KEILAHTears streamed down Deirdre's face as she held onto Damien, her form seeming to flicker in and out of reality, yet somehow solid in his embrace. Damien's eyes were closed, his face buried in her hair as he whispered her name over and over, like a prayer.For a moment, I stood there, feeling like an intruder in their private reunion. I took a step back, giving them space, my mind racing with the implications of what I had just witnessed."Deirdre..." Damien's voice was choked with emotion as he finally pulled back slightly to look at her. "How is this possible? I thought I lost you forever," he said as he pulled her back into his arms. Deirdre pulled away, her hands gripping his shoulders as she spoke urgently. "There is something you have to know," she said, her eyes wide and pleading. "Ralph has nothing to do with my death," she continued, her voice trembling with the weight of her words.Damien's face softened, a sad smile touching his lips. "I already know that," he repli
KEILAHI jolted awake, disoriented, my heart pounding in my chest. The dimly lit room around me was unfamiliar, and it took a moment to recognize the faint scent that filled the air. Dhalia. This was her room. She even changed me into one of her dresses, a short, delicate garment. I looked around, a dull headache throbbing at my temples. What the heck happened? Did I pass out from the pain? I wondered.I sat up slowly, my hand instinctively moving to my chest. The sharp, burning pain I had felt last night was gone, but a dull ache lingered. I brought my hand to my neck, touching the spot where Ralph’s mark was. As my fingers brushed against it, a strange sensation pulsed through me—a mix of warmth and sadness.Memories from the previous night flooded back. I recalled Dahlia's revelation that Ralph was sleeping with Benita. The thought made my chest tighten again, as if the pain was threatening to return. I forced myself to take a deep breath, trying to convince myself that Ralph must
KEILAHI stood there frozen, staring at the wolf that now stood in Ralph's place. My heart raced, pounding so hard it felt like it might burst from my chest. He took a step towards me, his eyes locked on mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. I stumbled backwards, my feet slipping on the wet floor, and I fell hard on my butt with an embarrassing thud. Pain shot through me, but I barely registered it. The wolf's eyes were fixed on me, and I could see a maelstrom of emotions swirling within them—anger, confusion, guilt, and something deeper that I couldn't quite identify. He moved closer, his powerful form radiating a mix of menace and sorrow.I could feel the turmoil within him, the pain he was struggling to contain. As he stopped just inches away, I found myself unable to look away from his gaze. His eyes bore into mine, and in that moment, I felt an overwhelming wave of sadness wash over me."Ralph?" I whispered, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my hea
BENITAI stormed down the hallway, each step echoing like thunder against the walls. Fury and perplexity waged war within me, each emotion fueling the other. Reaching my room, I erupted in rage, hurling everything within reach. Picture frames shattered against the walls, books scattered like fallen leaves, and furniture crashed to the ground. "I'll kill her this time!" I screamed, my voice raw with anger. "No one will stop me!" Amidst my torrent of sarcasm, my wolf's growl reverberated in my mind, cutting through the noise. "You're right. No one can stop us. But whatever happened back there is the only thing that can."I froze, chest heaving in ragged gasps. The memory of being thrown back, the pain like shards of silver piercing through me, replayed in my mind. "Whatever is protecting that human is powerful," my wolf continued, tinged with both respect and fear. "It felt like colliding with a wall of silver shards."As anger ebbed, a cold realization set in. Clenching my fists,
RALPHKeilah's eyes widened at my declaration, and I thought she was going to ask me about it, but instead, she asked, "Ralph, do you remember me now? As your mate? Our plans, everything?"I stared at her for a moment, my heart aching. "I do, mate," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "I remember you, baby girl."Her face lit up with a radiant smile, so pure it pierced through the darkness in my heart. Before I knew it, she threw herself into my arms, and I held her tightly, feeling her tiny hands gripping me as if she never wanted to let go."Thank God you're back," she murmured, her voice filled with relief and joy.I buried my face in her neck, inhaling her scent deeply, the familiarity of it grounding me in the moment. "I'm back," I murmured, my voice muffled against her skin. "And I promise, I'll never leave you again."We stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, the world outside fading away. The chaos, the pain, the betrayals of those I cherished and trusted—all of it seeme
RALPH Before I could address the pack, Zac's men stepped forward, their faces etched with anger and suspicion. One of them, Garret, pointed a finger at me accusingly. "This is your doing, Ralph," Garret spat, his voice dripping with venom. "You conspired with that vampire to take Zac away because you knew he was going to be crowned our next Alpha." I turned slowly to face him, my eyes narrowing. "Is that what Zac told you?" I asked, my voice cold and steady. Garret didn't respond, but his defiance was clear. I scanned the rest of the pack members, noticing some with their eyes downcast, while others exchanged uneasy glances. "Is that what Zac told you all?" I continued, raising my voice to reach every ear. "That he's your next Alpha?" A heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by the rustling leaves in the yard. Then Garret spoke again, louder and more confident. "No, we just don't want you as our Alpha," he declared, his eyes blazing with conviction. "You're not capable of
