Chapter 45: The Hollow VictoryAuthor POV Chad stood in front of the burned pack house not long after sunrise. Smoke continued to rise from the charred beams, spreading the pungent smell of ashes and hopelessness. He inhaled it, allowing it to occupy his lungs. The flavor resembled failure.Pack members moved around him stealthily, resembling ghosts. They had empty eyes and moved in a robotic way. They removed rubble and cared for the injured, but their actions lacked vitality. The assault had caused more than just the destruction of their residence. Their feeling of safety had been completely destroyed.Chad observed a juvenile wolf trying to raise a fallen beam. The boy's arms trembled as he struggled, his face smudged with soot and tears. Chad stepped in to assist him, feeling his own muscles ache as he lifted the heavy wood.The boy thanked Alpha quietly without making eye contact with Chad.Chad tried to speak up and explain he wasn't Alpha yet, but the words never left his mout
Chapter 46: The Cave of Broken DreamsAuthor POV The eerie forest appeared dark and intimidating as Chad, along with his brothers Killian, Logan, and Blair, and Alison transformed into wolves. The pine and damp earth scents filled the air heavily, hiding any signs of their prey. Chad felt a mixture of hope and dread as his heart pounded in his chest.Alison lead the way, effortlessly weaving between trees with her shiny silver body. The rest of the group went after them, with their footsteps hardly making any noise on the ground of the woods. Alison's voice resonated in their minds thanks to the pack bond."I spotted him approximately one mile to the east," she estimated. He walked with a limp, leaving a trail of blood behind him. I believed I could handle him by myself.Chad began to feel a rumble forming in his throat. He scolded, saying you should have requested for assistance right away.Alison's ears pressed close to her head. "I am aware." I apologize. I simply... I desired to
Chapter 47: The Puppet Master's DanceAlisonThe forest was dimly lit. Moonlight shone through the trees, creating lengthy shadows that swayed with the breeze. Stealthily, I walked soundlessly, my feet gripping the moist ground silently. My heart raced, beating steadily in my chest. The cave appeared in front, a wide opening in the slope.I stopped at the doorway. Inhaled deeply. The smell of pine and another scent filled the dense air. An object made of metal. Hemoglobin-containing red fluid in the body. I braced myself and entered.I was immediately struck by the smell. More powerful at this moment. Fluid that circulates through the body, carrying nutrients and oxygen to cells and removing waste products. Perspiration. Fearfulness. I gradually became accustomed to the darkness with my eyes. I caught sight of them next.Kate and Jake are together. Trapped against the wall as if they were beasts. Their clothing was ragged, soiled. I saw faces that were beaten and bloodied staring back
Chapter 48: The Hollow CrownChad pov I sat by Avy's bed. The machines beeped. Steady. Monotonous. Like a clock ticking away the seconds of my old life. The room smelled of antiseptic and despair. I held Avy's hand. It was cold. Lifeless. Not like the warm, vibrant girl I knew.Killian's hand on my shoulder startled me. I looked up. His face was grim. Tired. We were all tired."Go home, Chad," he said. "Get some rest. I've got this."I shook my head. The movement made my vision swim. "I can't leave her.""You're no good to her like this," Killian insisted. His voice was gentle but firm. "When's the last time you slept? Or showered?"I couldn't remember. The days had blurred together. A haze of worry and guilt."She needs you strong," Killian continued. "We all do."I looked at Avy. So still. So pale. My mate. One of them, anyway. The thought made my head spin. How had everything gotten so complicated?"Fine," I said finally. The word tasted like defeat. "But call me if anything chang
Chapter 49: ShockKate pov I observed Alison fade into the forest, her shimmering golden hair standing out in the dimming sunlight. I experienced my throat constricting and a bitter taste of bile as I made myself swallow. She vanished into the woods, leaving only the echo of her wicked laughter."Stand up," a gruff voice commanded.I remained in the same position. Was unable to move. The weight of Alison's betrayal burdened me, causing my body to feel heavy and grounded.Powerful hands grabbed my arms, lifting me up off the floor. A sharp ache in my shoulders was lessened by the numbness spreading throughout my body.Jake's voice pierced the fog. "Let her be!" He stood in front of me, using his body to protect me from our captors.Laughter broke out nearby, cruel and derisive. The sound grated against my ears."Look at the little hero," one of the rogues sneered. "Trying to protect his girlfriend."Another voice, deeper and more authoritative, spoke up. "Shift," he ordered.I blinke
Chapter 50: CaughtKate pov "We're not going to make it," I gasped, my lungs burning.Jake pulled me harder. "Yes, we are. Just keep running!"But it was futile. They were too fast, too strong. A weight slammed into my back, sending me sprawling. Jake's hand was torn from mine as he too was tackled.I lay there, face pressed into the damp earth, as rough hands hauled me to my feet. The leader's face swam into view, twisted with rage."That," he snarled, "was incredibly stupid."Jake struggled against the rogues holding him. "Let her go!" he shouted. "It was my idea. Punish me!"The leader's gaze swung to Jake, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "Oh, don't worry. You'll both be punished."He nodded to his men. "Bring them back to camp. And this time, make sure they can't run."We were dragged back, our brief taste of freedom turning to ash in our mouths. At the camp, they bound our hands and feet with coarse rope, the fibers biting into our skin.They threw us down near the dyin
