Loraine’s POV Arrogant as ever. Kylie snarls in my chest. Despite myself, I smile. I’m glad she hates him as much as I do. Still, I could not stop thinking about what he might want. The timing? Is it only a coincidence that he’s coming to see me now when the Alpha brothers aren’t here? and he’s not using the front door. I slump into the chair, holding my head in my hands. I have enough on my plate to deal with for him to add worrying about something like this to it. The camp is now a complete mess. The supply trucks are weeks late. Maddox is scrambling to keep things together, and I still haven’t figured out this thing with Kade, which is a whole other thing I can’t even think about right now. I glance at my blank screen, wondering for the umpteenth time why he’s contacting me out of the blue after all this time. If it’s an elaborate joke, I will—well, I won’t do anything, but it better not be that he’s messing with me. By the time it's close to nine p.m., I’m pacing the livin
Loraine’s POV I don’t sleep till morning. As much as I try not to think about it, I can’t take my mind off of Gordon and the new game he’s playing. I had the half-mind to confront him about my parent’s death, but the brothers are still conducting their investigation, and I did not want to. Whatever. But why the hell would he say he wanted me back? He chose Jennifer. Ripped our friendship into two, and for what? Power! Anger mixed with disgust swirled in my chest. How dare Gordon show up here acting like I’m something he can just... reclaim? Like I’m a piece of property? How dare he? I slam my hand down on the table, wincing at the pain that ricochets through my arm. “I am not yours, Gordon.” I hiss harshly into the room. “You don’t fucking own me.” I let out a long, shaky breath. I cannot imagine that there was a time I thought we had a shot. I must have been blind and stupid. Why the hell do I feel so unsteady? My buzzing phone and a message from Sasha remind me that I am ru
Loraine’s POV The day before the weekend arrives quicker than I anticipated, but that’s a good thing. Although the day drags on slowly, my heart aching with the crawl of anticipation, I feel giddy all over. It’s safe to say I’ve totally forgotten about the confrontation with Alpha Gordon the other day. The trucks that were meant to arrive two days ago had another delay, but word got to us that they’ll be here any moment soon. So, aside from preparing for the Alphas’ arrival, which is tomorrow, we are also waiting for the truck to arrive. We’ve completely run out of supplies. Construction of homes and other structures has been put on hold. A lot of things have been put on hold while we wait for the trucks. If it isn’t for the buzz of the return of the Alpha brothers, I can’t imagine the level of hopelessness that’d be going over the camp. Thankfully, we all have something to look forward to. “Loraine!” Sasha yells, cutting through my musings and pulling me back to the moment.
Loraine’s POV I pass through the dusty construction site. There are houses all over the place, in haphazard rows, and all of them are not near completion. Shrugging out of my clothes behind one of the buildings, I shift into my wolf and begin sniffing out my mates. I hope all of you are safe. There are werewolves everywhere. Alphas, council members, pack members, and tonnes of werewolves whose names I don’t know. When I spot the security team with their black-on-black uniform, my excitement ratchets up. They are standing in front of a huge building, which I assume to be the fort by the sheer size of it. and, of course, the sign on my left that reads, Fort. My Alphas are in the prison in this place, locking up the prisoners they brought back. Finally, we would know the face of the people who have made themselves our enemies. With my rare wolf on display, I smile sweetly at the gawkers—well, as sweet as a wolf’s smile can be. Maybe they know who I am or something, but they are c
Loraine’s POV Alpha Hunter insists on cooking for me, although he doesn’t need to. The night is quite warm, the full moon casting a soft golden hue over the world. We all sit at a picnic table while I stuff my face. It is a peaceful night—the kind that makes a person forget all their problems. Alpha Hunter is at the grill, flipping steaks like a man on a mission. His brows are furrowed in concentration, but when he catches me looking at me, the corners of his mouth twitch up. It is funny seeing him like this. The brother who is always in control—but ever since their return from that mission, they’ve just been taking extra care of me. Even Killian. He no longer sneers and growls when he’s around me. Although he had resumed my training only a day after his return, I feel like he’s going easy on me. None of them will talk about what happened during the fight, but I see it in their eyes, and I know that I need to give them time before they can talk about it. “You sure you got this
My Mates and Me Loraine’s POV I wake slowly, moaning in satisfaction as my mind floats in a deep sea of bliss. All three of my Alpha’s are wrapped around me on the bed. My eyes are still glued shut, but I can feel Kris’ hands caressing my body, his touch solidifying over me, promising to give me everything I can dream of. Alpha Hunter and Kris each take one side of me, with Preston lying between my legs, his head resting on my stomach like it is a pillow. Killian is not on the bed, but I catch his form draped on the armchair beside my bed. I guess we are back to that again. Yet, I can’t deny that something changed between us that morning, on the day they left. What I’m not sure of is if I want to explore it or leave it as it is. He’s been treating me better since they returned, and while I’m grateful for it, I’m kind of wary. I think to Gordon and what his appearance here the other day might mean. He wanted me to go back to him. Why? He had rejected me, humiliated me, and then
Loraine’s POV “I’m not trouble; I’m perfect.” I say to no one in particular as I bound myself out of bed. I have wasted two minutes kissing Kris, and now I have eight minutes before Alpha Hunter comes hurtling in here and pulling me outside by the hair. Okay, that might be a bit exaggerated, but you get the gist. “You are perfect, little wolf. Now, give me my kiss.” Preston says, squeezing my ass and turning me to face him. I raise myself to the tip of my toes and angle my head up until our lips meet. The kiss is wet and hot and still manages to send a shiver down my spine and throbbing in between my thighs. “I could get used to this.” I hum after we finally break apart. Kris chuckles. “You said that yesterday.” “And I meant it.” I answer too quick. I frown as I recall the answer Preston gave me. If I wanted this, then I would have to choose all of them. He said it as if he had no qualms with it. I look at Kris, but I can’t tell what’s going on in his head. His face is a bla
Loraine’s POV “Mabelline Graham?” I raise a brow. “What?” “Mabelline Graham,” Sasha answers. “The woman that’s returning to the pack after being exiled for five years.” She grunts, crossing her arm over her chest. “Big trouble for everyone. I guess the rumors are true then. She’s really coming back here. Are the Alphas allowing that?” I nod. “They are. Mostly Alpha Hunter anyway. I don’t think the other brothers are any more thrilled about her return than you are. Why? Why is everyone wary of her? Sasha snorts. “Mabel used to be mated to the four Alphas, just like you are.” “What?” I exclaim. “Why do I find that hard to believe? There’s no way they all could have been mated to the same woman. Did they all claim her?” “You bet they did.” Sasha answered. “She was their mate and, for some time, our Luna. Anyways, I don’t think you should be talking about her with the Alphas. She’s like a bad memory; they would rather stay buried for them. Them and every other person in their
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
Loraine’s POV The day after, Prince Gideon updated us on everything. The house was quiet—too quiet. That usually meant trouble, especially when all four of my mates were involved. I wandered through the halls, half-expecting to stumble upon chaos, but instead, I found myself piecing together just how hard they had been working behind the scenes to protect me. Kris had left early that morning, his usual calm demeanor masking the tension I knew he felt. Hunter had spent the night pacing the halls, muttering something about rogue sightings, while Preston and Killian had been in and out of the office, trying to keep the rest of the pack on high alert. I sighed, leaning against the kitchen counter as I prepared breakfast for them. The sight of the empty table tugged at my heart. They’d been stretched thin lately, all because of me. I never meant for my life to bring so much drama into theirs. “They deserve better,” I whispered to myself. But even as the thought crossed my mind, ano