Alora’s POV
The next morning I woke up feeling a little nauseous and I retched a bit before I went downstairs to make breakfast. I think this has to do with what Rune made me do yesterday night. He forced me to take his entire length from behind while my head is hanging. All blood had rushed to my head at the new position but as always, I didn’t complain. Making my way down to the kitchen, I brought out the ingredients for everyone's favorite food while thinking about how I am going to escape from this pack unnoticed. I don’t want drama. The only person that will create problems for me is Rune. He has been on my tail twenty four seven since they fixed Cielle and Dylan’s wedding date. While I was making pancakes for Cielle, I suddenly remembered something that made me want to throw up again. I haven’t had my period in two months! The pancake burned while I was thinking. My heart skipped a beat in fear and terror ...Rune never used condoms because I was barren. We went to the doctor the first time I felt symptoms and I found out that I won’t be able to carry a baby which is why my wolf is also weak. No way! I finished making breakfast for everyone but myself because I have lost my appetite. I don’t think I can keep anything down with how nauseous I feel. Also the fear tightening in my guts uncomfortably. “Why aren’t you joining us for breakfast today?” Father asked as he cut through his toast. “Uh, I have errands to run and I ate in the kitchen.” I lied nervously because I want to disappear from this place to know what is going on with me. “You look tense. Is everything alright?” Mother asked, tentatively sipping her creamy coffee. “Everything is fine.” I forced myself to smile then turned and walked away. I could feel Rune’s eyes following me and burning my back but I didn’t turn around to acknowledge him. Not with the wild thoughts trying to take shape in my head. I might be fucked up. Taking the car myself and dismissing my assigned driver, I decided to not go see the family doctor. I dare not do this because this couldn’t be known by anyone. Even though it is a fifty fifty percent chance. So I decided to buy a pregnancy test strip instead. That is the safest alternative because all the hospitals in this pack report under the family doctor. Not safe. Just as I left the house after changing into plain jeans and shirt, I bumped into Dylan. I gulped down knowing what happened the last time I was with him. I don’t want Rune and Cielle thinking something is going on. “Hi, Alora. Were you late for work yesterday?” He asked, referring to the ride he gave her after her car broke down. “No I wasn’t. Thanks for your ride.” I beamed then rushed towards my car. I don’t think Rune is going to take it lightly if he sees us together. The CCTV camera will still show this little conversation but at least they exchanged just a few words. Getting to the closest supermarket, I used a mask to close my face to avoid getting recognized by the pack members, not that I have friends anymore. I avoided them like a plague after everything. I bought the pregnancy test stick with other items so it won’t be obvious. I quickly went home with shaky hands and a knotted stomach. This better be just a weird coincidence that I didn’t see her period. I CAN'T be pregnant. As soon as I got inside, I bumped into my mother who beamed at the sight of me. That is weird. Thank God I hid the pregnancy test inside my hoodie so I held the paper bag in my hand containing fruits. Mother dragged me to the couch looking excited to share whatever news it is that she has. I don’t know why I don’t like this smile on her face. She hasn’t smiled at me like that in many years. “Where have you been to?” She asked, tilting her head at me taking in my outfit. “Just supermarket to get some fruits I have been craving.” I lied straight from my teeth but I was also craving the fruits I got. My mother’s gentle tug guided me to the couch, her voice a mix of reassurance and dismissiveness. “Don’t take Rune’s words to heart. Rune must have been busy and forgot your gift.” I forced a smile, shaking my head. “It’s alright, Mother. I don’t mind.” Mother’s xpression softened, and she reached for a gift box nestled beside her on the coffee table. “Look, I got you a birthday present,” she said, her voice carrying a touch of warmth. As mother handed me the box, my heart fluttered in my chest. The gesture was unexpectedly kind. I was touched that mother remembered my birthday, especially given how things had been lately. “I’m twenty-one now,” I thought, feeling a fleeting sense of normalcy. Mother’s eyes twinkled with a forced cheerfulness as she continued. “This year, your father and