewel.” Testing my legs further, I crouched and began to take wide steps, keeping my movements as quiet as possible. Luckily, I have small feet, and at the rate the snow is falling, I imagine it’ll only take about ten minutes to cover my tracks from any casual observer.Praying that my decoy tracks will
Last Updated : 2024-08-16Alpha's Hidden Chains 8 | A Queen
*** Alpha Eamon's POVI mind-linked my trackers a little after sunup, telling them to give up the hunt. She was good—very good—and they weren’t even close to finding her trail. The only trace she left behind was a pile of rocks that smelled pungent of bile.I also sent a quick update to my Beta and Gamma, letting them know what I was up to. Occasionally, they’d send me updates on other goings-on, but my focus was entirely on the scene unfolding before me.It was astounding how far she had traveled on foot. We were well outside the regional kingdom now, moving south at an impressive pace. I knew that in my wolf form, I could make it back to the war pack in less than a day, but she had managed to cover this distance in such a short time without any aid. It spoke volumes about her determination and resilience.The she-wolf sat beneath a Pinus strobus, facing the trunk in a submissive prayer pose. I watched her closely, noticing a faint ripple across her neck, and then, slowly, a growl beg
Last Updated : 2024-08-16Alpha's Hidden Chains 9 | 160 Years Later
*** Liliana’s POV------Opening: Instructor WantedTopics of interest: Deep Throating 101, How to Break into Fisting, and the Limits of Breath Play.Attire: Just enough restraints to keep one open for business.Timeline: One-night cram session, looking to enroll soon------My fingers hover above ‘post’ for the third night in a row. I don’t think I’ll ever make love again, but fucking—that’s something I could do. John and I never fucked, never did anything 'kinky,' but the sex was still great. It’s been three years since the accident, and I haven’t even dated, let alone been intimate with someone.Fucking isn’t even the right term. I don’t know what the right term is to label the desires I’m having. At the root of it all, I know what I really ache for is to relinquish control, step back into my feminine, and renew the connection to my own life.The past year has been a struggle as my body has come back to life, and touching myself just isn’t cutting it anymore.The ad is a mashup of f
Last Updated : 2024-08-17Alpha's Hidden Chains 10 | Beginning the Process
*** AlphaWatcher's POVI sit in my study, the distant hum of the city filtering through the open window. The soft glow of the screen reflects off my face, illuminating the room with a faint, steady light. My fingers hover above the keyboard, the weight of my next message heavy with significance. This isn’t about dominance, at least not in the way most understand it. I am a Guide, and that distinction matters, even if I do demand obedience.My mind is sharp, calculating. I haven’t seen enough of Liliana to fully understand her yet, but the way she approached writing that ad suggests she’s new to this dynamic. There’s potential there—potential that needs to be nurtured, not controlled.I type the first message, my words deliberate.……… >> AlphaWatcher: “It’s important you understand the difference between what one might expect and what I offer. My role is to Guide you. You, as the Follower, will learn to trust in that guidance, to find strength in it. This is a process.”I pause, my thou
Last Updated : 2024-08-17Alpha's Hidden Chains 11 | The First Move
*** AlphaWatcher's POV “Interesting…” The word slips out as I lean back in the chair. The screen light is soft. It throws shadows in the room, but I don’t mind them. I hadn’t expected much tonight. The forums are usually full of junk. Clickbait. Bad attempts at fishing for attention. But this one is different. The ad is plain. Direct. It has just enough in it to show the person knows what they want. Or thinks they do. Most posts are desperate. Or worse. Full of fantasies that don’t make sense. But this one is clear. Serious. Thoughtful. I’ve seen plenty of submissives at the gatherings. The parties where everyone knows the score. Where the lines between what’s real and what’s not blur just enough to make it good. Those are controlled. Planned. I like the chase. Breaking down walls. Pushing limits. But the classifieds? They’re just a way to relax. To see who thinks they can play in our world. This ad isn’t the usual. There’s something deeper in it. Experience, maybe. Or hunger, held
Last Updated : 2024-08-18Alpha's Hidden Chains 12 | When the Time Comes
