Alex I leaned back against the wall, watching Alexis walk away. Her words replayed in my head, like a broken record, hours after she'd left. She called me a murderer. The woman who was supposed to be my mate, my other half, stood by the man who was everything she should fear. Rage simmered beneath my skin, but beneath that, I pitied her. If she only knew the monster, she slept beside. Byron wasn’t just a bastard—he was dangerous, capable of horrors she couldn’t even imagine. If she knew, she'd run so fast that her shoes would wear out before she stopped. Yet, she played the doting wife and acted like her life was perfectly normal.It was pathetic. Alexis was blind, letting Byron pull her strings like a puppet.One day, she would see what Byron was—dangerous, vile, and manipulative. And when that day came, she'd realize how wrong she was. She'd run, and she'd need me. She'd have no choice but to rely on me. By hook or by crook, I’d pull her from Byron’s clutches. Byron was a tick
AlexI arrived at Byron’s house earlier than I intended. The driveway still looked empty, but at least Uncle Blake and his fiancée, Angela, were chatting in the garden. That would make things slightly less awkward.Byron greeted Uncle Blake first, but the moment his gaze landed on me, I saw the brief flash of heat before he masked it with that well-practiced smile."Brother," he said, stepping forward with open arms, voice dripping with fake sweetness. "So good to see you could make it."The bastard was already putting on a show."I didn’t invite myself," I shot back with a dry smile. "But I figured I’d show up so no one accuses me of being petty.”"Good, good, good," Byron said, clapping me on the shoulder, the grip just tight enough to make it clear he was trying to establish dominance. "I’m glad you’re here. The coronation rituals are starting soon. Father’s retiring, and it’s time for me to step up as Alpha and take the family business to the next level. I’m going to be a prime ex
Alexis Despite the evening chill in the garden, my body betrayed the cold. Beads of sweat clung to my forehead, gathering faster than I could wipe them away. My shimmery gown stuck uncomfortably to my body as I shifted from foot to foot. Sweat trickled down my temples, sliding along the curve of my jaw. I pressed my lips into a thin line, trying to make sense of the twisted thoughts swirling in my head. From across the room, I watched McKenzie laugh and act all buddy-buddy with Alex, as if they'd known each other for years. It grated on my nerves. What the hell did my sister see in him? Couldn't she at least believe me, her own blood?The party’s lively chatter buzzed around me, but all I could focus on was kicking McKenzie out. I wiped my brow again, only for more sweat to take its place.Money—what a disgusting motivator. Some females would do anything to get close to it. They would sell their souls for a designer bag or a pair of shoes with a red sole, stack their closet with Bi
AlexisByron had the nerve to think he could insult my intelligence and fool me into believing he'd turned over a new leaf. Ha! Deep down, I was numb to this betrayal because he’d been fucking Kiara the entire time we were married. Hell, our honeymoon? A complete joke—he didn’t even bother hiding that he spent the whole week with her. Our honeymoon was supposed to be a romantic getaway and a celebration of newlywed bliss. But Byron turned it into a slap in the face from day one. We arrived at the luxury resort I had only dreamed of visiting, and he lodged Kiara into the same building. The first night, after giving me the insult of my life, he left me alone in the honeymoon suite. By the second day, he wasn’t even pretending anymore. He didn't bother showing up for dinner, leaving me to stare at the fancy three-course meal meant for two.And then came the ultimate insult. While I lounged by the pool, I saw Byron and Kiara strolling along the beach. I remember sitting there, my hea
Alexis I drove for about fifteen minutes before reaching the border. The rain had slowed to a drizzle, and I kept swiping the wipers to clear the blurry windshield, desperate to see better. The border was a fortress of thick brick walls stretching endlessly in either direction. The walls stood at least twenty feet high. There was no way to see outside the border unless you stood on higher ground, perched on one of the distant hills. Even though members of the pack had free entry and exit, my nerves buzzed with fear. I glanced in the rearview mirror, adjusting the black wig I had found in the car. It was an old one, probably from when McKenzie used to cosplay. She’d always been obsessed with anime. The wig, a black bun with bangs, barely fit over my head, but I added a scarf for good measure. The guards wouldn’t recognize me, not with this disguise. Even if they knew Byron’s wife, they wouldn’t recognize this version of her. One guard stopped my car and leaned in, flashing his lig
AlexI didn’t know if it was a gut feeling or something deeper, but I decided to join the hunters tonight. Then, the surveillance I had placed in Byron's house triggered my instincts that Alexis needed help. I almost left the house, ready to ditch my phone like I usually did when hunting, but a ping stopped me. A text from Igor, one of the few people I trusted on my team, flashed on the screen: Alexis seems up to something. Our source says she left with the boy. She's heading toward the border."Byron, you dumb bastard," I muttered, abandoning my plans for the night. I knew Byron well enough, and my gut told me something was about to go down. I left my car parked at a bar near the border and shifted into my wolf form, charging toward the scene at full speed. The guards at the border were notorious for their cruelty, especially toward women, and I couldn’t let them get their hands on Alexis. When I arrived, my blood boiled at the sight of her—terrified, crying—and Valen, wide-eyed w
