A wave of nausea washed over me as I listened to Noel. It felt like I was a cheap commodity. My heart squeezed painfully in my chest. This was exactly what I had feared. The prejudice simmering beneath the surface had finally bubbled over. He would always prefer a werewolf blood than a human and make the child of his second chance mate the heir. Me and my child had no place in this pack. My resolve to leave solidified into a cold, hard certainty."I'm not your mate," I said with icy control. "Just a contract partner. Once the six months are over, we go our separate ways. There is no need to think about having babies with me.”The smile that had been playing on Noel's lips vanished in an instant, replaced by a frown. His grip on my hands tightened. “Are you so desperate to leave me? Why? "The child is innocent; it needs a father. I'm willing to take care of it. Why do you insist on leaving? Are you planning on going back to Richard?”“No, I’ll never go back to him,” I countered, gainin
As my senses slowly returned, a wave of disorientation washed over me, my surroundings coming into focus with agonizing clarity. I found myself bound to a worn-out chair. Rough rope dug into my wrists and ankles, biting my skin. Weakness seeped into my limbs, a lingering reminder of the drug's lingering effects.Panic flared, a primal instinct to flee sparking a fight in my weakened limbs. They responded with a pathetic tremor against the unforgiving restraints.I surveyed my surroundings. The building was an eerie tableau of decay, its walls marred by cracks and peeling paint, cobwebs draped languidly in the corners. The air was thick with the musty scent of dust and rust, the acrid tang of decay lingering like a haunting melody. Moonlight filtered through broken windows, casting ethereal shadows that danced across the grimy floor.No matter how much I tried to stay calm and focus on my escape plan, I grew restless with each passing moment. The building seemed abandoned for years, wi
The room vibrated with the frantic thump of my own heart. Restlessness gnawed at me, a dark premonition that something was terribly wrong with Adelynn. I slumped back in the chair, clueless about where to look for her.“Where are you, Adel?” I murmured. “Please stop playing games with me. Come back. I miss you.”Ring-Ring-Ring…A jarring ring shattered the tense silence. Tina's name blazed on the screen. I reacted swiftly and answered the call.“Hello? Did you find her?” I asked with a sense of urgency."Noel," Tina's voice, usually so full of life, was laced with a chilling anxiety. "She's not with Lily. She hasn't contacted her either."The world seemed to tilt on its axis. I shot up from the chair, the blood draining from my face. "What? Where is she?"“Calm down, Noel. She will be fine.” Tina tried to reassure me, but her words did little to ease my growing dread.“Noel!” Tina rushed over and blocked my path. “Where are you going?”“To find her.” Without wasting another second, I
“Alpha…” Caleb approached me as soon as I hung up the phone. “We can’t bring the cops into this,” he suggested. “We should go back to the pack and arrange the backup team.”"Alright," I agreed, realizing the gravity of the situation. “Back to the pack."We peeled out of the parking lot, the silence inside the car heavy. By the time we reached pack territory, the news of Adelynn's disappearance had spread all over. Mom and Dad were worried and had already set up a team to search for her.The packhouse bustled with frantic energy as I entered. Mom was the first to reach me, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy. "Noel, you disappointed me," she choked out, accusation lacing her voice. "I trusted you. I thought you would take care of her and my grandchild, and you failed them both. I shouldn't have let her go with you."Guilt coiled around me like a viper, squeezing the air from my lungs. "I'm so sorry, Mom," I mumbled, head hanging low."There's no time for tears!" My father boomed. “The rogues
Adelynn’s POV…Consciousness flickered back, a dull ache throbbing in my temples. I was still bound to the chair in the same dimly lit shabby room. A desperate wish flickered through me – I wished it was just a nightmare and this suffering would come to an end when I opened my eyes. But the scratchy surface of the chair against my skin and the damp chill in the air, all screamed reality. Escape felt like a distant fantasy. No one was going to come to save me.Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision. My heart ached for my unborn child. 'Forgive me,' I whimpered silently, a fresh wave of grief washing over me. 'Mama failed to protect you.'A harsh voice shattered the suffocating silence. "Well, well, Adel, look who decided to wake up! Perfect timing, wouldn't you say?" Richard's voice, laced with a sickening sarcasm, pulled me out of my reverie. I lifted my head, my gaze meeting his cruel smile. Repulsion welled up within me, and I forced myself to look away.He leaned in closer, th
Without listening to me, Noel focused on defusing the bomb. A sickening screech echoed through the room as a wooden board from the ceiling started its descent. My blood ran cold when I noticed the wooden board getting closer and closer to us."Noel!" I screamed. "Listen to me! You can still get out of here! You have a pack to look after. Your people need you. Don’t risk your life because of me. Please leave."He didn't even look at me. "Shut up!" he barked, his jaw clenched as he fumbled with the ropes binding my wrists. "I won't leave you."“Noel!” I shrieked as I saw the board getting even closer.“Hold on. I don’t know which wire to cut. It’s too risky. First of all, I need to free you from the ropes.” Noel struggled to untie me.The time was slipping away. The incessant ticking of the bomb was a relentless counterpoint to the pounding in my chest. Each creak of the falling board sent shivers down my spine. As I looked at the pointed spikes inching toward us, I trembled. My breathi
