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Second Chance At Love
Second Chance At Love
Penulis: Natashah

001.

Penulis: Natashah
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-10-29 23:27:17

Cassie.

"Hey, isn’t that the Alpha’s slut?" a sharp, mocking voice shattered my thoughts.

I pulled my shawl a little tighter around my body, willing myself not to look over my shoulder as I walked back toward the pack house. My breaths came in sharp, shallow pulls, and I picked up my pace.

"Has she finally gone deaf?" a second voice sneered, and my steps faltered. But I quickly brushed it off, forcing myself to keep moving forward. After all, I was used to people talking about me behind my back. I shook my head, telling myself to ignore them—until someone rammed into me from behind, sending me stumbling forward. I gasped as I hit the ground.

Looking up, I found two she-wolves standing over me, their eyes glinting with malice. They exchanged a glance, struggling to stifle their laughter. One of them, a red-haired, snorted, unable to hold it in any longer, and within seconds they both burst out laughing, their mocking voices filling the air.

"Oops, didn’t see you there, Cassie," the other one—a brown-haired—sneered, her tone dripping with false innocence. I exhaled, my patience wearing thin, but as I pushed myself up and dusted myself off, I realized I didn’t even have the strength to retaliate.

I was just too weak, too tired. Tired of the constant reminders of how low I was in the pack’s eyes, and tired of being powerless. My wolf was handicapped, and my frail body only ensured that we barely survived each day.

This had been my reality ever since I lost my parents seven years ago, and it had only worsened with Axel. One would think being married to the Alpha would've stopped the bullying, but it only seemed to fuel it. Axel didn’t care about me at all; he had made that clear on our wedding night when he assigned me a separate room.

It had only been ten months since our marriage, but it had been a cold, lonely existence since then. Axel barely spent time at home, and when he did, he stayed secluded in his bedroom—the one I was firmly forbidden to enter.

He had made it clear that we were only together because of Camden, the proof of our one-night-stand that wasn’t supposed to go the way it did. I’d hoped Camden’s arrival would bring us closer, but it only seemed to widen the distance between us, a reminder that without our son, he wouldn't look twice at me.

The she-wolves circled me like vultures, their eyes filled with spite.

"How does it feel, Cassie," one of them hissed, "to be nothing but a pretty face who had to trap the Alpha with a child?"

I clenched my fists. It wasn’t anything I hadn’t heard before, but that didn’t make it sting any less.

"I knew from the time we were kids that you were a slut—a cursed child who killed her parents," the redhead sneered. I pressed my lips together, swallowing the bile rising in my throat. I had promised myself I wouldn’t cry, no matter what the pack said about me.

"I don’t even know how the Alpha could fall for a desperate, lowly she-wolf who had to resort to pregnancy to cling to a man who barely acknowledges her existence," the brown-haired girl added with a laugh.

"I’m surprised you’re saying that Lisa, knowing very well that this slut drugged him," the red-haired added with a smirk.

Their words made me press my lips together. The misconception that I had drugged the Alpha was a popular one, but it was a lie. Some girls I’d called my friends had drugged me, thinking I’d end up in bed with another wolf. But the rooms got mixed up, and I ended up in Axel’s instead.

I had tried to explain, but no one was willing to listen. Not even Axel, who knew the truth, came to my rescue, or try to debunk the rumors.

The two of them nudged my shoulders as they continued their hateful comments, each word cutting deeper than I cared to admit. I kept my head down, refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing me react. I had learned long ago that silence was my best shield.

"Don’t you have anything to say for yourself, stupid?" one of them demanded, but just then, a small cry reached my ears from the pack house. It was soft but unmistakable.

My hearing ability was the only thing my wolf was good for. We were weak but we picked up on even the littlest of sounds.

My heart twisted immediately. Camden. I shot a glare at the two girls before hurrying toward the pack house, my anger giving way to worry. Little Cam needed me. He was the only thing in my life that made all of this bearable.

Inside the pack house, I found my little one nestled in his crib, his tiny face scrunched up in distress. Gently, I gathered him up, cooing softly as he calmed in my arms. He looked up at me with wide, curious eyes—a deep, warm brown that matched my own—and a mop of thick, afro-black hair. He looked nothing like his father, who had pale skin, straight jet-black hair, and striking grey eyes. Camden was every bit my son.

