Alex turned around and stared at our father. The tension in the room was palpable as they were facing each other, each with a stubborn expression on his face. Darius Crud had just placed an order, and his son disobeyed it, making his disagreement known in no uncertain terms. The head of Crud Clan, who was used to being the one in charge, bristled at his son's defiance. If the tension could be cut into slices, it would perfectly describe the atmosphere, with each man locked in a battle of wills."How dare you disobey me?!" Father broke the ice and raged."How dare you treat your daughter like this?!""Are you deaf, Alexei? I told you Madalina wasn't well. Can't you see how affected she is due to that ugliness on her neck? Such a disgrace to our family, such a spit on the graves of your other siblings!"My heart broke into a million pieces when my father called me 'a disgrace'. Instinctively, I grabbed Alex's hand and started to draw random objects with my finger on his palm."Which let
Traps of deceitAIDEN"Is it still far?""A few more miles and we will arrive at Ashton's Mills."Mira led the way with confident steps, but I couldn't help but wonder if we were walking in circles. It was hours since we left the safe house and the strange feeling in my gut couldn't be shaken off. This part of the forest was abandoned, with trees towering above us transforming into sinister monsters with gnarled, claw-like branches. They reached out like bony fingers, their twisted limbs scratching the sky. Dry leaves rustled on the ground like whispers, pushed by the wind. Apart from that, the forest was silent, perhaps even too quiet, as if it was haunted and filled with death."I don't like it here, Aiden. Are you sure this lady knows the location?" Remy was restless, his ears prickled up and the hairs of his fur rising with every occasional snap of a twig underfoot. "This place just does not look like ideal nor safe for pups to be brought in."He might be right. The surroundings w
Worth the fightAIDENThe struggle within me raged on. I didn't know whether to be angry and let the growling beast inside me out or rather stay calm and negotiate with the enemy.Would it ever cease? Why must my existence be fraught with such relentless drama and chaos? My life's narrative has been a series of calamitous events - my father's absence due to his sickness, my mother's slow heartbreak as she watched the love of her life dying bit by bit for decades, and the crushing rejection of my first mate.I thought my first mate was the one for me, the rare beauty in the sunlight, like a delicate and hesitant flower blooming in early spring, afraid of the icy breaths of winter that might return and freeze her. However, the affection between us was just one-sided and she felt the stronger pull towards my half-brother. So, I let her go.. I accepted the rejection, giving up the fight I could have never won. The agony of that moment lingered still, shattering any semblance of contentmen
Into the denMADALINALucien was sneakily observing me from the corner of his eye while driving the van, his attention primarily fixed on the road but occasionally shifting to the passenger seat."I'm sorry, Mada." He said apologetically and I could tell he meant it. Yet, it did help to tame the anger that blazed within me."Yes, you should be sorry." I grunted, not granting him a single look."I had to follow orders."But such an excuse did not satisfy me. Lucien had deceived me for two whole years, feigning ignorance about the deepest, darkest secrets of my family. It was hard to believe that he, the man who used to share a bed with me, could have been so deceptive."And why are you helping me now? Is it because my brother told you so? Are you once again just following orders?""No." He replied hurriedly. "I am doing it for you."I rolled my eyes and pushed my back more into the seat. Our trust was shattered beyond repair. In my state of disappointment and newly founded paranoia, I
I instructed Lucien to stay in the van. It was hard to predict the children's reaction as they had been imprisoned for so long with minimal contact with the outer world. Usually, the guards stepped inside just to bring them water and some food, although I doubted those meals they served were of proper nutrition.As I entered the old warehouse, the sight before me was heart-wrenching. Eight small figures were locked in a windowless room with bed bunks and a single bathroom. They were severely malnourished, with dirty clothes and swollen faces from constant tears. Despite overwhelming emotions, I tried to remain calm and approachable."Hello. I'm Maddie." I smiled at the children and spoke to them softly, using the name Aiden preferred for me. My goal was to assure them I had come to help and take them back to their parents. But they did not take my greeting well. Immediately, they ran to the corner of the room, snuggling into each other, almost as if they wished to merge into one big p
Clash of egosAIDENMy fist connected with his jaw, causing his head to snap to the side. The impact of my knuckles against his skin was satisfying. Anger surged through me as I glared at him, my chest rising and falling abruptly with each breath."Damn." He cursed, his hand rising to rub his jaw after he spat blood on the ground.Clenching my fists, I felt adrenaline coursing through my veins. He may have pulled me out of the ditch, but that did not mean I trusted the bastard. The frustration and resentment I'd been holding in for so long were finally boiling over."You deserve much more than just a beating, Crud. Should I start naming all the evil things you're responsible for?" I took a step closer to him, ready to punch his stupid face again.He raised an eyebrow, as if daring me to argue with him. "Yes, please. A small reminder never killed anybody. And I'd love to stay here till midnight listening to your ranting." His words dripped with sarcasm, each syllable oozing with disdai
Ceased heartbeatsMADALINA"Don't move." I instructed Lucien as calmly as I possible given the circumstances. It looked bad for us. Literally nothing seemed to be in our favor. Two vampires with eight little werewolf children who were all stressed and sobbing? Hm...Lucien's hand grabbed the nearest child and squeezed its shoulder protectively. He may have thought the wolves which had surprised us were rogues. He was wrong though. The four wolves were not feral at all.The one I recognized immediately was a ginger-coated female that I had encountered before in the woods. It was the same she-wolf I had knocked near the village of the lone wolves. She was Quentin's sister. To my surprise, she was still alive, despite the severe head trauma she had suffered. How was that even possible?As I watched her, a male wolf appeared by her side, brushing against her fur and then taking a fighting stance beside her. I realized that they were mates, both marked with the same symbol on their necks.
