Loraine’s POV The next morning was unbearable. The packhouse, which usually buzzed with warmth and energy, felt cold and distant. My mates—Killian, Hunter, Kris, and Preston—were avoiding me, and it was eating away at my patience. I sat at the breakfast table, absently stirring my coffee. The boys had joined me in the kitchen but kept their distance, murmuring among themselves like I wasn’t even there. Hunter, who usually greeted me with a kiss on my forehead, barely glanced my way. “Good morning,” I said, trying to break the ice. “Morning,” Killian replied curtly, not even looking up from his plate. I clenched my jaw, setting my cup down a little too loudly. “Really? That’s all I get? Morning?” Preston sighed but didn’t meet my gaze. “It’s not like that, Loraine. We’re just trying to process everything.” “Process?” I scoffed. “There’s nothing to process because I didn’t do anything!” Hunter turned, his jaw tight. “We know that, but this situation is bigger than us now. Gideon
Loraine’s POV The atmosphere in the room was really freaking heavy with tension as I sat on the oversized leather couch, staring at the crackling fire in the hearth Hunter had recently installed when he realized I liked the ambiance. The flames danced, casting flickering shadows on the walls, but even their warmth couldn’t ease the chill that had settled deep in my chest. Tomorrow was the Lycan court hearing, and I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, about to fall into the unknown where bloodsucking sharks would love to swallow me for sure. Killian, Preston, Hunter, Kris, and Prince Gideon sat around me with their faces serious. Their usual playful looks had vanished and were replaced with concern for me, and it made my heart ache to see them so burdened. Hunter leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Loraine, I need you to understand something. The Lycan court is not like pack councils. They’re ruthless and efficient, and they don’t tolerate weakness or de
Loraine’s POV That night, the brothers insisted on spending time with me to ease my nerves. We retreated to Killian’s spacious room, which was warm and inviting with its dark wood furniture and soft golden lighting. “I thought we could use a distraction,” Killian said, holding up a deck of cards. “Cards?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “Don’t underestimate the power of a good game night,” Kris said with a grin, grabbing a seat beside me. Hunter and Preston joined in, and soon we were deep in a heated game of poker. Laughter filled the room as I surprisingly managed to win a few rounds. “I think you’re hustling us, Loraine,” Preston teased, narrowing his eyes at me. “Me? Hustling? Never,” I said with a mock gasp. “Right,” Hunter drawled, leaning back in his chair. “You’re just naturally good at this.” “Exactly,” I said, flashing him a cheeky grin. The lighthearted atmosphere was exactly what I needed. For a few hours, I forgot about the looming court hearing and the weight of
Today is a good day for me. Not only did I just get my wolf, but I also got to bind with my mate and live forever with him. For me, this is one of the best days of my life because I have been looking forward to this day forever. “C’mon, Loraine. Get your ass moving or we are going to be late.” My best friend, Jennifer, calls out to me, and I flip her away. I can’t seem to step away from the mirror. I want to appear perfect for him. I can already imagine the look on his face when he sees me standing in front of him in the tight-fitting, curving, accentuating ball gown I have chosen. Anxiety is causing me to break out in sweats, and I know I have to calm myself down or I’ll ruin the little makeup I’ve managed to put on. My best friend appears beside me suddenly and pulls me away. “That’s enough!” she says sternly. She has taken up the role of being a mom to me ever since my parents passed away in an auto crash two years ago, and the role fits her well. After all, she’s a bit older
“I, Alpha Gordon Graylock, reject you, Loraine Kellen, as my mate, and Luna of the Withall pack.”WHAT?!I can’t hide the surprise that makes its way to my face or the pain and hurt that follow. His eyes are cold and detached as they stare me down after that proclamation, and I am left wondering if this is the same man whom I have always known as kind and good. I open my mouth to choke out words, but the priestess beats me to it. “Loraine Kellen, you have been rejected by your mate.” as if I did not just hear it loud and clear and in front of the entire pack. “You can either accept or decline his rejection, but bear in mind that declining his rejection might be risky for both you and your wolf.”Tears pour down my face, and I immediately wipe them away. My wolf has folded herself away into a corner. I’m sure that she is even more hurt and shocked than I am. We had both been anxious for this day. The mate bond starts to break slowly. I can feel it. It’s like being ripped apart slowl
“I, Alpha Gordon Graylock, reject you, Loraine Kellen, as my mate, and Luna of the Withall pack.”WHAT?!I can’t hide the surprise that makes its way to my face or the pain and hurt that follow. His eyes are cold and detached as they stare me down after that proclamation, and I am left wondering if this is the same man whom I have always known as kind and good. I open my mouth to choke out words, but the priestess beats me to it. “Loraine Kellen, you have been rejected by your mate.” as if I did not just hear it loud and clear and in front of the entire pack. “You can either accept or decline his rejection, but bear in mind that declining his rejection might be risky for both you and your wolf.”Tears pour down my face, and I immediately wipe them away. My wolf has folded herself away into a corner. I’m sure that she is even more hurt and shocked than I am. We had both been anxious for this day. The mate bond starts to break slowly. I can feel it. It’s like being ripped apart slowl
