Falling in love is a source of joy, and loving is even more so. But feeling longing is something else.Longing creeps in like wildflowers through the cracks of the heart. It grows without being asked and is impossible to ignore.When the shadow of a face crosses the mind, memories of being together resurface. The heart feels suffocated by a deep silence, like the melodeless melody of a song. It makes every second seem longer, every night more lonely.The longing is gentle but sharp, slipping mercilessly through the cracks of thought. It comes in the form of familiar scents, moonlight once shared, or the whisper of the wind caressing the skin with tenderness.Longing means forming new habits—checking the calendar, then the phone, hoping for a call. It's like waiting for rain in a dry season—there's no guarantee it will come, but the heart keeps hoping.In the longing there is a silence that is never really empty. There are echoes of laughter that surround the solitude, and the soft sig
Jaxon's arrival in Argentina was met with immense pressure. The wheat field fire in Portego had not only caused considerable material damage, but also sparked a crisis of confidence among investors.Doubts quickly spread and turned into a looming threat that unsettled investors. Although they hadn't suffered any direct financial loss as a result of the fire, the incident raised concerns about Jaxon's ability to manage risks of such magnitude in its planned expansion of wheat fields in Argentina.Jaxon had no choice but to face investors head on. He was determined to use every resource and strategy at his disposal to maintain their confidence.A meeting with the investors was arranged and Jaxon prepared meticulously. His determination was clear—no matter what, he had to secure their signatures.The day of the meeting arrived. Jaxon stood at the head of a large conference table, his gaze sharp and confident. Without flinching, he met the probing eyes of the investors seated across from
Now, Jaxon felt much calmer. His concerns for Emory's safety had been eased. Someone he trusted had been assigned to keep an eye on Emory around the clock—except when Emory was at the Zyranos palace.Jaxon had no doubts about the werewolves of the Zyranos Pack. The hostility that had gone on for more than twenty years, the fact that he hadn't been able to get any real information, and the inability of the Gardeno Pack to really intimidate them, were all small pieces of evidence that the Zyranos Pack was not to be underestimated.Logically, Emory's safety shouldn't have been a concern for Jaxon. Indeed, if there was a real threat, it was impossible that those around Emory wouldn't be guarding her.Ironically, Jaxon couldn't trust anyone but his own people, even the trained members of the Zyranos Pack. He knew the abilities of Orlando and Lacey, who were always with Emory. But that wasn't enough. He needed someone he knew personally to ensure Emory's well-being.Marco Alessandro Dalton
Jaxon had considered the possibility of another pack besides the Gardeno Pack feuding with the Zyranos Pack. But not a single name came to mind. The more he thought about it, the more certain he became that only one pack in the world had problems with the Zyranos Pack—the Gardeno Pack.Jaxon's thoughts changed direction. If no other pack had problems with the Zyranos Pack, then it was possible that the stalking Emory was experiencing was business-related. It made perfect sense if a business rival was spying on Emory, trying to discover her weaknesses.Unfortunately, this theory was quickly put to rest by the information Damian had provided. Marco had confirmed that the person stalking Emory was no ordinary human. The stalker was a werewolf, but not part of any pack.Jaxon remained silent. The information he had received brought no clarity. On the contrary, it raised even more questions. "A rogue," he muttered expressionlessly. "That means someone really has bad intentions towards Emor
Cordelia would never lie. Her visit to the palace and waiting for Jaxon's return from Argentina was not just to check up on him. While she wanted to make sure Jaxon was well after his hectic business trip, that was not the only reason she had come. In fact, it could be said that there was something more pressing that had made her decide to meet Jaxon as soon as possible.There was a restlessness that could not be quelled. The anxiety made it impossible for Cordelia to go through her days in peace. Her mind kept circling back to one fact: Jaxon still hadn't done anything to avenge the wheat field fire caused by the Zyranos Pack.Cordelia had tried to be patient. She had waited in silence for over two months. She thought that Jaxon must have come up with some clever plan to retaliate. After all, the fire had not only caused massive losses, it had also wounded the pride of the Gardeno Pack.The wheat fields of Portego were the pride of Gardeno AgroCorp. They were no ordinary farmland, bu
Jaxon had to admit that it was the hardest thing in the world to pretend in front of Cordelia. All this time he had kept nothing from Cordelia. In fact, he would bet that there wasn't a single thing about him that Cordelia didn't know. So, it was only natural that he felt like a big liar for not being completely honest with her about the reason behind his decision.Jaxon didn't need to ask; he was sure that Cordelia would be furious when she found out that he wasn't going to retaliate against the Zyranos Pack because of his feelings for Emory.It wasn't Cordelia's fault. But it wasn't Jaxon's fault either. He had never intended to fall in love with or care for his enemy. But that was exactly what had happened and he couldn't deny it, not even with his last breath.Jaxon let out a long sigh, his eyes closing dramatically as he felt a slight sense of relief. The difficult conversation was finally over. Cordelia and Braden were on their way home."Alpha."Jaxon opened his eyes at the sou
