***Henry****“Where do you think you are going?” A voice is behind me as I walk through the living room of the pack house with the load of laundry in my arms. My step stopped as I knew the danger of being caught snooping around where I wasn’t supposed to be. The voice belonged to the pack warrior, Cody, who had a stern expression on his face. I quickly stuttered out an excuse about looking for the laundry room before making a hasty retreat.“Stop right where you are,” Cody, one of the pack warriors, said, putting his hand on my hip as he pointed his finger at me. “Henry.” A smile formed on Cody’s lips as he pushed my body to the ground, making the load of laundry fall to the ground with a loud thud.“What are you doing?” I shouted, trying to stand up, but Cody put his feet on my chest, pinning me down. “You’re not going anywhere,” he growled, his eyes filled with malice as the surrounding people laughed seeing me struggling.“Leave me alone, Cody,” I shouted, feeling a surge of fear a
***Henry****I shook my head, trying to get up, but the pain in my leg was too intense. But I somehow managed to stand up, gritting my teeth through the pain.I wish I could just lie down and rest and not have to do anything else for the rest of the day. The throbbing ache in my leg was a constant reminder of the pain and abuse that had happened to me earlier.A cough broke from my mouth as I leaned to pick up the dirty laundry from the ground that Cody and his friend had crushed under their boots. I winced as I straightened up, the weight of the laundry causing a sharp pain to shoot through my ribs. I knew I had to finish this chore or I might not get any dinner tonight. The thought of a warm meal waiting for me was the only thing keeping me going as I pushed through the pain and exhaustion.I somehow managed to go to the laundry room and put the clothes in the washer before collapsing onto the couch.My body is aching, and my mind is foggy, but at least the laundry is started. I’ll
****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 t
***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****The pull between us felt like gravity, an invisible force that I couldn’t escape, no matter how hard I tried. Every breath I took carried Xavier’s scent deeper into my lungs, and it only made things worse. My wolf, the part of me that was supposed to stay hidden, was roaring to the surface, urging me to submit. But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.Xavier’s presence was overpowering, the space between us a cauldron of heat, tension, and something darker I couldn’t name. His amber eyes, molten gold, were locked onto mine with an intensity that made my pulse quicken. The soft flicker of a smirk played at the corner of his lips, as though he knew exactly what I was feeling. But I refused to let him see it.The distance between us was closing, and each step he took made my breath come faster, each movement a reminder of the battle I was losing.“You’re fighting it, Henry," Xavier's voice was a low growl, rough like gravel being ground underfoot. It sent a shiver down my spine, and I fo
****Henry****The pull between us felt like gravity, an invisible force that I couldn't escape, no matter how hard I tried. Every breath I took carried Xavier’s scent deeper into my lungs, and it only made things worse. My wolf, the part of me that was supposed to stay hidden, was roaring to the surface, urging me to submit. But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.Xavier, with his powerful presence, was just steps away, and I could feel the weight of his gaze on me like a physical touch. His amber eyes, the color of molten gold, locked onto mine with a knowing, patient intensity that made my heart race. I wanted to look away. I wanted to flee. But I was frozen. His power and his dominance were suffocating.“You’re fighting it, Henry." Xavier's voice was rough, like gravel being ground underfoot. The words sent a shiver down my spine, but I couldn’t let myself respond.“I have to,” I muttered, barely above a whisper, my voice cracking as the struggle inside me intensified. “I can't just give in to
****Henry***The storm outside raged harder, its winds howling against the fragile walls of the hut, as if echoing the chaos inside Xavier. The tension in the room was unbearable, suffocating even. His anger rolled off him in waves, crackling like static in the air, and I could feel it deep in my bones.Xavier's wolf was clawing at him from the inside, desperate to break free, to tear through the world in a frenzy of violence and rage. I could feel it—his pulse quickening, his breath shallow as though every part of him was about to snap. The physical pain from his injuries was still there, but it was nothing compared to the battle waging in his mind, his wolf fighting for dominance, threatening to overtake everything. His wounds—if the wolf took control now—would never heal. And that knowledge, that fear, made every muscle in his body tense, every inch of his frame rigid with control."Henry…" His voice was rough, like gravel scraped against skin, but his eyes, wild and desperate, loc
****Henry**** The storm outside howled, battering the hut’s fragile walls with all the fury of a wild beast. But it was the storm brewing inside that had me on edge—a storm that was far more dangerous, one that could rip apart everything I held onto. Xavier’s body was rigid behind me, his breath shallow, his pulse erratic as we both waited—silent, still—like prey caught in a predator’s grip. Diego and Cody were