KEILAH As I sat in the backseat of the car, the scenery outside blurred into a haze of green and grey. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions, each one battling for dominance. Leaving the pack house had felt like ripping a part of myself away, especially knowing Ralph was left to deal with Zac and Isabella's treachery alone. The thought of them—the snakes in the grass—slithering closer to him, ready to strike, made my skin crawl. I couldn't shake the feeling that he was in grave danger. "Turn the car around," I blurted out, leaning forward to catch the driver's attention. My voice was laced with urgency and desperation. The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror, his expression unreadable. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but I was ordered to take you straight to your house," he said, his tone firm but not unkind. "I forgot something important," I insisted, trying to keep the panic from my voice. "I have to go back. Please, it's urgent." He shook his head, eyes focused on the road. "I'm
KEILAH The sharp pain in my stomach was relentless, and I struggled to stay conscious as Zac's cruel laughter echoed around me. My vision swam in and out of focus, and I felt a cold sweat break out across my forehead. The warmth running down my legs was a grim reminder of what was happening. . . the baby was no more. Zac's voice cut through the haze, filled with satisfaction. "Now, let’s see how your precious Ralph handles this." He turned back to Ralph, his gaze cold and calculating. Ralph, trapped in his wolf form and bound by Isabella's magic, let out a furious, agonized howl. The sight of my suffering seemed to fuel his rage, but he was helpless against the magical restraints. Isabella's eyes locked onto mine with a look of disdain, as if my pain was nothing more than a minor inconvenience to her. She stepped back, allowing Zac to revel in his moment of triumph. The pack members around us shifted uneasily, their loyalty torn between their alpha and their instincts to pr
KEILAH I tugged at Ralph’s hand, trying to pull him toward the ice cream shop. The brightly colored sign above the door read "Scoops & Smiles," and the kids were laughing inside, faces smeared with chocolate and sprinkles. The sweet aroma of freshly made waffle cones and creamy scoops of different flavours filled the air, and I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of indulging in a little treat. But Ralph, as always, resisted. "Come on, Ralph," I urged, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice. "It’s just ice cream. It’ll be fun!" He glanced at the brightly colored sign above the shop, then back at me, his expression impassive. "Mate, this kind of ice cream eating is for kids and teenagers," he replied, his tone calm but firm. "Not for someone like me." I stopped pulling and let go of his hand, the sudden release leaving my fingers tingling. My heart sank as I took in his stoic face, the same face that had ruined every date we’d tried to have in the past few months. It
RALPH I shifted back to my human form, blood dripping from the gashes Zac had left. My heart pounded not from exertion but from the panic twisting in my chest. I need to find Keilah. The sound of approaching footsteps made me halt for a moment, and when I turned, it was Alexander and other council members marching towards me. As they reached me, Alexander stepped forward, his gaze piercing and authoritative. "Go get your mate and your pack, Ralph," he commanded, his voice low but firm. "And get out of this place.” I nodded, my throat too tight to speak. As Alexander turned to leave, he placed a firm hand on my shoulder, a silent gesture of understanding and urgency. Then, without another moment’s hesitation, I bolted out of the ring and dashed through the cave, my heart pounding as I searched for Keilah. Keilah, I called out through the mindlink, desperately trying to connect with her. But there was no response. My heart clenched, fear tightening around my chest like a vice. Kei
RALPH I stared at Keilah, my heart pounding in my chest, torn between rage and panic as the echoes of the crowd’s gasps faded into the background. What was she thinking? The jug clanged as it hit the ground, and in that moment, I snapped out of my stupor. Without another thought, I moved forward, grabbing her arm and spinning her around to face me. “What the hell are you thinking?” I demanded, my voice low and intense, my eyes searching hers for an explanation. “Do you have any idea what you just did?” Her eyes met mine, and for a split second, I saw something in them—determination mixed with fear. But before I could process it, she broke into a laugh. It was forced, brittle, the sound of someone trying desperately to mask their true emotions. “Oh my God,” she gasped, clutching her stomach as if the whole thing were some sort of joke. “What did I just drink? I was so thirsty… I thought it was water, but whatever that was—ugh! It tastes awful! I hope I’m not going to die from it.”
