LIANA’S POVI kept my gaze locked on the blanket covering my lap as the heat in my ankle contained a pulse—a dull reminder of my eerie fall. The room was filled with tension I couldn’t name. “Let me see,” Reed’s deep, velvety voice broke the silence. My head jerked up to find him approaching me, his tall, commanding frame moving with effortless grace. He crouched beside the bed, every inch of him exuding power and control. His dark, stormy eyes caught mine for a brief second, and I swore my heart tripped over itself.“Your ankle, Liana,” he repeated, softer this time, the corners of his lips curling into a teasing smirk.“Oh,” I mumbled, dragging my leg out from under the blanket. He reached out, his long fingers brushing against my skin as he cradled my ankle in his hand. The warmth of his touch sent an electric jolt straight up my leg and into places I didn’t even know could tingle. I stared at his face, transfixed. His sharp jawline, the slight scruff on his chin, the curve of h
REED’S POV“Yes,” she whispered, her voice so soft it was almost lost to the sound of the rain tapping against the window. “It’s going to be my first time.”I froze, her words striking me harder than anything ever had before. My chest tightened as I stared at her—this delicate, beautiful woman standing so close, her wide, innocent eyes looking up at me like I was her whole world.“You’re serious?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, a mixture of disbelief and awe slipping through. She nodded, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of red.My hand ran through my hair in frustration, pulling at the roots as I tried to think clearly. A part of me—one I was desperately trying to silence—was thrilled by the revelation. She was untouched. Mine. But another part, the part that still clung to some shred of reason, knew better.“Do you even know what sex means, Liana?” I asked, my voice dropping lower, my gaze locking onto hers.Her lips parted, and for a moment, she hesitated. Then, she nodd
LIANA’S POVI leaned forward, brushing my lips lightly against his jawline, my hands slipping his shirt from his shoulders, leaving him bare under my gaze. His broad shoulders, his tattoos, the way he looked like a demigod underneath the dim light—damn he’s the real definition of a beautiful, sexy man. His hands went straight to his pants as he began to unbuckle his belt, after which he started pulling off his pants revealing his dick, it was huge—huge, fat and long. I wondered how it would fit inside of my very tight vagina. He couldn’t resist any longer. Sliding his hand to the back of my neck, he pulled me in for a kiss—deep and consuming, more intense than the last. My lips molded perfectly to his, my soft sighs fanning against his mouth.His hands moved instinctively, trailing down my back to the clasp of my bra. With a swift motion, he unhooked it, freeing my boobs. I pulled back slightly, my eyes locked onto his, daring and inviting all at once. I smirked as I laid down on
REED’S POVThe soft morning light streamed through the partially drawn curtains, spilling across the bed in a warm golden hue. My eyes fluttered open slowly, adjusting to the brightness, and the first thing I saw was her. Liana.Her head rested against my outstretched left arm, her hair a chaotic cascade of silk against the white sheets. She was curled up beside me, her breathing soft and steady, her lashes fluttering faintly as though she were lost in a pleasant dream.My chest tightened as I took her in, her delicate face still carrying the faintest flush from the night before. The memory of her—every gasp, every shiver, every broken moan—came rushing back to me, making it impossible to look away. She had been mine in every way last night, and the thought that I had been her first was something I couldn’t shake. Carefully, so as not to wake her, I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against her forehead. Her lips parted in her sleep, and I smiled at the innocence of the gesture.“Y
LIANA’S POVThe golden rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, falling across my face and pulling me from sleep. I shifted slightly, my limbs heavy with exhaustion, and as I tried to move, a sharp ache flared in my lower half. I froze, letting out a soft yelp as my hand instinctively gripped the sheets for support.Every muscle in my body protested the simple act of sitting up, and the soreness in places I hadn’t even realized could ache made me wince. My mind raced as I struggled to make sense of the discomfort, and then it hit me all at once—the memory of last night came crashing down like a tidal wave.Reed. His hands, his lips, the way his voice whispered my name like a prayer. My breath hitched as fragments of the night replayed in my mind, vivid and searing. I could still feel the heat of his body against mine, the way he’d held me so close, his touch both gentle and commanding. The ache wasn’t just physical—it was a reminder. A reminder of how he’d taken care of me, ho
SERAPHINE’S POVThe sunlight streaming through the large windows of my office was warm against my skin, but it did nothing to ease the chill that had settled in my chest. I sat rigidly in my chair, my eyes fixed on the open door like a hawk stalking prey, waiting. Watching. The steady tick of the clock on the wall was the only sound that filled the room, each second grating on my nerves.She hadn’t passed by.I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the desk as I clasped my hands together, my fingers twisting with restless energy. My thoughts swirled like a storm, refusing to settle. What if she really was my daughter? My throat tightened as the possibility loomed larger with every passing moment. I knew I had my convictions that she was my child but what if she truly turned out to be my child.How would I protect her? If she truly was mine, I couldn’t allow her to stay here, surrounded by danger, where Kade’s shadow loomed over everything, where Maddox was now in on the look for her. I
