Alpha Nathan's POV“I can’t,” I said, my voice rough with emotion. “I won’t.”Her hands slammed against the table, and she rose to her feet, her eyes blazing with frustration. “Why? Why are you doing this? Is this about control? About possession? You don’t love me, Nathan. You never did.”“That’s not true,” I said fiercely, standing as well. My voice echoed in the room, louder than I intended. “I did love you, Benita. I do love you.”She froze, her lips parting in shock. For a moment, she just stared at me as if trying to decipher the truth in my words. Then she laughed—a bitter, broken sound that made my chest ache.“I fell in love with you without realizing it,” I said, my voice low and strained. I took a cautious step toward her. “I’m sorry. For everything. For how I treated you.”Benita let out another bitter laugh, her arms folded across her chest. “Why now, Nathan? Why are you apologizing after all these years?” she asked, her voice sharp. “I’m still the same—still plus-size, st
Alpha Nathan’s POV Her admission hit me like a blow, and my wolf snarled in my mind. “You knew? And you didn't tell me?” “I didn't tell you because I didn't trust you, Nathan,” she replied, her tone calm. “Benita needed to be safe, and I wasn’t sure you could provide that. Not after everything that happened.” I took a step closer, my jaw tightening. “So you helped her escape?” “Yes,” she admitted without hesitation. “I helped her disappear. And I'd do it again if it meant protecting her and Theo.” Her words ignited anger I hadn’t felt in years, but beneath the anger was a deep, gnawing guilt. “You had no right to keep my son from me,” I growled. “Or to decide what was best for Benita without consulting me.” Aunt Anne's eyes narrowed. “I had every right. You broke her, Nathan. You treated her like she was nothing, and when she finally found the strength to leave, I made sure she could. She was pregnant, Nathan, and she was so scared you would force her to abort the child. I, myse
Benita’s POVOpening my eyes, I was greeted by the sight of Theo deep in conversation with Alpha Nathan. The mere sight of them together made my heart flutter nervously.“Mother, you’re awake!” Theo’s voice brimmed with excitement as he rushed to hug me. I wrapped my arms around him, holding him tightly before gently pulling away to sit up, resting my back and head against the headboard.Are you fully recovered? Do you need anything?” Theo asked eagerly, his concern for me obvious in his eyes. I responded with a faint smile, not trusting my voice just yet.“Mate!” Olivia, my wolf, howled in my head. Her sudden outburst made me frown, and my gaze instinctively shifted to Alpha Nathan. Our eyes locked, and for the first time since we’d crossed paths again, I allowed myself to truly see the breathtaking man seated beside me.At twenty-nine, Alpha Nathan had grown more striking than I remembered. Time had refined him, sculpting the boy I once knew into a man who commanded attention effort
Benita’s POV “So, Theo, tell me, would you like a room on one of the lower floors?” Nathan asked, his tone brimming with enthusiasm. I frowned instantly. “We’re not staying here long, so there’s no need for Theo to have a separate room,” I countered sharply. Nathan’s lips parted as if to argue, but he thought better of it and nodded. There was no way I was letting my son out of my sight, not even for a moment. You must be hungry. I’ve already asked the cook to prepare something,” Nathan announced, his voice laced with forced cheerfulness. I barely spared him a glance before looking at Theo. My son sat silently, his wide, curious eyes darting between us. The sight made my heart ache. No child should have to witness the broken shards of their parents’ relationship displayed so blatantly. But what could I do? This was the reality we had to live with. “Alpha Nathan,” Theo’s voice broke the silence as he addressed Nathan directly. His young, steady tone carried a weight that caught bot
Benita’s POV A knock landed on the door, and without being told, I knew it was Nathan. I frowned, wondering what he wanted this time. Pushing the door open, I found him standing before me. His eyes locked onto mine instantly, and I glared at him. “It’s 9 PM, Alpha Nathan. What do you want?” I asked in an annoyed tone, but he didn’t seem bothered by my attitude. Is Theo asleep already?” he asked. I continued to glare at him but nodded reluctantly. “Yes. Is there a problem?” Nathan sighed and remained silent for a moment before speaking. “I just came to inform you that the sick pack members will be in the courtyard by 8 AM,” he announced. I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief. “Who would have thought that the same girl they once screamed should be hanged would be the one to save their lives someday?” I sighed and folded my arms. “Is that all?” I asked, raising a brow. Nathan hesitated, taking a step closer until only a few inches separated us. “I looked for you everywhere, Be
