I raised an eyebrow, skeptical of his intentions. “An offer? What kind of ‘offer’ could you possibly have for me?”Evan leaned in slightly, his expression shifting from playful to serious. “I Can help you gain some leverage over Clara and the other maids, but I need something from you in return.”“And what would that be?” I asked, my curiosity piqued despite my better judgment.He straightened up and crossed his arms again, adopting a mockingly casual tone. “You’ll have to let me teach you how to hold your own against them. Let me coach you on how to stand up for yourself, how to not let them walk all over you.”I contemplated his offer. On one hand, I felt exhausted from the constant bullying and was tired of being treated like a doormat. On the other hand, trusting Evan seemed like a risk—he had an air of unpredictability that made me uneasy.“What’s in it for you?” I asked, not ready to commit to anything just yet.He chuckled lightly, the amusement still lingering in his eyes. “Ho
I looked at Evan, whose face suddenly changed.Then he said, “Your wolf. It’s... rare.”I frowned, confusion prickling at my skin. “I... I don’t understand. It comes and goes. I’m an omega, and it looks the same as everyone else’s.”Evan let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “No, Marcy. It’s not the same. I’ve seen hundreds of wolves shift, and yours? It’s different. Stronger.”I crossed my arms, uneasy under his scrutiny. “If it’s so strong, why can’t I control it? Why does it feel like I’m fighting with a stranger every time it shows up?”Evan’s smirk returned, though there was something more serious beneath it. “Because you don’t know how to listen.”“Listen?” I scoffed. “It’s a wolf, Evan, not a person.”“Shows how much you know,” he said, stepping closer. “Your wolf isn’t just some beast inside you. It’s a part of you. And until you stop treating it like a problem, you’ll never get anywhere.”I opened my mouth to argue, but he held up a hand.“Save it,” he said. “You want to g
The sun hung low in the sky as Martha and I made our way toward the bustling market at the edge of the pack’s territory. The scent of freshly baked bread, ripe fruits, and roasted meat wafted through the air, mingling with the murmur of voices and the occasional bark of a merchant hawking their wares.Martha, walking beside me, nudged my shoulder playfully. “So, what’s the deal with you and Evan?”I blinked, caught off guard. “What do you mean?”She grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Oh, come on, Marcy. You’ve been spending all that time training with him, and you’re telling me nothing’s going on?”I felt my cheeks heat up, and I glanced away, trying to hide my smile. “There’s nothing going on. He’s just... helping me with my wolf.”Martha giggled, leaning in closer. “Helping you? Is that what they call it now?”I groaned, but I couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up. “You’re ridiculous.”“And you’re blushing,” she teased.“I am not!”She raised an eyebrow. “Oh, please. You’
I chuckled, the sound bubbling up through the heaviness of my earlier emotions. “I’ll do my best,” I replied, feeling a surge of warmth at his words.“Good.” Evan flashed me a grin before continuing on his way. I watched him go, feeling a strange combination of gratitude and confusion swirling within me. Despite the chaos in my mind, something about our conversation had kindled a flickering flame of resolve deep inside.I took a deep breath and glanced down the staircase, feeling the enormous weight of the Alpha house pressing in on me. But if I could just learn to stand tall—like Evan suggested—maybe I could become a little stronger, a little more confident.With renewed determination, I made my way back down the steps and into the kitchen. The maids were still busy with their chores, casting occasional glances in my direction. This time, however, I held my head high, refusing to let their whispers pierce through the wall I was slowly building around myself.I began to sort through t
The pack festival was a grand affair, transforming the normally quiet grounds into a bustling scene of celebration. Lanterns hung from trees, casting a warm golden glow over the crowd. The scent of roasted meat and spiced cider filled the air, and laughter echoed from every corner.I walked cautiously through the festival, Martha at my side, her excitement palpable.“Isn’t this amazing?” she said, her eyes sparkling as she took in the sights. “It’s like the whole pack has forgotten their troubles for one night.”“Not everyone,” I murmured, noticing the occasional scowl or whispered comment directed my way.Martha looped her arm through mine. “Ignore them, Marcy. Tonight, you’re here to have fun.”Easier said than done. I tried to focus on the lively music and the colorful stalls, but the weight of the pack’s disapproval clung to me like a shadow.As we passed a group of warriors gathered around a large bonfire, I spotted Ryker and Evan standing off to the side, deep in conversation. R
I was giggling to myself as I rushed to get some drinks. The festival had done something strange to me, lifted a weight I hadn’t realized I’d been carrying. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt light. Even the lingering tension between Ryker and Evan had faded from my thoughts as I wove through the bustling crowd.Grabbing two mugs of cider from a nearby stall, I turned to head back when I nearly collided with someone.“Oh, I’m sorry—” I began, stopping short as I looked up.The man before me was older, his face lined with deep wrinkles that spoke of years of wisdom and hardship. His sharp, amber eyes seemed to pierce straight through me, and a long, silver beard framed his weathered face.“Marcelline,” he said softly, his voice gravelly yet calm.I blinked, the sound of my name from his lips catching me off guard. “Do I know you?”He gave a small, knowing smile. “Not directly. But I knew your parents.”The world around me seemed to slow, the sounds of the festival fadi
