Briar’s POVI haven't smoked in years.Haven't touched the goddamn thing, but since my life took a drastic change, I brought out the cigarette I’d just bought, my fingers shaking as I pulled it from the pack. I stared at it for a long moment, my breathing uneven.The weight of everything, the clinic, the elders, my kids, the Lycan Kings, was pressing on me, suffocating me from the inside out. I leaned forward against the kitchen island, tears stinging the back of my eyes.I placed the unlit cigarette between my lips, not even bothering to grab a lighter. It wasn’t about smoking, not really. It was about holding something, distracting myself from the cracks forming in every part of my life.My hands trembled as I placed the cigarette back down on the island, burying my face in my hands. My shoulders shook as the tears came, quiet at first, then harder, until I was sobbing uncontrollably into the silence of my room.I didn’t even hear the door open.“Mommy?”My head snapped up, my face
I called the three men in for a talk after I had made sure the kids were asleep.We were at the balcony of their rather extravagant mansion. The moonlight reflected off the glass railings, casting a faint glow over the space. The air was cold, filled with the faint scent of cedarwood that seemed to cling to this place.Kieran sat holding a glass of whiskey, his long legs sprawled out casually in front of him. His fiery red hair, tousled and catching the light, framed his sharp jawline in a way that was maddeningly attractive.His shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, revealing just enough of his toned chest to make it impossible not to notice.Kylan leaned against the balcony railing, his black hair tied back in a loose knot. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, revealing his muscular forearms, and his blue eyes gleamed mischievously under the faint light. He looked like he belonged on the cover of a magazine, his easy smirk always hovering on the edge of teasing.And then there
The battlefield was a wasteland. Bodies, both fresh and decaying, were strewn across the ground. A thick, unnatural fog hovered over the earth, masking the stench of death, but not enough to hide the horrors from anyone still standing. Still fighting for this war that had gone for more than a week. "Hold the line!" Marcus's voice boomed across the clearing, his silver hair matted with dirt and blood. His piercing blue eyes darted from one corner of the field to another. "Don’t let them break through!"To his left, a Lycan tore through a vampire’s throat with a savage snarl. Blood splattered across his chest, the vampire’s body falling limp before hitting the dirt. The Lycan grunted, his yellow eyes flaring. "This is getting worse, Marcus. They’re faster. Stronger than normal. We can’t keep up."Marcus spat on the ground, his jaw clenched. “We don’t have a choice, Jax. We either fight or die. You wanna run? Then go. But I’m not going down without tearing a few more apart.”Jax wiped
Years later…Briar's POV"Congratulations, Luna Briar, you are officially carrying the Alpha's heir."The words should have filled me with joy, but instead, they felt hollow. I sat on the edge of the hospital bed, staring at the nurse as she recorded the results in her clipboard without so much as a smile. Her tone was flat, indifferent, as if my news was nothing special.It should be though. The alpha's heir. It was great news. But not for the people of Crimson Pack. It was a nightmare and a weakness."Thank you," I said, my voice quiet.She didn’t bother to look up.No smile. No warmth. Just a curt nod. I wasn’t surprised. As far as the pack was concerned, I was just an omega who had lucked out. The Alpha’s mate, sure, but still an omega. And an omega carrying the Alpha’s child was an inconvenience to most.Here in the crimson pack, mates weren't taken seriously. They had expected their alpha to get another wife, to rule, whereas I would just be a mistress. But he never did. He
I woke up in the hospital feeling empty. Like a void. The sterile scent of antiseptic burned my nose as the fluorescent lights hummed overhead. My throat was dry, lips cracked, but none of that mattered. My hand instinctively went to my stomach, trembling fingers pressing against the soft skin there. It felt empty. "No... no, no, no," I whispered, my heart pounding as the memories flooded back. The fight. Slade’s rage. His fists. Zaya’s mocking laughter. And then the pain—so much pain.And blood. A nurse must have heard me because the door swung open, and she hurried over. Her face was sympathetic, so different from the hate I was used to. “Luna Ashford…”I flinched at the title. Luna. That wasn’t me anymore. I was nothing.“Don’t call me that,” I rasped.She hesitated before nodding. “I’m sorry. You need to rest.”Rest? How could I rest? My baby…our baby… was gone. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the reality that was clawing at me, threatening to consume me whole.“I’m
I remembered the first time I had come here. I was eighteen. Young and foolish. Happy to have been released from the orphanage. Lizbella and I had come here to celebrate. Our hands were calloused, we smelt of oil, we had begged for money so we could buy a drink.We didn’t care that night. We just wanted to party and enjoy life.We were eighteen meaning we could leave this pack and stopped working in the mines or as slaves. And I had met him. Alpha Slade and he had been my mate. My love. The moment I became Luna, Zaya tried to replace Lizbella, and I let her, now she ruined me. I was stupid. Still am it seems. I ordered a drink and stared into the glass, my reflection distorted in the amber liquid. Who was I now?“Looking for company?” a deep voice asked.I didn’t bother turning around. “Not in the mood.”“You look like you could use someone to talk to.”I sighed, finally glancing over my shoulder. The man standing there was tall, his dark eyes studying me with far too much interest.
