I stood frozen from the stair case. John was back but he wasn't alone. He had come in with someone else, a lady. I was sad, and I couldn't hide it.“Brother!” John shook hands with Jake. “This is Stephanie.”I swallowed hard, wondering what he was doing with this lady whom he had introduced to Jake as Stephanie.I felt threatened by her striking beauty. She wore a ponytail and she had a smile that made me feel she was having something with John.“Steph,” Jake grimaced. “Where did you meet her?”“I'll tell you all about it later, but for now she'll be staying with us.” John brushed past Jake. He was yet to notice my presence, and I was waiting for him to ask after me.“Where's Ryena, and how's her training going?” John finally asked. “She's pathetic!” Jake’s reply didn't come as a surprise to me. I stepped down from the staircase, and I noticed the smile on his face. He closed me in a warm embrace, pressing his lips against mine.“I've missed you,” I whispered into his ears, and he s
I woke up to find Jake seated by my side, making me to wonder what had happened and why he was the one by my side instead of John.“Where's your brother?” I tried to sit up but felt too heavy to do so. My head was spinning and I felt a sharp pain.“You're finally awake,” I heard John say as he walked towards me from the door, accompanied by someone else.Jake stood up without a word and John took his place, sitting beside me on the bed.“How're you feeling now?” He was soft spoken and the tenderness in his voice said a lot.“I feel dizzy,” I looked at Jake and he looked away.“You're going to be feeling that way for sometime,” the man who had come in with John announced. “It's your wolf form trying to find expression,”“Huh?” My eyes opened wide in disbelief. That didn't sound nice. I knew exactly what I had gone through just before I passed out, and I didn't want it to be a recurring thing.“Thank you so much Seth,” John greeted the man, as he stood up from the bed.Jake had refused
Chapter nine Jake's POVThe night was soft and serene, with the soft glow of the moon casting a silvery sheen over the pool. The water gently rippled, reflecting the stars and the surrounding trees swaying lightly in the breeze.There, I sat alone, my legs dipped in the pool, staring at the stars, with a bottle of whiskey by my side, my loyal companion whenever I felt I neded to be alone.The memories of how I had lost my mother came back to me that night, a night that whenever I remembered, always reminded me of trusting too much.“You seem lost in thought, what's wrong? What's the issue?” Seth asked, coming to sit next to me as he dipped his own legs in the pool. Seth was the only one who really understood me. He taught me everything I knew as far as being a werewolf is concerned, and I would be forever indebted to him for that. "Thinking about what happened five years ago? When will you accept the fact that it's not your fault?" Seth said, patting me gently on the shoulder."It
Chapter tenStephanie's POVI woke up that night on my way to use the restroom when I began to hear the Alpha brothers, and from the tone which they spoke with, it was obvious there was something about their relationship that they weren't talking about.John was the Alpha of the pack but it appeared as though Jake wasn't happy with it. I quickly slipped away so as not to get seen, and that was when I met Selena the stewardess.Her room was just beside mine, and I guessed she too, had overheard the heated argument between the brothers.“Peeping on the brothers? If I were you I wouldn't do that.” Selena smiled at me.“I…I…I wasn't….” I stuttered. “Forget about what you've heard tonight. They've always been like that since they were boys,” My eyes narrowed, and a smug smile tugged at the corners of my lips. “They've always been like that since they were boys,” I mimicked Selena, though not audibly.“There has always been this tension between them, but believe me, they're the best broth
Chapter ElevenJohn's POV“Welcome lord Bernard,” I took a slight bow, then shook hands with him.“You're doing a good job John. I can see.” The hall was already filled with the other members of the pack, but Jake was no where to be found.“Have you seen Jake?” I turned to Mark, one of my most trusted Betas.“He's gone hunting,” Mark replied.“Hunting? On such an important occasion?” I bit my lips.Reyna walked in, looking very beautiful. I had specifically chosen the dress for her to wear, and just as I had expected, she didn't disappoint me.“Where are the newbies?” Lord Bernard asked as he took his seat by my side.Newbies! That's how they were called. “We're still waiting for the last one.” I called one of the Sentinels and whispered into his ears. After a couple of minutes, Stephanie and the sentinel walked in, and it was time to commence the ceremony.“Have both of them been confirmed to be werewolves?” Lord Bernard asked.“Yes but…one of them is yet to unlock her werewolf pot
Chapter twelve Reyna's POV“Are you okay?” I heard someone ask from behind me. I turned around and it was Stephanie.I wiped the tears in my eyes, but not before she could notice that I had been crying. I felt humiliated that I couldn't heal from a simple cut.“Let me see,” She took my hands which had been wrapped with a plaster.I was lucky John stood up to prevent the lord from stabbing me, else I'd have been dead.“Instead of stabbing her, why not give her a little cut? We just want to be sure she can heal for sure, right?” John had suggested just before Lord Bernard could think of stabbing me for real.Lord Bernard had taken a brief moment to ponder over John's suggestion.“Very well,” he sighed, after which he took my hand and with everyone watching, he placed a cut on my wrist, and I bled.All eyes were on me waiting for me to heal, but that didn't happen as the bleeding continued.“Call for first aid,” John instructed, and in no time, they were there.“She can't be admitted in
