"Well… I’ll go."Georgia’s voice trembled, but there was no taking it back now. Anna exhaled sharply, her shoulders sagging with a mix of relief and something heavier, something like fear. "Thank the moon," she muttered, but the flicker of anxiety in her eyes didn’t go unnoticed. Georgia’s heart pounded. The room felt too small, too suffocating. Anna’s mother stood by the door, her gaze unreadable, while the triplets played on the floor, their laughter a cruel contrast to the weight pressing on her chest. "You want this, don’t you?" Georgia’s voice was quieter now, almost accusing. Anna bit her lip, struggling with her emotions. "I have to want it." She shook her head. "If you don’t go, my father loses everything. His position, his respect, everything. The Alpha made it clear. Either you come willingly, or my family pays the price." The words cut deep. Georgia felt like she was being shoved toward the edge of a cliff. "And what about me?" she whispered. "What happens to me
"So, what is it you want me to know before we get there?" Georgia’s voice was sharp, cutting through the heavy silence in the car.Anna exhaled slowly, gripping the edge of her dress. "Just… be the good girl you always are, okay? Everything will fall into place."Georgia turned to her, searching her face. "That’s it? That’s all you have to say?"Anna hesitated, then reached for Georgia’s hand, squeezing it tightly. "I love you. And I swear I’m not doing this to hurt you. The Alpha threatened my family, I had no choice. But I promise you, I will take care of your children. Always."The rest of the journey was silent, save for the occasional creak of the carriage wheels. When the towering walls of the palace came into view, Georgia felt a cold dread coil around her spine. The place was massive, almost suffocating in its grandeur. Torches flickered in the night, casting eerie shadows against the stone walls.As soon as the carriage halted, the door swung open, and a guard motioned for Ge
Georgia swept the hall, her stomach growling loudly, the ache a constant reminder of the dinner she wasn’t allowed to attend. She glanced up just in time to see Serafina strolling past, heading toward the dining room.“Don’t look so miserable, Georgia,” Serafina said with a mocking smile. “It’s not my fault you weren’t invited.”Georgia gritted her teeth as the hunger in her stomach intensified. “I wasn’t invited because you made sure of it.”Serafina paused, turned, and laughed coldly. “Well, someone has to clean up after us. It’s not like you have anything better to do.”Georgia tightened her grip on the broom, her voice barely audible. “You’ve taken everything from me, the food, the attention, the life I should’ve had.”Serafina’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “You’re just bitter because I’ve always had what you’ve wanted. Get used to it.”With a final glance, Serafina walked away, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. Georgia stood frozen, the emptiness in her stomac
The next day, Serafina, with a knowing smirk, deliberately assigns Georgia the impossible task of carrying a massive crate, fully aware she can't lift it alone. As Georgia struggled, her arms trembling under the weight, a voice slid in from behind, smooth yet firm.The next day, Serafina, with a knowing smirk, deliberately assigns Georgia the impossible task of carrying a massive crate, fully aware she can't lift it alone. As Georgia struggled, her arms trembling under the weight, a voice slid in from behind, smooth yet firm. “You don’t have to do this alone, Georgia.” Jared’s voice was gentle but unwavering as he reached for the crate she was barely holding up. Her muscles screamed in protest, but she tightened her grip, refusing to let herself appear weak. “I can manage,” she muttered, shifting her stance despite knowing she was barely standing. Jared frowned, his jaw tightening. “You’re about to collapse. Just let me” Before he could take the crate from her hands, a s
The hallway was quiet now, too quiet. Georgia stood frozen, staring at the shadow that had just slipped away with that cruel laugh."You scared me..." she whispered to one of the guards standing there, her voice breaking slightly.Why had he pretended? Why had he scared her like that?She wanted to crumble to the floor, but pride, stubborn, burning pride, held her upright. She had no one to lean on. Not really. Jared had tried. But even with him, she didn’t want to be seen as weak.Not again.Not by anyone.Later that evening, the staff moved around her like she was invisible. When she reached for her portion at the kitchen door, the cook, usually indifferent, stepped back and folded his arms.“You’ve already eaten,” he said flatly.“I haven’t,” Georgia replied, confused.“Check with Lady Serafina,” he said with a shrug, turning away.Something cold and cruel settled in Georgia’s stomach.She didn’t need to ask.She knew.Day after day, it continued.No food.Whispers behind her back.
