Leena’s POVThe fresh air hit my lungs like a shockwave as Alvin carried me out of the suffocating room. Each breath was painful but exhilarating, and I clung to his warmth, feeling the thrum of his pulse beneath my fingertips. It was a lifeline in the chaos, a reminder that we were still alive.But relief was fleeting.The moment my feet touched the ground, Alvin's posture shifted, his shoulders stiffening as his sharp eyes scanned the dimly lit hallway. A growl rumbled low in his throat, primal and dangerous, as his grip on my waist tightened protectively.“Come on,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper but filled with urgency.I didn’t argue. My legs felt like they could give out at any moment, but I forced myself to stay upright, to match his pace as we descended the stairs. Each step sent a dull ache through my limbs, but the tension in the air outweighed any physical pain.The house was eerily silent, save for the faint sound of footsteps. My heart leapt. Someone was he
Leena's POVThe air was thick with tension, a mix of uncertainty and fear that I could almost taste. It hadn't been long since I arrived at this pack for the so-called Guardian Wolf Mission, and yet, it already felt like my life was teetering on the edge of a blade. Someone wanted me dead. No, us—Alpha Alvin and me. But who? And why?As I paced back and forth in the dimly lit hallway, the events of the day replayed in my mind. The attack in the woods had been swift and merciless. A flurry of smoke bombs, the sound of footsteps crashing through the underbrush, and the metallic jingle of keys—these things haunted my thoughts. My heart raced at the memory, my fists clenching. I knew I needed to be careful now, more than ever. Whoever had orchestrated the attack had a purpose. The question that burned in my mind was whether they wanted Alvin dead, me dead, or both of us.Alvin and I had tried to track the attackers, but their scent vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Frustrated and on
Leena's POVThe tension in the air was suffocating, and I knew Alvin would catch my scent any second. I could already feel the weight of his piercing gaze searching for me. His voice was sharp and commanding when it came. “Come here, Leena. I know you’re there.”I froze for a moment, my pulse hammering in my chest. My instincts screamed at me to run, but where could I go? I was already trapped in this mess, bound to him by fate or force—it didn’t matter anymore. With a deep breath, I stepped into the room, trying to mask my nerves with a confident stride.Alvin’s eyes met mine, a dark glint of amusement playing in them. He was standing tall and unyielding, his presence filling every inch of the room. Mario, his loyal guard, was still there, and his gaze flickered between us. My throat felt dry, but I didn’t let it show.“I wasn’t spying,” I began, lifting my chin defiantly. “But if you want to have private conversations, you should at least take them to the bedroom. Not here.” My voic
Leena's POVI’ve always prided myself on being calm, measured, and collected. I rarely lose my temper, and insults are not part of my repertoire. But right now? Right now, I want to call Sarah every vile name under the moon. That woman is nothing short of a pest—a thorn in my side that keeps digging deeper with every word she spits out.Just when I thought Miriam’s idea might actually give me a way out of this nightmare, Sarah barges in, her prying eyes catching the entire scheme. Now she’s threatening to tell Mr. Nelson about my so-called defiance. My fists clenched at my sides, nails digging into my palms as I swallowed my rising frustration.“This is what I hate the most,” I muttered under my breath, glaring at Sarah with as much venom as I could muster.Her smug expression only deepened my anger. She crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe like she owned the place. “Oh, I’ll tell him, all right,” she said with a mocking tilt of her head. “I’ll tell Mr. Nelson everything—th
Leena’s POVThe air was thick with tension as I made my way through the dimly lit corridors of the Alpha’s mansion. My hands trembled as they brushed against the cold stone walls, gripping the knife hidden at the back of my trousers. Miriam’s words echoed in my head, her plan seemingly foolproof. She had always been my confidante, my one true ally since I arrived at this pack, a stranger in a foreign land of wolves who wanted nothing to do with me. Yet, tonight, as I followed Alvin’s scent into the moonlit garden, doubt gnawed at me.Could this really work? Could scaring him truly give me the freedom I craved? Or was I walking into yet another trap laid by those who wanted to see me fail?I paused, taking a shaky breath. The night breeze danced across my skin, cold and unforgiving, as though the universe itself conspired against me. My mind replayed every harsh word, every cold glance I had endured since my arrival here. They didn’t want me; he didn’t want me. Alvin only wanted the po