Benita's POV“Mother,” I whispered under my breath, staring at her in disbelief. She was a shadow of the woman I once knew.“Mother,” I whispered again, my voice trembling, unsure if it was from anger or shock. She stood there, frail and thin, her once sharp eyes now dulled with exhaustion. But the coldness I remembered—the hatred that had shaped my childhood—still lingered in her gaze. Even now, she still hated me. I vividly remembered the last time I saw her, standing outside my cell, wishing for my death.“Benita,” she said, her voice dry, almost cracking. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, she studied me as if I were a stranger. “You’ve returned.”I straightened my back, refusing to let her see how her presence rattled me. “Yes, I’m here,” I replied firmly. “Not that you ever cared whether I was gone or not.”Her lips twitched with pain. It seemed she was also affected by the illness. She looked around, her gaze brushing over the sick pack members gathered in the
Benita’s POV Nathan carried me like I weighed nothing, cradling me against his chest with ease. My breath hitched in surprise, but I was too drained to argue or push him away. The murmurs of the crowd grew louder as Nathan turned toward the pack house, his movements quick. “That’s enough for today,” he announced, his authoritative tone leaving no room for objections. “She’ll return tomorrow to continue the healing.” I barely registered his words, my body sagging against him as exhaustion consumed me. The healing process had taken more out of me than I expected. Pulling toxins from others and into myself wasn’t just painful; it was draining in a way I couldn’t describe. Nathan glanced down at me, his expression unreadable. “You should’ve stopped sooner,” he muttered under his breath, more to himself than to me. His voice, though low, carried a hint of concern I didn’t want to acknowledge. “I’m fine,” I mumbled weakly, though the weight of my own body said otherwise. My eyelids flu
Benita's POV“Where is Theo?!” I demanded, my voice trembling with panic as I clutched Nathan’s shirt tighter. My heart raced wildly, and every possible worst-case scenario flashed through my mind.Nathan’s brows furrowed as he placed his hands gently over mine, trying to calm me down. “Benita, breathe,” he said softly, his eyes filled with confusion. “Theo’s isn’t gone. We’ll find him. He might have wandered off.”“Wandered off?!” I snapped, shaking my head as tears threatened to fall. “He’s a child, Nathan! He wouldn’t just disappear without someone seeing him!” My voice cracked as I released his shirt, turning to scan the room, searching for any sign of my son.Nathan stepped in front of me, his hands on my shoulders this time, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Listen to me,” he said firmly, his eyes locked onto mine. “I’ll call the guards to start searching. We’ll find him. I promise.”I glared at him. “Tell me you don’t have a hand in this! Did you ask your men to hide him? You want
Lagertha’s POV “I have been able to see for a very long time.” I drop the bombshell, my heart pounding rapidly. For a moment, Theo stood speechless, his confused but stunned eyes on me. He was looking at me as if waiting for me to laugh and say I was joking, but I didn’t. Rather, my eyes remained focused on him. “Theo… say something.” I whispered nervously, waiting for him to explode, to yell at me for not telling him the truth sooner. But he didn’t. Rather, he just remained numb, staring right at me. I could see the confusion, the questions, and the disbelief in his eyes, But the anger I had feared? It wasn’t there. Slowly, Theo raised his hand, holding up two fingers. I didn’t need him to speak to understand what he was asking. “Two fingers.” I responded. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, his hands balling into fists at his sides. He took a step back, putting distance between us. “ When?" His voice was too calm, too measured. And that terrified me more than if he
Lila's POV Rage, like fire, exploded inside me. So this was it—this was why he wanted me! To be a fucking breeder? I, Lila Luciano, a fucking breeder! These two people had it all planned. This was why he wanted me. Not because of love. Not because of fate. Not even because he saw me as his equal. But because he wanted an heir. Because he needed me to be a fucking breeder. I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms, my wolf snarling inside me. My vision blurred at the edges as my anger boiled over. Morgan watched me carefully, her expression unreadable. She had said everything so calmly, as if this wasn’t the most humiliating, disgusting truth I’d ever heard in my life. I forced myself to breathe, to swallow the bitter rage inside me. "So that’s it?” My voice came out sharp, trembling with fury. “That’s the reason you’re so willing to give up? Because you can’t give him a son, so now I have to?” Morgan didn’t flinch. “It’s more than that, Lila.”
