King’s POVThe morning air was sharp, crisp, and biting against my skin as I pushed open the cabin door. The sky was a pale gray promising the first hints of sunrise but the woods were still cloaked in darkness. I needed to get away. Her scent was everywhere in my space… soft and floral and maddeningly invasive. It clung to every corner of the cabin like a new scent that doesn’t want to go away fast. I hated it. My cabin used to be my sanctuary a place that is void of distractions, a space of greens and browns of simplicity. But now? Now there were splashes of pink and red. Pillows, of all things, bright and soft and entirely out of place. I shook my head as I jogged into the woods. She’d gone shopping with Tom, and somehow, she’d brought back an invasion of femininity into MY space. Why had he allowed it? Or had they conspired together, knowing it would grate on my nerves? That makes the most sense to be honest. As I ran, the ground softened beneath my feet damp from last ni
Gianna’s POVThe night air nipped at my skin as I stepped outside the door creaking softly behind me. For a moment, I thought about shifting into my wolf form. The idea of running feeling the wind against my fur was so so tempting. But then I glanced down at my swollen belly, the cute curve of my baby bump pressing against my loose hoodie. It was risk and I knew it. My wolf might be strong but my body wasn’t just mine anymore. With a sigh, I tucked my hands into the pocket of my hoodie and started walking instead. The soft crunch of gravel underfoot filled the air as I made my way toward the pack house where Blair lives. When I reached her window, I picked up a small stone and tossed it against the glass. A soft clink echoed and I stepped back, glancing around to make sure no one else was nearby. The window creaked open and Blair’s bleary face appeared, framed by her chopped blue hair. Her hoodie was pulled over her head, but her narrowed eyes glared down at me. “You’ve got t
Gianna’s POVThe room was quiet, save for the soft rustle of leaves outside the cabin window. I lay on the bed, staring up at the wooden ceiling. Sleep evaded me my mind spinning with thoughts I didn’t want to entertain. At least not when I want to sleep. Sleep is very important to me. I don’t joke with it especially at night. Somewhere deep inside me I felt it, a quiet, unsettling instinct that trouble was brewing. The triplets had been absent from my thoughts for weeks pushed aside by my focus on surviva. Also on the life growing inside me. But now with my due date looming, they were creeping back into my mind uninvited and unwanted. They are probably enjoying their lives with their girlfriends. Why now? The curse. That stupid cruel curse. Had I broken it? Or were they still bound to me in some way? Since that was the main reason they wanted to mate with me in the first place. I shifted uncomfortably, running a hand over my belly. I hadn’t felt the mating bond in ages. It
King’s POV Gianna was like a storm on the sparring mat relentless and wild. I leaned against a nearby tree with my arms crossed watching her fight like she had something to prove. She used to have something to prove but not anymore. Liam and Tom exchanged quick glances their concern growing as she refused to hold back. I told them not to let her train right from the beginning but having soft spot for her never goes well for them. "I’m not responsible for whatever happens to her” I muttered under my breath, loud enough for Liam to hear. He shot me a brief disapproving look before returning his attention to her, stepping in to block one of her overly aggressive strikes. We know she could fight and that is okay. Gianna wasn’t just sparring; she was fighting like her life depended on it. She wasn’t trying to win, she was trying to forget. They cannot see that though. They hardly understand what goes on in her head. Even Liam and Tom seasoned fighters who could usually hand
Gianna’s POV The moment I saw her I knew nothing good was coming. I wonder how I even knew she was the one having never met her before. Caroline. Her wolf was even more striking up close that is pure white and sleek a stark contrast to the earthy forest. She wasn’t just unnaturally beautiful, she was dangerous, and her presence screamed trouble. Liam and Tom stiffened beside me their attention snapping to King, whose expression didn’t change. Blank as always. I wonder what would get him to show emotions in those eyes. But me? I felt something stir inside me. Anger? Jealousy? Or was it the nagging ache of vulnerability that seemed to chase me wherever I went? I pulled myself up from the ground ignoring the slight pain in my ribs. She cannot see me on the floor like a weak little thing. The baby kicked, a reminder that I needed to stay calm. Stay in control. “Who is she?” I asked my voice harsher than I intended albeit hoarse. Liam glanced at King. Tom shifted uneasily
Gianna’s POVThe pain was relentless as it was sharp and unyielding. I clutched the doorframe my breaths coming fast and shallow. I had no idea werewolf childbirth was this painful. They said it wasn’t! This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not now. Not like this. Not with that woman outside trying to see my downfall. The thought that she even knew I was pregnant before seeing me made me hate King more. He told her about my baby! He had no right to fucking do that to me. Another wave hit me this one stronger than the last and I nearly fell to my knees. A strangled gasp escaped my lips before I managed to stumble into the cabin.“Gianna?” Tom’s voice was distant and muffled but growing closer. He was running towards me. I turned leaning against the wall, my vision swimming. “I… something’s wrong,” I managed to whisper with a barely audible voice. Tom was beside me in an instant his hands steadying me. He looked around before directing me to the couch so I can seat. I don’t want to sit t