Camden’s little fingers reached for me as if he sensed the warmth I offered, and I melted, the thoughts of those bullies momentarily forgotten.

"There, there, my sweet Cam," I murmured, settling myself into a chair as he fussed. I cradled him, letting him nurse, and felt the world fade as I held him close. His familiar scent and warmth soothed my aching heart. If nothing else, I had my son. He was mine, and no one could take that away from me.

I was still wrapped in his quiet comfort when footsteps echoed down the hall, followed by murmured voices. My heart skipped a beat; I heard the maids' whispers, mentioning that Axel had returned from his latest trip.

His absences had become a painful routine, but every time he returned, a small part of me couldn’t help but hope things might be different. Maybe this time, he’d see me as more than just the mother of his child. Maybe this time, he’d see me as his wife.

Tucking Camden’s blanket around him, I pressed a soft kiss to his forehead before standing to leave the room. My steps quickened as I made my way downstairs, a flicker of hope igniting within me. But as I rounded the corner of the staircase and saw the small group gathered in the living room, my heart sank.

There Axel was, standing with a striking she-wolf beside him, her silver hair cascading in soft waves down her back. I paused, taking in the scene. My eyes darted between Axel's Beta, Warren, and Rita, the housekeeper, who all stood watching Axel and the she-wolf beside him.

Then Axel’s voice broke through my thoughts, his tone nonchalant as though he hadn’t even noticed me there.

"And this," he said, slipping an arm around the she-wolf’s shoulders and gazing down at her with a tenderness I’d never seen before, "is my Mate, Selena."

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Bab terkait

  • Second Chance At Love   002.

    Cassie.For a moment, I stood frozen, my mind spinning, unable to make sense of what I was seeing.I wished desperately that it was all a dream—that I’d wake up, with Cam nestled in his crib beside my bed, and realize it was just another one of those nightmares that had haunted me since our marriage began. But no matter how many times I blinked, the scene before me remained painfully, horribly real.My breath caught as Cam whimpered in my arms, the small cry pulling me back to reality, cementing the terrible truth: this was no dream. This was my life. And standing before me, entwined with my husband, was his true mate. The one person I’d feared he’d find since the moment I became his wife.Selena took a step forward, her eyes softening as she looked at Cam. She stretched out a hand, reaching as though to coo at him, but I instinctively shifted back, holding my son closer. Selena paused, her head tilting to one side in confusion.A faint frown appeared between her brows, but she quickl

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-29
  • Second Chance At Love   003.

    Cassie. By the next morning, the whispers had spread throughout the pack estate like wildfire. News that Axel had found his mate traveled fast, and the estate buzzed with excitement. The murmurings of pack members as they gathered in the pack house, exchanging glances and barely whispered conversations made my stomach churn. “We finally have a Luna!” a wolf exclaimed, eyes wide with intrigue. “I hear she’s beautiful. No wonder Alpha was drawn to her at first glance,” another replied with a snicker. Forced to welcome the pack members, I clenched my fists, trying my best to remain positive and composed, but as I made my way through the house, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of everyone’s stares and the sting of their words in my chest. In the main living area, Axel was practically glowing, his eyes filled with adoration as he held Selena close. She was everything I wasn’t—confident, radiant, and utterly captivating. Selena laughed at something Axel said, the sound light

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-29
  • Second Chance At Love   004.

    Cassie. Days turned into weeks, and the bullying I endured escalated to new heights, far worse than I could’ve ever imagined. Every corner of the pack estate felt foreign, and each encounter with a pack member was a fresh reminder of my failure to keep Axel’s attention. Whispers trailed behind me like shadows, relentless and cold. The pack members looked at me with contempt, as if I were nothing more than a stain on their proud alpha’s life. “Look at her,” one she-wolf sneered as I passed by one day, “The discarded wife, all alone.” “She should be grateful Alpha hasn’t thrown her out yet,” another chimed in, laughing, “But we all know it’s just a matter of time until that happens.” In the midst of it all, Axel’s demand the night before made it difficult for me to sleep. “Make sure to let Selena get close to Cam; he needs to get used to her,” he’d said without so much as looking up from the document on the table before him. I had agreed, believing that perhaps Selena was genu

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-30
  • Second Chance At Love   005.

