Three weeks after Jalen started building our house, it was ready. I was filled with uncountable happiness and excitement. Our five-bedroom bungalow was now our permanent home and I couldn't be more thrilled. I was falling more in love with our house each day. It was not too far from the pack house, and it was the perfect blend of cozy and spacious. I had decorated it just how I wanted, with warm colors, comfortable furniture, and homey accents. I took in the sight of our newly painted white walls, the warm, inviting atmosphere, and the open-plan living room filled with natural light, and I immediately felt at home.The bedrooms were decorated with soft, comfortable linens and the bathrooms were spacious and modern. Every room had a touch of my style and I was proud of the work I had put into making our home perfect.Jaela and I decorated the garden with blooming flowers and a couple of birdhouses. It was so peaceful. I never felt this way at my dad's ultra-modern mansion. Sure, it
After work on Monday, I drove to a grocery store for shopping. The store was bustling with people, grabbing their essentials for the week ahead. I navigated my way through the crowds, grabbing a basket as I went. The bright lights of the store illuminated the aisles and I took my time, picking out the items on my list.As I reached for a bottle of wine, I held it up to the light, admiring its deep ruby color. The label read "Cabernet Sauvignon" and I knew Jalen would love it. I placed it carefully in my basket and continued with my shopping.The whole weekend, I had been receiving calls and texts from Jalen. He was missing me and the house was lonely without me, he said. I couldn't help but smile at the thought of Jalen pining for my return.As I drove at night towards the Lycan pack, the air was crisp and the stars twinkled in the sky. I felt a sense of comfort knowing that I was heading back to my lover. The guards at the border greeted me with respect and bowed as I passed through
My heart shattered when I saw Rissa standing outside the door with tears streaming down her face and anger in her eyes. She heard everything, and I was filled with regret for not telling her the truth earlier."Son, look at the bright side," my mother spoke up when Clarissa drove off. She tried to sound cheerful. "It's for the best. You'll have a child, and Malory is from our pack. You're now a complete male and fit to become the Lycan king."But her words only made me angrier. "Listen to me, mother," I spat, unable to contain my fury. "I will not live the messed-up life that you and dad lived. Dad never loved you, he loved your sister. And because of heartbreak, your sister died. I'm never going to take that route and be in a loveless marriage. So you better take her away from my sight because I don't ever want to see her again."My mother froze, and I could see a single tear escape her cheek. But I didn't care. I was done with her constant interference in my life."Jalen," she spoke
Cade and I drove in silence back to my pack the next morning, the only sound being the purr of the engine and the occasional hiss of tires on the road. I sat with my arms crossed over my chest, staring out the window listlessly. The world outside was a blur of lights and shadows, nothing holding my interest. My thoughts were consumed by Jalen and his infidelity. "Rissa, you have to believe me. When you were away and Jaela got her speech back, we went partying and Jalen got drunk with happiness. That was when Malory spiked his drink. He didn't even remember what happened that night," Cade tried to explain for the hundredth time. But I was tired of hearing the same excuses. I shook my head, "Even if that's what happened, he has broken our bond and I can't stand him anymore. Also, there's a baby in question." Cade sighed, "I know, Rissa. I just don't want to see you hurt like this." "There is nothing you can say to me that will make me change my mind, so just drive," I snapped, my v
The anger in my voice was palpable, and Jalen was taken aback that I called him a bloody Lycan but at this point, I couldn't care less. "How could you do this to me?" I asked, tears streaming down my face.Jalen stood there, looking at me with hurt in his eyes. He didn't say anything, but I could see the pain in his eyes. I knew that I had hurt him with my words, but at the same time, he deserved it. "I don't want to see you again," I said, my voice shaking with hurt." Stay the fuck away from me."Jalen didn't say anything and with one last look at me, he turned around and walked out the door. I sat there for what felt like hours, just thinking about what had just happened. I couldn't believe that the man I thought I loved had betrayed me in such a terrible way. I burst into tears, feeling a mix of anger, hurt, and sadness. The rest of the day was a blur as I tried to keep myself together and make it through the work day. Genevieve walked into my office, her arms filled with a w
As the morning sun filtered through the plush curtains of my hotel room, I woke up feeling refreshed after a long flight to Paris the day before. I stretched out my limbs and savored the feeling of the soft sheets of my king-sized bed as they enveloped me in a warm embrace. Despite the luxurious surroundings, I felt a pang of loneliness as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I reached for the telephone on the nightstand, dialled my family and waited for it to ring. The sound of Bryon's voice filed me with comfort. Although we only spoke for a few minutes, I felt my spirits lift as we chatted about my travels and plans for the day.As I hung up the phone, I changed into my running gear. The soft tank top and yoga pants felt comfortable against my skin as I got dressed. I grabbed my airpods and headed downstairs, eager to take in the sights and sounds of the city. The morning air was crisp and invigorating, and the sun was just beginning to rise, casting a warm glow on the streets outsid
