Loraine’s POV My eyes flutter open at the sound of running shower, and Alpha Hunter’s arms tense around me as he readjusts his hold to stick his hand under the stream of water, checking the temperature. I’m back to wearing Killian’s sweater, which I remember taking off before, but my pants have been stripped off, leaving me in nothing but underwear. I clear my throat as my face heats up. “I’m awake, Alpha Hunter. Please, put me down.” Either Alpha Hunter did not hear me—impossible—or chooses to ignore me as he fully steps into the shower stall, sitting down on the marble bench that runs along the walls, holding me close to his chest. My face is buried in his shoulder, and we are in a fucking shower stall together. I feel lightheaded at what is happening right now, even though I have no fucking idea what it is. I clear my throat again, and he chooses that moment to speak, “Do you need something to drink? Do you feel hungry? During all of this, you’ve not had the chance to eat.”
Loraine’s POV It has been days since the attack, and surprisingly, things are beginning to settle—not going back to how they were—but the agitation and anxiety are still there. Killian has tripled security, better preparing us for more surprise attacks, but our enemies proved to be clever, if not elusive. Still, we knew nothing much about them except they were attacking Alphas without provocation or any clear motives. Our packs were not the only ones attacked. More than ten packs—not including ours—hhave been attacked in the last month, and we knew nothing about them except for the one thing we were sure of. They killed en masse and left a lot of dead bodies in their wake. They took nothing—except if you are counting lives—and were yet to state any clear reason for their attacks. For us here—me and my mates—things might never go back to how they were for us. Every one of them was busy. Alpha Hunter was busy attending meetings for him and all of his brothers because, apart from
Loraine’s POV “What do you mean we take the fight to them? We don’t know them.” Preston’s face breaks into a triumphant smile. “Do we not? Well, we do now. I was able to break through some of the men we captured and piece A and B together. So far, I’ve been able to find out where they are hiding out for the time being, but their motives are still speculative.” I smile, but before I can respond, another man speaks up. “Besides, it might be a trap. Why would they break now and give us their hideout? We’ve captured them in the past. They were always unbreakable and would rather die than snitch.” Slowly, Preston stands, keeping his cool smile on. I think it is quite amusing to see him like this. “Maybe we have other methods of interrogation, but I don’t think that is what matters. What matters now is that we know where they are, and for once, we have the upper hand.” “Plus, waiting too long will give them time to plan an attack, Kris says, pulling his hair into a high bun as if pr
Loraine’s POV His face is a study in smooth strength and intoxicating control. Goddess, take me. I know I’m supposed to be upset at him and his brothers, but that was out there in the hall. In here, in my room, it is too difficult to wall off my emotions. I wrap my arms around myself and meet Alpha Hunter’s eyes, my chin up. “If you have come to give me more reasons why I cannot go, or to...” Alpha Hunter takes a step forward, grasping my hips. “I have never for once seen you as weak, Loraine.” He murmurs into my ear, his soft, rumbling voice making my skin blaze so hot it’s a wonder the room doesn’t catch fire. Alpha Hunter chuckles before reining in his voice. I don’t miss the fact that he called me by name or how sweet it sounded rolling off his tongue like that. “Actually, I am here to tell you that you are somewhat right.” “I—wait, what?” “You are strong, Loraine, maybe even stronger than fifty of Killian’s best men put together.” He shrugs. “You are the best of us, Lora
Loraine’s POV I woke to the scents of clean sheets mixed with pine and citrus scents that wrapped around me as tightly as the duvet. Blinking against the harsh glare of light in the room, I found Alpha Hunter sprawled on the bed beside me, his eyes trained on my face. His heavy arm was a solid weight on my waist. “Where—how long did I sleep?” Alpha Hunter brushed down my hair. “Not long. We still have some hours till evening.” His face was tight, and the pain behind his eyes was as palpable as my own. “Tomorrow, I get to see your wolf, Loraine. I really cannot wait to meet her, but then it is getting harder and harder to restrain myself from claiming you. You are close to your heat, and being close like this is dangerous if you are not going to choose all of us.” Despite his words, he reached out and pulled me against him, burying my face in his shoulder while his arms encircled me tightly. The sound of his roaring heartbeat echoed through my flesh, spurring my own. “It is not
Loraine’s POV The chill of the evening sir prickles my skin. Perspiration is escaping from my mouth, and I hug myself. The moonlight bathed everything in a golden glow, making the snow glisten like shards of glass scattered everywhere on the ground. Kris hugs me from behind, pressing me into his chest. He buries his nose in my neck, sniffing me. “Ready?” I nod. It’s not like I haven’t always done this, but with the winter solstice, I feel some sort of pull in my chest. And then there’s my mates, watching me expectantly. A gust of wind sweeps through the clearing, carrying with it the scent of pine and the crispness of the snow-covered ground. The air feels electric as if the world itself is holding its breath, waiting for me. Alpha Hunter steps towards me, cupping my face with his hand. “You are looking nervous.” He leans in and places a kiss on my lips. It’s more like a brush of his lips on mine, but it still sends a chill down my spine. “Just do your thing. So, we can run thr