    Cassie. I came to find out Selena really meant every word of her threat two days later. New rumors circulated the pack, where the pack members claimed I was so desperate, so jealous of Selena, that I stooped low enough to use my own son as bait to seduce Axel. They said I was nothing but shameless and if I really thought that if not for my seduction, Axel would ever look my way or pay me any of his precious attention. I forced myself to stay calm, to keep my head high as I heard the new rumors because I knew where they came from, and I was also used to lies being told about me to worry myself about them. If anything, I was only happy that Cam was not grown enough to understand what was being said about me. But no matter how much I ignored it, the rumors kept coming. The next day, as I took Cam out for a morning stroll, I noticed the whispers had only grown louder. This time, they hit harder, cutting deeper. “You know, seeing as Alpha doesn’t like her, I doubt that child is Hi

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-06
  • Second Chance At Love   006.

    Cassie. "How dare you speak to me in that manner?" Axel rose from his desk, eyes full of hate as he approached me. His expression was so cold, so filled with disdain, that it almost made me falter. Almost. But I couldn't allow myself to back down now. "If you and your mate want me out of the pack so badly, then fine. I'll take my son and leave," I said, my voice shaking but firm, "perhaps you believe the rumors too, that Cam isn't your son." In an instant, Axel closed the distance between us with a speed that made my pulse race, his hand gripping my arm hard. “What the fuck do you mean by that?" he asked, his tone sharp. His face was so close to mine. It was the first time since that one night we'd shared that he'd allowed himself to be this close. For a little moment, I almost let myself remember it –the way he'd looked at me back then, the gentleness in his touch. But I forced myself to focus, shaking away the thought. "I mean exactly what I said," I replied, ba

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-07
  • Second Chance At Love   007.

    Cassie.The morning sun was soft but unforgiving. I sat on the edge of my bed, holding Cam close as he drifted back to sleep after his early morning feed. Watching his peaceful little face felt like torture because all I could think of was how I’d failed him—how I’d stayed here too long, long enough for his life to be threatened in such a manner. I traced a finger along his tiny cheek, his skin so soft, so pure.Gently, I put him down in his cot and moved to the small vanity mirror, staring at my tattered reflection. I looked a mess, and I sure felt like it.My hand drifted to the bruises Selena left on me that night, her words still echoing in my mind like poison."Forty-eight hours. That’s all you get. If I so much as see you in this pack after forty-eight hours, I don’t know what’ll happen to that bastard son of yours.”There’d been no mistaking the hate in her eyes. I couldn’t unsee it, and I couldn’t unhear those words. She meant every bit of her threat. She was relentless. And

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-08
  • Second Chance At Love   008.

    Cassie.My heart raced as I exchanged worried glances with Axel. “What was that?” I asked, fear lacing my voice.“Stay here,” Axel ordered in his Alpha tone, his eyes wide and alert as he turned to the door, disappearing into the hallway.“Warren! Gather the warriors! We have a situation!” I heard his voice loud and clear and I froze.It seemed we were under attack.As if the fear that gripped me wasn’t enough, Cam started crying.“Shhhh, my. love you need to stop crying,” I cooed at him, but he didn’t respond, so I carried him to my bed and began feeding him some breast milk to keep him quiet.Instantly Cam hushed, sucking hungrily to let me know it was a hunger tantrum.“I’m so sorry my love,” I passed him an apologetic smile which he ignored because he was too busy sucking. Minutes passed and the pack house seemed quiet, but from behind my locked door, I heard heavy footsteps down the hallway, and they were coming closer.“Where’s the Alpha’s mate and kid?” a heavy voice demanded,

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-08
  • Second Chance At Love   009.

