Alex The bitterness burned in my chest, eating away at my restraint. Hearing my son speak about that bastard with such love and adoration felt like a knife twisting in my gut. A little boy’s innocent words shouldn’t have this much power to wreck me, but they did. It wasn’t Valen’s fault, though. It was Byron—the lying, manipulative prick who had stolen my life, my family and my place.I clenched my jaw. The muscles in my face were tightening until they ached. Showing my feelings wasn’t an option. I swallowed the bitterness, but it tasted foul, like bile clawing its way up. I turned my head away from Valen, pretending to focus on nothing in particular. If I didn’t, the raw pain in my eyes might betray me. The weight of Alexis's gaze on me didn’t help. She always knew, even without me saying a word.I wanted Valen to look at me the way he looked at Byron, to call me "Dad" with that same deep affection. I wanted to hear that title from him, not directed at the man who had no right to
Alexis Standing by the doorway, I plastered on a fake smile that could have been sold at a dollar store. Byron’s return didn’t fill the house with warmth; it cast a dark, brooding shadow. He stepped in like he owned the place—not just the house, but the air we breathed as if the world revolved around his sulking presence.Valen, of course, was oblivious to the tension. “Daddy! Daddy!” he squealed, his voice full of innocent joy as he descended the stairs.Arms wide open, he leaped toward Byron, utterly unaware of the simmering disdain lurking in every corner of the room.Byron bent just enough to catch Valen in his arms. His forced smile resembled the grin you give someone when you accidentally bump into them at the grocery store—not your child. He patted Valen’s back with the enthusiasm of someone petting a stranger’s dog. It wasn’t affection but an obligation radiating off him like a foul odor. His gaze flicked toward me briefly, and in that moment, I caught the cold, vicious hat
Alexis Alone in the kitchen, my thoughts burned with anger. Oh, what I felt for Byron was beyond loathing—it was a blistering hatred that made my skin prickle and my pulse thunder in my ears. The mere thought of him made my stomach churn, but his words stuck in my mind like shards of glass. How much did he really know? Was he fishing for truths, or had he pieced together everything? My hands trembled as I reached for my phone, panic gnawing at me. I quickly typed a message to Alex, filling him in on Byron’s sudden obsession with Gianna and my growing fear that he knew about us.Every few seconds, my eyes darted to the doorway, half-expecting Byron to appear and pounce on me. When Alex’s reply buzzed—"I'm coming right away"—I felt a wave of relief crash over me. For a fleeting moment, I thought about letting him handle it all, dismantling this house of horrors once and for all. But reality hit me. If Alex came now, it wouldn’t fix anything; it would only fuel Byron’s suspicions.
Alexis I stood at the kitchen counter, stirring a bowl of mashed potatoes with extra vigor. Every so often, I shot a glance out the kitchen door where the bodyguard was stationed like a statue. I gripped the spoon tightly and wished he would disappear. My annoyance bubbled over, and I let out a sigh.Mckenzie strode into the kitchen and leaned against the counter with a smirk. "So, what's the deal with the guy in the shadows?" she asked, nodding toward the doorway where the bodyguard stood just out of sight.She arched her brow with a sly grin, and I let out a small, amused chuckle. "Oh, McKenzie, you always have a talent for picking out the wrong guy," I said. "You know he's here to watch me, right? It’s not like I chose him. Such bad taste in men. He's driving me insane, following me around like I’m about to run off at any second."Mckenzie leaned in closer. "So, do you want me to distract him?" she asked with a mischievous smile.I turned and gave her a skeptical look. "Distract h
Alexis The days leading up to the election were a whirlwind of endless meetings and formalities, all of which I hated. As Luna-in-waiting, I was expected to attend strategy discussions and campaign events and meet with influential pack members to gather support for Byron. But every time I entered one of those rooms, I felt like a glorified puppet. The stares, the fake smiles, and the murmured whispers always lingered just a beat too long, making it clear that I didn’t belong in their sick world.At one of the meetings, Meredith was her usual self, throwing passive-aggressive remarks my way. But the high priestess stole the spotlight. She sat across the table, calm and unmoving, like an immovable force that had no interest in bowing to their power.“I’ll repeat it,” the high priestess said, her voice ringing like a bell. “Byron is not meant to be Alpha. The moon goddess herself disapproves of this farce.”Meredith’s face twisted with indignation. “Who do you think you are?” she hisse
AlexisMy stomach growled loudly, the sound so fierce it could have been mistaken for a bear in the room. I froze for a second, hoping Alex hadn’t noticed, but I knew I was doomed when he looked up with a sly grin.“Is that you, or did a motorcycle just drive through here?” Alex asked. The mock seriousness in his tone made me laugh despite myself.I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. “I haven’t eaten all day, okay?”He leaned forward, and his smirk grew wider. “Well, we can’t let you starve, can we? That would be tragic.”“We can’t go out. Byron has eyes everywhere. Coming here was a risk.”Alex's dark eyes gleamed with mischief. “Why not? It’s not like we’re headed to a five-star hotel. You’re hungry. I’m here. Let’s not overthink it.”Reluctantly, I agreed. Hunger always won. We ended up at an Italian rustic restaurant tucked into a quiet street corner. The faded letters of the wooden sign above the door read Trattoria Bella.Inside, fresh basil, garlic, and warm bread filled the a
