The distant sound of birds chirping stirred her from sleep. Sunlight poured into the room, making Lucille squint as she shielded her eyes, slowly adjusting to the morning light. Surveying the chaos around her, she pulled the bed sheet up, clutching it to her chest. She raised a hand, looking herself over. Her body felt different, yet everything looked the same. What was that last night?Biting her lip, she flopped back onto the mattress, letting her mind replay the night’s events. A blush crept across her cheeks as she remembered how boldly she’d behaved around Zach. She heard the bedroom door handle twist and quickly sat up again, clutching the sheet as Zach entered. “Here." He offered her a hot cup of coffee and a plate filled with pastries. “I wasn’t sure what you’d fancy, so I brought a variety. If you’d prefer a cooked breakfast, I can whip that up for you too,” he said, glancing down at her.Lucille accepted the cup, grateful for the warmth. As she did, the sheet slipped down to
Rita’s home sat right on the outskirts of town, standing alone atop a small hill beside a quaint river. Lucille hadn’t known what to expect as they approached the witch’s doorstep; Joseph had distrusted witches deeply, forbidding any from coming near him—or her. Yet, despite her lack of expectations, when they stepped inside the cottage, Lucille was taken aback by how homely and, well, normal the place seemed.The room she’d been shown into was small and open-plan, connecting two spaces seamlessly. One side held a cosy living area with two cushioned sofas divided by a beautifully crafted wooden coffee table. The other held a dining area, with a table set against the wall and seats arranged on either side. Lucille settled onto one of the sofas beside Zach, though she made sure to sit as far at the other end as possible. Even after last night, the proximity to him hadn’t dulled the tingling sensation she felt whenever they were together. If anything, it seemed more intense, if that was
A week went by in a blur for Lucille as she let herself feel at home with the Crescent Moon Pack. Life had been blissful; she managed to go on runs with Serena and Tristan, and her wolf had never been happier. Zach had been busy with pack affairs, especially as tension grew from Joseph’s unsettling silence. She knew better than anyone that he wouldn’t just go away quietly, and the thought of him scheming kept gnawing at her mind, filling her with a constant sense of worry.She sat in the living room with Serena and Nora, waiting for the men to emerge from their meeting. Tristan had spent the week preparing everything he needed to return and bring back their friends, who were still waiting at the safe house. Supplies, like food and clothing, had been gathered. With so many wolves needing to travel from one territory to another, subtlety and diligence would be essential to ensure the mission's success. "Are you sure you're all right to stay here?" Nora asked Serena."Of course. Tristan
Zach remained outside, his gaze fixed on the van as it rolled out of town, a sense of unease gnawing at him. He knew Lucille needed time with her friend, but the weight of unspoken truths pressed heavily on his chest. The night of the full moon lingered in his mind—the strange, breathtaking sight he had witnessed just before dawn. Lucille's words about the upcoming full moon echoed ominously, amplifying his resolve to finally confront her about it.Rita's investigation was becoming more intense, fueled by the revelations he had shared about Lucille's wolf form under the moonlight. He could sense her growing obsession, a mix of fear and determination that mirrored his own. With every passing moment, the urgency to uncover the truth felt like a tightening noose around their necks.His thoughts drifted back to Lucille. His mate. The term still felt surreal, like a dream just beyond reach. Despite the bond being tainted by Joseph's mark upon her shoulder, there was no other term more befi
She was in the forest again, the ground shrouded in a thick mist, and all around her stretched an endless expanse of birch trees, their pale trunks fading into the fog. There were no landmarks, nothing to help her mark where she was or how far she’d travelled. By now, Lucille had learnt to simply start walking. Last time, she’d headed south and hadn’t gotten far, so this time, she walked eastward, bracing herself, knowing it would appear again soon. These dreams had been haunting her night after night, each one the same. She’d awaken in the forest, and then the wolf would come. No matter how hard she tried to outrun it, it always caught her in the end. But she refused to give up, determined that if she could just find a way to face and defeat it, the dreams would finally leave her be.About ten minutes into her path, a familiar howl echoed through the trees, a haunting, spine-chilling sound in the distance. It was here, and it was coming for her. Lucille quickened her pace, fighting t
Zach stood in the field behind his house, grinning as Bo and Cole strolled over in their training gear. “Man, I thought today was going to be a day off,” Cole yawned, stretching his arms as if to emphasise his point. “It’s barely even light.”“I did plan to check in with Derek at the training grounds,” Bo added, “see how everything’s coming along with the new training regime.”“I know, I know.” Zach’s smirk was sharp. “But I wanted you both here to witness me teaching Cole a well-deserved lesson.”“Oh, finally.” Bo grinned, crossing his arms and leaning against the pack house fence.Cole looked between them, bewildered as he stretched out his legs. “Wait, what did I even do?”Zach gave an incredulous shake of his head. “Are you serious? You walked in on me and Lucille last night!”“That was an accident,” Cole protested, hands raised. “It’s not like I strolled into your bedroom! You were… well, you were doing that in the kitchen.”Bo wrinkled his nose, feigning a look of disgust. “Zach
Lucille sat nervously on the worn, floral-patterned sofa in Rita’s cozy home, her eyes wandering over the various trinkets and charms that cluttered the small space. Sunlight filtered through the lace curtains, casting delicate patterns on the walls lined with shelves full of jars and ancient tomes. In the adjoining kitchen, Rita busied herself with making a pot of tea, the soft clinking of porcelain and the hum of boiling water filling the silence. Lucille’s fingers fidgeted in her lap as she considered slipping out before Rita returned, unsure why she had come here in the first place.That morning, Zach had risen early for training exercises, leaving Lucille restless. Sitting with Nora and Serena in the dining room had only intensified her anxiety until she could no longer bear it. She’d set off for a walk to clear her mind, but her feet had inexplicably led her back to Rita’s doorstep. She’d promised herself that if Rita wasn’t home, she would turn around and forget the impulse alt
“Where are you taking me?” Lucille demanded as Zach guided her forward, his large hands covering her eyes.“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?” he murmured, his breath warm against her ear.“I don’t like surprises,” she replied, trying—and failing—to disguise the humour in her voice.“If you don’t stop complaining, Lucille, I’ll have to hoist you over my shoulder and spank that tight little arse of yours,” he growled playfully.“Promises, promises,” she teased, pressing her body back into him, the heat between them crackling like fire.“Stop it,” he said, chuckling despite himself. “I’m trying to be romantic here.”“I don’t need romance,” she purred, her voice low and inviting. “Right now, I need something a bit rougher.”Zach laughed, the sound deep and rich, sending a shiver down her spine. “Just a little bit further, I promise,” he said, his amusement only stoking the embers of her impatience.The scent of wildflowers and the crisp, sun-warmed breeze surrounded the
"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
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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