Avery’s POVI lost everything on my wedding day.The sun had just begun to set, casting an eerie golden glow across the room that was supposed to be my sanctuary. The delicate floral wallpaper, once a symbol of innocence and future promises, now seemed to close in on me with every relentless tick of the clock. I sat on the edge of the bed, my wedding dress, with its layers of lace and satin, felt more like a straitjacket, suffocating me with each breath. The silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional bursts of laughter and music from the reception below, mocking my turmoil.Earlier, I had stepped outside for a breath of fresh air, only to stumble upon a sight that churned my stomach. My husband of just thirty minutes was locked in a passionate, almost grotesque kiss with Lila, my Beta’s daughter. The way he devoured her with his lips, it was as if he wanted to consume her whole. Their eyes glinted with a shared, evil satisfaction when they noticed me standing there, frozen in
Avery’s POVI lunged at her, ready to rip her apart with my bare hands, the betrayal burning inside me like a wildfire. How could the closest people in my life have played me so cruelly?Lila was my best friend, my only friend. I'd trusted her with my life, shared my deepest secrets with her. How could I have been so blind to her true nature? The realization hit me with the force of a sledgehammer, shattering any remaining illusions I had held.And Nathan? He was handpicked by my father, the son of a trusted friend from another pack. How did I not see his true intentions? How did I miss the signs that he wanted to take everything from me, to strip me of my pack and my power?I wasn’t crazy in love with Nathan. Not by a long shot. My heart had already been claimed and broken by my one true love, a love lost to time and fate. But it still stung deeply to be in this position, to be betrayed by those I had welcomed into my life, to be played so thoroughly by people I should have been able
Avery’s POVI ran for what felt like an eternity, my feet pounding against the forest floor, each step fueled by a mix of fear and determination. Elizabeth's screams still echoed in my ears, a haunting reminder of her sacrifice. Every breath I took was a painful reminder of the wolfsbane coursing through my veins, sapping my strength and slowing my pace.Just when I thought everyone had turned their backs on me, Elizabeth had given her life to save mine. The pain of her loss was a raw, burning ache in my chest, but it also ignited a fierce resolve within me. I couldn't let her sacrifice be in vain.My wolf, Sienna, stirred within me, struggling against the poisonous effects of the wolfsbane. She was a powerful presence, her strength a lifeline as I pushed myself forward. Despite the pain, she lent me what little energy she could muster, urging me to keep moving, to reach safety.I could hear the wolves closing in behind me, their relentless pursuit echoing through the forest. Every bea
Avery’s POV“Get it over with,” I whispered, a touch of desperation in my voice, pleading for an end to my torment, my suffering, my misery.He continued to gaze at me with those dead, cold eyes. Then, I felt his fingers tighten around my neck, and my breath caught in my throat. He was really going to do it—kill me with his own hands, succumbing to his father's cruel, sadistic game.He squeezed a little harder, and the world began to blur at the edges, my heart pounding in my chest. Just as darkness threatened to close in, he released his grip. My legs trembled, and I gasped for air, my breaths coming out in shallow, uneven waves as if I had been suffocating for minutes instead of seconds.Liam finally broke eye contact, turning to look at his father. The room seemed to spin around me, the intensity of the moment leaving me reeling. The suffocating tension hung heavy in the air, and I struggled to steady my breathing, feeling as though I had just been pulled back from the brink of deat
Liam’s POVHer tears finally broke free, cascading down her face, and I couldn't help but trace every single one with my eyes.My mind reveled in seeing them, a twisted part of me urging to keep them flowing, hoping they could somehow heal every damn crack she left in me the day she walked away. Yet, my heart and my wolf, Sean, were furious at the sight of her pain, angry at me for hurting and humiliating her.We may not have been fated mates, not blessed with that instant, magical connection or divine bond that drew us together. But that's what made our love even stronger, even more special. We chose each other. We fought for every moment, every smile, every touch. Ours was a love forged in the fires of choice and effort, not the effortless pull of destiny. It was raw, real, and deeply human.“What do you want from me, then?” she asked, her voice thick with emotion, each word trembling with the weight of her pain.The room seemed to hold its breath, the space between us charged with a
Avery’s POVHe stared at me for a long time, his eyes searching mine, the weight of his decision evident in every furrow of his brow. His grip on my arms was tight, almost to the point of pain, but I didn’t mind. Instead, I reveled in the warmth of his touch, a rare comfort amidst the chaos.I could faintly still smell baby’s breath on him, subtle but unmistakable. He really was there. At my pack.“The wolves following us,” Sienna mused excitedly in my mind. “We both thought it was strange how they would disappear just as they were about to capture us... It was him, Avery! He still cares about us!”“I don’t know, Sienna,” I replied, doubt gnawing at my heart. “How would he know what happened to me and come to save me? Maybe he was at a nearby pack that also has baby’s breath. Maybe he doesn’t care, or he cares just enough to want to settle the score and cause me as much pain as I caused him.”Without giving me an answer, he suddenly let go of me and disappeared out of the room. I foug
Avery’s POV Three years ago, such a demand might have ignited a spark of desire within me, but not today. Not after everything that had happened between us, both in the past and this present moment. “You did say you’d do anything,” Sienna reminded me sullenly, sensing my urge to tell him to go to hell. “I did, damn it! I know what I said! But that doesn’t—urg! I can’t tell if he’ll keep his word and help me at the end of this, or if he’ll twist the knife further, leaving me to live with the disappointment of losing everything—my pack, my dignity, my honor, my…heart and lingering love for him. I’ve lost trust in him, Sienna. Just like I’ve lost trust in everyone around me.” “We don’t have another choice right now,” Sienna insisted, her voice heavy with resignation. “You need to do this, Avery. We need to survive and fight another day. Obey him for now.” I clenched my fists, feeling the weight of her words. She was right; there was no other choice. I had to see where this path would
Avery’s POVI stood there, trying to decipher the true meaning behind his statement. Was he genuinely trying to protect me in his own twisted way, or was this just another layer of manipulation? The coldness in his voice, the intensity in his gaze—it was hard to tell if there was any sincerity behind his threats.His words were a warning, that much was clear. But was there a desperate plea hidden beneath his harsh exterior, or was he simply reinforcing his control over me? The fear of giving his father and brother any reason to intervene seemed to hint at a deeper motive, yet his delivery was so devoid of warmth that it was impossible to fully believe he cared about my well-being.The flicker of something in his eyes—fear, perhaps—left me questioning his true intentions. Was he afraid of losing control, of being forced into actions he might regret? Or was he simply ensuring that I remained compliant, a pawn in his game of power?As his eyes search