EvelynWhen I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Gaius. His face was smeared with dirt and streaked with what looked like blood, but it was his torn shirt and bruised arms that made my breath hitch. His broad shoulders rose and fell unevenly, and his golden eyes, which usually burned with a calm intensity, were now clouded with worry. I realized I was cradled in his arms, my head resting against his chest. His clothes were ripped and stained, and his skin bore fresh cuts that made my stomach churn. “Gaius,” I murmured, my voice barely more than a whisper. My throat felt raw, and my body ached as though I had been dragged through a battlefield. “What… what happened?” I struggled to remember, but my mind was a jumbled mess of fear and fragments. Flashes of Lolita’s face, her cruel smile, and the cold steel of her threat danced in my head. “Lolita… She said she’d kill me. And you—” My voice cracked as panic clawed its way up my throat. “Shh, Evelyn.” Alpha Gaius interrupted,
Gaius The sting of Evelyn's claws still burned across my chest, even after I had dressed the wounds. I sat alone in my study, the faint scent of blood mingling with the leather of my chair. My mind reeled from the encounter earlier in the woods. Evelyn. Her wolf. That moment when she lunged at me, her eyes were feral and completely devoid of recognition. It wasn’t just an attack; it was chaos embodied, primal and uncontrollable. But when I confronted her after she shifted back, her confusion was genuine, her horror palpable. She had no memory of it—none. How could someone not know the destruction their wolf could unleash? I called my Beta, Zack, into the room. The door creaked open, and his towering frame filled the doorway. His presence was always grounding, but even now, I could feel the tension buzzing under his calm demeanor. “You’re hurt,” The Beta stated, his tone clipped as he noticed the stiffness in my posture. He gestured toward the bandages peeking from beneath my sh
Evelyn The day started like any other, or at least it tried to. The sunlight streamed through my window, touching my skin in warm streaks, but it felt foreign, like it didn’t belong to me. I tried to focus on the usual routine—brushing my hair, choosing clothes, making coffee—but none of it felt real. The memories kept slipping into my mind, uninvited and sharp, like shards of glass. Lolita’s place. That night. The chaos. I didn’t want to think about it, but my mind betrayed me, playing it back like a film reel I couldn’t shut off. I could still feel the pulse of my anger, the burning in my chest, and the raw instinct that drove me to attack. My breathing quickened as the image of Gaius flashed through my mind—his eyes wide, not with anger, not even fear, but something far worse. Disappointment. The one thing I couldn’t bear. "Get it together," I muttered to myself, gripping the edge of the sink until my knuckles turned white. The words felt hollow. How could I get it together wh
Alpha GaiusThe moment I walked into the room and saw Evelyn’s back turned to me, her posture rigid as she busied herself with the bookshelf, I felt the weight of my guilt settle heavier than ever. She didn’t even look at me, and it cut deeper than any blade ever could. I closed the door softly behind me, as if the sound would somehow make her turn around, acknowledge me, but she didn’t. I sighed, running a hand through my hair, the silence in the room suffocating. "Evelyn," I said softly, my voice almost hesitant, "we need to talk." She didn’t stop moving, her hands tracing along the spines of the books, but I could see the tension in her shoulders. "Do we, Gaius? Or is this another one-sided conversation where you try to fix things your way while shutting me out?" Her words stung, but I couldn’t argue with the truth in them. "I know I’ve been distant. I know I’ve… made mistakes." I took a step closer, my boots heavy against the wooden floor. "But you’ve been avoiding me too, E
EvelynAs we pulled up to the house, I felt the tension radiating from Gaius, his hands gripping the door knob tighter than necessary. “Relax," I murmured, placing a hand over his. "You’re acting like they’re about to jump out of the bushes." He let out a sharp breath, a forced chuckle escaping his lips. "Knowing them, that’s not entirely out of the question." I didn’t laugh. The unease in his voice sent a shiver down my spine. Gaius wasn’t one to be easily rattled, but something about this felt different. As we stepped through the front door, the air was thick, almost suffocating. And then I saw them—three elders seated like statues in our living room, their expressions carved from stone. Gaius stiffened immediately. "What’s this?" His voice was steady, but I could feel the undercurrent of anger bubbling beneath the surface. One of the elders, a tall, wiry man with sharp gray eyes, stood up. "Alpha Gaius," he said, his tone as cold as the winter winds. "We’ve been summoning
GaiusThe room was suffocatingly silent as I stood before the council, their faces cold and unyielding. The weight of their judgment hung heavy in the air. My gaze flicked to Evelyn, seated in the corner, her hands clenched into fists on her lap. I could see the storm brewing in her eyes. She didn’t agree with this, and she wasn’t about to stay silent. “Alpha Gaius,” one of the elders said, his voice sharp and commanding. “You have been found guilty of breaching the pack’s rules—rules that keep order and safety within our community. Do you have anything to say in your defense before we pass judgment?” I swallowed hard. My voice felt trapped in my throat, but I forced it out. “I didn’t break those rules out of rebellion. I did what I thought was right. If that makes me guilty, so be it, but I won’t apologize for protecting myself.” Alpha Trey, sitting smugly at the head of the council, let out a low growl of disdain. “Protecting yourself? From what? Accountability? The rules are t
