Benita's POV I shook my head in disbelief, my eyes glued to the DNA test results in my trembling hands. This can’t be true. My chest tightened with confusion and questions. “How is this possible?” I murmured. “Lila… my daughter? I was never pregnant with twins.” Nathan moved over to me and took the DNA result from my hands. I watched him glance at it, confusion evident in his eyes. He looked up at me, searching for answers I didn’t have. I couldn’t explain how a DNA result could claim I was Lila’s mother. “I can’t explain this,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “The DNA test says I’m her mother, but… it doesn’t make sense. How could I not know? I only gave birth to one child—Theo.” “There has to be a mistake,” I added desperately, though deep down, a nagging feeling told me there was more to this. A piece of the puzzle was missing. “Benita, this is not a mistake. Lila and Theo are twins. Didn’t you know you were carrying twins?” Uncle Kent asked. I shook my head. “I was never
Nathan’s POV My blood ran cold as I clenched the phone in my fist, careful not to destroy it. “Nathan… what do we… do?” Benita asked in fear, tears falling freely down her cheeks. My heart sank, and it pained me so much to see her this heartbroken. My wolf was howling angrily in my head, urging me to do something. “Let me take a proper look at it,” Xavier said, and I handed the phone to him while he replayed the video. I looked in Darius’s direction as he stood, waiting for my order. But I didn’t know what order to give. I had already sent men and trackers to track Lila and Theo’s scent through their clothes, but I hadn’t gotten any positive results yet. “I need a system. Let me see if I can track the location through the video sent,” Xavier said, and I nodded. “Please come with me to my study,” I said, but just then, the men I had asked to fetch Nina’s parents brought them in. I turned and glared at them. They seemed confused and frightened. “I will ask a question, and all
Benita’s POV We reached the abandoned warehouse Xavier had tracked as Nina’s hideout. Nathan and the other men we came with parked the car, and we got out, tension thick in the air. He raised a hand, signaling for us to move quietly. “Stay close and follow me,” Nathan whispered, his voice cautious but low. We moved cautiously toward the large metal doors of the warehouse, my heart pounding harder with each step we took. When we reached the door, Nathan stepped forward, his jaw clenched and rage burning in his eyes. Without hesitation, he rammed his shoulder into the door. It burst open with a loud crash, and I couldn’t help but marvel at his strength. We entered the dimly lit space, and the sight before us made my heart stop. Nina stood in the center of the room, holding a gun. Her hands trembled as she aimed it directly at Theo and Lila, who were tied up and crying on the floor. “Don’t come any closer!” Nina screamed, her voice filled with panic and anger. I froze, my eyes lock
Benita’s POV I furrowed my brow confused. Nina was at the hospital the day I gave birth? I never saw her. Nina continued, a wicked grin stretching across her face. “As luck would have it, the doctors were on strike that day, and Only Mark and two other doctors were left to handle patients. The other doctors were attending to different patients, leaving Mark to handle you,” she sneered. My eyes widened as realization hit me—Nina’s husband was the doctor who had delivered me. Everything was beginning to make sense. Pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. “I lied to Mark,” Nina continued with venom in her tone. “I told him you did unspeakable things to me, and he believed me without question. Mark loves me so much, he would do anything I asked.” Her smirk grew even darker. “So, I told him what I wanted—both you and your baby dead. And he agreed.” I gasped, my wolf howling with rage. My eyes remained fixed on my children, where I noticed Theo was halfway through loosening his bi
Alpha Nathan’s POV The moment we arrived at the mansion, Benita flew out of the car with anger I had never witnessed before. Her body seemed almost otherworldly as she stormed to the vehicle where Darius was carefully carrying Nina out. With a strength that caught even me off guard, Benita wrenched the car door open and yanked Nina out by her hair. “You bitch!” Benita screamed, her voice cracking with raw emotion. “You had the guts to hurt my daughter?” Nina barely had a moment to react before Benita slammed her head against the car door, the sound of the impact making even Darius flinch. Nina cried out, clawing at Benita’s arms, but it was useless. Benita was relentless. “You think you can just walk away after what you did?!” Benita growled, her grip on Nina’s hair tightening as she dragged her toward the mansion. I didn’t stop her. I couldn’t. There was a feral rage in her that even my wolf respected—a mother’s wrath unleashed. Benita shoved Nina against the stone wall by t
Benita’s POVAfter dinner, it was time to put the kids to bed.“Can we sleep in the same room?” Lila asked, her voice barely above a whisper.“Of course,” I said. “Let’s get you both settled.”They followed me upstairs, their hands tightly clasped together. I led them to the room I shared with Theo, where the bed was big enough for both of them to sleep comfortably.Once they were tucked under the covers, I sat on the edge of the bed and leaned down to kiss each of them on the forehead.“I’m sorry for what happened today,” I said softly. “I can only imagine how terrifying it must have been for you both.”Lila shook her head quickly. “No, Mommy. Actually, I’m glad it happened,” she said, her small voice filled with an innocent kind of resolve. “If it didn’t, I wouldn’t have known Aunt Nina stole me from you.”Her words took me by surprise, her tone almost cheerful.“Don’t worry, Mom. We’re fine,” Theo assured me.I nodded, feeling a swell of pride for their strength.“Lila, my dear,” I
