***Trigger warning***
This chapter contains descriptions of violence, abuse, and trauma that may be triggering for some readers. If you feel you might be triggered, please take care of yourself and skip this chapter. Seek help if needed.
From Alessia's POV
Ten years later
"Good morning, sunshine," Jackie's chipper voice woke me up. I grabbed my pillow and placed it over my head.
"Uhhhhh. Jackie, five more minutes," I groaned.
Jackie laughed as she said, "Come on, it's time to get up!"
I reluctantly got out of bed, feeling dizzy and grumpy. Jackie hugged me and said, "I'll make your coffee. That'll make you feel better!"
I wanted to sleep. I had been working double shifts and still had to return and do my chores in the packhouse. I had gotten a summer job at the restaurant my dad had worked at many years ago. The new owner had us working double shifts since he was now offering alcohol, and his last call was at four a.m.
I had gotten off work at two thirty in the morning and rushed back to the packhouse to clean up the kitchen, sweep, and mop. By the time I was done, it was five a.m.
As soon as I walked into the restroom, I washed my face. Putting both hands under the running water, I lowered my face and splashed the cold water on myself. Wow, what a wake-up call. I was no longer in need of coffee at this point. Having washed my face, brushed my teeth, and put my hair in a ponytail, I headed to the kitchen.
Shortly after being released from the hospital, I began living at Crestview Pack. Alpha Markus and Luna Helen took me in after my parents died in the car accident. My stomach churned at the memory. I was only seven years old and had no one to care for me. In the days immediately following my arrival, Luna Helen had me placed in a temporary home for girls. It was there that I met Jackie.
There was a similar dynamic in our childhood. There was only one difference: her father killed her mother, and he was exiled from the pack as a result. She was only five when that happened, so she knew what being an orphan was like. Our friendship grew as a result of that. In addition to liking the same things, we were both seventeen years old.
We both worked at the same place and as luck would have it, we both had the same time to start our shifts. However, Jackie could only work part-time since she took college classes. On the other hand, I didn't mind the extra shifts; it allowed me to save money. Money which I wanted to use to get the hell out of here. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful to Luna Helen and Alpha Markus for giving me a home, but I wanted to escape from here.
Omegas didn't get to do anything or have a life, and I wanted to travel as much as possible. I wanted to see places I only saw in magazines. However, most of all, I desired to find a place where I belonged, a place I could call home, away from serving others.
I assumed places like these only existed in our dreams, next to love. Now I knew for sure that LOVE didn't exist, and if it did, then the Moon Goddess didn't want me to have it. Everything I ever loved was taken from me on the day of the accident.
Trying to shake off the memories, I wasn't paying attention and bumped into someone who hated me the most.
"Watch where the fuck you're going," he growled.
"I-I'm sorry, Jared," I said, lowering my gaze in submission.
"You're so fucking stupid," he said as he stormed off.
Jared Falcone, the soon-to-be Beta of the Crestview Pack. As long as I can remember, Jared had always hated me, although I never understood why. I never did anything to him, and it wasn't like I could tell anyone. Since he was the future Beta, he got away with everything.
I shrugged and continued into the kitchen, where Jackie had already poured us a cup of coffee.
"What took you so long?" she said, popping her head out of the refrigerator.
"Jared," I said, shaking my head.
"What's up with you too? It's no secret that he's a douche, but he's worse when it comes to you. Why, though?" She asked
I giggled.
"You're asking me? He's hated me since I arrived here," I said, and we laughed.
"Good morning, girls," Luna Helen said as she entered the kitchen.
"Good Morning, Luna," Jackie and I replied.
We watched as Luna Helen hurriedly poured herself a cup of coffee, took a sip, and turned to Jackie and me.
"Girls, I need you to start helping prepare for the Alpha Ceremony. We have over five thousand guests who have already RSVPed, and we must ensure they are all accounted for. Call the caterer and the planner, and you both will work that night," she said as she walked out.