“He is losing too much blood,” I said worriedly. Panic tightened my gut as I looked at his pale face. “We can’t wait any longer. He needs medical help now.”“I don’t understand why the backup team isn’t here yet,” Tina muttered, frustrated. “They were supposed to be right behind me.”“We can’t wait. We need to get him to a hospital,” I insisted, my eyes darting around, desperately seeking any sign of help.“Let’s take him to the pack hospital,” Tina suggested.“The pack hospital? That’s hours away, and we don’t have a car,” I argued, my gaze returning to Noel, who was struggling to stay conscious. “He can barely walk. We need to get him to the nearest hospital.”“Have you lost your mind?” Tina barked. “He is a werewolf. A human doctor can’t treat him.”“I don’t care,” I shot back, my fear and frustration boiling over. “He needs medical intervention now, and we don’t have time to argue about this.”“He is an Alpha, Adel,” Tina continued, trying to reason with me. “He won’t die from his
Noel’s POV…Consciousness crept back in slow waves. I wrestled my eyelids open, greeted by a sterile expanse of white walls. My vision swam, blurry, and indistinct. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, a torrent of memories rushed back.I remembered leaving that abandoned building with Adelynn and Tina, but I couldn’t recall what happened after that. Shifting my gaze, I spotted Adelynn dozing beside me. Her head rested on the starched white sheets, one hand intertwined with mine.A warmth bloomed in my chest. She stayed here by my side. A surge of joy, a deep sense of contentment, washed over me. A smile, involuntary and genuine, spread across my face. Adelynn’s presence was what I needed the most. My hand reached out and gently stroked her hair. I couldn’t deny it any longer—I was deeply in love with her.Slowly, Adelynn stirred, lifting her head to meet my gaze with those beautiful eyes of hers.“Hey, beautiful,” I rasped, a smile still lingering. “Good morning.”“Noel! You’re awake
Meanwhile, Adelynn entered. “Noel!”“Come here.” I beckoned her. “Richard is… dying. Talk to him for the last time.”Her eyes, glistening with unshed tears, darted between me and Richard. Hesitantly, she approached the bed.Richard stirred slightly as she neared. A weak smile, tinged with regret, flickered across his lips. “Adel, I am sorry,” he whispered and then coughed. “I-I wanted to reject you properly, to sever the mate bond completely.”“Don’t talk,” she said. “You will be fine. Noel… why are the doctors not treating him?” Her gaze flicked to me, a question brimming in her tear-filled eyes.“He was poisoned,” I replied. “It’s too late.”“What?”“You still feel bad for me even though I hurt you so badly,” Richard chimed in, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. “I don’t deserve it, Adel… Now…” He coughed. “I, Richard Gray, reject you, Adelynn… Have a happy life… with Alpha Noel…”With that final declaration, a long sigh escaped his lips, his eyes fluttering closed. The faint rise
Upon arrival to the pack, we sent Richard for treatment. Adelynn materialized at my side. Her eyes were clouded with worry. Before I could say a word, she wrapped her arms around me, holding me tight.“I saw the news,” she murmured. “The attack was brutal. So many casualties. I was terrified… terrified the witch would hurt you."Holding her close, I inhaled the comforting scent of lavender that clung to her hair. "I'm alright, my love," I murmured, stroking her back gently.“Are you hurt?” She pulled back slightly, scrutinizing my face. Her concern intensified as her gaze lingered on the faint line of dried blood near my chest. Her fingers brushed the injury with a feather-light touch, sending a jolt of electricity sparking through me.“Are you seducing me?” I asked, grinning mischievously.She looked at me with her wide eyes and my heart thumped. At this moment, I could only think about pulling her into the bedroom and claiming her.“How mean?” She pushed me away, jolting me back to
Noel’s POV…Two days passed, and we were still looking for the pregnant human ladies who had been taken away. But we found no clue. We had been keeping tabs on the Black Hounds Pack also, but nothing suspicious was noted. Instead, Tina had been helping us in the investigation, which was a stark contrast to the suspicion in my mind.On the other hand, human representatives were happy with us for rescuing the abducted people. We also presented evidence of witches transforming those rogues to attack the humans. While they acknowledged the explanation, the growing public outcry demanded a formal clarification. To quell the rising anxiety, they conducted a press conference.I was invited to the press conference. With all the evidence, I was ready to face the inquisitive reporters.The conference hall buzzed with anticipation. The mayor, with a reassuring smile, took the stage. He began by welcoming the assembled crowd. He announced that the kidnapped people had been rescued. He reassured t