Jake's POV“Why weren't you around for the imitation ceremony earlier?” John asked, as he walked into my room.“What has my presence or absence got to do with the ceremony? And besides, I was trying out some of the new skills I had learnt from Seth.” I grimaced.I expected John to know better that I don't fancy such occasions, especially where the lords would be gathering. It kept reminding me of my misfortune, and how I was deprived of my rightful place as Alpha of the pack.“Every other member of the pack was present, but you, my own brother, you weren't there.” He reached out for my dagger sheath which was on top of the drawer and tossed it at me, and I gave it a good catch.“Reyna was cut today but she didn't heal,” his voice became softer.I furrowed a brow, and then pulled the dagger from its sheath.“I thought you said she healed the other day you stabbed her.”“Yes she did,” I ran my fingers on the sharp edge of the dagger, reminding me of how blood thirsty I could be. There
Marcus' POVThe tension in the room was suffocating. Every face around the table reflected the same frustration, fear, and a thirst for vengeance. Three of my most powerful werewolves had been beaten up— not just beaten up, but humiliated. The rogue responsible had made a spectacle of it, and it was a huge sting on my ego.It wasn't the first time we'd dealt with outsiders, but this? This was different. No one messes with me and goes away with it.I sat at the head of the table, my hands clenched tight in front of me as I listened to the others speak. The meeting had dragged on for nearly an hour, and with every word spoken, my blood boiled hotter."Two dead, Marcus," said Ryan, my second-in-command. His voice was steady, but I could see the barely concealed rage in his eyes. "One more wounded, and the rogue didn't even bother hiding his tracks. It's like he's daring us to come after him.""Daring us?" Jaxon scoffed. "He’s mocking us! He’s mocking *you, Marcus. What kind of wolf dare
Stephanie's POV Jake and John exchanged a look before turning to me."Don't worry," Jake said. "We'll go outside and see what Marcus wants."John nodded in agreement. "You and Sarah get Reyna out of here. We’ll handle things."Sarah scoffed. "We already know what he wants me." Her voice was steady, but I could hear the edge of fear beneath it. She lifted her chin defiantly. "But he’s never getting me back. I left his hold, and I’m never going back."Her determination made me proud, but we didn’t have time to argue about it. We had to move.Without wasting another second, we slipped through the back gate, where a black car was already waiting for us.“Get in,” the driver said in a low voice, his eyes darting toward the front of the building.Sarah climbed in first, pulling me along with her. As soon as the door shut behind us, the car sped off, leaving Jake and John behind to deal with Marcus.The tension in the car was thick. Sarah sat stiffly beside me, her fingers clenched into fis
Stephanie's POV A slow smile spread across my lips as I caught the flicker of fear in Damon’s eyes. He tried to hide it, clenching his jaw, standing tall, but I saw it I felt it.“What’s wrong, Damon?” I taunted, tilting my head. “I thought you were the most fearless werewolf. A rogue with nothing to lose.”His fists curled at his sides. By then, Jake and John had started stirring, groaning as they slowly regained consciousness. Damon’s gaze darted to them before snapping back to me.“You’re a damn psycho,” he spat. “How the hell did you cut off Diane’s hand?”I twirled my blade between my fingers, feigning boredom. “The same way I’ll take something from you if you don’t release my people.” My voice was calm, steady. Deadly.Damon scoffed. “Diane was weak. I don’t really care what happens to her.” His lip curled into a smirk. “And I’ll do whatever I damn well please.”I chuckled. “Good,” I murmured. “Because Reyna is safe now, and that means I get to enjoy this.” I lifted my gun, my
Stephanie's POV I moved swiftly through the corridor, my grip tightening around the blade in my hand. Sarah had given me the map, and I followed it exactly, weaving my way toward the cellar. Every step I took, every breath I exhaled, only solidified my determination. I would get Reyna back.The bodies I left behind didn’t faze me. The guards had barely been a challenge—quick, clean kills. Their lifeless forms littered the hallway, but I had no time to care. I reached into my pocket, pulling out the small vial of wolfsbane. Its dark, pungent scent filled my nostrils, sharp and intoxicating.A scream echoed through the cellar. My chest tightened. Reyna.I didn’t hesitate.I crouched, pouring the wolfsbane over the fallen guards. The second it made contact with their bodies, flames erupted, consuming them in an instant. The fire crackled, an eerie glow dancing against the stone walls.Perfect.If Diane was here—and I knew she was—this would lure her out.A slow smile curled my lips when
