As I lay in Chase's arms, my tears slowly drying on my cheeks, I felt his warmth envelop me. I couldn’t tell how much time passed with me just laying in his chest and crying my eyes out. He didn’t ask me to stop crying. He just sat there in silence, his fingers caressing my hair as I let it all out.It was more than enough for me. Knowing he was there and would always be there even at my lowest. I could ask for more. His gentle strokes on my hair soothed my frazzled nerves till my cries reduced to quiet sobs and then totally stopped coming, leaving just a hollow feeling in my chest."Hey," he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. "You know what I love about you?"I lifted my gaze to meet his, my eyes still watery. "What?" My voice was hoarse from crying.Chase's smile was soft, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Everything."I chuckled and rolled my eyes, feeling a lump form in my throat."No, seriously," he continued, his voice filled with sincerity. He held my chin softly to keep
_Chase's POV_As we finished breakfast, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Our time in Bora Bora was coming to an end, and reality awaited us back home. The time we had spent here gave me a peek of a carefree Elodie, and knowing she was all mine now added to her already existing charm and allure.I had been joking when I said we should move our lives here, but if she had just said the word, I would have moved us up here in a heartbeat.I stared down at the woman who had me wrapped around her tiny fingers and my heart swelled when I realized how far I would go to fulfill her every whim.We spent the morning packing and preparing for our departure. Elodie’s seamless movements amazed me as she effortlessly organized our belongings. I, on the other hand, struggled to fold my shirts without wrinkling them."Need some help?" Elodie teased, snatching a shirt from my hands."I think I've got this," I replied, pretending offense, though I backed away to let her do her thing.She chuc
_Chase’s POV_I stepped into the modest house, my senses on high alert. Laila's tense demeanor and the eerie silence had my wolf growling, ready for any sight of trouble. As I entered the dimly lit room, a pungent smell assaulted my nostrils - sweat, dirt, and something feral.I felt Laila hold her breath next to me, and my eyes adjusted slowly, and what I saw made my blood run cold.A wolf, once a member of our pack, now lay chained to the floor. His eyes, once bright and full of life, had turned wild and vacant. His fur was matted, dirty, and scarred.My heart sank and I felt like buckets of scalding hot and ice cold water had been emptied over my head at the same time.“How is this…. How is this possibl…” I stuttered, my voice clogged up in my throat.“It happened in the early hours of this morning. Good thing we were able to discover it on time,” Laila said, her own voice thick with the weight of the impending doom this meant.But how was this possible?Laila had prepared a cure t
_Chase's POV_I held Elodie close, her trembling body pressed against mine. Her scream still echoed in my mind, and I could feel her fear pulsing through her veins.I ground my teeth so hard I subconsciously thought there were going to sink into my gum.I had my arms wrapped around her in a tight hug, but for the first time, there wasn’t much comfort I could provide as she shook like a leaf on a winter night.Who could have sent such a twisted gift? I had my eyes fixed on the trash can where I’d tossed it like if I stared at it long enogh, I could conjure the sender up and separate them limb by limb.Elodie's eyes were wide, her pupils dilated and wet with tears, as she stared at the spot where the box had lain."Shh, it's okay," I whispered, my voice soft and soothing. "You're safe now."But she couldn't shake off the horror.Her body shook, her teeth chattering, as she clung to me.My heart broke into a million pieces.She didn’t belong to this world. She didn’t belong to my world,
Two weeks had passed since our return from Bora Bora, and I'd barely seen Chase. His duties as Alpha consumed him, especially with the rising cases of feral wolves. Our pack was on high alert, and the tension was thick.Security around the house had tightened visibly. Guards patrolled the grounds in turns, their eyes scanning the area for any sign of danger. I never ventured out, less because I was content to stay within the safety of our walls, and more because Chase had pleaded with me on the dangers that lurked outside.He looked so scared and I didn’t want to be another pile of burden on his shoulders, so I stayed put.But this morning was different.As I woke, I felt Chase's warmth beside me. His head resting on my stomach, his body nestled between my legs, his hands on either sides of me, holding me close. I looked down to face him, surprised, because he was already out of the house before I opened my eyes these days."Chase, you're still here," I whispered, my voice laced with
_Chase's POV_I emerged from the damp, dimly lit cellblock, the stench of wet fur and desperation clinging to me, their snarls and howls as I left the cell, ringing loudly in my ears. Another feral werewolf locked away, a temporary solution to a growing problem.Laila's antidote that once alleviated my worries, now seemed to have lost its potency. We'd tried everything to revive its effectiveness, but nothing worked. Locking them up was our only option, a stopgap measure until we found a new solution, because putting them out just like we’d done the first one about two weeks ago, would only send our pack into extinction faster than the lone wolf would.As I walked into the bright sunlight, I squinted my eyes from the harsh rays as Gideon approached me, his expression grim."Alpha, we've got nothing on the lone wolf," he said, his voice laced with frustration.My anger simmered, threatening to boil over. "What do you mean 'nothing'?" I growled.Gideon hesitated. "We've tracked every l
