Zarek's POV I barely stopped Kaidon from storming out of the room. “What’s going on? Kaidon, you need to talk to me,” I said, stepping in front of the door. “I don’t understand what you're saying. And if there’s an enemy in our land, calling a meeting will chase them away!”Kaidon shook his head, his focus entirely on the door. He was trying to move me out of the way. “It’s not safe here unless we find out who’s infiltrated!” he growled, reaching for the doorknob.Without warning, I surged forward, throwing myself into Kaidon’s arms. His body crashed to the ground, and I straddled him, holding him tightly so he couldn’t get up without taking me with him.“Let go,” Kaidon growled.I shook my head stubbornly, pressing my face against his neck. “No,” I murmured, feeling him relax a bit, but then tense back up. “I need you to explain what’s going on to me. Please, I can help.”“Fine,” Kaidon mumbled, standing up and lifting me off him before depositing me on the bed. His eyes stayed glue
Kaidon's POVIt had been a month since Sage, Lyra, and Kane had been arrested and taken into custody. They refused to speak with anybody but Zarek and me, but I avoided them completely. Honestly, I was just plain scared I would snap the minute I even got close. I didn't trust myself enough not to kill them on the spot.The pack house had never felt so tense. There was no hum of activity, just silence, anger hanging heavy in the air. It weighed on everyone, even the children, who were too afraid to leave their parents' rooms. Even Astrid barely left her room, the anger in the house making everyone tense, as if the slightest spark could set off an explosion.Zarek hadn't been much better. He hadn't been out of his room much, either, but for different reasons. The pregnancy was exhausting him. His stomach was getting heavier with each passing day; the pups inside were becoming more and more demanding. He left the room only when it was highly necessary-to visit me in my office, to get som
Zarek's POV I had never seen Sage look so distraught. His hands were shackled to the cold ground, the chains tight, leaving him barely any space to move. His neck was adorned with a thick collar, and I couldn’t help but notice the red marks around it—his attempts to rip it off were clearly unsuccessful. It looked like pure torture.“What's on his neck?” I whispered, looking up at Kaidon with a horrified expression.I couldn’t believe it. Sage was supposed to be a warrior, strong and fierce, but now he looked like he was on the edge of breaking. This was wrong. I had never imagined seeing one of our own treated like this, especially not Sage. I always thought he'd be able to handle anything thrown at him, but this was pure cruelty.Kaidon growled at Sage, a deep, guttural sound that filled the room. He wasn’t fazed by the state of the prisoner. "It overpowers his senses and weakens him. He can’t talk through any form of mind link or shift," Kaidon said coldly, making my jaw drop. I f
Zarek's POV“Zarek, into my office. With immediate effect!”The Alpha’s voice echoed in my mind, sharp and unavoidable, like the crack of a whip. I froze, every muscle tensing in that instinctive response to fear. The call to his office could only mean one thing: punishment or some impossible task that no half-starved Omega could realistically handle. As I approached the Alpha’s office, I noticed the compassionate gazes from those around me. Betas, Omegas, and even some Alphas shared looks of sympathy with their eyes. Our pack, the Red Claw, seemed formidable to outsiders, yet internally, it was a nightmare. The Alphas and Betas were warriors out of necessity, and those who resisted faced a brutal fate. As for us Omegas, our sole purpose was to serve and reproduce.The Alpha governed us through intimidation. Those who dared to oppose him faced torture, forced to witness the deaths of their loved ones, followed by their own execution. Alphas held authority here, while Omegas like me w
Zarek's POV When I woke up, I kept my eyes closed, staying perfectly still. Opening them would mean acknowledging the world, maybe even getting up, and I wasn’t ready for that. Not with the ache radiating through my lower body, a brutal reminder of last night. Every small movement sent stinging waves of pain, especially around the sticky, uncomfortable soreness on my legs and... elsewhere.Alpha Ryker’s arm was still draped over me, his breath soft against my hair. The heat of his body should’ve been comforting, but I felt trapped beneath it. My life had always taught me that, as an Omega, I was meant to find pleasure in serving an Alpha’s needs. I was supposed to feel fulfillment, even joy. But now, all I felt was numb.I'd always been told that pleasing an Alpha, any Alpha, should satisfy me. A lie. The old Alpha hadn’t brought me anything close to satisfaction, even when he muttered empty praises afterward. And here, in this place, I didn’t feel any more whole. It left me with one
Zarek's POV I was thrown onto the ground in Ryker’s room, the heavier wolf slamming the door behind him. As he shifted back into his human form, his towering presence loomed over me. “Shift,” he ordered, his voice trembling with barely contained anger. I didn’t try to run or fight back. Slowly, I shifted back, wincing as my newly healed wound throbbed with the change. Once I was fully shifted back and completely naked, Ryker didn’t hesitate. He slammed his foot into my chest, catching me off guard. “I gave you very simple instructions,” Ryker growled, grabbing my arm and pulling me up. Ignoring the pained cries that escaped me, he snapped, “Do you remember what they were?” I could only sob and nod, my entire body on fire from pain. I felt my wolf trying to comfort me, but it did no good.Ryker threw me onto the bed and disappeared for a few moments before reappearing with thick ropes from his closet. He tied my arms and legs, slapping me whenever I tried to fight back. Once I wa