As the second man pressed against me, his lips grazing the sensitive skin of my neck, I let out a low moan, my body arching into his touch. My breath hitched as the pleasure went through my veins, both of their hands on my body, igniting sensations I hadn’t felt in years—or maybe ever. I was no longer thinking, just feeling. The heat between us swelled, growing more urgent with every touch, every kiss. The second man’s fingers traced along the curve of my back while the first one pulled me tighter against him, his movements hard and insistent.I felt lips on my hardened nipples, I almost screamed from the pleasure.My heart pounded in my chest, my mind slipping further away from reality, giving in completely. They kissed me everywhere—lips, neck, chest. There was nothing but them, nothing but the feeling of their hands, his hands on my clit, their lips, the heat of their bodies pressing into mine. My mind was spinning, the alcohol still swirling in my veins, making everything feel
Seven years later…The early morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a soft, golden glow over the small room. I stretched, careful not to wake the two small bodies nestled on either side of me. My twins, Finn and Luna, slept soundly, their little faces peaceful in the morning light. Watching them, I couldn’t help but smile. Life was different now. It had to be. After that night, the night I left everything behind, I promised myself that I would never look back.And for seven years, I hadn’t. I had built a life here, in the Lycan territory, far away from the pain of the past. I was no longer the broken woman who had stumbled into that motel room. I was Briar Ashford—mother, therapist, survivor.“Mama,” a small voice murmured, breaking into my thoughts. Luna, her big brown eyes still heavy with sleep, reached out to me. Her tiny hand clutched at my shirt as she blinked up at me with a smile that could light up the darkest day.“Morning, sweetheart,” I whispered, pressi
I called the three men in for a talk after I had made sure the kids were asleep.We were at the balcony of their rather extravagant mansion. The moonlight reflected off the glass railings, casting a faint glow over the space. The air was cold, filled with the faint scent of cedarwood that seemed to cling to this place.Kieran sat holding a glass of whiskey, his long legs sprawled out casually in front of him. His fiery red hair, tousled and catching the light, framed his sharp jawline in a way that was maddeningly attractive.His shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, revealing just enough of his toned chest to make it impossible not to notice.Kylan leaned against the balcony railing, his black hair tied back in a loose knot. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, revealing his muscular forearms, and his blue eyes gleamed mischievously under the faint light. He looked like he belonged on the cover of a magazine, his easy smirk always hovering on the edge of teasing.And then there
Briar’s POVI haven't smoked in years.Haven't touched the goddamn thing, but since my life took a drastic change, I brought out the cigarette I’d just bought, my fingers shaking as I pulled it from the pack. I stared at it for a long moment, my breathing uneven.The weight of everything, the clinic, the elders, my kids, the Lycan Kings, was pressing on me, suffocating me from the inside out. I leaned forward against the kitchen island, tears stinging the back of my eyes.I placed the unlit cigarette between my lips, not even bothering to grab a lighter. It wasn’t about smoking, not really. It was about holding something, distracting myself from the cracks forming in every part of my life.My hands trembled as I placed the cigarette back down on the island, burying my face in my hands. My shoulders shook as the tears came, quiet at first, then harder, until I was sobbing uncontrollably into the silence of my room.I didn’t even hear the door open.“Mommy?”My head snapped up, my face
I walked into my office, shutting the door behind me with a heavy sigh. The air felt stifling, every corner of the room reminding me of the work I’d poured my heart into. The weight of the elders’ words pressed on my chest, threatening to choke me.I dropped into my chair, leaning back and closing my eyes, wishing for just a moment of reprieve. But the sound of a knock pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts.“Come in,” I called, my voice weary.The door opened, and Sarah stepped in. Her usually bright demeanor was replaced with a rare frown, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.“Are you okay?” she asked, though her tone was clipped, her concern edged with frustration.I nodded, rubbing my temples. “I’m fine, Sarah.”“No, you’re not,” she said bluntly, stepping closer to my desk. “And frankly, neither am I. What’s going on, Dr. Ashford? The elders have been breathing down our necks, and now everyone’s talking about patients dying after therapy. This isn’t normal.”I looked at her,
