GREYThe rain lashed against the windowpane, a steady rhythm that matched the thrum of my thoughts. The glass of bourbon in my hand sloshed as I swirled it absentmindedly, staring out at the darkened woods surrounding the Pack House. Memories flitted through my mind like ghosts—each one a reminder of the choices I had made and the threads of deception I'd so carefully spunPlaying with people's minds has always been something I enjoyed. Leaving things to fate was a risk I couldn't afford. The thing I wanted could be snatched from me in a blink of an eye and I could not let that happen. I always had to be in control or life would control me. That was until I met her.The first time I met her—my mate—I knew fate had played a cruel joke. She was kind, delicate, everything I wasn't. Opposites attract or some bullshit. Cora was like a dove. So pure and so innocent.You would think a bond forged by the Moon Goddess herself should've been enough, but it wasn't. I found Cora so boring that it
BELLAI could feel it deep in my gut, something wasn't right. I could not put a finger on it yet, but I knew inside me.Grey. He was the most conniving person I knew. And not only conniving, he was manipulative and deceptive. What if calling me back home was just another trap?He did say he would make me pay for running away, and although he asked for five million dollars and I sent one million, he hadn't pestered me for more.There were so many loopholes and the more I pondered, the more confused I got. It was tiring.Maybe I was just overthinking it and Cora was really in trouble. Maybe she was really dying. I couldn't ignore that. She was very sick even when she helped me escape the dungeon.What if Grey was responsible for her health deteriorating? What if he beat her up despite her failing heart condition. I honestly wouldn't put it past him.These thoughts made me restless through the day, and gave me sleepless nights.I want to make sure Cora is fine but for that to happen, I h
LAYLAI walked back into the pack house, looking for Ralph. The servants had told me he was back, and I needed to talk to him or rather he asked me to come talk to him. I wanted to make some excuse but I sister or not, I couldn't just say no to an Alpha.I spotted a maid hurrying down the hall, her head down as she tried to avoid making eye contact with me. I wasn't in the mood for being avoided, so I stepped into her path and called out, “Hey, do you know where Ralph is?”She looked up, startled at first, before quickly composing herself. “Alpha Ralph is in his office ma'am,” she said, her voice a little nervous. “Alpha Kai is also here as well.”The mention of Kai hit me like a wave. I definitely hadn't expected to hear that. My stomach tightened, but I kept my face neutral.Without another word, I stepped past her, heading toward Ralph's office, the fact that Kai was here already making my thoughts swirl.Honestly, I had wanted him for years. I mean, who wouldn't. He was strong, re
BELLAKai being here with me made me feel safe. Grey had not dared to raise his voice at me, let alone his hand. It made my heart flutter, the knots in my stomach tighten. It made me happier that I would have imagined. And for the first time in forever, I didn't feel alone. That void was no longer there and it was kind of weird how he fit properly into the space.As we walked towards Cora's hospital ward, I stole glances at his profile, etched in sharp relief against the soft glow of the hospital lights. His jawline, strong and defined, moved subtly with each step, its gentle flexing a testament to the tension coiled within. The faint scruff on his chin added a rugged edge to his refined features.With each stride, his broad shoulders shifted beneath his fitted shirt, accentuating the powerful physique that commanded attention. His eyes, fixed ahead, gleamed with an intensity that bordered on ferocity, their piercing quality undeniable even in profile. The sharp lines of his nose and
KAIThe hum of the plane's engines created a steady rhythm that somehow intensified the silence between us. I leaned back in his seat, casting a glance at Bella, who sat across the aisle with her gaze firmly fixed on the sleeping figure of Cora beside her. Her eyes held a mixture of worry and exhaustion, and though I longed to reach out to her, I kept my distance, respecting the unspoken boundaries she had put up between us.In the dim light of the cabin, Bella looked more vulnerable than I had ever seen her. She wore her strength-like armor, a shield that kept everyone at arm's length. But now, after everything I had learned about her past, I saw the weight she carried—sorrow, betrayal, and the lingering scars of heartbreak. It stirred something deep within me, a fierce desire to protect her, to be the one who could finally ease her burdens.I wanted to heal all her scars and take back every word they had said to make her feel like she was nothing because, to me, Bella was everything
BELLAI couldn't deny having noticed Kai's new behavior towards me. And while it felt nice, I didn't trust his actions completely. For all I knew, I could be his rebound. Or maybe he was just looking to pass time and find a replacement.I sighed, staring at myself in the mirror. The floral dress I had on fitted my body perfectly. I almost smiled, merely staring at my reflection. I imagined Kai's reaction to seeing me. Something in me looked forward to it, as a matter of fact.I practically flew to the front door when I heard the doorbell. Kai. I stopped right in front of the door, smoothing my dress and my hair, before pulling it open.“Hi.” I said simply, stepping aside for him to enter the house. He looked me over, his eyes twinkling with something indecipherable. His lips drew into a thin line before he focused his eyes back on mine.“Bella,” he said, his voice coming out breathless. The little flutter in my chest was enough to remind me that he was not to be trusted, not completel
