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Eighteen: Morning Meetings
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Bound By Moonlight: Alpha's Heart, Beta's Desire One
SAGE“Alpha Ethan Blackwood of the Lunar Legion Pack has agreed to take you as his wife. Consider it a kindness.”“What?”The Alpha waved a hand dismissing me. And before I could even get a word out, I was being shoved aside by a pack soldier who saw it fit to cast me aside like a garbage.My stepfather can’t do this to me! No, he can’t!The weight of the world seemed to press against my chest as I stood in the dimly lit hall of my stepfather, Marcus’s house, with my hands clenched at my sides. It was as though the air itself was thick with the judgment of those who saw me as little more than a servant—an inconvenience. No one cared that my mother, once a proud warrior, had died protecting this pack. No one cared that I was her daughter. To them, I was nothing more than a slave. “I’ve made my decision, Sage.” His voice was low and cold, devoid of any affection or sympathy. This man who should have protected me after my mother’s death, stood before me with that familiar sneer etched a
Bound By Moonlight: Alpha's Heart, Beta's Desire Two
The dim lights of the nightclub swirled around me, casting a haze over the already spinning room. The sharp tang of alcohol lingered on my lips, and I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks. I had never intended to drink this much, but here I was, sloshed and teetering on the edge of my own control, feeling lighter than I had in weeks.The music throbbed through the dimly lit club, the bass vibrating in my chest. For the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to relax. I danced with Lily, my body swaying to the rhythm, the worries of my life momentarily pushed aside. I wanted to live. And I knew that once I was given to Alpha Ethan, my life would nothing but be subjected to his will. Lily leaned across the bar, her face flushed from laughter. “One more round, Sage!” she called over the pulsing music, grinning from ear to ear. I shook my head, giggling despite myself. “I think I’ve had enough.”Lily’s eyes twinkled mischievously, a side of her I didn’t see often. “Y
Bound By Moonlight: Alpha's Heart, Beta's Desire Three
SAGEThe morning light filtered through the thin curtains, casting soft shadows across the room. I blinked slowly, my head pounding from last night's drinking, but it wasn’t just the hangover weighing me down. The events of the night came rushing back in a haze of heat and passion, and then… his rejection.I sat up in bed, the ache in my chest growing. The stranger—the man whose touch had left me breathless, whose presence had made me feel alive for the first time in so long—he was my mate. My fated mate. But the way he had looked at me afterwards, like I was something he needed to escape from, was burned into my memory. His words had cut through me like a blade: I reject you.I didn’t even know his name.The soft sound of footsteps brought me back to the present. Lily appeared in the doorway, her face concerned as she carried two cups of coffee. “You’re awake,” she said gently, sitting on the edge of the bed. “How are you feeling?”I took the cup she offered, wrapping my hands around
Bound By Moonlight: Alpha's Heart, Beta's Desire Four
SAGEThe ceremony felt like a panic attack—one of those nightmares where you're running but never seem to escape. Everything about it was suffocating, the air was thick with tension, and I could barely breathe. Alpha Ethan stood tall and imposing beside me, his expression a cold mask and devoid of any emotion. I could feel his presence as a shadow looming over me, like an immovable force in this cruel reality I was being pushed into.They made me wear a bridal gown that looked like it had been worn by at least ten people. There were stains and a pungent smell, and it was at least two sizes bigger than mine. The Alpha of my pack and a handful of people gathered. Like I said before: it was more of a business transaction than a wedding. A lesser few of the Lunar Legion Pack were present. The vows were spoken, though they felt empty to me. His voice was steady and detached, while mine trembled with fear and resignation. I couldn’t even look at him. Every time I glanced up, my heart rac
Bound By Moonlight: Alpha's Heart, Beta's Desire Five: Confrontations in the Dark
