Thalia's POVHis lips crashed into mine—hard, unrelenting, unapologetic.There was nothing gentle about it. Nothing like Luka’s soft, hesitant kiss. No slow build, no careful caress. This was fire. This was chaos. This was Ronan.His hands moved with a kind of hunger I wasn’t prepared for.One cupped the side of my neck, tilting my face up as his mouth devoured mine, while the other slid around my waist, dragging me flush against his body. My breath caught—his body was so warm, so solid, so painfully familiar.I should’ve pushed him away. I should’ve asked why. But I didn’t.I didn’t move.Of course I didn’t.Because no matter the hatred and anger he showed towards me, deep down, I missed this. I missed him.His body against mine, his scent, the way he kissed like he was claiming something that had always been his.He kissed me like a man starved—possessive, untamed. Like he was angry at himself for wanting me, and even angrier that I’d let someone else touch me.And goddess… I melted
Ronan's POVI stood there like a damn fool, half-dressed and breathless, watching Hebathi stare at me like I’d grown two heads.She was holding a bowl—soup, maybe. I didn’t care. What I cared about was the way her expression shifted: shock, disappointment, anger... then full-blown rage.I could feel the heat from her glare like a slap to the face.The primal, guttural pull that had been twisting in my gut moments ago—my wolf, Fenris no doubt—went deathly silent. As if even he knew we were screwed.I clenched my jaw, every muscle in my body tensing.I wanted to speak. To say something, anything.But what the hell could I say?“Sorry you had to see me groping the girl I swore to stay away from?”Yeah. That would go over real well.I didn’t move. Neither did she.Thalia stood behind me, quiet and small, like she was trying to shrink into the shadows. My body still hummed from touching her, tasting her. Her skin was warm where my hands had just been, and the memory of her soft moan still
Ronan's POV“That’s enough,” I said, my voice low, cold, final.The growl hadn’t stopped—if anything, it rumbled deeper in my chest now, vibrating through my bones. I stared Hebathi down, jaw tight, breathing steady, even though every part of me was screaming inside.She didn't flinch. Of course she didn’t.“You don’t get to shut me down, Ronan,” she snapped, stepping forward. “I have every right to ask what the hell is going on!”“You will respect my authority as Alpha.” The words thundered out of me, sharp and absolute. “Or walk away.”Her eyes widened for a heartbeat—hurt, betrayal, something else I didn’t want to name—but then fire took its place.“The least I deserve is an explanation to this whole crap!” she barked back, voice rising to match mine. “You think you can play god with everyone’s lives and toss us aside like we’re nothing?! You owe me, Ronan!”The guilt was there. Twisting like a knife in my chest. I didn’t want to look at her—not when she was standing there with bro
Thalia's POVI stood there, frozen, clutching my chest like I could keep my heart from splitting apart. Ronan’s back was the last thing I saw before the door closed behind him. No goodbye. No look back. Just silence.And then—nothing.Except the sound of my own breathing, jagged and uneven.Why did it hurt this much?I slid my fingers over the spot just above my heart, pressing hard. As if pressure could smother the ache. It didn’t. It only made it worse.He left.Of course he did.I told him to. I meant to. I thought I could handle it.But gods, it felt like I’d just ripped out my own ribs and handed them over.I didn’t want him to go. Not really.I wanted him to fight for me. Just once. To look back. To stay.But he didn’t. He never does.I dropped my hand, trembling, and wrapped my arms around myself. The room was too quiet. Too still. It made the screaming in my chest louder.Why was I jealous? Why should I be?Hebathi was strong. Beautiful. Everything I wasn’t.And she loved him,
Ronan's POVWhatever war she’d fought inside herself, she’d won.But me?I was still in the trenches.I yanked my shirt over my head and stalked toward the door. My boots felt like they were dragging the entire damned mountain with them.I can’t have you. Not anymore.Her voice rang in my head like a death knell. Over and over.I didn’t say goodbye. Didn’t promise I’d come back. What was there to say?I was Alpha, yeah. But right now? I didn’t feel like I had control over anything.Not her.Not Hebathi.Not even myself.As I walked through the corridors, my fists stayed clenched at my sides. My jaw locked so tight I thought it might crack. The walls felt too close, the air too still. Every step was heavier than the last, like the storm inside me was leaking into my body, dragging me down.She said no. She told you to leave.And yet… it wasn’t even the rejection that got me. It was how soft she said it. How final. Like she’d already let me go a long time ago and I was just catching up.
