****Xavier*****
“Did you find the culprit behind the incident?” I asked, brushing my hair in front of the mirror. “No, not yet,” my beta replied with a worried expression. “Five years have passed since the incident, and we still have no leads,” he added, his tone filled with frustration. “Maybe you should let go of the past and focus on the present,” he suggested, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. I closed my fist, turning my head towards Dean, my eyes filled with determination. “I will rest until I catch the one responsible for what happened,” I declared, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. “Just do what you have asked to do,” I stated, wearing my shirt and heading out the door, ready to start my day. Dean bowed his head in understanding, knowing that I was not going to give up until I found the one who ruined everything in my life. As I walked out into the morning sun, staring at the horizon with a steely gaze, “What day is it?” I asked, walking towards my car. Dean opened the door for me and replied, “It’s Tuesday, sir.” “Date?” I inquired as I got into the car. “June 15... why do you ask?” Dean responded, his tone filled with concern. I simply shook my head and started the car. Today is Henry’s birthday; the fool will finally turn 18 today. “Turn the car to pack house. I want to check on some things before we head to work,” I instructed Dean as we drove towards the packing house. Dean nodded in understanding and followed my directions without question. Maybe today I will finally get a chance to meet him. It has been 5 years since the last time I saw Henry, and I can’t help but wonder how much he has changed since then. Dean glanced at me with a knowing look, as if he could sense the anticipation in my eyes. “Why the pack house today?” he asked curiously. I simply smiled and kept my thoughts to myself, eager to see what the day would bring. “I am the Alpha; should I not be aware of what is happening within my pack?” Dean questioned, his tone slightly challenging. Dean nodded, continuing to watch me closely as we made our way to the packhouse, his curiosity evident in his eyes. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement building within me, knowing that reuniting with Henry after so long would bring about a wave of emotions and memories. He is my dear brother, but after becoming the Alpha of the pack, I have made myself different from him to keep him away from any potential conflicts of interest. I can’t let any harm come to him because of my position, no matter how much I miss him. It’s a sacrifice I have to make for the greater good of our pack. The car comes to a halt outside of the pack house, where Henry lives with other pack members. As I step out of the car, I can already feel the familiar bond between us pulling me closer to him, despite the distance I’ve tried to maintain. “Just once I want to see him without the past defining our interactions,” I think to myself as I walk towards the pack house. A sweet smell wafts through the air, a scent mix with cinnamon and pine, as my wolf howls in excitement at the thought of finding his mate within the pack house. I close my eyes, inhaling the scent deeply, allowing it to calm my nerves and reassure me that I am where I belong. I waited 5 long years, and my mate was always within my pack, but why haven’t I found her yet? The anticipation builds as I step closer to the packhouse, wondering if today will finally be the day I meet my destined mate. “Alpha..you are here?” One of the omega wolves shifts nervously, sensing my presence before I even enter the packhouse. I nod, a surge of hope and excitement filling me as I realize that perhaps today is the day my search will finally come to an end. “I want to walk through the packhouse and meet every member,” I said, my heart pounding with the possibility of finally finding my mate among them. “But why?” he asked, making me raise my eyebrow at his disrespectful tone. “Do as I say and call everyone in the living room,” I command, my alpha authority coming through in my voice. The omega nodded, turning to leave me alone with Dean as I waited anxiously for the pack members to gather. “Why do you want to meet every member?” Dean questioned, his eyes filled with curiosity. “Because I have a feeling that my mate is among them,” I replied, feeling a surge of hope and excitement at the thought. “Your mate is in this pack?” Dean asked, surprise evident in his voice. “Yes, and I will not rest until I find her,” I declared, determination shining in my eyes as I prepared to meet the rest of the pack members. I walked towards the group, my heart pounding with anticipation, ready to search for the one who would complete me. But the scent of my mate was already beginning to linger in the air, leading me closer to her with each step. I walked aimlessly around the pack, following the scent trail. My senses heightened and I focused on finding her. The thought of finally being reunited with my mate filled me with a sense of purpose and drive that pushed me forward. “Where are you?” I asked silently to myself, the urgency in my voice matching the intensity of my search. The connection between us was undeniable, and I knew that once we were together, nothing would ever be the same. My step comes to a halt as I catch a glimpse of her familiar silhouette in the distance, my heart racing with anticipation. She turns around, our eyes meeting, and a smile slowly creeps onto her face. “Alpha,” she whispers, her voice filled with relief and love. My nose tingles with the scent, but it is not the same scent that my wolf is howling for. She is not my mate. I walked away from her without looking back. But before I move, the familiar scent lingers and frails my nostrils as something heavy falls on my shoulder. “Mate,” my wolf growls, recognizing the scent before I do.***Henry****A new day, a new beginning. I thought of pushing myself out of bed even if I didn’t want to. My body is still aching from the abuse from last night, and the lack of food only increases my fatigue. But I know that I have to get up and do my work or I might get punched yet again, and I don’t think my body is strong enough to handle any more abuse. So, I take a deep breath, muster up my strength, and slowly start my day, hoping for a better tomorrow.I took a cold bath in the common bathroom that is shared by the entire floor, feeling the chill seep into my bones; it was so cold that I could barely feel my fingers. I wish I could have warm water for a change, but that luxury is far out of reach for me. Despite the discomfort, I remind myself that this is just a temporary situation and I must stay strong.I made my room, changing and wearing the same clothes that I had been wearing for days now, but I didn’t have any other options at the moment. As I look around my small, dim
