--Alyssa--Grandma always avoided any discussion whenever I tried to tell her about my inability to stay with the alpha king. It seemed like she was purposefully diverting the conversation, perhaps to shield me from the complexities of my situation."Tell me what you did in the tree house," she suddenly asked, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.We were seated on the plush couches, the sunlight streaming through the windows casting a warm glow over the room.I had just taken a refreshing shower, and we were simply lounging around, enjoying each other's company. Guards patrolled outside, their presence a constant reminder of the dangers lurking beyond the safety of our home. Whenever I needed to discuss something sensitive, I communicated with Grandma through our mindlink. The constant surveillance made me feel uneasy, like I was under a microscope."Grandma, the tree house has a secret door that leads to a bedroom and a wardrobe," I began, feeling a sense of relief at finally being abl
--Alyssa--A gentle knock echoed through the room, signaling Emily's arrival for our highly anticipated sleepover. I swung the door open to reveal her beaming face, her eyes shimmering with excitement. Without hesitation, she enveloped me in a warm hug, as if afraid that letting go would make me disappear into thin air.Her exuberant greeting elicited laughter from me, but I noticed a fleeting shadow cross her face, a hint of concern. With a reassuring smile, I silently conveyed that everything was alright, despite the complexities of my situation.Glancing discreetly towards the nearby guard, a stalwart figure stationed in the background, I was reminded of the delicate circumstances dictating my every move. Their watchful presence served as a constant reminder of the restrictions imposed upon me, but in Emily's company, those constraints felt momentarily lifted."It's true then, about the house arrest," Emily remarked softly, her embrace tightening briefly in empathy.I nodded in res
--Alyssa--Emily revealed to me the whirlwind of rumors swirling around, all centered on my relationship with the Alpha king. It seemed like everyone had an opinion—some wished they were in my shoes, while others pitied me, fearing the consequences of being mated to such a powerful figure.She recounted how the entire pack was effectively put on lockdown to prevent any word from leaking out about my whereabouts, all out of concern for my safety. This revelation left me astonished; I hadn't realized the extent to which my connection to the Alpha king had put me in the spotlight.Emily didn't hold back, sharing even the intimate details of my grandmother Dorothy's worry and tears upon hearing the news. Despite her attempts to downplay it, I could tell that my grandmother's concern ran deep.What surprised me most, though, was the revelation that the Alpha king hadn't treated my grandmother as harshly as everyone had expected. In fact, rumors suggested he even pleaded with her for inform
--Alyssa--As we huddled together in the dim light of my room, our voices lowered to conspiratorial whispers, the sudden interruption by Grandma's inquisitive voice caught us off guard. Her presence, though not unexpected, served as a reminder of the precariousness of our situation."What are you girls talking about?" she queried, her tone tinged with both curiosity and concern. I exchanged a quick glance with Emily, silently conveying the need for discretion."We're just catching up," I replied with a forced smile, hoping to assuage any suspicions that may have arisen. Grandma nodded, seemingly satisfied with my response, and bid us goodnight before retreating from the room.I couldn't shake the feeling that Grandma was hiding something from us, her attempts to mask her true emotions failing to go unnoticed. Beneath her facade of stoicism lay a deeper turmoil, one that left me uneasy and unsettled.Turning my attention back to my surroundings, I found myself drawn to the familiar glo
--Alyssa--I looked at the man standing in front of me. He didn’t have the typical guard vibe; instead, he exuded an air of royalty and authority. That was when it clicked – he was the Beta. Despite this realization, I didn’t bow or smile. I feigned innocence, pretending I hadn’t figured out his true identity.He simply smiled at me, seemingly unfazed by my demeanor. "I have a message from the king," he said, which piqued my curiosity. "He said to tell you that you will be leaving tomorrow afternoon."That was when I sprang up from the chair, anger bubbling up inside me. Why was the king not understanding that I did not want to go anywhere with him? Every fiber of my being rejected the idea of leaving with him."You can tell him that we have heard. We will prepare and then we will see you tomorrow," Grandma said calmly, but I knew she was lying to him. She wanted him to believe that we were complying with the king’s orders.I smiled inwardly, admiring how well Grandma was handling the
--Alyssa--It was already in the Evening, and Grandma had not packed anything of hers.“Grandma, we need to leave soon. Should I go and pack for you instead?” I asked with urgency. We had to leave.“No, I will do it,” she said, and I nodded, feeling a mix of frustration and concern.We had to leave now.“Grandma, if you’re not feeling well, I’ll do it for you,” I offered, taking a step towards her. She held my hand gently. “Don’t worry. I will do it,” she reassured me and got up from the chair. Grandma was behaving strangely. I was busy packing everything, including our food supplies, but she just sat there, watching TV as if we weren't in a rush to leave.I glanced out the window at the guards who were patrolling the outside. I had observed their routine since morning: they changed shifts every four houses, with a brief two-minute interval before they returned to their posts. We had exactly one hour and thirty minutes before their next shift, and that was our window of opportunity to