still out there, their voices low and sharp, threading suspicion through the air like a blade. Their presence hung in the air, thick with the promise of discovery. It was only a matter of time. And then came a shift. A soft thud. The unmistakable sound of paws padding against the ground. A growl rumbled through the room, and a dark shape slid into the shadows, its glowing eyes filled with urgency. Xavier’s muscles tensed, every fiber of his being on alert. I could feel his anger rising, like a fire building under his skin. His control was slipping—just barely. And I knew, de
*****Henry****The wind howled outside, battering the walls of the abandoned hut, but the cold couldn’t touch us—not like it should have. We were different. Stronger. The storm outside was nothing compared to the one brewing inside, a storm that threatened to tear us apart from the inside out.Xavier’s body was pressed against mine, so close I could feel the heat of him seeping through the thin fabric of our clothes. The hut was small, cramped, and suffocating, but we didn’t dare move. Every shift, every breath, every sound could give us away. We had no choice but to stay still, to hold on to the silence, to hold on to each other.His hand was on my waist, gripping me as though I was the only thing keeping him grounded, as though the tension between us could break at any moment. We were too close. Too exposed. I could feel his heartbeat hammering against my back, his chest rising and falling in time with mine. It was a shared rhythm, but one that only amplified the fear creeping into
****Henry****The wind howled outside, like an animal snarling at the walls, but inside, the storm was something different. It wasn’t just the rattle of the windows or the chill creeping into the room—it was Xavier. His presence was like an electric current in the air, humming with tension, too thick to ignore. My heart beat faster, but it wasn’t just the danger outside that made it race. No, it was the way Xavier stood there, so close, so impossibly close, that it felt like the world had narrowed to just the two of us."Don’t focus on the storm," Xavier said, his voice low, almost a whisper. He stepped closer, his body shifting just slightly, like he was testing the distance between us, like he could feel the pull too. And I hated how much I wanted to close the gap.I forced myself to breathe and to focus. Cody and Diego were out there, getting closer with every passing moment, but all I could think about was Xavier and how every part of me responded to him. It was insane how quickly
**Henry**The storm outside howled, pounding against the walls like a beast trying to break free. But it was nothing compared to the storm inside me. My heart raced, drumming in my chest, every beat echoing in my ears as I stared at Xavier. His presence—unshakable, magnetic—pulled me in with a force that defied reason. With every flicker of his gaze, every subtle shift of his body, I felt that magnetic pull growing stronger, like the space between us was shrinking with each passing second. I tried to focus on the danger, on Cody and Diego outside, but it was impossible. Xavier was too close. His every movement, every breath, was like a temptation I couldn’t resist. My pulse quickened, and I couldn’t tell if it was the looming threat of the storm outside or the storm that raged between us."Xavier," I said, the words coming out lower than I intended, almost a breathless whisper. "What’s the plan here?"The sound of my voice—it was barely a murmur, soft with need. I cursed myself for i
*****Henry******“Xav…,” Before words can come out of my mouth, Xavier takes his hand over my mouth and whispers, “Shh...” He shook his head, his turning black eyes locking with mine, silently warning me to stay quiet. The tension in the air was palpable as we both strained to hear any movement around us. My mind raced with questions, wondering what danger could be lurking nearby.What should I do now? Xavier is injured, so I have to be responsible for making sure we both stay safe and protected.Xavier tried to stand, but I held him back, not wanting him to strain his injured body; his legs hadn’t yet healed because of the effect of wolfbane on his body.Xavier seems angry at my decision, but I know it’s for the best. I place my hand on his shoulder to reassure him that everything will be okay. “Shhh, let me protect you this time,” I whispered softly, with my lips close to his ear. I can feel a heart hammer in my chest, with my stomach twisting in knots with a sense of danger and a t
*****Henry******A loud howl pierced the night, interrupting our conversation and signaling the presence of danger nearby. Xavier’s eyes widened in alarm, his instincts kicking in as he prepared to face whatever threat was approaching. I turned my eyes on Xavier, both senses on alert.I could see the tension in his body as he braced himself for the impending danger, his wolf's side ready to protect us both. As the howls grew closer, I knew that whatever was coming our way would test our bond and trust in each other like never before.Xavier tried to stand but pushed his shoulder, stopping him to move. “Seat, your legs are injured,” I said firmly, my own instincts urging me to protect him as well.Xavier tried to push past me. “Henry, maybe the rogue is trying to flank us; we need to be ready,” he insisted, his voice filled with determination.“I said seat,” I repeated, holding my ground as the howls echoed through the night, signaling the approach of danger. Xavier finally relented, s