Melissa’s POVAfter Knox left, I sat on the edge of the bed, watching Dylan sleep while Tyler played with his hand.The events of the day kept replaying in my mind, and my thoughts kept returning to Knox and the huge mess he had put me in.This house was very lavish and comfortable, yes, but it felt more like a golden prison to me.My heart began to ache at the thought of being here for longer than 24 hours. I didn’t want to be here. I never wanted to ever come back here.I just want to be back home with my Sam.A sharp knock on the door suddenly interrupted my thoughts.I quickly glanced at the boys to make sure they were still resting before answering the door.“Come in,” I called out softly.The door opened and a woman in a neat maid’s uniform stepped inside.Her hair was pulled back in a sleek bun and her face was completely stoic, like she didn’t know the meaning of a smile.She had an arrogant air about her and I noticed her eyes looking me up and down with a light frown that se
Dylan and Tyler looked up at me innocently.“We just told him Uncle Sam is our father, just like you always said we should,” Dylan replied.A sigh of relief left my lips. Thank the goddess!“That’s right my love. Always remember, if anyone ever asks, Uncle Sam is your father,” I reminded them gently.The boys nodded solemnly, and their innocent looks made my heart clench. They didn’t know why they had to do it, but they did it anyway.Dylan’s expression turned thoughtful, and he asked the onequestion I always dreaded hearing.“Mummy? When will we see finally get to see our Dad?” he asked curiously. “You said we’d meet him one day when we’re older. We are older now.” He said and I sighed.Telling them they would see their father was probably a mistake. I had always wanted to just tell them that their father had died, but something in me would not allow it.Sam had encouraged me over and over again to say their father had died but I really just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t explain why, bu
Knox's POV The grand stone walls of the council hall towered proudly in front of me as I approached the entrance. I could hear the faint echoes of muffled angry voices inside, it was the sounds of problems and unrest. Standing just outside the doors was my Beta, Andrew, looking as serious as ever.“How’s it going in there, Andrew?” I asked, knowing full well I probably wouldn’t like the answer.Andrew shook his head and winced. “Not good sir. The council members are more unhappy than ever before. They’re all on edge.”I let out a weary sigh. “When were they ever happy?” I muttered, brushing past him as I pushed open the heavy oak doors.Inside, the council hall was as I expected—filled with mostly chubby men seated in a semicircle.Their eyes immediately snapped up to me as I entered. Their faces showed different degrees of irritation and impatience. I didn’t even have a chance to take my seat before one of them, Councilman Morris, shot up with a frown.“There he is, finally. So you
Knox's Point of View“That’s a lie!” Someone suddenly shouted.The air was thick with tension in the council hall as I surveyed the seated men.“Who said that?” I snarled.The weight of the problems seemed to press down on my shoulders, as did the suffocating glares from the council members seated in front of me. I knew today's meeting would be challenging, but I hadn't anticipated just how quickly things would escalate.Who would dare call me a liar?Councilman Ebert, the oldest and most outspoken of the group, rose from his seat again.His voice carried the gravity of his years. “Alpha Knox, I b what that person was trying to say was that things are not actually under your control. Because without a healthy successor, we are seen as weak in the eyes of our enemies,” he warned, his eyes boring into mine. “Our pack's future is at stake.”His gut wrenching words hung in the air for far too long before another council member, Edwin, chimed in with a nod. “Ebert's right sir. The lack of
Melissa’s POVI made sure to stand proudly before the council. The absolute look of shock on their faces was hilarious.I couldn't help but enjoy the looks of sheer unbelief written across their faces.The once-mighty men of the council who had looked down on me and any other omega as if I were nothing now seemed utterly dumbfounded by my mere presence.I had never wanted to come back to this place, to this hod forsaken pack where I was once treated like a pariah. But seeing the disbelief and confusion on their faces was worth every moment of discomfort.There was a time when I would have cowered under their harsh frowns. My eyes would be downcast, trying to shrink into invisibility. But those days were long gone now. I had become something far more powerful than they could ever comprehend—far too powerful for them to hurt me anymore.As I scanned the room, my eyes landed back on Alpha Knox. He was sitting, transfixed with an intensity that seemed to tear through the entire room.His
Knox's POVI stood rooted to the spot, watching Melissa with a mix of shock and admiration as she single-handedly silenced the entire council.Her words cut through their objections like an unforgiving knife, slicing through the thin veil of arrogance they had wrapped themselves in. It was almost amusing to watch the once-vocal councilmen become flustered and unsure under her intense glare.In those moments, I felt a surge of pride for her. Melissa had transformed from the timid Omega I once knew into a formidable woman who commanded respect. No longer did she cower in the face of intimidation; now, she faced it head-on with a confidence that was impossible to ignore.As I watched Melissa, I could feel the stirrings of something deeper within me.Hector, my inner wolf, growled with approval, his instincts pushing me toward her, urging me to reclaim what was once ours. “She’s perfect for us, Knox. She’s strong, capable, and fierce. Claim her, before it’s too late.”“It’s not that simpl