BELLAMy breath hitched at the low tone, my body stiffening from where I was still wrapped around Kai's arms. Firmly, the voice repeated, the shudder that racked through my body accompanied by a tingle from the hand on my shoulder.“Don't touch her.”I felt the hand on my shoulder tightening as Kai's hold loosened, giving the stranger freedom to gently tug me away, causing me to stumble closer to him.“Lemons,” I thought. “He smells like lemons.”Slowly, my eyes abandoned Kai's slightly annoyed face, drifting over to the hand that squeezed my shoulder—it felt more protective than possessive—and trailing up the arm to settle on an oddly familiar face.I hadn't seen him before, that was certain, but the resemblance he held to Luna Olive was a bit uncanny.They looked almost alike, the most obvious differences being the fact that the man had a more tanned skin tone and the corner of his eyes were sharper, slightly upturned, just like mine.As I looked closer, my gaze observant and focuse
Luna Olive smiled, her pearly white teeth in full display as Layla walked into the private ward. The latter didn't want to be here. She felt choked by the smell of drugs mixed with the lavender scented candles, but she masked it all behind a faux smile as she took steps towards her bed.“Layla,” Olive was beyond glad to see her adopted daughter. She loved her so much more than words could explain.When Olive's only daughter got kidnapped twenty years ago, she was devastated and slipped into depression but the day she set her eyes on Layla; a four year old blonde with piercing ocean blue eyes, it felt as though her daughter had returned to her but in another form.“Mother,” Layla sat in the chair beside her bed, taking Olive's hands in hers and caressing softly. She came here with a motive and she was going to achieve it no matter what.“Baby girl, I'm glad you came,” her eyes gleamed with admiration. Layla saw it and was going to take advantage of it.“How couldn't I come? My mother w
BELLAThe bedroom was cloaked in shadows, the faint glow of moonlight streaming through the curtains doing little to warm the chill that settled in my chest. I sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the wall, the events of the day replaying in my mind like a cruel, never-ending loop.The wedding. My wedding. It had been perfect, a scene pulled straight from my dreams. The warmth of Kai’s hand was in mine as I walked toward him at the altar. The way his storm-gray eyes softened as they met mine as if I were the only person who had ever mattered. The vows we had written, brimming with promises of love and loyalty, were ready to be spoken into existence.“I do.” He had said. The words perfectly fell from his lips. It was like a weight was lifted off his chest as he said them. I loved it. I wanted to wake up every morning hearing it. The fact that he chose me. Loved Me. Wanted me. Everything was perfect. Everything. He was goin
KAIThe room felt smaller, the air heavier, as I stared at Mabel. Her name alone was a wound I thought had long scarred over, but seeing her now, alive and standing before me, reopened it. The chaos of the interrupted wedding still churned outside the room, but here, within these walls, it was as if time had frozen.I couldn't believe she was here. Here and staring at me with those fucking eyes. Eyes that destroyed me. Broke me to the point where I almost lost another chance at happiness, and love. She was a jinx, a curse.She stood straight-backed, her hands trembling despite her composed expression. Her presence alone was enough to make my blood roar, but it was the boy standing shyly beside her—dark-haired, wide-eyed, and painfully familiar—that shook me to my core.“I’m sorry,” Mabel began, her voice trembling but resolute. “I know this is not how you wanted your day to go, but I didn’t have a choice. I had to
BELLAThe sound of Mabel’s voice sliced through the air like a dagger, halting the ceremony in its tracks. All the warmth, the joy, the elation of the moment evaporated, leaving an icy tension behind.“I object!” she had said, her voice ringing with authority and venom.At first, I couldn’t even process it. My head turned instinctively, searching for her face in the crowd. And there she was, standing in the grand doorway of the hall, her figure backlit by the fading afternoon sun. The train of her crimson gown swept the floor like a river of blood, but it wasn’t her dramatic entrance that held me captive. It was the boy standing at her side.He was small, maybe five or six years old, his dark curls wild and unkempt. But it was his eyes that made my breath catch in my throat—storm-gray eyes, the exact shade as Kai.I didn't get what was happening. What was she doing her? My throat constricted.Whispers rippled through the crowd like a wave. My chest constricted, a crushing weight press
