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43. The Truth About Roman Nikolaev
Last Updated:
2023-09-18 02:21:08
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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
Last Updated : 2023-09-19The 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
Last Updated : 2023-09-19The 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
Last Updated : 2023-09-20The 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
Last Updated : 2023-09-20The 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
Last Updated : 2023-09-20The 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
Last Updated : 2023-09-22The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 50. First Morning With You
RomanThe first rays of sunlight filter through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. Aella lies nestled in my arms, her head on my chest. Her rhythmic breathing lulls me into a serene trance. I never thought I could feel this way—so utterly content, my normally restless mind at ease. I knew the moment I admitted my feelings to her that things would change, but I hadn’t expected this blissful calm. It’s different from every other morning we’ve spent together, it’s more... real.My fingers lightly brush over her hair, and I feel a tranquility I didn’t know existed. I’ve admitted my feelings, laid bare my soul’s craving for her, and the weightlessness I feel now is a stark contrast to the walls I had built around myself. How did I go so long without knowing this peace? This is more than two bodies sharing a bed; this is souls intertwining, a new definition of home.I glance at Aella’s peaceful face, her eyes still closed in sleep, and I’m gripped by a protective intensity t
Last Updated : 2023-09-22The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna 51. First Mission
RomanThe weight of pack leadership has always been a double-edged sword—necessary but heavy. Sitting at my large oak desk, I sift through a pile of reports, budgets, and minor grievances when my eyes stray over to Aella. Leaning back in my leather chair, I watch Aella’s eyes scan the pages of ancient texts. She’s engrossed, and I can almost see the gears turning in her mind. I’m caught between the temptation to just admire her from across the room and the desire to engage her, to be a part of whatever is captivating her so much.“Back to work,” she says softly to herself, refocusing on the next grimoire in her stack, but what she doesn’t know is that she’s become an essential part of my ‘work,’ an aspect of my life that I didn’t even realize was missing until she filled it.Fuck it, I can’t sit quietly when she’s right here.“You know, you could just ask me if you want to know about my deep, dark pack secrets,” I tease, setting aside the papers.She looks up with a playful grin, her
Last Updated : 2023-09-22
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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
