The hall was filled with wolves, pack members, and guests, but none of it mattered. None of it. My focus had been razor-sharp all night. From the moment I entered the party Alpha Moore had thrown in my honor, I knew this was going to be more than just a welcome. This was a test—a game of dominance.I was here for one reason only: her. Ella.From the corner of my eye, I spotted her as soon as she walked in, and it was as though the air had been knocked out of my lungs. My heart slammed against my chest, and for a second, I couldn’t breathe. The world around me blurred, the voices, the music, the clinking of glasses—all of it faded into the background.She entered the hall like a vision, stealing the attention of every male wolf in the room. My chest tightened. I hated the way they looked at her, the way their gazes followed her every step. I had to fight back the possessive growl threatening to spill out.She wore a stunning midnight blue dress that hugged every curve of her body, and
Derek stormed out of Moore's presence because he didn't know what he would do if he stayed another minute. The tension between them had reached a boiling point, and his wolf Leo was dangerously close to taking over. His mind replayed the words that Moore had smugly thrown at him, “*Marked or unmarked, I have tasted every part of her body*.” His chest tightened with rage, the possessiveness clawing at his insides. He needed to find Ella. Now.His eyes scanned the banquet hall, flickering past the guests and decorations, until they finally landed on her. She was standing gracefully, smiling at one of the guests, her aura of elegance and beauty undeniable. "There she is," Leo growled, his voice filled with hunger and impatience. Without hesitating, Derek started toward her, his strong strides cutting through the crowd. His gaze never left her, the sound of his heartbeat hammering in his ears. The anger he felt toward Moore still burned in his chest, mixing with his overwhelming desire
"Ella…" Moore’s voice echoed through the hall, growing louder with each step.Ella tensed, her instincts urging her to create distance between herself and Derek. She could feel the tension building, and the last thing she wanted was for Moore to find them like this. She shifted, trying to slip out of Derek’s grip, but Derek, sensing her intention, held her tighter, pulling her even closer to his chest.Her eyes flared with frustration. "Alpha Derek, what are you doing?" she hissed, trying to keep her voice low and controlled.Derek smirked, his eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and something darker. "What do you think I’m doing?"Ella struggled more forcefully, her movements frantic as Moore’s voice grew nearer. In the scuffle, the strap of her dress slipped down her shoulder, leaving her skin bare and her breast partially exposed. Any further, and the situation would be beyond embarrassing. But Ella, too focused on escaping Derek’s grip, didn’t immediately realize what had happen
Ella woke up feeling more refreshed than she had in days. She had finally put her thoughts together the night before, deciding that clarity was what she needed most. Wrapping a towel around her chest, she flipped her hair into a bun, exposing the smooth skin of her neck. Her fingers grazed the unmarked area, and she sighed softly."An unmarked Luna," she whispered to herself, tracing the spot where a mark should be."Well, Derek was right about one thing," she muttered to herself. "If Moore and I were truly mates... he wouldn't have resisted marking me.”She shook her head, dismissing the thought as she moved toward the bathroom. The hot water poured over her, soothing her tense muscles, but it couldn’t wash away the lingering thoughts of her complicated bond with Moore—and Derek.But that wasn't their relationship. It had never been about intimacy or passion, just a mutual understanding. Moore had offered her protection within his pack, a place where she could heal from the wounds of
Derek slammed his fist against the wall, feeling the sharp sting of pain shoot through his knuckles, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the frustration boiling inside him. He had called Ella for the umpteenth time, only for each call to go to voicemail.“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” he roared, throwing his phone across the room with so much force that it shattered on impact. Not satisfied, he stormed toward it, trampling on the already broken pieces with his boot as though it could vent the storm raging inside him.Pacing back and forth, Derek ran his hands through his hair, trying to control the rising tide of fury. His chest heaved with each breath, the air around him thick with the energy of his wolf pushing to the surface. He was losing control, and he hated it.“Alpha…” a voice called tentatively from the doorway. It was Alex, his beta, standing at a distance, clearly cautious about approaching his enraged alpha.Alex had returned from the pack with important news, and Derek’s a
Derek drove through the city streets, his mind spinning with the new information Alex had provided. According to his beta’s source, Ella was at the hospital. Relief washed over him at the thought of finally getting to see her after everything that had happened. But as quickly as it came, his relief was replaced by tension. He needed Ella’s cooperation now more than ever. He couldn’t stop thinking about Alpha Kevin. Derek knew exactly what kind of man Kevin was—ruthless, manipulative, and someone who never played by the rules. He had no doubt that if Kevin discovered Ella was the healer he sought, it would end badly for her. Derek didn’t know what Kevin’s next move would be if he found out Doctor South was also his once-rejected mate. The thought of her being in danger gnawed at him, fueling his determination.As Derek approached the hospital, he parked at the entrance and stepped out with purpose, striding toward the hospital building. He wasn’t sure how Ella would react when she saw
Ella’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as her mind raced with questions, her thoughts darting from one possibility to another, filling her with anxiety. What could Kevin be doing with Moore? Had he hurt him? Her breath quickened as the image of Moore in danger haunted her. She felt a pang of guilt in her chest—he was in this mess because of her. But then, another thought rose, darker and more unsettling. ‘Why had Derek kept the information about her agreeing to help to himself?’ He had seemed so calm earlier, as if he had everything under control. Was he truly trying to protect her, or was there something more sinister at play? Could Derek and Kevin be working together? The idea seemed absurd, but she couldn’t ignore it. ‘What if this was all a setup?’ What if Derek had lured her into this situation, pretending to be her ally while secretly plotting with Kevin?Her heart pounded harder, doubt creeping into her thoughts like a shadow. ‘How did Kevin even get to Moore in the first
In a hidden, shadowed location, a figure stood in silence, frustration simmering beneath the surface. She slammed her phone down after the call ended, her voice sharp with anger.“Damn it!” The curse echoed through the dimly lit room, but the figure remained cloaked in darkness, her identity concealed.“Who could have thought Ella was the highly sought healer?" she muttered, her voice low and indistinct filled with venom.The figure paced, clearly unsettled, her movements deliberate, as though calculating her next steps. “I will do everything within my power to make sure she doesn’t return to the South.” She clenched their fists, resolving to stop her at all costs.Meanwhile, in the quiet of the hospital, Ella slowly stirred, her eyelids heavy as she struggled to wake. The first sensation that hit her was the dull, throbbing ache in her limbs, a persistent reminder of the attack she’d endured. Her body was weak, and with each attempt to move, pain surged through her, making her gasp s