Loraine’s POV I was wrong. I did sleep, albeit not peacefully. Sometime after midnight, I wake to see one of my friends climbing into the bed behind me, but I’m too drowsy to know who it is. I see two other figures: one dropping into the armchair and the other balancing himself on the other chair. My brain does not register what is happening, so I lie back down and resume my restless sleep. Hours later, I wake to find Preston furiously whispering, “What the hell are you all doing in here? It’s my damn night.” I grunt a little, rubbing a hand over my face, and Kris’ hand tightens around me protectively. Wait. Kris? I glance around the room, and to my surprise, I see Killian and Alpha Hunter as well. What are they all doing here? Killian looks exhausted, and there’s blood on his shirt. My wolf soars inside me, eager to go over and heal him with our bond. “Are you hurt?” I ask, panic, then jump from the bed, but Kris and Preston pull me back down at the same time. Killian's e
Loraine’s POV By the time we return to the mansion, it's dark, and I am dead tired. We did a lot of work today. By doing a lot of work, I mean following Killian around—he even took us to practice and forced Kris and me to work out. So, you must know how my bones feel right now. It's been so long since I did anything other than walk, run, and jump. The moment our chauffeur opens the car door, I jump out, catapulting myself inside. I hear Kris running after me, but I don’t slow down or stop till I get to the elevator. It's only when the elevator starts moving that I notice Killian’s absence. I glance at Kris questioningly, wondering where the hell his brother disappeared to. “I’ll walk you to your room; maybe we can even spend a little time together before you go to bed. Killian has something to do before he joins you.” Shit. I totally forgot it was Killian’s night. I’m sure I remembered sometime during the day, but it hadn’t registered. Fuck. We have not really talked or sp
Loraine’s POV I pick out one of the black dresses Sasha got me. I’d been hoping to wear it to a party or something fun, but I guess I have to settle for this. It’s a strapless gown, so I let my hair fall around my shoulders to cover some skin, then I pair it with a pair of flats I’ve had since forever. They still look quite new. Kris wears black slacks, button-up shirts, and polished leather shoes. He looks like my wet dream. His shoulders are broad, causing the fabric to stretch over them, pulling tight as he moves. I’m quite proud to be escorted down to the foyer by him. We find Alpha Hunter and Preston already there, both of them dressed the same as the other, except Preston has a waistcoat on that accentuates his trim waist and bulging arms. Damn, he looks so good I want to drool. Killian stalks in from the doors down the hall and breaks the mood with his scowling face. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the man smile except for that one night. I shake the memories away immedia
Loraine’s POV If I ever felt guilty for thinking Jennifer is not the character she portrays herself to be, then I would wash myself of every guilt and doubt. She is a two-timing bitch. After the funeral service, there is a significant change in the people around us. When the Alpha brothers decide to walk around and greet the guests, heads turn and whispers buzz. Especially when Alpha Hunter keeps introducing me as their Luna. “How’s the ball coming along?” one of the guests who Alpha Hunter introduced as Zeke asks. “Very well.” Alpha Hunter answers. “My Luna has been breaking her hands to make it a day to be remembered.” He turns to me, his smile faltering a little. “Well, I’ll be there just to see how everything goes. Hunter cannot stop going with how perfect you are.” I smile and nod, not knowing what to reply to that. I have no idea that Alpha Hunter has been talking to other people about me or that he has even had the time to do that. Sasha nudges my side, whispering s
Loraine’s POV I never get a chance to speak to Gordon. I blame the Alpha brothers for that. Whatever'speech’ they had with him must have scared him away, and they give me no information about what they talked about. I console myself with the fact that I will see him at the ball. Kris has assured me that he will be there and Jennifer too, although I have nothing else to discuss with her except that she decides to step in my way. I don’t tell the Alpha brothers about our small spat in the restroom, although I’m sure they’ll hear it soon. News flies like the wind in this place. I immerse myself in preparing for the ball. Sharing beds with the brothers becomes surprisingly normal, and most days, I find myself counting down time till night comes and I have to sleep, especially when it's Kris’ turn. Nothing much happens during bedtime. Although my wolf is quite disappointed by it, she’s content with having all her mates close. At this rate, choosing is going to be really hard, a
