MELISSA’S POV“Melissa, please just return to me… the boys are happy there, are they not? Can’t you just leave them there and come back to me, please? I need you.”“And my children don’t?! We talked about this before I left, Sam. there is no way in hell I am leaving my boys. How could you even bring this up again? Are you not ashamed of yourself? The boys adore you. How do you think they would feel if they found out that you are trying to get me to leave them all alone…?”"Don't twist my words, Melissa!" Sam’s voice was sharp now, his frustration spilling over. "I'm saying... there has to be a way for us to work this out. For us to be together again."I scoffed, feeling the tension coil tighter in my chest. "How? By me leaving them behind? How is that even an option, Sam? You knew from the start that they are my priority. They are everything to me.""I know that!" Sam shot back. "But I’m not asking for forever, just some time. We can bring them back later. It’s just… I need you here w
MELISSA’S POV"I love you, Melissa. I hope you love me enough to choose me."I stared at the words, my heart sinking deeper. How could he say that? How could he ask me to choose between him and my children? Between the life I had built with the boys and a future with him?I set the phone down, refusing to reply. Not now. Not when I was still reeling from our argument. I didn’t want to say something I couldn’t take back. I could feel the anger simmering just beneath the surface, mingled with a deep sense of hurt.How could he put me in such an impossible position? He had been there through so much—he knew my history, the boys' history. To think that he would ask me to leave them behind, even for a short while, felt like a betrayal. I didn’t care how scared or insecure he was feeling. The boys came first, always. And Sam knew that, or at least he should have.But even knowing that didn’t make the guilt disappear. I did love Sam. I had loved him for so long, and part of me had always env
MELISSA’S POV"Mom?" His voice was sleepy, barely a whisper."Hey, buddy," I said softly, smiling despite the heaviness in my chest. "What are you doing up so early?"He shrugged, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. "I had a weird dream."I knelt down to his level, brushing the hair out of his face. "Do you want to tell me about it?"Tyler shook his head, then hesitated. "It was just...I was looking for you, and I couldn’t find you anywhere."My heart clenched. It was just a dream, but the timing felt cruel, like the universe was mocking me. I hugged him tightly, hoping he couldn’t feel the turmoil inside me."I’m not going anywhere," I whispered into his hair. "I’m right here, okay?"He nodded, his small arms wrapping around me in return. After a few moments, he pulled back, looking up at me with those big, innocent eyes. "Are you okay, Mom?"I blinked, taken aback by the question. "Of course, sweetie. Why do you ask?""You just...seem sad sometimes," he said, his voice quiet
MELISSA’S POVI glanced back at the boys, who were watching the scene with wide eyes. “It’s fine, Knox. I’m good. Really. You didn’t have to come all this way.”“Melissa, come on,” he said, stepping forward slightly. “You’re already running late, and I can see you’re stressed. Let me help, alright?”His tone softened, and I felt the weight of exhaustion pulling me down again. I was tired—so damn tired of doing everything on my own. But letting him help? It didn’t feel right. It complicated things. Still, there was something in his eyes that made me hesitate.“Okay,” I said, almost reluctantly. “Let me just grab my bag.”I turned to the boys, trying to mask the unease Knox’s presence stirred in me. “You two behave while I’m gone. I mean it. Call if you need me.”“Will do, Mom,” Dylan said, giving me a look that was far too mature for his age. Tyler waved, already distracted by something on the TV.“Love you,” I said, giving them a smile, even though it felt forced. “I’ll be back soon.”