I slowly opened my eyes, grogginess clouding my mind like a thick fog that refused to lift. I blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the darkness in the room.The only source of light came from a tiny window at the top of the wall, and that was the only indicator of the time of day it was.It was night.The air reeked of dampness and decay, a putrid smell that churned my stomach and made my skin crawl. As I blinked, trying to clear the haze, my gaze fell upon the cold, unforgiving stone walls that seemed to close in around me, suffocating me.Panic set in, its icy fingers wrapping around my heart, squeezing tight. My mind raced, desperately trying to recall how I ended up in this godforsaken place, and the memory came to me in fragmented pieces. The last thing I remembered was shopping with Margaret, laughing and carefree, and then...nothing. The void in my memory was terrifying, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t fill it.My eyes scanned the cramped cell, taking in the iron
_Chase’s POV_I stormed through the empty halls of my mansion, my footsteps echoing off the marble floors. A small part of me wished that she would be running down the stairs, laughing and jumping on me like she usually did whenever I got back home, but the silence was deafening, a harsh reminder of her absence. She was really gone. The reality struck a painful chord within me.Twenty-four hours. It had been twenty-four agonizing hours since she vanished.My eyes scanned the deserted rooms, searching for any sign of life, anything that would pull me out of this nightmare. But there was nothing, just the faint scent of her that lingered in the air.No trace of her laughter, no whisper of her voice. The void was suffocating, and I felt like my heart was being ripped right out of my chest.I slammed my fist onto the kitchen counter, the granite cracking beneath my rage. The sound resonated through the stillness, a futile attempt to release the pent-up fury.How could they take her from
I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. My 21st birthday, and I felt like a whale. Seven months pregnant, and I was huge. I puffed out a sigh, running my hands over my swollen belly, as I was told to expect popping soon since my babies had Alpha growth.Pups, they called them."I look like a hippopotamus," I muttered, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes.Chase appeared behind me, his arms wrapping around my waist. "You're the most beautiful woman in the world," he whispered, his lips brushing against my ear.I rolled my eyes. "You're biased."Chase chuckled. "Maybe, but it's true. You're glowing, Elodie. You're perfect."I turned to face him, my eyes searching his. "You really think so?" I sniffed my tears back.Chase nodded with a boyish grin. "I do. You're carrying our child, and that makes you even more beautiful to me."I felt a lump form in my throat. Chase had been my anchor throughout this pregnancy. He'd moved his work home, spending every day with
_Chase’s POV_I sat beside Elodie's hospital bed, my eyes fixed on her pale face. It had been a week since she'd been admitted, and still, she lay unconscious, her body hooked up to machines and oxygen tubes. The beeping of the monitors and the hiss of the ventilator were the only sounds that broke the silence. My heart ached with every beat, my soul torn apart by the sight of her fragile form.I reached out, taking her hand in mine, feeling the warmth of her skin, but it was a faint warmth. I’d tried to reach her wolf a number of times, but she too was very weak.It was like grasping at smoke. She was there, somewhere, deep within her, but she was weak, so weak. I poured all my energy into the connection, willing her to respond, to stir, to come back to me. But there was only silence.The hospital had provided a bed for me beside hers, and I'd spent every waking moment by her side. I woke up every morning with her hand in mine, and slept every night with her fingers intertwined with
Chapter 162_Chase’s POV_I paced back and forth in front of the barrier, my mind racing with every possible scenario, most of which I’d rather not recount lest they became real. Elodie had been in there for what felt like an eternity, and I was starting to lose my mind. I tried crossing the barrier again, but it was like running into a brick wall. I was pushed back, my body slamming against a nearby tree."Dammit!" I cursed, my fists clenched in frustration.Laila approached me. I’d seen more empathy in her eyes in the last few minutes than I’d done in my entire life, and if it were under any other circumstances, I would have laughed and asked her if she was losing her touch."Chase, calm down. You're going to hurt yourself,” she placed her hand on my shoulder, and from her misty eyes, I could tell how hard she was trying to control her tears.I turned to her, my eyes blazing with anger. "Calm down? You want me to calm down? Elodie's in there with a man who’s capable of doing……God k
