Martha leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. “Oh, come on. You’ve been spending so much time with him lately. Don’t tell me there’s nothing going on.”“There’s nothing going on,” I insisted, though my voice sounded unconvincing even to me.Martha raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. “You’re blushing, Marcy..”“I am not!” I said, setting the spoon down with a little too much force.“Sure you’re not,” she said, laughing. “So, what did you two do? Talk? Laugh? Stare into each other’s eyes? Kiss? Touch boobs?”I groaned, covering my face with my hands. “We got ice cream, okay? That’s all. You don't exactly have sex in an ice cream parlor or I tell him to oh Evan mark me.”“That isn't so bad.”I cocked my head to the right, “It's just ice cream Martha.”“Okay at where?”“Dream delights ice cream parlor.”Martha gasped, her eyes lighting up. “Oh my goddess! You are so clueless. That’s practically a date! Anyone who goes there knows that's a date.”“It wasn’t a date,” I said firmly
“Have you heard that the alpha house is on fire?” “Fire? But we are in front of the building, I don't see any smoke”“Not literally you idiot. I mean that there has been conflict in the alpha house between Alpha Ryker and his son, Evan” “isn’t Evan supposed to take over as Alpha in a few weeks? What is the conflict all about now?” “Yes, you are right. But I heard that Alpha Ryker is refusing to give him the position on the claims that he is not ready for the responsibility” “Oh my! That's a real house on fire, those two are always at loggerheads since Luna Tira died two years ago. Alpha Ryker is stubborn and headstrong while Evan is rebellious and stubborn too”“Hmmm, It is said that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. The pack is in trouble…”…I took another bend in my path thereby disconnecting myself from the two elderly women gossiping along the way, I had to listen to them against my wish. None of that mattered to me because I had bigger problems to face
Alpha Ryker and Evan exchanged shocked looks. In fact they were beyond shocked, they were terrified.“Is this a prank, dad? Because it's not funny one bit. What do you mean by mate? She's my mate” Evan said.“Do I look like the type to play pranks, especially on you? Somehow, this omega is my second chance mate” Ryker replied, the confusion clear in his voice.My eyes kept moving across the both of them, I still couldn't believe what was happening or was I dreaming?I have always wished for a mate but this? This was madness, it was just not right. What was the moon goddess thinking? I didn't know if I should be terrified or grossed out… or maybe it was both.Having two mates was considered very rare in the werewolf community, I have only heard of one which was many years ago in books before I was born. It was a mateship between three powerful individuals that birthed the werewolf community and the balance of all creatures of the world. That is why this mateship was incredibly strange
“What?!” I exclaimed in shock and began rushing down myself.“Marcy, come on, wait for me!” I heard Martha call out to me from behind as she tried to keep up with me. She didn't know why I was this anxious, I couldn't let my mates fight and kill each other.Outside was crowded, the entire pack was watching the duel. Once I got there, I struggled to get past the people watching, I could hear their conversations as I walked by. “Who do you think is going to win the duel, Alpha Ryker or Evan?”“Hmm, I stand with Alpha Ryker. He is more experienced in fighting and when it comes to leading the pack, I think he is doing a good job so far”“I disagree. Evan is a prodigy in combat hence his title as commander in chief to the pack's army. Through his current position, we can all see his leadership skills aren't lacking either. He deserves a chance as alpha, Alpha Ryker can't rule forever”…The arguments continued heatedly among the audience, I didn't care about who was alpha or not, all I wa
Celline growled fiercely within me and began struggling to come forward. I had to grip a chair to balance myself and push her back.“What is it, Celline? Talk to me, what is going on?” I asked in confusion.“These two people hurt us, I watched them hurt you and I couldn't do anything about it but now I can. Let me take them on Marcy, I will tear them to shreds” she barked out.I pushed her back with every willpower in me, “I understand your anger but no, they are still family and I don't want to kill anyone” I explained, it took a while before Celline finally calmed down.Meanwhile Alpha Ryker and Evan turned to look at the guests. “Council elder Levi and his wife, what are you doing here?” Ryker asked.“Greetings Alpha Ryker, I know this is a sensitive time to come around but as it is, this matter concerns me because Marcelline here is my late wife's sister's daughter” Levi said in a cool voice that irritated me and my wolf.“Oh, is that so? I didn't know. Either way, this matter co
Ryker looked down at me with a mixture of surprise and pity in his eyes. He knew the kind of danger I was facing and the fear in my heart was palpable. “Marcelline, you don't have to do this. You are not a slave, you are a wolf and you deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. You are not going back to that house, I promise you that” Ryker said firmly.I couldn't believe what I was hearing, the Alpha was going to protect me? I never thought I would find someone who would stand up for me and defend me against my own family. “Thank you, Alpha Ryker. I am forever grateful for your kindness and generosity. I will do my best to serve you in any way I can” I said with tears still streaming down my face.Ryker helped me up and turned to face Uncle Levi and Aunty Rena, who were watching the scene unfold in shock. “Marcelline has made her choice and I support it. She stays here in the alpha house under my protection. Any objections?” Ryker asked, his tone challenging.Uncle Levi and A
