KEILAH “I stood frozen, disbelief etched into every fibre of my being as his warm embrace enveloped me. My heart, previously a frantic drummer in a panic, now orchestrated a softer, steadier rhythm. It was an unfamiliar sensation—a shift from terror to an inexplicable calmness. Despite the knowledge of his formidable abilities, his arms felt like a sanctuary, a refuge from the chaos that raged outside.In that moment, surrounded by his embrace, I marvelled at the unexpected twist in our encounter. Fear, once an unrelenting captor, now surrendered to an overwhelming sense of solace and protection. His arms, like an impenetrable fortress, shielded me from the harshness of the world.As I nestled against him, his heartbeat became my melody, a soothing symphony that drowned out the clamour of my anxieties. Each steady thud was a reassurance, a whisper that echoed safety and trust in this unlikely sanctuary.”I closed my eyes and allowed myself to fully immerse in the moment, relishing the
KEILAH "As if sensing my gaze, Ralph abruptly lifted his head from what seemed to be his phone, catching my eyes. The suspense was suffocating, but I couldn't tear my gaze away. Conflicting emotions warred within me—should I approach him and seek clarification, or should I let it go and immerse myself in the warmth of my family inside the house? The struggle raged within me until I resolved to approach him."Give me a moment, Aunt," I murmured as I retraced my steps toward Ralph's car. As I neared his car, my heart pounded against my ribcage, threatening to break free. Standing by the driver's side, I waited for him to lower the window, but he remained unmoved, aware of my unspoken need.Unwilling to relent, I circled to the back passenger side, thankful the door hadn't been locked. I slid in, sat, and closed the door. "There's something I need to ask, if you don't mind," I began, my voice quivering slightly. Despite his silence, I persisted. "Ralph," I ventured, striving to maintain
RALPH My grip on the man tightened as I felt the primal surge within me, propelled by the relentless force of my wolf. He refused me to relinquish my hold until he assured the guy no longer drew breath. The torment inflicted upon his mate had stoked an inferno of fury within my wolf, and this man had callously reopened the wounds. He's the one to suffer the consequences. His struggles for breath were palpable against my hold. Each gasp felt like a jolt of satisfaction, a vindication for daring to put his hands on what was mine. My wolf roared in protest, demanding retribution for the pain inflicted on his mate. As his eyes began to cloud over, I couldn't suppress the grim satisfaction that curled my lips. It was a twisted pleasure, a grim reminder that no one had the right to touch what belonged to me. The simmering rage within me spoke louder than any growl, a declaration that reverberated through the silence.I'm the only one who's allowed to hurt her. Not you. Not anyone,
RALPH A persistent knock on the car window jolted me awake, and my irritation flared at the audacity of someone disturbing my much–needed sleep. Snapping my eyes open, it was this human mate of mine. I glanced upward, realizing it's already morning, though it seemed far too early for her to be awake. With a resigned sigh, I unlocked the door, feeling the cold seep in as she clambered inside. "You've got three hours left before we leave," I grumbled, the frustration evident in my tone."I found it hard to sleep last night because I couldn't stop thinking of the hell waiting for me at your place. I was also anxious about displaying any telltale signs of distress to my aunt, as I knew I wouldn't be able to conceal my emotions and leave her side. Therefore, I decided to leave before anyone could notice my inner turmoil. Despite this, I am thankful for the time I spent with them.”The pack house got closer as we drove back. It was good that the ride was quiet. She didn't talk a lot,
KEILAH Everyone watched me in utter astonishment as my words hung in the air, causing a hushed silence to fall over this big room. I was tired of being intimidated by their threats of death, so it was up to me to face them and speak up for myself. I was undeterred by the intimidating presence of everyone, including their leaders, who exchanged glances, clearly taken aback by my unexpected interruption.Keilah Rivera," Ralph's voice echoed in my head, calling my name. Shocked, I snapped my head over to where he was standing, his grave eyes fixed on me. What was happening? Was he playing with my mind? I wondered. "What do you think you're doing there?" he asked again, his voice reverberating in my head. My knees trembled, but I steadied myself from falling. "If you value your life, get away from there," his voice warned.I gave him a long, shocked stare, wondering how he was able to communicate with me like this. My gaze flickered away from him, refocusing on those I had come to c
KEILAH As I struggled to rise, the sting of pain seared through me. Dahlia, the silent girl I had come to know is close to Ralph, rushed over with concern etched on her face. "Did Benita hurt you?" she inquired, glancing in the direction of their departure. She reached out and took my hand gently."Is her name Benita?" I asked."Come on, I'Il take you to your room," she said, leading me through the hushed winding corridors of this house. Why is it so quiet here? I hope your alpha didn't order you to close me up here. I asked worriedly. Before she could answer me, her phone chimed with a message. She opened it and asked for a few minutes. Before I could ask where she was going, she had already turned away. Within seconds, I spotted the man who had brought me to Ralph's people, the ones who had nearly killed me with their wolf claws. I couldn't forget the devilish smile he had when he found me in that cramped room with that high-heeled woman( Benita)by his side. Ralph was dangerou
RALPH When the council left, I strodded to my office and furiously punched the wall, drawing blood on my knuckles. Bitter grimace contorted my features as I sank onto the edge of my desk, the weight of disappointment settling heavily on my shoulders. The disapproving stares of the pack members towards me when the council made an official declaration of Keilah being a member of this pack pricked my skin, leaving an invisible mark.The fact that I don't like this but have to obey my leaders is a huge blow in the gut. The happiest one in all this was my wolf. I could feel his excitement within me. Interrupting my tempestuous thoughts, the door creaked open, revealing Zac with a smirk that grated against my raw nerves. "Not now, Zac," I growled, my tone curt. "I came in peace," he quipped, unperturbed by my hostility. "Just wanted to make sure my alpha is alright.” I gave him a pointed glare, expressing my disapproval."Trust me, Ralph, I genuinely care about you.I understand how
KEILAH I was wandering through a vibrant and bustling marketplace. The air was filled with the intoxicating aroma of exotic spices, and colourful stalls lined the narrow pathways. The chatter of the crowd blended into a harmonious symphony of diverse languages, creating a mesmerizing cacophony.As I meandered through the lively throng, I suddenly felt a gentle touch on my shoulder. Startled, I turned around and was captivated by the sight of a mysterious, beautiful woman standing there, her features shrouded in a dreamlike haze. Her blond hair flowed soothingly in rhythm with the cool wind, creating an ethereal aura around her.Before I could gather my thoughts or react, she gracefully took my hand, enveloping it with a comforting warmth that instantly eased any lingering tension."Don't be afraid," she whispered, her voice as soft as cotton. "Stay close to your mate, and never let go.”Confused but curious, I looked around and realized that I was now not in the market but in the mid
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