Emory let out a long sigh as she placed her phone on the bedside table. Then she lay down on the bed. Staring at the ceiling, she slowly closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep, even though her mind kept going over and over the same question. Had Jaxon still not returned from Argentina?It was the only logical explanation for why Jaxon hadn't contacted her yet. She had been waiting—based on the flight's arrival schedule—but not a single call had come through.Anxiety crept in. The longing she had hoped would soon be quenched was pushed aside by a strange feeling that cloaked her heart. A subtle worry took hold and kept her restless throughout the night.Emory couldn't shake the unease. She was convinced that something must have happened since Jaxon had promised to call her as soon as he arrived at Gardeno Palace.Fortunately, her worries didn't include the possibility of something terrible happening to Jaxon's flight. Earlier Emory had checked the latest news and there was no report
Emory stood up quickly. Her steps were hurried as she moved towards the bedside table. Then she realised that her suspicions were correct—the person who had contacted her the night before was indeed Jaxon.A warm feeling of happiness spread through Emory's heart, which had been frozen in painful memories, flowing gently like the light of a full moon illuminating the dark night. She reached for the phone, then realised her fingers were trembling.Emory didn't answer the call immediately. Instead, she took several deep breaths, trying to calm herself, not thinking about Aretha's death. Then she finally picked up the phone. "Hello, Jaxon.""Hello, Emory."Jaxon's voice broke every invisible chain that had bound Emory. All her tension vanished instantly.A wistful smile appeared on Emory's face. She had just realised another truth—she hadn't just fallen in love with Jaxon. She had loved him. More than that, she needed him more than she had ever imagined. Jaxon could soothe her with just h
It seemed that a false sense of calm had settled over Zyranos Palace lately. The usual silence and stillness that should have signalled peace had instead become a sign of tense anticipation. The atmosphere had been altered by the commotion surrounding Isidore, Trina and Myles. Everyone was talking about it, spinning endless speculation—and because of that, Emory refused to be caught off guard a second time.Emory had made this case her sole focus. She was going to make sure that not a single detail slipped through the cracks, because this wasn't just about her safety—it was about the entire pack. Trina and Isidore's actions weren't just a matter of deceiving her; they bore the signs of a betrayal of the pack itself.Emory needed the truth to come out. She needed to uncover the true motive behind Trina and Isidore's actions. Their claim that it was all for their own good sounded like a flimsy excuse. Her instincts told her that something much bigger was at play—something important enou
The grey clouds drifted restlessly, darkening the sky above Montclair Manor. They obscured the sunlight, casting an unnatural gloom.A cold wind blew, rustling the leaves in an uneasy whisper. Nature stirred as lightning streaked across the sky, breaking through the last line of defence.Raindrops began to fall. A drizzle tapped against the windows, its rhythm growing heavier with each passing moment. What started as a light mist sweeping the ground soon turned into a torrential downpour.The trees swayed wildly, their branches creaking under the force of the wind. A distant rumble echoed in the background—a harbinger of the approaching storm. The universe painted a bleak picture, one that Trina watched in silence.Trina stood behind the window, motionless. She had been there for some time, her gaze fixed on the rain, her mind a storm of thoughts. Voices, faces and events crowded her mind, sending a heat through her chest.Everything felt different. The atmosphere had changed, thick w
With firm strides, Pierce stepped out of the palace, carrying the turmoil with him. His mind churned relentlessly, a restless storm that refused to be calmed, even when the wind blew in a soothing rhythm.Pierce paused for a moment, tilting his head back. His gaze was fixed on the sky, now shrouded in grey clouds. It seems, he thought grimly, the rainy season is beginning.The realisation added another weight to his shoulders, another layer of pressure Pierce would have to deal with. He took a deep breath and walked on towards his car.There was too much to do, none of it could be postponed. Time was passing and Pierce had no intention of wasting it. So, he drove to the Guard Headquarters without delay, a wry thought in his mind—his plans for rest had been cancelled.Arriving at Guard Headquarters, Pierce headed straight for the command room. He paid no attention to the incessant activity around him—guards moving back and forth, security systems being monitored and daily reports being
