ROSS’S POV~I sat in the icy darkness, my sharp claws digging deep into the armrest of my chair as I stared into the black abyss. My wolf eyes were able to make out every inch of the room, illuminated in a haunting neon light. All I could feel was a primal thirst for blood, a deep-seated desire for destruction and devastation.Ryan.My mind fixated on the name, like a poison seeping into every corner of my consciousness. Why was he back? Why had he returned to disrupt my carefully crafted plans? He was supposed to be gone, forgotten, a relic of the past. But now, he was back, and the thought of his presence taunted me, threatened to undo everything I had worked so hard to achieve.Hatred welled up inside me, hot and furious, filling every crevice of my being.Every fiber of my being ached to exact my revenge, to make Ryan suffer for his insolence. My palms, slick with sweat, clenched into tight fists as I imagined the thousands of ways I could destroy him.My claws continued to tap
ISABELLA'S POV ~My fingers twitched with the urge to play the messages, but my mind screamed at me to be careful. Ryan had already broken me once; what more could he possibly want? My heart clenched, suffocating under the weight of our past promises.I’d given him everything: my love, my loyalty, my heart. He’d won me over with his charm, his lies, his manipulation. We’d planned a future together, dreamed of starting a family. But his true colors had started to show, the subtle signs I’d ignored out of blind love and devotion.Tears welled up in my eyes, threatening to spill over. I bit my lip, fighting to hold them back as the pain of betrayal surged through me once again. I couldn’t let the maid see my distress, couldn’t let her tell my mother or James. My mind went blank as I tossed my phone aside, staring up at the ceiling. My heart shattered, my mind numb, I was beginning to become the shadow of the woman I used to be.“I’ve finished cleaning, ma’am. Would you like something to
RYAN'S POV~My father’s silence was as deafening as his gaze was deadly. The air around us was charged with tension, every particle of it feeling as if it were ready to explode. My mother’s face was a mask of grief, her eyes wide with an emotion I couldn’t quite place—was it pity? Was it disappointment? It didn’t matter. She had chosen her side, and it wasn’t mine.Slowly, deliberately, I rose from my seat and walked towards the door.I opened it, stepping out of the oppressive atmosphere of the study, and then stopped, turning to face my parents one last time. “Consider this a done deal, father. You both don’t mess with Isabella once I’m done with this.” My words were a cold promise, spoken with all the finality of a death sentence. Without another word, I walked out of the room and slammed the door shut behind me, the sound echoing through the hallway like a clap of thunder.The hallway was empty, but I could almost feel eyes on me nonetheless. My wolf senses were on high alert, eve
ISABELLA'S POV ~I leaned in, fingers dancing over the blueprints as I studied the plans for phase three. The quiet hum of the overhead lamp seemed to fade into the background as James began to speak."The new facilities will be a lifeline for so many," he said, his eyes alight with enthusiasm. "Not just for those who need medical attention, but also for the most vulnerable in our society. The orphans, the abandoned...they need our help, Isabella."My mind reeled at the thought of all those innocent, lost souls. Their faces flashed before me, a haunting collage of suffering and need. I swallowed hard, before I replied, "James...we have to make this happen. We can't let them down."James nodded solemnly. "I know. That's why we have to get this right. Every detail matters, every inch of space can mean the difference between a life saved or lost." His gaze drifted back to the blueprints, his hands already sketching out revisions in his mind.I slowly rose from my seat, walking over to th
ISABELLA'S POV ~As I slid out of James' SUV, I could feel his eyes on me, his gaze boring into the back of my head until my feet finally touched the pavement. The crunch of gravel underfoot seemed deafening in the silence that followed. James nodded, signaling that he was going to find a safe place to park the car. With a quick wave, he pulled away, leaving me alone to face the looming Devil's Horn.My heart hammered in my chest as I turned to survey the entire place. I could feel nothing but danger. The closer I got to the Devil's Horn, the more apprehensive I became. Tales of the vicious, armed gangs that prowled these streets had made this place the stuff of nightmares. But the sight that greeted me as I approached left me speechless.The area had been cleared, utterly devoid of the violence that once made it a no-go zone. But instead of the hulking, gun-toting criminals I'd expected to see, I found myself facing a sea of hungry, bedraggled women.They were a shocking contrast to
RYAN'S POV~The construction site was eerily silent, the moonlight casting shadows on the half-built structures. The men on the night shift seemed small and insignificant. Their voices echoed through the empty streets, muted by the wind that whistled through the remains of the unfinished building. I looked at the construction site, but my mind was focused on something else entirely. Isabella.Isabella was always on my mind. I wondered what she was doing right now. Was she awake, busy? Maybe I could have brought her a coffee or a freshly-squeezed juice, but I knew that she wouldn’t want to see me. The thought sent a wave of pain through my chest, tightening my heart like a vice.I hated the way we were now. Once lovers, now strangers. I couldn’t bear the distance between us, and I was determined to do whatever it took to win her back.I turned away from the construction site, the men’s voices fading into the distance. The night air felt even colder now, and my heart pounded as I walke
RYAN'S POV~"Ladies and gentlemen, please let's welcome Alpha Ryan to come toast to us for better days ahead." The Alpha of Devil's Horn's territory voice rang out through the ballroom, and a wave of applause echoed off the walls. I felt the gazes of the pack fall upon me, but I kept my expression neutral, unaffected.I took slow, deliberate steps toward the stage, relishing the tension that filled the air. The alpha standing there flashed a smile at me, but I didn't return it. Instead, I inclined my head in acknowledgement.I mounted the stage, my eyes roaming the crowd, searching for Isabella's familiar face. She was nowhere to be seen, and my heart clenched in my chest."Thank you for joining me," the alpha said, and I nodded again, still giving nothing away.My gaze fell on Ross, sitting alone at the far end of the hall. His dark, predatory eyes locked with mine, and a chill ran down my spine. His manic grin sent a ripple of anger through me, but I kept my expression stony.I acce
RYAN'S POV~“You look very handsome, son." I spun around to face my mother, my eyes immediately feasted on her dazzling beauty. Her modern queen-like dress, sleek and floor-length, hugged her curves like a second skin. The peacock feathers plunging at her neckline were the perfect touch to make her shine like the midnight sky. The way she looked at me, younger and more beautiful than her years, made me beam with pride.I took her hands in mine and kissed the back of them, savoring her sweet scent. "I can't say anything less of you, mother. You've been nothing but an epitome of beauty," I murmured, my lips lingering on her skin. I noticed the blush creeping up her cheeks and couldn't help but grin."Oh you flatter me," she said, rolling her eyes playfully. I shook my head, amused by her teasing. But as I pulled her into a hug, I felt the tension in my shoulders. My mother's brows creased, her expression becoming more serious. "Why are you at the back stage, instead of going into the
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