Loraine’s POV Exhaustion hits us all, and we fall asleep in Alpha Hunter's bed, my mates surrounding me. We are all still recovering from the fun night we had during the winter solstice, but that’s not all. The brothers are going to leave today, and I want to keep that from happening for as long as I can. I wake up to find Killian’s face as close to mine as it can get without actually touching. Since that first time that I arrived here and Killian lost control, this is the most intimate we have gotten again, and I have a feeling I wouldn’t feel it for a long time. Or till I make my choice between all of them. If I shut my eyes, I can feel his hand pressed against my cheeks and the soft cascades of his breath as he whispers calming words to me. but when I open my eyes, he is still asleep. I want to raise my hand and brush his face, but I’m scared of ending this moment between us. A moment he might not even be aware of. The same intensity that I had always seen in him is stil
Loraine’s POV Falling asleep after the Alpha brothers are gone is almost impossible. When I wake up six hours later, I feel as though my head is full of air and not much else. I lie there for a minute, looking up at the ceiling of my room as I get my shit together enough to get into the day. There are a lot of reasons why I don’t want to move right now, and I just lie there and think of all of them. I try not to think of the guys and the fact that this is the first time I’m being left alone by myself without any of them being here. When I find myself worrying about them too much, I head over to Alpha Hunter’s room to use his shower and get ready for my new responsibility. There’s an itch under my skin to the absence of my mates, the same ones that had been there when I’d woken up and found them all gone. They had not even said goodbye. I take twice as long as I usually do in the shower as I try to scrub the ache in my chest away. I get dressed quickly and head to the kitche
Loraine’s POV One year later Warm sunlight streamed through the curtains, waking me from the most peaceful sleep I could remember. I stretched lazily, my smile growing as I realized I wasn’t alone. Soft lips trailed along my shoulder, followed by a whisper. “Good morning, my love,” Hunter’s voice was low and husky, his breath tickling my ear. I turned my head, meeting his dark, playful eyes. “Morning,” I murmured, still groggy but already melting under his gaze. Before I could say more, I felt another hand slide across my waist. Preston’s familiar laugh filled the room. “You’re hogging her, Hunter. Move over.” I rolled over, finding him smirking at me, his blond hair adorably tousled. “Is this how every morning is going to start from now on?” I teased. “Only the best for our Luna,” Killian chimed in, leaning against the doorframe with a tray of coffee and pastries. “Breakfast in bed?” Kris appeared behind him, shaking his head. “You’re all going to spoil her.” Hunter smirked
Loraine’s POV The beeping of machines was the first thing I heard when I woke up. My body felt heavy, and every inch of me ached. I opened my eyes slowly, blinking against the harsh hospital lights. Familiar voices reached my ears, filled with worry and relief. “She’s waking up!” Preston’s voice cracked. I turned my head slightly to see him standing by my side, his eyes rimmed red as if he hadn’t slept in days. “Loraine,” Hunter whispered, his hand reaching out to gently touch mine. His usual confident demeanor was replaced by raw emotion. “You’re okay. You’re safe now.” Tears welled up in my eyes as I saw all four of them—Hunter, Preston, Killian, and Kris—hovering around me like protective sentinels. “What… what happened?” I croaked, my voice raspy. Killian knelt down beside me, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “You were kidnapped. The warriors that have been investigating it say that Gordon and Jennifer…” His jaw tightened, but he took a deep breath. “We found you ju
Hunter’s POV The abandoned warehouse the tracker led us to was ahead; its huge structure was sharp and terrifying against the night sky. The air was thick with tension, and my pulse roared in my ears as we pulled up to a screeching halt. Preston was the first to leap out, phone in hand, tracking Loraine’s location. “The signal ends here,” Preston said, his voice tight with worry. He turned the screen toward us. “She’s inside somewhere.” Kris gritted his teeth. “Let’s spread out. She could be hurt.” I grabbed his arm. “No one goes alone. If something happens, we’re stronger together, and I need every one of you alive, or else Loraine will kill me.” Gideon nodded in agreement, his face grim. “Hunter’s right. Split into pairs. Shout if you find anything.” We crept through the warehouse, every creak of the floorboards putting us on edge. I stuck close to Killian, my hand gripping the handle of my blade. The place reeked of rust and damp, but there was another smell too—blood. My st