The morning sun had barely warmed the palace walls when the trap was sprung.Georgia was heading toward the garden shed with a basket of linens when a pair of uniformed guards stepped in front of her, blocking her path.“Miss Georgia,” one said coldly, “you’re needed in the council hall. Now.”Her stomach tightened.“Why?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.“You’ll find out soon enough.”Their faces were stone. No emotion, no answers. Just duty.She followed them, heart thudding against her ribs like a warning drum. Every step felt heavier than the last. The corridors she once walked freely now felt like they were closing in on her.When they entered the council hall, a small crowd had already gathered.Servants. Guards. Advisors.And at the far end of the room, standing tall with his back to her, was Alpha Jared.Her eyes flicked to the right, Serafina.Smiling.Smiling like the devil himself had whispered a secret in her ear.The air was tight with tension."Step forward, G
Serafina reclined in her chair, fingers tapping idly against the armrest, her gaze distant. Jared’s words still echoed in her mind, sharp and unforgiving.“If you ever attempt to harm Georgia again... you won’t just be stripped of authority. You’ll be exiled. Banished. Do you understand me?”A smirk tugged at her lips. Almost a laugh.As if exile could undo what they’d had. As if a bond, no matter how sacred, could erase years of obsession, stolen nights, and the raw power they’d once wielded together. He thought banishment could break her?Foolish.He was mistaken.It was just a phase. A foolish impulse from a man trying too hard to prove something to a room full of wolves.She rose from her seat, her silk robe dragging behind her like smoke.“Georgia may have caught his eye for now,” she murmured to herself, “but I’ll remind him where he truly belongs.”She summoned her handmaid.“Send Georgia to deliver Alpha Jared’s food,” Serafina said coolly.The maid blinked, clearly puzzle
Georgia shoved him.Hard.Her palms hit Jared’s bare chest, the sound loud in the quiet room. For a moment, she thought he’d step back. But he didn’t. He barely moved. The only sign she’d done anything was the sharp twitch in his jaw.“Don’t,” she said, breathless. “Don’t do this to me.”Jared stared at her, his chest rising and falling, lips still parted from the kiss they had just shared.“Georgia”“I’m a weak Omega,” she snapped, pushing him again. This time, it wasn’t as hard, more like she was trying to push the memory away than him. “You said it yourself. Five years ago. In front of everyone. You called me weak when the Moon Goddess chose me to be your mate. Do you remember that?”His face froze.“I remember,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “I remember every word. Every look. Every second you made me feel like I wasn’t enough. Like I didn’t belong by your side.”Jared’s eyes darkened. Not with anger—but with guilt. Regret. Hunger.“I didn’t know how to handle it then,” he sa
Georgia felt it before her phone even rang.That flutter in her chest. That ache she couldn't quite name.When Jared’s name lit up her screen, her breath caught, not from fear this time, but from something deeper. A pull she didn’t want to resist anymore.She stepped out onto the porch and answered, her voice soft and breathy, almost like a confession. “Hey.”Jared’s voice poured through the line like warm honey. “Hey, baby. You okay?”God, how could three words sound like a warm embrace?“I’m… getting there,” she said quietly. “It’s been a long day.”There was a pause on the line. The kind that said more than words ever could.“Didn’t want to push,” Jared finally said. “Just needed to hear your voice.”The way he said it, low, reverent, almost worshipful, made her heartache most beautifully.“You miss me?” she asked, leaning against the porch railing, eyes closed.“More than I should,” he replied without hesitation. “More than I know how to hide.”Her lips parted, a soft breath e
Chapter 44 It was a brown new day, Georgia sat up slowly, the scent of warm pancakes and something sweet, maybe syrup or cinnamon, drifting through the cracked door. Laughter echoed faintly from the kitchen below. The triplets. Their giggles had always been the best alarm clock.Georgia pulled the blanket tighter around herself and let her eyes wander across the room. A photo of her pregnant self with Anna, both of them in oversized hats, smiled from a dusty frame on the dresser. Her throat tightened. So much had changed. She got dressed slowly, slipping into a soft cardigan and jeans, brushing her fingers against the dresser’s edge like she was gathering strength from every memory carved into the wood.Downstairs was loud. Beautifully, wonderfully loud. “Mom! Mom! I made you toast but I licked the butter first!” Kelsey announced, proudly holding up a half-eaten slice. “You what?” Georgia gasped, laughing as she caught the toast and pulled her daughter into a hug. Kelvin sat
I’m home! Who missed me?” Georgia called out as she stepped out of the car, her voice light with forced cheer, but her eyes scanning the surroundings with a quiet longing.The breeze welcomed her instantly, warm and gentle, brushing against her skin like a familiar hug. The scent of wildflowers, fresh earth, and sun-warmed grass swirled around her as she stood still for a moment, breathing it all in.She closed her eyes briefly, letting the moment sink in.It had been so long, too long, since she’d felt anything close to peace. No deadlines. No Jared. No Seraphina. No pretending to be fine.Just this place.The countryside looked just as she remembered it. The winding road, the small wooden gate, and the rose-wrapped cottage just ahead, glowing under the lazy afternoon sun. The gravel shifted softly beneath her feet as she took a slow step forward, her heart beating a strange rhythm in her chest.“I missed you too,” she whispered under her breath, even though no one had answered her y