**Miriam's POV** From the very first day Leena stepped into our pack, I knew I hated her. She didn’t belong here. The sight of her, all naive and clueless, being hailed as the guardian wolf, made my blood boil. Why her? What made her so special? She didn’t even know her true identity until it was handed to her on a silver platter. And me? I had spent years proving my worth, only to be overshadowed by her mere existence. My lips curled into a wicked smile as I recalled the moment I decided to infiltrate her life. Becoming her personal assistant was almost too easy. She trusted me blindly, treated me like a confidant, a sister even. But every smile I gave her was a lie, every kind word laced with venom. Behind her back, I was the one pulling the strings, sowing seeds of doubt and chaos. She was too naive to see it, too innocent to realize that I was the storm brewing right under her nose. The memory of the combat challenge with Alpha Alvin brought a spark of satisfaction to my che
Leena’s POVThe moment Alvin's lips touched mine, a surge of shock rippled through my body, paralyzing me in place. For a split second, I thought it was just an ordinary kiss, but it was far from that. That same familiar scent—cinnamon, warm and sharp—wafted around us again, teasing my senses. My heart raced, not because of the kiss, but because of the chaos in my head. Could Alvin be telling the truth? Could my father really have saved him? If it wasn’t Alvin who killed my father, then who did?My mind hovered relentlessly over the mystery, refusing to let go. And then, there was the more pressing question—how did the wolves know I was here, at the back of the garden with him? And how did Mr. Nelson find me so quickly? The timing was too suspicious, and it only deepened my growing mistrust.“Leena. Alvin. What are you both doing here?” Mr. Nelson’s voice broke through my thoughts. His face twisted into a mix of confusion and suspicion, his eyes darting between us.Alvin pulled away f
Leena’s POVI already knew what was coming the moment I decided to bring up the topic of leaving the pack. Deep down, I expected Kelvin to stand up for me—it was just who he was. But what I didn’t expect was the sheer weight of his declaration. When Kelvin spoke those words, “She should marry me because I am her true mate,” the world seemed to tilt beneath my feet.Not that I didn’t want to marry Alvin. That wasn’t it. I didn’t hate him, either. My reasons were more complex than anyone in this pack could ever understand. This place wasn’t safe. It wasn’t a home—it was a death trap. I’d come to that realization slowly, piece by piece. The final straw, though, was Miriam. I had trusted her completely, treated her like the sister I never had. But the moment she slipped me a real knife instead of a ceremonial one, everything inside me shattered. If I couldn’t trust Miriam, could I truly trust anyone else here?“She should marry me, Father,” Kelvin’s voice rang out again, louder this time,
Kira couldn’t understand it—couldn’t control it. Every time she was around Cooper, her heart raced like a drum being beaten in a war zone. The way her breath caught in her throat whenever his eyes met hers wasn’t normal… or was it? She didn't know. But one thing was clear—this man affected her in a way she couldn't explain. There was something about him. Something… familiar. She had tried to brush it off countless times, convincing herself it was just a fleeting attraction. But the more time she spent with him, the more convinced she became that she had seen his face before—maybe in another life or a forgotten dream. The contours of his jawline, the storm in his eyes, the way he moved—it all stirred a strange longing in her chest. And yet… no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t remember where she knew him from. Earlier that day, when the chaos broke out and she’d nearly collapsed from the pressure, he had been there for her. No questions asked. Just like that, Cooper had ste
Kira couldn’t understand it—couldn’t control it.Every time she was around Cooper, her heart raced like a drum being beaten in a war zone. The way her breath caught in her throat whenever his eyes met hers wasn’t normal… or was it? She didn't know. But one thing was clear—this man affected her in a way she couldn't explain.There was something about him. Something… familiar.She had tried to brush it off countless times, convincing herself it was just a fleeting attraction. But the more time she spent with him, the more convinced she became that she had seen his face before—maybe in another life or a forgotten dream. The contours of his jawline, the storm in his eyes, the way he moved—it all stirred a strange longing in her chest.And yet… no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t remember where she knew him from.Earlier that day, when the chaos broke out and she’d nearly collapsed from the pressure, he had been there for her.
