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
STACY. As Jason and I pull up to one of the fancy restaurants around the pack, my mind is still racing... The memory of the van, the screeching tires, and Jason’s arms around me flashes through my thoughts again and again. I shift in my seat, feeling anxious of what almost happened, but Jason doesn’t say anything. His face is set in stone, his grip firm on the steering wheel as he parks the car. The silence between us is thick. Part of me wants to say something—thank him again, maybe—but I swallow the words. I’m not ready to unpack whatever this is between us. Jason opens the door for me and I step out of the car to walk besides him like old days. The moment we enter the restaurant, I spot Jason’s mother, sitting at a table with some of the pack’s high-society ladies finishing up what looked like a meeting. As soon as her eyes land on us, her face twists in surprise while she waves a hand for us to go to her. “Stacy,” she says, blinking as if trying to make sense of my slig
JASON. Stacy’s door slams shut, and I’m left sitting alone in my car, her sharp words still hanging in the air like a slap to the face after I just spoke to my son. False hope? The accusation digs deep, but I can’t say she’s wrong. I did tell Liam what he wanted to hear, and I meant every word of it, but now... Now I wonder if I pushed too far, too soon. I exhale, running a hand through my hair. She’s still angry, and I can’t blame her. I just want us to be a family again ASAP. I want her and Liam back in my life, and home—where they belong. But I also know that I can’t force her. Not after everything I put her through. I take a deep breath, trying to calm the frustration boiling inside…. It doesn’t make the sting of her indirect rejection any less painful. With one last glance at the pack house, I mindlink two warriors to come and keep watch over her place. I don’t trust that the threat on her life has passed, and I’d rather be safe than sorry. Once that’s handled, I drive
STACY. As I drive toward the main road leading out of the pack, my thoughts circle back to Hannah’s earlier revelation. She knows too much about Jason’s reckless plan for it to be a coincidence, and the more I think about it, the less sense it makes. I glance over at her, sitting in the passenger seat and scrolling through her phone. “Hannah,” I say, trying to keep my tone casual but firm, “how exactly did you find out about Velkan and Jason’s plan?” Hannah freezes for a split second, her fingers hovering over the screen, before she looks at me with feigned innocence. “What do you mean? I overheard it, of course.” I narrow my eyes at her. “Overheard it where? And when? This isn’t exactly something you’d catch in casual conversation at the coffee shop.” She shifts in her seat, clearly uncomfortable under my scrutiny. “Stacy, it’s not a big deal. Alpha Jason might have mentioned it once in passing, and I just pieced things together.” I snort, gripping the steering wheel ti
STACY. (Next morning) I wake up to the soft morning light streaming through the curtains, stretching as the events of last night play in my mind. The party was a success, but Jason’s sudden disappearance keeps nagging at me. I slip out of bed and wrap myself in a robe, padding down the hall toward the dining room. Maybe he’s already awake, sitting at the table with that smug smirk of his, pretending he wasn’t up to something suspicious. When I step into the dining room, it’s empty except for Ava, who’s setting out breakfast for one. She looks up and greets me with a polite smile. “Good morning, Ma'am. Did you sleep well?” “Morning, Ava. I slept fine,” I reply, brushing my hair behind my ear. “Have you seen Jason?” Her smile falters slightly. “Alpha Jason didn’t come back last night after he left for the party.” Her words hit me like a bucket of cold water. I blink, trying to process. “He… he didn’t come back?” “No, ma’am,” Ava says, her voice calm but hesitant. “I as
STACY. (Two hours later) The chatter of the last few guests fades into the background as I stand near the entrance of the venue, double-checking the checklist in my head for the night’s wrap-up. Suddenly, I hear Alpha John’s warm voice behind me. “Stacy, dear,” he says, stepping closer with Luna Linda at his side, Liam’s small hand tucked safely in his. “It’s getting late, and you still seem busy here. Linda and I were thinking it might be best if Liam stayed with us tonight. What do you think?” I glance down at Liam, who looks up at me with his big, curious eyes. “Would you like that, sweetheart?” He nods eagerly. “Can I, Mom? Please?” A small smile tugs at my lips as I crouch to his level, brushing a stray curl from his forehead. “Alright, but only if you promise to be a good boy and listen to your grandparents.” “I will, I promise!” Liam says, his enthusiasm lighting up his face. Standing back up, I turn to Alpha John and Luna Linda. “Thank you for offering. I app