Author PoV Mrs. Carter sat in the center of the living room with her hands covering her face. She cried, and tears dripped from her hands onto the clean carpet. Her spouse stood next to her, with one hand on her shoulder, his eyes also tired and red around the edges. The space, typically an ideal representation of suburban life, currently seemed oppressive with sorrow and rage.A timid rap shattered the oppressive silence. Mr. Carter approached the door, moving slowly and tiredly. He exposed it, showing two women in their middle years, their faces marked with worry. One person carried a tray of cookies, filling the room with the aroma of sugar and butter, a contrasting sweetness in the sour ambiance."We got word about Kate," the taller woman murmured softly, almost whispering. "We apologize deeply."Mr. Carter agreed with a nod, moving out of the way to allow them to enter. The women went up to Mrs. Carter, who glanced at them with streaked mascara, puffy red eyes.The petite woman
Chapter 52: Iron CagesAuthor pov While closing her eyes for a moment of solace on the unforgiving ground, Kate's thoughts drifted to her parents. Did they have concerns? Was she missed by them? Or did they already lose faith in her? Her mother's disappointed and angry face flitted through her thoughts.Far away, a wolf's eerie howl reverberated, sounding foreign and ominous. Kate trembled as she brought her knees close to her chest. The harsh and unforgiving new world was vastly different from the sheltered life she was used to. However, she had decided. There was no turning back at this point.When she was finally overcome by sleep, Kate's final thought was of Jake. No matter where he was or what happened the next day, she would locate him. They would make it through this experience. It was necessary for them to do so.Throughout the night, the silence was interrupted solely by sporadic sobs or whispers arising from the enclosures. In the darkness, security personnel walked back an
Chapter 111: Eternal LoveAvyaane pov As I stood on the balcony, looking out over the vast expanse of the pack lands, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of thankfulness and astonishment. The sun was just starting to set, painting the sky in a stunning array of reds and golds, and the gentle breeze carried the familiar scents of home - the earthy richness of the forest, the sweet fragrance of the blooming wildflowers, the faint hint of pine that had always been a comforting presence in my life. I felt completely at peace in moments like these, when the world appeared to slow down and all of the noise and commotion of daily life faded away. This area, this pack, and this family. It was where I belonged, where I had discovered the unconditional love and acceptance I had sought for so long. A gentle giggle from behind me grabbed my attention, and I turned to see Chad stroll out onto the balcony, a playful grin on his lovely face. "Penny for your thoughts, my love?" He muttered, throwi
Chapter 110: Family Avyaane povAnd we were. In the weeks and months that followed, the darkness of Allison's breakdown vanished, giving way to the dazzling, unshakeable joy that filled our lives. The triplets thrived, becoming more beautiful and lively with each passing day, and Chad's commitment to them - and to me - appeared to grow stronger every time. The rest of our family took note of the transformation as well. Logan, Killian, and Blair, who had previously viewed Allison's presence in Chad's life with a mixture of wariness and hatred, Now she welcomed our growing family with open arms, adoring the babies with a zeal that touched my heart. "Look at you, all grown up and starting a family of your own," Killian had taunted one day as he cradled our daughter. "I never thought I'd see the day." Chad had chuckled, his arm wrapped securely around my waist. "Yeah, well, don't get too comfortable," he had said. "You three are next in line, you know." The accompanying laughing and frie
Chapter 109: Closure and New LifeAvyaane pov Finally, the day came. As I held our baby daughter in my arms, the intensity of my love and appreciation threatened to overwhelm me. Her tiny, flawless features—the button nose, the delicate rosebud lips, the thick, dark lashes that fanned across her plump cheeks—filled me with a sensation of astonishment that I had never felt before. When I looked up, Chad's eyes were filled with tears of joy, his gaze riveted on the small infant cradled in my embrace. He reached out and carefully touched the curve of our daughter's cheek, his touch gentle and reverent. "She's... she's perfect, Avy," he said softly, his voice full with emotion. "Absolutely perfect." I felt a flood of pride and love wash over me, so I leaned into his touch, enjoying the warmth and comfort of his presence. After all of our hardships and tribulations to get to this point, finally having our family together and whole was more than I could have asked for. My heart swelled as
