I struggled to find the right words, my mind racing as I tried to piece together an explanation. "It was an emergency at the time. No one had the chance to react or even think about it," I said, my voice faltering under Aunt Carol's piercing gaze.But Aunt Carol wasn't convinced. She shook her head, wagging her finger at me. "No, no, no, that doesn’t make sense. Even if no one reacted immediately, what about afterward? Robert could have forced his mark on you. He wouldn’t have given up so easily. And during the week you were locked up, he didn’t cause you any trouble. So why didn’t your parents do something about it?"Her questions left me speechless. I had no answers that could satisfy her sharp intuition."The only possibility," Aunt Carol continued, "is that they couldn’t do anything. Or that your second mate prevented them from intervening. What kind of identity would make an Alpha’s successor in a powerful pack this afraid? What kind of power would make your parents unable to pro
Kate and I carried our luggage upstairs, our footsteps echoing softly in Aunt Carol's warm, wooden home. The house had a comforting feel, with its rustic wooden interior and charming cloth decorations. It was a reflection of Aunt Carol herself—welcoming and kind.We chose two rooms next to each other, and after briefly unpacking, I decided to check in on Kate. Just as I reached for my doorknob, the door to Kate’s room swung open from the inside. We both froze, staring at each other with matching expressions of surprise.It was a funny coincidence, and we couldn’t help but smile.I could tell that we both had things weighing on our minds, things we needed to talk about. So, still smiling, I said, "Come to my room."Kate nodded, and soon we were sitting together on the small sofa in my room’s cozy living area."What's going on with you and that Alpha?" Kate asked, her voice laced with curiosity."What exactly are you planning to do with that Lycan prince?" I asked at the same time.We b
"Can you believe he actually did that?" I said, feeling my frustration bubbling up.Kate sighed deeply, her voice tinged with sadness. "Yeah, you think so too, right? I mean, I've been with him for so long. We've had all these moments I thought were special, and now he's telling me he feels some deep connection with someone he just met. It's like everything we had was meaningless." She paused, looking down at her hands. "So I told him to delete her contact and to never speak to her again."I nodded, understanding why Kate would make such a demand. Who could stand the thought of their boyfriend having such a strong connection with another woman?"But," Kate continued, her voice wavering, "he said they’re just friends. He thinks I'm overreacting, that I don't trust him. We had this huge fight. I told him he has a week to figure it out, or we're done."I could see how hurt Kate was, curled up on the sofa like she was trying to protect herself from more pain. I reached out, rubbing her ba
I hesitated for a moment before reaching deep into the box and pulling out a small, almost empty bottle. Handing it to Kate, I said, "This is all I have left. You'll need to use it carefully."Kate's face lit up, and she gave me a big, grateful hug. "You're a lifesaver, Cecily," she said with a smile.I hugged her back, but my thoughts were elsewhere—on Michael. If he found me because of this, I knew I'd have to accept whatever he decided. I just hoped that when the time came, he’d show me a little mercy.The next morning, I woke up feeling surprisingly better. My chest wasn’t as tight as it had been, and although breathing was still a bit uncomfortable, the nausea had mostly passed. I reached out to my wolf, Mia, in my mind. She responded, though weakly, and I could tell she wasn’t as angry as she had been yesterday. She was lending me her strength, helping me cope.'Thanks, Mia,' I thought, grateful for her support.Mia gave me a half-hearted, slightly sarcastic response, but I knew
After breakfast, I offered to clear the table, wanting to keep myself busy. Aunt Carol had some errands to run in the morning, so she left us with a smile and the freedom to do as we pleased around the pack. I washed the dishes, trying to shake off the unease that had settled in my chest, but it wasn’t long before I noticed Kate was nowhere to be found.I wandered around the first floor, my mind racing with thoughts of what might have happened. When I couldn’t find her downstairs, I made my way up to the second floor and saw her door was shut. I knocked softly, and when I heard her faint response, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.Kate was sitting on the edge of her bed, fiddling absentmindedly with a Rubik’s Cube. Her face was tense, and she seemed lost in thought, her usual lively demeanor replaced by something darker and heavier.I approached her quietly, sitting down beside her. "Do you want to talk about it?" I asked gently.Kate kept her eyes on the Rubik’s Cube, her fi
I felt like something had shifted, like I had tapped into a part of myself I didn’t even know existed. It was as if I could sense Kate’s every emotion, every hesitation, and somehow, I knew exactly what to say to make her feel better.Kate’s eyes, which had been glued to the floor, slowly lifted to meet mine. I gave her a reassuring smile, hoping it would be enough to ease the tension between us. "Kate," I began softly, "you’re one of the kindest, most selfless, and most attractive people I know. You’ve always had this unique spark that makes you stand out in a crowd. I’ve always envied you for that. You think I’m brave, but honestly, I’ve just been forced into situations where I had no choice but to act tough."I paused for a moment, gathering my thoughts. "Do you know why I came here? It wasn’t because I was brave or strong. It was because I couldn’t cope with my situation anymore, so I ran away. I knew deep down that Michael would find me eventually, but I couldn’t face him or my f
