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Forming Alliances
Last Updated:
2024-12-03 18:35:08Related chapters
Bound by Loyalty, Torn by Fate You Again
The drive to the Crescent Moon pack would be long—a five-hour car journey, during which Lucille had to tolerate being cooped up with Joseph and Cacey. Luckily for her, Cacey seemed to have learnt to keep his mouth shut and hadn’t said a word since their meeting earlier. The plan was to stop off halfway, either at a nearby bed and breakfast they’d marked out on the map or somewhere along the route, so they could continue their journey in the morning feeling rested and refreshed, ready to meet the Alpha of the Crescent Moon pack and discuss a future alliance. Butterflies stirred in Lucille’s stomach as she allowed herself to imagine a better future for her pack. All these years, she’d simply accepted the cards she thought she'd been dealt, never arguing back. Yet, all it had taken was for her to speak up. A pang of guilt shot through her; she had let her friends suffer for so long because she hadn’t had the courage to stand up to Joseph.“Shall we discuss our claiming ceremony?” Joseph
Last Updated : 2024-12-04Bound by Loyalty, Torn by Fate Goddess Give Me Strength
When Zach stepped out to greet his guests, he’d expected challenges—but not this. He hadn’t known that Alpha Joseph, whom he’d been in talks with over the past few weeks, would bring her. Of course, he reminded himself. She was Joseph’s mate and the Luna of the pack. The moment he stepped outside, he was hit by her scent, sweet and intoxicating, and his eyes found hers instantly. Sh*t.Beside him, Bo shifted nervously, clearly picking up on the tension. Lucille, though, betrayed nothing. Either she wasn’t affected by him in the same way, or she was a hell of an actress. Zach forced down a growl when he saw her hand in another man’s grasp. The man was well-built, with slicked-back blonde hair and a friendly smile that didn’t reach his steely grey eyes. That had to be Joseph. The other man, with a bulky frame and curly brown hair, gave off an air that instantly grated on Zach’s nerves, even more than Joseph did.As they approached, Zach put on his most welcoming smile. “Glad you made it
Last Updated : 2024-12-06Bound by Loyalty, Torn by Fate You have to Stop
Lucille found herself at the far end of the packhouse, standing on the decking that overlooked the lush greenery of the surrounding woodland. Her hand absently rubbed at the choker around her neck as she felt her wolf stirring within, eager to be released and explore the unfamiliar terrain."Beautiful," said a voice from behind her. Startled, her hand dropped to her side as she turned to see Zach leaning casually against the frame of the sliding glass doors. "The scenery. It's beautiful, isn’t it?" he continued."Yes. It just feels so..." she trailed off, struggling to find the right word."Right?" Zach offered."Yes. It must have been fun to explore this place growing up," she said, her gaze returning to the horizon, her eyes filled with a sense of longing. Zach watched her closely, captivated by the way she looked at his home as though it held something she'd never had."So, I brought you a beer?" he offered, now stepping beside her and extending a bottle. She took the cold glass fr
Last Updated : 2024-12-07Bound by Loyalty, Torn by Fate Scent
When they reached the outskirts of the forest, returning to civilisation, Zach led Lucille to the house next door to the pack house, where Nora stood outside, clearly unimpressed. "You're playing a dangerous game, Zach," she warned as she opened the front door, allowing them to step inside. "She has your scent all over her." Lucille glanced between the siblings, annoyed at being treated as though she wasn't present."Whatever this is, it ends here," she ordered, frustration boiling over. "I am right here, and Nora, I understand you don’t like me, but as a guest and Luna to a neighbouring pack here to discuss our future, I deserve respect. Your brother has a mind of his own, as I’m sure you’re aware, and I hope it’s not genetic. Maybe you can talk some sense into him." Lucille’s words made Nora falter, the sharpness in her voice cutting through the tension. Nora sighed, running a hand through her hair before glaring at Zach."I'm sorry, Luna Lucille," Nora finally said, "but you must u
Last Updated : 2024-12-07Bound by Loyalty, Torn by Fate Dinner