REED’S POVThe conference hall was colder than usual. The hum of three industrial air conditioners filled the massive room, but the chill didn’t affect me as I walked in alongside Callum, Asher, and Malcolm. My gaze swept across the room, taking in the tense faces of our employees seated around the expansive table. No one dared to speak as we entered, their collective breaths seemingly held in anticipation of what was to come.I took my seat at the head of the table, flanked by my brothers and Malcolm. I couldn’t show any sign of the turmoil brewing inside me. As Alpha, I couldn’t afford to crack—not now, not ever. If I did, it would ripple through the pack like poison. They were depending on me to lead, to keep them safe. And right now, the stolen Silver Blade threatened everything we held dear. Clearing my throat, I leaned forward, placing my forearms on the table. My eyes scanned the room, locking briefly with each employee before I spoke. “I know we all understand the gravity of
KADE’S POVThe amber liquid swirled in my glass as I leaned back in the leather chair, my other hand running along the coarse, black fur of my beast. The creature growled low in its throat, but I knew better than to make it for aggression. It was loyalty—twisted, primal, and absolute. A hybrid of a wolf and a panther, bred through dark magic, it was as feral and monstrous as the soul that fed it. It lay at my feet, its glowing red eyes watching the flames dance in the fireplace. The castle was eerily silent, save for the occasional crackle of firewood. I preferred the solitude, though this evening, it felt heavier, as if the shadows themselves had decided to whisper in my ear. My grip on the glass tightened as my thoughts turned to her. Lila.My darling Lila. I’d sent her to retrieve the Silver Blade, knowing it was in the possession of those Bennett brothers. Years of patience and calculation had brought me to this moment, and I wasn’t about to let Reed Bennett or his self-righteou
FOUR MONTHS LATERThe morning sun streamed through the sheer white curtains, casting a golden glow over the grand dining hall. The long wooden table was set with an elaborate spread—pancakes drizzled with honey, fresh berries, and a steaming pot of coffee. The scent of roasted bacon and buttered toast wafted through the air, making my stomach grumble in anticipation. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my swollen belly as I listened to the chatter around me. It had been four months since everything changed—four months since I had finally found my place, my home, my family. Reed sat to my right, his hand lazily tracing circles on my wrist as he spoke with Callum and Asher. My husband. The words still felt surreal, as if saying them would wake me from a dream. The mate bond between us had only grown stronger since our wedding, the kind of connection I once thought I would never have. “Callum can you please hand her another plate, it’s been five minutes since she asked for it,” Reed bl
ELIANA’S POVThe first thing I felt was warmth.Not the suffocating heat of fear or the numbing cold of rejection—just a steady, comforting warmth. It wrapped around my hand, grounding me before my mind could even piece together where I was.Slowly, I forced my eyes open.Blurry. Unfocused. The light overhead was too bright, making me wince. I blinked rapidly, willing my vision to adjust.Where am I? The ceiling above me was a bit familiar. The room smelled different, too—clean, with a faint hint of something I couldn’t quite place. Not the musky, indifferent scent of the packhouse I had come to despise. Then where…?And then it hit me. The pain. The sharp, unbearable pain that had gripped my body before I collapsed. My breath hitched as the memories flooded back—the searing agony, my vision darkening at the edges, the sound of my name being called in panic. Reed. Asher. My hand shot to my stomach. Still round. Still full. A shuddering breath escaped me. My baby. My baby was s
MALCOLM’S POVThe air in the room was suffocating.Not because of the space—we had more than enough of that in this damn house—but because of the weight of everything pressing down on us. The truth. The guilt. The realization that we had shattered something that could never fully be put back together.Callum and I talked on the way back home, but nothing could’ve prepared us for what we were walking into. Eliana was upstairs, unconscious. Reed had carried her in like she was the most precious thing in the world, like losing her would rip his soul apart. And it would.Because of us.Because we had believed what we wanted to believe. Because we had ignored the truth. Because we had taken the pieces of a story that suited our anger and ran with it—dragging Reed down with us. And now? Now, all we could do was sit in this damn living room, suffocating in our own regret while Asher paced like a man on the verge of shattering. His hands ran through his hair, gripping at the strands. His
