Kamrynn’s POVIt had been five days since I gave birth to my twins, and the world felt both miraculous and impossibly heavy. The aftermath of childbirth wasn’t something I’d fully prepared for, no matter how many stories I’d heard or how many reassurances I’d been given. My body felt like a battlefield, and I wasn’t sure if I was winning or losing the war.My first real struggle came from the constant bleeding. Every movement reminded me that my body was still in recovery, and the dull ache in my abdomen served as a persistent reminder that my body had gone through something extraordinary—and excruciating. I shifted uncomfortably in bed, my hand brushing against the bundle of blankets where my twins slept.The exhaustion wasn’t just physical. Sleep was a distant memory, a luxury I hadn’t experienced since their arrival. Every cry woke me in a panic, my heart pounding as I scrambled to soothe whichever baby needed me more. Even when they were quiet, I found myself lying awake, afraid s
Calvin's POVThe rhythmic ticking of the clock on the far wall grated on my nerves as I sifted through the endless paperwork littering my desk. Numbers, trade routes, inventory lists—all of it blurred together into meaningless scribbles. My mind wasn’t here, couldn’t be here, not when Kamrynn was still out there, somewhere. The gnawing frustration and helplessness had become a constant ache in my chest, and no amount of work could drown it out.A sharp knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I straightened in my chair, my voice sharp and unwelcoming. “What?”Franklin stepped in, his expression carefully neutral. He always wore that mask when dealing with me these days, likely to avoid triggering one of my outbursts. “Alpha,” he greeted me with a respectful nod.I wasted no time. “Do you have news?”Franklin hesitated, the pause long enough to stoke my irritation. He knew better than to drag his feet, especially about this.“Well?” I demanded, my tone harsher than I intended.“No
Kamrynn’s POVAnxiety curled in my stomach like a stubborn weed, refusing to be uprooted no matter how hard I tried to shake it. It had been two days since the nightmare, but Calvin’s haunting gaze and his bloodied hands still lingered in my mind like a stain. Every time I closed my eyes, the vision of him whispering, “You’re my salvation,” echoed in my ears. The memory left a bitter taste in my mouth, a warning I couldn’t decipher. I couldn't help but wish over and over again that I would never have to cross paths with that man.I tugged absently at the hem of my dress, my mind racing. The party. I still wasn’t sure I wanted to attend. In fact, every fiber of my being screamed to stay behind, to shut myself away with my twins and avoid the crowd altogether.The sound of soft gurgling pulled me from my thoughts. I turned toward the crib and found Astor and Arabella lying side by side, their tiny hands waving in the air as they grunted at each other. They were only a week old, yet they
Kamrynn "I’m not sure which hurts more—his hands or his words. Every time he touches me, it’s another reminder of how far I’ve fallen… and how much he despises me."The bedroom is cold, dark, and suffocating. Calvin’s room. No. The Alpha's bedroom. His territory. I’m on my back, staring at the ceiling, willing my mind to drift somewhere else—anywhere but here—while Calvin rams into me, his movements harsh and punishing. He doesn’t care about my pain. He never has. He’s lost in his hatred, every thrust a reminder that to him, I am nothing but a tool for his vengeance.His breath is hot on my neck, ragged and full of anger. My body lies limp beneath him, taking it, just like I always do. His hand tightens around my throat, and I know what’s coming before he even says it.“Look at me, you filthy slut.” His voice is ice cold, full of disgust. “Don’t you dare try to escape in your head. You’re not going anywhere.”He slaps me hard across the face. The sharp sting pulls me back to reality,
Kamrynn When I wake, the world is a blur of pain and darkness. My body feels as if it’s been shattered into a thousand pieces. But this pain is different. It isn’t just from the bruises or the beating. It’s deeper. Something sharp and unnatural twists inside me, tightening its grip on my stomach. I can feel something wet between my legs, sticky and warm.Blood.I gasp, panic flooding my chest. My arms are chained to the bed, and I’m too weak to even pull against the restraints. The metal bites into my skin as I shift, trying to move, trying to understand what’s happening. My stomach churns violently, and the pain intensifies, making me want to scream.Please, not again. Not another one.I close my eyes, willing the terror to go away. I know what this is. I know what it feels like when a child is lost, when your body rejects the life inside it. In the nine months that I’ve been Calvin’s slave, I’ve lost three children. Three tiny lives that I couldn’t protect, and each time, I’ve kept
Kamrynn The words hit me like a hammer to the chest, knocking the air from my lungs. I stare up at her, my heart pounding, the weight of her warning settling over me like a suffocating blanket. Never. Another. Child.I blink, trying to process what she’s just told me. My throat tightens, and a tear slips down my cheek. I’ve already lost three. I’ve already failed so many times.Lysaa squeezes my hand, her voice trembling. “Is there anything we can do?” she asks. “Anything at all?”Dr. Thorne sighs, her face softening slightly. “She needs rest. Complete rest. No more starving, no more beatings. No more... rough treatment. Her body is fragile right now. If the Alpha continues, it will be inevitable.”I close my eyes, fighting back the sob that threatens to escape. Rest? How can I rest when Calvin sees me as nothing more than an object for his rage? He’ll never let me rest. He’ll never let me protect this child.Dr. Thorne moves to the door, pushing it open slowly. Her brows furrow as