Blood and bondsAIDENMy wolf spirit may have returned but my twisted ankle was healing at a slower pace than usual, indicating that remnants of the poison still lingered in my bloodstream. I couldn't help but wonder about any additional side effects it may have had beyond subduing my werewolf abilities to human levels. Consequently, I was slowing us down and it took us twice that time to get to Ashton's Mill. I only hoped Madalina still waited for me. Alexei said she was on her way to pick up the pups when he parted ways with her.But what awaited me was much worse than I could ever imagine.Alexei was the first one to recognize the distinct scent of blood entering his nostrils. As a vampire, he could detect it from a much further distance than me. I would expect him to be aroused, experiencing a heightened sense of lust or hunger. I learned from my mate it was the normal reaction of every vampire, a reaction which could be controlled only with difficulty. Therefore, I tried not to j
Shifting perspectivesMADALINAMy stomach was upset, and my mouth was dry. Apparently, my body underwent a range of reactions due to the most important event of my new life. I would be the center of attention, all eyes filled with judgment on me. Even before, I never enjoyed public events or parties, and rather let my brother fulfill such a role. Alex was an extrovert like no other, never experiencing an increased heart rate or sweating when giving out a speech. And although I wasn't afraid of speaking up my mind, my attitude was more... military oriented? I was not good at sugarcoating or putting on a perfect-smile façade. And yet, that was exactly what I was about to do tonight.I stood before the mirror, my gaze fixed on the reflection staring back at me. Who was this woman and what did she do with Madalina Crud?Carrie had chosen for me a stunning long dress with bare shoulders in the shades of dark red. It was definitely a departure from my usual style of leather pants and milita
When I first learned about Carrie's idea to throw a big welcome party for Madalina, I was a little hesitant. Ever since we arrived at my pack, my mate has faced a barrage of unwarranted prejudice due to her different background. No one dared to confront her or me directly, but the silent whispers were there. People stared. At me. At her.It was mostly due to all those horrible crimes her family was responsible for. Her family had tortured lone wolves, treating them like slaves. Sadly, even my mate took part in it, blindly manipulated by her parents. Though with each new day, I could see how much she regretted all her past actions. I may have gotten a second chance at love, but Madalina got her second chance at normal life. And she was going to prove to everyone that she no longer was the ruthless, stone-cold werewolf slayer.The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as the preparations for the grand evening were in full swing. Decorations adorned every corner, bringing vibrant colors an
Unwelcome newsAIDENUpon Jerome's resignation, I was faced with an enormous workload that made me truly grasp the extent of his responsibilities on my behalf. An Alpha was like a lost puppy without his Beta. Despite Scott shadowing Jerome for many years, he struggled to fulfill the role with the same efficiency. Regrettably, Scott was caught between his previous Gamma duties and attempting to assume the Beta position. Our pack was huge in size, and leading it was never meant to be a solitary endeavor. It necessitated a cohesive team, which, unfortunately, I did not have.Days started to merge, and I couldn't tell the difference between light and dark, granting me less and less time for my mate. And I hated it. I hated leaving Maddie alone, even though I could count on Carrie to keep her company. But it would be irresponsible of me to just ignore the escalating situation in my pack and simply lock myself in the room with my gorgeous woman. I was an Alpha and sometimes I needed to put
Notre DameMADALINAIt has been a whole week since I moved to Black Forest pack, but nothing has changed significantly.My mate was incredibly busy, leaving our room early in the morning and returning at night. His Beta stepped down and he now had only his Gamma to support him. Aiden's father tried to help too, but it wasn't common practice to see a retired Alpha interfering in the pack's business. Moreover, it would shed a bad light on Aiden, putting him in the position of not being competent enough to lead the pack if daddy needed to hold his hand.. Eventually, it would motivate ambitious males outside the pack to come and conquer the place, seeing Aiden as a weak element that could be easily challenged and eliminated. Status was everything in the werewolf's world.Aiden spent the entire week searching for a proper candidate for the Gamma position. He wanted to promote the current Gamma to Beta. That man seemed to be one of a few who were loyal to Aiden and openly supported him desp
