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
AlexMcKenzie was as happy as a lark when I took her to the studio, tucked away in a renovated industrial block in the Central District. After confirming our tickets, we headed toward the lobby, which had an art deco vibe with modern lighting and sleek fixtures. A narrow hallway led us to our booth, where we could already hear the shuffling of feet and soft laughter echoing."Oh my god, this is weird," McKenzie said, her eyes wide. "Beautifully weird."I nodded in agreement. We made our way to our section of the studio, and I handed her a mocktail. She wore a glittering crop top, neon leggings, and flashy red lipstick, practically glowing in the dark with the energy of the place."This feels different," she said, swaying from side to side while the staff set up our headsets.A couple joined us in the booth, and despite how distracted I was, I found myself having fun. We vibed to everything, from hard-hitting techno beats to soft pop and even a ballad or two. Every so often, Mckenzie
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.