Lyra’s POVMy head is pounding loudly as if a moving train just collided with it. I struggle to open my eyes, but it feels impossible. It's as if I'm drowning in the abyss, completely disoriented.I try to move my hands, but they're restrained by a chair, intensifying my panic. I attempt to move the chair again, but it remains immovable.I start to feel fear creeping up my spine. Thoughts race through my mind, The room feels suffocatingly silent.With each attempt to break free, my heart beats faster, echoing in my ears. I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, I grit my teeth and focus all my energy on trying to break free, desperate for any sign of progress.Summoning all my courage, I muster every ounce of strength to flutter my eyes open, only to be met with pitch darkness all around."Oh my goodness, what's happening?" I exclaim inwardly, my mind racing with questions. "Where am I? How did I get here?" My thoughts jumbled as I tried to piece together how I ended up in
Seeing my uncle again fills me with emotions I can't quite explain. So many questions race through my mind. I had thought he was still locked up in the dungeon. How did he manage to escape? I rack my brain, trying to pinpoint the enemy lurking in the shadows, unaware that he had already escaped.As he stands before me now, his presence is unsettling, I struggle to grasp the reality of his escape. Every word he speaks sends a shiver down my spine, and I can't shake the feeling that danger still looms.Annie might have helped, for all I know. Many things could have transpired between Kessler and Annie for her to aid Jack in this devious act.With a trembling voice, I greeted him, "Hello, Uncle Jack.”Uncle Jack's eyes pierce through me, his expression unreadable. "It's been a long time, hasn't it?" I swallow hard, unsure of what to say next.Then, a phone starts ringing, startling all of us. We wonder whose phone it could be. I recognize the ringing tone as mine.Jack rushes to my phon
Kessler's voice fills the warehouse, and the cry I've been trying hard to conceal starts streaming down my eyes. It's heartbreaking to hear Kessler say all these nasty words about me.My heart stings as I realize I had thought otherwise about him. I thought he cared about me, judging from his reluctance to reject me when I requested it, judging from how he came to rescue me and held me close to his side, not wanting me out of his sight.Kessler's harsh words linger and make me feel betrayed. How could someone I trusted and cared for speak about me in such a callous manner?Tears continued to flow down my cheeks, I had allowed myself to believe in his kindness, in the possibility of a genuine connection between us.But now, I'm faced with the reality of his disdain, I'm left feeling shattered. The image I had of Kessler, the hope I held onto, crumbles before me,Judging from how he filled me in and explored every part of my body when I was in heat, how he looked into my eyes like I mean
Kessler’s POVI feel paralyzed as if the blood in my veins has turned to ice, freezing me in place. But I managed to ask, "How did it happen?""It happened so fast, boss," one of the guards quickly responds. "We were trying to be discreet, you know, so we wouldn't be seen. The last we saw her was when she went to check the apartment. Conor stepped out, and we moved closer to check on her, only to discover that she wasn't in sight." The shock weighs on me as I try to process the information. My mind races with questions, each one more urgent than the last. How could this have happened? Where could she be? Anxiety grips me as I struggle to make sense of the situation."It's crystal clear that Jack was behind this. It happened hours after he broke out of the dungeon. He had it all planned out, and the mole was in on it with him all along," I mutter angrily, piecing together the unsettling puzzle."Shit! Goddamn you!" I bark into the phone like a maniac. "Check everywhere, comb every cor
I feel furious at the fact that Lyra has been kidnapped, and all he can do is be in another woman's company when he promised to claim Lyra as his own."What the fuck, Kessler," he says, touching his bleeding nose.At this point, I don't care. I boom in anger, "Where the fuck is Lyra?"His face becomes somber as he realizes the reason for my outburst. He says nothing but stares into space.I stride toward him, my fists clenched in fury. "Answer me, damn it! What have you done with her?"Conor's gaze remains fixed on some distant point, his expression unreadable. "I... I don't know," he stammers, his voice barely a whisper.I grab him by the collar, shaking him violently. "You can't tell me you don't know where my mate is!"That seems to strike a chord because he starts laughing. What's so funny, I wonder?He laughs out loud, and it seems like he has no intention of stopping any time soon. "Stop the crap and stop behaving like a maniac!" I shout, frustration boiling inside me.His laught
At this point, I don't give a damn if we're in human territory. I'm ready to lash out at whoever holds my Lyra hostage. My senses are heightened as I make my way into the abandoned warehouse.Conor and Zach follow suit. I turn back and realize that Holly too is right behind.Inside the warehouse, the air was thick with tension as we cautiously went through the dimly lit corridors. Every shadow feels like a potential threat.There's no one in sight, and everywhere looks quiet. Doubt creeps into my mind as I turn to Holly and ask, "Are you sure this is the location you tracked?"She gives a firm nod, It seems like she's certain of the location, especially considering her call was picked up and helped with the signal to retrieve her location. I have to trust in Holly's expertise. With a nod, I move forward.I try my best to be observant, taking note of every sound. Suddenly, my Lycan senses pick up a faint heartbeat. My heart leaps with hope as I follow the sound, praying it's Lyra and t
The panic in the doctor's eyes mirrors mine as we hurry back to Lyra's side. The medical team springs into action, assessing her condition and making urgent adjustments to the equipment.Time seems to slow down as the team works tirelessly to stabilize her. Each moment feels like an eternity as they fight to bring her vital signs back to a safe range.The doctor approaches me with a worried expression. "Your Highness, can you please step out for a couple of minutes? We will alert you when everything is stabilized."Dolph protests in my head, urging me not to heed the doctor's request. However, I trust Daniel and his judgment. If he says I should step out, then so be it.Reluctantly, I comply and step out of the room. The beeping of the machine still echoes in my ears as I pace back and forth in the corridor, my thoughts consumed by worry for Lyra's well-being.I could see the worries etched on the faces of the nurses around me. I knew I must have looked like a complete mess— a leader o
Zach’s POVSeeing Olivia again brings back emotions I've tried to bury for a long time. She was my first love, and though we tried keeping it subtle, away from prying eyes, our connection was undeniable.However, I know Kessler saw beyond what we showed but chose not to mention it.I was head over heels in love with Olivia, but when I found Chloe, she was devastated. I tried to keep it subtle, but the mate bond cannot be denied. Chloe and I made love countless times.Chloe came into my life like a storm, turning everything upside down. Our connection was instant and passionate, a force of mate pull that couldn't be ignored. Yet, as I stand here, face to face with Olivia once again, I feel a tug of longing mixed with regret. But as much as I cherish those memories with Olivia, my heart belongs to Cara now. The emotional rollercoaster between was high. Olivia pleads for me to end things with Chloe, professing that she doesn't care if she found her mate or not, and that she is ready to
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