STACY. Jason leans in too much, lowering his voice just a little. His intoxicating scent takes over me like a warm embrace, pulling me closer with every breath, leaving my mind hazy and my heart racing in a way I can't control. “I think you should add more flowers. They soften the mood. Kind of like you.” he says in a husky voice. I shoot him a look, but my pulse quickens at the subtle flirtation. “Careful, Alpha Jason. You’re starting to sound like you know what you’re talking about.” He grins, the tension between us easing just a bit. “I might surprise you.” I roll my eyes but can’t help the small smile tugging at my lips. “Doubt it.” But even as I focus on the venue, I can feel his presence behind me—too close for comfort, but not close enough to push him away. He’s making this harder, being so... I don’t even know what. Charming? Attentive? Whatever it is, it’s messing with my head today and I can't concentrate on work… After we finish up at the venue, Jason drives u
NICOLE. My hands tremble as I grip the edge of the counter, desperately trying to find some stability amidst the storm raging inside me. To make matters worse, the exhaustion is unbearable; I haven’t slept since Jason dropped the bombshell. His words haunt me, replaying in my mind like a never-ending nightmare. Jason is filing for divorce all because of Stacy… The thought keeps echoing, twisting deeper into my chest like a knife. I can’t believe this is happening. He’s really leaving me for her. Suddenly a sharp knock interrupts my spiralling thoughts… Jason. I know it’s him from his intoxicating scent. I straighten up, brushing my hands over my clothes and wiping the corners of my eyes. He can’t see me like this—weak, and vulnerable. I open the door to the guest house I have been bound to with a smile, and there he is, standing like a force of nature with a stack of papers in his hand. His face is unreadable, his eyes as cold as I’ve ever seen them. I glance down at the p
STACY. It’s been a day since Jason poured his heart out, saying he was going to divorce Nicole. The weight of his words still lingers, even though I’ve been keeping myself busy, throwing all my focus into planning Alpha John's party to avoid thinking about him. Working from my apartment has been a quiet reprieve, but today, I need to get out. There are a few decor stores in town I’ve been meaning to check out, so I grab my bag, determined to put some distance between me and this suffocating apartment. I decide to take the bus to avoid Jason, but the lingering stares of packmates and their whispers follow me like a shadow as soon as I step out of my comfort zone. “Look, it’s her. ex Luna Stacy White, back from the dead.” “She’s just here to steal Alpha Jason away from poor Luna Nicole.” “Has she no shame, honestly?” I roll my eyes and plug in my earphones, drowning them out with music. Gossip has always been a favorite pastime for this pack. I refuse to let them get to
STACY. “The things I’m sorry for just keep piling up. I must sound like a broken record by now,” Jason breaks the silence as we walk toward his car. I can’t help the small smile that pulls at my lips for a moment. I glance at him, then quickly shift my gaze to the black van parked nearby, its presence sends an uneasy chill down my spine…To be honest after the first encounter with it, I don't want to be near it “At least you’ve learned how to apologize. That’s more than I ever got after the divorce,” I reply, my tone lighter than it was earlier. “But really, thanks for stepping in before things got out of hand.” Jason glances at me with a crooked smile, completely unfazed by what just went down in the coffee shop. “I’ve got to admit—you handled Nicole like a pro. I was impressed.” I chuckle, shaking my head. “I had three years of practice as Luna,” I quip, adjusting my bag on my shoulder and wanting to be out of sight from the van. “Anyway, I need to get to the venue. I have to
JASON. “What happened?” Stacy asks quietly, sensing the shift in my mood after ending my call with my head warrior. I pause, glancing at her. She’s always been able to read me better than anyone else, and right now, I can tell she’s concerned. But I can’t involve her in this—at least not yet. “Nothing you need to worry about,” I reply, trying to keep my voice calm, even though tension pulls at my gut. “Just some urgent pack business.” She narrows her eyes, clearly not buying it, but before she can press further, I step back, my hand already reaching for the door. “I’ll be back soon and we’ll continue our conversation.” Without waiting for a response, I head out, my heart pounding harder than it should be. I hate leaving her like this, especially after what I asked if I was forgiven now that she suggested we be friends to co-parent Liam, but I can’t ignore pack duties when it involves Stacy's safety. --- When I get to the border, Kade my head warrior and the other warrior
DANIEL. Days prior to the fight… As soon as Stacy hung up after her unexpected call since leaving the pack, my mind spiraled out of control. She’d called for advice—about co-parenting with Jason, as if I wouldn’t pick up on the forced calm in her voice. The way she spoke about him, so casually, as if they hadn’t been through hell together, cut deep. She had no idea how much it tore me apart. Jealousy grips me like a vice, each breath searing through my lungs, suffocating me with the thought of her choosing him once again. I slam my phone down and open the location tracker just to know her whereabouts. It takes only a second to find her cell's location. She is in the Midnight Pack with her ex! My stomach twists violently. What is she doing there? Did she go on her own... or was she dragged into going? I have to know. I storm out of my mansion, heading straight for Lizzy's home. If anyone knows what’s really going on, it’s her... When I burst through the door to her apart
STACY. Meanwhile at the venue…. I try to stay focused on the event setup, but my thoughts keep drifting off to nothing when suddenly Jason returns just as abrupt as he left earlier. The unease I’ve been feeling all morning sharpens. He walks into the venue like everything’s fine, but something isn’t right—there’s a tension in the way he moves, a shadow that wasn’t there before. My gaze drifts to his hands, and my stomach churns. Why does he have blood stains on his knuckles? “What happened?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper as I notice the blood staining his knuckles. Jason looks down at his hand, seemingly surprised by the marks as if he hadn’t even noticed. He wipes the blood away with a careless swipe of his jeans, shrugging. “It’s nothing. Just had to deal with an intruder.” His casual tone makes my chest tighten with worry. “An intruder? Are you sure you are okay?” I take a step toward him, searching his face for any hint of what really happened. “Yeah, I'm g
NICOLE. "Ma'am, where are we headed? We've been driving around for over an hour and if we ain't careful, we might run out of gas in the middle of nowhere." My driver's soft voice pulls me from my thoughts. I glance out the window and realize we've long left the pack's territory. I definitely don't want to go to my father right now—not after everything with Jason and Stacy…. Father is my last option for I know how his temper flares. "Take me to my grandmother," I command, my voice cold and unyielding. The driver hesitates, his eyes darting toward me discreetly. "Miss Nicole, perhaps it would be best to speak with your father first. He might be able to—" "Did I ask for your opinion?" I cut him off sharply. "Just take me to my grandmother and keep quiet." He nods quickly without saying anything while he continues to drive. I sink into the seat, pressing my hand to my forehead, trying to hold myself together. How did everything spiral out of my control so quickly? I thought the poti
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