Their words sent a jolt through me. Playing the victim? What was right under my nose? My pulse quickened as I pressed harder against the door, trying to catch every word. The conversation was laced with a tension that hinted at something deeper than petty gossip.“We need to move quickly,” Clara said after a moment of silence. “If the Elder keeps poking around, it’s only a matter of time before he puts the pieces together.”Elder? Were they talking about Solas? My heart sank. What could they possibly be involved in that connected to him—and, by extension, to me?Martha sighed. “I know. But if we rush, we’ll make mistakes, and mistakes mean exposure. We’ve waited this long; a few more days won’t hurt.”Clara wasn’t convinced. “We’re running out of time. If she remembers anything—if she finds out what really happened—”“We’ll handle it,” Martha interrupted, her voice sharp with finality. “Just stick to the plan.”I stepped back from the door, my mind racing. What were they talking about
The following days passed in a haze of paranoia and determination. The journal and the pendant never left my side, tucked safely in my satchel. I spent every free moment deciphering my mother’s words and studying the map, though its symbols and annotations still eluded me. Each step forward felt like peeling back another layer of the lies that had shrouded my life for so long.Clara and Martha, meanwhile, were becoming more vigilant. Their whispered conversations were shorter, their movements sharper. It was as though they sensed I was onto them. I avoided them as best I could, but I knew it was only a matter of time before they made their move—or I made mine.One evening, I found myself back in the library, poring over old texts in the hopes of matching the symbols on the map to anything in the archives. The room was silent, the faint scent of aging paper filling the air. I’d nearly given up when a faint scuff of boots on the wooden floor made me freeze.I looked up to find Ryker sta
The walk back to the maids’ quarters felt endless, every step heavy with the weight of my thoughts. I couldn’t stop replaying the events of the morning, the intensity, the bond, the impossible situation I found myself in.As I pushed open the door to the common area, the sharp buzz of gossip hit my ears like a swarm of angry bees. The maids turned to look at me, their eyes filled with curiosity and something darker: judgment.“Well, look who decided to grace us with her presence,” Clara sneered, stepping forward with her arms crossed. “Have a good night, Marcy? Or should I say, the Alpha’s little plaything?”The words stung, sharper than I expected, but I squared my shoulders, refusing to let her see my pain. “I don’t have time for your petty insults, Clara,” I said evenly, moving past her toward the sink.“Oh, but we have time,” another maid piped up, her voice dripping with mockery. “You know, Marcy, some of us actually work for our place here. We don’t just... lie down for it.”A r
The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the warmth.It was everywhere, surrounding me, pressing against my skin, cocooning me in a way that made me feel both safe and... exposed. My eyes fluttered open, and it took a moment for the blurry edges of the world to come into focus.That’s when I realized.I was naked.My heart stopped, my breath catching in my throat as the events of the previous night came rushing back. The full moon. The bond. The way it pulled us together like an unstoppable force.I sat up abruptly, clutching the blanket to my chest, my gaze darting around the room. It wasn’t my quarters—it was larger, darker, with a heavy wooden bed that screamed dominance and authority.Ryker’s room.My stomach flipped as I glanced down. Evan was sprawled on one side of me, his chest bare, his hair a mess, and his lips slightly parted as he slept. His arm was slung loosely over my waist, his touch sending shivers through me even in his unconscious state.On the other side was Ry
Ryker didn’t hesitate. His teeth sank gently into the curve of my shoulder, the sensation a sharp mix of pain and pleasure that made me cry out. The mark pulsed with warmth, a tangible reminder of his claim.Evan followed suit, his teeth grazing my other shoulder before he bit down, his mark sealing the bond between us.The sensation was too much. I clung to them, my body trembling as the world around us seemed to shift, the bond solidifying in a way that was both exhilarating and terrifying.“You’re ours now,” Ryker murmured against my skin, his voice a low growl. “And we’ll never let you go.”“Never,” Evan echoed, his hands sliding lower as he pressed a kiss to my temple. “You belong to us, Marcy.”And in that moment, I knew it was true.Evan’s lips lingered against my temple, his breath warm as his hands trailed over my bare skin. Ryker’s grip on my hips tightened, his calloused fingers digging into my flesh as his heated gaze pinned me in place. The tension between us was electric