As the King-in-waiting of the Lycan pack, my days were filled with a wide range of duties. From managing the pack's resources and overseeing the training of recruits to mediating disputes between members and representing the pack in meetings with other supernatural communities, there was never a dull moment. Fortunately, my Beta, Cade, made things much easier for me. He was always there to offer support and guidance, and he had started his rituals to officially become my Beta.Despite these distractions, the weight of my responsibilities was often overwhelming. The recent death of my dad, who had served as the pack's alpha for many years, had hit me hard. To make matters worse, my mate, Clarissa, had rejected me. She didn't believe my claims of innocence when it came to the rumors of my infidelity, and this rejection cut me deeply. On top of all this, there was the added stress of a stranger carrying my child.Most nights, I found myself drowning my sorrows in alcohol. I would visit
Tony and I walked along the streets of Paris. He'd made my stay here so wonderful. Despite the heartbreak, I felt from Jalen, being in Paris with Tony by my side made me happy in a way that I couldn't quite explain. He was funny, charming, and an excellent tour guide, showing me all the hidden gems of this beautiful city. We started our day in the morning with croissants and coffee at a charming patisserie, where the sound of sizzling butter filled the air. The flaky, golden layers of the croissants melted in our mouths as we people-watched through the large windows.Next, we visited the iconic Eiffel Tower, taking in the breathtaking view of the city from the top. We snapped some photos and Tony made me laugh with his silly poses. Afterward, we walked around the Champs de Mars park, stopping to admire the street performers and artists.We also visited the Louvre Museum to admire the famous works of art. We spent hours wandering through the galleries, marveling at the masterpieces. I
I write this vote of thanks with a full heart, overflowing with gratitude and appreciation. I have just completed the first part of this book, and I cannot express how grateful I am to have all of you here to share this moment with me.I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of my readers for your unwavering support and for sticking by me, even though there may have been some errors in the book. Your understanding and patience has meant the world to me, and I cannot thank you enough.Special thanks to Mama bear, Oladipo Titilope, Chelsea Hench and the rest of yoou for your beautiful comments. I love you so much This book was written in less than two months, during a time when my schedule was incredibly hectic. The fact that you have found my crappy writing worthy, despite the limited time I had to dedicate to it, is a testament to your generosity. I am thrilled to announce that this book is part of a series, and the second part will be available next week. I cannot wait
I stood at my window, watching Jalen and Cade entering the van and driving out and my mind was a whirlwind of emotions. I couldn't believe how much I missed him and how my body reacted to him.My mum and I went shopping for the charity ball and I wasn't expecting to see Jalen, but when our eyes met, I had to force myself to grip the bannister tightly to keep from running down the stairs and into his arms. My breathing became shallow and my knees felt weak, but I managed to hold myself together and maintain a composed demeanor.Now, my mind was a jumbled mess, filled with memories of our past together and the pain of our breakup. Anger and hurt boiled inside me, but I pushed it down, knowing that I had to be strong."Calm down, Rissa," I said to myself, trying to steady my breathing, but it was a losing battle. I wasn't as strong as I thought. No wonder people went back to their toxic partners. The mating bond was so strong that if my human self didn't restrain my wolf, I'd have jumpe
My packmates were working tirelessly, sanding down the rough spots on the wooden floor of the pack's hall in preparation for the Lycan king's coronation coming up in seven days. I watched one of them up on a ladder, hanging glittering lights from the rafters and another laying down fresh coats of paint on the wallsThe hall was beautiful with a long red carpet laid, leading to the platform and the stage and the scent of flowers filled the air as a group of packmates arranged beautiful bouquets on either side of the platform.I could feel the energy and excitement from my packmates as they worked, it was palpable and it made my heart swell with pride.My mum stood rigidly beside me, her eyes shining with excitement."This is so beautiful," she nudged me and I nodded in response.She took a deep breath and said, "A king needs his queen."I rolled my eyes, feeling annoyance wash over me.She placed a hand on my arm, her grip tight. "You can't wait to marry Malory."I frowned and said, "