Jackie and I turned to each other and giggled.
"Well, there goes our summer vacation," Jackie joked.
"Like we get a vacation," I said as I rinsed and dried our cups, then added, "We need to leave before Miguel fires us." I walked to my room to grab my jacket and my bag. Upon entering my bedroom room, I was pushed against the wall. The door slammed shut. I could not see who it was because my face had been smashed into the wall, and the light had been turned off.
"You know, if you weren't an Omega, I might find you somewhat attractive, but the fact that you're a nobody disgusts me," Jared said as he pressed against my back.
His hands slowly made their way under my shirt, his lips barely a few inches from my neck. I could feel his breath on my skin, sending chills down my spine.
"Your innocence is so addictive. I could fuck you right now, and no one would know," he whispered. Then, in a single movement, he turned me around to face him. His green eyes were filled with lust and hatred. I couldn't move. I was frozen in fear as his hand approached my neck. A growl left him as he squeezed,
"J-Jared, please," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
He slammed his hand against the wall.
"You will know your place and address me as your Beta, do you understand?" He growled as he grabbed my face and squeezed it.
"You know I like you like this, scared and submissive," he laughed as he finally let go of my face. He stepped away from me and smirked; just as he was about to walk out, he turned and slapped me across the face, grabbed my neck again, and shoved me against the wall.
"If you tell anyone about this, I will make your life even more miserable than it already is," he said, shoving me one last time and then walking out, leaving me in my room, cowering in tears.
From Alessia's POV My body trembled in fear as I sat there. I had no idea what I had done to cause Jared to treat me that way. I could not think of anything that would have made him hate me so much in the last ten years. No matter how often I thought about it, I could not figure it out. As I sat there in tears, I heard Jackie call my name. "Alessia, come on, let's go. We are going to be late," she exclaimed as she opened my bedroom door. The moment her eyes landed on me, she rushed to my side. "Alessia, what happened?" She asked with concern written on her face. I stayed silent, remembering Jared's last words. I shook my head and forced myself up off the floor, grabbing my backpack. "Alessia," Jackie's voice was soft. "Tell me we're best friends," she said. "I can't," I told her as I walked out of the room and down the hall. I heard Jackie's footsteps as she ran up behind me. "Hey," she said as she grabbed my arm and turned me to face her, "You know you can tell me anything, and
TRIGGER WARNINGThe following chapter may include stalking, physical violence, mental abuse, harassment, and sexual assault. This content may be challenging to engage with.From Alessia's POVTwo days later"Happy Birthday, Bestie," Jackie's excited voice woke me from my sleep.I had barely gotten to bed just two hours prior, as Luna Helen had me assemble the centerpieces for the Alpha Ceremony. It was a tedious job, and it took forever, a total of 500 centerpieces, for an Alpha ceremony. It was redundant, but as it turned out, Vince would also be announcing his Beta and Luna."Come on, wake up and blow out your candle," she said as she held a cupcake before me. I smiled at her kind gesture. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and blew out the candle."Happy Birthday!" I heard a soft whisper.I giggled, "You already said that," I told her as I opened my eyes."Say what?" Jackie asked. I looked at her confusedly but didn't say anything; instead, I stood up from my bed and walked to
From Daunte’s POV "Aye, D, is your ass up? Let's get started." Dominic, my overly responsible Beta, decided we would do training early in the morning. If he weren't so damn proficient at his job, I would have fired him already, but I was already awake. It took me all night to ensure my business finances were in order. While inheriting my father's Alpha Status and Real Estate business wasn't everything I had wanted, being the COO of the largest weapons manufacturing firm had its perks. I was proud of the work I had done, and I was excited about the company's future. I knew I had a lot of hard work ahead of me. After accepting the partnership with Hector, I could also provide self-fulfilling jobs for all of the pack's wolves, regardless of rank. After visiting many packs in the past and seeing the poor treatment of lower-ranking wolves, I made sure that wouldn't happen here. I had faith that I could make Benatti Industries much more successful than it already was. "Let's go, D, come
