Loraine's POV Kris chuckled darkly. “Preston’s right. We are here to make sure you are thoroughly taken care of for the whole day.” He said, and I felt my knees turn weak at his promise. One of those gorgeous hands pulled me closer towards him with ease. And that's when it hit me like a ton of bricks. There were two powerful Alphas in the room that couldn’t seem to run out of energy. Not one. In other words, there was no way I would be able to pick one over another. But they both seemed interested in something similar—or maybe the same thing. Me. Their mates. Me and them alone. What did I do to deserve this? Nothing. Still, I had one fated mate who broke my heart before, and now the goddess gave me four drop-dead gorgeous men but only wanted me to choose one?. Suddenly, the choice became difficult because, at that moment, I didn’t want to let anyone down. The knowledge of the exactness of their powers made things even harder. Was it safe for us if all of us got together? My heart
Loraine’s POV After Preston had intervened to keep Hunter from entering my room, he and Kris seemed to have doubled down on their protectiveness. Both of them were now acting as if they were my own personal security details. Ok, so to be honest, I couldn’t deny that it felt good to be cared for like this, but the constant hovering was starting to wear me out. I mean, it wasn’t practical at all! No one could live like this! First of all, that morning, they refused to let me lift a finger to do anything. They didn’t let any of the maids do anything for me either; they said they only trusted themselves. Kris had even taken it upon himself to make breakfast, with Preston helping to bring the plates over and set everything up. “Here, try this.” Kris grinned, handing me a plate piled high with fruit, eggs, and toast. “You’ve got to keep your energy up.” Kris said as he picked up a fork and tried to hand-feed me. I laughed, but I could sense they were serious. “You guys know I can fe
Loraine POV As Kris, Preston, and I were puzzling over who could’ve destroyed my room since Hunter—thank the goddess—was ruled out, Killian crossed his arms and looked at us all seriously. "This only means one thing," he said, his eyes flickering with a lot more intensity than even before. "We might have a dangerous enemy right here in the pack, or goddess forbid it, the Manor. Loraine, I want you to know that we’re going to do everything we can to keep you safe. But we also have to investigate this quickly and carefully." Preston and Kris exchanged tense glances, nodding, their expressions hardening with rage at the thought of someone harming me. Preston stepped forward; his usual playful look of earlier was now replaced with a look of urgency. "You’re right, Killian," Preston said. "But if we want to watch her properly while also investigating quickly, we’re going to need more help, at least if we’re going to find out who did this as quickly as possible." Kris glanced at m
Loraine's POV Killian’s hand on my arm was firm but gentle as he guided me down the hallway. I glanced up at him, noting the tension in his clenched jaw. He wasn’t happy about this. And honestly, neither was I. “This is probably a bad idea; I think we shouldn’t be asking him to help protect me when he might still want his ex.” I muttered, but Killian didn’t stop. His eyes, a deep blue, flicked toward me, narrowed slightly. “Maybe,” he said flatly, “but it’s necessary; we need to keep you safe, and we need all the help we can get.” It was necessary. That word carried so much weight, didn’t it? My stomach twisted in knots as we approached the door. I hadn’t seen Hunter since last morning when I turned away from him, and the thought of facing him now, under these circumstances, was… unsettling. Killian hesitated for a brief second before pushing open the door without knocking. I took a deep breath and followed him inside. Hunter was seated on the edge of his bed, head bent, stari
Loraine’s POV It felt strange to be alone with Hunter after so much time apart, like rediscovering something I’d once held close but had nearly forgotten. All this shit that happened in the last few days fucked us up badly. Sitting across from him, I noticed how his familiar features softened as he watched me; his eyes had a look of guilt, regret mingled with the warmth I remembered. “So my love… How have you been these last few days without me?” Hunter asked, breaking the silence with a small, hesitant smile. I sighed, running my hand through my hair. “It’s been… complicated,” I said, not wanting to dive into every worry. “But I’m managing.” Hunter reached across the table, his fingers brushing mine. “I’m sorry, Loraine. I wish things could be different.” I looked down at our hands, a swirl of emotions bubbling up. “I know. I do too.” The warmth of his hand, his touch… It brought back memories that I’d buried, times we’d shared that were as comforting as they were painful to