Alex The meeting room buzzed with scattered conversations when I entered. My allies, or at least most of them, sat around a large oak table, shuffling papers, tapping pens, or scrolling through their devices. It wasn’t the camaraderie I had hoped for, but at least some of them were on my side. That was more than I could say about the two men seated at the far end, whispering to each other like nosy old grannies.One of them, a Beta with slicked-back hair and a smirk that made me want to punch his face, leaned back in his chair. "So, Alex, explain this again. If you're such a saint, why did you jump from your family’s party to this one? It doesn’t look good, you know."Of course, it had to come to this—the petty gossip and veiled accusations. These men were supposed to be strategists and leaders. Instead, they were acting like bored housewives looking for drama.“I didn’t ‘jump ship,’” I replied, keeping my tone despite my patience thinning. “I left because I wasn’t going to sit ther
Alexis Alpha Orion's dining room looked like a set piece for a tacky reality TV show, all chandeliers and silverware gleaming as if trying to outshine the sun itself, as though wealth could make up for personality, charm, or intelligence. Byron had dragged me here to attend another one of his ridiculous charades, rubbing elbows with people who thought their gold-plated opinions were worth more than anything else.I kept my smile tightly in place, but my mind was already plotting ways to escape without bursting into flames from secondhand embarrassment. I'd lose it if I had to pretend to care about these ridiculous people for one more minute.And then there were the wives. Oh, the wives. Drenched in designer gowns that seemed to weigh them down. Every gesture they made was an attempt to remind the room how much money they spent on themselves. Layla, the Blood Moon pack's Luna, sashayed to me. The heavy, suffocating cloud of her perfume hit me before she did, a mix of too many layers
Alexis The muffled voices of Byron and his team echoed downstairs. I pressed myself against the cold marble of the pillar, straining to hear every word. Byron’s voice was dripping with venom and grew louder with every sentence.“The fucking bastards is demanding a recount,” Byron growled. “Can you believe the audacity? I will not let him ruin everything I’ve built.”I peeked around the pillar and saw him pacing like a caged beast. His team sat around the table, stiff and uncomfortable, as if trapped by a ticking bomb.One of the men, a thin, nervous-looking guy with glasses, cleared his throat hesitantly. “Alpha Byron, maybe we should—”“Maybe we should WHAT?” Byron exploded, his voice reverberating through the room like thunder. His face turned red, and his hand slammed down on the table so violently that the glasses rattled. “Go ahead, tell me. What brilliant idea do you have that I haven’t already considered?”The man’s hands trembled as he fumbled with a piece of paper. “I was ju
Alex The morning of the election felt heavier than any other day. I woke up before the sun even dared to rise. Deep down, I already knew how this was going to end. Byron was going to win. It was stupid to underestimate him—he had always been two steps ahead, and the rigging machine he had in place would ensure it. Still, this wasn’t about winning anymore. If he did win, it would only give me more evidence to expose him for the fraud that he was.I dragged myself out of bed. After freshening up, I went to the kitchen, poured a cup of strong black coffee, and leaned against the counter, letting the bitterness wake me up. The morning light spilled through the windows but didn’t feel warm or comforting. It felt like a spotlight on the chaos that was my life.When I met with my team, we were busy with last-minute strategies and rehearsals. Everyone buzzed with nervous energy, talking over one another as they finalized plans. I tried to focus, but my mind kept drifting. The truth was, no
Alex The rally was alive with energy as I stepped onto the stage. The party had decided to put me front and center, and I knew the stakes were higher than ever. This wasn’t just about a campaign but about taking down my father’s dynasty and my brother’s shameless ambition. I imagined the smug faces of my father and Byron, both undoubtedly glued to their screens, waiting to see if I’d falter.The crowd roared as I approached the podium. Their cheers vibrated through the air like thunder. I took a deep breath and gripped the edges of the podium to steady myself. The blazing lights and cameras pointed in my direction reminded me that this wasn’t just about the people in front of me. It was live, and every word I said would reach my supporters and enemies.“Thank you all for coming here today. Thank you for believing in a better future. Not just for this pack, but for everyone silenced, ignored, or oppressed under the current leadership.”The crowd quickly quieted to hear what I had to s
