Kessler's POV"Wait for me at my office," I told Nolan through the mind link. Immediately arriving at the pack, I barged in, eager to hear what he had for me.I have known Nolan for quite some years now, and I don't doubt him. He is good at what he does. We have many private investigators, but he is top-notch."This is going to be more interesting than I thought," Dolph said, breaking the silence. "What do you think will be the outcome of his findings?"For some time, Dolph had been quiet, staying off and not interacting with me. It made me wonder at times if I still have him. But hearing him speak brought a smile to my face."I wish many things, Annie shouldn't betray me, she seems like a calm lady, not capable of hurting a fly. I admitted with a sighBut to answer your question, Dolph, seriously, I don't know what to expect. Many things are at stake now, but I know for sure I won't be a party to accommodate any act of infidelity.""Let's find out then," I said as I walked to my offic
I can't contain the surge of emotions swirling within me. It had better not be true, Annie planning this right under my nose, and me not realizing that I was in bed with a scheming lady.How did she know Lyra was my mate? Was it obvious? I tried to be discreet enough with the way I showed my emotions whenever Lyra was around.Many times, I wish to show her to the world that she is mine, but whenever I think about what's at stake, I refrain.Zach will never betray me and let Annie know that Lyra was my mate; he despised her and always rooted for Lyra.Could it be Julie? I trust Julie to keep Lyra's identity a secret; she wouldn't dare to betray the trust I have in her.Where did I get it all wrong? I thought I had everything under control, but unknown to me, I've made Lyra a prey without even realizing it.This is the height of it all. I was angry at myself, furious at the Moon Goddess for watching me and letting me make this mistake.I can't wait to right my wrongs, to turn back the ha
How could I have been blinded to Annie's scheming acts? I've always been a meticulous person, keeping tabs on everyone who comes into my life. My mother desperately wanted her to be my Luna at all costs. I should have taken action and exposed her vile acts.Anger seeps through me as I take a step in fury. "Where the heck are you coming from?”My heart pounds with betrayal. How could I have missed the subtle hints, the whispered lies, the deceit hidden in plain sight?The thought of her betrayal stings like a fresh wound, leaving me questioning my judgment and the authenticity of those around me.She is trembling, her heart racing as if she's on the verge of being caught. Unknown to her, all her lies have been laid bare, and she will soon have to face the consequences of her actions. I can't bear to be around her any longer."I... I went to see my friend, Ava," she stammers, trying to wriggle out of my firm grip. I refuse to let go, determined to delve into her soul during our conversat
I wait for Annie's response, knowing that the answer could change everything. And true to my guess, it changed everything—I wasn't responsible for her pregnancy.I feel numb, unsure of how to process this revelation coming directly from the horse's mouth that the baby isn't mine.Then it hits me—my father was right when he said, "Virtue has gone out of him," meaning that Lyra is truly pregnant with my heir.My mind races with a mix of emotions—relief at not being tied to Annie's deceit, confusion about the circumstances, and a sense of responsibility towards Lyra and the unborn child who carries the future of our lineage."Everything I need to know is staring right in front of me," I mutter to myself, the weight of the truth settling heavily on my shoulders. "I don't need any confirmation from Annie."Turning to Zach with a plea in my eyes, I whisper, "Please take her far away from me." Without looking up, I notice the door open and later close, a silent acknowledgment that they have l
Lyra’s POVI was stunned to see the news about Kessler and Annie's marriage having issues just barely months after their mating ceremony.Sasha gave a jubilant dance, and I rolled my eyes at her, asking, "You seem happy with the news?""Of course, yes! I know she couldn't stand a chance with you in Kessler's heart. She manipulated her way into the pack, and I'm glad they will eventually get a divorce.""Sasha, I screamed, 'Don't be happy at someone else's downfall!'" She rolled her eyes as I cut the mind-link.Truth be told, I feel for Kessler over his marriage issue, but one can't be sure because these blogs and magazines will stop at nothing to bring down one's reputation with their gossip and unverified information.I was about to take a nap when I heard a knock on the door. I contemplated whether to open the door or not, but then I heard Conor's voice."Lyra, please open the door," he bangs on it. "Even if I were sleeping and wanted to ignore him, his persistence would eventually m
I blinked, caught off guard by Conor's request. A myriad of emotions flood my mind. "A date?" I repeated, trying to process his words."Yes, Lyra. I've been wanting to ask you for a while now. I want to take you out, just the two of us, and spend some quality time together," Conor says earnestly, his eyes reflecting his sincerity.I take a moment to collect my thoughts, contemplating his proposal. My heart races, unsure of what to say next.My mind drifts back to the time Kessler caught me with another guy at the club. I knew I was in the wrong, and the memory weighed heavily on my conscience. But what's even more unsettling is the news I stumbled upon about Kessler and Annie's engagement.The irony of it all hits me hard: he's moved on with Annie as his mate, while I couldn't bring myself to accept his advances.I vividly recall the fury in Kessler's eyes when he found us. I shudder at the memory, wondering if the other guy survived Kessler's wrath. His face was a gruesome sight, bloo