Zarek’s POV I had been at Ryker's pack house for over a month now, and today... Today my preheat hit. I had been so careful for the past few weeks, trying to keep myself in check, but I couldn't control the raging fire inside me anymore. I had no idea how my wolf would react during my heat, especially in the presence of an Alpha like Ryker.My wolf, he despised me. I could feel his frustration, his anger, his desperation. Unlike me, he hadn't given up hope. He still wanted to escape, still dreamed of finding our true mate. And then there was me, broken, resigned. I had accepted my fate as Ryker’s. I hated it, but I had no other choice. I couldn’t blame my wolf, though. If I could, I’d leave in a heartbeat. But the truth was, I didn’t know how my body would react. The heat always forced me into submission, and now, with Ryker around, the danger felt even more real. I didn’t want him near me, but I couldn’t escape the pull of his dominance. My wolf wanted to fight back, but I was too
Zarek's POV I stayed still, my eyes wide in shock at the statement from my wolf. I’d never heard him speak before, but now, he wouldn’t shut up. “That’s our mate, Zarek! Go to him!” My wolf ordered, but I couldn’t move from the spot I’d been in for the past hour.The Alpha approached me, making me shuffle further into the corner. I didn’t trust the Alpha in front of me, and mate or not, Alphas only ever granted me one thing, and that was pain. “Alpha, they're not surrendering! We’ve basically defeated them, but they’re not backing down!” I heard a familiar voice call.“Leave them. We’ve got what we came here for.” The Alpha surged forward and picked me up despite my whines and attempts to break free. “Good work, Akiri.”Akiri nodded, standing in the doorway to Ryker’s room. “Of course, Alpha,” she said, and my eyes widened in betrayal.I thought Akiri would protect me, but instead, she gave me up to another Alpha. All my life, I’d wanted to find my mate, but now that I was face-to-f
Zarek's POV I had never seen Sage look so distraught. His hands were shackled to the cold ground, the chains tight, leaving him barely any space to move. His neck was adorned with a thick collar, and I couldn’t help but notice the red marks around it—his attempts to rip it off were clearly unsuccessful. It looked like pure torture.“What's on his neck?” I whispered, looking up at Kaidon with a horrified expression.I couldn’t believe it. Sage was supposed to be a warrior, strong and fierce, but now he looked like he was on the edge of breaking. This was wrong. I had never imagined seeing one of our own treated like this, especially not Sage. I always thought he'd be able to handle anything thrown at him, but this was pure cruelty.Kaidon growled at Sage, a deep, guttural sound that filled the room. He wasn’t fazed by the state of the prisoner. "It overpowers his senses and weakens him. He can’t talk through any form of mind link or shift," Kaidon said coldly, making my jaw drop. I f
Kaidon's POVIt had been a month since Sage, Lyra, and Kane had been arrested and taken into custody. They refused to speak with anybody but Zarek and me, but I avoided them completely. Honestly, I was just plain scared I would snap the minute I even got close. I didn't trust myself enough not to kill them on the spot.The pack house had never felt so tense. There was no hum of activity, just silence, anger hanging heavy in the air. It weighed on everyone, even the children, who were too afraid to leave their parents' rooms. Even Astrid barely left her room, the anger in the house making everyone tense, as if the slightest spark could set off an explosion.Zarek hadn't been much better. He hadn't been out of his room much, either, but for different reasons. The pregnancy was exhausting him. His stomach was getting heavier with each passing day; the pups inside were becoming more and more demanding. He left the room only when it was highly necessary-to visit me in my office, to get som
Zarek's POV I barely stopped Kaidon from storming out of the room. “What’s going on? Kaidon, you need to talk to me,” I said, stepping in front of the door. “I don’t understand what you're saying. And if there’s an enemy in our land, calling a meeting will chase them away!”Kaidon shook his head, his focus entirely on the door. He was trying to move me out of the way. “It’s not safe here unless we find out who’s infiltrated!” he growled, reaching for the doorknob.Without warning, I surged forward, throwing myself into Kaidon’s arms. His body crashed to the ground, and I straddled him, holding him tightly so he couldn’t get up without taking me with him.“Let go,” Kaidon growled.I shook my head stubbornly, pressing my face against his neck. “No,” I murmured, feeling him relax a bit, but then tense back up. “I need you to explain what’s going on to me. Please, I can help.”“Fine,” Kaidon mumbled, standing up and lifting me off him before depositing me on the bed. His eyes stayed glue