--Alyssa--In the shadows, there stood the Alpha King, staring right at me. That was when I knew that this was the end. I could never run away. The ominous presence of the Alpha King filled me with dread, making my knees weak and my heart pound uncontrollably. How did he know we were running? The question plagued my mind as I turned to look at Grandma. Her demeanor changed instantly; she became suspicious, and the guilt was unmistakably written all over her face.It all began to make sense. Why did she do this to me? Was this the reason she had resisted packing her things and pretended to be unwell? The betrayal stung deeply. Grandma, the one person I had always trusted and loved unconditionally, had sold me out. My chest tightened with grief and disbelief. She had always been my rock, my confidant, and now she was the one who led the Alpha King to us.She stared at the floor now, avoiding my gaze. Tears began to pour from my eyes, hot and bitter, as the reality of her betrayal sunk i
"What does protecting me have to do with this when you just endangered my life? Have you not heard what people say about him? His ruthlessness, his unforgiving personality, his need to repay people with evil. Do you want me to go on and on?" I said, my voice low and heartbroken. The betrayal and confusion I felt were almost too much to bear."I did it to protect you, Alyssa," she repeated, the same justification she had been giving since we came back home. Her words felt hollow, like a mantra she was trying to convince herself of as much as she was trying to convince me."Then explain to me how what you just did has protected me. You should have just left me with him," I said, turning away to look out the window. The view outside was a blur, my mind too preoccupied with the turmoil within to register anything else."You would be safer with him. He would protect you. Forget what everyone is saying about him; he can never hurt you," she insisted, but her words felt like they were meant
--Alyssa--Meridith couldn’t stop smiling as she leaned closer to get a better look at the twins nestled in my arms. “Pups? They are so cute and look just like Xavier,” she cooed, her eyes sparkling with affection.Xavier, however, was lost in thought, his gaze fixed on our babies with an intensity that made me chuckle. He seemed entirely absorbed, as if the world outside didn’t exist. Seeing him so captivated by the sight of our children softened my heart, but I couldn’t shake the nagging guilt that lingered beneath the surface.Everyone in the room seemed unbothered by the events outside, as if the weight of what was happening hadn’t reached them. They were caught up in the joy of the moment, admiring the twins, and it made me feel strangely out of place. I was here, surrounded by warmth and family, while others were grieving just beyond the palace walls. The contrast was hard to ignore, and I knew I had to act soon.“Can we break the curse now?” I asked, my voice cutting through th
“Xavier!” Meridith called out to me, her voice cutting through the quiet murmur of the room. “When is Alyssa coming?” she asked, making everyone turn their attention toward me, waiting expectantly for an answer.“Soon,” I replied, though their faces showed clear disappointment. I knew they missed her, and so did I, but for her safety, I couldn’t do anything reckless. The weight of their expectation hung in the air, but my priority was always her protection.But something gnawed at me. Why would Nathaniel—who always kept me informed of his whereabouts—suddenly go off on an errand without telling me? It wasn’t like him. He always let me know where he was, and this sudden disappearance made me unease.Aurelia’s POVThere was a knock on the door, causing all of us to freeze. Nobody ever knocked on our door, not unexpectedly like this."Did Xavier tell you he was coming?" Mom asked, her eyes filled with concern. I shook my head, feeling a pit form in my stomach. We were supposed to leave
I could hardly believe what was happening. Most of the Alphas had been killed—just in one night—which sent panic rippling throughout the Kingdom. This was not how I envisioned welcoming my mate and pups home. The atmosphere was thick with tension and fear; I knew that those who had plotted against Alyssa and my innocent children were receiving their just desserts.“Have you heard? The Alpha of St. Lucas was reported dead just now,” Nathaniel said, his expression grave. My heart sank as the weight of his words settled in. This was more serious than we had initially thought.“So what are their families doing about it?” I asked, my voice strained with uncertainty. I was in no position to intervene after everything they had done to me.“They are calling for your help,” he replied, a hint of mischief playing on his lips.“Now they want my help when just a few days ago they wanted to kill me?” I laughed, incredulous at their desperation. This was surely the work of the Moon Goddess, a twist
