Chapter FourteenCara's POVThe party was grand, filled with laughter and music, but something about it felt different. Almost everyone here was a girl, dressed in expensive gowns, their hair perfectly styled, their perfume filling the air with a mix of sweet and floral scents. I could hear them talking, laughing, and exchanging compliments, but I didn’t know most of them. I stayed near the edges of the room, trying not to draw too much attention to myself.Then, out of nowhere, Sophia approached me.Whispers started spreading.“Huh! Isn’t that Sophia, did I just see that right?” One girls muttered.“Sophia? Talking to her? Since when did that start happening?” Another added."Cara," Sophia said, voice cautious.I nodded, not knowing what to say."Sophia, I brought you a gift"Sophia's eyes grew wide with surprise, but she smiled and said, "Thanks, Cara. What is it?"I handed it to her.She took it, her fingers carefully unwinding the ribbon to expose the paper underneath. The moment
Chapter Fifteen : Realization Liam took a slow step forward, his towering presence making the tension in the air even thicker. “Lying to my face is one thing, but lying so poorly?” His lips curved into a humorless smirk. “You should know better. Cara is my mate and I won’t allow you to disrespect her”Before I could process his words, Liam suddenly turn towards me, his eyes met mine and without another word, he reached out, pull me against him, and he kissed me.My breath caught in my throat.Caleb’s POVI watched from afar as Linda, the she-wolf I sent to the party flirted with Liam's younger brother, Alex. Linda did the job well. She moved through the party with ease, her dress hugging her body in all the right places, her smile inviting and friendly.Alex picked her out immediately. He was young, wild, the type of guy who wouldn't say no to advances from a beautiful womanIt did not take long for Alex and then Linda to slip away from the party and head towards the forest. My men
Chapter Sixteen : Taken By My RivalLiam’s POV.I remembered the moment my lips touched Cara’s, she froze for a second, her breath catching as if she wasn’t sure what to do. Her hands tensed against my chest, and I could feel the hesitation in her body, the silent struggle between resistance and desire. But then, slowly, she relaxed.Her lips were soft, warm, and hesitant at first, but as I deepened the kiss, she responded, her fingers curling slightly into my shirt. A quiet sigh escaped her, and that sound sent a rush of heat through me. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer, feeling the way her body fit against mine.Time seemed to slow as I kissed her, savoring every second, every small movement she made. The way her lips parted just enough for me to explore her, the way she shivered slightly when my hand brushed her waist—it was intoxicating.When I finally pulled back, just enough to look into her eyes, I saw the way her cheeks were flushed, her lips slightly swollen f
Chapter Seventeen Liam's POVI came into the training yard, Cara stood in the center, standing upright but calm, instructing Sophia on a fighting drill.Sophia’s who never took instructions without a fight, was very focused.She mimicked Cara's movements, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration.That took me by surprise.Cara advanced purposefully, but I sensed she was withholding. Her strike was fast and keen—but without her full effort. She deliberately did not overmatch Sophia. She was a great deal more than this, keeping under wraps her actual ability, bringing down her strides so that Sophia could keep the pace. Sophia threw another punch. It wasn't perfect, but it was better than what I had seen her do before."Not bad at all," Cara said, nodding in approval.Sophia grinned, clearly pleased with herself.That did it. I stepped forward."Sophia," I said.Both girls looked at me."I need to speak to Cara," I said.Sophia scowled, glancing over at Cara and then back at me. She co
Chapter Eighteen : Fight– Caleb’s POVThe wind howled near the cliff, carrying the scent of blood. Liam’s brother, Alex, was bound, his hands tied behind his back. He looked drained, his body unsteady, as if he might collapse at any moment.His head suddenly appeared when he saw someone coming. There was panic in his eyes."Help! Someone—please!" Alex cried out.I didn't move right away. This was my moment to kill Liam. I had been waiting for this time, plotting. But before I could act, Liam's men arrived, with someone in tow.A woman.Her face was veiled, but I recognized her immediately.Cara.My heart constricted. I would be able to identify her even if she'd blindfolded herself. Her posture, how her body froze—I was certain.Liam stepped forward and glared at me. He sneered."This is Alec," he said.My mind reeled. How the hell did he know?Liam smirked, savoring my reaction. “Oh? Didn’t expect that, did you?” His voice was a slow, taunting drawl. “I have to say, I was surprised
Chapter Nineteen : Blurred LinesCara's POVLuna had been inviting me to dine and interact with the older she-wolves and Lunas from other packs recently. At first, I assumed she simply wanted company. But soon, I realized there was more to it. She was subtly presenting me as Liam’s mate—through her introductions, the conversations she steered, and the knowing glances exchanged between the others.But something wasn't right. Despite all her niceness on the outside, I didn't feel like Luna actually liked me. Her smiles never reached her eyes, and she seemed tense the way she treated me. It left me confused. If she didn't like me, then why was she pushing me to hook up with Liam?That night, after an extremely exhausting day, I was contemplating taking a hot shower to relax. The relaxing warm water melted away the day's stresses, and for a brief moment, I felt calm. Holding a towel in one hand, I stepped out of the bathroom to prepare for bedclothes.As I pushed open the door to my room,
