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
Alpha Damien leaned back in his chair after Hank left, letting out a deep breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. His conversation with Hank had been enlightening, filling in gaps he never even knew existed in his own understanding of his father and the way he had treated Stephanie. It was as if a veil had been lifted, and for the first time, Damien could see the larger picture, the legacy his father had left behind—not just as an Alpha, but as a protector, a father figure to Stephanie when she had no one else.“Thank you,” Damien had said quietly, shaking Hank’s hand. “For telling me all of this. For helping me understand.”Hank had smiled a warm yet sad smile. “Your father was a good man, Damien. He did what he believed was right, and I see that in you too. You have more of him in you than you think. I’ve watched you for a while now, and I can tell—you’re a good Alpha and a good father. Don’t let the past weigh you down too much. You’re already doing better than you realize.”Dami
Alpha Damien couldn't hide his delight as a smile spread across his face when Stephanie agreed to his request to stay a week longer. Relief washed over him. Though a part of him wished they could stay even longer, he knew he had to be grateful for what he was given. One week was enough time, he told himself. Enough time to start making amends, to rebuild what had been broken. He was determined to make their stay memorable, especially for Kayla, who had slowly started to warm up to him, even if just a little.For Stephanie, however, the decision didn’t sit as easily. The moment the words had left her mouth, she started to have a feeling of uncertainty. She had a lot of work waiting for her back in the city, and the more she thought about it, the more anxious she became. The pack held too many memories, both good and bad, and she wasn’t sure if lingering here longer would help her heal or deepen the wounds that had barely begun to close.At noon time, there was a soft knock at the door.
Kayla and Caleb could barely contain their excitement when they heard the news that their mother had agreed to extend their stay at the pack for another week. Kayla, especially, had felt a mix of emotions when they first arrived, but now, after spending some time here, things were starting to feel a little different.Caleb, in his usual enthusiastic manner, had taken it upon himself to give his younger sister a grand tour of the pack grounds. With a broad grin on his face, he grabbed her hand and pulled her along, ready to show her every nook and cranny that he had come to love during his time there."Come on, Kayla!" Caleb beamed, tugging her toward a path that led deeper into the pack’s territory. "There’s so much to see! I have to show you all my favorite places!"Kayla followed closely behind, her excitement growing as they ventured from one place to another. They visited Caleb’s secret hideout in the woods, a small, quiet spot surrounded by tall trees that provided a sense of pea