The last day and night had been eerily quiet. Aiden didn’t show up, didn’t whisper threats in the dark, didn’t do anything at all. It was unsettling at first—his absence gnawed at me, leaving me on edge, waiting for the other shoe to drop. But as the hours stretched into the next day, that edge began to dull, replaced by a cautious, fragile hope.Maybe—just maybe—he’d lost interest. Maybe I was safe.That small, desperate thought took root, and by the time the morning light began to filter through my window, it had grown into something I almost dared to believe. I got out of bed feeling lighter, almost normal, like I could actually start to piece my life back together. Maybe I could go back to my daily routine, go back to being just another girl in the orphanage. I prayed silently that this peace would last, that the nightmare was finally over.For the first time in what felt like ages, I smiled as I got dressed, the weight of fear lifting just a little. I caught a glimpse of myself i
I woke with a start, gasping for breath as I bolted upright. My eyes darted around, trying to make sense of my surroundings. But nothing was familiar. The small, cramped room where I had cried myself to sleep last night was gone, replaced by an expansive chamber that felt both grand and suffocating. The walls were lined with dark wood paneling, and heavy drapes hung from towering windows that let in only the faintest sliver of light. The ceiling stretched high above, adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to twist and turn in the dim light, like something out of a nightmare.My heart pounded in my chest as I pushed the covers off, my feet hitting the cold, hard floor. I had no memory of how I got here, no recollection of leaving the room where Aiden had tormented me the night before. Panic set in, tightening around my throat like a vice. My breathing became erratic as I stumbled to the nearest door, my hands trembling as I fumbled with the handle.Locked.I pulled harder, my fing
The moment I left Isabella’s room, I felt the weight of the decision I’d been forced to make. Each step I took down the long, dimly lit corridor echoed in the silence, a constant reminder of the burden that now rested on my shoulders. The mansion, my sanctuary, now felt like a gilded cage—no longer a place of solace, but a prison for the both of us.She was my mate. The moment I found this I was so beyond shocked. I couldn’t comprehend with the reality. But when I left her last night I realised what it meant when the pendant around her necklace shined. What was it all about.The very thought made my blood boil with rage. How could fate be so cruel? Of all the beings in this world, why was I cursed with a weak, powerless human as my mate? I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I fought the urge to lash out. The anger that simmered within me was barely contained, threatening to erupt at any moment.I hated humans. They were the reason my parents were dead, the reason I h
**Isabella**I paced the length of the room, my feet sinking into the plush carpet with each step, though the softness offered no comfort. The air felt heavy, thick with tension that wasn’t just in my mind but all around me. I could still feel Aiden’s presence lingering, even though he had stormed out hours ago. His anger, his disgust—it clung to the walls like a shadow, making it impossible to breathe.I wrapped my arms around myself, my thoughts a whirlwind. Mate. He’d called me his mate, and the word rattled in my brain like a loose, unwelcome stone. I didn’t understand any of it. How could I be bound to him, this cold, angry creature who hated me for reasons I couldn’t comprehend?I wanted answers, but I feared them just as much. The truth was often more terrifying than the unknown.A knock at the door startled me, the sound sharp in the otherwise quiet room. My heart jumped into my throat, but I forced myself to remain still.The door creaked open, revealing a tall man I hadn’t s
I sat on the floor for what felt like hours, my back pressed against the wall, knees drawn up to my chest. The tears had long since dried on my cheeks, leaving behind only the numb ache of helplessness. The world I had known—everything I had believed to be real—was shattered beyond recognition. I was bound to a creature of the night, to a man who despised me, and no amount of tears could change that.The room felt colder now, as though Aiden’s presence had sucked all the warmth from the air, leaving behind only shadows and silence. My mind kept replaying Marcus’s words over and over again.**Aiden is a werewolf. You are his mate. You are safe.**Safe. I didn’t feel safe. I felt like a caged bird, trapped in a world I didn’t understand, with no way out. My thoughts spiraled, grasping for answers, for a way to escape the bond that held me. But every time I tried to think of a solution, I came back to the same haunting reality: there was no escape. The bond was unbreakable, and I was tie
I stared at him, my heart pounding in my chest. “I’m not... a thing you can claim,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I’m a person.”Aiden’s jaw clenched, his eyes burning with fury, but beneath that fury, I caught a glimpse of something else. It was brief, a flicker of uncertainty, almost like he was fighting some internal battle that even he didn’t fully understand. His fists clenched tighter, and for a moment, I thought he might lash out, but he didn’t.Instead, he took a step back, his expression hardening once again. “You’re right,” he said through gritted teeth. “You’re not a thing. But the bond... it doesn’t care about what either of us wants.”I stayed silent, watching him closely, trying to understand the war raging inside him. Every word that left his mouth was filled with anger, with bitterness, but there was something else too. Something deeper that he refused to let me see.“And what does that mean?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. “What does the bond mean for me
The air in the mansion felt stifling, thick with tension that hadn’t dissipated since Aiden left the room hours ago. My heart still pounded in my chest, but it wasn’t just fear anymore. There was something else—something dark, dangerous, and undeniable—something that gnawed at the edges of my thoughts and refused to let me rest.I knew I couldn’t just sit here and wait for Aiden to storm back into my life whenever he pleased, throwing his anger at me like daggers. If this was my world now, I needed to understand it, and if there was one thing I’d learned from all of this, it was that Aiden was not the only force at play here.My skin itched with the need for answers. I needed to know what I was up against—who else might be lurking in the shadows of this mansion or watching me from the depths of the forest beyond.But before I could act, the door creaked open, and Marcus stepped inside once again. His expression was unreadable, though I could sense a quiet urgency in the way he moved.
