Camilla“The latest global sensation!” My producer, Paul, announced my presence with an excited catch. Delight rang warmly in his voice, and he broke into a rich laughter. He hugged me tight but quickly pulled away with a sheepish grin. "Sorry, sorry. I couldn't help it!" I laughed, knowing he was just excited.My last single, “Wicked Love,” had just hit five fucking million hits and was appreciated worldwide. I felt on top of the world like all my hard work had finally paid off. The thought sent a thrill through me, and I couldn't stop smiling.Paul spun around in his swivel chair, and his childlike excitement made me laugh. "Now that you're a superstar, can you finally take a shot of alcohol?" I rolled my eyes. "I'm breastfeeding, remember?"“Bummer. We can toast with orange juice then. I'm so proud of you, Camilla. I knew from the day I laid eyes on you that you were a superstar. You deserve all this success and more."He got me a glass of juice and while I lounged against the tab
VespaI pulled my mini-cooper into the gas station and got out to swipe my card, then lifted the nozzle and began fueling my car. The gas pumped steadily, the numbers on the screen ticking upwards as I stood there, lost in thought. Camilla was right, and I wondered why I hadn't thought about visiting the gynecologist earlier. Kai and I had stopped using condoms ever since we got married and even before the wedding. So why wasn't I pregnant? I replaced the nozzle and screwed the cap back on, then got back in my car to merge onto the road. I drove aimlessly, not paying attention to where I was going. I just needed to clear my head, to get out of the house and away from everything for a little while.Eventually, I found myself on a winding road, the trees blurring together as I drove. I didn't recognize the area, but that was okay. I wasn't trying to get anywhere in particular. I just kept driving, the silence and the motion calming my mind. After a while, I turned around and headed bac
Vespa The consultation day drew near. We chose Thursday since it was Kai's free day. Today was the day I would finally face my fears and visit the gynecologist.We got to the hospital early, and I took a deep breath as we walked in. I grabbed a number, and we waited for my turn, surrounded by the chaos of the hospital.The waiting room was filled with people. I fidgeted with my hands, feeling uneasy. Kai put his hand on mine to reassure me.Women of all ages were seated across the room, some with their husbands or parents. I saw a young girl, barely a teenager, looking nervous and scared, and I wondered what was wrong with her. An older woman with gray hair and wrinkled skin sat with her husband, holding his hand. I felt solidarity with these women, knowing we were all here for the same reason.But as my gaze bounced from place to place, I crumpled with dread. People who saw us here would likely spread the word. They would tell others that the Alpha and Luna were having problems. Tha
VespaFor the first time in a long time, I felt paralyzed by hopelessness. There was nothing Kai could do to lift my spirits. No matter how hard he tried, nothing made a difference.I spent hours facing the window, staring blankly at nothing, and wondering why I always had to face the most intense problems.From being raised by a fake mother who never loved me, to discovering that my real mother was a witch, to struggling with my own identity and purpose, to facing the challenges of being in a mixed-species relationship, and now, infertility was slapped in my face.It seemed like no matter how I tried, something would always go wrong. I'd always have to make sacrifices. Every time I thought things weren't complicated enough, there was another obstacle thrown in my way. Why couldn't I just be normal like everyone else? Why did I have to suffer? This possibility of infertility felt like the final blow, and I wasn't sure how much more I could take.Kai begged me to eat and got me dinner
Dear valued readers,I want to start by saying how deeply sorry I am for the long silence and mistakes in my book. I know how frustrating it must be to invest time and emotions into a story, only to be met with errors and inconsistencies.I initially ended the book on a good note, but I received feedback from some of you who wanted more. In my excitement to deliver, I rushed to create a draft and uploaded it in bulk without properly reviewing it. Unfortunately, this led to mistakes and hate comments that left me feeling discouraged and uninspired.Please know that the repeated chapters were a technical glitch, and I understand how confusing it must have been. I've since taken a break to rewrite the epilogue chapters, and I'm working hard to ensure that the new content meets your expectations.I humbly request that you refrain from reading the updated chapters for now. With the extensive changes made, reading the new content without starting fresh may lead to confusion and disappointm
Ziah stood outside, holding a bag of baby essentials. My heart throbbed, and my pulse raced as his eyes rested boldly on mine.His gaze traveled to my thighs and a lusty feeling of warmth clouded my thoughts. I wanted him so badly. When I cleared my throat, he quickly looked away, embarrassed. "Sorry, I was in the kitchen and didn't expect visitors." "That's okay. I picked up some baby food and diapers at the mall," he explained. I smiled, inviting him in. He entered, and I closed the door.Our son was in his cot in the living room, and I watched with a smile as Ziah went to bond with him. He gently picked up Alex's tiny hand and he began to softly hum a gentle tune. Alex, sensing his father's presence, stirred awake. I could tell that Ziah was delighted and I watched the tender moment unfold, feeling a warmth in my heart at the sight of the two bonding."I was a bastard for not accepting him when you were first pregnant. I would have never forgiven myself if you had terminated th