"Go back to your own kind. Leave our pack before facing further humiliation."I cleared my throat before speaking, controlling the fiery rage that tortured me. Oh, the fantasies that danced in my mind - to give her a taste of her own venomous words, to unleash that never-ending thirst in me, and sink my fangs deep in her flesh until she begged for her life. To punch that nasty mouth and show her true fear.But could I afford such scandal on my first day among werewolves? As much as I wished to make her pay, I concluded she simply wasn't worth the trouble with my mate. I came here to be a better person.Hence, I put my old habits aside and kept the fight on a verbal level."Oh, wow, thank you so much for your unsolicited prophecy! How fortunate I am to have you... whoever you are, enlighten me about my inevitable fate. Your concern for my well-being and humiliation is truly heartwarming. Clearly, your wisdom knows no bounds. Perhaps I should bow down and seek your guidance on all life
Fire tangoMADALINANerves fluttered in my stomach when his family first approached me. Will they grimace in disgust? Will they be bothered by the presence of a vampire? I had all those questions clawing at my mind, terrifying me. But what I experienced... it was something entirely unexpected.In a flurry of introductions and warm smiles, my unease began to dissipate. I stared at Aiden's mother, who exuded a genuine kindness which I found both comforting and bewildering. Not like my own mother, who only veiled her real personality under a sweet, innocent face. My mother carried the mask of kindness, pretending to be a good person, a victim of horrible crimes for which, after all, she was primarily responsible. But the warmth in Amelia's eyes and the way she squeezed my hand indicated she was genuinely happy for her son and accepted me as I was.Aiden's sister, Carrie, was a vibrant young woman. Her presence required attention as she effortlessly owned the room with her wild and loud p
"I'll get some drinks. It's time to celebrate." Carrie winked at us and rushed to one of the Omegas, splashing instructions."Okay, I guess." Maddie placed a light kiss on my lips to ensure me she would manage to survive my family. I didn't need to worry about her. My mate wasn't any shy damsel in distress. If anyone annoyed her, she would deal with it. I promised her not to be away for long and left her with mom and Carrie.On the way to my office, I met my dad. He had arrived at Black Forest pack before us."Jerome knows." He informed me shortly. I sighed, feeling how a big lump formed in my throat. My Beta had already learned about the death of his son.~~~~~~~"We are currently providing shelter for over a hundred lone wolves. The majority of them have already applied for asylum but some haven't decided yet. They still consider returning to their original village once all is settled. Anyhow, we can't accommodate them all permanently. We are running short on resources. But the disc
. Bitter tollAIDENMadalina squeezed my hand when we passed through the main gate to my pack. The Black Forest pack was one of the largest packs in Yukon, providing a home to thousands of people, mostly werewolves. We had several witches among us, as well as humans. Overall, it was a great place to live in. Despite the isolation within the mountains, our civilization thrived.The air carried the scent of freshly bloomed flowers, intermingled with the sweet aroma of home-cooked meals waffling from the houses. The streets were alive with the joyous spirit of community, as people strolled leisurely, their smiles radiant and genuine. Children reveled in their innocence, their laughter echoing through the pathways, while the sun cast a gentle glow upon their carefree games.We lived in peace, surrounded by beautiful nature, and I couldn't wait to show it all to my beautiful mate. Therefore, I was stunned when we finally arrived at my pack and the streets were empty. Gone was also the melo
Raindrops farewellAIDENI was glad that my mate agreed to live with me in my pack. I understood the depth of sacrifices she had undertaken to be with me. Her departure from her family was due to forbidden love and it led to her being estranged by her own parents. They cut off any future physical contact with her and although she tried to be strong and not to show it, I knew it bothered her tremendously. At least her brother, despite being a sick psychopath, stood by her side.And now, I was going to be her family and I would do anything to make her happy.When I returned to the safe house together with Madalina, the place was emptied. Only my father stayed with a couple of soldiers. He was eager to meet my mate and shook her hand a bit too enthusiastically that I had to remind him to keep it cool. As surprising as it was, my dad was very open-minded and didn't care about Madalina's origin. I assumed after all he had to go through in his life, he understood how precious true love was.