ANNALISAI had always believed Sebastian was meant to be mine. From the moment I became aware of the word "mate'', I couldn't imagine the perfect mate to spend the rest of my life with other than him.As the Beta's daughter, I grew up alongside him. I was supposed to be on Beta training but because of the love I had for him, I switched. I was there for every Luna training session, every meeting that Sebastian had to go. As the future Alpha, he had to learn the ways of the pack, and I made sure I was right by his side, preparing to be his Luna.We trained together and shared countless moments that convinced me we were destined to be more than just friends. Everyone around us thought we would end up together as fated mates. And although my parents always warned to guard my heart around Sebastian, especially my father. He constantly told me I shouldn't get my hopes up until I turned eighteen and found out for sure if he was my mate. But I didn’t listen. How could I, when every fiber
SEBASTIAN "Sebastian..." Annalisa began, but I cut her off immediately as a sliver of irritation rippled through me. "Why are you making this so hard?" I blew out a frustrated breath. I almost regretted having this fake bond with Ruby instead of Annalisa. But Ruby was the only one who knew my secret, which was why I had this arrangement with her in the first place. Why couldn’t Annalisa just move on? I thought we were done having this conversation. I thought we’d ended things between us. I didn’t miss the tears that glistened in her eyes before she lowered her head, staring at the ground. My heart sank. Fuck... I hated how much I’d hurt Annalisa. She had sacrificed so much to earn my heart, but she deserved someone who could love her back in the way she needed. And that someone wasn’t me. "I know I’ve hurt you, and I’m sorry," I said gently. Her scent of arousal filled the small space under the staircase, making my cock twitch even as I'd been trying hard to ignore it. She rais
RUBY I wasn’t sure what terrified me more. The thought of an intruder or the raw intensity radiating from Sebastian. “Stay behind me,” he ordered, his voice rough and commanding. His grip on my wrist tightened, as if he feared I might vanish. My heart thudded loudly as he shielded me with his broad frame. His growl low and menacing sent shivers down my spine. I could feel his Alpha aura swirling powerfully as though his wolf might surface any moment to slash at whoever it his wolf might surface at any moment. “Who’s there?” Sebastian growled. A muffled yelp broke the silence, followed by hesitant footsteps and a timid voice. “It’s me. I—I’m sorry, Alpha.” My jaw dropped as I peeked around Sebastian’s shoulder to see Noelle rushing out of the kitchen. Her face was pale, and her wide eyes darted nervously between us. She looked genuinely terrified, fumbling with a white earbud she yanked from her left ear with trembling hands. “I didn’t know you arrived! I was just coming out of
SEBASTIANMy heart skipped and my hand, which had been moving gently up and down Ruby's arm, froze when her eyes suddenly snapped open with fear—just as I whispered, Who did you kill? My voice had been barely more than a whisper. I wasn’t accusing her. I had only been wondering what kind of past haunted her so deeply. "Sebastian?" Her voice trembled, barely above a whisper, but filled with surprise. She jerked away from me, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she sat up in bed, leaving a large gap between us. Her gaze flicked around the room before landing on me, as if trying to piece together how I had gotten here.I sighed, sitting up as well and raising my hands slightly, hoping not to startle her further. "Hey, it’s okay. I just—""What are you—what are you doing here? When did you come in?" she interrupted, her voice trembling. She glanced toward the clock. It was past nine. "Did you sleep here?"I shook my head. "No, I only came to check on you."A few hours after Ruby h
SEBASTIAN Ruby wrapped her legs around me, and we were rocking together, despite too many clothes separating us. I could feel the heat radiating between her thighs, burning through every layer of fabric. My mouth trailed from her lips to her neck, and my nose brushed over the necklace resting there. I pressed closer, nuzzling gently as if I could claim her this way. My heart raced as the urge to sink my teeth into her soft skin filled me.But I resisted. She wasn’t my mate. I couldn’t mark her.Whatever this was between us; it was a business arrangement. I couldn’t cross that line or give her false hope. I had already hurt Annalisa before. I wouldn’t make that mistake again.I needed to pull away. I should pull away.But she wanted this. And so did I..."Are you... an Alpha's daughter?" I murmured, pulling away from her neck and gently holding her ear between my teeth."No..." Her voice was between whisper and moan."Then how did you—" I caught myself, exhaling a breath. Don’t push
RUBYIt had been three weeks since the night I told Sebastian about my past. Sometimes, the nightmares still came, but they didn’t choke me with the same kind of fear anymore.I didn't know if it was because of Sebastian, all I knew was that whenever he fell asleep beside me, I slept like a baby. But he didn’t always stay.Sometimes, when the dreams became too much, I mindlinked him to come over.Other times, I wouldn’t even have to call him. I’d wake from the terror only to find him beside me, wrapping himself around me as if he just knew I needed him.I always wished Sebastian could sleep in my room every night, but he wouldn’t.He told me he couldn’t trust himself to be in the same bed with me every night. And I believed him because I felt the same. I wasn’t sure I could be around him without something happening between us.There were moments when we caught ourselves making out, satisfying our desires with nothing but our hands, as if we couldn’t help it. And when reality hit, we’d
