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27. Farewell
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2023-09-13 23:34:23Related chapters
The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 28. Bitter Truths, Lavish Lies
RomanI stand by the door, my eyes tracing the contours of her face as she lies there, enveloped by the sheets. She’s been out cold for two days, two agonizing days of wondering whether the wolfsbane would claim her. I never thought I’d find solace in the rhythmic sound of someone else’s breathing, but here I am, hanging on to each rise and fall of her chest like it’s a lifeline.I want her to wake up, and yet, I dread it.I was on my way to her workplace for the last time when I saw the attack. Sam, or Esteban, the rat, had her cornered. It took every ounce of restraint not to tear him limb from limb right then and there. Instead, he’s being held at my pack house, awaiting a fate I’m all too eager to hand-deliver.The male scent that had been on her was his, as if he marked her with his scent warning others to stay away. I also found the same scent in her apartment after searching it two nights ago. Seems like the fucker has been silently breaking into her safe space at night.The th
Last Updated : 2023-09-14The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 29. Willfully Blinded
AellaAs the door clicks shut behind him, the weight of Roman’s words still hangs in the air like a heavy fog. Lying on the bed, the cotton sheets suddenly feel like shards of ice against my skin. I can’t wrap my head around it. Roman. Jay. They’re the same person and I’m the idiot who never saw it coming.For the last three months, I thought I was falling for a guy who understood me, someone different from the macho Alphas I’d been running from. I let my guard down, allowed myself to believe in this lie because I so badly wanted it to be true. I was delusional to think someone like him could love someone like me.I feel nauseous, like I’ve been turned inside out. Was any of it real? Was any part of ‘Jay’—his smiles, his touch, the warmth in his eyes, was any of that him? Or was it all just another facet of his calculated betrayal?My mind races, retracing conversations, touches, promises—all the intimate moments we shared. They flicker through my mind like snippets of a film, each sc
Last Updated : 2023-09-14The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 30. A Pretty Little Prison
AellaThe jet is like a floating glass cage at 30,000 feet. We’re in the same space, but worlds apart. Roman is across from me, typing something into his laptop. He doesn’t even look up when the flight attendant serves us. His apathy is a stark contrast to the fire I feel inside, burning and consuming me. While he is physically here, it seems like he's in a different reality, one where emotions and accountability are not significant.The tension is palpable, but he seems determined to pretend everything is fine, like he didn’t drag me here under duress. The audacity he has to act as if he’s the one wronged here is infuriating.I keep my gaze fixed on the window, watching the clouds go by. They’re free, floating wherever the wind takes them. I’d kill to be that unanchored right now. To be anywhere but here, with the one man who has become the epitome of all the cautionary tales I’d ever been told.Thinking back on it now, I don’t know how I was so dumb. He has the tattoos of a Russian
Last Updated : 2023-09-15The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 31. Was I Just A Mission To You?