EvelynI avoided his eyes, my fingers nervously twisting the hem of my shirt. The tension in the room was thick, suffocating almost, as Gaius leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest. His presence was commanding, a mixture of frustration and concern etched across his features."Evelyn," he said, his tone firm but not unkind. "You’re avoiding me again. I just want to talk.""There's nothing to talk about," I muttered, turning away, pretending to busy myself with the books stacked on the shelf. My hands trembled slightly as I tried to steady my breathing. I knew this conversation was inevitable, but I wasn’t ready to face it—or him.He wasn’t deterred. "Don't do that. Don’t shut me out. I deserve to know what’s going on, don’t you think?" His voice softened, a flicker of hurt breaking through the resolve in his tone."Especially after everything that happened."I froze, my fingers gripping the edge of the shelf tightly. A wave of guilt washed over me, raw and unrele
EvelynThe dream came in flashes, vivid and warm, like sunlight filtering through the canopy of an endless forest. I was a child again, my tiny hand wrapped securely in my mother's. Her laughter filled the air, light and melodic, as she swung me around, her golden hair glowing like a halo in the sunlight."Evelyn, my star," she said, her voice a soothing lullaby. "Always remember, no matter what, you are loved." The warmth of her touch, the brightness of her smile—it all felt so real. But then, as dreams often do, it turned dark. The laughter faded, the forest seemed to grow colder, and her hand slipped from mine. I called out to her, screaming her name, but she just disappeared into the shadows. The sound of my own voice shattered the dream, dragging me back to reality. I woke up with a start, my chest heaving as I sat up, clutching the blanket like it was a lifeline. My heart pounded erratically, the remnants of the dream still clinging to me like cobwebs.“Evelyn," Gaius’s voice
EvelynThe pain came in waves, sharp and relentless. My breathing was shallow as I clung to Gaius’s hand, his steady presence the only thing keeping me grounded. I had prepared for this moment—or at least I thought I had. But nothing could have prepared me for the overwhelming pressure, the way my body felt like it was tearing apart.“Breathe, Evelyn,” Gaius said softly, his voice calm but firm. “You’ve got this.”I nodded, though the words felt distant. Another contraction hit, and I cried out, my wolf stirring restlessly inside me.Grace entered the room, followed by the midwife, a kind but no-nonsense woman named Marion. She took one look at me and started giving instructions, her voice steady and reassuring.“You’re doing great, Evelyn,” Marion said, kneeling by the bed. “But the baby isn’t in the right position yet. It might take some time.”I groaned, my grip on Gaius’s hand tightening. “I don’t know if I can do this,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face.“Yes, you can,” G
EvelynThe ride back to the pack was quiet. Gaius sat beside me, his hand resting on my knee, a comforting weight in the stillness. I leaned my head against the window, watching the trees blur past. My mind wandered, replaying the confrontation with Roman.His words didn’t haunt me the way I thought they might. Instead, I felt a strange calm, like I’d closed the door on a part of my life that had long held me captive. I wasn’t afraid of him anymore. He couldn’t hurt me now.Gaius’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “You’ve been quiet,” he said softly, glancing at me.I turned to him, offering a small smile. “Just thinking.”“About Roman?” he asked, his tone careful.I nodded. “He’s bitter. Angry. But he’s nothing now. Just a shadow of what he used to be.”Gaius squeezed my knee gently. “You’re stronger than him, Evelyn. You always were.”His words warmed me, and I placed my hand over his. “Thank you,” I said softly.The pack house came into view, its familiar structure a welcome si
EvelynI stood barefoot on the sand, the turquoise waves lapping at the shore. Gaius walked up behind me, his arms circling my waist as he pulled me against his chest. “What are you thinking about?” he asked, his voice low and comforting.I smiled, leaning into him. “I was just trying to remember the last time I felt this peaceful.”He kissed the top of my head. “It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”“It feels like a lifetime ago,” I admitted.Our honeymoon had been nothing short of magical. After everything we had been through—the battles, the loss, the constant chase of Cyrus’s shadow—this felt like a dream. We had traveled to a secluded island, a place untouched by war or worry, where the only sounds were the waves and the laughter of the locals.For the past few days, we had let ourselves forget about the rest of the world. We’d explored hidden waterfalls, hiked through lush jungles, and shared quiet meals by candlelight. It felt like we were rediscovering each other, peeling back th