“What does it look like I'm doing, Jennifer?” I retort. “I never expected something like this from you, of all people. But since it happened, it's only been proven that I have nothing here, so I’m leaving.”She shakes her head, and I feel the sudden urge to slap her. Her motherly act is beginning to get on my nerve. QUIT ACTING LIKE MY MOTHER, GODDAMMIT!“Loraine, seriously. You have to think about what you are doing now. You know, leaving the pack like this nullifies your membership in this pack. You risk losing everything you have worked so hard for.”I tilt my head and ask, “Have I not already lost everything? I told you I suspected that the Alpha was my mate because of the pull I had towards him, but you forgot to mention that you both were already seeing each other.”“I didn’t think you were actually going to be his mate, and I did not want to hurt your feelings.”“Yeah, of course. Even in the end, you were thinking about me. Which is why you spent four hours in his room consolin
A Treaty Between Four KingsThe rest of the night up until the moment when Alpha Gordon climbs up the podium to greet his pack and the guests and make the announcement passes without hitch. Alpha Gordon has warned me to steer clear of other people in the room since I have turned out to be a walking and talking time bomb, and I am doing just that. Yet my eyes keep being drawn to the group of four elegant men in the room, one of whom saved me the other time. He’s looking at me too, and heat rises on my cheek. He’s not engaged with the other perfect-looking guys in his group; instead, he’s focused on me. I think he’s about to make a move when Alpha Gordon starts his speech, snagging all of the attention in the room. “I want to start by thanking you all for making the time to be here.” He starts, but his eyes are focused on only one person in particular. Although our bond is almost gone, it still hurts to see that he is not even the least affected by all of this. “This is five years s
Loraine’s POV That night, the brothers insisted on spending time with me to ease my nerves. We retreated to Killian’s spacious room, which was warm and inviting with its dark wood furniture and soft golden lighting. “I thought we could use a distraction,” Killian said, holding up a deck of cards. “Cards?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “Don’t underestimate the power of a good game night,” Kris said with a grin, grabbing a seat beside me. Hunter and Preston joined in, and soon we were deep in a heated game of poker. Laughter filled the room as I surprisingly managed to win a few rounds. “I think you’re hustling us, Loraine,” Preston teased, narrowing his eyes at me. “Me? Hustling? Never,” I said with a mock gasp. “Right,” Hunter drawled, leaning back in his chair. “You’re just naturally good at this.” “Exactly,” I said, flashing him a cheeky grin. The lighthearted atmosphere was exactly what I needed. For a few hours, I forgot about the looming court hearing and the weight of
Loraine’s POV The atmosphere in the room was really freaking heavy with tension as I sat on the oversized leather couch, staring at the crackling fire in the hearth Hunter had recently installed when he realized I liked the ambiance. The flames danced, casting flickering shadows on the walls, but even their warmth couldn’t ease the chill that had settled deep in my chest. Tomorrow was the Lycan court hearing, and I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, about to fall into the unknown where bloodsucking sharks would love to swallow me for sure. Killian, Preston, Hunter, Kris, and Prince Gideon sat around me with their faces serious. Their usual playful looks had vanished and were replaced with concern for me, and it made my heart ache to see them so burdened. Hunter leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Loraine, I need you to understand something. The Lycan court is not like pack councils. They’re ruthless and efficient, and they don’t tolerate weakness or de
Loraine’s POV The next morning was unbearable. The packhouse, which usually buzzed with warmth and energy, felt cold and distant. My mates—Killian, Hunter, Kris, and Preston—were avoiding me, and it was eating away at my patience. I sat at the breakfast table, absently stirring my coffee. The boys had joined me in the kitchen but kept their distance, murmuring among themselves like I wasn’t even there. Hunter, who usually greeted me with a kiss on my forehead, barely glanced my way. “Good morning,” I said, trying to break the ice. “Morning,” Killian replied curtly, not even looking up from his plate. I clenched my jaw, setting my cup down a little too loudly. “Really? That’s all I get? Morning?” Preston sighed but didn’t meet my gaze. “It’s not like that, Loraine. We’re just trying to process everything.” “Process?” I scoffed. “There’s nothing to process because I didn’t do anything!” Hunter turned, his jaw tight. “We know that, but this situation is bigger than us now. Gideon