RUBY I couldn’t breathe.The water swallowed me whole.The pool’s icy grip tightened around my body as I thrashed, my limbs burning with exhaustion. Panic clawed at my chest as I fought to surface, but I didn’t know how to swim. I couldn’t swim.My lungs screamed for air. My vision blurred. Was this how it would end?Sebastian...I reached for him through the mind-link, my silent plea laced with desperation."Ruby! What's happening? Where are you? Answer me!" His voice was sharp with fear, but I couldn’t respond. My body was growing weaker. The darkness at the edges of my vision stretched, consuming me.Then, just as I was slipping away, strong arms wrapped around me.A force yanked me upward, breaking through the suffocating depths. Cold air rushed against my skin as my body was hauled onto solid ground, laid on the cold tiles, but I barely noticed. My chest convulsed, and water spilled from my mouth as I coughed violently, my entire body trembling.My eyes were still closed but I w
CHAPTER 1 RUBY I never imagined my heart could shatter into a million pieces until tonight. Watching my boyfriend cupped the face of his fated mate, staring deeply into her eyes, the ache in my chest became unbearable, as if every breath pulled me further apart. “I, Graham Scott, accept you, Lizzy Harris, as my mate.” Graham's words echoed in my mind, ripping through me like a storm. Everything slowed. The room, the people, the lights. It all faded as the truth settled in. Two years. Two years of love, trust, and promises gone in an instant. Every smile, every shared moment, now felt like a cruel joke. He had always told me I was enough, that nothing would ever come between us. A month ago, when I turned eighteen and didn’t feel the pull of a mate, Graham convinced me it didn’t matter. He said the bond didn’t define us, that we were destined to be together regardless. I believed him. I trusted him. I held onto his words like they were my lifeline, like they were the on
RUBY I couldn’t breathe.The water swallowed me whole.The pool’s icy grip tightened around my body as I thrashed, my limbs burning with exhaustion. Panic clawed at my chest as I fought to surface, but I didn’t know how to swim. I couldn’t swim.My lungs screamed for air. My vision blurred. Was this how it would end?Sebastian...I reached for him through the mind-link, my silent plea laced with desperation."Ruby! What's happening? Where are you? Answer me!" His voice was sharp with fear, but I couldn’t respond. My body was growing weaker. The darkness at the edges of my vision stretched, consuming me.Then, just as I was slipping away, strong arms wrapped around me.A force yanked me upward, breaking through the suffocating depths. Cold air rushed against my skin as my body was hauled onto solid ground, laid on the cold tiles, but I barely noticed. My chest convulsed, and water spilled from my mouth as I coughed violently, my entire body trembling.My eyes were still closed but I w
RUBYIt had been three weeks since the night I told Sebastian about my past. Sometimes, the nightmares still came, but they didn’t choke me with the same kind of fear anymore.I didn't know if it was because of Sebastian, all I knew was that whenever he fell asleep beside me, I slept like a baby. But he didn’t always stay.Sometimes, when the dreams became too much, I mindlinked him to come over.Other times, I wouldn’t even have to call him. I’d wake from the terror only to find him beside me, wrapping himself around me as if he just knew I needed him.I always wished Sebastian could sleep in my room every night, but he wouldn’t.He told me he couldn’t trust himself to be in the same bed with me every night. And I believed him because I felt the same. I wasn’t sure I could be around him without something happening between us.There were moments when we caught ourselves making out, satisfying our desires with nothing but our hands, as if we couldn’t help it. And when reality hit, we’d
SEBASTIAN Ruby wrapped her legs around me, and we were rocking together, despite too many clothes separating us. I could feel the heat radiating between her thighs, burning through every layer of fabric. My mouth trailed from her lips to her neck, and my nose brushed over the necklace resting there. I pressed closer, nuzzling gently as if I could claim her this way. My heart raced as the urge to sink my teeth into her soft skin filled me.But I resisted. She wasn’t my mate. I couldn’t mark her.Whatever this was between us; it was a business arrangement. I couldn’t cross that line or give her false hope. I had already hurt Annalisa before. I wouldn’t make that mistake again.I needed to pull away. I should pull away.But she wanted this. And so did I..."Are you... an Alpha's daughter?" I murmured, pulling away from her neck and gently holding her ear between my teeth."No..." Her voice was between whisper and moan."Then how did you—" I caught myself, exhaling a breath. Don’t push
