The next morning, I catch up to talk to him before he leaves for their honeymoon.
"Alpha. I am not here to beg anymore. I just need one favor for my wolf. I need to talk to Atlas," I say, and he nods without a thought.
Seconds later, his eyes start glowing bright yellow, almost golden.
'To what do I owe the pleasure?' he says, his voice deep and thunderous.
'I want to know if you are aware of his rejection,' I say.
'Yes, little mate. I am already bonded to Sansa, and I love her. I am sorry this had to happen. Tell Averia I am really sorry,' he says, and something in me dies.
'Okay. Can I speak to Zander now?' I say, and he nods. A few seconds later, Zander comes back.
"Do you have your answer now?" he says softly.
"Yes," I let out a breath and look him straight in the eyes.
"I, Serene Gun, accept your rejection," I say, and he stumbles back a little.
He looks at me in shock and surprise, as if he didn't expect me to accept it.
I turn and walk away from him and everything that has to do with him.
.
They left for their honeymoon, and I returned to my routine.
I grow thinner and weaker with each passing day, and Mom is beginning to worry.
I always tell her I am fine, but I know deep down she can feel my pain.
Today, she sent me on an errand. She asked me to pick up my dad's birthday cake from the pack house.
I can't believe two months have already passed, and Dad is celebrating his birthday again.
Crystal will be back today with "exciting news," as Mom said.
This place is awfully quiet today; most of the time, the pack house is noisy as hell.
I picked up my dad's cake and made my way out but stopped in my tracks when I saw Beta Darius entering the house.
"Serene. What a lovely surprise," he says with an awfully wide smile.
"Beta Darius. I was just on my way out. I came to pick up my dad's gift."
"Oh, you can't just leave like that. Come on, let's have a drink," he says, stepping closer to me.
"I... I don't think that is a good idea. My mom is waiting for me," I tell him.
"Oh, it's just a drink, Serene. I don't bite," he says softly, and I sigh.
"Okay, fine, but only one," I say, and he nods.
He leads the way into the pack bar and goes behind the counter.
"What can I get you, my lady?" he smiles.
"A shot of tequila, raw," I say, sitting on the stool.
"Wow... anything the matter?" he asks.
"Just life," I shrug.
He turns to face me a few seconds later and hands over the shot to me.
"Tell me about it," he raises his glass, and so do I.
I take the shot in one go.
"Want another?" he asks, and I nodded.
Before I realized it, I was on my fourth shot and drunk out of my mind.
"Serene, has anyone told you how beautiful you are? Those pretty brown eyes are just like the earth," he says.
Okay, this is my clue to leave.
I need to mind-link my brother to come pick me up.
"I... I... I think I should... leave," I slur my words and hiccup.
"Not yet, Serene. You know, you really fascinate me. I really fancy you; you've been on my mind lately, with those soft pink lips..." he says, his fingers trailing my bottom lip.
I swing my head to the side and try to stand up but lose my balance and almost fall down, but he holds me against him.
I can feel his groin against me.
"Please let me go. My mom is waiting for me," I beg.
"I can't do that. I really need to feel you against me," he says and kisses my neck.
I try to hit him, but he is stronger and bigger than me.
An idea comes into my head.
"Don't even try to mind-link anyone. It isn't going to work. The drink you just had shut off all your senses. You are mine tonight, Serene," he says, and now I break down in tears.
"Please, please, please, don't do this to me. I am begging you," I plead.
But everything falls on deaf ears when I feel him rip off my shirt.
He pushes me onto the floor and continues his assault.
I try to fight; I really do, but it is all in vain.
That day, he took away my innocence, my dignity, my pride.
I lost myself that day.
.
"Are you okay Serene?"my brother asks for second time today.
"Yes I am fine"I tell him quietly.
"Are you sure? Something is off with you"he says looking at me skeptically.
"I am fine"I say and he kept quiet and we continue to finish the decorations.
