JERMAINEI had never been a part of anyplace—not with the wolves, not with the witches, not with the fae. I had lived in a life of delicate equilibrium among them all, and yet, I had always somehow known that this day would come. The day they'd demand I make a choice.I grew up in a country of illusions and gossip, where everything seemed other than what it seemed to be. The Fae Queen was my mother in all the ways that counted most—apart from the way that counted most.She never held me when I cried. Never comforted me when I woke from nightmares, lost and searching for something I couldn't name. She trained me, shaped me, made me something worthy of her attention. But she never loved me. Not like a mother would.I recall the day that I first realized. I was six, in front of her, my bruised and bloodied hands from training with her warriors. I had trained so hard that day, I had pushed myself to the breaking point, hoping—foolishly—that she would have a kind word for me. That she woul
QUEEN LYSARA The human, wolf-born believe the Fae to be flighty, whimsical creatures—dancing under the moon, spinning stories, laughing as if the entire world is nothing but fantasy. Fools. They have no idea of the weight of power, the need for command that has shaped my folk from the beginning of time.We are not merely beasts of beauty and marvel. We are masters. We are masters of fate. And I will witness my plans for Liandra come to nothing because Hailey believes herself above the bargaining terms.Jermaine is mine.He is, from the moment I introduced him to my world, from the moment I wrapped his small body against mine and spoke magic into his skin to mold him into the perfect tool. I taught him, strengthened him, shaped him into something greater than his breed would have crafted.And now, the Queen of All has the audacity to claim that he is hers to command?My mouth curls in revulsion as I pace the length of my throne room. The corridor is still except for the muted hum of a
HAILEY QUINI tiptoe through the dim corridors of the packhouse, my bare feet padding softly against the cold wooden floors. The early morning light filtered dimly through the filthy-looking windows, casting long shadows that mirrored my reality—always in the background, always unseen. As I quietly prepared for my endless chores, I couldn’t help but feel that even the lowest Omegas had it better than I did. My existence wasn’t about living; it was about surviving.My body ached from yesterday’s punishments, the bruises on my ribs pulsing in rhythm with my heartbeat. I winced as I bent to pick up a stray shoe someone had carelessly left in the hallway. It didn’t matter who dropped it; if the Luna saw it there, I would be the one blamed. That was how things always were over here. The truth didn’t matter to anyone here.I had learned long ago that speaking up only made things worse.As an orphan taken in by the Cedar pack’s Alpha and Luna after my mother’s death, I was expected to “earn
HAILEYThe packhouse hovered above me, its shadow stretching across the worn stone path as I mounted the creaking stairs; the weight of the laundry basket tugged at my arms, heavy with the scent of detergent, damp fabric, and bleach that clung to my skin. It was as if the building lived and breathed through its thick walls and heavy beams, exuding an unshakable power weighing upon me like a cage of a reminder of my place within this space of elitism.None of the clothes in the basket belonged to me. They never did. My days had turned into a monotonous cycle of scrubbing floors, folding linens, and tending to tasks nobody else would touch. It wasn't just work; it was a prison. And the walls felt closer ànd suffocating every day. Hope looks like such an impossible fantasy.But something was off today. The air vibrated with tension, an èlectric feeling I couldn't quite place. The source? Marissa Devaro. The pack had spent weeks preparing for her arrival, and now she was here—Thomas's cho
HAILEY Late one evening, as I gazed at the fissures in my small room's ceiling, the idea struck me. After Marissa's most recent act of cruelty and the pack's unrelenting disdain, the familiar weight of powerlessness weighed against my chest more than before. I was no longer able to do it. The packhouse was a jail, not a home, with its high walls and oppressive regulations. I would waste away, invisible and unloved, if I stayed. However, fleeing was insufficient. I had to find a way to live. I had heard rumours of the human settlement outside the pack's domain. People constantly seemed to need labourers for jobs that didn't need a lot of thought. I could save money and establish a life apart from here if I could find employment.I needed a way to survive, though, and I had heard rumours of a human town just outside the pack's territory. Humans seemed to always need workers for jobs that didn't ask too many questions, so if I could find work, I could save up and start a life far away f
HAILEY As the warriors pulled me into the thick jungle, their hands closing around me like steel chains, my legs shook. My bare feet dragged against the coarse ground as I stumbled over sharp pebbles and roots. The foreboding shadow of the huge trees behind me engulfed the reassuring light of the neon lamps of the human settlement. "Please," I prayed in a raspy voice. "You're not getting—" The taller warrior cut in, "Save it," disdainfully and in a frigid tone. "Thomas will determine what to do with you." Thomas. I was horrified at the mere mention of the word. As Alpha, Thomas represented everything the pack feared and obeyed: ruthless, adamantly traditional, and unbending but a coward and manipulator behind it. Disobedience was never tolerated by him. My actions would be betrayal. I could sense Amenia's stern but reassuring voice awakening in my mind. "Stay strong Hailey. We will get through this. I wanted to believe her, but I was too scared to answer. I felt as if I was marching t
