Jackson clears his throat, catching Connor's attention. He instantly lowers Inés to the ground, realizing what had happened."Sorry..." says the young woman, looking down as she notices the conflicted look on the alpha's face due to the fleeting kiss she gave him. The truth is, she isn't sorry at all. The days that Connor was away were the worst of her life, and she missed him terribly."Brother, welcome back," Clarisse and Carla, Connor's mother, come out of the house to greet him as well. Both seem quite pleased that he has returned. "How was your trip? Did you have fun?""Sister, mother," Connor hugs and kisses each of them. "The Amazon is beautiful. I will definitely go back there often.""We're so glad you're back, son. You must be very tired. Come, I'll have a warm bath and a sumptuous breakfast prepared for you before you can rest."Carla winks at Inés, and she knows what it means. Both take Connor by the arm to lead him toward the door, but he evades them before reaching out h
Saya growls in Selene's chest and unsheathes her claws at her mate's display of affection. Connor anticipates what's coming and grabs Selene's wrists, managing to restrain her fury. The alpha knows his mate is upset about what happened earlier, but he's determined to show her that it was just a misunderstanding and not what she's thinking.Slowly, he enters the room with her and closes the door with his foot. Selene is trembling, trapped in his huge arms, like a small wild animal wanting to be set free to cause chaos."That young woman..." she growls, but Connor interrupts her with a loud kiss on her cheek."Why...?" she tries to say again, but is once more interrupted by a kiss, this time longer and louder than the last."Damn you..." she pants as her mate turns her around and leaves a soft kiss on her lips, leaving her dazed for a few seconds.She takes a moment to process what just happened, and the fact that she is now completely at his mercy makes her even angrier. How dare he ki
"Alpha, you should come see this, it's urgent." Jackson's voice mentally interrupts the meeting Connor had planned in his office with Inés and his mother, who are about to arrive."Can't it wait? I need to resolve some matters here with my mother," he responds immediately."Maybe you should come see this before anything else. I'm in the parking lot," Jackson cuts the link with Connor, and he sighs before getting up from his seat."When Inés or my mother arrive, have them wait," Connor instructs Beltrán, who acts as his secretary when he's in the office to handle pack matters. "They must not leave. We need to clear everything up before lunch.""It will be done, Alpha."Connor heads to the parking lot. He has no idea what could be so important and urgent that Jackson needs to show him, given all the matters he needs to handle right now. Work has piled up due to his trip to the Amazon, and if he doesn't catch up, it will be worse.He reaches the parking lot, and Jackson greets him with a
Selene takes a few steps back and looks at her work with a huge smile. "We did very well," Saya says in her mind, and she agrees. It was hard work, but she finally managed to arrange her things just the way she likes.She does a 180-degree turn and observes everything with great pleasure. Her dresses next to Connor's suits, her home clothes next to his, her sleepwear and underwear sharing half the same drawer as Connor's, and even their shoes."I can't wait for Mrs. Carla to see this," Selene starts to laugh, imagining her face."She'll probably have a fit. I hope our mate doesn't get angry," Saya responds, watching closely through her eyes."He said I could change whatever I wanted, and that's what I did. These colors even match," Selene jokes, looking at the pastel blue tones of her clothes next to Connor's browns. It's true that their styles are completely opposite, as different as water and oil, but they don't have to agree on everything, do they?All this work made her very thir
The air in the room starts to thicken. As soon as Carla sets foot in the kitchen, all the maids begin to move with more urgency, and Selene notices perfectly that they remain bowed as if they fear her. This was not the reaction they had when the alpha entered. The young woman who had kissed Connor at the entrance follows Carla, and this is the perfect moment for Selene to start marking her territory before these two finish her off.Selene takes advantage of being between Connor's legs and practically surrounded by him to fully approach his chest and place her face on his neck. She breathes deeply of his scent, while he immediately wraps her with both arms.A low growl escapes from the alpha's chest, and Saya purrs in response. Both beasts look at each other, and Selene knows this battle is already lost, especially seeing her wolf so excited and happy when Connor is near."Mine, she is mine, she is my mate," Sorem whispers in Connor's mind while wagging his tail, attentive to what is h
Selene yawns as she slowly opens her eyes. She stretches her arms out to her sides and arches her back, stretching her body and preparing to fully wake up. She feels incredibly relaxed and well-rested. She makes a small movement to get out of bed and is surprised to find herself face-to-face with Connor. His green eyes are staring intently at her, making her feel intimidated.For the alpha, seeing Selene wake up in his bed and beside him is simply divine; he has been awake for over two hours. Lying there, he watched her the entire time before she opened her eyes.The small noises Selene made upon waking were very sweet to him. At that moment, he wanted to kiss her, but he knew she would likely be angry at his audacity, so he preferred to push those desires away for now.Selene has yet to realize that one of her hands rests on his lower abdomen, very close to his member. Connor enjoys the sensation of her fingers moving over his skin, the slight tingling sensations that run through his