BELLAThe soft glow of moonlight spilled through the gossamer curtains as Kai and I stumbled into his bedroom, our laughter filling the quiet night. Kai’s strong arms encircled me, pulling me close as our lips met in a kiss that was both gentle and fervent. The taste of him was familiar yet intoxicating like the finest wine savored anew. My fingers found the line of his jaw, tracing it before sliding into his dark, unruly hair, pulling him even closer.Our kisses deepened, growing more urgent as they crossed the threshold into the bedroom. My back met the cool softness of the bed, and I felt Kai’s weight as he lowered himself beside me, his hands gliding along the curve of my waist. Each touch felt like a vow, a promise of his devotion, and in his arms, I felt the kind of love poets wrote about but rarely captured in words.The room was filled with the murmurs of our love, our intimacy a quiet storm that swirled around us, wrapping us in warmth. Later, when the passion ebbed, we lay e
BELLARuby, the owner of the boutique, held me at arm's length, examining me with a critical eye. "I'm so glad you're here, Bella," she said. "I've been dying to get started on your wedding dress. You're going to be the perfect muse for my new collection."I smiled, feeling a sense of excitement. Ruby and I had met online through social media, and we had quickly become close friends. She was a talented designer, and I had fallen in love with her designs. I had already decided to wear one of her special creations for my wedding."I'm so glad to be here, Ruby," I said. "But actually, I just came to get Kai's measurements for his suit. I've already decided on my dress."Ruby's face lit up with excitement. "Oh, wonderful! I'll get my best tailor to take Kai's measurements. And of course, we'll make sure his suit is perfect for the big day."As Ruby called over her tailor, I couldn't help but notice the blonde woman who had been rude to me earlier. She was watching us with a mixture of sho
BELLAAs I settled into the familiar comfort of our home, surrounded by my brothers, I finally felt a sense of ease wash over me. The tension of the past few days began to unravel, and my mind wandered back to the confrontation with Max.His question still lingered in my mind: "Why did you reject me?" I closed my eyes, and suddenly I was back in that moment.I remembered the way Max's eyes had locked onto mine, the way his voice had dripped with entitlement. And then, in an instant, Kai’s fist had connected with Max's face.The sound of the punch still echoed in my mind – a sharp crack that had made me flinch. I recalled the way Kai’s eyes had blazed with anger, the way he'd stood tall, his chest heaving with rage."It's none of your business," Kai had snarled, his voice low and menacing. "You've done enough for her already."The memory of Kai's words, his actions brought a surge of gratitude to my chest. He'd always been m
Max.I sat on the edge of my bed, staring blankly at the wall as the memories flooded my mind. Bella. My Bella. The one who got away.Why didn't I take her as my mate when I had the chance? Why did I let Layla deceive me?I thought back to the day I met Bella. Her sparkling eyes, her bright smile, her infectious laugh. I was drawn to her like a magnet. But I was young, foolish, and blinded by my own ego.Layla, with her cunning words and seductive charm, had manipulated me into believing Bella wasn't the rightful heir to our family's legacy. She convinced me that Bella was inferior, that she didn't deserve to be part of my family.But the truth was far from it. Bella was the one the quadruplets loved and cherished more. They saw something in her that I didn't - her kindness, her compassion, her strength.I remembered the way the quadruplets would gather around Bella, listening to her stories, playing with her hair. They adored her, and she l
Kai’s room was dimly lit, the heavy curtains drawn against the afternoon sun. I paced the floor as I recounted my confrontation with Layla to him, the adrenaline from the exchange still coursing through me.My hands clenched and unclenched at my sides as I replayed every word, every insult she had thrown at me, and her subtle slip about the speed boat.She was behind it or had something to do with it, I was sure.Kai listened intently, his sharp amber eyes following my movements. His presence was steady and grounding, even as the storm inside me raged. When I finally finished, he leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed in thought.“She knew too much,” I said, my voice tight. “There’s no other explanation. Layla was involved. But how? How could she have tampered with the speed boat?” Evil people could always achieve anything, especially someone like Layla.Kai steepled his fingers, his expression grave. “She couldn’t have done it alone. Sabotaging something as complex as a sipped b
BELLAMy body was healed—no more bruises, no more gashes—but the scars on my pride and the questions swirling in my mind remained. The yacht sabotage wasn’t an accident. Someone had tried to kill me, and every instinct screamed one name: Layla.I knew she had something to do with it. She always hated me and every single time we met, she managed to prove that. The conviction drummed in my heart. She had to be the one. But if she was, how could she manage it on her own?She was the only one that had something to gain the most from my death so her motives weren't a problem. It was how.Her smugness, her hostility, her constant presence near Luna Olive—it all pointed to her involvement. Today, I would get the answers I needed, no matter what.The hotel where my mother was staying stood like a gleaming fortress, its pristine marble walls and gold accents reflecting the morning light. I entered the lobby, my boots clicking softly against the polished floors, ignoring the curious glances fro