CalvinThere are no words to describe how much I hate her.Every time I look at her, it boils inside me, this burning rage that never dies. I thought I knew her once. I thought she was a good friend, someone I could trust. We grew up together—me, Sherelle, and her. We were inseparable, or so I thought. But all along, she was nothing but a manipulative, disgusting bitch who wanted to destroy my happiness.I can’t stand the sight of her. I hate everything about her. The way she looks at me with those wide, innocent blue eyes, like she’s done nothing wrong. Like she hasn’t ripped my life apart. The way she whimpers and shakes when I touch her, pretending she’s the victim when she’s the one who killed Sherelle. My Sherelle. My mate. My love.I don’t just hate her—I despise her. And I take pleasure in seeing her suffer. Every bruise, every scream, every tear—it’s justice. It’s what she deserves. I enjoy making her life a living hell, watching the light drain from her eyes as she realizes n
Kamrynn The anxiety twists deep in my stomach, an uncomfortable knot of dread that I can’t shake. My head throbs, the ache relentless. It’s almost time for Calvin to return, and the thought alone makes my entire body tense up. I’m so weak that even the weight of my bones feels unbearable. I’ve barely eaten in days—he only let me have food two days ago, leftovers I was forced to eat off the floor like some wild animal. My stomach growls, hollow and painful, but there’s nothing I can do. I run my tongue over my dry, cracked lips and look down at myself. Tears well up in my eyes before I can stop them. I’m nothing but skin and bones now, my body covered in bruises, scars, and sores. My ribs stick out sharply from beneath the rags I’ve been forced to wear. Every part of me hurts—my arms, my legs, my back. The chains bite into my wrists and ankles, and my hands and feet have gone numb from being restrained for so long.How did it come to this?I used to be strong. I used to be full of li
Kamrynn’s POVAnxiety curled in my stomach like a stubborn weed, refusing to be uprooted no matter how hard I tried to shake it. It had been two days since the nightmare, but Calvin’s haunting gaze and his bloodied hands still lingered in my mind like a stain. Every time I closed my eyes, the vision of him whispering, “You’re my salvation,” echoed in my ears. The memory left a bitter taste in my mouth, a warning I couldn’t decipher. I couldn't help but wish over and over again that I would never have to cross paths with that man.I tugged absently at the hem of my dress, my mind racing. The party. I still wasn’t sure I wanted to attend. In fact, every fiber of my being screamed to stay behind, to shut myself away with my twins and avoid the crowd altogether.The sound of soft gurgling pulled me from my thoughts. I turned toward the crib and found Astor and Arabella lying side by side, their tiny hands waving in the air as they grunted at each other. They were only a week old, yet they
Calvin's POVThe rhythmic ticking of the clock on the far wall grated on my nerves as I sifted through the endless paperwork littering my desk. Numbers, trade routes, inventory lists—all of it blurred together into meaningless scribbles. My mind wasn’t here, couldn’t be here, not when Kamrynn was still out there, somewhere. The gnawing frustration and helplessness had become a constant ache in my chest, and no amount of work could drown it out.A sharp knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I straightened in my chair, my voice sharp and unwelcoming. “What?”Franklin stepped in, his expression carefully neutral. He always wore that mask when dealing with me these days, likely to avoid triggering one of my outbursts. “Alpha,” he greeted me with a respectful nod.I wasted no time. “Do you have news?”Franklin hesitated, the pause long enough to stoke my irritation. He knew better than to drag his feet, especially about this.“Well?” I demanded, my tone harsher than I intended.“No
Kamrynn’s POVIt had been five days since I gave birth to my twins, and the world felt both miraculous and impossibly heavy. The aftermath of childbirth wasn’t something I’d fully prepared for, no matter how many stories I’d heard or how many reassurances I’d been given. My body felt like a battlefield, and I wasn’t sure if I was winning or losing the war.My first real struggle came from the constant bleeding. Every movement reminded me that my body was still in recovery, and the dull ache in my abdomen served as a persistent reminder that my body had gone through something extraordinary—and excruciating. I shifted uncomfortably in bed, my hand brushing against the bundle of blankets where my twins slept.The exhaustion wasn’t just physical. Sleep was a distant memory, a luxury I hadn’t experienced since their arrival. Every cry woke me in a panic, my heart pounding as I scrambled to soothe whichever baby needed me more. Even when they were quiet, I found myself lying awake, afraid s