Diane's POV I storm up the stairs, my boots heavy against the wooden floor. There’s no time to waste. I shove open Reyna’s door and find her sprawled across the bed, her eyes barely open.Before she can react, I grab her wrist and yank her up.“What the hell?” she mumbles, still groggy.“We’re going for a little ride,” I say, my grip tightening.Reyna’s lips curl into a smirk. “A little ride?” she repeats, tilting her head. “Or did Jake and John finally show up to save me?”I slap her before she can say another word. The sound cracks through the silence.“Shut up,” I snap. “Or I’ll ruin that pretty face of yours. Then no one will bother looking at it.”She blinks, then lets out a chuckle. “Even if you ruin my face, even if you kill me, what makes you think Jake and John won’t do the same to you?”I drag her toward the hallway leading to the back exit, my nails digging into her arm. “If you survive tonight, you should be grateful,” I sneer. “Because I don’t think Jake and John stand a
Jake's POVAs I descended the stairs, John shot me a not-so-good look before asking what I had been up to."I woke the sleeping princesses," I said with a smirk. "It’s time to decide how we're going to save Reyna."John sighed, rubbing his temples. "We have to be careful, Jake. We can't afford for anyone else to get hurt."I narrowed my eyes at him. "Are you trying to protect Sarah and Stephanie?"He shook his head. "I’m not protecting anyone. I just want you to think rationally, that’s all. We have to be smart about this."Before I could respond, Sarah and Stephanie walked down the stairs. Sarah scoffed as her sharp gaze landed on me."Just so you remember, Jake," she said, crossing her arms. "I don’t owe you an alliance. I could change my mind about helping you in the snap of my fingers, so maybe try to be nice."I let out a short laugh, shaking my head. "I’ll be nice when Reyna is safe and back with us. Until then, focus."She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. We all gathered aroun
Reyna's POV The warm water had done little to wash away the exhaustion clinging to my bones, but at least I no longer felt like a walking pile of dirt. Stepping out of the bathroom, I wrapped a towel around myself and ran a hand through my damp hair.Just as I reached for a fresh set of clothes, the door swung open.Diane.I sighed heavily, rolling my eyes. “You’re the last person I want to see right now. Get the hell out of my room.”She smirked, leaning against the doorframe like she had all the time in the world. “Too bad. You don’t get to order me around.”I turned my back on her, picking up my clothes. “Fine. Sit there and watch me dress up, then. You seem to have a talent for babysitting.”That got under her skin. I heard her sharp intake of breath before she moved.A hand swung toward my face, but I caught her wrist mid-air, gripping it tightly. Slowly, I turned to face her, my expression blank, but my eyes burning with warning.“What do you think Damon would say?” I asked sof
Stephanie's POV I led Sarah to my bedroom, quietly shutting the door behind us. She had been silent the entire way up, but now, she was watching me with an expression I couldn’t quite place.“What?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.She tilted her head. “You didn’t tell me you’ve met your mate.”I blinked, completely thrown off. “What are you talking about?”Sarah’s lips curled into a knowing smirk, but then her expression shifted to one of confusion. “Wait—you don’t know?”I crossed my arms. “Know what?”Her confusion faded into amusement. “Oh, now I get it,” she laughed, shaking her head. “I was wondering why your energy felt different. But now it makes sense.”I frowned. “What makes sense?”She gave me a pointed look. “You look more radiant, Steph. Stronger. Happier.” She paused, studying me. “Don’t you know why?”I scoffed. “I haven’t noticed anything.”Sarah rolled her eyes. “Liar. You’re just trying to push it down.”I stiffened. “That’s not—”She cut me off, stepping closer. “You k
Marcus POV I clenched my jaw as the call ended, my grip on the phone tightening until my knuckles turned white. That woman. Diane had just laughed in my face, dismissing me like I was nothing. As if she had never owed me a damn thing.Jacob sat across from me, watching with mild curiosity. “What’s wrong?” he asked, arms crossed over his chest. “What did Diane say?”I exhaled sharply, shoving my phone into my pocket. “Forget Diane,” I said. “You should be more concerned about how we’re going to get your daughter away from that man.”Jacob snorted, an amused smirk playing on his lips. “Do you really think I’m bothered about that?”I frowned. “What the hell are you talking about?”Jacob leaned back, shaking his head. “I don’t care, Marcus. Damon can do whatever he wants with Reyna. It’s none of my business.”My stomach twisted in disbelief. I took a step toward him, trying to read his expression, but there was nothing—just a blank, indifferent stare. “What the hell are you saying?” I de
Jake’s POVI stared at the map spread out in front of me, my fingers tracing the rough paper as I tried to focus. Damon’s territory was vast, deep in the heart of rogue land, surrounded by thick forests and treacherous terrain. It wouldn’t be easy to get in, and getting out with Reyna would be even harder.My jaw clenched as my mind replayed the last few hours Reyna’s empty room, the lifeless sentinels, the destroyed security footage. Someone had helped them. Someone had made it easy for them to take her.The door creaked open behind me, and I turned sharply, my eyes narrowing when I saw Stephanie walk in.John, who stood on the other side of the table, straightened. “Steph,” he acknowledged, his tone neutral.I wasn’t as polite. “What the hell are you doing here?” My voice was sharp, cutting through the tense air. “You should be in the dungeon, not roaming freely like nothing happened.”Stephanie sighed, folding her arms. “I’m here to help.”I scoffed. “Help? How do we know you’re no