Loraine’s POV There's a distinct change in the community after Alpha Hunter’s announcement that the ball will be moved. It creates some kind of unrest, and a lot of their pack members keep wondering if it’s not safe. Although they are yet to outrightly attack any of the brothers’ packs, the attacks are becoming more frequent and happen in packs close enough to rattle us. Whoever they are, they are very good at covering up their tracks because even Killian, whom I’ve been told is the best tracker in all of the werewolf community, is having a hard time tracking them. But they would be caught. For now, I’ve decided to pour in my all-in support for Kris through his tests. I have no idea what goes on when he’s carrying out his tests because it's all top secret, confidential stuff, but Sasha says it’s mainly a test of strength—that means he is put in a ring with other Alphas and made to fight till he’s either beaten all of them to a pulp or they surrender. Of course, she knows bec
Loraine’s POV Alpha Hunter grunts as he rolls over, and I take the opportunity to scramble out of the bed and over to my closet at the same time, trying to reach Sasha with the phone, but her number keeps directing me to voicemail. Fuck, fuck, fuck. I mutter over and over again. I don’t know what has happened, but Sasha had sounded fucking scared over the phone. Why did she call me? Where was Beta Maddox? If there was trouble, why did he not try to reach the Alpha Brothers? What the hell was going on? Nothing makes sense. But it doesn’t matter. She is the only friend I’ve had since I came here, the only person whose feelings seemed sincere enough for me. Who liked me for who I was and wanted nothing in return? I’m on my way, Sash. Just stay where you are till I come. Hopefully, my prayers to whatever gods were listening will not go unheard, and they will keep Sasha safe till I find her. She’s my friend; if she needs me, then I’ll be getting my ass over there just to save h
Loraine’s POV After several tries, Sasha’s number finally goes through. The mountain of panic that had settled in my chest recedes a little. She’s fine. I tell myself. Panicked, but fine. We can work with that. Her voice sounds miserable, almost desperate. “I’m holding up in our bathroom. I don’t know how long before... The breath hitches, and I tell myself to calm down; panicking wouldn’t do her any good. “I’m trying to keep the fire away from here, but... its too much. I can’t reach Maddox. He was down on the first floor when I came up to shower.” Unconsciously, I grip the seat hard. A little too hard. “Okay. Okay, don’t panic. Alpha Hunter and the brothers are here, and there’s firefighters too. We’ll get you out of there.” even if it fucking kills me. She huffs, but it’s more of a sob. “God, I’m so scared. If something’s happened to Maddox—” I cut her off before she could finish the sentence. “He’s fine.” If he was anything but alive, she would have felt it, the bond would
Loraine’s POV The moment Alpha Gordon’s dark eyes locked onto mine, I felt my stomach churn. His gaze was the same as it had always been: intense, domineering, and calculating. I turned to Mabel, hoping to steer us into another store and avoid him altogether, but it was too late. He was already weaving through the crowd, his towering figure cutting through the bustling shoppers with purpose. “Loraine,” his deep voice called out as he stopped in front of me, blocking my path. I froze. The sound of his voice brought back a flood of memories—none of them good. Mabel looked between us, her brows furrowing in confusion. “Gordon,” I said stiffly, my voice void of warmth. “What the fuck do you want now?” His lips curled into a half-smile, the kind that once made me weak in the knees but now only made my blood boil. “We need to talk.” “I think we said all we needed to say weeks ago,” I snapped, stepping around him, but he grabbed my wrist gently—not enough to hurt, but enough to make me
Loraine’s POV That evening, as we wrapped up dinner, I could feel the tension simmering between the boys. It had been an exhausting day, and I was looking forward to finally getting some sleep. Just as I stood to leave the dining area, Preston called out, his voice softer than usual. “Loraine,” he began, a hint of hesitation in his tone, “would you mind staying in my room tonight? I’d like to spend some time with you.” Before I could respond, Killian’s chair scraped against the floor as he stood abruptly. “Why should she stay with you, Preston? She stayed with you last week,” Killian said, his voice edged with irritation. Hunter chimed in, his arms crossed over his chest. “I don’t see why she shouldn’t stay in my room. It’s been a while, and I think it’s only fair.” Kris, leaning casually against the doorway, gave a lazy smirk. “You’re all ridiculous. If anyone gets her company tonight, it’s me. I think I deserve it after me being shot by wolfsbane and everything.” Their bickeri
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