    Cassie.It didn’t take any longer for me to realize the intruders were rogues, horrible and viscous ones for that matter.As they dragged me with Cam in my arms through the wreckage that was now our pack estate, I tried to pull back, digging in my heels—anything to slow them down, to escape from their iron grip. “Let go of me!” I shouted, making my words as sharp as I could, desperation clawing out of my throat. “You have the wrong person, I’m not the Alpha’s mate!” The leader, who in better lighting I found had a scar tracing his jaw, sneered and slapped me, his hand coming down hard and fast. My head snapped to the side, pain spreading across my cheek in hot, blinding waves. I could feel the sting right down to my bones, my skin throbbing under the weight of his hand. I clutched the side of my face with one hand, the ache forcing tears into my eyes, my strength spiraling downward with each step they forced me to take. "Shut your mouth," he growled, his voice low, menacing, “Y

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-09

Bab terbaru

  • Second Chance At Love   131.

    Cassie.I took a deep breath as I stood in front of the pack house, my eyes locked onto the massive structure that had once been my home. My fingers curled into fists at my sides, my nails pressing into my palms as if that would steady me.“I’ve been here before. This is nothing,” I whispered to myself, willing my body to relax. But the way my stomach twisted said otherwise.The evening breeze carried the faint scent of baked goods and damp earth, ruffling the braids that framed my face. I swallowed hard, rubbing my clammy hands against my jeans, trying to push away the nerves that had crept in without warning.“You look like you’re a second away from losing your mind.”The voice came from behind me, breaking through my haze of thoughts. I turned sharply, my heart jolting, only to find Jake standing there, his lips curved into an amused smirk.“Nice to know you find this amusing,” I muttered, rolling my eyes as I crossed my arms.“I don’t,” he chuckled, taking a few steps closer. “Kn

  • Second Chance At Love   130.

    Cassie.The ride to school had been suffocating. Axel didn’t say a word to me, didn’t even glance in my direction, like I had done something unforgivable. Was it really that bad? Was it so wrong to want relief from the ache that had consumed me?“Do you know what would be crazy?” Violet’s voice suddenly cut through my thoughts, snapping me back to the present.I blinked at her, my steps slowing as I took in the mischief in her eyes. “What?” I asked, raising a brow.“If after everything, your lecturer friend turns out to be a bad person, it would literally break me.”The words hit like a brick, and I stopped walking altogether, my breath catching.“What?” My voice was sharp as she turned to face me fully. “Did something happen?”Violet hesitated, rubbing her neck before finally looking away. “Not entirely,” she admitted. “But a couple of students were whispering about him yesterday. They said they saw him going toward the tall trees behind the school… the big field.”I felt my stomach

  • Second Chance At Love   129.

    Cassie.I woke up slowly, feeling warm—warmer than I should have. My body felt oddly secure, wrapped in a tight embrace. The steady sound of breathing filled my ears, the slight weight of an arm draped over my waist grounding me before my mind even fully registered where I was.And then it hit me.Axel.I stiffened, my eyes widening as I turned my head slightly. His scent surrounded me—woodsy, rich, completely intoxicating. His bare skin was hot against mine, his arm tightening instinctively when I shifted.He was still asleep, his breathing even, his face relaxed in a way I had never seen before.For a moment, I simply lay there, staring at him, caught in the quiet intimacy of the moment. Axel never looked like this when he was awake—unguarded, peaceful.But I had to move. I shifted my waist, testing out the free space around me, and the moment I did, Axel groaned.I froze, waiting a moment so I don’t wake him, then I shifted again, attempting to slide out from his grip. His arms onl

  • Second Chance At Love   128.

    Cassie.I opened my eyes to the sound of running water filling my ears before I even registered what was happening. The soft splash against the tub was strangely soothing, pulling me from the heavy fog of unconsciousness. And for a second, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of where I was.My room.The faint scent of lavender clung to the sheets beneath me, grounding me in the familiar space. But something felt… off. My body ached—more than that, it burned. A dull throbbing coiled around my stomach, tightening the moment I tried to shift my weight. My breath hitched as the memories came rushing back, piecing together everything that had happened before I blacked out.Pain sliced through me, sharp and unrelenting. I gritted my teeth, pushing past it as I forced myself to sit up. My limbs were heavy, unwilling, but I couldn’t just stay here. I was alone. I needed to take care of myself.Slowly, I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my bare feet meeting th

  • Second Chance At Love   127.

