**Lena’s POV**After the meeting with Mr. Nelson, the High Chiefs, and the elders, I felt restless. The decision was unanimous—we had to find a way to deal with the werewolf hunters, those despicable creatures who had slaughtered our pack members without remorse. Alvin had been resolute, his voice filled with authority as he declared, *“We will do whatever it takes to protect our people and ensure justice for those we’ve lost.”* I wanted to be part of the plan, to contribute, but I knew my place. Despite being the Luna, there were moments when I had to step aside and let the men handle things. Alvin, Mr. Nelson, and Mario disappeared into one of the rooms, their voices muffled as they discussed traps and strategies. I could feel the tension in the air, and it pressed heavily on my chest. As much as I wanted to be in that room, contributing to the discussion, I knew it wasn’t my place right now. “Let them have their space,” I whispered to myself, leaving them to their plans. ---
**Lena’s POV** Today was the happiest day of my life. I was getting married to the man my heart had chosen—the man who was destined to be mine. Alvin wasn’t just any man; he was my Alpha, my king, the one who had captured my heart with his strength and passion. Alvin was also the most feared Mafia Lord, a man who commanded power and respect wherever he went. But to me, he was so much more. He was the man who made my heart race, who made me feel protected, loved, and cherished. As a once-weak Omega, I never imagined I’d rise to such heights. Today, I wasn’t just marrying Alvin. I was becoming the Luna of the most powerful pack, a position that carried immense power and responsibility. Together, we would unite our packs to stand strong against the wolf hunters who sought to destroy us. I couldn’t contain the joy bubbling inside me. I sat in front of the mirror, the most talented makeup artist in the city applying soft strokes to my face. Every brush of foundation felt symbolic, li
**Lena's POV** The air was suffocating with tension as we gathered in the clearing—a spot we’d come to know all too well for meetings like this. The sky was an ominous gray, as if even the heavens mourned the recent losses of our pack. Faces I’d known for years were now marked with despair. Alvin stood at the forefront, his broad shoulders squared, and his fiery gaze cutting through the crowd like a blade. I stood close to Miriam, my hands clenched into fists to stop them from trembling. The weight of the situation bore down on me, pressing against my chest like an invisible force. The scent of pine and damp earth filled the air, mingling with the unmistakable fear that radiated from the gathered wolves. Alvin’s voice boomed across the clearing, sharp and commanding. “No more dead wolves!” he declared, his tone laced with fury. “We will do whatever it takes to stop these hunters from slaughtering us. Our children, our mates, our families—they will not be taken from us again!”
**Lena’s POV** The moment my eyes fell on the mark on Miriam's wrist, my heart dropped into the pit of my stomach. It was the same symbol I had seen on the masked wolf hunters the night I was poisoned. A wave of nausea hit me as the realization dawned—Miriam, the one I trusted to care for me, was one of them. My breaths grew shallow, and the room seemed to tilt. I stumbled toward the nearest chair, gripping its edge to steady myself. How could it be her? The person who stayed by my side, nursed me, and offered words of encouragement—she was the enemy all along? My hands trembled as I sat down, my mind racing with questions. Why? How long had she been deceiving us? “Are you okay?” Miriam’s voice startled me. She approached with a concerned look etched on her face, but now I could see it for what it was—a mask, a lie. “Why did your face suddenly change? Is there a problem?” I forced a smile, though it felt like my face might crack from the effort. “No,” I lied, my voice uneven.
Lena's povI refused to believe it. Miriam, this stranger I had just met from another park, claimed to be my sister. My father’s daughter. It didn’t make sense—it couldn’t be true. My mind spun as the words echoed in my ears, their weight threatening to crush me. How could someone I barely knew share my blood? Where had she been all this time? Was she my mother’s child too? Or was this some twisted secret born of my father’s betrayal?Questions came at me like a storm, each one more painful than the last. Why hadn’t my father told me? Why had Miriam kept it a secret, even when she saw me at the park? And why, if she was my sister, would she want me dead? My breath caught as memories of her actions flashed through my mind—kidnapping me, poisoning me, working with traitors to destroy me. Why? What kind of hatred drove her to such lengths?I stared at her, desperation clawing at my chest. “You mean you’re my sister? My father’s daughter?” My voice wavered, anger and confusion lacing ever
Lena's povI stared at Kelvin, his grin widening like a predator toying with its prey. My chest heaved, my breaths coming in short, sharp bursts as I processed the chaos unfolding before me. My sister. My father’s betrayal. The poison. The lies. The deceit. It was as if the ground beneath me had crumbled, leaving me dangling over a pit of despair. My heart pounded in my chest like a war drum, and tears blurred my vision, but I refused to let them fall. Not here. Not now. Kelvin’s voice was a venomous purr as he repeated, “What if I told you the wolf hunter stories were fake?” His eyes glinted with malicious delight, as though my shock was a performance he’d been eagerly waiting to see. “What... what are you talking about?” I managed, my voice trembling but laced with defiance. My throat ached from Miriam’s earlier grip, but the fire within me wouldn’t let me stay silent. Kelvin chuckled darkly, taking a slow step closer. Miriam stood beside him, her arms crossed, her face a mask of
### Lena's POV Kelvin approached me with a sly grin, the kind that made my stomach churn. His presence reeked of deceit, and I felt my skin crawl as he spoke. “Well, before we continue discussing Alvin and how to kill him—or anything else—you need to know this: you shouldn’t die with a particular secret,” Kelvin said, his voice calm, almost casual, as though we were discussing the weather. A chill ran down my spine. “What secret?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Kelvin’s grin widened. “Let’s just say it’s something you’ll hate me for,” he said, leaning closer, his dark eyes glinting with malice. I couldn’t help but take a step back. My heart raced, pounding so loudly that I thought he could hear it. “Kelvin,” I said, my voice shaking. “If someone told me you were capable of all this, I wouldn’t have believed it. So, it’s true? You work with the wolf hunters?” His smirk faltered for a moment before he burst into laughter, a hollow, joyless sound. “Wolf hunters? Le
**Alvin's POV**As we ventured deeper into the woods, unease clawed at my chest like a rabid wolf. My instincts screamed at me, louder than ever. Something was wrong—terribly wrong. Lena. Her name burned in my mind, her image flashing before my eyes. The bond we shared wasn’t just a connection—it was a lifeline. I could feel her joy, her sorrow, her every heartbeat. But now, there was nothing. No flicker of warmth, no tether pulling us together. Just an icy void that chilled me to the bone. I clenched my fists, my jaw tightening as a wave of dread surged through me. "Stop," I commanded, my voice sharp and unwavering. Mario and Sarah halted in their tracks, exchanging worried glances. Without another word, I pulled out my phone and dialed my supervisor back at the packhouse. My heart thudded loudly, the silence on the other end stretching unbearably long before he answered. “Alpha,” his voice wavered, and I knew bad news was coming. “We’re sorry for not calling you sooner, but Miss
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?*