I found him in his study, the door slightly ajar, a faint light spilling out into the dim corridor. I hesitated for a moment, my heart racing as I gathered my courage, then pushed the door open.Aiden was standing by the window, his back to me, his broad shoulders tense with the weight of his emotions. He didn’t turn when I entered, didn’t acknowledge my presence at all. The silence was thick, oppressive, but I forced myself to step inside, closing the door softly behind me.For a long moment, neither of us spoke. I could feel the tension radiating off him, the anger simmering just beneath the surface, but there was something else too—something darker, more complex.“I know you don’t want me here,” I said quietly, my voice trembling slightly despite my efforts to remain calm. “I know you hate this bond as much as I do.”Aiden’s shoulders tensed even more, but still, he didn’t turn to face me.“But we’re both stuck in this,” I continued, my voice growing stronger. “And we need to figur
As the sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the orphanage in hues of orange and pink, my mother stood in the doorway, her expression a mix of hesitancy and determination. “Will you both stay for dinner?” she asked, her voice carrying a hopeful note that tugged at my heart.I glanced at Aiden, expecting resistance. He was a man of particular habits, unaccustomed to impromptu changes or the chaotic warmth of my past life. But to my surprise, he nodded. “We’d love to,” he said, his voice calm and reassuring.My mother’s smile lit up her face, and something inside me unfurled—a tension I hadn’t realized I was holding. “Wonderful,” she said. “I’ll set up the dining hall.”As she turned to make preparations, I felt Aiden’s hand squeeze mine briefly. “Are you happy?” he whispered, his eyes searching mine for any sign of distress.“Yes,” I replied, more to convince myself than him. “It’ll be good to catch up with everyone.”He nodded, his gaze lingering on me a moment longer before he releas
Aiden’s hand was firm around mine, grounding me when my legs threatened to buckle under the weight of anticipation. The creak of the iron gates of the orphanage echoed through my chest, rattling my nerves. Each step felt like walking through molasses, my body betraying me despite my mind’s desperate commands to move forward.“Relax, Isabella, or you’re going to scare them,” Aiden said softly, his voice like a warm breeze cutting through the storm inside me. His lips curved into a slight smile, though I could see the undercurrent of concern in his gaze.I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded, clutching his arm as if letting go would pull me back into the void of uncertainty. Aiden took the first step inside, and I followed, my breath hitching with every inch closer to the truth.The orphanage hadn’t changed much, at least not from what I remembered in fragments—peeling paint on the walls, the faint scent of lavender detergent that lingered in the air, and the distant sound of chi
As spring began to thaw the chill of winter, the team found a temporary respite from their relentless battle against the Black Sun. The fortress in the Pyrenees had been dismantled, and the immediate threat of The Ascendancy had been averted. However, the remnants of the dark network remained a persistent threat, and the team’s mission was far from complete. In their base, the atmosphere was a mix of cautious optimism and ongoing vigilance. The team had succeeded in disrupting the Black Sun’s most recent plans, but their influence was still widespread. The remnants continued to operate in the shadows, their intentions shrouded in secrecy. Isabella, Clyde, Elise, Alessandro, and Marta gathered in the war room, reviewing their latest intelligence. The walls were covered with maps, photographs, and documents detailing the Black Sun’s remaining operatives and activities. Elise, looking over a set of decrypted messages, spoke with concern. “We’ve uncovered several new locations tied to
The drive to the orphanage was quiet. The mood we had woken up with had been ruined, leaving a tension thick enough to slice through. I could see Aiden’s jaw tightening every few seconds, a telltale sign of his internal struggle. He was controlling himself—for me, I knew that much. It was his way. Always measured, always holding back. The world outside the window blurred past, a mix of early autumn trees and gray skies, but I couldn’t focus on any of it. My chest felt heavy, guilt coiling tight around my ribs. After fifteen minutes of silence, the tension became unbearable. I glanced over at him and then back at the passing scenery, forcing myself to speak. “I’m sorry,” I said softly, my voice barely breaking the stillness. Aiden’s eyes flicked toward me, his expression unreadable. His gaze returned to the road almost instantly. “For what?” he asked, his tone polite but distant, as though he were forcing himself to remain calm. I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “For putting you in