Knox’s POVFeeling cornered and too vulnerable for my liking, I shifted the conversation back to our first topic. I confessed the truth of the burden that was weighing down on my shoulders.“Melissa, the only reason I didn’t tell Susie that you’re back is because of our...sour relationship. Things have been very bad between us and the only reason I’m still married to her is because I don’t want our son growing up in a broken home,” I revealed truthfully.Each of my words carried a hint of the problems I had found myself in, but it wasn’t the whole truth. “I regret our marriage, Melissa. I sorely regret ever marrying her. I truly do. But try to believe me when I say that all I want now is to protect you and your children from Susie.”I expected Melissa to laugh at my pain, to respond with gloating or scorn because I deserved it for hurting her. But Instead, her eyes softened with kind sympathy, which was a reaction that caught me completely off guard.As always, Melissa’s kindness was
Melissa's POVThe drive back to the house was a lot longer than I remembered. As I watched the scenery pass by, My eyes kept noticing the changes that had taken place over the years. Once-familiar landmarks were now blocked by new developments, and the pack lands seemed to have undergone a complete transformation.Tall fences and watchtowers were strategically placed along the road, giving the impression of a fortress. It’s like the pack was building a fence around itself, to hide from something.“Just how bad have the attacks gotten?” I wondered, as the sight of so much defense structure began to worry me.Before I left the pack, I knew they experienced multiple attacks, but it hadn’t gotten bad enough to build such fortresses.This was a annoying reminder that I really couldn’t let down my guard down with my kids here. The pack had become more vulnerable in a way I hadn’t seen since the last time I was here.Thankfully my driver seemed fine with not engaging in small talk, which sui
Knox's POV"Go!" Melissa commands, her body poised in a defensive stance."I can't," I mutter, frustration lacing my words. "This doesn’t feel right."We stand in the middle of the garden, the manicured grass stretching out between us. About ten meters separate us, and I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off. Melissa, dressed in workout gear, meets my gaze with a mix of patience and exasperation. On the sidelines, Aiden and Donovan watch, grinning widely as if the whole thing is some kind of game—though nothing has even happened yet."Attack me!" she urges, arms outstretched in an open challenge."Melissa, I really don’t think this is a good idea—""Knox, you promised!" She cuts me off, her voice insistent. I know she’s been trying to convince me to do this for weeks, but I still have doubts. Axel and I would never intentionally hurt her, but there’s always a risk. A slip, a misstep, even a half-hearted strike could go wrong.“This is dangerous." I gripe, "what if it doesn't wo
Melissa's POV"Knox, you're being completely unreasonable."He stands across from me in the kitchen, sunlight streaming in behind him, his arms folded tightly across his chest, and that familiar, stubborn scowl on his face. After everything that happened last night, he's been on edge, hovering around me like a hawk. This morning, I had to actually kick him out of the bathroom just to get a moment of privacy, and now he's digging in his heels, refusing to go to work."Can you blame me?" he snaps, his voice low and edged with frustration.I get it, I do. He's tired. We didn't get to bed until nearly four this morning, and with a young pup running us ragged, there’s no chance of sleeping in. If he were staying home to rest and recharge, I might be more sympathetic. But that’s not it."We've got to figure out a way to get past this,”I sigh, feeling emotionally drained."We can't change what happened,but we can't let it take over our lives either.You have to go to work, I've got to take Tyl
~ Arabella ~The Calypso Pack House stands as the grandest structure I've ever encountered. Its size dwarfs the Nova Pack House by at least three times, and if not for the imposing walls of defense encircling the marble giant, one might mistake it for a lavish resort. Perched atop a hill in the heart of Tartarus, the capital city, the mansion commands the landscape.It’s clear that the architect had one goal in mind: to ensure the Alpha could always look down upon his subjects, keeping them under his constant surveillance and reminding them, unceasingly, of their position beneath him.Glorious. I think wistfully, finally, a true Alpha.The entire city makes Elysium look like a third world slum. While the Noyas seem content to remain living in the past - preserving ancient buildings.outdated traditions and muddy forests -Tartarus was built with only strength in mind.The city's towering border walls keep out any undesirables, and the few that slip through the cracks are dealt with in s
My heart pounding with sudden panic, I jump a foot in the air and yell softly. I find a very big, very irate Alpha standing over me as I spin around and brace myself against the sturdy doors.Knox exudes displeasure with his arms folded across his chest, his mouth set, and his glittering eyes narrowed in rebuke.My cheeks burn bright pink, and I withdraw away from him, trembling with guilt. "How did you do that in the name of the Goddess?"Ignoring me, he covers my nape with one strong hand."Little wolf, what have you to say for yourself?"My first astonishment has already passed, and I understand that I have no cause for guilt. I straighten up and give my friend my sternest look, saying, “I'm entitled to know what's happening”.Knox warns, "Don't eavesdrop, and then knock on the door and enter.”“If I was in there you wouldn't have spoken openly,"I argue.“You came down here specifically so I wouldn't hear. Sam called you instead of me because he didn't want me to know either-right?”"
