I couldn’t help but laugh, the tension in the room easing just a bit. “Caleb? Jealous? That’s hard to imagine. He doesn't seem like someone who would be jealous over that.”“Well, you know how he is,” Ethan replied, leaning back casually. “He likes to be in the spotlight, and with everything going on, he feels like he’s being left out.”I shook my head, still smiling. “I’ll have to talk to him. Let him know it’s not intentional.”Ethan nodded, the playful glint in his eyes dimming slightly. “It’s good to see you smile, Selena. With everything going on, I wasn’t sure if I would see that again anytime soon.”I felt a pang of guilt. “I’m sorry, Ethan. I didn’t mean to worry everyone. I’m just… scared.”His expression softened, and he reached out to take my hand again, squeezing it gently. “We’re all scared, Selena. But we’ll get through this together. We always do.”His words were comforting, but the weight of the situation still pressed heavily on my shoulders. I knew everyone was doing
Leo paced the length of his office, his mind a storm of thoughts as he prepared for the meeting. The recent developments had thrown everything into disarray, and he knew that the people were beginning to doubt his leadership. They were questioning his judgment, his strength, and most damning of all, his involvement with a woman who wasn’t his mate. Rumors were swirling, and those who had once looked to him with unwavering loyalty were now whispering behind his back.The knock on the door broke his train of thought. Caleb entered without waiting for permission, his expression grim.“Leo,” he said, his voice low. “You’re needed in the meeting.”Leo nodded, his jaw tightening. “Let’s go.”As they walked toward the meeting room, Leo’s thoughts turned to Caleb. The Gamma had always been a steady presence, the calm in the storm. He was loyal, capable, and knew how to handle difficult situations. Leo trusted him implicitly, but even Caleb’s steady presence couldn’t quell the unease gnawing a
Selena's POV“Tiana is involved in this matter. How she got the video or even had access to the room, I think her henchmen had a hand in that.” I said to Ethan as we walked home together from the mechanic.Caleb was with Leo today, and they had an important meeting. So it was just me and Ethan.“Obviously. I mean, an angry ex-fiancée would do anything.”I had recapped everything I heard at the bar as I bit my lip. “Do you think she even loved Leo? Or maybe she had an ulterior motive because trust me, the girl I saw at that bar was anything but nice and sweet like everyone seems to think.”Ethan tucked his hand in his pocket and adjusted his bag, his hair still wet from the shower, his hunter eyes scanning the surroundings as we walked. “I’ve known Tiana for years. She came to this pack from a prestigious family, but she was abandoned. I’ve only seen her as soft and innocent. Except recently… which you have to admit is from heartbreak. But you guys said her character was suspicious bef
The people were still there, staring, their eyes shifting between one another as if silently questioning what they'd just witnessed. But I couldn't focus on them, not really. The remnants of their actions—the cold, sticky remnants of tomatoes and their silent judgment—clung to me like a weight. I felt a knot of dread in my stomach, tightening with each passing second.Leo's touch was gentle, unexpected. His hand brushed my cheek, wiping away the mess of paste and seeds that had smeared my face. I froze. The world around me seemed to blur and fade until all that remained was the sensation of his fingers on my skin. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think—only feel.His eyes were intense, a storm of emotions swirling just beneath the surface. It was as if the whole world had vanished, leaving just the two of us in this strange, suspended moment. I should have been mortified, furious, anything but this—but all I could do was stare at him, my thoughts muddled and confused.Leo tu
I sighed, “Ronnie made me go there.”Leo frowned, “Ronnie…like the…nurse Ronnie, why?” He reached out, his hands running through my hair, his fingers combing through the strands.It was soothing and distracting. “Well…um…”He shifted closer, the heat of his body radiating toward me, his hands continuing to run through my hair. “What?”I turned to look at him, noticing the smirk playing on his lips. He knew exactly what he was doing.Two can play this game.I leaned closer, letting my hand rest on his thigh. I traced small circles on the fabric of his dark pants, feeling his muscles tense beneath my touch. His hand stilled in my hair, and I couldn’t help but smile to myself.Selene 1. Leo, 0.“I wanted to see her. Because I needed to talk to someone, and she was there for me. But I didn’t expect her to take me to that place, and I definitely didn’t expect people to be there, waiting to throw rotten tomatoes at me.”Leo’s frown deepened, his eyes narrowing as he processed my words. “Tha
I stood in front of the mirror, staring at the mark on my neck. The reflection showed more than just the physical changes; it revealed the depths of the bond that now tied me to Leo. The mark wasn’t just a symbol; it was a declaration, a claim, and something much more profound than I had imagined. My fingers traced the edges of the bite, and a shiver ran through me as the memory of how it happened replayed in my mind.I couldn’t wrap my head around it. Everything had changed so quickly—one moment, I was in the throes of uncertainty, and the next, I was marked, claimed by someone I barely understood. Yet, despite all the confusion and fear, there was a strange comfort in knowing that Leo was now part of me, that he had chosen me in a way that went beyond words.I sighed, tearing my gaze away from the mark. My body ached in places I hadn’t realized could ache, the events of the day weighing heavily on me. I needed to clear my head, and a hot shower seemed like the best way to do that. I
