RYAN'S POV~The sudden crash jolted my senses awake, my wolf flinching before I could even register the noise. My ears strained to pick up the source of the sound, my body tensed and ready to spring into action. My eyes snapped open with full force, my gaze darting around the room, but the source of the clatter remained elusive. The sound of angry voices arguing outside filtered through the air, sending my already heightened senses into overdrive. My brows furrowed deeply, confusion clouding my mind, until the sharp pang of antiseptics hit me.The smell of medicines stung my nostrils, the steady beeping of a heart monitor filling the air. I flinched again, my hand instinctively flying to my temple, my fingers rubbing the pulsing pain away. Slowly, I pushed myself up, my body still on high alert. One thought consumed my mind - Isabella. Where was she? My heart raced, fear and concern warring for dominance. The realization that this wasn't my home twisted in my gut like a knife, only ad
ALEX'S POV~I awoke in darkness. The sound of beeping machinery and whirring fans filled my ears. Slowly, my vision adjusted, revealing the bleak, sterile reality of my bedroom, transformed into a makeshift hospital room.I winced in agony as I tried to move. Every inch of my body screamed in protest, encased in tight bandages that bit into my skin. My arms were strapped down, wired to machines that monitored my vitals.I could feel the nauseating throb of pain in my skull, the sting of broken bones as I moved.Every breath sent searing pain through my lungs, a constant reminder of the savagery I had endured at the hands of those brutes, Isabella and Ryan? Right? My face, once handsome and regal, was now a grotesque mask of bruises, stitches, and bandages.I tried to speak, but my lips, swollen and cracked, would not cooperate. My eyes felt heavy, every blink an agonizing effort. And yet, despite the pain, my hatred for those two wolves burned like a raging inferno in my chest, spur
ISABELLA'S POV ~I groaned as the harsh sunlight streamed through the window, its rays stabbing into my eyes. I fought the urge to open my eyes, turning away from the intrusive light. The soft mattress beneath me yielded to my body's movements, cradling me as I exhaled and stretched, my muscles rippling like a cat arching its back in the warmth of the sun. But then, something changed.A chill ran down my spine, like icy fingers trailing over my skin. My body froze, my heart racing.The silence of the hospital ward suddenly felt like a threat, as though a presence was lurking in the shadows. Where was everyone? Ryan? The nurses? Panic fluttered in my chest, rising like a storm. Without thinking, I threw off the covers and leapt out of the bed, racing for the door. The urgency pulsed through my veins, my feet pounding against the cold floor."Shit!" I cursed, my hand seizing the door handle. Just as my hand closed around the door handle, the heavy door swung open, and I crashed into a
RYAN'S POV~My predatory gaze remained locked on Isabella, my feral grin growing wider with every passing minute as the doctor kept checking on my vitals, oblivious to the sizzling tension that filled the room. Isabella's cheeks were flushed a deep crimson, the color of a ripe tomato, as she tried desperately to maintain her composure. The poor doctor, I was certain, would have bolted from the room long ago if it weren't for her concern over my health.As the doctor finally completed her checkup, she turned to me with a warm smile that I ignored, my focus entirely on Isabella."Isabella, my darling," I drawled, my voice filled with a dark seduction that sent a shiver down her spine. "You're blushing so beautifully, I can't help but wonder..."Her glare intensified, silently warning me to behave, but my grin only widened. Damn, she was breathtaking when she blushed like that. I could almost hear the blood rushing to her face, heating her cheeks and quickening her pulse.I fought back t
ISABELLA'S POV ~I focused on the laptop in front of me, refusing to let Cindy’s poisonous words derail me from my task. But my fingers trembled on the keyboard.I wished more than anything that I could disappear, escape from the judgmental eyes that bore into me from all sides. Despite the turmoil roiling inside me, I forced myself to concentrate on the task at hand.The parent-child center project was depending on me, and I refused to be deterred. I couldn't lose any more time to distractions. The time I had lost during my kidnapping still haunted me, and I knew I couldn't afford any more setbacks.As the whispers grew louder, I could feel my blood pressure begin to rise. I gripped the sides of the keyboard, willing myself to stay focused. Suddenly, a voice resounded, "What's going on here?"The question hung in the air, a silence falling over the room. I felt my stomach twist as my eyes flickered up, meeting the piercing gaze of Noah. His hands were shoved into his pockets, his ex
ISABELLA'S POV~"Hello?" I said, my voice filled with annoyance at the lack of response. I frowned as I glanced at the phone, noting that the call was still connected. Before I could hang up in frustration, a low, gravelly sound rumbled through the line."Am I speaking to Isabella?" the voice asked, making me slightly tense. I straightened, leaning forward in my chair as suspicion and curiosity warred within me. "Yes, this is Isabella. Who's asking?"“This is me, your father. I am Lincoln. I know you must have heard about me from your mother but let's not dwell on that. Right now I need you.”My heart stopped. Did he just say...father?The words echoed in my head, bouncing off the walls of my skull as I struggled to comprehend what I'd just heard. Lincoln? That was my father's name. The man who had abandoned my mother and me when I was barely old enough to remember."This is urgent and I command you to come immediately," he continued, his tone cold and authoritarian. "Your half siste
