Clubs aren’t really my scene, but listening to my girlfriends gush over Alpha Darius’ long-lost son as if he were some celebrity heartthrob was almost entertaining enough to make me forget how boring this night had been. “Did you hear? Lucian’s here tonight,” Maya said, practically bouncing in her seat. “They say he’s drop-dead gorgeous. Like, way hotter than any guy from our pack.” “Gorgeous and mysterious,” chimed in Lila, swirling her drink. “You know the rumors, right? His mom was Alpha Darius’s true mate, and she died protecting him from his stepmother.” She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a dramatic whisper. “They say Luna Celeste tried to have both of them killed out of jealousy.” I took another sip of my drink, pretending not to care, though I was mildly intrigued. Lucian’s return had been the talk of the pack for weeks. A child presumed dead, raised by rogues, and now reunited with the father he’d been stolen from—it was the kind of tragic, scandalous tale tha
So this is how the mate bond feels. A rush of energy, a pull like gravity tightening around us, and an almost maddening awareness of him. But I wasn’t about to let it sway me. Sure, he was ridiculously perfect, but I wasn’t some love-struck fool who’d drop everything at the first spark of fate. I had a life, plans, and a fiancé waiting for me upstairs. This bond? It could wait.Lucian’s gaze held mine, his lips curling into a small, knowing smirk. He held out a room key, his hand brushing mine as he offered it. Sparks shot up my arm at the contact, making me pull back instinctively.“You’re my mate,” he said, his voice low but full of certainty. I raised an eyebrow, forcing myself to stay calm even as my heart raced. “Take a number and get in line, sweetheart,” I said coolly, flashing the engagement ring on my finger in front of his gray eyes. “I’m otherwise occupied right now.” I let the key slip from my hand, letting it fall to the floor between us before stepping past him
I clenched my fists, digging my nails into my palms to keep from lunging at Savannah. I wasn’t about to give them the satisfaction of seeing me lose control. Instead, I straightened my spine, forcing myself to meet Victor’s gaze.“So this is who you are,” I said coldly, my voice steadier than I thought it would be. “A liar. A cheat. A coward.”Victor just stares at me, his expression unreadable, his silence louder than any excuse or justification he could have mustered. My chest burns, anger and betrayal clawing at me, but before I can say another word, a familiar, sharp tug pulls at my mind. The mind-link. My father. “What is it, Dad?” I respond, forcing my voice to sound light, chipper even. I can’t let him hear the strain in my tone. He’s been under so much pressure lately, dealing with setbacks in the pack’s business dealings. Victor, has been helping him, but the weight of it all has been wearing him down. The last thing I want is to add to his burden with… whatever this
My heart twists painfully at the words. My mother—my strong, unshakable mother—had never looked so broken, so utterly lost. Her grief has consumed her, leaving no room for reason or recognition. I take a cautious step closer, keeping my hands visible and my movements slow. “Mom, please,” I pleaded. “Her snarl turns into a growl, her whole body trembling as though she’s on the verge of shifting. She looks at me like I’m an enemy, and my wolf growls softly in the back of my mind, urging caution. I stop moving, swallowing hard as I look down at my father’s lifeless form. My chest tightens painfully, and a lump forms in my throat. This can’t be happening.Tears blur my vision as I try to think, try to figure out how to reach her, how to bring her back from this. But her eyes… they’re filled with too much pain, too much loss. And I know—this moment has broken something in her that can never be fixed.I swallow my sobs, forcing the lump in my throat down as I turn away from my mother
The room tilted for a moment, my head swimming with rage and disbelief. I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to focus on his face, to memorize every line and curve of the man who had just declared war on everything I held dear. “You won’t get away with this,” I said, my voice low and venomous. He laughed—a short, mocking sound that grated against my frayed nerves. “Oh, sweet girl,” he said, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the desk. “I already have.”Tears sting my eyes, hot and relentless, but I refuse to let them fall. My gaze locks on Victor's face, cold and unyielding, unwilling to show him even a shred of weakness. My father’s voice echoes faintly in my mind, urging me to be strong. He leans back in the chair, his smug expression twisting into something darker, something vile. “Listen carefully to what will happen now, my dear fiancée.” The word drips with mockery, as though he relishes twisting the knife deeper into my heart. “You and your mother…” He pauses, as
With a violent shove, he threw me to the ground, my back slamming against the cold, hard floor. Pain radiated through me, but I barely had time to register it before Victor was on me, pinning me down with his weight. His hands clamped around my wrists, forcing them above my head as I thrashed beneath him.I tried to fight back, but he was too strong. My wolf howled in fury, her energy surging through me, but Victor was relentless, his strength far beyond anything I could match.“Stop struggling,” he hissed, his face inches from mine, his breath hot and sharp. “You think you’re the victim here? You have no idea what it feels like to be cast aside, to be nothing while someone else gets to live your life.”I glared up at him, tears of frustration burning my eyes. “That’s not my fault!” I choked out. “Whatever happened between your mother and my father—that has nothing to do with me!”Victor’s expression twisted with hatred, his lips curling into a snarl. “It has everything to do with yo