Benita's POV He stared at me with miserable eyes, and my heart clenched painfully. What could they have said to him to leave him looking so broken? “Nathan, talk to me. What did they say? What did they do?” I asked, my voice rising in panic and worry. For a moment, he held my gaze, and I thought he was going to say something. His lips parted, but instead of speaking, he sighed heavily and shook his head. Then, without a word, he raised the beer bottle to his lips and took another long gulp. Frustration bubbled inside me. I couldn’t stand to see him like this. Without thinking, I snatched the bottle from his hand. “Benita,” he groaned, his voice filled with annoyance, but I ignored him and set the bottle aside. “Nathan, talk to me!” I pressed, my voice firmer this time. “What did they say to you? What could have possibly made a man like you—an Alpha—look so defeated?” His jaw tightened, and he turned his head away, refusing to meet my gaze. “I’m tired,” he muttered after a
Benita's POV “Tomorrow, they will tell you themselves." Those words echoed in my mind all night. I couldn’t get them off my mind for even a minute. Even now, as I was getting ready to attend the trial, I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever they wanted to tell me wouldn’t be good. Like something, I wouldn’t want to hear. “You don’t have to worry about it. Just wait until after the trial and see what they’ll say,” my wolf tried calming me with those words, but it wasn’t helping. I was still so eager to know could have driven Nathan to that broken state. Just as I was struggling to zip my dress from behind, a knock came on the door, and by the alluring and intoxicating smell, I knew it was Alpha Nathan. “Come in,” I called, not bothering to turn around. The door opened with a soft creak, and Nathan stepped inside. Dressed in a fitted black suit, his jet-black hair perfectly in place, he looked every inch the formidable Alpha. But no matter how well he hid it, I could stil
Lagertha’s POVToday was the Goddess Festival, a night where wolves gathered under the full moon to celebrate the Moon Goddess. It was one of the biggest events in every pack, and for me, it would be the night I finally unite Oscar and Lila. My plan was simple.After dressing in one of the elegant gowns Beta Oscar had gifted me, I tied my hair into a ponytail and slipped on my footwear. Taking one last look at my reflection, I whispered to myself, “You can do this.” Tonight, I was going to tell the family the truth. Not the whole truth, but just enough. They might be disappointed, but it was better than living a lie.“Do you think it will go well?” my wolf’s worried voice echoed in my head.“Hopefully, it does,” I sighed, grabbing the white envelopes from my bed. Inside each one was a letter explaining that Oscar and I could not marry. I made sure to take the blame, writing that it wasn’t Oscar’s fault—that I had begged him to marry me, so I wouldn’t remain an outcast. But I couldn’t
Lagetha's POVI needed to speak with Beta Oscar about our next plan, so I decided to meet him in his room. I knew he had been there all day, probably drowning himself in work.Reaching his door, I knocked, but there was no response. I knocked again, and this time, I heard the sound of slow, heavy footsteps from inside. When the door finally swung open, Beta Oscar stood before me, looking like a shadow of himself. His hair was a mess, as if he had been running his hands through it repeatedly. His eyes—though dry—were swollen, evidence that he had been crying.For a moment, I couldn’t speak. I didn’t know what to say. When he realized I wasn’t going to, he left the door open and turned away, silently inviting me in.Confused, I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. My gaze landed on him again—he was now seated on the couch, a glass of whiskey in his hand. My stomach twisted when I noticed the empty bottles scattered on the table and how the room smelled of alcohol.My concern de
Alpha Theo’s POV “What did you just say?” I asked, barely able to believe what Lila had just told me. She shrugged. “I accepted Dominic’s proposal.” “No… you didn’t.” I cut her off, my voice sharp with disbelief. I wanted to say more, but I didn’t want anyone eavesdropping on our conversation. Without another word, I took her hand and led her toward my study. Once inside, I shut the door firmly and turned to face her. “What do you think you’re doing?” I asked, my voice low but demanding. “What I should have done a long time ago,” she replied blankly, folding her arms across her chest. “Dominic? You don’t even like him. He’s been chasing after you for years, and you’ve never shown the slightest interest. What changed? Is this because of Lagertha and Oscar?” I asked, already knowing the answer. Lila swallowed hard, her gaze shifting away from me. She seemed lost in thought for a moment before she finally spoke. “It’s useless to keep hoping that one day he’ll love me when it