Hunter’s POV The excitement we all felt was electric. The Lycan ball wasn’t just any event; it was monumental. This was the night that our pack would become an official capital for the Lycans. Tonight, we—Preston, Kris, Killian, and I—would also make our first public appearance as Loraine’s fiancés. And, if everything went as planned, this ball would pave the way for our wedding, set to happen immediately after. I tightened my cufflinks that had Lorraine's name on them and turned to Kris, who was fixing his tie in front of the mirror. “Do you think they’ll announce us as Loraine’s mates? Or do we just, you know, casually stroll in and let the stares do the work?” Kris smirked at my reflection. “Why stroll when you can strut? Let them talk. This is our moment.” Killian popped his head into the room, his shirt still unbuttoned, revealing a chiseled chest. “You’re all overthinking it. Loraine will steal the show the moment she walks in. We’re just accessories tonight.” “Speak for
Loraine’s POV The air buzzed with excitement as I stood in front of my vanity, smoothing my hands over the soft fabric of my gown. Tonight was the Lycans’ grand ball, an event so prestigious that even Sasha, who normally didn’t care for formalities, was squealing with excitement. Sasha burst into my room with Chloe trailing behind her, both carrying armfuls of dresses. “Loraine!” Sasha exclaimed, her eyes bright. “You have to help us pick! Chloe and I are determined to make an impression tonight.” Chloe giggled, holding up a shimmering silver gown against her small frame. “I heard the Lycan King himself might be there. Imagine if he notices one of us!” I chuckled, turning away from the mirror. “You two are acting like teenagers. What’s gotten into you?” Sasha placed her hands on her hips, mock glaring at me. “Excuse me, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Lycans, Loraine. Lycans! Do you know how rare it is to even see one in person, let alone meet their king?” Chloe nodded
3rd POV The tension between Alpha Gordon and Jennifer crackled in the air like a brewing storm. The two stood in the dense forest near the treeline, their voices echoing through the trees, harsh and biting. “You fucking bitch! You ruined everything!” Gordon snarled, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. His sharp, gray eyes glinted dangerously, a mix of fury and frustration. Jennifer folded her arms across her chest, her stance defiant. “First of all, watch your fucking mouth. I’m not your doormat. I ruined everything?” She shot back, her voice rising. “You’re the one who couldn’t let go of your ridiculous obsession with Loraine. If anything, I saved us from disaster by getting Mabel arrested.” “Mabel was our leverage, Jennifer!” Gordon growled, taking a threatening step forward. “She was the key to forcing Loraine back into my life. And now she’s rotting in a cell because of your betrayal!” Jennifer didn’t flinch. Instead, she took a step closer, her chin tilted upward in de
Loraine’s POV This is the first time in what felt like years that my life didn't seem like a world-ending storm I had to constantly brace myself against. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of emotions—betrayal, accusations, and finally, vindication. But now, as I sat in the sprawling living room of our shared home, surrounded by my mates—Preston, Hunter, Kris, and Killian—I felt something I hadn’t in a long time. Peace. Preston lounged on the couch next to me, one arm draped lazily across my shoulders. Hunter was sprawled out on the floor with a pile of papers he claimed were “strategic plans,” though he was doodling more than writing. Kris was in the kitchen, preparing what smelled like something delicious, while Killian sat across from me, polishing his sword like the ever-serious warrior he was. “So,” Hunter said, breaking the comfortable silence, “have we all agreed that the Lycan ball will be our moment to show off the fact that Loraine is officially ours?” I rolled my
Loraine’s POV I had never felt more powerless in my entire fucking life. The moment the crowd gathered around Mabel’s bleeding, sobbing form, their accusatory glares locked on me, it was over. My protests, my explanations—they were drowned out by her dramatic cries and the murmurs of the onlookers. The bitch had planned this very, very well. I was arrested on the spot. My four mates—Preston, Hunter, Kris, and Killian—could do nothing but watch as I was dragged away. Their eyes were full of desperation, but they knew as well as I did that they couldn’t interfere. The Lycan laws were absolute, and once the Council was involved, even Alphas had to comply. I sat in the dark, cold cell for what felt like an eternity, the walls closing in around me as I replayed the events in my mind. Mabel had outplayed me, and now I was being hauled to Lycan court, the very heart of justice for our kind, where Mabel’s uncle, Lord Arnold, presided. Of-fucking-course! He was a smug, greedy man who th
Loraine’s POV I had gotten used to the crazy-ass chaos that now surrounded me, but recently, there was a strange stillness in the air. Freaking Firstly, our supposed psychopath, Mabel, the woman who had made my life unbearable, was quiet. Too quiet. It felt like the calm before a storm, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was coming. Her absence from my life—no pranks, no insults, no sudden confrontations—was unsettling. Every time I caught a glimpse of her, I noticed how distant she had become. She no longer tried to provoke me; instead, she seemed to be going about her life, almost as though she had forgotten about our past. I didn’t know what was worse—the fact that she had stopped tormenting me or the fact that I couldn’t figure out her angle. It was late in the evening when my phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with a message from Mabel. My heart skipped a beat as I read her words: “We need to talk. Meet me at the old barn, north of the pack. I have informatio