Chapter 20: Losing ControlCara’s POVI hated him.I hated the way he always invaded my space, the way he looked at me like he already owned me. I hated the way he touched me, like it was his right. Most of all, I hated the way my body reacted to him—how, despite every part of me screaming to run, I stayed.Liam’s hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer. His heat was suffocating, his scent clouding my mind. I pressed my hands against his chest, trying to push him away, but he was solid, unmoving.“Let me go,” I demanded, my voice shaking.His dark eyes flickered with something unreadable. “I can’t,” he murmured. “You belong to me, Cara. You always have.”“No,” I snapped, struggling against him. “I don’t.”But my words were empty.Because even as I resisted, my body was betraying me.Liam’s grip tightened. His head dipped, his breath fanning over my skin, sending an involuntary shiver through me. When his lips brushed against my jaw, a strangled gasp escaped me. My fingers dug into
Chapter 21: The RevealingCaleb's POVIt was a silent night.Liam was away.I had been given what I wanted.I stood there, staring at Cara in front of me, my chest heaving from the aftermath of my fight with Liam. Liam had left with his precious little brother, and in return, he had given me Cara.Cara was still standing, her posture tense, shoulders slightly hunched as if bracing for what was to come. A black mask covered her face, the same as it did when Liam's men had brought her in. Her hair fell over her shoulders, her shape unmistakable.I absorbed the sight of her.Too long had it been since I'd seen her.Even though she had once been my captive, she had never yielded. Always glared at me with those venomous eyes, full of anger.I had expected her to resist now, to scream, to struggle. To be angry why I needed her after rejecting her.But she wasn't making any noise.Too silent.There was a small furrow on my lips, but I pushed the thought aside. She was merely exhausted. Lia
Chapter 105: Cara's POV – The Unexpected SightI had been pacing around the packhouse, trying to cool my head. It had been days since I'd spoken with Damon. Ever since the evening he'd betrayed me, I couldn't seem to handle him. And now, even Sophia, she wasn't even staring at me in the same way anymore. There was tension among us all.But that was something to worry about another time. There was something that worried me much more. I had to keep Damon away from Sophia. I had to tear them apart, destroy what was between them. That was my plan. That was my plan since the first time I'd seen them together, but deep within me lay something that had it set upon making it become a reality.I returned towards the living room, the part of the packhouse where individuals typically gather. But when I drew near, I stopped. I overheard the laughter and became frozen.I did not anticipate this. Not at all.I looked out the window, and there they were. Damon and Sophia. Sitting together. Laughing.
Chapter 104– Damon's POVI stood before her door.I heard her soft breathing inside.A week had passed.One complete week since she caught me and Cara. Since the truth unfolded. Since I apologized to her for the error I committed.And every single day thereafter felt like punishment.Sophia stopped sharing our bed. She gathered her stuff and just left without a word. And never returned.She barely addressed me.She walked past me as if I didn't exist.As if I were a stranger.Even Kayden, my wolf, stopped talking to me for a while. He was upset too. Upset with me. Upset at hurting our mate.Now, I was standing in front of her room… heart pounding like a drum.I didn't know why I was scared. I was the Alpha of the strongest pack. I could kill ten rogues in one stroke and not blink.But I couldn't go to my mate's door and knock.I closed my eyes and took deep breaths."Open the door, Damon."Kayden's voice resurfaced eventually."If she refuses you entry, we'll deal with that. But you s
.Chapter Forty Three – Cara's Point of ViewI lay on the couch with hands folded across my belly. The house was quiet. Too quiet. I still remembered Sophia's crying in my head although she had scaled up to the bedrooms. Her heart was broken. And because of me. I did not intend to hurt her. I did not intend to do all of these. But I did.I never planned on sleeping with Damon again, but these…It just escaped me.And then… I did something. I did it in order not to be disposed of by Damon. He looked at Sophia as if she was the sun, and yet I couldn't let him do so without a fight. I had something—a baby. Something potent.The thing is I knew.Growing inside of me is a baby by Liam.I was already three months pregnant before Damon ever touched me again. And Damon knew. Hr knew that day when Liam came to take me r. He knew I am being pregnant with Liam, and how he was shocked. But now… now all of that was different. Now he had kissed me again.Maybe. perhaps, if I made him aware that th