Gianna’s POVI woke to chaos.Blair’s voice was sharp and commanding barking orders I couldn’t quite make out. Tom’s frantic pacing sent vibrations on the floor and Liam’s steady presence felt like an anchor I desperately clung to.But it was the pain that truly jolted me awake no, a raw and consuming agony tearing through me worse than anything I’d felt before. My scream ripped through the room silencing everyone.“Gianna, you’re okay” Blair said firmly, her hands gripping mine. “You’re safe but we need you to focus. The baby is coming.”“No” I whispered, shaking my head. “It’s too soon. Something’s wrong.”Blair’s face didn’t betray her thoughts but the quick glance she exchanged with Liam said it all. Gods am I going to die?“Stay with me, Gianna” Blair said, her voice softening. “We can do this.”“Where’s King?” I croaked barely able to form the words. Why was I asking about him?“He’s outside” Tom muttered his tone laced with annoyance. “Said he wouldn’t leave but he’s been pacin
King’s POVThe night was silent except for the low murmurs of Liam and Tom as they stood with me outside the hut with their eyes trained on the woods where the Alpha Kings had last been seen. I’d told them to handle it. No way I was stepping out and risking everything we have worked for. Not yet. This wasn’t the time for dramatics or confrontation. This was about strategy and about sticking to the plan we’d worked so hard to craft. We cannot throw it all away in one evening. “They’re still out there” Liam muttered, his voice low but tense.“Desperate as hell” Tom added, glancing at me. “You sure you don’t want us to end this now?”“No.” My voice was firm, cutting through the air. “I can’t risk them seeing me. Not yet. They’re fools but even fools can ruin a plan if we’re not careful.”“We’ll send them off. But they’ll be back.” Liam nodded though he didn’t look happy about it.“They’ll always come back” I said, my lips twisting into a smirk. “Because they need her. The curse is sti
Gianna’s POVThe aftermath of our time together left my body humming, my toes still curling from the way King had thoroughly claimed me. I had never been touched, taken or loved like that before. My entire being felt sated yet a hollow ache crept into the corners of my mind. I wished for a fleeting moment that we could rewind time, fall back into each other’s arms and relive that euphoric high. But I knew better. I always knew better. Sleep found me quickly, pulling me under like a heavy wave, but even in my dreams, his touch lingered.I woke to the gentle press of his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my arm. My eyes fluttered open to find him gazing at me with a softness that unraveled me further. His lips found mine, the kiss tender yet charged with an unspoken intensity. This time, when he moved over me, it wasn’t fast or frenzied. He made love to me as if he knew. As if he could sense that this was goodbye. Each thrust was deliberate every touch reverent and when he whispered
Gianna’s POVI woke up feeling hollow, my heart a quiet, fragile thing, trembling with every beat. The weight of everything pressed down on my chest like a hand squeezing the life out of me. My heart was too soft, too eager to love and it had betrayed me again. Why the hell did I think falling for King was a good idea? Why the hell is it that I don’t have control over my heart whatsoever? I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my decision as solid as the cold floor beneath my feet. I’d made up my mind. I was going to sleep with King get it out of the way. Just once. Just to know how it felt. And then I’d leave this godforsaken place for good. I couldn’t stay. Not when everything inside me screamed to run. The thought of being here, bound to him watching my heart break little by little, it wasn’t a life. It was a slow death. By nightfall, I was standing outside his door, my hand trembling as I reached for the knob. My mind was chaos, my emotions a war zone. But my body… My
King’s POVThe door clicked shut behind me, a sound so soft it shouldn’t have been able to stir anything. But it did. My jaw clenched, my fists tightening at my sides as I leaned against the wall trying to collect myself. My body still ached, still burned with need but my frustration? That boiled hotter. Alice. She had the nerve to come back now, after I warned her not to? After everything she’d done, after all the chaos she’d caused, she thought she could walk back into my life like nothing happened? I shoved off the wall, raking a hand through my hair. My mind felt like a damn battlefield every thought crashing into the next nothing making sense. My need for Gianna hell, my need to claim her, to have her still roared inside me but it clashed against the anger Alice stirred. Dragging my phone out of my pocket, I dialed Liam. It rang twice before he answered, his voice calm and collected, the exact opposite of mine. “She’s back.” I said, my words clipped, my voice low. “I f