The familiar sight enveloped the Zyranos Pack headquarters as usual. Activity was everywhere. Operations never ceased, even in the final hours of the night. Signs of work in progress filled the air—heavy footsteps echoing through the halls, the occasional creak of an automatic sliding door and the low hum of internal communications.The routine continued endlessly, and so did Pierce, who remained absorbed in his work, unaware that the day had already changed.Stacks of documents cluttered his desk, scattered across the surface. The holotable glowed dimly, projecting reports he had read countless times.Fatigue weighed on his eyes. Exhaustion struck, hitting him hard as a consequence of working late into the night.Pierce let out a deep sigh and leaned back in his chair, massaging the bridge of his nose. He tried to shake off the overwhelming fatigue."Damn," Pierce muttered to himself, realising that despite countless sleepless nights, he was still no closer to a breakthrough. "It's l
The exhausting days continued relentlessly. Time seemed to turn with a heavy rhythm that sapped all energy. Ironically, it wasn't the work or the pack business that caused this, but the unexpected things that kept popping up without warning.Lately, everything felt like it was spinning out of control. One shock after another came in a way that was far from pleasant. They disturbed Jaxon's thoughts and his peace of mind.Strange thoughts crept into his mind. They followed every step Jaxon took. They shadowed his every activity. They never let him go, haunting him with an endless unease.Jaxon took a deep breath. He tried to calm himself as he received the same report again that morning. "Well," he said in a low voice. "Still no progress on Rosalie's case?""Yes, Alpha," Alexis replied carefully. Her head bowed slightly as she explained. "Kira and her team are still conducting a thorough analysis. So far, Rosalie's condition remains stable, although there's been no significant progress
Kira took a deep breath before stepping forward and entering the cell, Alexis and Yvonne following behind her. The dim light cast faint shadows across her face, accentuating her focused expression. Her gaze remained fixed on Rosalie, who lay motionless, showing no reaction to their presence, except for the occasional unfocused blink."She's lost her neurological response," Kira murmured as she observed Rosalie's completely diminished state. "Is that what you meant, Yvonne?"Yvonne clicked her tongue quietly. "I'm not quite sure. But one thing's for sure, none of the methods we've tried have been able to bring her fully back to consciousness. It's as if she's caught between being awake and unconscious."Kira cautiously reached for Rosalie's wrist, searching for a pulse. "Her pulse is weak and her blood pressure has dropped. If this continues, her body could shut down completely.""Is that the effect of something?" Alexis asked spontaneously. "Could it be poison? Trauma?"Kira sighed an
"It seems that my suspicions were right. Isn't it, Myles?"The accusation hit Myles like a cold, jarring slap. His body tensed. His fingers dug into the arm of the sofa as if it were the only thing keeping him grounded. His chest rose and fell in an erratic rhythm as he struggled to suppress the tremors creeping through his body.Myles remained frozen under Emory's gaze. He could feel the sharpness of her eyes, slicing into him like a blade, peeling away his skin layer by layer. He wanted to look away, escape, or at least blink, but his body refused to obey. He couldn't move an inch. And so, he became the target of Emory's silent but crushing power.Cold sweat beaded on his forehead before trickling down Myles’s temple. His heart pounded violently, hammering against his ribs in a frantic, uncontrollable rhythm.Myles took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. But the more he fought for control, the harder it became to remain calm.Every passing second was merciless. Time seemed to
The morning hustle and bustle at the Gardeno BioResearch Centre was business as usual. Medical teams and researchers had been filling the corridors since dawn, moving from room to room according to tightly scheduled programmes embedded in the central system. Similarly, assistants hurriedly carried laboratory results, while medical assistant robots glided silently to deliver test samples to the analysis unit.In the midst of the constant activity at the Gardeno BioResearch Centre, Kira sat behind a glass desk covered with a holographic interface. She remained motionless, her attention completely absorbed by the results of Jaxon's medical examination.Several transparent screens floated in the air, displaying biometric data, neurological scans, metabolic tests and various other analyses. Everything was neatly arranged in spreadsheets, accompanied by graphical visualisations that could be accessed with a single gesture of the hand.Kira dragged one of the graphs to the main screen, displ
Emory's private audience chamber was silent—almost too silent—shrouded in a chill that refused to dissipate even though the day had long since turned to midday. The sunlight, usually blazing with intensity, could do no more than pierce through the tall windows, casting its glow on the grand pillars and gilded furnishings within.In the centre of the room stood Emory, her posture erect. Her arms crossed over her chest; her fingers curled into fists in an attempt to maintain her composure. But nothing could quell the storm raging inside her.Heat burned in Emory’ chest. Her heart pounded with rage. Her breaths were deep and measured, but only God knew how much effort it took to appear composed.The blank expression was merely a mask to hide the seething rage within. The calm facade was a fortress Emory had built to hide the tension coursing through her entire body. No matter what, she would not lose control—not in front of them."Luna, they have arrived."Orlando's announcement made Emo