Selene inspects her naked body in front of the bathroom mirror and feels completely different from the naive and weak young woman who had arrived a few days ago. Something in her has changed and she knows it, even Saya is more active and focused. In these few hours she has been awake, she is learning to deal with some voices in her head from the members of the Redwood Wolves pack. She has no idea why she is hearing them, but she will soon find out. What she cannot ignore is the mark on her shoulder. She gently runs her fingers over that scar and her whole body trembles. She can feel the connection with Connor like never before, she can even hear his heartbeat and feel his heavy breathing from the other side of the door. Because she knows he is there, longing for her, but she won't make it easy for him.She runs her hands over her breasts and notices they are more mature. Her skin is glowing and the muscles of her body are firmer, as if she had exercised excessively. Definitely, Connor
"It will be an unforgettable day." That phrase keeps echoing in Selene's head. There was something in Inés's look when she said that which Selene didn't like. Additionally, Connor's insistence on changing the subject made her doubt; definitely, something strange is happening."Don't you like any of the options?" Clarisse asks, looking at Selene with a frown. "If you want, we can change them; there's still time.""Everything is fine, Clarisse. Thanks for your help," she says, realizing that she wasn't paying attention at all."But you haven't looked at anything, nor tried the menu.""I'm sorry, I'm a bit distracted," Selene starts tasting the dishes that Clarisse had the pack's chefs prepare. She immediately dismisses some and approves the ones she likes. "I was thinking about Inés's birthday. Is there something I should know about it?""No," Clarisse clears her throat, and Selene realizes from her reaction that she's lying. "It's just a birthday, don't pay attention to it. Let's get e
Selene is already seated on one of the couches waiting when Clarisse finally comes out of her station after choosing her own dress. Alexia is sitting next to Selene, and both are talking and smiling in a way that catches Clarisse's attention."Did I miss something while I was back there?" she asks as she approaches, waiting for the saleswoman who was attending to her to pack her things."Just talking about some anecdotes from when I was a child," replies Alexia, shrugging. Selene nods. That's indeed what they were talking about. She feels very comfortable with Alexia, and it seems that Alexia feels the same way. They even converse through the mental link very naturally, as if they had known each other forever. Maybe she is facing her new friend, despite the Luna-Gamma bond."I thought you would take a little longer to choose the dress. I wanted to see it," says Clarisse, making a few faces. "Now you're just going to kill me with anticipation until the weekend."Selene laughs, and Clar
Selene takes a long time in the shower, using some of the products that a saleswoman recommended based on her skin type. She also gives her hair a moisturizing treatment and dries it with a special brush for wavy hair before getting dressed. She looks at herself in the mirror and likes what she sees. Since she arrived here, she had stopped doing some things she enjoys, but that's all in the past now. Today marks the start of a new chapter in her life.Before leaving the bathroom, she thinks it over for a moment. Her plan to drive Connor crazy might backfire and spiral out of control, but she’s decided to go through with it. After all, he’s her mate, and he already bears her mark on his shoulder. Like it or not, they are bound to each other enough that running away now isn’t an option.She opens one of the boxes and pulls out a black lace lingerie set. With the waxing she had done and the moisturizing cream, her skin looks extremely shiny and healthy. She applies a few drops of perfume
"There comes that woman, don't go near her.""I can't believe the alpha marked her.""Take the children inside the house, don't let her see them.""What does she want here? I thought the alpha kept her locked up in the mansion.""That woman shouldn't be roaming free."Thousands upon thousands of voices begin to sound in Selene's head as she walks down the main path. What's going on? She doesn't know, but it's as if all the threads of these people's conversations are now connected to her mind. Unlike yesterday, they are now clearer, and she can understand every word.It makes her a bit upset to know what they think of her, but it doesn't surprise her since everyone has been hostile toward her since she arrived.As she moves forward, the whispers increase, and for a moment she wants to turn around and go back to the mansion, but that would give them more reasons to talk, and she doesn't want that. Besides, she needs to talk to her grandfather and ask what's happening, as this is new and
"He doesn't have bronchitis," says Selene, staring intently at the doctor.The doctor dismisses her words with a haughty smile, taking the opportunity to smooth her coat and display the identification badge hanging from one of her pockets."Excuse me, Luna, but I believe you don't understand this. Meddling in an area you know nothing about can be dangerous; someone could end up dead. I really must call the alpha to inform him of what you're doing.""And what exactly am I doing?" Selene releases the child and stands to face her."I already said, you're meddling in something for which you are clearly unqualified, given the incoherencies you're spouting. I am the doctor here, I've been practicing for over 10 years, and my diagnosis says the boy has bronchitis. Besides...""He doesn't have bronchitis," Selene interrupts her. "Didn't you hear what I said? Your diagnosis is wrong. If he had been treated correctly, he...""Are you calling me incompetent?!" The doctor, who Selene now knows is