The room was dead silent. I knelt on the cold marble floor, my hands trembling as I clasped them together. The words I’d just spoken hung in the air like a suffocating fog.I gulped waiting for a verdict but got no reply. I didn't know what to do or say. So I repeated. “I offer myself as your slave. Please, let me stay. I’ll do whatever you want.”Alpha Ryker’s piercing blue eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening as he processed my desperate plea. Evan leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, a mocking smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He looked like he was enjoying the show.“A slave?” Ryker’s voice was low and controlled, but the edge in it made me flinch. “You’d willingly reduce yourself to that?”I swallowed hard. “Yes, Alpha.”Besides what was I before? A slave used and used until I was nothing but a broken shell.Ryker’s gaze bore into me, his silence more terrifying than any words. Finally, he stood, his towering frame casting a long shadow over me.“Get up,” he sa
The clang of pots and pans echoed through the vast kitchen as I scrubbed another grimy pan. My hands were raw, my fingers pruny from the endless washing. The scent of soap and grease clung to me like a second skin.“Move faster, omega,” Beatrice snapped, her sharp voice cutting through the kitchen’s noise.“Yes, Beatrice,” I murmured, keeping my head down.The other maids snickered, their laughter mixing with the sound of sizzling food and clattering dishes. I kept my mouth shut, focusing on the task before me. I couldn’t afford to draw more attention.“You missed a spot,” one of the younger maids, Clara, said smugly, pointing to a barely visible stain on a pan.I bit my tongue, scrubbing harder.“Pathetic,” she muttered as she walked past, bumping my shoulder.I stumbled slightly but steadied myself, refusing to react.“She’s like a ghost,” Clara said loudly to the others. “Doesn’t talk, doesn’t fight back. Maybe that’s why her mates don’t want her. Weak and useless.”“Even the slits
Martha leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. “Oh, come on. You’ve been spending so much time with him lately. Don’t tell me there’s nothing going on.”“There’s nothing going on,” I insisted, though my voice sounded unconvincing even to me.Martha raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. “You’re blushing, Marcy..”“I am not!” I said, setting the spoon down with a little too much force.“Sure you’re not,” she said, laughing. “So, what did you two do? Talk? Laugh? Stare into each other’s eyes? Kiss? Touch boobs?”I groaned, covering my face with my hands. “We got ice cream, okay? That’s all. You don't exactly have sex in an ice cream parlor or I tell him to oh Evan mark me.”“That isn't so bad.”I cocked my head to the right, “It's just ice cream Martha.”“Okay at where?”“Dream delights ice cream parlor.”Martha gasped, her eyes lighting up. “Oh my goddess! You are so clueless. That’s practically a date! Anyone who goes there knows that's a date.”“It wasn’t a date,” I said firmly
Evan was right when he said I was looking for something.Indeed I was.Martha.How could she? She acted all good and nice to my face, only to stab me in the back.I angrily walked through the hallways of the pack house, heading straight for the maids’ quarters.To the room we shared.It was unbelievable.I was sharing the same room, sleeping next to my enemy.The thought churned in my stomach, twisting like a knife. Her words to Clara echoed in my mind, the way she so easily dismissed me, calling me clueless, plotting something that I didn’t fully understand yet.I pushed open the door, the hinges creaking loudly. Martha was sitting on her cot, folding clothes, a soft hum escaping her lips. She looked up, startled, as I entered.“Marcy! You scared me,” she said, placing the shirt she was folding onto the pile. “What’s wrong?”I shut the door behind me and crossed my arms. “You tell me.”Her smile faltered, her brow furrowing. “What are you talking about?”“I overheard you,” I said, my
Clara let out a low, humorless laugh. “Good. Let her stay clueless. It’ll make things easier when the time comes.”I stepped back, my mind racing. They were talking about me. Whatever they were plotting, I was somehow involved, and it was clear they didn’t think much of me.The door suddenly creaked open, and I barely had time to slip around the corner before Clara and Martha emerged.“You’re sure you’ve got everything handled?” Clara asked, her voice still tinged with doubt.“I said I do,” Martha snapped. “Now stop worrying and act normal.”They parted ways, Clara heading toward the kitchen while Martha turned and walked in my direction.I pressed myself against the wall, holding my breath as she passed by, her expression tense. When she was out of sight, I exhaled slowly, my hands trembling.What in the world are they planning?---Later that afternoon, I found Martha alone in the laundry room, folding linens with an air of forced nonchalance. I needed answers, and I wasn’t about to
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
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
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
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 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 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’