SEBASTIANMy heart skipped and my hand, which had been moving gently up and down Ruby's arm, froze when her eyes suddenly snapped open with fear—just as I whispered, Who did you kill? My voice had been barely more than a whisper. I wasn’t accusing her. I had only been wondering what kind of past haunted her so deeply. "Sebastian?" Her voice trembled, barely above a whisper, but filled with surprise. She jerked away from me, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she sat up in bed, leaving a large gap between us. Her gaze flicked around the room before landing on me, as if trying to piece together how I had gotten here.I sighed, sitting up as well and raising my hands slightly, hoping not to startle her further. "Hey, it’s okay. I just—""What are you—what are you doing here? When did you come in?" she interrupted, her voice trembling. She glanced toward the clock. It was past nine. "Did you sleep here?"I shook my head. "No, I only came to check on you."A few hours after Ruby h
RUBY I wasn’t sure what terrified me more. The thought of an intruder or the raw intensity radiating from Sebastian. “Stay behind me,” he ordered, his voice rough and commanding. His grip on my wrist tightened, as if he feared I might vanish. My heart thudded loudly as he shielded me with his broad frame. His growl low and menacing sent shivers down my spine. I could feel his Alpha aura swirling powerfully as though his wolf might surface any moment to slash at whoever it his wolf might surface at any moment. “Who’s there?” Sebastian growled. A muffled yelp broke the silence, followed by hesitant footsteps and a timid voice. “It’s me. I—I’m sorry, Alpha.” My jaw dropped as I peeked around Sebastian’s shoulder to see Noelle rushing out of the kitchen. Her face was pale, and her wide eyes darted nervously between us. She looked genuinely terrified, fumbling with a white earbud she yanked from her left ear with trembling hands. “I didn’t know you arrived! I was just coming out of
SEBASTIAN "Sebastian..." Annalisa began, but I cut her off immediately as a sliver of irritation rippled through me. "Why are you making this so hard?" I blew out a frustrated breath. I almost regretted having this fake bond with Ruby instead of Annalisa. But Ruby was the only one who knew my secret, which was why I had this arrangement with her in the first place. Why couldn’t Annalisa just move on? I thought we were done having this conversation. I thought we’d ended things between us. I didn’t miss the tears that glistened in her eyes before she lowered her head, staring at the ground. My heart sank. Fuck... I hated how much I’d hurt Annalisa. She had sacrificed so much to earn my heart, but she deserved someone who could love her back in the way she needed. And that someone wasn’t me. "I know I’ve hurt you, and I’m sorry," I said gently. Her scent of arousal filled the small space under the staircase, making my cock twitch even as I'd been trying hard to ignore it. She rais
ANNALISAI had always believed Sebastian was meant to be mine. From the moment I became aware of the word "mate'', I couldn't imagine the perfect mate to spend the rest of my life with other than him.As the Beta's daughter, I grew up alongside him. I was supposed to be on Beta training but because of the love I had for him, I switched. I was there for every Luna training session, every meeting that Sebastian had to go. As the future Alpha, he had to learn the ways of the pack, and I made sure I was right by his side, preparing to be his Luna.We trained together and shared countless moments that convinced me we were destined to be more than just friends. Everyone around us thought we would end up together as fated mates. And although my parents always warned to guard my heart around Sebastian, especially my father. He constantly told me I shouldn't get my hopes up until I turned eighteen and found out for sure if he was my mate. But I didn’t listen. How could I, when every fiber
RUBY“I asked a question,” Mrs. Whitewoods said again, adjusting her glasses slightly down the bridge of her nose, her short raven hair neatly pinned back. Her tone, though calm, carried authority. “What’s going on here?”The girls around me shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact. Lizzy hesitated, her mouth opening and closing as if searching for a way to twist the story. Renee and Ginger exchanged nervous glances, but neither spoke up.My heart pounded in my chest as I debated speaking up, knowing Lizzy could twist the story. But before I could say anything, Mrs. Whitewoods’ voice cut through the silence.“Skylar,” she called.“What exactly happened here before I walked in?”Skylar hesitated, her eyes darting between me and Lizzy. “There was… an altercation. Lizzy insulted... the future Luna and tried to assert that she shouldn’t be part of the group.”Mrs. Whitewoods’ expression darkened as she turned to Lizzy. “is this true?”Lizzy stammered, “I-I didn’t mean—”“Don’t lie to
RUBYThe room buzzed with murmurs, tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Lizzy’s fiery gaze bore into mine, and for a brief moment, I felt like I was back in those days when she made my life unbearable. The memories surged forward, threatening to drown me, but I held my ground. I refused to let her see any weakness.She stormed into the room with her minions, Renee and Ginger, trailing behind her. Their smug smiles faltered the moment I met their eyes, and they quickly looked away.“Who gave this omega the audacity to join my group?” Lizzy snarled, her fists clenched as she stopped a few steps from me. Her sharp voice silenced the whispers. "Are you all deaf and dumb?!" Her sharp, cold gaze darting between me and the others.“She’s the future Luna of this—” Skylar began, only for Lizzy to cut her off.“Luna my foot!” Lizzy spat, her words laced with disdain. Gasps rippled through the room like a wave.Anger surged through me. I needed to put this girl in her place. Who did she