Kaidon's POV I neared the edge of the pack boundaries, Robert by my side, and I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of gratitude. Even though Klain was a warrior, she was willing to stay behind to keep an eye on my pregnant mate. Even though Zarek was upset with me, I wasn’t going to let anything—nothing—stand in the way of protecting my mate and our unborn children.We approached the boundary line where several wolves were already gathered, growling at a figure just outside. The sun was setting, casting a haunting light on the cloaked figure. I snarled in disgust at the eerie presence."Son," Slade's voice cut through the tension as he loped over to Zarek. "She hasn't attacked us, but she claims to be with a band and says we're in danger."I growled at the figure, ignoring my pack mates as they started to ask questions. Without hesitation, I shifted back to my human form, glaring at the woman when she threw a cloak at me. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice dripping with discomfort, "but
Zarek’s POV“Oh, shit, Kaidon,” I panted, my head tilting back as Kaidon’s teeth grazed along my neck while his hand expertly stroked me. "We have to get to the reception!" I tried to keep myself together, but my body was betraying me, and I couldn't stop the gasp that escaped my lips.Kaidon growled against my skin, his pace quickening as he stroked me harder, before he pulled away slightly. "So you want me to leave you hanging here without finishing?" he asked, his voice low and full of desire.I shook my head, the air leaving my lungs in a shaky whimper. "N-No," I whispered, my gaze lifting to the wisteria hanging above us, its delicate flowers swaying with the breeze. I couldn't believe I’d agreed to this, to let Kaidon pleasure me right here in the middle of the garden. But I guess it wasn’t as surprising as it seemed, especially with Aegis's encouragement. The memory of Aegis had me grinning despite everything. I couldn’t help but laugh, thinking back to when Aegis had begged m
Zarek's POV "Stop stressing, you look great!" Sage said, helping Zarek adjust his suit. His voice was reassuring, but my nerves were still buzzing. "You're going to be perfectly fine!”I nodded, too stressed to say anything. I reached for my glass of water, making sure not to spill it on my white suit. I knew it would show if I did, and the last thing I needed right now was another thing to stress about. There was a chair in the small pop-up tent I was getting changed in, so I collapsed onto it, trying to settle my racing thoughts.The tent flap whipped open, and I heard footsteps. I didn't need to look up to know it was Astrid. A grin was already on her face as she rushed inside, carrying both of her pups. One was in a pouch on her front, the other on her back. She held a small box in her hand and handed it to me without hesitation.“Can’t believe you almost forgot this, Luna,” she teased, planting a kiss on Bels's forehead, who was nestled in the front carrier. "It's the one thing
Kaidon's POV I woke up groggily, the dull pounding in my head acting like a heavy drumbeat in the back of my skull. My senses were slow to return, and everything was out of focus. The world around me seemed distant and distorted, and the voices I could hear sounded muffled and indistinguishable.My back was hurting, and the sharp stinging pain cut deep through the fog in my brain, while my mouth was dry, like I hadn't drunk anything in days. I needed water. It wasn't just an irritation any longer; it was a demand that no longer allowed me to simply bear with it.I fought the grogginess, opening my eyes slowly and allowing the blurry contours of the room to take shape. Everything was soft, as if I was looking at the world through a foggy glass. Far away, I saw the blurry shape of Zarek standing beside Astrid.I heard the murmur of their voices but not what they said. I felt myself floating, apart from my body, suspended in that place between sleeping and waking."Zarek," I said, hardl
Kaidon's POVI shifted into wolf form, running until the barrier of the pack was in view. I sat down in the dirt and inhaled, the earthy scent filling my nose. I could not bring myself to stand, as if I felt sick, disgusted with myself. There was no reason for the thought of harming Zarek even crossing my mind, and that fact alone made me worse than I could ever have imagined.I wanted to go to my father, to ask him to reprimand me for even thinking of such a thing, yet I could not let myself be this weak and found myself drowning in anger which clouded my mind.But then something changed. A scent wafted through the air. It wasn't one of my packmates, and that sent a surge of anger through me. No one outside of my pack should be this close to our territory.I didn't bother linking for backup. It was late, and I wasn't going to attack anyone. But I was angry enough to take on ten wolves if I had to. So I set off on my own, sniffling the air, trying to place the direction of the new sme
Zarek's POV I'd been watching Kaidon and Zarek since they'd arrived at the cottage this afternoon. Well, Zarek had gotten in a few hours earlier, and then Kaidon had joined him an hour later. They acted as though they were trying to gel and get along, but I didn't understand why. From what I knew, the two of them had a great and loving connection. So why the tension?Is everything alright with you two?" Slade asked, catching on to what I had been picking up on. "You're being. icy."Kaidon didn't even look up from his plate of pasta, still chewing, not acknowledging Slade's pointed question."We're fine," Zarek muttered, his glare still shot at Kaidon.I pursed my lips, trying to figure out what was going on between them. "You two said you had news? That's why we're meeting for dinner?" I asked, hoping to turn the conversation to lighter topics as a tight feeling began building between all of us in the room.To my great relief, the smile that appeared on Zarek sent Kaidon's mouth tick