Whoever came up with the idea of stilettos clearly had a cruel streak.I’ve blocked out most of the painful details of these wretched pack events, but now that I’m here again, I’m reminded just how miserable it is to be trapped in high heels for hours. But, of course, as the Alpha’s mate, I have to look the part—no room for comfort in that. I have to squeeze myself into constricting designer clothes and strap what could only be described as torture devices to my feet just to be taken seriously.Sure, I’ll admit I look great—but at what price?Meanwhile, Knox has it easy. He stands beside me, as effortlessly stylish as ever in the same black suit he wears to every event. And there I am, struggling to breathe in a cocktail dress so tight and full of straps and cutouts, I needed a map just to put it on.Tyler's silver and black party dress matches mine in color, if nothing else.She looks absolutely adorable, and she's already stolen the spotlight from both Knox and I- rightly so. It seem
Melissa's POVSam’s grim face stares back at me from the tablet, his last words echoing in my mind, refusing to fade.This doesn’t make sense.“Maybe we misunderstood,” Luna suggests, her voice tinged with uncertainty.But I know we didn’t. His words were crystal clear, and the look on his face tells me this is no joke. He’s just as confused as I am, but where I linger in disbelief, he’s already jumping to the worst possible conclusion.The door opens, and Knox steps in. Instantly, Tyler bolts across the room, her little voice ringing out, “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!”With a grin, he scoops her up, tossing her into the air. Her delighted shrieks fill the room. “Tyler, Tyler, Tyler!” he echoes, flipping her over his head a few more times before pulling her close, her small form resting against his chest as he presses a kiss to her forehead."Daddy, we went to da woods! She exclaims, launching into her account of the day."The trees were so big they touched the sky!" Tyler has seen forests bef
Susie's POV“I have no idea what I’m doing,” I complain, throwing my hands up in frustration.We’re in the back of Melissa’s café. Sam’s sitting at the kitchen island, watching me wrestle with a lump of dough on a floured cutting board. And if I’m not mistaken, he’s struggling not to laugh.“This isn’t funny,” I grumble. “I’m not a cook, I’m not a baker – I’m not cut out to take over this place.”Sam raises his dark brows. “You didn’t want to move into the Pack House, and you didn’t want my money, which means you need a job to pay rent,” he reminds me. “And this is a job – a good one, actually.”“Yes,” I admit, conceding to his logic, “but I can’t do this job. I’m completely unqualified – both as a beginner and a pro.”We've already had this argument about eight times already, but it keeps resurfacing anyway. Sam knows I can't boil water without starting a kitchen fire,so I'm a little suspicious that he keeps pushing the cafe on me. I think he's trying to wear me down until I cave and
Melissa's POVThe day after we’re back home, Knox dives into back-to-back meetings that stretch from dawn till late evening. He barely manages to slip into Tyler’s room in time to read her bedtime story, and when he finally emerges about half an hour later, he looks completely drained.I’m in the kitchen, waiting with a glass of scotch in hand. But instead of reaching for the drink, Knox comes straight to me, wrapping me up in his strong embrace, his body warm and solid against mine. He buries his face into the curve of my neck, loosening my pinned-up hair so it cascades down, draping over him like a chocolate waterfall.“What happened?” I murmur, my fingers gently weaving through his thick hair.He takes a deep breath, pulling in my scent with a sigh that seems to ease his tension. When he raises his head, dark circles rim his eyes, but his gaze is as intense as ever as he studies my lips, leaning in to capture them in a deep, lingering kiss.When he's had his fill, he tucks my head
knox's POVThough the thought crosses my mind to enter through the garage with Melissa and Tyler, avoiding the councilors' gaze and heading straight to the apartment, I quickly discard it. I can't afford to show any hint of weakness, not when these men are already testing my resolve. I refuse to give them that satisfaction. No, we will walk through the front door, our heads held high, and if it comes to it, I will take down every last elder in my path to ensure we do.We exit through the side door, our small group moving toward the front of the house. Aiden and Donovan position themselves on either side of Melissa and Tyler, while I take the lead, steeling myself for whatever unpleasant news is waiting for us."Gentlemen,"I greet the assemblage without any hint of a smile,“to what do we owe the pleasure."They are all looking past me,surveying my mate and pup with undisguised curiosity and, in some cases, distrust.“You've been gone nearly a month,Alpha." The chief elder states,“And we