MelanieI stared at Oswald, my mouth agape, unable to comprehend what Amy had just said.“Mate,” my wolf repeated, her tone insistent and unwavering."No," I whispered under my breath, shaking my head as if that would silence her.Oswald raised a brow, his silver eyes twinkling with amusement, and the corner of his mouth curled into a knowing smirk. That expression—like he knew exactly what was going through my head—made my stomach twist.“You’re lying,” I shot at Amy. “This has to be a joke. A cruel, ridiculous prank.”“The goddess doesn’t make mistakes,” Amy replied smugly.I opened my mouth to argue, but my voice caught in my throat. The intensity of Oswald’s gaze rooted me to the spot. He wasn’t saying anything, but I could feel it—the pull, the connection, the undeniable truth of the bond.A second-chance mate.On my eighteenth birthday.Just hours after Mason rejected me.I couldn’t process it. My legs felt unsteady, and my heart pounded in my chest like a drum. I zoned out, cau
MelanieAs Oswald’s arm tightened around my waist, guiding me into the dining hall, I felt like the center of a storm. The room fell silent—eerily silent. Every head turned in our direction, eyes wide with shock and confusion.I wanted to melt into the floor. My steps faltered, but Oswald steadied me, his hold firm and unwavering.The Alpha King’s presence was magnetic, commanding. It radiated off him like a tangible force, making it impossible for anyone to look away, much less question him. He led me to the head table without hesitation, his stride confident and deliberate.Former Alpha Henry, seated at Oswald’s right, stiffened as we approached. He rose halfway from his chair in deference, but Oswald’s next words froze him mid-motion.“Stand,” Oswald commanded, his voice smooth but brooking no argument.Henry’s lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, I thought he might refuse. But then he complied, albeit reluctantly, standing stiffly as Oswald gestured toward the now-vaca
MelanieThe cool night air wrapped around me as I stood in a quiet corner of the courtyard with my parents. The sounds of the pack’s celebration were distant, muffled by the tall hedges surrounding us. My dad crossed his arms, his expression both stern and concerned, while my mom gently squeezed my hand.“Babydoll,” Dad said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Explain. Now.”I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat making it difficult to speak. “I… I don’t know where to start.”“Start from the beginning, sweetie,” Mom encouraged, her voice soft and comforting.Taking a shaky breath, I nodded. “Earlier today… I met my mate.”Mom gasped, her eyes lighting up. “Your mate? Oh, honey, that’s wonderful!”But Dad’s eyes narrowed. “Why don’t you look happy about it?”“Because,” I said, my voice trembling. “It was Alpha Mason.”The warmth in Mom’s expression evaporated. “Mason? Are you sure?”I nodded. “Positive. I… I felt the bond. But it doesn’t matter because he—” My voice cracked, and
MelanieThe car hummed softly as we sped down the dark highway. The silence between Oswald and me was thick, heavy with unspoken words. My thoughts kept drifting back to his last words before we left the packhouse."I don’t trust this pack. They all need to be investigated."The words replayed in my mind like a broken record, their weight pressing on my chest. How could he lump me and my family into that? I thought of the way he’d held me earlier, his touch tender and protective. Could it have all been an act? His affections felt genuine at the time, but now the cold distance between us in the car made me doubt everything.Oswald sat on the far end of the back seat, his expression unreadable as his fingers danced furiously over the screen of his phone. Not once did he glance my way, completely immersed in whatever he was doing. The space between us felt far wider than it truly was, a canyon I couldn’t bridge.I tried not to look at him, but my eyes betrayed me. I stole glances wheneve
MelanieThe first thing I registered upon waking was the suffocating weight pressing me down. My heart jumped in panic as I wriggled, trying to free myself. The more I moved, the tighter the hold became.What was happening? My breath hitched as I struggled harder, only for a deep, groggy voice to rumble above me."Stop moving, love," Oswald murmured, his voice thick with sleep. "Go back to sleep."I froze instantly, my mind blank. Oswald? Why was he—It hit me all at once. Memories of the night before rushed in: the car ride, the palace, him carrying me up the stairs. My face flamed as realization dawned.Then my survival instincts kicked in. I let out a loud scream.The sound made Oswald groan, his grip releasing me as he shifted away. “Gods, love, was that necessary?”Scrambling, I managed to untangle myself from the blankets, but my frantic escape attempt ended with me unceremoniously falling off the bed. A dull thud echoed as I hit the floor, the soft cocoon of blankets doing litt
MelanieI adjusted the necklace around my neck, the cool moonstone pendant giving me a strange sense of comfort. Oswald and I stepped into the elevator, his imposing figure beside me somehow calming my nerves about whatever awaited downstairs.He was engrossed in his phone, his fingers flying across the screen as he reviewed something important. I stole a glance at him, his sharp profile illuminated by the soft elevator lighting.The elevator itself was luxurious, with mirrored walls and intricate golden patterns. The faint hum of its descent was the only sound besides Oswald’s occasional hum of approval at whatever he was reading.I kept my hands clasped tightly in front of me, careful not to touch anything. The last thing I wanted was to accidentally trigger a vision or be flooded with the residual thoughts attached to an object. My abilities were unpredictable at best, and this palace was steeped in history—good and bad.When we reached the dining room, the tension hit me like a ph