My initial apprehension morphed into a cautious scrutiny. She was a mess. A worn-out white gown, once elegant, now hung on her frame in tatters, revealing glimpses of dirt-smudged skin. Her face, pale and gaunt, reflected a hardship that went beyond simple neglect. The stench that hit me then confirmed that she had not taken a bath for a long time.I was shocked. How did someone end up like this within the pack? My gaze drifted to the exposed skin on her arms and neck, marred by livid bruises and angry red welts. It was clear that she was abused. Who could have done this to her?Taking a deep breath, I forced my voice into a neutral tone. "Who are you?" I demanded. “What were you doing there?”She dropped to her knees and cried. “Please don’t hurt me. I didn't mean to… I didn't mean to hurt anyone here."“Who are you?” I asked again.“Ava,” she replied, her voice trembling. “Please don’t hurt me.”The fear in her posture, the raw vulnerability in her plea, chipped away at my initial a
I confirmed with a nod."Are you serious?" he breathed, disbelief coloring his voice. "The baby… It's mine? I am the biological father of your baby!” A flicker of a smile, hesitant yet hopeful, played on his lips. “That means… my infertility issue… Why did you lie to me? How could you be so cruel?” He barked, glaring at me. The pain in his eyes ached my heart."I'm so sorry," I whispered, regret gnawing at me. "I… I thought you didn't love me. That you just needed a temporary wife to solve some pack issue." Shame burned in my cheeks. "I-I was afraid," I stammered, tears stinging my eyes. "Afraid you'd take the baby away from me if you knew the truth."“What?” Hurt flickered across his face, morphing into a grimace of frustration. "Take the baby? What are you even talking about?" He shook his head. "So, you planned on leaving me… with the baby? That's why you were so eager to break the contract. Why wouldn't you trust me, Adelynn? I promised to take care of you both. Didn't that mean a
Ivy’s words caught me off guard.Second chance mate? The revelation slammed into me with the force of a rogue wave. She'd already found her fated mate? So that was it. The realization dawned upon me. Ivy had returned because her mate had been kidnapped.Who could have done this and for why? Why did Ivy approach me? What did she want from me?Several questions rushed into my mind, increasing my confusion.“Tell me clearly,” I demanded.Her eyes, red-rimmed and pleading, met mine. "I'll tell you everything," she choked out. “When I met Jack abroad, I realized Mood goddess had blessed me with a second chance mate. I immediately fell in love with him despite him being a human. We thought we would have a happy life together.”She choked back a sob, her voice cracking. "Then everything changed. We learned that a werewolf had kidnapped his sister. We rushed back, hoping to find her, to help. But we were wrong. So wrong."Her eyes welled up with tears, and she chomped with emotion. She regain
Adelynn’s POV…When I regained consciousness, I found myself in the familiar bedroom nestled in the warm bed. Relief washed over me, followed by a wave of dizziness. I blinked, trying to focus on the figure sitting beside the bed."Hey, sweetheart, you're awake." Noel's voice, gentle and warm, filled my ears. His smiling face stirred conflicting emotions in my heart.Gratitude warred with resentment. Yes, he had saved me once again. If he had not appeared on time, I would have been killed. But I couldn’t forget the fact that he had ignored my calls."Why did you come for me?" I blurted out, the anger laced with a tremor I couldn't quite control. "Shouldn't you have been with Ivy?"His smile faltered, a flicker of pain crossing his features. "I know you're upset," he said slowly, “but it’s all Ivy’s doing to make you jealous. She invited me to dinner, but I declined the invitation. I had an important meeting to attend to. She knew about it.”Noel explained everything to me.After heari
With a dismissive wave, I signaled for Caleb to leave. When he walked out, I answered the call.“Hello?”"Noel... Did I disturb you?" Ivy's voice, usually dripping with sweetness, came through the receiver. It used to sound endearing, almost playful. Now, it grated on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard."You already did," I replied flatly. "What is it, Ivy? Get to the point."A hesitant pause followed before she spoke again. "Don't be rude," she whined, the playful facade slipping slightly. "I just wanted to thank you for letting me stay at your place. I called you to invite you to dinner. Look, don't say no right away! I already invited Adelynn, and she said she'd come. It’s a treat from my side. Please, Noel… come.”I couldn't help but feel a surge of annoyance at Ivy's persistent attempts to insert herself into my life. I rubbed my brow, hesitating for a moment.I had an important meeting that I could not postpone. But the prospect of Adelynn alone with Ivy made me anxious. I did
Consumed by unease, I mechanically ate small portions of food whilst grappling with increasing turmoil within. I couldn’t shake off the feeling that Noel was in trouble.Suddenly, she broke through my reverie, probing gently, "Is something wrong with the dish?"Swallowing the lump forming in my throat, I muttered half-heartedly, "No, it isn't that. I just... don’t feel like eating.”“Oh, are you okay? You don’t look good.” She squinted at me inquisitively.“It’s normal for a pregnant woman to feel revulsion to certain food,” I replied nonchalantly and took some more bites.The next few minutes passed in a blur. Ivy resumed eating, eventually finishing her meal. However, I scarcely touched my plate, rendered unable to focus on anything other than Noel.Eventually, Ivy turned her attention back to me. “You must be thinking why Noel has not answered your calls. Isn’t it obvious that you mean nothing to him? As soon as I returned, his suppressed love for me emerged. He will soon break up