Chapter Title: The News That Broke MeSophia's POVI sat alone in the garden behind the packhouse. It was quiet. The only noises were birds and the wind through the trees. I had my knees curled up tight against my chest and cried silently.I did not want anyone to see me. My heart felt like a stone. I thought I could be strong. I thought not speaking to Damon would hurt less. But no… it hurt worse. I couldn't get him out of my head. I couldn't get his voice out of my head, apologizing… telling me he still loved me.But how do you say I love you to someone and then go to bed with somebody else?I wiped away my tears in a hurry when I heard footsteps. I was praying that it was Lucas. He had stopped by to check on me earlier, but I told him I needed to be alone. I didn't want anyone. I wanted peace.But when I turned around…It was Cara.I frowned and looked away immediately. I did not wish to gaze at her. I did not wish to hear her voice. But she did not mind. She walked towards me slow
Chapter 101Damon's POVI could feel the weight of the silence hanging in the air. The tension between Sophia and me had been mounting for days now, and despite how much I fought it, it seemed like the distance between us continued to widen. The things I'd shared with her, the truth about what transpired with Cara—it was just too much for her to process. I had expected her to be furious, but I could never imagine that it would be like she was escaping me, step by step.I stumbled through the packhouse, my feet heavy on the ground, my mind spinning. I hadn't talked to Sophia since I'd told her Cara was dead. Since then, she'd barely even looked at me. When she did, her eyes were full of hurt, betrayal… and something else I couldn't quite pinpoint. She was so far gone, and nothing I said or did seemed able to bring her back.Today, I was compelled to deal with her. I was compelled to make her understand that I loved her. That I didn't want Cara. That I didn't want anyone else other than
Chapter HundredHe Chose Her Instead of MeSophia's POVI curled up alone in the packhouse garden at the base of a big tree where no one could see me sitting. I tucked my knees up into my chest and wrapped my arms around them, and had my chin resting on top. I wasn't crying anymore. My eyes were already tender. My heart pounded harder.I hadn't even noticed how long I had been sitting there. Maybe hours. All of it weighed on me. My chest, my breath, my mind.Then I heard footsteps.I didn't lift my head."Sophia?"I knew that voice. It was Lucas. Damon's Beta. His best friend.I didn't answer him.He approached slowly and sat beside me without permission."You've been out here a while," he said softly. "Are you okay?"I didn't look at him. I didn't talk. I didn't even move.Lucas hesitated, then said again, "Sophia, you need to tell me something. You don't sound okay."I shut my eyes and let out an unsteady breath. "I'm not," I hardly whispered.His face drifted before me, concerned.
Chapter Ninety NineHer ScentI was in the packhouse living room, holding a pillow to my chest. It was quiet in the room. The fire was low in the fireplace, and the night air was cold. I had just come back from my parents' house. I missed them, but I missed Damon more while I was away.I smiled to myself as I thought about him. I wanted to surprise him with my return, maybe cook for him, maybe cuddle in his arms like we used to. I missed his warmth, his scent, his laughter. I missed the way he would look at me as if I was the only person in the world.I heard the door open.My heart pounded.He was back.I sat up straight right away and turned toward the door, expecting his smile. But Damon didn't smile. He walked in slowly, shoulders tense, eyes brooding. He didn't even look at me."Hey," I said softly, attempting to make him look at me.He nodded just and walked by me. No hug. No kiss. No words. He was… different."Damon?" I said softly. "Is everything okay?"He didn't answer. He ju
Chapter Ninety EightScheme From HerCara's POVI woke up slowly. My body was frail, but my heart was warm. Damon was next to me. His chest was bare. His face was serene in sleep.I smiled weakly. Last night was real. He touched me. Held me. Kissed me.It was like the past again.I reached out my hand, craving to touch his hair. But before I could, his eyes opened.He looked at me. He did not say anything for a moment. He was dazed. Then he sat up abruptly."What the hell?" he cried, breathing heavily.I also sat up, wrapping myself in the blanket. "Damon, relax. You're okay.""What is this?" he shouted. "What happened last night?"I looked at him. "You were drunk. You were upset. You needed someone. I was there for you."His eyes were wide open. "No. No, this didn't happen. Tell me we didn't sleep together."I said nothing.He jumped off the bed, pulling up his pants. Then he came to my side and grabbed my arm roughly."You tricked me, didn't you?" he yelled. "You planned this!""No!
Cara's POVI rested against the window, gazing out at the serene, moonlit evening. The house was abnormally still, the only sounds the distant howls of wolves in the forest. I could feel the pressure of it all crashing down on me. Damon and Sophia were bonded. That was the truth. The truth that stung. But it was irrelevant now. I had a plan.I surveyed the room, my eyes locking onto the door. Damon was in the adjacent room. Sophia had gone off to visit her parents, and I was left alone with him. I had been waiting for this opportunity—the ultimate opportunity. This was my moment to at last get what I wanted. I was pregnant with Liam's child, but no one knew that. Everyone thought the baby was Damon's. That was my chance to reclaim Damon, to have him back for myself.I couldn't help but smile to myself, imagining. This would be okay. Damon had never truly pushed me away, and if I could only maintain the charade that the baby was his, then he would return to me. He would be mine again,