Selene's eyes dart to the armchair and she notices a large figure seated in it. Connor growls softly before whispering, staring directly at her. His eyes glow a fiery orange in the darkness. Selene closes the door with her head held high."Come here, Selene," Connor's voice is so cold that Selene can feel her mate's anger deep within her chest, but she is also angry; he is incapable of listening to her and believing in her."Why should I go there?" She maintains her firm position in the middle of the room, standing confidently a few meters away from him."The punishment will be worse than it was going to be if you don't do what I ordered once since you came here."Selene's ears buzz at those words. Her hands tremble, not from the cold that is seeping into her bones, but from rage."I don't have to put up with this," Selene turns around, ready to open the door again.The creak of the armchair makes her hasten her steps. She throws the door open, but it is slammed shut by a powerful han
"Is this all the strength you have? Because if it is, it didn't hurt," Selene spits with arrogance and boldness. "I can assure you that my grandmother, who is almost 80, can do better than you." Half a dozen more smacks on her backside, now harder, make her swallow her words as he lashes out furiously and without pause. "Connor..." she moans after the last slap. The deep, low growl of the alfa in response makes Selene's cheeks puff up as she smiles despite the tears from the pain of the punishment he has just given her. A twisted sense of pride swells within her, knowing she has made this man, much larger in every way, lose his composure for her. If she were wearing underwear, it would be soaked, but she isn't as this morning, in her delirium to drive her partner crazy, she decided not to wear any. "Are you sure you want to punish me? Because your hard erection pressing against my belly says otherwise." The alfa's muffled gasp at Selene's comment makes her smile even wider as
That same night, Inés is taken to the place where she will serve her sentence—a remote and sinister location that has remained untouched for far too long. The dungeon's whereabouts are known only to the alphas, passed down from generation to generation. It is guarded by Terrakais, making it far easier to enter than to leave. No prisoner has ever escaped, and those who have dared to try met their end within mere meters, buried beneath mountains of sand and tangled vines. Her face and reaction upon seeing the place are unforgettable. Her screams of desperation and horror are swallowed by the forest. The following morning, the entire pack feels different, as if a new energy has settled over them. They begin moving early. After training, Jackson and the others start organizing the repairs. Clarisse continues helping at the clinic, while Connor immerses himself in the administrative matters he has neglected for far too long. His goal is to have everything cleaned up and in order by t
"Bring the prisoner!" The alpha’s voice startles Doctor Mirna, who shifts uneasily in her seat. A few minutes later, Inés’s screams echo throughout the place. Her appearance is deplorable—she is dirty, emaciated, and covered in half-healed wounds. "Connor, please!" she cries between sobs. "You don’t have to do this. Please, please, please..." The guards escorting her shove her toward the center. She falls to the ground. "Inés Emberclaw, omega of the Redwood Wolves pack, you are here tonight to be judged for the crimes of criminal association, betrayal of your pack, accessory to murder, and many other offenses." One of the elders stands and addresses her after the alpha gives the order. "How do you plead?" "I’m inno...cent, I swear," she responds between choked sobs. Connor watches her with no trace of emotion on his face. The trial continues for several hours. Nearly all those involved come forward to give their statements. At one point, Maya turns to her side and realiz
Somewhere in the Highlands…Lilith walks slowly, carrying a tray of food in her hands. It’s likely that Selene won’t touch it, just like she hasn’t in the past few days, but she still tries to get her to change her mind. She opens the door and enters with a broad smile."Good morning," she greets her. "How are you feeling this morning?""Good morning," Selene responds in a low, slightly hoarse voice. "I feel much better, Aunt. The wound barely hurts anymore.""That concoction I made never fails. I knew it would help with your injury, but that’s not what I’m asking about, Selene." Lilith places the tray on the small terrace table before returning to sit beside her on the bed. "I mean this." She points at Selene’s chest. "How is that heart feeling today?"Selene averts her gaze without answering. There’s no need to be a mind reader to know what’s going through her head right now. In the days she has been here, Lilith has learned to read her well—she knows she’s suffering deeply, but lea
