Valeria POVI am now Alpha Cassian’s stepdaughter not just that, I also have four hot, dangerously sexy step-brothers – the kind of hotness that will make your pulse race just by standing in the same room with name and leave a wet patch in between your legs. Me… a girl who has been an only child all my life. It has just been me and my mommy and I loved the arrangement. I loved that I could not share her with someone else but my mother fell in love and although I know I have no say in her choices, I just wished she had chosen another species... maybe a human and not a werewolf.So, here I am, standing on the Private tarmac of the Red Ridge Pack Airport, waiting for a crew to hand us our luggage. Well, my step-father was not only a powerful Alpha, but he was also wealthy and had sent a private jet to pick up me and Mom.“Thank you!” my mother murmured gratefully to the Porter who finished loading all of our luggage as we turned and followed behind him.My mother glanced at her phone. “
Valeria POVThe pale morning light filtered through my curtains, casting a soft glow across my room. I lay in bed, motionless. The events of the previous night playing on repeat in my mind like a nightmare.The lingering scent of blood, Alerion’s icy gaze and the way his hand had wrapped around my throat – teased into my mind afresh hanging like a heavy cloud. I had barely slept, every creak kept me on the edge, as if something or someone could be lurking at the corner of my room, waiting for the perfect moment to strangle me in my sleep.I had to tell my mother – at least. Whatever Alerion and his family were doing it had to be illegal right?My hands hovered over my phone, fingers trembling as I considered calling my mother, after a moment’s hesitation. I dialed her number and had almost given up that she wouldn’t pick up when she answered.“Hey, sweetheart, good morning.” She said breezily.“Mom!” I started without a preamble “There’s something I want to tell you. Last night…”“Hol
Valeria POVThe drive to school was torture.I perched at the other end of the back seat, holding my breath while Lysander sat next to me, his presence feeling the entire car. Finally, the car pulled up, in front of a big gate that had the name ‘Moonhaven Academy’ embossed on the top.The school was such a beautiful architectural edifice with wrought iron barriers and wolf motifs adorning the entrance. As we drove through the gate, my eyes widened – impressed by the ancient stone building and modern glass structures that were the school.There was large, sprawling, neatly pruned lawns with flower hedges made up of different beautiful flowers. On the lawns were tall trees, pruned too – and serving as cover for the benches. I saw some students sitting on the grass, taking pictures, talking and laughing.Everyone dressed so impeccable, and looked so perfect… this was nothing like my former school which had overgrown grasses and hedges with students dressed as they wanted, here, although
Valeria POVBy the time I finally arrived at the packhouse, it was too late.My feet ached as I trudged up the driveway, the sun was setting, casting long shadows across the manicured lawn and my heart was heavy with fear and sadness. I had gotten lost several while trying to track my way to the pack house, all I wanted right now was a warm bath and maybe food.But as I neared the packhouse, it was anything but welcoming. It felt like a prison.As the front door opened, I saw my mother pacing in the foyer, worry etched across her face. As soon as she saw me, she ran up to me.“Valeria! Where have you been? I’ve been calling you for hours. Lysander said he didn’t see you after school and came home thinking you had come ahead. What happened dear?”My eyes darted past my mom to where Lysander was lounging on the stairs, his pupils glinting with amusement. He was watching me intently, a slow smug smile curving his lips.He knew.He knew exactly what he had done, leaving me stranded at sch
Alerion POVI and my brothers gathered in the library later that night after I was done with my work for the day.We all took our usual spots, with me sitting at the chair next to the mahogany table, my back against the high-backed leather chair, my fingers drumming against the armrest rhythmically. Caius was nearby, leaning against a bookshelf with his usual calm demeanour adjusting his glasses now and again with a bored expression on his face.Zane was sprawled on the couch, his muscular frame taking up more than half of it and Lysander, the youngest, lounged by the window, his eyes gleaming with their usual mischief.We only gathered in the library whenever we wanted to talk about something that bothered us and tonight’s discussion was about Valera and her mother. Well, mostly Valeria.Her mother seemed to be pushing the right buttons with my father, making her out of our reach, at least for now.“She’s just like her mother,” Lysander sneered, crossing his arms over his chest. “She
Valeria POVMy step-brothers went easy on me for the rest of the week.They treated me like I was invisible but that was fine since they were no longer bullying me. Maybe they finally had a rethink. So, I decided to take my mother’s advice.The sound of sizzling oil filled the kitchen as I carefully arranged the honey-glazed chicken inside a lunch box. I tried to copy the movements of the chef whose tutorials I had seen, cutting the vegetables into perfect shapes – carrots carved into delicate flowers, cucumbers rolled into a beautiful spiral.The clock in the kitchen read 5:30 Am but I have been awake since four, determined to make the perfect lunch for my Oldest brother, Alerion.Three weeks of living in the Packhouse has taught me to treasure these quiet morning hours before the maids arrived, before my step-father’s critical gaze – although he rarely speaks to me except when he wants to organize my life the way it pleases him and wants to inform me, still I couldn’t help but feel