SAGEThe heavy silence that lingered after Alpha Ethan's departure wrapped itself around the room, suffocating in its stillness. I stood there, watching Asher—Beta Asher—my chest tight with a strange mixture of anger, confusion, and hurt. His face, once familiar with passion, was now cold and his eyes were completely unreadable. How had it come to this? How had the man who had been my fated mate, chosen by the Goddess, become the source of my torment?I inhaled deeply, steadying my voice before shattering the quiet. I did not want to give him the impression that I was weak and that he did the right thing by rejecting the omega.“Did you know who I was? I mean, I was promised to your Alpha?” The words tumbled out faster than I had intended, and my voice betrayed the underlying bitterness.Asher’s expression remained neutral, but I saw the flicker in his eyes. “No,” he said calmly. “But something tells me you might have an idea.”I scoffed, unable to believe how he could stand there a
Bound By Moonlight: Alpha's Heart, Beta's Desire Six: Cold Night, Cold Hearts
SAGEI woke to the soft creak of the door, which was barely audible in the stillness of the night. My eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the faint light spilling in from the hallway. The scent hit me first—woodsmoke and something darker, something primal. Alpha Ethan.My husband.I turned slightly, careful not to make too much noise, and watched as he entered the room. He moved with a predatory grace, his broad shoulders spreading long shadows against the dim walls. The air seemed to thicken with his presence, his power filling the room like a dense fog. My heart beat faster, unsure if it was from fear or anticipation.He didn’t say a word, didn’t even glance in my direction as he removed his jacket, draping it over the back of a nearby chair. His movements were precise and methodical, but there was an underlying tension in the way he carried himself. Anger. It clung to him like a second skin, suffocating the already strained atmosphere between us.I sat up slowly, the cool sheets falli
Bound By Moonlight: Alpha's Heart, Beta's Desire Seven: Rising from the Ashes
SAGEAlpha Ethan’s words echoed in my mind, replaying like a cruel melody I couldn’t escape from. I don’t want to force this, but you know what’s expected of you. The pack demands an heir, and I can’t delay this any longer.An heir. That’s all I was to him. A vessel to fulfil his duty and nothing more. I stared blankly at the empty space where he had stood moments ago, the weight of everything pressing down on my chest. It was suffocating. I felt as if the walls of this room, this house, this entire life were closing in on me, trapping me in a reality I couldn’t escape from.I sat there for what felt like hours, my mind racing with thoughts I couldn’t sort through. Every part of me wanted to scream, to rage, to throw something and feel some release from the unbearable pressure building up inside. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. Instead, I reached for my phone, my fingers trembling slightly as I scrolled to the only person who might still care—Lily.Lily, my one true friend from the Wildwo
Bound By Moonlight: Alpha's Heart, Beta's Desire Eight:
ASHERI was sprawled on the bed, staring at the ceiling aimlessly while my thoughts wandered anywhere and everywhere. I did not know why the Moon Goddess would play this cruel game with me, but it was vicious at its best. The soft light filtering through the curtains did nothing to chase away the shadows in my head. Every breath felt heavy, like a weight pressing down on my chest. I couldn’t escape it—this feeling of being trapped, bound by ties I didn’t ask for but couldn’t break.I had a chosen mate, one who loved me yet couldn’t take me or claim me, and then I met Sage—my fated mate—one whom I rejected right away because my heart already belonged somewhere else. And now, she is right here, with fate taunting me at every step.Sage…my mate, and that bond was undeniable. The pull of her scent, the quiet strength she exuded, the way her presence seemed to fill the spaces between us with a force that was as magnetic as it was painful. It was maddening. Fate had thrown her into my path
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Bound By Moonlight: Alpha's Heart, Beta's Desire Eighteen: Morning Meetings
