LanaDamon's sudden appearance, Hunter's lifeless body on the ground –leaves me breathless, my heart pounding in my chest. It was all too much to process.“D-Damon!” I exclaim, rushing into his embrace.Overwhelming sense of relief flooding over me, I disregard his bloody bloody hand that clutches Hunter's heart, just focusing on the familiar warmth he provides. In Damon's embrace, the fear of losing him dissipates, replaced by his imposing presence that makes me feel both safe and vulnerable, an extraordinary sensation I've never felt more profoundly. Right now, wrapped in his arms, I don’t want to ever let go of him. He hugs me back, his incredible tempting scent filling my nose, and also comforting my heart. As he keeps me at arm's length, his penetrating gaze assesses my worn-out appearance. I know my face bore evidence of sleepless nights, I welcome his unwavering attention. Shyness envelops me as his gaze lingers, a blush spreading across my cheeks beneath his intense scru
Lana This evening marks the manifestation of my long-awaited wish. Yet, here I am, undecided about what to wear. Katarina Hart, my best friend, has been here for over an hour, diligently assisting in organizing and designing the event center for my inaugural ceremony. She excels in a multitude of skills – from healing and artwork to teaching, knitting, dancing, event coordination, and managing the Pack. She's that friend you can't help but be envious of. Our paths crossed for the first time when she arrived in our Pack with Healer Elara of Silver Falls to stop the outbreak of Silver Poisoning that tragically claimed the lives of over twenty Pack members and my parents. We became fast friends because of my interest in healing, and I implored my brother, who took up the role of the Alpha of our Pack to permit me to leave with them back to Silver Falls.Then, I was fifteen, Katarina was seventeen, and Matthias was eighteen. Under the tutelage of Healer Alara Ravenshadow, we dedicated
I blink repeatedly in shock, unable to believe my ears. “Wh-what?” I shake my head, rejecting his shocking and bewildering statement. I've waited for this day for so long—this is the only dream I have ever pursued. He can't deprive me of that. “Why? Why can't the inaugural ceremony take place anymore? The Donor Appreciation event starts in an hour!” I exclaim at my brother, my emotions pouring into my words as I glare at him.“I know, Lana. I hate that I have to be the one who ruins this for you because I know the importance of this event, and the Keep is to you, but we have to halt everything for now.” Matthias replies calmly, his voice sounding a bit tense and unhappy. “I.. can't…launch the Keep too?” The words stumble from my lips when I realize that everything is being snatched away from me. “Why? Why!” I scream, my voice breaking off at the edge as tears swell in my eyes.No, this isn't happening. This cannot be happening. “Calm down, Lana. We are only halting the process for a
The following morning, Katarina is still asleep, when I hastily grab a pen and paper to write down a letter for her. This way, she won't be overwhelmed with worry when she wakes up and can't find me. Dear Katarina,I'm heading to the Black Pack, I'm uncertain about my fate, so keep my departure a secret from Matthias. If my plans go as intended, I'll return, and we'll launch the Keep together. Avoid bothering Matthias too much and also take good care of him for me.See you soon.Love,Lana.After the short letter, I gather my belongings with a determined heart, ready to make my way to the Black Pack. I decide not to tell Matthias because I know that my brother will never let me marry Alpha Damon. I am also not going there to marry him, but to reject him.I mean, he can't possibly demand marriage from me when he doesn't even know what I look like, so I can only assume this is a big prank or his way of tormenting the seven indigenous Packs.If he is indeed my mate, then he has to give m
The realization that the handsome man before me isn't Alpha Damon, the leader of the Black Pack, hits me like a block of ice. I jolt, gulp, and blink, before shaking my head in disbelief. “But how come you–” I quickly bite the inside of my mouth to prevent myself from saying my next word. What if he wants this to be like a secret?What if he is my mate but he can't tell me because the Black Pack Alpha threatens him? “Thank you for helping me out earlier, I owe you a favor,” I say after controlling my thoughts. I should still thank him for rescuing me from those horrible batshit crazy maids first, before bombarding him with questions.“You’re welcome, but you need to be careful. You are not in the Red Pack where you are invincible. In case you don’t know you are in the Black Pack’s Alpha mansion, and you have to be obedient.” Hunter reveals to me before ordering a maid to bring the first aid box. I want to ask him how I got here because the last thing I recall was mounted men in mask
Glancing at my bare form, I slowly lose confidence, making me hesitant to lift my head and meet the gaze of the man I've suffered so much to meet. Though my clothes are within sight, I refrain from daring to stand up from the bed to retrieve them.“Are you suddenly deaf?” Alpha Damon growls, his intense dark eyes reflecting rage as he glances between us. Hunter’s head drops as he kneels. “Please forgive me, Alpha. It was my fault. I shouldn't have—”Alpha Damon laughs maniacally and raises his foot, delivering a powerful kick to Hunter's gut without warning. The force of the strike sends him flying instantly.“You know that you shouldn't but you did. How dare you attempt to sleep with her!” He thunders again, and panic grips my whole body, causing tears to stream down my face involuntarily.I want to plead, to implore him to stop hurting Hunter, but I dare not open my mouth to utter a word. Shame washes over me, and a sense of defilement strips away my chastity, even though Hunter and
“Hunter?” I call out, my voice broken. When his features appear before me, he gestures for the guards to leave before he moves closer.I quickly check his head for the wound, but I find none. It's as if he hadn't been injured at all, but I vividly recall Damon harming him.I frown as confusion and disbelief wash over me. “How–how come? What's going on?” I inquire, my voice trembling with uncertainty.“I can explain. But first, you have to eat. You look so fucking skinny.” Hunter says to me, bringing out a bowl of rice that I noticed before.“No. Explain to me first. How come you are still alive?” I ask anxiously again.My intuition screams that the Black Pack Alpha and Hunter might be behind all of this, but I can't bring myself to accept it. The idea that Hunter could betray me feels unfathomable. He always looks at me with so much tenderness and gentleness in his eyes. That means he did love me, right?“Okay, what happened was that—” Hunter begins to explain but is suddenly interrupt
Hunter opens his mouth to speak, but he ends up not saying a word. His speechlessness triggers a hysterical laughter within me that leaves me weak, and unable to stand.“You can't even lie. You don't have an excuse for your betrayal?” I ask, my voice trembling with discomfort and anger. He stares at me, closes his eyes briefly, and heaves a deep sigh. “Lana, you have to eat. You are a healer, I'm certain you know that if you keep this hunger strike up, you will be too weak to be tied to a Silver Pole, and you'll gradually die.” He pleads with me, his voice filled with desperation, but I respond with an emotionless stare.“I don't care if I die, Hunter. I’d rather die here than be that monster’s sex slave!”“Lana, please, just fucking listen!” Hunter's voice roars with frustration and desperation, his eyes pleading for understanding. “Alpha Damon doesn't care if you are willing to be his sex slave or not. He knows you’ll never degrade yourself to that. It’s a bait and you fell for it.