Loraine’s POV The loud crash jolted me awake, followed by shouts echoing through the hall. My heart jumped in my chest as I scrambled to sit up. For a moment, I wondered if I was dreaming, but when I heard Mabel’s frantic scream pierce the air, I knew something was seriously wrong. I threw on a robe and ran out of my room, almost colliding with Killian and Preston as they sprinted past me toward Mabel’s quarters. Kris and Hunter weren’t far behind, their expressions a mix of rage and determination. “What’s happening?” I called out, struggling to keep up. “We are under attack, Mabel's room again.” Hunter growled without looking back. I skidded to a stop, stunned. Under attack? That had to be one of her elaborate stunts to get attention. But as I hurried to her room, the sounds of a scuffle proved otherwise. When I stepped inside, chaos greeted me. Four masked figures were fighting viciously against the boys. Mabel cowered in the corner, clutching a blanket, her face streaked wit
Loraine’s POV I put on a war cry alarm to wake me gently the next day. Today was my chance to make things right. I had stayed up late planning a buffet and games, something lighthearted and fun to bring us all together. I needed to show Killian, Preston, Kris, Hunter, and even Mabel that I could put the past behind me and move forward with grace…. Or at least, that’s what I was PRETENDING to do. By the time I finished setting up the dining hall, I was exhausted but proud. The tables were arranged beautifully with plates of roasted meats, colorful salads, an array of desserts, and even a drink station. On the far side of the room, I set up games, everything from ring toss to trivia. It was perfect—a way to distract everyone from the mess I’d caused. When the Alphas walked in, their reactions made it all worth it. “Loraine, this is incredible,” Hunter said, his eyes wide as he took in the setup. Preston grinned, clapping me on the shoulder. “You’ve outdone yourself. Is this all f
Loraine’s POV That night, I paced my room, clutching my phone in my hand. The day had been a fucking disaster. Sasha, Chloe, the boys—even I couldn’t deny how I’d let my emotions get the better of me. Mabel, that two-timing bitch, had everyone fooled, and here I was, playing right into her hands. The only person who seemed immune to her charm was Chloe. I tapped her name in my contacts, the phone ringing only twice before she picked up. “Loraine? It’s late. What’s going on?” Chloe’s voice was sharp, but there was concern underneath. “I... I need to talk to you,” I said, my voice trembling despite my best effort to stay calm. “You’re the only one who hasn’t… fallen for Mabel’s act.” Chloe let out a low laugh. “That’s because I know her type. Spill it: what happened to make you change your mind now?” I didn’t hold back, recounting everything. How Mabel had twisted the narrative, the boys’ disappointment, Sasha and Mabel drifting closer together, and my growing isolation. I ended
Loraine’s POV After the disastrous scene in the dining room earlier, I knew I had to make things right. It wasn’t just about the boys chastising me or Mabel’s dramatic tears—it was about doing what was right. So, with my pride swallowed and nerves bundled tightly in my stomach, I found myself standing outside Mabel’s room. I took a deep breath and knocked. “Come in,” Mabel called softly, her voice full of hesitation. I pushed the door open to find her sitting on the bed, her eyes puffy from earlier. The sight of her made guilt gnaw at me again. “Mabel,” I started, stepping closer. “I came to apologize. I shouldn’t have snapped at you earlier. It was uncalled for.” Her lips parted in surprise, but then she offered me a small, gracious smile. “Oh, Loraine, you don’t need to apologize. I understand. You’ve been under so much stress lately—planning the wedding, managing the pack, juggling… well, everything.” I nodded slowly, grateful that she was letting me off the hook so easily.
Loraine’s POV Waking up in Hunter’s room— Sorry—our room now felt surreal. The warmth of the four men surrounding me was overwhelming but comforting. Hunter’s arm was slung over my waist, his face buried in the crook of my neck. Preston was curled against my back, his fingers resting lightly on my hip. Killian and Kris lay sprawled on either side, their breathing deep and steady. I hadn’t thought it would be possible to share a bed with all four of them, but somehow, it worked. Their presence was grounding, and the ache of being alone for so many years seemed to fade overnight. The morning light shimmered in through the curtains, bathing the room in a giddy glow. I shifted slightly, trying not to wake anyone, but as if they had a sixth sense for me moving away, Hunter groaned softly. “Morning already?” He mumbled, his lips brushing against my shoulder. “Barely,” I whispered, running a hand through his messy hair. “Good,” Preston murmured sleepily from behind me. “It me
Loraine’s POV The day was perfect. Killian, Kris, Preston, and Hunter had planned everything down to the last detail. From a serene boat ride on the crystal-clear lake to a playful lunch at an outdoor café where they bickered over who would feed me first, every moment felt like a dream. They showed me how much better life was with all four of them in it, constantly reminding me that I deserved this happiness. “I’m telling you, Loraine,” Killian said as we strolled through the market square, his arm draped over my shoulders. “Four mates are better than two any day.” Kris chuckled, walking on my other side and holding my hand. “Killian’s just trying to sell himself. Let’s not forget I’m the fun one.” Preston, carrying a bag of souvenirs they insisted on buying for me, rolled his eyes. “You’re fun until you open your mouth.” “Oh fuck you!” “Don’t start, Preston,” Kris warned, though his grin betrayed his amusement. Hunter trailed slightly behind us, his piercing eyes watching me.