Lagertha's POV I woke up to the voice of Theo. Opening my eyes, I saw him at the window. He was wearing only a pair of boxers, his body bare, and a phone pressed to his ear. “Yes, we will be there in the next two hours,” he said to the person on the other end of the call. I furrowed my brow but remained still on the bed. “She’s still sleeping. Once she wakes up, we’ll be on our way. Just keep everything ready, and please—no mistakes.” That was when I realized he was talking to the doctor. “You have to tell him now,” my wolf urged, and I swallowed hard. I was just scared of telling him that I could still see. “Alright, thank you.” Theo ended the call, and that was when he turned around and realized I was awake. A big, bright smile spread across his face, which made me frown. Who smiles like that when they’re about to lose one of their eyes? “You’re awake.” I nodded and sat up on the bed. Theo’s smile didn’t waver as he strode toward me, his bare chest catching the so
Lagertha’s POV Finally, the pilot announced that we were landing in five minutes. Where I was in Theo’s arms, I sucked in a deep breath, but my eyes were still closed. All through the journey, I was rested in his arms. Theo didn’t move me away, not even once. It felt strange, almost unreal, to be held like this, as if I belonged there. As if he didn’t mind. The moment the plane touched the ground, a small jolt ran through my body, but Theo’s grip around me tightened slightly, steadying me. His warmth seeped into me, making it harder to pull away. “We’ve landed,” he murmured, his voice low and steady. I forced my heavy eyelids open and blinked against the light filtering through the windows. My body felt stiff from staying in one position for so long, but I wasn’t ready to move just yet. Theo finally shifted, but instead of letting me go completely, his fingers trailed down my arm before he withdrew. I swallowed, pushing down the sudden loss of his warmth. “We should get go
Lila’s POV As I stepped into the hallway, I tried to push down the heaviness settling in my chest. The guard who had spoken earlier bowed slightly and gestured toward the main hall, where Alpha Grey and his wife were waiting. My stomach twisted as I forced my feet to move, each step feeling heavier. I was scared, worried about how this would turn out, worried that Oscar would give me up, but I was not willing to give up on him. But what if this gets heated, and I am forced to be with Grey? I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. By the time I reached the main hall, my heart was racing. The moment I stepped inside, my eyes found him. Alpha Grey stood tall, his presence commanding as ever. His eyes flickered toward me the second I entered, sharp and unreadable. And beside him, his wife stood with a soft smile, her delicate hand resting on his arm. My frown deepened. Why was she smiling? Did she even know why she was here? I moved closer to them and stood before Grey a
Lila's POV “Can you please calm down?” I pleaded with Oscar, who was pacing aimlessly in his room. But he ignored me and kept pacing around. Feeling worried, I moved closer to him and held his wrist. At first, I thought he would withdraw my hand from his, but he didn’t. Rather, he turned around and faced me. Our eyes met, and I could see he was worried, but he was also angry. “For how long did you know?” he asked. His voice was calm, but I could feel the pain in it. It was as if I had betrayed him. I swallowed hard. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, searching his gaze for understanding. Oscar shook his head. “How long, Lila?” he pressed, his jaw tightening. Nervously, I bit my lip and tucked my hair behind my ear—an old habit, one I’d picked up from my mother. We both did this whenever we were nervous or shy. “Two days ago,” I responded, my voice so low that I could barely hear it, but I knew Oscar heard it. His frown deepened, and he exhaled sharply. “Two fucking days,” he growled. “
Oscar’s POV “Alpha Grey and a few men are at the border, requesting access. He says he’s here to visit the royal family,” a border guard informed me through the mind link. I frowned, wondering why Alpha Grey was paying a visit to the royal family. As far as I knew, he had no ties to them. In fact, he had never set foot in this pack before. I had only seen him once during a conference, and I was certain he had no close relationship with Theo. So why was he here now? “How many men are with him?” I asked through the mind link. “Just three,” the guard replied. I nodded. That meant it was likely a friendly visit. “Let them through,” I instructed before ending the link. Turning to the young wolves I had been training, I announced, “We’ll pause here for today.” They all bowed as I walked away. Leaving the combat grounds, I made my way to the main mansion. As I stepped into the sitting room, I found my godfather, Sir Nathan, seated with an iPad in his hands. “Godfather,” I called, cat
Theo’s POV Our luggage was packed in the trunk of the car, and every member of my family was in the living room, waiting for Mother to bring Lagertha downstairs. Last night, when Mother had told me Lagertha had accepted the transplant, I was so relieved. For once, I had been scared she wouldn’t agree, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to force her into something she didn’t want. I looked at my family, noting the worried expressions on their faces—not because they didn’t want me to give an eye to Lagertha, but because they feared complications during the surgery. I, on the other hand, wasn’t scared. This was a decision I had made, and even if there was a 70% chance of complications on my end, I would still go through with it. Soon, footsteps echoed from the stairs, and the alluring scent of Lagertha hit my nose. Her smell reached me before she did—a soothing mix of fresh honey, nutmeg, and something uniquely her. I inhaled deeply, my heart pounding as my eyes locked onto her. She
Lagertha’s POV When Ma’am Benita and I arrived in my room, neither of us spoke. We just sat on the bed, lost in our own thoughts. I, on the other hand, couldn’t stop thinking about Theo and the decision he had just made. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine he would be willing to donate one of his eyes just so I could see again. It was a sacrifice I never thought anyone would make for me—least of all Alpha Theo, the man I had believed hated me. “He loves you,” Ma’am Benita finally spoke, breaking the silence. I swallowed hard, not able to argue about it and also not able to believe it. But it was the truth. Alpha Theo loves me. Mother Agatha said it, and now Ma’am Benita was saying the same thing. She studied me with careful eyes. “What will you do now?” I looked away, my hands twisting in my lap. I didn’t know what to do. But one thing was certain—we had to tell the truth. I could see now. There was no reason for Theo to go through with the transplant. “You know we have to