(Almira’s POV)The fortress looms just past the olive trees, half in ruins, half reinforced by tech that doesn’t belong in a place this ancient.Motion sensors. Night vision cams.No doubt, someone rich and dangerous has paid good money to make this dump invisible to regular eyes.We crouch behind the brush, breathing slow. Damon’s a few paces behind, watching the road. Lysander is too close to me for comfort.“You take the west wall,” I say. “I’ll go straight in.”He frowns. “You always want to be the bait, don’t you?”“I don’t trust anyone else to do it right.”“Even me?”“Especially you.”His jaw tightens. “You really think I’d let anyone touch our kids?”“I think you’ve lied to me before,” I shoot back. “You’ve made decisions like you were the only one who mattered. Forgive me if I’m not thrilled to hand you my trust again.”He doesn’t respond. Maybe because I’m right.I don’t wait for his reply. I slip through the shadows, cloak pulled over my head, senses tuned to every sound. M
(Rachelle’s POV)They’re here.The twins. Almira’s children.I hear it from the servants before breakfast — whispered between dusting and folding towels. I’m sipping tea on the balcony, watching birds land on the railing like they know I’m in a mood.“Did you hear?” the younger one says, not knowing I’m listening. “The twins are back. Damon brought them straight to the Alpha’s quarters.”“Their mother too,” the older one adds, a little too loud. “She’s staying for a while.”I set my teacup down gently. The clink of porcelain is the only sound I allow.So, she’s here. Again.I rest a hand on my stomach, just enough to play the part. A gentle rub, a soft sigh. The baby bump is small, but it’s there. People soften when they see it. Men open doors. Women smile. It’s almost too easy.The first time I heard about the twins’ abilities, I didn’t believe it. It sounded like nonsense. Glowing eyes. Shadows that move. One of the servants even said Asher made a wolf go still just by looking at it
(Almira’s POV)I stood on the deck of the luxurious cruise ship, watching the frenzied celebration of the wolf packs. The void within me grew deeper. This is the annual Hunt Festival for all werewolves, a highly anticipated event akin to a year-end celebration. This year, it was hosted by the strongest wolf pack in North America. Not only did they provide expensive drinks, but they also gathered werewolves from various packs, greatly increasing our chances of finding mates.I came here solely to celebrate the festival. I had already chosen my mate, but that became history just ten minutes ago.My good-for-nothing mate betrayed me, grinning as he told me he had slipped and accidentally inserted his dick into a female wolf's vagina. That’s just as ridiculous as it sounds. Being an omega, he treated me like a fool to be toyed with, believing that I’m nothing without him.Of course, I had to prove him wrong. So, I slapped him and rejected him. I bet he didn’t see that coming.As much as I
(Almira’s POV)*Ring! Ring! Ring!*I woke up to the sound of my alarm screaming at my ears.“Arghh…” I groaned as I blindly searched for it on the bed with my eyes still closed.This is probably one of those mornings where getting up on bed is the last thing I want to do. The sheets are just so cozy, and these arms hugging me are just so freaking warm.Wait…Arms? Hugging me?My eyes widened as a chilling realization washed over me. I could feel all the hair on my body standing up at the thought of having another person beside me in bed.I slowly lifted my head, avoiding to wake up whoever’s hugging me right now, and that’s when my face turned white. “What have I done…” I mumbled to myselfI silently gasped upon confirming that we’re both naked under the sheets inside an unfamiliar room.Everything went crashing back inside my head as soon as I saw the face of the man I spent the whole night with. That gorgeous face was the same fucking face who offered me drinks last night, and I don
Lysander's Pov[After That Night on the Cruise]“No records? Are you fucking kidding me? She managed to get into my party, and you’re telling me you don’t know how she did it?!”Beta Mid hung his head, admitting his incompetence in handling such a simple disappearance case. Frustrated, I hurled the champagne glass against the brick wall, unwilling to accept the fact that the woman who had spent the night with me had vanished into thin air.This was a first for me. Usually, the she-wolves would stay, begging for more privileges. But her? She slipped away while I was asleep!What infuriated me even more was the inexplicable pull she had on me—her kiss, her touch—it felt like my soul had finally been made whole after my dick had been sucked in.Mate. That was the only explanation. She was my mate, though I dared not admit it. From the age of 18 until now, 12 years later, I’ve been disappointed too many times.And her rank—she was an Omega… Could it really be true? As the strongest Alpha
[Almira’s Pov][One Month Later]I should’ve known better. The discrimination against Omegas within the packs was something the Alphas allowed to persist. Even though we’ve lived in the human community for so long, nothing has changed. When I woke up in Alpha Lysander’s bed after our one-night stand, I was so terrified that I ran away.I was scared. My ex-boyfriend, Liam, was just a Beta from a small pack, but even he treated me like I wasn’t worthy of love. How could I expect the Alpha of the most powerful pack in North America to accept me as his Luna?It was just a one-night stand, a way to get back at Liam for his infidelity. That’s all it was. I didn’t expect anything more from it. I believed he felt the same way. I thought my rejection would show him my pride—that I wasn’t the kind of woman who used her body to gain privileges.I refused his help. I believed I could handle my problems on my own. But then he insulted me, fired me, as if he regretted what happened between us. It h
(Almira’s POV)I’m currently sitting at the edge of my bed with my laptop balanced on my knees, staring at the screen.Lysander Hitwell.Maybe it’s just me, but that name sounds so sexy like him. His name alone sends a chill down my spine, and not in a good way. Well, maybe a little in a good way. I don’t know. My emotions are all over the place right now.I don't know how long I’ve been staring at my laptop. It’s probably long enough to call myself a psychopath.The pictures on the business site don’t help. He looks like he just stepped out of a magazine—broad shoulders, sharp jawline, dark hair always perfectly styled. And those eyes. I can’t even look at them for too long without feeling like I’m shrinking into myself.How did this happen? Of all people, why him? Why the guy who’s so far out of my league it’s laughable?It was yesterday when I found out that I was pregnant. Now, I’m back here in my house, shoving my face with gummy worms that I found hidden in the kitchen cabinets.
