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 damn woman!" Inés's fury is evident when she hears Selene's moans coming from the alpha's room. "Wasn't he supposed to punish her for what she did this morning? What kind of punishment is this? Why does that woman always get her way? Argh!""It's clear that Connor is a weakling when it comes to that hybrid; she just spreads her legs, and he's totally at her disposal like a wimp," Carla spits out, pacing back and forth as furiously as Inés upon hearing the couple's interaction in the main room. "But don't worry, she might get away today, but tomorrow she'll get what she deserves."Carla smiles, and Inés frowns."What did you do? Are you going to kill her tomorrow in front of her family?""I don't need to kill her to show her who's boss here."With that, Inés also smiles, although the bitterness in her stomach doesn't completely disappear because of what she heard in the hallway. Her head hurts just imagining those two mating, giving themselves to each other. That shouldn't be hap
"Time to wake up, rebel," a singsong voice echoes in the alpha's main room of the Redwood Wolves pack. The curtain is drawn back abruptly, allowing the full splendor of the sunlight to flood the spacious area. Today is a clear day, perfect for celebrating the Luna ceremony and the wedding of the pack leaders.Selene stirs in bed, lazily. She is still exhausted from last night but calm and, in a way, sated."Just a little more, I'm sleepy," Selene murmurs, covering her head with the blanket."Come on, it's almost noon. You're still as lazy as ever, little sister."Selene lifts her head abruptly, realizing it's the voice of her sister Rouse. Her sister is here, and not just her, but also Ethan and his mate, Milly.Selene's happy screams can be heard throughout the mansion. She gets up and jumps into the arms of her twin brother, who welcomes her with open arms."I… missed… you… so much," she sobs, as Alpha Ethan gently strokes his sister's head and kisses the top of her head."We missed
“You have no right to decide, mother. I believe we already had this discussion earlier,” Connor turns his head slightly and meets her dark eyes with confidence. “Alpha Ragnar is not only my father-in-law but also the man who helped us in our most critical moment. Thanks to him, we are now a prosperous pack. You should also be grateful.”“Are you giving all the credit to that hybrid? Don’t you trust the hard work we have all done here?”“Why are you questioning this, mother? You, more than anyone, know the truth,” Connor retorts without backing down. “Why is it so hard for you to accept the nature of Selene and her family? They are incredible beings, in my opinion. I love my mate; I don’t believe the moon goddess made a mistake in giving her to me, and my desire is to form a beautiful family with her, just like the one her parents have.”“You are completely out of your mind, son. That woman has you blinded, enchanted. Our pack will go to ruin if our blood mixes with theirs. And what ab
Deep in the forest, as dawn begins to break on the horizon, Connor climbs down from the tree, ready to return to the hotel. But the moment he sets foot on the ground, he is surrounded by several wolves—at least twenty of them.The deadly growl of a massive gray wolf fills his ears. A few seconds later, another one, also gray but with white ears and tail, lunges forward, growling menacingly at him. Sorem tries to take control and shift, but Connor doesn’t allow it.He takes two steps back, realizing he is at a clear disadvantage, yet with no intention of running away. He will face this like a man—the man he should have been from the very beginning.“How dare you set foot on my land?!” Ethan shifts in front of him, his voice filled with hatred. “How dare you come here after what you did to my sister?! Are you that eager to die?!”The growls of the other wolves grow louder, preventing Connor from responding. They inch closer, ready to attack, but the first to strike is Remus, Ragnar’s gr
The days fly by, except for Alpha Connor, who feels every second of the day like a dead weight on his back.Fortunately, the pups are evolving quite well. Doctor Moreira is doing an excellent job alongside Ayanell. The reports they deliver to the alpha every day are encouraging. The treatment is truly effective, and although they will all be latent wolves, they will be able to live normal lives, according to the doctor himself.The pack’s renovations are progressing on time and as planned. Jackson personally oversees all the work, and the results are good. One piece of good news amid so much chaos is that the beta’s mate is expecting their first pup. She’s only a short way into the pregnancy, but everyone is happy for them since they had been trying to conceive for a long time.King Kaelan and Clarisse are leaving for the Highlands this afternoon, and Connor has mixed feelings about it. On one hand, he is pleased to see his sister happier than she has ever been before, but on the othe
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