Ronan's POV“…Everything I tried not to need. Everything I tried to forget.”Hebathi didn’t move.But her silence wasn’t empty. It was waiting.Her eyes narrowed just enough, just barely. “What the hell does that mean, Ronan?”I let out a breath—slow, rough. I couldn’t pace. Couldn’t hide behind anger or silence anymore. So I stood still. Right there in front of her, stripped down to the bone, because pretending I had control was a waste of both our time.“You don’t know everything about me,” I said, voice low. “That was never an accident. I kept my past sealed away—for good reason. But you deserve the truth.”I swallowed the knot in my throat.“Before I became this—Alpha, soldier, sovereign—I was just a man. A pack member. Bloodstone-born. Nothing special. I trained. I hunted. I fought. That was my whole world. And for a while… it was enough.”My chest tightened. The memory crept in without mercy.“Because I had her.”Hebathi’s lips parted slightly. Just a breath. Nothing more.I kep
Ronan's POVHebathi’s mouth tightened. Still silent. Still listening.I clenched my fists. My knuckles cracked, and I didn’t even feel it. The emotions I tried to keep buried came pouring out before I could stop them.“Then he leaned forward, like he was sharing some big secret. And he said, ‘She doesn’t want you anymore. She’s mine now.’”I felt my voice shake with burning fury. “‘Who would choose a mutt like you over me?’ he said. *‘You live under my rule, eat my scraps, sleep in the dirt. I'm the Alpha of this pack—*of course she chose me.’”My jaw locked. I remembered that moment like it had just happened. The way the room spun. The heat rising in my chest. My wolf, Fenris clawing at my insides, ready to tear something apart.“I told him to shut up. I told him to bring her to me. Let her say it to my face.”My breath came out harsh. Wild. “I begged. I roared. I didn’t care anymore—I just needed to see her. To hear her say it. Even if it destroyed me.”Hebathi flinched slightly.
Chapter 1 Thalia’s POVThe crystal chandelier up above illuminated the ballroom, which held one of the grandest events of the year: my 4th-year marriage anniversary ceremony to Alpha Caden. I was supposed to be happy, to feel great knowing that I'd reached this milestone, but sadly, as I accepted congratulatory messages, raised wine glasses, and murmured well wishes, I felt empty. It's been a whole 2 hours into the ceremony, yet Caden wasn't here.Where was he?My husband, my Alpha, Caden Sinclair of the Bloodstone Pack, was supposed to have been here ages ago with me to entertain the guests. I mean, this was ‘our’ anniversary, and I had taken great lengths to ensure that it was a success. Yet, he disappeared this morning, leaving me alone in this embarrassing situation. How could I explain that I didn't know why the Alpha was missing from his own anniversary?“Long live Luna Thalia.” A guest hailed, and I turned, my lips stretching into that fake smile I was constantly dishing out t
Ronan's POVHebathi’s mouth tightened. Still silent. Still listening.I clenched my fists. My knuckles cracked, and I didn’t even feel it. The emotions I tried to keep buried came pouring out before I could stop them.“Then he leaned forward, like he was sharing some big secret. And he said, ‘She doesn’t want you anymore. She’s mine now.’”I felt my voice shake with burning fury. “‘Who would choose a mutt like you over me?’ he said. *‘You live under my rule, eat my scraps, sleep in the dirt. I'm the Alpha of this pack—*of course she chose me.’”My jaw locked. I remembered that moment like it had just happened. The way the room spun. The heat rising in my chest. My wolf, Fenris clawing at my insides, ready to tear something apart.“I told him to shut up. I told him to bring her to me. Let her say it to my face.”My breath came out harsh. Wild. “I begged. I roared. I didn’t care anymore—I just needed to see her. To hear her say it. Even if it destroyed me.”Hebathi flinched slightly.
Ronan's POV“…Everything I tried not to need. Everything I tried to forget.”Hebathi didn’t move.But her silence wasn’t empty. It was waiting.Her eyes narrowed just enough, just barely. “What the hell does that mean, Ronan?”I let out a breath—slow, rough. I couldn’t pace. Couldn’t hide behind anger or silence anymore. So I stood still. Right there in front of her, stripped down to the bone, because pretending I had control was a waste of both our time.“You don’t know everything about me,” I said, voice low. “That was never an accident. I kept my past sealed away—for good reason. But you deserve the truth.”I swallowed the knot in my throat.“Before I became this—Alpha, soldier, sovereign—I was just a man. A pack member. Bloodstone-born. Nothing special. I trained. I hunted. I fought. That was my whole world. And for a while… it was enough.”My chest tightened. The memory crept in without mercy.“Because I had her.”Hebathi’s lips parted slightly. Just a breath. Nothing more.I kep
Ronan's POVWhatever war she’d fought inside herself, she’d won.But me?I was still in the trenches.I yanked my shirt over my head and stalked toward the door. My boots felt like they were dragging the entire damned mountain with them.I can’t have you. Not anymore.Her voice rang in my head like a death knell. Over and over.I didn’t say goodbye. Didn’t promise I’d come back. What was there to say?I was Alpha, yeah. But right now? I didn’t feel like I had control over anything.Not her.Not Hebathi.Not even myself.As I walked through the corridors, my fists stayed clenched at my sides. My jaw locked so tight I thought it might crack. The walls felt too close, the air too still. Every step was heavier than the last, like the storm inside me was leaking into my body, dragging me down.She said no. She told you to leave.And yet… it wasn’t even the rejection that got me. It was how soft she said it. How final. Like she’d already let me go a long time ago and I was just catching up.