MelanieEthan hesitated at the queen’s command, his brows furrowing as he glanced back at me. I wanted to reach out, to tell him it was fine, but the lump in my throat prevented me."Are you sure, Your Majesty?" Ethan asked cautiously. "I could—"Queen Lydia’s icy tone cut him off. "I said leave, Beta. Unless you’ve suddenly forgotten your place in this palace."The tension between them was palpable, but Ethan reluctantly nodded, sparing me one last reassuring glance before walking away.Once he was gone, the queen turned her full attention to me. I stood rooted to the spot, unsure whether to speak or wait. Her piercing gaze raked over me like I was something unpleasant stuck to the bottom of her shoe.“You,” she began, her tone dripping with disdain, “have a lot of nerve stepping into this palace and claiming to be my son’s mate.”I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My throat felt dry, and my mind scrambled for a response.She scoffed, clearly unimpressed. “Speechless? Good. It
MelanieThe cleaning supplies clinked softly in the cart as I wheeled it into the first room, a large, grand bedroom that felt more like a museum than a place someone might actually sleep. The heavy curtains were drawn tight, keeping the sunlight out, but the dust that hung in the air seemed to linger in the dim light like a constant reminder of my unwanted place here.I sighed heavily, looking around at the mess. There were books piled on the nightstands, clothes scattered on the floor, and furniture that hadn't been touched in ages. Was this supposed to be my punishment? Cleaning up after these people?Focus, Melanie, I reminded myself, my voice barely above a whisper as I grabbed the broom and started sweeping the dust into a pile. It was then that I realized how little I knew about the cleaning supplies. A mop, a broom, and various bottles of cleaners—none of which I had used before in my life.I fiddled with the bottles for a few minutes, trying to figure out which one was for wh
MelanieThe return to the Royal Crimson Pack’s territory was bittersweet. The sun was rising as we crested the last hill, painting the blood-soaked horizon in shades of gold and crimson. It felt like a cruel irony, the beauty of the dawn juxtaposed against the pain etched in every step we took. The pack lands were quieter than they should have been, the air heavy with grief and exhaustion. Our warriors bore the weight of loss, and though they moved forward, their eyes told the stories of the friends, brothers, and sisters we’d left behind. Rook, still unconscious, was carried by a pair of strong wolves. He looked fragile in their arms, a stark contrast to the overwhelming power he’d wielded as the Alpha of Shadows. I walked alongside them, refusing to leave his side. Oswald stayed close to me, his steady presence grounding me. His hand brushed against mine, a silent reassurance that I wasn’t alone. As we passed through the gates of the Royal Crimson Pack’s stronghold, the rema
MelanieThe ground trembled beneath us, cracks spiraling outward like jagged veins across the temple floor. Dust filled the air, choking and thick, but I didn’t care. My eyes were locked on him—Rook, standing tall in the center of the crumbling ritual circle, his body radiating dark power that rippled through the air like a storm. The sky above the temple churned, dark clouds roiling in an unnatural vortex, blotting out the moon and stars. The world seemed to hold its breath, suspended in the shadow of the Alpha of Shadows. “Rook!” I shouted, my voice hoarse but defiant. He turned toward me, his glowing eyes piercing through the gloom. For a moment, I thought I saw the man I had come to know—the fierce, determined wolf who had fought alongside us against the cult. But that glimmer of familiarity was swallowed by the overwhelming darkness. “You shouldn’t have come,” Rook said, his voice resonating with a power that wasn’t entirely his own. It was layered, twisted, as though ano
Quincy OttoThe air was suffocating, thick with the weight of ancient power and an oppressive darkness that gnawed at the edges of reality. The temple walls trembled, their runes bleeding crimson light as the cult's ritual surged toward its peak. At the center of it all was Rook, bound in chains of dark energy, his form writhing as the magic engulfed him. The moonstone hovered above him, its light pulsing in time with the ritual’s chants, casting eerie shadows across the chamber.I stood in the shadows, watching it unfold. For all the years I had plotted, schemed, and waited, the moment was finally here. My son, my legacy, stood on the brink of transformation, poised to become the Alpha of Shadows. But this was not a moment of triumph—it was a culmination of pain, regret, and a darkness I could no longer control.Rook’s screams echoed through the chamber, his voice raw with both fury and anguish. I could feel his resistance, the fierce battle within him as he fought against the chains
