*The Guilt Within*Harden's POV:I stormed into Caitlin's room, forcing the door knob open and entered. My anger still boiling beneath the surface, the image of my mother lying unconscious in the hospital bed haunted me, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of what she had done to Mother."Baby, you came here; I was about to come," Caitlin said as soon as she met my eyes."What the hell were you thinking, Caitlin?" I attacked her with words, not letting her finish, my voice laced with fury.Caitlin looked up, startled by my sudden change of tone. Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she seemed taken aback by my intensity. "H-Harden, I..." she stammered, clearly at a loss for words."Caitlin, what did you do to Mother?" I asked, trying to be as subtle as I could this time. This is the Dawn pack, and I shouldn't make a huge fuss here, and I shouldn't completely disregard Caitlin's role in our pack. Losing her support would only weaken us further, and I couldn't afford that, especially no
*Towards the Sun*Harden's POV:The morning sun crept through the windows, casting a soft glow across my office lounge as I woke up from my slumber. Memories of last night flooded back, but they felt distant and hazy, clouded by the fog of alcohol and desire. As I slowly regained my senses, I realized I was not alone in bed.Turning my head to the side, I saw Melissa, the office secretary, lying beside me stark naked, her features softened in the gentle morning light. Guilt gnawed at the edges of my conscience as I remembered asking her to spend the night with me. I also recalled calling out Elara's name, and then the ecstasy that followed, but it wasn't her. I felt bad for using this woman as a stand-in for the night. I wiped my face with my hand, frustrated.Careful not to disturb her, I slipped out of bed with the sheet hanging loosely on my waist and went to the bathroom. I filled the bathtub and ran a quick bubble bath.The events of the previous night weighed heavily on my mind.
*By Your Side*Elara's POV:I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing out my dress and trying to calm my nerves. I had a few moments to spare before heading out for the interview at the club. Just as I was about to grab my purse, my phone rang. It was Jaxson again. I rolled my eyes, knowing what he was going to say."Hey, Elara.""I'm about to leave for an interview. Can I call you later?" I asked."I'll be quick," he replied, his voice laced with concern. "I still can't shake off the feeling that I need to do something.""Jaxson, we just talked about this. I appreciate your willingness to help, but I can handle it," I replied, trying to sound convincing."But Harden's being unreasonable. If I can just talk to him, I'm sure he'll come around," Jaxson persisted.I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and gratitude towards my friend. "Jaxson, you can't just go against Harden like that. He's still the leader of the pack. If you challenge him, you might end up turning rogue. Your family c
*Lost and Alone*Harden's POV:I stood in our favorite spot, the same place where we had shared countless memories. The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the landscape. I could feel my heart racing with anticipation as I waited for Elara to arrive. I just wanted to know if Melissa's words were true and if she had moved on completely, because I haven't, even after rejecting her.Although I wasn't the one who made her lose her job, there was nothing I could do to convince her. I could only turn the situation in my favor. When she finally showed up, I was taken aback by her confidence and poise. She held a strong, stoic face, staring nonchalantly at me. I quickly threw out the cigarette in my hand because my conscious mind reminded me that she never liked it."Elara," I said, my voice low and husky. "You look beautiful."She raised an eyebrow, her expression unyielding. "Am I supposed to say thank you? Cut that, Harden. Tell me what you want, and why you called me here?"
*A Mother’s Betrayal-1**Elara's POV:*I couldn't stop trembling as I made my way to meet with Jaxson at the pack.Jaxson had called me again, his voice strained with worry as he spoke. He assured me that the news wasn't entirely true. My father was stabbed and then locked in the confinement room, but he survived. By the time they arrived, they had found him soaked in a pool of blood, but he wasn't dead.My father had been sent to the hospital, and though he was stable for the time being, his condition was critical. My mind raced with fear and anger, and I felt like I was being torn apart inside. How much more could I endure?When I finally arrived, I rushed into the hospital, my heart pounding. I found Jaxson pacing in the hallway, his expression grim."Jaxson," I called out, my voice shaking. "How is he?"He stopped and looked at me with weary eyes. "He's stable for now, Elara, but the doctors say his condition is touch and go. They had to perform emergency surgery to stop the bleed
*A Mother's Betrayal-2*Elara's POV:"Why did you do that?!" I yelled at her. She shoved me off, staring at me with bloodlust in her eyes."Stay away from me!""What is wrong with you?!" I barked. I saw it now; she didn't look like she had any remorse for her actions. This woman was ready to end the last reputation our family still held."I've been left to fend for myself ever since my foolish daughter and husband landed in trouble, taking them out of my life.""Mom...!""You know how hard I struggle with my addiction. I need money to get the substance. You're not here to give me money."I've sold as much as I can from that rotten apartment. There’s nothing left to sell."She paused, her eyes searching mine for any sign of sympathy. "The Alpha offered to lend me some money. When I couldn’t pay back, he refused to give me any more, despite my pleas. I told him I just needed more time." Her grip on my hand tightened, desperation evident in her touch. "You can talk to him, right? Tell hi