Valeria POVThat evening, I sat at my desk calculating my remaining savings which had dwindled significantly after my recent attempts at buying my step-brothers affection.My mother’s words from breakfast some days ago echoed in my mind. “You should focus on building relationships between yourself and your brothers. Don’t just give up because they’re not being receptive yet.”I had tried to explain to her about the gifts and lunches, about my efforts to connect with them but my mother had insisted I wasn’t trying enough.“If they’re not receptive, you’re not trying hard enough. They’ll be Future Alphas one day and are perfect examples of grace and refinement. The problem must lie with your approach.So, I kept trying. I learned all of their favourite food, spent hours browsing the stores for perfect gifts, and offered help with tasks before being asked but each of my attempts was met with the same polite dismissal, each gift redirected to another person and today… I couldn’t believe t
Valeria POVEight Months later…I struck a day off the calendar sighing with content – three more days until my eighteenth birthday. Three days until I could finally escape this prison.I had even planned everything: a small apartment in the city, far from Red Ridge Pack, I’d already gotten a job at a bookstore, and thankfully since I was no longer vying for the affection of my stepbrothers, I’ve been able to save.Not only that, I was supposed to have gotten my wolf at 14 but I am almost 18, everyone has assumed I am human but for me, it was the best thing ever. No wolf meant no pack bonds to break, no mate to pine for, no ties to sever except the already fragile ones binding me to this family that had never wanted me.The only problem was my stepfather, Alpha Cassian was growing impatient.A month ago, I’d overheard him telling my mother, that as soon as I turn 18, I’ll be mated off.His voice had been calm but it was laced with disdain as if it was my fault that I had no wolf.“She
Valeria POV“Seems like you had a great night!” It was not a question.Zane murmured coming out of the shadow to stand on the porch, blocking off its rays.As usual, his presence overwhelmed me but I stood my ground, I didn’t want to talk to him, to spoil the joy I felt deep within my soul. I didn’t think he was worth it. Without a word, I moved to step around him but before I could take another step, Zane reached out, his hand wrapping around my arm, pulling me back gently but firmly.“Are you ignoring me now, Valeria? Is that what your new date asked you to do? To ignore me?”“Let me go, now!” I said coldly.“Not until you answer my questions.” He jerked me closer to him. “What’s going on, Valeria? How could you just… go on a date with him?”I turned to him with a blank expression. “I don’t owe you any explanation, Zane Windsor. Weren’t you on the dining table when your father told me about this date? Don’t act dumb. Or better still stay out of my business. What I do and who I choos
Valeria POVI stared at my reflection in the car window, adjusting my dress for the hundredth time. I’d chosen something simple – a powder blue sundress that my mother had deemed ‘too casual’ for a first date with the son of Alpha Reynold and had made me change into the red dress.It was a typical evening dress with a slit running to my upper thigh, showing off my legs. I hated the dress but my mom insisted I wore it. Sighing, I thanked the pack guard who had driven me to the restaurant where I would be meeting Landon Reynold – Alpha Reynold’s son before alighting.I approached the entrance of the upscale restaurant with large windows overlooking a garden. I didn’t want to be here but if my mother and Alpha Cassian were so adamant about making this happen, I would humour them – just this once.Besides, as much as I resented the forced nature of the date, anything to get them off my back. As long as I remained in that pack house, I knew I couldn’t refuse Alpha Cassian.At the door, a h
Valeria POVI was done with waiting for anyone to change. It was time to start putting myself first.After the incident at Red Door, I kept my distance from my stepbrothers. To me, they no longer seemed like people I’d once wanted to know, much less impressed. So, I moved through the house as a ghost might, quiet and detached, not stopping to make small talk or meet anyone’s eyes.My life was triangular. From school to the café to the pack house. I made sure I left the house early enough to avoid riding to school with Lysander and found another route home after my shift to the café. I didn’t want to run into any of my stepbrothers by mistake.Alerion was the first to try to try to engage in a conversation with me.“Hey, Val,” he greeted me when we met in the hallways, the kind of tone that might have once prompted a smile from me. I merely nodded, barely glancing at him.Caius, too, tried a gentler approach. One morning he’d left a small box of my favourite tea on the kitchen counter,
