*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
*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
*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
*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
*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
*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
*Do You Trust Me? - Part 1*The streetlights cast a warm glow as Selene walked into the club that evening, her gaze finding Elias almost instantly. He was easy to spot—a tall, reserved figure in a place that throbbed with energy. He was seated upstairs in the VIP area, sipping his drink slowly while scrolling through his phone.Selene was dressed to impress tonight, her confidence radiating as she made her way to the steps, exchanging greetings with a few she knew.Soon, she was standing in front of Elias, tapping her finger on the table with a mischievous smile.Elias looked up, a hint of a smile breaking through his normally composed expression. "You're late.""A lady is never late," Selene replied."But then again, you're a witch, not just any lady," Elias retorted. She placed her hand over his mouth, whispering to him amidst the loud music, “Careful, Elias. Don’t put me in the spotlight here.” She cast him a warning look, though her eyes twinkled with a playful glint."You haven’t
*Do You Trust Me? - Part 2*Elias paused for a moment, asking his intuition if he could trust her, but it fell silent. One thing was for sure: his wolf hated the girl, which was why it disappeared the moment Elias took her to bed."Do you?" she asked again."Do I?" Elias echoed aloud. After a quick thought, he redirected the question back to her, "Do you think you can be trusted?" His eyes searching hers for answer. One thing was certain about Selene, she had never been sincere, even at the point of death, and Elias knew this, he just laughed at his question.Selene chuckled too. "If you don't trust me, how do you expect me to work with Arthur? I could drive a blade through his neck at the very first chance I get.""At the packhouse, there are resources to hold down people like you, and I'm not joking." His tone grew more serious, confirming her fears. It now seemed clear that these people wanted to trick and kill her in the end, just like most of her sisters."Also, Arthur would neve
*A Future Worth Fighting For*The night was eerily silent when Arthur returned.Elara had spent the past few hours pacing the room, her nerves frayed, exhaustion clawing at her limbs. She had tried to distract herself—tidying the already spotless room, lighting candles to chase away the shadows, pressing her fingers against the cool glass of the window as she scanned the moonlit horizon for any sign of him.But no matter what she did, her heart pounded relentlessly, her mind tormented by the possibility that something had gone wrong. That he was lying somewhere, bleeding, alone. That she had let him walk into danger, and this time, he wouldn’t come back.Then the door burst open.Arthur stumbled inside, his towering frame a shadow against the dim light. Blood soaked his clothes, dark stains spreading across his torn shirt, his shoulders hunched as if the weight of the world pressed against his back. The strong Alpha who had left with fire in his eyes now looked like a man barely holdi
*The Choice We Make*The mansion loomed ahead, its grand façade a deceptive mask for the rot festering inside. Arthur barely registered the architectural splendor—his focus was singular. The heavy double doors creaked under his touch as he pushed them open, stepping inside the grand hall like room.The scent of aged whiskey and cigar smoke hung in the air, mingling with something far more insidious—the stench of deceit.Harden was waiting.Seated in a lavish parlor, he lounged on a high-backed leather chair, swirling a glass of amber liquid in his hand. He didn’t even look up as Arthur entered, though his sharp gaze flicked over the bloodstains marring Arthur’s torn shirt and the deep claw marks across his shoulder.“Ah, you're here," Harden said lazily, lifting his glass in greeting. “Want a shot?" His voice was casual, but his eyes held a glint of something else—calculated amusement.He already knew. An hour earlier, his men had informed him of the massacre outside the estate. He ha
*A Ruthless Choice*The moon hung low in the sky, a pale silver eye watching over the night. Arthur stood at the edge of his territory, his hands clenched into fists, his mind made up. Beside him was a group of powerful werewolves armed with weapons—blades and axes. Their faces were unreadable, their loyalty unwavering.They had questioned him at first, hesitated when he announced his plan to go with them. No Alpha should put himself at such risk for something that barely concerned them. But they had no idea that the pack harbored a traitor among them. Caitlin had made a deal with the devil, a deal that would soon cost them their territory if the continued to play dumb.Elara.She was the reason for everything. The reason his soul burned with fury. The reason he had abandoned the careful, restrained leader he once was and was now ready to spill blood.He remembered the last conversation he had with Elara before leaving. After trying everything she could to convince him not to go, she
