“Let me explain myself, Katrina!” I stared at Damien, my chest tight with anger, disbelief swirling in my head. He was kneeling in front of me, like that would fix everything. Like his regret would magically erase the hell he put Archer through.“It was my fault!" Damien's voice cracked. "I let my father do it because it’s for my welfare! I know it was selfish to put Archer in prison instead of me.”My heart pounded. He looked at me like he was about to shatter, but I didn’t care. My blood boiled. Archer had suffered because of this—because of him."I took advantage of our similar face and body!" he confessed, his words spilling out in desperation. "But you know what’s more fucked up?! That fucking bastard is my brother! He’s my father’s missing biological son, Katrina. We’re twins!”I froze. My brain couldn’t process what he was saying fast enough. "What...?" My voice barely came out as a whisper. "Archer is... what?"“Alpha Steven’s son. My twin,” he repeated, his head hanging low
Archer.Years rotting in prison had changed me. The first week tasted like hell. I’d heard the rumors—living with real criminals wouldn’t be easy, and they were right. The moment they found out my sentence had been reduced to ten years, it became a game of survival.They didn’t like it. They didn’t like me.I was always trapped in some dark, secluded corner. The punches came in waves, followed by bruises so deep they felt permanent. My body almost gave out after my regular trips in and out of the prison clinic. That was the first few weeks, though—back when I still cared about my fate.But now? Now they treated me like a king. After I killed their Alpha in a duel, no one dared to touch me. Respect came swift, like blood flowing from a fresh wound.No one visited me, though. Not once. Trial after trial, I waited, hoping—maybe—Alpha Steven or Damien would come, give me a chance to break their faces, even for a moment. Just once.So when the guard stopped by, face hidden under his robe
The thumbs-up from Katrina made me feel like I could breathe again, even in a place like this. It was such a small thing, really, but damn, it was like she was telling me without words, "You've got this." I smiled—couldn’t help it—and gave her a quick nod before the guards led me back inside. The sound of the doors slamming shut behind me was usually like nails in my brain, but today? Today, it didn’t feel as heavy.The cafeteria was its usual mess of noise and clattering trays. I grabbed my food—if you could call it that—and found a seat. Barely a minute in, and Lucifer leaned over, grinning like he’d just won the lottery.“Wow, your lawyer looks young and she’s good at handling your case! I’m so envious of you!”I chuckled, shaking my head, but before I could say anything, another guy, Damon, piped up.“I heard she’s the one who paid off the rest of your fees too. Must be nice, huh?”“Yeah, guess I got lucky.” I tried to sound casual, but it was more than luck. That girl really c
Katrina.“They wouldn’t just leave. They wouldn’t…” Archer’s voice was barely audible, as if he couldn’t quite believe the words himself. His eyes were fixed ahead, lost in thoughts I couldn’t reach.I stepped closer, trying to offer some comfort, but he moved away, the distance between us growing. “I need to go and see our house,” he muttered, his voice strained.“I’ll go with you,” I said softly, knowing he didn’t have to face this alone.The drive to the Madsun Pack was heavy with silence. Archer sat beside me, stiff, his gaze locked on the passing trees but seeing none of them. I wanted to say something, but the weight of his past hung too thick between us.When we arrived, the house looked like it had been forgotten by time. Rusted metal lined the once-sturdy fence, and weeds choked the front yard. The windows, now dark and cracked, seemed to stare at us like empty eyes. I felt a chill crawl up my spine. Archer’s steps faltered as we approached, his breath coming in short, uneve
I was an exiled Luna from Hawthorn pack.My life there was great. I had a loving family, a supportive long-term boyfriend, and the pack members respected and painted me as the perfect future Luna.I was the perfect girl everyone looked up to... until I got away from that pack because of a tragedy that caused miserable events in my life."Mae! Get that order in table nineteen please!" Madam Lavender, the owner of this pizzeria that I've worked for the past months, shouted at me.Immediately, I went to the customer and smiled widely."Good afternoon, sir!" I greeted him.But my smile eventually vanished when I saw who it was. It's the maniac customer who has been pestering me for the past weeks. He's a middle-aged man who wants to offer a big amount of money on the table just for sex.I am not like that kind of girl."Why the deep sigh?" he taunted. "Don't want to cater to a customer?" His grin was menacing, and I couldn't help but notice the glint of a golden, crooked tooth when he smi
Katrina.Seven Years Ago ...Finally, it's my eighteenth birthday. I'm so excited to meet my wolf and mate!I hope that it's my long-term boyfriend, Damien Smiths.Everyone wanted us to be the endgame, and I've always been wishing that he will be my mate.Both of our families support each other.Once I become the mate of the future Alpha of Hawthornpack, I'll become his luna and serve the pack."I really appreciate you coming, Mr. Smiths," my mother said as she shook hands with Damien's father and turned to give Lily Smiths, the woman next to him, a cheek kiss.Damien came over and slapped my butt cheeks lightly. I let out a giggle, in which both of our parents turned our heads because of it, so I cleared my throat and tiptoed.My mother's eyebrows raised because of my behavior. Oh no, that's a clue that I'm misbehaving.She has been training me to be the refined and ideal Luna of the Hawthornpack.I could already hear her reprimands in my head.So, I made some excuse to remove mysel
Archer."I reject you as my fated mate, Archer Ellington."It feels like my heart has been stabbed by a knife multiple times when my mate, Katrina, uttered those words.She said it with determined eyes. I could feel her wolf clawing at her chest, wanting to come out, but she was fighting against the mate bond."I don't want a lowly omega like you as my mate."I hid my pain by flashing a devilish grin. "And I don't want my mate to be a fucking hypocrite, too."She swallowed a lump in her throat as she looked away from me. "You already know... that I'm going to marry Damien Smiths. I will be the future Luna of the pack.""Everyone knows, baby. Your love story is flashed in every magazine, billboards, and on TV like a fucking cliche movie." I took a step forward, while she was trying to control her thirst at me.I can feel it, too.Her wolf wants my wolf. She was hungry for me; like she wants to fuck me.When I found out that Katrina, the popular and beautiful Katrina, was my fated mate;
Katrina.The past few days after my 18th birthday party, I got sick. It wasn't the normal case as the family physician has told me. He couldn't diagnose why I was sick. "This could be something related to your wolf. You already turned eighteen. Have you met her?" "My wolf?" I asked the doctor, my hands fell numb at my side. "Yes, your wolf." I looked away from him and to my mother and father who were worried sick at me. "Not yet," I replied and sighed. The family physician prescribed another medicine and told my parents to observe my behavior. Later that night, I was having a bad dream about Archer, my mate, when I woke up feeling sick and throwing up again. I didn't notice that I was growling when my mother came inside my room. She turned on the lights and touched my forehead. "You're having a fever. I thought you were doing well, honey..." her voice sounded so worried. I hold my mother's hand to feel her warmth. Tears started escaping from my eyes as I looked at her. "Mom,