~Avery~ Getting the kids ready was an exercise in chaos and joy. Julian and Julia dashed out of the room, their laughter echoing down the hallway as they raced towards the front door. I was a nervous wreck because this was going to be my first public appearance with King and the twins. It made me nervous about what people would say. I wouldn't be receiving accolades; instead, I knew I would get more hate, especially from the single ladies who must harbour hopes that King was available again. There was no doubt King was the youngest and most desirable Alpha in the region, He was a prize to the ladies, and they had never hidden their interest in him, even when we were married. With the way his company was rising back fast to its feet, he would soon reclaim his spot as one of the richest too. As nervous as I felt, I was overwhelmed as well. I didn't want to hide behind King's shadow any longer, and it was worse because now, without the title of his wife or mate, I felt even more vulner
~King~ Avery looked stunning even in a casual pink tank top and palazzo pants. Her effortless blend of sexy and classy caught everyone's attention as soon as we stepped into the park. I couldn't help but notice the way the other men stared at her. They were not just curious about us together. Most of the men here knew we were married, and some knew us as business partners, but none of them knew about our kids. It was natural that they looked our way, but their gazes lingered a bit on her, and I didn't like it. I was mad at her, yes, but that didn't stop my possessive side from surging forward. My wolf was still very protective and possessive of Avery, the reason why he always fought me each time I was mean to her. Feeling the need to assert my claim, I had placed a hand on her waist. These men were like dogs themselves; they wouldnât care that she bore my children. They would still want to fuck her. After all, Avery was the most beautiful woman I knew, and with her new confident deme
~Avery~ The second the automatic doors of the company whooshed open; I knew I was in for some scrutiny. Eyes darted in my direction like I was the new, exotic exhibit. Their judgmental stares didn't faze me one bit. With my head held high and my back straight, I strutted in like I owned the place. Sometimes, I purposely met the eyes of those looking at me, and they either averted their gazes quickly or scattered like a bunch of pigeons, at the sight of a hawk. I anticipated this behaviour after King's announcement yesterday at the park, but I was ready to face anyone. Oh, I was ready to reply to any snide remarks. If someone wanted to drag me down, I would show them just how low we could go together. They needed to understand that I was no longer Miss Shy-and-Get-Pushed-Around. I was a full-blown woman now, tougher than steel and with priorities sharper than a brand-new pencil. My only problem was how all of this drama would affect my children. King had suggested I ride in the same
~Avery~ I couldn't help but smile widely, my hand instinctively covering my mouth in a gesture of delighted surprise. Cassius's thoughtful gesture touched me deeply. His acknowledgement of my efforts as a mother and his appreciation for my work was heartwarming. My fingers itched to grab my phone and fire off a thank you text, but I forced myself to wait. Work first, gratitude later. I gently set the packages aside, then spun in my chair with a giddy twirl. The rest of the day passed in a blur of meetings and tasks, my mind often drifting back to the thoughtful gifts from Cassius. As the clock approached six-thirty, I knew I was late, and Jane would probably be waiting. But I had loads of work today. I was looking forward to returning to the packhouse, changing into something more comfortable, and meeting up with Jane. Walking down the now-deserted hallway, I decided to take a quick look at the latest headlines. I checked my phone with bated breath. My eyes landed on a particular
~King~ After the meeting with the Dubai investors, I saw them off, and stood by the sidelines, watching their vehicles depart. Grinning like a goof, I swaggered back to my office. The Dubai deal stuck in my head like a victory song on repeat. Billions. B-I-L-L-I-O-N-S. That's what this could mean for Thornwood Empire. If this deal works out, I will be swimming in billions, and Thornwood Empire will finally regain its former gloryâ back from the brink and kicking butt as it should be. I did a little fist pump as I neared my office door, feeling lighter than I had in ages. For the past two months, I have been making smart business moves. Desperation, man, that was a bad look. Made me do some seriously dumb stuff, like getting engaged to Regina Steel and forming a partnership with Bells Empire. But in the end, it wasn't all bad. It had brought Avery back to me, along with our two precious pups. Speaking of Avery, I paused outside her office door, wondering if she was still inside. But
Note: This chapter contains gory content. Read with caution. If you don't like the sight or mention of blood, please do not read. ~Avery~ The truck roared away from my battered car, its engine a fading growl in the distance. I ignored the searing pain in my bleeding leg as I leapt into the dense forest, branches clawing at my clothes and face. From the truck, two men dressed in inky black leapt out, shifting into their wolf forms mid-air. Big, savage wolves. Their transformation was swift, and soon they were hot on my trail. The gash on my thigh throbbed with every step, but I forced myself to keep running. I couldn't afford to slow down; survival was my only option. My little training as a Luna in Duncan's pack had been rigorous, but even that might not be enough against two powerful wolves. A few minutes into my desperate dash through the woods, an explosion rents the air. I whipped my head around, my heart plummeting as I saw my car erupting into a fiery inferno. I whimpered, f
