The guards around them exchanged pained glances, mourning the loss of their beloved Luna's protector. Elena could feel their sorrow, their grief echoing her own, but in that moment, all she could focus on was the loss of the woman who had become like a mother to her.A deep, primal scream escaped her lips as the reality of Mrs. Lauren’s death settled in. She had lost a guardian, a mentor, and a friend all in one cruel moment. The weight of her grief was suffocating, a heavy fog that enveloped her entirely.As Elena knelt beside Mrs. Lauren, the rest of the world faded away. She felt a mix of anger, sorrow, and a burning desire for revenge against Carl and Ralph for what they had taken from her. She had to channel this pain into something stronger; she had to protect her child, as Mrs. Lauren had protected her.Outside the pack house, the battle raged on, but for Elena, the only fight that mattered was the one in her heart. She vowed that she would not let Mrs. Lauren’s sacrifice be in
Damien stood in the stillness of the night, leaning against the balcony overlooking the vast expanse of his territory. The cool breeze swept through the air, but it did little to calm the storm brewing inside him. His mother was gone, and the hole she left behind felt like an open wound, raw and aching. Rage, grief, and guilt mingled inside him, threatening to consume him entirely.He gripped the railing with white-knuckled fists, the wood creaking under the force of his hands. His mind was plagued with thoughts of revenge, thoughts of Carl and Alpha Ralph, and how they would pay for what they’d done. His mother’s blood was on their hands, and Damien vowed that they would suffer for it. They had torn his family apart, and for that, they would face his wrath.A low growl rumbled in his chest as his wolf stirred, responding to the turmoil inside him. His bloodlust, always lurking beneath the surface, began to rise. But this time, it wasn’t just the vampire side of him that wanted to kil
The night after the burial was eerily quiet, as if the world itself was mourning the loss of Mrs. Lauren. Damien sat alone in the pack’s great hall, the dim light from the hearth casting shadows across his face. His eyes were bloodshot from the exhaustion, but he couldn’t sleep. His mind wouldn’t stop racing with memories of his mother, her laughter, her fierce loyalty, the way she always stood by him no matter the storm. And now she was gone, sacrificed for the very family she had built her life around.The weight of it was suffocating. He could still see the way she had looked at him, even in her final moments determined, protective, loving. She had died protecting what mattered most to her: her family, Elena, the future. And now Damien felt like he had failed her. He hadn’t been there when she needed him most. He had promised to protect her, and now she was gone.The walls felt as though they were closing in on him. The burden of his grief was heavier than any battle he had fought,
Amelia sat alone in her small room, the walls closing in on her as the weight of everything that had happened sank deep into her chest. The news of Mrs. Lauren’s death had spread quickly, and with it came a sense of heaviness that she couldn’t shake. She didn’t want this, this wasn’t supposed to happen.The plan was never to kill Mrs. Lauren. She was supposed to be part of the aftermath, the one who would have to watch Elena crumble under the weight of the truth. Amelia hadn’t anticipated Mrs. Lauren sacrificing herself to save Elena. It didn’t make sense. Why would she choose to die for her?Her hands shook as she buried her face in them, her mind racing with memories of Mrs. Lauren the woman who had been a mentor of sorts, someone she had looked up to in the pack. Amelia’s bitterness had never extended to Mrs. Lauren. No, her hatred was solely for Elena, the one who had come into the pack and stolen everything. But Mrs. Lauren… she didn’t deserve this.“I didn’t want this,” Amelia w
After Mrs. Lauren's burial, the atmosphere in the pack house was suffocating with sorrow. The pack was in mourning, and each day seemed to stretch on in endless silence. The weight of grief pressed on everyone, but for Amelia, it felt like a noose tightening around her neck.She had stood at the back during the ceremony, watching from a distance as Damien knelt by his mother’s grave. His shoulders trembled, though he tried to hold himself together for the sake of the pack. Elena stood beside him, her face streaked with tears, trying to console him in the only way she knew how. The sight of Damien broken and in pain gnawed at Amelia’s insides.She hadn’t expected the funeral to be so hard, hadn’t expected the guilt to be so relentless. As the mourners dispersed and the pack began to shuffle back to their daily routines, Amelia found herself paralyzed. She couldn’t stay here. Every corner of the pack house seemed to remind her of Mrs. Lauren's death. The whispers and condolences only de
Damien sat alone in his room, the weight of grief pressing down on him like a suffocating blanket. The days since his mother’s death had passed in a blur of sorrow and anger. He had been consumed by thoughts of revenge, the need to strike back at those who had taken her from him. But now, sitting here, in the quiet of his room, he felt hollow, lost in the endless pain.He glanced at the empty bed where Elena had been moments before. She had tried to console him, to bring him back to bed, but he couldn’t rest. He couldn’t shake the overwhelming feeling that he had failed. His mother had died protecting his mate, his family, and it had all happened under his watch. He had been too focused on his own rage to see the danger coming.A knock at the door broke through his thoughts. He didn’t respond at first, too wrapped up in his grief, but the knock came again, firmer this time.“Alpha,” came the familiar voice of his Beta, a close friend and confidant. Damien sighed, rubbing his hands ove
In the dimly lit confines of Alpha Ralph’s pack house, tension hung thick in the air. The faint flicker of candlelight cast eerie shadows on the walls as Ralph paced restlessly in his office, his jaw clenched tight. He could feel the anger bubbling within him, ready to spill over.“Carl,” Ralph’s voice thundered, echoing against the wooden panels. He turned to face Carl, who stood with his shoulders hunched, his gaze averted, knowing he was in for a severe reprimand. “What were you thinking? Do you have any idea how much you’ve messed up?”Carl’s heart raced as he braced himself for the scolding. He had expected Ralph’s reaction, but hearing it spoken aloud made the gravity of his failure hit hard. “I...I thought we were targeting Damien’s weakness. His mother was a liability..”“A liability?” Ralph interrupted, his voice rising. “You killed the one person who could have helped us leverage this situation in our favor! Mrs. Lauren was a powerful ally, and now she’s dead, and for what?
Damien stood in the grand foyer of the new house, the walls echoing the weight of the moment. The house, still echoing with the sounds of construction, was now a sanctuary for Elena and their unborn child, a place he hoped would be safe from the chaos brewing in the outside world. He had made sure it was fortified, with every measure taken to protect his mate and their future, but as he looked at Elena, doubt seeped into his mind.Elena stood before him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. The morning light filtered through the large windows, illuminating her face and highlighting the worry etched in her features. She was radiant, even in her vulnerability, but it broke his heart to see the fear lurking beneath her brave facade.“Promise me you will come back to me and our child,” she said, her voice trembling slightly as she grasped his hand tightly.Damien felt the weight of her words wrap around him like a shroud. He would fight, he would do whatever it took, but the thought of