Alpha Connor runs toward the training field. Just before reaching the massive stone wall, he shifts into Sorem, deliberately slamming his body against it with all his strength.He does it over and over again. The wall begins to crack and crumble little by little, while blood gushes from his forehead.His sister’s screams from behind him do nothing to quell his frustration, his pain, or his rage. The only way to stay alive without Selene is to push his body to the limit, to remind himself every day that he deserves this punishment, that he deserves to suffer and feel pain for what he did."Connor, please, stop. You’re hurting yourself," his sister pleads, trying to reach him, but Sorem growls at her, forcing her to step back.This scene repeats itself every single day since Selene disappeared. The female guards surround him, attempting to stop him, but they know they won’t be able to—not until he has had enough.A few minutes later, much of the wall has collapsed, becoming just another
One week later…Limping, Kaelan walks through the clinic’s hallways until he reaches one of the rooms. He opens the door, and his smile widens at the sight of the red-haired woman busily tending to the children."You shouldn’t be wandering around here, King Kaelan," Clarisse says, still with her back to him. "As far as I know, the doctor hasn’t discharged you yet.""If Muhammad won’t go to the mountain, then the mountain must go to Muhammad," he replies, stepping closer to her. His mere proximity makes the hairs on her body stand on end."I’m busy," Clarisse points toward the room. Fortunately, all the pups are recovering well, and it seems they’ll be discharged soon. "And you’re still injured. Go back to your room, please."Kaelan moves even closer. His nose brushes against her neck, and she shudders instantly."I needed to smell your scent," he says, inhaling deeply. "I’d heal faster if you visited me more often. I’m your mate."Clarisse swallows hard, trying to loosen the knot in h
Eisheth smiles, her eyes fixed on Selene's. Inés keeps crying, which irritates her immensely. She can't believe that this runt managed to capture her and, on top of that, is threatening her with her own dagger. What a complete failure!"Come get her, monster," Selene urges, a smile also on her face as she presses the dagger a little harder until tiny drops of blood become visible on Eisheth’s skin. She doesn’t intend to harm her, but if she’s going to use her as bait, it has to be convincing.Eisheth readies herself and strides toward her in a menacing manner, but in the end, she recites a few phrases in an unknown language, and all the wolves of her own pack begin to surround her, growling."You think I’m going to face you when I have them to do it for me?" Eisheth gestures toward them. "I won’t kill you. He will do it for me."She beckons to Connor with her index finger, and he starts moving toward her, menacing, baring his fangs. Both Uriel and Kaelan step forward to intervene, but
Saya watches the events unfold from a distance. Her aura is intensifying rapidly as she sees the members of her pack attacking her grandfather and the others. They are all obeying Carla—or rather, the monster that is now revealing its true face. Her blood boils within her veins, unable to tolerate what is happening. However, she remains out of sight, waiting until she has a clear objective. Dr. Moreira is right—she must be cautious and move carefully to avoid endangering her pup. Charging in without a plan is, in fact, a very bad plan.From her position, her gaze remains locked on the monster responsible for all this chaos. Her fury grows, and with a low growl, the lowest branches of the sequoias begin to spiral and tremble, alerting Eisheth. A portion of the dark mist disperses for a few seconds before settling back into place. The Terrakai begin to grow uneasy. No one understands what is happening—except the spirits of the earth, who can sense their goddess, gifted by the moon, near
Inés arrives at the pack and finds massive destruction. There is shattered glass, furniture scattered everywhere, and to top it all off, that strange storm approaching quickly, making the atmosphere feel heavy, suffocating.She runs through the hallways and reaches the intensive care unit, where all the pack’s pups are. This seems to be the only intact place. The doctor and the physician who came from the Amazon are tending to the patients. Both turn around, startled, upon hearing the door open.“What are you doing here, miss?” Dr. Moreira asks with a frown. It seems she is the only one in the pack who has not suffered from the crisis. “Where were you? Are you hurt?”“Where is everyone? What happened here?” Inés ignores his questions and asks her own.“They all started acting strangely, then ran into the forest,” Ayanell responds with a shudder.She witnessed the worst of it. It all started while she was in a meeting with the pups’ families, explaining the treatment they were about to
Hours earlier… Selene sleeps deeply while Connor watches her closely. Sorem purrs on her chest, and despite multiple attempts to convince him to return to his own room, he refuses. Even Uriel has tried to persuade him more than once, but without success. “You need care too, Alpha. Those wounds don’t look good,” says Doctor Moreira, approaching to check Selene’s vital signs. “The moon is stable and asleep; there’s no need for you to stay by her side all the time.” Connor says nothing. However, he remains clinging to her hand. Of course, he feels pain—his wounds have yet to heal—but being with her is his priority now. Seeing his resolve, both Moreira and Uriel give up and leave them alone. The Alpha lies down beside his mate, and by instinct, Selene nestles against his chest. Both of them relax until they fall asleep, tightly embraced. When Selene wakes up, the scent of her mate sends a not-so-subtle shiver through her entire body. She doesn’t need to open her eyes to know w