Lucille stood awkwardly in the living room of Nora's home, waiting for her to finish getting ready. Tonight would take a lot out of her, and now, because of her own actions, she had pulled Nora into this dangerous game. Nora stepped out of her room, fastening her remaining earring, and smiled at Lucille."I'm just so good at this!" she exclaimed. "Perhaps too good, because those Alphas tonight won’t be able to stop looking at you.""Maybe I should change, then," Lucille suggested. "The last thing I need is to cause any more tension.""Oh, stop it! While I don't condone sneaking around, you're a beautiful woman, and you're allowed to dress how you like. If any of those Alphas tonight can't focus on what we’re here for, well, they shouldn't be Alphas in the first place. Alphas are supposed to be the best of the best, after all."Lucille smiled at her new friend. After everything that had happened so far, she hadn’t expected to warm up to Nora, or that Nora would take a liking to her. Bu
Last Updated : 2024-12-09Bound by Loyalty, Torn by Fate Silver
Lucille closed her eyes and tilted her chin up to the half-moon, savouring the gentle breeze that brushed against her skin. She took a sip from her wine glass, her thoughts swirling as she once again cursed her fate. How could the Goddess have done this to her? Had she wronged someone in a past life to deserve the turmoil she’d faced over the years? Maybe she should raid the kitchen and drink every last drop of wine. It was hard for shifters to get drunk due to their unnaturally fast metabolism, but in her current mood, she was more than willing to try.She rolled her eyes as an all-too-familiar scent drifted towards her, threatening to cloud her senses. "Can you not leave me alone for five minutes?" she muttered, clearly irritated.“I don’t like how that male treats you,” Zach growled from the doorway, staying just out of reach.“And you’re any different?” she shot back, her voice dripping with disdain. “You’re both just as bad, treating me like I’m some sort of possession. Pathetic.
Last Updated : 2024-12-11Bound by Loyalty, Torn by Fate Tensions
Zach sat in his office, his body tense and rigid from the events that had unfolded earlier. Bo and Cole had physically restrained him when Cacey injected wolfsbane into Lucille’s neck, as if it were no big deal to treat her in such a brutal way. Joseph, though, had been no help; he’d promised an explanation, but insisted on seeing to Lucille first, ensuring she was safely put to bed.What had happened back there? Zach leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair as he looked out the window at the moon. Had he pushed her to this? His relentless attempts to understand her seemed to have aggravated her, pushing her and her wolf over the edge. He had sensed something had shifted in her energy tonight. She’d been irritable, volatile. He was only glad he’d managed to hold himself back; had anyone else challenged him the way she had, he wouldn’t have thought twice about putting them in their place. Yet, for Lucille, he had made a surprising number of allowances. He knew this cou
Last Updated : 2024-12-11Bound by Loyalty, Torn by Fate Hello Wolfie
The moon was high and bright as Zach and Cole crept around the edge of the house, stopping at a long window overlooking the western side of town. They both crouched low, keeping to the shadows. Zach’s fingers elongated, claws sharp as he carefully picked the lock on the window with ease, his partial shift lending him the strength and precision he needed. Cole kept watch, scanning the darkened grounds for any sign of movement. The window opened silently, and Zach slipped through, motioning for Cole to follow before easing the window shut behind them.Inside, the room was cloaked in shadow, but even in the dim light, Zach could make out Lucille lying beneath the sheets. Her face was peaceful, almost fragile, her breathing steady. In this state, she seemed vulnerable, worlds apart from the fierce, defiant woman he’d come to know. He moved closer, his fingers grazing her hair in a gentle, instinctive gesture. She stirred under his touch, and he spotted a faint mark on her neck from where
Last Updated : 2024-12-11
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Bound by Loyalty, Torn by Fate Epilogue
