Denera“Elena’s mother, also known as Denera, was my cousin,” Luna Danielle revealed.Her words hit me like a thunderbolt, leaving me momentarily speechless. The room seemed to be still, the air thick with the weight of her revelation.“You knew my mother?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, still reeling from the shock. The connection felt surreal, a thread in the tapestry of my life that I had never expected to find.Danielle chuckled softly, a warm sound that eased the tension in my chest. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper, handing it to me with a gentle smile. “I didn’t just know her; she was my first cousin.”As I took the picture from her, tears prickled at the corners of my eyes. The photograph was worn but vibrant, capturing a moment frozen in time. I held it carefully, my breath catching in my throat. In the picture, a younger Luna Danielle stood beside Aunt Rosa and…my mother, Elena. They were all smiles, laughter lighting up their fa
Denera For the first time, we had fallen asleep on bad terms. Rockan and I hadn’t spoken a word since our disagreement last night. I was more surprised that he hadn’t tried to assert his alpha authority over me, demanding silence or obedience. It was something I expected, yet he had chosen a different path, one that left me feeling unsettled.The morning crept in slowly, the sun taking its time to rise. I shifted on the bed, turning to face my mate, but his back was turned to me, a solid wall of muscle and warmth that I longed to reach out to. My heart ached with the words I hadn’t yet spoken—I love you. It hung in the air between us, unvoiced and heavy.I couldn’t help but admire his bare back, the way the morning light played off his skin. A stray strand of rope was tied behind his head—his mask, a constant reminder of the barriers he kept in place. Rockan never took it off. It was as if he was afraid to reveal himself completely, afraid of what vulnerability might bring.With a
RockanI told her I loved her.There was no taking my words back, and it wasn’t that I regretted telling her. I told her the truth, but still, something felt off. My chest ached with an unfamiliar heaviness that lingered throughout the night, pressing down on me like an unyielding weight.Maybe it was the fear that gnawed at me, the realisation that Denera might choose her newfound family over me. She had spent so long yearning for a connection, for blood relatives who would treat her with the love and respect she deserved. I could feel that desire radiating from her, a longing that I couldn’t compete with.What if I forced her to follow me back home? The thought sent a chill down my spine. I could envision her resentment, the way her eyes might harden with disappointment. “I don’t want that,” I muttered to myself, digging my fingers into my hair, and tugging at the roots in frustration.I stood up from the bed, the rising sun casting a soft glow in the room, illuminating the shado
Denera He had to be the most hysterical person I had ever come across. Ryan had a way of finding humor in everything, his laughter infectious and brightening the mood around us. As he launched into another story, I felt my worries begin to fade into the background.“Mother never let me lead the track team after that,” he sighed dramatically, his expression a mix of mock sorrow and playful mischief. I couldn’t help but burst into laughter, the sound spilling out easily. The room around us faded as the joy of the moment took over.“You were naked!” I exclaimed, nearly doubling over as I banged my hand on my thigh, unable to contain my amusement.“So?” he shrugged, completely unfazed by my reaction. It was clear he didn’t see the wrong in his past actions, and that only made me laugh harder.“They were kids!” I added, shaking my head in disbelief, my laughter ringing out like music.“I shifted into wolf form, of course, my clothes got torn,” he defended himself, a grin stretching acros
Denera“Denera,”I turned my neck toward the sound of the voice, a distant whisper that felt both familiar and foreign. “Denera, wake up.”My eyes snapped open, responding instinctively to the urgency in her tone.“We’re almost there,” a feline-faced woman said, her excitement contagious. I could hear it in her voice, but her features remained a blur, like a painting seen through foggy glass.“I’m sure you’ll love it there; my people are very nice,” she added, her enthusiasm infectious. I nodded, my small legs dangling over the edge of the seat, eager to look out the window and see if we had arrived at our destination yet.“We’re not there yet, honey,” an overly familiar masculine voice called from the driver’s seat. My heart raced as I turned, my eyes widening as the face came into focus. “Dad,” I breathed, recognition flooding through me like sunlight breaking through clouds.“I know, I’m just really excited. It’s been so long. If not for Claire, we probably wouldn’t have had a rea
Denera“I remember. I remember everything,” I cried out, the weight of my memories crashing over me like waves, each one pulling me under.Rockan’s expression softened, concern etched deeply into his features. “What did you remember?” he asked gently, his grip tightening slightly, as if he feared I might slip away again.I took a shaky breath, the air thick with the remnants of my nightmare. “The fire… my dad… my mom… they were trying to protect me.” My voice cracked, each word laced with the rawness of my grief. “I was so scared. I lost them.” The ache in my chest felt like a deep, unhealed wound, reopening with every recollection.His eyes darkened with confusion and pain. “Shh,” he murmured, his voice a soothing balm against the chaos swirling inside me. “It's okay.”“I... I was safe. It was safe at first,” I whispered, but the comfort of that thought felt distant now, overshadowed by the stark reality of my past.Rockan shifted closer, his warmth wrapping around me like a protect
