NinaI step out of the car and take a deep breath, the familiar scent of the Valens territory filling my lungs. It’s a mix of pine, earth, and something uniquely ours—home. The trees stretch high overhead, casting long shadows over the gravel road leading up to the main house. Everything looks the same, but it doesn’t feel the same. Not to me.The moment I left Jaxon and came back here, I thought it’d be easy. That I’d walk in and everything would fall into place. But now that I’m standing here, it’s hitting me that things are a lot more complicated than I want them to be.“Welcome home, Alpha,” Griffin says, stepping out of the car next to me, grinning like he doesn’t have a care in the world. He slaps me on the back, and I stumble a little, still not used to the weight of that word—Alpha.“I’m not Alpha yet,” I mutter, trying to keep my nerves under control. “Dad’s still got that title.”“Not for long,” Lucas adds, stepping out from behind us, his eyes scanning the woods like he’s w
JaxonI’m staring at the map in front of me, the one outlining the borders between the Silver Crescent Pack and the Valens Pack, but none of the lines are making sense. My mind’s all over the place, and no matter how hard I try to focus, it keeps circling back to the same thing.Her.Nina.Fuck.I run a hand through my hair, frustrated as hell. I’ve got a meeting with my council in twenty minutes, but I’m not thinking about the territory disputes or the pack politics we’re supposed to be discussing. I’m thinking about her. About how I need to fix this shit between us, and about how it’s spiraling out of control.“Jaxon.”I don’t even hear the door open. I glance up, and there’s my mother, standing in the doorway, looking at me like she’s about to give me one of those long, disappointed lectures. Again.“You’re distracted,” she says, stepping inside like she owns the place. She’s always so fucking composed, always with that cold, calculating look on her face.“I’m fine,” I mutter, turn
JaxonI sit across from Scarlett at some overpriced restaurant, staring at her, but not really seeing her. She’s talking—about what, I have no fucking clue. Something about a new deal she’s landed, maybe? I don’t care. I take a sip of whiskey, letting the burn distract me from the bullshit around me.This dinner was a mistake. I knew it the second I agreed to meet her, but I’m here anyway, hoping for... what? Closure? Distraction? Fuck if I know.Scarlett leans forward, her hand sliding across the table to touch mine. “Jaxon, are you even listening to me?”I look at her, blinking like I just woke up. “Yeah, I heard you.”She gives me that sultry smile, the one she’s used a hundred times before to get what she wants. “You don’t seem like yourself lately. What’s going on?”I shrug, leaning back in my chair, feeling the weight of the past few months pressing down on me. “Just a lot of shit going on.”Her fingers trace patterns on my wrist, and I don’t pull away. Not yet. She’s playing th
NinaThe Valens Pack’s high-profile event is a swirl of lights and laughter, the atmosphere electric with excitement. I stand in front of the mirror in my room, adjusting the dark emerald dress that clings to my curves perfectly. It’s elegant, with a plunging neckline that I usually wouldn’t dare to wear, but tonight feels different. Tonight, I’m reclaiming my power.“Damn, sis,” Dominic says from the doorway, arms crossed as he leans against the frame. “You look stunning.”“Thanks,” I reply, trying to ignore the flutter of nerves in my stomach. “Just trying to keep up with the standards around here.”He smirks, pushing off the door and stepping closer. “You’ve got this. Remember, you’re an Alpha. Act like it.”I nod, forcing a smile, but inside, I’m a mess of emotions. I’ve been back in the pack for weeks, but every time I step into a room full of powerful Alphas, the pressure builds. Everyone expects me to be a leader, to move on. But Jaxon lingers in the back of my mind, his presen
NinaI stand in the conference room, a map of our territory spread out in front of me, and it’s like something has clicked into place. I’m no longer just the Alpha heir. I’m the Alpha heir, ready to take charge. My father’s finally entrusted me with a major decision regarding our territory expansion. It’s a big deal—our pack hasn’t grown in years, and if we’re going to remain powerful, we need to secure more land.“Okay, Nina,” my father says, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, his expression both proud and expectant. “What are your thoughts on the Ashwood territory? They’ve been struggling lately. We could offer to help them out in exchange for a share of their land.”I nod, looking at the map and trying to connect the dots. “If we approach them with a joint venture, it could benefit both packs. We could help them with their resources, but we also need to negotiate something solid. I think we should start by offering medical support for their wolves. The last time I checked, th
NinaI’m in my office, staring at the paperwork piled high on my desk, but none of it matters. My mind is racing, and I can’t shake the heat rolling through my body. I’ve been trying to ignore it, to push it down, but it’s getting harder by the second. My wolf is restless, clawing at the surface, urging me to seek out what I desperately want but can’t have.I hear a knock at the door, and my breath hitches. I know who it is before I even get up to answer. Jaxon.“Hey, Nina,” he says as I open the door, his voice smooth, the way I remember.He steps inside, and my eyes dart to the folder in his hands. The divorce papers. I can’t believe it’s finally happening. But I also can’t ignore the way my body reacts to him. Damn it.“You look... busy,” he comments, glancing around the office. “Seems like you’re doing great.”“Yeah, well, I have a pack to run,” I reply, trying to sound indifferent. “Not that it’s any of your business.”He raises an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching in th