Gianna’s POVI pushed the door open slowly, feeling the ache in my legs the pulse of the orgasm he’d pulled from me still thrumming through my body. The room was dim with only moonlight streaming in through the curtains and there he was sprawled on the couch like he’d been waiting for me the whole time. He sat up the moment I walked in, his dark eyes locking onto mine. There was something anxious about the way he looked, like he had something to say and couldn’t wait a second longer. I could feel the tension coming off him but I wasn’t ready to deal with him yet. I sank onto the chair farthest from him keeping my distance. I needed it, just a little space though my traitorous body screamed at me to move closer. He ran a hand through his hair, the frustration obvious. He leaned forward his elbows on his knees. “Gianna, I need to tell you.” He started his voice rough and low.I didn’t answer didn’t even blink because I knew whatever he was about to say would piss me off in ways I
Gianna’s POVThe walk back to the cabin was quieter than I expected. The air was heavy and the woods unusually still and every step felt like a battle between my emotions. I didn’t want to think about what I’d seen the rogue’s words or the lingering ache in my chest. But it was impossible not to. By the time I reached the cabin the soft glow of the kitchen lights spilling out onto the porch made me pause. For a moment, I just stood there taking it in. The faint sound of laughter floated out, and when I opened the door, I found King with the kids in the kitchen. They were all smiles their faces lit up with joy as they helped him set the table. The woman was gone. There was no trace of her scent in the house and I felt a pang of relief so sharp it almost hurt. Goddess. “Mom!” the kids called out, rushing to hug me. Their little arms around me were grounding, reminding me of what mattered most. “King made our favorite!” Kate exclaimed her voice filled with excitement. I looke
Gianna’s POVI laid there in bed with my babies curled up on either side of me, their tiny hands clutching onto me like I was their whole world, and yet I felt like mine was crumbling. My throat burned as I swallowed again and again trying to keep the pain locked down where it couldn’t break free. I didn’t want to cry, not in front of them. I had to be strong for them at least. But how? How was I supposed to hold it together when everything felt like it was falling apart? I knew I was stupid to let myself be involved in this mess emotionally. How did she even walk into the cabin like that? Like she owned the place. Like she belonged. And why wouldn’t she? She was his mate, for Goddess’ sake. His fucking mate. The one person I could never compete with. The one person who was made for him in ways I never could be. Not that I want to be right? I don’t care what they do, right? Fuck but why does it hurt. And she was stunning. I hated how beautiful she was. I hated how perfect she loo
King’s POVI was sitting in my room still reeling from what happened earlier. Gianna had me so wound up I couldn’t even think straight. That woman was playing with fire and didn’t even care she might get burned. The sweatshirt she wore? Mine. Her scent all over it? Also mine. And the way she looked at me before walking out like I was the one who should be begging? She was driving me insane. I ran my hands through my hair and leaned back against the bed, trying to calm myself down, but it was no use. I didn’t even hear the knock at first. It came again, sharp and loud pulling me out of my thoughts. I thought maybe it was her, maybe Gianna was coming back to finish what she started. My cock jumped in my pants at the thought because I’ll make her scream her lungs for making me wait. My chest tightened at the thought, my pulse racing as I got up to open the door. But it wasn’t her. Standing there was a woman I never thought I’d see again. a woman from the past I thought I won’t ha
King’s POVGianna’s been on a mission to kill me this week. There’s no other explanation. Every single day she’s been prancing around the house in next to nothing, acting like she doesn’t notice the effect she has on me. But she knows. Oh, she fucking knows. I’m barely hanging on by a thread here taking cold showers like my life depends on it and she’s just waltzing around like a goddess sent to ruin me. Today, though? Today was the last straw. I walked into the kitchen ready to start dinner for the kids and there she was making cereal. Cereal. Like she couldn’t have picked any other damn time or room to be in. And of course she was wearing the tiniest little shorts and a tank top that barely covered her ample boobs. Her back was to me and my eyes instantly trailed down to the curve of her hips. She turned around her big, innocent eyes meeting mine and I swear I almost lost it right there. The little smirk she gave me like she knew exactly what she was doing almost broke me.
Gianna’s POVThe woods were quiet, the kind of quiet that made you feel like the trees were holding their breath. Like I am currently doing. I trailed behind Blair my steps crunching against the forest floor the leaves damp from last night’s dew. She hadn’t said a word since she told me to follow her but I could see it in her stiff shoulders and the way she kept twisting her fingers, something was eating her up inside. “Blair” I called softly trying to catch her attention. She didn’t stop, just kept walking until we were deep enough that the cabin was a distant. Finally, she halted turning to face me. Her face was flushed her lips parted slightly as if she was struggling to find the right words. I crossed my arms, waiting. “Well?” I prompted when the silence stretched too long. Blair ran a hand through her hair, letting out a shaky breath. I hate when Nlair is nervous since she is usually not like to is. LI’ve been...seeing someone” she said quickly like ripping off a banda