I decided to find you a mate as well, so that you and Cielle can get married together this year.” The words hit me like a cold wave. My breath caught in my throat, and the smile faded from my lips in an instant. It was clear now: mother’s so-called gift was not a token of love but a strategic move to secure my place and keep me out of Cielle’s way. My heart sank with bitterness. The reality that mother was merely pushing me into marriage to prevent any interference with Cielle and Dylan stung deeply. So this gift didn’t come from her heart. Outwardly, I nodded in agreement, masking my dismay like I have been doing for years. “That sounds... lovely, Mother,” I said, my voice barely more than a whisper. Feigning exhaustion, I excused myself and retreated to my room. The moment I was alone, I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, trying to steady my racing heart. I glanced at the small, white box I had brought with me—a pregnancy test. With trembling hands, I fished out the test stick and unwrapped it. My mind swirled with anxious thoughts as I followed the instructions, waiting for the result. Every second felt like an eternity. Finally, I looked down at the stick, and my world seemed to collapse. Two pink lines stared back at me, stark and undeniable. The reality of my situation settled heavily on my shoulders. I was pregnant. It was over. A wave of despair washed over me, mingling with the sharp pain of mother’s earlier words. The birthday present that had once seemed so touching now felt like a cruel irony, a symbol of my continued entrapment in a life that had long ceased to be my own. The weight of my predicament pressed down on me, and I slumped to the floor, overwhelmed by the crushing realization that my life had just become infinitely more complicated. Should I run away now? Yes, I should.Rune’s POV I don’t know what is happening but there is something off about Alora lately. She has been sluggish and doesn’t like meeting my eyes whenever she works. Even while I am fucking her. I plan to find out what is going on with her tonight because ain’t no way she’s going to keep being off and I won’t react. I miss her. I know what we have isn’t something to miss when it is lost but I do. I realized I was obsessed with Alora when she was just twelve years old. I couldn’t breathe when she wasn’t around. My parents and even I thought it was because she is my sister and brothers are meant to protect their sisters but this feeling is so deep rooted that I went to therapy in the human world. Nobody knows about that but after my eighteenth birthday, I knew something was off with what I felt for my red haired sister. The therapist told me there was obsession and I agreed. There is no way what I felt for Alora is normal. Then she came to the age where men flaunt all
Alora’s POV I gripped the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles turning white as I sped down the empty road. The dark forest blurred past my windows, and the pounding rhythm of the music I blasted drowned out my racing thoughts. I knew I had taken Rune by surprise, leaving him no time to react. He wouldn't realize I was gone until I was far beyond his reach. I had made sure of that.Each beat of the song matched the thud of my heart, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I had been meticulous, waiting for the perfect moment when his guard was down. Slipping away undetected had taken every ounce of my cunning and courage, but now, with the wind rushing through the cracked window and freedom within my grasp, I felt a fleeting sense of triumph.My mind flashed back to the house I had just left, Rune’s looming presence and the constant dread that hung over me. But now, for the first time in years, I felt a sliver of hope. The headlights of my car cut through the night, guiding me toward
Alora’s POVWaking up the next morning, my stomach growled loudly, reminding me that it had been far too long since I'd eaten a proper meal. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and stretched, taking in the dimly lit motel room. It wasn't much, but for now, it was my safe haven. I climbed out of bed, feeling the coolness of the floor beneath my feet, and made my way to the bathroom. The faucet squeaked as I turned it on, and the shower sputtered to life. The bathroom was far from perfect—the tiles cracked, and the mirror slightly fogged—but it was functional. I let the water run for a minute before stepping under the lukewarm spray, grateful for any semblance of normalcy. After the shower, I dried off and dug through my suitcase for something inconspicuous to wear. I chose the baggiest clothes I had, a pair of worn jeans and an oversized hoodie, hoping to blend in as much as possible. I pulled the hood over my head, concealing my hair, and slipped on a pair of sunglasses. With my stoma