RYAN'S POV~I was frozen, the air in the room as suffocating as a deep sea trench. My heart thundered against my chest, desperate to break out of its cage and roar the truth at Isabella. Every fiber of my being urged me to spill my secrets. Braxton growled, my wolf begging for a chance to prove our loyalty to the woman that held my heart. But fear strangled my voice.I could feel Isabella's eyes on me, probing and penetrating.I forced myself to hold her gaze. "Are you going to tell your mother about this call, Isabella?" I croaked, my voice strained and brittle, like thin ice on a frozen lake. Isabella tilted her head slightly, her lips pressed into a thin line."No, I don't think so." She sniffled, her body sagging as if the words themselves were too heavy to bear. "My mother would be in so much pain. And I can't afford to see her that way. I've seen her break down on several occasions as a child and it hurts so much. I can't afford to see her break down again. I'll let her be."My
ISABELLA'S POV ~It was like a lightning strike, hitting me out of the blue. Cindy’s words made my heart hammer and my stomach churn. Without even thinking, I was up on my feet and marching towards her with all the fury of a goddess scorned. My eyes narrowed, my finger pointed right at her, and my voice dripped with venom.“How dare you?!” I snapped. Every eye in the room was on me now. My heart was racing, my cheeks were flushed, and I felt like I was breathing fire.“You think you can just call me that?” I seethed. Cindy was backing away like the coward she was, but she wasn’t backing down.“Are you going to deny it?” she snarled back at me, her eyes spitting daggers and her hands clenched at her sides. Every muscle in my body tensed. She was going to pay for this.With each step I took towards her, I could feel my inner she-wolf, Selene, howling for a chance to rip into this bitch. Part of me wanted to claw her face, sink my teeth into her neck, and watch her bleed, but this was an
ISABELLA'S POV~"You're lying, James!" I shouted, my voice trembling with rage and disbelief. "Why would you sink this low? I'm not going anywhere with you. Just leave!"My body trembled as waves of anger and heartbreak washed over me. I refused to believe that Ryan could have betrayed me like this. We had promised each other that nothing would tear us apart, that we would never let history repeat itself."Isabella..." James took a step towards me, his eyes shining with something I couldn't decipher, but I stepped back, raising my hand as if to ward him off."Just go!" I yelled at the top of my voice, my words echoing off the walls of the cell. "I'm not leaving here. Not without Ryan."James's eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. I could see the wheels turning in his mind, trying to come up with a way to convince me. But I was done listening.“Fine, I'm not going to force you to believe me or not. Why don't you come see for yourself? This is the last opportunity to flee this cell
LINDA'S POV~My legs moved swiftly as I clutched my shawl, ensuring that it remained wrapped tightly around my neck. I approached the small, hidden door in the palace walls, and took a quick glance around to ensure I hadn’t been spotted.With cautious movements, I placed my fingers on the secret fingerprint sensor that would grant me entry. The door creaked open, and I cast one final look down the shadowy hallway. Seeing that it was empty, I darted inside, my heart racing.I heard a click, and the room was illuminated by a dim light.In the center of the room stood a single pot, with images and statues of ancestral wolves and celestial bodies adorning the walls.The pot, filled with a boiling, fragrant liquid, caught my attention. As I pulled off my shawl and set it aside, I cast a sharp gaze upon my reflection in the liquid, my jaw clenching.I was here with a purpose - to deal with my son, Ryan. The thoughts of his actions kept me up at night, the weight of his shame upon our royal
RYAN'S POV~Time seemed to slow to a crawl as my brain struggled to process the events unfolding before me. My mother’s concerned gaze went ignored as my eyes remained locked on the elder priest. It was as if I was viewing the world through a haze of red mist, the only thing piercing through me, was the sight of danger that threatened my mate.Then the guards made their move, their hands reaching for their guns. In that instant, something within me snapped."What the fuck are you insinuating?!" I roared, my voice shaking the very foundations of the hall.The priest’s expression darkened, but I didn’t care. This man, who dared to accuse my mate of being a danger, would not get away with this.My mother, sensing the volatility of the situation, placed a gentle hand on my arm, but I shrugged her off with a glare that spoke volumes. I wouldn’t be silenced. Not when Isabella’s honor was at stake.“I only say what I see, son,” the priest hissed.My blood boiled at his arrogance.“My work is