***Trigger Warning*** This chapter contains sensitive material that may be triggering to some readers. If you feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed, please take a break and take care of yourself. It is okay to skip this section if it is too difficult to read. From Alessia's POV My head was pounding, and my entire body felt like I had been hit by a truck. I slowly opened my eyes, and the bright light in the room made my headache worse. I could feel my heart racing as I tried to remember what had happened. Suddenly, it all came back to me. As I looked around, I noticed I was in the hospital. I hadn't been in a hospital since the car accident. After a few moments, I heard voices outside the door, "So what are you saying that she can't talk? Did her mouth get raped? Is her jaw broken that she can't recite a few words?" I heard Luna Helen say. "No, Luna, that's not what I am saying," I heard the Doctor tell Luna Helen. "Well, since she can talk, the moment she wakes up, let me know she m
*Trigger Warning***In this chapter, some thoughts may implicate thoughts of suicide. If you feel vulnerable, please take a break and leave this chapter.From Alessia's POVDeep down, I thought perhaps I should be grateful that Alpha Markus had walked in. I thought he was here to help me instead. It was the opposite. Alpha Markus didn't care about what Jared did to me, and I was foolish to think that he would. He never cared about anything that didn't benefit him or Crestview. I was naive to think that perhaps, after all these years, he would have cared for me. The only people who ever cared for me were my parents, who were no longer here, and if they were, I wondered where we would be. How would our vacation have turned out?All these thoughts ran through my head as Jared and Alpha Markus argued in the room."I don't give a fuck about what happened. All I care about is that you are practically killing her here." I heard Alpha Markus tell Jared."Alpha, I just wanted to be sure she wo
From Alessia's POVI was filled with dread as I walked back to the packhouse with Jackie. I wanted to crawl into the earth's core rather than to be going back. The thought of having to serve Jared or anyone else made my skin crawl.After losing my wolf, I no longer healed as fast. I had been ordered to take antibiotics and pain medication. The medicine made me tired, but since I was going to be working, I didn't take anything. The pain i felt from being kicked and beaten was unbearable.As I walked into the packhouse, I heard the sounds of laughter coming from the living room. Jackie and I quietly made our way to the kitchen. The eerie familiarity set in as I took one step inside and stood in the very spot where Jared had rejected me.I felt a cold chill run down my spine as I closed my eyes and took a deep breath."Are you alright?" Jackie asked."Yeah, I'm just a bit tired, that's all," I replied as I headed toward the pantry and grabbed an apron.As much as I didn't want to be here
From Daunte's POV I told Dominic to go to Alpha Markus' meeting in my place. I knew Hector wasn't interested in going and didn't want to be in business with Crestview Pack. Since I trusted Dominic with all my business, I knew he'd be able to handle a small meeting. (Flashback) Knock knock "Come in," I said. I was busy going over the documents Katia had sent over when Dominic walked in. "Logan said you were looking for me," Dominic said as he sat down in the chair in front of the desk. "Yeah, listen, I need you to go with Jonathan to Colgate to meet with Alpha Markus," I told him, not looking up from my laptop. "Colgate? You mean toothpaste?" he replied. "What?" I said, looking up from my screen. "Who the fuck is Colgate?" Dominic said, chuckling. I shook my head and replied. "You know what the fuck I mean, Bro." Dominic burst into laughter and said, "You must really dislike Alpha Markus to talk shit about his pack name." I looked at Dominic and cocked a brow. "You're right
From Daunte's POVI tossed and turned throughout the night. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her face. There was something about her, something that captivated me. I knew I had to see her again. I had to know her name and find out who she was. And then there was Alessia. That name drew me in as well. There was something about the name that drew me to want to know more about the person behind it."This is fucken bullshit," I growled as I sat in bed.The lack of sleep wrecked me and Romo. When tired, he was a handful. Shaking my head, I slid off the bed and made my way to the window. I stared off into the night sky. The Wolf's Moon was upon us, something that was sacred to us wolves. Every single pack celebrated in their own way.The Wolf's Moon was the first full moon that rose. Packs are able to reflect deeply on themselves at this time. It is during the Wolf Moon that an unseen connection exists between Alphas and their packs. Although Alphas are already connected to their pack mem
