STACY. The moment Linda leaves, the apartment feels too quiet, like the silence itself is pressing in on me. I glance around, trying to shake off the unease, and start unpacking my bags, but every minute that ticks by only makes the loneliness more suffocating. I’m in enemy territory, and the reminder gnaws at me. Just as I’m pulling a few things out of my suitcase, a knock on the door startles me. I hesitate, wondering who it could be. I wasn’t expecting anyone. Slowly, I walk over and open the door. Two young omega ladies stand there with their postures timid, but their gazes steady. “Luna Stacy!” one of them asks softly, her voice tentative. I flinch at the title. “It’s just Stacy,” I correct her. She nods, but her expression doesn’t change. “We’ve been sent to clean your apartment.” I blink, taken aback. “What? That’s not necessary, I can handle it myself.” The second omega, who looks no older than nineteen, fidgets nervously with the hem of her apron. “We’re under orders
NICOLE. I sit on the edge of the bed, staring at myself in the mirror in front of me. My heart is heavy after Jason's outburst about what I did last night… But what did he expect when he barely looks my way. Besides, why isn't Jason trying to work things out like he had said? ‘If you ever try something like that ever again, you will regret it…’ His words ring hollow in my mind, each promise slipping through my fingers like sand. He’s colder every day, pulling further away, and no matter how hard I cling, I can’t stop it. Why aren't I enough for him? I feel tears sting my eyes again, but I quickly swipe them away because I'm tired of crying. Suddenly my phone buzzes loudly beside me. It's an unknown number and I almost ignore it, too drained to deal with some random caller, but my fingers move on their own, and I answer. “Hello?” My voice is still shaky, betraying my earlier tears. There’s a brief pause, then a woman’s voice, calm and unsettlingly answers. “Luna Nicole? Call me
STACY. The moment Nicole disappears from view, the silence between us is suffocating. I can still feel the weight of her hatred, and her eyes burning into my back as if she’s still standing there, watching us. I knew meeting her again was going to be dramatic. Thank goodness there was no crowd in sight to witness all that. Jason shifts uncomfortably beside me, glancing at me as if waiting for something—an explosion, maybe. But I'm way past that. Nicole is Jason's problem and not mine. “Stacy,” Jason starts, his voice low and apologetic, “I’m sorry about Nicole. I didn’t think—” “Don’t,” I cut him off sharply. I don’t want to hear it. Not from him. The last thing I need is another one of Jason’s apologies that won’t change anything. “Alpha Barron, thanks for the supplies, Hannah, let’s just go.” He flinches at the edge in my voice but doesn’t argue. Instead, he gestures to Avery, who’s been awkwardly hovering near the store entrance, probably wishing she’d been anywhere but here
JASON “What is wrong with that woman,” I mutter angrily under my breath referring to Nicole after pulling that stupid stunt in public without care of my status. “Enough is enough! I need to put her in her place once and for all!” I grip the steering wheel so tight my knuckles turn white. The tension in my chest burns, pulsing through every nerve as I drive back home. Nicole’s face flashes in my mind—her screams, accusations and drama towards Stacy… For her, it was always necessary to cause a scene even if you can just talk it out calmly like adults. But today… Today was the last straw. The car rolls to a stop outside the house. For a moment, I just sit there, heart pounding harder than it should. I know what I have to do. There’s no avoiding it now. I step out and head inside, the door creaking open as I walk into the cold, quiet house despite the sun warming the sky. The place feels like ice. I immediately catch a glimpse of Nicole sitting on the edge of the couch in the livin
STACY. “Such a lying bastard!” I murmur while I glance at the crumpled note Jason passed under the door on the floor where I tossed it, mocking me with its presence. I refuse to read it again. I’ve already given Jason too much of my time, thoughts, and life by coming back to his damn pack to plan his father's birthday. A note isn’t going to fix years of heartache he has caused me. Not this time. Just as the knot in my stomach tightens, my phone vibrates on the coffee table I placed it earlier, dragging me out of my thoughts. I glance at the screen and see Mom flashing across it. A sigh escapes me, and I swipe to answer. “Hey, Mom. Miss me already?” “Every single minute I miss you sweetheart,” she says, her voice soft and worried, “how are you holding up?” I close my eyes, pressing my fingertips to my forehead. How do I even begin to answer that? “I’m managing,” I reply, though my tone betrays me. “Stacy…” Her voice is gentle, and probing. She knows me too well. “You don’t soun
STACY. An hour after the threat call… My finger hovers over the call button for what feels like forever, but the digits on the screen aren’t unfamiliar. Even though I haven’t dialed Jason’s number in years, it’s still ingrained in my memory, like a scar that refuses to fade. ‘Just do it for crying out loud Stacy,’ Piper chimes in impatiently via mind link. Finally, I press it after so much contemplation, my breath shallow as I bring the phone to my ear. It rings once. Twice. “Stacy?” Jason’s voice comes through the line almost immediately with a steady but hint of surprise. How did he know it was me calling? I swallow the lump forming in my throat. “Alpha Barron, we need to talk face to face and it’s important.” I demand sternly. “Okay…” Jason’s voice shifts, becoming more alert. “I’ll come to your apartment in a few minutes.” “No,” I interrupt, my tone sharper than I intended. I don’t want him in my space again, not after he tried to seduce me. “I want to keep this formal. I
