Loraine’s POVThe fuck did he just say to me??I could feel my anger boiling over as Hunter’s dumb silence filled the room. Again. He just kept dodging my questions about Mabel, like I didn’t have the right to know anything. Like I wasn’t worthy of an answer.“Fine,” I snapped, spinning on my heel. “If you’re not going to be honest with me, I’ll just go talk to someone who is.”He looked up sharply, his gaze narrowing. “Where exactly are you going?”I didn’t hesitate, meeting his eyes head-on. “I’m going to find Prince Gideon,” I said coldly. “At least he promised he wouldn’t try to hide anything from me or make me feel like an afterthought.”The flash of fury in Hunter’s eyes was instant, and he took a quick step forward, blocking my path. “Loraine, you’re not going anywhere,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.I crossed my arms and raised mychin defiantly. “I’ll go wherever I want to. You don’t get to control me, Hunter. And if you decide that I’m more important than some fucking
Loraine’s POV I stormed out of Hunter’s room, barely containing the anger bubbling in my chest. I just needed to get out, to breathe, and I didn’t care where I ended up. I wandered aimlessly, my feet carrying me far from the manor, down trails and past quiet streams. I didn’t even bother to keep track of time. I just needed to be alone. Now and then, I felt the gentle prodding of Sasha and Chloe’s voices through the mind link, searching for me. I knew they were worried, but I couldn’t let them find me. They’d only tell Hunter where I was, and he was the last person I wanted to see. I shut them out, blocking their attempts to reach me. A few hours passed, and I could feel the last bit of my frustration start to fade. And with that, guilt began to settle in. I knew my words to Hunter had cut deep. I had implied that I wouldn’t choose him. I remembered seeing the hurt flash in his eyes—and there was a part of me that regretted saying it, even if he had pushed me to that breaking poi
Loraine’s POVI froze, unable to believe what I was seeing. Maids hurried in and out, arms loaded with what looked like... broken pieces of my furniture? My heart pounded as I took in the scene, my shock mounting. My bedframe was snapped, my bedside table smashed to splinters, and clothes were scattered across the floor like a whirlwind had blown through. It looked as if someone had completely lost control.Sasha and Chloe exchanged a nervous glance, as if debating how to explain.“What exactly happened here?” My voice trembled.Sasha bit her lip, not meeting my eyes. "Loraine, as we told you before, we think Alpha Hunter... he was the one who did this. Last night.”I felt a lump in my throat. Hunter had done this? Out of anger? It didn’t make sense. He’d been upset, yes, but to destroy my room like this? The idea unsettled me, sparking a mixture of emotions—shock, confusion, and an aching sadness.Before I could fully process it, I sensed another presence nearby. Turning, I saw Princ
Loraine’s POV The implication stung, and I could feel the bitterness twisting in my gut. “So what am I supposed to do, Gideon? Just stand by and accept it." My voice was sharper than I expected. Gideon reached out, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. “No,” he said softly. “You deserve someone who’ll be open with you, who’ll make you feel secure... someone who won’t let jealousy and the past get in the way.” I looked up at him, feeling the weight of his words sink in. He wasn’t just talking about Hunter—he was talking about himself, about the part of him that was willing to be the steady, supportive presence I needed. But even as the thought tempted me, the guilt gnawed at me, a reminder that my heart was torn between two people. As if reading my hesitation, Gideon’s gaze hardened slightly. “You know, I would never make you question your place in my life, Loraine,” he murmured. “If I were given a chance, I would put you first. Always.” A small spark of anger ignited inside me,
I stood in the middle of my room, trying to take in the mess left behind.There were shards of glass littered on the floor, the sheets were ripped off the bed, and a few of my belongings were scattered and broken across the room.Seeing my room like this made my heart sink, and I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the sting of hurt that came with it. How mad at me would someone have to be to do this?Preston stood beside me, helping me sort through the mess. He looked around with a deep frown, his jaw tight. "Loraine," he said quietly, kneeling down to pick up one of my broken picture frames. “This wasn’t an accident or some random vandalism. Whoever did this was angry. Very, very angry. It was intentional.”I bit my lip, feeling a knot of worry form in my stomach. "But... who could be that angry at me? I don’t understand." I ran my fingers over the splintered edges of a jewelry box my mother had given me, feeling a wave of sadness wash over me.Whoever did this hadn’t just broken into
Loraine’s POV “Don’t play dumb, Hunter,” Kris snapped. “Loraine’s room was torn apart last night. Completely trashed. And everyone here knows you were the last one with her before it happened.” I watched as Hunter’s eyes widened, genuine surprise reflecting in them. “What? I…I didn’t know... His voice trailed off as he looked past them toward me, a deep frown creasing his face. “Loraine, I swear, I would never do something like that.” My heart ached seeing him like this; there was genuine hurt and confusion on his face. Despite the accusations, something in his eyes told me he was telling the truth. “I believe you, Hunter,” I said softly, stepping a little forward, though Killian’s arm extended to keep me back. Hunter’s face relaxed slightly at my words, but it was shortlived as his brothers closed in on him again. “Then why did you vanish with Mabel, brother?” Preston’s voice was sharp, cutting through the room. “If you were so worried about Loraine, why disappear without a word
Loraine’s POV When I finally opened my eyes, sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. But as I stretched, reaching out instinctively, my hand only met cold, empty sheets. Killian wasn’t there. A flutter of disappointment settled in my stomach. Memories of last night surfaced—the way his lips had lingered on mine, the steady warmth of his arms wrapped around me, the way his cock grinded against my clothed pussy, only to leave me wanting more. I sighed, sexual frustration simmering just beneath the surface. But before I could think too deeply about it, there was a knock at the door, and Kris and Preston strolled in, looking far too awake and annoyingly smug. “Morning, sleepyhead,” Kris greeted, his grin stretching from ear to ear as he took in my half-awake expression. “Did someone have an interesting night?” I rolled my eyes, pulling the blankets up around myself. “Where’s Killian? No, let's guess; he had important things to do, I’m sure.” I tr
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 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