The following day, Ryder sought out Colton in his private quarters, his expression serious."Alpha, may I speak freely?" Ryder asked.Colton nodded, gesturing for Ryder to continue."Our pack's resurgence is impressive, but there's one crucial element missing."Colton raised an eyebrow."A strong Luna, Alpha," Ryder said.Colton's expression turned thoughtful."A mate to stand by my side, to strengthen our pack's bonds."Ryder nodded."With Ava's forgiveness, our pack's healed, but we need a stable foundation."Colton leaned back in his chair."I've considered it, Ryder. But finding the right Luna..."Ryder's gaze locked onto Colton's."Ava is the right choice, Alpha. She showed remarkable strength and resilience. And you were once mated to her."Colton's eyes clouded."Ava's forgiveness came with conditions, Ryder. She's not interested in being my Luna."Ryder's expression turned sympathetic."I understand, Alpha. But perhaps...given time."Colton shook his head."I won't pressure he
It took less than half the normal time that Ava usually spent when going home from work to get to her house after his fated mating turned fated enemy with Sebastian. Ava stormed into the lodging house, slamming the door behind her.Becca, lounging on the couch, looked up from her book."Ava, what's wrong?"Ava's face twisted in anger."Everything!" she exclaimed, pacing the room.Becca set her book aside."Tell me."Ava's words tumbled out in a rush."The Moon Goddess bonded me to Alpha Sebastian."Becca's eyes widened."Oh, Ava."Ava's frustration boiled over."And then he kissed me! Stole my first kiss."Becca's expression turned sympathetic. She got up and embraced Ava."I'm so sorry."Ava's anger reignited."That's not all. Lila told me their parents have arranged their marriage."Becca's gasp echoed through the room. She detached from Ava and stared at her with bulging eyes."What? That's insane."Ava's voice cracked."Lila's been in love with Sebastian forever. And now...now I'm
As Lila left, the room exhaled a collective breath."Well," Becca said, "that was intense. Lila must deeply love you Alpha."Ava's thoughts swirled."What have I gotten myself into?"Sebastian's gentle tone reassured."Together, we will navigate this."Ava's heart skipped a beat."Together?"Sebastian's smile hinted at possibilities."What do you say, Ava?"Ava stood tall, her resolve hardened."Sebastian, I need to say something."Sebastian's eyes locked onto hers, his gaze burning with intensity."Please, Ava, don't."Ava's voice firm."I refuse to accept you as my mate."Sebastian's face inches from hers, his warm breath caressing her skin."Don't say that, Ava."“I, Ava Winston, hereby re….”Ava's words were lost in the rush of Sebastian's lips claiming hers.The kiss was fierce, passionate, and all-consuming.Ava's resistance melted, replaced by a tidal wave of desire.Sebastian's arms enveloped her, pulling her close.Becca's startled gasp echoed through the room."Oh, sorry! I'
Back at Bloodmoon pack, Sarah had settled in with Colton, her joy returning and her beauty replenished. She had renewed her relationship with the pack members, now a better version of herself owing to the humbling experience she had with Kael. Sarah had learnt her lessons.The Lycan King's summons arrived swiftly, conveyed by a stern-faced emissary.Colton, accompanied by Ryder, answered the call.The Lycan King's throne room pulsed with tension.King Tharius's piercing gaze targeted Colton."Alpha of Bloodmoon, explain your interference."Colton stood tall."I protected Sarah from Kael's aggression."Tharius's expression darkened."Kael is her rightful mate, chosen by the Moon Goddess."Colton's voice remained calm."With respect, Your Majesty, Sarah's happiness should be considered."Tharius's face reddened."You dare question the Goddess's will?"Ryder stepped forward."Your Majesty, perhaps—"Tharius's raised hand silenced Ryder."Colton, you overstep. Sarah will fulfill her duty.
Scents of vanilla, butter, flour and fresh baking woke Ava Winstons from her sleep. Maybe the cook was baking a cake for my birthday! She thought with joy as she got up from the bed and stretched. She checked her body for any new marks, none was there. She closed her eyes and listened patiently to any voice from inside, nothing. She stared at the little mirror on her bedside for ten seconds, whether her wolf would appear to her on this her special day, it did not. She sighed in disappointment as she changed into her maid uniform. She had been waiting for her wolf since she was eighteen. She adjusted her little white cap and smiled to herself in the mirror, her green eyes a little dimmed from the disappointment. She rearranged her brown curly hair, which framed her oval face. Her cheeks dimpled as she smiled.‘Happy 21st birthday Ava. Maybe your wolf would appear later in the night today. But if she chooses not to, being wolfless is not the end of the world.’ She shrugged and got ou
Ava saw stars of different colours and shades, the sound of the hot slap still echoing in her ear seconds later. Her mouth hung open in surprise as she stared at Sarah. Sarah walked over to the chair beside the bed and sat down. She threw Colton’s shirt to him. ‘How dare you seduce our alpha? Huh?’ Ava could only shake her head vigorously in denial. But I did not seduce him, he was the one who assaulted me. She thought inside her but did not dare to say anything because of the vicious look in Sarah’s face. ‘Tell me what happened. On your knees!’ Ava quickly fell to her knees and explained the events of that morning to Sarah. She knew Sarah was a good friend of the Alpha and should be able to reason with him. Sarah had also been nice to Ava in the past, and should believe her. After Ava’s narration, Sarah turned to Colton. ‘You were mated to this thing?’ She pointed at the cowering Ava. ‘And I rejected her immediately. It must be the joke of the day for the Moon Goddess.’ Col
‘Thank your lucky stars today. Get away from our pack and never come back. If you try it, you will die!’ The enforcers told Ava as they dragged her outside the border of their pack. It was a cold morning, the sky was thick with dark clouds, as if threatening rain could fall at any time. This replicated Ava’s exact mood, her hands and feet were chilled with cold, dark clouds of fear and confusion hung around her and her threatening tears fell without any restriction. Why should she restrict them? Who should she hide them from? She was already alone in the world, she had no one. It was true what the strange note said: no one could help her now. Ava hobbled to a nearby tree, to sit on the roots. She rested her feet and massaged her swollen ankle. The words of the note did not leave her. Prepare for the worst.In just four hours, her life had indeed changed for the worse. No cake to celebrate her birthday but rejection, slap, beatings and… banishment. She wiped her tears and wondered a
‘Where did they put that she wolf?’ Sebastian Denizen asked his Beta, Scott, after his meeting with Alpha Colton.‘They already sent her beyond the boundary of the pack’.‘How is Colton handling the affairs of his pack? Things are not done properly at all. Times are hard and security should be taken serious.’ He shrugged and waved at Scott. ‘Let’s go, maybe we can find her and take her in. She shouldn’t have gone far in this rain’.‘My Alpha, I advise that we set out after the rain, the roads are tricky.’ Sebastian nodded and they waited in the car till the rain subsided.‘Did you get any information as touching the rogues?’ Sebastian asked Scott as they drove out of Colton’s yard.‘Yes, my Alpha. They were sighted towards the north side of the gingham forest, beyond Blood Moon Pack’s territory. Their enforcers pursued the rogues but couldn’t catch any of them.’‘Hmmn. They are still on the move. Marcus is still searching for wolfless virgins. When will he stop this nonsense? I must p