"You need to shave," Nora remarked, raising an eyebrow as her brother wandered into the dining room.Zach grunted in response, sinking into a chair and helping himself to the already-served breakfast in the centre of the table. "It's fine. Bo still avoiding me?"After Zach had returned from arranging plans with the other Alphas at Owen’s, he’d had a long-overdue sit-down with Bo. The man had little to say, other than admitting that his talk of giving up on Lucille had been fuelled by anger—anger at having his own mate placed in danger. He regretted not stopping her, and Zach believed him. As punishment, Bo had been temporarily demoted to Gamma, with Cole stepping up as Beta in his place. Zach had needed someone he could trust to help enact the plan to rescue Lucille, and Cole, despite his usual grumbling, had proven himself reliable.Now that Joseph was gone, Bo had been reinstated, much to Cole's relief—he'd never enjoyed the added workload—but things still weren’t the same.It had b
Bound by Loyalty, Torn by Fate You Found Me
“Lucille!” Zach yelled, rushing over and gathering her into his arms, ignoring the pool of blood spreading across the floor beneath her. His heart thundered as he cradled her fragile form, her skin alarmingly cold against his.Lucille looked up at him, her eyes heavy-lidded, and reached a trembling hand to cup his cheek. He leaned into her touch, her warmth—faint though it was—sending a storm of conflicting emotions through him. Relief at finally holding her again clashed with a paralysing fear as he realised something was wrong. She wasn’t healing fast enough.His gaze fell to the silver choker still clasped around her neck. A low growl rumbled in his chest as he tore the jewellery away, the clasp snapping beneath his claws. The instant it was gone, Lucille’s body sagged in his arms, a soft sigh of relief escaping her lips.“Oh, Lucy,” Cole muttered, his voice breaking as he took in the extent of her injuries.“What are you doing just standing there?” Zach barked, his panic spilling
Bound by Loyalty, Torn by Fate Mate Bond
All she could do was sit there, paralysed, as she watched flesh collide with flesh, Zach and Joseph a blur of relentless movement. Punches were thrown, claws slashed through the air, and each strike narrowly evaded the other. Neither of them had shifted—yet. They had opted to stay in their human forms, testing their endurance, trying to wear the other out.Lucille didn’t even notice Cole approaching until he was at her side, a bloodied figure emerging from the chaos. He crouched next to her, hauling her up with surprising gentleness. She gasped, her eyes widening at the blood covering him.“Relax. It’s not all mine,” Cole quipped, a dry chuckle escaping him as he steadied her. “Well, most of it isn’t. Can you walk?”Lucille nodded weakly, her gaze sliding past him back to the fight. Zach had just landed a brutal blow to Joseph, sending the man doubling over. For a moment, blood gushed from Joseph’s side, but his Alpha healing kicked in almost immediately, sealing the wound. Alphas wer
Bound by Loyalty, Torn by Fate Challenge
Lucille thought she would feel different. As Joseph’s summons pulled her towards the great hall—a place that had only ever been the backdrop of her despair—her heart felt heavier with every step. The first thing she noticed was his scent, the one she’d once found intoxicating. Pine and earth, steady and grounding. But now, it seemed muted, distant, like a memory that no longer belonged to her.And then she saw him.Zach stood at the centre of the hall, his back to her, surrounded by a sea of shifters. His presence was as commanding as ever, but there was an edge of desperation in the way he carried himself. Her steps faltered, uncertainty gripping her. Was she a lost cause to him now? Did she disgust him, her body now claimed by another?She couldn't blame him if he did. She wasn't fond of herself, either.Since Cacey's attack, something inside her had broken. She'd clung to Joseph's protection, knowing it was wrong, hating herself for relying on the man who had destroyed so much of h
Bound by Loyalty, Torn by Fate It All Comes Down To This
Zach had to fight the urge to chuckle as the guards closed in around him. Their movements were swift and practised, forcing him onto his knees as they restrained his hands behind his back. He let them; their display of authority was almost amusing.The man standing in front of him—clearly the leader of the patrol—was linking back to his Alpha, the tell-tale glaze in his eyes betraying the silent telepathic exchange. Zach tilted his head slightly, watching the man’s expression shift from stern focus to something closer to unease as the link ended.“Untie him,” the commander ordered sharply.“What? But he’s an intruder!” one of the guards, a smaller man with a wiry frame, protested.“We are under strict instructions to escort Alpha Zachary Lochwood of the Crescent Moon Pack to the hall,” the commander replied, his tone leaving no room for debate.“How do we know he really is who he says he is?” the smaller man piped up again, suspicion flickering in his narrowed eyes.“That’s not for us