~King~ I was driving with a single-minded determination, my vision was narrowing as the flashing lights of police cars surrounded me, their sirens wailing loudly, giving me a throbbing migraine, and my knuckles were turning white from gripping the wheel so hard. Fortunately, the route we followed was the same one Avery had taken. When we saw the plume of smoke rising in the distance, it made my stomach churn with dread. Then we saw the truck. But as we got closer, the picture turned full-on nightmare. Averyâs car was crumpled against a tree and engulfed in flames. My heart did a swan dive straight into my stomach. The car screeched to a halt as I slammed on the brakes, leaping out of the car almost before it had stopped. The pack police were out of their vehicles in an instant, chattering urgently into their walkie-talkies. My heart hammered in my chest as I sprinted towards the inferno, ignoring the police yelling at me to chill. All I could think about was Avery. If Avery was in
~King~ Three days dragged on like a bad soap opera, and Avery still hadnât regained consciousness. I was starting to worry more than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. The twins, Julian and Julia, were taking it hard, their usual mischievous sparkle was replaced by a gloomy fog. Apparently, their love for their mother ran deeper than I had ever imagined. Sure, I knew they adored her, but I never expected a few days of her absence to unleash this level of melancholia. My deal with the investors from Dubai had been sealed, and money was rolling into my company from left, right, and centre. But the win held no appeal, not when Avery's life was hanging in the balance. Regina had been really helpful, dropping by whenever she got a chance, and sometimes offering to make our meals. Eloise had refused to leave her daughter's side after I brought her and the kids to see Avery. Every evening, after battling rush hour and a grumbling stomach, I made a drop by the hospital to check on Av
~Avery~ I arrived at the restaurant a few minutes after noon, my heart racing, my stomach doing somersaults. What was I even thinking coming here? I told myself it was for closure, to put an end to this once and for all, but deep down, I knew I shouldnât have agreed to meet Cassius without letting King or anyone know. I donât know. Cassius had not done anything to me, but I had been wary of him since he told me about his feelings, and I felt he was hiding something from me. But it all could be my imagination too. But after the feeling of being watched which, I had been getting lately, I think I needed to hear what he had to say because he sounded pretty urgent on the phone. I parked my car, sat for a moment, and exhaled, mentally preparing myself. This meeting was going to be quick. In and out. That was what I promised myself. But a part of me kept telling me I had no business here, but curiosity is a dangerous thing. I had to know what Cassius wanted to say. The moment I
~Avery~ âIâm all ears,â I said, slipping off my apron, already bracing myself for the same tired story. Cassius always had something up his sleeve. âThis isnât something I can say over the phone. I need to see you.â I sighed, rolling my eyes even though he couldnât see it. âCassius, come on. You should know by now Iâm over all this. Iâve got a lot on my plate.â âI swear, I wonât take up much of your time,â he insisted, his voice smooth like he was trying to charm his way out of detention. I hesitated, knowing this was probably a bad idea. âFine, Iâll let King know andâ" âNo!â His response was so quick it nearly made me laugh. âHe doesnât need to know. Iâm not going to bite, Avery. Just come alone. Iâll text you the address, and itâll be in a public place. We need to meet as soon as possible.â Before I could fire back with some excuse, I caught sight of King heading toward the kitchen. âIâll speak to you later,â I said, hanging up and slipping my phone back into my pocket j
~Avery~ King followed me into the kitchen like a man on a mission, clearly craving some alone time. We hadnât had a moment to ourselves in days, not since that unsettling visit to Oliverâs cell. And boy, had things gotten complicated since then. Turns out, after some digging, we discovered that what Oliver said about Kingâs father was horrifyingly true. The man had been running a dirty side business beneath the surface, and King had been carrying around a false image of his father this whole time. As I stirred the food in the casserole, I felt Kingâs arms wrap around my waist, pulling me back into his chest. I couldnât help but smile as I tilted my head to catch his scent, a mix of cedar and something distinctly him. Before I could even playfully protest, his lips were on mine, and it was clear he had been starving for this kiss, as though it had been an eternity since we had last been like this. But even in this moment, something felt off. I had that weird sensation of being