“You’re not helping at all,” Selene scolds herself in front of the mirror as she tries to tame her rebellious locks down her back. “You can’t be so easy. Dexter would be so disappointed in you.”The damn mate bond is already working on her. It’s impossible not to know how it works and how quickly they can fall into each other's arms. With Dexter, she had shared only a few hours before he died in that attack, and despite that, she still remembers and loves him as if they had been together their entire lives. What would her life have been like if they had mated as well as marked each other? She has no idea, but she supposes everything would have been more difficult for her, though she wouldn’t still be a virgin now.If she lets herself be carried away by what she’s feeling in her lower abdomen right now, it would be her first time, and her body doesn’t know what to do, but it craves it. Connor is a much bigger man than Dexter and not to mention compared to her, and that scares her a bit
Breakfast, like yesterday's lunch, is uncomfortable, although Clarisse tries to converse with Selene from time to time to ease the hostile atmosphere her mother has been creating since she arrived at the pack.After breakfast, Connor, just like yesterday, takes her to see other places in the pack, specifically the most important buildings that are part of Redwood Wolves. It's only now that she learns Connor owns a significant textile company in North America, the one that collaborates with her father's company in Tierra de Pinares.Patiently, Connor explains every detail of the operations in each building until they reach a common area. There, several omegas are busy making preparations for the guardians' lunch. All of them bow their heads in respect when he enters the gigantic hall, but then their gazes land on Selene, an unspoken question forming in their eyes, especially upon seeing their alpha holding hands with a stranger, one who is not a member of the pack."She is Selene, your
"I know that nothing I say right now can heal the wound in your heart after what you saw, but I beg you to listen to Connor. Your distance is killing him—he hasn’t even been able to heal properly. Please, Selene, don’t let him die.""He made his own decisions, Clarisse—just like all of you did. You all preferred to lie to me instead of making me part of what was happening so we could find a solution together. You never truly considered me part of your pack, nor your Luna. You made me look like a fool, the laughingstock of everyone."Clarisse begins to sob."We never wanted that to happen, I swear. We tried everything to keep you from suffering because of this.""But it happened! And I’m afraid it’s too late to fix it!" Selene exclaims.Suddenly, a wave of dizziness overtakes her. She tries to hold onto the door, but before she can steady herself, she collapses to the floor, unconscious.Clarisse screams at the top of her lungs. A few omegas in the house rush to help. Beltrán carries S
"I know you hate my mother for the way she's treated you since you arrived, but this is too much. Do you have any proof of what you're saying? Why would she do something like that against her own pack?"Selene gives him a sad smile while shaking her head."Will you ever trust anything I say?" Selene's question hits the alpha like a bucket of cold water. Connor tries to say something, but she cuts him off. "I already know the answer, and frankly, I don’t know why I’m still here, trying to open the eyes of someone who prefers to remain in the dark. You’re not worth my effort, Alpha Blazeheart.""Doctor Moreira, Grandpa, everyone, please explain to the alpha the treatment we're going to do with the children. Nothing more." Selene gives the order in a firm voice.She stands up from the chair and swiftly leaves the room. She hears her mate calling her, but she lacks both the will and the patience to keep fighting.Once outside the clinic, she rushes toward the forest. When she arrives, she
“What are you doing here, Connor?” Selene shoots a stern look at her mate as he enters the office. “You’re still recovering.”The alpha is so pale he looks like he might faint at any moment. His hospital gown barely covers his torso and part of his thigh. He looks not only exhausted and hollow-eyed but also utterly pathetic in that flimsy garment.Kaelan makes no move to stand, nor does he bother to look at him. Yet he can smell his jealousy and he smiles. This only fuels the alpha’s irritation.“How did this lycan get into our pack?” Connor demands, glancing between Selene and Kaelan. “Why didn’t anyone inform me of his arrival?”“Connor, Kaelan Darkmane is an old friend of mine. He came to accompany me on some matters. I apologize for not informing you earlier, that was my fault,” Uriel interjects.“There’s no need for you to explain, Grandpa.” Selene throws a sharp glance at her mate. “I will take care of our guests, and then I’ll come speak with you.” Now she addresses Connor dire