Alexis "Mommy, are you going to tell me what happened last night? How did I get out of my bed? I can't remember that." Valen's voice cut through my thoughts, his innocent curiosity turning into a relentless list of questions.How could I possibly explain to my little boy that I had tried to run away with him, to take him far from his father? How could I make him understand the craziness of my decision, that it wasn’t because I didn’t love him, but because I couldn’t bear Byron’s control any longer? He wouldn’t get it.Not yet.I had planned to tell him once we escaped—once we were free—but with Byron’s iron grip back in place, his fake attempts at playing the good husband had crumbled, and now I had no choice but to stay. "We were going to see someone," I said, forcing a smile. "But bad guys showed up, and Uncle Alex saved us." As the words left my mouth, images of Alex flooded my mind. His presence had come like a lifeline, right when I needed it most. Things would’ve taken a dark
Alexis Byron's mouth fell open when he saw me coming down the stairs. I had stunned him into silence, and though my heart brimmed with hatred for him, I relished the fact that I was reclaiming my power. He probably thought I'd stay miserable forever, but I was going to prove that no matter what he did, he could never break me."You like what you see?" I teased with a smirk, noticing the surprise still flickering in his eyes.His arrogance kicked back in immediately. "You cleaned up nicely," he muttered, trying to sound indifferent.I responded with a simple "Hmm," though I could tell he was still thrown off by my new attitude."So, where are we going?" I asked as we stepped outside."It's a tribe party. You’d better behave and look like a wife who's genuinely happy. People would kill to be in your position.""Yeah, I know," I said nonchalantly, opening the car door and sliding in.Byron glanced at me sideways as he started the engine. "What's with this new attitude of yours? Have you
Gianna Peter and I sat across from each other in the quiet room. The only sound between us was the rustle of tissue in my hands. I sniffed, wiping my nose and feeling the remnants of my earlier breakdown.Peter crouched in front of me with a smirk creeping onto his face.“Look at you,” he said softly. “I never pictured you to be so emotional.”“Oh, shut up,” I muttered playfully, tossing the crumpled tissue into a nearby trash can.“Come on, big girl, hug it out,” Peter said, spreading his arms wide. Unable to resist, I chuckled and closed the gap between us. His arms wrapped around me, warm and secure, pulling me into a hug that felt like home.I let myself melt into him, breathing his scent and relishing the quiet strength of his embrace. His hands cradled my face, and his lips were on mine before I could say anything.The kiss was soft and unhurried, carrying a passion that made my knees weak. His eyes were filled with sincerity when he pulled back.“I’m falling in love with you,
GiannaMy chest caved, and I couldn't maintain eye contact with Alexis and Alex after Peter had dropped that bombshell about us being mates.The tent felt suffocating, and his words kept ringing in my ears: Gianna and I are fated mates.The silence in the room was so thick, like the awkward cousin at a family reunion—uncomfortable and making everyone wonder who would break the silence first.My eyes darted to everyone's reactions. Alexis stood still, her eyes dimmed with shock. Alex looked utterly perplexed, his gaze bouncing between Peter and me as if waiting for someone to yell, Gotcha!Lisa's shock was the loudest. Her face paled, and her lips parted as though she were going to scream, but instead, she let out a low gasp followed by a horrified look. Peter's mom stared at her son, her face slack with shock.And then there was Peter. His eyes burned with the fire of someone ready to fight for what he believed was his, and he held my hand, ready to shield me from whatever backlash mi
Peter My nostrils flared with anger, and my heartbeat pounded. Lisa screamed trouble ever since the moment she stormed toward us. It was one thing for her to feel the silent talk of abandonment ever since I met Gianna, but this was an explosion I hadn't seen coming.Her voice, like nails on a chalkboard, grated on my ears. I'd never seen her like this—loud, volatile, and uncouth. She was a far cry from the sweet girlfriend I knew her to be—or maybe I hadn't known her as well as I thought.My anger wasn't from the embarrassment, for I didn't give two flying fucks about these people here except for Alexis. My rage was because Lisa made Gianna appalled. She looked away and rubbed her hands against her clothing as if trying to rid them of something. She would have done that if she had the power to melt into the shadows and disappear. Anger bubbled under my skin at how mortified she looked."Why would a high-class lady like her want anything to do with you?" Lisa asked. "What could you po