*A Mother’s Betrayal-3*Elara's POV:My heart shattered into a million pieces when I heard my mother tell Harden that she would drag me to him. The weight of her betrayal crushed me, making it difficult to breathe. I could barely stand as the room seemed to close in around me, the walls echoing the sinister laughter of Harden and my mother.Harden’s smile was one of cold amusement as he spoke, "What do you say, Elara? Your mother didn't blink twice before offering you to me, but still, I want your consent.""I'm not an item that can be gifted or used as trade. I'd rather die than come back to be your mistress."He signaled the guards, "Take her away and teach her a lesson," he commanded, his voice devoid of any warmth. The guards moved towards my mother, who now looked up at them with a mixture of fear and desperation."But—but," she looked from the guards to Harden, "I promise that she will be yours." She reminded.Seeing them pay no heed to her, dragging her along with them, I shut
**Thoughts of Her**Arthur's POV:The conference room echoed with chatters. The elders droned on about investments and strategies, their voices blending into a monotonous hum. My mind, however, was elsewhere—far from the polished oak table, leather chairs and stacked document.Elara's face filled my thoughts, her soft features etched vividly in my mind. Her innocent doe-like eyes, the way her lips curved into a mischievous smile when she agreed with whatever I said and didn't know how to show it, her sweet voice and perfect features replayed in my mind like a cherished memory. I couldn't shake the image of her, the way she made me feel alive in ways I hadn't known possible.I was slowly losing myself to her which is why I left in the first place, hoping that being away from her would clarify whether it was love or just a temporary infatuation. Still now, I am not certain, but I just know that I cannot go on one more day without hearing her voice.As the discussion turned intense and s
*Have Faith in Arthur*The night settled over the pack lands like a heavy cloak, thick with silence and shadows. Outside, the trees rustled, and a cool breeze slipped through, carrying the faint scent of the forest. But inside the council room, there was a different tension—a sense of danger lurking beneath the surface.Elias entered, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the pack elders who were already seated. The leader of the pack elders sat at the head of the table, his fingers tapping slowly against the polished wood, his expression calm yet watchful.Around him, the others—grim, wary men and women with faces weathered by years of loyalty and fierce battles—whispered among themselves, glancing at Elias as he took his seat.His eyes found Elias’s, and he nodded in greeting. "Glad you could join us, Elias."Elias nodded, his gaze calm but his posture guarded. He was here as Arthur’s stand-in tonight, but it felt different without Arthur’s powerful presence beside him. This wasn’t
*Your Goal*“The pack elders scheduled an emergency meeting; it’s concerned with your accident.”“When you get there, don’t let on anything. This fight has become personal; I will not involve people from my pack,” Arthur instructed, and Elias nodded.Arthur turned to Elara, his gaze softening. “Elara, I know you’re worried, but I need you to stay safe, too. If they couldn’t get to me directly, they might come for those closest to me. You’ll go back home today. Don’t come to see me unless I return home.”Her hand tightened around his. “But—”“I’ll be fine, Elara. I just need one more day before I bounce back.”“But I can stay at the pack house with you; I can take care of myself,” she said, trying to convince him because she didn’t want to leave.“I don’t want that. There are so many who have their eyes on you.” Arthur had always known that many disliked Elara because she was an outsider, and he didn’t want to give them the advantage while he was still bedridden.He gave her a faint sm
*Give Some Credit to the Witch*Selene’s expression turned serious as she looked at him, her bruised face hinting at the ordeal she had endured. She hesitated before speaking, her voice softer. “You could at least apologize for nearly killing me last night. That was a tough fight, I must admit.”Elias’s eyes flickered, a hint of something close to regret crossing his face as he looked at her. Her bruised face and weakened body tugged at something within him, though he quickly forced it back. She had, after all, saved Arthur, and perhaps she deserved some credit for that.But his pride wouldn’t allow him to voice any apology, and he simply narrowed his gaze, his tone unyielding. “Be grateful I let you live. I had every reason to kill you.”Selene smirked, though the effort seemed to cost her. Her pale lips trembled slightly in discomfort. “Grateful, huh?” She chuckled softly, though the sound was tinged with pain.Although her mind was crowded right now, there was something she'd alway
