Loraine’s POV Today is turning out to be ‘one of those days.’ Yeah. One of those days where I would work till my body became sore and I wish the ground opened and swallowed me. During the meeting in Alpha Hunter’s office, he had me introduced to a dark-haired beauty. Sasha. Her name fits her looks and personality. I guess that is why we got along quite well after just meeting for the first time. Sasha is engaged to Alpha Hunter’s beta, Maddox, whom I’m yet to meet because he is out on pack business on behalf of his Alpha. Once he’s back, Sasha assures me that they’ll start preparations for their marriage, which is after the ball. Anyway, back to why Alpha Hunter introduced Sasha and me and why I think today might be the worst day of my life, although I just met the most wholesome and down-to-earth female in the world? Well, that is because I not only have to tour Alpha Hunter’s pack settlement but the settlements belonging to his brothers as well, meet the pack women and assi
Loraine’s POV His fingers run down my skin slowly, stopping at my back. I want to resist and push him away, but I can’t. Not with how much my body wants this. My wolf wants it. Tingles burst in every part of my body, crippling the last bit of rationality that I am desperately clinging to. Of all the brothers, I’ve always thought Preston to be the most reserved, the least naughty. The one with all the brains and not just muscles, but I guess when it comes down to nature, a wolf would always be a wolf, and whether we try to fight it or not, our primal instincts will always take over. Mate. The only word that exists in my wolf’s vocabulary now. Whether she means that in terms of the bond that exists between us, the one clawing desperately, begging to be united with our better half or in another term, I have no idea, and I can barely wrap my head around anything at this point. Preston’s hand trailed everywhere before landing on my ass. He squeezed tight, causing me to whimper. T
Kris’ POV I am upset. Not quite, but after banging her door for more than thirty minutes and receiving no response, I am getting upset. I know she’s in there. My wolf is going crazy from her scent, and I feel tingles prickling my skin. Why the fuck is she not replying? My anger slowly metamorphoses into worry. What if she’s not alright? Hunter had informed us of an infiltration two days ago. One of his warriors had spotted someone, a spy, and we were yet to get hold of them. What if they have done something to her? My wolf goes berserk at that thought. “Loraine!” I scream. If she is hurt, won’t I feel it? I would have been able to if we had bonded, but since we are yet to do that, my senses and wolf are very limited to things that concern her. Worry claws at my chest, and I have made up my mind to kick the door in when it opens slowly and her beautiful head pops out. She flashes a disarming smile—as I said, disarming because all the anger and worry I felt only seconds ago me
Loraine’s POV Kris leads us to Alpha Hunters office, pulling me so I won’t get distracted by stuff along the way. I can’t be faulted because everything in the house is clamouring for my attention, and ignoring them is hard. We soon arrive at a mahogany door, and Kris gives me a minute to collect myself before pushing the door open and ushering us in. I gasp as three pairs of eyes stare back at us. The chilling silence causes goosebumps to rise in my skin, and my heart is beating to the point where I feel as though the world burst out of my chest. I gulp as I begin to feel the pull towards each of them. Fuck! Being with one brother is hard enough; being with all of them makes me feel as if I’m about to be torn to pieces. “Loraine.” Alpha Hunter’s voice is quite soft and polite. “You got my gift.” My lips break into a smile despite the war that’s raging inside me. I pinch the fabric of the dress in between my fingers and bend my knees in reverence. “I did, thank you.” “It fits
Hunter’s POV My wolf growled as soon as her scent hit us. The smell of lavender and cinnamon was so delicious that even my brothers were finding it hard to keep their wolves down. As soon as she steeped through the door, I knew I was a gone man. And now she’s acting like she owns us all. Fuck! If it isn’t sexy, hell. I fucking love this side of her that all I can think of is giving all of myself to her. Banging her left, right, and centre till her wolf screams my name. Shit, she owns me now, doesn’t she? After stating her demands, my brothers are yet to say a word. They are just as dumbstruck as I am. I can’t seem to be able to take my eyes off her. Heck! I don’t want to take my eyes off her. All I want is “Is that even an option?” Killian’s voice pulls me out of the phantasm of my mind, delivering me back into reality. I shudder, glancing around. Thankfully, none of my brothers noticed that I had been off for a second. “Can she choose herself? And not anyone of us? What hap
Hunter’s POV Fear flashes in my mate’s eyes, and her heat rushes up to my nose, eliciting a gut-wrenching growl from my wolf. All heads in the room bow to the ground, all except Sasha's, whose head is tilted towards the sky, and she’s now howling in pain. My first instincts are to protect my mate by getting her out of here, but she resists me, choosing to rush to Sasha’s side. I sigh, trying to reach my beta through the mind link, but fail. Frowning, I try again, growling in annoyance when I still can’t get through to him. Something’s not right. My wolf points out. “Beta’s mate.” I call out, using my alpha’s tone to ensure her attention. “What is this? What has happened?” Loraine pulls her to her feet, while the other women quickly bring water to wash out the blood in her hands. The blood, which I see now is from clawing at her skin, on the area below her chest. “Beta’s…” Loraine holds her hand up, shutting me up. She moves Sasha to a seat, drawing soothing circles on her b
Killian’s POV I can feel my brother’s anxiety even from a mile away, although he is concealing the other signs of his fears well. We arrived at the gate hours ago and have combed through every home, street, back alley, gambling house, and whatnot, but Beta Maddox is nowhere. No one seems to have seen or heard from him. I have a bad feeling about this. A depth in my gut that keeps clawing at me. Maddox might be dead, but Hunter wants us to hold out hope that we will find him alive. I know the bond he and Maddox share goes beyond friendship. They are more like brothers, and this must be really hard for him, still. I stiffen as I hear a voice through the mind link. It is low, like a flickering candle, but it's there. I think Hunter has heard it too because he comes running to me, his eyes wide open. “Did you hear it?” he asks, breathing heavily. Sweat has soaked through his shirt, causing it to glue to his skin and highlighting his bulging biceps. “It was unmistakable, right?