Loraine’s POV I took a deep breath, already anticipating the tension that would arise once Preston and Kris returned and found out the new plan. They weren’t going to like this. And who could blame them? They were about to be forced to live with their ex that they clearly didn’t like. That shit would suck for anyone! But after the note, the attack, and Hunter’s insistence that Mabel had been in danger too, I couldn’t shake the thought that maybe, just maybe, just maybe that psychotic bitch was telling the truth. The door opened, and in walked Preston and Kris, both looking exhausted. Kris immediately spotted the rest of us huddled around in the sitting area and gave me a quick nod, but his face stayed serious. “We went over every piece of footage from that night, checked with the guards, and even asked some of the staff if they’d seen anyone strange around,” Kris reported, looking more and more frustrated. “Nothing, Loraine. No one saw a thing.” Preston ran a hand through his h
Loraine’s POV After we hung up, I sat back, feeling the mixture of emotions settling within me. I knew bringing Mabel into the manor was the right choice for safety, but it was clear this decision would complicate things in more ways than one. I woke up to the soft light of dawn filtering through Killian’s curtains and the sound of murmured voices outside the room. His arm was still draped around me, and for a moment, I let myself enjoy the warmth and security. But as I shifted, his eyes fluttered open, and he pulled me closer. “Good morning,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to my temple. “Good morning,” I replied softly. “What’s going on outside?” He sighed, reluctantly letting me go and sitting up. “We’ve got workers fortifying the place—installing more cameras and repositioning the guards.” I blinked, surprised. “That’s happening already?” Killian nodded, stretching before grabbing a shirt from the edge of the bed. “We can’t afford to waste time. Whoever tried to hurt you—and M
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
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
Jennifer’s POV I had always prided myself on control. Control over my life, my choices, and, most importantly, my husband, Alpha Gordon. But that control was slipping away. His coldness, his late nights, and his constant absence—it was like watching sand slip through my fingers. I wasn’t fucking stupid. I knew there was someone else, even if he refused to admit it. But tonight, I was going to catch him in the act. It started with a familiar restlessness. Gordon had been distant for weeks now, avoiding my questions, brushing off my attempts to connect. I had taken to watching his every move. When he slipped out of our bedroom late that night, thinking I was asleep, I waited only a few minutes before I followed. The forest was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves. My heart pounded as I followed him, staying far enough behind to avoid detection. I wasn’t sure what I expected to find, but when I saw him meet a woman in a secluded clearing, my chest tightened. For a moment
Jennifer’s POV I slammed the bedroom door behind me, the sound echoing through the massive space, and leaned heavily against it. My chest was tight with frustration, my fists clenched so hard that my nails bit into my palms. For weeks, maybe months now, my foolish ass, his alpha Gordon, had been more distant lately—colder than ever. He barely acknowledged me unless it was unavoidable. And at night? I might as well be invisible. He refused to touch me, refused to even sleep in the same bed most nights. I ran a hand through my hair and let out a low growl. The rejection burned, and it was a wound that refused to heal. “I’m his wife, for fucking Moon's sake,” I muttered to myself, pacing the room. “How dare he treat me like this?” I stopped and stared at our bed—the pristine sheets, untouched pillows. My fists clenched again as I remembered the early days of our marriage. He had been mine, all mine. Or at least, I thought he was. But now… I couldn’t finish the thought. The truth wa
