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’s POVThe room felt like it had been frozen in time. My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at Calvin, the last person I ever expected—ever wanted—to see here. My back hit the buffet table, and I scrambled for balance, but his hands gripped my shoulders, steadying me.His touch burned through the fabric of my dress, sending a shiver down my spine. I inhaled sharply, steeling myself. I wouldn’t let him intimidate me. Not now. Not ever again.“What are you doing here?” My voice was low, sharp, laced with venom.“I need to talk to you,” he said simply, his voice calm but urgent.Before I could react, he removed his hands from my shoulders, his fingers sliding down to clasp my hand instead.“Let go of me,” I hissed, trying to pull away, but his grip was firm as he began leading me toward the edge of the hall.“Kamrynn, please. Just come with me. I don’t want to make a scene.”“Oh, I’ll make a scene,” I snapped, trying to dig my heels into the floor, but he was already pulling me
Calvin’s POVUpon arriving at the Blue Bell Pack’s celebration, a rare feeling of satisfaction settled in my chest. The plan was working. The guards at the entrance had barely spared me a second glance when I handed over my invitation, granting me access without suspicion. The grand hall was filled with energy—laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses creating a welcoming atmosphere.I had come here with a purpose. My Pack was barely holding on, resources dwindling to dangerous levels. This was my chance to negotiate with the Alpha of Blue Bell, to form an alliance, to secure a trade deal that could keep my people from starving. That was all that mattered.Or at least, it was. Until I saw her.At first, my mind couldn’t register it. I was making my way through the crowd when my eyes landed on a familiar figure at the buffet table. It felt like the air had been sucked out of the room.Kamrynn.My heart lurched in my chest, an erratic, painful thud. It had been so long—so long since
Kamrynn’s POVThe second I stepped into the bathroom, I barely had time to lock the door before my legs gave out beneath me. I crumpled onto the floor, my hands trembling as I clutched at my dress, gasping for air. My chest felt tight, as if someone had wrapped their hands around my throat and was squeezing, forcing out every last bit of control I had left.And then the first sob tore through me.It was raw, ugly, painful. The kind of cry that came from deep inside, from a place long buried under layers of strength and survival. The kind of cry I hadn't allowed myself in a very long time.My shoulders shook violently as I pressed a hand over my mouth, muffling the desperate sounds escaping me. My heart pounded against my ribs, the weight of everything crashing down all at once. I had held it together for as long as I could. I had faced Calvin without breaking, without giving him the satisfaction of knowing just how much he still had the power to hurt me. But now that I was alone, the
Kamrynn’s POVI practically ran into my room, clutching Astor against my chest like he was my lifeline. My hands were shaking so badly that it took two tries before I managed to turn the lock, securing the door behind us.Rmonica followed close behind, still holding Arabella, her face dark with confusion and concern.“Kamrynn,” she said, voice firm but laced with worry. “What the hell just happened? Who was that man?”I let out a shuddering breath, my chest heaving as I pressed my back against the door, needing its solidness to ground me. I turned my gaze to Rmonica, whose sharp green eyes were burning with questions.“That was Calvin,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.Rmonica’s entire body stiffened. “Calvin?” she repeated, as if saying his name would somehow make the situation less real.I nodded. “He—he was here at the party. He approached me. Asked for my forgiveness.”Rmonica’s eyes flashed with pure, unfiltered rage. “That bastard had the guts to show his face? After eve
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’s POVI practically ran into my room, clutching Astor against my chest like he was my lifeline. My hands were shaking so badly that it took two tries before I managed to turn the lock, securing the door behind us.Rmonica followed close behind, still holding Arabella, her face dark with confusion and concern.“Kamrynn,” she said, voice firm but laced with worry. “What the hell just happened? Who was that man?”I let out a shuddering breath, my chest heaving as I pressed my back against the door, needing its solidness to ground me. I turned my gaze to Rmonica, whose sharp green eyes were burning with questions.“That was Calvin,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.Rmonica’s entire body stiffened. “Calvin?” she repeated, as if saying his name would somehow make the situation less real.I nodded. “He—he was here at the party. He approached me. Asked for my forgiveness.”Rmonica’s eyes flashed with pure, unfiltered rage. “That bastard had the guts to show his face? After eve
Kamrynn’s POVThe second I stepped into the bathroom, I barely had time to lock the door before my legs gave out beneath me. I crumpled onto the floor, my hands trembling as I clutched at my dress, gasping for air. My chest felt tight, as if someone had wrapped their hands around my throat and was squeezing, forcing out every last bit of control I had left.And then the first sob tore through me.It was raw, ugly, painful. The kind of cry that came from deep inside, from a place long buried under layers of strength and survival. The kind of cry I hadn't allowed myself in a very long time.My shoulders shook violently as I pressed a hand over my mouth, muffling the desperate sounds escaping me. My heart pounded against my ribs, the weight of everything crashing down all at once. I had held it together for as long as I could. I had faced Calvin without breaking, without giving him the satisfaction of knowing just how much he still had the power to hurt me. But now that I was alone, the
Calvin’s POVUpon arriving at the Blue Bell Pack’s celebration, a rare feeling of satisfaction settled in my chest. The plan was working. The guards at the entrance had barely spared me a second glance when I handed over my invitation, granting me access without suspicion. The grand hall was filled with energy—laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses creating a welcoming atmosphere.I had come here with a purpose. My Pack was barely holding on, resources dwindling to dangerous levels. This was my chance to negotiate with the Alpha of Blue Bell, to form an alliance, to secure a trade deal that could keep my people from starving. That was all that mattered.Or at least, it was. Until I saw her.At first, my mind couldn’t register it. I was making my way through the crowd when my eyes landed on a familiar figure at the buffet table. It felt like the air had been sucked out of the room.Kamrynn.My heart lurched in my chest, an erratic, painful thud. It had been so long—so long since
Kamrynn’s POVThe room felt like it had been frozen in time. My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at Calvin, the last person I ever expected—ever wanted—to see here. My back hit the buffet table, and I scrambled for balance, but his hands gripped my shoulders, steadying me.His touch burned through the fabric of my dress, sending a shiver down my spine. I inhaled sharply, steeling myself. I wouldn’t let him intimidate me. Not now. Not ever again.“What are you doing here?” My voice was low, sharp, laced with venom.“I need to talk to you,” he said simply, his voice calm but urgent.Before I could react, he removed his hands from my shoulders, his fingers sliding down to clasp my hand instead.“Let go of me,” I hissed, trying to pull away, but his grip was firm as he began leading me toward the edge of the hall.“Kamrynn, please. Just come with me. I don’t want to make a scene.”“Oh, I’ll make a scene,” I snapped, trying to dig my heels into the floor, but he was already pulling me
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