Evan was the first to recover. His warm hand closed over mine, firm and steady, grounding me in despite the chaos of the moment.“Marcy,” he said softly, his voice a soothing balm against the tension crackling in the air. “You’re right. This is real. It’s always been real.”Ryker’s growl was low, almost feral, as he stepped closer, the moonlight catching the sharp angles of his face. “This isn’t some fairytale,” he said, his tone clipped. “You don’t just get to decide—”“Decide what?” I shot back, cutting him off with a surge of confidence I didn’t know I possessed. “That I’m done feeling like I’m nothing to you? That I’m done being pushed and pulled like I don’t have a say?”Ryker’s mouth opened, then closed again. For once, he seemed at a loss for words. His piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I saw something raw there—something that made my heart clench.Evan’s thumb brushed the back of my hand, drawing my attention back to him. “He’s an ass,” he said, his lips
Marcy’s POV“Did you hear?” Martha asked me as she hung a freshly washed shirt on the clothesline, her voice filled with excitement.“If it’s about gossip, I do not know. I do not pay attention to such,” I replied curtly, focusing on wringing out the damp towel in my hands.“It’s not just gossip,” Martha said, stepping closer to me. “It’s about your mates.”That made me pause. I raised an eyebrow, giving her a sideways glance. “What about them?”“They defended you,” she said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.I blinked, unsure if I’d heard her correctly. “What?”“Both of them,” she said, a hint of awe in her voice. “At the council meeting this morning. They stood up for you, Marcy.”I frowned, setting the towel aside. “What do you mean ‘stood up for me’? What happened?”Martha shrugged, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “I don’t know all the details, but people are saying the elders demanded they reject you publicly. Something about unrest in the pack because of uou. Th
Ryker's POVI had spent the night pondering the hunter and his attack.His words haunted me, circling in my mind like vultures. “She’s a threat. You think she belongs here?”And yet, what haunted me even more wasn’t the hunter’s cryptic warning but the dreams that followed.Lola.It’s been twenty-five years since her death, and at fifty-seven, my heart still struggles to move on. She was my everything, her laugh the one thing that could shatter the weight of my responsibilities. Even now, her voice echoed in my mind, soft and loving, telling me to let go.But how could I, when my life seemed to be one cruel twist after another?The moon goddess made me a second-chance mate, only to tie me to my own son’s mate. Young, delicate Marcy, a complication I neither wanted nor asked for.I clenched my fists as I stared at the morning sun, its warmth doing little to thaw the ice in my chest. A cup of coffee sat forgotten in my hand, its bitterness matching my mood.A knock broke through my t
Ryker’s POVI tucked my hands in my pockets, my beta beside me as I walked through the shadowed hallway of the pack dungeon. The cold, damp air clung to my skin, the scent of blood and decay thick in the air. My boots echoed against the stone floor, each step a reminder of the task ahead.“Are you sure you want to handle this personally?” my beta, Darius, asked, his tone low but careful.“I don’t trust anyone else to get answers,” I replied without looking at him. “This bastard infiltrated my territory, attacked my pack, and nearly killed me and my son. I need to know who sent him.”“And if he doesn’t talk?”I glanced at Darius, my expression cold. “Then he dies screaming.”We reached the heavy iron door at the end of the corridor. Two guards stood outside, their postures stiffening as they saw me approach.“Alpha,” one of them said, nodding respectfully before stepping aside to unlock the door.The hinges groaned as the door swung open, revealing the small, dimly lit cell inside. The
His lips twitched, almost like he wanted to argue, but he didn’t. Instead, he stood and charged back into the fight, his wolf form emerging again as he tackled the hunter.The battle was a blur of movement, growls, and the sharp clash of steel. I stayed on the sidelines, my eyes darting between Ryker and Evan as they fought together to overpower the hunter.For a moment, it seemed like they had the upper hand. Ryker’s wolf form forced the hunter to retreat, while Evan’s blade struck blow after blow.But the hunter wasn’t finished. With a sudden burst of strength, he knocked Evan back, his blade swinging toward Ryker’s exposed side.“Celline!” I screamed, the panic in my voice matching the roar in my mind.“Now!” she shouted.I didn’t hesitate. I launched myself forward, grabbing a discarded spear from the ground and hurling it with all my strength.The spear struck true, hitting the hunter’s shoulder and throwing him off balance. Ryker and Evan seized the opportunity, their combined s
I woke with a gasp, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst from my chest. Sweat clung to my skin, and my breaths came in shallow gulps as I sat up, clutching the blanket.The room was quiet, the only sound the faint rustling of the curtains as a breeze slipped through the cracked window.“Marcy,” Celline’s voice broke the silence, soft but insistent.“What was that?” I asked aloud, my voice trembling.“A glimpse of the past,” she said. “And a warning for the future.”I shook my head, trying to make sense of her words. “The wolves in the dream... were they my parents?”“Yes,” Celline replied. “They were protecting something. Someone. And now, the same danger circles you.”My stomach twisted, fear curling around my heart. “What kind of danger?”Celline was quiet for a moment before responding. “I don’t know the full extent. But I can feel it. It’s close, Marcy. Closer than we realized.”I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my hands shaking as I rubbed my temples. “Wh