Bonus chapter***Alessia's Promise is Fulfilled***There was only one sound I could hear: the sound of the monitor. Nothing else mattered, not the people in the room nor the sound of my heart beating in my chest. There was only one thing I cared to listen to: the monitor that indicated that Daunte was still with me. As far as I was concerned, losing him was not something that I could cope with at this moment in time. As a result of the fact that he attempted to sacrifice himself for me, I was further convinced of the extent to which he cared for me.As I sat in the chair next to his bed, I recalled the last minutes of our battle as I remembered how we had come so close to losing each other. Watching Jared sacrifice himself in order to save Daunte was one of the most heartbreaking memories I would carry with me. A few seconds before the silver nitrate bullets were fired, Jared had shoved him out of the way. Although one of the bullets still managed to hit Daunte in the shoulder, the ot
***Five Years Later***"Mommy, Mommy, Uncle Hector said a bad word after he hit Daddy," Mikaylea yelled as she ran into the kitchen. There was a great deal of worry and concern in her light blue eyes."Awww, sweetie, I am sure that Daddy and Uncle Hector were only playing," I said to her as I approached her and scooped her into my arms, brushing her strawberry blonde hair from her face.In spite of the fact that Mikaylea was only five years old, nothing flew past her. After placing her in a regular preschool, we were surprised to discover that she was already exceeding every child her age. The sound of laughter reverberated throughout the hallway as Daunte and Hector walked into the kitchen, and I placed Mikaylea in her high chair."You know that I won," Daunte laughed as he approached me, wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing me."Uncle Hector, you hit Daddy," Mikaylea exclaimed, pointing her little finger at Hector."Yes, I did, but only because he fucken deserved it," Hecto
From Alessia's POVIt was never in my head that I was lucky or blessed, not after all the things I have experienced. Many nights, I literally cried myself to sleep, asking the moon goddess to take me away from this life that had been given to me, one which was so disappointing to me. Other times, I would wonder why I was left alone to survive while my parents were gone.All of that changed when Daunte walked into my life and changed everything for me. He changed my life, and I was exposed to new possibilities. To say that I am blessed to have him in my life is an understatement. Having said that, there aren't even a few words that can do justice to my emotions and how he makes me feel. It has been Daunte who has been my rock, the source of my salvation, the source of my reassurance, and a beacon of light in the dark, and I can only wish that others are as fortunate to find someone like this in their lives.I had come full circle in my life, having gone from an orphan to an omega withou
From Daunte's POVAs far as I knew, Alessia had never been outside the city, let alone out of the country. Hence, when Hector mentioned taking Alessia somewhere she'd never been, I asked Maliyla to investigate on my behalf. Imagine my surprise when Alessia confided in Maliyla that she had never seen snow before. After hearing that, it only made sense to take her to Breckenridge since the weather there was perfect for skiing, especially during the winter when the snow was falling, the most beautiful time of the year.I had made sure to leave everything in Dominic's hands, with Hector serving as a backup in case he wasn't available. However, after Luke mentioned that his mate was in my pack, it became evident that he should stay at the Onyx Fang pack to resolve things with her. In order to accommodate Alessia and me comfortably, I had asked Hector to reserve one of the private cottages. I had planned for our honeymoon to only last for two weeks. Due to her carrying pups, I needed to make