*Blackmail*Arthur remained unfazed, his silence unwavering.Harden’s smirk faded.Nothing.No panic. No slip-up. No sign of fear.His fingers curled into fists at his sides, temper flaring. Arthur was too calm.of they continued playing cat and mouse, Arthur would only remain stoic.“You already know, don’t you?” Harden’s voice dropped to a near whisper, laced with accusation. “You know exactly what happened.”Arthur finally turned his head, meeting Harden’s gaze with a chilling stare.Harden inhaled sharply. A flicker of unease crawled up his spine. But he pushed it aside, forcing a slow grin to stretch across his face. He was already here, the least he could do is to not mess it up.“Fine,” he said. “If you want to keep your mouth shut, that’s your choice.” He stepped closer, voice dripping with venom. “But let me remind you of something, Arthur.” He paused, savoring the moment. “If another person finds out—if either of our families gets even a whisper of what happened tonight—Elara
*The Weight of Silence*Tension coiled in the air like an unspoken scream, pressing down on everyone waiting outside the emergency room.Arthur stood by the large glass window, staring into the distance. His broad shoulders were rigid, his hands buried deep in his pockets. The city stretched before him, a maze of glowing lights and moving cars—oblivious to the war waging inside this sterile, suffocating space. His reflection stared back at him, carved from stone, unmoved, unreadable. But the tight clench of his jaw, the way his fingers curled into fists inside his pockets, betrayed the storm raging in his soul.Harden slouched in one of the stiff plastic chairs, elbows propped on his knees, fingers interlocked. His wedding suit was wrinkled, his bowtie undone, his hair disheveled from the restless race of his fingers through it. His face was void of expression, but his dark eyes remained active, watchful and calculating.On the other side of the room, Caitlin’s mother stood near the n
*Hollow Eyes*Elara's POV:The faint music from the reception below drifted through the mansion’s grand halls, muffled but persistent, a reminder of the celebration happening downstairs. The glow of chandelier lights bathed the walls in a warm, golden hue, but the air on the upper floors felt cold, tense, and quiet.I stood by the tall window of one of the guest rooms, my arms crossed tightly against my chest, my gaze fixed on the stars outside. From up here, the distant laughter and clinking of glasses sounded almost mocking. I didn’t belong here. I wasn’t part of this world of false smiles and gilded promises—not anymore.Downstairs, Caitlin danced with her guests, radiant in her wedding dress, the picture of a perfect bride. Harden’s bride.A bitter laugh escaped me. It was hard to believe how far we’d come, how much had changed. Harden, who once promised me the world, was now bound to a woman like Caitlin. And Caitlin, as manipulative and cunning as she was, had won everything she
*Elara, Run Away With Me*Harden's POV:The ceremony had begun, yet I felt nothing but a heavy weight in my chest. The vows Caitlin and I exchanged were hollow—words that felt more like chains binding me to a fate I didn’t agree to. Back then, I didn't think it would be this hard to love any woman, but now, the mere admiration I had for Caitlin was all gone, and only one person filled my mind.My gaze kept drifting toward the crowd, toward her. Elara.She stood amidst the sea of faces, arms crossed, her posture a wall of indifference. Arthur loomed beside her, overprotective, his expression unreadable. But it wasn’t Arthur who held my attention; it was Elara. Her eyes didn’t flicker with anger, sadness, or even contempt. There was... nothing. It was as if I didn’t exist to her anymore.That emptiness in her gaze pierced deeper than any blade could. My heart clenched as I repeated the vows, my voice steady but devoid of any real conviction. Caitlin’s hand in mine felt cold, foreign. Th
*Working with the Devil*When Arthur arrived at his parents’ mansion, he didn’t bother exchanging pleasantries with anyone. He just barged up the stairs and made his way to Caitlin’s room.The door slammed open before Caitlin could even finish fastening her earrings. She spun to face Arthur, her eyes wide with both shock and indignation.“Arthur?” she snapped. “What—”He didn’t answer immediately, his icy gaze pinning her in place as he stepped inside and shut the door behind him.“Going out?” he asked, his eyes scanning everything and every corner of the room.“Cait, what have you been spending your time on?” he asked, his tone sharp, cutting straight to the point.At first, Caitlin didn’t respond. She was trying to reason what must have brought him here.“I’m talking to you, and I expect a response.” His voice sounded more like a warning.“What?” Caitlin scoffed, arms crossed as she got up. “You barge into my room and interrogate me? Are you serious right now?”“Answer me,” Arthur g
I Won't Leave YouThe meeting room buzzed with tension as Tony passed a load of documents, files, and pictures. Arthur stood at the head, his eyes narrowing at the pictures before him, turning them one after the other.“Alberto Grayson,” Tony began, flipping open the folder and showing the pages to Arthur. “I've confirmed he’s hiding in Scorpio territory under the guise of an investor. These photos are from his meetings in the past few days. I got them from someone who's on his tail too. We had to trade a lot for this, Alpha," Tony informed.When it came to Tony and Elias, Arthur didn't ask too many questions because they were reliable men who had always stood by his side and would only do things in his and the pack's interest.He spread a series of pictures across the table—from Alberto standing outside his mansion to meeting with different people, down to his meetings at diners. The faces were mostly unfamiliar, and Arthur wondered why these strange men were migrating with interest