Rune’s POV The days stretched on, each one more agonising than the last. I paced the length of my office, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts. My fists clenched and unclenched, the tension in my body coiled tight like a spring ready to snap. The constant thrum of worry and anger pounded in my head, and the gnawing fear that I might never find her clawed at my insides. How dare she run away? Who gave her the audacity to think she could escape me? The guards had been out searching for her for days now, scouring every inch of the territory and beyond, yet every time they returned, it was with the same disheartening news. Nothing. No trace of Alora. Each failure only stoked the flames of my fury, and I found myself growing more unhinged with each passing hour. One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the grounds, the guards returned once more. I could see the defeat in their eyes even before they spoke, and it made my blood boil. "Wha
Alora’s POV As we drove down the winding road towards Sienna’s pack, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of cautious relief. I cast a sideways glance at Sienna, who was humming softly to the music playing in the background. Her warmth and easygoing nature were comforting, especially after the whirlwind of chaos I’d been through. I knew trusting her so quickly might not be the wisest decision, but I was running out of options, and every instinct in me screamed that I needed to get as far away from Arctic Canines and Rune as possible. I forced myself to relax into the seat, trying to savor this fleeting sense of safety.I had taken a huge risk by dropping the magical concealment on my car. The spell had been my shield, my one assurance that I could escape without leaving a trace. But now, with Sienna beside me and the promise of sanctuary at her pack, I decided to let go of that last bit of protection. If Rune did find my car, it wouldn’t matter. I was moving under the jurisdiction of
Alora’s POV As the car rolled to a stop, I felt an icy dread settle deep in my gut. The engine cut off, and the man in the front seat shifted in his seat, but I didn’t move. I couldn’t. The air felt thick, suffocating, as if the very atmosphere had turned against me. I knew this place, even in the dim light of the early morning. The stone walls, the iron gates—it was unmistakable. My heart hammered in my chest as I stared out the window at the entrance to a place I had never thought I would see again. The Arctic Canines dungeon.My breath caught in my throat, and I felt a cold sweat break out across my skin. This wasn’t just a nightmare; it was a well-orchestrated trap, one that I had walked into willingly, naively, with Sienna by my side. I had been so desperate to escape, to find safety, that I had let my guard down. And now, all that trust I’d placed in Sienna, in this stranger who had offered us a ride, felt like poison coursing through my veins.I felt the panic rise within m
Alora’s POVThe cold, damp air of the dungeon clung to my skin as we were dragged further into its depths, the iron chains around our wrists rattling with each reluctant step. Sienna walked beside me, her eyes vacant, like she hadn’t fully processed what was happening. I wanted to say something, anything, to comfort her, but the words stuck in my throat, choked by the rising panic and guilt that threatened to overwhelm me.The guards were silent, their faces expressionless as they led us down a narrow corridor, the dim light barely illuminating the jagged stone walls. Each footfall echoed ominously, amplifying the terror that gripped my heart. The dungeon was not what I had imagined. It wasn’t the hellhole of torturous screams and rusted chains I had pictured in my darkest nightmares, but it was still a place of despair, a place where hope came to die. And now, we were prisoners here, victims of my own desperation and Rune’s unforgiving wrath.We were shoved into a small, cramped r
Rune’s POVNight after night, I found myself pacing my room, the weight of my own thoughts pressing down on me like a suffocating shroud. Alora, so close yet maddeningly out of reach, haunted my every waking moment. The knowledge that she was in the dungeon, just beneath my feet, filled me with a twisted mix of rage and longing. I wanted to storm down there, drag her out of that cell, and fuck her into submission until she begged for mercy, until she remembered who she belonged to. But every time I considered it, another, darker part of me held back.She needed to be punished. She needed to understand that her actions had consequences. How dare she think she could run away from me? Who gave her the right? The very thought of her escaping my grasp, even for a moment, was intolerable. It was an affront, a blatant disrespect that I couldn’t ignore.But the punishment had to come first. I couldn’t let her think she could defy me, leave whenever she pleased, and expect to be welcomed ba
