The two weeks ahead loomed like a storm cloud over my head, and I didn’t know how I would keep myself distracted. The thought of leaving Alex for that long was almost unbearable. Every fiber of my being wanted to stay, to linger in his presence, to make sure Nathan didn’t weasel his way into his life. But a deal was a deal, and I wasn’t one to go back on my word.
I was sitting in my office, trying to drown myself in work, when a knock interrupted my thoughts. My assistant stepped in, carrying a manila envelope in her hands. “Here are the findings from the investigation into your background,” she said, placing it on the desk in front of me. “Thanks,” I replied curtly, waiting for her to leave before I picked it up. Sliding my finger under the flap, I pulled out the contents and froze. My heart skipped a beat when I stared at an old photograph. My mother stood there, smiling, next tI arrived outside my mother’s loft, my chest tightening with a mixture of apprehension and determination. The sight before me wasn’t what I had expected. Her home was once elegant, pristine exterior, and the very image of grace and control were gone. The perfectly manicured garden that used to surround her front door was now overgrown, wild vines crawling up the brickwork. It was a jarring sight, one that reflected a sense of disarray I’d never associated with her. I stepped out of the car, my gaze lingering on the door for a moment before I straightened my shoulders and approached. Inside, the smell of aged wood, faint perfume, and smoke hit me immediately. Her office door was open, the flickering glow of the fireplace spilling into the hallway. I stepped inside, and the sight before me made me pause. She sat behind her massive mahogany desk, her figure slouched with the thought of the we
I unlocked my phone, the screen casting a faint glow in the darkness, and I leaned against the side of the car. Olivia’s message was short but intriguing: **"We need to talk. I found something about Nathan. Urgent."** I frowned, my wolf growling softly in the back of my mind. If Olivia thought it was important, it probably was. She didn’t waste time with dramatics unless it truly mattered. Climbing into the car, I instructed my driver to head back to my penthouse. The air outside felt heavy, the weight of everything I’d just learned from my mother pressing down on me. Now, with Olivia’s cryptic message, a new thread was weaving into the tangled web of my life. When I arrived at my penthouse, Olivia was already waiting for me in the living room, pacing with a manila folder clutched in her hand. Her sharp, no-nonsense demeanor was even mor
Last night, I don’t know what came over me. Maybe it was the rain, the warmth of Liam’s presence, or the way he looked at me like I was the only person in the world. But for the first time, I let go of my reservations and showed him a side of me I usually kept hidden. Now, staring at the note he left behind—See you next week. Be ready for the charity ball. I couldn’t shake the feeling that Liam was up to something. Was he planning to show up and rescue me from Nathan? The thought sent a rush of anticipation through me, but at the same time, it left me uneasy. Nathan had been relentless since last week, constantly finding ways to be around me—whether at the gym or the restaurant where I worked. At first, I thought it was a coincidence, but I wasn’t naive. He was trying to wear me down, to make me see him as an option. I wasn’t going to lie—Nathan was a generous tipper. But money wasn
The next morning, I set out for the address on the back of the picture. I had tossed and turned all night, my mind filled with questions about my past, my father, and the brother I never knew. Now, it was time for answers. Driving through the countryside, I eventually reached the location. To only realize that it was right in the middle of the land I had been trying to buy from Nathan. The irony of it all didn’t escape me. The very land I wanted for my waterpark and casino resort held ties to my bloodline. The entrance to the gated community was heavily guarded, with tall iron fences and security cameras at every angle. The guards, dressed in black tactical gear, looked more like mercenaries than simple security personnel. One of them approached my car, peering through the tinted window with a scrutinizing glare. “State your business.” I kept my expression neut
“When I met your mother, I was already bound to my pack’s laws,” he began. “Our kind, Liam, we don’t just marry who we want. We don’t love freely without consequences. Wolves are bound by rules and traditions that go back centuries. And one of the biggest laws of all?” He met my gaze, his golden-hazel eyes burning with something unreadable. “We don’t mate with humans; however, your mother was my fated mate.” I tensed, my grip on the glass tightening. “So, what? You knew that and still pursued her?” He nodded. “I did. Because I was selfish. Because I thought I could have it all. Your mother was unlike anyone I’d ever met. Strong, beautiful, intelligent. She challenged me in ways no wolf ever could. I loved her, Liam.” “Then why did you treat her like she was less than you? Like she was property?” Pain