Something was wrong with me.I… I woke up with scales all over my two forearms.They were faint, almost translucent in the morning light, but they were there. Smooth, glistening, and completely unnatural. Yesterday… yesterday I had been fighting with my own self, my own mind, and now this?Yesterday, the voices had been louder, more persistent. They weren’t my children’s or anyone I recognized, but they were real. Whispers that slithered through my thoughts, hissing things I didn’t want to hear, things I couldn’t understand. The louder they got, the harder it became to breathe, to think, to function.And then there was the other part—the part of me that wasn’t me.It was like another presence inside me, pushing, clawing, begging to break free. My body had trembled under the weight of it, my vision had blurred, and my skin had burned like fire. I had locked myself in the bathroom, splashing water on my face to keep whatever it was at bay.But this morning, the scales? They felt like pr
You should have claimed her.Kai’s wolf growled in his mind, the deep, angry tone sending a jolt through him. He clenched his fists, pacing the length of the hallway outside the kitchen. His arousal from earlier had long since subsided, but his body still thrummed with residual tension, and his thoughts were consumed by Briar.The way her skin had looked under the dim light, the scent of her arousal clinging to the air—it was maddening.“Shut up,” Kai snapped internally, though his wolf didn’t back down.You let her slip away. She’s ours, and you just walked out. Weak.Kai growled low in his throat, shaking his head. His wolf was relentless, clawing at the edges of his control, but he refused to let it take over. He was already struggling to keep himself in check after what had happened in Briar’s room.As he turned the corner into the kitchen, he nearly bumped into Kylan, who was leaning casually against the counter, a smirk plastered across his face.“Well, well,” Kylan drawled, his
He wanted me. I did not need to be told twice that he wanted me. From just those few moments he had seen me, he was already aroused. I watched as his nose flared slightly, a quick, subtle inhale that he clearly tried to suppress. He didn’t think I’d notice, but I did. He could smell me, my arousal hanging faintly in the air between us. Knowing he wanted me had spiked something within me. Something that I had kept buried a long time ago after my affair with them. No one have ever looked at me the way Kai was now. As if I was the only girl he wanted. As if he could strip me with his eyes. I gulped. His eyes moved up to meet mine, and I swore they darkened. “Briar…” His voice was low, husky, filled with something raw. The sound of my name rolling off his tongue made my breath hitch. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, the muscles in his throat tightening. My gaze caught on the movement, and I felt heat rising to my cheeks, my heart racing as his presence
“I don't know, Briar, the question is starting to look as if I should believe you.”I raised an eyebrow, my grip tightening on the edge of my seat. “What do you mean?”“Tell me, Briar,” he turned his sharp, silver eyes toward me, a dangerous edge to his tone. “Tell me exactly what’s going on in your mind.”I hesitated, the witch’s words still echoing in my head like a haunting melody. “I already told you. I’m trying to figure this out—just like you.”He scoffed, his hands tightening around the steering wheel as the car swerved slightly.“Kieran, what the hell are you doing?” I snapped, gripping the side of the seat harder.“You’re not telling me everything, Briar,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, ignoring my question. “You’re keeping something from me, from all of us.”“That’s not true!” I shot back, panic creeping into my voice as he pressed harder on the accelerator.The car sped down the dark road, the trees on either side blurring into a shadowy mass. The tension between us
"I was surprised you decided to follow me," I said as I tucked Finn and Luna into the back of the car.Neither of them looked at me. Luna’s eyes were still red from crying earlier, her face turned toward the window, her little hands clutching the edges of her blanket. Finn was quieter than usual, his brows furrowed in thought, though his grip on his toy wolf was tight enough to whiten his knuckles.I sighed, shutting the door softly before turning to Kieran, who stood a few feet away, watching the kids through the glass.“I told you I’d take you,” he said simply, leaning against the car. His silver eyes flicked to me, unreadable. “And you’re stubborn enough to do this alone if I hadn’t.”“You didn’t have to,” I muttered, crossing my arms. “This isn’t your problem.”His lips twitched into something like a smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re impossible, you know that?”I frowned, brushing past him to the driver’s side. “Let’s just go.”---The drive was silent. Too silent.K
“Kieran, I’m not—”“Don’t,” he cut me off, his tone sharper than a blade. “Don’t try to talk your way out of this. Not with me. Not when it’s about them.”His words hit me square in the chest, making my breath catch. His frustration, his worry—it wasn’t misplaced, and that only made it harder to face.“Kieran,” Kai said, stepping forward, his tall frame casting a shadow over his brother. “You’re not helping.”“And you are?” Kieran snapped, his voice rising. “You think standing there, acting like everything’s fine, is going to solve this? She’s not telling us everything, Kai. And you’re just letting it slide.”Kai’s jaw clenched, but his voice stayed calm. “This isn’t about letting anything slide. It’s about handling it in a way that doesn’t push her further into a corner.”“I’m right here,” I said quietly, my voice breaking. “You don’t have to talk like I’m not.”Kieran’s gaze softened for a fraction of a second, but his frustration didn’t waver. “Then start talking, Briar. What aren’