IVY'S POV~I rose slowly from the bed, driven by my rage. As I walked towards the window, the soft night breeze was the only sound in the silence and in darkness. The world seemed to have stopped, but my heart was ablaze with thirst for vengeance.I wanted nothing more than to watch the world burn. Winter Fall Pack might have been at peace, but I wanted chaos. How dare Ryan humiliate me? I had seduced countless men, but when I thought I had Ryan under my spell, he slipped away, disgracing me.In my anger, I threw a flower vase to the ground, watching it shatter.Before I could process my thoughts, a dark idea crept into my mind, and I stopped, my eyes wide with excitement. Without hesitation, I picked the nearest long coat on the cloth hanger, draped it on with a shawl covering my face and then left the room, determined to carry out my diabolical plan.~ ~ ~The street was blanketed in silence. No sounds of traffic, no signs of life. Just two stray cats, their fur standing on end, da
RYAN'S POV~My steps echoed through the hallway as I approached the room. Five armed men stood in waiting as I strode past. The door was already open, courtesy of the guards.Alan and several operatives sat hunched over their devices, their intense focus broken as I entered. Their heads lifted and turned towards me, a chorus of "Alpha" greeting me in unison. I gave them a single nod, acknowledging their respect, before taking my seat next to Alan.He slid a file across the table,"The evidence is all here," Alan said. "Everything to take Ryan down. We traced his transactions, his contacts. Everything."My chest rumbled with deep satisfaction as he placed CDs and drives on the table, the knowledge that Ryan's downfall was imminent filling me with a sense of dark triumph. "Brilliant," I commended. The operatives all nodded."Where is Ross and the men now?" I asked, checking my wristwatch. Alan followed suit. "Be rest assured, Alpha. They're on the way and headed to us." Alan typed away
ROSS'S POV~The door slammed shut behind me, and there he stood…nobody. There was absolutely nobody but the door shutting on its own. But I could imagine Ryan, standing there and staring at me like he had suddenly caught me up in his trap. I could imagine his face twisted into a side grin, his eyes gleaming with an evil satisfaction. My breath caught in my throat as my world froze. My mind raced, thoughts scattering like rats as a sinking dread took hold. This was not part of my plan, not at all. How had he known? How had I failed?"Well, well, dear brother. Here you are," Ryan's smooth voice slithered through the room, sinister and mocking. But no matter where I turned, his face remained hidden. The sound of his approaching footsteps chilled me to the bone, my fists clenching tighter with each step. "Oh, you look scared, brother. So scared. Perhaps a picture or two to share with the world?" His chuckle was like a blade against my skin, but no matter how I searched, I found no tra
RYAN'S POV~I watched with chilling coldness as Ivy's body slumped over the table, her speech slurring and her head drooping. The drug she had slipped into the drink which she assumed was mine, was slowly taking effect, her body heating up, the telltale signs of her impending heat becoming more apparent with each passing second. I could already envision the wolves in here circling her like prey, ready to feast on her vulnerable state. My insides twisted with a dark, vengeful satisfaction."You think you're clever, don't you?" I muttered under my breath, glancing around the bar with a calculating glare.My anger simmered beneath the surface, as I took in the scene around me. The shifters in the bar laughed, drank, danced, and made out in corners of the bar, completely oblivious to the scheme that was unfolding right under their noses. I needed to leave, but first I contemplated texting Ross once more, pondering if my previous message was flirtatious enough.I let out a low chuckle as
ISABELLA'S POV ~In that moment, I was stripped of my armor, vulnerable and raw in front of Ryan. He had seen me through my darkest moments, but this was different; this was a deeper, more vulnerable kind of brokenness. My heart ached as I watched his own vulnerability surface, his expression a reflection of my own pain. It was as if the world had stopped spinning for a moment, and all that existed was the two of us, bound together by our shared bond. I hoped that this tender moment, this fragile peace, would never be shattered.My mind raced, trying to process the emotions swirling through me. I felt numb, as if the world had gone still and silent around me. I knew I had to say something, anything, but my voice refused to work.Instead, I pulled Ryan into a tight embrace, allowing his comforting scent to fill my senses, attempting to ease the turmoil in my mind. It was all too much; the exhaustion, the emotional upheaval, the weight of the world seemed to bear down on me.“I know…
ISABELLA'S POV ~Rage built within me like an inferno, blistering every inch of my being. My breath came in short, ragged gasps as I stared at the man who should have been on his knees begging for forgiveness. But instead, he was groveling at the feet of the strange woman he'd chosen over his own family, trying to atone for the wrongs he'd done to his daughter by sacrificing me.I felt like I was unraveling at the seams.My stepmother bled out before my eyes, her life draining away in a crimson pool. My so-called father clutched her, sobbing hysterically, his hands slick with blood as he desperately tried to save her. But I felt nothing for them. No empathy, no sympathy—only a cold, hard emptiness where my heart used to be. Perhaps I was evil for feeling this way, but in that moment, I could not bring myself to care.Ryan's arms encircled me, keeping me from collapsing to the ground like a broken doll. His voice, gentle as a summer breeze, barely registered in my mind.“Hey… are you