The day of my release dawns cold and bleak, but the chill outside is nothing compared to the ice in my veins. Five years—that’s how long I’ve been locked away for taking out my ex-fiancé’s left eye. Or, more accurately, my half-brother’s eye. The memory of that moment still burns in my mind. The shock on his face. The rush of rage that overtook me. The sickening clarity of realizing the man I once loved—over my fated mate, no less—was my sibling.Every time I think back to that moment, it feels like my chest is being crushed. Was it worth it? Yes. But it cost me everything—my freedom, my family, and even my wolf.The first day in prison, they poisoned me with wolfsbane—brutal, unrelenting doses that stripped away my connection to my wolf. I screamed for hours, begged her to stay, but the bond broke. Losing her was worse than the bars, worse than the jeers and stares of the other inmates. It was like losing a limb, a part of my soul.For the first few years, life was a nightmare. W
Lucian remained motionless, his piercing gaze boring into me with a cold detachment that sent shivers down my spine. He leaned back against the leather couch, the casualness of the gesture at odds with the intensity in his eyes. His arms rested lazily on the backrest, but there was nothing relaxed about him. His body was coiled tight, like a predator ready to pounce, and the air between us crackled with tension.I, however, swayed on my feet, clutching the doorframe for support as the drug continued its relentless assault on my body. “You are my one last chance. My life is in your hands.” My voice was barely audible, cracked and trembling. My vision wavered, and my breaths came shallow and quick, desperation clinging to every word.Five years have passed, but the bond between mates is impossible to forget. His gaze flickers over me, and I see a mix of emotions—anger, betrayal, and something deeper, something he tries to hide.I try to speak, but my throat feels dry. The drug’s effects
Victor’s face is a mask of cold indifference, but I know better. He’s furious. The muscle in his jaw tightens ever so slightly, his hands clasped just a little too tightly in his lap. He’s trying his best to keep it together, but the seething storm beneath his composed surface is visible to someone who knows him as well as I do.It makes me feel a strange sense of satisfaction. After everything I just overheard in the restroom—the insults, the mocking laughter, the accusations—I thought I’d feel humiliated. Instead, seeing Victor like this, distressed and barely keeping his temper in check, is almost cathartic.I left that restroom with my head high, shoulders squared, and my lip gloss freshly reapplied. If they thought their petty words could break me, they were wrong. In fact, the sight of their smug faces faltering when I walked out—untouched, unfazed, and composed—was more than enough revenge for now.Let them whisper. Let them scurry away like frightened mice. At least they’re
(Victor) Savannah is drinking furiously beside me, the stem of her wine glass trembling slightly in her grip. It’s the third one she’s downed in the last twenty minutes, and I can practically feel the tension radiating off her. She hasn’t stopped glaring at Diane since she stepped into the banquet hall, arm-in-arm with Lucian.“She’s smug,” Savannah mutters under her breath, her voice low but dripping with venom. “Look at her. She thinks she’s untouchable now.”I follow her gaze to where Diane sits at the head of the table beside Lucian. She’s perfectly composed, a faint smile playing on her lips as she exchanges polite words with one of the elders. The rubies around her neck catch the light, gleaming like drops of blood.“She’s not untouchable,” I reply, keeping my voice calm despite the storm brewing inside me.But Savannah’s insecurities have been heightened since Diane’s release, and today, they’re at an all-time high. Seeing Diane like this—radiant, composed, and every bit the w
We arrived at the grandiose pack house of Savannah’s family fashionably late. The grandeur of the place wasn’t lost on me—the towering marble pillars, glittering chandeliers, and perfectly polished floors screamed wealth and tradition.The moment Lucian and I stepped into the banquet hall, all eyes turned to us. Whispers rippled through the crowd, their curiosity, judgment, and shock practically tangible. Savannah stood near the center of the room, a champagne flute in hand, her expression frozen in disbelief. Her carefully applied smile faltered, and for a moment, her shock turned into something closer to rage.Victor was next to her, his dark eyes immediately locking onto me. His jaw clenched, and I could see the flicker of something murderous in his gaze. My wolf stirred uneasily inside me, her presence stronger now than it had been in years.“I need a moment,” I whispered to Lucian, keeping my voice low enough that no one else could hear. He turned to me, his sharp features softe