CHAPTER 48MELISSA’S POV"I can’t lose him, Melissa," he finally said, his voice cracking slightly, betraying the emotion he usually kept locked away. "I’ve already lost too much."Hearing that crack in his voice broke something in me. I wanted to reach out, to offer comfort, to promise that everything would be okay. But I knew better. Making promises in situations like this was dangerous, especially when I didn’t know the outcome myself."I’m doing everything I can," I said quietly. "I promise you that."Knox nodded but didn’t say anything else. The car pulled to a stop in front of the hospital, and for a moment, neither of us moved. I felt the urge to say something more, to bridge the growing chasm between us, but the words just wouldn’t come."I should get inside," I finally said, breaking the silence. "There’s a lot to do.""Right," Knox said, snapping back to the present. He cleared his throat, his mask of stoicism sliding back into place. "I’ll be waiting for your call."I nodde
ALPHA KNOX’S POV"Melissa."She turned, looking at me over her shoulder."Thank you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "For trying. For everything."She nodded, closed the car’s door gently behind her and walked away towards the hospital’s entrance. I watched her go, our conversation on my mind.Her words reverberated in my mind: There’s a chance. I wouldn’t be working this hard if I didn’t think there was.The hope that I had in me for Michael’s recovery was like a double-edged sword.I knew that too well. Hope could lift you up, but when it fell apart, it shattered you into pieces that were impossible to put back together.Finally, after what felt like hours but was only minutes, I forced myself to turn the key in the ignition. The engine rumbled to life, but I still hesitated before putting the car in gear. What if I drove away and something happened? What if I left, and that small glimmer of hope slipped away while I wasn’t there? The thought of losing Michael was unbearab
ALPHA KNOX’S POV“Oh, Knox… " she trailed off as her friends bowed. I recognised them a little; I had seen them with Susie a couple of times prior to that moment. Susie and I had not seen each other for a while, not since the last attack on the pack that had left me injured and technically, I was still living at the hospital since I had not been discharged yet. It was then that I remembered that she had not even come to check on me at the hospital. She was the Luna of the pack and my wife and yet, she cared about nobody but herself… and maybe Michael. My mom’s words rang in my ear as I stared at Susie. Your wife, who hasn’t visited you in the entire week you’ve been admitted? Don’t pretend that her opinion on this matters, Knox. She’s never cared about the pack, or you, the way she should.“Susie. My office, now,” I declared before heading straight into the office, not even waiting for her reply.I slammed the door behind me as I entered my office, my mind racing. The sound echoed
“You don’t need me, Knox. You just need someone to stand next to you and play the part. Someone who’ll follow your lead and not ask questions. That’s all you’ve ever needed.”“Do you even care that I was injured?” I demanded, remembering how quickly Melissa had attended to me, trying to hide her concern when she had seen me injured.Susie’s eyes flicked to mine, sharp as daggers, but there was something else there—something guarded. She crossed her arms tighter across her chest, refusing to answer for a long, tense moment."Of course, I care,” she said, her voice quieter now, but still edged with irritation. "But let's not make this about you, Knox. You’re the Alpha. You’ve been injured before, and you’ll get hurt again. That’s just part of it. You don’t need me hovering around like some nursemaid.”I stared at her, disbelief surging through me. "It wasn’t about needing a damn nursemaid. I needed my wife, Susie. I was in that hospital for a week—seven days—and you didn’t come once. No
Knox's POVAfter a frustrating and unproductive trip to the security offices, where we uncovered nothing but twelve hours of blacked-out camera footage from the night the paternity test was conducted, my betas and I made our way up to the chief physician's office on the tenth floor.Now, we stand in the doorway of his corner suite, carefully observing the doctor's reaction to our sudden appearance, only to find him with a blank expression.Seated behind his desk, he has his polished loafers casually resting on the sleek wooden surface, a takeout container resting in his lap. It's been a while since I last saw him, and despite the fact that he's only a few years older than me, I can't help but notice the toll time has taken. His dark hair now has a few streaks of gray, and the lines around his eyes and mouth are more pronounced than I remember.“Alpha, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Dr Kane greets me, barely looking up from his lunch.As far as Alpha's go, I've also considered myself
Melissa's POVKnox is driving me crazy.It’s barely evening, and here we are—already tucked into bed. We don’t even have my heart to blame for this rush anymore; that excuse ran its course days ago. But you'd never guess that from the way Knox is behaving. It's as if we're teenagers again, caught up in the chaos of our own desire. Though, I can’t say he's entirely at fault—every time his hands are on me, I seem to lose all control, melting into him.I know it might sound like I'm frustrated, but honestly, I’m just trying to process everything that’s happened recently. I’m not upset about having this incredible Alpha showering me with affection. I just don’t quite know how to handle all these overwhelming changes.Knox pulls me closer, wrapping himself around me like the softest blanket, his massive frame offering comfort as his lips graze my skin. “Goddess, I love you,” he murmurs, pressing his face into my neck."I love you too," I whisper, smiling widely. “Even if you don't listen t
Melissa 's POVI’m starting to wonder if my mother gave me the wrong secret. Granted, she shared the most important one—the scariest, too—but she really buried the lead. Sure, my blood can grant eternal life, but that’s not much help while it’s still coursing through my veins. On the other hand, learning I can hypnotize people would have been a much more practical secret to know sooner.Odette’s history books are far from complete, and half of what they claim sounds more like myth than fact. Still, there’s enough solid evidence to convince me of certain things. For example, I’m skeptical of the thirteenth-century zealot who supposedly figured out how to become invisible, but I’m more than willing to believe the hundreds of accounts describing how Volana wolves could use moonlight to amplify their powers.I can't believe I never knew any of this.I marvel, scanning through ancient censuses listing the names of my ancestors.I can. Luna rolls her eyes, I mean when would we have had the o
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