*BRIANNE’S POV*Amelia’s face twisted in rage. “Jordyn doesn’t need someone like you. He needs someone strong, someone who understands him and his responsibilities. He needs someone who can stand by him as he takes over the pack. You’re nothing but a weak, Wolfless omega, Brianne. A weak little girl playing dress-up in a world you don’t belong in.”Her words cut deep, but I refused to let her see the impact they had. I took a shaky breath, stepping forward. “If you’re so sure about that, then why are you so scared of me, Amelia? Why do you feel the need to warn me to stay away?” I asked, standing my ground.She opened her mouth to respond, but I continued, my voice rising in intensity. “Because deep down, you know that no matter how much you try to manipulate things, you can’t force someone to love you. You might be having his child, but that doesn’t guarantee his heart.”Her face turned pale for a moment before she snarled, “I don’t need his heart. I just need his commitment. And onc
*JORDYN’S POV*I sat in the dimly lit living room of the oak garden villa, staring at the shadows cast by the flickering fireplace. Amelia had vanished earlier, leaving me in the pack house. I thought she must have come back here to the villa, but the house was as empty as I felt inside.I ran a hand through my hair, restless and irritated. I hadn’t wanted to move her into one of my houses, but with the pregnancy stressing her out to the point of hospitalization, I didn’t see another choice. Or maybe that’s what I told myself.Just as I was about to stand, the front door creaked open, and Amelia stepped inside. Her face was paler than usual, her cheeks glowing in the dim light. The worry that had been gnawing at me deepened, but it only lasted a few seconds before her lips curved into a soft smile.“Jordyn, what are you doing here?” Her voice was light, too light like she hadn’t just disappeared for hours without a word.I didn’t return her smile. “Where have you been?” My tone was fl
*JORDYN’S POV*I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. But deep down, I knew she was right.Amelia’s sobs filled the silence of the room, her breath coming in shaky gasps as she crumbled in front of me. It hurt more than I wanted to admit, seeing her like this…broken and vulnerable. But I didn’t move.“Jordyn, please…” She whispered, stepping toward me again, her voice ragged with emotion. “I can’t do this alone. You can’t leave me to raise this baby by myself. I need you.”Her words twisted something deep inside me, stirring a guilt I couldn’t shake. I didn’t want to hurt her, but I couldn’t give her what she wanted. This whole situation was a mess. A mess I had to fix for the sake of the child, but it didn’t mean I could pretend everything was fine.“I’m not going anywhere,” I said, finally looking at her again. Her red and puffy eyes met mine. “You won’t be alone, Amelia. I’ll always take care of you and the baby. But this…it can’t be more than that.”Her lips trembled, and for a moment, I sa
*BRIANNE’S POV*The smell of scrambled eggs and toast filled the dining room as I sat at the long wooden table, poking at my food. My mother was busy pouring coffee for my father, her movements quick and precise, like always. My brother was already halfway through his plate, oblivious to the tension that was growing in the air.I wasn’t in the mood to eat. My mind kept drifting back to Jordyn. His scent, his voice, the way his presence used to make me feel safe and whole. Now, every thought of him was like a stab in the chest. His engagement to Amelia loomed over me like a dark cloud, and no matter how hard I tried to shake it, the pain wouldn’t go away.“So, I heard the Alpha’s wedding is going to be a big deal,” my father said, breaking the silence. His voice was casual, but the topic made my fork freeze in mid-air.My heart clenched. Gosh, why did he have to bring that up?He is always hearing things. Including the ones that are none of his business.“They’re going to start plannin
*BRIANNE’S POV*“You’re being unreasonable, Brianne,” My father said as his voice hardened. “Do you think I enjoy having this conversation? I’m not doing this to hurt you. But we have to be practical. You’re not a pup anymore. Soon, you’ll be past the age most wolves fund their mates.”I scoffed, unable to hold back. “Oh, so now I have an expiration date? Thanks for the reminder.”“Stop being dramatic,” He snapped, his patience clearly wearing thin. “I’m trying to look out for your future. You may not want to hear it, but I know what people whisper behind your back. I know how they talk about you.”“I don’t care what they say!” I shot back, my voice louder than I intended. “They don’t know me. They don’t know what I’ve been through.”“And you think I don’t?” His voice was sharp, but there was an edge of something softer beneath it, something I hadn’t heard in a long time—concern.“I’m your father, Brianne. I’ve watched you struggle, and I’ve seen how hard this has been on you. But you
*BRIANNE’S POV*Mary leaned forward, her eyebrows practically reaching her hairline. “So she actually said all of that to you?” She asked, her eyes bugging out as if she couldn’t believe it. “Right to your face?”I couldn’t help but smirk. “Of course. She was literally glowing with confidence like she thought she had some kind of upper hand.”Mary blinked, her expression shifting from disbelief to amusement. “And you just stood there? Like, didn’t snack her or throw your drink at her?”I let out a snort of laughter. “As tempting as it was to throw my iced tea in her face, I decided to take the high road.” I paused, then added, “For now, anyway.”Mary burst out laughing, drawing a few curious glances from the other customers. “Oh my God, you’re killing me! You should’ve thrown something. A croissant or a scone—those things a practically weapons.”I chuckled, shaking my head. “Yeah, because that’s what I need. A food fight with Jordyn’s fiancée in the middle of the pack house. Very clas
*BRIANNE’S POV*I walked into the pack house, feeling lighter than I had in weeks. After spending the afternoon with Mary, my mind was clearer, and my mood had lifted. Mary had this infectious energy that made everything seem less dire. I was determined not to let anything, or anyone bother me anymore. Not my father’s ridiculous plan to marry me off, not Amelia, not Jordyn.But even with all that positivity, the thought of my father’s latest scheme made my stomach churn. I wasn’t ready to even entertain the idea of being married, especially not to someone who wasn’t my mate. It felt so wrong, so forced. Still, I pushed the thoughts away, determined to enjoy the peace I’d found.The pack house was bustling, as always, with pack members moving in and out, chatting, laughing, and going about their business. I headed for my usual spot. It was a quiet nook by a large bay window, perfect for moments like these when I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts. As I approached, something…or ra
*BRIANNE’S POV*I bit my lip, thinking back to my last encounter with Amelia. She had been almost flaunting her pregnancy in my face, emphasizing how it connected her to Jordyn. At the time, I’d brushed it off as typical possessiveness, but maybe Janette was right. Maybe there was something more to it.“Okay, so she’s protective of Jordyn and the baby,” I said slowly, “but why would she be sneaking into the woods? What could she be hiding?”“That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out,” Janette muttered, glancing around as if someone might be listening in. “I don’t trust her. I mean, even before she showed up, things felt off. And then, suddenly, she appears, pregnant with Jordyn’s child, and everything changes. Doesn’t that seem…too convenient?”I crossed my arms, feeling a knot form in my stomach. I hated to admit it, but Janette was making sense. “So, what? You think she’s lying about the pregnancy?”Janette paused, her lips pursed. “I don’t think she’s lying about the pregnancy bec