Valeria POVA few days passed, but the regret didn’t fade. I missed Zane. I missed his smile, his voice, his warm presence, his meals. I missed the feeling of someone who cared. Of closing my shifts and walking up to a bouquet of colourful flowers.Every time I close my eyes, I see Zane’s face, the hurt I’d caused him. He had always been there for me, right from before I found out we were mates, always supported me and I’d thrown it back in his face like it meant nothing.But if I wanted to make things right, I would find him and apologize. I just needed to explain, to help him understand why it’s important we stay apart. But the problem was, that Zane had stopped coming to the pack house.For days now, I’ve toyed with the idea of going to his house but the problem was, I didn’t know the exact address. All the times we’ve gone there, I was always in Zane’s car, either sleeping or chatting with him and didn’t pay close attention to the landmarks.Perhaps, if I asked any of the boys. Ma
Valeria POVMy heart sank but I forced myself to stay calm, not to let any hurt spill over. “I guess, I don’t need to say much then.”Zane hesitated, “So… you’re planning to do what your mom said?”I nodded, refusing to meet his probing gaze. “It’s for the best. My mom has her life here, you’re all her new family. I’m just… I don’t fit here. I’ll leave after graduation.”He was silent for a moment before he finally spoke. “But what if you did fit here, Valeria? What if things were different?”My heart fluttered despite myself but I pushed it down, willing myself not to hope. “It’s too late, Zane. I’m leaving in a few months. This… whatever this is, won’t change anything.”His eyes darkened, and he moved a bit closer, his voice was a whisper now. “What if I could? You’re my mate after all… what if there’s the slightest probability that things will change?”The intensity in his gaze made my heart pound, but I forced myself to look away.“I have to keep my word to my mother, Zane. She wa
Valeria POVI held my smarting cheek, staring at my mother with surprise.“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?’ my mother hissed. I have worked so hard to give us a life here, to make sure we’re safe, and you go and pull something like this?’I swallowed hard, trying to hold back the tears at the corner of my eyes. I hadn’t meant for any of this to happen. I didn’t even fully realize how close I and Zane had come to crossing a line.“I didn’t mean to,” I said, trembling.“You didn’t mean to?” she scoffed. “You’ve been nothing but trouble since we moved here. And now this? Do you want to ruin everything for us? Do you want to destroy the life we are trying to build?”I bit my lips, struggling not to cry. “I’m sorry but I wasn’t seducing him, Mom. I promise.”“That’s now how it looked, Valeria. You more than anyone should understand how hard our life was before we came here. We lived paycheck to paycheck, never knowing if we’d make rent. Not just that, raising you on my own, struggli
Valeria POVA few days later, it was a weekend and I was home alone.My mother and Alpha Cassian were attending the wedding ceremony of an Alpha from a nearby pack and had informed me the night before. It was almost midday when I woke up to discover it was just me at home and the pack domestic staff who seemed busy.I decided to see a movie. Though Zane had promised to come over later to help me study for my upcoming calculus test.I brought out the necessary textbooks and questions, waiting for his arrival. I was almost settling into the movie when the doorbell rang. I opened the door to find Zane leaning against the frame, flashing me that familiar grin that made my heart skip a beat.“Hey,” he said, stepping inside, refusing my attempt to relieve him of the bag of groceries he had in one hand and the bottle of wine he had in the other. “Am I too late?” he asked making straight for the kitchen. “I thought we could make lunch together before we do the math. I’ve been craving your hel
Valeria POVOver the following weeks, I found myself increasingly surrounded by unexpected kindnesses from Zane.Like now, Zane stood in front of me, holding a bouquet of flowers in front of the café. The bright yellow blooms contrasted sharply with the dark autumn sky behind him and I could only stare, speechless.“I thought you could use a little something to brighten your shift,” he said with his signature grin. The one that melted my heart easily these days.I blinked, not sure what to do. Why was this becoming a habit? Despite it’s been weeks since the incident in the café when he had stepped in and defended me from Merah and her friends. Since then, he has been… different. Nicer. More attentive.At first, they were small gestures – fresh flowers appearing on my locker on every Monday morning, a hot coffee already ordered and waiting for me at the beginning of my café shifts. Then they grew more bolder, more personal.He had also mastered the art of being present without seeming
Valeria POVSome seconds later, Zane returned, carrying a small, white plastic bag.“Valeria!” he motioned to me. “Come here!”There were people at the counter, waiting in line for their order. I glared at him.“I’m busy!” I said through gritted teeth.“Do you want me to come carry you or will you come willingly?” he asked, arching a brow at me as a playful smile played on his lips.A blush crept up my neck as I swallowed hard. Why was he openly flirting with me?“I said I cannot!” I repeated, pointing at the line of customers in front of me.He nodded and came towards the counter and in one single swoop, he grabbed me and lifted me off the ground like I weighed nothing. Some of the customers hooted and clapped but I wasn’t impressed.Finally, he set me down on an empty chair, the smile was still on his face. On the other hand, I couldn’t stop blushing. After setting me on the chair, he sat on the other chair and dragged me close to him.Our faces were dangerously close to each other