ASHEREthan stomped ahead of me, and it was an unspoken order that I would have to follow him, which I did until we neared one of the guest rooms. without a care in the world, Ethan grabbed my arm and shoved me inside the room. “Is there something I can do for you, Alpha?” I asked once he slammed the door shut so hard, I wondered if it was unhinged. Ethan turned to face me, his features set in stone but those merciless eyes did not lie. I could see the fire simmering underneath. “How is my wife doing, Ash?” He asked, his voice calm, too calm for my liking. Did he see us together? And how long was Ethan watching Sage and me? “She is good, although I feel you should ask her, too,” I said, and stupidly or bravely, added, “Or maybe watch the progress.”I was angry at him for throwing me in her path, and I was angry at myself for being intoxicated by Sage’s presence, the fated bond conspiring against my being. A twisted smile appeared at the corner of his lips. “I enjoy your mouth,
Bound By Moonlight: Alpha's Heart, Beta's Desire Seventeen: Fatal Attraction
SAGEThe next morning, I woke up still feeling the sting of rejection from the night before. The previous evening had been humiliating—dressing up, waiting for Ethan, and being ignored so completely. I had tried to push the memory out of my mind, but it lingered like a dark cloud over everything. I needed to distract myself, to do something other than dwell on the emptiness of my marriage.When I left my room and headed downstairs, I had no idea what to expect. I certainly didn’t expect to see Asher standing in the entryway, waiting for me.I stopped in my tracks, surprised to see him so early. He was dressed in his usual training gear, his muscled arms exposed under the thin material of his shirt. His gaze was intense and his face was completely unreadable. "Asher?" I asked, confusion coloring my voice. "What are you doing here?"He crossed his arms over his chest, his jaw clenched. "Ethan sent me. I have been told you want to be trained.”I did not know whether to be angry or sad o
Bound By Moonlight: Alpha's Heart, Beta's Desire Sixteen: The Weight of Secrets
ASHERThe morning sun filtered through the floor-to-wall windows of Ethan’s office, illuminating the entire space. I sat at the large oak desk, going through a stack of papers related to the pack's business, but my mind was elsewhere, swirling with thoughts that had nothing to do with the work in front of me. Ever since I visited Sage, my wolf was in unrest. I was torn between the desperate need to be close to her and, at the same time, I knew how dangerous the notion was. She was my fated mate, my lover’s wife and every sane fibre of my being told me to stay the fuck away from her. It was bad enough that I was already holding far too many secrets from Ethan and Sage, any more misstep could cost me and my heart. Ethan sat across from me, his brow furrowed in concentration as he reviewed reports about the rogue attacks that had been plaguing our territory. His silence, however, didn’t bother me; it was a silence I had grown accustomed to over the years, but today it felt different.
Bound By Moonlight: Alpha's Heart, Beta's Desire Fifteen: Shattered Expectations
SAGEI woke up with a killer headache as the remnants of last night’s whiskey swirled in my veins. My mouth felt dry, and a sense of heaviness pressed down on my chest as I slowly sat up in bed. The events of the previous night came rushing back like a cruel tidal wave. The way I had dressed up, hopeful, foolishly naive. I had waited for Ethan, wearing that red dress, hoping for something—anything—that resembled affection. But he hadn’t come. Not a word, not a glance.And when he came, more out of duty and disgust, the conversation was enough to break my cracked heart into a million pieces. How could someone be so cruel?My stomach churned violently, and I barely made it to the bathroom before I emptied the contents of my stomach into the toilet. Gasping for air, I sat back against the cool bathroom tiles, my body trembling from the force of it all. My eyes were puffy from crying, and my makeup, which I hadn’t bothered to wash off, was smeared across my face like a sad reminder of
Bound By Moonlight: Alpha's Heart, Beta's Desire Fourteen: The Distance Between Us
ALPHA ETHANI stepped into the pack house around morning because I did not want to be around Sage, and I could not be around Asher either. And then there were the meetings, the endless conversations about pack security, rogue attacks—it was all necessary but draining. The Wildwood alliance was crucial, and I couldn’t afford to let the council see any cracks in my leadership, not now. But as I made my way up the stairs, my mind already shifting toward sleep, I couldn’t ignore the nagging thought that I hadn’t seen Sage in days. Not properly, anyway.My hand hovered on the door handle of her room. I didn’t have to come here. I could have gone straight to my own quarters, shut out the world like I always did. But something tugged at me, a sense of obligation, or maybe it was just guilt. Guilt for the way I had been treating her. Guilt for the way I had neglected her and ignored her needs because they conflicted with the walls I had built around myself.I pushed the door open quietly, c