Loraine’s POV It's been three long days. Three days since Alpha Hunter took me to the celebration and then went after his beta. Three days since Sasha lost connection with her husband. Three days since I've had to look after her all the while also harbouring a fear of mine. If something has happened to them. I close my eyes and clench my fist. I cannot allow thoughts to trail to such dark places. If they were not okay, their brothers would have felt it. They have this sort of connection, a bond that exists between them, and so far, they have felt nothing. Nothing. That’s what has us worried. The fact that we have heard nothing from either Alpha Hunter or Alpha Killian for the past three days. They cannot even be reached through the mind link. Frustration is gnawing at me. the fact that I can do nothing but sit on my ads and wait while my mates are out there. I bit down my bottom lip. A habit I was indulging in too often. I breathe out a sigh, glancing up at Sasha, who h
Loraine’s POV After an awkward hour, I excused myself to the restroom to compose myself and came back. When I stepped back into the game room, the atmosphere was electric with laughter and playful teasing. Everyone seemed so carefree, sprawled across couches or lounging on the floor. Mabel was sitting cross-legged next to Kris, a small smile tugging at her lips as he joked about something. I hesitated in the doorway, letting the moment wash over me. I had to fix things, not just for her but for myself. “Loraine!” Hunter’s booming voice broke through my thoughts. He pushed off the wall where he’d been leaning, his grin widening. “You’re just in time. We’re about to up the stakes.” “Oh no,” Chloe groaned, though she was smiling. “This better not be another one of your ridiculous games.” Hunter smirked. “Come on, my games are legendary.” “They’re legendary for getting people in trouble,” Sasha pointed out, narrowing her eyes. “Exactly!” Hunter shot back. “Now, shut up and
Loraine’s POV It started as a normal morning. Kris had insisted on dragging himself out of bed, despite the doctor’s warnings to rest, and was now lingering in the living room, watching everyone bustle around. The others were preparing to head out after breakfast, and I was forced to stay behind, nursing a lingering sense of unease. Mabel was there too, sitting across from me with her usual air of quiet confidence. She didn’t say much, but somehow, her presence always felt larger than life. I tried to ignore the pang in my chest every time she flashed her perfect smile or casually caught someone’s attention. It wasn’t that I disliked her—at least, not consciously. But lately, it seemed like she was everywhere, always shining brighter, always winning over everyone in ways I couldn’t seem to match. Kris caught my eye, his brows furrowing slightly as he studied my face. “You okay?” he asked, his voice low enough that only I could hear. “I’m fine,” I replied quickly, forcing a smile.
