"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
"My dear!" Katrina opens her arms to Selene, who doesn’t hesitate to seek warmth there, listening to her mother’s heartbeat. "Why are you so flushed? Were you running?"Her mother’s comment makes Selene blush even more. Her mind drifts to the moment when Connor was between her legs just a few minutes ago, and her femininity throbs with need once again.The alpha clears his throat slightly before answering."She and her habit of running up and down the stairs," he excuses, in a husky tone. Unintentionally, his virility swells inside his pants as he feels his mate's excitement, and he mentally scolds himself for not having self-control when it comes to her. "But let’s move on to lunch; the food is ready."After the welcome from Alpha Ragnar and Alpha Katrina, everyone heads to the dining room. Selene is very happy; it’s the first time Connor has seen her smile more than once in a day since they came to Redwood Wolves."Welcome," says Carla without enthusiasm, though she feigns a smile.
Inés’s nerves are on edge. She’s eagerly anticipating Selene’s defeat when she realizes what has happened to her dress. Finally, Selene will know who’s in charge here.She and Carla are seated at the front, just a few meters from Selene’s parents' table and the main table where Alpha Connor and Selene will dine after the oath is taken.Inés’s gaze is fixed on the main door, where Selene is supposed to enter. Connor, dressed in an impeccable beige suit, stands there, nervously checking his watch repeatedly. Selene is nearly half an hour late. Alpha Ragnar is beside him, trying to distract him with conversation while they wait for his daughter.Both Inés and Carla rise and walk over to Connor, but he barely pays attention to them despite their efforts. Ragnar excuses himself and steps away to be with his family."Doesn’t she look gorgeous?" Carla asks her son, but his furrowed brow indicates he doesn’t know what she’s referring to. "Inés," Carla gestures towards her, "she looks stunning
Connor and Selene reach the center of the stage, where three elder women are waiting for them."Luna Selene Shadowfang, it is a great honor to welcome you to our pack and to induct you into the official line of the Redwood Wolves pack. Are you ready to take the oath?" one of them says, her face so serious it sends shivers down anyone’s spine."Yes, I’m ready," Selene replies, making Connor’s smile unmistakably evident.The elder begins the ritual, guiding Selene as she repeats her oath."I, Selene Shadowfang, soon to be Selene Blazeheart, pledge my life, love, honor, and loyalty to the Redwood Wolves pack. As your Luna, I vow to be loyal to my alpha and mate, Connor Blazeheart, and faithful to my pack, protecting the integrity of every member. If I fail to do so, I will be judged accordingly." Everyone remains in absolute silence as they listen to her words.As Selene speaks, Connor opens his hand, revealing his palm. With a small dagger, he makes a cut in the center, and does the sam
Selene is nervous, scared, worried, but also calm in the comfort of Connor's embrace. He has her completely pressed against his body, his lips moving gently against hers in a tender kiss while the piano continues to play softly in the background. She has no idea how long they've been dancing, but it's been a good while; the first light of dawn can already be seen through the large windows of the hall.“Shall we go?” The alpha’s question sends a shiver down Selene's spine because she knows what’s coming, and this time she doesn’t want to stop it. Her heart starts pounding so hard that she's sure her husband can hear it. She nods softly, and the alpha takes her by the hand, but they don’t head toward the mansion as she had assumed they would.Despite her confusion, she decides not to ask and to trust him.Connor leads her to his truck, which is parked to the side of the hall, and after settling her into the passenger seat, he himself takes the wheel to drive them to their destination.“
Selene's head tilts to the side, offering Connor more space. He sucks on her skin as his tongue gently massages the spot. His hand slides into her crotch, rubbing her pleasure spot for a few seconds before he slips a finger inside her. Selene lets out a moan as she feels him move in and out of her while his mouth doesn't stop sucking on her neck. Her breathing quickens as her hips move up and down trying to give him more access.The alpha approaches her ear. “Do you want me to continue?” His voice is deep, comforting and seductive.“Yes,” Selene barely responds.Connor increases one finger inside her while his thumb continues to toy with her clitoris. The pleasure is almost too much for Selene's body to bear. She lets out a cry of joy as a shock of pain hits her at the same time. After a startled shudder, she lies still, her nails digging into her partner's arm. Soon the pain begins to subside and, strangely, a new influx of pleasure engulfs her, like a giant wave sweeping over what
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