I lay in bed, feeling comfortable and relaxed, and felt my left breast with my hand, which was a habit that I had picked up when I was a teenager. My fingers lightly ran over the curve of my nipple, pausing at the top and I shut my eyes, remembering how Jalen used to drive me wild with his tongue on my nipple, how I would have him suckle it until I came from just being touched there, and how I would cry out into the night, my hands clutching onto his chest so tightly.I took a deep breath and lifted my feet, bringing them closer to my chest. It's not like I was happy. Far from it, but. I couldn't just mope around and be useless just because Jalen was getting married to someone else. I wish Jaela hadn't even told me, but I made a conscious effort to be happy. My family was there for me and my mom always checked on me, even going as far as canceling some of her schedules just to make sure that she was always available for me. I felt the stretch in my legs as I brought them closer to m
My days were bland and uninteresting as I felt dejected and defeated. I lost the woman I truly loved, and now I proposed to someone I have no attraction to. The thought of spending the rest of my life with someone who doesn't make my heart skip a beat was a heavy weight to bear. I leaned into the leather armchair taking a long drink from my cold bear. The icy liquid provided a temporary escape from all my troubles. It was crazy how everyone expected me to move on, be a man and do the right thing because I knocked someone up. I set the beer down on the table and let out a sigh, trying to ignore the emptiness inside of me. This wasn't the life I imagined for myself, and Malory robbed me of my chance at true love and joy."Jalen are you there," Jaela's melodic voice which by the way I could never get tired of hearing, walked in, her steps slow and hesitant."What the hell, brother," she gasped at the sight of scattered bottles of beer. I reached for a remote control absently flipping
Today sucked horribly. It started when I walked into the conference room for our daily board meeting. My mood was irritable and I couldn't seem to shake it.I took my seat at the head of the table and tried to focus on the agenda, but the more my staff presented their ideas for a new app, the more frustrated I became. Every suggestion was met with a sharp rejection from me - the layout was wrong, the logo was uninspired, and I even snapped at them for wasting my time.The IT guys were eager to discuss some updates with me, but I couldn't concentrate on what they were saying. Instead, I found myself doodling aimlessly on a notepad, tracing lines and shapes without any real purpose.Everyone there looked at me with confusion, and the tension in the room rose with every passing moment. I rubbed my temples, trying to ease the headache that was growing stronger by the minute."Excuse me," I finally said, standing up from my chair. "I think we should continue this meeting later. I have a he
As I stood in the clearing surrounded by the tallest trees in the forest, I felt the weight of the moment settling onto my shoulders. This was the coronation ceremony that marked my ascension to the throne as the Lycan king. The full moon shone bright and clear above, casting an eerie glow on the gathering below. The pack elders and council were all present, their beastly forms looming large and imposing.As the pack leader, I felt a surge of pride and respect for these powerful creatures. I knew that the role of the Lycan king was a heavy responsibility, but I was ready to embrace it. I closed my eyes, savoring the sweet scent of the forest and the whispers of the night.The elders stepped forward, forming a circle around me. They began to chant, their voices rising in a low rumble that vibrated through the air. I felt the magic of the moment wash over me, and I knew that this was truly the beginning of a new chapter in my life.The chanting grew louder, reaching a crescendo as the e
The day before my departure date was a whirlwind of emotions. On one hand, I was excited to get back to my company and oversee the work there, but on the other hand, I was sad to be leaving Paris, the city I had grown to love over the past month. I had been working remotely, but my presence was needed back at the office to ensure everything was running smoothly.I spent the day shopping for gifts for my family, trying to find the perfect tokens of my affection. I wanted to make sure my dad, mum, Bryon, and his wife, Sydney all got something. I browsed through multiple stores, searching for the perfect presents. Finally, I found some beautifully handcrafted souvenirs for each of them. I hoped they would appreciate them.I went back to the hotel, feeling tired but satisfied with my day's work. I started packing my stuff, trying to fit everything into my luggage. I had brought a lot of clothes and other items with me, but now it seemed like they wouldn't fit in my bags anymore.I lay in
I was in the final stretch of my stay in Paris and only had two days left. I'd spent the majority of my time here hanging out with Tony and his family. Tony was especially busy these past few days because his little sister, I made, was turning fourteen. I felt emotionally attached to Imade, so I offered to go shopping with Tony to help prepare for her birthday.We walked down the busy streets of Paris, with Tony leading the way. He seemed to know exactly where he was going, and I followed behind, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. The smell of freshly baked croissants and coffee filled the air, making my mouth water.As we walked, Tony filled me in on the details of Imade's birthday party. "My mum wants to throw her a big bash, with balloons, cake, and lots of presents, just to make her happy."We finally arrived at a bustling marketplace, filled with vendors selling all sorts of things. Tony headed straight for a store selling party supplies, and I followed him inside. The