****Xavier*****“Mate,” my wolf growls, recognizing the scent before I do.But my world shook as a similar face came into view—the one I thought I would never see again. My heart raced with a mix of emotions, unsure of how to react after all this time apart.“Henry...” I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. The memories flooded back, both painful and beautiful, as I struggled to process the sudden connection that had reignited between us. Henry’s eyes held a mixture of regret and longing, mirroring my own conflicted feelings.Henry is my mate. How can this be possible? I thought to myself in disbelief. The bond we once shared seemed unbreakable, yet here he was, standing before me. As our eyes locked, I could sense that he, too, was grappling with the same overwhelming emotions that threatened to consume us both.But before I could say anything, Henry ran away from me, leaving me with an overwhelming thought of our new connection and the unanswered questions that lingered in the
***Henry****“It’s you,” Xavier whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the pouring rain outside as his lips connected with mine in a soft, gentle kiss. For a moment, my mind went numb with shock and disbelief. The feeling of his touch sent shivers down my spine, making me forget about everything else at that moment. His smell fills my nostrils, making my wolf howl in approval, recognizing its mate.But the human in me knew this was wrong and dangerous. I pushed Xavier on his back, breaking the kiss abruptly, and took a step back, trying to regain my composure. “What are you doing? This... this doesn’t seem right,” I stammered, my heart racing with conflicting emotions. “We can’t do this.”Xavier rubbed his chin, a smile playing on his lips, his eyes dark with desire. “I know it’s wrong, but I can’t fight this pull between us,” he whispered, stepping closer. “I need you.”Xavier’s words made my mind race with desire and confusion. Despite knowing the consequences, I coul
****Herny****Tears started forming on my face as I struggled to hold back the flood of emotions overwhelming me. Xavier’s words: “You are bound with me forever; I will not mate, but also not allow you to mate with anyone else. You are mine, and that is not a choice you get to make.” Echoes through my mind, leaving me feeling trapped and suffocated by his possessiveness. The weight of his declaration settled heavily on my shoulders, making me question if I would ever be able to break free from his control.I lowered my head, trying to hide the tears streaming down my face, as I realized there was no escape from Xavier’s possessive grip. His words echoed in my mind, haunting me with the realization that I may never truly be free from his control.I always wanted a mate, and I always wished that my mate would be loving and supportive, not suffocating and controlling like Xavier. Not someone who is my stepbrother, not someone who hates me for reasons I can’t understand. I yearned for a l
****Xavier****“Reject me….” Henry’s voice echoes in my mind as I struggle to comprehend the pain in his words. His eyes, filled with hurt and disappointment, pierce through me, leaving me with a sense of regret and longing. And the bruises on his body who could have hurt him so badly? And the bloodstains on his shirt, evidence of the physical violence he endured. My heart aches at the thought of someone causing him such harm, and I vow to punish whoever is responsible for hurting him in such a cruel way.But even so, why do I care if he rejects me or not? Why does it matter so much? Was it because we are mates or because, deep down, I know he is the one who truly understands me like no one else ever could? His rejection feels like a betrayal of the bond we share, making me question everything I thought I knew about our connection.“You looked stressed...” Dean’s voice broke through the silence in the car, bringing me back to reality.“It’s nothing serious,” I replied, forcing a smil
*****Henry****A whole day has passed since the last time we spoke. And his words still echo in my mind: “I will make you feel rejected and unwanted every day if that’s what you truly desire.” What does he mean by that?And why is he soon keen about the mate bond? He hates me more than anyone else. But he still wants me, his stepbrother, to be his mate, even though the thought of it digs me.It’s not like I don’t feel any bond with him; I do, and my world is jumping and howling when he smells our mate bond. But the idea of being with Xavier in that way is unsettling. It’s a confusing and complicated situation that I’m not sure how to navigate.If there was anything that I wanted more than anything, it was someone to love me, a mate who would cherish me and make me feel complete. But the thought of being with Xavier in that way makes my stomach turn. I’m torn between my desire for love and my discomfort with the idea of him as a mate. I don’t even know why he is back in my life after f
****Henry*****The wolf’s eyes glowed in the darkness, its snarl revealing sharp teeth that glistened in the moonlight. Cody and I exchanged a look of silent understanding before slowly backing away, knowing that our chances of survival had just become even slimmer.“Rogues...” I mumbled under my breath, recognizing the dangerous predator in front of us. Cody’s grip on my arm tightened as we continued to retreat, hoping to escape without triggering an attack.“We don’t know how many they are or where they might be hiding,” Cody whispered, his voice barely audible over the rustling of leaves. “Let’s stick together and stay alert,” I replied, my heart pounding with fear as we navigated through the moonlit forest.I nodded my head. No matter how much Cody bullied me or hurt me, I knew that he was a warrior, and trusting him right now was best for our survival. Letting go of my fear and placing my trust in Cody’s instincts, we pressed on, determined to make it out of the forest safely.“S
****Henry****I shook my head, not understanding how he could have come to such a conclusion. His accusations were baseless, but the look in his eyes made me realize that convincing him otherwise would be nearly impossible. But why does Cody think of me this way? What could I have possibly done to make him believe such things about me?“Now shut up and stay here,” he growled, his grip on my arm tightening even more. “While I go,” he trailed off, leaving me with a sinking feeling in my stomach. I knew that whatever he was planning would not end well for me.I nodded my head in defeat, knowing I had no choice but to comply. I watch as Cody moves quickly and decisively away from our hiding spot behind the tree, disappearing from sight. I could feel my heart racing with fear and uncertainty, wondering what his next move would be and how I could escape this dangerous situation.I turn my head here and there to see if there are any rogue wolves lurking nearby, ready to pounce at any moment.