MelanieRook’s capture weighed heavily on me, a constant ache in my chest that I couldn’t shake. He had warned us, risked everything to fight against his own bloodline, and now he was in their hands. The image of him being dragged away by those cultists haunted me, even in my waking hours. But I wouldn’t let his sacrifice be for nothing.Oswald and I stood in the war room, the map of the Blackspire Mountains spread out before us. The air was thick with tension as we plotted our next move. Hazel stood to my right, her fingers tracing the lines of the map, while Quincy Otto lingered near the edge of the room, flipping through an ancient, tattered book.“They’ll take him here,” Quincy said finally, pointing to a spot on the map marked with jagged peaks. “The Temple of the Veil. It’s where the cult conducts its most powerful rituals. If they mean to turn Rook into the Alpha of Shadows, they’ll need the temple’s energy to do it.”Oswald’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. “Then we’ll
MelanieThe air was thick with tension as we gathered in the central hall of the Royal Crimson Pack’s fortress. The wariness that clung to the room was palpable. Every face around me—Oswald’s, Quincy’s, Hazel’s, and even Rook’s—carried the weight of what lay ahead. The cult wasn’t just a threat to us anymore; they were a threat to everything we had fought to protect.“Let’s get this straight,” Oswald said, his voice tight as he folded his arms across his chest. “We’re trusting a rogue who’s the son of the enemy and a traitor who once conspired against the pack. Tell me how that doesn’t sound like the worst idea we’ve ever had.”I glanced at Rook, who stood rigid near the corner, his jaw clenched but his gaze unwavering. He wasn’t fazed by the hostility, which only added to the enigma he’d become. Quincy, on the other hand, smirked faintly, clearly enjoying Oswald’s skepticism.“Because if we don’t,” I said, breaking the silence, “we lose any chance of stopping this before it’s too lat
RookThe battle had settled into uneasy silence, the air thick with the acrid scent of blood and the sharper sting of betrayal. Rogues lay scattered across the battlefield, their bodies lifeless, but it wasn’t a victory. The cult leader—my father—had escaped, and with him, the artifact that could doom us all. I stood in the eye of the storm, my heart warring against my instincts as I turned to face Melanie and Oswald.Their eyes bore into me, a mixture of fury and mistrust. They had every right to question me. My past was steeped in lies, half-truths, and bloodlines I wished I could sever. “You need to explain yourself,” Oswald growled, his tone low and dangerous. “Now.”I took a step back, holding up my hands in a gesture of surrender. “I will. But first, I need you to understand that I’m not here to hurt you. I never was.”“You expect us to believe that after what we just saw?” Melanie’s voice was sharp, but beneath it, I could hear the tremor of uncertainty. Her golden eyes search
MelanieThe sound of howls pierced the still night air, a chilling harbinger of the storm descending upon us. My heart raced, a drumbeat in the chaos as the pack mobilized. Every wolf—strong or wounded, young or seasoned—stood ready to defend our home. I could feel the energy humming in the air, dark and unnatural, an unwelcome intrusion into our sacred land.Beside me, Oswald barked orders, his voice carrying authority and resolve despite the tension etched into his features. His hand briefly brushed mine, a fleeting but steadying touch. I drew strength from it, pushing aside my fears. The rogues were here, and there would be no turning back.The first wave hit hard. The rogues, eyes gleaming with an unnatural light, were faster and more coordinated than any enemy we’d faced before. Their movements were sharp, their attacks precise, as if they were being guided by an unseen force. I shifted into my wolf form, joining the fray with a feral growl. My claws tore through the flank of a
MelanieRook stood at the edge of the firelight, his silver eyes catching the flicker of flames as he paced. The weight of his presence was palpable, and the silence between us stretched like a taut wire. Oswald leaned against the nearby table, arms crossed, his gaze sharp as he waited for Rook to speak. I stood beside him, my thoughts racing. The pendant, the shard, the whispers of the Shadowstone—all of it was beginning to form a picture, but the edges were jagged, incomplete.Finally, Rook stopped pacing and looked at me. His jaw tightened as if the words he was about to say physically hurt to utter. “You want the truth? Fine. My pack, the Shadowfangs, is gone. They were wiped out by a force unlike anything you’ve ever faced.”My breath caught. Though the devastation of war wasn’t new to me, the bitterness in his tone carried a weight that made my chest tighten. “What kind of force?” I asked.“A rogue Alpha,” Rook said, his voice low and cold. “Not just any rogue. This one isn’t ac
MelanieThe silver pendant lay on the table in front of me, its faint glow casting eerie shadows across the room. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. Its intricate wolf design shimmered with an otherworldly energy, a reminder of the forces we had yet to understand. Rook’s sudden disappearance and the organized rogue attack weighed heavily on my mind. This pendant was more than just a clue—it was a thread connecting us to the growing storm.I reached out to touch it, hesitating when my fingers hovered above the surface. Even without making contact, I could feel the power radiating from it, a strange resonance that felt both familiar and foreign. It reminded me of the moonstone, the ancient relic we’d fought so hard to destroy. Could it be connected to that same magic?“Don’t,” Hazel said sharply, breaking my trance. She stepped forward, her expression grim as she glanced between me and the pendant. “We don’t know what it’s capable of.”“I wasn’t going to,” I said, pulling my hand back. My