VespaThe tension in the room was so thick that one could cut it with a knife. Kai sat beside me in the doctor's office, and I kept staring at the paper in my hand, showing a blurry image of my fallopian tubes with a few areas circled in red. Pain and despair twisted in my breast. I didn't grasp the medical jargon, but the doctor had already explained that I had tubal issues—a blockage in one tube and a kink in the other—which would drastically reduce my fertility potential.I couldn't pretend that I wasn't expecting this. But hearing the doctor say the words caused a hollowness. My head was spinning, and my mind was shutting down.Does this mean I'll never feel the joy of carrying my child and won't get to feel my baby's kicks and movements or see my belly grow with each passing day?It felt like a punishment from hell. Flashbacks of when Pandora used to give my sister hormone boosters made me wonder if this was a family trait from my dad's side. Could this be the reason behind my f
VespaTucked away in a corner, I sat with a faraway look,and my thoughts echoed with worry and shame. I leaned on an armchair in the mini living room.Usually, I wouldn't let hurtful words from Grandma Zora or anyone, in general, affect me so deeply, but getting mocked with something I longed for was unfair.I stared at the silk curtains tied back with gold tassels, and the sound of Kai’s raised voice was concerning. He was scolding his grandmother and even asserting that it was not compulsory for him not to have a child and that Ziah's baby could be the next alpha since they all shared the same blood.“Please spare me the lame excuses and attempts to justify your wife's failures. Did you think you could defy the odds? You married a witch's descendant for crying out loud! It's a biological impossibility for a Lycan's seed to grow in her womb. Accept that harsh reality once and for all.”"Thanks for the info, but we don't need it," Kai retorted to his grandmother. I wasn't comfortable
Chapter FiftyAthenaFour months had passed, and the academy graduation day had finally arrived. It was a bright and beautiful morning, and students, parents, and teachers gathered to celebrate this milestone. My dad and mom were there with my sister. Uncle Zika and their wives were also present. I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my dress. I had settled for a simple blue gown that had a long slit. Mia helped me with my hair and makeup, ensuring perfect detail. Oh, and did I mention that Cameron was still alive, and Mia was engaged to her boyfriend Sean? She wore an off-the-shoulder dress to flaunt her mark with pride. I tried not to look at it because I always became jealous whenever I did. Mom and Dad beamed with pride, taking photos of me and Caleb. Cameron's dad, King Marcos, had also arrived, and when I curtsied respectfully, he smiled warmly at me and hugged me. His mom still had not been found, and some people speculated that she might have killed herself. Cameron ofte
AthenaSex with Cameron was beautiful. I never knew it could get so addicting, and I always thought the act was overhyped until I experienced it. The more the weeks passed, the more I couldn’t get enough of him. He had complained about condoms, saying that it wasn’t like the real thing, but I would always scream at him to stop being stupid and that I wouldn’t be responsible for his death. We kept the news from our parents. Cameron’s mom had disappeared and was nowhere to be found. Cameron pretended to be calm the time we bumped into King Thor, but when he was closing off, he landed a punch on the king's jaw that I heard crack. He got a few bruises from the king’s bodyguards, but I was proud of him. The bastard deserved to be manhandled.Despite everything, I needed validation that I was doing the right thing. I couldn’t tell my mom because she would tell my dad, so the only person I could confide in was my grandmother. One of the weekends, I took a train to her house, which was close
Cameron's POVI'd never been on the verge of tears in years. It was taboo for boys to show emotion. Lately, life has been unfair to me, and realizing that nothing could ever be okay again has made me feel like a failure. I had always thought my life was great and better than most. Now, it was clear that that was just a delusion. The fact that my parents were on the brink of divorce because my mom fucked that bastard, Thor, made my blood boil.This roller coaster left my body drained. I didn't care how stupid I looked in tears; the feelings overwhelmed me. When the first wave of grief subsided, I finally looked at Athena, who was also in tears. She cupped my chin and kissed my forehead. “Why? Athena. Why does it have to be me? First, it's our bond and the pain of knowing you and I can never be together. Now, this?”“I'm sorry,” her mouth trembled as tears streamed down her face. “It isn't right. I wish I could fix it.”She wrapped her arms around me tightly, and I held her back whil