EvelynThe days after the healer’s news were filled with quiet worry. At first, I thought I was just exhausted from everything we’d been through—the battles, the losses, the rebuilding. But my body felt heavier with each passing day, and the symptoms only grew worse.Gaius barely left my side, his eyes constantly flicking to me with a worry he tried to hide. But I could feel it in his touch, in the way his hand would linger on mine, or how he’d wrap an arm around me as if afraid I might disappear.“You need to rest,” he told me for the hundredth time as I sat on the couch one afternoon, my head resting against his shoulder.“I am resting,” I said, though the ache in my body made it clear that rest alone wasn’t enough.“We’re seeing the healer again,” he said firmly. “Something isn’t right.”I didn’t argue. I didn’t have the energy to.The healer, an older man with kind eyes and steady hands, greeted us warmly when we arrived. But as he examined me, his expression grew serious. He did
EvelynThe land was quiet, the chaos of the fight replaced by an eerie stillness. It was over. Cyrus was gone, and his reign of terror had ended.But as I walked through the remains of the battlefield, the weight of everything we’d lost pressed heavily on my chest. Those that died were being gathered, their bodies lined carefully, as survivors worked tirelessly to restore some semblance of order. I spotted Gaius in the distance, directing soldiers and healers with the same calm authority that had always been his strength. Even from here, I could see the exhaustion etched into his features, but he didn’t falter. He turned as I approached, his eyes softening when they met mine. “Evelyn,” he said, stepping closer. His hand rested gently on my arm, his touch grounding me. “You shouldn’t be out here. You need to rest.”“I’m fine,” I said, though the truth was far from it. My body ached in ways I didn’t fully understand, and every step felt heavier than the last. But I couldn’t sit idl
GaiusThe battlefield was eerily quiet. Smoke curled in thin tendrils from scattered fires, and the once deafening sounds of battle had faded into an uneasy silence. Around us, Cyrus’s forces lay defeated, either dead or having fled into the shadows. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, it seemed like we might actually win.But Cyrus wasn’t done.He stood alone in the clearing, his once-pristine black coat torn and bloodstained, but his stance was still defiant. His smirk, cruel and venomous, clung stubbornly to his face as though he knew something we didn’t.I tightened my grip on my blade, my wolf pacing restlessly inside me. “It’s over, Cyrus,” I said, stepping forward. “Your army is gone. Surrender now, and maybe we’ll let you live.”His laugh echoed across the field, cold and sharp. “You think I’m afraid of dying, Gaius?” he spat. “You think this is the end for me?”“It is,” I said firmly, my voice calm but unyielding. “You’ve lost everything.”Cyrus took a step forw
GaiusAs I carried Evelyn’s unconscious form through the dense forest. My arms tightened around her as I pushed forward, my heart pounding with a mixture of fear and urgency. She felt so fragile in my hold, and the thought of her being hurt clawed at me.Behind me, Raven led the way, limping but determined. Despite her battered appearance, her eyes burned with a fierceness I hadn’t seen in years. She had gathered guards and allies in a makeshift camp deep in the woods—a safe zone where we could regroup and plan our next move against Cyrus.The soft murmurs of voices and the faint glow of campfires appeared ahead. Relief flooded through me. At least we’d reached some measure of safety for the moment.The guards at the perimeter stiffened as we approached, their weapons raised until they recognized us. “Alpha Gaius!” one of them called out, rushing forward.“Clear a path,” I ordered, my voice tight. “She needs care.”They stepped aside without question, their faces etched with concern a
CyrusThe chamber reeked of sweat and blood. My throne, carved from blackened stone, felt harder beneath me as I stared at the rogue kneeling before me. His head was bowed, his body trembling.“How many this time?” I asked, my voice low and steady.The rogue flinched, his fear bleeding into the silence. “Three squads, my Lord,” he stammered. “They... they deserted last night.”I sat back, my fingers curling around the armrests of the throne.“Three squads,” I repeated slowly, “And what did they take with them?”“S-supplies, my Lord,” he whispered, barely able to meet my eyes. “Weapons, food... they stole what they could carry.”My wolf stirred, snarling at the edges of my mind. Traitors. After everything I had done—everything I had sacrificed—this was how they repaid me?“You’re telling me,” I said, rising from my seat, “that a third of my army has turned tail and fled? That they think they can run from me?”The rogue didn’t answer. He didn’t dare.“Look at me,” I commanded, my voic
Evelyn My chest burned with each breath, my muscles aching from the effort of keeping Gaius moving. He leaned heavily on me, his strength waning, but his stubbornness kept him upright.“He’s getting closer,” I said breathlessly, glancing over my shoulder.The warrior loomed in the distance, his enormous frame tearing through trees and underbrush with ease. His glowing green eyes locked on us.Gaius gritted his teeth. “We just need to make it a little farther.”“No, we don’t,” I said, coming to a sudden stop.Gaius staggered as I pulled him to a halt. He turned to me, his face pale and bloodied. “What are you doing?”I straightened, letting go of his arm. “We can’t keep running. You can’t keep running.”“Evelyn, don’t,” he said, shaking his head. “We have to keep moving.”“No,” I said firmly. “We won’t make it. He’ll catch us, and when he does...” My voice trailed off, the words catching in my throat.Gaius’s eyes softened, but only for a moment. Then his jaw set, and he stepped in fr