ALPHA KING There was an eerie stillness in the woods, one that pricked at my senses. Walking home, there was only the quiet of leaves being pushed aside by my boots as they sank into the soggy mud of the narrow path. The moon broke through the canopy above, lighting the ground in sporadic silver puddles. Though I've always been vigilant, I'm nervous tonight. Widespread attacks, escalating tensions between packs, and rumors of rebellions had been playing havoc for weeks. It was my duty to keep my territories tight and unified. I could not fail. I stood at six feet four and was a commanding presence that could scare off most men. My penetrating green eyes swept every shadow and twig for movement and detected nothing. Pursuing movement in every branch and darkness. He wore complex tattoos of wolves and runes carved onto his skin, coiled around his neck and arms. They conveyed power and a heritage handed down from his ancestors; they were not baubles. My black pants were drawn up into stu
HAILEY I'm stunned because I am finally leaving this pack in the dust; I am no longer going to be resented, abused, left behind, or abandoned. It sounds so remote and utopian, and while I'm In the Cidar pack, though, nothing ever remained uncomplicated for very long. I entered the kitchen and received a drink of water since I was thirsty. It was hard to move away from Ryan since he was looking at me but was talking to his beta, so I slipped away since it was the right time, but now it is too quiet, so it's becoming an unfavorable time. I shook violently the moment I caught sight of Thomas before even speaking. "Hailey," he whispered gently as he moved into my line of sight. Fearful, I stood still with a pounding heart. My heart pounds irregularly and my hands perspire. "Pardon me, Alpha Thomas," I breathed softly, trying to stay calm. He did not stir. He leaned forward, his mouth curling into a smile. "Little Omega, you've kicked up quite the dust. The Alpha King wants you. Think you
QUEEN LYSARA The human, wolf-born believe the Fae to be flighty, whimsical creatures—dancing under the moon, spinning stories, laughing as if the entire world is nothing but fantasy. Fools. They have no idea of the weight of power, the need for command that has shaped my folk from the beginning of time.We are not merely beasts of beauty and marvel. We are masters. We are masters of fate. And I will witness my plans for Liandra come to nothing because Hailey believes herself above the bargaining terms.Jermaine is mine.He is, from the moment I introduced him to my world, from the moment I wrapped his small body against mine and spoke magic into his skin to mold him into the perfect tool. I taught him, strengthened him, shaped him into something greater than his breed would have crafted.And now, the Queen of All has the audacity to claim that he is hers to command?My mouth curls in revulsion as I pace the length of my throne room. The corridor is still except for the muted hum of a
JERMAINEI had never been a part of anyplace—not with the wolves, not with the witches, not with the fae. I had lived in a life of delicate equilibrium among them all, and yet, I had always somehow known that this day would come. The day they'd demand I make a choice.I grew up in a country of illusions and gossip, where everything seemed other than what it seemed to be. The Fae Queen was my mother in all the ways that counted most—apart from the way that counted most.She never held me when I cried. Never comforted me when I woke from nightmares, lost and searching for something I couldn't name. She trained me, shaped me, made me something worthy of her attention. But she never loved me. Not like a mother would.I recall the day that I first realized. I was six, in front of her, my bruised and bloodied hands from training with her warriors. I had trained so hard that day, I had pushed myself to the breaking point, hoping—foolishly—that she would have a kind word for me. That she woul
HAILEY The moment I stepped inside the Fae Court, I knew this was a bad idea.Not that I feared them. No, the Fae had lost long ago any power they ever had to elicit anything more than annoyance in me. But that they'd taken it upon themselves to summon me, like I was some petty subject under their authority, brought my blood to a rolling boil.There was a hush that fell on the grand hall as I approached, my steps echoing on the shining crystal floors. The Fae lived and breathed beauty and lies, and their Queen was no exception. She lounged on her sparkling throne of woven silver and ivy, golden eyes unruffled, enigmatic.I remained standing before her, bowing my head by a fraction. "You are well aware, Your Majesty, that summoning in a Queen of my reputation is an insult worthy of war, aren't you?"The silence in the room intensified.I watched as the Queen's lips wobbled, her face a fleeting twitch of mirth playing upon her small face. "And yet you did."I smiled, but it was not war