AthenaA crease appeared on Cameron's forehead, and he looked pinched and unhappy from my rejection. I moved my hand frequently, trying to distract myself, and thought he would understand as usual, but he seemed too defensive."It's just a dance, Athena. Even strangers dance. Things aren't that bad; please don't push it," I said, remaining calm. Cameron grinned at me, and I didn't understand why he was so stubborn."Fine then, I'm not going to ruin the fun. I hope you wouldn't mind if I danced with another girl.""Break a leg."He looked like I had just slapped him in the face, surprised by my response, but I needed to protect him from myself, even if it hurt. He turned around and left, and soon, he was dancing with a popular girl from school. Watching them felt too painful. I skipped to the kitchen and poured myself a glass of juice to distract myself.I noticed someone at the door and thought it was Cameron, but it was my cousin Alex. He smiled a little too broadly, and there was an
AthenaI bit the inside of my cheek, feeling trapped and unsure of my options to return to school. It was easy to second-guess myself because teenagers and young adults my age were mean, and no matter how I pretended that words didn’t get to me, I knew that wasn’t true. Stepping off the plane, I hoped I had made the right decision. I flagged a taxi from the airport parking lot, wondered why they were so expensive and hiked their prices compared to regular taxis, but I had no choice because Mom had gotten me a truckload of edibles and even more for Caleb. The driver dropped me off at the school gates, and I didn’t know if it was the hopeful expectation that there was going to be a strange twist between Cameron and me or the fear that things could get worse and that I was shooting myself in the foot. My heart pounded as I dragged my suitcase behind me. I stopped when I spotted Cameron standing and smiling at me at the gate; my heart melted.Our love brought us back to each other in wa
Cameron My gaze never left Athena. She was too startled by my bold declaration, and even though I was more uncertain than ever about what I was doing, and my dad was caught off guard by my words, I couldn’t help it. A part of me knew I was digging my grave, and I liked life too much to lose it. But at the same time, seeing Athena roused my deep affection and attachment for her. It wasn’t just about lust; there was more to my feelings. I wanted to move closer, to touch her. My pulse raced, and I felt a hyper-awareness of being close to her. Only she could cause me this mental fuzziness and the feeling of possessing her and keeping her safe.Her father looked confused. I heard his quick intake of breath. Athena stood tongue-tied, and shock flew through her mother’s eyes. I could tell my father was irritated.“What is wrong with you?” he whispered harshly, but I was too far gone. Athena looked different, skinnier than when I last saw her. She looked like someone who had been through a
Athena The next day dragged on without much happening. Everyone soon returned to their lives, with Dad busy with alpha duties and Mom busy with work and the home front. I knew this was how it would be—that everyone would forget my predicament or soon see me as a sore loser who couldn’t overcome the fact that Cameron and I could never be together. But I was wrong. My mom had invited my grandma to come over, which was a real surprise, as my grandma was a pure witch, and it was risky for her to be in our pack. Having her over made me feel a certain type of way. I had inherited her bloodline, and with it came a legacy of pain and heartache. I didn’t know if I wanted to see her.I drifted to sleep but could hear my grandma’s voice in my dreams. When I woke up, I realized she was indeed downstairs. My parents and sister were welcoming her warmly. I remained in bed; a part of me wanted to rush downstairs and fling myself into her arms. Instead, I made my way to the window and peered down
AthenaThe next few days were a blur of sorrow and nothingness. I struggled to remain alive and succumbed to the sadness that consumed me. I hated myself. I wished my life was over. There was nothing positive to look out for in this bleakness. My parents were concerned, but I chose isolation, finding people's words and concerns irritating. My eyes were swollen from crying, and my bed was bearing the brunt of this depression. I didn't leave it; if the poor bed could speak, it would be screaming n. I knew I would be expelled from school; that was a no-brainer. My dad and mom tried to reach out to me. Even my uncles, Zeke and Ziah, came over with their wives, but I didn't want to see anyone.Caleb had sacrificed to travel back with me, but he shouldn't have bothered because his presence didn't lift my spirits. The whole family was angry with Alex for exposing my secret, but I knew it was for the best. Cameron would be free now, and it was useless holding him back. I heard my mom knoc
CameronIf anyone had ever told me that this revelation would break the bond I shared with Athena, I would have never believed them because Athena seemed like everything good in my world, all in one package. I devoted myself to her and desired to share everything with her—my body, mind, and soul. I gave my heart to her to treasure with trust. We matched perfectly and had never fallen in love so quickly or completely.A wedding seemed the next logical step. I thought I would feel happy with her and that even if we encountered issues, they would be minor things with solutions.But now, my heart was shattered beyond repair. I was furious, I was afraid, and the thought of bonding with Athena leading to my death frightened me beyond measure. The hurt was raw, and the terror came gasping up my throat in a cold, panting fear. Ever since that night at the ballroom, surrounded by the elite who gathered to watch the commotion occur, my life went downhill. That night, a hush fell over the cr