NinaThe heat is unbearable. It’s like a fire under my skin, something primal, and no matter how hard I try to ignore it, it’s always there, pulsing and demanding. Being an Alpha female means the heat hits stronger than it would for others. My body craves something I refuse to give in to. I’m more pheromonal than ever, and it’s like every single person around me can sense it. I can’t think straight. My wolf is restless, pushing at the edges of my control, and no matter how hard I try to shove her back down, she’s clawing her way out.This isn’t just some ordinary desire. It’s instinct. A need to mate. It’s biological, wired into me. And for Alpha females like me, it’s overwhelming. Every scent, every brush of air feels intensified, and my mind keeps drifting back to Jaxon. Damn him.I walk into the meeting room, doing my best to keep my head straight. My father is already there, looking over a stack of papers. I sit down, trying to breathe normally, to act like nothing’s wrong, but th
NinaIt’s too late in the night for me to be doing this.I hate that I am even doing this.I’m barely breathing as I stand outside Jaxon’s office door, my heart racing so fast it feels like it might explode. This is a mistake. A massive, stupid, reckless mistake. But I can’t stop myself. My body’s on fire, my wolf clawing at the surface, and I know I’m too far gone to turn back now.The heat is unbearable, my skin prickling with need, and no matter how hard I tried to fight it, to push it down, I couldn’t. I need him. The craving is overwhelming, instinctual, and I can’t pretend anymore.With a shaky hand, I knock on the door. My legs feel like they might give out from under me, but I force myself to stay upright. I’ve come this far. There’s no turning back.A few seconds later, the door swings open, and there he is—Jaxon, standing in front of me with that cocky smirk plastered on his face. His scent hits me like a wave, all dark spice and masculinity, and I feel my resolve crumble. I
NinaI wake up gasping, my throat raw and dry, and my body drenched in sweat. The nightmare still lingers, clinging to me like a second skin. My chest is tight, and I can’t shake the feeling that something’s horribly, horribly wrong.I sit up, wiping my face with the back of my hand, but it doesn’t help. The images from the dream are burned into my mind. Jaxon. His body, lifeless, sprawled across the cold ground. Blood pooling beneath him, his eyes vacant, distant. His mouth… he was calling my name. But he wasn’t alive.I blink hard, trying to push the images away, but they won’t leave. They’re too real. Too vivid.Shit.I glance at the clock. It’s late, too late to be awake. I should be getting some sleep, but my heart won’t let me. My head is too loud, too full of that nightmare.I slide out of bed, my feet hitting the cold floor, the chill a stark contrast to the sweat on my skin. I don’t bother turning on the light. I don’t want to see anything—just the dark, just the silence. I s
JaxonThe forest is quiet, too quiet. I should’ve known better than to come this far out alone, but I needed space—needed to think without my mother’s voice in my ear or the constant demands of the pack weighing on me.The moon filters through the dense canopy above, casting patches of silvery light onto the damp earth. My wolf is restless, pacing inside me like it knows something I don’t. Maybe I should’ve stayed at the estate, drowned my thoughts in another bottle of whiskey instead of chasing solitude. But here I am, miles from anywhere, surrounded by trees that all look the same.“Fuck,” I mutter, shaking my head. My boots crunch against the leaves as I trudge forward. The wind shifts, carrying a faint scent—familiar but wrong. It’s sharp, acrid, and tinged with something metallic. Blood.I stop, scanning the shadows. Nothing moves, but the scent lingers. It’s close.“Who’s there?” My voice echoes through the stillness. Nothing. Not even the usual rustle of wildlife.My hand insti
NinaI nod, but it’s more for show than anything else. I’ve known this was coming. I’ve known it since my father started grooming me for this role, all those years ago. But it’s different now. This isn’t about power. This isn’t about being Alpha for the sake of it. This is about survival. My survival. Our survival.My father leans forward, eyes locked on me. “We’re not doing this half-assed, Nina. This is the real thing. Tonight, you take control. You step up, or you step aside.”I meet his gaze, my jaw clenched tight. There’s no stepping aside. Not now. Not when everything is on the line.“I’m not stepping aside,” I say, my voice firm. “I’ll do it. I’ll take control. But I need a plan. I need more than just hope.”Dominic’s face softens slightly. “We’ll work out the details. But you need to be crowned first.”I nod again, my mind racing. The weight of the situation hits me all over again. Tonight. I’ll officially be Alpha. It’s what I’ve always been prepared for. But nothing prepares
NinaI’m sitting at the breakfast table, watching the steam rise from my cup of coffee, the scent of it mingling with the freshly baked pastries on the counter. The usual breakfast crowd is here: my father, Dominic, as well as Lucas, Griffin, and Callie. We all sit in silence for a moment, the tension hanging thick in the air, like we’re all just waiting for something to break.My father’s the one to crack the silence, as usual. “Have you heard from the asshole?” He asks, glancing at me with a look that’s a mix of irritation and curiosity.Griffin snorts from his spot beside Lucas, looking at my father. “Which one?” His tone is a mix of sarcasm and genuine amusement, but I know better than to take it lightly. There’s a lot of history wrapped up in those words.My father doesn’t even acknowledge Griffin’s snark. He just keeps his eyes on me. “You know exactly who I’m talking about.”I take a long sip of my coffee, dragging out the moment, not wanting to answer. The asshole in question?