Denera Rockan and I walked briskly through the corridors of the pack house, the echo of our footsteps bouncing off the walls. A sense of urgency filled the air, and I could feel my heart racing as we navigated the familiar yet overwhelming space.“Do you think she’ll be in the kitchen?” I asked, glancing sideways at Rockan. His presence was a comforting anchor amidst the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me.“It's a good place to start. The kitchen is always buzzing with activity. If anyone has seen her, they’ll know where to find her,” he replied, determination etched across his features.As we reached the kitchen, the sounds of laughter and conversation filled the air, mingling with the rich aromas of simmering food. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. This was it—the moment I had been waiting for.We began asking around, approaching members of the pack who were busy chopping vegetables and stirring pots. “Excuse me, have you seen Luna Danielle?” I asked a woman
Denera“Claire,” she replied. “Her name was Claire, and she was the strong Luna of the Dark Lion’s pack.”My breath caught in my throat. “My mother?” Rockan breathed out, disbelief flaring in his eyes.I turned to Rockan, my own eyes wide with realization. “Granny Yeneva said I looked a lot like Lena that day,” I pointed out, my heart racing as the connections began to weave together.“Wait, wait, wait,” Rockan cut in, dismissively waving his hands. “You’re saying my mother, Claire, and her mother, Elena, were best friends?!”The revelation felt almost too good to be true, but Luna Danielle nodded, a knowing smile on her face. “Funny how those two kept wishing their kids would get mated to each other in the future. The Moon Goddess works in mysterious ways,” she chuckled wholeheartedly, the lightness of her tone contrasting with the weight of the revelation.“So you knew who we were because Rockan had already introduced himself as the alpha of Dark Lion—”“Yes, yes. I’ve always known
Denera“Your Highness,” a voice called softly, pulling me from the depths of sleep. My brows furrowed in concern, but I chose to ignore the words, hoping to drift back into my dreams. A knock on the door followed, and I groaned, forcing myself to open my eyes. “Come in,” I muttered, my voice thick with sleep.The door creaked open, and Rachel hurried inside, flanked by two other maids. My eyes widened slightly at the sight of them. “What’s going on?” I asked, my voice still heavy with drowsiness.“I can’t honestly believe you’re still in bed on a day like this,” Rachel said, her tone a mix of disbelief and urgency. She moved around the room with purpose, her hands gesturing for the other maids to follow her lead.“What do you mean by that?” I questioned, watching as they began to scurry around the room, arranging things I was yet to comprehend.Rachel turned to me, raising an eyebrow. “What are they doing?” I pointed at the other maids, who were now pulling back the curtains, letting
DeneraHe was in my arms, and it felt both surreal and grounding. This was the first time I had seen Rockan so vulnerable—raw and exposed, stripped of the mask he usually wore to shield himself from the world. The sight of him like this stirred a mix of emotions within me, and my dislike for Tyris deepened. How could he force Rockan to reveal himself in such a painful way? It felt cruel, a betrayal of the trust Rockan had placed in those closest to him.But right now, I was grateful he was here, in my embrace. For the first time, it felt like I was the one keeping him safe, the one who could shield him from the harsh realities that had shaped his life. “It’s okay,” I whispered softly, hoping my voice would be a soothing balm in the tense silence.As I looked at him, the scar that brutally marred his face caught my attention. It was a stark reminder of the things he went through, both physically and emotionally. Anyone with such a mark would typically be forced to wear a mask, hidin
Rockan“Leave,” Tyris left, making the tension even worse. She hated me. Her gaze fell to the ground, and I could see the conflict churning in her heart. “I didn’t mean to—” she began, but her voice faltered, leaving the words unspoken. I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes, a wave of despair crashing over me. This wasn’t how I had envisioned this moment. I had wanted to show her my true self, to share my burdens and my past, but now I feared I had only pushed her away.“Do you… do you regret it?” I asked, my voice breaking as the question hung heavy in the air. The vulnerability I had sought to embrace now felt like a curse, leaving me exposed and raw.Denera lifted her gaze, and I could see the struggle in her expression, the way her heart fought against the fear. “No,” she finally said, her voice shaking. “I knew but I didn’t want it to be like this. This tension.”I nodded, my heart aching with the weight of her words. “I understand,” I whispered, feeling the gulf betwe