Thalia's POVI stood there, frozen, clutching my chest like I could keep my heart from splitting apart. Ronan’s back was the last thing I saw before the door closed behind him. No goodbye. No look back. Just silence.And then—nothing.Except the sound of my own breathing, jagged and uneven.Why did it hurt this much?I slid my fingers over the spot just above my heart, pressing hard. As if pressure could smother the ache. It didn’t. It only made it worse.He left.Of course he did.I told him to. I meant to. I thought I could handle it.But gods, it felt like I’d just ripped out my own ribs and handed them over.I didn’t want him to go. Not really.I wanted him to fight for me. Just once. To look back. To stay.But he didn’t. He never does.I dropped my hand, trembling, and wrapped my arms around myself. The room was too quiet. Too still. It made the screaming in my chest louder.Why was I jealous? Why should I be?Hebathi was strong. Beautiful. Everything I wasn’t.And she loved him,
Ronan's POV“That’s enough,” I said, my voice low, cold, final.The growl hadn’t stopped—if anything, it rumbled deeper in my chest now, vibrating through my bones. I stared Hebathi down, jaw tight, breathing steady, even though every part of me was screaming inside.She didn't flinch. Of course she didn’t.“You don’t get to shut me down, Ronan,” she snapped, stepping forward. “I have every right to ask what the hell is going on!”“You will respect my authority as Alpha.” The words thundered out of me, sharp and absolute. “Or walk away.”Her eyes widened for a heartbeat—hurt, betrayal, something else I didn’t want to name—but then fire took its place.“The least I deserve is an explanation to this whole crap!” she barked back, voice rising to match mine. “You think you can play god with everyone’s lives and toss us aside like we’re nothing?! You owe me, Ronan!”The guilt was there. Twisting like a knife in my chest. I didn’t want to look at her—not when she was standing there with bro
Ronan's POVI stood there like a damn fool, half-dressed and breathless, watching Hebathi stare at me like I’d grown two heads.She was holding a bowl—soup, maybe. I didn’t care. What I cared about was the way her expression shifted: shock, disappointment, anger... then full-blown rage.I could feel the heat from her glare like a slap to the face.The primal, guttural pull that had been twisting in my gut moments ago—my wolf, Fenris no doubt—went deathly silent. As if even he knew we were screwed.I clenched my jaw, every muscle in my body tensing.I wanted to speak. To say something, anything.But what the hell could I say?“Sorry you had to see me groping the girl I swore to stay away from?”Yeah. That would go over real well.I didn’t move. Neither did she.Thalia stood behind me, quiet and small, like she was trying to shrink into the shadows. My body still hummed from touching her, tasting her. Her skin was warm where my hands had just been, and the memory of her soft moan still
Thalia's POVHis lips crashed into mine—hard, unrelenting, unapologetic.There was nothing gentle about it. Nothing like Luka’s soft, hesitant kiss. No slow build, no careful caress. This was fire. This was chaos. This was Ronan.His hands moved with a kind of hunger I wasn’t prepared for.One cupped the side of my neck, tilting my face up as his mouth devoured mine, while the other slid around my waist, dragging me flush against his body. My breath caught—his body was so warm, so solid, so painfully familiar.I should’ve pushed him away. I should’ve asked why. But I didn’t.I didn’t move.Of course I didn’t.Because no matter the hatred and anger he showed towards me, deep down, I missed this. I missed him.His body against mine, his scent, the way he kissed like he was claiming something that had always been his.He kissed me like a man starved—possessive, untamed. Like he was angry at himself for wanting me, and even angrier that I’d let someone else touch me.And goddess… I melted
Thalia's POVI blinked, feeling the blood drain from my face.My breath hitched in my chest, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze.The shock was overwhelming, and I couldn’t make sense of what was happening.Did he see? Did he see everything?My heart pounded in my ears as different thoughts tumbled over each other, threatening to swallow me whole.I had thought we were quick enough, that the kiss had been broken off before anything could escalate.But the way Ronan was looking at me—those eyes, dark and predatory—left me with no doubt.He'd seen everything.“I believe you aren't tongue-tied, Thalia, so answer me.” His voice was low, almost a growl, and I could hear the sharpness in it.He knows. He knows.What do I do?I felt the sweat bead on my skin, a thin sheen of panic slipping down my back.My chest felt tight, the words trapped in my throat.What could I say? What should I say?My mind raced, trying to form something that would explain this, but nothing came. Nothing made s
Thalia's POV“Please!” My voice cracked, raw and trembling. “Luka didn’t do anything wrong!”Ronan didn’t move. His eyes were still locked on Luka’s, his hand still around his throat, and I could see Luka’s lips turning blue.My knees buckled beneath me, but I forced myself to stay up. I couldn’t let this happen. I wouldn’t let it happen.“This is my fault,” I said again, louder this time. My throat ached. “Mine, Ronan. Not his.”He didn’t even blink.Was I too late?Was he too far gone?“Let him go,” I begged. “Please, Ronan, you're not like this. Please let him go and just listen to me. Don't become a monster like Garret!”I hated myself for saying it like that. But I didn’t know what else to do. Luka’s body was twitching now, his hands limp at his sides, and I felt something inside me snap.“Ronan,” I whispered brokenly. “You’re not like this. Please. Don’t be like this.”Still nothing.I pulled away, just enough to look up at him. My heart twisted at the sight of his face—dark, fu