ISAIAHThe sun had barely risen, but the castle was already alive with movement. The air hummed with tension, the aftermath of last night's claiming still potent with power. It was to be expected—three Alphas finally claiming their mate. The bond had taken hold, their powers intertwined with Alexia's, and now the whole of the supernatural world would feel the shift.I had expected much in my lifetime, yet watching destiny unfold before my eyes was always an occasion. However, unease sat heavy in my breast.Something was amiss.I stood on the highest balcony of the castle, looking out over the endless territories beneath me. The sky was cloudless, the air crisp, yet my mind elsewhere. I'd felt a stirring—a stirring beyond the triplet and Alexia connection. Something beneath the surface was twitching, an unseen energy crawling its way nearer.And it wasn't hostile.A soft shuffle at my rear had me turning.Hailey.The Queen strode purposefully, her presence commanding as always. But I
ALEXIAI'm tensed around the triplets, it's a full moon, my emotions are wild, my arousal potent yet I can't bring myself to loosen up; asides the fact that I'm two years older, I've always only seen the boys as my siblings but all of my impressions of them pale in comparison to this day.Jaden is the first to move towards me, spraying peppery kisses at my neck, my back and nipping at me with his fangs. A moan involuntarily slips out of me and Jermaine is suddenly next to him, as I try to keep a grasp on the emotions flying round me, he tears of my cloth while Jaden kisses me long and hard; I'm gasping for breath, breathless, lost and certainly unaware of my surroundings. At some point I'm lowered to the bed and Jackson is on me, his kisses are sweet, dominant and pleasurable and as I try to get used to the feeling, suddenly I feel long fingers in me, then two hot mouths on my nipples, it's too much, the pleasure is so heightened that I am lost and as my first climax rips through me,
JADENThe weight of Hailey's ultimatum hung over me like a thick fog. Three days. That was all Alexia had. Three days to decide whether or not she would accept or reject the bond that tied her to my brothers and me.And now, beneath the full moon's dark sky, I sat in our shared chambers, tension coiled tight within my muscles.Jackson stretched out on the couch, looking relaxed, but I noticed the restless flutter of his fingers against the armrest. Jermaine stood at the window, looking out at the moon with a face that couldn't be read.We didn't say a word.Because none of us had any idea what was coming.I exhaled a sharp breath, pushing myself off the wall I was standing against. "Think she'll show?" My voice was low, but my words echoed in the silence.Jermaine didn't turn from the window. "I don't know."Jackson snorted. "She doesn't actually have a choice. Either she takes us, or she lets us go. The question is—" His gaze met mine. "Can you handle it if she says no?"A muscle tig
JADENThe weight of Hailey's ultimatum hung over me like a thick fog. Three days. That was all Alexia had. Three days to decide whether or not she would accept or reject the bond that tied her to my brothers and me.And now, beneath the full moon's dark sky, I sat in our shared chambers, tension coiled tight within my muscles.Jackson stretched out on the couch, looking relaxed, but I noticed the restless flutter of his fingers against the armrest. Jermaine stood at the window, looking out at the moon with a face that couldn't be read.We didn't say a word.Because none of us had any idea what was coming.I exhaled a sharp breath, pushing myself off the wall I was standing against. "Think she'll show?" My voice was low, but my words echoed in the silence.Jermaine didn't turn from the window. "I don't know."Jackson snorted. "She doesn't actually have a choice. Either she takes us, or she lets us go. The question is—" His gaze met mine. "Can you handle it if she says no?"A muscle tig
HAILEYThe war room was as quiet as a tomb when I stood at the head of the long obsidian table, my eyes locked on Alexia. The tension was thick and heavy in the air, but I didn't care about anyone's discomfort. Not today.Alexia sat stiffly across from me, her hands clasping the wooden chair arms as if they would keep her anchored against the storm she knew she was about to encounter. I could see it in her eyes—the conflict raging within her, the turmoil seething her heart and mind.I had endured it long enough.The others watched, waited. Jaden, Jackson, and Jermaine remained against the walls, each mask a face. Turtela hovered near, her smile tinged, anxiety shading her countenance. Even Ryan, freshly recovering from what transpired between Flora and David, possessed a keen interest in the predicament before them.I stormed at them."Leave us."Jaden took a half step closer, his jaw compressing. "Mother—""I told you to leave us." My voice was as sharp as a razor, my order absolute.
FLORAThe ash taste still lingered on my tongue.The ravaged hideout burned behind us, the ashes of our shelter a black wasteland little improved upon nothing. Smoke writhed into the night sky like the agonized cries of the dying.That foul queen.My hands clenched at my sides as David and I ran through the dense forest, our cloaks whipping about us in the wind. My entire body ached from the fight, from the loss. Years of careful planning, of subtle manipulations, all undone in one night by Hailey and her abominable arrogance.And to add insult to injury—she destroyed the relic.Anger simmered beneath my skin, a fire that could not be extinguished.Hailey.That pesky, meddlesome, holier-than-thou queen.She thought she had killed me. She thought she had ruined my plan. But all she had done was delay the inevitable.I dug my nails into the nearest stone wall, my breath coming in short, furious gasps. I could still hear the crash of that vase shattering under her hands, still feel the l