Bound By Moonlight: Alpha's Heart, Beta's Desire Thirteen: Drunken Conversations
ASHERI knocked softly but there was no response, but I could hear faint movement inside the room. Something told me I didn’t need permission to enter. My gut twisted as I opened the door and stepped inside. The room was dimly lit, the heavy curtains drawn tight to block out the moonlight. There, slouched on the floor near the fireplace, was Sage, cradling an almost-empty bottle of whiskey in her lap.My heart sank at the sight. Her hair was loose, falling over her face in messy strands. She looked lost. The confident, determined woman I had seen at breakfast that morning was gone, replaced by someone utterly defeated. And I couldn’t help but feel responsible, even if she didn’t know the full truth.“Enjoying yourself?” I asked from the doorstep, drawing her attention. Sage looked up, a little confused and angry. “Why?” she muttered as I approached, her voice slurred and thick with alcohol. She didn’t even look up. "Why do you fucking care so much?” I knelt beside her, carefully ta
Bound By Moonlight: Alpha's Heart, Beta's Desire Twelve: A Dance with Disappointment
SAGEThe cold stillness of the pack house pressed against me, heavy and unrelenting. It had been days since I’d arrived here as the Luna of the Lunar Legion pack, but it felt like I was more of a shadow than a presence in these halls. The servants avoided eye contact, some offering polite smiles that didn’t reach their eyes, while others didn’t bother hiding their disdain. It was as if I didn’t belong like I was an outsider in the very place I was supposed to call home.I sat by the window, my phone clutched tightly in my hand as I scrolled through old messages—empty of any from Ethan. I had asked one of the servants earlier to send a message to him, telling him that I wanted to see him. I knew it was a little bold of me, and from the reaction the servant gave me, I understood that I had crossed some line, but what could I do?Requesting to see my own husband—it felt ridiculous. But what choice did I have? He hadn’t given me his number, and I refused to go through Asher. Not after ev
Bound By Moonlight: Alpha's Heart, Beta's Desire Eleven: Power Play
ASHEREthan and I drove out of the pack house after breakfast, the cool morning air biting against our skin as we made our way to the council chamber. The day had barely begun, but I could already feel the weight of the pack’s issues pressing down on us. This was life with Ethan—constant vigilance and constant pressure. And through it all, his authority remained unshakable. He was the Alpha, and no one, not even I, questioned his command.We chose to commute in his custom-made black SUV; the bloody vehicle was more of a tank than a car, but it reflected Ethan’s personality. We travelled in silence, although I could feel he wanted to talk because Ethan had already caught me looking at Sage a few times more than usual and I knew he caught a whiff of the storm brewing inside of me. And Sage, too, found it canny for her husband to spend more time with me than her. Fuck, this was utterly and devastatingly complicated. But I wanted to concentrate more on business right now. Ethan and I
Bound By Moonlight: Alpha's Heart, Beta's Desire Ten: Awkward Conversations
ASHERThe next morning, sunlight filtered through the curtains, bathing the room in a soft glow. I shifted slightly beneath the covers, my body still aching from the night before. The memories of Ethan, rutting into me and everything else. Ethan’s arm was draped possessively over me, his warmth pulling me back toward the edge of sleep. But there was no escaping the reality that waited outside this room.I stirred, careful not to wake him, though part of me knew he wasn’t asleep. Ethan was never fully at rest, not even when he allowed himself these stolen moments with me. As soon as my body moved away from his, I felt his grip tighten slightly, a subtle reminder that he wasn’t ready to let go. Not yet.“Ash,” his voice rumbled against my ear, low and commanding, “where do you think you’re going?”I glanced over my shoulder at him, my heart skipping a beat at the intensity in his gaze. “We need to get ready,” I whispered, though there was no real reason to whisper. No one would dare ent