For the next few days, Kate and I made the most of our time at the Ancient Woods Pack. We let loose and enjoyed the freedom that came with our little getaway. With Aunt Carol giving us space, we didn’t bother with anything that could ruin our mood. Instead, we ate good food, went on long walks through the thick woods, and cooled off in the creek. It was a refreshing break from everything.The air at the Ancient Woods Pack was cooler, thanks to the dense canopy of trees, and the temperature felt just right for us werewolves. Lying on the soft grass in Aunt Carol’s backyard, I turned to Kate, who mentioned she’d run out of the powder I’d given her to mask her scent. She decided to stay inside today to avoid any run-ins with Alpha Alex, and honestly, I was a bit worried for her.Over the past few days, we hadn’t talked much about our mate situations. But I knew that before all this, Kate had been pretty optimistic about finding her mate. I thought that after the night we talked about it,
Kate’s face tightened for a moment, but then she said stubbornly, "I’ll leave it to the Moon Goddess to decide." I could tell that she was still grappling with some deep-seated fears about having a mate, probably because of what she’d seen me go through. But I’d already said all I could. All that was left was to support her in whatever choice she made.“Kate, whatever you decide, I’ve got your back,” I said, squeezing her hand. “But once you meet your mate, your body changes. I’ve felt it myself. If you don’t know they exist, it’s one thing. But when you do know and still keep away, it messes with you. It’s like going against what we are.”I started to share with her my own experiences, the intense feelings I’d had with both Robert and Michael. “You and your wolf will crave each other. You'll want to be near them, to touch them. And the more distance you put between you, the stronger that urge becomes.”“You saw what kind of shape I was in when I first got here,” I continued. “If it g
During that time, Joanna was always off somewhere, traveling by herself. No one knew where she went. She would leave for long stretches, sometimes disappearing for years, and didn’t bother checking in with anyone. Naturally, her parents freaked out, not knowing if she was safe or if something bad had happened to her.As I sat there by the water, Sasha handed me a drink. It was this weird, green liquid that I wasn’t sure about at first, but after a sip, I realized it was lemon tea, with a hint of mint. Not bad at all, really refreshing."And then?" I asked, curious about what happened next with Joanna.Sasha sighed, shaking her head like she regretted it a little. “Well, her parents eventually went to Michael's dad for help. Since Michael was good at handling this kind of stuff, his dad put him in charge of finding Joanna.”I sipped my drink again, enjoying the way the mint cooled me down from the inside. "So, Michael went after her?"Sasha looked at me with a mix of guilt and understa
Joanna might be an amazing actress, but honestly? She's not fooling me. It's like she's playing a role, trying to be someone she's not—probably because she can't stand that Michael and I are together. I could feel her trying to mess with us, but I wasn’t about to let her win. If she wanted to act, well, I could act too.The sunlight felt warm on my skin as I stood there watching her. I smiled confidently, letting Joanna see me looking totally unbothered. She dove into the water with all the grace of a fish. I had to admit, she did have an incredible body—she was rocking a white bikini that had these thin straps crisscrossing over her chest and waist, making her look like some kind of living sculpture. Even the lower half of her bikini had those same crisscrossing straps under her belly button. Honestly, it was a look.Meanwhile, Sasha was already in the water, her swimsuit much louder and flashier than Joanna's. She was wearing this fluorescent green bikini with stripes and a skirt th
Joanna’s POV“So, I’m not the kind of girl who lets a man push her around. After all that happened, I left anyway. But no matter how long I stayed away, I’d always get messages from Michael. Some of them were about family stuff, other times he’d talk about finding his mate or being engaged or something. Honestly, it was pretty confusing for me during that time.”Despite saying she was troubled, a small smile crept onto Joanna's face as if remembering something amusing.“Eventually, I figured out that all of those excuses were just Michael’s way of trying to get me to come back. There was never a fiancée or mate. It was all just a big story. So, I was a little surprised when I heard this morning that you two were mates. But, hey, you’re mates arranged by the Moon Goddess, so everything should be fine, right?”Joanna finished her little story with a bright smile, clearly satisfied with herself. But me? I was furious. My fists were clenched so tightly, I could feel my nails digging into