    Cassie.I leaned back against the vanity, gripping the edge as Axel’s lips trailed along my neck, his breath hot against my skin. His hands roamed over me, his touch possessive, like he had every right to explore my body. One palm skimmed my waist, sliding upward until it settled over my chest, his fingers curling slightly as if testing my reaction.“I need to take this off,” he murmured against my throat, his voice rough, filled with barely restrained hunger. The heat of his body pressed against mine, and I swore he was made of fire—burning, consuming, unstoppable.God.A shiver ran through me as he tugged roughly at my shirt, his impatience clear. My hands flew to his shoulders, steadying myself as he worked at the fabric like pulling at it alone would make it magically disappear.“Wait, Axel,” I gasped, my fingers trembling against his skin.“Like hell I will,” he growled, his lips never leaving my skin, the deep sound of his voice sending a sharp pulse of heat straight to my core.

  • Second Chance At Love   126.

    Cassie.The classroom was too small for the number of voices rising within it. Seven of us sat around a cluster of desks, a circle that didn’t quite feel complete, but no one seemed to mind. Conversations overlapped, ideas were thrown out and debated, but I was silent, watching the way they all worked together like they had done this before. Like they belonged.I didn’t.I had never spoken to them before yesterday, yet here I was, a part of the planning committee for Jared’s candle walk. I wasn’t sure how it happened. Maybe it was because I had been there when they made the announcement, or maybe someone thought I looked like I cared enough to contribute. The truth was, I didn’t know what I was supposed to do.And so, I said nothing.For most of the meeting, I was there but not really there, nodding along when necessary, taking mental notes I knew I wouldn’t use. The date was still undecided, but they were discussing logistics now—who would handle what, how they would gather candles,

  • Second Chance At Love   125.

    Axel.The meeting room was suffocating. Not from heat or lack of air, but from the sheer tension hanging in the air, thick and unmoving. The long mahogany table stretched across the center of the room, polished to perfection, reflecting the golden glow of the chandelier above. The walls, lined with deep burgundy wallpaper, felt like they were closing in, the heavy drapes blocking out any sign of daylight. A room meant for order, but right now, it held nothing but unspoken resentment and frustration.I leaned back in my chair, my hands gripping the armrests as I let my gaze sweep over the men in the room—alphas from different regions, all with their own domains, their own responsibilities, and yet, none of them seemed willing to lift a damn finger.“I think it’s high time we address the elephant in the room,” I said, my voice calm but firm, the kind that demanded attention.Across the table, Alpha Tristan scoffed, leaning forward with his arms crossed over his broad chest. His golden-b

  • Second Chance At Love   124.

    Cassie.The ride to school was indeed long, longer than it had any right to be.Not because of the distance but because of the thick, suffocating tension that filled the car. No amount of air conditioning could cut through it, and even with the windows cracked open, the weight of unspoken words and unresolved emotions hung between us.Axel said nothing to me. And I said nothing to him.Violet, bless her, made several attempts at conversation. She brought up the weather, schoolwork, and even a random story about one of her neighbors that she clearly hoped would lighten the mood. But it was useless. Axel remained as unreadable as ever, with his signature scowl sitting on his face, and I was too deep in my own thoughts to play along. I wasn’t even sure what was happening between us anymore. I didn’t understand it.Eventually, Violet sighed and gave up, falling into silence as well.When the car finally came to a stop in front of the school gates, I reached for the door handle, ready to b

  • Second Chance At Love   123.

    Cassie.The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was movement. The subtle shifting of weight, the faint rustling of fabric. My senses sharpened, and my body tensed. For a split second, my heart pounded against my ribs as my half-asleep mind leaped to the worst conclusion—intruders.I sat up in a rush, my gaze darting around the dimly lit room, searching for a shadow lurking in the corners. But all I found was Violet, standing by the mirror, stretching her arms before grabbing her towel.“Good morning to you too,” she said, giving me a knowing look through the mirror’s reflection.I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair as I forced my heart to settle. “Good morning,” my voice was barely above a whisper, my hand pressed against my chest as I tried to slow my breathing.“I’m not going to lie, that scared me. The way you woke up, looking around like you expected to see something—or someone—other than me,” Violet said, her eyes wide as she chuckled, shaking her head as sh

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