JASON. “Stacy!” My voice rips through the air, louder than I’ve ever shouted before... I’d followed her just to insist on driving her after our ‘meeting’ just to say ‘thank you’ for allowing me back into Liam's life. Honestly I was happy that we were making progress even though Stacy was still closed up… But now, none of that matters. The world around me narrows to just her. She’s standing there, frozen in the middle of the road, eyes wide with fear, her body locked as if she’s stuck in a nightmare she can’t escape from. Time slows. My pulse quickens, pounding in my ears as I take in the scene—a van, hurtling toward her, metal and momentum, closing the gap in seconds that feels like hours. “Stacy, move out of the way!” The panic claws at my throat as I scream her name again. My chest is tightening with fear, while my legs are already moving before I can think. My heart slams against my ribs, adrenaline flooding every muscle, but she doesn’t move. Why isn’t she moving? The van’
NICOLE. “What's taking them so long?” I pace back and forth in my room while fidgeting with my hands. Suddenly, my phone buzzes on my nightstand, dragging me out of my anxious thoughts. I swifty reach for it, my heartbeat quickening when I see the name on the screen: It’s one of my rogue bodyguards my father insisted should always “watch over” me within the pack. I had decided to put him to good use rather than him watching me in the shadows like I'm some kind of damsel... I gave him strict instructions to watch Stacy like a hawk just after Jason mentioned that he would divorce me soon. I snatch the phone, already anticipating good news. “Tell me it’s done,” I snap, barely greeting him. My voice is cold, and my patience thin. But there is a long pause on his end. I immediately sense it's bad news. “There’s a problem ma'am,” he finally says. My pulse spikes. "What kind of problem?" I ask, already pacing the length of my room once again, the anticipation twisting like a
DANIEL.Sitting in my home office, I rub my temples as I reread the anonymous notes Hannah received earlier. The words are etched in my mind, taunting me. ‘Leave Daniel before it's too late.’Whoever sent them isn’t just trying to scare her. They’re trying to drive a wedge between us. And that makes them as dangerous as the people who were spreading rumors about Hannah when she first arrived here.I glance out the window, watching Mother and Hannah strolling through the pack grounds. From here, they appear cordial, and that’s a relief—I couldn’t bear the thought of the two most important women in my life being at odds.I shift my focus back to the papers on my desk. If the threats are coming from someone within the pack, I need to figure out who. My gaze sweeps across the room, landing on the files I’ve been gathering on the staff within the mansion. No one here should have a reason to harm Hannah, but I’ve learned not to trust appearances.Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupts my
HANNAH.“Let me make one thing clear, Hannah,” Margaret’s voice cuts through the stillness as we step into the foyer. She turns to face me, her sharp features illuminated by the sunlight streaming through the window. “I don’t want you running to Daniel every time we have a conversation. It will only upset him unnecessarily, and I’m sure you don’t want to be the cause of that.” she says, her tone low but laced with authority.Me, Upset Daniel? How?!Her sudden words settle over me like a storm cloud, heavy and threatening. I meet her gaze, refusing to flinch. “If I feel threatened,” I say, keeping my voice steady, “I will tell Daniel. Even if it’s his own mother.”Margaret laughs, the sound soft and mocking. “Oh, my dear,” she says, her lips curling into a smirk. “And who do you think Daniel will believe? His mother, who has been by his side all his life? Or you, the little omega trying to worm her way into a world where she doesn’t belong?”Her words sting, but I don’t let it show. I
HANNAH.Minutes later, the dining room is filled with the comforting aroma of fresh pastries and freshly brewed coffee. I savor the quiet moment with Daniel, relishing the way his gaze holds mine, as though nothing else in the world matters.“Do you think your pack will ever get used to me?” I tease, stirring honey into my tea, my tone light but curious.Daniel chuckles, the deep timbre of his laugh sending a pleasant shiver down my spine. “They will, once they realize how amazing you are. If they don’t, that’s their problem, not yours.”“But what do you think so far?” he asks, his fingers brushing mine across the table, the touch deliberate yet gentle.“It’s different,” I admit with a small smile, though the weight of the weird stares and notes I received earlier still lingers. “But I think I could find my place here... if I became your mate.” I joke and Daniel chuckles lightly .“Good answer,” he replies, his voice low and reassuring, his eyes locking onto mine. “You already belong