JASON. An hour into the party, I find myself leaning against one of the tall cocktail tables, nursing a glass of whiskey as my eyes trail Stacy across the room. She’s in her element—composed, graceful, effortlessly weaving through the crowd while ignoring me and ensuring everything runs seamlessly. The guests are clearly impressed, and so am I. How I wish she knew I won’t be here for the entire party, that I’ll be leaving soon to deal with Velkan, maybe she wouldn’t be so quick to freeze me out.But even now, with her focus locked on her work, I know she feels me watching her. I catch it in the way her gaze flickers my way—fleeting, careful, pretending not to see me. And every time she looks away like I don’t exist, it only stokes the smug satisfaction curling in my chest. She might ignore me, but she’s not fooling anyone—least of all me... “Oh, Jason, stop staring or you’ll burn a hole through her,” Daniel murmurs as he passes by, smirking at me. I ignore him, pretending his wor
JASON. I watch Stacy disappear into the crowd, the sleek blue gown I bought her hugging her figure in a way that has no business being legal. Every sway of her hips makes it harder to look away. But what really grates on me is how she smiled at Daniel—And that hug? Too comfortable for my liking. 'We should have been here earlier than going last minute suit shopping for Daniel who showed up earlier than us,' my wolf grumbles, his irritation matching mine. A growl vibrates in my chest before I can stop it, and Daniel, standing just beside me, raises an amused brow. “Relax, Jason,” he says, his tone dripping with mockery. “What’s with the death glare? Jealous already?” “She’s my mate,” I bite back, turning to him. “Keep your hands off her.” Daniel laughs—a deep, hearty sound that makes my fists twitch. “Your mate, huh? You sure about that? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re still trying to convince her of that yourself.” I scowl, narrowing my eyes. “Don’
STACY. (Later in the evening) My room is a flurry of activity—shoes by the bed, hangers draped across the chair, and Liam standing in the middle of it all, fidgeting in his little navy-blue suit. The tie sits slightly off-center, giving him a mischievous charm. “Mommy, do I have to wear this?” He whines, squirming as I straighten his tie for the third time. “I look like a grown-up” I kneel to his level feeling much better than earlier at the venue after the dizzy spell incident. I brush a stray strand of hair from his forehead. “Yes, sweetheart. You’re going to a grown-up party, so you have to look the part. Trust me, you will be the most handsome boy there will be tonight.” His nose scrunches up, but a grin sneaks through, his cheeks flushing pink. “Even more handsome than Daddy?” he asks and my hands still for the briefest moment before resuming their task... I wonder why Liam always brings up his father in almost all of our conversation... Nevertheless, I swallow the a
JASON. “Don't worry Alpha, Miss white is fine,” The medic assures me for the third time that Stacy will be fine after passing out for a few seconds, but my chest still feels like it’s in a vice. I can't believe she starved herself to reach such a point. What was she thinking? I watch her finish the last bite of her sandwich, her delicate fingers brushing crumbs off the table. She looks paler than usual, her sharp edges softened by exhaustion and something I can't put in words. “Happy now?” she mutters, her voice flat, though a hint of vulnerability lingers beneath. “Not even close,” I reply, stepping closer to the table. My tone is low, more serious than I intended. “Why would you starve yourself, Stacy? You need to take better care of yourself.” Her lips twitch, as if she wants to argue, but instead, she drops the napkin on the table. “I don’t have time for this... Leave me already, I still have so much to do.” she says, trying to deflect. Leave her in this condition? Is
STACY. I nod. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while. Expanding the business just makes sense, especially with how many connections I will potentially make after tonight.” Lizzy studies me for a moment. “Does this mean you’re staying? You know, for good?” I glance at her briefly before returning my focus to the road. “It doesn’t mean anything. You run the office in blue moon and I run this one here. It’s just business nothing more.” She hums thoughtfully but doesn’t push further. Soon, we arrive at the venue, my team of temporary workers is already bustling around, arranging centerpieces, and double-checking the decorations. The energy is contagious, and I jump right into the chaos, giving directions and making sure everything is on schedule to keep my mind off Jason and his mess. By midday, the sun is high, and the venue is starting to come together beautifully. I’m just about to inspect the replaced floral arrangements when a familiar figure confidently strides through
STACY. (Next day) I stare into the mirror, groaning under my breath. My reflection mocks me: pale skin, shadows under my eyes, and a tiredness I can’t shake no matter how much makeup I pile on. ‘We look like death warmed over us,’ my wolf grumbles in my head, her tone a mix of concern and irritation. “I can see that… Thanks for the reminding me,” I mutter, running a brush through my hair for the third time. ‘I’m just saying,’ she continues, ‘You knew today’s important but you decide to keep us awake the whole night.. You’ve been working on this party for weeks, and now you’re going to show up looking like a zombie to potential clients? How professional.’ “Ugh, Piper…it’s not like Alpha John’s guests are coming to see me,” I counter, forcing a laugh to hide my unease. “They’ll be too busy admiring the decorations to care what I look like.” ‘Maybe, but you care. Don’t pretend you don’t.’ I sigh, shoving my sunglasses onto my face. “Whatever. Let’s just survive today. The