Rockan “How in the world do you fall in love with someone you haven’t even seen?!” Tyris yelled, his voice piercing through the quiet of the corridor.“Tyris!” I snapped, stepping out from the shadows where I had been hiding, my heart pounding with a mix of anger and disbelief.“Great, speak of the devil,” he shot back, rolling his eyes as if my presence was nothing more than a nuisance.“What do you think you’re doing?” I glared at him, my fists clenching at my sides. The tension crackled in the air between us, thick and suffocating. Instead of backing down, he merely scoffed, his arrogance pushing me closer to the edge.“I’m trying to open her eyes to what she doesn’t see and understand,” he retorted, his tone condescending. “I know you, brother, better than anyone else. Let this girl go. Drop the stupid ego of yours.”His words ignited a fire within me, fueling my anger. “I thought you came back with a change of heart. What in the world are you talking about now?” I frowned, strug
RockanHours had passed, and I found myself once again drowning in paperwork that demanded my immediate attention. The desk was cluttered with files, each stamped with the weight of responsibility and pressing urgency. Every pack, every territorial dispute, each one requiring my approval before a conclusion could be reached. The sheer volume felt suffocating, a mountain of bureaucracy that threatened to overwhelm me.I rubbed my eyes, fatigue creeping in like a slow tide. Each page was a reminder of the burdens I carried, and the stress began to knot in my stomach. I leaned back in my chair, glancing at the stack of documents that seemed to multiply with every passing hour. The ink blurred before my eyes, and I could feel the tension pooling in my shoulders, a tight band that constricted with every moment spent poring over the files.Another dispute over hunting grounds. Another request for more territory. A pack claiming grievances over boundary violations. I sighed, flipping throu
Denera “Did you miss me that much?” Tyris smirked, leaning casually against the doorframe. A part of me was glad to see him back home, but something about his presence right now did not settle well with me. I could see the unease mirrored in Rockan’s expression, his brow furrowed as he studied his brother.“What are you doing here, in our room?” Rockan asked, his voice steady but laced with an underlying tension. I hoped he wouldn’t choose this moment to be mischievous; we had enough on our plates without adding sibling drama.Tyris shrugged nonchalantly, strolling back and forth in our small space, his movements almost too relaxed for the gravity of the situation. “You know, Rockan, I looked up to you as my older brother,” he said, his tone mocking. “I thought you’d have a bit more sense of responsibility than to take what’s mine.”It was too early upon our arrival to have any form of argument with him. I felt a wave of frustration wash over me, wishing he would just take his lea
Denera“Over there!” I heard a man yell, and my heart plummeted.“Mum,” I whispered out in desperation, hoping she’d come back to me. I clutched my legs tighter around my waist, hoping this nightmare would end, wishing we could go back to the peaceful drive, the laughter, and the warmth of my family. But then, everything froze when I heard my mother cry out. “Rosa, please, no!”…..My eyes snapped open, gasping awake as I blinked profusely, the remnants of the nightmare still clinging to me like a thick fog. We were still in the car, with Rockan quietly staring ahead, the tension in the air palpable.“Are you good?” he questioned, not bothering to turn to look at me.“Yeah,” I replied with a nod, though I lied. I wasn’t good—not at all.The dream was a stark reminder of the darkness in my life, the shadows cast by Aunt Rosa and her husband, Austin. They had twisted my reality into something unrecognisable, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. I felt the familiar anger ris
Denera“Do you have to go?” Luna Danielle questioned, her voice tinged with a mix of concern and warmth. “You can stay a little longer and learn more.”I smiled at her, appreciating her kindness. “I will visit very often. But you know we have things to settle,” I admitted, my thoughts drifting to the responsibilities waiting for us back home.Rockan was way ahead of me, ensuring our luggage was packed and ready to go. His broad shoulders moved with purpose, and I could see the determination etched on his face. But as I watched him, a frown appeared on my forehead when I realized we were missing something.“Wait!” I heard from afar, making Luna Danielle and I turn toward the sound. A sigh escaped my mouth when I realized that the one thing I was missing was her—Adrianna.She was running toward us, her long hair flowing behind her, holding a brown bag in her hand. My stomach twisted at the thought of her being with us throughout the ride; the idea was almost too disgusting to be true.
Bruno I woke up to the dull throb of a headache, the remnants of last night’s drinking still swirling in my mind. The memories were hazy—laughter, clinking glasses, and the overwhelming haze of too much alcohol. I groaned, rolling over in bed, hoping to find some comfort in the cool sheets. Instead, I was met with the sight of Freya, my supposed girlfriend, sprawled next to me, her warm, bare skin pressing against my side.I felt irritation flare up inside me. Her hands rested on my chest, and I pushed her away with more force than I intended. “Get off me,” I demanded, my voice rough from sleep and lingering irritation.Freya stirred, frowning as she woke up. “Good morning, you didn’t have to push me,” she muttered, yawning and scratching her eyes, the remnants of sleep still clinging to her.“Well, it’s morning. Please leave my room.” My tone was curt, and I could feel my patience waning. I wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries, especially not after the chaos of the previous night.“