“As long as you’re with me, we’ll face this together,” Jared said, his voice steady but fierce. “You’re the one I love, Georgia. Not Seraphina. That part of my past is dead.”Georgia hesitated, eyes dropping to the floor. “But…”“No buts,” Jared interrupted, gently lifting her chin so she met his gaze. “Don’t forget, I’m still the Alpha. And when it comes to us, I decide what stays, and what doesn’t.”A flicker of defiance flashed in her eyes, but she only nodded. “Alright… if you say so.”She stepped back, her voice softening. “I should get going. There are chores I’ve been assigned, and I don’t want more trouble.”Jared let her hand slip from his. “Fine. But Georgia, look at me.”She paused at the door, turning halfway.“I meant every word,” he said. “And if anyone dares question my loyalty to you, they’ll answer to me.”Her lips curled into the smallest smile. “We’ll see if you still mean that when Seraphina starts playing games again.”She left before he could respond, leaving him
Chapter 41“What?” Georgia screamed, panic rising in her voice. “Attack from where?”Jared suddenly burst into laughter.She blinked, confused and angry. “What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you laughing?”He stepped closer, chest heaving, eyes burning with something darker than humor.“From your heart, Georgia,” he said, voice dropping to a husky whisper. “Your love is making me go crazy. That’s how my heart rings for you, like a damn alarm. Loud. Wild. Unstoppable.”Her breath caught.His hands cupped her cheeks. “Every time you’re near me, it’s chaos. I can’t think straight. Can’t fight straight. Can’t even sleep without dreaming about you. And last night”He didn’t finish.He didn’t have to.She felt it too.Georgia took a shaky step back, trying to catch her breath. “You’re insane.”“Only for you,” he said, stalking toward her again. “Tell me you didn’t feel it. Last night. Just tell me, and I’ll back off.”She didn’t say anything.Couldn’t.Because yes. She felt it. Still f
The night air was cool, but Georgia’s skin burned.She stood in front of Jared’s door again.No apron. No linens. No excuse.Just herself.Her bare feet were quiet against the stone floor, her hand trembling as she reached for the handle. She didn’t knock this time. She just… walked in.Jared was shirtless, fresh from the training yard, a towel around his neck and sweat still glistening on his chest. His eyes snapped to her the second the door creaked.“Georgia?” His voice was low. Rough. Cautious.She didn’t speak.She couldn’t.She stepped forward. One, two, three small steps. Then stopped. Her breath hitched in her throat. Her fingers curled at her sides.He dropped the towel, muscles flexing as he moved closer. “Say something.”She shook her head.He frowned. “Then what are you doing here?”She looked up, finally meeting his gaze. “You said you’d fight for me.”He stilled.“I’m not ready,” she whispered. “But I don’t want to run anymore.”Jared’s eyes darkened, the hunger in them
“I need to stop this,” Georgia whispered into her trembling hands.The dim glow of the candle flickered against the stone walls of the palace’s service corridor. Her heart still pounded in her chest from the dream or hallucination; she wasn’t even sure anymore. Jared hadn’t come into the room. He hadn’t said those words. She had imagined every second of it.And that terrified her more than anything else.Because it meant she wanted it. Wanted him.Even after everything.Even after being discarded like an afterthought five years ago.She rose from the war room chair, smoothing her apron and tying it tightly, almost as if binding her feelings in place. No more of this. No more foolish fantasies.She was a maid. A palace maid. She had no place in an Alpha’s heart, especially one like Jared’s...✿..✿..By midmorning, Georgia was in the East Wing, arms full of fresh linens and polished silver trays. She moved quietly from one room to the next, nodding politely at the guards, ignoring the
Morning came too quickly.The soft rays of sunlight filtered through the tall, arched window, brushing warm gold over the tangled sheets and discarded clothes strewn across the floor. Georgia sat at the edge of the bed, a sheet wrapped around her body like armor. Her back was to Jared. Her fingers were clenched tight, nails digging into her palms.Jared stirred behind her, the bed shifting beneath his weight. She didn’t look back. She couldn’t.Her heart was still racing.Her body still remembered everything.And that terrified her.“Georgia…” Jared’s voice was still husky from sleep. “You okay?”She stiffened. Don’t turn around. Don’t look at him. Just breathe.“I’m fine,” she said quickly, too quickly. Her voice cracked like a fragile shell.“You don’t sound fine.”There was a pause. Then, the rustle of sheets as he sat up behind her.“I…..I need to go,” she whispered, standing abruptly and nearly tripping on her own discarded boots. She clutched the sheet tighter, looking everywher
Georgia shoved him.Hard.Her palms hit Jared’s bare chest, the sound loud in the quiet room. For a moment, she thought he’d step back. But he didn’t. He barely moved. The only sign she’d done anything was the sharp twitch in his jaw.“Don’t,” she said, breathless. “Don’t do this to me.”Jared stared at her, his chest rising and falling, lips still parted from the kiss they had just shared.“Georgia”“I’m a weak Omega,” she snapped, pushing him again. This time, it wasn’t as hard, more like she was trying to push the memory away than him. “You said it yourself. Five years ago. In front of everyone. You called me weak when the Moon Goddess chose me to be your mate. Do you remember that?”His face froze.“I remember,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “I remember every word. Every look. Every second you made me feel like I wasn’t enough. Like I didn’t belong by your side.”Jared’s eyes darkened. Not with anger—but with guilt. Regret. Hunger.“I didn’t know how to handle it then,” he sa