Kira was too stunned to speak when the furious customer stormed into her shop, his face flushed with anger and his voice booming across the cozy bakery like a thunderclap."You!" he barked, pointing a trembling finger at her. "What kind of poison are you selling in here? Every single person who ate that tray of cupcakes from your shop is now down with explosive diarrhea! My café is practically a war zone!"Kira blinked rapidly, trying to process what she had just heard. Her hands froze on the rolling pin she was cleaning, and for a moment, her breath caught in her throat.“Wait… what?” she asked, eyebrows furrowing in disbelief. “Are you serious?”The man leaned across the counter, his eyes bloodshot and wild. “Do I look like I’m joking? I’ve had to shut my entire kitchen down because of your contaminated cupcakes! This is going to cost me thousands!”Kira's mouth parted slightly, her heart thumping unevenly. She shook her head slowl
Kira was bustling with energy that morning. Her auburn curls were tied into a loose bun, and a hint of chocolate flour still dusted her cheek—something she hadn’t noticed in her mirror rush to open shop early. Her café smelled like a dream: vanilla bean, warm cinnamon, and her bestselling dark-chocolate cupcakes fresh from the oven. She had already sent out most of her morning orders and felt a rush of satisfaction. Things were finally looking up. She glanced at her phone—no message yet from Mr. Cooper. Kinda odd… she thought. She had asked him to drop by today just to help out for a couple of hours. After all, he insisted on being involved, even though she had told him the night before, “You don’t have to come every day, Mr. Cooper. I’m sure you’ve got a million other things to do.” He had smiled that charming, mysterious smile and replied, “But I’ll come anyway. Just in case you need me.” Yet here she was, stirring frosting in a big silver bowl when her phone rang. It was his dr
Eva was born with anger etched into her soul, jealousy threaded through her veins, and rage clinging to her like a second skin. It wasn’t fair—it was never fair. Why was it always her?Why was it always Kira?They had grown up together—best friends, sisters in all but blood. They shared secrets, dreams, even built a bakery together from the ground up. Brick by brick. Recipe by recipe. Laughter and tears, failures and triumphs—it had all been a shared story.Until Cooper walked in.Eva’s chest rose and fell rapidly as she sat on the edge of her bed, staring at a photo of them when they were younger. Kira’s smile was wide, radiant. And her own? Cropped out by her trembling fingers as she crushed the photo. She had loved Cooper for years—silently, painfully. But now, every time she turned around, it was Kira in his eyes.Kira.Again.Why is it always her?It didn’t matter that Kira had met him first. Eva belie
The thought of what he said kept wiggling in her ear like a persistent fly refusing to leave. Kira stirred the thick cream on the counter, her brows furrowed in confusion, her bottom lip tucked beneath her teeth. How did he know they were dead? The question echoed louder each time she tried to drown it. She didn't even know Cooper well—he was a stranger, or at least he should be. And yet he spoke with such certainty, such intimate knowledge. Her mind swirled with possibilities. He doesn’t even know them... does he? Her heartbeat accelerated as she glanced at him, trying to read his expression. Cooper stood at the other end of the bakery, his arms crossed loosely over his chest, eyes locked on her with an unreadable look. Calm. Still. Almost too composed. Kira clenched the spatula tighter. “How do you know they’re dead?” she finally blurted, voice shaky, her eyes darting toward his face for an answer. “You didn’t even know them.” Just as she finished speaking, Cooper tilted his head,
At first, it had been subtle. Kira couldn’t quite pinpoint the moment when she started looking forward to seeing Cooper’s face, or when his constant smile stopped annoying her and started making her chest flutter.There was something about him—so playful, so carefree. He always had this crooked grin on his face, like he knew a secret the world didn’t, and it made her feel safe. She caught herself smiling more when he was around, brushing flour off her apron with a hum or laughing louder at his silly jokes than she probably should’ve.Kira had told herself a thousand times—he’s a good guy. Not once had she seen him with any of the gangs terrorizing the city lately. No suspicious calls, no strange visitors. He wasn’t like those monsters burning down shops and demanding payments from struggling business owners. Cooper was... different.At least, that’s what she wanted to believe.Unbeknownst to her, Cooper was more than just the friendly neighbor with a dimpled smile and a fondness for h
The past few days—no, weeks—Kira couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Her thoughts circled like a restless storm, always coming back to the same haunting questions: Why does it feel like my best friend is turning against me? Why is my boyfriend suddenly so angry? So distant? Her brows furrowed as she wiped down the already spotless counter in her bakery. The smell of vanilla and buttercream filled the room, but even the sweetness in the air couldn’t soften the bitter taste of confusion that lingered in her heart. The unease clung to her like flour dust on a black apron. And ever since she met him—that mysterious man named Cooper—her life had taken a strange turn. Cooper, with his slick black suits and a car that probably cost more than her entire shop, had walked into her life like a gust of wind—smooth, confident, and almost too good to be true. He had offered her a deal too generous to be ignored, promising to invest a life-changing amount of money into her bakery.
Kira arrived at her bakery that morning, determined to open early. She had received multiple orders from clients who wanted cakes and other baked goods, and she needed to get started right away. Recently, she had bought an ice cream machine, something she had been excited to introduce to her shop. The moment she posted about it online, the demand for ice cream cups skyrocketed, and now she had to meet her customers' expectations. As she approached the entrance, she shifted her bag onto her shoulder and reached into her pocket for the keys. But just as she was about to unlock the door, she felt it—a distinct tap on her shoulder. Her breath hitched, and she spun around so fast that her long, dark curls bounced over her shoulder. Her heart pounded. Someone had definitely touched her. But when she turned, there was no one there. The street was empty except for a few distant passersby who were too far away to have been the culprit. A chill ran down her spine. *Was I hallucinating?*