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41. Straight Path To Ruin
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The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 42. A Better Partner
AellaThe hot water cascades over my skin, a vain attempt to wash away the conflicting emotions that have taken hold of me since yesterday. The water from the showerhead feels almost accusatory as it pelts against my skin. Each droplet a microscopic indictment, saying, “You knew better.” I can almost hear them hiss as they make contact, swirling down the drain with all the resolve I thought I had. I feel the warmth envelop me, but it does nothing to dispel the cold sensation gnawing at my insides. My thoughts drift back to the SUV, to Roman, to the magnetic force between us that had been too much to resist. My mind keeps replaying those moments, dissecting them, searching for a way to rationalize my actions. But I can’t.You see, there are two versions of me. There’s Aella, the strong, independent woman who took a stand against an arranged marriage. Who ran from her pack to escape the heavy mantle of obligation and expectation. Then there’s this Aella—this conflicted mess standing i
The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 43. The Truth About Roman Nikolaev
AellaAs Kaden and I walk toward Roman’s office, the atmosphere feels different, as if acknowledging the unspoken undercurrents has changed the very air we breathe. The hallways of the pack house are lined with photos and memorabilia, each piece capturing a fragment of history, a moment frozen in time.Kaden seems lost in thought for a moment before he turns to me. “You know, Roman’s office is more than just a room. It’s a sanctuary of sorts. It holds the weight of every decision, every life within these walls.”I glance at him, intrigued. “Does it ever get to him? The weight of it all?”Kaden chuckles. “You have no idea. But don’t ever expect him to show it. The man’s built like a fortress. But every fortress has its vulnerabilities.”“Is that advice?” I probe.“Consider it an observation,” he replies, his eyes twinkling. “One you should keep in mind. He’s fortified, but even fortresses have hidden entrances.”“So, I should look for these hidden entrances?” I ask, raising my eyebrow
The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 44. Unwanted Guest
Aella My Jeep’s tires crunch on the gravel as I make my way along the border of our territory. Patrols are a shared responsibility among the senior members of the pack, and today, it’s my turn. It’s late afternoon, the sun beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a dusky glow through the trees. As I pull over to do a quick check on the perimeter markings. Everything seems in order on this side, no broken barriers, no unsettling scents, no signs of rogue wolves or other interlopers. I get back in the Jeep, and the engine purrs to life, sounding heavenly. As I drive back toward the pack house, something nags at me. I can’t put my finger on it, but it feels like an itch at the back of my mind, persistent and irritating. When the pack house comes into view, that uneasy feeling solidifies into a heavy knot in my stomach. And that’s when I see it—a sleek, black sedan that screams money and arrogance parked beside Kaden’s truck. Its very presence feels wrong, like a dark cloud on a c
The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 45. Full Moon Hunt
Aella The air is thick with anticipation as we gather in the clearing just outside our territory. A symphony of crickets and rustling leaves forms the background noise to this palpable moment. The moon hasn’t crested yet, but the sky is clear, assuring us that its light will soon guide our path. The weight of leadership sits heavy on my shoulders, but it’s a weight I’ve been trained for for years, a mantle I take on willingly. Standing at the edge of the clearing, I can feel the cool night air on my skin and see the sea of faces before me—some human, some wolfish, depending on who has already shifted. I can’t help but feel a deep sense of pride as my gaze sweeps over them. To my far left, the warrior division stands tall, a group of robust and formidable wolves whose main role in the pack is defense and strategy. Leading them is Eleanor, our Gamma, her eyes like flint and posture rigid with military discipline. Her role tonight will be to safeguard the pack’s flanks as we delve
The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 46. I Should Have Been Here
RomanThe sterile walls of the hospital wing feel like they’re closing in on me, their whiteness too harsh, too glaring against my turbulent thoughts. I can’t enter the room—not yet. Not when every fiber of my being is a cocktail of fury, self-loathing, and a kind of visceral fear that shakes me to my core.I glance through the glass door, catching sight of Aella lying in the hospital bed. Machines beep softly, echoing the frail rhythm of her life now hanging by a thread. It gnashes at me, this helplessness, this inadequacy.Damn it, Roman. You should’ve been here.When I arrived back, I sensed it—an off note in the otherwise harmonious chorus of scents that make up my pack. Alarm bells immediately rang in my mind. The moment Aella signaled to go in a different direction, I knew instinctively what she was doing. It’s her duty, just as it’s mine, to protect our pack. I should’ve realized the danger, anticipated the threat that would nearly take the life of someone I hold dear.I was t
The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 47. Where Do I Stand With You?
AellaAs I slowly come to, my eyes struggle to adjust to the soft, dim lighting of the hospital room. A dull ache throbs in my neck, pulling me back into the harsh reality of last night’s events. My fingers twitch, and I’m vaguely aware of a warm presence holding my hand. Confused, I glance down and my eyes lock onto Roman’s head resting on my thigh. Even in sleep, he looks like a man carrying the weight of a world full of expectations and responsibilities. His grip on my hand is gentle but firm, as if he’s afraid to let go.The memories of the night come flooding back—the full moon hunt, the scent of an intruder, and the gray wolf. My fingers instinctively move to touch my bandaged neck, the sensations of fangs and fur still hauntingly fresh.I find myself staring at Roman’s face, taking in the details I’ve known but never truly looked at—the strong lines of his jaw, the ruggedness of his cheek, and the shapely curve of his lips. His cheek is already showing signs of stubble; how lo
The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 48. Every Last Shattered Piece Of Me
RomanHer eyes lock onto mine, and in that gaze, I see a flicker of relief. And it guts me. The sensation is akin to someone ripping my chest open, laying my heart bare—like I’ve done for her just now.“Aella,” my voice shakes, surprising me. “I’m not going to sit here and spit pretty lies at you. What I told you is the twisted, complex truth of who I am, who we’ve become. I’ve been both your captor and your admirer, your deceiver and your confidant. And if there were a way to undo all the lies, I’d tear my damn world apart for it.”She reaches for my hand, and her touch ignites something raw, something painfully human inside me. For a moment, I let go of my Alpha instincts to snarl, to declare dominion, and instead, I just feel—feel like I’m teetering on the edge of a cliff, about to fall into an emotional abyss.“I feel the same way,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper, yet it’s as if she’s shouted it into every hidden corner of my soul. “I’m so relieved you finally told me
The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 49. Overprotective Alpha
AellaThe sterile scent of antiseptic fills the air as a nurse wheels in a wheelchair, an apparent prison for my mobility. I look at it with disgust because I am pretty capable of walking and don’t need itRoman’s hand goes up before I can voice a protest. “Hospital rules, baby. No exceptions,” he says.“But I’m perfectly–”“Get in the fucking wheelchair, Aella,” he says, but not with any hostility. There’s a playful smirk on his face so I have to relent.Rolling my eyes, I give in and lower myself into the wheelchair, wincing as I feel the soreness that still permeates my muscles and joints. A primal part of Roman flares up; I can see it in the way his eyes darken, in the way his posture changes. He’s in full Alpha mode just because I sucked in a breath through my teeth.“I should’ve been the one to wheel you,” he mutters, so low only I can hear, and I nearly burst out laughing at his overprotectiveness as the nurse begins to push me through the maze of hospital hallways.“You’d prob
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