Calvin's POV The moment the witch’s words settled in my mind, I knew what had to be done. Kamrynn was the key to saving the Pack, the only chance to break the curse that had turned our lives into a living nightmare. The realization felt like a hammer striking my chest. I clenched my fists, a mix of dread and determination swirling within me."Thank you," I said to the witch, my voice hoarse. She regarded me with wary eyes, as if unsure whether I meant it.“Remember, Alpha,” she replied, her voice sharp like a blade. “Your Pack’s salvation depends on her forgiveness. Nothing else can save you.”I nodded grimly and left her dwelling, the air around me feeling colder than ever. Kamrynn was out there somewhere, not just carrying the hope of my Pack’s survival, but also my child—my heir. She must have given birth by now, and the thought of her raising my child, away from me, filled me with an unbearable mix of frustration, yearning, and guilt.Returning to the Pack, I knew there was no ti
Calvin's POV“If you think I'd ever—” I had begun my strong rebuttal when I felt Franklin's hand on my shoulder.“We don't have a choice, Alpha. Just do it, please. For the sake of the Pack. She's our last hope.” He pleaded.I knew that all too well but still…I clenched my fists, trying to rein in my temper. “Please,” I said through gritted teeth, bowing my head in surrender. “Please help me, my people are dying. If you know something, please tell me and you'll forever have my gratitude.”She quirked an eyebrow but a smile finally settled on her face. “That wasn't so hard now, was it?” She quipped after a long pause. “Step inside.”The room we entered was darker than the hallway, lit only by the faint glow of a fire in the hearth. The air was even heavier in here, suff
Calvin’s POVHopelessness was a poison that seeped into every corner of my life. No matter how hard I tried to shake it off, it clung to me, a suffocating shroud.For months, I had tried everything—letters, emissaries, messengers, and desperate pleas—but it was no use. Not a single Pack wanted to be associated with us. Not after the children's deaths. The weight of what had happened to our firstborns had turned us into pariahs. The news spread fast, faster than even I could have anticipated. Stories of death, sorrow, and desperation painted the Obsidian Pack as cursed, as a place to be avoided at all costs.The once-bustling Pack lands now felt hollow, every corner of it a reminder of what we’d lost. Mothers who had buried their children wandered aimlessly, their eyes hollow, their grief so loud it felt like a scream ringing in my ears day and night. Fathers clung to their surviving families, but even they looked at me with resentment burning in their eyes. I'd spent weeks, months, tr
Kamrynn's POV The room was still except for the soft rustle of fabric as Tiona finished cleaning me up. My body felt heavy, utterly spent, but there was a strange lightness in my chest. The pain had been unbearable, yes, but holding my children—seeing their tiny faces—had made it all worth it.Tiona handed me a warm blanket, and Rmonica carefully adjusted the cradle where the twins lay, swaddled and sleeping peacefully. “Have you decided on names yet?” Rmonica asked, her voice soft and full of warmth.I smiled, my heart swelling as I gazed at the little bundles. “Astor,” I said, touching the soft tufts of dark hair on my son’s head. “And Arabella,” I added, caressing my daughter’s tiny cheek.Rmonica beamed. “Beautiful names, Kamrynn. They’re perfect.”Aryna hummed her approval in the back of my mind. “Astor and Arabella,” she said, her voice a comforting presence. “Strong names for strong pups.”Tiona stepped back, wiping her hands. “You did wonderfully, Kamrynn. They’re beautiful,
Calvin's POV The day had started no differently than the countless others of late—heavy with tension and a suffocating sense of dread. I was seated behind my desk, the surface strewn with reports and maps that Franklin and I had been dissecting. The room felt oppressive, the walls closing in with the weight of my Pack's suffering.The room was quiet except for the rustling of papers as Franklin explained the latest updates on our attempts to negotiate with the Moon Rock Pack. His voice was steady, but I could sense the exhaustion in his tone. We were both worn thin.I leaned back in my chair, trying to push away the throbbing headache that had been my constant companion for weeks. "We’ll try again," I said, my voice heavy. "We don’t have another option. They’re our last hope for supplies before winter."Franklin nodded but didn’t seem convinced. "I’ll prepare the next envoy," he said, though he didn’t meet my eyes.A sudden, frantic knock on the door broke through the quiet. It wasn’t
Kamrynn's POV The month following the breaking of the Amethyst curse had been a whirlwind. Kyven and Thalia’s mating ceremony two weeks ago was a grand affair, their love shining brighter than ever. Now they were off on their honeymoon, leaving the Pack in high spirits.As for me, I had embraced my role as the Pack’s Guardian with pride. The respect I received from the Pack members was overwhelming, their gratitude fueling my determination to serve. Yet, my heavy pregnancy had prevented me from fully stepping into the position. I promised myself that after the birth of my babies, I would devote myself entirely to the Pack’s prosperity.I sat on my bed, a book in my hands. My swollen belly rested heavily on my thighs, and the occasional kick from my little ones brought a smile to my face. It was a quiet moment, one I cherished. But as always, peace was fleeting.The serenity that came with being lost in a good book was suddenly shattered by a pain so sharp and consuming that it felt l