Alora’s POVThe next morning I woke up to the scent of roasted meat that filled the cave. It was the fifth day in a row that food had mysteriously appeared, always placed at the edge of the cave far enough away that it seemed like whoever was delivering it didn’t want to intrude. It was always the same, roasted animal meat still warm, smelling so tempting that I couldn’t help but devour it the moment I woke up. It wasn’t elegant, it wasn’t pretty, but I ate like I hadn’t seen food in days because I hadn’t. For the first three days I’d survived on nothing but hope and desperation. The thought that Rune might come back had kept me going but now... now, I was just clinging to whatever kept my body strong enough to move. I need to feed my daughter with the little food I have in my tummy. The sixth day passed the same way food left at the entrance, hot and ready. I wondered if the woman from Rune’s pack was behind it, realizing Rune wasn’t coming back. It was a comfort to imagine that
Alora’s POVI woke up the next morning, the bed cold and empty beside me. Rune was gone. I blinked up at the dim cave ceiling, feeling the chill settle around me as I stretched my aching limbs. I smiled thinking about yesterday night and how Rune took what he wanted without reserve. My whole body was worn out sore in places I didn’t even know could ache. But it was a good kind of exhaustion, the kind that came after the best sleep I’ve had in forever. I hope we can do it again soon to forget all about our future problems. Pulling on my clothes I glanced at Nevaeh, still fast asleep in her crib. Relief hit me like a wave as I noticed her breathing was steady and calm, her tiny chest rising and falling like it should. She is alright. My eyes stung and I had to swallow back the emotion that swelled in my throat. I leaned over, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead feeling her soft warmth against my lips. I had almost given up almost thought I'd lose her, and now, here she was alive
Alora’s POV He has so much control this night. I don’t have it but he seem to have tons of it tonight. I tried to steady myself, hands pressing into the rough stone floor of the cave, but he reached out and gripped my wrists guiding them back to hold myself open for him. “Don’t let go,” he murmured, his voice low and commanding. The tone was laced with a hint of danger, one I’d grown both wary of and drawn to. Then, I felt the cool sensation of liquid against me. Is that his… saliva? My pulse quickened as he spread it over my most sensitive areas, each touch deliberate and torturously slow. Before I could even brace myself, Rune’s hands tightened on my hips, and in one swift, powerful thrust, he entered me. The force made me gasp, the shock of it going through me as his body claimed mine entirely. The sensation was overwhelming, his presence consuming, leaving me no room to breathe or think, only to feel. His breath was hot against my neck and his dark whisper sent a thri
Alora’s POVIn the dim light of the cave, the raw, primal need in Rune’s gaze felt like a live wire running through the air. He’d never looked at me like this before, with tensed lust, mixed with a fierce restraint that made the moment even more intoxicating. For me, every surge of arousal was fueled by my feelings for him. I wanted him more with each passing second, even as a flicker of nerves darted through me. “Turn around and walk to the bed,” he commanded, his voice gravelly.I turned slowly, letting my hips sway, feeling the weight of his gaze on me, heavy and searing. His need for control, for ownership, was almost palpable, and I knew he was savoring every inch of me.Nevaeh was in a crib by the fire to keep her warmer. I wonder how that strange woman knew but then I’m done questioning the reality I’m in now. “Get on your knees at the foot of it, face down, ass up” he said, voice low.I sucked in a breath, anticipation pooling in my core, and eased into the position, the ro