I strode straight into my room, Nathaniel still at my heels, his excitement palpable. I approached my phone, heart racing as I prepared to dial the number I had yearned to call every night and day.Taking a deep breath, I punched in the digits, my fingers trembling slightly with anticipation.“Hello?” I heard my mate’s voice on the other end, and a wave of relief washed over me.“Alyssa,” I breathed, the sound of her name sending a rush of warmth through my veins. “It’s me.”There was a moment of silence before she responded, her tone a mixture of surprise and joy. “Xavier! I can’t believe it’s really you!”Hearing her voice brought back the memories of our moments together—the laughter, the love, the dreams we shared for our future. I closed my eyes, allowing the sound of her voice to wash over me like a soothing balm.“I’ve missed you every day,” I confessed, my heart aching with longing. “I finally stood up to the council. They tried to break me, but they can’t control what I’ve bu
I entered the room, and the atmosphere shifted. As usual, all the Alphas were present, their expressions a mix of curiosity and disdain. I didn’t bother to greet them; instead, I took my seat with an air of defiance, determined to remain unyielding in the face of their scrutiny.“Xavier Black of the Blood Moon Pack, do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?” Elder Simon asked, his voice authoritative yet tinged with a hint of amusement. I knew he had always been fond of me, and it seemed that sentiment hadn’t waned, even in the face of this farce.“I swear to tell nothing but the truth,” I replied, my tone steady.Before Elder Simon could continue, Elder Samuel shot up from his seat, interrupting the proceedings. I rolled my eyes in exasperation; he always seemed to have a knack for stealing the spotlight from Simon, making it difficult for the process to flow smoothly.“Do you still not know the whereabouts of your mate?” he inquired, his tone sharp.“I passed the tes
--XAVIER POV--It had been two whole months since Aurelia left, and every single day, I felt the urge to break own, to cry, but I knew I couldn’t afford to lose my composure. I had to stay strong, to remain calm if I was going to survive this manipulative game the Alphas were playing. Aurelia had slipped away quietly before anyone noticed. By the time the council arrived, she was already gone, leaving me to face their barrage of questions. I was questioned endlessly, but thanks to the bond with my wolf, I was able to lie convincingly.They didn’t believe me—why would they? But they had no proof, and more importantly, no right to treat me like a prisoner. I had played my part well, and it baffled me how foolish they were to think I would simply tell them the truth. The bond with one’s wolf was sacred in the werewolf realm, and by the decree of the Moongoddess, a wolf could never lie. But mine did. Somehow, I managed to deceive them, and it worked.I couldn’t help but wonder if the Moo
Tears blurred my vision as I glanced at Mom, who stood beside me, her own eyes filled with emotion. She had been so strong throughout it all, but now, seeing her grandchild, her tears flowed freely. Grandma was nearby too, her hands clasped together, a proud smile lighting up her face. The room was filled with so much love, so much joy.But just as I began to think it was over, a sudden, sharp pain shot through me, taking my breath away. I gasped, my body tensing as fear gripped me once more. “Something’s wrong!” I cried out, panic creeping into my voice.The midwife, who had been carefully watching over me, quickly moved to check. Her expression remained calm, and after a moment, she looked up at me with a reassuring smile. “No, Alyssa, nothing’s wrong. You’re having another baby.”Another baby. The words took a moment to register in my exhausted mind. Another baby? My heart raced as the realization dawned on me. Twins. I was having twins.The pain came back in waves, and I gripped t
It had been an entire month since I last heard from Xavier, and the worry gnawed at me constantly. Every day, I cried myself to sleep, the emptiness in my heart growing with each passing hour. I couldn’t help but think about him, about where he was and what he might be going through. But there was one thing that kept me going—the certainty that he was still alive. If he weren’t, I would have felt it deep inside me. That was the one thing mates shared, a connection that transcended distance and time. It was that bond that reassured me, even in the darkest moments, that Xavier was out there somewhere, fighting to return to us.Yet, despite that fragile hope, I was falling apart. In Grandma and Mom’s words, I looked terrible. My skin had paled, and the bags under my eyes were dark and heavy from countless sleepless nights. My clothes barely fit, and I’d stopped caring about my appearance long ago. The weight of uncertainty was crushing.As much as I tried to stay positive, the constant
--Alyssa--We were watching a movie, a popular request from Grandma, but my mind kept wandering back to Mom and what could have possibly happened. I couldn't shake the worry that gnawed at the edges of my thoughts, despite trying to focus on the screen in front of me. Something didn’t feel right, and I could tell that both Grandma and I were distracted.“There’s a knock, Grandma,” I said softly, even though it had been faint. My ears had picked it up nonetheless. Grandma didn't seem to notice at first, but then came another knock, louder this time, clear enough to be undeniable.“I’ll check it,” she said, motioning for me to stay seated. She rose slowly from her chair and made her way to the door, her steps deliberate, as if she, too, felt a shift in the air.A moment later, I heard her say, “Elizabeth.”The sound of that name startled me to my feet before my brain could even register what was happening. Mom. She was here. “Mom?” I called out, my voice filled with both relief and conf