“Mate, huh?” Ethan’s voice cut through the tension in the room as I looked up from my phone. I’d been trying to reach Jess for what felt like ages, but the call wouldn’t go through. My frustration was mounting, but Ethan’s sarcastic tone only added fuel to the fire.I shot him a glare, but he just shrugged, leaning against the doorframe with a lazy grin. “What? You’re not going to deny it, are you? I can smell Leo's scent over you. Like everyone is against both of you and yet you are getting it on.”I sighed, finally lowering my phone. “This isn’t the time, Ethan.”“Isn’t it? Because it sure seems like everything’s falling apart, and now we have a mate bond complicating things even more because trust me no one is going to believe that. The pack is a mess.” His casual tone belied the seriousness of the situation, and I knew he was just trying to get a rise out of me. But he wasn’t wrong. Things were falling apart faster than I could keep up. “No offense but I am trying to be realistic
Ethan’s scream echoed through the vast land, a sound so raw and filled with anguish that it made my blood run cold. He wasn’t just angry; he was devastated. I stood frozen, my heart pounding in my chest as his voice reverberated through the air, laced with a fury that threatened to tear everything apart.“Ethan, calm down,” Leo tried, but the words sounded hollow, even to my ears. How could anyone be calm right now?“Calm down?” Ethan rounded on Leo, his eyes wild with grief and rage. “You want me to calm down? Caleb is dead! Do you even understand what that means?”Leo’s face was a mask of controlled emotion, but I could see the pain in his eyes, the guilt that was eating away at him. “We don’t know that for sure. We need to find his body—”“His body?” Ethan spat the words out like they were poison. “We’re talking about a person! My brother, your pack member! And now he’s gone because we weren’t prepared, because we underestimated the enemy! You weren’t there, Leo! You didn’t see wha
The world around me was hazy, the sharp pain in my chest stealing my breath. Darkness encroached, but somewhere in the distance, I could hear voices—familiar ones—calling my name. Eli, Noah... their shouts pierced through the numbness. I clung to that sound, refusing to let go.This couldn’t be the end.With a herculean effort, I forced my eyes open, my body feeling like it weighed a thousand pounds. Above me, the sky stretched endlessly, a deep and inky black, but the shadows that had once loomed so large were gone. The dark force was defeated—or at least, it should’ve been.I felt a hand on my arm, tugging me back to the present. It was Noah, his face pale, his usually calm eyes wild with fear. "Lily! Stay with me!"Eli crouched beside him, his expression a mix of fury and anguish. "Don’t you dare die on us, Lily. Don’t you dare!"My vision swam as I tried to sit up, but the pain ripped through me again. My hand went to my chest, feeling the warm slickness of blood where the final s
The pack gathered at the edge of the forest, their faces grim. The air buzzed with tension as everyone prepared for the battle that would determine their future. I stood at the front, trying to keep my nerves in check. This was it—the final stand. The moment I had trained for, fought for, bled for.Leo, my father, approached me, his expression unreadable. Despite the trials, the betrayals, and the pain we’d endured, his presence always carried the weight of leadership. But today, he wasn’t the Alpha. Today, the pack looked to me."You’re ready," Leo said, his voice steady.I looked up at him, my heart swelling with emotion. "I hope so."He placed a hand on my shoulder, the gesture more tender than I expected. "We all trust you, Lily. I trust you."Selena stepped forward, her usual sharp demeanor softened by the gravity of the moment. She didn’t say anything, but the look in her eyes spoke volumes. She trusted me too, and for the first time, I felt the full weight of my responsibility
The air in the sacred chamber was heavy with anticipation. My footsteps echoed on the stone floor as I walked toward the center of the room, my heart racing in my chest. This was it—the final Luna trial. Everything I had fought for, everything I had endured, had led me to this moment. But I wasn’t prepared for the weight of it, the crushing pressure of what was at stake."You’ve got this," Rose said quietly from beside me. Her voice was soft, free of the usual bite that accompanied our exchanges. Ever since the battle with the traitor, she had changed. Maybe it was seeing Eli hurt, or maybe it was the realization that we were all in this together. Either way, Rose was standing by me now, for the first time in years, and that meant more than I could put into words.I gave her a small nod, grateful for her presence, even though fear gripped my chest like a vise.Noah stood just behind us, his arms crossed as he surveyed the chamber. He had been distant since the battle, quieter than usu