*** Liliana’s POV Liliana’s day had begun with careful preparation. She’d started with the practicalities—reserving the suite online, ensuring all the details were in place. The hotel’s app made it easy. The QR code on her phone granted access to the VIP elevator and her suite, eliminating the need for a front desk encounter. It was discreet, efficient, and exactly what she needed.Her thoughts turned to the clothes she’d wear. AlphaWatcher had been specific: comfortable clothes that made her feel like herself. She’d felt a wave of relief at his words. Most of her wardrobe consisted of business attire—black suits, crisp white shirts, and undergarments that were more functional than comfortable. Not exactly what she wanted for tonight. She opened her closet, her fingers brushing past the tailored blouses and structured dresses until she found what she was looking for. A light cardigan, soft and worn-in, perfect for layering over a wide-strapped tank top. An ankle-length skirt in a war
Last Updated : 2024-08-18
Latest chapter
Alpha's Hidden Chains 66 | High
*** Lisa’s POVI waited, watching Drax lean back in his makeshift throne—a beat-up recliner that had seen better days. The room itself reeked of something desperate, something hollow. The kind of place that pretends to be more than it is, much like Drax himself.He was reveling in the aftermath of his climax, a disgusting display as the girl struggled between his legs, her body twitching as she made her final, desperate attempts to free herself. She clawed at his legs, weak punches landing uselessly against his torso. It wasn’t long before her fight drained out, her last breath spent in a stifled scream, her mouth still impaled on his cock. With a final shiver of satisfaction, he shoved her off, her limp body collapsing in a heap next to the other two women he’d discarded like broken toys.I didn’t flinch. I’d seen worse. Done worse.“Drax,” I said coolly, my voice cutting through the murky air. “This will be your last chance to leave before you’re just another body at my feet.”His e
Alpha's Hidden Chains 65 | Taken Alive
*** Third Person POV“We were asleep for a reason, a good one." Her voice was calm but edged with a severity that made Eamon pause. Skadi stood across the room, her stance rigid, her eyes locked onto his with an intensity that demanded his attention."It would have to be, considering the risk Lil faces shifting at her age." Eamon’s tone was controlled, but beneath it was a thread of concern. He took a seat back on the edge of the bed, watching her closely, his body tense as if preparing for something he couldn’t yet see."The shift is the least of our worries." She tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing as if daring him to challenge her.The room felt charged, the air thick with unspoken tension. Skadi's voice was low, her words deliberate, each syllable weighted with meaning."Death isn’t a worry?" His voice held a sharper edge now, frustration creeping in. "Being taken alive is the worry." Her reply was cold, almost dismissive, as she crossed her arms, her eyes darkening.
Alpha's Hidden Chains 64 | Charge
*** Riona's POV"Will you do it again?" I had asked Dawn, my voice steady but my heart racing."Every time," she had answered without hesitation, her tone as cold as ever."When?""That's not the question you want to ask me," she had replied, her sharp eyes narrowing in that way that always told me she was two steps ahead."Aren’t you tired of burying them?" My voice cracked just slightly."You bury them," she had said, emotionless."Fuck you," I’d spat back, knowing it wouldn't cut as deep as I wanted."Is that all?""Give me the charge," I had demanded, my desperation barely contained."It’s simpler to bury them," she had said with that infuriating calmness."Give. Me. The. Charge."And then, a voice I didn’t recognize had cut through the air. "It’s already done. I hope you survive. I really do."Another night, reliving the same moment. More than four decades later, I’d make the same choice. Every single time. The only thing I’d change? Maybe adding a rune to automatically summon a
Alpha's Hidden Chains 63 | Good Tails
*** Eamon's POVLil had left the party hours ago, but still wasn’t home.I regretted not following her, but I couldn’t reconcile that with abandoning the surveillance. It had seemed like the obvious choice at the time—keep my eye on the case, let her do what she needed. But as the night dragged on, regret settled in, gnawing at me like a wound that wouldn't heal.There had been no sense of urgency or danger through the mate bond, so I wasn’t exactly worried. Annoyed? Yes. Worried? Not yet. After all, I had explicitly told her not to leave the house but she’d done the opposite. My frustration grew tenfold knowing she wasn’t answering her phone because she’d left it behind in her apartment. I’d heard the damn thing buzzing when I tried to call.I busied myself with checking in on my team. Kirk had tracked Red to a Sanctum club, the kind of place with a dubious reputation and an even more exclusive clientele. She apparently had VIP access, which only fueled our optimism that tailing her w
Alpha's Hidden Chains 62 | Bound