KEILAH I stared at Damien, my mind whirling with a thousand thoughts. His sudden appearance left me speechless, and the raw intensity in his eyes sent another shiver down my spine. The anger in his voice cut through the night air, sharp and cold. My heart pounded in my chest as I struggled to find the words to explain myself. “I—I saw something,” I finally managed to stammer, my voice trembling. “Those men… they were up to something, and I had to know what it was.” “And did you find out what it was?” he demanded, his voice sharp, cutting through the darkness. The fury in his tone was unmistakable, and it sent a fresh wave of unease through me. I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. “I was about to, but… things didn’t go my way,” I admitted, the frustration in my voice matching my racing thoughts. I could still see the shadows moving in the forest, the broad man’s hand holding the gold jug, the council member’s secretive actions. It was all so close, and yet I had nothing to s
KEILAH As we stepped into the cave, my breath caught in my throat. My mouth hung open in awe as I took in the sight before me. The cave was enormous, far larger than I could have imagined from the outside. It felt like an underground stadium, its sheer size making me feel small and insignificant. The walls stretched high above us, and the ceiling arched into a vast dome that seemed to go on forever. In the centre of the cave, where I expected to see some sort of battle ring, there was only an open space, secured by heavy steel chains forming a loose boundary. The ground was covered in sand, giving it the appearance of an arena, yet it felt unfinished, as if something crucial was missing. The emptiness of the ring added to the unsettling atmosphere, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding. As we walked further inside, I noticed the variety of packs gathered around. Some were chatting quietly among themselves, while others stood in groups, their eyes trained on us. The t
KEILAH Ralph turned at the sound of my voice, his expression shifting from focused to concerned in an instant. The two men beside him exchanged glances but said nothing, clearly attuned to the urgency in my tone.“Keilah,” Ralph said, stepping closer as I hurried toward him. His eyes were searching, full of worry. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “No, not exactly. It’s just… the pack members in the kitchen, they—” I faltered, struggling to find the right words. “They were being kind of creepy.”Ralph’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Creepy? How?”Before I could respond, one of the men cleared his throat. “I’ll go check on my Luna,” he said, heading off toward the house, while the other took a different route.I continued, my voice trembling slightly. “They were acting all concerned and sympathetic, which felt strange. It’s like they suddenly cared, and it threw me off.”Where have you gone, too? I was worried. I asked, not wanting to
KEILAH Morning light filtered through the curtains, warming my skin as I slowly woke up, feeling much better than the night before. The weight that had pressed on my chest seemed to have lifted slightly, though it hadn't entirely disappeared. I reached out, expecting to find Ralph beside me, but my hand touched only cool sheets. He wasn’t there.I sighed, knowing he must already be up, preparing for the day. This day was crucial, not just for him but for the entire pack. I could feel the significance of it pulsing through the walls of the house.I pushed the covers off and headed straight to the bathroom. As I caught my reflection in the mirror, I grimaced. My eyes were puffy from crying, and the memory of Benita’s lifeless body falling off the upper floor crept back into my head, sending a rush of fever through my veins. My knees felt weak, and for a moment, the room spun.Gripping the edge of the sink, I steadied myself. I couldn’t fall apart—not today. Taking a deep breath, I turn
RALPHI was in the middle of a conversation with Derrick and his Luna, discussing the ongoing tensions with Zac's former allies and everything, when a sudden Keilah's trembling voice echoed in my mind."Ralph, help! She's here... Benita…""The urgency in her voice chilled me to the bone, sending a shiver of dread down my spine.”"Keilah is in danger," I blurted out, interrupting Derrick mid-sentence. Instincts surged through me as I whirled around, poised to race out of the guest room. What the hell is Benita doing here? I thought I made it clear when I told her and her brother to leave. I was sure they'd gone.”But before I could move, a loud, sickening thud reverberated through the air, halting my steps. Derrick and his Luna exchanged a worried glance with me, their expressions mirroring the alarm in my own heart. My heart pounded violently, almost leaping out of my chest with the terrifying thought of Keilah being hurt.I rushed through the hallway, my footsteps echoing in the hall
KEILAH I woke up slowly, my eyelids heavy and resistant to the light filtering through the room. Everything felt distant and hazy, like I was trapped in a fog I couldn’t escape. As my eyes gradually adjusted, I recognized the familiar scent of Ralph surrounding me, a comforting blend of pine and something uniquely his. It was enough to ground me, to remind me that I was in his room, safe for the moment.But the relief was short-lived. My mind began to pull at the edges of memory, dragging me back to the terrifying moment I wished I could forget where Zac punched me in the stomach. The searing pain, the shock, and the feeling of helplessness flooded back. I bolted upright in the bed, my heart racing wildly. “My baby!” I screamed, the words tearing from my throat as if voicing them could change what had happened. Panic surged through me, a torrent of fear and grief that I couldn’t control.My heart raced, pounding in my chest like a drum. The room around me swirled, and for a moment, I