It wasn't until Michael had completely disappeared from view that I became aware of the unsettling stare from behind. I could feel Joanna’s eyes boring into me, but I refused to acknowledge her directly. Instead, I turned and made my way toward my room, hoping to escape the tension she brought with her presence.But, of course, Joanna just happened to be standing in my path.She wore that same infuriating smile, the one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Your relationship with Michael seems... strong. You’re quite adorable when you're with him, Cecily."Her words dripped with something—sarcasm? Malice? It was hard to tell. I wasn’t sure what she was getting at, but I didn’t care to find out. I wasn’t in the mood to engage with her."I'm heading back to my room," I said, keeping my tone as neutral as possible."I know I upset you yesterday, and for that, I’m truly sorry," Joanna replied, taking a step closer as if that would make her words more sincere. "I didn’t mean to offend you. Le
Joanna's giggle echoed through the room, its beauty contrasting with the venomous intent behind it. Her voice was as sweet as a siren’s, but I could feel the malicious undertones. "Former friends, Sasha? That's not quite accurate. Michael and I were more than friends."I knew Joanna was up to no good. I had seen it in her eyes the moment I met her. Whatever her goal was—whether to make me jealous, provoke anger, or worse—I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me unravel.She turned her gaze toward Michael, who remained focused on his coffee cup, now almost empty. He hadn’t acknowledged her presence, which gave me some comfort, but Joanna wasn’t finished. "If you two are truly mates," she said, her voice dripping with false innocence, "may I ask, was it the Moon Goddess who arranged this, or did Michael choose you?"Her question cut deep, even though it was wrapped in a seemingly casual tone. I clenched my fists under the table, my wolf surging with rage. Joanna was impl
"Would you like to come downstairs for breakfast, or should I bring it up to you?" Michael asked, his voice soft and tender. As he spoke, he reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair away from my face. His touch sent a warm shiver down my spine, the closeness between us undeniable.I found myself smiling at Michael, wondering how I hadn’t fully appreciated this side of him before. I had always been so caught up in our arguments, his domineering ways, and the battles for control that I had somehow missed these moments where he could be... sweet. The realization washed over me—there was more to him than the arrogance and possessiveness I had been focusing on. If I allowed myself to let go of the tension between us, there was an undeniable pleasure in being with him.“I’d like to go downstairs to eat,” I replied with a soft smile, feeling more at ease than I had in a while.We walked down the stairs together, and I found myself momentarily at peace. But as we descended, my mind wande
The night had ended in a comfortable silence, with both of us content in each other's presence. By the time I had finished my tasks, Michael was still seated at his desk, absorbed in a pile of paperwork. His brow furrowed in concentration, and I didn’t have the heart to disturb him, nor did I want to leave his side. So, I watched him, feeling the steady calm he radiated.Before I knew it, I had dozed off in the warm cocoon of the study, lulled by the scent of Michael that filled the room. It wasn’t long before I felt someone gently lift me. I knew it was Michael, and feeling safe in his arms, I allowed myself to drift deeper into sleep.When I finally woke up, the morning light was already creeping in through the curtains. My body felt well-rested and refreshed. At some point during the night, I had been changed into my pajamas, and I couldn’t help but wonder if Michael had been the one to wash and dress me while I slept. A small smile tugged at my lips at the thought.I glanced to my
"Oh god, absolutely not," Michael exclaimed, his voice laced with frustration. "Yes, we had a relationship in the past, but we broke up a long time ago. Joanna came by a few times after that, but it wasn’t for me. She had business with Samuel and others. I was too busy to even notice when she came or left. But I swear, Cecily, nothing happened between us after we ended things."I turned to face him, my mind clouded with uncertainty. Should I believe him? Jealousy burned inside me, poisoning my thoughts. The mere idea of him being intimate with Joanna made my skin crawl."My little wolf," Michael's voice softened as he lifted my chin gently. His expression was tinged with regret. "If you want me to apologize for my past, I can. But remember, I’ve lived a long life, Cecily. I’m not a saint—I’ve had relationships, felt emotions, just like anyone else. But if you're blaming me for something more than that, it's unfair. I’ve never been in two relationships at the same time. When I met you,
"I can't just pretend nothing happened, especially after my wolf reacted the way it did." I shrugged, trying to stay calm. "I need to know, Michael. I'd rather hear it from you than find out through Sasha."Michael hesitated, his brown eyes locked on mine as if weighing his options. I held his gaze, determined to get the truth. If he wanted honesty between us, he needed to practice it too."Okay," he muttered, running his hand through his hair, clearly uncomfortable. "She's... a friend."A friend? Joanna's behavior toward Michael was far from friendly. It was passionate, intense—nothing like the casual interactions between Sasha and him. I took a deep breath and asked the question I had been avoiding but couldn't ignore any longer."An ex-girlfriend?"Michael's expression stiffened. He didn’t nod, but he didn’t shake his head either. Silence hung between us, thick and heavy. I knew the truth was coming, but it didn’t make the waiting any easier. If Michael wanted me to be honest with