Lucian’s words hung in the air for a moment, and my heart skipped a beat. The thought of making a public appearance as his… what? Lover? Companion? Pet? It wasn’t just nerve-wracking—it was dangerous. But I couldn’t deny the intrigue.“It will be my first public appearance as your lover,” I said carefully, testing the words on my tongue. “Victor will be there too. It’s too good to pass up.” I hesitated before adding, more to myself than him, “Not that I have a choice anyway.”Lucian turned his head toward me, one eyebrow arching in amusement. “So you’re going as my new pet, then?”His words, laced with a teasing edge, might have offended me in any other context. But instead of bristling, I found myself smirking. “Aren’t I?” I shot back, my voice dripping with sarcasm.Whatever retort he had was swallowed as he leaned in and claimed my lips with another kiss, this one rougher, more possessive than before. It sent a shiver down my spine, and for a moment, I let myself get lost in the s
Lucian’s brow lifted slightly, the faintest trace of curiosity breaking through his stoic demeanor.“I got you something,” I said, holding the box out to him. My voice was steady, almost casual, though my pulse was anything but.He took the box, his movements deliberate, and opened it. Inside was a sleek, masculine ring of black metal with blood-red rubies, its design minimal but sophisticated—just like him.For a moment, he said nothing, his thumb brushing over the cool metal. Then his eyes lifted to meet mine, a mixture of surprise and something I couldn’t quite place reflected in their depths. “Where do you get money for this?” he asked, his voice low and measured, though curiosity and something more smoldered beneath the surface.I tilted my head up to meet his intense gaze, the corner of my mouth curving into a faint smile. “I traded my past for it. For my future,” I replied.As I slid the ring onto his index finger, his movements stilled, and the weight of his stare pressed aga
Once we reached the car, Selene let out a shaky breath, her hands trembling as she gripped the door handle. “Wow. That was… intense. But aren’t you afraid they’ll come after you? I mean, Savannah’s not exactly known for letting things slide. Can… Can the ‘ring guy’ protect you?”I slid into the driver’s seat, pulling out my phone to call Lucian. “I hope so,” I muttered, waiting as the line connected.Lucian answered on the second ring, his voice calm and reassuring, as if he’d already anticipated my call. “Don’t worry, Diane. There won’t be any repercussions for your actions today. I’ve made sure of it. You’re safe.”I exhaled, a weight lifting from my shoulders. “Thanks,” I murmured, my voice softer than I intended.Selene eyed me curiously as I hung up. “He’s actually… pretty dependable,” I admitted, leaning back in my seat.She smirked, the tension in her posture easing slightly. “Dependable? That’s high praise coming from you.”I didn’t respond immediately, my mind drifting to Luc
Selene always had a knack for reading between the lines, but that didn’t mean I was about to bring her into the chaos. Not yet. “Let’s just say... I have a lot to figure out,” I replied vaguely.Selene didn’t push, her expression softening. “I understand. I’m not good with secrets anyway,” she admitted with a shrug. “But if you ever need my help, you know where to find me.”“I will,” I promised, meaning it.Her gaze flicked down to the menu for a moment, then back up to me. “Do you know who poisoned you?” she asked, her voice low but steady.“Who else?” I replied, keeping my tone light though my fingers tightened around my glass.“Well, I’m not saying anything you don’t already know,” she said cautiously, “but Savannah and Victor got together right after you were behind bars. I always suspected they were a thing long before... you know, Victor revealed himself to be the psychopath we all now know he is. Maybe Savannah did it out of revenge for what you did to Victor’s eye…”I couldn’
As agreed last night, Lucian and I would keep the mate bond a secret. At least until my wolf fully awakened. Until then, the rest of the world would believe I was nothing more than his latest mistress—a fleeting figure in his shadowy world of power and secrecy.Lucian’s Beta, a towering man with a sharp, angular face and piercing eyes, was waiting for me beside a sleek black SUV. He gave me a quick, formal nod “Eric”, before opening the door for me. Once I slid into the leather seat, he handed me a slim phone with a single number saved in the contacts.The engine purred to life, and the car began moving smoothly through the city streets. Without preamble, Eric turned slightly in his seat to address me, his voice clipped and efficient. “I’ve been looking into your pack.”I tensed, waiting.“Victor,” he said, the venom in his tone unmistakable, “visits your mother regularly. He feeds her lies—tells her he’s her son, her only child. She has no idea who you are now.”The air left my lung
When I kissed him on the lips, it wasn’t gentle. There was no room for hesitation anymore. His mouth claimed mine in return, a clash of heat and need that left me breathless. I could feel my wolf stirring deep within me, waking from the dormant state she’d been trapped in for so long.Lucian pulled back just enough to murmur against my lips, “If you want to make sounds, I prefer my name.” His husky voice was like a growl, low and intimate, sending a spark of something wild through me.“Lucian,” I whispered, his name rolling off my tongue like a prayer I didn’t know I’d been holding onto.He seemed satisfied with that, capturing my lips again with even more intensity. The bond between us buzzed like an electric current, making my skin tingle and my heart race. This was unlike anything I’d ever felt before.So this is what it feels like to be with your mate, I thought to myself, my whole body alive with sensations I couldn’t name. But even as I sank deeper into the moment, a small, gua