(Almira’s POV)How could this happen? I just saw him last week, and now he’s getting married?He acts like nothing ever happened between us. Like we didn't share that night. Or is it just one of hundreds of nights he spent with another woman? Nothing special. Just pure lust and sex.“Ma’am?" the receptionist calls, breaking my trance.I ignored her, and took a shaky step back, my gaze glued to the screen.Rachelle Black. Of course. She’s famous—beautiful, poised, a Beta from one of the most powerful Alpha in the region. Everything I’m not.I’m just a lowlife Omega whom he conveniently found attractive when he was horny from the alcohol.I feel sick.So, this is what he really thinks of me?A meaningless fling. Someone so insignificant he could forget me and move on in the blink of an eye.Without another word, I turned and walked out of the building. My steps are quick and uneven, my heart pounding in my chest, but that didn't stop me from forcing myself to stay as far away from that
(Rachelle’s POV)They’re here.The twins. Almira’s children.I hear it from the servants before breakfast — whispered between dusting and folding towels. I’m sipping tea on the balcony, watching birds land on the railing like they know I’m in a mood.“Did you hear?” the younger one says, not knowing I’m listening. “The twins are back. Damon brought them straight to the Alpha’s quarters.”“Their mother too,” the older one adds, a little too loud. “She’s staying for a while.”I set my teacup down gently. The clink of porcelain is the only sound I allow.So, she’s here. Again.I rest a hand on my stomach, just enough to play the part. A gentle rub, a soft sigh. The baby bump is small, but it’s there. People soften when they see it. Men open doors. Women smile. It’s almost too easy.The first time I heard about the twins’ abilities, I didn’t believe it. It sounded like nonsense. Glowing eyes. Shadows that move. One of the servants even said Asher made a wolf go still just by looking at it
(Almira’s POV)The fortress looms just past the olive trees, half in ruins, half reinforced by tech that doesn’t belong in a place this ancient.Motion sensors. Night vision cams.No doubt, someone rich and dangerous has paid good money to make this dump invisible to regular eyes.We crouch behind the brush, breathing slow. Damon’s a few paces behind, watching the road. Lysander is too close to me for comfort.“You take the west wall,” I say. “I’ll go straight in.”He frowns. “You always want to be the bait, don’t you?”“I don’t trust anyone else to do it right.”“Even me?”“Especially you.”His jaw tightens. “You really think I’d let anyone touch our kids?”“I think you’ve lied to me before,” I shoot back. “You’ve made decisions like you were the only one who mattered. Forgive me if I’m not thrilled to hand you my trust again.”He doesn’t respond. Maybe because I’m right.I don’t wait for his reply. I slip through the shadows, cloak pulled over my head, senses tuned to every sound. M
(Almira's POV)We arrive in Italy just before sunrise. Damon’s driving like he’s got fire in his veins, but it still feels too slow. Every minute my kids are out there with God knows who is a minute too long.As we pull up to Lysander’s estate, I see him already standing at the front steps like he’s been waiting. Of course he’s waiting. Perfect posture. Blank expression. Just like always.I don’t even let Damon stop the car fully before I jump out. My boots hit the ground hard, and I march straight toward him.“You’ve got nerve,” I say, arms crossed, staring him down. “Standing there like you didn’t just have my children taken.”Lysander raises an eyebrow. “Almira, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”“Don’t play innocent. You sent Damon to sniff around them. You’ve been poking into their lives without telling me. Now they’re gone. You really expect me to believe that’s a coincidence?”His eyes narrow. “I didn’t take them.”I let out a dry laugh. “Right. You just *happened* to be
(Reginald’s POV)The silver cage stands stark against the dim light filtering through the trees. It’s a place of containment, a carefully designed prison made to hold creatures like them. I stride toward it, the weight of authority heavy on my shoulders. Inside, the twins lay unconscious, their small bodies vulnerable against the cold metal.I watch as my men secure the locks, ensuring that the cage is impenetrable. They’ve been prepared for this moment for some time, but seeing it in action brings a strange satisfaction. These kids, with their inherited powers, will be the key to my strength and influence.“What now, Alpha?” one of my guards asks, looking between the twins and me.I consider them, each breath they take a reminder of their potential. “We wait. They’ll wake up soon enough. I want them to understand the power they possess—and what happens when they choose to defy it.”Another guard steps closer. “What if Almira comes looking for them?”I wave my hand dismissively. “Let