*He's Alive*In the morning, Elara woke up, still feeling discomfort in her chest. She washed her face and stood in front of the mirror, searching her reflection for any visible reaction, maybe even a hint of fur from her wolf—but there was none. She wondered what could be the cause. Last night, she couldn’t sleep, her wolf filling her head with howls, sensing that their mate might be in danger, or probably hurt. She tried reaching out to Arthur several times, but he didn’t respond, so she prayed for his safety. Arthur was strong and powerful, and she had immense faith in him; there was no way he’d lose in a fight.To distract herself while waiting for Arthur, Elara decided to work on the plants. Many of them needed special care, which she had noticed since first arriving here. She took the tools from the gardener and went into the garden.Elara knelt in the garden, her fingers gently tending to the young plants that had sprouted. The sun cast a warm glow over her, its gentle light a
*Dark Magic Tolerance*Caitlin nodded, swallowing hard. She didn’t have any other choice. As much as she hated to admit it, she was at Alberto’s mercy. "Please do something," Caitlin said again. Alberto responded with a nod this time, and seeing the softened look on his face, Caitlin had hope that he would help. She left the house with the thought that she had to be by her family's side at this time so no one suspected her. She walked back to her car, trembling with fear of being caught, constantly looking behind to make sure no one was following.Once Caitlin left, Alberto signaled someone who had been hiding in the shadows, lurking behind the dark curtains since the time Caitlin arrived. He was quick to hear her footsteps and instructed his companion to go into hiding.The person came out from hiding, their face barely visible behind a grim smile. Alberto went to the cellar and returned with a special bottle. He uncorked it and drank directly from it before giving his companion a si
*Not in the Bargain*Caitlin’s heart pounded in her chest as she paced around her room. Her mother had just delivered the news—Arthur had been shot with a strange bullet, and his condition was grave. Her mind raced with confusion, anger, and something she didn’t want to admit to herself: guilt.It wasn’t supposed to go this far. She never wanted to see Arthur in this state. All her plans, all her careful manipulation—none of it had involved this. She had wanted to hurt Elara, make her suffer, but Arthur? Her stepbrother? This wasn’t part of the plan.Her mother’s voice echoed in her ears, warning her that the situation was dire. Dark magic was involved, and the pack was panicking. They had no idea how to save him, and if something wasn’t done soon, Arthur wouldn’t make it through the night.There was only one person who might have answers, Caitlin thought. After more moments of deliberation, Caitlin was clear in her decision.She grabbed her coat, keys, and stormed out of the house. T
*Fading***Arthur's POV:**Everything hurts.There’s no other way to describe it. Every breath feels like fire, every movement sends shockwaves of agony through my body. The wound in my chest throbs, pulsing in rhythm with my slowing heartbeat. I can feel the blood leaving me, feel the life draining from my body with every passing second. I try to focus, to stay conscious, but the world around me keeps blurring and spinning.I can't lose this fight—not now, not after everything.But my body isn’t listening to me anymore. My limbs are heavy, too heavy to move, and I feel myself sinking deeper into the cold. My vision fades in and out, darkness creeping into the edges of my mind. I struggle to hold on, to keep myself tethered to reality, but it’s slipping away. Fast.“Arthur, stay with us.”The voice is distant, muffled, like it’s coming from far away. It’s Tony—I recognize his voice even in the haze. He sounds desperate, but I can barely make sense of his words. I want to answer him, t
*Witches Help*It wasn’t long before Arthur’s parents arrived, their expressions grim and heavy with worry. His father, the previous Alpha, stood tall, his face a mask of control, but the tension in his body betrayed his fear. His mother, the former Luna, clutched her husband’s arm, her eyes wide with concern as she gazed at Arthur lying unconscious on the healer’s table.Mira turned to them, her face pale. “I need your permission to reach out to a witch coven. The bullet that struck Arthur… it’s filled with dark magic. I can’t treat it here. They might have the antidote.”The room fell into a heavy silence.His father’s eyes narrowed. “A witch coven?” His voice was low, filled with disdain. “After everything we’ve been through with witches, you think we should trust them now?” There was anger evident in his tone.Mira hesitated but held her ground. “I understand your history, but the Alpha’s life is at stake. This magic is old, older than anything I’ve seen. If we don’t do something,
*A Struggle for Survival*Just when Arthur thought he would black out, his eyes snapped open, and his body trembled in agony. It felt like the Moon Goddess was giving him a second chance, urging him to do all he could to stay alive. He fought desperately to stay conscious.The pain from the open wound surged through him like waves, threatening to drown him. His vision blurred, the world around him spinning wildly as he struggled to keep himself awake.Black, abnormal blood seeped from the wound, and though he was vaguely aware of Tony’s desperate movements nearby, all he could focus on was the fire consuming his body from within.*Stay awake. For Elara. For the pack, and Family.* His mind repeated it over and over, a mantra to keep him grounded. Each breath was a battle, shallow and ragged, as if even the air resisted him. Arthur clenched his fists, a groan escaping him as he tried to force the pain down to his stomach.“This can’t be it,” he muttered under his breath. “I can't... Thi