Gianna The reception hall buzzed with life. Laughter, cheers, and the over-enthusiastic guests filled the space. The older ones munched on their food while the younger ones danced on the floor, gyrating to some recent hit from the live band.Leaning against one of the columns, I sipped on a glass of sparkling water. Alexis didn’t need me anymore, and my legs almost gave way from standing in my ridiculous heels for hours. I had since changed into flats and let my poor toes breathe.A smile crept onto my lips when my gaze landed on Alex and Valen dancing together. The sight of father and son tugged at my heart, and I was genuinely happy for Alex. The little one had been giving him such a hard time for months.Watching them now, with pure and cheerful laughter ringing out and the pride on his father’s face, made me smile. Alexis had found her happiness, and she so deserved this perfect moment.“What’s a beautiful woman like you doing standing by herself?”I turned my head to find Louis,
AlexisThe morning of day seven arrived like a whirlwind, filled with nerves that hung heavy in every cell of my body. My room was a chaos of curling irons, foundation brushes, and bridesmaids humming around me like bees.Despite my usual nonchalant attitude, I couldn't deny how anxious I was. It tightened around my chest and shocked me. For someone who had always claimed she wouldn't be bothered by society's expectations, today felt different, and I wanted everything to go right.Already feeling cranky because I had been awake since 4:00 AM, I was mentally ticking off every item on my checklist while the hairdressers and makeup artists were doing their thing. Gianna was helping some of the maids steam the bridal gown and the bridesmaids' dresses.“You look like a queen already,” Gianna said as she walked past me. She perched on the edge of the bed with a grin, trying to distract me. Then she leaned closer and whispered, “What’s the first thing you’re doing after this whole circus is
Lying in Peter's arms felt like I had just entered heaven. His heartbeat thumped steadily beneath my ear, and I rested my head on his chest. His fingers traced lazy circles on my back, lulling me into a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in years. For once, my worries seemed like distant shadows, temporarily banished by his warmth.“Is this what you were trying to give up? This bliss?” Peter teased, breaking the comfortable silence.I sighed and tilted my head to look up at him. His eyes sparkled with mischief, but I could see the sincerity beneath. He pleaded with me, silently asking me to see the world as he did.“As much as I enjoyed our little…session,” I began with a teasing lilt, “things aren’t as straightforward as you think. There are stakes we need to overcome.”“Like what?” he challenged, raising an eyebrow. “Because right now, I can’t think of a single thing worth ruining this for.”“For starters, your girlfriend,” I said, sitting up and pulling the blanket closer around me.Pete
GiannaPeter kissed me and lifted me into his arms when we entered my room. It was a kiss to end all kisses, a soft press of lips to lips. I melted instantly, wrapping my arms around his neck and pressing myself as close to him as possible. He held me tight against his body, and his lips moved gently against mine, tasting each dip and curve. A moan escaped my lips as his hands trailed down to rest at the waistband of my dress. His fingers slid under the hem and slipped along the smooth skin of my thigh, causing my knees to buckle."Fuck, Gianna. You're perfect. No wonder everyone wants to be in bed with you," he murmured, his breath hot as it brushed against my cheeks and neck before burying his head between my breasts.I ran my hands down his chest until I reached the buttons of his shirt and unbuttoned them before sliding the garment from his shoulders. The cool air hit my heated skin, causing goose bumps to rise. I wrapped my arms around Peter's waist and pressed my mouth eagerly
Gianna The party was in full swing, and I tried to blend into the background. The room was lively and filled with laughter, and I did my best to stay out of the spotlight. My eyes wandered to the far side of the room, where Oscar was talking animatedly to a girl. He was leaning far too close, flirting with her in his typical style. I rolled my eyes. The spoiled brat didn't deserve an ounce of my energy, and the only person I felt pity for was the girl who must be thinking she had hit the jackpot.Alex's boisterous voice cut through the crowd and pulled my attention. He was standing beside his bride and gesturing dramatically. "Seriously, look at her. She's the most beautiful woman in this room," he declared, earning a round of applause, chuckles, and whistles from his friends."Alex, you are super hyper and happy. Can't you see how Alexis is subtle because she knows your flattery is not a big deal to her?" one of the guys said, but Alex waved him off."You better not be fooled by tha
GiannaThe wildlife reserve stretched out in front of us. It was an endless expanse of greenery dotted with open fields and enclosures for animals. I loved the smell of fresh grass, but initially, when we got here, I was skeptical. Peter forced me to stay. I wasn’t much of a wildlife enthusiast, and the idea of spending my day surrounded by animals wasn’t exactly thrilling."Trust me, you will have fun," Peter had said, and I rolled my eyes.But as we ventured deeper into the reserve, his infectious excitement began to chip away at my reluctance. I gasped when I saw zebras lying lazily in the distance. A few giraffes towered over the bushes, stretching their necks gracefully to nibble on the leaves of acacia trees."Look at that one," Peter said, pointing at a particularly playful baby giraffe galloping awkwardly beside its mother. "Reminds me of how I was as a kid."I suppressed a small laugh. We moved to an enclosure where a family of meerkats stood upright, peering cautiously at us