(Reginald’s POV)“Hold him tighter, damn it. He’s just a pup!”The guard stumbles, struggling to keep Asher pinned. The boy kicks and thrashes like a wild thing, teeth bared, his little body sparking with power. Impressive. Dangerous.“Let me go!” Asher yells, his voice cracking with rage.The other guard grips Hazel, who is crying now but still managing to bite down hard on the man’s wrist. He curses, shaking her off, blood dripping from his hand.I step out of the shadows, expression unreadable. My coat flaps in the wind, and the twins freeze when they see me.Asher’s eyes burn. “You—who are you? Let us go!”I don’t answer. I simply nod to the handler standing beside me. He pulls out the syringe.“No!” Asher screams, bucking harder. The first guard yells as Asher’s claws dig into his side. Blood spurts out. “Alpha—he’s—he’s too strong—”I step in and grab the boy’s jaw, holding him still.“Sorry, little wolf,” I say calmly. “Can’t have you tearing my men apart before we even get sta
(Almira’s POV)My body feels numb. My mind is screaming, but I can’t hear anything. Just the sound of the car speeding away, carrying my children—my whole world—with it.I can’t move.No. That’s a lie.I don’t want to move.Because the moment I move, it becomes real. The moment I let go of this frozen second, it means they’re gone. Really gone.“Asher… Hazel…”Their names fall from my lips like a prayer. Like a curse.A growl rises from deep inside me. Low at first, then louder. I shift back into my wolf form, my silver-white fur glowing under the pale sky. The blood of the rogues clings to my paws. I look at the remaining ones surrounding me.They’re not even running.They want to die.“Fine,” I whisper through the link. “Then die.”I charge.Something inside me snaps. I don’t hold back. I don’t think. I tear through flesh and muscle like paper. My power lashes out from my body—violent, chaotic, barely in control. The earth trembles beneath me. I don’t know what I’m doing, only that
(Almira’s POV)I feel the shift before it even happens. My bones crack. My skin stretches. My vision sharpens as fur replaces flesh. My white wolf form bursts through with a wave of raw power. Silver streaks shimmer under the moonlight. The cold air bites at my fur but it feels good. It feels alive.I growl low, steadying my stance. They're here.The wild rogues.One. Two. Six… nine of them. They charge without warning. No strategy. No hesitation. Just blind rage. Teeth bared. Claws out. Madness in their eyes.I leap at the first one. My jaws clamp around his shoulder and I slam him to the ground. He yelps but doesn’t stop. Another wolf barrels into me from the side, knocking me off balance.I hit the dirt hard, roll, and rise again.They keep coming.I swipe. Bite. Kick. Blood splashes across the ground but they don’t slow down. They don’t even seem to feel it.They’re not just wild. They’re… wrong.“Asher! Hazel!” I turn quickly to check on the kids. They’re still in the car, wide-e
(Almira's POV)This is the right thing to do. I know that. I just hope that Lysander doesn't find his way to us. I can't let him have my children.The hum of the engine is the only thing filling the silence of the car. My hands grip the steering wheel tightly as the sun creeps higher over the trees. The twins are sitting in the back, unusually quiet.I know they're confused about our sudden plans to leave our house. I just told them that I'm pulling them out of their school to leave for a new place. It's not exactly something they wanted to do right now.“Where are we going again?” Hazel piped up.I glanced at her through the rearview mirror and force a calm smile. “A little trip, sweetheart. Just for a few days.”“To where?” Asher pushed. “We didn’t even pack our toys.”“It’s not about toys this time,” I said.“We just… need a little break from the city.”Asher folded his arms. “Is this about the new neighbor? The one across the street?”I blinked. “What?”“Yeah,” Hazel joined in. “Th
(Almira's POV)I shove another shirt into the bag, my hands working fast. There’s no time to second-guess this. Lysander is back in America. That means he’s no longer lurking around, watching us from a distance, waiting for the right moment to make his move. If I don’t act now, I might lose the chance forever.The room is dimly lit, just the bedside lamp casting a soft glow. My heart pounds as I fold a small hoodie and tuck it in next to the other clothes. The twins will need warm clothes where we’re going. It’ll be safer.I hear the door creak open, and I freeze for a moment before exhaling when I see Rich step inside. His hair is messy, and he’s rubbing sleep from his eyes.“They’re awake,” he mutters, voice thick with grogginess. “Why’d you tell me to wake them? It’s still early.”I zip up the bag and turn to him. “Because Lysander left for America. We need to move now.”Rich frowns, stepping further into the room. “You mean—you’re taking them to the base pack?”I nod. “I have to.