HANNAH. (meanwhile in Blue Moon) The first rays of sunlight seep through the curtains, spilling a soft, golden light across the room. My body feels pleasantly achy, a tender reminder of the endless passion Daniel and I shared in the past two days cooked up in his room since we arrived here. I shift carefully, trying not to wake him, but as I glance over my shoulder, I see him still deep in sleep, his face relaxed and peaceful in a way that makes my heart ache a little. ‘I think you know it's about time we tell him about the pregnancy, Hannah,’ my wolf says via mind link but I'm not mentally ready, so I ignore her and slip out of bed, my bare feet padding across the cool floor. The slight chill sends a shiver up my spine as I make my way to the bathroom. Once inside, I flick on the light and lean against the sink, staring at my reflection. My cheeks are flushed, my hair a tousled mess, and yet, there’s something different about me. A glow I don’t quite recognize. My hand
STACY. ‘Marry me again!?’ The words take my breath away. Oh my Goddess. That's why he's been acting strange all evening. He wanted to proposal... My heart pounds wildly as I struggle to steady my racing pulse. “What?” I whisper, my anger evaporating in an instant. Jason doesn’t respond immediately. Instead, he walks to the dresser where his suit hangs, reaching into the pocket. When he turns back to me, he’s holding a familiar tiny box. My breath catches as he steps closer, dropping to one knee in front of me. “I wanted to do this tonight, during the grand opening, when everything was perfect,” he says, opening the box to reveal the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. “But then everything fell apart, and I let my frustration get the better of me.” “Jason…” My voice trembles as I take in the sight of him kneeling there, his eyes locked on mine. “Stacy,” he says, his voice steady despite the emotion in his gaze. “I don’t want to fight with you. I don’t want to doubt us. All I
STACY. (Three hours later) The evening had been perfect—or so I thought. The grand opening of my building went off without a hitch after the lights came back on, but something about Jason’s demeanor since then has left me uneasy. We barely spoke on the ride home. He was unusually quiet, his jaw set tight, his gaze fixed out the window. Now, as I sit beside Liam’s bed, his small hand clutches mine. His wide, innocent eyes search my face, filled with worry that I desperately want to erase. “Mommy?” he whispers, his voice soft in the dim light of his room. “Yes, sweetheart?” I smooth his hair back, offering him a smile that I don’t entirely feel. “Why aren’t you and Daddy talking? Did I do something wrong?” His question pierces my heart, the guilt sinking deep. “Oh, baby, no,” I assure him, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “You didn’t do anything wrong, baby. Daddy and I… we’re just tired. It’s been a long day, that’s all.” He studies me for a moment, his little face scrunching
JASON. (Meanwhile in midnight pack) The air buzzes with energy as I stand near the entrance of Stacy’s new building. Fairy lights drape the ceiling, casting a warm, golden glow over the polished floors and the crowd that fills the space. It’s her night—a celebration of her relentless work. But tonight isn’t just about her achievements. It’s about us. The small velvet box in my pocket feels heavier with each passing second, like it’s anchoring me to this moment. My fingers twitch toward it, but I force them still. Not yet. Timing is everything, and this has to be perfect. My gaze finds Stacy across the room... She’s talking to a group of guests, her smile brighter than the lights around her. She nods, laughs, and brushes a strand of hair behind her ear. I’ve seen her like this a hundred times lately—confident, poised, in control—but tonight, it feels different. Because tonight, I’m going ask her to marry me again. “Daddy, are you nervous?” Liam’s small voice pulls me
MARGARETThe midday sun streams through the grand windows of my office, casting golden beams across the polished mahogany desk. Patience has never been my strong suit, but today, it’s necessary. My fingers tap a steady rhythm on the desk’s surface, my gaze locked on the door.Finally, a soft knock breaks the silence. “Come in,” I call, arranging my features into calm authority.The door opens, and Roxanne steps inside, her hair perfectly styled, her silk blouse catching the light with every movement. She exudes poise and sophistication—the embodiment of what a Luna should be. Daniel may not see it yet, but I do.“Beta Margaret,” she says, her voice smooth but careful. Roxanne knows I don’t summon anyone without reason.“Roxanne,” I reply, gesturing toward the chair across from me. “Please, sit. We need to talk.”She moves gracefully, lowering herself into the seat with practiced elegance. Her hands fold neatly in her lap. “What’s this about?”I lean back, my eyes scanning her like a c
STACY.Next morning after the festival, I glance out the car window as the scenery rushes past, the excitement of the morning overshadowed by my racing thoughts. Jason is focused on the road, one hand gripping the wheel, the other resting comfortably on my leg. For someone who claims to be so perceptive, he’s completely oblivious to the storm brewing inside me.I turn to him, my voice steady but laced with suspicion. “So, why exactly did you invite Daniel to the festival last night?”Jason doesn’t even flinch, keeping his eyes on the road. “Why not? He’s a good guy. I thought it would be nice to see him.”I raise an eyebrow, crossing my arms. “Since when are you and Daniel such good friends? Last I checked, you barely mentioned him unless it was about some deal or favor.”Jason lets out a sigh, overly dramatic and clearly meant to push my buttons. “We’re friends now, cupcake. He’s helped me out a lot when I needed it.”“Friends uh?” I echo, my tone cutting. “And just like that, you're