AellaI look at the man I thought I fell for, and all I see is the monster I tried to run away from.“You’re right, though,” I say, scoffing and struggling to maintain composure after those words. “I didn’t hate Jay, a figment of your twisted imagination. You, Roman, I loathe. I will never forgive you for what you did to me.”“I don’t need your forgiveness,” he says, his voice colder than I’ve ever heard it. “You can hate me all you want. Be my wife, bear my children, and open your legs when needed and satisfy me. That’s all I require.”His words feel like they physically assault me. Disbelief, rage, and humiliation are all vying for my attention and overwhelming me. He’s stripping away the romanticism from our relationship and turning it into a business transaction. “I will never be your Luna, or your wife,” I say, locking eyes with him. It’s a futile attempt to break through his icy exterior, but I can’t stop myself.He sighs and moves away from me. “I think you misunderstand the s
Last Updated : 2023-09-15The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 32. A Question Mark
RomanThe moment I stepped into my office, I could sense that my carefully constructed facade of control was beginning to crumble. Despite my best guards watching Aella, my insides were still filled with restless anger.I sit back in my leather chair, staring at the mahogany desk that’s seen better days. It’s cluttered with maps, reports, and my damn laptop, all screaming at me that I’ve done what I set out to do. I got Aella back; Esteban is locked up, waiting for his inevitable fate. The mission is complete, but sitting here, in this room, I’ve never felt more incomplete. And that realization is the most crippling of all.I grind my teeth, annoyed at myself. I’ve been leading this pack since I was barely out of my teens, made hard calls—calls that would make a lesser man crumble. But here I am, second-guessing every choice that led me to this moment. And it’s not the mission; it’s her. It’s always been HER.I drum my fingers on the table, each tap sending a jolt through me, like I
Last Updated : 2023-09-15The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 33. A Captivating Captive
AellaToday is supposed to be one of the happiest days of my life, or so the seamstress tells me as she flits around me like a fairy godmother, making sure the wedding dress fits perfectly. I’m standing in front of the floor-length mirror, and for a second, I can appreciate the artistry of the gown—its intricate lace, the delicate beadwork, and the soft glow of the ivory fabric. “You look absolutely stunning, my Luna-to-be,” the seamstress gushes, stepping back to admire her handiwork. “I’ll give you a few moments to yourself.” With that, she sweeps out of the room, leaving me alone with my reflection.It’s a beautiful dress, a masterpiece really, but it’s for a life I never chose. The soft fabric clings to my body, adorned with intricate lace designs that seem almost too beautiful for this moment, too pure for what it’s about to signify.I stare at myself, noticing how much of a stranger I look like now. For two years I had my blonde dyed black. But that color has been stripped, so
Last Updated : 2023-09-15The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 34. I Serve The Pack, Not You
AellaI sit up in bed, taking in the morning light that filters through the curtains. It casts a golden glow over the room, softening the edges of furniture and painting a deceptive picture of serenity. I know it’s a lie. It’s as if even the light knows it doesn’t belong here. Just like me.This is my last morning in this room, my final moments as the Aella who had dreams beyond the boundaries of a cold, empty marriage. The guest room has been comfortable but temporary—a perfect analogy for my life up to this point. It’s all changing today, whether I like it or not.I stand up, my bare feet touching the cold floor. Everything feels colder today, even the air that I breathe. I head to the bathroom, turning on the shower. I don’t even wince as the water turns hot against my skin; I welcome the burn. Physical sensations are a distraction, a momentary respite from the thoughts that have been gnawing at me.As I look at myself in the mirror, I see my reflection almost as if for the first
Last Updated : 2023-09-16The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 35. Dress
AellaThe moment we step into the car, a silent void envelops us, a hallowed tension that swallows any words I might have considered saying. Roman sits beside me, his eyes forward, his posture rigid and his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. He’s lost in thought. So am I.The engine hums a monotonous tune, blending with the distant chirping of evening crickets. My mind races, churning thoughts that won’t settle. Roman, my husband; the word still feels foreign on my tongue. “Husband.” The heaviness of the word settles on my chest, and I find it hard to breathe.The leather of the car seat sticks to the back of my gown, making me uncomfortably aware of the layers of fabric encasing me. I glance at Roman, wondering what he’s thinking. Does he sense my apprehension, my trepidation about the night that lies ahead? Tonight’s expectations wrap around me like invisible chains, chafing my very essence. The very word “duties” leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. And yet, duty is what b