“Isabella,” he said, his tone low and firm, “you make the rules here. You break them. No one is superior to you—not Marcus, not me, not anyone in this pack.” The weight of his words settled over me, heavy and unfamiliar. “But… the rules exist for a reason,” I argued weakly, my voice wavering. “And sometimes,” he said, glancing at me briefly, “those rules don’t account for the unique situations we face. That’s why you’re the Luna. To lead. To make the hard calls. The pack looks to you for guidance, not to follow every rule blindly.” I shook my head, my chest tight. “I don’t feel like a Luna,” I admitted. “I don’t feel like someone they should look up to.” Aiden’s hand tightened slightly on my thigh, his warmth seeping through the fabric of my jeans. “That’s because you keep doubting yourself,” he said, his voice softer now. “You’re still thinking like an outsider. But you’re not anymore. You’re one of us, Isabella. More than that, you’re the luna, my mate. It’s time you start actin
The drive to the orphanage was quiet. The mood we had woken up with had been ruined, leaving a tension thick enough to slice through. I could see Aiden’s jaw tightening every few seconds, a telltale sign of his internal struggle. He was controlling himself—for me, I knew that much. It was his way. Always measured, always holding back.The world outside the window blurred past, a mix of early autumn trees and gray skies, but I couldn’t focus on any of it. My chest felt heavy, guilt coiling tight around my ribs. After fifteen minutes of silence, the tension became unbearable. I glanced over at him and then back at the passing scenery, forcing myself to speak.“I’m sorry,” I said softly, my voice barely breaking the stillness.Aiden’s eyes flicked toward me, his expression unreadable. His gaze returned to the road almost instantly. “For what?” he asked, his tone polite but distant, as though he were forcing himself to remain calm.I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “For putting you in a ti
Just as we were about to leave the table, Marcus entered the room. The first thing his eyes caught was our intertwined fingers. I instinctively tried to pull my hand back, but Aiden tightened his grip, his fingers pressing firmly against mine as though silently daring me to let go.Marcus raised a brow, his lips curving into a knowing smirk as he cleared his throat. “Someone is clearly in a good mood after whipping everyone’s ass,” he drawled.Aiden rolled his eyes, the action subtle but unmistakable. “Oh, please,” he muttered, his tone dripping with irritation.We both knew what Marcus was referring to. Aiden had spent the better part of past two weeks commanding everyone on how to deal with Darius. The tension between him and Darius was palpable, almost suffocating at times. I had told him countless times to forget about the man, to let it go, but Aiden had been resolute. I could still remember the dangerous glint in his eyes as he’d said, “I would never forgive anyone for touching
“Do you remember what day it is today?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, but I could feel the weight of my words lingering in the quietness.Aiden’s response was slow, deliberate. He raised one brow in that way he did, and just that one look made my heart skip a beat. If it was a sin to look this handsome first thing in the morning, then he was, without a doubt, the greatest sinner of them all. I found myself stuttering, nerves dancing through me as I tried to find the courage to bring up the topic I’d been holding onto.“You said you’d take me to the orphanage,” I said, my voice hesitant, unsure if this was the right time. Would he remember? Would he care as much as I did?For a moment, he didn’t say anything. Silence crept in, and with it, a growing sense of unease. My mind spiraled, convinced I’d messed everything up. Just as the words started to rise in my throat, desperate to cover up the silence, Aiden leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss on my cheek. His arms wrapp
As the first soft light of dawn seeped through the edges of the curtains, I blinked awake, the warmth of the bed and the weight of Aiden’s arm draped possessively across my waist grounding me in a blissful haze. For a moment, I lay still, letting my gaze trace the familiar curve of his shoulders, the way his dark hair fell messily over his brow, and the quiet, even rise and fall of his chest. The memory of last night washed over me, a heady mix of intensity, passion, and the feeling of being wholly consumed by him.My cheeks flushed, and a shy smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I recalled the way his voice had sounded—low and rough—whispering my name, claiming me with every touch. I felt the ghost of his hands on my skin, the possessive strength in his hold, the way he had looked at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered. Everything about last night felt surreal, yet the weight of his arm, his warmth beside me, grounded it as real.Careful not to wake him, I sh