REED’S POVI didn’t think. I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t wait for permission. The moment I saw her—Eliana, crumpled in the doorway, her body trembling, her skin pale and damp with sweat—everything else ceased to exist.I was at her side before my mind could even catch up, scooping her into my arms. She was so light. Too light.Her breath was uneven, shallow, her body barely responding.“Asher,” I barked, my voice tight with urgency. “We’re taking her out here.”He was already ahead of me, moving fast, clearing the way as I carried her through the castle halls. I didn’t care about the whispers, the wide eyes of pack members watching us go. I didn’t give a damn about their judgment or their curiosity. They had failed her. They had stood by while she was beaten, humiliated, starved. And now, she was barely clinging to life because of them. I would not fail her too. We reached the car, and I slid into the backseat with her cradled against me. Her head lolled against my chest, her face
ELIANA’S POVPain.It started as a dull ache, twisting deep in my stomach. I barely noticed it at first. My body had endured so much these past months—hunger, exhaustion, bruises, the sharp sting of words meant to break me. What was one more pain added to the pile?I thought maybe it was the weight of my dress, the heavy fabric pressing against my skin. That had to be it.I forced myself to stand, my fingers trembling as I reached for the laces of the gown. Each breath I took felt shallow, strained, but I ignored it. I just needed to change. Get comfortable. Then the pain would go away. I peeled off the dress, my breath catching as the cool air kissed my overheated skin. My body ached everywhere, my muscles screaming in protest. Slowly, I slipped into a loose gown, something softer, something that didn’t suffocate me. But the pain didn’t stop. I pressed a hand to my stomach. My heart pounded against my ribs. This was different. A sharp, searing pain shot through me, knocking the
REED’S POVI didn’t know what to do.My body felt too heavy, my mind too loud. I wanted to scream, to rip at my skin until I felt something other than this suffocating regret. But nothing would change. No matter how much I hurt, no matter how much I wanted to turn back time, I couldn’t undo what I’d done.She hated me.I’d called her a whore.I’d let my rage speak louder than reason, and now I had lost her in a way that I wasn’t sure I could ever fix. Eliana had always been strong, but the woman I had just seen—this new version of her—she was unshakable. And I had pushed her there. I had driven her to the point where she didn’t just refuse to listen to me; she didn’t even care to. I pressed my hands against my face, dragging them down slowly. My chest burned, and the weight in my throat grew unbearable. I tried to swallow it down, but it rose like bile, hot and acidic. I sucked in a sharp breath, but it didn’t help. Then, before I could stop it, my vision blurred. A warm line of w
ELIANA’S POVThe dress felt heavier than it should have.Silk, soft against my skin, clean, free of blood—yet I still felt stained.I adjusted the cuffs of my sleeves as I walked down the corridor leading to the Grand Hall, my heels clicking against the polished floor. The path felt longer than usual, the air thick with tension, but I kept my head high. There would be no sign of weakness tonight.The investors were waiting. So was Ronan. My godforsaken Beta.The doors to the Grand Hall were already open when I arrived. The room was grand, high ceilings adorned with golden chandeliers, the long table in the center lined with crisp documents, and men and women dressed in sharp suits. Humans. Our potential business partners. My people were gathered too. The elders, the council, warriors standing at the edges like silent shadows. Asher was seated at one end, his expression unreadable. Raiden was on the opposite side, his arms crossed, eyes trained on me the second I entered. And then
ASHER’S POVI was losing my mind.Hours had passed since she walked out, and no one knew where the hell she was.I should have stopped her. I should have gone after her the second she stepped out with that bloodied gown clinging to her like a second skin. But I hadn’t. I’d been too stunned, too fucking caught up in my own emotions to move. Now, she was out there—alone, hurt, and wearing the same damn nightgown she almost died in. My hands curled into fists as I stormed across the main hall. Every available pack member was searching for her. Even Ronan, despite his silence, was out there looking. The elders were restless. Not because they cared about her, but because of the investors meeting. “Find her, now,” one of them growled at the warriors. “We cannot afford to miss this deal over one reckless woman.” I clenched my jaw. She wasn’t just a woman. She was their Alpha. My wife. Or at least, she had been. And they still spoke about her like she was nothing. I exhaled sharply, s
CALLUM POV The sheets were soft. The woman beneath me, softer. She moaned against my mouth, her fingers tangled in my hair as her bare thighs tightened around my waist. I smirked, trailing kisses down the curve of her throat, my hands gliding over smooth, warm skin. “You’re insatiable,” she purred, her nails dragging lightly over my shoulders. I chuckled. “And you love it.” She didn’t argue. My lips traced down her collarbone, my fingers dipping lower when— Knock. Knock. Knock. I froze. The woman beneath me let out an irritated groan. “Ignore it.” I wanted to. Fuck, I really wanted to. But whoever was at the door was persistent. Knock. Knock. Knock.I clenched my jaw, pressing my forehead against hers with an exhausted sigh.“This better be good,” I muttered. Then, raising my voice, I barked, “Who the fuck is that?” There was a pause before a familiar voice answered. “It’s me, sir.” I sighed again. Benson. My butler. The man had impeccable timing. “What do you want?”