Last Updated : 2023-09-16
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The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna The Beta's Burden
Kaden I’m sitting in my study, surrounded by the leather scent of old books and the muted light filtering through the heavy drapes. The room, once a sanctuary where I buried myself in work and pack matters, now feels like a cage. A trap. I flip through some documents on my desk but don’t really register what they say. My mind is a mess, a whirlwind of thoughts I can’t, and won’t, share with anyone. Especially not Roman. God, Roman. My brother, my closest friend. He seems so happy these days, so settled with Aella and their son. His life has taken a turn for the absolute best, and it stings. Not out of jealousy, I’m thrilled for him, but out of the sharp contrast it creates with my own concealed turmoil. I think about Elena, my wife. She’s beautiful, loving, and loyal to our pack. But she doesn’t know. She can’t know. The secret I’m holding is too damaging, too explosive. It would tear us apart, tear the pack apart. And so, I’ve distanced myself. Retreated into a shell to protect e
The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 80. Epilogue - One Year Later
Aella As I stand by the intricately carved crib, my heart swells with a love so fierce it feels like it could consume me whole. I look down at Aaron, our son, sleeping so peacefully in a cocoon of soft, moonlit blankets. His little fists are curled beside his cheek, and he has his father’s rebellious blonde hair and the beginning of my mismatched eyes. The room is filled with the comforting scent of lavender and freshly laundered baby clothes. The light from the nursery’s lamp washes over his tiny form, casting gentle shadows on his crib. I can’t help but think how profoundly my life has shifted in just two years. Nearly two years ago, I was a ball of defiance and fear, literally running through woods and brambles to escape an engagement my Alpha father had orchestrated with Roman. The irony is palpable. Roman was everything I thought I didn’t want, but ended up being everything I didn’t know I needed. I went from clawing at the idea of a life by his side to craving his touch, hi
The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 79. Claim For Claim
RomanFour words shouldn’t make me feel like an absolute king, but they do.She shimmies out of her bottoms and walks naked towards the shower to regulate the water. Gods, my cock is aching just watching her. Slipping out of my board shorts, I join her under the spray of hot water and pull her closer to me.There’s no hesitation when I lean down to kiss her. She molds into me, her body perfectly flush against mine as she moans into my mouth. It’s taking every bit of my self control to not snap and just claim her body, but Aella doesn’t need my beast right now. I walk her up against the cold wall and trail my kisses down the length of her neck. “I love your sweet scent, baby,” I murmur against her skin. “God, I could drown in you forever.”She makes a small noise when I draw a pebbled nipple into my mouth, and pushes out her chest as her hands get tangled in my hair. I cup her perfect tits in my hands, laving them with my tongue and loving the noises she makes when I nibble on them.
The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 78. Restless Alpha
RomanThe goddamn sound of waves lightly bitch-slapping the shore should be soothing. It’s what people fantasize about—a secluded beach, the woman you’re batshit in love with beside you, the freedom to do nothing at all. Aella looks like she’s in fucking heaven, the sun on her skin, a gentle smile on her lips, a book lying forgotten on her lap. But me? I’m crawling out of my damn skin.And yet, I’m restless. Why the fuck can’t I just relax?Aella senses it before I even realize it myself. She opens her eyes and looks at me, her gaze soft but probing. “You’re thinking about something. Spill it.”I chuckle. “It’s nothing, really. Just getting a bit antsy, I suppose.”“Roman, we’re on vacation. You’re allowed to relax, you know?”I nod, knowing she’s right, but not feeling any less restless. “I know. It’s just not something I’m accustomed to, that’s all.”The ingrained habits of an Alpha, the constant state of alertness and readiness, they don’t just disappear overnight. They’re a part
The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 77. Isle Nikolaev