Alora’s POVHis tone held an edge that was unmistakable, and my pulse raced at the authority in his voice. This was different. This was the Rune that likes to play and doesn’t care we are in a cave right now with our daughter feet away. Rune had always been the one to reach for me first, to take charge by peeling away the layers himself, rough and impatient. But this... this felt like a test, like he wanted me to submit in every situation we were in. “Why…?” The word slipped out before I could stop it, but his expression hardened.“Don’t ask questions. When I tell you to strip, you strip. Now.” He said, his expression blank but heated. I flinched, my body reacting not out of fear but from the raw intensity in his voice. His gaze held me captive, and despite the ache of everything happening around us, the danger that loomed, this moment was our escape. My hands rose to the hem of my silk gown, trembling, anticipation curling in my stomach as I hesitated. The cave’s cool air prickl
Alora’s POVThe weight of everything we’d learned (the prophecies, the warnings, the strange woman with her cryptic knowledge) was too much. I felt like I was drowning under layers of secrets and mysteries, each one pulling me deeper. I couldn’t think straight, couldn’t focus. All I knew was that I needed relief, something to steady me, to quiet my mind and body. And I know where to get it. I know who would take away my worries and make me forget the last few weeks. I lay Nevaeh down gently on the plush bed, brushing a tender hand over her tiny arm, making sure she was safe and breathing steadily. But as I stepped back, my chest was tight, my nerves stretched so thin that I felt like I might snap. Yes, the cave has a little chamber with old stuff inside but very comfortable and warm. Like an old woman’s little haven. Turning, I found Rune’s gaze on me. His presence was a strange comfort in this overwhelming night. Without a word, I stepped toward him, closing the space between us
Alora’s POVHe tensed, a flicker of something crossing his eyes, worry, hesitation. His gaze drifted over to Nevaeh, then back to me. There was a weight to his expression, something more than the usual coldness.“I know what you’re thinking,” I said, my gaze softening at him. “If you’re worried about your pack, Rune, then go to them. I don’t need you to come with me. I just need my daughter safe. You can go back to them, to your responsibilities, if that’s what you want.”They also need him and I can’t keep dragging him down my problems. It seems like everything started with me not knowing my real parents then finding out they were the most powerful beings! He was silent, studying me, and for a moment, I saw the flicker of conflict behind his stoic exterior. But then, he shook his head, his resolve hardening. “I made a promise to you. And to her,” he murmured, reaching a hand out to brush his fingers across Nevaeh’s cheek. “I’ll see this through.”With a soft exhale, he drew me clos
Alora’s POV“The witches have been trying to stir war with the gods because their goddess was banished. They want revenge and they are coming for our mortal lineage.” “There’s more to this than you realize. My curse was not just for breaking a rule. It was to keep you hidden, safe. But I failed in that, and now they know.” “Your father… is a lycan. The last of its kind and that was what attracted me to him in the first place. The gods wanted him because he defied them to become a lycan. They know you carry his blood, a bloodline they thought was wiped out.” She paused, a moment of hesitation. “Your daughter’s life is in danger, but she also holds the key to a power they fear.” A cold dread settled over me. “What power?” She stepped closer, her form half in shadow. “The power to break the gods' own curses. She could free mortals from the chains the gods and will have more lycans in the mortal realm. She could shift the balance. They can’t afford to let that happen.” “So… they wo
Alora’s POVShortly after the Moon Goddess left, the hooded goddess entered. She moved with a quiet, steady grace over the floor. She approached silently, then held out two neatly folded sets of clothes.“Put these on,” she said, her voice soft but leaving no room for question.I exchanged a glance with Rune, and we both dressed quickly, the fabric strange but surprisingly comfortable. It felt odd, the simple act of wearing clothes again, and I sensed Rune’s protectiveness bristling under the surface. As soon as we finished, she gestured for us to follow her through the stone corridor, leading us to a dimly lit chamber. A table was set, two plates filled with food, and though my stomach was tight with tension, I realized how hungry I was. We sat down and ate, though Rune watched her carefully, his suspicion plain.Finally, she turned to him. “I need to speak to her alone.”Rune tensed, his hand drifting protectively toward mine. “If you think I’ll leave her here alone with you—”She