From Daunte's POVWatching her walk down the aisle was one of the most breathtaking moments of my life. I will never forget the look she had in her eyes, and I will never forget how she looked at me. Alessia came into my life and changed every aspect of it. I had heard her say many times that she was the luckiest woman, but in reality, I was the lucky one. Every day with her was even more magical than the last. Alessia was the reason I believed in love and the answer to my prayers."Thank you," I said to Hector as I took Alessia's hand and guided her up the remaining stairs to where my father stood. I had asked him the night before to perform the ceremony. I knew that my grandfather had performed his, and I wanted to keep the tradition going."We are gathering here today to witness the union of not one Alpha but two. The goddess had chosen these two amazing people to come together in a union unlike any other," he said, pausing momentarily and smiling at Alessia and me."There are many
From Alessia's POV***Three days later***There was something inexplicable about waking up the morning of the ceremony. At that moment, I felt as if I was the king of the world, well, queen in my case. In the past, if you had asked me if I had ever seen myself mated with an Alpha male and being this happy, I would have laughed at the idea. Daunte was a blessing in so many ways. The kindness with which he treated me was beyond anything I had ever experienced before. During the course of our relationship, he demonstrated his love to me in ways I could never have imagined was possible.Opening my eyes, I turned to find his side of the bed empty. Extending my arm, I touched his side of the bed. The warmth he left behind filled me with a wave of warm chills. Pulling his pillow towards me, I closed my eyes and inhaled his scent. I lingered for a moment, savoring the feeling of his warmth. I felt a surge of emotion wash over me, and I whispered a silent prayer of gratitude for his presence i
From Daunte's POVSeeing Alessia in such a happy state was the best feeling of my life. It was as if she was glowing; her smile alone would brighten your day, and the love she held in her eyes was more meaningful and magical than anything I had ever witnessed.As long as I can remember, I have prayed to the Goddess to give me a mate, and after having watched so many of my closest friends go through hell and back with their mates, I figured that if it made me happy, I would want to go through the same struggles and pains that they did. For me, Alessia's pain, anger, and love meant more to me than anything else in life, and I would happily relive them again and again if I had to do so.In all honesty, finding out that she was pregnant was one of the best pieces of news I ever received; it was one of the most rewarding feelings in my life to have pups in my life. As soon as Hector and Maliyla gave birth to Pethasillla, the feeling began to develop in me; as I spent more and more time wit
From Alessia's POVWhoever said that planning a wedding was easy was a liar. At least, in my eyes, they were. Having to go through all the dress fittings, the cake tasting, food, and floral arrangements turned out to be a nightmare. Kira was a huge help, and so was Jackie. I had asked Daunte to excuse Jackie from work to assist me. I missed talking to her and needed her advice on many things, especially my pregnancy. Although Jackie herself didn't have pups, I needed advice on what to tell Daunte. I wasn't sure if he was ready to have any. As Alpha, I knew that pups were a big deal, as it was through our children that the bloodlines and legacy continued, but was he ready? And most importantly, was I?Briseis had been silent for the last few weeks. Talking to her had become almost nonexistent. It was almost as if she had disappeared.Everything seemed to happen so quickly that I didn't believe it at first. However, it all started making sense when Margaret increased my food intake and
From Alessia's POV Two days had passed since we returned from the Mystic Shadow pack. It was a bittersweet experience. A total of two hundred pack members came back with us to the Onyx Fang Pack. I was happy to have my aunt Millie come with me and Exodus, who we later learned was her mate. However, I was heartbroken to see so many people left behind. Even though we left food and other supplies and promised to return to help them rebuild their homes on the Mystic Shadow pack grounds, I still felt a sense of emptiness but also a sense of hope for the future. I was looking forward to helping rebuild my old pack and making it even stronger than before. Back at the Onyx Fang Pack, Jackie had fitted in quite nicely and had already begun working for Daunte and Hector. I was happy to have my best friend with me, even if I didn't see her as often as I thought I would. Margaret was back to her usual self, and in true Margaret fashion, she ensured that Daunte had his coffee as he liked. There w