The resemblance had always been there, but I had never thought much of it. Nathan—Caleb—had has always been an enigma, a powerful force that moved through the city with precision and dominance. I had spent years at odds with him, clashing over land, business, and influence. Now, knowing he was my brother? It changed everything. I didn’t know how to process it, but I also didn’t have the energy to fight the storm brewing in my mind. Marcus, sensing my inner turmoil, invited me to stay the night. “Let everything settle,” he said, pouring me another glass of whiskey. “Tomorrow, I’ll show you the pack. I want you to understand what you’re part of.” I wasn’t sure what I was feeling. Was it anger, resentment, or maybe even curiosity, but I agreed. The next morning, I woke up to the sound of birds chir
I decided to stay in the pack’s territory for a few more days, immersing myself in a world I had never been a part of yet was undeniably connected to. Walking through the village nestled within the dense forest, where homes blended seamlessly into nature, built from stone and wood, reinforced with the strength of a pack united. Despite my initial reservations, I saw how deeply the people respected Marcus. Wolves of all ages greeted him with deference, their gazes full of admiration. Elders approached to share stories of battles fought alongside my father, of victories that ensured their survival. Children peeked out from behind their mothers’ skirts, their eyes filled with innocent curiosity as they sensed something different about him. I found myself studying them, trying to understand this life that had been meant for me to inherit. They lived by rules, rituals of unity, training regimens, and the unspoken
Dragging both Liam and Olivia into the hotel suite had been a struggle, but adrenaline had pushed me forward. My heart pounded while I maneuvered them onto the bed and chair, my mind racing to figure out what had happened. One minute, they were fine; laughing, drinking, and blending seamlessly into the charity event. The next, both of them were barely able to stand, their limbs heavy, their eyes unfocused. It didn’t make sense. Thank the Goddess for Liam’s assistant. They had stepped in without hesitation, helping me get them out of there before things got worse. Now, sitting at Liam’s bedside, I watched him carefully. His breathing was steady, but his body still looked tense, like he was caught between wakefulness and unconsciousness. Olivia, across the room, stirred slightly, her fi
The morning sun poured through the bay windows, casting soft, golden light across the room. It painted everything in a hazy warmth, but nothing in this world was more radiant than the man lying next to me.Alex.Even in sleep, he looked unfairly good. His hair was a tousled mess, lashes fanned out over flushed cheeks, and lips slightly parted. My fingers moved of their own accord, tracing the familiar lines of his face. His cheekbones, the curve of his nose, the soft dip of his collarbone. I knew every inch of him now, and still, I couldn’t stop memorizing.My heart felt like it could split open from the sheer weight of contentment. Of love.Until my fingers ghosted over a rough patch of skin beneath his jawline.A scar.An old one, but jagged and ugly. It didn’t belong there. Didn’t fit on something so beautiful.I stilled, my jaw tightening.I knew that scar. I knew the shape of it—like a twisted smile—and I knew who the hell gave it to him. Ryan.My wolf stirred, low and violent,
Alex’s expression told me all I needed to know. Rejection. The very thing I had feared since the moment I found him again. Since the moment I let myself hope. I couldn’t take it. I bolted, running like my damn life depended on it. My pulse pounded in my ears, drowning out everything else. My chest ached, but I didn’t stop. I ran until the city lights disappeared behind me, until I reached the thick, dark forest surrounding my cabin. The shift came effortlessly. My wolf was already clawing to take control, too angry, too heartbroken to let me stay human any longer. He howled the moment I let him loose, a sound that echoed with pain. Not just mine, but his. He had loved Alex before I had even understood the depths of my own feelings. He had known, had waited, had longed for him just as much as I did. And now, rejection burned through both of us like fire. So I let him run. I let him sprint through the dense trees, his paws barely making a sound against the damp earth. Th
I would say I was shocked, but that would be an understatement.The other night, I thought I was seeing things—just a trick of the light, my imagination running wild—when I saw a werewolf shift back into a man. And then Liam had come to the car.For him to stand here now, looking me in the eyes and admitting it out loud, my mind struggled to process it.A werewolf.Not just a metaphor. Not just some joke about his sharp instincts or uncanny ability to anticipate things before they happened. A real, actual, mythical, doesn’t-exist-outside-of-movies-and-legends werewolf.I didn’t realize I had stopped breathing until my lungs burned.Now I knew what Nathan meant when he said Liam was a monster.Monster.The word didn’t sit right. It felt…wrong.Because when I looked at Liam, standing there with that guarded expression, his fists clenched at his sides like he was bracing himself for me to run, I didn’t see a monster.But I didn’t know what to say.And Liam must have taken my silence as r