My mind was a jumble of emotions as I stood there, frozen in shock. But as I gazed into the face of the man before me, a memory long buried rose to the surface. I was a child again, sitting on my father's lap, listening to his deep, rumbling voice as he read me a bedtime story. His eyes sparkled with amusement, his hands making animations, and his smile was warm and gentle. I felt safe, loved, and cherished."Elodie, my little star," he whispered, his breath tickling my ear.His voice cut through the daze, and I felt like I was dreaming. I wanted to believe I was dreaming. But as I looked into his eyes, I knew it was real. He was really there, standing in front of me, unchanged since the day he...since the day he died.I stumbled backward, my mind reeling. It couldn't be. My father was dead. I had mourned him, blamed myself for his death. The pain and guilt had haunted me for years.But there he was, not a day older, not a single strand of gray hair. His eyes, his smile, everything wa
Chase's face contorted in rage, his eyes blazing with fury. "I'll never let you go in there alone!" he thundered, his voice echoing through the night. My heart broke at the desperation in his eyes, and I rushed back to him, wrapping my arms around his waist."Chase, please," I whispered, burying my face in his chest. "I'll be fine. I promise."But he was beyond reason, and his body trembled with anger. "You're not going in there!" he shouted, his voice hoarse. "I won't let you!"He lightly pushed me away, his eyes scanning the warehouse as if daring the lone wolf to come out. "You want her?" he yelled, his voice carrying across the distance. "You want my mate? Come out and face me, you coward! If you think you're man enough!"The others tried to calm him down, but Chase was unstoppable. He paced back and forth, his eyes blazing with fury, the veins on his neck and forehead pulsing so hard I feared they would erupt. I tried to reason with him, but he wasn't listening."Chase, please,"
As we stepped out of the office, the crisp night air enveloped us, carrying the scent of damp earth and the distant howl of feral wolves that made my heart squeeze painfully. "We'll need to be discreet," Chase said, his voice low. "Let's shift."I nodded, the pain momentarily giving way to a thrill of excitement. My wolf stirred within me, eager to be free. I closed my eyes, focusing on the transformation. My body began to shift, my bones snapping, my muscles stretching. My senses heightened, and my skin itched as my fur grew.But as I opened my eyes, I realized everyone was staring at me. Laila's eyes were wide with wonder, and even Gideon's gruff expression softened. I felt a flush rise to my cheeks, but Chase's gaze was the only one that mattered. His eyes shone with pride, his face radiant with awe."Elodie," he whispered, his voice husky. "You're...breathtaking."My wolf, pure white and majestic, stood tall, her fur glistening in the moonlight. I felt a surge of power, of freedo
_Chase's POV_I stared at Elodie, my jaw clenched, and I felt myself about to snap in half with frustration. How could she be so stubborn? Didn't she understand the danger?But as I looked into her eyes, I saw something that made me pause. A fierce intensity burned within them, a determination that told me she would do this with or without my permission.I recalled my conversation with Laila earlier that evening, her words echoing in my mind."Chase, we've tried everything. We've lost so many pack members. This is the only way to stop the lone wolf," she'd said, her eyes solemn."I won't risk Elodie's life," I'd growled.Laila's expression had been somber. "I understand your concerns, but we can't keep running. We need to take a stand. And Elodie...she's the key. I don’t know how, but she is."I'd rejected the idea, but now, looking at Elodie, I realized that Laila might be right.The past 24 hours had seen more pack members go feral. The lone wolf's poison was spreading, and I knew w
I woke to darkness, the silence a heavy blanket that wrapped around me. My eyes adjusted slowly, and I made out the familiar contours of our bedroom. But it was the figure sitting beside me that made my heart skip a beat.Chase.His eyes, piercing in the dim light, locked onto mine. My panic, residual from the day's events, dissipated under his gaze."Hey," I whispered softly as if speaking too loud would break whatever spell his eyes had put me under.A soft smile creased Chase's face, but his eyes told a different story. They were dark, troubled.I pushed myself up, my movements cautious, my wolf senses on high alert. Chase's gaze never wavered, his focus solely on me."Hey," he replied, his voice low, husky.I reached out, my hand brushing against his jaw. His stubble prickled my fingertips, sending shivers down my spine."Couldn't sleep?" I asked, my brow furrowing.Chase shook his head, his eyes evading mine. "Just watching you."My smile faltered, sensing something was off. "Cha
_Chase’s POV_I held Elodie tight, her body trembling against mine. The room's stunned silence was a distant hum, my focus solely on my fragile mate.As the reality of what had just happened sunk in, Elodie's strength began to wane. Her legs buckled, and I swept her into my arms, cradling her like a child."Elodie, love, stay with me," I whispered, alarm coursing through my veins as her wolf grew weaker by the second.Her eyelids fluttered, her gaze unfocused. "Chase...""I'm here, baby," I replied, my voice shaking.Laila approached, her brows pinched together in concern, and her lips curled downward. "Chase, we need to—""Not now, Laila," I growled in a double voice, my wolf rising to protect our mate.Laila squinted her eyes at my tone, and I could almost hear the retort at the tip of her tongue, but she said instead, "Take care of her. We'll discuss the details later."I nodded, the pulse in my neck straining to burst, already striding out of the conference room.Elodie's head lol