Alexis Alpha Orion's dining room looked like a set piece for a tacky reality TV show, all chandeliers and silverware gleaming as if trying to outshine the sun itself, as though wealth could make up for personality, charm, or intelligence. Byron had dragged me here to attend another one of his ridiculous charades, rubbing elbows with people who thought their gold-plated opinions were worth more than anything else.I kept my smile tightly in place, but my mind was already plotting ways to escape without bursting into flames from secondhand embarrassment. I'd lose it if I had to pretend to care about these ridiculous people for one more minute.And then there were the wives. Oh, the wives. Drenched in designer gowns that seemed to weigh them down. Every gesture they made was an attempt to remind the room how much money they spent on themselves. Layla, the Blood Moon pack's Luna, sashayed to me. The heavy, suffocating cloud of her perfume hit me before she did, a mix of too many layers
Alex The meeting room buzzed with scattered conversations when I entered. My allies, or at least most of them, sat around a large oak table, shuffling papers, tapping pens, or scrolling through their devices. It wasn’t the camaraderie I had hoped for, but at least some of them were on my side. That was more than I could say about the two men seated at the far end, whispering to each other like nosy old grannies.One of them, a Beta with slicked-back hair and a smirk that made me want to punch his face, leaned back in his chair. "So, Alex, explain this again. If you're such a saint, why did you jump from your family’s party to this one? It doesn’t look good, you know."Of course, it had to come to this—the petty gossip and veiled accusations. These men were supposed to be strategists and leaders. Instead, they were acting like bored housewives looking for drama.“I didn’t ‘jump ship,’” I replied, keeping my tone despite my patience thinning. “I left because I wasn’t going to sit ther
AlexisMy stomach growled loudly, the sound so fierce it could have been mistaken for a bear in the room. I froze for a second, hoping Alex hadn’t noticed, but I knew I was doomed when he looked up with a sly grin.“Is that you, or did a motorcycle just drive through here?” Alex asked. The mock seriousness in his tone made me laugh despite myself.I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. “I haven’t eaten all day, okay?”He leaned forward, and his smirk grew wider. “Well, we can’t let you starve, can we? That would be tragic.”“We can’t go out. Byron has eyes everywhere. Coming here was a risk.”Alex's dark eyes gleamed with mischief. “Why not? It’s not like we’re headed to a five-star hotel. You’re hungry. I’m here. Let’s not overthink it.”Reluctantly, I agreed. Hunger always won. We ended up at an Italian rustic restaurant tucked into a quiet street corner. The faded letters of the wooden sign above the door read Trattoria Bella.Inside, fresh basil, garlic, and warm bread filled the a
Alexis The days leading up to the election were a whirlwind of endless meetings and formalities, all of which I hated. As Luna-in-waiting, I was expected to attend strategy discussions and campaign events and meet with influential pack members to gather support for Byron. But every time I entered one of those rooms, I felt like a glorified puppet. The stares, the fake smiles, and the murmured whispers always lingered just a beat too long, making it clear that I didn’t belong in their sick world.At one of the meetings, Meredith was her usual self, throwing passive-aggressive remarks my way. But the high priestess stole the spotlight. She sat across the table, calm and unmoving, like an immovable force that had no interest in bowing to their power.“I’ll repeat it,” the high priestess said, her voice ringing like a bell. “Byron is not meant to be Alpha. The moon goddess herself disapproves of this farce.”Meredith’s face twisted with indignation. “Who do you think you are?” she hisse
Alexis I stood at the kitchen counter, stirring a bowl of mashed potatoes with extra vigor. Every so often, I shot a glance out the kitchen door where the bodyguard was stationed like a statue. I gripped the spoon tightly and wished he would disappear. My annoyance bubbled over, and I let out a sigh.Mckenzie strode into the kitchen and leaned against the counter with a smirk. "So, what's the deal with the guy in the shadows?" she asked, nodding toward the doorway where the bodyguard stood just out of sight.She arched her brow with a sly grin, and I let out a small, amused chuckle. "Oh, McKenzie, you always have a talent for picking out the wrong guy," I said. "You know he's here to watch me, right? It’s not like I chose him. Such bad taste in men. He's driving me insane, following me around like I’m about to run off at any second."Mckenzie leaned in closer. "So, do you want me to distract him?" she asked with a mischievous smile.I turned and gave her a skeptical look. "Distract h
Alexis Alone in the kitchen, my thoughts burned with anger. Oh, what I felt for Byron was beyond loathing—it was a blistering hatred that made my skin prickle and my pulse thunder in my ears. The mere thought of him made my stomach churn, but his words stuck in my mind like shards of glass. How much did he really know? Was he fishing for truths, or had he pieced together everything? My hands trembled as I reached for my phone, panic gnawing at me. I quickly typed a message to Alex, filling him in on Byron’s sudden obsession with Gianna and my growing fear that he knew about us.Every few seconds, my eyes darted to the doorway, half-expecting Byron to appear and pounce on me. When Alex’s reply buzzed—"I'm coming right away"—I felt a wave of relief crash over me. For a fleeting moment, I thought about letting him handle it all, dismantling this house of horrors once and for all. But reality hit me. If Alex came now, it wouldn’t fix anything; it would only fuel Byron’s suspicions.