"After them!" I shouted, my heart pounding as I sprinted forward, Noah and Selena close behind. The traitor had disappeared into the shadows of the hall, slipping away like a ghost. We rushed through the narrow corridors, the weight of betrayal pressing down on us.The traitor—a former ally, a trusted figure—had turned against us. My father, Leo, the man who had built this pack from the ground up, was now in danger. I couldn’t allow them to succeed.As we turned a corner, a loud crash echoed from up ahead, followed by the unmistakable sounds of a struggle. I picked up the pace, the urgency pulling me faster than my legs wanted to go.When we burst into the central chamber, chaos greeted us.Eli was already there, locked in a brutal fight with the traitor. Blood stained his shirt, and his movements were sluggish. My heart lurched. He was injured.Leo stood behind him, trying to defend himself with whatever strength he had left. But he wasn’t the man he once was. Age had slowed him, and
The figure reached out, fingers curling around the edge of their face, pulling the skin away as if it were a mask. I gasped, my throat tightening in shock, but no sound escaped. Where Rose had stood moments ago, a stranger now stared back at me. Dark eyes glittered with satisfaction, a sneer twisting their lips. My heart hammered in my chest, but I couldn't move, rooted in disbelief. "You’ve been deceived, bitch," the stranger spat, the familiar warmth of Rose’s voice replaced with something cold, mocking. I blinked, my mind racing. Who was this? My pulse thrummed in my ears, drowning out everything around me. "Where’s Rose?" I demanded, my voice steadier than I felt. The stranger grinned, baring teeth like a predator toying with its prey. "Closer than you think." Noah stepped forward, his presence grounding me. His eyes flickered over the figure, suspicion darkening his features. "Who are you?" The stranger chuckled, the sound hollow. "Someone who’s been watching this pack f
The early morning sky was bruised with dark clouds, heavy and foreboding. The distant rumble of thunder blended with the cacophony of preparation in the pack’s camp. The pack members scrambled to their positions, their faces etched with grim determination. I stood at the edge of the camp, watching the horizon, my heart pounding in my chest. The rogue army was almost upon us.The scent of rain mixed with the tang of adrenaline, and the air was charged with tension. I tried to focus on the task at hand, forcing myself to take deep, steady breaths. Our defenses were set, but the traitor’s sabotage had thrown our plans into disarray. We had already lost precious time repairing breaches and reinforcing weak points.“Lily!” Rose’s voice cut through the din, and I turned to see her running toward me, her eyes fierce. “The scouts reported that the rogues are just minutes away. We need to be ready.”“I know,” I replied, nodding. “Everyone’s in position. We just have to hold the line until rein
The sky was overcast, the heavy clouds pressing down as if to mirror the gravity of our situation. The atmosphere around the pack's central gathering area was tense, a low hum of worried voices mingling with the clatter of preparations. The rogue army was advancing, and time was running out. I stood on a makeshift stage at the center of the clearing, the weight of the pack’s fears pressing down on me like a physical force. I needed to rally their spirits, to inspire them to face the threat head-on.The pack members were assembled, their faces a mix of fear and determination. I took a deep breath and stepped forward, trying to push aside the doubts that gnawed at me. Rose stood beside me, her expression guarded, while Eli and Noah flanked me from either side. The tension between them was palpable, but there was no time to address it now.“Everyone, listen up!” I called out, raising my voice to be heard over the murmurs. “I know that many of you are scared. I am too. But we cannot let f
The pack’s council chamber was a vast, echoing space, its high ceilings and ancient stone walls bearing witness to countless decisions made for the safety and future of our pack. Tonight, it felt more like a labyrinth of secrets and shadows than a place of governance. The atmosphere was thick with tension as Eli and I stood before Councilor Whitman, who had agreed to meet with us under pressure.Councilor Whitman, a tall man with graying hair and a stern demeanor, sat behind his large oak desk. His eyes, though weary, held a sharpness that made me wary. Eli stood beside me, his expression serious as he prepared to question Whitman about the troubling clues we’d uncovered.“Councilor Whitman,” I began, trying to keep my voice steady, “we have reason to believe that there’s a traitor among us, and that this traitor is providing information to the Blackthorns.”Whitman’s eyes narrowed. “This is a serious accusation, Lily. I would appreciate it if you had concrete evidence before making s
The moon hung high and heavy in the sky, its pale light casting long shadows over the pack’s territory. The night was quiet, but the stillness felt oppressive, as if the very air was thick with secrets waiting to be uncovered. The betrayal I feared was not just a whisper in the dark—it was a tangible threat, and it was close.I paced the length of my bedroom, trying to sort through the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions that had taken hold of me since the meeting with the Blackthorns. Noah’s words echoed in my mind, growing louder with every passing hour. Someone from within our own pack was working with Killian Blackthorn, and it wasn’t just a matter of figuring out who—it was a matter of finding them before it was too late.Rose had been insistent that I was letting paranoia cloud my judgment. She’d accused me of letting the stress of leadership consume me, and while her words were sharp, I could see the underlying jealousy and frustration. I had a purpose now—one she felt had been