Minutes later the house was full with guests and friends.
My sister and Zander had arrived and they looked so happy and cozy.
I smile sadly, I am going to really miss them once I am out of this place.
I hope mom and dad will forgive me for being a disappointment.
"We have an announcement. Everyone please gather around"dad announces.
Everyone moved forward,but I remained behind.
My nightmare was with them,he stood there as if he wasn't a monster.
"Thank you all for making it to my birthday party. As much as it is my birthday, I like to announce this: I got the greatest gift today. My daughter and her husband, Alpha Zander, are expecting their first child, my first grandchild and the future alpha of this pack," my dad says happily.
That was it for me. I had enough reason to go on with my decision. No one will miss me. My family is happy without me.
I smile sadly and slowly retreat back to my room.
I take a pen and paper and write an apology letter for my parents and brother.
I pack up a few things and my savings. I jump through my window and run through the woods.
Once I can't feel the connection with my family anymore, I stop.
'We'll be okay, Ria. No one can hurt us again,' I tell my wolf.
'Okay,' she says weakly.
"I, Serene Gun, daughter of Beta Zack Gun, cut ties off with
the White Moon Pack," I say and feel all links with the pack break.
I shift into my wolf form and run into the woods.
I hope a better life awaits me.
Ten Years LaterI walk into my kitchen,not my kitchen,I share it with my roommates Marcus.We live in a penthouse in the heart of Landon.He is also my best friend. He reminds me so much of Tasha.I wonder how she is now. How many children does have now?. Did she become the real estate agent she always wanted to be?Many thoughts but I shut it off. Thinking about the past brings nothing but pain.It is my past and that is where it will remain."Good morning princess"Marcus baritone voice says from behind me."Good morning prince charming. I am about to make breakfast. Pancakes?"I asked."Sure"he smiles and goes to the coffee machine.For a British man,he does love coffee more than tea."Are you ready for your biggest breakthrough?"he says"More that ready but a little nervous"I tell him."That is normal,I need to leave very early today to check out the place before the show starts. Everything has to be perfect,Gory must take the deal"he says with determination."Thank you so much. I d
Iwoke up extra early today because there was a lot to do at work—hiring and signing new models, photoshoots for Vogue magazine, which came in yesterday, and taking calls from new clients overseas. Not to mention the grand openings of my new shops in France and Italy.Marcus was right—this was our biggest breakthrough, and we needed to work hard to keep it going.Collen had just started shooting a new blockbuster movie, and thank God my designs were ready to be used.I took a shower and dressed in a green summer dress and flats.We were in the middle of spring, and the weather was a little chilly.I looked out through the glass walls. The clouds were dark and foggy, signaling that it might rain at any moment.I stepped into the kitchen to see Marcus already up, sorting through some files and papers."Good morning, Prince Charming," I said, kissing his cheek and picking up my coffee."Morning, Princess. How was your sleep?" he asked."The usual," I shrugged, and he sighed.He knew I did
Ever since my brother left my penthouse, I’ve had an uneasy feeling inside me.It’s as if I’m being followed.For instance, when I was on the red carpet with Marcus at the launch of our new lingerie designs, one of the photographers looked oddly familiar.I could have sworn I’d met him somewhere before—but maybe it was just paranoia.There’s also always someone—an unknown figure—lurking on our security cameras.Marcus says I’m overthinking things, but I’m just being careful.My life is finally starting to take shape, to have real meaning, and I won’t let anything—or anyone—take that away from me.I can’t afford to lose myself again.Today is one of the days I take a walk around the block.It also marks the 10th anniversary of losing my baby boy.People might call me awful or a bad mother, but a part of me is glad he left this world.I wouldn’t have hated him—I would have loved him so much. Even though he wasn’t conceived the right way, he was still my son, a part of me. I would have ch