Bound by Loyalty, Torn by Fate Joseph
The sound of footsteps echoed faintly from the hall outside, these ones heavier and more clunky despite an obvious attempt at stealth. There was a brief scuffle at the door—muffled shuffling and the faint scrape of metal—before it creaked open with deliberate slowness.Lucille didn’t lift her head to greet her uninvited guest. She couldn’t. The scent that drifted into the room was enough to churn her stomach, making her glad she wasn’t facing whoever it was.Cacey.The name settled in her mind like a heavy stone. He stood above her, his lips curling into a cruel grin that stretched ear to ear, the menace behind it palpable. The way he had entered—unannounced and without caution—told her everything she needed to know. Joseph hadn’t sent him.“Look at the state of you,” Cacey sneered, his voice dripping with mockery as his tongue darted out to wet his lips. “Not so pretty now, are you?”“I suggest you leave,” Lucille said, her voice low but firm as she shifted towards the far side of th
Bound by Loyalty, Torn by Fate Be Strong
Zach took a deep breath as he made his way back down to the medical floor. He could only hope Serena would be in a more receptive mood this time, though her resistance so far didn’t give him much confidence. Still, this was about Lucille, and whatever Serena’s feelings towards him, Zach knew she would want to hear that they had a plan.The meeting with the other alphas had dragged on for hours. Many had been reluctant to act, but after hearing testimonies from Zach, Rita, and a handful of former rogue pack members, they had finally been convinced to take action. With that step behind him, Zach’s next task loomed: returning home with Cole to prepare his pack for the battles to come. He’d also need to sit down with Bo, explain everything, and address the rift his Beta’s actions had caused. But before all that, he had one more conversation to finish here—one Lucille would have expected of him.The sterile scent of disinfectant filled his nostrils as he walked across the pristine white fl
Bound by Loyalty, Torn by Fate Numb
She felt numb. How long had it been since she’d arrived? Days blurred into weeks, time losing all meaning in the suffocating fog of her existence. Back in this wretched excuse of a pack, Lucille was little more than a shadow of herself. Stripped of purpose, she was forbidden from resuming the duties she’d once taken pride in. Instead, she remained tethered to Joseph, either kept by his side or confined to their room. She wasn’t his mate—she was his possession. The collar and leash that bound her were tangible proof of that cruel reality.Yet, no matter how much she loathed him, Lucille couldn’t entirely shut out the insidious warmth of adoration seeping through the mate bond. It crawled into her mind like a disease, threading its way through her thoughts, weakening her resolve. She fought it with every ounce of strength she had, desperate not to yield, but each day the pull grew stronger. The untamed bond between them solidified, like chains tightening around her soul.Though Joseph t
Bound by Loyalty, Torn by Fate We Need a Plan
The sky was a canvas of grey, thick with overcast clouds, and the waves below crashed and roared against the cliffs with relentless ferocity. The once serene view of the ocean had turned hostile, its surface churning a dirtied, turbulent brown as the harsh wind whipped the water into chaos. Zach stood by the window, his sharp blue eyes scanning the angry seascape. The scene mirrored his inner turmoil, his restlessness growing with each passing moment.The Alpha meeting was set to take place today, and Zach had remained at Alpha Owen’s home, waiting for the arrival of the other Alphas. He knew many had travelled long distances, but he hoped they were prepared to sit down and hear him out immediately. At the very least, he wanted them to listen to his side of the story before they sought rest, giving them the night to mull over his words and begin to form a plan.Zach had spent much of his stay checking on Tristan, despite Serena’s visible discomfort with his presence. Though she allowe