As I wake up the next day, I'm overwhelmed with thoughts of agreeing to go on a date with Conor. Am I not crossing the line? All I wanted was to have fun. I realize it's high time I left this hotel. Not that I couldn't afford it, but I need to be wise about my spending.My phone starts ringing, and without looking at the caller ID, I pick it up. Placing it to my ear, I say hello, but there's only silence, just breathing on the other side. "Hello?" I repeat, impatience creeping into my tone. Still no answer. Frustrated, I hissed and dropped the phone. Whoever it is will call back.Luckily, the person called again, but I noticed it was a different number from the one that had called earlier."Hello, how can I help you?" "Am I speaking to Lyra?" the caller asks."Yes, speaking." "Thank goodness! I thought I had the wrong number. We have found an apartment that suits your taste." "Oh, wow, that's great! When can I see it?" "Will today be okay with you?""Perfect," I reply, realizing
Kessler’s POVAs much as I have decided to let Lyra be, I think it's easier said than done. The thought of her consumes me each day, worried for her safety. But I need to be cautious about it so I don't lose her altogether.Zach came home and told me he saw her at Conor's place. That made me more pissed than I thought.I had said earlier that I would not interfere with Conor's threat of having Lyra for himself, but boy, I was wrong.I can't stand it, especially now that she is carrying my child. I will do anything to win her back.I have her number with me, and I've stationed a bodyguard to watch over her. The last report I received indicated that she was lodged in one of the hotels Conor owns.Fuck, that sends me spiraling again. What could be happening between them? My mind races with questions, but I'm thrown into another frenzy of emotions when they are seen walking hand in hand out of the hotel.I had instructed my bodyguards to give me detailed updates about her life. Call me a f
Julie’s POVFinding one mate should be a blessing, but I'm left heartbroken and shattered into pieces over Ryder.I have not been there emotionally ever since Ryder was injected. I doubt I'll recover from it.I can't stand looking into his face and knowing that I haven't gone to check on him ever since the incident happened.I wouldn't want to see the hurt and pain that he will be going through. It would break me even more.I know I can't keep avoiding Ryder forever. The guilt of not being there for him weighs heavily on my conscience, and I can't bear the thought of adding to his pain by staying away.I know something isn't right. Ryder isn't a member of this pack, which explains why I haven't come in contact with him even once.To top it all off, he is Xavier’s friend. My brother is a lot of things, and sometimes I doubt his loyalty to this pack because most times he speaks ill of Alpha Kessler.To be honest, Alpha Kessler has been nothing but good to me and my brother. He provided v
I'm startled. "For fuck's sake, I just had my bath, and you're engulfing me in a hug. I'm sorry to say it makes me feel dirty again," she says softly, gently moving her away from me.I look at Cara in shock, wondering what could be going through her mind to behave in such a manner. But her voice is somber as she asks, "Don't you like it here?"I stare at her in disbelief, wondering what she means by "don't you like it here.""Care to explain, ma'am?" I ask in a mocking tone.She stomps her feet like an erring child. "I'm not joking, Lyra. Don't you like it here?"Then it occurred to me that she thought I was serious when I said I would go back to Northville to continue what I started there. She truly believes I'm considering leaving."Please don't leave us again, your time away from us was hell, and Kessler might not admit it, but it was torture for him not to have you around."I swallow hard, feeling the weight of her words. I didn't want to go through that route, of feeding her the
She has this contemplative look like she's debating whether to tell me something or not. But trust me, I won't accept a no for an answer.And I have no intention of pressuring her. I move closer, gently squeezing her shoulder. She places her hand on mine, acknowledging my presence. Her gaze seems distant, and she fidgets with her nails, a sign of nervousness. Zach and I are great, but whenever I'm on my period, I notice he gets that look.It's like a switch flips, and suddenly, there's this tension in the air. I try to brush it off, but it's hard not to notice.She pauses as if trying to piece together her thoughts. I wonder if he always wears that expression as if he wishes I were pregnant instead of menstruating.Finally, I grasped the issue. But I must choose my words carefully, so as not to hurt her, because it's one thing to open up, and another for your heart to find solace from that vulnerability."So, you mean he expects you to be pregnant, and seeing you menstruating means yo