Chapter 108 :HomecomingAvyaane pov "I'm glad you're here, Avy," he muttered. "We all are." I nodded and moved my gaze over to where Chad was standing, watching the reunion with a soft, almost reverent face. Our eyes connected, and I knew I'd made the proper decision. This was where I belonged, with him and his family—my family. As time passed, it became evident that this return was not without difficulties. Allison, Chad's on-and-off-again girlfriend, was not pleased with my homecoming and made no secret of it. "I can't believe you're just letting her waltz back in here, after everything she's done," she snapped one evening, her eyes narrowing with anger as she stared at Chad. Chad, to his credit: stayed calm, his voice steady as he responded. "Avyaane is my dear companion, Allison. She and our child belong here, alongside me. I will not turn my back on them again." Allison's lips tightened into an angry line, but she said nothing more and walked away with a huff. I watched her leav
Chapter 107: Second Chance Avyaane pov The subtle click of the church door shutting behind me echoed in my ears, drowning out the quiet murmuring of the guests inside. My heart hammered in my chest as I stood there, grasping the fabric of my dress, torn between the life I had chosen and the one offered to me. Just moments earlier, I had been standing at the altar, ready to devote my life to Ethan, to start a new future with him. A future that was secure, straightforward, and free of the complexities that had plagued my past. A future that, while not what I had hoped for, seemed like it could bring me happiness. And now, in only a few heartbeats, That well planned future had been turned on its head. Because standing in front of me, with desperation and hope engraved into every line of his face, was the man I had loved with every fiber of my being - and still loved, if I was honest with myself. Chad. The sight of him storming through the church doors and yelling to halt the wedding ha
# Chapter 106: Last-Minute RescueChad pov The road stretched out before Chad, a ribbon of tarmac cutting across the thick jungle. His hands held the steering wheel so firmly that his knuckles became white, and his gaze was locked on the horizon, as if he could will his destination into view with sheer willpower. Avyaane was getting married. The words rang in his thoughts like a constant drumbeat, matching the pounding of his heart. Married. To somebody else. To a human who will never completely understand her or offer her the life she deserves. Chad's jaw clinched as he imagined this unknown man - Ethan - holding Avyaane, petting her, and nurturing the child he should have had. Their child. He had no idea the youngster existed until only a few hours before.Guilt and regret rushed over him in waves. How had he let things get this far? How had he allowed Avyaane slip away, making her believe she had to face this alone? "I should have fought for her," Chad mumbled, barely audible abov
Avyaane pov Blair's face was lighted by the gentle glow of the computer screen in his darkened room. His fingers paused over the keyboard, hesitating for a little minute before he began typing: *Hello, Avy. * *How do you feel? Is the small one causing you any problems? Blair pushed send and leaned back in his chair, running his hand through his unkempt hair. It was late (or early, depending on your perspective), but he knew Avyaane would be up. She reported in her last email that the baby had been really active at night. Sure enough, a response came in almost immediately: *Blair! I'm fine, just sleepy. Your niece or nephew appears to believe my ribs is a soccer ball. *How are things doing on your end? Blair's lips curved into a faint smile. Even through the impersonal medium of email, he could hear Avyaane's voice and imagine the sarcastic twist of her lips as she complained about the baby's antics. *Same old, same old," he texted back. *Logan is still on his redemption trip, Killian
Chapter 103: New BeginningsAyvyaane povWillow Creek, a small town, was not at all like the pack areas I had left behind. Nestled in a valley surrounded by rolling hills, it was a community where everyone knew everything about everyone else, and outsiders were received with equal parts curiosity and distrust. It had been three months since I left the quadruplets and my previous life behind. Three months spent creating a new identity and learning to navigate the human world on my own. And after three months of watching my body transform, the small life inside me becomes stronger by the day. I had found work at the neighborhood bookstore, a little business that smelled of old paper and possibilities. The owner, a kind-hearted woman named Margaret, had taken one look at me: alone, pregnant, and plainly out of my element, and gave me not only a job, but also a home in the small apartment above the business. It wasn't a lot, but it was mine. A location where I could start over, where I c
Avyaane povKillian's gaze became gentler. "I am aware that you have," he mentioned. "And perhaps you are correct. However, Avy, at what price? To what extent are you prepared to give up part of yourself in the hope that Logan might transform?"His words had a strong impact on me, leading me to face the questions I had been ignoring. To what extent was I ready to sacrifice? Was it right to make Killian wait while I sorted it out?"I confessed, barely whispering, "I'm not sure." "I simply understand that I must make an attempt."Killian nodded, his face adorned with a melancholic smile. "I comprehend," he responded. "And I'll be here, Avy. No matter what happens, I'll be here."As he pulled me into a hug, I felt a wave of gratitude and love wash over me. Whatever happened with Logan, I knew Killian would always be my rock.The next day, I sought out Chad. Of all the quadruplets, he was the one I knew least. He'd always been on the periphery, quiet and watchful. I found him in the train