Alpha Theo’s POV I led her deeper into the woods, the crunch of leaves beneath our feet the only sound between us. When we reached a clearing, I finally turned to face her, a smirk playing at my lips. Lagertha stood tense, her expression nervous, her arms wrapped protectively around herself. The fear in her eyes sent an unexpected pain through my chest. Did she truly think I would hurt her? “Why did you bring me here? So you can kill me in silence?” she asked, her voice steady despite the fear flickering in her gaze. I scoffed, slipping both hands into my pant pockets. “And yet, you followed me?” She frowned and parted her lips to say something, but no words came out. Rather, she kept staring at me with that look of anger, but even in her angry state, I found her so cute! “Why are we here?” she asked finally. I tilted my head. “To see your wolf.” Her frown deepened. “I’m not showing you my wolf.” I scoffed and took a step closer. “Yes, you will. We have a deal, remember?” I s
Alpha Theo’s POVI could see the terrified look in her eyes as she waited for my command. There were so many things I wanted to demand of her—to ask her to call off her marriage with Oscar. Why would she want to marry a man she didn’t even love? I wanted to ask her to stop taking my breath away, to stop smelling so intoxicatingly alluring that I couldn’t control myself or my wolf. I wanted to tell her to stop making me feel this way—the unbearable urge to claim her, to mark her.For God’s sake, I was supposed to hate her. What the hell was happening to me?Composing myself, I looked at her, considering my next move. I needed to give her a task, something she couldn’t refuse. Then, something clicked in my mind.Her wolf.I hadn’t seen her wolf yet. And damn it, my wolf was growing restless, desperate to see it.“In twenty minutes, leave the mansion and wait for me outside,” I ordered.Lagertha’s brows furrowed. “Why?”I scoffed. “You’ll find out later. Now, unless you want to stand the
Lagertha’s POV “I'm so happy for you, Leggy. You deserve to be happy." Mother Lagertha had been buzzing with excitement all morning as we prepared breakfast. She seemed absolutely thrilled, going on and on about the wedding—about how Beta Oscar would be the perfect husband for me. I felt bad, knowing all of this was just an act. “Lagertha, Alpha Theo requests that you bring him a cup of coffee in his room.” One of the guards’ voices cut through my thoughts. A frown tugged at my lips, and my wolf huffed inside me. With a heavy sigh, I prepared the coffee just the way Theo liked it, grabbed the tray, and left the kitchen. When I reached his door, I hesitated before knocking, my pulse quickening as his intoxicating scent wrapped around me. “It’s open,” his deep voice called from inside, softer than usual, none of the usual harshness in his tone. Taking a steadying breath, I pushed the door open, stepped inside, and closed it behind me. Turning around, I met him standing at the
Lagertha’s POV I took a deep breath and stared at my reflection in the mirror. “You can do this, Lagertha,” I whispered, trying to steady my nerves. My wolf stirred within me. “Calm down. It's just a family dinner,” she soothed. But she was wrong. This wasn’t just any family dinner. It was my first time sitting at the same table with Oscar’s parents, Theo’s parents, Oscar’s siblings, Theo’s siblings, Theo and Oscar—all in one room. And I had to pretend to be in love with Oscar, right in front of Alpha Theo. My mate. It was a huge task. “You can do this," my wolf encouraged again. I exhaled deeply, forcing myself to push aside my emotions. Straightening my dress, I left my room and walked down the long hallway. My heart pounded with each step. The mansion was eerily quiet, aside from the faint clinking of dishes coming from the dining hall. The scent of roasted meat and warm spices filled the air, but it did nothing to settle my nerves. As I reached the entrance of th
Alpha Theo’s POV Lila stiffened beside me, her discomfort obvious in the way she tensed. I could feel the weight of her pain pressing down on both of us, but she kept her expression carefully blank. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay composed, to not let my own emotions betray me. “They had to step out,” I said evenly, keeping my voice devoid of the frustration clawing at my insides. “Oscar had some business to handle, and Lagertha went with him.” It was a lie. I had no idea where they were. Mother’s brow furrowed slightly, but she nodded. “I see. Well, we’ll have to see them soon. The wedding preparations must be keeping them busy. I heard it’s happening in two weeks,” Mother announced, and my brows furrowed. “Two weeks?” I asked in panic, unable to control it. Mother furrowed her brow and gave me a suspicious look. “Yes… do you have a problem with that?” she asked, and where I stood, my heart sank. My furious wolf howling loudly in my head. Not getting any response
Alpha Theo's POV I stood on the balcony, gripping the railing so tightly as I watched Lagertha step into the car with Oscar. Everything in me urged me to go downstairs and pull her away from him, but I forcefully forced myself to remain in place as I watched the car drive out of the mansion. “Do something,” my wolf growled angrily in my head, and I wished I knew what to do, but I was confused. Oscar had put me in a tight corner—I was cornered. The sound of my door creaking open pulled me from my thoughts. I turned, my chest tightening when I saw Lila walk in. Her green eyes—identical to mine—were red and swollen, her usually radiant face pale and lifeless. My protective instinct kicked in, and I rushed to her, gently holding her arms as I studied her pale face. “Lila, why are you crying? What happened?” I asked worriedly but also angrily. Lila’s tears had always been my weakness, and seeing her like this, utterly broken, shredded me from the inside out. Lila broke into a loud sob