Lyra’s POVWatching Kessler walk out the door, I have mixed feelings about everything that has happened. I rest my hand on my chest, trying to still my racing heart. The scent of my arousal fills the room, and I blush, knowing he can suggest hot, steamy sex when he returns. He knows I want him, and the feeling is mutual. The thought of the kiss lingers in my mind as I drift off to sleep, clutching the pillow tightly.I have a rather nice sleep with thoughts of Kessler resting on my mind. His presence in my life helps take away the thought of Ryder trying to get rid of me. I wake up the next morning feeling refreshed yet apprehensive. The events of the previous night play in my mind like a movie reel. I know I have to confront my feelings about Kessler.Sunlight pierces through my room. The last time this happened, Kessler was in the kitchen cooking breakfast. With that thought in mind and a smile on my face, I make my way to the kitchen, hoping to see him there. I am disappointed when
Kessler’s POVI don't like it when Lyra stays mad at me. I didn't know she was going to take the role of godmother to Annie's baby. Given what Annie had done to her, I had my doubts. So, I followed her to her room to be sure she'd stop being mad at me. When she complains about her leg, all I want is to massage her legs and make her feel better.Her moan makes my member twitch in my trousers; I can sense she wants me. There's no doubt I want her, but I want my time with Lyra to be special again. Dang, I can't think straight when I catch a whiff of her arousal. With hurried steps, she heads into the bathroom. I can tell she is embarrassed; she takes her time in there. But when she steps out in her towel, all I want is to take her right there and make her scream my name.She looks at me, surprised to see I’m still in the room. I need to take control of my emotions; I want her as much as she wants me. With a smirk, I walk closer to her, noticing her expectant gaze. I run my hand through he
When Kessler called me "Sunshine" and mentioned there was something else, my curiosity piqued. I could sense his uncertainty, but I leaned in, asking, "What is it?""I know she did many things to you that she wasn't proud of," he began. "She said it before she passed away—she couldn't look into your eyes and ask for forgiveness."I nodded slowly, trying to grasp the significance of Kessler's words and where he was leading this conversation."Annie wants us to be the godparents to her baby," Kessler said hurriedly, as if the words were burning on his tongue. I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, a smile spreading across my face. Playfully, I smacked him on the chest and teased, "Is that what was taking you forever to say?"Kessler chuckled, a weight lifted off his shoulders. "Yes, I wanted to make sure you were okay with it.""Of course," I replied with sincerity. "We'll be great godparents. But you hurt my feelings, Kessler, for thinking that I would say no to being the godmoth
Kessler’s POV With hurried steps, we made our way to the pack hospital. I wonder what might have gone wrong for my attention to be needed at the hospital, but I was grateful that Lyra was right by my side. The thought of anything happening to Lyra filled me with dread as I remembered what had happened in her room. As we approached the hospital, my heart raced with worry. The memory of finding Lyra in distress in her room flashed through my mind. It's a relief that Lyra was able to control her powers without harming the baby. Ryder must have taken advantage of the situation, knowing we were all focused on Annie's well-being. I wondered if there was a connection between Ryder's actions and Annie's condition. Regardless, I made a mental note to investigate the matter swiftly. The safety and security of our pack were important and we needed to uncover the truth to protect everyone. Many serious issues have happened within my pack, and I can no longer afford to overlook them. We arr
Kessler holds me close as if I mean the world to him. His scent is comforting. "Please, get me water," I tell him as he stands up, goes to the kitchen, and brings back a bottle of water. I sit up and look at Ryder, realizing he is almost lifeless on the floor. I guess it's the impact of the syringe he brought to inject me. I rushed to Ryder's side. My heart races as I check for signs of life, hoping for any flicker of movement. "Ryder, can you hear me?" I whisper, my voice trembling with worry. Fear grips me as I realize I could have been almost lifeless like him, and I doubt I would survive it. I can't begin to imagine the trauma that would follow. Someone wants me dead for sure, and now I don't think Ryder can say anything to reveal who sent him. I was consumed with worry, but my thoughts turned to Julie. How would she handle the revelation that her mate is not who she believes him to be? Just then, Kessler walked in with the bottle of water in hand and handed it to me. "Thank
I was tired and I had to put my clothes back on, wondering who it could be, dragging myself to the door. I opened it and lo I was shocked to realize that it was no other than Ryder, I know I had just thought about him not being a good guy, but he just confirmed my suspicion by coming to my room. "What do you want?" I ask politely, trying my best not to be rude, but inside, I'm seriously annoyed. He smirks and pushes the door open, making his way inside without waiting for an invitation. I stand there, my annoyance growing as Ryder enters without any regard for my privacy or invitation. "I just wanted to talk," he says casually as if his intrusion is perfectly acceptable. "Well, I don't feel like talking right now," I reply curtly, crossing my arms over my chest. Ryder shrugs nonchalantly, unfazed by my obvious discomfort. "Suit yourself," he says, moving further into the room as if he owns it. I grit my teeth, feeling my patience wearing thin. "You need to leave," I say firmly