JaxonThe room is too quiet. All I can hear is the soft, steady rhythm of Scarlett’s breathing as she sleeps. It’s peaceful, almost too peaceful. But underneath the calm, there’s this gnawing guilt that eats at me, the weight of it sitting heavy in my gut.She’s hurt. She didn’t deserve any of this. None of it. All she did was love me. But I couldn’t return it, not the way she needed. I wasn’t capable of that. She deserved someone who could give her everything, and I—fuck, I wasn’t that guy.I sit on the edge of her bed, just watching her, trying to figure out what went wrong. Was I always like this? Always this selfish? This caught up in my own bullshit that I couldn’t see how I was hurting her?The door to the room creaks open, and I don’t have to look to know who it is. My mother’s presence fills the space, heavy and cold. She walks in like she owns the damn place, her heels clicking sharply against the floor.I turn to face her, and she doesn’t waste time with pleasantries. “She d
NinaI sit in the office, the room thick with the tension I can’t shake. My brother, Dominic, leans against the door frame, arms crossed, his jaw tight. He’s worried. I can see it in his eyes, and it irritates the hell out of me. But I don’t let it show.“Listen,” he says, voice low, like he’s trying to soften the blow. “The pack’s uneasy. You know they’re not stupid. Two dead wolves and not a word from anyone? It doesn’t sit right with them. There’s too much silence.”I rub my temples, trying to focus on his words but my mind keeps drifting back to Jaxon. The shit between us is... complicated. I’m done with the back and forth, but I can’t shake the thought of him. His voice. The way he looks at me. All of it’s stuck in my head. I push that aside for now. This is bigger than him.“I get it,” I mutter, trying to make sense of what Dominic’s saying. “But right now, the pack has to know I’m in control. I’m the Alpha, whether they like it or not.”Dominic nods, but I can see the concern s
JaxonI’m staring at Rylan, watching him as he slowly starts to come around. He’s still groggy, looking like he got hit by a fucking truck, but at least he’s breathing. Thank god for that. I run a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the tension that’s been clawing at me ever since I pulled up to Nina’s territory.“Rylan,” I grunt, sitting beside him on the couch. “You good?”He blinks a few times, his eyes flicking open and then squinting against the light. His hands twitch like he’s trying to move, but his body’s too weak for it. “What... happened?”I watch him carefully, waiting for him to fully snap back. His eyes land on me, and I see the confusion there. “You’ve been out of it for a while, man,” I mutter. “How do you feel?”He shifts a little, groaning as he tries to sit up, but he’s still not all there. “Fucked up, Jaxon... But... I’m okay.” He looks at me, his voice barely above a rasp. “I... woke up a few minutes ago. Thought I was gonna die for a second.”I swallow hard
JaxonThe next day, I arrive at Nina’s territory with my pack in tow, my nerves buzzing in that way only a fucking mess can make them. She’s been playing games with me, pushing my boundaries, and it’s time to stop it.The scene is familiar, almost comforting in its brutality—Nina’s people look like they expect a fight, but there’s no way they’re ready for what’s coming. I don’t give a shit if they’re armed or not. They won’t stop me. No one gets to touch my pack.Especially not fucking Rylan.I stop in front of her, my boots digging into the dirt like I’m marking my territory. My jaw is tight, fists clenched at my sides, but I don’t look at Nina just yet. Instead, I focus on the way Rylan stands beside me. His face is pale, the color drained from his lips. He looks like shit. His hands twitch at his sides, but I know what he needs. He needs out. He needs to get the fuck out of here and back where it’s safe.“Jaxon,” Nina calls, her voice sharp like she’s trying to hide the panic she’s
NinaI stand outside Dr. Julian’s office, staring at the door. I can hear my breath in my ears, feel the tension twisting in my chest. My father’s words echo in my mind. “You need to handle this, Nina. Rylan can’t die in our territory. If he does, it’ll cause a mess we can’t control.”I swallow hard and knock twice, the sound too loud in the quiet hallway. No response. I knock again. My stomach twists, and I feel like I’m walking into something I can’t undo.“Come in,” a voice calls from the other side, calm, steady. Dr. Julian.I push the door open, my hands shaking despite myself, and step into the sterile, white-walled room. The faint smell of antiseptic hits me like a punch to the gut. Dr. Julian’s sitting behind his desk, glancing at a set of papers. His eyes flicker up to meet mine, and he smiles softly—too softly.“Miss Romano,” he greets me, his voice steady but guarded. “What brings you here?”I blink, feeling the weight of his eyes. I’m not sure I even know what I’m asking f