The moment we crossed the pack borders, every severed connection from ten years ago began to reestablish itself."Wow, this isn’t what I was expecting. This place is absolutely civil—it looks like a mini town," Marcus says, staring at the buildings in awe."What were you expecting?" I ask, confused."Well… trees and treehouses. Bushes. I don’t know, maybe caves," he shrugs.I roll my eyes. "Marcus, you do realize we’re humans with supernatural abilities, right? We have civilization. We live like humans—we just have the ability to transform into wolves."He nods but continues scanning the city with fascination.I don’t know how Mama or Papa will react. I just hope they’re not angry with me.In my letter, I never gave them the full details of what happened between Zander, Crystal, and me. They don’t know the real reason I left. I can only pray they forgive me.Zack is still driving, not bothering to look back.Wait… something isn’t adding up.If he’s the Beta of this pack, then what happ
""Mmmh... Mrs. Gun, your food is exquisite. Even better than Serene's," Marcus praises, and I roll my eyes at him."Oh, thank you! You are such a gentleman. But no one beats the original," Mum gushes."Why are you two getting along so well?" I mutter, and Kenna chuckles beside me."So, Serene, I heard you're a famous model now. Is it true?" Kenna asks curiously."Yes, I am," I say with a proud smile."Not only a model, but she's also now England's most successful model and designer," Marcus adds proudly."I wouldn't say most successful, but I wouldn't be where I am if it weren't for you-my savior," I praise him."You know it was all you," he replies, and I can feel Mum watching us with a mix of curiosity and concern."So, how did you and Kaden meet, Kenna?" I ask, shifting the attention to her.She blushes instantly, and I know it must have been a romantic encounter."He actually saved me from my family," she sighs, and I can tell it was a hero rescuing the damsel kind of situation."
I was sent to the dungeon in the basement of the pack house.I remained silent the entire way there.I can't believe Papa would say those things to me—after I told him the truth.I am dragged into the Solstice Dungeon, one of the cruelest dungeons in the pack.Only rogues and vampires are brought here—for torture.I am thrown inside by Zack."The Alpha will be here. Don't move," he sneers before walking away, locking the door behind him.This place is unbearably hot. There is only one tiny window, barely large enough to let in any air.Silver chains glisten with wolfsbane in the dim light.A few seconds later, the door bursts open, and Zander steps inside.His eyes glow a bright yellow—I know it's Atlas trying to take control."You need to let me go, Zander. I have no business being here. My life, my career… everything is at stake," I tell him.He chuckles darkly."Oh, you aren't going anywhere, little mate. You're not allowed to leave me again," his voice is deep, dangerous."Atlas, p
A month LaterSerene's P.O.VI give up.I can feel life leaving my body.I have been tortured for four weeks—four long, agonizing weeks. I have barely survived without food or water.My skin clings to my bones; you can literally see my skeleton.Each time I lose weight, the chains shrink to adjust to my size. I think a spell was cast on them.Every day, after being tortured and after my desperate pleas for freedom, the pack doctor comes to check on me. He cleans my wounds and injects something into my body to speed up the healing process.The moment I recover, a new set of female warriors come to play with me.Not once did I see Zander. Not once did I see my mother or father.But Kaden comes.Not to torture me.Not to mock me.He just stands guard.At first, I begged him to release me—to at least bring me food or water. But he ignored my existence.So, after a week, I stopped asking.Now, as I feel the last traces of life slipping away, I am both happy and sad.Happy, because at least
Light.Darkness.Light.Darkness.Light.Darkness.That is all I have been seeing. I think I may have died and become stuck between the living and the dead.I don’t want to be alive anymore. I may be a fighter, but now I am so tired of fighting.My body is exhausted. I just want to leave. Nobody will miss me—maybe only Mom and Marcus because they are the only family I have left.There’s that beeping sound again, and then the light comes.My eyelids feel heavy, but I fight to open them. After many tries, I finally manage to do so.I see a pair of brown eyes, followed by the famous British nose of Marcus.“Oh, darling! Thank God you’re finally awake. I thought I’d lose you.” Mama engulfs me in a tight hug.“Hi, Mom,” I whisper, my throat dry.Sensing this, Marcus hands me a bottle of water, which I gulp down in one go.“What… what happened?” I ask.“The doctor said you almost died from dehydration and starvation. I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you, my daughter,” Mama cries, caressing my
