Thorne:
It had been five years since the death of his mom and abduction of his mate, and just as he had spent every evening since her funeral, Thorne stood before at the tree planted where his mother was buried, in her honor.The tree, a sturdy silver oak, stands tall and proud, its bark shimmering with a soft, ethereal glow. Despite being only five years old, it has grown remarkably fast, its branches stretching towards the sky like outstretched arms, providing a canopy of shade and comfort. The leaves, a vibrant green, rustle softly in the breeze, releasing a gentle whisper of wisdom and peace.Kael, the pack beta, approached Thorne with caution, his eyes fixed on the Alpha's imposing figure. He maintained a safe distance, his tail tucked between his legs, and his ears slightly back, displaying a submissive posture."Alpha Thorne," Kael said, his voice low and measured, "I come with news from the scouts I sent out."Thorne's gaze rThorne's expression turned glacial, his eyes flashing with a warning. "What are you implying, Kieran?"Kieran smiled, his lips curling up with a sly intent. "Oh, I think you know exactly what I'm implying. We have information you need, Thorne. And we're willing to share it... for a price."Lyra's eyes gleamed with excitement, her voice purring with anticipation. "Yes, Thorne. Let's play a game. You see, we've discovered something... intriguing. Something that could change the course of your search entirely."Thorne's jaw clenched, his eyes locked onto Kieran's, his voice low and deadly. "What do you know, Kieran?"Lyra's finger rose to her lips, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She pressed her finger against her mouth, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper. "Shhh, Thorne. Now, now, dear. We have something you want, but... what's in it for us?"Her gaze drifted lazily over Thorne's face, her eyes lingering on his lips before returning to his eyes. Her voice was husky, her tone drippi
Ember:Ember sat at her desk, surrounded by stacks of financial reports and tax returns. She was focused on reconciling a particularly tricky account, her eyes scanning the numbers with a practiced intensity. But as she glanced up at the clock on the wall, her gaze was drawn to the long hand ticking its way towards the 12, and the short hand resting on the 4.It was 4:00 PM, the official end of her workday. Ember felt a sense of relief wash over her, and she closed her eyes, letting out a quiet sigh. She saved her work on the computer, tidied up her desk, and began to pack up her things.As she straightened her papers and filed them away, Ember's mind turned to her daughter, Sophia, who would be waiting for her at kindergarten. She smiled, thinking about the stories Sophia would tell her about her day, and the snuggles they would share on the walk home.With a final glance around her organized desk, Ember stood up, smoothed her skirt, and headed o
As they entered their apartment, Ember couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her. The building wasn't the most luxurious, with its worn carpet and faded paint, but their small apartment was cozy. The smell of fresh bread wafted from the bakery on the first floor, making her stomach growl with hunger.Their apartment was a humble one-bedroom, with a living room that doubled as a dining area. The kitchen was tiny, but Ember had managed to make it functional. There were two bathrooms, a luxury in a building as old as this one. The furniture was second-hand, but Ember had spruced it up with colorful throw pillows and blankets.As they entered, Sophia ran ahead, dropping her backpack on the floor. "I'm starving, Mommy! Can we have pizza for dinner?" She flopped down on the worn couch, her eyes fixed on the TV.Ember smiled, exhaustion forgotten in the face of her daughter's enthusiasm. "We'll see, sweetie. Let me check what we have in the frid
Ember sat at the kitchen table, sipping her coffee as she watched Sophia munch on her breakfast of bread and jam. The morning sunlight streaming through the window highlighted her daughter's bright blue eyes and curly brown hair, and Ember's heart swelled with love.As she gazed at Sophia, last night's conversation replayed in her mind. The beast inside her, pushing her to defend herself... Ember's thoughts trailed off as she noticed Sophia's voracious appetite. She was devouring her breakfast with a intensity that made Ember chuckle."Sophia, slow down, sweetie! You're going to choke!" Ember warned, laughing.Sophia looked up, jam smeared on her cheek, and grinned. "I'm just really hungry, Mommy!"Ember's eyes lingered on her daughter's face, and a realization struck her. Sophia had always had a healthy appetite, but lately, it seemed...different. Almost as if she was eating for two.A pang of worry shot through
Ember slowly opened her eyes, wincing as the bright sunlight pierced through her living room window. She hadn't bothered to close the blinds before collapsing onto the couch the night before, exhausted and distraught. Her eyes felt puffy and dry from crying herself to sleep. She was still wearing her work clothes from the previous day, the familiar scent of her office lingering on her blouse.As she sat up, her mind raced back to the confrontation with her supervisor. The accusation, the threat, the ultimatum. 24 hours to produce the missing money or face the consequences. Ember's heart raced as she thought about the impossibility of it all. She had no idea where the money was, and even if she did, she couldn't possibly come up with that amount in such a short time.She thought about Sophia, her daughter, and how she had left her in the care of Miss Jenkins the night before. She hadn't wanted to see her in this state, didn't want to worry her or have her sense the
“I do not love him!”For what could be the thousandth time in the last hour Ember Leander exclaimed, her frustration evident in her voice.She is being bethrothed to Lucas Ardolf who is the alpha male of their pack. While that could be any other girl's dream, it was definitely not hers. Her mother sensing her distress, moved closer, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and determinatioon. She sits closer to Ember on the bed, placing a gentle hand over her daughter's attempting to offer comfort, but Ember recoiled, pulling her hand away, her eyes welling up with tears''Mom please,'' Ember's voice cracked, her words barely above a whisper. ''You can't make me do this. I can't marry him. I'll be trapped, i'll never be happy.'' her voice broke as she struggled to continue, her words tumbling out in a desperate plea. ''You know i'm not strong enough like the others, he will crush me, mom''. Ember's eyes begging her mom to see the fear that gripped her heart, a last ditch attempt to
Ember's eyes still widened in disbelief''Marry you?'' she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. ''I don't even know who you are!'' her voice getting louder as she does not even attempt to hide her irritation. The stranger chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. ''You do not need to know me, you jus need to know that i can offer you a life beyond your wildest dreams, Ember Leander''A shiver ran down her spine with how her name rolled of his tongue. It was as if he caressed her name, she felt a flush rise to her cheek and her gaze drop.He seemed to sense the effect all this was having on her so he took a step even closer, this time their noses were inches away from touching, with Ember's hands still crossed over her bare chest. A thrilling sensation running through her body as he continues his proposal, his eyes locking unto hers with an unnerving intensity. ''I can offer you freedom from your family's expectation, and freedom to forge your own path. The stranger's gaze li
Forty eight hours.That was howmuch time Thorne had given Ember to make her decision. Time was finally up and as she arrived at thier meeting point, moon river. She met Thorne sitting on the riverbank, his legs playfully swishing in the water. His muscular build was evident even from a distance, his broad shoulders and chiesled arms a testament to his strength. His dark hair, always messy and unkemp, yet in a very attractive way, and his piercing eyes seemed to gleam in the moonlight.As she drew closer, Ember realized he was shirtless. She then noticed a scar on his back, a jogged line that ran from his shoulder blade to his waist. It looked like a crescent moon. As soon as Thorne sensed her presence, he stood up, his movements fluid and graceful. He pulled on his shirt, the fabric clinging to his damp skin, and turned to face her. His eyes locked unto hers and asked seemingly out of nowhere''Do you think the stars are jealous of the moon's ability to control the tides?''Ember's ey