~Avery~ As King and I stepped into the prison, the air was thick with that unique scent of old concrete and metal, the kind that makes your skin crawl. The walls seemed to absorb every echo, like they were listening in on every secret. Kingâs hand tightened around mine, as if he was trying to reassure me, that I was safe with him beside me. âItâs crazy how the Steels have been the bane of our existence,â he muttered, his voice edged with irritation. It had been two whole days since Oliver Steelâs arrest, and we were just starting to breathe again. It felt like we had been holding our breath for weeks. Still, even with that small relief, the unspoken problems lingered, particularly the rogue wolves with those strange tattoos who had tried to take me at Alpha Cassius' ball. We still hadnât tracked them down, but that was a nightmare for another day. Oliver had lost everythingâhis status, his rank, even his pack. The Wolf Council had stripped him bare. His beta was in charge for no
~King~ Kristopher pulled up in front of Alpha Oliverâs packhouse, with our warriors' cars trailing behind us. But the sight that greeted us was anything but expected. The Council police were already there, swarming the place like they were filming an episode of âPackhouse Cops.â I had given the Council a heads-up about Oliver, tossing in some evidence to spice things up, but I didnât expect them to go full-on detective mode and ransack the place like it was a crime scene. I slid out of the car and swung the door open for Avery. Kristopher, Jane, and Axel followed, looking as confused as I felt. We had come to see Oliver get cuffed and carted off to the werewolf equivalent of Alcatraz, but it seemed we were in for more than just a simple arrest. One of the police officers, spotting our little ensemble, made his way over, looking all official. âAlpha King, Luna Avery, Beta Kristopher, Miss Jane, and Gamma Axel,â he greeted, nodding like he was about to hand out awards. âWhatâs
~King~ "Wakey, wakey, Mrs. CEO," I teased, grinning down at Avery, who was comfortably nestled in my arms, looking like she belonged there forever. She had returned to Silverpine last night, finally claiming her rightful place at Bells Empire. I couldnât be prouder. But, of course, she was utterly exhausted from her grand takeover, so she pretty much collapsed into bed the second she got in. Me? I stayed up a little longer, just staring at herâbecause why sleep when you can marvel at perfection? Eventually, sleep caught up with me too, and I drifted off with her still in my arms. I had also filled her in on all the latest developments, including how we had involved the Council, thanks to Axelâs brilliant advice. The cherry on top? Oliver Steel, the guy behind those pesky threats, would be behind bars by tomorrow. Avery groaned, stretching like a lazy cat in the morning sun, before yawning and blinking up at me with a smile that could melt stone. I couldnât resist leaning dow
~King~ I paced the length of our hideout like a caged tiger, my heart doing that annoying thing where it thumps against my ribs. My thoughts were spiralling, each one more anxiety-inducing than the last. What if these guys double-cross us? What if the plan goes south? And seriously, how long does it take to create a distraction and grab a stupid machine? Are they doing this in slow motion? And that wasnât the only thing gnawing at my nerves tonight. One of my men had casually mentioned that Alpha Cassius had dropped by Averyâs company. Oh, just a little visit, no big deal. Yeah, right. I had called Avery, fishing for details, but she was a locked vault. Her explanation? Cassius had a meeting nearby and thought he would stop by to say hi. Sure, because heâs just that friendly. I didnât buy it. Not for a second. Cassius doesnât do âfriendly visits,â especially not to Blue Moon. There was definitely something fishy about his timing, and I wasnât about to let it slide. If that slea
~Avery~ I wonât lie; when King left me here on my own, I felt like a lone soldier abandoned on the battlefield. The empty spaces seemed to echo with my uncertainty, and I had that sinking feeling of being all alone. But I knew I had to keep it together. I had to stand strong, for myself, if nothing else. Sure, I was torn between wanting to scream and curl up in a ball, but hey, one crisis at a time, right? I didnât know how I was going to run this company from Silverpine if King and I got back together. I guess that was a bridge I would cross when I got there. For now, the mission was simple: reclaim my company from the clutches of Marcus and those conniving board members. Today was the dayâthe day I would finally take the reins as CEO, wresting control from Marcusâs slimy fingers. Walking down the lobby, I nodded back at the people who greeted me with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Some looked thrilled, othersâĶ not so much. Probably Marcusâs loyal minions. Whatever. As I neare
~King~ âHow much more damage has that conniving witch done?â Kristopher snarled, his frustration practically vibrating through the room after I finished recounting the whole printer-and-ink drama in the library. If words could kill, we would be sweeping Reginaâs ashes off the floor. âWe need to tread lightly,â Axel cautioned, his voice calm but eyes sharp as ever. âIf she so much as catches a whiff of our plan, sheâll make sure every shred of evidence vanishes faster than my patience during a boring meeting.â That little nugget of wisdom sent my heartbeat into overdrive. Knowing Regina, she probably already had the printer in the back of some getaway truck by now, laughing maniacally as she drove off into the sunset. I rubbed my forehead, praying that this wouldnât turn into yet another colossal headache for us. Evidenceâwe needed it, and we needed it fast. âAnd we need to confirm itâs the right printer,â Axel added. âWe canât go off half-cocked. The serial numberâs our ticket.â