The grand hall of the packhouse was alive with warmth and celebration. Today marked fifteen years since Ruine and I had joined our lives together, and there was no better way to celebrate than with the people we loved most—our family. The space was beautifully decorated with golden and silver lights, symbolizing the strength and endurance of our bond.At the center of it all stood Ruine, his sharp golden eyes softened by joy as he laughed with Cole and Nikolai, both of whom had grown into strong, confident men. My heart swelled as I looked around the room. Our triplets—now nineteen—were standing together, sharing a quiet moment of laughter. They were no longer the mischievous children who used to run through the halls causing chaos but were on the cusp of full adulthood, strong and independent.Lilac, Ruine’s daughter from his first marriage, was beside me, holding a glass of wine as she watched her five children chase after my grandkids. She had married Ruine’s Beta and best friend, a
The summer sun kissed the rolling vineyards of Bordeaux as we arrived at our private villa in France. The air smelled of lavender and fresh bread, a scent that instantly made me feel at home. It had been years since our last big family vacation, and now that the kids were teenagers, this trip was bound to be different. Gone were the days of carrying them around on our hips; now, we were dealing with independent, opinionated young adults who still had that mischievous spark in their eyes."This place is sick!" Cole exclaimed, dropping his bag the second we stepped inside. He was already looking around for the best room, and I had no doubt he and Nikolai would argue over it.Kiara, on the other hand, was more composed. "It's beautiful," she murmured, running her fingers over the intricate wood carvings on the staircase. "I can't wait to see the gardens."Ruine chuckled behind me. "You two get your pick of rooms—just not the master. That’s ours."Cole groaned while Nikolai smirked. "First
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting an amber glow over the modernized expanse of Gold Sun Pack. The pack’s main hall buzzed with energy, wolves of all ranks moving through the grand space as they discussed recent events. Tonight was special—not just because the pack had grown stronger, but because it marked two pivotal moments in the lives of Casma and Ruine’s sons, Cole and Nikolai.Cole had always been the dreamer among the triplets, the one who found beauty in everything. But tonight, something shifted within him. It had started the moment he locked eyes with the mysterious stranger standing near the training grounds. She was unlike any wolf he had ever seen—because she wasn’t one at all. The unmistakable scent of magic clung to her, mixing with the crisp night air, making the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.A witch.The realization should have made him step back, should have triggered the instincts every werewolf was born with. But instead, he stood rooted to the s
It was supposed to be a normal day. The morning had started with the usual chaos of raising three teenagers. Nikolai and Cole were arguing over who had taken the last protein bar, and Kiara had been in her room, unusually quiet. I’d noticed she skipped breakfast, which was unlike her. Usually, she was the one dragging her brothers to the table, making sure they ate something before training with Ruine.The moment I heard a timid knock on my office door, I knew something was wrong. When I opened it, Kiara stood there, shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other. Her usually confident expression was hesitant, and her hazel eyes darted everywhere except at me."Mom… can we talk?" she asked in a voice that was barely above a whisper.I immediately stepped aside, pulling her into the room and closing the door behind her. "Of course, sweetheart. What’s wrong?"She hesitated for a moment before finally sighing and looking up at me. "I think something’s wrong with me."Panic shot through