Loraine’s POV Hunter was on the phone, pacing the room like a caged animal as Kris groaned in frustration. The doctor Hunter had called had just finished applying a thick, pungent salve to his arm, explaining it would neutralize the wolfsbane poisoning. But the second the doctor started to wrap the wound, Kris squirmed, loosening the bandage with an irritated huff. “Kris, stop fucking moving,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “It itches,” Kris snapped, glaring at his arm. “This stuff is torture.” Hunter put his phone down with a sigh. “Doctor, is this normal? He’s acting like you dipped his ass in acid.” “It’s perfectly normal,” the doctor said with a chuckle. “The medication is designed to draw out toxins, which can make the area tender and itchy. But it’s crucial that it stays on all night if he wants to heal properly.” “All night? Are you fucking kidding?!” Kris groaned, rolling his eyes. “You mean I’m stuck like this?” “Someone needs to stay with him,” Killian interj
Loraine’s POV The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in hues of gold and pink as Sasha and Chloe gathered their things. The day had gone better than I expected—no major fights, no icy glares (from Sasha, at least), and plenty of laughter. It felt… normal. Something I hadn’t realized I missed until now. “I had a really great time,” Sasha said, giving Mabel a tentative smile. “I’m… glad we did this. I look forward to spending more time together.” Mabel’s eyes lit up with relief, and she nodded. “Me too. Thanks for giving me a chance, Sasha.” I felt warmth bloom in my chest. This was exactly what I’d hoped for. “That’s wonderful,” I said, smiling at both of them. But Chloe, standing slightly behind Sasha, caught my eye. She shot me a pointed, cautious look that sent a clear message: Don’t fuck this up. The moment passed quickly, and Chloe stepped forward. “Alright, time to go, Sasha. Let’s not overstay our welcome.” Sasha rolled her eyes but didn’t argue, turning to Mabel
Loraine’s POV Waking up in Killian’s room wasn’t something I planned to make a habit of, but here I was again because a certain somebody refused to share me with his brothers. And when I say a certain somebody, I mean the big sulky oaf called Killian, who was currently hugging me tightly like he was scared I would disappear if he relaxed. I could feel the thick bulge of his cock pressing against me through his pants, but I already knew he wouldn’t let me help him out, so I let it go. But no matter my grumble, I actually enjoyed waking up like this. His scent wrapped around me, warm and intoxicating, making it harder to get up than it should’ve been. I sighed, slipping out from under the blankets and trying to fix my hair in the faint morning light. The last thing I needed was for Killian to wake up and catch me sneaking out of bed. He’d drag me right back into bed! I opened the door quietly, only for my clumsy ass to bump straight into Mabel. “Oh!” she exclaimed, her hands sh
Loraine’s POV If I thought the drama at breakfast was the worst that could happen, I soon realized that I was very, very wrong. By afternoon, things were even worse. Hunter had called for a meeting so we could look over how the security measures were holding up. And the word awkward couldn’t even begin to describe how the atmosphere was anytime Mabel and the boys entered the same room. The tension in the room was suffocating as we all gathered in the sitting area. Hunter stood at the center, his presence commanding as usual, but even he looked like he wanted to be anywhere else. The boys were scattered—Kris leaning against the wall, arms crossed; Preston sprawled in the armchair with a scowl; and Killian standing rigidly near the door, his cold stare fixed on Mabel. Mabel sat at the far end of the couch, her hands twisting nervously in her lap. Her eyes darted between the boys, a mix of hope and dread in her expression. It didn’t help that none of them had acknowledged her pres
Loraine’s POV Hiding from the attackers yesterday had knocked me out so much that I had fallen asleep on the couch, and I wasn’t even aware when Killian picked me up and carried me to his room. He let me sleep in today because the morning light had already filtered through the dining room windows when I took a seat at the long dining table. Preston was already pouring himself a cup of coffee, Kris was buttering a slice of toast, and Hunter and Killian were deep in a discussion about the patrol schedule for the day. The mood was calm, almost normal, and I found myself relaxing for the first time since yesterday’s shitfest. “Sleep well?” Hunter asked me, his tone warm. I nodded, giving him a small smile. “Better than I expected. Thanks for checking on me last night.” Killian had told me that Hunter kept coming to check that I was safe. “Of course,” he said, his gaze softening. Preston slid a plate of fruit toward me. “Eat. You need to keep your strength up.” “Oh goddess Presto
Loraine’s POV Gideon didn’t waste a second once the attackers fled. His hand found mine, gripping it tightly as he led me out of the café. “We’re leaving. Now,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “What about Sasha and Chloe?” I asked, glancing back at my friends, who were still shaken but otherwise unharmed. “I’ve already called their mates,” he replied, scanning the street for any signs of lingering danger. “They’ll be here in a few minutes. My job is to get you back home safely.” I wanted to argue, to tell him I wasn’t some helpless damsel, but the tremble in my hands betrayed me. My brain still reeled from the attack, my heart pounding as I processed how close we’d come to real harm. Sasha hugged me quickly before Gideon ushered me toward the waiting SUV. “Text us as soon as you’re safe,” she said, her voice shaky but firm. “I will,” I promised, my voice quieter than I intended. The ride back home was tense. Gideon kept glancing at me between navigating the str
Loraine’s POV I can’t believe I actually managed to convince Hunter to let me leave the house with Gideon as our escort. It wasn’t easy—he was fuming and still glaring daggers at the prince as we walked out—but I wasn’t about to spend another day cooped up. Sasha and Chloe met me outside, and despite the heavy presence of guards trailing us, I felt a sliver of freedom. “I still can’t believe you’re letting Hunter’s brothers pick out your guards,” Sasha teased as we climbed into the sleek black SUV. “They’re all basically clones of him.” “I didn’t have much of a choice,” I muttered, glancing back at the four bulky men squeezed into the back seats. “At least Gideon is coming with us. I’d rather have him babysit than deal with Hunter’s over-the-top paranoia.” Gideon, sitting up front with the driver, turned and shot me a playful grin. “I do make for excellent company, don’t I?” Chloe snickered. “You’re just saying that because half the women in town can’t stop gawking at you.” Gid