Jackson’s growl diverts the attention of both Selene and Kaelan, who returns a haughty glance. He knows Jackson poses no threat to him. Lycans are much larger, more powerful, and even live far longer than a werewolf. It would take at least a dozen of them to stand a chance against him. “Calm down.” Uriel appears out of nowhere, stepping between an enraged Jackson and the guest. Selene throws herself into her grandfather’s arms, seeking the comfort she so desperately craves, uncaring of the eyes watching her. After a moment, a deliberate cough breaks their embrace. Selene looks up, embarrassed, at the towering and extravagant man standing just a step away, his gaze never having left her since they met. Kaelan observes her closely, scrutinizing her from head to toe, trying to catch even the smallest detail. This little one has a peculiar scent, one that unsettles his lycan and that he cannot quite decipher. Her aura is powerful, in stark contrast to her diminutive frame. Jackson r
Kaelan’s growl reverberates through the forest, shaking the very ground beneath their feet. Even Uriel covers his ears, overwhelmed by its sheer power. Knowing that the demon is still out there, free and destroying more lives—just as she had done to nearly his entire family—fills him with indescribable pain and rage. He can’t bear the thought that she’s alive, that she’s gotten away with this for so many years without anyone realizing it. “We need a plan,” Uriel reasons, though Kaelan is so consumed by fury that he can barely control his breathing. “Tell me where she is, and I’ll kill her. I don’t need a plan for that—I’ll rip her head off and burn her.” “Kaelan, please. My sister and granddaughter are under her control. Many people in that pack have already died, and more will die if we don’t act carefully. We need to neutralize her power before we can destroy her.” Kaelan bares his fangs in frustration, but after a tense moment, he nods reluctantly. Once he regains some semb
Uriel stays hidden for a long time, waiting for that woman to leave so he can find a way inside and check if Lilith is here. He hasn’t seen her, nor can he sense her presence, but something in his heart tells him she’s here, and he refuses to leave until he’s certain. Luckily for him, there are no guards—none at all—which makes things much easier. At dawn, Carla finally walks away from the cabin, and he manages to break the weak spell on the door to get inside. He never thought that, after so many years of being inactive, he’d have to use his gifts for something like this. He raises a hand to his nose as the stench of dampness and decay hits him full force. This place is worthy of Eisheth. Only a creature as vile and steeped in darkness as her could tolerate staying here. The smell is disgusting, and the atmosphere is so oppressive it feels like it’s crushing his head and chest. He can’t breathe, let alone think clearly. An ordinary person wouldn’t be able to survive here for long
Selene returns to the pack’s house mid-morning. She had slept far too long at the spring, which might explain why she feels more refreshed and calmer than yesterday, though her stomach growls in protest from hunger. There is absolute silence when she opens the door to the mansion. She only spots one of the omegas busy cleaning, who doesn’t even notice her arrival. She imagines Clarisse must be with Connor, and Carla taking care of her great treasure: Inés and the pup she’s expecting. Thinking of her, and the being growing inside her womb, makes Selene feel sick. She rushes to her room, heading straight for the bathroom. She hasn’t eaten anything since yesterday, and though she gags a few times over the toilet, nothing comes out—there’s nothing to get rid of. Resigned, she sits on the floor and reflects on how strange she’s been feeling these past days. What’s happening to her? What’s causing these sudden and drastic changes? Even Saya is behaving differently—more cautious. Once
“And to think they called me rebellious for still mourning him,” Selene whispers to her reflection in the water. Her eyes fill with tears. Despite the pain of losing him, Dexter has now become a beautiful memory in her life. “How could I ever forget him when he gave his life for me? How does someone just move on from that overnight?” She runs her fingers through the water, letting the pain wash over her. But the truth is, she isn’t crying for Dexter now—she’s crying for Connor. She remembers his attempt to explain, and her sobbing deepens. What justification could there possibly be for what he did? He was with another woman, and worst of all, he got her pregnant. He did it knowingly—he admitted it himself. What more does she need to understand? She can’t wait to finish her duties as Luna and leave this place forever. Suddenly, the crunching of branches makes her lift her head. A gray wolf with a few orange patches comes into view, and Selene recognizes her instantly. “What do
Saya reaches the spring, the place where she was last with Connor. That night, their intimacy had felt vastly different from other times, as if their connection had grown stronger. She had never felt so completely his; yet now, it is entirely the opposite. At the water’s edge, she shifts, and Selene gazes at the gentle movement of the water, overcome by a profound sadness. She still cannot comprehend what went wrong, why the Moon Goddess brought her here, so far from home and among people she had never known, only to make her suffer. Is she being punished for something she did wrong? Does she deserve this? First, the goddess took Dexter from her, the only person who had been by her side, caring for her since they were children. They were so close that he practically lived at the packhouse with her. Her parents never objected to their friendship and were happy to see her happy. The love they shared was always unconditional. During her most critical health crises, he was always ther