As soon as Stephanie and the children arrived, pack members and guests parted for them, all eyes turning in their direction. Alpha Damien stood near the entrance, his broad shoulders and commanding presence doing little to hide the deep emotions flickering across his face. The moment he laid eyes on his children and Stephanie, his stoic demeanor softened, and his lips curled into a small smile.Stephanie noticed the sudden shift in his expression. His smile was warm, almost vulnerable, and though she sensed the emotion in his gaze, she quickly averted her eyes, her heart beating a little faster in response. It was easier to focus on her children than to acknowledge the man who had caused her so much pain, the same man who was now blinking back tears at the sight of them.Damien cleared his throat and quickly composed himself. "Hank," he greeted, as he stepped closer to Stephanie’s father. "Thank you for coming. It means a lot to us all."Hank smiled and returned the gesture. "I woul
Stephanie felt a chill run down her spine, as her heart thudded in her chest. She was feeling restless and shifted in her seat. The hall had become silent, all eyes were fixed on Alpha Damien as he stood at the podium. She wondered what he was about to say, what he could possibly say that would make sense of the years of pain, betrayal, and loss. Her breath caught in her throat as she waited.Alpha Damien cleared his throat. "I want to apologize," he began, his tone low. "To Stephanie, to my children… and to the entire pack."Stephanie's breath hitched. Apologize? Damien never apologized. His authority had always been absolute; no explanations, no regrets. But here he was, standing before the pack, baring himself in a way she had never seen.He continued, his voice shaking slightly as he spoke. "I’ve committed sins against Stephanie—terrible ones. I believed lies about her. I falsely accused her of things she didn’t do, and in doing so, I condemned her to a life of misery. I treate
After Alpha Damien's speech, everyone made their way from the hall to the open field where the real celebration would take place. Laughter and light conversation took over as everyone marveled at the large table set up in the center of the field, overflowing with an extravagant display of food. Every kind of dish imaginable was laid out, from roasted meats to fresh salads, rich stews, and delicacies from different regions. Plates were lined up neatly, ready to be filled by hungry guests, while the meal servers stood by, ready to assist.Stephanie stood off to the side, watching the gathering with a small smile. She had seen this sort of celebration before, but after the emotionally charged speech from Alpha Damien, it all felt different. The air seemed lighter, the laughter more genuine, and for a brief moment, she allowed herself to enjoy it. Caleb and Kayla had rushed off to join the other children, their giggles mixing with the soft hum of conversation as they weaved through the ad
Stephanie’s body went rigid, the sound of the voice triggering something deep inside her. A familiar sense of dread curled in the pit of her stomach, and her heart began to race. She turned quickly, eyes searching for the source, though she already knew who it was. She could never forget that voice, no matter how much time had passed.Standing just a few feet away was Ava, her face twisted into a smirk that was far too pleased with itself. Her eyes flicked between Alpha Damien and Stephanie with a gleam that sent a chill down Stephanie's spine.Alpha Damien’s expression darkened immediately, his brows knitting together in frustration as he scowled at the woman before them. "Ava," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "What are you doing here?"Ava’s smirk widened, her gaze settling on Damien with an almost mocking innocence. "Oh, don’t be like that, Damien. You know I never could resist a good party," she said, her tone venomous. She stepped closer, her eyes sweeping over Stephanie
Alpha Damien’s eyes followed Stephanie as she laughed softly with Caleb and Kayla, her attention entirely focused on her children. It was a rare sight, one that tugged at his heart. But he could not relish the sight as he had a pressing matter; Ava. Her sudden intrusion had unsettled him, especially Stephanie; they had been having a good conversation when she showed up and spoilt everything.He signaled to the nearest security guard with his hand, and within moments, the young man was at his side."You wanted to see me, Alpha?" the guard asked. "Who allowed Ava to come into the party?" Damien demanded, his tone was low but he was seething inside. The guard blinked in surprise, clearly taken aback by the question. "I wasn’t aware she was here, Alpha," he stammered. "No one mentioned her presence to me."Damien narrowed his eyes, his jaw tightening. "Find her," he growled. "Get more guards if you need to. I want her to be brought to me. Immediately."The guard nodded quickly, "Yes, Alp
Alpha Enzo stormed through the gates of his pack’s territory, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. His mind raced as he thought of her reckless behavior. Finally, he reached her room. Without knocking, he slammed the door open, startling the woman inside. She turned to face him with a smile, her arms outstretched as if to embrace him. But before she could reach him, he shoved her away, disgust twisting his features.She frowned, with irritation. "What’s wrong with you?" she snapped, crossing her arms. "You storm in here like a bull, and now you don’t want to hug me? Get lost, Enzo."But Enzo wasn’t having it. His anger erupted, and he grabbed her roughly by the arm, his grip strong enough to make her wince. "What the hell were you thinking?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous.She blinked in mock surprise, her eyes wide with feigned innocence. "What are you talking about?" she asked, batting her eyelashes as if she were clueless.For a brief moment, Enzo’s hand twitched, t
As soon as Hank stepped into the study, the heavy atmosphere immediately pressed down . Alpha Damien was sitting behind his large oak desk, his brow furrowed in deep thought. His tension was visible, and Hank could sense that something was wrong. Damien gestured for him to sit down, but there was a hesitancy in his eyes that Hank couldn’t ignore.Hank slowly lowered himself into the chair across from Damien, his concern growing. "Is there a problem, Damien?" Hank asked, his voice was low.Alpha Damien didn’t respond right away. He sat back in his chair, staring at a spot on the desk as if he were weighing his words. After what felt like an eternity, he let out a deep, heavy sigh, rubbing his temples as if trying to relieve some of the tension building inside him."After my morning run," Damien finally began, his voice low and measured, "I was heading back to my room when I passed by Caleb’s door. I heard him crying... really crying."Hank’s heart tightened. Caleb was a sweet boy, full
Alpha Damien sat back in his chair. "The man in the frame," he said slowly, "was Mr. King. My father, I succeeded him as Alpha when he fell ill and was no longer capable of leading the pack."Hank stared at the picture for a long moment before shaking his head in disbelief. "Mr. King was your father?" he murmured, almost to himself. He let out a long breath and looked back at Damien. "It's indeed a small world."Damien raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You knew him?" There was a genuine note of surprise in his voice. "My father didn’t talk much about his old friends."Hank chuckled softly. "We go way back, your father and I. We were... close at one time."Damien leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "How did you know my father?"Hank sighed, before speaking. "Through Maya," he said quietly, his eyes searching Damien’s face. "Maya... Stephanie’s mother."The moment the words left Hank’s mouth, Damien’s eyes widened in shock. He sat up straighter, trying to grasp the connection. "Maya?" he