Alpha Gordon’s POV The office was stifling, the walls closing in as I threw my phone onto the desk with more force than necessary. Mabel’s shrieking accusations still echoed in my ears, her voice like nails on a chalkboard. “You’re fucking pathetic, Gordon! Do you even know how to fucking seduce a woman? She’s supposed to be under your thumb by now, and instead, she’s clinging to those alphas like they’re her lifeline!” The venom in her words made my blood boil. Mabel always had a way of making me feel like the biggest failure on Earth, but this time it cut deeper. Maybe because she wasn’t wrong. Every attempt I’d made to pull Loraine back to me had failed miserably. I leaned forward, running a hand down my face as frustration and regret tangled in my chest. Loraine. My sweet, sweet Loraine Her name was a whisper in my mind, a ghost that haunted me day and night. Once, she had loved me. She had looked at me with those big, hazel eyes as though I was her entire world. She truste
Loraine’s POV I set my book down and gave her a polite smile. “What do you need, Mabel?” She chuckled lightly, as if I’d made a joke. “Why does it have to be about needing something? Maybe I just wanted to talk.” I raised an eyebrow. Mabel and I weren’t exactly on friendly terms, and this sudden attempt at camaraderie felt as fake as her tone. Still, I gestured for her to sit. “Alright. Talk.” She perched on the edge of the bench, smoothing out her dress. “You know, I’ve been thinking. We’ve had our differences, but we’re both part of this pack now. Maybe it’s time we tried to get along.” I leaned back, crossing my arms. “Get along? After everything you’ve done? Are you fucking kidding me right now? Her smile faltered for a second before she quickly recovered. “I’ve made mistakes; I’ll admit that. But don’t you think we should put the past behind us? For the good of the pack?” I tilted my head, studying her carefully. Her eyes were wide, her expression open, but there was some
Loraine’s POV When I opened my eyes the next morning, the first thing I saw was Killian sitting by my bedside. His thick arms were crossed, and his head was tilted slightly back as if he’d dozed off. The sunlight streaming through the window highlighted the sharp lines of his face, softening them. I shifted slightly, and his eyes snapped open immediately. “You’re awake,” he said, relief washing over his face as he leaned forward. “I wasn’t dying, you know,” I teased, though my voice was still hoarse from the previous day. “That’s not funny,” he replied, his tone serious despite the small smile tugging at his lips. “We were really worried about you.How in the goddess's name did you fall?” Before I could say anything else, the door opened, and Preston, Kris, and Hunter filed in, each carrying something in their hands. Preston had coffee, Kris had a tray of food, and Hunter was carrying a blanket that looked far too big for the hospital bed. “We thought you’d be hungry,” Kris said
Mabel’s POV My uncle’s voice echoed in my head, sharp and unforgiving. “You’re not doing enough, Mabel.” It wasn’t just a criticism—it was an accusation, a reminder that failure wasn’t an option. My fists clenched as I paced my room. I had done everything he’d asked. What more could he want? “I’ve been working tirelessly,” I muttered under my breath, trying to push his biting words aside. But his response had been just as infuriating. “If you were doing enough, we wouldn’t still be having this problem, would we?” My uncle and I had been working together for a long time now. And I thought he would understand where I was coming from by now. The nerve. The absolute fucking nerve. Did he think sabotaging Loraine and breaking down those overly possessive alphas was freaking easy? Since I came, I had done my best to make sure Loraine was away from the boys, but nothing I did allowed them near me. They always stayed away from me no matter what I did, no matter how many stunts I pull
Loraine’s POV Gordon’s words haunted me. “I know where your real parents are.” That fucking asshole! I had spent the entire night replaying that moment over and over in my head, convincing myself it was a lie. Gordon was a manipulator, someone who thrived on creating chaos and pain. Surely, this was just another attempt to mess with me. But then there was that small, traitorous part of me—the part that whispered, What if he’s telling the truth? The thought made my stomach twist. I tried to push it away, but it kept creeping back. My parents—the ones who raised me—were loving and kind. They had given me everything, taught me everything, made me who I am today. They’re my parents, I told myself firmly. They have to be. Still, doubt ate at me. The day started as any other—me waking up to the sounds of my mates already busy in the kitchen. I forced a smile, determined to focus on them instead of Gordon. My mates needed me, and I needed to shake off these dark thoughts. Walking i