JASON. A day before the Alpha's gala… I sit at my desk in my home office, staring blankly at the stack of paperwork in front of me. The words blur together, meaningless, as my mind drifts back to Nicole and her proposition to rekindle what we once had... But after everything she's done—the potion , the lies, the manipulation—how can I trust her again… I heave a sigh as I shift my attention to the window. ‘Come on Jay, you have to make a choice… it's either Nicole or we look for someone else to mate with… I'm sex starved and you don't want to know what that looks like,’ my wolf whines via mind link. I immediately push him back and block him. The nagging thought about Nicole's proposition is a lot as it is to start thinking about sex… I admit, most Alphas my age have more than one heir at my age, strong sons waiting to take their place when the time comes. But me? I have no one. No legacy. No successor. The idea of starting over, of going back into the ruthless world of dating t
JASON. Hours later, I pull up to the Blue Moon pack mansion just as the early afternoon sun begins to sink behind the trees. My hands grip the steering wheel tight and my knuckles are white from the tension that’s been simmering in my chest since the moment I agreed to come to this damn gala. ‘This is a bad idea,’ my wolf warns me like I don't know it already. “Wow, this place is beautiful… but not more than ours of course,” Nicole says as she gets out of the car. I ignore her statement and step out of the car, the cool mountain air doing little to ease the pressure building in my head. A few pack members linger near the entrance, casting cold, sideways glances in my direction. I can’t say I blame them. I haven't been here since... since I left with Stacy. And I’m sure everyone here has heard exactly how that ended. I see Alpha Daniel Black who took over from Stacy's father as Alpha standing at the entrance. His gaze locks onto mine, and there’s no mistaking the frostiness in his
STACY. Hours before the gala… I stand in front of the mirror, my hands shaking as I try to pin back a stray lock of hair. Tonight is the Alpha’s gala, and Daniel has practically begged—me to be his date without fail. The very thought sends my anxiety spiraling. Jason and Nicole might be there. How can I possibly hide from them since I'm supposed to be dead? I fumble with my hair again, cursing under my breath. Suddenly, a loud “BOO!” fills the room, and I jump, nearly knocking over my makeup. I whirl around to see Liam standing there, grinning from ear to ear, wearing a creepy, oversized mask. His eyes twinkle mischievously as he watches my reaction. “Liam! You nearly gave me a heart attack!” He bursts into laughter, pulling the mask off. "I got you good mommy!" Shaking my head, I can’t help but laugh with him. “You sure did, little monster.” As I look at him, an idea hits me. “Wait a second… Liam, you’re a genius.” His brow furrows. “I am?” I grin, kissing the to
STACY.Breath, Stacy, he can't scent you with the potion on...I freeze under Jason’s stare, my heart pounding in my chest. His eyes lock onto mine, unrelenting, and I mentally curse myself for thinking a mask would be enough to hide from him. “I don’t believe we’ve ever met,” I say, keeping my voice calm even though my nerves are a wreck. Jason narrows his eyes, studying me like he’s trying to figure out a puzzle. “You sure about that? Your eyes seem... familiar.” Fuck, he has caught me! My stomach flips, but I force my expression to remain neutral. I can’t let him suspect anything. Before he can push further, Nicole cuts in, her voice tense and awkward. “My love, drop it. You’re embarrassing yourself,” she says, smiling at me, though it’s as forced as the calm I’m pretending to feel. Daniel, sensing the tension, chuckles lightly, trying to diffuse the situation. “Your Luna is right Alpha Barron. Let’s not make the night about old acquaintances. Why don’t you two excuse us? Nat
JASON. I can’t take my eyes off her. There’s something about her, the way she carries herself, the way she moves, even the way she breathes—it pulls me in like a magnet. I’ve met with dozens of women at events like this, but none have made me feel like this. Not since... Stacy. I step forward, my hand outstretched, “Dance with me, please.” Her eyes narrow behind the mask, but there’s a flicker of hesitation in them. She’s about to respond when Nicole’s voice cuts through the air, sharp and demanding. “Jason, what the hell are you doing?” I turn to see her storming toward us, her face contorted with anger. “You’re seriously asking another woman to dance? Right in front of me?” I don’t flinch. “There is nothing wrong with dancing with Natalie.” Nicole looks like she’s been slapped. “Jason!” Natalie—no, whoever she is—stays silent, her body tensing as if she’s debating how to handle this. She’s caught between us, but I don’t care. I need this dance. I need to know why I feel thi
JASON. It can't be… She is dead. I buried her remains in my pack five years ago… My heart slams my chest as memories flood back, overwhelming me… The way she used to look at me. The way she smelled when we were alone. The way she smiled and laughed. The way she cried… It all crashes into me at once like a tidal wave I didn't see coming. Natalie or_Stacy, raises her hand to cover her exposed face with her eyes wide with panic. She immediately backs away, her voice trembling. “Daniel, I have had enough of this. Please take me home now.” “Of course Natalie,” Daniel's breathing is ragged, his face flushed from the fight, but his hand is steady as he pulls her close. He glares at me, but I barely notice. All I can do is watch as they move towards the exit, her half hidden face burning into my mind. The crowd murmurs around me but I'm too numb to it. That's Stacy and not Natalie… I stand there, frozen as they disappear through the doors. She is alive all these years… But how? My pu
STACY.Meanwhile not so far from the square market.... I sit at my desk, but my fingers tremble over the keyboard, unable to focus on the task in front of me. No matter how hard I try, I can’t shake the image of Jason from my mind—his eyes scanning my face, his growing suspicion gnawing at my nerves... The mask had barely concealed me after Daniel revealed half my face last night. Does he know it's me? My heart pounds faster at the thought. If Jason finds out the truth—if he discovers Liam is still alive… I swallow hard, panic bubbling up. What would he do? Would he take Liam from me for forever? I try to shake it off, pushing the memory aside, but the dread clings to me like a suffocating cloak. I glance over at the clock, wishing the hours would fly by faster. The door opens with a soft bell sound, and Lizzy, breezes in with her usual bright energy. “Morning, boss!” she chirps, dropping a stack of files on the desk. “You’re up early today. How was the gala last night? You l
JASON. The phone rings once before she picks up. I freeze, my heart thudding heavily in my chest as I hear her breathe on the other end. It’s her. Stacy. My Stacy. I open my mouth to speak, to say something that might fix everything. But all that comes out is a weak, desperate, “Stacy...” There’s silence. A tension so thick I can feel it even through the phone. I swallow hard, my throat dry. “Please,” I plead, my voice trembling, “just hear me out. I need to talk—” The line goes dead. I stare at the phone in my hand, disbelief washing over me. She hung up on me. The knot in my stomach tightens, and I grip the phone so tightly my knuckles turn white. She’s avoiding me. But she can’t. Not anymore. I’ve spent five years mourning her, thinking she and our son were gone forever. The pain of burying a child and wife… well, ex wife whom I still want... that grief never leaves. But now I know the truth. I felt it in that ballroom when I saw her. She’s alive. They’re alive. This is all t