AellaThe hum of the private jet’s engines seems to blend into the background, like white noise in a sea of my restless thoughts. Roman sits across from me, in a seat made of the finest leather money can buy, absorbed in some files on his tablet. The rich interior of the jet, with its ambient mood lighting and plush furnishings, contrasts sharply with the tension I feel in my bones.“Would you like another glass of wine, Luna?” the flight attendant offers, her voice polished as the silver tray she’s holding.I shake my head. “No, thank you.”As she retreats, Roman finally looks up, his stormy eyes meeting mine. “You’re not usually this quiet,” he observes.“Well,” I say, biting the inside of my cheek, “you’re not usually this secretive. Where are we going?”He grins, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “It’s a surprise.”“I’m not particularly fond of surprises,” I retort, although a part of me thrills at the mystery.“You’ll like this one,” he promises. His eyes darken a shade, and I
The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 76. The Gathering Storm
AellaWe step out of the hospital and as I spot the black SUV, it takes me back to my time spent here. More specifically, when Roman finally confessed his feelings to me. It was sort of a simpler time back then.Before Vasily, before…everything else.“What’s on your mind, little bird,” he asks as he takes my hand and draws it to his lips. “You’ve been quiet, even as I went off at the nurses.”I chuckle. “That was just me letting you have your own way after everything that happened,” I say, leaning forward and kissing his cheek. “Kaden’s message over the mind link just had me reeling.”Roman sighs, because I know he’s already so pissed off and now he has to face Diego. Alpha Javier is at the pack house with Kaden and Elena and has demanded his son answer to Roman.“Yeah, well I suppose he has to face the music sometime,” he says, sitting back and shaking his head. “As much as I just want to fucking sleep, it needs to be done.”We remain quiet for the rest of the ride, but as soon as th
The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 75. The Aftermath
RomanSitting in the hospital room, I still feel the residual ache from the fight, both physical and emotional. My mind plays back the confrontation with Vasily, a twisted dance that was always leading to this dark aftermath. What he said in Russian through clenched teeth left me shaken. Now that Aella is gone, I feel it’s time to share it with Kaden.“I never thought it would come to this, Kade,” I say, the words coming out heavier than I intend.Kaden leans back in the visitor chair, his eyes locked onto mine, searching for something—perhaps reassurance that what’s been done was necessary. “You did what you had to, Ro. If you hadn’t, more lives would have been at stake.”“Yeah, but Vasily said something,” I start, hesitating a little. “He said things about father that I think you should know.”Kaden raises an eyebrow, intrigued but also wary. “What did he say?”I take a deep breath, preparing myself for the weight of the words I’m about to unleash. “Do you remember the night Father
The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 74. To Protect My Pack
AellaThe sterile smell of antiseptics fills the air, mingling with the earthy scent that is uniquely Roman. Even unconscious, he smells like the forest, like the wilderness we both call home. My hand finds his, dwarfed by the size of his palm, but perfectly molded to fit. I’m holding onto him as if he’s my anchor, the one constant in a world that has spiraled so far from what I knew.I replay the night over and over again in my head. The tension in the room, the way Roman’s eyes narrowed as he exchanged words with Vasily in rapid Russian. I couldn’t understand the words, but the intent was palpable—two titans locked in a battle of wills and strength. And I’d stood there, unable to do anything but watch and hope that Roman would come out unscathed. My heart aches at the thought. What was so personal that it had to be shrouded in their mother tongue? Was it just a string of profanities or something deeper? A sharing of old wounds and familial grievances that led them to this terribl
The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 73. True Alpha
RomanThe second Vasily had his hands on Aella, my world went red. The ground beneath my feet might as well have been ripped away, because for a brief second, I’m free-falling into a chasm of self-doubt and gut-wrenching fear.I had to keep my wits about me. I had to be smart. Because this wasn’t just about me—this was about Aella, my pack, and a future that Vasily was hell-bent on destroying.“Is this what an Alpha looks like?” I can almost hear Vasily’s voice sneering in my head. “Can’t even protect his own mate?” And for a devastating moment, I almost agree with him.I’ve spent years trying to prove that I was worthy of the Alpha title, not just to my pack, but to myself. Yet here I am, watching the woman I love being tormented by my own flesh and blood. It’s a cruel mirror, reflecting my deepest insecurities, mocking my so-called ‘strength.’Aella’s face is pale, eyes widened in terror, but even from this distance, I can see a flicker of defiance in them. It fuels me, but it also