*** Kirk's POVThe wave of her climax rippled through me, a surge of heat that coursed from her body to mine, snapping the mate bond into place. I could feel her walls clenching around me, involuntarily stroking me, pulling me deeper into her, beckoning my own release. My body responded instantly, the tension coiling in my core until I growled low in my chest, releasing myself inside her. The pleasure hit me like a storm, my hips jerking into her as my mouth released her neck. I lapped up the blood at the place where I’d marked her, sealing the bond.The taste of her on my tongue sent another shiver through me, but even as I finished, I couldn’t stop. My body still craved her. I was still hard, still thrusting, the need for her not yet sated. I wanted her to ride me forever, to keep this moment suspended in time, right here against the wall, with her body wrapped around mine. The euphoria of my release began to settle into contentment, but something was wrong.She wasn’t moving.Riona
Alpha's Hidden Chains 61 | Giving In
*** Riona’s POV"Mate," he breathed the word into my ear, his voice like a prayer. His mouth descended to my exposed neck, lips brushing softly against my skin. The warmth of his breath sent a shiver down my spine, and then his tongue—slow, deliberate—lapping at the skin where I knew he could mark me. Electricity crackled at the point of contact, a gentle tingle that spread outward like wildfire. Everywhere his lips touched, everywhere our bodies connected, it was like I was waking up—coming alive under him.I could feel my body screaming for him, every nerve ending on fire, the heat between us building to a point I could hardly stand. He smelled it too. I knew he could sense my arousal, smell it in the air. His growl rumbled low in his chest, vibrating against me as he pressed harder into my body. My breathing grew more ragged, more desperate, as my wolf, Skoll, roared in my mind, lust and need crashing over me in waves.I was almost breathless when I mumbled, "If you want me… then
Alpha's Hidden Chains 60 | Tell Me Everything
*** Riona’s POVThe club was exactly what I’d needed tonight—an escape, a promise. The kind of place where desires were laid bare, and the shadows offered protection. This wasn’t a dive bar filled with humans and their cheap thrills. No, this was for our kind, for those who could afford the exclusivity. The lights were low, casting a seductive glow over the polished wood and velvet, and the faint scent of the finest perfumes and expensive cigars lingered in the air. Dancers moved on the stage like art, their bodies shimmering beneath the chandeliers that dripped with crystal.I didn’t come here for business, and I definitely didn’t come here to be bothered by him—who I had been sure I’d lost hours ago.Skoll had been restless for weeks, and I’d promised her some action tonight. A little reward for her patience. After all, it wasn’t every night I found time to indulge in what this place offered—namely, anonymous satisfaction. I deserved it. She deserved it. But this? This wasn’t what I
Alpha's Hidden Chains 59 | Play Ball
*** Kirk’s POV"We’ve noticed that Miss Ravenshade has had some bad luck recently." Kirk’s voice was low, his words measured as his eyes tracked every subtle movement in Red's body.Red turned to him, a coy smile playing at the edges of her lips. "Has she? I hadn’t noticed." Her expression glinted with a hint of surprise, as if Kirk's line of questioning caught her off guard. This wasn’t where she thought the conversation was headed—it wasn’t why she thought they were following her. Maybe they weren’t dirty cops after all."We don’t like disturbances Others cause," Kirk continued, his tone carrying a quiet authority. "Especially when they turn up on the Humans' radar."Her gaze softened slightly, thoughtful. "Well, Miss Ravenshade doesn’t want to be on any radar, thus the increase in ‘disturbances.'"A less perceptive wolf would have missed the subtly in her response , but I understood. The attacks on Ravenshade had been relatiory. She was refusing to play ball with someone. There was
Alpha's Hidden Chains 58 | High
*** Lisa’s POVI waited, watching Drax lean back in his makeshift throne—a beat-up recliner that had seen better days. The room itself reeked of something desperate, something hollow. The kind of place that pretends to be more than it is, much like Drax himself.He was reveling in the aftermath of his climax, a disgusting display as the girl struggled between his legs, her body twitching as she made her final, desperate attempts to free herself. She clawed at his legs, weak punches landing uselessly against his torso. It wasn’t long before her fight drained out, her last breath spent in a stifled scream, her mouth still impaled on his cock. With a final shiver of satisfaction, he shoved her off, her limp body collapsing in a heap next to the other two women he’d discarded like broken toys.I didn’t flinch. I’d seen worse. Done worse.“Drax,” I said coolly, my voice cutting through the murky air. “This will be your last chance to leave before you’re just another body at my feet.”His ey