The drive was peaceful, filled with stories of Alex and Emma’s childhood—tales of scraped knees, mischievous pranks, and late-night adventures that had me chuckling more than once. It was easy to listen, easy to imagine him as that carefree kid with wild ideas and an even wilder heart. But there were moments between the laughter when his voice softened—memories that weren’t so light. Times when they struggled, when they had no one but each other. I envied Emma, in a way. She had been there for him when I wasn’t. As the miles stretched behind us, Alex eventually dozed off, curled up in the passenger seat. His breathing evened out, his body finally relaxing. I kept my eyes on the road, driving in silence while the hum of the tires filled the space between us. But as the evening settled in, my body tensed. The full moon was rising. I clenched my jaw, gripping the wheel tighter. This was the part of myself I never wanted Alex to see. Not yet. I hadn’t told him what I was—what l
The fire between us had simmered down into something quieter, something softer. After the kiss, neither of us spoke much. Liam just pulled me back onto the couch, tucking me against him like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go. I let him. His arms were warm around me, his heartbeat steady beneath my ear. Every so often, his fingers would trail over my back, absentmindedly tracing little circles, like he needed to reassure himself I was still there. I felt safe. And maybe that was dangerous. Because I could feel myself sinking into him, into this moment, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to claw my way back out. At some point, I must have dozed off again because the next thing I knew, I was waking up to the smell of coffee and something distinctly… burnt? Liam groaned behind me, his voice still thick with sleep. “Tell me that’s not your sister trying to kill us.” I blinked a few times, adjusting to the morning light streaming through the windows. “It’s possible.” A lo
I stripped off my bloodied shirt with a wince, the fabric sticking to my skin where the cut on my forehead had started to dry. My ribs screamed in protest as I moved, the deep ache making it clear that at least one of them was cracked—maybe worse. The bathroom mirror didn’t do me any favors. Bruises were already blooming across my skin, deep purple and angry red. My lip was busted, my cheek swollen. I sighed and turned on the shower, stepping under the spray and letting the hot water rinse away the grime and dried blood. My muscles protested, but I forced myself to stand under the heat, watching as the water swirled pink at my feet. The steam curled around me, thick and suffocating, but for the first time since Ryan showed up, I finally felt like I could breathe. Then the door opened. I stiffened. “Emma, I swear if you—” “It’s not Emma.” Liam’s voice was low, steady. I turned my head just enough to see his reflection in the fogged-up mirror. He stood in the doorway, arm
The next morning, I went back to the gym as usual, half-hoping—no, expecting—to find Alex there. I needed to talk to him. To explain. To fix the damage before it was too late. But when I walked in, Brandon was standing by the weights instead. Not Alex. Brandon gave me a polite nod. “Morning, Mr. Kane. Ready to get started?” I frowned, scanning the gym, my wolf restless beneath my skin. “Where’s Alex?” Brandon hesitated, adjusting the strap on his gloves before answering. “He… requested a leave of absence. Said there was a family emergency.” I stilled. A family emergency? Bullshit. It was too convenient. I clenched my jaw, inhaling deeply to steady myself. I knew Brandon wasn’t lying. He had no reason to; but Alex was. He was running. Again. And I had no intention of letting him slip away this time. I went through the motions of my workout, but my mind wasn’t in it. My body burned from the exertion, but it was nothing compared to the frustration clawing at my chest. As
Damn it. Why was it so hard to just tell Alex the truth? He had asked me point-blank, and all I had to do was say it. Nathan Cross is my brother. But the words never came out. Instead, I stood there like an idiot, choking on my own damn secrets, and watched him walk away. And when he walked away this time, he wasn’t just angry. He was done. The second the door slammed shut, I bolted. I ran down the hallway, through the lobby, and straight out onto the quiet, empty streets, searching for any sign of him. But Alex was gone. The night air was cold, thick with the scent of rain, and the eerie silence of the city at this hour only made the weight in my chest worse. He was just gone. I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down my face. His whole mood had shifted after tal
I could feel Emma’s heated stare burning into me, her fingers gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary while we drove in silence. Just say it already, Emma. “You’re not gonna talk?” she finally snapped, her voice sharp with frustration. “Fine, I’ll do it for you.” I swallowed hard, already bracing myself. “Is he the reason you dropped everything and moved three states away?” she demanded. “Where you didn’t know anyone? Where you didn’t even have a pot to piss in? Was it because of him?” Her voice trembled on the last word, anger barely concealing the pain beneath it. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Because everything she said was true. My silence was her answer. The car was too quiet, save for the occasional sound of the road beneath us. And then, like a dam breaking, tears bega