The day had finally arrived.Fourteen years ago, I had endured the most painful yet rewarding experience of my life—bringing Kiara, Nikolai, and Cole into this world. Now, as I stood outside in the open training grounds of the Gold Sun Pack, watching my children prepare for their first shift, I felt a strange mixture of pride, excitement, and unease. This was a monumental moment, a rite of passage for every werewolf, and yet I couldn’t shake the maternal instinct that wanted to shield them from the inevitable pain.The sky was painted in deep hues of orange and pink as the sun dipped below the horizon. Ruine stood beside me, his Alpha presence as commanding as ever, though his features softened when he looked at our children. He had spent the last year preparing them for this moment—ensuring they were mentally and physically ready to shift. Shifting for the first time wasn’t just a transformation; it was a rebirth.“You’re ready,” Ruine said firmly, his deep voice resonating across the
The morning started like any other—chaotic yet filled with love. The triplets, now eleven years old, were in the middle of their werewolf changes, which meant heightened senses, mood swings, and an insatiable hunger that rivaled a full-grown wolf. Living in the Gold Sun Pack had its advantages—modern facilities, excellent schools, and a strong support system—but nothing quite prepared me for raising three preteens going through their transformation simultaneously.I sighed as I entered the kitchen, already knowing what awaited me. Nikolai and Cole were engaged in a playful scuffle near the breakfast bar, while Kiara sat at the table, scowling at the milk in her cereal as if it had personally offended her.“Boys, do not break anything,” I warned, walking past them to pour myself a much-needed cup of coffee.“They started it!” Kiara huffed, pushing her bowl away. “I can hear them chewing, and it’s disgusting.”I took a deep breath. Enhanced hearing was one of the earliest signs of their
The air was thick with anticipation as we arrived at the Blood Moon Pack’s grand estate, the towering castle-like structure bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun. It had been years since I had stepped foot here, and despite the changes, the essence of the pack remained the same—strong, proud, and unyielding. But tonight was different. Tonight, we weren’t just visitors; we were here to witness my son, Tyral Dores, ascend as the new Alpha.The moment we stepped out of the sleek black SUV, a hush fell over the gathered pack members. They watched with reverence as Ruine and I made our way toward the ceremonial grounds, our five-year-old triplets—Nikolai, Kiara, and Cole—tugging excitedly at our hands. It wasn’t every day they got to visit their older brother’s pack, and they were eager to be part of such a grand occasion.Lilac walked beside us, her presence a silent strength. My stepdaughter had been a pillar in our family, and though she had suffered her share of loss, tonight, sh
The grand hall of the Blood Moon Pack was alive with excitement. The towering stone walls, adorned with the banners of past Alphas, stood as a testament to the strength and legacy of this pack. Tonight, the pack gathered to witness the coronation of its next Alpha—Tyral McLean, my firstborn son.It felt like just yesterday when I had held him in my arms as a newborn, vowing to protect him from all harm. Now, at twenty-four, he stood tall and proud, the embodiment of strength, wisdom, and leadership. By his side was his mate, Billy, the love of his life since childhood, and the mother of his four children. Their eldest, Kai, was already beginning to show signs of being a great warrior, his keen instincts mirroring his father’s at the same age.I stood beside Ruine, who held my hand as we watched our son prepare for the ceremony. Our triplets—Kiara, Nikolai, and Cole—stood nearby, their five-year-old faces filled with excitement and curiosity. Rhynara, now a young woman, watched with adm
The grand gates of the Gold Sun Pack stood tall and imposing, their intricate golden engravings gleaming under the midday sun. As our convoy approached, a wave of anticipation rolled through me. It had been years since I last set foot on pack territory, and now, I was returning not just as Ruine’s mate, but as his Luna, with our children in tow.Ruine, ever the picture of calm authority, sat beside me in the car, his sharp golden eyes scanning the familiar landscape. Even though he had left much of the day-to-day affairs to his Beta, his presence here was monumental. Today was a day of celebration, a day to introduce our children to the pack and to name our son, Nikolai, as the future Alpha of the Gold Sun Pack.The triplets—Nikolai, Kiara, and Cole—sat in the back, their eyes wide with wonder. This was their first time visiting their father’s pack, and though they had grown up hearing stories of it, seeing it firsthand was something entirely different.As we entered the main pack terr